The Missionary Review of the World — January 1900
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD
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.L_ Prepared for…. JrIlUtOJilAay .a,.Vllt,W MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD: Old Series. i JANUARY. { New Series. VOL. XXIII. No.1. f VOL. XIII. No. 1.
PROTESTANT FOREIGN MISSIONS IN 1800 AND IN 1900.
BY REV. HARLAN P. BEACH, NEW YORK.
Educational Secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement.
In discussing so broad a topic. it is necessary to select from the wealth of available material those facts that best illustrate the missionary status at the periods under consideration. In making this selection, inheritance, zeitgeist, organizations, agents, the world-field, with its differing problems, are more significant factors than the most striking array of figures.
I. FOREIGN MISSIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE OENTURY.
To emphasize the statement that Oarey is the father of modern Protestant missions is to do a real injustice to agitation and accomplishment that long antedated his important efforts.
1. The fallow fields.-From the initial Protestant foreign mission of 1556, which was equally a colonizing scheme and a Brazilian Plymouth for distrest Huguenots, to the close of the eighteenth century, numerous abortive attempts had been made to affect the life of heathen peoples. SWitzerland and France had toucht for a tragic moment Rio de Janeiro and Florida. Sweden had stretcht out the two hands of government and religion to her Lapp neighbors, and had more winsomely labored for the welfare of the Indians of Delaware-then New Sweden-before Eliot had preacht in the vernacular to New England Pequots. Germany had sent to Abyssinia Peter Heyling, who translated into Amharic the New Testament; and the Austrian, Baron von Welz, had uttered his oracles, laid down his honors, and died as a missionary in Surinam. Holland, escaped from her long reign of terror, had carried the Gospel into the East Indies from Formosa to Oeylon, and had set her eighty clergymen in Brazil to translating for the Indians. Oromwell had built his ambitious aircastle of propagandism that would have divided the world into four missionary provinces, with state-paid secretaries placed over them, and his commonwealth parliament had founded the Oorporation for * This periodical adopts the Orthography of the following Rule. recommended by the joint action of the American Philological Association and the Philological Society of England :-Change d or ~d tIiuIl to , when 80 pronounced, except when the e affects a preceding sound.-PvULlSHEIIS. the Propagation of the Gospel iu New England, the nearest approach to a national missionary society ever realized. Noble Robert Boyle had sent forth an Arabic translation of Grotius' De Veritate Religionis Ohristiance, and his Malay Gospels and Acts into homes and lands not friendly to the living epistle. John Eliot, and later the Mayhew family, had done their splendid work for our already perishing Indian tribes, while a fugitive in Boston, Rev. John Oxenbridge, was in desire going further afield in his" Proposition of Propagating the Gospel by Ohristian Oolonies in the Oontinent of Guiana." Even those fields watered by the bloody sweat of Brainerd's consuming prayers, and by the no less heroic and saintly tears of Moravian lovers of the red Indian, had hecome fallow before our century dawned.
2. ResidtlUrn from failure.-Tho from the enterprises just named no statistical remnant survived to our century, beyond two now much changed societies-the New England Company, and the Christian Faith Society-and a few aged red skins, more or less Ohristianized, God had left a fruitful stock in the earth for the use of His observant children. He had taught that the secular arm, even when strengthened by the missionary spirit that found nominal place in the charters of most of the colonization schemes, and of the great East and West India companies, was still an arm of flesh. He would teach all men that Ohristianity is misused, when made the condition of office or of emolument, and that punishment visited on pagans or heathen who would ignorantly worship their chosen deities, is a mistaken measure. Christendom had learned, that missiouaries sent out for terms of five years, can not hope to grapple with the vernacular, and effectually reach the heathen heart. Men like Junius in Formosa, Baldaeus in Oeylon, Eliot and Brainerd ill America, had, in different ways, exemplified the true missionary norm for later workers.
More important, perhaps, than all, were the prophetic voices that had brought these failing enterprises into being, the echoes of which past on to fainting, yet teachable, hearts of a better time. Luther's on the whole despairing voice-Plitt and Kalkar to the contrary-had been too influential in his world, and men of broader horizons were demanded, who would sound out the call of humanity and of God. Such prophets were von Welz, with his three soul-piercing questions; the philosophizing missionary advocate, Leibnitz, whose principal contribution to missions was the great heart of Francke, whom he had caught in his net of thought; and the young Dutch student of theology, Justus Heurnius, who underscored his stirring appeals concerning the duty of sending the Gospel to India by his later apostolic life.
The missionary efforts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries emphasized the need of suitably prepared missionary candidates. Even the commercial companies felt the desirability of training institutions, and the missionary college at Leyden, which existed for ten years
PROTESTANT FOREIGN MISSIONS IN 1800 AND IN 1900
under the superintendence of Walaeus, was one result of such a feeling. Baron von Welz urged the establishment of a missionary institution that would serve a useful purpose in our day, and Oromwell would have transformed old Ohelsea Oollege into a training seminary worthy of our century. As a missionary text-book, Grotius' work, above mentioned, was an excellent pioneer.
Not the least valuable product of these fallow fields was the opposition aroused which gave fiber and conviction to missionary apologetes of the eighteenth century. The great reformer's apathy or covert opposition to the enterprise, and John Heinrich Ursinus' sneering thesis in reply to Welz's appeal, with its assertion that "the holy things of God are not to be cast before such dogs and swine" as the Greenlanders, Lapps, Samoyedes, cannibals, Tartars, Japanese, and Indians, for" have we not Jews and heathen among ourselves?" are illustrations of such opposition.
2. Eighteenth centllry missionary enterprises.
Two organizations, formed in 1698 and 1701, the English Society for the Promotion of Ohristian Knowledge, and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, had existed throughout the century, but had given their energies almost entirely to colonists or to the work of publication, and the same was true of the Scottish S. P. O. K., founded in 1709.
Two other societies were, however, strictly foreign missionary in their aims. The Danish-Halle mission, dependent on Denmark for initiative and largely for support, and upon the pietistic element of Germany for men, sent its first missionaries to India in 1705, and from that time onward did a work of mingled strength and weakness in that land. Men, like Ziegenbalg, Kiernander, and the peerless Schwartz, were the foremost missionaries of their day, in spite of the fact that rationalism at horne destroyed the society at the end of the century. From the Royal Missions Oollege at Oopenhagen also, missionaries went forth to Greenland and Lapland.
The second purely missionary enterprise, originating in the first half of the century, was the Moravian. Aflame already with the fire that Zinzendorf had caught from Francke and the Halle pedagogium, nothing more was needed than the stories of a West Indian negro and of Greenland's sad estate, to cause a conflagration among the warmhearted Herrnhuter8. Forthwith this poverty-stricken congregation sent unlearned men, but men full of faith and the Holy Ghost, to the West Indies, Greenland, the North American Indians, Surinam, South Africa, Labrador, and the Kalmucks. Lapland, the Samoyedes, Berbice, Oeylon, Algiers, Ohina, Persia, Abyssinia, the East Indies, and the Oaucasus, also allured this evangelizing church, but attempts to enter were either unsuccessful, or the fields had to be abandoned
before the close of the century. A marvelous record, nevertheless, for seven decades!
During this period government missions were continued in the East Indies by the Dutch, and in Greenland by the Danes, whom Egede had wearied into activity in connection with commercial and colonization schemes. The Danish crown was also largely contributory to the missionaries in India. The chartered companies of England had likewise done a little through their chaplains.
3. Agitation and organization during the closing decades.–It was in this century that the Wittenberg faculty caHed the missionaries "false prophets," while Neumeister, the Hamburg preacher, had sung, " In former days 'twas rightly said, 'Go forth to every land,' But now, where God hath cast your lot, there shall you ever stand."
And in Britain Carey's historic rebuke was the utterance of a far more virulent disease, prevalent among clergy and laity, and darkly witnest to in the pages of Green, Abbey, and Bishop Butler. No marvel that with such religious leaders, the East India Company shareholders asserted that "the sending of missionaries into our Eastern possessions is the maddest, most extravagant, most expensive, most unwarrantable project that was ever proposed by a lunatic enthusiast. Such a plan is pernicious, impolitic, unprofitable, unsalutary, dangerous, unfruitful, fantastic."
Other more hopeful factors entered, however, into the history of these years. Von Bogatsky's missionary hymn, "Wach auf, du Geist del' ersten Zeugen," was in idea the reveille of the new missionary day. Wesley, Whitefield, and H. Venn, warmed by the living piety and apostolic zeal of the Moravians, and by the divinely sent awaken~ ing that came to Wesleyans, Calvinists, and Evangelicals alike, were the agents used to stir longings for purity of heart and obedience of life in the Church. And external happenings also inclined men to a new missionary activity. England was becoming a great colonizing power, and her awakening conscience bade her obey her Lord's last command. The French and American revolutions had expanded men's thought and sympathy, and a Christian humanism, largely emanating from Wilberforce, Thornton, Charles Grant, Zachary Macaulay, and others of the Clapham sect, aroused the English world to the point of action. The way was still very thorny, but in quick succession there came into being in England the Baptist, the London, and the Church Missionary societies, and in Scotland the Glasgow and Edinburgh societies, while in Holland the Netherlands Missionary Society was organized. The Religious Tract Society, of London, also belongs to the last eight years of this century. The time was now too short for these new organizations to effect much before 1800; yet India was entered, the South Seas received their first instalment of ordained and artisan missionaries, Sierre Leone and the Cape were
PROTESTANT FOREIGN MisSIONS IN 1800 AND IN 1000
toucht. Dr. Ooke had also for the Wesleyans projected an unsuccess- ful artisan enterprise among the Foulahs, and a successful beginning had been made in the West Indies.
4. Oharacteristics of missionary enterprises in 1800.-While "Mis- tress Bland, of the Vineyards," laboring among the Indians, may be entitled to the claim of being the first Protestant woman missionary, and tho two medical missionaries had been sent to India by the Danes as early as 1730 and 1732, the main responsibility of the missionary was to teach and preach the Gospel. 'rhe artisan scheme of the Sweden Missionary Society, and of Dr. Ooke, and the frequent support by manual labor of the Moravians, were exceptional features. Naturally translations of parts or the whole of the Bible, and the preparation of elementary books for Ohristian instruction and nurture, formed part of the work of these pioneers, while for the worker's personal Uile grammars and dictionaries were being prepared. Our own Eliot's program was as symmetrical, perhaps, as that of any missionary preceding 1800.
Missionary literature was exceedingly scarce, and not widely read. Francke, indeed, had from 1710 publisht the first regular reports of mission work, and the pages of the Evangelical Magazine, together with Oarey's « Enquiry," Horne's « Letters on Missions," strong missionary addresses and sermons, furnisht the main printed incentives in the later missionary revival. Oarey and other agitators found in Oook's voyages also, and in other geographical works, a stimulus of the first order.
Greenland's experimentation had shown that heathen hearts could not be won through heads alone, and the distinguisht Kiernander in Oalcutta perspired with embarrassment and mental distress when Oharles Grant sought advice as to the way of personal salvation. On the other hand, the world had seen its finest example of utter consecration and perfect spirituality in Brainerd, and everywhere the Moravians were representatives of heart religion and missionary brotherliness.
As fur the rope-holders of those who descended into heathen mines, they were few, but very devoted. They were knit together in the enterprise irrespective of church and national lines, as is seen in Dr. Haweis' sermon at the formation of the London Missionary Society, and in its determination « not to send Presbyterianism, Independency, or Episcopacy, or any other form of church order and government, . . . but the glorious Gospel of the blessed God to the heathen."
Uhristian opposition to missions is well mirrored in Mr. Bogue's sermon on Haggai i : 2, preacht at the foundation of the L. M. S., in which he combats these ten objections to the work: Arduousness of the enterprise precludes success; the millennium being still distant, the time of the heathen has not yet come; no reason why Ohristians
should do what their fathers had not attempted; non-Ohristian governments will oppose the work; religious status of the heathen unfavorable to success; a lack of proper candidates; how secure financial support; Providence opens no suitable door; no right to interfere with others' religion; and, "We have heathen enough at home; let us convert them first before we go abroad."
5. The rnission fields of 1800.-These have already been named and can be seen at a glance on an accompanying map. Note, however, that missionaries were laboring under the sheltering or persecuting arm of European colonies, with the exception of those among the Kalmucks and South Sea Islands. It is also to be noted that lower culture groups had rendered quickest returns, and that, save in India and in parts of the East Indies, lower forms of religion, and not the great ethnic faiths, had been the factor which Ohristianity had to displace.
6. Sorne stai£stical iterns.-Statistics of non-Ohristian populations in 1800 are only the wildest guesses. Missionary returns are, however, more trustworthy. As we have seen, there were in 1800 seven Protestant missionary societies in full operation, employing, according to Professor Ohristlieb, 170 male missionaries) with an estimated following of about 50,000 converted heathen. This last number does not include the so-called government Christians, who in Oeylon alone numbered 342,000 in 1801, six years after the Dutch had left the island. He also states that there were at that time" only about fifty translations of the Scriptures, distributed in about 5,000,000 copies." God's glory had not yet covered the heavens; "there was the hiding of His power."
II. FOREIGN MISSIONS To-DAY.
In our time of world-embracing secular and missionary periodicals, and of a superb missionary literature, it is unnecessary to speak in detail of missionary occupation and results; only salient features need be recalled.
1. The fields and the powers.-A study and comparison of the accompanying map will reveal the vast missionary expansion of our century. Instead of occupying islands, or timorously standing on the strand of unknown or unexplorEld continents, the Ohurch has boldly knockt at the doors of all the great nations and has gained admittance. It is true that this entrance has been only partial; yet it is possible and dependent on the obedience and willingness of the Ohristian, rather than on the will of hostile government!:!.
Another striking fact, made evident by our recent political maps, is the prevalence everywhere of European powers, who are either in actual possession of non-Ohristian lands, or else include them within their" spheres of influence." About three-fifths of the world's area is subject to Ohristian nations, and with the exception of Russian advances in Asia, and unimportant French, Portuguese, and Italian
PRO'rESTAN'l' FOREIGN MISSIONS IN 1800 AND IN 1900. 'I
spheres of influence there and in Africa, the non-Ohristian world is almost wholly under the protection or sovereignty of Protestant powers, a most significant fact in the missionary situation. Under their fostering care steamers and launches are threading rivers formerly unknown, and railroads are carrying God's messengers to their fields in hours instead of the former laborious days or months. When at their posts, the flags of Ohristian consulates are their protecting egis. Oivilization, a doubtful compound of good and evil, enters with the powers to help and hinder missionary effort. Warneck years ago pointed out that the missionary activity of Protestant nations was almost exactly proportionate to their commerce.
2. The missionary socieNes.-One hundred years ago missionary work was cooperative, nation helping nation, and denominations combining, because of lack of individual strength and the gregarious tendency of a consuming purpose. To-day the old union societies, like the London Missions and the American Board, have become practically denominational, and even small branches of the Ohurch are establishing their own mission boards. These societies are in the hands of secretaries who have in many cases visited and studied the fields, and who come together in national or ecumenical conferences for the purpose of studying the perplexing problems confronting them. A science of missions is thus slowly coming into existence. While a few of these societies are supported by men and women of different denominations; and have reverted more or less to the apostolic type in their faith and practise, most boards have behind them the material and spiritual support of their denomination. With a few structural or conscientious exceptions, these societies work together harmoniously and with considerable regard for comity.
3. The agents and their distribution.-Excepting a few societies, mission boards are now sending out a far higher grade of missionary than was available a hundred years ago. Especially is this the case where the Student Volunteer movement has become fully establisht in colleges and universities, as in America and Great Britain. Most of these volunteers go out after having scientifically studied the great fields and religions, as well as missionary methods and problems. Even Dr. Warneck places American missionaries in the foremost rank for theological preparedness.
As to geographical distribution of these forces, they have gone forth to all the ends of the earth. Asia claims the most of them, Ohina and India alone containing about a third of the entire missionary body to their seven-tenths of the world's non-Ohristian population. South America, in point of habitable area per missionary, is the neglected continent, while the islands of the West Indies and Oceania, with the exception of some groups, have been most fully cultivated and most nearly Ohristianized.
A C I F.' 1 C
AN P A C .I p- I -~ 0 C E A .N 0 C E) A .N A~~~~ N D .I W oCE AN 10 ,,"fJ APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE .KEY POLITICAL POWERS iJNDER PROTESTANT AND OTHER RULERS – OF {l'HE. WORLD Greek Catholic IY 1900 Greek Catholic, _120,000,000_ Roman Catholic, _250,000,000 _ _ _ _ _ __ .Protestant BOlllll4V '" CO. tr,Y, Mohammedan and lolo 000 000 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Roman-Catholic Independent, f ' I Mohammedan and Protestant, _ _ _ 620,000,000 Independent Prepared for the MISSION .A.RY Ri:"IEW NDI A KEY THE UELIGIONS OF THE WOULD o C BAN Protestant ,IN 1900 APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF ADHERENTS Jews, 10,000,000_ :===:… Protestan Heathen, Greek Cathollc, _ 90,000,000 _ _ t, __ 150,000,000 ___ 170,000,000 :=====-_ Mohammedan, _170,000,000 Roman Catholic, 200,000,000 Ethnic Religions ,700,OOO,OOO – – – -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Prepat'~d for the MISSION.A.XY RX):JElY
4. 2J1ethods on the field.- In the great interdenominational mission lands, as Japan, China, -and India, the workers have met repeatedly in prolonged conferences to discuss together their common problems and to wait unitedly upon God for the enduement of power. This has had a most beneficial effect, both on the inner life and the outward working of these men and women. The conferences have aided also in emphasizing comity and a more economic distribution of laborers.
One of the markt differences between the methods of to-day and in 1800 is the constantly expanding conception of the missionary function. Broader even than Jesus' program of St. Luke iv : 18,19, or His parabolic scheme of St. Matthew xxv: 31-46, is the program of nineteenth century missions. Not only is the necessity of education felt in accordance with the Moravian dictum that the savage must be taught to count three before he can understand the doctrine of the Trinity, but its strategic place in the speedy and thorough evangelization and Christianization of the nations is increasingly recognized. Its necessary coronary, a varied and helpful literature with the Bible as its basis, is being magnified as never before, and most fruitfuny. Medical missions have been among the notable developments of this century, as also the large use of Christian womanhood, so that to-day women constitute the larger proportion of the Protestant force. Through the merciful and gracious ministrations of these two agencies, an influence almost unknown a century since has been gained over factors powerful in every stage of culture, the grateful recipients of bodily healing and the more naturally religious and hopeful women and children. In these and manifold other ways missionaries are touching un evangelized peoples, so that Brainerd and Schwartz, if raised from the dead and allowed to read the pages of Dr. Dennis' "Christian Missions ?nd Social Progress," would be startled by the breadth of present miSSIonary operations. This versatility has most expended itself on the Dark Continent, as may be seen, if one examines the schemes of the 285 Protestant societies laboring among all African peoples.
5. Some recent missionary statistics.-Many months must elapse before returns for the final year of this missionary century can be received, yet some incomplete statistics will give a hint of the extent of the work. The annual issues of the late Dean Vahl's "Missions Among the Heathen," have contained on an average statistics of about 360 missionary societies, while a fuller list combined from his periodical and Dr. Dennis' manuscript, would increase the number working in heathen and other missionary lands to over 500. Many of these are, however, auxiliary or societies in aid, and some of them are laboring in Protestant countries, as the United States, Germany, etc. The leading societies of Ohristendom, doing strictly foreign mission work, reported last year the following facts: Total missionary force, 14,210;
PROTESTANT FOREIGN MISSIONS IN 1800 AND IN 1900
total native force, 54,420-making the combined forces in the field 79,591; stations and out-stations, 25,070; communicants, 1,255,052; adherents, 3,372,991; schools, 20,228, with 944,430 scholars; income during the year, $14,513,972. Oomparing these figures with the meager returns of 1800, one must exclaim, Behold, what signs and wonders God hath wrought among the Gentiles! And the wonder marvelously grows, if to the above be added the sociological, philanthropic, and Bible statistics, to be found in Dr. Dennis' forthcoming volume.
6. The regions beyond.-Thankfulness in view of such results is tempered by the thought of much land yet to be possest, and of conditions unworthy of the Ohurch of the living God. While there is not a country which has not been in some way toucht by work of Protestant missions, there are people in Ohina and India, exceeding in number the combined popUlations of South America and Africa, who have never yet had an opportunity to hear the Gospel of salvation and divine fatherhood. In Ohina's most fully occupied province, each station has a parish of 1,285 square miles. It is as if one town only in Rhode Island contained a church whose pastor and members were responsible for the evangelization of the entire State, and a wide fringe of Connecticut besides; while in the entire empire each foreign worker has for his share about 158,000 needy souls. And think of Tibet, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Turkestan, Siberia, the district east of Siam, the great heart of Africa and South America, scarcely trodden by the missionary's foot, and the vast populations in nominally occupied lands just referred to!
But there are still other regions beyond that the Church must enter before Jesus sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied. A spirit of intercession like that which markt the missionary revival of a century since; consecration of money to missions, that it may send forth the gift of young lives in our universities and seminaries; a longing on the part of board secretaries and their missionaries for such fulness of the Spirit that each may have the strength and wisdom of ten; careful and prayerful thought and cooperation that shall make native churches stronger, as well as independently aggressive and self-perpetuating; such self-effacement as shall make the societies see eye to eye in the matter of distribution of forces and readjustments, where plainly desirable; a concerted and universal advance all along the line-these are some of the outlying realms yet to be entered. For such a forward movement we need still the stirring notes of the first genuinely missionary hymn-Bogatsky's: Awake, Thou Spirit, Who of old Didst fire the watchmen of the Church's youth, Who faced the foe, unshrinking, bold, Who witnest day and night the eternal truth; Whose voices through the world are ringing still, And bringing hosts to know and do Thy will!
THE MISSIONS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
We now stand on a lofty height. By the prevailing, tho undoubtedly erroneous method of reckoning,* this opening year, 1900, is also the closing one of the nineteenth century, and it is natural to cast a glance backward over what the hundred years have wrought in missions.
For convenience, the century might be divided into ten decades, and its developments be studied by this simple division and classification. For, altho there is no mechanical or mathematical exactness in such arrangement of events, each decade has had its own prominent characteristic, its leading event, its conspicuous man and martyr, and its new wonder working of God-all of which serve to make its features unique.
For example, the first ten years of the century were conspicuous for organt'zation, we might almost say origination, for missions had scarcely past through the throes of their new birth when this centl'lry dawned. In 1801, the Baptist Society and the London Missionary and Church Missionary, and the Glasgow and Edinburgh societies had already begun operations; but these were only scattered bugleblasts calling the hosts of God to the war. 'rhe army as a whole had not yet been mobilized, and the great body of believers had to fall into line; and the movements already begun were timid, tentative, and feeble, and needed to be strengthened by numbers and by that greatest of all secrets of vigor and valor, faith in the fact of the Divine call, and in the success of the Divine cause. How rapidly organization neared its completion during these ten years, a student of missions needs not to be told. And now, not only are all the great Christian denominations fully'in accord with the work of missions, but there is not a local church of any standing in Christendom that has not its missionary band, its missionary meetings, and its offerings, as an indispensable part of its work.
If we should venture to characterize these decades by some special names or titles, indicating their general character, we should perhaps say that the first ten years were those of inception and preparation; the second, of fuller organization)' the third, of occupation)' the fourth, of expansion)' the fifth, of open doors)' the sixth, of rapid advance; the seventh, of woman's work)' the eighth, of radical transformation; the ninth, of the yonng people's crusade)' the tenth, of world-wide federation. These terms may not exhaust the subject, but they briefly express the conspicuous or more prominent characteristic of the decade to which they belong.
* Which is conceded to be four years too late, See REVIEW for January, 1896, pp. 1,2.
THE MISSIONS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
Each ten years has also some one o! more illustrious narnethat is inseparably associated with it. To the first decade, for example, the name of William Carey peculiarly belongs; to the second, that of Adoniram Judson; to the third, that of Alexander Duff; to the fourth, that of George Muller; to the fifth, that of Louis Harms; to the sixth; that of J. C. Hepburn; to the seventh, that of J. Hudson Taylor; to the eighth, that of George L. Mackay; to the ninth, that of Robert P. Wilder; to the tenth, that of Joseph Rabinowitz. These again are not exhaustive by any means, but they may serve as examples of the fact that some one or more workmen rise into singular and conspicuous prominence in each group of ten years.
Again, each decade has also its martyrs; men and women, who, if they have not actually sacrificed life for Christ, have exposed themselves to death with the martyr spirit. In the first of these ten periods, we think of Samuel J. Mills, in the second, of Henry Martyn, in the third, of Asaah Shidiak; in the fourth, of John Williams; III the fifth, 0'£ Mrs. Krapf; in the sixth, of Allen Gardiner; in the seventh, of George and Ellen Gordon; in the eighth, of Bishop Patteson; in the Dinth, of James Hannington; in the tenth, of G. L. Pilkington.
The century has been crowded with remarkable interpositions of God, such as the death of the Sultan Mahmoud, in 1839, and of the Siamese king in 1851, at the crisis of affairs in those two countries-the opening of doors in Ohina in 1842 and 1860, of Japan in 1853-4, and Korea in 1884-the visit of David Abeel to England in 1834, and the departure of Peter Parker, thc pioneer medical missionary in the same year; the prompting of George Williams to organize young men into Christian associations, ten years later; the Pentecosts in Hilo and Puna, Sierra Leone, South Sea Islands, Telugu country, Japan, Formosa, etc. In fact, the barest outline of the wonder-working of God through these decades would make other matter impossible in this whole number.
A century of modern missions must, however, be most valuable for its great lessons, and on these we may well fix our thought.
No study is more inspiring than that of God's word in the Scriptures, and His work in history. Each interprets and illumines the other. His word, wrought ont in His work, becoming incarnate in action; His work, thought out in His word, and becoming its fuller expression and exhibition.
Most of all is this true in Ohristian missions, so far as they conform to His method and Spirit. If anyone message of the Master deserves preeminence as a command, it is that last injunction, found repeated at ,the close of each Gospel narrative and again in the opening of the Acts; for it should be remembered that the last words He ever spoke were these: "to the uttermost parts of the earth." These words,
when duly considered, compel attention as designedly a last legacy to His Church. .
So far as the history of the Church has been the actual working out of this plan of worldwide witness, that history has been sublime, and furnishes material for a sort of Divine epic. What a theme for either poet or painter! Whenever and so far as this work has been abandoned or suffered to fall into neglect, all the Church life has decayed and declined, while every advance step, reveals a wonder- working God and guide.
GREAT LESSONS OF THE OENTURY.
Perhaps the most conspicuous practical features of the whole period are found in the permanent lessons which as by the finger of God have been written in letters of light upon the whole missionary history of the century, lessons taught the Church for all time to come and which it is of transcendent importance that every beiiever should both mark and master. To those lessons we refer briefly, as the final purpose of the great Teacher, who, during all these hundred yea'rs has been patiently instructing His people, both by successes and failures.
1. The first of all these lessons is found in the vital bond between missions and Olmrch life. To preach the Gospel to every creature is not only our Lord's great command, it is the" article of a standing or falling church." The question is not only, can the heathen be saved without missionary work, but can the Church itself be saved without "it. When the seed is choked by the thorns of worldly care, greed, and lust, it brings forth no "fruit to perfection"; there is no seed in itself after its kind, and henc,e no provision for self-propagation. Whence is to come the Church of the future, if foreign missions be abandoned! '1'he gauge of all true vitality is the vigor of the pulse, which propels the blood to the extremities; and the measure of Christian life in the individual and in the collective body of Christ is the power of its pulsations-what. it does for, and how it yearns toward, others outside of self. Before the Church of the last century awoke to this duty at the blast of the trumpet of Edwards in America and Carey in Britain, apathy and lethargy were so enwrapping the nominal body of disciples that religion seemed" a-dying "-there was not only torpor, there was petrifaction and putrifaction threatening Christendom. All revivals then and now have either begun or ended in missionary uprisings.
2. A companion lesson is found in the correspondence between home life and foreign work. A stream can rise no higher than its spring, however complete the conducting pipe of supply and distribution, the level to which water rises being determined by natural and inviolable laws. A dead church can not send forth living missionaries. If heresy in doctrine and iniquity in practise obtain at home, they will
THE MIE'SIONS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
be reproduced abroad, first in the workers sent out and then in the converts gathered in. Japan, in 1872, seemed to be destined to become "the nation born in a day," to become the evangelizer of the Asiatic continent. Japan, in 1892, was permeated by the liberalism of the Western Church, and the whole native church seemed doomed to a condition of vital declension; the converts had become perverts, and even such a sacred trust as the Doshisha that Neesima founded was threatening to become a nursery of heresy, and even of treachery to ethical principles. Everywhere the spirit of the Church at home is found to spread into the Church abroad.
3. God is still using the double seed of the kingdom. In Matthew xiii, the first parable gives us the Word of God as the seed to be sown in the soil; but in the second parable, the good seed is represented by the children of the kingdom. There is no conflict in this testimony. From the beginning of the age God has used both the message and the man-the written Word and Word made flesh in the living disciple. Neither is truly successful without the other. Roman Catholic mis- sions have been so largely a failure, even when manned by spiritual and devout and heroic missionaries, mainly by the fact that they have withheld from the people the blessed Book. Bible societies have had but a limited success as evangelizing agencies, because even those who search the Word need, like the Ethiopian eunuch, some man to guide them. But the Word of Life held forth in a believer's life, and pro- claimed by a believer's tongue-the Bible, with the man behind it, believing it, translating it into action, and witnessing to its truth and power by the fact that its truth holds him like a girdle, and its power thrills and fills him-that is God's way of evangelization.
4. Prayer is always the pivot of true success. For a century every crisis, if met by devout and believing supplication, has been safely passed, and only so. Volumes might be written proving and illus- trating this. The examples are legion, and they are found everywhere. A great cloud of witnesses testify. God waits for a waiting people. Men and money are forthcoming when prayer is urgent, importunate. and believing. Dangers are boldly confronted, and deliverances confidently expected when there is close contact with the Deliverer. Every great door has been opened by the key of prayer, like the iron gate that was before Peter. Prayer is the mantle of Elijah that smites the waters of difficulty and opens a dry path across them. Here hides the energy of faith that brings clouds of blessing to cover a heaven of brass and flood an earth of iron. All else may be wanting but, if prayer be not lacking, failure will end in success; all else may be present, but if prayer be absent, there is no true success-even success 'is failure.
5. A kindred lesson is, that faith in God is always mighty. Perhaps it would be better to write it, as our Lord spoke it: "Have the
faith of God )'" that is, reckon on God's good faith. Believe what He says, and boldly issue your fiat)· say to the mountain," Be thou :removed," and to the sycamine tree, "Be thou plucked up by th" roots." We are not to look at natural possibilities or impossibilities; for with Him all things are possible, and so they become possible to him that believeth and who by faith is vitally one with the omnipotent God. Such a career as George Muller's and Hudson Taylor's-types of many others whose names are not so famous-is proof that the God of Abraham and Moses, Elijah and Daniel, is not dead. He will be believed and trusted, if we are to be established, and enabled to accomplish anything for Him. We may attempt for Him, if we expect from Him, great things. Perhaps it yet remains for man to illustrate how great faith may be in its hold on God, and for God to demonstrate how surely and grandly He recognizes and rewards such faith. 'I'he possibilities of a believing heart and life even the angels can not estimate; they lie among the unfathomed depths-unexplored secrets of God.
6. Suffering and success are still closely joined. Dr. Edward Judson finely says they are" vitally and organically linked. If you succeed without suffering, it is because some other has suffered before you; if you suffer without succeeding, it is in order that some one else may succeed after you." In this great world-field it is rare that the same man or woman both suffers and succeeds. Some lay mere foundations and die without seeing the structure complete; some sow the seed in tears, and never reap the harvest of their sowing; others enter into their labors.
The devil's motto was-long before Peter became a satan by his suggestion-" Spare Thyself" (LA-eGOS dOL). The Lord's eternal motto for us is "Deuy Thyself." The corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die or it brings forth no fruit. To save yout' seed is to lose your crop, and to lose your seed is to find your seed again in the crop. To avoid suffering is to forfeit service.
7. The Gospel is everm01'e tlte only hope of man, and how simple- "Believe and Live." The gift of God is eternal life, and like any other gift, only to be received-one saving" work," to believe on Him whom God hath sent; one damning sin, not to believe. This is the message committed to us, and that it is Divine is proven by its adaptation to all men; nothing here for the wise and mighty only, but for the child and the savage as well. All through this century this message has been mighty. God's word never returns to Him void. Man's word may, but God's word never. We may not live to watch its return, but He whose promise has been given fails not. It accomplishes His pleasure in His time, and prospers in the errand whereto He sends it forth. Man's life is not long enough, nor man's vision penetrating enough, to trace every outgoing and incoming of God's dove. but all we have to do is to let it go and fly and come back, not to us, perhaps, but to Him. Or, as the figure stands in Isaiah, it is like the rain and snow-they are going and coming. They descend visibly and audibly; they return silently and invisibly in vapor by the process of evaporation. But God sees them coming back with their report-H We have watered the earth, made it to bring forth and bud." Let us trust Him whose word it is.
S. The day of supernatural power is never passed. Miracles change their form and type because their mission is not the same. But God never ceases working. There is still the pillar of cloud and fire iu His leadership, His hand outstretching in miracles of soul-healing and transformation; He still opens doors to nations and to human hearts; He still guides events, riding even on the whirlwind and directing the storm. Not one great event of the century that is not along the line of His purpose. These are not disjecta membra, but members of one organic body of history, and in His Book all were written long beforehand to be in continuance fashioned in actual occurrences. He has interposed in marvelous ways, and in none more singularly than inthe synchronism and succession of workers. If the lives and labors of the missionaries of the century were put on a chart represented by lines of light, it would be seen how parallel they run in various lands, , and how where one ends, another b~gins, as Pilkington took up Mackay's work in Uganda.
9. Numerical standards of S1(CCeSS are wholly nntrustzoorthy. Our God is a wonder-working God, and has His own lexicon of terms, calendar of events, and modes of reckoning. His mathematics are not man's. With man, one and one make two; with Him, one and one make ten, and so, while one puts a thousand to flight, two make ten thousand flee. One Saul of Tarsus was worth a regiment of ordinary converts. God weighs instead of counting, and weighs in His own balances. Nothing is a more awful sign of the ~aterialism of our age than the very question, "Do missions pay?" and the attempt to settle it by comparing the number of converts with the amount of money spent! How He must hold in derision all such carnal principles of reckoning. And then, too, as if there were no results that defy not only our coarse statistics, but our very perception and conception! Our eyes are too dull and our minds too narrow to scan His doings and dealings. Eternity alone will reveal-perhaps even eternity can not reveal, because intelligence with us will always be finite, even then.
10. We may add one more lesson-obedience to God is the one condition of blessing from God. He says" go," and we stay at our peril. He says speak, and we keep silence at our cost. We must obey-nay, we may obey; it is not duty so much as privilege. Let us go and die, if He pleases; the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. Let us give largely, freely; our scattered seed will bring its harvest,
tho after many days; in our scattering we shall increase. Let us bear witness -we have no responsibility as to the reception of our witness-tho none believe our report. 'I.'here is no reason why the evangelization of this world should not be attempted and accomplished in our generation. If Ahasuerus could twice send out a proclamation to every subject in his vast kingdom, extending over five million square miles and do it inside of a year, with the slow" posts" of his day, what may not fifty million Protestants do, scattered from the rising to the setting sun, and from pole to pole, with the Bible translated into nearly four hundred tongues; with steamships and railways that can carry us at from twenty to sixty miles an hour, and with all the facilities for the work that make this the unique era of history!
A new century is about to open before us, and the end of the age draws near. The earth is depopulated and repopulated thrice in a hundred years, and every second marks a birth and a death. Our greatest need is to U artse and shine." Darkness and death are abroad, and we have the Light of Life; a world famine, and we have the ,Bread of Life. God is calling, man is calling; the past is luminous with its lessons, the future luminous with the glory of its possibilities.
o for a Church that dares to do great things for God, and to hope greater things still from Him! The God of the future is a greater God than the God of the past, to those who by' faith, prayer, and obedience make possible the discovery of His true greatness.
THE MISSIONARY SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.* BY REV. JAMES CHEYNE DORWARD, NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA.
nIissionary.of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
When the American missionaries first entered the country now known as the South African Republic (1835), that country was occupied by a powerful Zulu tribe, under the leadership of Umzilakatze, the predecessor of the Matabele chief Lobengula, with whom Great • The missionaries of the American Board were among the first to occupy Natal, Zulu· land, and the country now known as the South African Republic. The Transvaal has an area of 119,139 square miles. Its population, according to the State Almanac for 1898, is 1,094,156, composed of 345,397 whites, and 748,759 natives. The latter belong to various tribes of the Bantu-speaking Kafirs, as Basutos, Betchuanos, Ba-pedis, etc., etc., and are scattered all over the Transvaal. Six missionary societies are at work among them. The most prominent of these has Ibeen the Hermannsburg Mission, its work dating from 1857. Attacht to this mission there are some 20,000 black converts. In 1859 the Berlin Mission took up work in the Transvaal, and has carried it on for forty years. It numbers over 14,000 Christians, The Wesleyans from England hegan mission work in the Transvaal in 1875, and have several thousands of adherents. An Anglican mission, begun in 1878, has a few hundred members, whilst the Dutch Reformed Mission from Cape Colony, and a Mission Romande from Protestant Switzerland have each their own fields, and an increasing circle of converts. The American Board, and the American Methodists, have also establisht work in this country. The Boers have shown little interest in these missions, and the law of 1887. which limited the number of blacks on every five thousand acres to five families, if pusht to its natural conclusions would have destroyed every mission in the coulltry.-EDITORS. Britain had a fierce conflict only a few years ago. Their labor among that particular people was short. They had scarcely begun their beneficent work when the great exodus of the Boers from Oape Oolony began. In due time the emigrants and the natives met in bat- tle array-the Boers were victorious, Umzilakatze, with his people, were driven across the Limpopo River, and the country was trans- formed in a few years into a Dutch republic. The missionaries did not follow the natives into Matabeleland, but made for Natal, where a company of their brethren had already begun to labor. The little mission band in N~tal at first seemed likely to fare but little better. The teeming native population which they expected to find had been swept away by the armies of Tyaka, the founder of the Zulu nation, only about fifteen years before. This Tyaka was a great military genius. He has been called the Napoleon of South Africa.
Beginning with a small tribe of about 2,000, he gradually conquered and absorbed all the surround- ing peoples from the Delagoa Bay to the St.
John's River. His reign of terror lasted about twenty years, and at his death he had 100,000 warriors. He was slain by his two brothers, one of whom, Dingane, was in power when the American A ZULU BUT AND SOME OF TBE FAMILY.
missionaries arrived on the scene.
It was the policy of these Zulu conquerors to keep the land imme- diately south of the Tugela River destitute and untilled. The inhabit- ants were, therefore, slain, drafted into the Zulu army, or distributed among the tribes of Zululand. Military kraals were establisht in Natal, but none were allowed to remain outside of them. So thor- ough was the desolation that, on their first journey from Port Natal to the capital of the Zulu king, it is said that the missionaries found no habitations south of the Tugela River, tho they saw the sites of many old kraals and the bones of the dead scattered all around.
At that time there were only twenty-two white people in Natal, and two of these were women. The men were there for the purposes of trading and hunting.
The missionaries were cordially welcomed at first, but when the Zulu king saw his people becoming converts, and mission stations being formed, his jealousy was aroused. That first little company of native Ohristians was slain, and the millsionaries were driven into Natal. Then the advent of the Boers took place. By force of arms they conquered the Zulus, establisht themselves in Natal, raised the republican flag, and founded the city of Pietermaritzburg, which they named after two of their leaders who were slain by the Zulus. The rule of the Dutch, however, was short lived. The British government came on the scene, and the Boers retreated across the Drackensberg.
After the establishment of British rule the work of the American Board made rapid progress. Being first on the field the missionaries had acquired considerable influence over the native population, and thus their work increast very rapidly. Great numbers from the surrounding country came into Natal seeking the protection of the British flag. The Americans were useful to the British government, and in due time, as trustees for the natives, acquired control of 90,000 acres of lamI in twelve mission reserves along the coast from the northern to the southern boundaries of Natal. As these are also surrounded for the most part by native reservations, held in trust by a government body called the Natal Native Trust, and as the most of the natives in Natal live on these lands, the American mission soon became an important and influential body.
MISSIONARY SOCIETIES AT WORK.
There are other missions now at work in Natal, Zululand, and the 'rransvaal. A list of their names would include Anglicans, Wesleyans, Presbyterians, Free Ohurch of Scotland, South African General Mission, the Ohurch of Norway (Lutheran), the Ohurch of Sweden (Lutheran), the Free Ohurch of Norway (Oongregational), the Hermannsburg Mission, the Berlin Mission, the Swiss Protestant Mission, the Colonial Mission Society, the Huguenot Female Seminary Mission (Boer and British), the Independent Baptist Ohurch (African Dutch), the Boer Farm Mission (African Dutch), and others. Mr. Baker, of Johannesburg, a man of wealth, carries on at his own expense a mission operating at several points in Natal and in the South African Republic. The Roman Oatholics are also at work in considerable force, but not with very markt success. The English Wesleyan mission is the only one in Natal that approaches the AmerIcan mission in extent or influence, and the work of that mission is very largely with the Xosa-speaking part of the popUlation.
In spite of the fact that so many missions are at work, many in Zululand even yet have had little or no opportunity to hear the Gospel. That land at present is closed against European occupation. There are a few missionaries, Anglican and others, but no new grants of land are now given Ol' sold. Work in these parts must be accomplisht by itinerating, and where consent of chiefs and magistrates caR be secured, by placing native pastors. The scattered way in which the native!;! live make!;! the work of reaching all with the Gospel, even
TRill MlsslONAttY stTUATIoN 1N SbUTlt AFRIcA
in Natal, difficult and laborious. Yet the work of the missionaries has not been in vain, 110r even slow in development. The result fully justifies the effort put forth. Among the Zulu people there are to-day very many homes where Christ is honored and where family worship is conducted daily. The Lord's day is observed by large Christian communities and to some extent even by heathen people. There are, at least in the American mission, a number of self-supporting native churches. The American Board still sends out missionaries but contributes uothing to the native agency. The churches of this mission have their own Home Missionary Society, which is supported by funds contributed by the native Christians. Every church is assest according to its ability, the churches making the assessment. This society sends out and supports native agents trained and approved of by the American missionaries. Weak churches are thus helpt to support their pastors and evangelists are sent into outlying districts. Many members of the native churches give, besides Sunday offerings, more than the amount of an average month's wages to the annual contribution for this Zulu Home Missionary Society.
The TheologiQal School of the American Zulu Mission is the only one in South Africa for the training of Zulu men for the pastorate. From it many Zulus have gone out to preach the Gospel to their own people. The importance of this department can scarcely be overstated. The men in charge, however, are sadly handicapt by duties that often seem to conflict. The work is so large and is becoming so complicated, while the number of missionaries is steadily diminishing on account of lack of funds, that those in charge of the Theological Seminary are obliged to add to their work the duties of a general missionary. This often necessitates the closing of the seminary while other duties are being performed.
The field opening up for thoroughly equipt native evangelists is large and important, and the opportunities which the near future must bring can scarcely be overestimated. Africa has now been partitioned by European powers. What Roman arms and Greek literature accomplisht for the ancient world, the commercial greed and lust for power so rampant to-day will accomplish for Africa. These forces will open highways along which the heralds of the Cross may enter. Railroads are now being pusht into regions hitherto wennigh impenetrable to the missionary. Here is not only an opportnnity but a resulting responsibility. The experience and strength generated during the past sixty or seventy years should now be fully utilized. The Theological Seminary may be made a radiating center of great power. The Zulu language is understood far into the interior. Native evangelists, properly trained, would be able to carry the Word as far as the Zulu language and kindred dialects are spoken. To that end a proper endowment of the Seminary would be most welcome..
One of the great services of the American mission is the translation of the Bible into the Zulu language out of the original tongues. The people had no written language when the missionaries began their work. This Bible is printed by the American Bible Society, and has gone through a number of editions. The sales are large, and increasing every year. Last year the Bible Society sent out 14,000 copies. This growing desire for the Word of God is a most encouraging feature.
The training-schools for boys and girls in the American mission are largely in the hands of lady teachers. There are three such schools for girls, and one for boys. They supply the mission with its day-school teachers and helpers, and produce its best home-makers. It should not be thought that these schools are educational centers only. They are evangelical agencies of the most aggressive sort. They are centers of light. It is doubtful if any other department of work gives more satisfactory returns. While industrial work is taught in these schools, and a fair common-school education is given, the work of the teachers is preeminently evangelistic. These pupils are taken out of their heathen surroundings and associations for nine months of the year, and brought under the refining and softening infiueJ.lce of American women in charge. In the class· room, in the assembly, and in private, the sweetness and light of the Gospel are so set before the pupils that a large majority of them make confession of Christ before they leave school. In many minds there is an impression that the work in these schools is sec.ular in its tone. Nothing could be farther from the truth. But in the mission field we are made to realize more forcibly perhaps than is possible in a Christian land, that mental quickening is essential to the fullest development of the moral and spiritual nature.
THE AMERICAN BOARD IN THE TRANSVAAL.
The work of the American Board is not confined to Natal and Zululand. It has gone back to the territory it attempted to occupy in the early days before the gold fields were dreamed of. The work in the mining districts in Johannesburg is very important. One mine alone, the" Simmer and Jack," before the present war commenced, was employing 4,500 natives. The mission reckons its native district in Johannesburg as numbering from 70,000 to 100,000. In these mines are to be found natives from far and neal'. Many are brought down from the interior for mine work. A visitor may hear at least half a dozen languages spoken in one mine. The American missionaries are themselves limited to the Zulu tongue, but they have native Ohristians who have learned most, if not all, the languages spoken, and are able to preach in them. Another class of natives is reacht through openair preaching in the Market Square of Johannesburg, and still another
1900.1 THE MISSIONARY SITUATION tN SOUTtt AFRICA
EDWARDS HALL. INANDA SEMINA.RY.
AmerIcan Board MI!91on, Natal, South Africa.
m the mISSIOn chapels, of which there are several in the city and its suburbs. Evening schools are taught during the week in these chap- els, the Bible in the Zulu language being the text-book.
Other mission bodies are also doing a great work among the various peoples of the Transvaal, and there is' room for many more. An impression is being made on the great mass of heathenism. .How great that mass is, and how dense the ignorance and superstition it represents, one must go there to realize in any proper measure. The farthest reach of the American mission at present is Gazaland or Eastern Rhodesia, where a small company of missionaries are at work.
Taking into consideration the present conditions of life among the Zulu people, together with their past, their progress gives much room for encouragement. The missionaries have had to work under many discouragements. 'rhe British government has not placed the natives of Natal under English law, but under laws entirely different, namely, a set of laws called the Native Code. It would seem that in the early days, when natives sought the protection of the British flag, they might have been placed under civilized law; but instead a code was made, based on the old laws and customs of the heathen. Among other things these laws legalized polygamy, set the price of a woma,n given in marriage, and made her marriage legal only when the said sum was paid in the presence of official witnesses. Women are always minors and always the property of the father, his heir, 01' the man to whom she is married; and on the death of her husband her eldest son is practically her owner. Such things sanctioned and legalized. by a professedly Christian government have been a serious stumbling-block to progress
The temptations that surround the native convert are also many and great. They are not supported against the evils that surround them by a strong moral sentiment in the community. They are not buttrest as are Christians in England and America. They are obliged to live close to the heathenism they have forsaken, and for the most part are still subject to heathen chiefs, who have magisterial power under authority from government which allows them to try cases, collect fines, aud yet requires no report or return of money. Meu have been fined by these chiefs for attending religious meetings.
It has been well said that where non-Christian races have a certain degree of culture, tho it be pagan, and where men have been trained by commerce and under the influence of a settled government of their own, they may, after a short period of probation, be entrusted with the management of their own church affairs and with the spread of the Gospel among their own people. This may be true of India, China, and Japan, where the people for centuries have had training in heathen culture, but it is not true of Africa. Such training has bee"n w!lOlly wanting among the Zulu people. For ages, until about sixty years ago, they lived without a glimpse of better thiugs, in naked barbarism. To-day they have only such opportunities for self-development as the missionary makes for them. The British government has laid upon them absolutely no responsibilities, and since Natal has become an independent, self-governing colony, those in authority are inclining more and more to a policy that would hold the people down to the level on which they were found.
THE OUTLOOK :FOR MISSIONS.
As to the future of missions in South Africa, in view of present disturbances, there need be no fears. Irrespective of the merits of the war now raging in that country, we believe that the result will be favorable to missionary and religious enterprise. The past years of jealousy and discord between the ruliug powers has been a serious hindrance to religious progress. The war may be expected to clear the political atmosphere, settle great questions of government control, and usher in an era of peace with all its attendant blessings and opportunities. Africa has been brought vividly before the world, never again to lapse into its former dark condition. The opening of the continent must go on still more rapidly. The railroad is open to Bulawayo, which a few years ago was the capital of a heathen king, but which has now a population of 4,000 white people, 10 hotels, 2 club houses, 6 churches, 3 newspapers, hospitals, schools, and all that goes to make a civilized community. The prince of this world is already making strenuous efforts to forestall the missionary. A strong prejudice exists, even among many good people in the English colonies, against the work of missionaries to the natives, and as for the civilization
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NEW RULES OF THE EDUCA1'IONAL DEPARTMENT, JAPAN
brought in by an army of adventurers and speculators, it may be c,'1lled Christian, but it does not make for righteousness. At a way~ side railroad station the writer came across a distiller's advertisement; it was a large map of the world, and across it was printed the words, " Our field is the World." Is the Church of Christ characterized by a like zeal and enterprise? 'fhe motto is also theirs.
Millions of dollars are being poured into the Cape to Cairo railroad and telegraph schem'e. Yet the promoters of that gigantic enter~ prise probably will not live to reap dividends therefrom. They are investing for future generations. A nobler investment, making larger promises and offering greater and surer returns, is before the Christian world to-day, an investment that aims at the transformation of a continent-tho redemption of milliolls. Ten thousand per cent. in this life and in the world to come life everlasting is the reward offered by the Almighty.
The f(;demption of Africa and the transformation of its trackless wildernesses, vast forests, and great lakes, now the habitations of wild beasts and, perhaps, of wilder men, is not a chimera. The same forces that wrought out the redemption of Gothland are at work there. The spread of Christianity in the Roman empire, among the Gothic races, in the British isles, with the wonderful story of transformed lands and peoples flowing therefrom, is the history of missionary enterprise. The time is as surely coming when the wilds of Africa shall be subdued, when its fever belts shall yield to sanitary laws, ita great plains be converted into fruitful fields, its great lakes into centers of com~ merce, and the whole be inhabited by a people whQse God is the Lord.
NEW RULES OF THE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF STATE, JAPAN.
REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Japanese school ruling, recently made, has created quite a disturbance of missionary circles in that country, and of all missionary societies having educational work there. That they clearly contravene the clauses of the national constitution, which guarantee religious freedom, is recognized beyond mission circles. The Japan Mail, a powerful organ, which is generally accredited with too much sympathy with the government to admit of its being relied on as inde~ pendent in judgment on some questions, is very pronounced against this action of the educational department of state. It says these rules practically amount to a "veto against all religious instructiou." It crystallizes the matter, saying, "To tell a man that if he chooses to send his son to school where religious instruction enters the curricu-
lum, the lad will be liable to conscription involving three years' service in the ranks, at twenty, whereas, if there be no such subject in the curriculum, he will be safe from conscription until twenty-seven, and can then escape with a year's modified service-to condemn a father to such a choice is virtually to deprive him altogether of the privilege of choosing!" It affirms that, "That is not the kind of freedom of conscience guaranteed by the constitution."
Our American readers must not mistake this for neutrality in religion in public schools or other government institutious of learning. There is no dispute over that policy. Nobody asks that taxes paid by men holding various creeds, should be given without their consent to support schools where one particular creed is taught. The contention is over schools which have no relation, direct or indirect, to support from the government. This law establishes a penalty for attending private schools where religion is taught either inside or outside of the regular school hours or curriculum, even tho the government has otherwise officially approved the curricula of these schools, and recognized the grade of their alumni. It is a bold, Jesuit-like stroke of policy, intended to drive students into the government institutions. Whether it is designed to strike at the teachings of Ohristianity, and thus at missionaries, need not now be asserted. If it is nothing but another instance of the extreme nationalism of some of the narrow-minded among the leaders, the effect is the same. If the government were to prohibit all private schools, and make attendance on national institutions of learning compulsory, that would be a distinct move toward nationalism. That law might or might not be proven constitutional. But to pass a law that there should be no private institutions in connection with which any religious iustruction is to be given, is to invade another domain. They might extend this to say that if any religious instruction were given to the pupils on Sabbath, in churches, or at the home, the pupils were to be subject to national disabilities. It contravenes all constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
That this sort of laws obtains in some Ohristian states has no relevancy. Austria even enters the home and prohibits children between the ages of seven and fourteen Itttelldilolg family worship in Protestant homes. But there is no profession of religious liberty in Austria. No constitution safeguards the conscience of the people. On the other hand, Japan has a constitution, and the other nations waited for ten years while the Japanese became familiar with what that meant, to a degree whir:h gave some guarantee that it could and would be operative. Not till reasonably assured of this would they enter into treaties with Japan, placing their respective nationals under Japanese authority. And this is the specimen notion of the educational department of state in regard to religious liberty guaranteed by
NEW RULES OF THE EDUCATIONAL })EPARTM.ENT, JAPAN
the nation! U ntH recent enactments modified the administration, certain mission schools were exempt from conscription, having a scheme of studies approved by the government, Christian instruction being given aside from the regular curriculum. These continu2d to be Christian schools, aud were not contravened by the government. There was hope that the government would ere long become liberal enough to accept a test of sch01arship alone, leaving each school to do with the religious instruction as it pleased. A standard of educational results, no matter how reacht, would have been satisfactory.
When, however, these new restrictions compelled the entire dissociation with religious teaching, in or out of school hours, the Presbyterian school at Tokyo resolved to break all connection with the government and become an absolutely private school, and so notified intending students. In view of its obligations to students who had already made their arrangements to enter the school, this was subsequently modified for the present. The rigid administration of the new regulations will remove students from mission schools numbering ill the aggregate thousands, even affecting the elementary work of kindergartens.
Fortunately, this prohibition is not a legal enactment of the government, else it might be difficult to get it repealed. It is only the instruction of the minister of education, which he may be induced to modify, or which his successor may withdraw. Tho urged by the educational council to pass a law prohibiting all private schools, the government refused to do so. The laws of the land are not harshly hostile to mission schools. What we are denouncing is only a regulation of a government officer, tho possibly" winkt at" by the government, either on principle or policy. It is like a measure here with us, amenable to public sentiment, which even the party -initiating it may withdraw, and there is reason to hope it will be modified under popular demand.
One can not be unappreciative of the progress made in Japan. Forty years ago the first Protestant missionaries entered the country, with government proclamations on every highway threatening their lives for being there at all. Now, forty thousand Japanese Protestant Christiaus are enrolled in churches. Japanese Christians are important government factors. The speaker of the parliament in recent years is a Japanese Christian; two out of four of the central committee which direct the dominant political party are Christians. The progress of the past forty years furnishes ground for aSS1~rance and for hope. It must not be expected but waves will recede, even when the tide may be advancing. Japan will probably right up this school matter; meanwhile missionaries must have patience. It were desirable that no such checks and setbacks should mar Japan's progress; but still she makes progress. She ought to keep scrupulous faith
with her constitution, or other nations will distrust her in other than religious and educational lines.
ACTION AT A CONFERENCE OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.* This conference, composed of officers and members of the missionary agencies of the Baptist, Oongregational, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churchel!!, would express its complete approval of the resolution adopted by the missionaries in Japan, on August 16th, in the conference called to consider the question of the relation of the schools supported by these boards to the regulation of the minister of education, forbidding religious worship or instruction in all schools" whose curricula are regulated by provisions of law," to wit: The representatives .of six Christian SChDOls, Aoyama, Gakuin, Azabu Ei-wa GakkD, DDshisha, RikkYD Chu GakkD, Meigi Gakuin, Nagoyo Ei-wa GakkD, met in cDnference .on August 16th in TokYD, tD cDnsider what course tD pursue in view .of the recent instructiDns .of the educational department, excluding entirely all religion frDm private SChODls receiving any recDgnitiDn .of the department, and decided tD submit tD the representatives and .officials of the variDus Christian SChDOls affected by these regulatiDns, the fDllowing statement of opinion fDr their cDnsideratiDn: '1'he cDnstitution .of the empire grants religious liberty; the instructions of the educatiDnal department, definitely and more cDmpletely than ever, forbid all teaching .of religion, as well as religious exercises, to all SChDDls seeking gDvernment recDgnitiDn. We feel that this position of the educatiDnal department is cDntrary to the spirit of the cDnstitutiDn of the empire, in practically restricting the liberty of parents in deciding upDn the educatiDn .of their children. We are here nDt raising any objections tD the educational department's making such restrictions for public SChDDls suppDrted by public funds; but we feel that to put these same limitations upon private schools, supported by private funds, works great injustice. We feel even more strongly that these regulations make it impossible for Christian schools to secure the recognition of the government and its accompanying privileges. We are of the conviction that for any Christian school, founded on Christian principles, supported in any measure by the gifts and prayers of Christian people, to exclude in any degree Christianity from its ruling principles, or from its school life, would be disloyalty to our common Lord, and to the churches aiding our schools. We call upon all officers and teachers of Christian schools to take a firm and decided stand upon this matter, not yielding any Christian principle for the sake of securing or maintaining government privileges.
In the conviction that the great need of Japan is Ohristianity and Ohristian education, and that the members of the churches represented in this conference would not approve of the use of mission .. After the above was in type we received from Mr. Robert E. Speer, secretary, the following memorandum of action of missionary secretaries held in New York, Nov. 9, 1899. We are sure the patrons of all the missionary societies will illdorse their action.- [THE EDITORS. 1
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO AND NOW IN COCANADA, INDIA
funds in the support of schools in which all religious exercises and teaching are prohibited, this conference expresses its conviction that the missions in Japan should steadfastly refuse to make any compromise of whatsoever character, or however temporary or plausible, as to the religious character of their educational work. In the judgment of this conference, it will be most unfortunate if at this time the missions fail to stand together, in maintaining unimpaired the avowed and unmistakable Christian character of their schools, in all their departments, at whatever sacrifice of secular advantage or government privilege.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO AND NOW IN COCANADA, INDIA.
BY Jo:EV. H. }'. LAFLAMME, COCANADA, INDIA.
Missionary of the Canada Baptist Mission.
Bishop Thoburn, in his admirable book, "My Missionary Apprenticeship," a title he applies to the account of his first twenty-five years in India, seems to indicate that as the length of time required to master the missionary's calling. 'fhe census report of 1891 for South India records the fact that at birth the India infant looks out upon the possibility of twenty-five years as a life expectancy. 'fhis statement of a veteran missionary, and this startling deduction from life statistics, solemnize us as we realize that the Telugu mission of the Baptists of Ontario, Quebec, and Western Canada past its twenty-fifth anniversary on the 12th of March, 1899. On that day, twenty-five years ago, J ohR McLaurin, his wife, and two little girls landed at Cocanada, and took over from Thomas Gabriel, an ex-telegraph operator and an ordained minister of the regular Baptist persuasion, the mission, with one hundred and fifty churches, a handful of native agents, and a debt of 10,000 rupees. At that time, from Nursapur, fifty-six miles south, to Vizagapatam, one hundred miles north, and to Rajahmandry, forty miles inland, there was no other Protestant mission station.
In 1899, the venerable founder lookt over a sea of four hundred faces, upturned in eager, intelligent, and sympathetic interest to catch his every word, as he reviewed the gracious dealings of God with the mISSIOn. These were but the representatives of four thousand in the membership of the thirty-three churches of thc mission which he had establisht twenty-five years before. And these again were but the vanguard of a great host, the noise of whose coming mutters like the roll of distant thunder throughout the length and breadth of the mission field. The mission has past its apprenticeship; it has attained its majority; it now stands with head erect and shining face toward the
future, where all the bright promises of God lie, and henceforth it will race with the strong.
The semi-jubilee celebration, held at Cocanada, extended through four days and a Sabbath. The mornings were entirely occupied with devotional and spiritual exercises of great power and blessing. The afternoons throughout were devoted to the history of the mission. The _ programs of the evenings were varied, and consisted of reminiscences and experiences, and on the last night of a consecration meeting that has markt an epoch of new power and higher living in many souls, and has increast the spiritual pulse-beat of the mission. Services of song brightened the periods. Rhythmical histories of Joseph, Moses, Esther, and Christ chanted by small choruses to the accompaniment of the sitar, gave great enjoyment and large instruction. One night a phonograph reproduced among other things messages from the founder, from the sonorous and musical voice of Pastor Jonathan Burder, and some Telugu hymns, to the great amazement of many. An acetyline gas magic-lantern was a feature of some evenings. . The first day was given up to the veterans. The bitter truthful- ness of the census statement that twenty-five years is the average of life in South India received sad confirmation in the absence of all but a little handful of charter members. Thomas Gabriel's grave received his earthly remains twenty-four years ago, and his spirit went home to God after what seemed to be the completion of his life work in the handing of his loved mission over to the Board. Currie Samuel, bap- tized among the very first, thirty years ago, away down in his village near the Colair Lake, was not able to be present. He is the mayor of his village. But his vigorous dearly loved and honored younger brother, Peter, the pastor of Gunapudi, the banner church, was present and told of the beginnings. In the place of their first sixty- rupee meeting-house they now have a chapel costing five thousand rupees, of which he and his two brothers gave twelve hundred. Other friends in India and Canada and the native Christians are clear- ing off the balance. They have four hundred and eighty members and raised over six hundred and twenty last year to support church expenses, five teachers, and four village schools, and to help in other directions. The church is one of the two declared self-supporting in the mission. M. Mark, the Tamil butcher, a deacon in the Cocanada church.• and one of the charter members, related his early experiences. Brother McLaurin spoke with power about beginnings.
The second day covered the first twelve and a half years, 1874- 1886. Mr. McLaurin and his daughter Kate, who represented her mother, and pastors Jonathan Burder and Karri Peter spoke. In the commencement, the first converts had come from the villages about Colair Lake, and so the missionaries and workers were at once led to the heart of India's agricultural village. They preacht, and
taught, and pleaded with the villagers. Among them they establisht little schools for the children of their converts. Out from these villages and up through these little village schools came the bone and sinew of the mission's life and growth. ]'our mission stations were establisht by 1882 at Cocanada; Tuni (,78), Akidu ('80), and Samathota (,82), with boarding-school for boys or girls at each for the brighter scholars from the village school, and for such as could not get to school in any other way. A literary and theological department was added at Samathota for the education of teachers and preachers and their wives. A boarding and day school for Europeans and Eurasians was opened at Cocanada. As the burden of a successful work prest upon them, the missionaries pleaded with the home churches for reenforcements. But from '78 to '86 none were sent. In '84 two missionaries were sent home on furlough. The intense strain precipitated a great calamity. In '85, enthusiastic, devoted, hopeful Timpany died. Returning prematurely to take his place, Currie died in '86. Craig came back just in time to take over the entire burden of the work faIling from the almost lifeless hand of McLaurin, who was compelled to go home in 1887. Miss Frith, the first and only single lady on the staff, after five years' service, was then invalided home. Thus the seminary was closed, boarding-schools broken up, half the stations left vacant, and the burden of the work largely thrown on one man. Thus the first half of the mission's history closed in clouds, darkness, and great distress.
The third day dealt with the second twelve and a half years, 1886-1899. It was not till the end of '89 that all the old stations were fully manned, and the mission prepared to advance into new territory. In that year a memorable meeting of the two Canadian missions, under a profound conviction after long prayer that this generation of Christians were demanded by the commission to give the Gospel to this generation of heathen, issued an appeal to the home chllrches for one male missionary to each fifty thousand of the people, and single ladies in proportion. They prayed that God might greatly multiply tho native agents and strengthen the native. churches. The history of the second period has been the answer to that prayer. The five male missionaries and five single ladies of 1889 have increast to ten of each in 1899; the native agents from ninety-two to one hundred and eighty-two, the seventeen churches to thirty-three, the two thousand church members to four thousand, and the native contributions from 2,300 to 3,766 rupees. There is 11 doubling almost all round. Praise be to God! What might the response not have been had the appeal of '89 received a fulfilment?
On the fourth day of the semi-jubilee the future, its prospects and views, were lookt into. The gigantic proportions of the need are apparent from the following facts: One million ltnd a half Telugus
are dependent on this mission alone for the Bread of Life. Of these 400,000 (not including little children) pass to eternity each decade. The four thousand converts are from the lowest castes, who repreRent only one-sixth of the entire population. The remaining one million and a quarter of higher caste present an almost unbroken phalanx to be possest for Christ. Were the 1,500,000 equally distributed among the evangelizing forces there would be 150,000 souls to each mission station, with eighteen mission agents, preachers, teachers, Bible women, and colporteurs. Among them would be the care of and help from three hundred and seventy-five church members. Out of two thousand villages only two hundred and sixty-two contain Christians. In most of these the Christians are a mere handful from the lowest and most despised castes banisht to the outskirts of an overwhelming heathenism. With the utmost endeavor of the entire mission staff only about one-half of these two thousand villages are receiving anything like regular Gospel ministrations. In many of them only very meagerly is Christ given. In one thousand of them a few only occasionally, and some never, hear the Gospel message.
This distressing need so impresses the missionaries that they are calling for twenty more male missionaries and a proportionate number of single ladies, to be sent out as soon as possible, and, are urging the native churches to increast effort.
The Sabbath of the semi-jubilee was a high day. 'rhe morning congregation of four hundred raised one hundred rupees toward a superannuated ministers' widows' and orphans' fund. The women met in the afternoon. Their aids are marching out in supporting home mission Bible women. The home mission in ten years has helpt struggling causes to four thousand rupees. What hath God wrought!
THE WORK OF CANADIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
REV. ~. RYERSON YOUNG, JR., TORONTO, CANADA.
In the month of October the mission boards of the principal denominations in Canada were in session.
In the historic city of Quebec, the General Board of Missions of the Methodist Church met on October 12-17. There was a full attendance of members, every conference in the Dominion being represented. The income for last year was $265,979, which gives the handsome increase over last year of $22,927. In his annual report, the secretary, Dr. Sutherland, reviewed the work done in Japan, China, and other mission fields under the control of the Board. Spiritual progress was also recorded in most of the missions. The influence which the province of Quebec is exerting in the Dominion
THE WORK OF CANADIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETIES
has called forth a more aggressive mission work among the Roman Catholics of that province.
A special report concerning the foreigners who have lately settled in Manitoba was presented by the Rev. Dr. Maclean. At the present time there are within the bounds of the Manitoba conference about 25,000 Galicians and 7,000 Doukhobors. The former are chiefly from Austria, and comprise Poles and Ruthenians; the latter are from Russia. These people are chiefly located in Manitoba and the North- west, in and beyond the Swan River district. They speak the Rnth- enian, Polish, and German languages, the first predominating. Owing to their poverty, their ignorance of the English language and cus- toms, and the difficulties incident to settlement in a new country, their social condition is not the best. They are sober and industrious, and, as farmers on a small scale, they are likely to succeed. As they are certain to become an important social and political factor in the building of the nation within a few years, the Methodists feel that something ought to be done toward evangelizing them.
The board of management of the Woman's Missionary Society of the Methodist Church of Canada held its eighteenth annual session in Hamilton, commencing on October 17th. All branches of the work under the control of this energetic society were in healthy condition.
This missionary society raises its money before it "grants" it. 'I'he receipts of last year from the branch auxiliaries amounted to $40,226.
The Easter offering was $7,020, and there was an additional income of $2,400. The appropriations made for the ensuing year aggregate $45,647.
The Board of Domestic and Foreign Missions of the Church of England in Canada met in Montreal on October 10-12. The income for the year ending in July was $34,742, about the same amount as that of last year, which was then a gratifying increase. The Woman's Auxiliary raised in addition to this $23,110. Grants were made to the different missions under control of the Board. A special effort will be made to organize the children and teachers of the Sunday-schools into systematic helpers. In connection with the work in Japan, the Anglican Board had heretofore handed over a lump sum to the Society for the Progagation of the Gospel in England, which money was dis- burst for them. The Canadian Board has arranged to take this work off the hands of the English society and will hereafter engage, pay, and direct its own missionaries. The' transfer will take place on January 1.
THE CANADIAN PRESBYTERIANS.
The executive committee of the Home Mission Board of the Pres- byterian Church in Canada met in 'foronto on October lOth. This board is a separate organization from the Foreign Mission Board.
Gra-uta to the extent of $40,000 were made to mission work in different
parts of the Dominion from Quebec to the Klondike. The General Presbyterian Mission Board purposes to raise a fund of $150,000 in connection with the twentieth century forward movement, and of this amount the Home Mission Board will endeavor to raise $50,000. A proportion of this fund will be devoted to opening up new fields. The fall meeting of the Foreign Mission Board met in Toronto on October 17 and 18. The income last year was $175,000. This society has missions in Central India, Formosa, Honall, China, Trinidad, the New Hebrides, as well as to the Chinese and Indians in Canada. Erromanga (New Hebrides), where the blood of two Canadian missionaries was shed, is now practically Christianized. The society, however, still retains one missionary there. Two other missionaries are on two other islands. In India a total membership of 1,010 is recorded, and 2,108 children attend the schools. There are 16,000 densely populated villages where the Presbyterian missionaries are working. In Formosa the missions have greatly suffered in consequence of the war with Japan.
In 1897, the missions in that island were flourishing, and 286 baptisms were reported. In 1898, 160 baptisms were reported. During the war 436 mission converts died, most of them by violent death. Two hundred and twenty-seven left the country. Then followed a plague of locusts, the bubonic plague, and a devastating flood. Nineteen chapels were destroyed, and, owing to the new Japanese tariff, living expenses have greatly increast. The work, however, is continued in faith. 'rhe society's work among the Indians and Chinese of Canada has encouraging features, and is earnestly prest forward.
There are other missionary societies in the Dominion that are full of life and vigor, and many mission fields are blest by their efforts. The Baptist Missionary Union raised $36,580 for foreign missions and $9,078 for Indian missions last year; and, in connection with the twentieth century forward movement, propose to raise $150,000 for missionary purposes at home and abroad.
POLITICS AND RELIGION IN FRANCE.
REV. RUBEN SAILLIENS, PARIS, FRANCE.
Underneath all the political agitation in France in connection with the Dreyfus affair, there is a great religious problem which has to be solved. The destinies of France hang in the balance; it is the old fight, renewed, between the spirit of Rome and the modern tendencies toward liberty and parliamentary government. At present Rome is doing its utmost to reconquer France, which has ever been its brightest jewel, and the fruitful field from which it has gathered
POLITICS AND RELIGION IN FRANCE
men and money in abundance. It is affirmed by good authorities that the convents and religious" congregations" hold ten thousand mil- lions of francs worth of property (10,000,000,000 I). There are relig- ious houses, new chapels, and churches, on all hands. The amount of movable property, in stocks and funds, is unknown. All that money goes into the war: in support of daily papers, in schools competing with the board-schools, in institutions of higher learning, where young men are prepared for the army and navy, thus furnishing these staple institutions with officers who are the devoted servants of the church. And you know that" the church" is, to-day, entirely in the hands of the Jesuits; the old Gallican spirit has completely died out. It is to the influence of "the church" that the present success of antisemitism is due; those awful cries which one hears now constantly in the Paris streets, Mort aux Juifs! (Death to the Jews) are often led by priests, who do not even take the trouble to go about in disguise.
Along with this hatred against the Jews, the Freemasons, the Republicans, there is also hatred against Protestants. A book, which has been extensively circulated, and has brought notoriety to its writer, is called" Le Peril Protestant" (Protestant peril). It points out that Protestants, who are a small minority in the country, are occupying leading positions in the government, in education, etc., and attributes their superiority not to any moral cause, but simply to the power of money, and to their association with their foreign breth- ren, in England and Germany. It publishes a list of the most obnox- ious Protestants, a list which seems to have been prepared in view of a new Saint Bartholomew. The sad part of it is, that among the masses there are those who take in this violent spirit: the poor people suffer so much by high taxation, the military system, and other evils, that they are ready to fall upon any who are pointed out to them as the causes of all this suffering : Jews and Protestants So far our successive governments have, with more or less firm- ness, withstood this tremendous return of a flood, which one would have thought was dried up long ago. The present ministry, particu- larly, is very energetic in its defense of our republican institutions. The president of the republic, M. Loubet, is a liberal of the good old school, and all good citizens feel assured that, as long as he stands .there, our liberties are safe. Moreover, in the country at large, there are cheering signs that the true spirit of a democracy worthy of the name is not altogether dead; and among the leaders of public opinion who have taken the right side, and whose efforts have so far successfully opposed Rome, one is happy to name, in the very first rank, 1.1. FranciE. de Pressense, the worthy son of a noble father.
A League for the Defense of the Rights oj Man (Ligue des Droits de I'Homme) numbers thousands of members, and has branches all over the country. At the head of it are our most distinguisht men in
letters, science, and politics. Thus, you see, the battle is raging, with able and resolute men on both sides.
Our position, as Christians of the evangelical type, is a difficult one, and which our friends in America would hardly realize. Of course, all our sympathies are on the side of a parliamentary, liberal, and orderly government. We hate the cry, Mort aux Jnifs! remembering that our dear Lord was a Jew himself, and that nothing is so contrary to the letter and spirit of the Gospel as wholesale condemnation over a people, simply by reason of their race. At the same time the extreme views of some of the fiercest opponents of Rome are obnoxious to us, almost equally as the Romish spirit of'intolerance. Come what may, we can not go hand in hand with revolutionaries and anarchists. Even in the excellent Ligue des Droits de l'Homme, we perceive a cause for weakness; there is no acknowledgment on the part of its leaders of the rights of God. We hear a great deal of the necessity to fight for justice, truth, liberty-in connection with Dreyfus-but these abstract words seem to hide from the best of our fellow-citizens the glorious name of Him without whom there would never be any justice, or truth, or liberty. In one word, while the armies of Rome march under the standard of a false religion, the armies of freedom march under_no religious banner of any kind; they simply ignore the cravings of the human soul for a higher life, for an ideal far beyond this poor world of ours.
And it is this that makes some of us fear that in the end, and for some time at least, Rome will conquer. It has on its side the religious instincts which are never thoroughly dead in the masses.
Evangelical Christians are too few, and too poorly furnisht, to create a powerful impression. Yet it is my conviction that if at this time we were able to go about hiring large halls for short campaigns in towns and cities, large congregations would gather. For it is not willingly that the people will return to priestcraft; it is for want of a better thing, as when a famisht man eats what he formerly threw away for want of better food.
A CHINESE STATESMAN'S RECIPE FOR REFORMING 'rHE EMPIRE.
REV. ARTHUR H. SMITH, D.D., TIENTSEN, CHINA.
Author of "Chinese Characteristics" and" Village Life in China."
One of the most influential officials in China is Chang Chih-T'ung, the present governor-general of Hupeh and Hunan. He was born in Chihli in 1835, and in 1882, by reason of his valuable memorials relating to the great famine in Shansi, was made governor of that province. Two years later he was promoted to be governor-general of the two important provinces of Kuang-tung and Kuang-hsi, with headquarters at Canton. In 1880 he was again transferred to Wu Ch'ang fu, which
A CHINESE RECIPE FOR REFORMING THE EMPIRE
is his present post, altho once transferred to Nanking for a year during the late war with Japan, and then returned to his former place.
He has the reputation of being a great scholar, but he has been often attackt by the censors, who have found abundant occasion for criticism in his extended schemes for iron works, cotton factories, and scientific mining, which have proved an enormous expense, and only imperfectly successful. Foreigners generally consider him as a patriotic man, with the best interests of China at heart, tho frequently mistaken in his ideas. His open advocacy of reform would seem to have markt him out for the early and condign punishment of the empress dowager when she began her career of repression last autumn. It seems not unlikely that H. E. Chang was considered somewhat too important an individual to be treated as sternly as so many others have been, hence the empress decided to show him honor instead. A special messenger was sent from Peking, with a verbal message to him, saying that the empress had always thought highly of him, and now, more than ever, relied on his fidelity. According to Chinese etiquette, the official who brought this word was received with as much honor as if he were the emperor himself, H. E. performing the kotow to him like all the rest. Bu t the moment his errand was done, the messenger reverted to his position as a mere tao-tai, and it was now his duty to kotow to the governor-general.
This distinguisht statesman has within a year issued a work in two volumes, which has been enormously successful as a literary venture, for we are told that more than 200,000 copies have been sold, which must be very unusual in China. Some portions of this treatise have especial significance for those who are interested in the reformation of the Chinese Empire, because embodying in definite language a scheme by a man of great reputation, wide knowledge, and extended experience. There are three thiugs in his excellency's discussion of each of the themes considered, which are well worth noting: his statement of the present condition of China, the nature of the change needed, and the meallS by which it is to be effected.
The author has a clear perception of the crisis in China, which he recognizes as being in a transition state. What is needed is the infusion of unity into the body politic. The state, the doctrines of Confucianism, and the Chinese race itself are in danger. This unity can only be attained by increasing knowledge, but this requires the use of force. These propositions are substantiated by the history of Western nations. It is shown that altho Mohammedanism is destitute of all correct principles, yet it is preserved because the Turks are fierce in battle. On the other hand, Buddhism, while not destitute of correct principles, because the Indian people could not defend it, has disappeared from India. Christianity under two forms-Protestantism and Romanism-now covers three-fifths of the globe, and is maintained by
the armies of the nations which profess it. If China were to be divided like a watermelon, the holy doctrines of the sages could not be practist. Wily and crafty men would become pastors, compradores, and secretaries. How is all this to be prevented? He says: Let us exert ourselves to stir up sincerity and benevolence among the people. Let us seek wealth and aim at power. Let us respect the throne and reverence the gods of agriculture. Let those who administer the government inform the emperor on all matters, and focus thought to broaden his influence. Let the censors speak out and criticize fearlessly. Let the provincial rulers consider how they may provide sufficient rations for an efficient army. Let the officers of the army understand that "the principle of shame" is the force to impel soldiers to fight. Let the masses love and honor the emperor, and be prepared to die for their rulers. Let the scholars, standing together like trees in a clump, devote their powers to the understanding of the business of the times; then scholars, farmers, artisans and traders all being of one mind, China will be safe!
That is to say, if the existing evils were removed, they would not be felt! It is precisely the opposite of H. E.'s ideal state which now obtains; is it to be suddenly altered by uttering a number of Chinese verbs in the imperative mood? Chang Ta-jen can no doubt" call spirits from the vasty deep," "but will they come" ?
In the final chapter H. E. Chang treats of opium and its remedy. Nothing ever publisht by the Anti-Opium Society in its most excited moods ever equaled the tremendous indictment here brought against this complex and deadly drug by one who has been its lifelong foe. The devastations of opium are likened to those of wild beasts, and the general deluge in the days of Yu the Great, but opium is worse than these, becausc these evils were limited in time and place, while opium is spread over the whole empire, and has been at work for a century. The deficit caused by this item in the trade balance is put at 30,000,000 taels (ounces) of silver. In this way China is impoverisht. The ability of officials, military and civil, is impaired, and this is worse than the loss in money. Man's will and energy are weakened and his vitality undevelopt. There is listlessness in the performance of duty, children pine away, and there is no offspring. After a few years China will become a wilderness and a solitary place; a habitation of ghouls and satyrs.
The emperor has done all that he could by laws, but in vain. The growth of the opium habit is not traced to foreign compulsion, but to laziness, idleness, and ignorance. In the present condition of things farmers make no good crops, workmen have- no good tools, travelers have no good roads. lIenee nobody exerts himself to go beyond his own to cultivate intercourse with other people.
Effeteness has begotten stupidity, and stupidity lethargy, lethargy idleness, and idleness waste. A revival of learning would save China by directing the attention from opium to more worthy objects. Every
one would have something to learn, and those who could not actually go abroad could learn from current literature. The literati would then know about the affairs of the world, and the tradesmen and artisans would be expert in their trades. Many thoughtful people fear lest opium extirpate the race. Societies have been formed to counteract the great and growing evil, but nothing but a revival of learning will be efficient to stem the tide. This plan of reformation by learning will only reach men of discernment and the younger members of society. Confirmed opium smokers will have to be let alone, as no power on earth can save them. If the plan here outlined were followed out, in ten years yOllng and wealthy men would have grown qualified to control their subordinates, and in twenty more opium would be eradicated! Only our Chinese people love to eat this deadly drug, and in this deadly drug we are self-steept, seeking imbecility, death, and destruction. In all her history China has never been placed in such a frightful situation. From this we might be delivered were Confucius and Mencius to rise from the dead to teach the Chinese a proper sense of shame. This would undoubtedly be the beginning of an opium reformation in China.
We have quotcd thus fully-altho but in substance- because thus only can the Occidental reader gain an adequate impression of the bent of the Confucian mind. To H. E. Chang it is no valid objection that his recipe has been (theoretically) acted upon during the past two millenniums. What else do the Chinese study, what else have they ever studied, but their own classics? Yet it is the very men who give most of their time to that study, who are the most conspicuous and the most hopeless, incorrigible offenders against that" sense of shame," which is to be the touchstone of political salvation. There is no argument, no agency which his excellency himself, when governor of Shansi, has not tried, and there is not one of them which has not proved inert, as he himself despairingly shows. There is not a hintso far as we can gather-as to the modus by which the will-power of the Chinese race is to be turned away from the terrible evil which they have deliberately chosen, toward the ideal good which they as deliberately reject. The classical theory is that influence is omnipotent. "When the wind blows, the grass bends." When the emperor and the officials are right, the people will be right also, for the former are the dish, and the latter the water. If the dish is round, the water is round, if the dish is square, the water is square likewise. This charmingly simple theory lacks nothing but facts and experience to make it perfect. The people are not grass, and they are not water. They are sentient mortals, with narrow, bitter lives, who find in opium some respite for incurable ills.
It is rare to meet an opium-smoker who does not admit, or rather proclaim, the evil of his habit, but he does not for that reason give it up. Cognition does not in his casc,. nor in any other, lead to action. He smokes because he likes to smoke, and H. E. Chang Chih-T'ung must produce something which is to be preferred to the fascinating narcosis, or he will fail to do more than to compose a treatise, with a great deal of learning, much patriotic perception of existing evils, but not the smallest insight into the necessity of a moral renovation to accomplish what must be nothing less than a moral miracle. That miracle will only be wrought, as all other miracles have been, by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A PRESSING NEED FOR OENTRAL AMERICA.
BY REV. J. H. SOBEY, PORT LIMON, COSTA RICA.
The rapid development of the banana industry has made Oentral America a center of importance. Large numbers of men are already on the plantations. Until within a few years very little was known of Oentral America, and very little done for the spiritual welfare of either natives or foreigners. In Costa Rica a few missionaries are at work in the interior of the country. Along the Atlantic seaboard a prosperous work exists among the. toilers on the banana plantations. From the coast to sixty miles inland the soil is suited to the growth of bananas. It is to the workers on these plantations that the Jamaica Baptist Missionary Society sent and, for nearly twelve years, has sustained missionaries. Hundreds have been converted and a number of little churches formed. The present chain of stations tax the energies of the two missionaries on the field, and there are thousands around in darkness and sin. 'ro these sheep out on the mountains wild we have been constrained to go. Evangelistic work is the great need in these parts. The Lord, through one or two of His servants, has made it possible for me to devote myself to this special pioneer work.
Some 70 miles south there are thousands without God and hope, no man caring for their souls. To reach these people, living along the shores, on the islands, and up the rivers and creeks of the lagoons or lakes, it is necessary to travel in canoes. This is uncomfortable, difficult, and sometimes dangerous. In calm weather, and under a burning sun, one is liable to malarial fever. This completely prostrates one. A naphtha launch would enable us to make the best use of our time, visiting stations at regular intervals, and thus securing larger gatherings.
It is not unlikely that among the readers of the MISSIONARY REVIEW, knowing our work to be really missionary, there are some who would like to have fellowship with l1S in this service, and either present a launch or contribute toward the purchase of one.
A gentleman in the States writes that he will be pleased to giye $300. We are anxious to be at the work at once, and therefore make our wants and wishes known to the Lord's stewards, that they may have fellowship with 11S. We require $1,200 for the purchase of a suitable boat. When this little ship, bearing the heralds of the Gospel over these waters, becomes a fact, we hope to furnish some information of interest to the readers of the MISSIONARY REVIEW.
THE PRESENT MISSIONARY OPPORTUNITY
SELECTED ARTICLES.
THE PRESENT MISSIONARY OPPORTUNITY.* BY ROBERT E. SPEER, NEW YORK CITY. Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.
It is always dangerous to pray for opportunities. We have already more than we are improving, and God's answers are sure to be in excess of our expectation. Ten years ago the Church was crying for more open doors. God gave them. All doors are open now save one, and because that one remains closed the Church stands aghast before all the others until that one opens-the door of her own heart to receive the pity of God for the world and the power of God for its service. There is no need of praying for any other door to unclose. The whole world is open for whatever messengers will come. Look at the missionary opportunities it offers us.
First of all, because most shunned, is the Mohammedan world. Two hundred millions of people follow the prophet of Medina-Mecca. Sixty millions of them live under a Christian queen in India; seven million live under the shah of Persia; thirty-three million are ruled by the sultan of Turkey. The faith of these people has taught them the unity and reality of God, and made them the fierce soldiers of His sovereignty. Their prophet has taught them a bigotry and fanaticism not to be matcht by the intolerance of any other faith. From the days of Raymond Lull persecution or martyrdom has been the lot of Mohammedan converts, and of those who strove to win them. The way Islam has held the reins of civil as well as religious power in Moslem lands has made it possible for it to bar the advance of Christianity, and to deny all religious liberty. Now the rule of the Moslem in Turkey is disintegrating. The sixty millions of Indian Moslems are as open as the population of America, and in Persia a Christian has been as much tolerated as a Moslem of the Orthodox sect, while Kitchener is opening the Sudan. It is time to reach these followers of the false prophet. Heroes are needed who will hold life of light account, but who will have a passion for Moslem souls. There is an opportunity for such to carry the cross to two hundred million followers of Islam in Turkey, Persia, Arabia, India, and A.frica. There never was such an opportunity before.
Mohammed arose six centuries after Christ. Six centuries before Christ another great religious teacher taught who called himself only a man, but whom hundreds of millions have made a god. His statues fill eastern Asia. In stone or bronze or marble or mud or wood they look down from the hilltops of Korea, from the temples of Japan and China, from the shrines and pagodas of Burma and Siam. Buddhism has left its devotees as feeble and needy as Islam has left its devotees needy and fierce. The whole Buddhist world has been opened up. The Gospel is preacht even in Tibet. From far northern Laos, Mr. and Mrs. Dodd write: We have never known any people so cordial and friendly. They are so delighted to find foreigners who can speak their language. How we wish we could stay right here, and water the seed which there is only time to sow! Sometimes we realize that we have penetrated to the center of a wide field of darkness. The nearest point of light on the south is Chiung-Hai; on the west at Mone, about fifteen days from here, is the Baptist mission; to the north, even farther away in China, is the • Condenst from The Christian Endeavor World.
Inland mission, while on the east, weeks away, are the French Catholics, of many of whom it may be said, we fear, that the light that is in them is darkness. .
Years ago Buddhism lost what hold it had upon Korea; and the 12,000,000 of its people, fearing spirits and bowing down to devils, turn an open mind to the free teaching and an open heart to the loving spirit of the Gospel. Korea is waiting to be won for Christ or lured into a godless wilderness.
And when have China and Japan presented such opportunities? On the 17th of July the revised treaties introduced Japan to an equality with the West, and removed the sense of inferiority which under the old treaties had made Japan fretful and nervous. Free residence anywhere, and a sort of government license of evangelists and churches, of teachers and schools, capable of abuse, but still promising good, it may be hoped, make this "seem like a second opening of the country."
The greatest of all Buddhist lands, which is scarcely Buddhist, because its spirit has been so absolutely shaped by its own great agnostic teacher, Confucius, nearly fell like an avalanche into the ways of the West, and an eager study of the religion of the West as the result of the reform movement of Kang Yu Wei last year. Though that movement collapst, these 50.000,000 homes are open to us if we will go to them. If immediate steps are taken, we may expect to see speedy and marvelous results in the turning of the millions of China to Jesus Christ, and this crisis in China made an immediate blessing to the rest of the human race; whereas, if we neglect to take adequate measures, God may take our opportunity away.
In India two hundred and eighty-six million people are living under the British flag, and civilization is eating away their inherited notions and crumbling the pedestals of their idols. Christianity is free to do just what its disciples wish or attempt. It is a matter, not of making opportunities, but of accepting them. These are recent appeals: From Hyderabad a missionary working among the hill tribes writQs, "In a population of 500,000 my wife and I are the only missionaries. "Chanda, with an area of 10,749 square miles, with 2,700 villages and a population of over 690,000, has twenty missionaries. " BaIlia is entirely unoccupied. The population is 924,763."
As for Africa, the railroads are creeping in regardless of the lives that are spent, laid almost like ties under the gleaming rails. The mili- tary expeditions move up and down, to and fro, heedless of ruin and agony, eager for glory and national fame. Shall a continent be open to the trader and the trooper, and be shut to the messenger of the God who owns all lands and all souls?
And the countries from which the stifling hand of the Churcr. of Rome, cold and throttling as the hand of Islam when left to work its inevitable result, has withheld life and progress and liberty, have one by one opened to light and freedom. The century has witnest the political domination of the pope slipping .off our hemisphere and off the islands of the seas. Forty million people in South America alone, only toucht as yet with the message of a buoyant and delivering Gospel, contribute an opportunity lying like Lazarus at our door.
These are our opportunities. God has done His part and given them to us. As Dr. A. J. Gordon said: "I have long since ceased to pray, 'Lord Jesus have compassion on a lost world!' I remember the day and the hour when I seemed to hear the Lord rebuking me for making such a prayer. He seemed to say to me, 'I have had compassion upon a lost world, and now it is for you to have compassion. . … I have given my heart; give your hearts.' "
1900.] THE WORLD-CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN
THE WORLD-CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN.
BY HAROLD MACFARLANE.
For the purpose of this article the Christian population of the world is taken as 477,220,000 (including Roman and Greek Catholics), and non- Christian as 952,650,000, which are practically the figures supplied by M.
de Flaix.
Fig. 1 shows how the different religions of the world compare in numbers one' with another.
A glance at the four white columns that represent the Christians on this earth, and at the seven black columns representing the heathen, is sufficient to show that the latter greatly outnumber the former.
In Fig. 2, the small squares drawn at the left- hand bottom corner of the figures each represent one million (1,000,000) souls. When we compare them to the great squares of which they form so small a part, we have FIG. !.-THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD. some idea of the magni- tude of the earth's popula- tion. If portrayed on the black square the population of England (31,000,000), would be represented by a white strip down one of its sides having the same depth as the small square in the corner.
In Fig. 3 the portion of the circle that appears white represents the Christian population of the continent portrayed, the black portion being drawn in proportion to the number of non-Christian inhabitants.
The English-speaking people of the FIG, n.-CHRISTIANS (Protestant, Papal, Greek, etc.) FIG. III. – CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISo AND NON-CHRISTIANS. TIAN POPULATIONS OF THE GLOBE.
* Condenst from The Christian Herald, by whose kind permission we reproduce the accompanying cuts.
earth number more than one-twelfth of the world's population. Of the English-speaking races almost a quarter are Episcopalians; three-twentieths are Methodists; one-eighth are of the Church of Rome; a tenth are Presbyterians; three-fortieths are Baptists; one-twentieth are Congregationalists; Lutherans claim 2~4 per cent.; Unitarians 2 per cent., whilst 13~ per cent. are unclassified. There is still 4>:{ per cent. of the Englishspeaking population to account for, but they, alas! are religionless.
A SAINT IN SUMATRA.* THE LIFE AND WO~K OF HESTER NEEDHAM.
There are lives about which we hear nothing until the light has flickered out, and somewhere the world is darkened by its loss. But the shadow is only that of bereavement, for the influence of character and work lives on, kindling new fires to the glory of God. The history of missions has attested this again and again. If, when the corn waves golden, the sowers, the glorious pioneilrs in the field, are forgotten, it matters little, since He who sees the beginning as well as the end, awards the guerdon of service. So will it be, we think, in the case of Hester Needham. The story of this sainted woman is a blend of Henry Martyn, Allen Gardiner, and David Brainerd. Her letters and diaries glow with a love for souls, and show the footprints of one who has walkt with God.
Her foreign missionary labor began when she heard of "a place in Sumatra where for forty years the heathen have been asking for a missionary, and none have gone, and now the Mohammedans are going, but no missionary for Christ." This was her call, and she at once went to Germany to offer hemelf for the Barmen Mission.
She entered upon the work among the Battas of Sumatra at the age of 46, and for eight years she labored there. Then from a life of arduous toil in the teeth of extreme physical suffering and debility, she was taken to the Eternal Rest; in her own words, "Thankful to stay, but delighted to go."
In order to be appreciated, the details of her work in the East must be read from her letters, graphic and full of sympathetic humor as they are. The results can not be tabulated, for hers was essentially a pioneer work of personal influence. The real lesson of her life is-what may be accomplisht in the face of the most overwhelming disadvantages. Money, social position, and gifts, and even a sphere of great usefulness she forsook, knowing that her place could be supplied, and at an age when many consider their working days over, and already suffering from a spinal complaint, she braved a life of incessant hardship and humiliation, in a trying climate.
The Battas are outwardly a singularly attractive people; refined, gentle, simple in tastes and charming in manner. Their mode of living, too, is far from disagreeable, even to a European, and Miss Needham found little difficulty in adapting herself wholly to it. Some thought that among such a race there was little need or scope for mission work. Setting aside the duty of witnessing for Christ the Lord among them, here is a specimen of what lay beneath this fair exterior: Perhaps there may be [some] who doubt whether Christianity is • Condenst from the .Moravian .Mission Reporter, and the Regions Beyond.
A SAINT IN SUMATRA
much needed by a simple people who live by their rice fields, so I will mention one of their former customs. They would steal a child from a hostile tribe, treat him and feed him well, and then, when the working season began, would ask him if he was willing to protect the fields from evil. He was made to say "Yes," and then taken to the fields, red-hot lead poured into his mouth, and he was buried. alive and left there. As to their cannibalism, it was not merely that their enemies became their food, but they were tied to stakes, and the flesh cut in slices from their living bodies.
Others may be inclined to take the contrary view, that bringing the Gospel to such degraded beings is casting pearls before swine. Let such read the address of a Batta Ohristian, a poor leper, to his countrymen on Acts iv: 13, on the unlearned and ignorant men of whom it was witnest that" they had been with Jesus: "
"Yes," he said, "that is it: we must be with Jesus, and all will be well. I have to work for my living, and God enables me to work. The sun beats down upon me, but I do not mind it, because I am with Jesus; and all my limbs ache, but I do not feel it, because I am with Jesus; and the rain pours down, but I do not heed it, because I am with Jesus. When I sit at home, I am so weak and ill that I can hardly speak above a whisper; but as soon as I get into this church, I know the message must be made to reach the people, and I am enabled to speak loud because I am with Jesus. If no one helps to support me, I don't let it trouble me; but oh, I do get troubled when you turn away from Jesus and will not give up your sins!"
Miss Needham went out under the auspices of the well-known Rhen- ish Mission, which has its headquarters in Barmen, Germany, and car- ries on work among the Batta people in the Dutch island of Sumatra. * The success of its work has been extraordinary; but it had no represen- tative in Mandailing, the district to which she felt specially called. The evangelization of the Dutch colonies is carried on under exceptionally difficult circumstances. A large proportion of the natives are Moslems, ruled by more or less powerful sultans (or chiefs), and in order to avoid conflict with these the Dutch authorities often refuse to grant permis- sion for Ohristians to carryon any active propaganda within their juris- diction. A hindrance of this nature stood in the way of mission work in Mandailing for several years after Miss Needham's arrival. She stayed first at one station and then at another in the Sitindung district (Mr.
Johansen's), working among women and girls. Tho often unable to move, owing to her spinal complaint, she was carried from one room, and even from one village to another. Vhen she had establisht the work, and built at her own expense a "PrinceRs House," in which to carry it on, she removed to a new field, leaving other workers in her place. But all this time she never lost sight of Mandailing.
At last a native evangelist, a most devoted blind man named Barti- mreus, was willing to go with his wife and family, and Miss Needham went with them to direct and help in the work, accompanied by a Ohris- tian Batta girl whom she had trained to be her personal attendant in her almost helpless state. These lived as one family in a native house. , They were not allowed to carryon any aggressive work for fear of pro- * There are now nineteen missionary stations in Sumatra, twenty-two European mission- aries, and about four hundred native workers, of whom about one hundred are paid. The church members number 22,779. Dr. Scheiber, the Director of the Society, says: "I do not know of any other part of the mission field, with the exception of some parts of Java, where such large numbers of Mohammedans have been won for Christ as among the Battas of Sumatra."
voking Moslem riots-so said the Dntch controlleur-but they might visit in the surrounding villages and receive visits, and under consider- able restrictions might circulate the Scriptures in the Mandailing dialect.
This"lfiss Needham had to teach to herself, having already iearned the Batta language. She wrote: We have power and opportunity here to live out Christianity in the very midst of the people. If our singing is clear, and our meetings regu- lar, the neighbors must needs see and hear, and so far all their houses are open to us, tho they know perfectly well by this time that paying a visit means preaching the Gospel. Even from one village to another, the news has spread that every Monday we start off for some Village, spending obviously both money and strength, with the sole object of spreading the Gospel of Christ. . . .
Well done, Bishop Selwyn! I have just read in a German paper his answer to the question, ""Vhat can I do for Christ?" "Go where He i8 not, and take Him with you!" That is what I call concentrated essence of missionary teaching.
I can go and live in Mandailing or anywhere else, only I must not be called a missionary, nor build churches, nor open schools. Well, I am perfectly satisfied to be called a Christian, and do as I have been doing here to forward the things of the Kingdom. . . . If mission work is right at all, and if it is also to include Mohammedan countries, thi8 most certainly i8 right, being contained in the Divine commission.
Illness of a serious character soon limited Miss Needham's traveling, except in a sort of invalid's c!lair, which gave a little ease to what she called" her poor throbbing spine." Her sufferings increast apace, but no murmur is heard, nothing but a sense of the goodness of God. She gives a pretty picture of the way she used to lie preaching the Gospel to the native women.
March 23d. A new work has just come to me. I p:et some one to carry my chair, and go out and sit just outside the grounds by the roadside on the three chief market days to speak to the women as they come home, between 4 and 5 P. 1'1. Friday is the largest market" and on that day I began. Tho driven in by the rain at the end of half an hour, I had two groups round me, ten first, and fourteen others, and we had quite a nice time of singing, reading, speaking, and prayer. On Saturday and Tuesday there were fewer and more straggly, but perhaps quite as profitable, or more so, as two or three women stayed and had a long talk with me, and were quite surprised to hear that white people were sinners.
Miss Needham seems to have appealed in vain for the missionary societies to come and take up the work, and as her end drew near she turned her eyes wistfully to the Salvation Army as a last hope for the people. Too ill now to move, she began to prepare for her closing scene Being left in peace and quietness, I took the opportunity of writing a kind of "wind-up" letter to Commandant Herbert Booth. Dropsy having set in in my feet since the middle of January and gradually creeping upward, there is no knowing how soon it may become the chariot to take me home; so I poured out my heart to him about the dropsy, Bartimeus' precarious health, and my wish to complete the chain of four houses from north to south of Maindailing, only two being as yet complete; to have an experienced Christian worker in each, living with a native evangelist and his family, to do the cooking, mind the house, teach the language, and fill up preaching, which must need be most halting the first year.
March 10th. My arms are like sticks, and my legs like pillars. Shall I not be glad when the proportion gets right, and I may flyaway home, tho according to my present feelings I should prefer to be carried rather than have the exertion of flying.
On May 12th, 1897, this poor and devoted soul past to her eternal peace. She died among her black people, breathing out her last
ISLAM IN WEST AFRICA
messages of love to them, and showing forth in death as in life the praises of Rim who had called her out of darkness into Ris marvelous light. According to her express wish, no mourning of the conventional sort was to celebrate her home-going.
In weakness and acutest suffering Miss Needham was living the daily life of the poor natives, eating their food, living in their houses, and wearing their clothes.
Were these years wasted in Mandailing, when scarce a convert could be named, and none has been found to carryon the work she only laid down with her last breath ? We venture to believe that no work for the Lord is so potent nor so lasting in its effects as a simple, wholly consecrated life spent in publishing the good tidings. "Ye are our epistle," says the apostle, "known and read of all men, forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ." Such an epistle was Rester Needham, and such are needed throughout the Moslem world to-day.
ISLAM IN WEST AFRICA. * BY C. F. HUPFELD.
Leader of a recent Geological Expedition along the Gold Coast.
Whoever marches from the coast into the interior will not at first see much of Islam. It is true one meets along the main routes, and especially in the larger marts, many Mohammedan dealers, mostly from the Rausa states, recognizable by their type of face, their ample clothing, their friendly and intelligent bearing toward the European. The majority are on the march, carrying their high-piled loads of European wares of the most various sorts far into the inland. Only a small proportion have settled in the more important trade centers, such as Agome- Palime. But these few people, so sharply distinct from the permanent population, can not have any influence upon its religious views.
First, in Kete, the most important commercial town of our region, do we gain a full impression of the significance of Islam. Mosques, with Mohammedan priests and scribes, call our attention to this culture coming out of the north. Thenceforth, going on into the interior, we meet with Islam at every step. In the larger towns there are everywhere well-organized Mohammedan communities, and altho the chiefs are, as a rule, heathen, yet one of their first councilors is invariably a Mohammedan, and always a particularly important personage. In the larger places we find mosques, in many smaller at least oratories, besides thoroughly organized bodies of priests; here and there even schools, in which the sons of the more influential men learn reading and writing, and something of the Koran. This, to be sure, is but a weak reflection of the glory of the Rausa states. yet enough to make an impression.
Yet we must not over-value the real might of Islam. Many regions have thus far kept themselves wholly free of it, and even in those places which at first make a strongly Mohammedan impression, we soon notice that the number of the instructed Mohammedans is but a small one. In North Togo-one district excepted-I do not believe that the number of genuine Mohammedans is more than five per cent. of the population.
Yet that Islam has hitherto been advancing in these regions * Condenst from the Basel Missions·Magazin (November, 1899).
is beyond doubt. It is the weight of the snperior Mohammedan culture which, at least in the north, is quite universally recognized. Conceive, on the one side, the heathen, hardly clothed, awkwardly ignorant, often hardly able to use his native tongue more than two leagues beyond his own village; and on the other the far-traveled Mohammedan, finding his Hausa language everywhere serviceable, well informed, amply clothed, often on horseback. The difference is simply immense.
To how many questions the stereotyped answer is: "'Ve don't know that; we have to ask the Mohammedans about that!" The thought begins to glimmer in the heathen mind, that there is something higher than his fetish worship, and that for him, in the first place, can only be Islam. The number of the real Mohammedans is as yet very small, but I am persuaded that within a few decades we shall in many places have to reckon with Mohammedan majorities, and, beyond question, the political guidance of the states, if things proceed as now, will fall more and more into Mohammedan hands.
But the result of a further extension of Islam is a culture which runs exactly athwart our Christian culture, and we shall hardly find laws or men that can do justice to both points of view.
The necessary consequence of this is an antagonism of the Mohammedan element against the European control. Highly, therefore, as we value the Mohammedans now, because they are the soul of the inland trade, sympathetically as their relatively high culture now affects us, yet we must none the less be clearly aware that in a later future, when we shall really begin to rule the land, we shall find in them our most embittered antagonists. Nor may we forget that Islam is the one unifying force capable of welding together the mutually antagonistic negro tribes for a common attack against the domination of the Europeans, an attack so much the more dangerous for us, as Togo, on account of its unhealthy climate, can never be a place for European emigration; tha Europeans, therefore, will always be a vanishing minority.
Accordingly, quite independently of religious regards, it lies in the national interest t.hat as soon as possible the advance of Islam should be checkt. Of course, this can not be brought about by forcibly keeping back the heathen in their present low stage of culture, but only by offering them another and a higher possibility of development. This is the work of Christian missions.
THE CHI~FS OF BASU'fOLAND. * BY M. ALFRED CASSALIS.
With intelligent chiefs, like Khama, resolutely forsaking the old pagan routine to strike into the path of progress, one might make something out of these Basutos, who show themselves sllch good children. But the best efforts of the government or of the mission are too often broken on the apathy or the covert hostility of the chiefs.
*Basutoland, lying south of the Orange Free State, is British territory, and must be more or less involved in the present unhappy war. It is principally interesting to us as being the seat of the flourishing French Protestant Mission. The following is translated and condenst from the Journal des Missions. The author comes from a family oonnected with the beginning of the mission.
THE CHIEF"! OF BASUTOLAND
These chiefs, we must needs own, are sometimes irksome. But would it be well to sweep them away? They are still the one central power which maintains the cohesion of the tribe and makes of the Basutos a nation. Where they have disappeared, there is no longer a nationality. What are the Zulus, the Pondo, the Fingu, the Bapeli, the Bechuana, and the Matabele of Lobengula? The civil and political life is here concentrated around the chief. As long as he is there, there is a bond, a force of concentration and conservation; if he disappears, this will disappear with him.
Besides, to suppress them, there would needs be a war, and a war in Basutoland-oh, no; anything rather than that! Better be patient with them. Even the most disagreeable chiefs have never restrained us from founding out-stations and from evangelizing as much as we wished. It appears to me that this is all which we have a right to require of them.
Nor should we forget what these chiefs have done for their people. We know what the tribe and the country were when Moshesh was a youth. The Basutos still call that epoch mehla ea lif agane-the time of the great wars and of the great distress! Then let us recognize that whatever wrong they may have done or may yet do to the missionary and civilizing work, Moshesh, with his subtle and tortuous diplomacy, Letsie, with his prudence and his loyalty, more boisterous than sincere, it is true, supported by a brandy bottle on either hand, have succeeded, despite a thousand obstacles, in the midst of the almost continual state of ebullition in which South Africa has been for fifty years, and with the powerful patronage of England, in maintaining their territory intact,. their tribe in continual growth, and in securing for themselves a considerable measure of independence. This now is not so bad for savages, and the dynasty of the Ba-Kuena has not yet deserved ill of its country.
And then, if we are frank with ourselves we shall also be not without a certain obligation to a mea culpa; we have been, in the past at least, a trifle credulous with them. We have been too ready-say thirty or thirty-five years ago-to believe in the conversion of the chiefs. But they are a thousand leagues from the Gospel! They can not understand it. To convert them would require a miracle like that on the way to Damascus. All is possible to God, I firmly believe; but you will grant me that such a miracle is rare.
I believe that I do not exaggerate at all in saying that, in the whole of South Africa, from Zambesi to the Cape, and from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, there is but one solitary great chief that is a disciple to Christ-this is Khama. As to our chiefs here, their conversion was merely the fruit of their imagination or of their duplicity, and they have come out of the church just as they went into it, quickly and in a mass.
In brief, to strive to have with our chiefs the best relations possible, not to alienate them by too stiff and unpliable an attitude, to profit by their influence when they are disposed to put it at the service of the good cause, without for this leaning on them-the Gospel has no need of being shored up-to show them that in spite of all their opposition we love them, them whom Christ woul.d fain embrace in His love; to pray that God may renew for them the miracle of Damascus; this meseems, ought to be our attitude toward them. As to the special problem which the question of the chiefs presents, the coming time will charge itself with that.
DELIVERANCES FROM DEATH IN CHINA.
In many lands the life of a missionary is fraught with trials and perils of which those at home have little conception. There are, of course, all sorts and conditions of mission fields, but to the true mission- ary none are "easy berths." We give the following incidents that our readers may be brought into closer sympathy with those who labor amid difficulties and dangers on the frontiers, and so that Christians at home may be led to pray more constantly and definitely for them. We also record, with thanksgiving, these further evidences that our God heareth prayer and careth for those who put their trust in Him.
Rev. W. J. Hunnex, of the China Inland Mission, stationed at Nan- ch'ang, Kiangsi province, writes of imminent peril and divine deliver- ance, on January 21st, 1899, when he was leaving the city in a boat with his wife and three children. He says: * We started about 3.30 P. M., and all went well until about 5 P. M., when passing one of the busiest parts of the city, a number of boats, filled with excited men and women, suddenly surrounded us. The women were screaming and crying for their children, while the men were soon occupied in the more congenial occupation of destroying our boat and its contents. This went on for about half an hour, our chief concern being to avoid the blows aimed at us. By God's goodness, we received but little personal injury. Our boat was close to some large rafts; the people on shore, therefore, were also able to attack us. The attack on our boat became so serious that we tried to escape over the rafts. In doing so, our little girl, Louise, fell into the deep water, but I was able to rescue her. Quite exhausted, with clothes torn and wet, we struggled back into the boat, to wait until the Lord should stretch out his hand to help us.
Just at this moment, Mr. and Mrs. Pownall, missionaries from Wuch'en, came along, in their very strong boat. We sought refuge on their boat, which was immediatelyattackt by the mop, who could, however, make but little impression on it. At this time a military official arrived with soldiers and gunboats. The mob on shore was large and threatening. For several hours, Mr. Pownall and I, with the four boatmen, rowed hard against the strong wind, in order that we might anchor just below the city. The mob on shore followed us for a long time, and the military official was so alarmed that he made several attempts to escape from our boat, and at last succeeded. At 11 P. M. we anchored across the river opposite a quiet part of the city. A Chinese gunboat anchored near by. The next day I past through the city in a chair without molestation, and went to see the district magistrate. He explained that seven children were missing, just at the time that we were leaving the city, and the report had gone abroad that we had the bodies of four dead children on our boat; hence the attack. He agreed to issue a proclamation to warn and instruct "the stupid people," to punish the ringleaders, and to compensate the boatman for the damage done to his boat. He also inquired as to our own personal losses.
When I reacht the banks of the river, on my return, I found a large crowd assembled. Several women, greatly excited, were crying out for their children. On my approach there were loud cries of "Beat the foreign devil," "Kill the kidnapper." The mob tried to seize me, and almost succeeded in doing so, but I rusht to a small boat, followed by the evangelist, who, disregarding himself, did his best to hold back the mob.
* Condenst from China's Millions.
DELIVERANCES FROM DEATH IN CHINA
'Ve pusht off amid a shower of stones, and it was only the presence of the gunboats that prevented the people from coming off in boats to attack us.
In the meantime we had secured another boat, upon which what was left ·of our belongings was placed, and we were soon on our way to Kiu- kiang. We were exceedingly weary, but our hearts were thankful for the manifest interposition of our Heavenly father, in thus preserving us in the hour of danger and distress.
Letters since received speak of everything being quiet in the city. The four missing children have been found, some persons have been punisht, and a very satisfactory proclamation has been put out by the magistrate.
Rev. C. H. Parsons, of Pao-ning, Si-ch'uan, writes as follows in reference to his recent wonderful deliverance from death on January 25th, when returning by boat from Ch'ong-k'ing to Pao-ning, with an escort of four unarmed soldiers, a coolie, and a Christian servant.
While stopping at a place called T'u-t'oh for breakfast, I noticed a lot of people with flags collected on the hills on the opposite side of the river. I was told they were the militia. We entered our boat, and, as a number of people collected, I suggested that we put off at once, altho the captain and one or two of the passengers were still on shore. The soldiers assented, and with the one boatman they got the boat off, intending to take on the others higher up. Then as the boat was rowed on, crowds collected on both sides of the stream and on the hillsides. It was market day, and many people had gathered. We had heard that the rebels, to the number of a hundred or two, were expected, being one of the fragments of U-man-tsi's late army. The people were evidently very excited, and the militia gathered in force. I myself thought it unlikely that the rebels were really coming. Presently the other passengers became excited and wanted to land with their luggage, but the people on both banks refused permission. The boatman became very much agitated. I urged him to go straight on and land the passengers where there were no people about, or go back toward Ch'ong-k'ing. The man would do neither. There were loud reports from the riverside, and a shot came whizzing over the boat. The soldiers got me to lie down in the boat. All seemed white with terror. The boatman lost his head, and regardless of consequences, ran the boat to the shore, in a rocky place, where a lot of people were awaiting us with spears, etc. You may imagine one's feelings. I was praying audibly in the bottom of the boat, pouring out my heart to the Lord, reminding Him that He could deliver in this extremity.
The boat reacht the land, and the passengers, who were all prepared, sprang ashore with their luggage. I saw a man who let them pass waiting with raised sword, probably for me. Then I stood up in the stern of the boat, faced the crowd, and tried to speak. I saw a man pointing a rude sort of gun full at me. Others had spears. Then several sprang on the boat, one with no weapon, and thrusts were made at me. The Christian servant stood with me in the stern of the boat, and tried to ward off the spears. I dropt over the side of the boat into deep water to escape the spear thrusts, and, having a vague idea of swimming away, tho I felt there was little hope of being saved from drowning. An oar was thrown to me, probably by the servant, but I could not get it. A few strokes, and then I saw a sedan chair! which had been carried o~ th~
t~p of the boat, had floated out at right angles to the boat, and I made for one of its long poles. I believe the men on the boat were still thrusting out after me.
In my extremity the Lord wonderfully opened the way of deliverance. A Chinese gunboat had come up, and a man, I think, reacht down a pole for me to grasp. I saw another man leaning over the side with a sword in his hand, and really did not know whether they were friends or foes, but I clung to the side, utterly powerless to get on board, my wadded gown, etc., saturated with water, weighing me down. I askt the men to help, and two or three assisted me in and I lay down on the deck in a heap. Those on shore yelled for me and made as if they would fire, whereupon the gunboat men put one of their antiquated iron cannon in position, and said, "If you do, we will fire." This was repeated when the crowd again seemed to be for attacking. They cried, "Give up the foreigner." The gunboat men said, "Wait a bit and we will moor presently." They kept the boat moving from side to side of the river, the crowds on either side being equally excited. I wanted them to start back to Ch'ong-k'ing, and kept asking what they intended to do, and why delay. After a long time it was thought safe for me to move to the lower part of the boat, and the men lit a fire to warm me.
The magistrate of the place and another man came alongside and had a conversation. The former promist to get me some dry clothes, and they left. There was a long delay, another gunboat came alongside. Some of the men went ashore, probably to have dinner, and to talk matters over about my being sent back to Ch'ong-k'ing. I had askt several times about my servant, but nothing was known of him, nor of the coolies or runners.
It was 4 o'clock before we finally left, I having been on board some four hours perhaps. The two cannons were taken off on to another boat, as also swords, etc. Two or three of the men went off, and others took their place. At last we started, with three men, and two or three passengers apparently. One of the latter very kindly loaned me a dry garment. We were able to go on by moonlight, and did not moor till midnight. Previous to that we were frequently challenged by people on shore, who seemed on the alert on account of the rebels. The men had to put on their uniforms and light their official lantern; and I tried to lie as hidden as possible. The captain slept on shore, and there was a good deal of delay before we left in the morning. We reacht Ch'ongk'ing near 10 A. M., and after some delay I came up to our own house in some of my wet clothes.
Ihad hoped that the servant had escaped and would have reacht herefirst and prepared the friends, but to my surprise, I found it was otherwise. Of course, all were surprised beyond measure, and they proceeded to do all they could for me.
One of the soldiers who escorted me returned, and reported that the poor servant's hand was injured, some fingers being cut off, and that he was held in captivity. * I praise God for my wonderful deliverance. "God is the Lord by whom we escape death." "I sought the Lord, and * We rejoice to be able to add that still more recent news tells of the Christian servant's escape a few days later. After being captured, bound, beaten, he was carried off, and no doubt would soon have been killed. But in answer to many prayers (a day was set apart in Ch'ong·k'ing for special prayer), God delivered him, by that very night causing a deHp sleep to come upon the twenty men who guarded him, and the servant, with his arms bound behind bim, escaped to Ch'ong.k'ing.
He heard me, and delivered me out of all my fears." "What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits that He hath done unto me?"
May the life so graciously spared be fully yielded to God for His service and glory!
Miss Alice Harding, of Si-Hsiang, Shensi province, also writes of perils from robbers while traveling by boat.
About midnight we were disturbed by some men coming on to our boat. At first we thought that probably the captain and some of the men had gone away earlier in the evening, and were now returning.
Especially were we convinced of this when we heard the boatmen's cook begin to prepare a meal, which in due time was served. While it was being eaten our cook came to our door, called Mrs. Gray-Owen in a very subdued undertone, and said, "We have robbers on the boat; have you any firearms?" Mrs. Gray-Owen said, "No, but we have the Lord! " The man was very much distrest, and said, "What shall we do ?"
We at once realized our position, and felt that we could with confi- dence ask help of the One who has said, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." So we all knelt together in that dark midnight hour, feeling very helpless, for we knew that humanly speaking, we had no might against this band of wicked men. After casting the whole matter on the Lord, we felt calm, for the Lord gave us each the assurance that He would show forth His power. We decided that if the men came into our part of the boat we would allow them to look into all of our boxes and take what they wisht. We prepared to receive them, for we had no doubt that they would take at least our money. We were glad that we did not have much, but the loss of the little we had would have been very inconvenient.
We sat in the dark waiting until the meal was finisht. Then we heard the robbers ask for money. The captain said that he had none. Before they had eaten their meal they had made all inquiries about the passengers, and of course had been answered most politely by the boatmen, from fear of what the result might be if they were not humble before their enemies. Now they askt about our luggage. The boatmen told them that all they knew about our luggage was that we had a few boxes of books in the hold. Thereupon we heard the boards being removed. The robbers said they would open them and look for themselves. The men said that the customs house officers never lookt into our boxes. They then said, "You go in and ask the foreigners for some money for us." The men said, "They are our guests; we could not think of such a thing." The robbers then said, "Well, we will go in ourselves." One of the men said, "You may if you are bold enough, but remember that the foreigners' card will take them into the presence of the mandarin." They went on talking for a little while, and then to our intense relief we heard the men going off the boat, the boatmen telling them in a very ~gracious why to "go slowly," while I am sure, in their hearts, they wisht them to go as quickly as possible.
Our faithless hearts could hardly take in the fact that the Lord had put His fear upon these evil men, and they were really going so quietly. When they had gone we knelt again to praise the Lord for the deliverance, for we know that it was He alone who had turned them back from coming and turning out our boxes. When they had gone the captain carne and called Mrs. Gray-Owen. Poor man! he was still very agitated, for he could not understand why these men had gone off without taking anything from us. Mrs. Gray-Owen told him that we had been calling upon our God, and that He had caused them to go away, and would not allow them to return. The captain did not feel so certain about the matter, as he knew these men well, so he gave orders to have the boat anchored in midstream. The men did not return, for which we praise the Lord.
EDITORIALS.
A Step in Advance. and importance will be given the precedence in the REVIEW, but the vVe believe that the slight changes usual scheme of monthly topics will be observed as far as practic- which may be noticed in the make- able, so that the progress of the up of the REVIEW this month will Gospel throughout the world will be presented in the course of the commend itself to our readers. The year: most prominent of these changes is January-Review and Outlook. the discontinuance of the Interna- February-The Chinese Empire. tional Department. The depart- March-Mexico, etc., City Missions. ment goes, but its editor remains. April-India, Woman's Work. May-Indo·China, Malaysia. This step is taken in the interest of June-Africa, Industrial Missions. July-Islands, Indians, etc. greater unity in the REVIEW as a August-Papal Europe. September-Japan, Korea, Medical Work. whole. Dr. Gracey himself recom- October-Greek and Mohammedan Land•. mends the change, and will con- November-South America, Young People. December-Jews, Educational Missions. tinue to act as associate editor, The Turn of the Oentury. representing the International Mis- As we enter upon the last year of sionary Union, whose interests are the 19th century, many attempts are being made to show the con- so dear not only to his heart, but to trast between the present and past -100 years ago. The distance is all the editorial staff. too great, and the difference in most cases is between nothing and The following communication present results. It is difficult to from Dr. Gracey will speak for attempt the comparison even with half a century ago. It is an enor- itself: mous task on many lines, to make a comparison even with a decade ago. To the Members of the Interna- There are some contrasts, how- i'ional Missionary Union: ever, not so commonly presented, You will observe that the" In- that ought to be emphasized. We recognize that the best argument ternational Department" is discon- for Christianity is the holy living tinued with the present issue of the of Christians. A hundred years ago, REVIEW. This does not in the roughly speaking, there were here least interfere with any relation of and there on the outer edges of the Union to this magazine, but is heathen lands some few " living designed to give the excellent epistles." These were not without papers contributed by the members their power. "Send me the misof the Union greater prominence in sionary, he will not deceive me," the body of contributed articles. was the way one of the princes You will have the fullest considera- of India bespoke his faith in the tio~ in all parts of the REVIEW, practical embodiment of the and I shall be glad to receive your Christian creed in Schwartz. In communications even more freely many lands the native non-Christhan in the past, from papers to tians reposed, and do repose, faith postal-cards. in the missionary not accorded (Signed) J. T. GRACEY, President. to anyone of their own religion. But a hundred years ago the Rochester, N. Y. heathen saw these evidences of The other modifications have the same object in view-that of increas- ing the unity and efficiency of the magazine as a whole. The editors will work together, endeavoring to make each part of the REVIEW up-to-date, interesting, and helpful.
The important.events of the month, which bear directly on the progress of the Kingdom of God, will be chronicled in the first few pages of the Intelligence. Events and themes of great present interest
1900.J EDiTORIALS
Christianity chiefly, almost exclu- stores, and some gave money as sively, in Europeans. Now they well."
have solved the problem whether Another thing which could not this religion can become incarnate have been seen a century ago, is in the same way in their own peo- the aggressive element of the na- ple. Now they witness the lives, tive church. When the English and hear the testimony, and note Bishop of Uganda visited the region the manner of dying, of Christians of the Mountains of the Moon to of their own race, and tribe, and the far west of Uganda, he found tongue. twelve churches capable of accom- The general moral uprightness of modating three thousand worship- the native Christian community is ers, two thousand of whom were in most countries observable by able to read or were learning to non-Christians where they dwell. read. The pioneers of this work Instances could be multiplied in were native evangelists.
almost every country where mis- The contrast in "open doors," or sions are establisht. Rev. Dr. rather of "doors off the hinges, " is Gordon, of Japan, at the anni- commonly noticed, but that of the versary of the American Board difference, between the recruiting said, that one of the most instruct- .possibilities of a century ago and ive things in Japan to-day is the the present is fresh and forceful.
confidence which many Japanese A hundred years ago the great officials and other men of influence Church of England Missionary So- show in their Christian country- ciety was unable to find a single men, tho they are themselves more missionary in England whom they or less indifferent to Christianity. could send to carry the Gospel afar, When three years ago the empress and had to turn to the Moravians dowager died, large sums of money for the personnel of their evangel- were handed down for benevolent istic force. They have sent over uses, and in many cases Christians two thousand missioparies abroad, were called upon by their non- more than half of whom have gone Christian countrymen to adminis- since 1880. There are hundreds of ter these funds. The Lord Bishop educated men and women now of "Vorcester, in his annual sermon waiting to be accepted and ap- before the Church Missionary So- pointed to foreign service; and it is ciety last May, instanced the time understood that none are too tal- of ruinous floods in northern Japan, ented or too well-qualified for this which rendered homeless thirty service. The very highest order of thousand people. The Buddhist men and women are needed, and monks and priests of Hakodate of- these are available far beyond the fered to collect and distribute limit of any missionary treasury.
money and clothing among the dis- . The above hints will suggest that trest, and met with insignificant it is not necessary to thresh old response. But when the native straw, to show the contrast be- Christians appealed to their towns- tween the missionary status of a people, and sent round carts sur- century ago and now. J. T. G.
mounted by Red-Cross banners, the people shouted, "Here come the The World's Missionary Oonferenoe. Christians!" and they crammed clothing into the carts, even taking Preparations continue for the off what they were wearing, and great missionary conference in New throwing them in; and" shopkeep- York in April. One great fear is ers gave new goods out of their lest our brethren of the committee
be tempted to have tod marty ad- animated presentation of this in- formation in their church services dresses at a single session. Already and prayer-meetings, as a subject of study and prayer, a work of the arrangements for one of the mental and spiritual preparation may go on for the next few months opening meetings include three ad- which will be invaluable to the full understanding and appreciation of dresses of only twenty minutes the great questions which will be discust at the conference next each. Such themes as the" Review April.
of the Century," "Oentennial Sta- The conference is interdenomina- tional; over one hundred societies tistics," and "The Superintending have already responded to the invi- tation, and delegates are expected Providence of God in Foreign Mis- from Great Britain and the Oonti- nent besides missionary workers sions," are too great to be satis- from all parts of the world.
factorily presented within that The outposts of the battle-line of the Ohristian Ohurch are con- space of time. Perhaps it is in- fronted by overwhelming numbers to be reacht, and the cry that comes evitable that, with such a brilliant back to the Ohurch is for the ten- fold reenforcement to meet the array of speakers, and such a mul- pressure of this appalling host of men and women without knowl- titude of themes, the time should edge of Ohrist. The conference ought to answer this cry by arous- be thus limited, but many notable ing the Ohurch to a united forward movenwnt for the permanent occuspeakers, like the late Dr. John pation of every unevangelized land with stations fully manned with Oairns and Prof. Ohristlieb, can those comfetent to teach as well as preach al things He has comscarcely get under weigh within manded us.
that time. We fear that many an A World-Wide Revival.
address may be cut off when its Mr. Abner L. Frazer, of Youngs- introduction is scarce completed. town, Ohio, earnestly asks God's We give space to the following people to make this great ecumen- communication from the program ical council a new point of de· committee, whose aim it is thus to parture in spiritual life. Mr. Fra- enlist prayers and cooperation in zer's letter deserves to be given in the effort to make the conference a substance. He suggests: permanent blessing to the whole A celebration which shall empha- size "the Gospel of Ohrist as the Ohurch: power of God unto salvation, to everyone that believeth." What If the conference is to meet in it has done proves what it can do the" fulness of the blessing of the in elevating, redeeming, and saving Gospel of Ohrist," and carry the degraded humanity, and in correct- Ohurch forward with it into the ing crime, immorality, and vice, coming century, with the impulse and in building up noble citizens of of a mighty movement, immediate stalwart Ohristian character. and permanent, it must itself be lifted and carried through on a For such a celebration a camfloodtide of prayers. In other paign of prayer and education in words, there should be preparation every church in our country will on the part of the whole Ohurch give a fitting preparation. If a and a preparation that centers in national religious revival should prayer. It is no spirit of ·conven- follow from the Holy Spirit detionalism, but a profound sense of scending upon the churches and need, that leads us to call upon the people, they would be better pre- Ohurch to pray-to pray, not once, pared not only for a grand celebranor twice, but continually, till it may truly be said that the whole Ohurch is, with one accord, waiting on God for the outpouring of His Spirit· upon the ecumenical conference, that through it there may be a renewal of consecration, and that the spirit of wisdom may enter into and fill the hearts and minds of believers everywhere.
If the pastors and missionary workers in the Ohurch will excite the interest of their people by an
EDITORtALS
don, but also to enter upon the tributed by all the churches to one twentieth century with men, common fund, and administered women, and money consecrated for from one treasury, and hence with the vast and 6'lorious work then to no missionary societies whatever. be done. Such a religious revival The truth is, that the one thing to and consecration should be the ascertain is how to get the churches desirable and objective aim of the to become most intelligent and most celebration, for which the unusual zealous in the extension of the kingoccasion is as auspicious as the dom of Christ; and that is not necessity is great. ascertainable by any preconceived theory. Hence some of the great The first thing to be done is to boards have decided at least to arouse all Christians to prayer, make a trial of the "living link" consecration, and appreciating policy. knowledge of Christian work generally, and of the missionary The American Board reports on work especially. Necessarily this its experiment of last year that will have to begin with the com- twenty churches have each assumed paratively few who are conscious the responsibility of sustaining a of the necessity of a general re- missionary. The financial result vival, and who have faith that is encouraging. Prior to the prayers will be answered and adoption of this plan these twenty efforts will be blest because it churches gave an average a little is God's work, and by His power below the per capita giving of the among men. whole denomination; they now are pledged to give twice the per capita Cities, towns, and villages should average donation of the denominawork up their own celebration, for tion; or, an advance from fiftywhich the central committee might nine cents to $1.37 per member. make suggestions. These are average, not exceptional churches. Their average member- The "Living Link." , ship is four hundred and sixteen. It is surely something, that these The "Living Link" was the twenty churches advanced their missionary contribution from popular title of a new policy in $4,871 to $15,561 in one year under the new proposai. missionary administration, which It is quite true that three twigs is in some quarters giving way to do not prove an Australian forest; and nobody jumps to the conclusion the title" forward movement." In that this may be extended to all the churches at once, and that it will its specific intent it means to get a be maintained through any stated number of years. But the comspecial church, or Sunday-school, mittee of the American Board having this matter in charge have or college to support an individual no misgiving in the matter. It is believedthat there are five hundred miSSIOnary. There are many argu- Congregational churches w hie h can each sustain a missionary on the ments urged in its favor, and some foreign field, besides all they are doing for their home church, and a pretty stout ones against it. The large number which can do this in addition to their usual contribu_ balance has not yet been struck.
In one instance it was suggested that a whole Methodist conference in America assume the support of a whole Methodist conference in India. One brother thought to dissipate the force of the proposi- tion by extending it, and proposing that the whole Methodist Church support the whole church in mis- sion lands. It was easily seen that this might be carried out to the still greater extreme of proposing that all that the churches do or ought to do at home and abroad for pastors, edifices, Sunday-schools, and all benevolent work be con-
tions to the American Board. It States, shall be treated as a crime against the pe~ce and dignity pf this Republic. might be well to bundle together SectIOn 3. ~0 person shall be Senator or all the objections to this plan, set Rep~esentatlve l;n Congress, or Elector, or Po~rhe.seIrdoeffni<t,:,,:oorf hVolnCoer-Porrf'esimdeonltu,moernt,howhldetahne~ them to one side, and, at least, CunIVdIel ~or mlhtary, under the United States or any state, or territory thereof, or' be make a fair test of it. The Presby- permItted to. vote at any election for any of terian Board has also inaugurated ssahIadllobffeicfeorusnI~n egI~tihletyr state or territory who of polygamy, or polygthis policy to a considerable extent, a mous ?cfoth:a,,b:Iot-at~tIirOdsn;ofbuetacChonHgoreussse,mreamy'obvye a vote and with, thus far, we believe, only such d.'sablhty In any specific case.
satisfactory results. A great many SectIOn 4. The Congress shall have power strong arguments were made for it to enforce the provisions of this Article by appropriate legislation. at the last anniversary of the Congress has already met and has American Board in Providence, R. refused to administer the oath to I., which would make very in- Roberts until his eligibility has structive reading, but we have no been investigated. Should that be room even to summarize them. establisht, an effort will be made to The best way is not to bother about expel him by a two-thirds vote. the" theory," but to face the" con- dition." J. T. G. Power of a National Oonscience.
Anti-Polygamy Legislation. Apropos of the attempt to un- seat the polygamist in the National As we write, an earnest effort is Congress, we have had a very remaking not only to unseat polyg- markable and almost unparalleled amist Roberts from his place in exhibit of the power of an aroused the House of Representatives, but national conscience and vigorous to secure anti-polygamous legisla- cooperation, in the stifling of Suntion which shall make such a con- day newspapers in London. Two test impossible in the future. It prominent papers produced illusseems a strange anomaly that in trated Sunday editions which were this nineteenth century, and so- so much better than the weekcalled" Christian America," a man day issues, that apart from the incan present himself for admission vasion of the Sunday sacredness, to the national legislature who is they deserved success. But it was an open and acknowledged polyg- felt that in their excellence lay amist! Meanwhile the league for their peril, and that a crisis had social service is issuing its strong come. Their victory would mean booklets on Mormonism, to inform a deluge of similar Seventh-day the public of the monster we have journalism, and the sweeping away to deal with in the "Latter-Day of old landmarks, in the opening of Saints," and the women of our shops, theaters, etc. There was a country are especially active and popular uprising in defense of the earnest in their opposition to Lord's Day, that was both spon- Roberts and those whom he repre- taneous and unanimous. An unsents. offending newspaper led the cru- sade. Circulars were sent to vari- An anti-polygamy Constitution- ous religious and philanthropic al Amendment, somewhat on the leaders, and the national feeling following lines, is proposed for was aroused, until there was an adoption by Congress: immense host who joined in the protest. Petitions rolled in, and (ARTICLE XV!.) Parliament appointed a committee with the Archbishop as chairman. Section 1. Neither polygamy, nor polyg- Then came a "boycott "-which am~lUs cohabitation shall exist withIn the Umted States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
S,,:cti~n 2. Polygamy or polygamous co· habItatIOn, whether practist within the bounds of a state, or a territory of the United
1900.J EDITORIALS
included every publication issuing by independent agencies in the from the offending offices; but even same field." Nevertheless, the enthe dropping of the circulation was tire financial statement of the not enough to bring the Sunday amounts expended is embraced in invaders to bay,and the last blow two pages, containing less than was struck in the withholding of fifty lines and about one hundred the advertisements, which are the and fifty words. "sinews of war." Then came the collapse, in one case with, and in This statement is so vague and the other without, a dying con- g-eneral that it can not be satisfacfession. God has taught us the tory to any business man, and it is wisdom of that sage maxim that not strange that the murmurs of disthere is enough" virtue or piety in satisfaction with the Alliance meany Christian community to over- thods of conducting money transcome its vice and iniquity," if it actions grow louder and more is properly brought to bear. vVhile general. For example, all the ex- American Sunday newspapers are penditures of the Swedish China debauching not only religious con- Mission are comprehended in one science, but refined taste, Sunday lien, whose footing is $11.159.81. journals in Britain will not be How such a sum was divided, by attempted again for another cen- whom, for what purposes, does not tury. appear. The South American Mis- sion, about which the complaints Missionary Alliance Report. are so bitter, has opposite it $8.389.- 26, but nothing shows the mode of "The Second Annual Report of disbursements, or who received the the Ch~istian and Missionary Al- money. A more detailed statement liance," presented April 14, 1899, would not only satisfy donors and has now been widely circulated. the public generally, but would also It is a somewhat glowing account show whether or not the complaints ot a prosperous year, during which against the Alliance are baseless or are reported steady growth, out- not; and no amount of contradicpourings of the Spirit on all the tion or glowing rhetoric will ever mission stations, gathering of dissipate SuspICIOn, while such sheaves in the fields of labor, etc. vague wholesale items are per- The constituency of native Chris- mitted to constitute the annual tians has doubled, and now: num- report. To this matter we feel bers over 1,000, and the spirit of compelled again to advert, as a self-support and unselfish work is serious and fatal defect in the said to be manifest. In Tientsin, Alliance methods, a defect the China, during two years, about more serious since the Alliance $5,000 have been given by the centers about a man and not a denative disciples to support workers nomination. It is hard to underin other fields, and some 22 addi- stand how a man like Mr. Simptional missionarieE are thus set at son would hold on to a method work. New openings are reported which a rogue might adopt as a in Mongolia, Annam, and even in cloak of systematic fraud, and Tibet, etc. plead the founder of this great mis- sionary organization as a prece- As to finances, the total contri- dent! Ve earnestly urge the offibutions reported are" about $160,- cers of the Alliance to change 000 for the direct work, while at radically the conduct of this part of least $100,000 have been spent in the Alliance business, and give the associated lines of Alliance work public a report which enters suffi-
ciently into detail to approve itself of the number Europeans and as a transparent exhibition of natives is surprlsmg. In Oape methods that not only bear but in- Oolony and territories the Euro- vite and welcome the scrutiny of peans number 425,000; the natives the most searching sunlight. 1,750,000. In Natal and Zululand The Duel in South Afrioa. they number 49,000 against 490,000, In times of turmoil such as are or one to ten. In Basutoland they now experienced in South Africa, are only 1,000 to 240,000. In Bechua- it is often of great value to know naland Protectorate, 500 to 700,000, what wise men had to say of the and in Rhodesia 750,000 to 1,000,000, situation in the calm before the pre- an aggregate of 485,500 to 4,330,000.
cipitation of the issue. Acting on In the Dutch states there is a very this prompting we turned to what different ratio. The Orange Free Stanley said several years ago State has 50,500 Europeans and 150,- about South Africa. It was not 000 natives. The South African Re- prophecy, but it was prescience, public (Transvaal) has 225,000 Eu- which comes with great suggestive- ropeans to 650,000 natives, the ag- ness at the present. ]fl'. Stanley gregate of the two states being 310,- wrote: 000 Europeans to 800,000 natives.
There is a peculiar condition in It seems a thousand pities that South Africa found in no other part of the continent, which, as we look European Ohristians must rush forward along the coming century, satisfies us that there must be a into armed strife, in the presence of troublous future in store for these colonies and states. The worst a heathen population under their danger, I think, to be apprehended is from the stubborn antagonism rule, of nearly seven to one; or, in which exists between two such determined races as the British and the case of the British, of nearer ten the Dutch. Years do not appear to modify, but rather to intensify to one. Another striking feature the incompatibility. Already they have lived side by side under one is that the Dutch in the two states flag for over ninety years, but the feeling has been more hostile of number three-fourths as many as late years. The South African Bond (Boer) and the South African the British in Oape Oolony and League (British) represent thevariance of feeling existing. Tho the Natal. Oonsidering the" break but Boers are in the majority at the present time appearances are in never bend" nature of both comfavor of the ultimate prominence of the British. munities, if unaided from without, Bishop William Taylor in the their conflict might be a duel de.
bulky volume issued by Eaton & structive to both. It is not our ]fains, New York, entitled "The province to take sides in this sad Flaming Torch in Africa," says: controversy. We can only deplore The probable changes which will the spectacle of this conflict, for it is take place in Africa during the next (the 20th) century may not be practically a clash of two forms of prophesied, but we can venture to declare that they will be startling modern civilization. ]fl'. Stanley when compared with Africa a century ago, or even at the present long ago said, day. The imperial supremacy … is In the British colonies of South not worth considering. What we Africa the disproportion between want to know is that it will be of such a character as to assure us of the largest possible civil and relig- ious liberty to the people of South Africa.
Bishop Taylor gives an account of missionary work attempted at the Kimberly diamond mines, which shows the inherent power of the Gospel even among heat!len hud- dled in conditions most forbidding to evangelistic work. J. T. G.
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS.
BRITISH FOREIGN MISSIONS. Rev. R. Ward- the present year. The estimates low Thompson and Rev. Arthur N. John- of the various men of whom the son. 12mo, 233 pp. 28. 6d. Blackie & volume treats impress us as fair Son, Limited, London. and impartial, even if at times a little colored by the Lutheran as- The Victorian Era has been one sociations and predilections of the of remarkable and unprecedented author. The sketches of Schwartz, progress in missions as well as in one of the model missionaries, is science. The growth and achieve- especially good, and of another ments of British foreign missions hero not so well known, "Father during the half century, 1837-1897, Heyer," who was nearly fifty when are well told in this volume. The he reacht India. Altho he was territorial progress is first described compelled by ill health to leave his and then the educational, medical, field and thought his "sun sink- zenana and other features of the ing," he returned twelve years work. A statistical table and later to place the mission on a good full index are included. The working basis. authors have long been students of missions and have been able not This book is valuable also in that only to give many valuable facts in it sets forth the true principles of small compass, but have narrated missions, and incidentally refers to as many thrilling incidents con- many events and. episodes in misnected with missionary work as sionary history that are of interest their space would permit. It is to all who love the cause. There chiefly valuable as a book of refer- is connected with each survey of ence. the various fields a brief and graphic description of the charac- THE STUDENT CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT IN GREAT teristic features of the people and BRITAIN. H. W. Oldham. 16mo, 170 pp. country. 18. British College Christian Union, Lon- don. NINETEEN CENTURIES OF MISSIONS. Mrs. Wm. W. Scudder. Introduction by Dr. This is a concise account of the Francis E. Clark. 8vo, 250 pp. $1.00. origin and development of this Fleming H. Revell Co. modern crusade in the British Isles. It is especially interesting This handbook was prepared priand useful as one of the most im- marily for young people, and is portant chapters in the whole one of the best o;utline histories volume of the century's annals. It that we have seen. It is not only very properly finds the true origin adapted for Sunday-schools and of this great uprising in the relig- young people's societies, but for all ious awakening in the English beginners in the study of missions. universities as far back as 1859-61, The volume is composed of facts, and carries the narrative down to but not of the proverbial "dryas this year, when there are 116 Chris- dust" character. Much prominence tian unions in affiliation with the is given to missionary heroes, espe- British College Christian Union, of cially pioneers, but statistics are which 33 are in theological colleges. few and far between. The first period deals with the work of the A HISTORY OF LUTHERAN MISSIONS. Rev. apostles, and the following periods Preston A. Laury. Illustrated. 8vo, 265 refer to the early Church, the pp. $1.25. Pilger Publishing House, middle ages, the Reformation, and Reading, Pa. the nineteenth century. This last section describes tIte awakening of This brief compendium traces missions in the Lutheran body from their beginnings in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries down to
churches and then takes up each and Korea in 1897. The story of the country in turn, giving a few im- portant facts about the land, the tour is well told and facts and im- people, and religions, and the rise and growth of papal and Protes- pressions regarding the lands visited tant missions in each. are fresh and important. Perhaps The book would have been more complete with chapters on the the most valuable features from a present work among Eskimos and negroes in America, and would missionary standpoint are tha have been more accurate had Per- sia not been included in the Turkish statements as to the difficulties, Empire. The suggestive questions at the close of each chapter and the encouragements, and needs of the index are useful features for purposes of study and reference. We work in these fields. heartily recommend the volume. Monthly Missionary Bibliography. THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH. Dr. Edward Judson. 16mo, 212 pp. Lentilhon &:: Co., VILLAGE LIFE IN CHINA. Arthur H. Smith, New York. D.D. Illustrated. 8vo. $2.00. Fleming H. Hevell Co. Here we have in substance both the theory and the practical work- TH" USE OF OPIUM IN CHINA: The Opinions ing of the church system now under of over 100 Physicians in China. Comcontrol of Dr. Judson. The book piled by Hector Park, M D. 8vo, 96 pp. may and will strike some readers 30 cents. American Presbyterian Mission as not only projecting new lines of Press, Shanghai. church conduct, but as perhaps unduly innovating in its tendencies. TATONG: The Little Korean Slave. Annie M. But Dr. Judson has undertaken to Barnes. Illustrated. 8vo, 252 pp. $1.25. solve the problem of a city church Pres. Com. of Publication, Richmond, Va. in a boarding-house district, on the very borders of the city slums. He A JOLTRNEY THROUGH THE PAMIRS AND TURhas a somewhat elaborate and ar- KESTAN. R. P. Cobbold. Illustrated. tistic church edifice in Greek archi- 8vo. $5.00. Chas. Scribner's Sons. tecture, with a moderate ritual and a musical program of no mean THE CAnoLINE ISLANDS. F. W. Christian. Ilquality. Everything is done to lustrated. 8vo. $4.00. Charles Seribdraw and hold the people, that can ner1s Sons. be done without lowering spiritual standards. It need not be said MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF OUR NEW POSSESthat Dr. Judson is an evangelical preacher, and does not let down SIONS. Charles M. Skinner. Illustrated. the Gospel message. It will be 12mo. $1.50. J. B. Lippincott, Phila. very interesting to watch the future of this church enterprise, with HAWAIIAN AMERICA. Casper Whitney. Illusits extensive system of accessories. trated. 8vo, 357 pp. $2.50. Harper &:: Brothers. LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF MISSION WORK IN THE FAR EAST. S. H. Chester, D.D. Illus- THE SKY PILOT OF THE FooT-Hn,Ls. Ralph trated. 8vo, 133 pp. 75c. Presbyterian Connor. 12mo, 300 pp. $1.25. Fleming Committee of Publication, Richmond,Va. H. Revell Co.
Dr. Chester here gives us some "TINTER AnVENTeRES OF THREE Boys IN THE interesting observations made dur- GREAT LONE LAND. Egerton R Young. ing his visit to the Southern Pres- Illustrated. 8vo, 326 pp. $1 50. Eaton byterian Missions in Japan, China, &::Mains.
THE INDIANS OF TO-DAY. Geo. Bird Grinnell. Illustrated. 4to. $5.00. Herbert S. Stone, Chicago.
PEN-PICTURES OF MORMONISM. Rev. M. L. Oswalt. 12mo, 96 pp. 15 cents. Am. Baptist PUb. Society, Phila.
THE FUTURE OF THE AMJlRICAN NEGRO. Book- er T. Washington. Portrait 8vo, 244 pp. $1.50. Small, Maynard &:: Co., BostoD.
TO-MORROW IN CUBA. Charles M. Pepper. 8vo, 362 PP. Harper &:: Brothers.
NINTO: A Story of the Bible in Mexico. An- nie nI. Barnes. Illustrated. 16mo, 214 pp.
90 cents. Presb. Com. of Publication, Richmond, Va.
IZILDA: A Story of Brazil. Annie M. Barnes. Illustrated. 8vo, 194 pp. $1.00. Presby- terian Com. Pub., Richmond.
HISTORY OF LUTHERAN MISSIONS. Preston A. Lowry. lllustrated. 8vo, 265 pp. $1.25. Pilger Publishing House, Reading, Pa.
A JUNIORIS EXPERIENCE IN MISSIONARY LANDS. 1I1rs. B. B. Comagys, Jr. Illustrated. 12mo, 121 pp. 50 cents. Fleming H. Rev- ell Co.
IN JOURNEYDWS OFT: Travels in Mission Lands. 8vo, 104 pp. Is.6d. Church Mis- sionary Society London.
HAND-BOOK OF COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS. S. H. Kellogg, D.D. 'l'he Westminster Pres., Philadelphia.
THE MODERN JEW. Arnold White. Heine- man, London.
GENERAL llUSSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
THE MARCH OF EVENTS. this unfortunate African war on hand will find it harder than otherwise to raise a Another terrible fa- famine fund. Yon in your recovering pros- The Famine mine is threatened perity ought to be able to do something, and there are many American missionaries in the in India. in India. Indeed it present famine area. A boy was offered for has already begun, sale in Parantij yesterday for 21Rs. I would not buy him, but his father gave him to lne yet few in England and America at last as a gift! Cattle are dying every- seem to grasp the situation. True, where and people soon will be if help does not as one missionary says, "The time come. for sending living skeletons has not yet come, but it ought never to be It is none too soon to send help allowed to come." Already the now; it may, ere long, be too late. wails of starving and dying are Money sent to the Managing Editor heard. In the province of Gujarat, of this REVIEW will be forwarded inhabited by more than 10,000,000 immediately free of charge. people, the rains have failed for the first time in a century and a The imperial de- half. It is bere that the Christian Another Imperial crees in China villages are located (described in Decree in China. have of late been our December number), and here the Methodists have over 6,000 con- so frequent, and, verts. In portions of northern In- as a rule, documents of such length, dia also crops have failed and the that it has taxt our space to print people are suffering and well nigh them. Nevertheless it seems imin despair. One missionary writes: portant to have these documents available for reference, and hence There is really only one thing to write about we make room for the following here in Gujarat, and for the matter of that in decree of March 18, 1899, which is Western India and a good many other places, more far-reaching than on a casual and that is Famine. The English papers (I reading of the text it might seem don't know about yours) have w far entirely to be. failed to realize the seriousness of the situation. It is not scarcity, but most terrible The Roman Catholic Church has famine. The only real rain we had in our been a great while in China. It is part was acouple of showers one night at the patronized by the French governbeginning of the Monsoon. ment. This document is con- structed in the interests of the As most of the wealth of Gujarat was in Roman Catholic Church; but the cattle and these can not live, on account of principle of the "most favored the absence of fodder, this famine is ruining nation" clause, if applied, will the rich and poor alike. Therefore there is have the effect to enable missionary no class to help the poor. representatives to settle most cases of misunderstanding far more ex- Gujarat is rich land, capable of enormous peditiously than through their conyield. This means, for this overcrowded old suls, and will allow of free andfrecouutry, that there is a greater density of quent intercourse between missionpopulation living at the best of times from aries and Chinese officials, which hand to mouth. When famine comes, the will itself tend to good feeling, and richness of the land is suddenly blotted out, reduce the "number of incidents of while the enormous population remains. friction. The official doors are hereby opened to all missionaries, Imported corn can only be sold at a rate who can gain immediate access to which is almost famine rate. Besides this, the all the local officials, and by their superintendent, or anyone author- ~g~rJ~~~~~e~ei~~~~:e;~n~~ ;m;tn:~¥r.:a~~ ized by the chief official of the church, demand to see the highest of trade. It will not insist on corn being sold at reasonable rates_ But with caste there can be no such thing as freedom of trade. Corn is only sold by the merchant caste, and no man of that caste dare sell below the rate agreed upon; these brutes agree to raise the price up, up, up, and sometimes, with starving people around them holding out their hard-earned coins. the villains shut up their shops and refuse to sell at all–simplyto raise the price. Some missionaries have suggested selling corn, but to do this on a scale which would benefit the people to any appreciable extent would take up the whole time of ten times as many missionaries as there are.
Things are very bad, and I hope America will come to the rescue. English people with
official of the province. This means whom they may negotiate the matter and far more in China than can well be finish it. Whenever a bishop or missionary measured by us at a distance. shall come to see a mandarin on business, the latter Is bound not to delay the negotia- Churches of the Catholic religion, tion, to be conciliatory, and to arrive at a. the propagation of which has been solution. long since authorized by the imperial government, having been built 5. The local authorities shall give timely at this time in all the provinces of warning to the people of the place, and ex- China, we long to see the Christians hort them earnestly to live on good terms and the people live in peace; and in with the Christians; they must not cherish order to make their protection hatred and cause trouble. Bishops and more easy, it has been agreed that priests shall in the same way exhort the local authorities shall exchange Christians to d.wote themselves to well-doing visits with missionaries under the so as to maintain the good name of the conditions indicated in the follow- Catholic religion, and act so that the people ing articles: will be contented and grateful. Wherever a suit takes place between the people and the 1. In the different degrees of the eccle- Christians, the local authorities shall hear siastical hierarchy, bishops being in rank and decide it equitably; the missionaries and dignity the equals of viceroys and must not mix themselves up in it and show governors, it is agreed to authorize them to de- partiality in giving their protection; so that mand to see viceroys and governors. In the the people and the Christians may live in case of a bishoI' being called home on busi- peace. ness, or of his death, the priest charged to replace the bishop will be authorized to de- The American Bible mand to see the viceroy and governor. Missionaries Society is in receipt Vicars-general and archdeacons will be au- Persecuted of reports in China thorized to demand to see provincial treasurers and judges and taotais. Other I'riests in China. which state that as a will be authorized to demand to see prefects result of the palace of the first and second class, independent prefects, sub-prefects, and other function- revolution last year, whereby the aries. Viceroys, governors, provincial treas- empress dowager assumed power urers and judges, taotais, prefects of the first and the emperor was practically and second class, independent prefects, sub- imprisoned, persecutions of misprefects, and other functionaries will natur- sionaries and Bible colporteurs ally respond, according to their rank, with are occuring in various parts of the same courtesie~. China, especially in the far in- terior. These reports come from 2. Bishops wiIl draw up a list of priests Peking, in North China; from whom they will charge specially with the Shanghai, in East Central China, treatment of business and with relations with and from parts of the province of the authorities, indicating their names and Shantung, but they relate to perthe locality of their missions. They will secutions remote from the chief send this list to the viceroy or governor, who cities. In one instance the viceroy will order their subordinates to receive them was forced to telegraph for troops. conformably to this regulation. The Chinese society known as 8. It is unnecessary for bishoI?s who reside "The Boxers" is said to be prooutside the cities to go from a dIstance to the voking agitations and antagonisms. provincial capital to ask to be received by Two colporteurs of the Bible Sothe viceroy or governor, when they have no ciety visited Peh-Shui-Chiang, in business with him. When a new viceroy or the province of Kan-Soo, and were governor arrives at his post, or when a invited to circulate Bibles from a bishop is appointed or arrives for the first Chinese temple. As soon as they time, or again on the occasion of felicita- were inside of the temple the gates tions for the new year and the principal were closed, and the colporteurs feasts, bishops will be authorized to write were terribly beaten with sticks of private letters to viceroys and governors and firewood. The men were tied hands send them their cards. Viceroys and govern- and feet to the pillars of the temple ors will respond with similar courtesies. and spat upon, the people shouting, Other priests who may be shifted Qr arrive "We have tied you up as they did for the first time, may, according to their your Jesus on the cross!" They rank, ask to see provincial treasurers and then began to strike them on the judges, taotais, prefects, prefects of the first face and shout, "This is what your and second class, independent prefects, sub· gods can do for you! Call npon prefects, and other functionaries, when they are provided with a letter from their bishop.
4. When a mission affair, grave or important, shall come up unexpectedly in any province, the bishop and the missionaries of the place should ask for the intervention of the minister or consuls of the power to which the pope has confided the protection of religion. These last will regulate and finish the matter either with the Tsungli Yamen or the local authorities. In order to avoid protracted proceedings, the bishop and the missionaries have equal right to address themselves at onCe to the local authorities, with
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
your Jesus to come and save you." to their countrymen, but also to By this time two of the men were establish churches with resident insensible, and a merchant who pastors, thus definitely occupying had been living in the same inn that place which only organized with them remonstrated with the leaders. The crowd seized the Christianity can satisfactorily fill. * merchant and beat him also. At last the innkeeper got the men off The following by going security for them that A Call to Presby- unanimous ac- they would leave the place. terian Stude,nts. tion was taken In a district in by the Presby- Religious Awaken- South Central terian (North) Board of Foreign Missions in November, 1899: ing in France. Prance not far from Lyons, " The report of the student mis- sionary campaign for the year 1899 where for years, perhaps for cen- has been received. . . . We would turies, there has not been one Prot- commend the thirty-one students, estant Christian, there has recently who have shown such earnestness, .come tidings of a remarkable move- such intelligent appreciation of the ment toward Protestantism. A need of the great cause of foreign year ago an evangelist was sent to missions, and have so unselfishly this Catholic stronghold, namely, devoted their summer 'Vacation to to the village of Le Monteil, four the prosecution of this work in miles from Chavagnac Lafayette. many Presbyteries sadly needing a Now he has gathered together a revival of foreign missionary en- Protestant congregation of over thusiasm. We recommend that a hundred and fifty persons. Be- the campaign for 1900 be carried sides being askt to remain among on in the same manner as in 1899." the people as their pastor, he has been besought by the people of In view of this action, Presbytwenty-two neighboring villages to terian workers are wanted for the come and tell them the story of the summer of 1900. Acceptable can- Gospel. In the manufacturing didates must be deeply concerned town Langeac, near by, the same for the evangelization of the world, evangelist has built up a church of if not Student Volunteers. Final about two hundred members, many decisions must be received by of whom were formerly atheistic March 15th. For agreement blanks Socialists. It is believed that the write to the campaign manager, same startling success may attend Geo. L. Gelwicks, 1060 N. Halsted Protestant ministrations in other Street, Chicago, Ill. parts of France which have hitherto known only the traditional Twenty-five bishops and rebound from superstition to athe- Episcopal two hundred priests of ism. The more rational reaction Mission- the Protestant Episcofrom ecclesiastical tyranny and ary Coun- pal Church assembled ceremonialism, the turning to Protestantism, not atheism, is seen in cil. at St. Louis the last the fact that the reformed churches week in October to of Prance are quite unable to supply pastors for all the demands attend their annual missionary now being made upon them. We council. The most important disshould aid the Protestants of ClIssion seems to have been that France, not only to give the Gospel concerning the Philippines, Bishop Doane st}ongly supporting the *Rev. Dr. David James Burrell, of the Marble Collegiate Church, New York City, is the president of the Franco-American Com- mit.tee.
Ildministration policy and making (Indian), Arizona; Jefferson Park, an eloquent plea for missionary Ohicago, and Second, Pittsburg. equipment in the islands. Yet some people question the ex- pediency of missionary work. At present the greatest need There were 10 pf our churches that is for Bibles. In discussing the more than doubled themselves last report of the missionary work done year. Among them were 3 churches among the colored people, Bishop in Ohina, Ohinan Fu, San Ui, and Oheshire, of North Oarolina, Yeung King, and Laguna Indian claimed that the colored people church in New Mexico. It really were growing worse instead of seems as tho foreign missionary better. It was not expected, he work is the most satisfactory and said, that the people set free be- successful form of our modern c;:tuse of a supposed political church work.-He1'ald and Presnecessity should not retrograde byter. under the weight of responsibility which they were not prepared to The Presbyterian Board reports 27 assume. missions, 1,192 stations and out- stations, 702 missionaries, 2,030 AMERICA. native workers, 368 churches, with' 35,995 members, of whom 4,844 were Missions in'Theo- Of our 120 theo- added last year; 21,516 pupils under logical Seminaries. logical semin- instruction, 30,235 Sunday-school ar i e s, with a scholars, 8 printing establishments, membership of which print 85,546,787 pages during the year; 35 hospitals, 47 dispensa- 6,500 students, 40 are officiated with ries, and 349,785 patients treated during the year. the world's Student Ohristian Federation. There are 18 that admit women, 56 hold regular missionary meetings, with au average attendance of 86 per cent. of the Thus again membership; in 1890 only 39 held missionary meetings, with an at- The American Board we review tendance of 54 per cent.; 48 have faculty instruction in missions; 14 in a Nutshell. the work of have missionary lectureships. Last year 38 gave $7,393 to missions, the Board while in 1890,32 gave $9,994. There are 5 that each support a foreign for another year. In 20 missions, so missionary, 6 that each support a missionary in part and 4 that sup- distributed among the great conport a home missionary. In 53 institutions 392 students are pre- tinents and nations and islands as paring for foreign service; that is, 11 per cent. of the entire member- to encircle the globe, and offering ship. When 89 per cent. propose to stay at home, is not the propor- the Gospel to more than 100,000,000 tion too great? souls, a force of 529 missionaries assisted by 3,155 native laborers in 1,417 strategic points preach the Gospel in 26 different languages; 492 organized churches have a present membership of 49,782, of whom 5,047 have been received on confession this year, and 1,021 Sunday-schools gather 65,903 pupils Last year there every Lord's day; 133 colleges and Presbyterian Addi- were 5 Presby- high schools train 9,088 pickt youth tions at Home and teriatl churches of both sexes, and 1,137 common Abroad. that had over schools provide instruction for 43,- 100 additions 920 pupils; while mission presses on confession. These were San Ui, send out their millions of pages to Ohina; Yeung King, Ohina; Pima instruct the Ohristian communi-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
ties, and hospitals and dispensaries republic of Ecuador, acting on the minister relief to 120,000 patients, recommendation of President Al- to everyone of whom the Gospel faro, has past a law confiscating to message is given.-Annual Report. the state all church property, and A Shining Example of the true placing the mines, the immense spirit in giving is instanced as the cocoa and sugar plantations, and result of one of the Student Mis- the valuable city holdings which sionary campaign meetings. Two this property includes, under the , sisters of Providence, R. I., work- management of a board of trustees, ing girls, decided that they could to be appointed by the president.
both walk one way between their The proceeds of the sequestered home and the factory, thus saving property will be applied to the 10 cents each working day for mis- support of the state schools. In- sionary work, and supporting their dignation among sympathizers own native preacher ($30 a year). with the church is intense, and "Their faces as they told it were the clergy is protesting violently beaming, as if they were telling of a against the enactment. In many newly-found gold mine, or that a quarters revolution is threatened. large amount of property had re- The Franciscan, Dominican, and cently come into their posession." other monastic orders of the Roman Catholic Church, which, being very Says Rev. J. W. rich, are the principal sufferers, are Methodism in Butler:" In the last hurriedly making conveyance of Mexico. quarter century the Methodist Board the titles to their property for fic- titious considerations to local layhas expended $1,039,694 on this field, and the Woman's Board $147,- men. The government, it is de- 311, with personal donations sufficient to bring the total expendi- clared, will refuse to recognize the ture up to $1,500,000. There have validity of these transfers." been 20 episcopal visits. Thirty missionaries have been sent out by P. Riittel, the parent board, and 21 by the W. F. M. S., whose labor has been Danish Evangelism Danish misaugmented by the service of a large in Greenland. sionary on the number of native helpers, and the eastern coast visible results are 125 congregations, representing 4,694 members of Greenland, gives in the Dansk and probationers, and about 10,000 Miss~ons-Blad an account of his persons under our immediate in- first considerable baptism, of eight fluence. We have 4,056 pupils in our day-schools, and 2,876 in Sun- persons, adults and children. A day-schools. The Methodist Church in Mexico raised $22,043 last year few individuals had been baptized for all purposes, about one-fourth of the amount annually expended in before. These seem to be the first the mission." persons baptized on the eastern coast of Greenland, since the Scan- dinavian diocese disappeared some five or six hundred years ago, in consequence of the lines of icebergs coming down, and the last bishop sent out from the Nuth, Norway, never found. his diocese, which stretcht from Greenland to Massa- chusetts. Herr Ri.ittel says: A correspondent The moment thlft I had yearned after so Church Property of the Chicago long, and yet almost trembled at, was now there in all its peaceful and yet solemn real- in Ecuador. Record traveling ity. The countenances of the newly-bap- in South Ameri- tized beamed with gladness, when we con- gratulated them after the ceremony. Altho, ca has sent the following despatch these persons had never before been present to that paper: "The Congress of the at a baptism, I believe that I am able to say that they bore themselves becomingly, and with dignity.
Statistios of the Missionary Sooieties of the [These tables include only Missions to non-Christian and non-Protestant peoples, and so they omit the United States. The figures are derived almost wholly from annual reports, and relate in the main possible blanks, and hence where official figures were not at hand, conservative estimates have been Mission'y Income. Missionaries. Nat. Helpers. ., — o:i ., ""Q) • .e :5. ai -..=.e ai o:i .,; o.~.0… S oS ~ Q) ~o'loEl S] Q) NA.MES OF SOCIETIES. 0 "'il Q) ~ olS "'OJ :d Ob..i.) 2~ S,,O~ 6"" P:< ~ … ..S»o..l ~ p ~'8 0 ~ ""0 ..=E-I <5 – – – – – – – — – – — – — – —– American Board .. ……………… 1810 $644,201 $135,987 17U 16 1&9 174 234 2,921 Baptist Missionary Union……….. 1814 563,495 118,583 159 23 171 106 280 8,254 Southern Baptist Convention ……. 1845 109,267 7,110 35 0 34 13 27 101 Free Baptist……………………. [1833 80,662 525 71 8 9 6 69 Seventh-Day Baptists…………… 1847 4,500 500 11 2 2 0 9 Christian (Disciples)…………….. 1875 142,823 9,904 45 5 23 12 20 81 American Christian Convention …. 1886 6678 218 40 1 2 5 10 Protestant Episcopal. …………… 1835 2S2,179 12,745 37 11 24 24 87 827 Society of Friends ……………… 1871 88,354 2,370 12 7 18 26 7 84 Lutheran, General Council ……… 1869 20,303 60 4 4 1 142 Lutheran, General Synod ……….. 1837 41,200 7,308 15 8 12 9 1 461 Methodist Episcopal. …………… 1819 954,063 14,652 218 22 211 240 880 4,013 Methodist Episcopal, South…….. , 1846 220,495 .13,404 65 4 59 57 87 147 Free Methodist ………………… 1882 12,982 40 4 4 0 18 Methodist Protestant …………… 1888 10,896 232 51 6 0 5 21 Wesleyan Methodist…………….. 1890 7,000 40 4 8 5 Presbyterian …………………… 1837 882,087 228 55 244 175 204 1,826 Presbyterian, South…………….. 1861 145,000 5,446' 60 7 53 35 11 81 Cumberland Presbyterian……… , 1820 20,000 82 9 11 7 28 Reformed Presb. (Covenanter)….. , 1856 27,351 63 9 6 0 37 Reformed Presb. (Gen. Synod) …… 1836 6,400 800 20 2 6 0 45 Associate Reformed Presb., South. 1874 8,792 559 30 3 3 8 4 United Presbyterian ……………. 1859 188,932 21,216 82 8 35 87 88 600 Reformed (Dutch)………………. 1832 126,888 9,987 30 5 31 24 32 416 Reformed (German)……………. , 1878 80,197 82 7 3 8 80 German Evangelical Synod…….. , 1ss.~ 17,000 70 5 0 12 46 Evangelical Association ………… 1876 1 8,500 1,Om 20 2 0 5 28 i United Brethren ……………….. 1853 75,000 600 26 18 32 0 8 80 Canada Baptist. ………………… 1878 48,186 1,700 17 2 16 16 11 142 Canada Congregationalit..•……. 1881 4,500 12 2 2 0 6 Canada Methodist………………. 1878 147,860 8,005 78 6 82 15 80 34 Canada Presbyterian …………… 1844 175,223 11,984 40 22 48 20 5 290 572,000 85 290 118 813 20 563 15,864 — — – — — — – – – – – – Twenty-two other Societies ……… — – – – Totals ……………………… ,5,522,909 408,951 1,419 516 1,441 1,352 1,534
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
United States and Canada for 1898-99.
work done in non-Ca.tholic Europe, while covering that in behalf of Indians, Chinese, and Japanese in to 1899, though sometimes the year includes a part of 1898. The aim has been to leave the fewest made, based upon former reports.] Countries in which Missions are Sustained.
– – — – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3,600 1,426 49,782 5,047 141,761 1,270 60,780 Africa, Turkey, India, China, Japan, 3,993 2,586 128,294 7,575 400,000 1,375 31.254 Micronesia, Mexico, Spain, Austria. 15,000 2,446 200 140 5,347 845 43 3,208 Burma, India, China, Japan, Africa, 100 13 797 62 1,708 94 France, Spain. China, Japan, Africa, Italy, Mexico, Brazil. India (Southern Bengal).
17 2 51 11 150 6 140 China (Shanghai).
185 64 1,717 465 4,000 22 1,570 India, China, Japan, Turkey.
22 27 332 65 1,000 1 20 Japan (Tokyo, etc.'.
500 233 5,582 390 20,000 104 4,534 Africa, China, Japan, Haiti, Greece.
159 66 1,273 125 2,743 33 1,437 Mexico, Alaska, Jamaica, China, Japan.
160 198 2,412 226 5,086 116 2,719 India (Madras).
489 47 6,316 1,210 18,000 118 6,695 India (Madras), West Africa.
5,291 634 114,187 5,520 182,434 1,213 36,818 China, Korea, Japan, India, Africa, 419 Bulgaria, Mexico, South America. 25 1,4&Q China, Japan, MeXico, Brazil. 106 9,503 462 30,000 25 14 99 25 500 5 281 India, S. Africa, St. Domingo.
41 27 410 76 1,000 25 1,165 Japan (Yokohama).
16 2 24 200 1 20 Africa (Sierra Leone).
2,728 1,192 35,995 4,844 150,000 686 21,516 India, China, Japan, Korea, Africa, 247 216 3,378 484 10,000 Syria, Persia, Spanish America. 65 13 800 100 2,500 20 754 China, Korea, Japan, Africa, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Brazil.
3 200 Japan, Korea, Mexico, Indians.
61 14 293 61 1,200 12 645 Northern Syria, Asia Minor, Cyprus, China.
55 15 1,150 80 4,000 8 370 India (Northwest Provinces).
16 14 281 39 1,000 4 90 ~lexico (TampiCO, etc.).
751 290 7,925 573 25,000 336 18,700 Egypt, India (Northwest Provinces).
538 248 4,453 399 15,000 225 7,231 India, China, Japan, Arabia.
58 56 1,817 268 6,000 2 189 Japan (Tokyo, Sendai, etc.).
72 10 807 176 1,498 11 1,106 India (Central Provinces).
37 22 890 85 2,500 1 8 Japan (Tokio, Osaka).
114 516 4,286 149 12.000 12 600 China, West Africa.
233 71 4,200 385 12,000 75 1,200 India (Telugus).
13 2 43 9 200 2 200 Africa (West Central).
245 130 5,762 213 10,951 10 1,210 Japan (Tokyo), Indians.
425 218 3,493 458 15,000 160 6,630 China, India, New Hebrides, West Indies, 1,389 280 8,800 680 20,000 235 19,500 22,344 8,582 410,395 31,571 1,112,381 6,223 255,913
Periodical ac- this same society reportJs an income of £331,000, or considerably over Transfer of the counts of Mo- $1,500,000.
Greenland Mission. ravian Mis- At a single Bibles Sent Out by session in Oc- sions' refer- the B. and F. B. S. toberthecom- ring to the action recently taken mittee of the British and Foreign Bible Society by the Moravian general synod made these grants among others: 5,000 Ganda New Testaments, with withdrawing from Greenland, and references, for O. M. S. mission·· aries in Uganda; 3,000 Portuguese turning its mission over to the Gospels for the Y. M. C. A. of Oporto, for free distribution among Danish Lutherans, says: the soldiers stationed around Lisbon on account of the plague; 5,000 Undoubtedly the most important Chitonga St. John to be printed for resolution past was that refer- the Free Church of Scotland Liv- ring to the transfer of the Green- ingstonia Mission, Lake Nyassa; land mission to the Danish State 400 Welsh Bibles and Testaments Church. We would express the to be sent out to Welsh colonists hope that this step, which was only in Patagonia,whose homes, schools, taken after full and exhaustive and churches had been almost all consideration, will be recognized destroyed in the recent disastrous by the friends and supporters of floods; a small grant of French our missions as an act of comity, Bibles and Testaments for evangel- and that as such it will commend istic work in the villages of Haute- itself to all who know the situation, Savoy, Switzerland. and how faithfully the Danish State and Church have cared for The L. M. S. has the native population of their London Mission- a force in the northern colony. Let us be re- minded of the fact that Hans ary Society. field of 196 men Egede, the Norwegian clergyman, and 76 women. went out to Greenland as a missionary of the Danish Lutheran Of native toilers there are 892 State Church, twelve years before ordained ministers, 2,966 evangelour two first missionaries, and that ists and preachers, 800 Christian these went there expressly in order teachers, and 226 Bible women. In to help him, their instructions be- its mission stations are found 52,- ing "to offer themselves as assist- 803 communicants and 175,588 ants to that apostle of the Green- Christian adherents; in its 1,037 landers, Mr. Egede, in case he schools are 34,499 boys and 16,104 would and could make use of them; girls. In its New Guinea mission but if he did not want their assist- the 10 European missionaries are ance, then not to interrupt him in aided by 104 native pastors, mostly the least." Then, too, we may em- drawn from churches formed in phasize this fact, that the members the South Sea Islands by the soof the Danish Church in Greenland ciety's missionaries in former years. number 10,000, whilst we have only 1,700-that, therefore, it will be a The Paris Missmall matter for the Danish Church to care for these in addition to the French Protestants sionary Somany already under their charge. Jubilant. ciety sounds a EUROPE. note of joy in It has been stated its sixty··fourth annual report, as Wilberforce's recently that early Prophecy. in this century the great Wilberforce, in the British House of Commons, in alluding to the Church Mission- ary Society, suggested that the day might come when that society would receive an income of £10,000 a year. The suggestion was met with shollts of derisive laughter.
Yet in the last year of this century
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
well it may. Four years ago came INDIA. two sudden and urgent calls both for more money and more men. M. In a recent letter, Dr. Coillard askt for a great extension The Woe of Colin Valentine, of of the Zambesi Mission, and the Famine. the Agra Medical changes in Madagascar threw upon the Protestants of France a great Missionary Training responsibility in regard to the work Institution, writes that he has rewhich the London Society had car- ceived the following information ried on there previous to the French from missionaries: In every part occupation of the island. In four of the Punjab where there are no years the special donations for the canals the greatest distress pre- Zambesi Mission have gone up vails. Cattle are dying in hunfrom £2,120 to £9,720, and for Mada- dreds. In the Central Provinces gascar from £640 to £16,000. The the grain is higher in price than at donations for the general work any time during the last famine. have risen from £14,720 to £18,480. In Mairwarra, 40,000 out of the The total income has risen from 100,000 population are on famine £18,000 to £45,320. Not only money relief works. In other' parts of but men have been forthcoming. Rajputana the people are leaving Last year 12 missionaries came the villages by thousands. In Guhome, of whom 5 hope to return to jarat cattle are being sold at a their work at the close of their rupee a head, and children for less. periods of furlough. During the On Sabbath last, continues Dr. Valsame period 36 were sent out-to entine, we had 876 starving crea- Lessouto, 3 returning and 1 new; tures at our Beggars' Church, Agra. to the Zambesi, M. Coillard and 10 The Pioneer states that the numnew; to the Kongo, 4 new; to Ta- ber of persons in receipt of relief hiti, 1 returning and 1 new; and to during a recent week, was 107,992; Madagascar, 2 on temporary mis- that being more than double the sion and 13 others. The society has figure for the previous week, when now 56 European missionaries. Of the total was 48,652. these, 12 are Swiss, 6 are from Alsace, 4 from the Waldensian val- In Karaji, a large leys, and the remainder French. The Woe of the port in Sind The Unitas Moravian Mission- Fratrum culti- Plague. (North India), the ary Figures. vates 21 fields, plague has made with 138 sta- great ravages. The principal work tions, and 54 out-stations. The missionary force includes 376 Eu- here, among the heathen and Moropeans and Americans, of whom 172 are wives, and 1,942 native help- hammedan population, which is ers. The baptized members number 92,071, and the communicants, difficult of access, is that of the C. 33,764. The income reacht £78,- 506 last year, of which £50,000 was M. S. Zenana Mission. Altho their derived from the mission fields, £11,978 from legacies, only £4,118 schools and houses are in the midst from the Brethren's churches, and £12,409 from other churches and of the native quarter, where the friends. plague raged, yet the lady mission- aries and their boards bravely held their ground, amid daily prayer, and appear to have been kept from all losses by the pestilence. Of course they had to close their day- schools. A zenana teacher gives the following account of the im- pression which the heavy stroke made upon the native women.
The visits to the (heathen)
women after the plague were ex- A Persian emigrat- ceedingly distressing. For a while The Bible as a ing to India re- one could do nothing more than to utter words of sympathy and con- Missionary. ceives in the north solation. It was to the last degree country, on his way touching, to see the affliction of the mothers, whose daughters, our to Bombay, a copy of the New scholars, had died of the plague. Testament, which is blest to. his They would bring out the books and conversion. A pilgrim. to the slates of their children, and show shrine of Jaganath, in Orissa, is us the mark drawn where these directed to the New Testament for had last read. In doing this their the true way of life, and accepts wails were heart-breakdng., "Of the faith of Ohrist. A M()hamwhat use is all this now? She will ..medan student of divinity finds never use these things againI " among the books in the mosque a Many of the elder girls, thus carried off, had been attending our schools Gospel of St. .rohn. It leads to for several years, and were therefore well instructed in the truths further study, baptism, and enof Ohristianity, and, as their trance upon a course of instruction mothers testified, already so far for the Ohristian ministry. A advanced, that they could draw Brahman well read both in Sanskrit near to God in prayer.-Evan- and in English, while traveling in gelisch-Lutherisches Missionsblatt. a railway carriage falls into con- versation with an English gentle- Sunday-schools in India number men, from whom at parting he re- ceives an English New Testament, 6,348 with over 10,000 teachers and which he promises to read. The travelers .are unknown to each 2,500,000 scholars. Of these the other, but in two years after their meeting, the Brahman is baptized, Methodist Ohurch is said to lead and devotes his life to the work of Ohrist.-North India Bible Society all other denominations, having Report.
2,406 Sunday-schools, 3,387 teach- There are few The Aggressions regions in India ers, and 86,068 scholars. The Pres- of Islam in India. where Ohris- byterians follow with 1,019 schools, t ian missions have been carried on more vigor- 1,838 teachers, and 40,843 scholars. ously, or, on the whole, more suc- cessfully, than Tinnevelli, and yet Then follow the Baptists, Oongre- it is there that Mohammedanism has had recently its most signal gationalists, Wesleyans, and An- triumphs. Six hundred Hindus in one village were converted to Isglicans. lamism in one day, and the exam- ple thus set was quickly followed There are 5 sta- in other places. What has set this current flowing? A very curious Bethel Banthal tions in full work- influence. It is said that the Shanars, a very low caste, are very Mission.' ing order in this numerous in TinneveI1i, and have been of late extremely prosperous. mission, and dur- This prosperity has made them ambitious. Many of them built ing the last ten years 721 have been fine houses for themselves, and baptized, which brings the total number of Ohristians to somewhat above 1,500. At the last confer- ence over 1,000 Ohristians were present. Each station has a school and orphanage attacht to it, where the boys and girls get their food, clothes, lodging, and education free of charge. During the last ten years the medical staff have at- tended and given medicines to 30,- 000 paLients in 5 hospitals and other dispensaries. Besides 5 hos-'
pitals, there are Ohristians in over 50 villages giving medicines to the poor free of charge.
GENERAL MISSIONARY
sought to make out that they had These statements a right to worship in temples, from which they had hitherto been ex- A Well Equipt relate to the Macluded. The result was a riot, in which they were badly treated by Mission. dura Mission of the their fellow-religionists of a higher caste, and this has driven them to American Board: seek relief in a different faith altogether. "In accepting Islam the "It has in good working order a Shanars enter at once into the fellowsllip of the proudest and most college, a theological seminary, 3 united of the' castes' of India-a corporation which not only never high schools, 2 training institufails to defend its converts, but never dreams of giving them an tions, a Bible woman's training inferior place." – Free Church Monthly. school, an industrial school, 9 sta- Rev. Mr. Hackett, tion boarding schools, 164 day and Not a" Rice" for years a mis- village schools, and 16 Hindu girls' Christian. sionary in India, gives this incident schools, in which 7,159 students are relating to John Mohammet, a studying; with 3 hospitals and 2 native pastor: "He was a man of good family and high position. dispensaries. All this is in addi- Seeing one day a C. M. S. missionary preaching the Gospel sur- tion to the 38 organized churches rounded by an insulting mob, whose spittle was actually dripping down which are independent of any aid the beard of the patient, longsuffering missionary, and noticing from the Board, and the evanthat the missionary had a difficulty with the language, he stept to his gelistic plant which covers an area side, and, out of pity for the man, began interpreting for him. At of more than 9,000 square miles and the close the missionary thankt him and gave him a pamphlet, reaches 2,400,000 people. There are which he put into his pocket with a smile, never intending to look at Christians already in 461 villages in it, but on a bed of sickness he found this tract and read it, and through this mission alone, and 578 natives this became a Christian. When his change of religion was known are working for the intellectual, he was set upon and beaten, and his body cast out on the street as and moral, and spiritual uplift of tho dead. The native pastor coming along, found him, and seeing the people in this one field. The signs of life, took him home." Mr. Hackett said he never could forget mission is more troubled by the the heavenly smile with which this man said to him, "I think I could hundreds who are professing Chris~ allow myself to be cut into pieces by my Mohammedan friends if only tianity and asking for preachers I could win them to Christ." than by the few who return again to heathenism. The day has largely past when the missiollary or the faithful native worker needs to make much effort to secure a hear- ing. India is all ears now, and whoever speaks the words of soberness and wisdom will have a hearing."
Rev. A. E. Funk, Patient Waiting of the Missicn- for Tibet. ary Alliance, has recently been in India, and extended his visit to a town on the borders of Tibet. Here he met two Moravian missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Heyde, who for nearly half a century have been" holding the fort." Mr. Funk says they are a patriarchal couple, who came from Germany 45 years ago into Little Tibet, waiting all these years to enter Tibet proper, and gather- ing nearly 100 Tibetans into the
Church of Christ. They are now end-the proclamation and establishment of in the seventies, and both well and Chr!st's kingdom throughout the world. In· strong. With his silver locks and Christ we are one. whiskers, white as the Tibetan snow, and his humble, Christlike The countries about appearance, he inspires one as a Chinese the China Sea are full true father in Israel. They have Emigration. of Chinese. By their never been to the homeland on furlough, and their children who went superior energy and home when eight years of age, and business ability they have absorbed now have children themselves of the trade of these lands, and pusht that age, they have never since into the background the indolent seen. They have recently come and shiftless people of these re- 1,400 miles toO this place, Ghoom, gions. There are some 2,500,000 200 miles on horseback and the rest of Chinese in Siam out of a total by rail, through India, and are now population of 8,000,000. In Bangengaged in the work of translating kok, the capital of that kingdom, the New Testament into the Tibet- the Chinese number 300,000 in a an -language. population of 500,000. In Singapore, that flourishing British colony in CHINA. the Straits of Malacca, two-thirds of the real estate is owned by the Over 100 mis- Chinese, and they occupy positions of influence and honor, some of Is the Millennium sionaries have them being members of the legis- lative council. Most of the coast- at Hand? signed and pub- ing trade on the Malayan peninsula is in the hands of the Chinese, and lisht a declara- they are scattered in all the settle- ments and plantations on the seation of Christianity which is board. Fifty-five thousand Chinese arrived in Singapore from China in printed below. They represent one-quarter-three months. From this center they are distributed to nearly every Protestant denomina- the Dutch and native territories. In the city of Manila, on Luzon, tion which carries on foreign mis- there are 20,000 of them. Most of the artisans in Java are Chinese. sions, and they come from many The Chinese form an important part of the population of the British nations in Europe, America, and settlement of North Borneo. They are found in great numbers in Australia. Among the names ap- Rangoon and in other coast towns of Burma. In Saigon and the ports pended are 10 Congregationalists, of French Cochin-China, most of the trade is carried on by Chinese 13 Wesleyans, 18 Presbyterians, 13 merchants.-Baptist Missionary Magazine. Methodist Episcopalians, and 6 Baptists: We, the undersigned missionaries, desiring If all the Christo express to the world· our heartfelt unity in regard to the essential points of our Chris- More Missionaries tians but 750 tian religion, and longing to fulfil the desire of our blest Savior and Master, exprest in his Wanted. were taken out prayer, John 17: 11, 20-23, that His disciples should be one as He and the Father are one, of London, and hereby declare that in our united services, as well as in our daily intercourse with each their places filled by heathen, other, we realize ourselves to be one in the Father and in the Savior. Christianity is not scarcely any of whom had ever so much a system of doctrines as it is a new seen the Bible or heard of the Salife, born of the Spirit of God, a life of vital union with God through the Savior. All those who, by the grace of God, have received this new life are living members of Christ's body, and are therefore one. Christ himself is the center of our union. We may still have different views and opinions on several minor questions of our religion, and may follow different methods of church policyand Christian work, as each one's conscience directs him, but yet we feel we are one by the blood of Jesus, our only Savior and Mediator, and by his Spirit, who moves our hearts. We are like different battalions of one great army, fighting under one great Captain (i. e., our common Savior and Master) for one great
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
vior, and among these 25 mission- cured of the, habit, her ulterior aries, including'wives, were put to hope being his conversion. He work, together with some 60 native came, ~was cured, and also found agents, that would be a fair repre- Christ. And now it is his delight sentation of what is being done by to sit in the waiting-room and Protestant Christendom to win prove the power of God by point- China for Christ. ing to himself. That is evidence Kill or A missionary writes that none can gainsay. All know what Cure! Dr. Cho Ping was SUlU- he was, and that no man ever moned to the bedside of changed as he now is by the wor- one of his patients who ship of idols.
had swallowed an overdose of .. We have had too litopium. First the doctor sat feel- Bulldozing tle rain," writes Mr. ing the sick man's pulse for a the gods! Helgesen, " and the couple of hours; he then wrote out the subjoined recipe, which took people are now prayhalf a day to make up: ing to their gods for it. The other day a man, supposed to be deviI- 2 couples of salted lizards, 2 male and 2 fe- possessed, was carried through the streets in a chair, followed by an male. idol, to 'pray down' the rain, but ~ oz. of Corea ginseng root. no answer came. Then, one even- 6 dried grasshoppers, 3 male and 3 female. ing, the people assembled in the temple, and, making a hole in the 1 oz. sweet-potato stalks. plaster of which the idol was made, 1 oz. walnuts. they put in a live scorpion, and ~ oz. lotus-leaves. closed up the hole. At the same J4 oz. tail of rattlesnake. time they beat their drums and 2 oz. black dates. made their invocations with re- ~ oz. elm-tree bark. doubled vigor. The scorpion was oz. devil-fish claw. oz. hartshorn. oz. birds' claws. M'I oz. dried ginger. J1. oz old coffin nails. The whole to be mixt with two quarts of water, and boiled down to one-half the quantity. Then let the patient drink the mixture as quickly as possible.
There was in one put in to wake up the god!"
A Transformed of the villages a Villain. perfect villain. As One man of a punishment for A Medical Mission wealth and po- his misdeeds his eyes were put out. Convert. sition at Swa- But he could still, as a blind beg- tow was inter- gar, blackmail his neighbors, and ested in what he heard of medical shopkeepershad a horror of him. On mission work, and gave us rice one occasion he found his way to an tickets for poor patients. By-and- oil shop demanding money. When by his wife became very ill, and it was refused he swung his thick was treated by us. "I would like staff and hit out blindly, breaking other ladies to be treated as she the earthenware pots containing has been," said our friend. And the oil, and as they broke and the he gave us $2,000 to help to provide oil ran out, he took up the broken a women's hospital. By-and-by he pieces of pottery and cut himself became alive to the advantages for with them, and then went to the young men of a Western educa- magistrate complaining of the ill- tion, and he has offered $10,000 to treatment he had received. The the missionaries to start an Anglo- shopman was fined $100. He was Chinese School. And now, after also a heavy opium smoker, and . destroying idols and ancestral tab- an old lady begged him to come to lets, he is himself applying for the medical mission hospital to be Christian baptism.
KOREA. verts are already reported in vari- ous places, and the time is yet too Rev. D. L. Gifford, of short to estimate the far-reaching Keeping the Seoul, tells of two influence of this department of religious work. This has produced Sabbath. men who, tho seem- a very large increase in the sale of ingly Christian, for a Bibles. During the six months ending June 30, 1899, the sales by long time kept open their places of other than the colporteurs have business on Sunday. "But finally been more than double what they before one communion I spent an were during the same period last entire evening with the two men, year. A few years ago' the book showing them the Scripture teach- stores in Japan could not be used ing upon the Sabbath, and point- for the circulation of Scriptures, ing out to them the fact that be- because it would injure their busicause they were in other respects ness if it was known that they were such good men their example was engaged in the circulation of Chrishurting other younger men in the tian literature. But now there is church. It was a hard struggle, no hesitation about the sale of but they decided the question Bibles in such places, and arrangearight and were baptized upon the ments are being rapidly made to following Sunday. Now, if you go have them on sale in all the prinby their shop on a Sabbath you cipal cities." will see a little pine board notice tackt up on the door, reading some- G. M. Fisher, colthing as follows: ' We, being Jesus Christians, because this is the Christianity lege secretary of Lord's day, are unable to transact any business to-day. We, there- in Government the Y. M. O. A., fore, make this public announcement.' And all day long that lit- Schools. writes thus of a tle pine board notice hangs there, silently preaching the Gospel." change of spirit in The Presbyterian Mission in the government schools in Kuma- Korea was establisht only fourteen years ago. During the last year moto: "As Mr. Brandram, of the 1,153 members were received, and 3,000 catechumens were enrolled. O. M. S., who has stood by the In the Pyeng Yang district alone the people built during the year 44 work for eleven 'years, said, ,It's houses of worship. The total church membership is now 2,079. nothing less than a miracle-the JAPAN. change of front toward Christianity H. Loomis, agent of the to-day as compared with five years Signs of American Bible Society, Progress. writes to the London ago. We haven't done it. Noth- Christian: " In nearly ing but the power of God could all cases where missionaries consent to give instruction in English, it is have brought it about.' Whereas with the agreement that the Bible is to be one of the text-books to be he was once forbidden to enter the used. In this way a large number of Japanese" are brought under grounds of the Koto Gakko (the direct Christian instruction. Oon- government school), he has recently been askt to select the most suit- able Bible for the school library; and 6 professors requested him to teach them in the Bible. The Flowery Hill Club, of Koto Gakko Christian Association, numbers 19 downright earnest students, and one of their Bible classes has averaged 30. Less than two years ago the intolerance of the faculty prevented anything but a secret
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
religious society, but a few weeks the Sudan, and the Belgian road ago, when President Ibuka, Mr. from the Kongo to the Nile. Cecil Swift, and I were there, a mass- Rhodes has also just secured the meeting of 200 students, presided privilege of connecting the rail- over by the principal, was held in roads of British South Africa with the school building, and our ad- the Atlantic coast in German dresses were on such implicitly Southwest Africa. By the end of Christian themes as 'Obedience, another decade 25,000 miles of rail- Education, and Religion, and True way are likely to be in operation.
Heroism. ' The Christian Associa- The Finnish Luthertion rents three rooms in a house Fruit in an Missionary Soconvenient to both the Koto and Ovamboland. ciety, which has been Chu Gakko, where they hold meetings, religious and social, and at work for forty maintain a reading room." years, is occupying 3 stations and 12 out-stations in Ovamboland, AFRICA. north of German Southwest Africa. Its agents are 6 ordained mission- The results of the aries, 2 missionary sisters, and 12 Good Effects of EngIis h occupa- native helpers. The number of British Rule. tion of Egypt are converts is 700; of day – school thus stated by the pupils, 650; of catechumens, 190. Allegemeine Missions Zeitschrijt. The society's receipts for last year "By the census of 1897 the popula- amounted to $33,500; the expenses tion, since the English occupation $27,000. The Finnish Foreign Misin 1883, has increast from 6,000,000 sionary has a monthly edition of to 10,000,000. This increase has 27,000 copies. been greatest in Upper Egypt, less fruitful than Lower. Then there Says the Monthly: was not one causeway; now there are 200 miles of excellent roads. In Free Church To the recent meetrailway extension Egypt overpasses even Spain and Hungary. At Kafir Mission. ing of the Synod of gigantic cost, and by settled plan, the arable land has been enlarged Kafraria, Rev. by 600,000 acres. At present two mighty dams are building, as reser- Richard Ross made a striking revoirs of the rainwater, which will port on the extension and expan~ reclaim from the waste, at a cost of $10,000,000, it is true, 600,000 sion of Kafir missions. He said: acres more of wheatland." My first report on the Transkei Mission. was in January, 1869- thirty years ago last January. The following comparison will be inter- esting: Jan. 1869. Jan. 1899. Main stations….. .. .. … 1 6 Out-stations….. … ….. 2 62 According to Members in full eom- 3,168 munion……………. 148 Candidates………….. New Received by baptism. . . . 10 1,014 ''.''.: The Railways in the the 2 262 Dark Continent. Yo r k Sun, ~rJ~~~~ .i~ ~~.f.~~::. g there are Deacons ………….. '" ~ 1 58 Schools.. .. . ….. . ……. 1 57 now nearly 12,000 miles of track Pupils……………….. 25 3,600 between Cairo and the Cape, as ;Collections…………… £8 £730 against less than 6,000 miles in 1890, ~ Another very serious dif- and 2,500 additional miles are well Iteastly ficulty has been intro- under way. Besides, there are Kafirs. duced into South African other government schemes, like the hospitals by the establish- German road to Lake Tanganyika, ment of the "English principle"
the French road from Algeria to that male patients should be nurst
by women nurses. No doubt this swai, 21; Batyopi, 1; Portuguese is an admirable working principle and Shanganes, 14, and Transvaal for civilized England, where the Shanganes, 45." average man, however degraded, has a perception and instinct of So m e interesting respect for a refined gentlewoman. British Work papers have beenap- It would be impossible for me to in Uganda. pearing in the Rec- convey even a fragmentary impres- sion of the habits and customs prac- ord, contributed by tised in a Kafir ward. The lan- an anonymous correspondent who guage and the unspeakable conduct writes from Uganda, to indicate of the average male Kafir in hos- some of the good effects of British pital are such that the nursing of rule. He dwells upon the increase these patients would prove a trial of wealth possest by the natives, to a superior native woman. Yet and its effect in stimulating com- a Colonial or English girl of 23 is merce. He mentions that Mika oftentimes in charge of such a Sematimba-our old friend who ac- ward, and at night is on duty alone companied Archdeacon Walker to among these primitive and degrad- England on his last furlough-has ed creatures, without the assistance been entrusted by the chiefs with or protection of an orderly, a Rs. 20,000 in government notes, watchman, or a porter. which he has carried to the coast and purchast therewith the goods Before the breaking as commissioned, and a large cara- Babel at out of war, Mr. van was subsequently sent down Johannesburg. Goodenough, of the to carry them back. Another effect of the prosperityof the native American Board, community is, the writer states, wrote: "We have longed for the that the church funds have greatly 'gift of tongues,' and the Lord has increast. The sum paid in purchasgiven us the equivalent. Here is ing books and stationery alone durour good Joel, who teaches English, ing 1898 was £1,400, paid in shells Zulu, Xosa, Sesuto, and Dutch, and to the number of 6,300,000, the here is Muti, who speaks the East weight of which we calculate would Coast languages, Sheetswa, Ngi- be about ten tons!-C. M. S. Intonga, and Sityopi, besides Zulu telligencer. and English. There have been 225 different natives in the school at "Dr. Borehgre- Mayfair during the year. Of these Norwegians in vink," says the 38 have come from Mayfair, Forde,- Madagascar. lVorsk Missionsburg, Johannesburg, and the location, and the rest-147-from 9 dif- tidende, quoted in ferent mines. Tribally divided, The Chronicle, "writes from Madaaccording to the language which gascar that the outlook of the Northey speak, they fall into 3 groups: wegian missions is now favorable (1) The Zulu group, 58, among in all directions. In Ambatolampy whom are numbered, Zulus, 23; district, which had lately been the Maxosa, 15; Fingos, 2; Bacar, 1; weakest part, a French lieutenant Swazis, 2; Matabele, 5, and Made- has been appointed as governor, belo, 10. (2) The Basuto group in- who shows perfect impartiality becludes Basutoland Basutos, 21; tween Protestants and Catholics. Transvaal Basutos, 35; Barotses, 'Our old persecutor, the native 21, and Zambesians, 7. (3) The governor of Ambatolampy, sees it East Coast group, 81, includes Bat- is time to take a reef in his sails, and has been going about rebuking the Catholics with downright hard
ctENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
words for their persecuting spirit. is doing his best to right some of the wrongs which have been com- In Ilaka, where only four or five mitted. Two churches taken from the Protestants have been restored, children dared to come at our last and permission to build another church, long withheld, has been visit, we now have at least six hun- granted. Better than all, New Caledonia is now open to Protdred children, and a great number estant missions, and those who were compelled to be refugees have of grown-up Christians have ven- now returned, and the chiefs have been reinstated in their former tured to return to us. It is rights.
particularly encouraging that in two districts, where the persecu- tions of the Jesuits have been specially severe (Soatanana and Fahisinana), we have never in any year had so rich a harvest of bap- tisms as in the midst of these very A recent number Fijian Preachers of the Australapersecutions.' " of the Gospel. s ian Methodist ISLANDS OF THE SEA. Missionary Re- A half century ago the station of view describes a farewell meeting Anelcauhat was opened in the held to bid God speed to a party of island of Aneityum, and the first 28 Fijians going out to New Guinea permanent settlement was made and New Britain. The simple, by the Rev. John Geddie. All the heart-felt words of three of the Fi- 30 inhabited islands of the group jians made a great impression on were sunk in heathenism. To-day the audience. there are in the New Hebrides no fewer than 24 missionaries, 5 assist- James said: "I am greatly glad ants, a trained nurse, about 300 native teachers, and about 2,800 to be here with you all, and I am commnnicants, while a training institute for teachers and hospital thankful to go in this work. I are establisht. came this far in the strength of Jesus Christ. As He came into this world to suffer, so He will make us strong to suffer, if neces- sary. I came with this .message: The missions Whatever God calls upon me to do, Better Days under the care in New Caledonia. of the London He will help me to do it, and so I fear not." . Missionary Society in the Loyalty Islands have Joni said: "I stand forth before been greatly opprest for more than forty years. The French rule in. you, a young man, to say a few New Caledonia, which extends to the Loyalty Islands, has been in words to you, my elders. While the interest of the Roman Catholic priests, and the chief official in the in Fiji, I heard words from New group for a long series of years was a tool of the Jesuits. The story of Guinea, calling for help, and I said, the wrongs done the natives who were and desired to remain Protes- 'Let me give it.' I was told that tants is too long to tell here, but is given by Rev. Mr. Hadfield in the they might kill and eat us there, Chronicle of the London society. But a better day has come, and a but I was not afraid to meet that. liberal-minded statesman is now the governor of New Caledonia, and It is gladness to me to take the Gospel of Christ to those in dark- ness. It is an right with me."
Heneri said: "My soul rejoices to look upon you to-day. It is true that we differ. We are black, you are white, but our souls are the same, and we are alike also in faith. We have thrown away our homes and our country to do this work, and He who loves us and died for us, will care for us where we go. It is our mind to endure any suffering and pain which men may give us in order that we may serve our Lord."
The C. M. S. maintenance of the society's mis- sionaries and other purposes ? We Missionary Success Gleaner, as read of the enormous difficulties met with in sending out clergy, of in the South Seas. "An Indepen- occasions when the intending mis- sionary has been compelled to dent Testi- make more than one start, having been beaten back by war 01' tem- mony to Foreign Missions," quotes pest, of the loss of everything on the way, and of the terrible pro- words following up those used by portion who never arrived even on the shores of America, which now Charles Darwin, concerning the seem to us so near; and we may well wonder how in those days the same regions (the South Seas), al- work was carried on at all. But in this latter half of the now rapidly most seventy years ago. In" The ebbing century all is changed; our mar'velous ships convey passengers Cruise of the Cachalot," Mr. F. T. with regularity, safety, and com- fort unknown in previous years, Bullen remarks: and a world – wide organization enables money to be transmitted When all has been said that can with safety and certainty.-Mis- be said against the missionaries, sion Field. the solid bastion of fact remains that, in consequence of their labors, An English ex- the whole vile character of the pop- ulations of the Pacific has been Interest in change say s : changed, and where wickedness runs riot to-day, it is due largely Medical Missions. "T h e interest to the hindrances placed in the way of the noble efforts of the mis- taken in medisionaries by the unmitigated scoundrels who vilify them. The task of cal missions, manifesting itself in spreading Christianity would not, after all, be so difficult, were it not books of travel, in comments of for the efforts of those apostles of the devil to keep the islands as they the press, in speeches and sermons, would like them to be, places where lust runs riot day and night, mur- and best of all, in offers of service der may be done with impunity, slaver" flourishes, and all evil may from medical men, is one of the be indulged in free from law, order, or Tv >,raint. most conspicuous features which It speaks volumes for the in- meet the eye and ear in contemher~nt might of the Gospel that" in spite of the object lessons continu- plating the attitude of the Chrisally provided by white men for the natives of the negation of all good, tian public toward missionary it has stricken its roots so deeply into the soil of the Pacific Islands. work at the present time."
MISCELLANEOUS. Of the 680 medical missionaries But when we go (of whom 210 are women), the Pres- Early Drawbacks backward an d byterians, North, send 83, the in Missions. look into the Methodists 29, the Baptists also 2lt.
last century we the American Board 27, etc. The may well wonder how the society pioneers among women physicians of the day carried on its financial are Dr. Clara A. Swain, who went transactions. To-day it is easy to to India in 1869, and Dr. Lucinda transmit large or small sums; L. Combs, who entered China in checks and postal orders may be 1873, both of the American Metho- sent at home and abroad; but when dist Episcopal Church.
such things were not, how was money sent to London, and still more, how was it transmitted even to our nearest colonies for the
The Missionary Review of the World — December 1891
8t2 FOREIGN MISSION DAY AT NORTHFIELD CONVENTION
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIV. No. 12.-0ld8erie8.–DEOEMBER.–VoL. IV. No.12.-New8erie8.
THE FOREIGN MISSION DAY AT NORTHFIELD CONVENTION.
REPORTED BY MISSES LOUISE B. AND ANNA W. PIERSON.
There are some feasts of fat things, even the fragments of which are of priceless value, and should be carefully gathered that they be not lost. And such a feast was kept at Northfield. Mass., on Tuesday, August 4th.
Mr. Moody uses every means to make the Annual Conferences, at this now famous gathering place, impart a mighty momentum to all true work for the Master. Accordingly a whole day was this year given up to foreign missions, and some who were present have said that no more memorable and impressive day has ever bAen known in the whole history of these yearly meetings of believers. The day was a sort of field-day, and certainly a very full day. From morning to evening up to ten o'clock at night the interest never flagged, but rather grew. By Mr. Moody's request the editor-in-chief of this REVIEW took the chair, but not until the close of the evening session did he speak himself, save very briefly to guide the proceedings and introduce the speakers. The time was given up principally to veteran missionaries from the field, though Dr. Mabill, who has recently returned from his Eastern tour, and Dr. Gordon, who is a special student of missionary questions, very profitably added their testimony and appeals.
No brief resume can do any justice to the addresses. The interest awakened, for instance, by Dr. Clough's story of the new Pentecost in Southern India, which sounded like apostolic days, was at times painfully intense. But our desire is to give our readers some conception of the day's doings and present to them the outline at le:;tst of what was done.
In opening the morning meeting the chairman suggested as a key-note for the day, four passages of Scripture: Isa. 53: 11 ; 1 Cor. 4: 15 ; Gal. 4 : 19 ; Col. 1 : 24. These Scriptures teach us that Christ is yet to see of the travail of His soul, and that in that travail the believer is to share, and that until the Church partakes of Christ's vicarious sorrow and atoning work that travail cannot be accomplished. The one overwhelming thought that should occupy us to-day is not joy and self·gratulation at what a century of modern missions has wrought, but rather shame and humiliation that our Lord has waited for eighteen long centuries to see of His soul's travail and has never yet seen it, because His Church has been so apathetic, selfish, and worldly. Even yet the great body of believers is half asleep, if not practically dead to a lost world's ruin and wreck.
" Were I asked," said the chairman, " what above all else the Church needs for the new century of missions now before us, I would say, not men or money or zeal, but an outpouring of the spirit of believing PRAYER !"
A few most impressive and remarkable instances of answers to prayer in connection with the work of missions were then briefly cited, most of which have been already spread before the readers of the REVIEW-such, for instance, as the special calls to prayer in the history of the Church Missionary Society in 1872, 1880, and 1884, referred_to by Mr. Edwards in his article in the October issue, pages 734-40. And then Dr. J. E.
Clough, of the Telugu Mission in India, was introduced and received by the vast audience with a rising, as well as rousing, welcome. The charm of his story was its simplicity, not an attempt to clothe the facts with any drapery of imagination or embellishments of rhetoric, but a plain, modest, unpretending statement of what he called" the LQrd's work, which he had been permitted to stand by and witness. ,.
He said, in substance: " India has a wonderful history in the past, and, I fully believe, in the future. It contains about 1,600,000 square miles, being about 1800 miles from north to south, and about 1600 in the n01,th, from east to west. The peninsula of Hindostan is peopled by about 286,000,000 people, who are divided into 137 nationalities, speaking entirely different languages, which are subdivided into 100 or more dialects. The~e are an interesting, progressive people. They have the intellect, the push, and the physical strength of a dominant rac~, They have done wonderful things in the past, and will do wonderful things in the future. They gave Buddhism to almost two thirds of the human race, and what they have done for Buddha they will do for Christ, if we but give them a chance to know Him. The 'Lone Star' Mission is situated on the western shore of the Bay of Bengal, about 600 miles from Colombo on the south, and about 1000 miles from Calcutta on the north. It was established in 1836 by men of prayer, but was almost a forlorn hope for thirty years. God's time had not yet come for saving the Telugus. The American Baptist Missionary Union was discouraged and talked of abandoning the mission, but Dr. Jewett determined to go back. The Board said that if he would go he ought to have some one to give him a Christian burial, and sent me back with him. I have never had that duty to perform, and when I last saw him he did not look as if he would need it for some time. When I went out in 1865, the converts connected with that mission numbered twenty, and the scholars were just about that number. Just at this time heathenism there was rampant.· Cholera had broken out, and people were dying by hundreds, and the heathen were taking different idols, carrying them into one place, feasting them, and then taking them to another place, and so on. I took tracts and gave to the heathp,n, who would receive them from ue when they would not from their own people. Hundreds of thousands were distributed. A teacher helped me to commit texts to memory in the language, and especially John 3 : 16, and I would go out and by singing draw a crowd and then deliver my texts. Then I would move on to another place and preach the same sermon. I added a few texts each day, and soon had a purely textual sermon half an hour long. After a while I noticed that the people who saw me would put their fingers in their ears and run away. My escort said, 'They believe you are sent fro~ God, and fear that if they hear you and do not obey, some calamity worse than the cholera will come upon them, and so they are determined not to hear you.' A Hindoo priest, of much influence at one place, for m"any days closed his door in anger against me. Finally this man came to my house and said he had read the Gospel of Luke which I had given him, and had corne to the conclusion there was nothing in idolatry and gave up his idols, which he brought with him, and asked for the whole Bible. A few weeks later he was haptized, and till his death was an efficient colporteur. During a year and three months at that place, perhaps twenty were converted and receiv.ed hy the Church.
" Then I went to another station, one mass of solid heathenism for 73 miles around. With me I had three or four Christians, and the catechist, eight of us in all. We went out two by two and every hamlet was visited, and after a while we extended the circuit till we reached around some 4,0 miles from the station. After two or three months we heard· there was a good deal of interest out about 40 miles. I went out and sent word to surrounding villages. The first morning about forty came, each with a bundle of grain to eat, to stay till they heard all about the religion. We continued in alternate seasons of talk and prayer till about the third day when about all the company were praying. In four days 28 of them gave such evidence that they were baptized. After 25 years every one of these converts has remained faithful, and six of them are working to-day as catechists, preachers, or colporteurs. Some are dead, but all faithful to the end.
" I wanted to get hold of the high-caste people, many of whom were wealthy, finely edueated, and as keen and shrewd as God ever created men. I had a plan of establishing a school in Madras, getting the high class into it, and getting them into the mission. The house was built, teachers were engaged, and everything was ready, when these 28 men were baptized. Secretly I wished low-caste people would keep away on aceount of the high caste, but the latter heard of my intercourse with the lower caste, and refused to have anything to do with the school if I allowed those to come. The school was established, and one day five of the low-caste people carne to me and asked to be baptized. I commissioned some of my fellow-workers to see and catechise them, and if they really believed, we must,' of course, baptize them. After a thorough examination there was no doubt but that they were really Christians. I. could not help feeling sad when I went to baptize them. The high-caste people went where the baptism took place and criticised me, claiming my religion was false, inasmuch as I taught it to the low caste people. By accident I carne across a passage in the Bible which led me to believe that God wanted us to do our work principally among the poor people. I went horne and when alone I opened my Bible at random to 1 Cor. 1 : 18-31 : 'For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God,' etc. As I sat thinking over what I had read, my wife carne in and said, ' I believe the Lord would have us seek to save these low-caste people.' Then she told me how in her ilisappointment at the coming of the low caste she had gone to her Bible, and opening at random began also to read at the same eighteenth verse of the first chapter of First Corinthians, and read to the end ! We concluded God had used that passage to guide us. Our missionary brethren throughout the country regretted the course we took, and it looked as though I had tbrown myself away. But twenty-four years after that time I received a letter from the editor of the Indian Witness, perhaps the most influential religious newspaper published in India, saying: , You by the blessing of God have changed the missionary policy of Ill! India. You are right, stick to it, give us some articles for our paper, telling us what you have done.' A year after, when I left the station, those who had scorned me at first vied with each other to do me honor. From that time on, the converts came into this Lone Star Mission, from 25 to 100 every year for the first year or two, then 200 or 300 a year for the next few years, then 400 or 500 a year, tiIl1872, when I got the jungle fever and came home. We asked for and secured four more workers, and some money for schools. Tbe converts were then coming at the rate of 500 to 1000 a year, and then the great famine of 1876 began.
" As soon as tbe southwest monsoon fails we know there is going to be a great scarcity, but if followed by the failure of tbe northeast monsoon, we know tbere will be a famine. Both these had failed, and I knew there would be a famine, and I wrote to a friend (eXplaining the condition. He sent me back 500 rupees, telling me to send for more. I gave that money out, and the people worked on for three or four months, when it began to be grievous. The government had undertaken relief work, digging a canal for 200 miles. I took a large contract of three miles. The government officials said: 'Y ou can have all the money and assistance you want from us. Just use your influence to get the people to come in.' They diLl this, because the people would not leave their homes to go to famine relief work. That is mainly because they are fatalists, and say: 'If it is fated for us to die, we shall die and it is of no use for us to go away to die.' Others say: 'Some god is angry with us, and if we undertake to fiee from his wrath something worse will come, and what is the good ~' The government officials stuck to their promise most faithfully, and we built huts on the canal, police were furnished, a medical man was sent there, watchers were given to me, money was placed in my hands, and I sent my assistants over the country, crying out to the starving to come from famine to this place and live. The people clime in, and those who were sick were put on litters and brought. In my camp, one division unahle to do work were given subsistence allowances, and everything was done for them till they were able to go to work. The others went to work under 40 assistants, and each preacher, with his hundred or two men, would be a sapper and so they commenced After they were tired out, they would read to them out of the Bible. Thus they read and worked for a few days and the Lord gave us one of. the- most desirable tracts to dig on the canal, though it was thought to be a hard place by the engineer. It was a filled up backwater, and, instead of water coming in as he expected. the soil was light and they could earn more wages than ever before. After I had been at work a few weeks, speculators came and wanted to give me 10 per cent to hand it over to them. Nay, verily!
"When Sunday came this company would come up before my tent and seat themselves, and I would preach to them. This we continued for about five months; then my three miles were done, and the assistants took two miles more on their own account, and I went up to another place. After eight months of this work, the time had come when they must go to their homes to sow their fields, for rain had come. When they got back, they found their houses were without roofs, and many of their cattle had died, and so frequently they had to plough and harrow the fields themselves. After the first crop was up two or three inches there came a cold rain aud the whole was ruined. They sowed again and then locusts spread over the country and took every spear above ground. ' The people were discouraged, and hadn't anything to buy seed-grain with. I was in correspondence with the editor of the Madras Times, and tele- graphed him and to England and wherever I had a fr~end, the condition. Money began to come in and the Mansion House Fund was established in London, one of the noblest charities ever undertaken and executed by men. Within a week I was inf.:>rmed to draw on them for all I wanted. Twenty-five hundred rupees were immediately telegraphed for, and they telegraphed that they were on the way, tut that I had noL asked for half enough. So I sent for 2500 more.
" We formed committees of all the trustworthy men and government officials all over the country, and the people were supplied with money to buy grain. But it was too late to sow any grain that would be long in maturing, so they sowed a small kind of millet, which would mature in six weeks. They got enough grain, which, added with the weeds they could gather, they could use from day to day, while waiting for the next crop, which would come in about six months. The relief work continued to about June 1st, 1878, when the famine had lasted a year and a half. We then notified the people that we could not do anything more for them, and they must go to their homes and take care of themselves till the crop just sown could ripen. For a year and a half we had not done what is ordinarily called mission work at all. Not a single person had been received into the Church, although, the Christmas before, 2200 were inmy compound asking to be received ,n baptism. We had not held a regular meeting. I sent word to my assistants to meet me and organize for work again. On the evening before the meeting. I went up to the place of service, in a traveller's bungalow, and although I had sent word for nobody to come, except assistants and a few of the older members of the church, I saw great swarms of people. I told them I didn't want to baptize them, because we had not instructed them long enough, and the famine was not over, and asked them to wait till the crop came. But they began to cry to me : • What YOll say is all true. We know you are not going to give us any more money and we are not coming for money, but, when we were down on the canal you told us about Jesus. We have ,believed in Him and discarded all our idols. We have two months before we can have anything from our fields. The cholera and small-pox are prevalent, and many of us must die, and if we die we want to die with everybody knowing that we are Christians. We don't want to die with this old stigma on our heads. We want to be baptized and numbered among the people of God.' To every effort I made the same answer came. After a short time of retirement, I decided to do as they wished. We commenced work the next mornin•. and by evening the assistants had examined the most of the company. The first day 500 were baptized, the second 2222, the third day enough to make the whole number about 3500. Delegations began to come in from villages here and there, saying: 'You have baptized that great company, but there are many people U1iable to come in. Come out to our villages and baptize us.' I telegraphed to the principal of the seminary to come to my help, and we went out and before the close of December nearly 10,000 had been baptized.
"Converts came, perhaps a thousand a year, for the next five years. In 1885 I came home again, to ask for men and money. Our one station had grown to be 13 in number, and the converts had increased to 25,000, and our assistants were numbered by the hundred. We had a high school established, a theological seminary, and station schools in all the 13 stations, besides boarding schools in most of them and some 200 or 300 village schools scattered in as many different villages. In all we had perhaps 4000 children in our different schools. Just here sad tidings came. Ten missionary families either died or came home on account of their health. Many were sick, of the last who had gone out, and I had to write for more men to take care of the converts. Word would corne back: 'We are doing the best we can for you, but men don't seem to be wil:ing to go to the Telugus.' We waited three or four years and none came, so we decided that we must do the work ourseh"es. The natives becamG enthusiastic over the matter, and said: 'Yes, we will take care of this work on the field, if you will take care of yourself and not get sick.' I said: 'I will not leave you. I am willing to show you that, if American citizens don't love you and think too much of themselves to come out here, there is one American who loves you enough to stand by you till you take him ovcr the hill to the cemetery and bury him.' I don't think much of missionary dust. One live missionary is worth one thousand dead ones, and remember that missionaries don't ask for your pity. We don't ask for your tears. Good missionaries are not run by water. But we want your prayers, sympathy and help, and we want you to remember that this commission which yon and we are under is all the same. It is, 'Go ye,' every mother's son of you who are men, and every mother's daughter of you who are women, or else get an excuse acceptable to the Lord Jesus Christ. If you cannot go personally, send a substitute. Send your sons, send your daughters, your money, and your prayers. God will never be in debt to American Christians for what they do, you need not be afraid of that. And when you go, burn your bridges behind you till your term of service is over, till God shows you that you have no business to stay any longer.
" While we were feeling so despondent about missionaries, we began to feel there was more of a revival spirit going on than for a long time. Some of the converts came in and told about it. We had meetings, and the first day we baptized 240, and when the time came for them to go away, their request was for me to come to their villages. I told them to go to those villages, to tell the Christians how the matter stood, and to corne to the station December 28th, and we would have a grand time. They had doubts, because these Hindoos like to be baptized in their own villages. With some reluctance they started off. At the time 4000 came and we divided them into companies and the leaders examined them. We baptized from one o'clock till 6.30, 1671 persons. There was not a single request made by anyone for anything except Christian t·eachers to come to their villages.
, 'Then Dr. Mabie came. I showed him the Hindoos in their homes, and he and his travelling companion baptized 600. We gave him a reception, when the 800 children in the schools met him. After they had left, I continued the tour till between lfiOO and 1700 had been baptized. Dr. Mabie convinced me that by coming home to get men and money I might do a better thing for the Telugus than by dying for them. I told him jf I could get twenty-five men and $50,000, so that I could be back to India within a year, I would go."
The speaker then gave a vivid description of his parting with the people on returning to this country last March. He made three attempts to get away and could not on account of the crowds of people that came.
to bid him farewell. He finally stationed guards before his house to send the people away and tell them he could see no one. At about midnight he attempted to slip quietly away, and when he opened his door, what was his snrprise to see hundreds of people gathered to see him off; some of whom had been waiting since early in the morning. Dr. Clough closed his thrilling address with the following story told of a deacon who had been complained of by his wife for giving away all that he had. She asked the pastor to remonstrate with him. When the pastor asked the deacon why he did so, he said he had had a curious dream: he dreamed he had a basket of crackers, and standing near the water threw one out on it, and it skipped along out of sight so nicely that he threw another in the same way, and so on, till they were all gone. But just at that time he noticed something large, coming back to him on the water, which proved to be a loaf of bread, and he waited till every cracker he had thrown out came back such a loaf. "If you want your money to increase, send it out. If you want God to bless the great republic, send out the men and your daughters, and after they go, instead of crying after them, follow them up by prayer and words of cheer. He will take care of your sons and daughters who go, and those who remain, and will be glorified, and our great republic will go on just as well. "
Dr. H. C. Mabie, Home Secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union, then added a few words as to his experiences in India: " I was never at rest until I could go and see the work among the heathen. The first Sabbath in India, what did I see? A congregation of 666 persons. Eighteen hundred texts were recited by the children. At 11 o'clock the preaching service began. I did not need to be told that I was in the midst of Christians, for I could see the image of Christ on the faces before me. In the audience were foreigners, natives, out-castes, and Brahmans. By first working for the out-castes, Dr. Clough had won them all. I felt during the entire service great spiritual response to the preaching. At 3 o'clock there was a meeting for the examination of candidates which lasted the .remainder of the afternoon. It was no special occasion, but 97 came to be examined.
" The service in the evening to my surprise· was conducted in English. Before the service a delegation of Brahmans came to give me a welcome. They read a document signed by many of the leading men in the vicinity, in which they commended most highly the work of Dr. Clough and the good he had been enabled to accomplish among them. The following day I visited a boys' school of over 200, and later a school for Brahman girls. I was very much impressed by the treatment which I received from these high-caste children. . One of the little girls came up to me, and without any warning threw over my head a large wreath of flowers, another one followed with one for Dr. Clough. Several other children brought me little trinkets and jewelry, and after I had been home I received from some of them little gifts for my daughters."
The chairman opened the afternoon meeting by reading a telegram, conveying the greetings of Rev. Dr. J. T. Gracey. of Rochester, the President of the International Missionary Union. He then gave several striking examples of the power of prayer in missions, such as the remark- able experiences of David Brainerd, Dr. Neesima in his great school in Japan, in which at one time 150 students were found inquiring, after a special season of prayer. A third instance was cited from the story of Tahiti, where-just as the London Missionary Society was about to abandon the work, but under Dr. Haweis's and Mr. Wilks's entreaty determined to go forward with new prayer-the idol systems fell and the idol gods were surrendered, at the very time that the prayer covenant was being formed in London, and the ships bearing intelligence from the society in London and from the missionaries in Tahiti passed each other in mid.ocean.
At the afternoon meeting Dr. W. W. Eddy, the veteran missionary of Syrin, spoke: " Spiritual Christianity is an exile from the home of its birth. Spiritual desolation reigns in Syria. The spiritual temple in that laud should be rebuilt. Corruption has come into the Church. When the American Board fifty years ago sent its missionaries to TUlkey and Syria, it instructed them not to deal with the Mohammedans, but to work with the native Christians. We found, though, that our points of attack were Mohammedanism and orthodox Christianity represented by the Greek Church. The speaker then contrasted the Greek Churc!J with the Roman Catholics, stating that the Reformation had never crossed the Bosphorus. Oriental Christianity is a worship of symbolism. The Bible is not as sacred with them or as much studied as by Roman Catholics. The Greek Church is the Russian Church and there are 85,000,000 members. There are 150,000,000 Mohammedans. The Oriental Church and Mohammedanism cannot be attacked in Rus;lia, as the government will not allow Protestant missionaries in that country. It is against the law to change one's religion in Russia, except to that of the Greek Church.
"One of our greatest weapons for putting down heathenism is the continued and direct contact of the missionaries with the people, who love to converse and argue. Another great weapon used against Mohammedanism is the schools. The people are impressed with the importance of education, and are willing to send their children to our I>chools, though the Bible is used in all of them. We teach the pupils Scripture verses and the catechism, and to those who commit the latter we give presents of Bibles, which they carry into their homes. We also have high schools for boys and female seminaries for girls and a college with 200 pupils. In all there are 7000 pupils under the reach of our missionaries. Another great weapon is the work of our printing-press. We have four steam presses at Beirut and we print from 25,000,000 to 27,000,000 pages of Arabic literature a year. If Mr. Moody should come to Syria he would see his own sermons in Arabic, of which he would not be able to read a word, and Mr. Sankey might see his own hymns, and I fancy would find some difficulty in reading them, as they are printed backwards. Weare sin.qing the children into the Christian religion. The Moslem boys and girls sing our hymns in the street. The cholera reached the city of Hums last year. One woman when dying asked to have a Christian hymn sung. She and her husband began to sing, but before the song was finished she was 8inging in the heavenly choir.
"Our books go to Northern Africa, throughout the Turkish Empire, to India, and China, and even back here to the United States. Person after person is converted by the silent testimony of God's Word. Our press is a mighty lever. People who dare not come to us openly buy our Bibles.
" We rea~h them again through medicine. We have a hospital at Beirut, and we are welcomed as bringing gifts of healing. 'Those who have sought healing for their bodies have found healing for their souls as well. One who has a knowledge of medicine can go from tribe to tribe with perfect safety, and is warmly welcomed. A great problem is how to reach the Bedouins, that wild class. We cannot go among them, it would not be safe. But we send our native helpers, and as the Bedouins are greatly afflicted with small-pox we provide our helpers with vaccine virus. Then we have a theological seminary where we are raising up preachers of the Gospel. I have for several years edited a religious paper and have also bee·.1 engaged on an Arabic commentary (on the New Testament). We do not dare to tell the success with which we have met, only in general terms. If we were to point out cases the persons would be marked men. Any ope who is found to have received Christianity has his property confiscated, and even his life is in danger. Most of them either disguise themselves or leave the country.
" We have a self-supporting church in Beirut with a native pastor with a membership of 400. Our Sunday-school is attended by 1000 children. 'There are 92 places where the Gospel is preached every Sabbath. 'Therp. have been great results in the past 40 years. There arp. 15,000 pupils in the schools of Beirut, all seeking a pl:ome of higher education. I have heard Moody and Spurgeon preached by Greek priests.
" What are the obstacles to the work 1 First, opposition from the 'Turkish Government. At first it paid no attention to the work, considering that it was a case of infidel dogs quarrelling with each other. Now they have become afraid, and a censorship of the press has been established. They keep out all that is against their religion, and put all the obstacles in their power in the way of the pllblishing and distribution of the Bible. We are undermining Mohammedanism. The government has closed up many of our schools. No Mohammedan convert is openly put to death, but he is arrested on some pretext and then disappears, never to be heard (!.f again. A second obstacle is the power of the Jesuits. They come in scores. They open schools where we do, they follow our missionaries and they establish hospitals and. colleges opposed to us. The Greek Church is upheld by Russia and it is hard for Protestantism to get a foothold, but , they that be with us are more than they that be with them.' A third obstacle is a want of means to carryon our work. Ye have to minimize our work to be within our appropriation. You ask, why doesn't our Board look out for us. I'll tell you. In Syria there are many families where all its members sleep under one covering. During the night this covering gradually gets off those on the edges, and then first one pulls it and then another. So with us. On the north we have Tripoli pulling on the Board ; then Sidon wants a share j then Mt. Lebanon complains that too much is given the plain, and the plain complains that Mt. Lebanon's share is too large. It isn't the fault of the Board j rather it isn't a fault. On the contrary, it means that the work is a living, growing work. That it is a growing work is shown by its constantly increasing needs. Missionary work always needs four things: open doors, men, means, and the outpouring of the Spirit.
" Since my return to this country I have visited considerably. I have seen a $180,000 church going up in Detroit, I 'have seen the plan of a projected Young Men's Christian Association building in Chicago. Five huudred dollars will build a church in Syria. It would be but one lump from your store. W'e need money. You must either stop praying or give more. The growing child has constantly increasing claims, and the parent does not complain; neither should the Church complain that her children are growing, and need more means to support them. You build magnificent churches here, while we cannot raise enough money to buy doors and windows for our churches in Syria. Schools have had to be closed so as not to get into debt. I know of a missionary who has sent to a friend in this country and borrowed money in order to carryon his mission work. We have had to shut up three seminary buildings and have had to cripple our presswork. I sail for Syria next week, and I ask your prayers for our work."
THE NEEDS OF CHINA.
Dr. J. R. Hykes, of China: " China to-day is the great mission field of the world. It is one of the largest domains ever swayed by a single power. China is one half larger than the United States with Alaska added. It comprises one third of entire Asia and is one tenth of the habitable globe. Next to Russia it is the largest empire. It has one fourth of the human race. It has 350,- 000,000 souls, six times that of the United States. China has vast stores of mineral wealth. There is coal enough stored to last the entire universe 2000 years. It has stores of copper, gold, and silver which are practically untouched. It is a unique nation. It dates back 4000 years. The end of the ninth chapter of Genesis would be the beginning of the first chapter of Chinese history. It is hoary with antiquity. The greatest problem of the age is the conversion of China. Convert China and you've converted the world. What is the moral condition of China to-day ~ The first chapter of Romans is an accurate description. It is no libel, and is not overdrawn. The heathen character is growing steadily worse. There is no such thing as a standstill in vice. They are vile and polluted in a shocking degree. An excessive statement can't be made. Confucianism is the State religion of China, but it is not a religion. There is no gene!ic word for it in the Chinese language as we mean religion. Confucius was a transmitter of the wisdom of sages; he was an editor, not an author. He is silent on the origin and destiny of the human race. He would not speak about the future life. The basis of Confucianism is ancestral wor- ship, which is more potent than all the idol worship. In China to-day there are 70,000,000 of ancestral tablets. Confucianism after forty years of trial has proved a failure as a religion of elevation. The Chinaman "'who sins once has no one to whom he can pray. Buddhism, introduced to supply a felt want, after eighteen centuries has proved a failure. Taouism is a native faith,. it is an abstruse system of metaphysics that has degen,erated to a mere traffic in charms. China needs the religion of Christ, it is her only hope. Some people 'think that Christianity is not adapted to the Chinese mind.
"The impression has gone about that the conversion of China is an impossible task. The Chinese can't be converted, we are told. It is a hopeless warfare. Now, what are the sources of this information ~ They are twofold. First, they come from globe trotters who never visit the mission fields, but go into some large city and then come home and give their opinions with flippant fluency. One of these romancers was tripped and brought to a humiliating confession. He had never been inside a mission, and yet reported that the missionaries preached to empty benches, and further drew oil. his imagination. A second source of information is that of naval officers and sea captains, who help to circnlate these reports. They have yet to see the inside of a Christian chapel in China. The captain of a steamer which recently arrived at San Francisco made the statement, which was published broadcast, that he saw no native Christians in China. He did not go where they were. He brought home on his vessel the body of a murdered missionary whose Christian servant stuck by him to the death, and whose body was covered with the blood of his master. When the Wesleyan mission was burned, native Christians went into that building when there was no possible prospect of escape, and rescued the children of Christians. I have yet to see the captain of a merchant ship in one of the missions. An Englishman who had spent several years in India, remarked to a missionary there that he had never yet seen a native Christian; and went on to tell of the pleasure he had experienced in tiger hunting. The missionary replied, 'I have lived twenty years in India and have never yet seen a tiger. ' The trouble in both cases was that each had not gone to the right place to look. Can a Chinaman be converted ~ Bishop Newman went among them and personally satisfied himself on that question. He said to one Chinaman, 'I want you to tell me your experience : how you felt when convicted and converted.' He replied, 'I felt as if I were sewed up in a sack filled with snakes and scorpions, with no hope of escape, when Jesus Christ came and opened the sack and lifted me out. ' The conversion of the Chinese is the most important work of the Church in this age. It is important on account of the fnture of the Mongolian race. The Chinese question is to become a difficult one for the world to solve. The Chinese are all over the world, have emigrated into nearly every country on the globe. By their temperate habits and economY' they have outdone almost every other nation. You should not judge the Chinese from those that emigrate to this country, for they are poor specimens.
" There is a general feeling of uneasiness about them. The Australians would give a larger reward to get rid of them than they offered to be rid of rabbits. The Americans are ·also III agony over the Chinaman. It is not so much from his bad qualities as his good qualities. He is becoming a formidable competitor. No iniquitous exclusion act will keep him out. Such an act is a blot and disgrace. We can assimilate the scum of Europe, but we can't digest the Chinaman! That act of exclusion is destined to be classed with the burning of witches. It is a relic of barbarism. But John, like Banquo's ghost, will not down.
" There is some great destiny in store for the Chinese race. I feel this first because I believe that God has not preserved this race 4000 years for nothing. Again, all that mineral wealth isn't stored away for nothing. God doesn't work in that way. He wastes nothing. Third, the Chinese are capable of great things. They are slow, solid, aggressive, patient, industrious, economical, filial, and, above all, determined. The Chinese people are a brainy race. It is not too much to say they are the brainiest of the Asiatic race. There was no sentiment about General Grant, and he said that pre-eminently the three greatest men he h~d ever met were Gladstone, Bismarck, and Li Hung Chang, the· greatest diplomat of his day.
" The Chinese are a nation of students. What other country would have a yearly gathering of 25,000 students to compete for a literary prize, such as takes place at Nanking ~ " Ii a Chinaman determined to acquire an education, and was too poor to afford a light, he'd steal the light which streamed through the knot-hole of a more fortunate neighbor's room, and if there were no knot.-hole he would make one.
" China is rousing herself. She has been generally supposed to be dead, but she's a pretty lively corpse. She isn't even sleeping. She has a fine fleet of merchant steamers, a better navy than that of the United States. China is to be one of the great factors in the development of the world. The Christianizing of China is the only solution of the Chinese problem. Exclusion won't do it. But there are reasons for being hopeful about China. First, its doors have been opened, and there is free access to the country; second. there is a better feeling toward us despite the recent . attacks on missions which occurred in the most turbulent districts; were it not so there would have been fifty massacres instead of two people killed. There is more willingness to hear and a greater measure of success, considering obstacles. Twenty-five years ago there were less than 500 Christians. To-day there are 40,000, who have raised $40,000 for the support of Christianity. In 1877, 41,000 patients were treated in hospitals. In 1889, 347,000 patients were treated. But you can't count heads in the Chinese problem. There is too large an unknown quantity. You must solve the problem by algebra, not arithmetic, to find the unknown quantity. Again, the dominant class is open to you.
"It is not correct that we only touch the scum. If you go fishing for shrimps, you catch shrimps; and if you go fishing for whales, you catch whales. In fishing for souls, you are apt to catch just what you fish for. I believe we are on the verge of a mighty upheaval, a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The truth of God, eternal, unconquerable, invincible, will go forward in these latter days with increasing force and momentum. I see no reason why China should not be converted in fifty years if the Church of God will do her duty. If the work has seemed a failure, it is because the Church has not upheld our arms in prayer. Weare not prayed for as we ….ught to be, nor do you give as you ought. Give until you feel it.
Evening meeting: Dr. H. C. Mabie, on China.
"I too read that unfortunate article by one of our captains, who frequently goes to China, in which he says, 'I have yet to discover one Chinese Christian.' Some men are born blind. He would probably have as great difficulty in discovering one here.
" The first Sunday after my arrival I went to a service in a mission conducted by a Christian rice merchant. He related to me his experience. He said that as soon as he was converted he determined to close his shop on the Sabbath, though he was warned that he would lose all his trade. For a time he was ridiculed, and his shop was almost deserted; but little by little the people found that nowhere could they be so fairly and honestly dealt with; they became willing to wait over the Sabbath for the sake of dealing with a man on whom they could depend. His trade increased far beyond what it had ever been before. Now he has become a minister of Christ.
" During the service I was called upon to speak, which I did. My text was John 1 : 12. 'As many afl received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.' I dwelt on the change in Peter when restored to Christ's favor; of the power which came not only to Peter, but can come into our hearts. I was very well satisfied with my interpretation; but a water-carrier in the rear of the hall did not agree with me, and, rising, he gave another interpretation of it, bringing it down to the minds of his simple companions. ""recognized in that water-carrier the enthronement of the power of God. I arrived at another station on Sabbath morning in a pouring rain, and what did I see? A large number of people gathered for the morning service, singing • All hail the power of Jesus' name!' Dr. John West addressed them on the text, 'Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.' Perfect quiet reigned; not a muscle in their faces moved. They seemed hungry for the Bread of Life. One native, who had not been to the mission for some time, came, bringing a fan which he had made, and on which he had put the hymn' Ashamed of Jesus' and these three texts of Scripture: 'Therefore if any wan be in Christ, he is a new 'creature ; , 'If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me; , 'He that loseth his life for Mv sake shall find it.' -He told us how he had been a great opium eater; imd hearing in our mission of Christ and His saving power, he determined to become a Christian if it could save him from the power of opium. He told how he had been giving himself a six months' test, which was now over; of how Christ had taken away even the taste for opium. Now he wanted to make a profession of Christianity.
" The work of missions is no trifling one. There have been 1,500,000 copies of the Word of God, besides thousands of copies of ' Pilgrim's Progress,' sold or given away in one place.
" One day Dr. Ashmore and I went into the market-place, where we knew we would find a crowd. We were soon surrounded by people who treated us with perfect courtesy. We spoke a few words to them, and one of the natives also addressed them. The audience listened with attention. The old salute had been a shower of gravel stones.
" Medical missionaries in China are doing a great work. I visited a hospital where 100 patients daily listened to the preaching of the Gospel. In connection with this institution 350,000 people had been treated during the past year. One missionary in Canton performed 25,000 operations, treated 1,000,000 patients, and published 30 works besides. These men, who come for healing for their bodies, are deeply impressed by what they see, and go home to tell of it. These heathen are deeply moved by a little kindness; the tucking in of the covers, the smoothing of the brow, move some of those strong mlin to tears.
" The problem of to-day is: The re-incarnation of the Son of God among these poor nations until all the world shall join in the strain, ' Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.' "
Dr. A.' J. Gordon, of Boston, spoke, in the evening, on "The Chris- tian's Ambition for Heavenly Honor."
" A few evenings since I was reading the Greek Testament, when my son asked whether any word in the Greek encouraged the exercise of ambition and the seeking of honor. I have found such a word, its meaning being ambition, the love of honor, the love of distinction. It is three times used.
" I believe we have come so much to regard humility the cardinal virtue of Christianity that we may have forgotten the Christian should be ambitious. I think he should be the most ambitious person on the earth. To whom is the promise of eternal life spoken but to those who in patient endurance in well doing seek for glory, honor, and immortality, than which there cannot be a much higher ambition ~ We sometimes fall into the perIl of being proud of our humility. Humility is sometimes only pride turned wrong side out, just as you turn a garment and dye it and refit it. A person says, ' If I can get into heaven at last, I am willing to occupy II back seat.' But Scripture very certainly indicates that you are to seek not only barely to get into heaven, but' and so an abundant entrance shall be given you into the kingdom of God.' The back seats are all spoken for, and God wants us to get as near the throne as possible.
" , One star differeth from another star in glory.' Who will be stars of the first magnitude ~ 'They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.'
"Let us be ' ambitious to preach the Gospel where Christ has not been named' (Rom. 15 : 20, R. V.) is a most extraordinary statement.
" You might think a man who wanted to build a house would prefer to have a lot where the foundation had already been laid for him. But the apostle wants a lot to build II house where the sod has not been broken. That is not our idea, ordinarily, for when I was choosing my field of labor I thought the opposite. 'If I am to win the most souls, let me get where there is a good foundation of hereditary piety and orthodox faith.' I made that mistake because I apprehended preaching the Gospel for success, but not preaching it for a witness. I don't say we should not preach the Gospel for success; but our first duty is to preach it for a witness. Our first business is, not to build a house, but to build a highway. It is not to perfect the kingdom of God in some favored spot under the heavens, but to prepare the way for the kingdom of God when it shall yet come. Therefore put the emphasis on the words' Go ye into all the world.' We make this mistake. Supposing a new Pacific railway should be chartered, and a man should take a contract to build a thousand miles. He reports at the end of the year that, as the State of Dakota furnished the best rock bottom, therefore he put his thousand miles all in Dakota. But the engineer in charge tells him that the very object of the railroad is to connect the Atlantic with the Pacific, and yet he has built his section zigzag back and forth through a single State.
" That is exactly what we have been doing with the Gospel. It is to be carried into all the world, because by and by the Lord will return j and when He comes we want a highway from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth, and stations everywhere where He can have distributing centres.
"When we do God's way and preach the Gospel for a witness, we are sure to get the best success. In 1810 Adoniram .Tudson was just graduating from the seminary, and his father brought home the news that he was appointed associate pastor of Park Street church, the largest in Boston. He astounded his family by saying, 'My field won't be in Boston; it will be far across the sea. I have an ambition to preach the Gospel where no one else has, lest I "build upon another man's foundation.'" Eighty years have passed. Park Street church has 800 to 1000 members, but Adoniram Judson's church beyond the sea has a membership of 30,000, and thousands have fallen asleep in Jesus blessing his name. How God is honored in building a church out of unpromising materials, calling out songs from those hitherto dumb! That is the reason why the apostle wanted to build where a foundation had not been laid, for where a foundation has been laid anybody can build, but only God can build on nothing. "Next year we shall celebrate the anniversary of Carey's inauguration of missions. He thought, 'I stirred up the people to form a missionary society in England. I am the first missionary, but I believe God will take care of me. Put me out there and give me my tools, and I will not ask another cent.' So he went and supported himself in India, preaching the Word of God. After forty years of labor he had not only marvellously preached the Gospel and laid the foundations of the Church, bnt had sup. ported himself and paid into the missionary treasury $233,000, a fact utterly unparalleled in the history of missions or the ministry. God will sometimes take the widow's mite and not the worldling's million, that He may show what He is able to do. It is a marvellous fact that the greatest gifts bestowed in the work of foreign and home missions have been given to men who have wrought by prayer.
"Mr. George Muller's Home in Bristol is a marvellous example of the power of prayer.
" When men really trust God for success and money, He is ready to show them that He is not only Chief Shepherd of souls, but Chief Treasurer. When we get off of a human foundation we get upon the divine, and the apostle built on the divine foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ, the foundation-stone..
"In 1 Thessalonians 4 : 11 you have another ambition-service conjoined with silence. doing the best you can and saying nothing about it. Some cloeks strike, and some tell the time of day with their hands. So some Christians advertise their business, and others do it and say nothing about it, which is the kind we want. Two texts we ought to read together: 'Do not sound a trumpet before you,' and 'Let your light so shine.' He wants you to be ambitious, to have good works that somebody can see; and light travels faster than sound, and so with Christians, you see the flash before you hear the report if they are the right sort. The ambition is, not that they may praise you, but that they may glorify your Father which is in heaven. You thus have an opportunity to be ambitious, and yet to be sublimely humble.
" The work of the hands and of the head is subordinate to that of the heart. If you have been redeemed by Christ, renewed by the Holy Ghost, and your citizenship is in heaven, what is your principal business ~ It is to tell others about Jesus Christ and bring them to the knowledge of His love and of His grace. Whatever else yon do must be subordinated to that; and it is a shame and scandal in our nineteenth century Christianity that so many business men get, and live, and labor, and save, M if they understood that getting riches was the end of their existence instead of getting riches in order to glorify God. I care not what your occupation is ; you may be a carpenter at the bench, a blacksmith at the forge. a merchant behind the counter, your first business is to give the Gospel to those that have not heard it. Does it look as though we regarded it as our principal business ~ "First, we put our capital in our business. There are eight billions in the hands of Christians in tbis country. That is invested for the most part in bonds, mortgages, diamonds, silks, horses, carriages, houses, furniture, pictures, aud a thousand other things, vastly more than in that which ought to be the principal business of the ChriRtian, giving the Gospel to the world. And somebody says, 'I believe the world is getting better and better every day,' although he has millions laid up, and yet you caunot get twenty cents out of him for missions. He had no conception that he ought to put his eapital into the LQrd's business instead of into his own comfort and the ultimate ruin of his posterity. 'Was there ever a time the Christian Church gave so much for religious purposes l' Well, it gives a good deal; but by the best estimate the amount given to missions is only three cents on a dollar ! We put our best Ulen into business. The command is to give the Gospel to every creature.
" A few months since an order went out from the British Government to take the census of India, and it was done inside of twenty-four hours. Although at the beginning of this dispensation the Church understood it was sent to take the census of the world, and we have been at it nearly 1900 years, what have we done ~ There are 1,000,000,000 out of 1,400,000.000 unreached by the Gospel. When they took the census in a single night they put more than 1,000,000 enumerators in the field. We have in the field 7000 missionaries, but we have 127,000 at home representing the same constituency. Does that look as if foreign missions was this world's principal business ~ " I am hoping that, in this great movement which has now touched us, the Church of God may be lifted to such a position that it will put an army into the field and not simply station a picket line thrcugh the heathen world; that it will put its capital and not the iuterest on its interest into the work; that it will call out the reserves and put the privates in all occupations to work.
"The last subject of ambition is in 2 Corinthians 5 : 9, where the apostle sums up thus: 'Wherefore we strive,' are ambitious, 'that, whether present or ahsent, we may be well pleasing unto HiUl.' Have you ever noticed that Jesus Christ, in the Sermon on the Mount, utters a sharp contrast between the two kinds of ambition? If you want to get a reputation for piety, make long prayers and eloquent ones. ~o that you can be popu· lar; and, if you deMire to be popular as a benevolent man, sound a trumpet and let everyone know. And He says: 'Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. ' It has been said: If you want to make people think well of you, make them think well of themseh·es. But our business, as long as men are sinners, is to make them think meanly of themselves, so that they may think well of Jesus Christ. Then Christ turns to us, to any faithful disciple: 'But you, go into your own closet to pray, and when you give, do Dot let your right know what your left hand doeth, and your Father who seeth in secret '-I want you to pause on that word. A great sculptor had a contract to put a statue in a niche in a great temple. They told him he could make it cheaply by filling up the back side, as that didn't show. ' But,' said he, 'the gods will see it, and therefore it must be finished up.' The world looks at the front side-God looks on the back. Your Father who seeth in secret shall reward you openly.
" We praise the successful missionaries for the sacrifices and services they have wrought in the name of Christ. But I sometimes think, what about the unsuccessful missionarie", those who have done their best, but in circumstances where they have reaped but little, and perhaps cut off in an untimely way, and thrust out of their field with never an opportunity to do what they had an ambition to do. What about them? 'I have an ambition that, whether absent or preRent, I may be well pleasing unto the Lord. ' Think of George Schmidt, with his heart burning to preach in Africa, who went there and was driven off by the settlers and not allowed to return, and who ulted to pray day after day, ' Lord, perUlit me to go to Africa,' until he was found dead on his knees, without going back. I think of that noble bishop, Coleridge Patterson, so splendidly endowed that they said, "Why waste your talents on the heathen ~ , and yet he went to the Pacific islands, and they took him as an enemy, and as he :was saying' Peace be unto you' they slew him, and, like his Lord, he was sent back from the very people that he came to bless, with five bleeding wounds upon his person. And I think of Melville Cox, that noble Mdhodist who went out from this country, who had a consuming passion to preach the Gospel on the western coast of Africa. He had hardly reached the shore when he was stricken down with fever, and all there is left of him is a grave with the words. ' Though a thousand fall, let not Africa be given up.' Then I think of Adam McCall, one of Livingstone's companions on the Congo, who, stricken down with fever and dying, said, • Lord Jesus, thou knowest that I consecrated my life to Africa. If Thou dost choose to take me instead of the work which I purposed to do for Thee, what is that to me ~ Thy will be done.' Where was their success ~ If they could speak they would say, 'I have but one ambiiion; that, whether I be dead or alive, whether I be absent from the body or present with the Lord, I may be well pleasing unto Him.'
" I end with urging that we may have a heroic and consecrated ambition. The highest encomium I ever heard of a single man was that of John Vassar, after he had talked about Christianity with a fashionable woman in a hotel. Her husband had come in and said that if he had known of it he would have sent him about his business. The woman replied, ' If you had seen him you would have thought that was his business.' Christ set an example of a man being ab'out his business. When His mother said to Him, ' Son, thy father and I have sought thee sOIrowing,' He replied, , Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business.'
" It is a business that meant the loss of His life, that involved the cro~s, and the crown of thorns, and the 'Father, forgive them,' and 'Why hast Thou forsaken Me ~ , and the sepulchre. But, though He saw the end from the beginning, He was about His Father's business till He could say, ' I ha,'e finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.' Be ambitious to be quiet and to be about your Father's business, and may you receive at the end of your life that welcome plaudit, ' Well done, good and faithful servant!' But remember that there can be no ' Well done' unless there has been first well doing; for, if anybody can conjugate' ill doing , into ' well done,' I cannot. Therefore, let us be up and doing, and make God's business our business."
Rev. Dr. Pierson summed up the addresses of the day in the closing speech of the evening. He began by referring to the fact that one of the most remarkable anniversary services that Great Britain has ever witnessed in England will begin May 31st next, and continue to October 2d. It will be the celebration of the one hundredth anni'ersary of the beginning of foreign missionary work under William Carey. After sketching the origin of the movement, he spoke of the four great characteristics by which the com- ing age of mission work would be marked : First, by enterprise ; second, by sacrifice; third, by individual service; fourth, by individual supplication.
These points were enlarged upon, and a fervent appeal was made for the Christian Church to rouse itself in the matter of mission wo~k. And so closed this most memorable of days at Northfield.
THE SACRED LAND OF PALESTINE
THE SACRED LAND OF PALESTINE.
BY MRS. DAVID BARON.
It is strange to be in a land so ancient and to find it in the rear of all known lands; its ancient civilization swept away, as if it had not been; without roads, except a few quite recently made; its cities gone, its forests and groves gone, and its landscapes bare, the hedges of prickly pear being no relief to the eye. You may travel many miles and only see occasional encampments of Arabs on the hill-sides, their flocks of cattle, goats, anu sheep browsing near; or now and again a fellahin village. It is possible to ride over some of these without knowing it, for the flat roofs are turf-rovered, and I have seen palm-trees growing singly, and cattle grazing on them. The larger of their villages look at first sight like a heap of grass-grown ruins, but nearer they resemble more rabbit burrows. The walls are ·of earth or sometimes of stone, with earth floors and earth COVer- 'ng the flat roofs; they have one low door, no window, no chimney.
The fellahin are probably descendants of the ancient Canaanites. They are not nomadic, like the Arabs, but settle in such villages as I have described. They till the ground, using a camel or an ox and ass yoked together to draw the very simple instrument used as a plough. The fellahin women are of a very low type. They work very hard from morning to night, carrying heavy loads great distances, often with their swaddled babies poised in baskets on their heads in addition to their burdens. These women are tattooed about the mouth and chin, and wear silver coins fringing their faces and nose bags. These are their duwry; they are, '10wever, much discolored, and look more like pewter than silver. From early morning, even so early as fiye o'clock, the beggar sits by the wayside begging; often several beggars sit in a row. In the course of one day some things will be painfully apparent to a fresh comer, and possibly the foremost of these will be the frightful prevalence of ophthalmia, the terrible cruelty practised on animals, and the filthy, unsanitary condition of the towns. Ophthalmia is likely to remain the curse of the land so long as no proper escape is made for the smoke in the dwellings of the people. Their want of cleanliness, too, favors this trouble, and the unsanitary conditions of their life. Flies and mosquitoes coming from refuse matter inoculate the eyes with poison. Again, another cause of blindness is the intense glare of the sun where there is no relief of grass or trees to meet the eye. It is a grievous sight to see on every hand, among all ages, from the infant to the aged, this terrible affliction; and pitiable indeed it is to see, as you may any day, a company of a dozen or more blind men passing through the crowded sbk (market-place), each with his hand on the shoulder of the one before him-a forcible illustration of our Saviour's words, "The blind leading the blind." Less common than blindness, and yet all too frequent, is the disease of leprosy. Surely, in any other country care would be taken to prevent the increase and spread of so appalling an evil! Here, however, the lepers are at large, and beset a trayeller on all hands, showing their disfigurements and forcing their maimed members into notice. It is too horrible! At the ascent of the Mount of Olives they lined the narro", way, standing or sitting right in the midst of the stony roads. To the peculiarly painful cry of their appealing voice-a result of the disease attacking the throat-they added the rattle of their tin pots for receiving money; and scarcely could we get free of them, though mounted on asses. These poor creatures marry among themselves, and pass on their disease as a frightful inheritance to their children, who in early life often appear to be healthy. With their growth, however, the evil never fails to develop. The Moravians have long had a hospital in Jerusalem for the shelter and care of lepers, but very few avail themselves of it, being unwilling to separate from their families.
In this land, where the law given by God Himself enjoined merciful treatment of animals, a brutal, inhuman treatment is the practice. The outcome of the 'Moslem creed of the sacredness of life among these unreasoning people is that they kill by inches instead of killing outright. The treatment of the poor asses and camels is simply revolting. Perpetually weighted with burdens beyond their strength to bear, their fur is completely worn off their backs and sides, which look like rusty black leather, and are covered with open wonnds. Their pack-saddles are rarely if ever lifted from off their sore backs, and they are kept in a half-starved condition. To make them increase their speed their drivers dig a knife or any sharp instrument into their flesh, making wounds which they take care shall not heal. In one of the noisome alleys which serve as streets in the actual town of J afia, my husband found, one day. a poor ass tethered, suffering extreme torture. One of its legs was cut away and gangrene had set in, yet no one had pity upon it to end its misery. He tried to induce them to kill it, but all in vain; they were only amused by the sug· gestion. At last he sent a man whom he could trust to buy the animal and see it killed. Even then the owner could not understand so disinterested an action, and professing to believe that the poor animal's skin must be worth something, wished to charge the more. Some time later I learned that the week following another miserable ass in bad plight had been fastened up in the same alley, doubtless with the hope of a purchaser. The unsanitary condition of towns built on the ruins of former towns, and without any system of drainage, is something indescribable. The narrow, filthy, uneven alleys, crowded with refuse from the houses, and constantly receiving more from windows and doors, are no places where to linger and admire the quaint, picturesque scenes sure to meet the eye which would otherwise be of great interest. The scavenger dogs and jackals which roam the towns at night are truly blessings where such a state of thing exists.
There is no encouragement to industry or protection of property in this land. The more diligent and sllccessful a man is in trade or agriclll· ture the more heavily is he taxed by the government, which harasses its subjects in every imaginable way. As every government official pays a sum of money to obtain his post, and is quite uncertain how long he will retain it, he makes the best of his possibly brief opportunity to extort all he can. The law may be, and often is, good, I am told; but it is not known j and the government officials work things their own way. Shortly after we arrived in Jaffa an incident occurred at Gaza which is a good example of this. A quarrel arose among some Arab tribes. The Pasha of Jernsalem came down to make inquiry, but receiving a sufficient backshish from both the offending parties, he made fair promises to each, and' returned. No benefit resulted from his visit, and soon the strife renewed. Again the pasha came down and returned as before with his purse com- fortably lined. The more powerful tribes then succeeded in spoiling and casting out a poorer tribe, and the country became unsafe as far as Jaffa; for this tribe, deprived of all their goods, attacked the property and cruelly injured some of the peaceful German colonists. In one instance the kavasse of the German consul, with two Turkish police, traced the mur- tlerers to a tent, where they found them still red-handed, with the weapon only hidden under a mat. They were taken prisoners and the k3vasse of the German consul took one man on with him to the Turkish prison in Jaffa, leaving the two police to bring along the other men. Having per- formed his own errand, he presently met them returning empty-handed, having allowed their men to escape. Backshish was no doubt the secret of this too, but no inquiry was made j they were not held responsible for their prisoners, and I believe the man in prison was later released, there being no eyewitness of his crime. Another pasha was appointed in place of him who had been twice to Gaza, and who had so profitably to himself investigated the. cause of the troubles there. By order of the new pasha all the men of the tribes at Gaza were taken prisoners and consigned to . prison' in Jerusalem. My husband met the Whole party on the road near Abu Gosh, the ancient Kirjath-.Tearim, and saw them joined by their escort of Turkish soldiers. Whether they are still held prisoners, or how the matter is settled, I do not know j it may probably again be a matter of backshish. In the court of justice, so called, this word" backshish" is rendered more politely by the expression " witnesses." According as gain may be hoped for from the social position of the victim, he is told that unless he can produce five, or a hundred, or yet more witnesses in court, his case cannot be settled. The heads on sovereigns or napoleons are the witnesses in question.
Many primitive customs are still in practice, exactly as they were in the days of our Lord on earth. It is easy tQ see why a curse was pronounced by the law on the man who moved his neighbor's landmarks j it i3 a mat- ter all too easy of accomplishment. It took.me a little time to realize, in going across country, that three or four large irregular.shaped stones, apparently picked from tqe soil around and laid one on another, could have any special meaning. Presently, however, I noticed that they stood in certain relation to other such piles, and guessed that they wert> landmarks. On inquiry I found that I was right in my surmise.
A lady known to us inherited four hundred dunnem of land from her father, but now less than two hundred remain to her, for the Arabs have been constantly at work moving her landmarks. We have heard of an Arab whose property was bounded on one side by a ditch. This ditch had to be renewed after the winter rains, and here the Arab saw his opportunity. Year by year he cleared earth away from the opposite bank, putting it always on his own bank. The ditch moved unobservedly farther and farther away from its original position. Under a fostering government, which encouraged industry in the people of the land, ~his country might soon again be flourishing. The soil is exceedingly productive, and were the terraces rebui:t and carefully watered and tended, the mountains about Jerusalem might soon again drop oil and wine. The water supply should now be sufficient if the aqueducts and cisterns were kept in good repair. For many centuries the rainfall of ·Palestine was very insufficient, and the latter rains, which should fall in the first month of the Jewish calendar, corresponding to March-April, were withheld j but the last thirty years has seen a great change, and during the last ten years the latter rains have fallen more copiously and seasonably. The rains of these past seasons havA been quite exceptional. Twenty-six inches has been the average for the last eight years, but this year it has reached forty-seven and fifty inches in the plain, and from sixty to seventy-two inches at different elevations on the Lebanon. One orange garden outside of Jaffa was standing in water during several months, and a good part of the plain of Sharon was flooded during the same time. Simultaneous with the return of the latter rain in its season we see the return of the population. Both the rain and the people are necessary to the land, and now that God opens the heavens to bless, He opens also the graves of His people. It is difficult to obtai~ accurate statistics of the numbers returning, but in Jerusalem alone the estimates vary from thirty-five to fifty-five thousand Jews now resident there. The former number is probably reckoned from the Halucha, the charity sent by Jews throughout the world to be distributed among the poor Jews in Jerus'alem. This is mostly given to the Ashkenazi, or German-speaking Jews. According to Consul Moore, who recently left Jerusalem, the Jewish population in the Holy City increased by twenty thousand in the period of three years. 'Vhile the numbers of Jews increase, the Moslem population is diminishing j it is now reckoned to be but seven thousand, and all the Christian sects taken together may be stated as about twelve thousand.
There are also large Jewish communities in the other sacred cities, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias, as also in Gaza, Jaffa, Haifa, and other places, while numerous colonies exclnsively Jewish are springing up throughout the land. These colonies, it is true, arc not yet self-sup-
rOecember
porting, and have to struggle against great difficulties, but they exist; and it is an encouraging sight to see this people returning to their ancient patriarchal occupations of husbandry and cattle tending, frolli which they have been so long debarred in most countries of their exile. Their rudely constructed carts may daily be seen coming into Jaffa with loads of healthy Jewish peasants who have no longer the subserVIent, cringing air of the poor Jews we meet with in the West, but a free and independent bearing which it does one good to see. Their villages are homely looking j no one is better off than his neighbor, while all lead a simple peasant life, having sufficient, if barely sufficient,. of this world's goods. They own much cattle, and have many acres of land about their colonies under cultivation and yielding well, which but a few years ago was waste ground. In some cases they are troubled by the Arabs, who either have or fabricate a claim upon the land. These people, when they own land, only encamp upon it at such times as their harvest approaches to guard it and secure the grain. Nothing later remains as sign of their occupation.
It has been reported that these Jewish colonists are unwilling to work themselves, and leave the toil of agriculture to the fellahin. This may be true in some places, but we have seen with our own eyes numbers of Jews at work ploughing and sowing. And still the stream of immigration is not likely to cease, hut rather to increase, considering the unsettled state of the Jews in all parts of the world. It is true that until quite lately we have not had such a large contingent from Russia as we looked for this season, but within the last fortnight the expected exodus for the promised land has commenced. In one week 800 Jews have arrived in Jaffa-500 by one vessel and 300 by another. It is noteworthy that those who now comc pouring into Palestine are not all poor and miserable, such as those who formerly came only to die in the Holy Land, but number among them wealthy Jews, speculators in land, who are buying up large tracts for settlement, and forming building societies. Quite recently a large tract of land has been bought up by them at Haifa for the sum of £17,000, for which, a week later, they were offered £25,000, but refused to give up their purchase. One Jewish building society lately proposed building 1000 }lOuses for Jewish occupation between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The shares being immediately taken up, the number was repeatedly raised until it finally attained 3500. I was quite unprepared to find Jerusalem so much built about. The city within the walls will soon be smaller than the new Jerusalem without. The city itself is very unhealthy, being built on the heaps of ruins of past cities. It abounds in narrow, filthy, noisome covered ways and alleys, where fevers are at home. Inside the city it is impossible to drive, but outside there are fine buildings, roads-rough but wide-good shops, a public garden (in preparation), and building operations extending in all directions. In the colony outside the Jaffa gate there are from 9000 to 10,000 Jews. The artist Holman Hunt has a house in this part, and there are three hotels. Good houses and shops aN
TlIE SACRED LAND OF l'ALESTntfIl
continually building. This neighborhood has grown rapidly since a year ago. A small colony of Jewish artisans just outside of Jaffa are helped, on the building society principles, to become owners of their houses; and so great is the demand for these well-built little dwellings that they cannot be built quickly enough. A yet more important service is being rendered by the Alliance Israelite in providing training schools where Jewish youth are taught some useful trade or a scientific knowledge of agriculture. The Jews coming from Europe are divided into two classes, the Ashkenazi, or German-speaking Jews, and the Sephardi, or Spanish-speaking. The latter are the descendants of those Jews banished from Spain in the year 1492, and are found in all countries bounding the Mediterranean Sea. There are also colonies now coming from Arabia of Jews settled there before the commencement of the Christian era, if their own tradition may be received. They bear traces of having been many ages in the South, their physique being quite different from that of the Jews of Europe. Their build is slight and tall, and their skin a very dark brown. It was ten years ago, in the year 1881, that the first party of German Jews arrived in Jerusalem. Their reason for coming has a prophetic interest j it was none other than a dream or vision of their revered rabbi. He related that it was revealed to him that he and his people should return to their own land, and that there God would make known to them the Messiah for whom they had so long been waiting. Numbers of them did not hesitate to obey a vision so full of comfort. But alas! they had to endure many perils by the way. They were robbed; they suffered shipwreck; many died, and they arrived at their destillation greatly reduced in numbers.. The Jews in Palestine would not recognize them as Jews at all, or render them any help; but General Gordon and some lately arrived American Christians secured them a site where to found a colony on the Mount of Olives. Since that time their numbers are constantly increasing, fresh companies arriving now and again from Yemen. Last year they numbered some eight hundred. In the month of March this year another hundred arrived miserably destitute, having suffered much by the way. Forty of these poor wanderers were sheltered and fed in our mission house during the few days they remained in Jaffa. They are a naturally pious people, as is evidenced by the conduct of these poor immigrants. The first thing they did after entering the house, having but just endured the miseries of disembarkation at Jaffa, and the trials of the custom house, was to seek for a suitable c'orner or recess where to stand their scroll of the law, richly encased and silver-mounted. This important matter settled, they repeated Hehrew prayers and then commenced to instruct the young from the Talmud. So earnest are they for the reli~ious instruction of their families that a father will elaborately copy with his own hand the valued commentaries of some rabbi, a work occupying all his time for some year8, in order to leave it a sacred legacy to his children. These Yemen Jews are a simple, industrious, hard. working race, skilled in small handicrafts, with minds less prejudiced against the truth thn are those of their European co-religionists. Last year my husband visited them in their village on Olivet. I will quote a paragraph from his" Mission Tour in Egypt and Palestine," descriptive of his visit: "One rainy day, going through the gate of David, we crossed the valley of Kedron and climbed up to this lit- tle colony. We found them in a terrible state of destitution and sickness, which Dr. Dixon was able to relieve somewhat. They were delighted to see us. We went from hut to hut-one cannot call them houses-and asked them to assemble in their little synagogue to hear us speak to them collectively of tho Messiah The little place was quite full. I spoke to them about Jesus, the true Messiah of Israel, the Saviour of the world. I spoke perhaps too sharply about the unbelief and sin of the Jewish peo- ple in rejecting Him. They listened very quietly, and when I had done speaking the aged rabbi said, in words that went to my heart, for they sounded like the old Scripture writings, ' We are from Yemen, in the land of the South, where our fathers have lived since before the days of Ezra the scribe. We, all our lives, and all our fathers in their Ii ves, never heard that the Messiah- had come. If we had heard we might have believed on Him, but we did not hear.''' Now, however, these Yemen Jews, like all others arriving at the port of Jaffa, are met by Jews from the town immediately on arriving, and warned against any missionaries who may attempt conversation with them.
It is of exceeding interest to note that while the rightful inheritors of the soil are compelled to return to it for the most part by the tyranny of their oppressors, the land itself is being opened up for them by the enterprise of strangers, who are often much hindered by the government. A French company is constructing the railway from Jaffa to .Terusalem. The work was for some months at a standstill, there being some difficulty about the compensation to be made the orange grove proprietors through whose property it had to pass. Now, however, the work progresses rapidly. The engin~s sent from Philadelphia, respectively the "Jerusalem," " Ramleh," and" Jaffa," are employed on the line already made, bringing up materials. For this purpose they run even now as far as Ramleh j hut it is a misstatement which has been published to the effect that the line so far is already open to the public.. It will be many months yet ere this can be the case. Possibly the frequent shrill screams of the engine, warning natives off the line on its transit to and fro with trucks of materials, have been mistaken by some tourist passing through. Many most erroneous statements about events said to be occurring in this land find their way into English and other papers, and are very misleading. The railway between Jaffa and Jerusalem should be completed next year. An English company holds a firman for a railway to run from Haifa to Damascus j and we learn that a line, to be called a steam tramway, is also to be constructed between Beyrout and Damascus. It seems that in the firman granted for the Haifa-Damascus line, there was a clause to the effect that there should be no railway between Beyrout and Damascus. This being so, the difficulty in granting permission for the latter was easily got over by giving it another name. It is, therefore, a " steam tramway." It is a very mountainouil district through which this must pass, and will require skilful engineering. A matter much discussed, but in which I believe no steps have yet been taken, is the proposition of a line to connect the prin~ cipal cities on the sea-coast from Port Said to Beyrout. A good carriage road from Jaffa to Jerusalem has existed already some years. From Jeru- salem to Bethlehem and to Hebron there are also good roads. The late pasha commenced roads to Nablous and Jericho, but these have been left unfinished. Harbor works are now in progress at Beyrout, and such must follow at Jaffa on the completion of the railway. The diligence and suc- cess of the thrifty German colonists near Jaffa and Haifa are practical les- sons, proving the capabilities of the soil when properly worked.
Many influences are at work here to hinder the good which might be done among the Jews themselves.
The Ashkenazi are the principal recipients of the Halucha, the charity yearly sent from Jews in all parts of the world for the poor Jews in this land.. It has a very baneful effeot on those who receive it, who are supported in idleness. Some of them even raise mon.ey on the income assured to them by the Halucha alone. The recipients of this charity must of course remain zealous Jews or they would not retain it. The Sephardi do not receive 'so large a share of the Halucha, but benefit, as all Jews may, by the benevolent schemes set on foot hy Jewish national societies to help on their people, and all alike are held under a strict supervision as to their attendance at synagogue and religious zeal by the agents of these societies. The result is that their pride of race and fanaticism is greatly ihCreased, and they are exceedingly bitter with any who venture to speak to them of Jesus. There are many missions at work in the land-American, Scotch, and English-which are doing a good work among the different nationalities represented here. Among the Jews not much is being done, and this work in this land becomes increasingly difficult. The most difficult place, perhaps, in all the world to work among them is the city of Jerusalem itself. Here the idolatries of the Greek and Latin churches are evcr before them, while on every hand gain is held out to them as inducement to join one or other Christian sect-even the Protestant churches, alas! not being free from reproach in this matter. While many Jews are not unwilling to go from one to another, making what they ean from this false charity, it is easy to see into what contempt and ill repute this brings so-called mission work, and that it is not in this way men are convertedrather are they so made hypocrites.
It may be of interest if I add a little about our work in Jaffa during the few months we have been there. As soon as possible we secured a mission house in the town itself, and in the same street as the house called Simon the Tanner's, on the roof of Which Peter had the vision which prepared him to go to Cornelius and proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. Our mission house had formerly been used as a hospice for the better class of Russian pilgrims. Our fellow-worker, Mr. Barnett, elected to live there in the first story, and was soon joined by an earnest Christian Jew from Smyrna, who came to assist with the Spanish-speaking Jews. To understand and influence the people it is necessary to know their homes, occupations, and circumstances. Of necessity a great deal of time was spent by our missionaries in visiting the loathsome neighborhoods and dwellings where the Jews live. It was attempted to meet Jewish refugees on their arrival, but this was found quite impracticable, as anyone who has disembarked at the port of Jaffa will realize. The confusion on board ship and in the custom house, added to the fact before mentioned, that agents from the Chovevi Zion Society are on the spot to hinder any mis- sion work, prevents any good being done. Later, however, in groups of twos and threes the new-comers have been met about the town, and such opportunities have been made good use of. Visits have also been made to Jewish colonies in the neighborhood of Jaffa, but the winter was excep- tionally severe and the roads were for long impassable.
The mission house, besides being a centre where Jews could gather for conversation, discussing their difficulties and receiving instru~tion without fear of being watched, was also a home and shelter at different times to homeless Jews. Some of these have come in opposing the truth, but being present at prayer, conducted by Mr. Barnett, in which others have joined, have, of their own accord, not only prayed, but done so in the name of Jcsus. One Jew in particular asked God that if what he had heard of Jesus were true He would not let him die without receiving it. If only the chains of formalism were broken, and true, spontaneous, heart- felt confession of sin and prayer for pardon took the place of the 'Continual repetition of lifeless forms of prayer, God would hear and answer, for it is this He waits for.
On Saturday afternoons, being Sabbath, and to the Jews everywhere a . day of lcisure, many would come and read and converse with my husband and Mr. Barnett. On Wednesday afternoons during two hours one room used to be crowded with J ewesses, all sitting, Eastern fashion, cross-legged on the ground and working. A stranger coming in might have been aston- ished to see the array of shoes in the open court-yard to the number of some sixty-eight pairs. Within the interest would have been sustained. Here were Spanish Jewesses for the most part, some few German, one Italian, and two or three very dark-skinned Yemen Jewesses. Some with their forehE,iads bound and their faces bandaged, others simply wearing a pretty kerchief on their heads and having their finger nails dyed scarlet or yellow. Their methods of work are the exact reverse of our European ways j some of these women could work very quickly and well. On leav- ing, many of them resumed their white enveloping sheet, which they had laid aside on entering. We had the va!lA."bk help of some Arabic-speaking
'rltE SA.CR~D LAND Oli' P A.L~S'1'lN1!l
Christian missionary ladies from the English hospital, who interpreted for us, and who entered whole-heartedly into all that was attempted to be done. The poor Jewish women are very ignorant, as it is considered unnecessary and wrong to teach a woman. As.they know so little of their own national history and Scriptures we found it a good plan to question them and arouse their interest, and then to give them Scripture teaching. We also commenced' reading Matthew's Gospel with them. At last, however, the Jewish feasts, followed by my husband's severe prolonged illness, obliging my absence with him, put a stop to these interesting meetings. Although we may not again return to Jaffa, we hope the work will be continued by others, and that God will bless it more and more. The time we have spent in the Holy Land has forced upon us the conviction that the work to be done among the Jews need be done ere they set foot here. Although missions in Palestine may be of great use as a present testimony in the midst of the returning people, it is undoubtedly true that in the lands of their dispersion the best opportunities offer. When the hand of God presses upon them and they are willing to confess that it is on account of sin that they and their fathers suffer, they may be induced to accept and study the Word which tells of the atonement and Sin-bearer. It is hardly credible how soon they forget, and deny having suffered when once within the promised land, and maintain that they need no deliverer, for that God is favoring them. Even now the women in the colonies incite the men to stone any missionary who reasons with them. I firmly believe that the days approach when they will persecut.e and kill their Lord's messengers again, as formerly they did. There are many discouragements attending Jewish mission work. For those who are in haste to see results and num. ber up converts it is indeed very unsatisfactory and trying work, but in every field of mission work we see the same thing; the few receive the Word of God and are changed by it j the many reject and remain indifferent to it. All that the Word of God bids us do, whether among Jews or throughout the wide world, is to sow the Word, the " Gospel of the kingdom in all the world, for a witness unto all nations." When this is done harvest-time will come, and the harvesting is to be the work of angels, not of men.
We know there is and always has been, from the days of Paul to our own, " a remnant according to the election of grace among Israel," but the Word of God tells us plainly that as a nation Israel, like Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor and blasphemer, will only be converted by the vision of Jesus returning in the clouds of heaven in power and great glory. Then they will look upon Him whom they have pierced, and mourn with bitter lamentation as for a first-born son.
EUROPEAN LITERATURE IN THE MISSION FIELDS
EUROPEAN LITERATURE .IN THE MISSION FIELDS.
BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D. D.
It has become a serious question whether the missionaries or the ene- mies of Christianity are making the greater use of the English tongue as a medium of communication with the people of Oriental lands.
In the early days of the modern missionary movement therc were sup- posed to be many motives not only for education, but for instruction in the English tongue. It was thought that by this means the masses of India, for example, might be brought into closer contact with that Christian civilization which afforded the chief hope of their regeneration. There was an additional reason in India and Ceylon in the political relationship of those countries to Great Britain. While missionary institutions gave much attention to the English language and made it the vehicle of instruction in history, science, etc., the schools and colleges established by the Anglo- Indian Government employed the same agency still more widely. There was a great demand for a knowledge of English as a qualification for commercial positions, and the demand was by no means limited to India and Ceylon. The same aspiration for this kind of education filled the youth of Beirut. Cairo, and Constantinople. It appeared in the schools of China and Japan. There was a like demand on the coast of Africa, and wherever the civilization and commerce of the Anglo-Saxon came in contact with heathen races. In all British colonies, like Australia, New Zealand, and Natal, the English tongue very naturally became dominant. Within the last decade the governments holding protectorates over newly acquired territory in Africa and elsewhere have taken special pains to extend the use of their respective languages as a means of establishing thei~ power. The French at the Gaboon place such emphasis upon this requirement as to forbid missionary instruction even in the verna~ular. It must be French and only French, all of which means the future prevalence of French literature.
But the generic thought suggested by this incidental survey is this: that the whole world is coming rapidly under the influence of European Janguages and literatures, the English holding a larger place than any other, and they are opening the way for the propagation of either truth or error on a boundless scale. In higher education, whether in science, history, and general literature, or in special departments, as medicine or theology, it has been claimed that a knowledge of English would open the door at once to a much wider technical literature than could be found as yet in Oriental languages; that in medicine, for example, it would be far easier to give young men a knowledge of the English which would introduce them at once to a wide range of medical science than to undertake the translation of a large number of medical books into the Arabic, the Chinese, or the Hindi; and these reasons have .seemed valid. But possibly the Christian Church in its missionary operations has not been sufficiently mindful of the fact that wherever the husbandman has sown the good seed, an enemy soon follows with tares, and that the result is a strong flank movement again ..t the truth. The apostles of infidelity would never have endured the toil anu hardship necessary to prepare the ground; they would not have undertaken to rAduce languages to a written form, and in some cases even establish a grammatical construction; but when the grubbing and the ploughing and harrowing are all accomplished they are at hand with the seeds of error. They watch for the thousands of youth who have learned the English tongue. They make use of all the agencies of publication which have been established. They are not scrupulous about the kind of intellectual pabulum that they furnish, for it is no part of their purpose to regenerate and uplift the heathen races. It is all one to them if moral poison and destruction are the result. As to the intellectual demand and their methods of meeting it, they have the same amount of scruple and misgiving as those who are deluging heathen lands with adulterated and poisoned liquors, gunpowder and firearms; their work is on the same moral level, neither higher nor lower.
The reports of the Christian Vernacular Education Society of India, while giving many interesting facts in regard to vernacular literature and the great demand for it in India, throw an occasional side light upon the spread of English literature. This society, under the presidency of the Right Honorable, the Earl of Northbrook, has struck a keynote which all friends of missions and of humanity ought to heed. It emphasizes the fact that the circulation of Christian literature in heathen lands is one of the foremost demands of the age. It reminds us that we live in a period when the printing, publication, and circulation of reading matter of all kinds h~ve reached enormous dimensions, and that thought in every variety, good, bad, and indifferent, is being quickened among all races.
A recent communication from an agent of the above-named society says: "The place of tbe English language and literature in India is one of the most marvellous phenomena of this nineteenth century.
"On arriving in Calcutta I set to work under the most competent of all guides, Sir Alfred Croft, Director of Public Instruction for Bengal. In the English shops I was not surprised to find a good supply of books in all departments of literature, and especially in that of fiction. As these were chiefly for our own countrymen, I soon found my way to the native bazaars and shops, where I discovered what astonished me. Our English merchants have no chance with these native shopkeepers in the economy of their management and consequent cheapness. In a comparatively small shop you find the head of the establishment sitting at his desk or counter with a piece of cotton around his waist and loins, in happy freedom from all the restraints of coat, waistcoat, trousers, and stockings, his whole attire worth no more than a shilling or two. The few rings of high value which adorn his ears or fingers are an investment on which the only Joss is 1nterest on the sunk capital. A few active roun~ men, who cost little/ complete the estabiishment. in which an amount of business is done which would astonish his ostentatious neighbors in the European quarter.
" In these native shops I found large piles of our cheap literature, and in stores at hand I was shown large rooms filled from floor to ceiling with the cheap serial literature of the London market, good, bad, and indifferent, but chiefly bad. Not only are the great proportion of these volumes works of fiction, but a great many of them are the very worst of the class; and these, I regret to say, are the most popular, and have by far the largest sale. Many of the most fleshly of the French realistic school in English translations were the most largely sold."
The same writer adds that amid the depressing influences of this appalling exhibit of a vicious appetite for the garbage of our English literature, he was cheered by some hopeful signs. There had been in the more respectable native shops a growing demand for the better class of cheap books; but he was painfully impressed by the fact that the movement of Christian men had been late in the field. One of these native booksellerssaid to him, "If a better class of books had been sent out from England at the first, the low and vicious ones would not have gotten the hold they have on the reading public. The first books which came to this country in cheap and attractive form were these low and vicious novels, and it will be difficult now to supplant them."
If the worst French novels are translated into English for countries in which the English tongue prevails, one can well imagine their still readier access to all lands which are under French protectorates, and in which the French language is assiduously taught. All that French Catholic and French Protestant missions can do for the elevation of the people of such land,. will scarcely equal the disastrous influence of those French novels which represent, as the late Emperor Napoleon IlL put it, " not the civilization of Jerusalem, but that of Corinth."
But only one side of this great evil is seen when we contemplate this 1lood.tide of cheap and corrupting European literature. Another equally formIdable is seen in the widespread use now made of the English language for the spread of Hinduism. Under the movement which is known in India as " Revived Aryanism," embracing various organizations, the leaders have hit upon the happy expedient of utilizing the Euglish tongue as a means of corrupting the very classes of men upon whom most labor has been bestowed by government or by missions, in higher education. There are now many thousands of graduates from the Indian universities and colleges, and the same is true of the graduates of Japanese universities and colleges, who speak the English language fluently, but are not Christian converts. On the contrary, they have been stimulated by their education to a greater pride of nationality, and coming into !lympathy with the various apologies which Western writers, have made for Oriental systems, they are more than ever resolved to stanrl by the ancient literature and cultus of their fatherland, expurgating such corruptions as the better taste and higher ethics of modern times are supposed to condemn. Meanwhile the agents of Western societies, Buddhistic, Theosophic, or Agnostic, by adroitly appealing to the national pride of wealthy rajahs and others, have secured contributions for the purpose of reproducing in cheap form the products of Wester!]. ~cepti cism, so that selections from Thomas Paine, Robert J. Ingersoll, Herbert Spencer, and the late Mr. Bradlaugh are scattered like the leaves of autumn through all English-speaking communities in India. But it would not quite suit the pride of the true Aryans, soi-disant, to be wholly dependent on foreign leaders, and therefore aspiring Hindus have taken the field, are issuing tracts, publishing periodicals and weekly papers whose staple product all bears upon this counter crusade against Christianity, British influence, Anglo-Saxon civilization, and what not.
According to the report above-named, pes~imistic productions find the readiest market j plays and fiction, whether in prose or verse, whether in foreign languages or in the vernacular, are framed on the almost universal assumption of the villainous character of men and the frailties of women. They show also the tendency to advocate a retrograde in social intercourse and even in political life. "The past is praised as the golden age, and all the misfortunes of modern life are attributed to the English Government, the progress of English education and foreign custom. The reason of this is obvious. The only hope of remuneration lies in pandering to popular taste j and, unfortunately, the discontented and unfortunate form a large proportion of the educated masses at present j and it is so pleasant to be able to throw the blame for their failure in life upon the foreigner."
As a specimen of the current Hindu literatur,e which is now being circulated in the English language there lies before me a tract entitled " Hinduism, a Retrospect and Prospect," by Sukumar Haldar. He is the son of Rakhal Das Haldar, who became a follower of the Unitarian missionary Rev. W. R. Dall, and who, with Mr. Dall, came to America.
This young man has had all the advantages of higher education, and he evidently has spent much time in gleaning freely in all the fields of literature for what he regards as concessions on the part of the Christi~n theists; Mosheim, Neander, Sir W. W. Hunter, Bishop Heber, Monier Williams, and others are quoted. He also presents a wide variety of apologies for the Aryan faith, gathered from the writings of Max Miiller, Count Bjornstjerna, Pocock, Heeren, Colonel Todd, Elphinstone, Colebrook, Cunningham, etc. A still wider range of thrusts gathered from infidel writers from the days of Celsus down to the present time are presented in bristling array. This book, published in Calcutta and sold for a dime, has had a very wide circulation. It is not to be supposed that the author has depended upon his own researches merely; rather he has presented the selected facts, arguments, and travesties which the combined research of many writers has produced. There is now an extensive literature of Hindu apologetics which a comparatively moderate labor on the part of any enthusiastic Aryan may throw upon the market at brief notice. In our own country a mere tyro may gather together the results of infidel attacks upon Christianity for the last fifty years, and lay them before the public in a leaflet or in a five-cent Sunday newspaper, issued to the numher of a quarter of a million of copies.
And something approaching this same marvellous facility is coming to be realized on heathen soil, and at the hands of a race who fifty years ago were slumbering on in the old torpor of past centuries. DoubtlesF> the very same cheap issues of Bradlangh are sold in India.
The design of the above-named pamphlet of nearly seventy pages is to show that everything in the West has been borrowed from the East; that Christianity has added nothing to the wisdom of the Indo-Aryans; that corruption rather than advancement has been the law of progress, and that the true wisdom of the world is to turn back and drink at the old fountains. This tractate is published in good English, and it is not confining itself to the Asiatic continent, but already the overflow is setting toward Christian lands, and affiliated anti-Christian associations are everywhere aiding in its dissemination.
As another example, there is published at Lahore, both in English and in the vernacular, what is known as the Vedic Magazine, edited by Pandit Guru Vidyarthi. This university graduate is a man of ability, and his motto seems to be, to " Carry the war into Africa. " Among other striking articles is one entitled " Pecunia Mania." This vice or craze is ascribed with telling effect to the whole Anglo-Saxon race. "It is," says the writer in an editorial, "a disease of the type of insanity, very contagious, transmissible by hereditation, incurable or hardly curable, and of the most virulent type. It is an unsatiable thirst, an always hungry stomach, an extreme sensitiveness and irritability, restless anxiety and sleeplessness, paralysis of moral and spiritual faculties, extreme proneness to overfeeding and overclothing, indolence, luxury, and comfort; it has an air of superficial independence, personal weakness, and infirmities." All these are presented as marked characteristics of the so-called Christian nations, and are in strange contrast with the "quiet thoughtfulness, the spiritual aspiration of the Indo-Aryan races." "This disease," says the author, " sneers at all metaphysics, looks down upon all thoughtful reflection and philosophy, an-d discards theology as speculative, unpractical, and absurd. It stigmatizes all efforts to ennoble mankind, whether moral or philosophic, as theoretical. – It brings morality down to the level of expediency. Instead of the worship of the God of nature, it sets up a wretched and worse form of idolatry-the worship of copper, of silver, and of gold. It denies to man any nature other than one capable of eating, drinking, and m()rrymaking, and we ask whether snch a diseaRe should not be at once uprooted and destroyed, never to spread again. For so long as this influence is dominant in the world there will be no morality, no truth, no philosophy. If there is to be such a thing as disinterestedness or truthfulness in the world, if mankind is not to be given over to restless anxietY"' turbulence, and the overweening bias of sordid interest, something must be done to resist this fearful tide."
It is not to be denied that the writer of such articles has a keen insight into many of the worst phases of character shown by the.beef-eating, beerdrinking, plethoric, discontented and yet self-consequential Englishmen and Germans, whom the lank and spiritual Hindu of the higher classes encounters on the soil of India. " This plethoric travesty of humanity, instead of walking forth to breathe the pure air of heaven and enjoy the scenery of nature and delight in pure and elevating thought, seeks convey.- ance in luxurious carriages rather than by muscular action, and plethoric fulness borrowed from the activity of drugs and the administrations of physicians, instead of inborn healthy glow. . .. Dead photographs and lewd portraits hang upon the walls of his room instead of the scenery of nature. He is entirely dependent on the cooling power of pankas and the warming properties of fire, the refreshing power of beverages, and stirring influence of wines for want of natural endurance. Is this the itidp,pendence that a rational being should feel ?"
We have referred to the writings of Vidyarthi only as illustrating the fact that we have come upon times when the old systems of the East, reinforced by the new impulse which Western education has given them, and possessed of all the weapons of hostility which Western infidelity has produced, are now assuming the aggressive. There is also what is called the Aryan Tract Society, published at Lahore, whose issues are scattered widely through India. The ,revived Aryans are virtually in sympathy with theosophists and esoteric Buddhists in our own country and in Great Britain, and by prearrangement and thorough organization, the issues which are sent forth in India are also circulated among us. The writer above referred to was late Professor of Science in the Government College at Lahore. He is perfectly familiar with the theories of Darwin, Heckel, Spencer, etc., and has made it a study to trace the supposed intimate relations between the theories of these noted theorists and those of the ancient Upanishad philosophy of India. The familiarity shown with Western literature, and even with the early history of the Christian Church, gives in the outset a strong advantage in the implication of authoritativeness as well as breadth of judgment and candid, thorough preparation.
As an evidence that this writer is not ignorant of what transpires III Western lands, he quotes from an address of ex-President White, of Cornell University, in what he construes as a confession of the weakness of our position. The following passage is given: "We are greatly stirred at t~mes as this fraud or that scoundrel is dragged to light, and there rise cries and moans over the corruptions of the times ; but, my friends, these frauds and these scoundrels are not the corruptions of the times. They are the mere pustules which the body politic throws to the surface. Thank God, that there is vitality enough left to throw them to the surface. The disease is, below all, infinitely more widespread. What is that dis-
THE EVANGELIZATION OF ISRAEl
ease? I believe that it is, first of all, indifference-indifference to truth ; next, scepticism; by which I do not mean inability to believe this or that dogma, but the scepticism which refuses to believe that there is any power in the universe strong enough, large enough, good enough, to make the thorough search for truth safe in every line of investigation; next, infidelity, by which I do not mean want of fidelity to this or that creed, but want of fidelity to that which underlies all creeds, the idea that the true and the good are one; and, finally, materialism, by which I do not mean this or that scient,ific theory of the universe, but that devotion to the mere husks and rinds of good, races that struggle for place and pelf, that faith in mere material comfort and wealth which eats out of human hearts all patriotism and which is the very opposite of the spirit that gives 6nergy to scientific achievement."
There is not space to dwell longer upon this new activity on the part of heathen error or its increasing interchange with all types of thought in our own land. It only remains to gather up the lessons which are thus presented to the friends of missions and the advocates of Christian truth. The practical questions which come home to us with great force are, Are we utilizing in proper degree the facilities which have been furnished us by the missionary labors of our fathers, who trained up these Hindu youth and gave them the use of the English tongue and the varif'us facilities for publication 1 With the surfeit of books which we possess here at home, are we sufficiently aggressive in extending our literature abroad 1 Is there an activity commensurate with opportunity, or are we folding our arms in quiet security in the thought that our sole duty is here on our own shores? It should be remembered that the battle-field of truth and error is now one. The terms home and foreign are obsolete; the literatures of the world are blended; and so all the light the Christian Church has to give' should be made to shine.
THE EVANGELIZATION OF ISRAEL.
BY PROFESSOR GEORGE H. SCHODDE, PH.D., COLUMBUS, O.
The first missionary work done by primitive Christianity was among the Jews. Christ confined His labors almost exclusively to the chosen people, declaring that He had been sent first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The policy of the earliest apostles of restricting their gospel activity during its first stages to their own race and nation was only in part the result of a misconception of the universality of the redemption secured through the life and death of the Messiah. Paul himself did not become the great apostle of the Gentiles until his labors among the Israelites had convinced him that they did not deserve or appreciate the glorious Gospel he had come to offer them. It is a fundamental error of the Baur-Tiibingen school, and their reconstruction of the inner development of primitive Christianity, to maintain that Paul originally and ex profes8o taught in his doctrine that Christianity was intended for all, also for the Gentiles, a doctrine contradictory to the standpoint of Peter and his friends, who maintained that Christianity was essentially a Jewish sect, and intended only for this peo- ple. The hypothesis that the Christianity of the second and the ihird centuries was a result of a compromise between the Judaism of Peter and the universality of Paul does great violence to the facts in the case. But, as is generally the case, the error is all the more plausible and dangerous because it is at least seemingly based upon a fact, which fact is that the first Gospel messengers one and all recognized the first and historic right of Israel to the blessings of the Gospel, and when rejected by them these were offered to the Gentiles. Between Peter and Paul there was no differ- ence of principle, at most only of degree. On mission methods they agreed to adhere to the example and command of the Lord. While all nations were to be made disciples of Christ, the Jews were first called to this high privilege.
This historic right to priority was not based upon any undue partiality of Christ for the people out of whose midst He had arisen. Indeed, their treatment of Him would have induced another who was not divine to cast them from him. This right was based upon the calling of this nation as the chosen people to bring forth and to establish from the human side the kingdom of God on earth. Christ came in the fulness of time, and this fulness was the result and outcome of a development which had been progressing through centuries and centuries. In this calling Israel lived and had its being j and while the coming of Christ has been the centre of history for the whole world, it, has been such for Israel in an especial sense.
That Israel, when this hour had come, did not recognize the signs of the times, but threw aside its own peace, does not in any way call into doubt the wisdom of God's plans. While the rejection of Christ by His con- temporaries in Israel is one of the saddest facts of history, it is, neverthe- less, not an enigma or a riddle. The attitude of the Pharisees of that day, the orthodox and recognized theological school of the times, was by no means the mushroom growth of a night as little as it was a system based upon Old Testament premises. In fact, in Christ's polemics against them He makes it a prominent matter to show that they had deserted the old landmarks, and that their refusal to accept Him who was the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets was based upon their subversion and misinter- pretation of the cardinal truths of their own religion. Factors and forces had been at work which had, during the centuries of the silence of the prophets between the close of the Old Testament and the opening of the New, inculcated principles diametrically opposed to those taughj; by the sages and seers of God. Had the teachers of Israel in the days of Christ still stood upon the basis of the revealed Word, they could and 'would not have done otherwise than have accepted Him as the promised Messiah. Paul's antagonism, so pronounced and decided, against the doctrine of justification by the works of the law, and in favor of justifica- tion by faith alone, is not based upon the theory that the former is the legitimate outcome of Old Testament teachings, hut that it is a perversion of tJ!ese teachings by the leaders of thought in Israel. He therefore resorts to the same method which Christ had employed-namely, to quote the Old Testament itself against those who claimed to be the only correct interpreters of Old Testament truths. It is substantially the same mission method which is adopted by all the New Testament writers over against the Israelites, particularly by those who make this matter especially promi- nent-namely, Matthew and the; uth Jr of the Epistle to the Hehrews. A recognition of these facts in the great problem of Jewish mission work, as also of the method and manner pursued in the New Testament of conduct.- ing the work, is a matter of the greatest possible importance for us and our day too. Notwithstanding the eighteen hundred years which have elapsed, the problem itself has not changed materially, and the experience of the friends of the work has been such as to convince them that the New Testament method of dealing with the problem, of course adapted to our times, is the only one that promises success. In the entirely unique and peculiar character of the problem lies also the justification of making Jewish missions a distinct branch and separate department of Gospel work among non-Christians. In the nature of the case mission methods must adapt themselves to the exigencies of the case-the history, character, and condition of the people to whom it is proposed to bring the message of grace. In this sense of the word the mission work in no two countries can be carried on in exactly the same manner. But yet the problems and perplexities of Jewish mission work over against those met with in the case of other nations are so entirely sui lIeneris that the work of a laborer in Israel is radically different from that among the Gentiles. This is the case not because the seed is of a different kind, but because the soil is. The Jew meets the Christian missionary in an altogether different spirit from that which a heathen must show toward a Gospel messenger. The Gentile . instinctively sees in him a superior, intellectually and otherwise, and the missionary finds no difficulty in making the impression of this superiority, except perhaps in the cases of Brahmans and adherents of other highly cul- tivated heathen religions. On the other hand, the Jew sees in the Chris- tian a renegade and a pervert from the principles of the Old Testament revelation. While regarding himself as a superior, because he is the repre- sentative and exponent of the pure monotheism of the prophets, he is as such historically entitled to pre-eminence above the Christian, who has changed and distorted these teachings by adding a polytheistic faith, and by recognizing the claims of Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah. Instead of being himself a proper subject for instruction and conversion, he considers the Christian as such a subject. It is the idea and the ideal of Judaism, both rationalistic and orthodox, that the religion and the ethics of mankind will eventually find their happy consummation and development in the adoption of a monotheism of the Jewish faith.
However much we may wonder at thiR psychological attitude of the Israelites, it is a fact that such is their standpoint; and mission work, like all other enterprises, must deal with actual facts. This being the case, there is really only one correct mission method for the evangelization of Israel-namely, that already adopted by the New Testament writers and preachers. This method is to produce the conviction in the hearts and minds of the Jews that their interpretation of the Old Testament, which through centuries of teaching has entered into their very marrow and bones, is false; that Israel, in breaking with Christ and His teachings, broke with its own history and with its own religion; that the new departure inaugurated by the Pharasaic school in the New Testament era was a false and unfounded movement; and that Israel's fate and history can only be brought back again to its true and divinely destined course by a return and a rejection of the false positions of the fathers; in other words, by an acceptance of Jesus of Nazareth as the fulfilment of the law and the prophets.
Hence it is that argument and proof have a place in Jewish mission work which they occupy nowhere else. The preparation needed by the Jewish Gospel worker is quite distinct from that which the other missionaries should receive, and, therefore, fully justifies the establishment of Rpecial seminaries for such young men of the kind that the late and lamented Professor Delitzsch founded in Leipzig five or six years before his death, and in which he taught down to his last illness. Not the least difficult is the negative work of showing, from the history and the literature of the Israel of the post-biblical era, that the Judaism of to-day can by a misnomer only be called the outgrowth and development of the Old Testament religion. This presupposes a thorough acquaintance with the Mishna, the Talmuds and the Midrashim, the great official compilations of later Jewish faith and tenets. It is an Herculean task to find the Ariadne thread out of the labyrinth of Talmudism. The number of Christian scholars who have in their possession the key, to this literature are few and far between. In former generations this was otherwise. The Buxtorfs, Capellus, and their contemporaries were masters in this field. In our day Delitzsch easily was the greatest scholar in this field; otherwise it would have been impossible for him to prepare his classical Hebrew translation of the New Testament, which has proved to be the most efficient Gospel agency in this arduous and thankless mission department. But others have been apt pupils, and the names of Strack, Siegfried, Dalman, Faber, Wllnsche deserve honorable mention. Post-biblical Hebrew is no longer a lost art or a hidden treasury. How important a matter it is for Gospel work in Israel can be recognized from the fact that its study is the chief occupation of the Instituta Judaica, or Jewish mission associations which have been revived at the German and Scandinavian universities within recent years, and which have a membership of over three hundred. These societies deserve special praise for having published a series of tracts and brochures, in which Christians receive authentic information concerning the Jews, and the Jews authentic information concerning Christianity. No more solid and substantial foundation for efficient work in this line could be established than has been done in this manner.
The problem becomes all the more perplexed and perplexing by the dissensions among the Jews themselves. There are two classes of these, the radicals and the conservatives or orthodox. The Jews of Western Europe and America are almost to a man adherents of the radical wing. Upon their shoulders the ways of the fathers sit but lightly. They have compromised with modern thought and life, and as a result have given up what distinguished them as Jews, except certain formal features. Substantially this type of Jews are either unbelievers or are adherents of a vapid and vague deism. With them the Gospel messenger has double labor, because he must meet them as Jews and as rationalists. It is often doubted whether a W estern Jew can become a consistent Christian, and among the Jews themselves it is practically an axiom that a convert from Judaism is a fraud and a deceiver. How incorrect such extreme views are is seen from the examples of such noble men as Neander, Philippi, Caspari, Kalkar, and others who have become Christians of rare power and success. Western Judaism is not hopeless, but it is probably as difficult a field as the Gospel messenger can select.
Strange to say, the East is more promising. And yet the 9riental Jew is the personification of Talmudism. He has, however, the virtue of being deeply religious, and is hence not closed to religious argument and persuasion. It is among these that Delitzsch's and Salkinson's Hebrew New Testaments are eagerly read and studied, and it is among these Jews that the independent Christward movements of Rabinowitz and others have originated, and the project has been formed of organizing a National Jewish-Christian Church on the basis of the New Testament as the fulfilment of the Old. The Leipzig Society, the most aggressive and progressive of the Jewish mission societies, has recently inaugurated a new departure by confining its labors to the Eastern Jews. It proceeds from the standpoint that Jewish diaspora in Christian communities should be left to the eongregations there, and that systematic efforts toward their eonversion as a nation should be centralized there, where they are most densely settled.
It is to be regretted that there is no general interest among Christians in Gospel work among the Israelites aeeording to the flesh. It is always a limited few, whose love for the people of God enthuse them for this difficult work. However much the Jews may have proved themselves unworthy and unthankful objects for Christian mission activity, this does not excuse us in our negligence. We Christians have in our possession as our greatest blessing the spiritual inheritance of Israel. Gratitude and duty alike should urge us to offer them in return a share of this inheritance.
SOME POLEMICAL WRITINGS AGAINST THE JEWS
The nineteenth. is the greatest missionary century since the apostolic era. But not all Gospel work has been done, nor are the churches everywhere putting forth their best efforts. Israel has a historic claim on the attention, prayers, and work of the Christian churches. Let this claim not be neglected or rejected.
SOME POLEMICAL WRITINGS AGAINST THE JEWS IN THE .FIRST SEVEN CENTURIES.
BY REV. B. PICK, PH.D., ALLEGHENY, PA.
The friendly relation which existed at first between the Church and the synagogue could not always last, and a separation became a matter of necessity. The result was that the non-identification of Christianity with Judaism gave rise to bitterness and enmity, and by and by all friendly relations between the two parties entirely ceased. The best proof for this is the unfeeling but exulting manner in which Jerome writes when speaking of the annual visit the Jews made to Jerusalem on the anniversary of that city's destruction: "Those who once bought the blood of Christ must now buy His tears j and even to weep is not freely conceded them. On the anniversary of the capture,and destruction of Jerusalem you may descry a mourning crowd approaching. Behold here delicate women and aged men weighed down with grief and years, hastening to bewail the destruction of their sanctuary. Their very bearing betokens that the wrath of God is upon them. But while tears are streaming down their cheeks, while in their bitterness of spirit they stand with arms outstretched and hair dishevelled, 10 ! the Roman soldier rudely accosts them, to demand money that they may longer enjoy the liberty and the privilege of weeping" (Com. on Zeph~n., c. iL).
The Church had received the Old Testament from the synagogue, but the attitude of the Church to the Old Testament writings was different from that of the synagogue. The Old Testament writings were read in the light of Christianity, and Christ was found everywhere. The purely Jewish elements appeared as episodical, the truth of the new covenant as the real purport. With the Church the messiahship of Jesus was a conditio sine qua non. Was Jesus the promised Messiah ~ Then the Church was right and the synagogue wrong. From the Old Testament the former adduced her proofs, and pronounced, at the same time, that the synagogue, because rejecting the claims of Jesus as the Messiah, was wrong. The earliest polemical writing is the so-called" Epistle of Barnabas." In this epistle the writer insists especially on two points: first, that Judaism, in its outward and fleshly form, had never been commended by the Almighty to man j bad never been the expression of God's covenant j secondly, that that covenant never belonged to the Jews at all-in other words, that there was a Christianity before Christ. From an exegetical point of view this epistle is also highly interesting, as it exhibits the exegesis of that time.
A lost work ill the" Dialogue of Jason and Papiscus," which is com- monly ascribed to Aristo of Pella. It is quoted by Jerome and Origen.
" In it," says Origen, "is described a Christian arguing with a Jew from the Jewish Scriptures, and showing that the prophecies concerning the Christ are applicable to Jesus; the other replying to the argument vigor- ously and in a way suitable to the character of a Jew."
In his" Dialogue with Trypho." Justin Martyr tries to show that the God of the Jews was the God of the Christians likewise, and that the authority of the Old Testament was recognized by Christians. He labored further to prove that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, sent by the God of Abraham for the salvation of the world, and that His followers were the true Israel. It ha~ been suggested that Rabbi Tarphon, a bitter enemy of Christianity, who declared that, although the Gospels and the other writ- ings of the "Minim" or Christians contained the sacred name of the Deity, they ought to be burned, is the same Trypho who is the interlocutor in Justin Martyr's" Dialogue." But this is mere suggestion.
Hippolytus's " Demonstration against the Jews" is lost, and the frag- ment which is extant shows that the Jews have no 'reason to glory in the sufferings which they inflicted on Jesus of Nazareth, for that it had been foretold that the Messiah should so suffer, and that these sufferings had been the cause of the misery afterward endured by the Jewish nation.
Diodorus of Tarsus wrote a special treatise, " Contra Judreos," which is lost; and Hieronymus Grrecus vehemently abuses the Jew in his " Dia- logue of a Christian with a Jew on the Trinity."
Chrysostom(died 407) wrote, in proof of Christ's divinity, a "De- monstratio adversus J udreos et Gentiles," and seven" Homilies against the Jews," in great measure against the J udaizers within the Church.
Basil of Seleucia tries to demonstrate to the Jews the time of Messiah's advent and the destruction of Jerusalem, which" Demonstratio" results in the proof that Jesus is the Messiah.
Of Philippus of Side remains a narrative of a " Disputation concerning Christ," held in Persia between Christians, Jews, and heathens.
Gregentius of Taphar holds a dialogue with Herbanus the Jew, in which he convinces his opponent by a vision of Christ which appears in the heavens, the result being the conversion and baptism of five millions of Jews.
A certain Timotheu~ holds a dialogue with a Jew, one Aquila, whom he converts, and brings him to Cyril for baptism. Cyril, however, wished Timotheus to perform that office, and so ordained him priest and deacon at once.
A certain Stephanus, Bishop of Bostrs, is mentioned as the author of a treatise, "Contra J udreos," quoted by John of Damascus. • Anastasius, abbot of the monastery of St. Euthymius, in Palestine, is
THE TOUR OF THE LANTERN
said to have written against the Jews and Judaism j and Leontius, Bishop of Neapolis, in Cyprus, wrote an apology against the Jews.
Passing from the Greek to the Latin writers, we mention a work " Against the Jews," by Tertullian, composed on the occasion of a dispute between a Christian and a Jewish proselyte. Cyprian and Augustin also wrote against the Jews j and Evagrius's "Altercatio Simonis Judrei et Theophili Christi ani" is said to be a free reproduction of the lost dialogue of Papiscus and Jason.
The" Tractatus adversus Judreos," by Maximus of Turin, is of doubtful authorship.
Isidore of Seville's" De Fide Catholica ex Veteri et Novo Testamento contra J udreos" is addressed to his sister Florentina, and consists of two books. The first, which contains sixty-two chapters, treats of the person of Christ j the second, containing twenty-eight chapters, speaks of the consequences of the Incarnation j that is to say, of the unbelief of the Jews and the ingathering of the Gentiles, of the eonversion of the Jews at the end of the world, and the cessation of the Sabbath.
Agobard, Archbishop of Lyons, writes on the Jews in general and their superstitions. The" Divine Institutes" of Lactantius contain also attacks upon Judaism. It is to be regretted that many of these works are lost.
THE TOUR OF THE LANTERN.
A LETTER TO THE YOUNG FOLKS.
BY F. E. HOSKINS, OF SYRIA.
A kind friend in America sent the lantern as a gift to help in reaching the boys and girls of Syria. Then a Sunday-school class of boys at Elwyn, Pa., sent twenty-five views, and later on'a class in the Sixth Presbyterian Church of Albany made a similar gift. The lantern and the views reached Beir11t in safety j but the people in the custom house opened them and then put them back into the box without any straw. The box was then hustled out of the custom house on the back of a porter, and a day or two later carried thirty-three miles over Lebanon on the back ' of a mule. When the man put it down in our court very doleful sounds were heard issuing from the box, and I opened the package with trembling hands j but only one view was smashed and another cracked!
It was more than six weeks before I invited Mr. Magic Lantern to go with me on a tour. I had to have a strong wooden overcoat made for him, and some boxes' for the views. Then I had a folding frame made, and a large white sheet seven feet square to fit it. All this work was done by a Moslem carpenter in, Sidon, and then it came over the mountain in the same way as did the other boxes. In May I invited Mr. Magic to get ready for the journey. I hired a mule for Mr. Magic to ride; but when we went down to the front door the mule objected to the arrangement, and we had great difficulty in persuading him that the matter was all right. You know that it is a very difficult matter to reason with a mule. We first tied him securely to a tree and passed the chain of his halter through his mouth by way of emphasis. Three of us then stood round and assisted Mr. Magic to mount; but the mule kicked and moved round in such a lively way as to prevent Mr. Magic from getting anything like a firm seat. When I thought we had succeed- ed, t turned to go upstairs, but a moment later I heard a great noise, and 10 ! poor Mr. Magic and all his traps were on the ground again. Fortunately he came down right side up and suffered no harm. We remonstrated with the mule, drew the chain tighter, and then wrapped his hcad up in the big coat belonging to his owner. He was not able to see what we were doing, and we did not uncover his eyes until Mr. Magic was all safe and snug. So off they went, and some eight hours later had made the long journey southward without any accident. Once on the way home, a week later, the mule became frisky, and tried to run; but the load began to turn, and two minutes later Mr. Magic and his traps were lying in a wheat field with Mr. Mule on top, his feet sticking up into the air. We all dismounted and had a great time in getting him loose and on his feet again. We had the same trouble in loading up, and, strange to say, Mr. Magic still lives without any broken bones. On other and shorter trips I have hired a man to carry Mr. Magic on his back, as men sometimes carry travellers in other lands.
During the month of May Mr. Magic made seven public appearances, and created the greatest excitement-his coming to a village was like the coming of Barnum's circus. The first threll appearances were in" our school-rooms; but I soon gave that up and took to the threshing-floors. No building could possibly hold all that came, and the crush made anything like a lecture impossible. At one village we tried it in the schoolroom-a place that will hold nearly three hundred people; but everybody wanted to come and everybody came-boys, girls, men, women and babies. We tried to shut the doors and keep the audience quiet, but the crowd outside kept on increasing until they pressed upon the doors and windows, carrying both doors and windows off their hinges inward. Some of the chief men of the village went out and beat the people over the heads with clubs, but a minute or two later it was as bad as ever. I tried to quiet them, but soon became hoarse, so I pushed the views through rapidly, and as each picture fell upon the screen I pounded upon the table, or put the cap on the lantern, and so got quiet long 4ilnough to announce the name of the view. They were all mightily pleased, and thought nothing of the noise and confusion, being accustomed to that in their churches, and always at weddings.
After that I went to the threshing-floors-great open spaces round the villages-set up the screen, and soaked the canvas with water, and then people saw from both sides the same. At Qaroim there were from seven to eight hundred people present, and some of them sat directly beneath the screen, where they could not see anything at all. The sights at each place go beyond description j in no place had anything like a lantern ever been seen. Fully a thousand boys and girls in our schools clapped their hands over the pictures, and perhaps twice as many men and women. Mr. Magic behaved very well j and even if he should never appear again he would be distinguished all his life, for these people will never forget his coming.
The people insisted on making a feast at nearly every place. At one village the teacher made a dinner. Four of us sat on the floor round a low wooden table. On this was placed a large brass waiter more than two feet in diameter j on it were four plates of pounded rice, four bowls of milk, four small plates of sugar, and in the ceutre one large plate of bn..tter without any salt in it. Beside each one on the floor were five or six thin flat loaves of bread. We had neither knife, fork, nor spoon. After a blessing we tore pieces from our loaves of bread, and with them dipped up the cooked rice, and drank from our bowls of milk. But the great dish was the butter. There must have been three pounds of it. The way we di~ posed of this was to take a small piece of bread, hold it between thumb and fingers, pinch off a piece of butter, dip it into the fine pounded sugar, and then eat it. At Qaroun we had a feast of another kind. We had neither knife nor fork, nor had we waiter or stool. Everything was placed on the floor in front of us. They had killed a small kid, stuffed it with rice and pine nuts, and had cooked it whole. It was served on the dish in which it had beeu cooke'd, and I separated the parts by main strength, using my pocket-knife when things did not come apart easily. It was well done, and was as tender as anyone could have asked for. With it we ate rice and bread and some strawberry jam from a tin I had carried from Zahleh.
But the most striking experience that I have had on account of Mr. Magic was not of a pleasing character, and might have ended very seriously had not God kept me from harm. I treated the people of a village named Gedeitha to an exhibition, and haying to make a journey to Damascus the next day, I resolved to ride home that night after the entertainment was over. I left the village at 9.30 P.M., and a few minutes later was attacked by three robbers, who had followed me from the village for that purpose. They were armed with clubs and knives. One seized my bridle-rein, and the word was given to rob me. Of course I objected, but had nothing other than my rawhide whip with which to defend myself. With this I beat them right and left, and managed to keep two of them off, and to retain my own seat in the saddle. For five minutes we struggled j they cut my rein, lifted up their clubs again and again j but I answered only with blows. One worked constantly at my saddle-bags, and, failing to loosen them, they'
JERUSALEM'S CRYING WANTS
whipped out knives and began to slash. Blows of the knives reached and cut my Bible, and in the struggle came within a few inches of my person. At the same time they grabbed for my pockets and my watch. One seized the chain j I put one hand on the watch, and with the other struck: the man j the chain parted and went with the man, but I kept the watch, as also my purse. Tiring of the struggle, they at last tore the saddle-bags asunder and fled away. I marked two of them and the direction they took. I rode back to the village, told my story, organized a search party, and then rode on home, rousing the soldiers and the governor on my way. By prompt action we soon caught the men j later on they confessed, the chain was delivered up, the torn saddle-bags recovered, and the men placed in prison. The trial followed rapidly, and two days ago the men were sent prisoners to Damascus, where they will receive a heavy sentence. They were taken from the local prison here, their hands securely fastened between two pieces of wood, and this wood in turn fastened to the halter rope of the soldier's horse. They were then compelled to go walking beside the armed soldiers forty miles away to Damascus. Truly" the way of the transgressor is hard."
And now Mr. Magic Lantern has come to Baalbec, and if all goes well, this evening he will delight some more children, and go on doing good, I hope, for many years. We always close with a picture of the Bible House in New York, and a talk about spreading the Bible.
How simple and yet how beautiful it is to do good! May God lead each one of you to give your hearts to Christ and your lives to His service j and may you all be ready to suffer hardships as good soldiers of the cross.
JERUSALEM'S CRYING WANTS.
BY A. BEN-OLIEL, JERUSALEM, PALESTINE.
[From Rabbi Ben-Oliel's circular letter we give space to the following extracts.-EDITOR. ] 1. There is no one among the missionaries in Jerusalem, nor has there been anyone for long years, that can preach the Gospel of the grace of God to the Sephardim-Spanish Jews-in their vernacular-Judeo-Spanish j or that can converse freely and intelligently with them in that dialect. But yet the Sephardim are the oldest Jewish inhabitants of Jerusalem, the most learned and religious, the most civil, the most accessible to the Gospel messenger and his message of glad tidings, and are less bigoted and bitter toward Christianity than the Ashkenazim-Russian Jews, Polish Jews, etc.
Now, Judeo-Spanish I know from childhood, and in 184£-50 I translated St. Luke's Gospel and a variety of tracts into that dialect, as also others in Hebrew, Spanish, and English. Two native helpers can converse in Judeo-Spanish, one of whom attributes his conversion to the Lord Jesus to attending my Judeo.Spanish services in Smyrna Ilhortly after the Crimean war j but his special duties occupy his time and attention fully.
2. There is no missionary in Jerusalem that can converse in Hebrew with the rabbis, who are so numerous j or that can even quote the Old Testament Scriptures fluently in the original, excepting some native help- ers j and much less anyone acquainted with rabbinic literature and dogmas. Yet thh! is a very essential-an indispensable-qualification for a preacher of the Gospel to the Jews j and it is well known that learned Jews prefer the sacred tongue in religious conversation or discussion. Still, the Liturgy is read in Hebrew every morning in Christ Church.
The London (Episcopal) Society for Jews has a strong mission in Jeru- salem, at an expenditure of some £7000 per annum, but there is no fully qualified missionary to the Jews in Jerusalem. …
Many Christian travellers have carried away very strong impressions on this subject after visiting Jerusalem. One of them, Mr. W. Mortimer Clark, Q.C., of Toronto, wrote to me from Jerusalem: " My impressions here lead me to believe that anything like active evangelistic work among the Jews does not exist in Jerusalem, and that there is ample room for more· effort. The various manifestations of Chris. tianity are more likely to repel than attract the Jew."
" Ample room" there is unquestionably. The British consul estimated the Jewish populatIOn of Jerusalem at 40,000 j but the Rev. C. T. Wilson, of the C. M. S., who has resided here the last seven years, has been .assured by enlightened local authorities that the number of Jews actu1111y in Jerusalem cannot be much und~r 60,000 j and they keep coming constantly, and about one half are Sephardim.
Jerusalem is a Babel of diverse tongues. From 20 to 30, it is said, are spoken within its precincts. Among the Jews the following are in requisition, for there are Jews from all lands here ; and I name them in the order of their relative importance, marking with an asterIsk those in which I can preach or converse more or less :-* Judeo-Spanish, Judeo- Polish and German, * Hebrew, * Aramaic, * Arabic (colloquial), * Eng- * * lish, * French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Modern Greek, etc. Considering the friendly way in which the Sephardi Jews have received me in other mission fields-Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey in Europe, and Asia Minor. Gibraltar, Spain, Rome, etc.-and more recently in Jaffa -which has 3000 to 4000 Jews, I may hope to meet with an equally friendly reception from the far larger number in Jerus:;tlem; and I trust from the Ashkenazim also. There is evidence already that it will be so, for before I could go to them, they are calling on me, and among them has been a leading rabbi, who, after conversation, accepted a Hebrew New Testament, promising to study it, and has called frequently since. They are so pleased to find one with whom they can converse freely in the language of their homes, as well as in Hebrew. It is but natural it should be so, for I am more at home with their characteristics·-their disposition, modes of thought, customs, history, literature, and religious idiosyncrasies; and, therefore, in more thorough sympathy with them.
With sincere gratitude to God, I acknowledge the friendly welcome given to me and my family by all the laborers of the London Society, whom I have assured that my most earnest desire is to fill up deficiencies, and to co-operate in every good work for the advancement of the adorable Master's kingdom and glory.
3. There is no place where non-Episcopalian travellers and visitors, whose numbers increase every year-the United States, and even Canada and Australia, contributing a fair proportion-can worship God in the Holy City according to the simpler forms they prefer and are acc<lstomed to; and, consequently, no place where ministers of other de1).ominations can have the unspeakable privilege of witnessing for the Lord Jesus in the city where He expiated the sins of the whole world, and rose again for our justification: here, where the Son of God bled and died, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God: here, where the Lord of glory burst asunder the chains of death, and opened the gates of heaven to all believers.
The Episcopal Mission to the Jews has a handsome church. in which liturgical services are conducted morning and evening every Lord's day. The Church Missionary Society has a beautiful chapel for similar services in Arabic for native converts. The Lutherans have separate services in German, and are now constructing a large church. That the Latins, Russians, Greeks, Armenians, Copts, Moslems, Jews, etc., have superb ecclesiastical buildings-churches, convents, chapels, mosques, synagogues, hospitals, schools, etc.-is well known to all travellers in Palestine and readers of their works.
But Presbyterians, Independents, Wesleyans, Baptists, etc., are nowhere in .Terusalem ! They have not even a hired upper room! But yet a considerable number of the annual visitors are ministers of all denominations. Talmage, William Arthur, Spurgeon, Dale, Radstock, etc., may come and weep over Jerusalem and take pleasure in her stones; but they must hold their tongues! They may not celebrate the Lord's Supper in its scriptural commemorative significance, and" show" the grandest historical event the world ever witnessed, "till He come!" They may not testify to the corrupt, degenerate churches of the East, that there is a purer and truer spiritual mode of worship than is exhibited even by some Protestant churches!
In June, 1887, I wrote: "There are certain localities in which all Christians reel a deep interest, of which they cannot divest th~mselves, and Jerusalem is pre-eminently such a spot. It is sacred ground common to all the Christian world. All honor to the Church of Engiand for the noble work which the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, and the Church Missionary Society have been doing for years past in Palestine. But the Holy Land, and Jerusalem in particular, cannot be relegated by the Christian world to anyone church exclusively; aud those Episcopal societies should welcome the co-operation and holy rivalry of other churches and societies, in a sphere which claims and enlists the sympathy and lively interest ot all. "
The Lord has called me to Jerusalem to supply those three crying wants. There is now in Jerusalem AN UPPER ROOM, to hold from 80 to 100 persons, near the Jaffa Gate, and within five minutes' walk of the three principal hotels, where all evangelical Christians may worship God in the city of the Great King, and where their ministers may witness to Divine truth and unalloyed Scripture doctrine; and where the Gospel shall be preached in Judeo-Spanish to the Sephardim, and men of all classes-" to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" –will be welcome to hear the message of red~eming love.
In a few days an inscription-PRESBYTERIAN MISSION-will mark the house to travellers and residents. Some definite designation mu.~t be adopted, and as a Presbyterian, I naturally prefer my true colors, cheerfully extending the hand of fellowship to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. As an illustration of my catholicity, I may mention that, at my earnest desire, TWELVE MINISTERS, representing the Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Independent, Baptist, and Lutheran churches, took part in my ordination in 1852.
This mission and work is at present dependent wholly on the Lord and on the free-will offerings of His people of whatever section or branch of the one Church universal. It is a work of faith and of entire reliance on the gracious promises of our God, who has already raised up some supporters in England and the United States. I solicit, above all, the prayers of God's people. " Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee."
The famous" Siloam Inscription," which ranks near the Moabite Stone in the list of hoary Semitic rolkb, has been stolen. This inscription, which was in the purest bihlical Hebrew, told how the tunnel was excavated which conveyed the water from the so-called" Spring of the Virgin" -the only natural spring in Jerusalem-to the pool of Siloam. This work and the inscription, according to Professor Sayee, date from the reign of Hezekiah, or perhaps from that of Solomon. The inscription was accidentally discovered ten years ago by a young man who fell into the ,water. It was in a dark place on the side of the tunnel, about nineteen feet in from the pool, and was only deciphered after an incrustation of lime deposited by the water had been removed by acid. The inscription has now been cut bodily out of the rock, being broken in the process, and the fragments are said to have been sold to a Greek in Jerusalem.
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.
BY REV. C. O. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
To the Editor of the New York Times: SIR: I see that your London correspondent speaks very disdainfully of Bishop Tucker's application to the Marquis of Salisbury for protection to the Protestant Christians in Uganda, especially as this is likely to be accorded. I confess this puzzles me. What ground of complaint has your correspondent against the bishop 1 It is usually supposed that any missionary has a moral right to solicit the protection of his own government for his own converts, in a territory under its suzerainty, as Uganda is under that, of England. Of course your correspondent does not imagine that Tucker has come to ask for repressive measures against the French priests. If he were capable of it, he would understand its futility. But it is news that, under English sovereignty, an English bishop ought to allow the French priests to use repressive measures against him.
I am aware that there are more Catholics than Protestants in Uganda. But the Protestants are numbered by hundreds. Twenty-five hundred came to meet Stanley, and I suppose they .have increased since then. But, more or fewer, have they not as good a right to be as the Catholics 1 Besides, the Protestants came to Uganda a good many months before the French priests, BO that they have the right of priority, which among all honorable missionaries counts for much. It is the Catholics, not they, who are intruders. Cardinal Lavigerie expressly admitted beforehand to the secretary of the Church Missionary Society his obligation to withhold the White Fathers from encroachments on a field already occupied by Protestants. He has publicly signified his agreement with General Gordon that Protestants and Catholics are two divisions of the one army of Christ, who ought not to fire into one another's ranh. If he has now violated his plighted faith, and turned his own words into mockery, his breach of honor has certainly not evacuated any of the rights of the Uganda Protestants.
Your correspondent seems to stand for the position that wherever the Catholics can come in, and by their showy ceremonies tickle the people's fancy faster than the Protestants can touch their hearts, they have a right to driye the latter out. The noble work doing along Lake Nyassa by the Scotch Presbyterians, and eastward of there by the Universities' Mission, is, according to that, entirely at the mercy of Rome. And if the Protestants venture to appeal to a Protestant government against Catholic fistlaw, they are to be reproached with shabbiness and superfluous zeal.
I do not know what religion your correspondent has, beyond a dislike of French atheism. But even if he should be a sort of a kind of a species of a Catholic (which is not probable), most Catholic laymen in our day profess to believe (and in Catholic countries nobly show their creed by their works) that every man who holds a creed agreeable to good morals has an indefeasible right to propagate it. Is not that his position ~ I know that Rome has an organization which makes her a formidable enemy and a profitable friend. As things go, it is no great matter of displeasure if her operations (which are really wide and admirable in the heathen world) are idealized and loudly lauded by the press, which expects to trim its sails to the wind. But surely the matter is pnshed a little beyond bounds whena Protestant bishop is held up to contempt for asking for fundamental rights of religious freedom and English citizenship.
The Catholics and Protestants in Uganda have repeatedly and solemnly pledged themselves not to wrong or oppress one another. All that anybody can imagine Bishop Tucker as asking, or his government as granting, .is that Lord Salisbury shall signify that he will view with displeasure any breach of this compact. Both. Christian parties have shown heroic attachment, even unto the death of fire, to the common faith. The Protestant missionaries are plotting nothing against the rights of the Catholics. The head and front of their offending appears to be that they, first in the field, presume to claim some rights of their own.
If this is not the meaning of your correspondent, pray what is it 1 He expressly holds it up as an indecency for Bishop ,Tucker to claim the right of offering to the natives of Africa" an alternative ritual." Seeing that the alternative ritual, in Uganda, happens to be the Roman Catholic, his own principle recoils on himself. But on whichever side it may operate, it is a strange principle for a man who speaks English to uphold.
CHARLES C. STARBUCK, Associate Editor Missionary Review of the World. ANDOVER, MASS.
EAST INDIES.
-The work of the Rhenish Missionary Society in Sumatra the last year has been more largely blessed than ever before. Five new stations and fifteen or sixteen new out-stations have been founded. The Battas have been so grateful to the Dutch Government for having at length 'yielded to their importunate prayers and allowed the missionaries to come among them, that they have been building fiue roads to facilitate the access, and havE' voluntarily declared themselves Netherlands subjects. Two thousand five hundred heathen have been baptized within the year, and over 5000 more are under instruction. The women and girls are beginning in unwonted measure to desire instruction. Miss Needham, an English volunteer assistant, has been very helpful in this, and the society hopes soon to see her supported by several coadjutrices. Silindury has become a Chrstian country j and this fact, hitherto unknown in Sumatra, is making a deep impression on all the surrounding regions, and occasioning numerous petitions for teachers of Christianity. Several hundred (nearly 700) of the new converts are Mohammedans.
– " In tlie Deccan, though actual conversions"-of fetich worshippers – " have not been numerous, the effect upon the whole community of outcasts has been marked and general. Scattered as they are, a few in every village in the country, there is no part of the province which has not more or less felt the influence of Christian teaching, and the result is not only a general inclination to turn from the gods of terror and uncleanness to the God of love, purity, and truth, but a remarkable social change, which may hereafter bear political fruit, of which time does not now permit me to speak more in detail."-SIR BARTLE FRERE, in Missionary Intelligencer.
-Sir Bartle remarks that, as the results are essentially the same in measure under the labors of Catholics and Protestants, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, an.d Nonconformists, they must be attributed to " the great simple doctrines of Christianity, which all believe-the plain broad precepts of Christian morality which all teach."
– " The following lines from a recent Madras journal show what some of the best Hindu minds are thinking at the present time: " , Wea.ry we are of empty creeds, Of deafening calls to fmitless deeds; Weary of priests who cannot pra.y, Of guides who show no man the way; Weary of rites wise men condemn, Of worship linked with lust and shame; Weary of custom, blind, enthroned, Of conscience trampled, God disowned; Weary of men in sections cleft. Hindu life of love bereft. Woman debased, no more a queen, Nor knowing what she once hath been; Weary of babbling about birth, And of the mockery men call mirth; Weary ~f life not understood. A battle, nut a brotherhood; Weary of Kali yuga years, Freighted with chaos, darkness, fears; Life is an ill, the sea of births is wide, And we are weary; who shall be our guide?' ..
– Oanadiax, Mtssto>lll7"f1 :f.J:nf".
– W e have at hand several copies of The News, a neat little mont,hl;,.- paper representing the American Baptist Missions in Burma and Assam.
It is published at Rangoon. One copy will be mailed to any address in the United States at 60 cents per annum, five copies at $1.25. Subscriptions may be sent to E. P. Coleman, Esq., Tremont Temple, Boston. This lit. tIe paper would bring our Baptist friends into living communication with the land of the Judsons, the Boardmans, the Beechers, the Karens. Even the glorious results among the Telugus cannot deprive Burma of its classic pre.eminence.
Here is an extract: "It was Thursday evening. We sat around the camp fire and talked about a sermon that had just been read. It was pro· posed that we close the day by thanking God for His goodness, and that we also present the especial request that the two women who were held as captives in a heathen village be set free, and that they be delivered without the presence of the missionaries, so that the native teachers may the more fully give the glory to God. Two days later Th'rah Hemmay Klaipo, who was travelling in that region. received a message that if he would come to the village the captives would be delivered up at once. He did so, and the captives were delivered. This was a great astonishment to all the sur· rounding villages, and as a consequence they have decided to call in Chris· tian teachers. It seems as though the whole Bree tribe was coming in. The fear of the Lord has taken hold upon the people. It was in this region that two captive children were. set free last year in answer to prayer."- JOANNA ANnERsoN.
-Periodical Accounts of the Moravians for June says of Kashmir: "Kashmir is no longer isolated. After centuries of oppression and degradation of its people, a change has come for this land of brooks of water, and of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills, a land so beautiful that it seems a garden of the Lord.
"What the Rev. R. Clark, of the Church Missionary Society, says of their mission at Srinagar is relatively true of our own in the tributary province of Ladak : 'Kashmir, by its geographical position, is thrust forward into Central Asia, and is now our outpost of Christianity on this frontier of India. It is the starting-point for travellers to Ladak and Iskardo, Kafiristan, and Tashkend and Lhassa. Kashmir is a great centre, leading to many countries, a highway for the gospel of Christ. We remember that Kashmir once sent forth 500 Buddhists to convert Tibet, and that from Kashmir Buddhism spread to Candahar and Cabul. Our opportunities here are very great. The Kashmir MistJion 8hQuld alway' be maintained by our society in 8trenflth.' "
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY BEV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Relative Standing of Native Chris- This report shows an increase of na- tians in the Future. tive Christians at school, from over [EDITORIAL, J. T. G.] 40,000 to over 44,000. But that is not all. The ratio of the native Christians God's ways are often very unlike our in school is vastly greater than that of ways. The involutions of His provi- the Hindus and Moslems. This is so all dences are as marvellous as the evolu- over India. For this province the figtions. We plan, but God reaches the ures are very encouraging, Few perend we seek by a way we knew not. sons out of India will measure correctly This finds striking illustration on the such a striking fact as that the percentforeign mission fields. We consider age of Christian girls attending school now the working of God in His own is greater than the percentage of nonway for the uplifting of the Christian Christian boys. In the presidency, as communities brought but recently out a whole, twenty-three per cent of the of the bosom of heathen communities. boys and three per cent of the girls of THE FUTURE HIGH CASTE OF INDIA.. school age are in schooL Taking the native Christian part of the popUlation The Brahmans of India haTe held un- of school age, sixty-one pel' cent of the interrupted sway as the social and re- boys and twenty-eight per cent of the ligious leaders of India. It has some- girls are in school. Of the pupils re- times been the subject of remark that ceiving higher grade education, as rep- the advance of Christianity has not resented by the high-school depart- been among this class in India, and we ments, approaching one fourth (47 out have, perhaps all of us, at times, felt a of 178) are native Christians, only five little as if there were something a shade being European or Eurasian.
discouraging in the fact, and perhaps a To get the force of this, it must be little suspicion has come over ns that remembered that thus nearly one-fourth Christianity mieht, after all, not be able of the higher grade students come from to reach the brain of the heathen races, one-fortieth of the total population.
and thus exhibit a lower vitality than Turning to the colleges, this same one- we could fondly wi.h. fortieth part of the community furnishes It is well to observe, however, that eight per cent of the graduates of the God's ways are not as our ways. "We University. It is easy to see, if this con- must brain Hinduism," said that great tinues, who are to be the learned class man Duff, when he established his great of India in the near -future. The old college in Calcutta. He aimed at its Brahmanic classics are of little practi- head. He accomplished much, but cal value, and if the Brahmans keep the died, not having reached the result he lead in the old indigenous literature desired. He meant to educate the of the land, even then they must take a high-caste people, and conque" India back seat, together with that effete lit- through its head and headship. It is erature. The practical modern scien- marvellous, now, to Bee God's way, and tific and literary courses of study repre- not ours, to reach the end. The Mad- sent the advance guard of the native ras Native Christian Association has re- community itself: that which must cently sent forth a little paper on edu- lead, must direct and control in the cational progress among native Chris- whole public affairs of the country. If tians, which is a summary of the Report anything like the present relative pro- on Public Instruction for the Presi- portion of that kind of knowledge re- dency of Madras, so far as it bears on mains with the native Christian com- ~e JJat~v!l Chpstiall communit!. munity~ it is easy to see who m'llst bll the directors of the civil and political through the native literature in the forces of the land. The native Chris- schools which the Government has sub- tian community must move up into the sidized among the Hindus. The Gov- place occupied by the Brahman class ernment of India has put itHelf in com- through a thousand years. We are munication with all the local Govern- pleased to see this pointed out by the ments in regard to purer text·books.
director of public instruction in his ref- It proposes, as a measure for uplifting erence to the university examinations. the moral teaching of the land, that at He says (the italics are ours) : least one half of every "Reader" in ., I have frequently drawn attention to English or the vernacular used in the the educational progress of the native schools shall be devoted to lessons hav- Christian community. There can be ing a direct bearing on conduct as pre- no question, if this community pursues cept or example. This is something of with steadiness the present policy of immense and radical importance. Few its teachers, that, with the immense will appreciate what it means to India.
advantages it possesses in the way of One familiar with the situation says it educational institutions, in the course is becoming more patent to missionaries of a generation it will have secured a that sensitiveness of conscience as to preponderating position in all the great pro- conduct is essential to the progress of jessio'YIS, and possibly, too, in the indus- Christianity. No native literature is trial enterprise oj the country-in the lat- likely to foster that. The Hindus are ter because no section of the community indifferent as to whether actions are has entered on the new departure in good or bad. The Hindu philosophy education with greater earnestness than does not emphasi7.e blameworthiness.
the native Christians." Pantheism does not and cannot, any- To go back, then, we remark again, where. Hence, there can be little Dr that God has had a way of taking pos- no sense of conviction of sin. This session of the brains of India quite proposition of the Government, there- other than that proposed by Dr. Duff fore, is radically in the teeth of Hindu- and others. It is not so much by ism. It is plain that the standard of bringing the upper classes into the what is right and wrong will he that of Christian college, though that has been the Christian religion. This will mark, done to some extent, but by reaching therefore, a moral revolution of the and elevating the lower and middle conscience force of India. The native classes in the scale till they shall dis- Christian force being, as we have seen, place what was the top of society, and in such preponderance relatively in the themselves take their place, and that in schools, must therefore come to be de- a stronger and progressive civilization. veloped as the strong and leading moral These forces, like so many of the great force of the community of India, as forces of nature and Providence, have well as its leading intellectual and po- operated, and are operating, so silently litical power. Thus the future high that the kingdom cometh" without ob- caste-the native Christian community servation. " -will be strongly impregnated with a But something besides this is being high moral quality, and will be strong done. Dr. Duff laid great stress on the accordingly.
compiling of good, pure text·books for A native paper of Iqdia called The the entire educational operations of the Hindu has seen this tendency of things country, from the lowest school to the concerning the female portion of the highest college class. A good deal of community in India. The editor says: this work has been done, but a good " The progress of education among deal remains to be done. There is still the girls of the native Christian comneed of the displacement of the im. munity, and the absence of caste remOTal :rubbiSh which. has filtered strictions among them will eventually give them an advantage which no amount of intellectual precocity can families in Jerusalem who a few years. compensate the Brahmans for. We re- ago were well off, who are now on the cently approved of the statement of a verge of starvation from this cause. All Bombay writer that the social eminence these things are working together to that the Parsis so deservedly enjoy at equalize the relative positions of Mosthe present moment was due to these lems and Ohristians. The large numtwo causes-namely, their women are bers of travellers and pilgrims, and the well educated and they are bound by ever-increasing interest shown by Eurono restrictions of caste. These two ad- peans and Americans in the Holy Land, vantages slowly make themselves felt are not without inftuence." among our native Ohristian brethren, and it is probable they will soon be the Truly God's ways are not as our Parsis of Southern India; they will ways, but we discover in them very disfurnish the most distinguished public tinct and decided plan. servants, barristers. merchants, and citizens amopg the various classes of The Influence of the Pariah Ohristians the nati ve community." of Southern India on the Ohristianiza- tion of the Country. NA.TIVE OHRISTIANS IN TURKEY. BY BEV. JOHN MOLA.URIN (WOODSTOCK, CAN. A striking illustration of the same ADA), SEC. BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSIONS.
indirect working of the all. directing The remarkable movements toward Ohristianity among these people during Providence, which supernaturally su- the last few years is my apology for the subject of this paper; and fourteen perintends the affairs of the world in years of closest contact with them, first as itinerant missionary and afterward the interests of Ohristianity, is furnished as principal of a theological Reminary, are my credentials for undertaking thi. by the Rev. O. T. Wilson, of Turkey. task.
The work of missions in that empire is By the pariahs I mean that large and important class of people lying socially cErtainly hampered, but a vAry silent between the caste classes proper and the aborigines of the hill districts. It sub.soiling is going on, and Ohristians is evident enough that the pariah bears no relatbn to the aborigines. In phyare gradually assuming a very changed sique, in language,in habits and customs they are wholly distinct. I think it is relation to the Moslems of the land. easily demonstrable that they are not the offspring of individuals ostracized We cannot forbear making a lengthy from the castes of the later Aryans. Before the introduction of Mohammequotation from Mr. Wilson. He says: danism I)r Christianity there was lit- tle temptation to break' caste, and little .. Islam, it is true, still holds the occasion for cutting anyone adrift. sword, but in the declining condition No one is cast off for moral, but only of the country this is a source of weak- for ceremonial defilement, and that was ness, and not of power. Military ser- easily atoned for. vice is compulsory on the Moslem population, while Ohristians are prohibited Besides, the pariahs are far too nufrom bearing arms. This causes a con- merous and were too defined in phystant drain on the M02lems, which is sique, language, and general characterfelt increasingly year by year. In the istics to be the result of a series of villages also (where the bulk of the lapses from caste, 1 ut at the same time population live), a much larger propor- they are too much like the Aryans in tion of the Moslems remain unmarried all these particulars to be other than than of the Ohristians. This is owing to their greater poverty. For, poor as the country is, and bitterly as all classes feel the oppression of the Government, the Moslems are worse off than the Ohristians. Russia has assumed the guardianship of the Greeks, and France of the Latins, and this fact acts as somewhat of a check on the Government. But in the case of the Moslems, there is no one to help them or speak a word for them. The immense inftux: of Jews into Jerusalem and other towns, causing the diversion of much of the trade and busines8 of the natives into their hands. has been severely felt by all classes, but especially by the Moslems. I have heen told, on good authority, that there are many Mohammedall sprung from the same original stock. derful dreams began stirring his sluggish I believe them to be a long previous ir- brain. It took long to move him. He ruption from the home of the Aryan was half deaf because unused to hear, race. They had left their ancestral lind half blind because unaccustomed home before the later civilization had to see; but at length the oft·told tale moulded the people and language with begins to tell upon the dull ear, the their later forms, and had come down wearied eyeballs respond to a glimmer and driven the aborigines to the hills, of light, the rusty intellect begins slowly and were in turn conquered by a later to revolve, the frozen heart to thaw, and wave of their own race. the soul resumes its proper functions- in fact, begins to pulsate with the new In the Telugu country especially they life. are divided into two distinct classesthe mala and the madiga. The latter First these people .came by twos and are the leather·workers ; the former are threes, slowly, timidly and at long in. small farmers, coarse·cloth.weavers, tervals. Then they came in hundreds, coolies, and household servants. The afterward by thousands, and now they madiga is negatively wicked, the mala are taking the kingdom by violence, positively so; the madiga is docile, rushing in by the tens of thousands. easily governed, and inclined to be religious ; the mala is self assertive, diffi- II. The Attitude of the Missionary focult to manage, but has more brain wards this Movement.-At first the mis· power. Both classes are very ignorant, sionary was sorely puzzled. This was very superstitious, and exceedingly im- so utterly opposed to his ideal methods. moral. It was the intellectual Brahman, the shrewd merchant, or the docile but It is from among these people that wealthy Sudras he wanted. It was tens of thousands are now flocking into dreams of keen intellectual contests the kingdom. What influence are they with these sons of an ancient philoso. going to have upon the final collapse of phy which disturbed his rest, but in. Brahmanism and the Christianization stead here is this clamoring throng of of India? unclothed, unwashed pariahs. These degraded, ignorant, immoral hordes, I. There was a Period of P'I'eparaiion. what shall. he do with them? Open -The stage was being fitted for the the doors of the kingdom and let them man and the man fitted for the stage. in! How could he ? If he allows these God sent the British nation to set the in, farewell to his dreams of conquest pariah free, theoretically free at least, among the higher classes ; but accus· from a species of serfdom to the higher tomed to consult the Oracle, he went to classes. Few nations dare give as much the Book and read, ., Go out into tho freedom to their civilized subjects as the highways and hedges and constrain British do to their semi·civilized hea- them to come in, that my house may be then subjects; not that many English full." There was nothing to do but officials look upon the Hindu in any open wide the doors and let them in. other light than as a " nigger." But the conservatism of the mission. Then the missionary came upon the ary was a blessing in disguise. It made scene, and not only told the pariah a him ready to divine the dangers con· wonderful story of a wonderful God and nected with the influx of such multi. more wonderful Saviour, but also told tudes, and to take measures to provide him and showed him how to become a against them-the danger of a whole· free man in deed hnd in truth. He sale relapse into idolatry, the danger of went into the courts and set in motion liberty running into license, and the the mighty machinery of the empire on danger of these people falling a prey to his behalf, and got justice for him. It designing leaders of evil. To avoid this began to dawn upon him that he was a the missionary requirE!6 to be careful ; – man-new hopes, new fears, and won. (a) That, as far as can be Ascertained, learns to do is to wash his face and each Case is one qf Genuine Conversion.- comb his hair. His wife does the same.
There must be a oredible evidenoe of Then he clothes himself and family.
suoh a ohange. This must be insisted Still further, under the advice of and .on. To aocept a person who gives no maybe pressure from the missionary evidence of a radioal ohange of heart is he repairs his house and keeps the ap.
a fatal mistake. Not only is he not a proaches to it clean, especially when source of strength, but he is a sJ)uroe of expecting an episcopal call. A little positive danger. Faith in Christ is the education and a great deal of advice only anohor whioh oan hold a heathen make him a more provident farmer, a to Christianity. I believe that history better husband and father, a better ser- demonstrates the misohievousness of vant, a more trustworthy coolie, and village or tribal oonversions. We oan his heathen neighbors see and feel this.
polish a dead organism, but only a liv. (b) Their Manliness or Independence is ing one oan be made to grow. Telling.-This is not pleasant at first to (b) To Train a Native Ministry,-This the high-caste man. The Ohristian is essential. No other ministry will will not work on Sunday for him, will do. We oannot graft an alien ministry not lie nor swear falsely in court for upon these churohes without destroying his benefit, will not eat his diseased them. Then, also, this is an outlet for cattle, neither to please him will he the developing life. It must be a trained burn his neighbor's house nor beat ministry; not merely an eduoated min- him with a stick for a few pieces of istry, trained in pastoral work, in evan. money. In his rage the caste man per- gelistio work, and in general Christian secutes him, boycotts him, and swears work. These ohurches and their pas. false cases on him in court, but finally tors and teachers should have all the gives up in despair and begins to won· liberty possible, oompatible with a firm der why. When he finds out the rea· but unfelt hand in shaping their Chris. son why, he is impressed with it.
tian life and views of divine truth. (c) Their General Intelligence has a (c) To Train and Help the Peaple to Strong infiuence.-These men and women Self support.-SelI-relianoe must be a cannot come in contact with the mis- cardinal principle with the. missionary. sionary for years without their knowl.
I believe that just here was made the edge of the world and passing events vital mistake of our century in foreign being vastly increased. And especially missions. They ought to remain in those points of interrogation –the their own villages. They ought to school.boys-cannot sit at the feet of a build their own churches and school. live missionary for five or six years and houses, support their own pasiors and not know more than anyone in their teaohers, educate their own children, native village, high or low.
and assist largely in every Ohristian Many a time the preacher or teacher enterprise. There is no comparison is called aside by a group of caste idlers between the robustness of Christian char- and asked the news of the day. These acter developed under this system and things are telling more powerfully upon that under the subsidized Ohristian these people than if the Christian were village system. Now with tens of thou. a caste man. The pariah Christian is sands of these people undergoing these insensibly rising in their estimation, processes, while living in daily contact and his religion rises with him.
with millions of their high-caste fellow- (d) Their Christian Character Acts creatures, what is this influence likely to be ? Powerfully.-But, after all, it is the 1. It is having a Profound Present Christian character of these people influence. which is telling upon their neighbors.
(a) Their Material Prosperity Tells.- The change is neither seen nor appre- The first thing the Christian pariah ciated at first. They do not seem to expect a change, but when a man stops cohesion, and in wealth. Thesll drinking cullu (liquor), stops rolling churches, these schools, these colleges, vile words from his tongue, stops beat- these debating clubs and literary soci- ing his wife, burning his neighbor's eties are all repositories of power and house or poisoning his cattle, no longer rapidly increasing power, too. Those cheats nor swears falsely in court, pays thousands of primary schools, dotted his debts and becomes honest and trust- all over the land, may seem very insig- worthy-then the people begin to think. nificant indeed when taken singly, as When he meekly bears insult and re- indeed they are; but as the nuclei turns good for evil, when he speaks around which this ever-increasing force kindly to the poor and helps the outcast is gathering they are exceedingly for- and beggar, when he reads God'B Word midable.
and praYB regularly with hiB family, and . As starting-points they are small, when some of them give one-tenth of but they lead on to the boarding- their income to the Lord, to Bupport school, the college, the university, and the religion he professes, and when on by and by into the professor'Bchair, the every proper occasion he testifies to the judge'B bench, the editor's sanctum, or love of God to him, then tho people feel the legislator'B seat. They are the lit- that a new element has entered into tle springs which feed the tiny rivulet, their life. When they see such an one which fills the little streams which in calmness and confidence and often- make the mighty river which refills the times with joy pass away to what he boundless ocean.
fully believes to be a home of bliss with Those little boys sitting on that earth- his God, they are profoundly impressed en floor, writing seemingly meaningless with the conviction that here is some- hieroglyphics, may seem powerless thing beyond their experience. The enough, but some day they will be caste people often acknowledge the pres- stUdying history, sacred and profane, ence of thiB change in the people. Some will be puzzling their brains over the are deeply and favorably impressed philosophies of the past and the pres- with it, while others bitterly resent it. ent, will be the leaders, the trusted Some years ago in India some caste Christian leaders, of Hindu Christian people, after having expelled one of the thought, and some day further on their native preachers from their village, sent sons will be the rulers of an emanci- me the following message: "Tell the pated Christian Indian Empire.
Dhora," said they, "that if he comes I do not overlook the fact that otber to our village to preach this Gospel we elements are at work. The so-called will make a foot-ball of his head." Soon godless education of Government col- after, having occasion to visit that vil- leges and universities, the Bemi godly lage, I called these people and asked education of Christian educational in- them what they meant by such a mes- stitutions, the Brahmo-Somaj, the Eng- sage. Apologizing for their rudeness, lish and vernacular press, the Bible, they said: "You have come here to book and tract societies, the English put these pariahs upon our shoulders" official and unofficial classes, godly and -that is, to educate the pariahs above ungodly, the railways, telegraphs and them. They knew what the result post-offices-all these are preparing would be. I told them, Yes, that is my India for the great revolution which is purpose if you do not believe the Gos- to be ; but some of these elements are pel and get elevated too. antichristian, many of them are color- 2. It is Going to Have a Greater Il1flu- less, and but few of them positively ence in the Future. Christian in their tendency. In that These Christians are not only grow- day we shall need more than religious ing in numbers daily, but they are leanings-Christian tendencies or influ- growing in intelligence, in power, in ences •• which make for righteousness." VIe shall need Christ in men and wom- with skill, Then, let the conflict come en, divine truth incarnate in regenerate when and how it may, we shall be pre- Bouls, living epistles known and read pared for it, and under our Leader, the of all men, men and women whose lives Lord Jesus Himself, India shall become are the best testimony to the principles His possession. they profess. In the midst of the turmoil and anarchy which are sure to God will hasten it in His time. come, there will be need of cool heads and brave hearts, need of men who The Jews and Jerusalem, [J. T. G.] have faith in God and the Gospel. An unusual interest obtains just now The Ohristian converts of India will in regard to the Jews. Mr, William E. again prove to be the salt of the earth. Blackstone, of Chicago, kindly furnishes The missionary will be there in ever- us with a large budget of fresh items increasing numbers. The Christian concerning them, from which we select official, military as well as civil, as well some statements. The diagram of Jeruas the Christian trader will be on hand salem needs only the explanation that and will do valiant service for the Mas- the solid line represents the wall of the ter, but what are they among BO many? city, which is about two and a half Only generals for the army of the Lord. miles around. For centuries no one Whence are we to look for the rank and dared live outside of this territory from file? To the converted HinduB them- fear of robbers. The dotted line is selves. Comparatively few of the higher Jeremiah's" measuring line." classes have become obedient to the faith. Noble specimens many of them Up to 1841, only three hundred are, but they are so few. For either Jews were permitted to live in Jerusaaggressive attack upon heathenism or lem. Then that restriction was refor resistanc~ they are comparatively moved, but they "were still confined insignificant. My conviction is that to a narrow, filthy district of the city, the shock of battle must be met by the next to the leper quarters." regenerated hosts from Madura, Tinnevelli, ,Ongole, Burma, Assam, the late In 1867. by a .. firman" or edict of ingatherings along the Gangetic Valley, the Sultan, this restriction was reand other places, all these multiplied a moved, and the Jews, in common with thousand-fold. The Hindu propaganda other foreigners, were allowed to puris already flinging itself across the path chase and own land in Palestine withof this advancing tide, but in vain, out becoming subjects of the Sultan. Like the ancient warrior opposing the From this time the number of Jewish ocean's tide with dirk and targe and settlers has rapidly increased, When broad claymore, it is either retreat or the late anti. Semitic agitation broke death, out in Europe, especially in Russia, the Turkish authorities feal'ed that the Are these people ready for the fray Jaws would coUe to Palestine in such now? No; neither is the fray ready overwhelming numbers as to cause for them; but whatever the character of famine, etc., and issued a firman that the conflict, whether semi·political or no Jew coming to Palestine could rewholly spiritual, we must be prepared. main more than thirty days, To this The forces must be largely increased, the United States consul took exceptiont thoroughly organized and disciplined. on the ground that his Governmens The churches in Christian lands must made no distinction in the nationality SAnd their best men and women to the of its citizens. He was soon joined by front, the native preachers and evan- the French and English consuls, and gelists and workers of all kinds mnst be the Turkish Government modified the thoroughly furnished in God's Word, firman by first extending the time to trained to wield the sword of the Spirit three months, and finally, in 1888, by removing it altogether. Since then the Jews are literally flocking into the country, Nine agricultural colonies have been established, and all are pros- pering and well protected.
At the present time, as will be seen by the buildings represented in the dia- gram, Jerusalem is covering this entire area. Great hospices, hotels, churches, stores, etc" have been erected, but most notable of all a multitude of dwellings for Jews, The number of Jews now residing in the inner and outer city is estimated at 30,000, fully one half the entire population, and adding those at JERUSALEM .
.. They shall prosper that love Thee, "-Psalm 122: 6.
Showing wall of the city and the measnring line of J eremiah.-31 : 38-40.
Tiberias, Safed and throughout the Episcopal Church has seven missionwhole land of Palestine, it can hardly aries to Jews, and is also working be less than 50,000, and so, probably, through a portion of their clergy and 42,000 have returned since the year some schools; the Lutherans have two missionaries; the independent Hebrew 1867. This is equal to the number that Christian Mission in New York has one returned from the Babylonian captivity. missionary, and that in Chicago has three missionaries. Surely this is very A railroad is being constructed from little Christian effort for such a people. Joppa to Jerusalem, with projected lines to Hebron, Jericho, Acre, Tiberias The Hebrew Ohristian Mission in and Damascus. And this is being done principally by Jews. Chicago was begun in 1887, under an in- terdenominational cOlnmittee, and was There are said to be 500,000 Jews in llermanently organized in December, the United States, and 4U,OOO in the 1889. It is availing itself of the widecity of Chicago, spread phenomenal willingness of the Jews to read the New Testament in He- In Great Britain, where the Jewish brew, and asks for corresponding mempopulation is little over one·tenth that bers to co·operate in tract and Bible in the United States, there are nine work among Jews in all the larger cities. prominent societies, with several hun- Mr, William E. Blackstone, of Oak dl'ed missionaries and agents working for Israel. In this country we have Park, Ill" is the superintendent.
only the following: the Protestant
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
IlI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Rev. Dr. George W. Chamberlain, of Dr. Chamberlain asks, "Is that an ab- Brazil, tells the following story: solute doctrine ? As you ride through the roads of Brazil and pass by any cemetery " I met an old Brazilian at the mouth you will see little catacombs outside of of the Amazon ninety years of age, who the walls of the cemeteries, and you will knew much of the Indians. I said, ' Oan inquire what they are. They are the you tell whether there has ever been tombs of children who could not go into any portion of the Gospel translated holy ground because their souls had into the general tongue of the Indians? ' gone to limbo. They died without bap. • No,' he replied; • I am interested in the tism, and they cannot go to heaven. Indians, but I have never known of any They are buried in stone, like the stony part of the Gospel being translated into heart of the holy mother Church that their language. I have a catechism over tells this to the mothers to whom Christ two hundred years old, translated into said, • Let the little children come unto their tongue hy the Jesuits.' He says, Me.'" • Take the book and use it. I am too old to do anything more; take it and A circular letter has recently been do something for the Indians.' As I sent out to pastors and elders of the opened it on the high seas between Para United Presbyterian Church, calling atand New York I came upon a page with tention to the fact that tbe General Asthese questions: 'How many places are sembly of 1891 has voted a total of ap. there to which the soul at death can propriations to the various boards of go?' 'There are four.' • What are $312,000, or an average of $3.23 per they? ' 'Hell, purgatory, limbo of the member-a little over one cent per fathers, limbo of the children.' • What working day-and suggesting the fol· is hell? ' • Hell is a fire in the centre lowing means as helpful to the raising of the earth, to which the wicked go at of this amount: death.' • What is purgatory?' • Pur. gatory is a fire above that of hell, to FIVE SUGGESTIONS. which the souls of the holy go that they may get satisfaction for sin for which First. Let the pastor or " Stated Supthey did not get satisfaction in this ply" call together the members of his life. ' • What is the limbo of the fa. Session for prayer and consultation. thers?' • It is a cavern above purga· Speak to them of Christ's" Great Comtory, to which the souls of the holy mission" and of their obligations to fathers went formerly, before that Jesus help carry it out, and that the Boards Christ was manifested in the flesh to of our Church are the chief agencies take them out.' On the margin of this through which this Commission is carcatechism some one had written op- ried into effect by the Church. posite the definition of the limbo of the fathers words in Portuguese which, Second. At this same meeting speak translated, read, •It is now for rent.' I of and discuss the New Testament rule read that to a friend in New York, and of gi,ing, 1 Cor. 16: 2. Pray over it. he said, • It will do for the brethren of Then, if not already done, let each the new theology.' The catechism con- member of Session, knowing his privitinued, "What is the limbo of the chilo leges and feeling his obligations, redren? ' Oh, ye mothers, hear! It is solve to devote at least the one tenth of a cavern above the limbo of the fathers, his income to the Lord, or to give" as into which the souls of little children God hath prospered him." If time is who died without baptism go ; a land asked by any of the members of Sesof darkness and of the shadow of death, sion for further consideration of the to wander forever," subject, grant it, and call another meet· ing in one or two weeks, Third. When this is done, present it were yet continued. A missionary the whole subject of " missions" and of writes that of late it has greatly increased to New Caledonia, and is continued to "Christian giving" to the members of Fiji, causing much suffering and opthe congregation. Let them know of pression to our poor islanders, greatly the resolve taken by the members of hindering our work and rapidly depopu- Session, and then earnestly ask them to lating the islands. The traffic grieves join you in devoting at least the one us exceedingly, and we have done all we tenth of their income to the Lord, or to can by exposing its evils-its curses, both to the islanders and collectors and give" as God hath prospered them." all engaged in it-to get it suppressed; Present the subject of giving not only but by man's selfish greed it goes on. as a duty, but as a high privilege. Let Yet Heaven will reckon with us and all giving be regarded as an act of worship. engaged in it for all the oppression and bloodshed caused by it. We missiona- Fourth. Commence the raising of mis- ries and our Victorian church have pro- sion money early in the year. Do not tested against it, exposed its cruel atrociunder any circumstances postpone the ties in every way possible, petitioned matter until the middle or close of the the British Government again and again to suppress it ; but self interested sugar- year. planters and employers of cheap labor Fifth. We desire to emphasize the get it carried on. fact that it is the regular, stated, Bys- As Britain now forbids her traders to tematic giving of the many that is of spe- use as trade with the natives of those islands fire-arms, ammunition, intoxi- cial benefit to the Church and to the in- cating drinks, and opium, and the inter- dividual. Every member should be island labor traffic; and as the traders encouraged to give something. Some of all other nations use these and the interesteil Kanaka labor traffic, which is may not be able to give the full " gen- one of its most cruel, oppressive branch- eral average," $3.23, in addition to what es, there has been and is now in our colothey give to support the ordinances in nies a cOD!'!iderable agitation to get our their home congregations. A large ma- British prohibitions applied to all traders of all nationalities, or rescinded by Great jority, however, can. Very many can Britain. On the platform and in the give a much larger amount. But all press I have strongly opposed the reshould have a part in carrying forward scinding of any of them, and pleaded for the mi98ion work of our Church. them to be applied to all traders, in the interests of humanity and the honor of We commend this as a move in the Britain. In this I have been supported right direction, which all might imitate. by Bishop Selwyn and His Excellency It emphasizes prayer, Bible teaching, Sir John Thurston, H. M. High Comprivilege as well as duty of giving, missioner for the Southern Pacific. But if we shall succeed in getting all the promptness of effort. and regular, nations interested to agree to such re- habitual, systematic, and individual co- strictions with their traders is very doubtful. If America would agree, nearoperation. We look for large results. ly all the others have signified their willingness to agree to such prohibi- From a letter from Rev. J. G. Paton, tions in trade.. A missionary now writE'S to me : "In one large district of late we the author of one of the greatest of mis- have made very little progress, owing to sionary biographies, a friend sends us the sad drink curse. The traders the following: around there have been busy pushing this trade, and a few of our church· MORELAND GROVE, COBURG, members have been implicated in the VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, July 2, 1891. drinking bouts and .mspended in con- The shocking Kanaka labor question sequence. This has forced us tempo- gives us missionaries great concern. It rarily to suspend some of our itinerat- was to have been closed to Queensland ing services for lack of preachers; but by Act of Parliament in the beginning there seems to be a reaction, and I hope of this year; but a few days ago, on God will strengthen our Christian na- June 27th, R. dismasted Kanaka labor tives to follow after holiness; but my vessel entered the capital, Brisbane, heart bleeds for the hret1)ren who, with- with seventy-three islanders, for their out Christian influences or anyone to suger plantations, which appears as if guide them, are easy victims to traders' greed and their own evil passions. during the last May meetings, and heard Drinking our intoxicating drink is now with what applause the proposition to being added to tpeir every heathen associate the women with the men in ceremonial, with what sad results I their great missionary societies (boards) need not tell you. This is decidedly was welcomed. the greatest curse that so-called civiliza tion is bringing to these shores; and "The ladies have shown their effi. both in the islands and the colonies we ciency, their ability, their power, and need to do all we can to resist it. The zeal in their own independent societies, sale of arms, dynamite, etc., to the but they lack the presence and support natives is nothing to it, and on quite a of their fathers, their brothers, and different footing. I know of much in_ their sons. Indeed, in some of the justice, and cruelty, and bullying hav- churches the whole cause of foreign ing been carried on by worthless men missions is relegated to the ladies. against the poor natives, who had meekly to submit to such injustice because "How shall we remedy this grave any vagabond foreigner, as a trader, mistake? may have magazine rifles, etc., and the oppressed popUlation of the soil is de- ,. God's triple command, 'Go ye into prived of and unable to defend his just all the world,' 'Pray ye the Lord of rights to land, to his home, and to all the harvest,' and • Bring all your tithes that is dear and sacred to him." into the storehouse,' was spoken to the whole church. God needs His sons aE Bible Translation in Japan. well as His daughters to help evangelize the world A correspondent writes as to the arti. "If more closely associated in this cle in the September issue, on the Bible glorious work, would it not go forward with accelerated speed, and the pro. and its introduction iuto Japan, that voking of one another to good works fulfil the prophecy of universal mis- Dr. I. C. Hepburn is justly put at the sions ?" head of the list of those who have the honor of doing this work of Bible trans. Missionary Maps. lation. I enjoyed the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with this pioneer Information is always in place; but missionary and dictionary maker for the people are won quite as much Japan, and his colleagues, S. R. Brown through Eye.gate as through Ear.gate. and the Gulick family, and some others, We cannot reproduce pictures of mis. among whom was Nath9.n Brown, who sion buildings and scenery; we canre· made a version of the New Testament produce maps. in the two languages of Assam and Japan, and performed honorable mis· Almost all churches where there is sionary work in both. The omission of any missionary life observe the Month. his name among the translators in ly Concert for Prayer. If you could Japan, together with the allusion to Dr. give us occasionally in the REVIEW a Bettleheim and the sentence .. con- correct map, showing the principal mis. temptible criticisms spoken in Tremont sion stations in the field, we could use Temple," may give to the reader the it to good advantage. impression that the MISSIONARY REVIEW is not for the world, but for a sect. which Perhaps others who read the REVIEW I am sure the editor would not endorse. have suffered as I did for a map. If they will only make up their minds to Yours in the service, have one they can have as good a one WILLIAM DEAN. as they could buy, and that at a merely nominal cost. I found directions in an NATIONAL CITY, CAL., August 15, 1891. old number of the REVIEW, but they were from an Englishman, referring to Assooiate Mission Boards, English colors, and not within my pos· A correspondent urges the formation of some new foreign mission boards composed of both men and women.
.. They are working that way in Eng.
land now, and shall America lag behind in any scheme for the advancement of the kingdom?
"We were ill EJl:eter Hall, London, sibility. So here is what I did, with size. It would be safe to say that where the cost thereof. one makes a set of maps for use during the year they will not cost more than a Three yards of unbleached sheeting, dollar apiece. nine quarters wide, at 22 cents; that gave me a piece of cloth six feet by nine This is only a voice from a country on which to work. Tack it lightly to the parish. I believe good maps will be floor, having laid newspapers under. appreciated and used by all who are neath. Prepare a sizing of one·quarter interested in missions. Will you help pound of white glue to a gallon of boil. us if you can? ing water, and when dissolved apply smoothly and thoroughly to the cloth. AUSTIN D. WOLFE. Raise the wet sheet, remove the papers STATE CENTRE, IA., July, 1891. (or they would be glued fast), and reo tack the sheet. Five hours will dry it. -A letter received from Miss Romig, With lead-pencil and ruler rule straight of Berthelsdorf, near Herrnhut, Gerlines over the map which is to be en· many, corrects a few misstatements in larged, dividing the whole surface into regard to the Moravian Church, and squares; I ruled mine at intervals of which appeared in the July number of one degree, so as to have geographi~al the REVIEW. measurements handy. With a stick of drawing charcoal, a carpenter's square, " 1. The Unity's Elders' Conference is and a long straight stick for ruling, comprised of twelve members and three square off the sheet just like the small secretaries-fifteen persons in all. map. Then trace the outline carefully Four of the elders form the educational and lightly with charcoal. Use ultra. department, four the financial, and marine blue ground in oil for the coast four thA missionary. The secretariesline and thin it with turpentine, so one for each department-have no voice that it will work; it dries instantly. in the affairs of the boards and no re- Raw Sienna will make the mountains; sponsibility, their duties being purely add silver white to the blue, and make local. a light blue for the rivers; vermilion will do for boundary lines, and black " 2. The first missionaries to the West for lettering. It took me about two Indies were sent, not to .Jamaica, but days to make the map of Siam from the to St. Thomas. The mission in Jamaica small map in the 1Iay issue of the was not begun till 1754. Church at Home and Abroad, and I could not have bought it if I had wished to " 3. The number of Moravian mission do so. Here is what it cost, without stations is at present one hundred and reckoning the time and labor expended: thirteen, and out-stations twenty.one, and not forty.two as stated." Cts. Three yards sheeting, at 22 cts. . . . . .. . … . . . .66 -The article on missions to Iberian One pound ultramarine blue (enough for peoples, which we published last month, was by Rev. J. M. Allis, D.D., so well fifty maps). .. . . . .. . . . . . .. . . … . . . . . . . . .. . .20 and widely known in connection with One three-inch varnish brush, for the sizing. .25 the Presbyterian missionary work in One quarter pound white glue………….. .10 I::lantiago, Chili. By what trick of the Oue tube each silver white, raw Sienna, machine the author's name got trans_ formed into" Challis." and then escap- ivory black, vermilion….. …………•• .50 ed three or four proof-l'eadings, is inex- Turpentine. . . . . . . . . . .. …. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .05 plicable. We hope Dr. Challis will not, CharcoaL……. ..•………… …•.•…… .05 like the Celt, allow his "feelings to overcome his emotions," when he sees Total ..•._…••.•.•…•••••………. $1.81 the aggravating transmigration his name Not all of this is to be charged up to G.J underwent. rJ. T. this one map, for I have enough paint left to ma}re a !lo~en more of similar
1891.1 THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
Syria, Etc. the death, the rising again of our Lord. It was here, that His Churoh was con- BY WILLLUI BRENTON GREENE, JR., D.D. stituted by the desoent of His Spirit; that His disoiples were first oalled Chris- .. Syria is that Asiatio oountry at the tians ; that Peter made the astounding eastern end of the Mediterranean." Its discovery that on the Gentiles also was length from north to south is some 400 poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost, miles. Its area is about 60,000 square and that Barnabas and Saul were sent miles, or nearly one and a quarter times forth as the first missionaries to the that of Pennsylvania or of England. Gentile world. Of what other land is Though it has endured oenturies of mis~ the evangelization so imperative, so inrule and negleot, it is still a goodly land. teresting?
The estimates of its population vary The religion of Syria is called by the widely. The lowest is 1,0UO,000, the government Moslem and non-Moslem. highest e,ooo,OOO. The explanation is The former includes orthodox and Perthat there is a large unoertain and ever- sian Mohammedans, Druzes, Nusaireechanging element, the wandering desert yehs, Ismailiyehs, and all Bedouin tribes, who, to-day in Syria, to-morrow Arabs. The Persian Mohammedans are are far down in Arabia. The fixed popu- the followers of Ali, the son-in-law of lation is in the cities and villages. Mohammed. The Druzes hold to a Damascus has 150,000; Aleppo, some- superstition which sprang in the thing less than 100,000 ; Hums, 20,000 ; eleventh century from Islam, but has Tripoli, 16,000; Beirut, 90,000; Jeru- so far departed from it as not properly salem, 70,000 ; Sidon,7000. As to races, to be ranked with it. They profess one there are considerably over 40,000 Jews. God indefinable, incomprehensible, and There are a few Turks, and from 50,000 passionless. He became incarnate in a to 60,000 Armenians. The great bulk succession of ten men, the last of whom of the population, however, is Arab; was Hakim, Caliph of Egypt, assassinatthe prevalent language is Arabic ; and ed 1044 A.D. With that incarnation the the whole country is under Turkish rule. door of mercy was closed, and no con- verts are now to be made. Hakim, how- Syria has figured prominently in ever, will reappear and conquer the history, both profane and sacred. world. They believe in the transmigra- .. Through it lies the great highway tion of souls. They have seven great between Asia and Africa, whioh has commandments, one of whioh enjoins been so often thronged by caravans of truth, but only among themselves. trade, so often trodden by hosts of They have no faith in prayer. Among war. Pharaohs that flourished before them is a speoiiLl class, the Ockals, who the days of Moses, Assyrian oonquerors, alone are initiated into their deeper mysthe great Alexander, Pompey, Moslem teries. The Nusaireeyehs are a strange hosts, Crusaders, the Frenoh under wildraoe numbering about 200,000, and Napoleon and again in our own time, living to the north of Mt. Lebanon. conflicting Egyptian and Turkish armies They keep their doctrines seoret, and -are all in the procession that has have signs of reoognition, like a seoret moved over or tarried upon the Syrian order. The Ismailiyehs oooupy the soil." More still, here was unrolled the mountains west of Hamah, are few, are anoient revelation of the true God. allied to the Persian Mohammedans in Patriarohs wandered here ; this was in belief, and are desoendants of the peopart the ancient territory of the" Chosen ple known in the time of the Crusades· People." Prophet and apostle lived and as Ass~ssills. The Bedollill Arabs ar~ labored here. Highest of all, here 00curred the life, the toils, the sorrows, less devout and more inclined to scep- found in the perverted doctrines and ticism than other Moslems. spiritual deadness of even the best of the nominally Christian sects. Most The non-Moslems are J eWB, nominal serious of all is the dominant religion. Christians, orthodox Greeks, Papal The Moslem who leaves the faith of his Greeks, Maronites, Jacobites, Syrian fathers does it at his peril. Were this and Armenian and Latin Papists, and not so, his pride and bigotry would tend Evangelical Christians. The orthodox to make him impregnable to another re- Greeks are so called, though Arabs, be- ligion. The very truth to which he cause orthodox members of the Greek holds, the doctrine of the spirituality of Church. The Papal Greeks are converts God, prejudices him against Christianfrom the Greek Church to Romanism. ity; for he identifies it alw'ays with They have, however, made a few those idolatrous corruptions of it with changes. Their worship is in Arabic, which alone he is familiar, Added to and their priests are allowed to marry. all this is the oppression of the Turkish The Maronites represent the ancient Government. Because of it the mission Syrian Church. They get their name has constantly to guard itself against from John Maro, monk, priest, and the violation of contracts. The poverty patriarch, who died A.D. 707. Since the of the people, too, is "their destructwelfth century they have been in close tion." They are kept so poor by taxacommunion with the Romish Church, tion that they have no time to think of though adhering to the Oriental rite. their souls on week-days; and while the The Jacobites are a small body of dis- Moslems have no Sabbath, the members senters from the Greek Church. They of the Oriental churches are encouraged get their name from Jacobus, Bishop of to labor on theirs. This grinding pov- Edessa, who died A.D. 578. Notwith- erty both causes and is much aggravatstanding the various sects, however, of ed by the" emigration fever." So hard which the non-Moslems number, per- are the times that it is estimated that haps, 400,000, the mass of the popula- upward of 12,000 leave Syria yearly. tion are orthodox Moslems or Sunnites, This, of course, increases just so much and look, of course, to the Sultan. not the burdens of those who remain, and only as their political, but also their re- renders them just so much the less susligious head. ceptible to missionary influences.
Of the morals of the people the less In spite of these difficulties, however, said the better. The Druzes, though Syria has for seventy years been the polite, are cruel, fanatical, and, to scene of most faithful missionary effort. strangers, deceitful. The Nusaireeyehs The history of the mission presents are bloodthirsty. Polygamy is common. alternations of success and discourage- Divorce occurs at the will of the man. ment. If there were times of quiet, there Swearing and lying are universal. The were also times of persecution. More Bedouins, though hospitable and often than once has the land seen massacres, magnanimous, are fierce, revengeful, and the mission has produced more than and depraved. The non-Moslems, ex- a few martyrs. Political commotions cept the Jews and Evangelical Chris- have been particularly numerous and tians, are bigoted, idolatroul, and de- peculiarly trying. Of late years the based. 'In general, the population is Russo-Turkish War of 1877, the rebelignorant, narrow-minded, corrupt, su- lion of Araby Pasha in Egypt in 1882, perstitious ; and, as in all Mohammedan and the rebellion of the Mahdi in 1883 countries, woman is held in low esteem. have been most prejudicial, by introduc- ing into the mission fields II new, disor- , The difficulties of missionary effort in derIy, corrupting and hostile element. such a field are great and numerous. So many rival and jealous sects, all call- The instrumentalities employed in ing themselves Christian, constitute a the mission work are the following: serious hindrance. A greater one is 1. Preaching. The way for thifl has pages printed since the beginning, in not been as open as in many countries. 1826, amounts to over 400,000,000. The The Moslems have been specially inac- issues have been of all kinds, religious cessible to it. Nevertheless. it has at and educational. The list of publica- no time been neglected. It is now re- tions includes more than 400 titles. ceiving regular and considerable atten- Among them may be mentioned" Scrip- tion. In Beirut services are held in fi ve ture Interpretation and Systematic places, and there are three evening Theology," by Dr. Dennis; a transla- meetings during the week. A recent tion of the Westminster Confession of visitor to Syria, speaking of the Sabbath Faith, by Dr. Van Dyck; and a "Com- service at Baalbek, says that 27 men, 9 mentalJ' on the New Testament," by women, and 15 boys (all natives) were Dr. W. W. Eddy. The great glory, how- present. 'I'here are in the whole coun- ever, of the press, as of the mission, is try upward of 30 church buildings and the Arabic Bible. Begun by Dr. Eli 100 preaching places, and no fewer than Smith, in 1849, and prosecuted by him 5000 regular hearers, of whom nearly with the aid of Mr. Bistany, a nati¥e 2000 are church-members. How marked scholar, until 1857, it was then taken an advance this is appears in the fact np by Dr. Van Dyck, assisted by the that in 1848 there were only one church, highest native scholarship, and com- three or four preaching stations, and 18 pleted in 1864. A modal of accuracy church-members. and elegance, it has made the Word of Life intelligible, and, from the literary 2. Medical Work. This has lately be- standpoint, attractive to the 180,000,- come a specially prominent feature. 000 whose sacred language is the Arabic. Native physicians are being educated. Meanwhile, Dr. Post, Dr. Van Dyck. and Unti! lately no political restriction others of the medical missionaries have interfered with the mission press. Now, gained great influence by their skill lind however, the Government has waked kindness. The hospital of the Prussian up to the danger in the free circulation Knights of St. John at Beirut, under the of Christian literature, and a strict care of the deaconesses of Kaiserwerth, censorship has been instituted. Most is served by them. In the last year of of the books, including the Scriptures, which we have any report, nearly 10,000 have been officially sanctioned; but the' cases were treated. Patients come from weekly paper has received severe criti- all parts, and carry back with them im- cism, and was temporarily suppressed. pressions of Christian love as well as It is now licensed, but on condition that direct Gospel teaching. The tours of "no adverse criticism be made upon the late Dr. Calhoun and his services at any of the religious beliefs of any of the Tripoli, followed by thosA of Dr. Har- sects of the empire." ri~, have also opened the way for Gos- pel work. Many of the large number 4. The Schools. Though persistently called together by the dispensary at and bitterly opposed by the Jesuits, Tripoli are Moslems, and all hear the these ha¥e proved the most effective of Gospel read and explained before re- the missionary agencies. They have ceiving treatment. Mention should be done more than all others combined to made in this connection of the Leper elevate woman; they have given II Chris- Home at Jerusalem, under the charge of tian education to many thousands of the Moravians. ,. Most of the dear pa- persons; and they have called into being tients here," we read, 'rejoice in being numerous schools supported by the peo- Christians. under the protection of the ple themselves. In all the mission . Saviour, and enjoying the advantages of schools biblical instruction is made His Church." prominent, and the amount of Scripture that can be recited whenever called for 3. The Press. Its work has been great is surprising. The crown of the whole and influential. The total number of educational system is the Syrian Protestant College at Beirut. This is an 5. They hate idols and idolatry with institution of the highest order, and perfect hatred. 6. They reverence law. has academical, theological, medical, 7. They practise total abstinence from pharmaceutical, and preparatory depart- intoxicating drinks. 8. They have no ments. The graduates number more respect for a man who has no religion. than 200, and the attendance of students 9. They have implicit confidence in the is now large. Strictly independent word of an Englishman. 10. They beof the mission, it is thoroughly evan- lieve that Protestantism is the form of gelical and evangelistic in its. aim and faith nearest their own. 11. They aro effect. In addition to the college, there beginning to repose confidence in the are connected with the Presbyterian integrity of the American missionaries. Mission the seminaries for girls at Bei- 12. It is the common belief of the Mosrut, and Sidon, and Tripoli; the board- lems that in the latter days there will be ing-schools for boys in Sidon and Suk- an universal apostasy from Islam, when el-Ghurb, and a hundred or more com- the true faith, as they account it, will mon schools. In these gather 5200 cease to exist. pupils, of whom 1800 are girls. Did we include all the Protestant schools of The following facts also are signifi- Syria !t1J.d Palestine, the number of cant: scholars would exceed 15,000. A system of home study is being established 1. Of the 132 girls attending the Protas a branch of the Chautauqua organiza- estant female school at Sidon lately, 90 tion. and will be a stimulus to the whole were Mohammedans. 2. Of the 4780 intellectual life Of Syria. girls who were scholars not long ago in the Protestant schools of Syria, 1000 The development of this educational were Mohammedans. .. If all other work is remarkable. In 1824 it was means fail to draw them to Christ, it summed up in a class of six Arab chil- may be that the words of Isaiah shall dren taught by one of the missionary yet be verified in their experience, ladies. In 1834 ten young men were • And a little child shall lead them.' " under instruction. Not until 1866 was the college opened. Now more than 200 'THE JEWS. students crowd its buildings. For several reasons they are impor- The question arises, What will be tant and interesting enough to demand the outcome of all this effort? Will this separate treatment. 1. They were God's stronghold of Islam ever be under- .. chosen nation." 2. They have had mined? Aside from the sure word of the most wonderful history. 3. They prophecy that such will be the case, in are rapidly assuming a prominence Mohammedanism itself are elements which is as significant as unique. This which. if fairly considered, bring its is specially marked in their influence in overthrow by Christianity clearly within education, the press, and general literathe sphere of probability. Among ture. So strong has this come to be others, these are mentioned by Dr. H. that such men as the late Professor H. Jesup, of Beirut, whose residence Delitzsch, the late Professor Christlieb, for thirty-five years in Syria entitles him and Professor Godet Ree in it a source to speak authoritatively on this ques- of serious danger to the Christian faith. tion : 1. The Mohammedans believe in In Italy, for example, there are 50 Jewthe unity of God. 2. They reverence ish professors in the universities in a the Old and New Testaments. 3. They land where Jews number only about revere Christ as the greatest of all the 40,000 in 28,000,000. In France the prophets before Mohammed. 4. While highest education is to a remarkable exregarding all but themselves as infidels, tent in the hands of the Jews. In the they have some respect for Christians universities of Germany Jewish profes- sors have increased forty per cent in five and Jews as .. the people Df a book." years. The number of Jewish students has multiplied yet more rapidly. At he is by that fact divorced from the the University of Brtda Pesth, Hungary, other who remains a Jew; and the conof 3100 students, 1072 are Jews, and vert may marry again, but the Jew must that in a country where they form only remain single. Private or family prayer four per cent of the population. As the is fo.bidden except by a license, and natural result of this, according to a synagogue worship is permitted only in leader in the London Times: "A per- towns containing eighty or more Jewish manent epidemic of alarm at iewish dwellings. This outrageous oppression encroachments prevails, to which Vien- has already affected commerce, and has na is as subject as Berlin. . .. The issued in untold suffering. Not a little enlire circle of the liberal professions, is being done to mitigate thil' by Baron as well as finance, is almost in the ex- Hirsch, the Hebrew philanthropist. clusive possession of Jewish practition- Worth from $100,000,000 to $150,000,- ers. Jews are eloquent at the bar and 000, made largely in a railway contract in Parliament. 'l'hey heal the diseases with Turkey, he is pouring out his of Christians and guide their views wealth in providing for those of his race through the press." The late Professor in Russia who are heing expelled from Christlieb is only one of many witnesses their homes. The Russian Minister of to the fact that almost the entire liberal Finance also has lately ohtained a suspress of the German Empire is in the pension of further repressive measures hands of the Jews. It has been stated by pointing out to the Czar the vexatious on good authority that in Paris there is financial results which they might inonly one paper of any note not under volve. Christians throughout the world, JewiRh control. Could more be said to too, have begun to protest. Nor are show how imperative is the evangeliza. the Jewish bankers and brokers inactive. tion of this" peculiar people" ? 2. The return of the Jews to their The interest of this work now clus· own land. This has been much stimuters about three points: lated by the persecution just mentioned. Within three or four years 20,000 have 1. The persecution of the Jews by come to Jerusalem. while the influx into Russia. Since 1881. when Jgnatieff pro· other parts of Palestine has been withmulgated the terrible Jewish laws, the out precedent. There are more than lives of the 5,000,000 of Russian He- 80,000 in the country in all. An era of brews, miserable enough before, have improvement has also begun. Jerusa· been spent in unbroken war against the lem is a new city. The streets have frightful abuse and persecution of the been paved, five hotels have been authorities. The taxes of the Jews are opened, water is about to be introduced, douhle those of other subjects. Numer. large factories have been erected, a ous restrictions and disabilities fetter railroad is almost completecl from Jaffa their activity. They are not suffered to to Jerusalem. With this enlargement enter the civil service, to practise law of population and revival of trade there or medicine, to hold municipal office, or has been a marked increase in the rain. to take part in an election. The num· fall. The factors seem to have been supber of them drafted into the army large- plied to make Palestine, as of old, " the ly exceeds that of the Gentiles, but no garden of the Lord." Jew can hire a substitute or become an officer. They can reside only within 3. The conversion of the Jews. More certain limits, and are not allowed to interest has been taken in this than is own land. Jewish pupils can form no generally supposed. The Protestant more than ten per cent of the number churches have 377 missionaries among in any school, though in many towns them. If, as estimated, there are 6,400,- they are more than fifty per cent of the 000 Jews-this gives one missionnry to population. If a·wife or a husband is every 16,976 Israelites-a larger numconverted to the Russian Church, she or ber in· proportion than among the heathen. The results of this effort lan, Nazareth, and Bethlehem, supportare becoming apparent. Professor De- ed by a society of English ladies. litzsch's Hebrew New Testament has exerted a mighty influence. Jewish- 7. At Brummana, in Lebanon and at Christian congregations are not un- Ram Alia, near Bethel, industrial schools known in the larger cities of Christen- belonging to the Quakers. dom. Notwithstanding sectarian strife and the bitter opposition of Romanism, 8. The Lebanon Schools Committee's there are more than 200 believing Jews Mission, in Lebanon-a. training school in Jerusalem. Most significant is the for boys and one for girls, and several Jewish-Christian movement at Kishch- village schools. ineff, in Southern Russia. Its leader, Rabinowitz, a learned lawyer, who has 9. The Irish Presbyterian Mission at come to the knowledge of the truth Damascus-several churches, and very through the independent study of the vigorous. Scriptures, and who is in substantial accord with evangelical teachers, ad- 10. The Reformed Presbyterian Misheres to his original plan of organizing sion, at Latakia, Antioch. and elsewhere a National Christian Church for Israel, -chiefly among the NUflaireeyeh. in which such characteristics of Judaism as circumcision. observance of Saturday 11. At Tiberias a very successful as the Sabbath, and the like. are to be Scotch mission to the Jews, retained, though not as essentials. He seems to be imbued with the Spirit of 12. The Church Missionary Society Christ, and numbers among his support- (London)-stations at Jaffa, Gaza, Ramers thousands of the Jews of southeast- leh, Jerusalem, Nablous, Es SaIt, Nazaern Europe. Is there not much to war- reth, Haifa. rant the hope that the redemption of Israel is drawing nigh? 13. The London Jews' Society, in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Damasclls, Aleppo, The following statistics of the mis- and elsewherA. sionary agencies in Syria may be useful: 14. The American Bible Society's 1. Preshyterian Board of Foreign Mis- Agency at Beirut. sions, North. See MISSIONARY REVIEW for June, 1891, p. 476. For the sum- 15. The British Foreign Bible Somary below we are indebted to the ciety's Agency at Beirut. Church at Home and Abroad. 16. The Evangelical Mission to Israel 2. Mission of the Established Church at Hebron. of Scotland in Beirut to the Jews, under the care of Rev. G. M. Mackie. 17. A Presbyterian Mission in Jerusa- He has large schools for both sexes. lem, just establish.ed by Rev. A. Ben Oliel. 3. The British Syrian Schools and Bible Mission, established in 1860 by -Dr. Cornelius Van Dyck, of the Mrs. Bowen Thompson and since her Presbyterian Mission at Beirut, has death conducted l;y her sister, Mrs. just finished his Hfty years in that field. Mott -30 schools and about 3000 pu- The occasion of his golden anniversary pils. was taken note of in a most pleasant way by his friends and neighbors. An 4. Miss Taylor'S (Scotch) school in address was presented and gifts were Beirut for Druze and Moslem girls- sent. Delegations came from the Hosvery successful, pital, from the Orphanage, from the native Protestant Church. The Greek 5. The Kaiserwerth Prussian Deacon- Patriarch of Damascus and the Turkish ess' Orphanage for Girls at Beirut and Governor sent messages-the latter anat Jerusalem. nouncing that a decoration would come from the Sultan. All day a stream of 6. Training schools for girls at Shim- visitors of all nationalities and sects poured through Dr. Van Dyck's rooms, greeting him. There is surely some- thing very wonderful in this honor paid to a missionary whO' has wrought fifty years for Christ.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Organized Missionary Work and Statistios' Edited by Rev. D, L, Leonard, Bellevue, O.
-In the tables summing up in fignres -Of course, no summing up of misthe work done by the various mission- sionary work would be at all complete ary societies of America and Europe, a which did not include the doings of the large number were, for various reasons, Propaganda at Rome. As to the amount necessarily omitted, but not at all be- of money expended, Cardinal Lavigerie cause the sphere they fill is nnimportant estimates that Protestants contribute or ungermane. In the aggregate their annually about twenty times as much as income is very great, and the effect of Roman Catholics. Five years ago, actheir operations is broad and far reach- cording to an authority quoted in the ing. Such as the Salvation Army, "Concise Dictionary of Religious which is said to raise annually $2,250,- Knowledge," Rome had 2,745,000 ad- 000 j the Mildmay Home and Foreign herents in mission fields proper, with and Medical Mission, whose income is 3634 priests and 4502 schools, And, ac- $115,000; the McAll Mission, almost cording to the report of the Propaganda $90,000 ; the East London Institute for for 1890, and omitting British North Home and Foreign Missions of H. Grat- America and the United States, the adtan Guinness, $60,000 j the Edinburgh herents on missionary ground number Medical Society, $30,000 ; the Christian 3,314,000, the priests 3848, and the Vernacular Society, $20,000; for the schools 7593. And of this Catholic Blind in China, $12,000 ; the Lepers in population, 1,077,500 are found in India India, $11,000, etc. If all such were and Ceylon. 694,000 in Indo-China, in.cluded, the aggregate income would 568,000 in the Chinese Empire, and 398,- be not much less than $3,000,000. 900 in Africa, including Madagascar.
-The twenty.sixth anniversary of the -Nothing is more certain than that Salvation Army was held in London, the spread of the kingdom of God in July 7th. General Booth said, in his heathen lands is dependent upon the address, that the Army now comprised maintenance and prosperity of the 4289 societies (of which 1200 were out- churches within the present pale of posts), with 10,449 commanding officers. Christendom; and, therefore, that giv- Of these, 1383 corps and 152 outposts, ing for the local church, for the frontier, or 1535 religious societies, with 4649 the foreign. born population, and the deofficers, were in Great Britain, and 1705 graded in the cities is really helping to corps and 1049 outposts, or 2754 socie- carry the Gospel to every creature. Only ties in all, with 5800 officers, were out- it is a great matter to make a proper side the United Kingdom. During the division of the funds received, to beyear there had been an increase of 252 stow upon the foreign work its fuJI procorps and 1281 officers. Of the War- portion. The total giving of the Estab- Ory, 312,525 copies had been circulated, lished Church of Scotland reaches and 129,350 copies of the weekly Ohil- $2,142,790, and is divided among 6 dren's War- Ory. Monthly publications schemes. But $224,855, or about one were sold to the number of 94,000. tenth, fall to foreign missions. The Twenty-seven editions of the War-Cry Southern Baptist Convention reports were published abroad, in 15 languages. $115,445 for work abroad and $238,893 The operations called in tbe Army" tak- for mission work at home. The mising prisoners," or the arousing of anx- sionary appropriations of the Methodist ious inquirers, had resulted in the con- Episcopal Church aggregate $1,200,000, version of 100,000 .persons at home and and of this sum, $566,347 are bestowed 131,000 abroad. upon toil outside of the United States. The Congregationalists sustain 7 socie- eign affairs, army and navy, internal, ties. Of these, the American Home educational and ecclesiastical affairs, Missionary Society receives $635,150, and in providing interest on the Swed- (the American Missionary Association ish debt." The London City Mission freedmen, Indians, etc.) $429,420, and alone had an income in 1887-8 o()f about the total of Ohristian beneficence reaches $435,000. The receipts of the Brooklyn $2,270,161. Add home expenditures, Society were $25,000 in 1889, and of the and the sum is $8,361,382-an average Boston Society $43,698 in 1890. Acof $16.50 for each church-member. The cording to the same authority,45 benevo- Presbyterian Church reports for home lent societies in New York received a missions $9:15,625, and for freedmen, total of $1,810,675 in 1889. Of this sum, Bunday-schools, education, etc., $411,- 17 Roman Catholic societies received 247 more, and for congregational or local from municipal allowance and excise purposes, $9,764,379. Including all re- appropriation $1,000,521, and 28 other ligious objects, the total is $14,062,356, societies $802, 086. or an average of over $17 per member. -Says Dr. A. H. Clapp, of the Ameri- -The various publication societies of can Home Missionary Society, and Great ·Britain and America are indis- speaking of New York: ., Few who do pensable adjuncts to the work of the not live here can have any idea of the missionary societies. Among the chief voluntary work carried on throughout of these may be named the British and the year by the benevolent men and Foreign Bible Society, with annual re- women of our churches. The rapid ceipts aggregating $1,125,000; the running over of a list of the various or- American Bible Society, $512,388 ; the ganized methods of help for men, wom- National Bible Society of Scotland, en, and children needing aid by reason $165,000 ; the London Society for the of age, sickness, misfortune, orphanage, Promotion of Christian Knowledge, etc., methods originated and carried on $215,000; and the London Religious entirely by the churche.~ of this city, shows Tract Society, whose missionary ex- that there are very nearly 900 of them. penditure reached $197,560 last year. Adding to these the more public or: The sum of the receipts of these five ganizations outside of church circles, of societies is $2,214,948. which people hear more, the number will be found somewhat startling. -According to a recent estimate, which seems to be moderate, the 49 so- -The value of the investments in cieties organized for Christian effort iL. church property in Brooklyn is estimatbehalf of the Jews expend annually ed by the Standard- Union at nearly $20,- $490,000. Almost all of the leading 000,000. Of this sum the Protestant churches in Great Britain and upon the churches represent about $13,000,000, continent are engaged in this form of and the Roman Catholic about $7,000,- evangelization; and of the Bums expend- 000. The former number 290 and the ed, these are specimens: the London latter 58. The sum of the debts resting Society, $189,220; the British Society, upon the Protestant churches is about $H,625; the Free Church, $44,945 ; the $3,000,000, and upon the Roman Catho- Church of Scotland, $28,760 ; the Irish lic churches $1,150,000. Presbyterian Church, $18,435. –In reckoning up the beneficences -According to the" Encycloprodia of of Christendom, hospital work must not Missions," it was written several years be omitted. London alone has almost ago that" the annual revenue of the 30 general and special hospitals, with Metropolitan Charities of London is 6000 beds, and which receive net less greater than the whole of the expendi- than 50,000 patients annually. In eneh ture in Sweden on maintaining royalty, of the large cities of the United States the administration of justice and formillions are expended upon such insti- dred Indias, with a hundred different tutions. As among those best endowed languages, and representing every stage with choicest facilities may be named of civilization, from the most primitive the Johns Hopkins Hospital of Balti- to the most advanced. Smlh differences more, and the Presbyterian Hospital of formed a great part of the prQblem of New York, whose" plant" is valued at mission work. Hinduism included only $2,500,000. about a third of the 260,000,000 inhab- itants of India; there were about 50,- -One of the most powerful private 000,000 Moslems, 6,000,000 Sikhs, Parassociations to which the recent anti- sees, and Christians, and about 20,000,- slavery movement has given birth is the 000 of aboriginal tribes. The number African Association of German Catho- of Pariahs – outside caste – was, he lics. L' Afrique reports that this asso- thought, from 40,OOO,COO to 60,000,000, ciation holds many public meetings in and these were practically, for mission different cities, publishes a journal- purposes, outside the great realm of Gott will es-and has 10 Diocesan Com- Hinduism. mittees, comprising 1500 circles and about 200,000 members. The Central -The Mission to Lepers in India, an Council at Cologne has received more organization baving its headquarters in than $130,000 in money. This is to be Edinburgh. Scotland, reports for 1890 spent in African expeditions, in found- an increase of $2180 in its receipts. ing safe retreats for threatened negroes, This society aims to reach the great in missions, orphan houses, eto., all number of lepers in India (estimated at over the German African possessions, 500,000) by establishing leper asylums, and $6000 have been given to aid in the sending special missionaries and preachtransport of the first German steamer ers, and doing what is practicable to for the Victoria Nyanza. alleviate their condition. Then it as- sists the Presbyterian Board of this ..:.-The American Baptist missionary country at Allahabad, the Church Mis- Union gives the following statistics for sionary Society at Alleppi, etc. Its atits African missions, which are confined tention having been recently especially to Congo, for the year ending March called to China., it is starting a work 31st, 1891 : Missionaries, 47; stations, there. Under its plan of work a con- 10; unordained native preachers, 10; tribution of $25 will support a leper for self-supporting churches, 1; not self. a year, and $100 will supply a Christian supporting churches, 5; church-mem- teacher to a village for the same period. bers, 454 ; Sunday-school scholars, 261 ; day schools, 20; native teachers, 14; -The first of October brought a most day school pupils, 770; value of mis- radical innovation in the educational sion property, $47,490; total expendi- policy of France, namely, the complete tures, $62,536. secularization of the boys' schools. The law of 1885 decrees that within five -The census of 1881 showed that years from October, 1886, this must be there were in India 124,000,000 women, accomplished. Steady efforts have been of whom 21,000,000 were returned as made in this direction all along, and in widows, of whom there were under 19 1890 of 52,000 teachers in these schools years of age, 669,000 ; under 15 years of only 1213 were of the clerical orders. age, 286,000 ;' under 9 years of age, 79,- The law of 1886 decrees that a similar 000. All these figures were undoubted- change must be made in the girls' ly within the appalling t}'uth. schools as soon as a sufficient number of secular lady teachers can be secured – Professor Lindsay, D.D., speaking to take the place of the sisters. As yet at the meeting of the London Missionary of the 44,000 lady teachers in France Society, thus defined the problem pre- 11 ,000 are sisters. sented by India: "There were a hun- Statistics of Missionary Societies in Gre&t FROM these tables are of necessity omitr.ed quite a large number of societies which are trulY whose aims and methods are broader and more general.
Home Missionary Income. .; Constituency.
NAlIfE OF SOCIETY. 'H O ~ "~:i B "'"0" "0-,',;;,: ·S ~.~ 0.9 j '0'""''"'"""" ~" a'~ r~1j A~ 0 0" 5 ;;:: ~ 0 ———– —————~ Society for Propagation of Gospel …… 1701 8,800 246,700 $625,_95 $100,000 1,238,685 46,300 Church Missionary Society…. ……… 1799 1,877 452,302 112,165 29,508 401,944 24,3D5 Baptist Society .. ……. ……….. 1792 1,610 7,105 571,465 London Society .. ……………….. 1795 449 464,515 22,283 Wesleyan Methodist ……………….. 1814 2,018 Methodist New Connection ……….. 1859 196 United Methodist Free Churches ……•. 1858 345 1,333 67,510 49,953 58,147 Welsh Calvinistic …………………. 1841 673 1,200 134,239 37,768 2,000 Presbyterian Church of England ……. 1847 95,140 2,750 Friends' Association …………….. ,. 1867 290 289 65,941 62,835 Universities Miss. to Central Africa….. 1860 85,875 2,175 350 200 15,836 South American …….•……..•.•…. 1844 51,736 10,015 North Africa Mission … '" ………..•. 1881 23,250 China Inland Mission ………………. 1865 190,605 Presbyterian Church of Ireland……… 1840 637 558 102,735 83,155 10,335 1,515 1,358 593,393 224,855 45,907 Church of Scotland ….•……………. 1829 1,235 1,045 340,000 377,455 94,470 184,854 202,960 68,025 Free Church of Scotland ……..• …… 1843 615 567 United Presbyterian …. ………….. 1847 40 45 5,552 3,750 233,650 337 132 21,350 116,825 9,000 Reformed Presbyterian …•. .. …….. 1842 230,273 2,000 2,000 79,483 16,320 United Brethren (Moravian) ..•………. 1732 79,539 579 9 51 98,897 Basle Evangelical … …………. 1815 19,400 529 22,945 Leipsic Evangelical Lntheran ……….. 1819 48,630 Berlin Evangelical. ………………… 1824 15,523 Rhenish Missionary Society………… 1829 North German . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1836 ………. Gossner's ~Ii88ion ….. : ….• 1836 Hermannsburg ….. …. …… ……. 1849 Dutch Missionary Society…………… 1818 Dutch Reformed Church……………. 1859 180 280 5,500 Ermelo Missionary Society ………••.. 1846 5,00G Paris Evangelical. ………………. .. 1822 48,315 13,846 Danish Missionary Society..•…•……. 1721 430 19,626 …… Danish Mission to Santals ……. … Norwegian Missionary Society .. … 1869 54,958 67 Swedish Missionary Association …•.•.. 1842 122,000 Swedish Evangelical National……•..•. 1835 550 650 80,000 34,852 Totals for Europe. ……………. 1856 – -245 – – – – – – – – – 48,959 – – – – Totals for America ……………… — Grand Totals…………… 12,845 27,839 2,339,420 5,852,549 796,315 1– 285 104,888 10,936,317 4,180'~1 507,883 73, 1 86,134 132,737 13,275,737 10,033,151 1 1,304,198
Brita.in and on the Continent for 1891.
missionary, but whose sphere, or mode of work, is so peculiar as not to tabulate with that of those Missionaries. Native Helpers.
·1 ~ o -.-. ~ ~ I~ ~ 2,300 ~,87~ ~ ~~ -;687 -1-,827' 1,800-~0,600 318 72 219 76 ~78 3,792 4,755 327…. 50,005 3,250 1,719 70,311 131.. 1051 6 602 2,624 3,467 515…. 48,509 2,924 .•. 17,144 159 18 121 39 1,202 4,195 5,684 1,9~ … 67,797 …. 1,643 63,873 264 97 86 91 144 6,445 7,036 363 1,572 40,078 1,934 805 65,803 71 5 1 3 36 53 60 42 1,301 33 16 240 66 295 ••. •• 9…. 370 275 145 10,335 227 152 11,367 93 5 1 . . . . 564 582 163 72 1,869 285 143 4,143 20 13 22 17 8 108 188 134 43 3,746 103 4 41 •.. 17 •.. 24… 350 391 265 150 2,796 . ••. 140 2,945 24 26 1 29 3 85 168 22 12 850 …. 27 2,500 1212 ..• 6 2 …. 32 25 . . . . . . • . • • • • • . . . . . .
17 9 28 54 17 1 20 171 70 142 13 174 570 172 94 3,038 424 30 423 12 3 11 10 2 124 162 24 18 590 252 52 3,533 22 10 H 23 7 89 165 37 33 951 285 89 5,287 52 45 331 35 15 640 800 224 42 6,895 696 313 27,951 .. ·1 57 15 25 20 538 655 251 15,799 900 1 1 9 12 3 1 37 3 3 100 127 24 135 6 19 1,691 2,002 133 137 31,591 2,757 235 20,629 106 29 90 4 39 672 936 352 11,584 1,279 282 "0,500 25 1 14 491 531 117 141 13.559 228 177 4,492 60 11 59 5 5 471 611 145 10,892 2,011 55 4,158 75 3 61 1 11 490 641 158 134 10,735 360 121, 5,536 94 7 4 1 26 51 14 442 34 'Ii 358 17 167 30,027 69 332 401 59 12,371 1,770 2,567 8 8 24 40 20' … 1,013 3 4. 112 120 '" 65 6,500 1,000 12 6 10 16 6 30 700 30 3 27 6 19 206 391 261 19 9,122 131 7,928 52 5 1 3 24 35 4- 4 208 62 5 5 5 142 165 14 14 6,070 707 2 284 40 5 37 12 16 916 1,026 • 379 17,055 3,246 372 30,580 23 10 6 6 45 12 6 200 4 160 – -11 7 – -9 – -5 – -3 – -26 – 61 – 10 – 5 – 108 50 – 10 – 453 — — – – — —- – — – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2,283 772 1,149 688 1,570 27,704 35,037 6,948 2,946 447,041 22,382 8,235 403,664 — — — 966 736111,341 7,218 11,946 4,649 8,6251 285,276 29,806 4,867 169,451 – – – – – – 1,066 145 — —- — —— 3,349 917 2,115 1,424 2,911 34,922 46,983 11,597 11,571 682,317 52,188 13,102 573,115
GENERAL 1lISSIONARY INTELLIGENC1il
Statistics of Woman's Missionary Societies in America and Europe.
THE names by which the societies are designated are those of the denominations or of the larger societies with which they are connected. In cases where more than one Woman's Board exists in a ehurch the work of all is included in a single statement.
. j . SOCIETIES.~~o.~'~~II·]~~j~~ a) ~ ~~ ~ ~ f~ 'Q1 a:I ~~H § 1__ i I I ________________ .
Baptist (Four Societies)….. '" 1871 4,060 132,460 70 17 4 130 273 5,675 Baptist, South …………….. _ 1888 Free.Baptist…. ……….. 1873 1,469 21,398 18 5 .. Seventh-Day Baptist.. .. …. …. 1884 1 Congregational (Four Societies). 1868 307 7,G94 20 13 8 305 Methodist Episcopal …• _. . . . .. . 1869 70 675 95 5 Methodist Episcopal, South…. 1878 3,849 4 11 11 1 12 Methodist Protestant… . . . . . . . . . 1879 157,364 20 2 Presb. (Seven Societies) .•….. _ 1870 104 4 .. 245 397 11,217 Cumberlaud Presbyterian……. 1880 53 15 United Presbyterian………… 1884 5,557 220,330 100 4 .. 626 852 10,896 Reformed Dutch…… …….. 1875 Protestant Episcopal…. …. …. 1872 3,272 85,969 31 1 37 34 1,248 Reformed Episcopal .. __ . . . . •. . 1889 11 .. Evangelical Lutheran Synod…. 1879 435 5,059 4 5 2 50 Christian Disciples.. _………. _ 1875 1 United Brethren ………….. 1875 5,865 336,244 251 209 356 Fri.ends' Society………… .. .. 1889 1 Union Missionary Society…… , 1860 524 11,216 5 22 2 4 169 Canada Baptist (Three Societies) 1870 Canada Presby. (Three Socs.)… 1876 782 16,704 19 5 268 2,793 Canada Methodist…….. ….. 1881 15 1 Propagation Society… …….. 1865 834 19,413 28 2 .. 57 14 895 Church Missionary Society…… 1880 Baptist Zenana ……… _……. 1867 59 36,838 39 112 1 30 95 3,163 Wesleyan Methodist………. .. 1858 2 London Missionary Society. . . . . 1875 4,077 2 I> Presbyterian Church….. , ….. 1879 Presbyterian ChurCh, Ireland… 1874 584 9,000 52 27 1 2 20 939 Female Education in East. . . . . . 1834 20 3 Syrian Schools.. .. .. .. .. •…. .. 1860 1,329 10,000 4 13 2 2 52 Church of Scotland………… 1838 Free Church of Scotland .. _. . . . 1843 44 14,567 10 2 18 United Fresbyterian …….. __ .. 1880 431 66 226 23,164 18 8 7 304 Total" 60,027 60 109 158 3,929 315 12,109 11 66 21 103 760 39,072 16 511 25,560 13 11 13 419 35,417 61 104 18 4,250 961 129,085 7 650 192 7,811 38,650 48 161 144 1,800 432 42,880 32 08 281 12,000 32,355 36 139 10,000 160 16,665 19 19 14 273 19,115 8 56 19 1,100 275 35,000 40 275 19,978 76 17,435 103 31 29 2,996 546 52,685 22 98 39 2,590 89,125 29 232 70 7,354 259 18,990 21 75 32,9!l4 1,785.001 1,305 ~,052 3,295 112,269 British Foreign Missions. By Rev. James requesting Government aid on behalf Johnston, Bolton, England. of the East Africa Company.
" Farewell" to C. M. S. Missiona- Furlough of the Rev. E. C. Gordon ries.-On September 29th a crowded from Uganda.-A hearty welcome is gathering assembled in Exeter Rail, being accorded to this splendid mis- London, under the presidency of Sir sionary-the latest arrival from a peril- John Kennaway, to bid farewell to some ous sphere of operations. He is a sixty-seven missionaries-clergy, laity, nephew of the late Bishop Hannington, and ladies-thirty-nine of whom were through whose devotion Cyril Gordon fresh recruits. Bishop Tucker was pres- was incited to leave wife and friends . ent, and spoke of the whiteness, vast- behind in entering on the hazardous ness, and inestimable worth of the har- " call" to the Dark Continent. In 1882 vest. A party of nine join him for the uncle and nephew sailed together.
Eastern Equatorial Africa. The Pales- The following year Hannington was tine work had a vigorous reinforcement driven back by fever, but again re.- represented. With Archdeacon ]l.10ule, turned in 1884 to the land he bad learned who has S13en thirty-one years of service to love, as first bishop in Eastern Equa- in China, a strong band were leaving for torial Africa. His tragical murder soon mid-China. Among the Punjab mis- afterward stirred the whole civilized sionaries was the Rev. E. F. E. Wigram, world. Gordon was spared, and through son of the society's honorary secretary, nine long years has heroically labored.
who is sacrificing a bright and lucrative The climate and trials 4ave told deeply career at home for the "good cause" on a vigorous constitution. Rest and abroad. In addition to the above-named care will be needed if, as it is antici- contingent were a number of missiona- pated, he is to return in 1892.
ries' wives. At a subsequent meeting, The Congo Free State and its Misorganized by the Church of England sions.-There is ground for the state- Zenana Missionary Society, to wish ment in the English press that the King " God-speed" to some twenty-five ladies of the Belgians had informed the Pope about to depart for India and China, the that the Roman Catholic form of Chris· chairman, Sir Charles U. Aitchison, tianity is to be the recognized religion spoke of the Gospel in these two great of the Free State, and that His Majesty empires as the most effective means has placed his African dominions under of glorifying God and of solving many the direct protection of the Virgin Mary, perplexing social and political ques- as the patron saint of the Free State. tions. Gratifying as this will be to His Holi- Africa-Uganda.-The Church Mis- ness, it is not supposed that it causes sionary Society'S General Committee any anxiety to the English Protestant was summoned the last week in Sep- missionaries who have for many years tember to consider the situation in had flourishing missions on the Congo.
Uganda, in view of the proposed with- King Leopold is well disposed to these drawal of the Imperial British East Af- worthy men, a proof of which has been rica Companyfrom that country. Bishop shown in asking one of the leaders in Tucker and the Hev. E. C. Gordon, the that region-Rev. George Grenfell-to latter fresh from East Africa, stated become a member of the Belgian Com- that the abandonment of the country by mission for the delimitation of the the company" will plaile the Protestant boundary between the Free State and Christians there in a position of immi- Portuguese territory in the Lunda coun- nent peril." The gravity of the posi- try. Mr. Grenfell has accepted the in- tion is realized by the pioneers of the vitation, and shortly leaves England for mission and its friends. It was decided the Congo. The landmarks between to memorialize Lord S:1lisbury at once, the respective territories will doubtless be soon arranged. It is not intended outcome of unceasing prayer, marked that Mr. Grenfell should take the now the whole proceedings.
missionary steamer, the Goodwill. This Dr. Glover on Missions in China.- will follow the missionary in seotions, Speaking of the" Needs and Claims of and will be put together on the Congo, China" before the Baptist Union in where it must become a valuable addi- Manchester; the doctor gave some of tion in assisting missionaries and car- the impressions which he had received rying cargoes. from a recent visit to that great Eastern empire. ·He l'emarked that the creed Though slavery is passing away for a of the Chinaman was in brief, "I beconsiderable distance up the Congo, lieve in man," meaning by that the ex- Mr. Grenfell speaks in sorrowflll terms istence and worship of man and in the of the ravages of the" infamous drink claims of man on man. The success of traffic" caused by the white man. In missions in that country was real. It reducing the natives to a wreck men- was greatest in the country districts, tally, physically, and morally, Mr. Gren. where family life was purest; less sucfell said it was an open question whether cessful in the cities; still less in the the horrors of slavery were not less dis- ports; least of all in the treaty ports. astrous than the terrible consequences In the north and south among every of the drinking habits. They now knew class it was visible, and its dimensions 6000 miles of river, or a coast line of were very striking. There were nearly about 12,000 miles in Central Africa, 40,000 converts in China, who have been which gave them access. to scores of vil- gathered together in forty years, in spite lages and towns on the banks and their of contempt, hatred, and miRccJllcep_ vicinity. In combating the darkest tions at once awful, heart· breaking and mass of heathendom that the world heart· wearing. More men and more knew, Mr. Grenfell believes the burden women were urgently required to spread of it will hav" to be done by the native the work. converts, of whom so many were bravely responding to the need. This was one of the most encouraging features of the The Anti-Foreign Riots in China.- work. To help dispel the native misapprehen- sions regarding what is done in mission China Inland Mission.-Still lead- schools and hospitals, it is now stated ing the crusade in China in the modern that British and other missionary bodies revival of missions, this enterprising are being urged to adopt rules for the society bade farewell to a party of guidance of their members in China. It twenty – six outgoing missionaries in is a common native belief that the eyes London on September 21st. Some of and other organs of the dead are taken these devoted servants formed a re- by Europeans for the purpose of mak- sponse to the appeal from the Shanghai ing certain medicines. For the same Conference for a thousand missionaries use children are supposed to be stolen to China during the next five years. and killed. The kernel of this rumor The stations of the mission have been proceeds from the fact that missionary mercifully preserved from the recent bodies, especially the French sister· outbreaks. Among the lady missiona- hoods, take in the little waifs and strays ries were Miss Mina Sundstrom, from of Chinese cities and give them shelter Finland; Miss Sekina Storhang, from and education. In order to overcome, if Norway; and Miss Eugenie C. Hilbold, possible, the ignorance and prejudice from Strasburg. Four of the departing of the Chinese mobs, there is a proposal missionaries had been members of the on foot that all missionaries-princi- Rev. Archibald G. Brown's church, in- pally those superintending hospitals, cluding his own daughter, Miss Eleanor schools, and foundling institutions- M. Brown. Intense enthusiasm, the should, on a death occurring, communicate with a local officer to make an in- interesting figures respecting a country quiry, and likewise allow the institu- where suffering in a terrible form exists tions to be open at any time to the in- in many districts. The Government of spection of Chinese officials. When the Irkutsk, the capital of Siberia, which is scheme is submitted to the missionary divided into five districts, contains only societies there is no doubt that they will 868,552 persons, of whom three fourths readily adopt it. Certain representative are of the orthodox religion. There are missionary committees have suggested 487 schools of different kinds in Irku tsk, the plan and discusded it with the con- where Christian children are taught Buls. When it is put into practical form alongside of Pagans, Mohammedans, it will tend to remove the fanatical no· Buddhists, and the worshippers of tions that there is "nything to screen in stones and talismans. In this extensive connection with the institutions which region are 60,000 of the last-nlmed class. have rendered invaluable aid to thou- 12,000 Buddhists, 6000 Jews, and 2500 sands of dying Chinese orphans and Mohammedans. In the Transba'ikal, homeless little ones. where political convicts are chiefly to be found, there are 110,000 women who A " Polynesian Society."-Akin to do not belong to the orthodox religion, the plan and objects of the Asiatic So- and in the same district 13 schools, the ciety, it is urged, in New Zealand, that teachers of which are exiles or deported a society might be established to cover criminals. Australia, New Zealand, Chatham Islands, Polynesia proper, Melanesia, Monthly Bulletin, Micronesia, Malaysia, and Papua. Contributions of a most helpful character -Dr. Shedd, writing of the" Work would be presented and circulated relat- among the Nestorians,.. in the Indeing to Polynesian Inthropology, ethnol- pendent, says, .. We have not an easy ogy, philology, and history. Everything mission field in Persia." But he sees that has a bearing on the manners, cus- also the bright side of things. He says, toms, practices, and kindred questions .. There is this encouragement among affecting oceanic races would be pre- the Nestorians of Persia, that from year served. Mr. Percy Smith, of Welling- to year there is a wider interest, more ton, the originator of the movement, spiritual thirst, more Christian activity will be content if the society at the out- in education and work for souls, and esset is not of large dimensions, inasmuch pecially more volunteer work by laymen. as he believes that good work, by its There is a stronger' momentum toward agency, will eventually attract scientific the evangelical cause." The most pressmen in every part of the world, Every ing need which he sees in this field is day opportunities are slipping away of for more houses of worship. As at procuring information from the natives home, so in distant Persia, a church themselves, or from European and building, with manse and school, tends American missionaries, respecting the to make all Christian work permanent. customs of former times-a permanent repository for this is urgently needed. -At a missionary meeting in New What valuable facts are happily pre- Guinea, held recently, one of the speakserved in the literature by missionaries ers picked up a spear and said, "This may be judged from the works of Dr. used to be our constant companion; we Turner, Dr. Inglis, and others, so high- dared not go to our gardens without it ; ly praised by Professor Max Miiller, Sir we took it in our canoes; we carried it H. Tylor, and a number of scientific on our journeys; we slept with it by scholars. 011r side; and we took our meals with it close at hand; but," said he, holding Siberia.-A St. Petersburg journal, up a copy of the Gospel, .. we can now quoted by the London Times, giTes some sleep safely because of this; this book has brought to us peace ancI protection, Christian Associations opened in AmancI we no longer require the spear." sterdam, August 12th. The total num- ber of delegates was about 500, of whom 8yria.-Mrs. Eddy, of the Presbyte. 100 carne from America and 100 from rian Syrian Mission, who has spent England. There were also large deleforty years in that fielcI, describes very gations from Holland, Germany, Switvividly the changes wrought in that zerland, and France. Sweden, Italy, time. She h~s kept house in Syria in Russia, India, and many other countries twenty.seven different houses. Some were also represented. '[he officers think the missionaries have good times. elacted were President, Count Von Hog- So they do, if they can; but not such endorp, of The Hague; Vice-Presidents, as they have in this country. When George A. Williams, of London, Wilshe reachf'cI Beirut there was no rich liam E. Dodge, of New York, and Count church building; but even then she A. Bernstorff, of Berlin. The annual could "sing the songs of Zion in a report showed 4151 associations affiliatstrange laud." Now they have a large ing with the central committee, of which church edifice, a choir, a hymn-book- there were, in the United States, 1305 ; some of our tunes set to the hymns-a in Canada, 80 ; in Great Britain, 614 ; Sabbath-school room built as a memorial in Germany, 800; in Holland, 387 ; in offering. There are five other churches. Switzerland, 379 ; in Norway, Sweden, There is a large Beirut seminary. and Denmark, 223 ; in France, 66 ; in Houses and homes have been greatly Russia, 9 ; in Asia, 92 ; and in Africa, improved. In times of sickness, instead 13. of finding pictures of the Virgin, we see the Bible laid upon the pillow of the Samoa.-Th(,l Samoan group have a sick. Great changes are noted in the Christian population of 30,000. In the speech of the women. Cursing, for- largest of the islands there are not fifty merly so common, has in a great meas. families that fail to observe family worure passed away. There is a prayer in ship. Last year, besides supporting the home. Then hardly a woman could the Gospel at home, they sent a thank read; now many read in their homes. offering, as their custom is, of $9000 The women are learning to pray in their to the parent Missionary Society of meetings, which are much blessed. London to help to carry the good news farther on. When a church-member -The number of blind seen in the dies, they still keep his name on the East is very distressing. There are books, and put a mark after it, denotblind schools at Beirut, Damascus, and ing a word picture which means, .. We Tyree. Blind Scdpture readers have the cannot think of him as dead either to entree of Moslem homes, a privilege us or to the work. We shall give a which blindness confers. contribution in his name, that the cause may not suffer by his removal hence." Thibet. – A Moravian mISSIonary named Letzen, with his wife, certainly General.-The Scarritt Bible Training is to be written with those who love School for Missionary Workers in Kantheir fellow. men. For thirty years he sas Oity is a new institution projected has been preaching and working at a by the late Dr. Scarritt, who bequeath Ad station in the Thibetan mountains, a tract of ground and $25,000 in money, without the sight of a European face, on condition that $25,000 more be raised and with the post-office fourteen days by the Methodist Episcopal Church, distant, separated from them by the South. This sum has been promptly high passes of the Himalayas and dan- raised, and the corner-stone has been gerous streams. laid for the building. The design is to train young men and women for home Y. M. O. A.-The Twelfth Interna- and foreign mission work. It is expecttional Convention of Young Men's ed that the school will be opened in had aided them. They speak of the 1892. people in a place called Tankay, who -Dr. John E. Clough, an American had never received instructions in Christian things. They had simply Baptist missionary, is now in the Unit· heard the word .. praying," and' they ed States, having spent twenty-six years knew that people who did that met toamong the Telugus in India. When he gether in one place. Noone of their went there such was the force of preju- number was able to read or to tell them dice that the Hindus, meeting the mis- anything about the Gospel. They had sionary on the street, would make a a New Testament, bought in Imerina, long detour, lest his shadow falling on but that lay unopened, since no one them, or the odors of his person being could read it. On a Sunday they met in waftad toward them by the wind, should a house; they placed the Testament in cause defilement. When hi'! came away their midst, no one could read, no one such was the char.ge that the Hindu could sing or pray, and so they sat for a citizens of the highest position gave time in silence. When ell were assemhim a farewell meeti.ng, inviting Chris- bled, one of the chief men stood up and tians, MohammedanR, and Brahmins to asked, .. Have all come from the north ?" join in a public expression of gratitude "Ay," answered they all. .. Have all for the great blessing his labors had come from the south?"' .. Ay. " And brought t. their country. Dr. Clough so on from the east and west. .. Then now asks for 25 extra millsionaries and let us break up, for we have done our $~O,OOO for the support of. his work. duty," said the chief; .. but be sure He tells of a meeting appointed at his and come early next Sunday." Is it not own house for a certain day. Two days pitiful to think of these men groping in before the date of the meeting the peo- the dark when they seem so ready to ple began to gather from distant parts, walt in the light? and on the morning of the day over 3000 had assembled. Of the congregation at New IIebrides.-Twelve years ago Rev. the close of the service, which lasted Oscar Mi()helson landed on the island several days, 1671 persons came forward, of Tonga, in the New Hebrides, alone desiring baptism and membership in among cannibals. At first he had the church. In 1866 there were only many perilous adventures, and again 38 conversions on the work, but in 1877 and again fled into hiding to save his the membership had grown to 4517, life. Once a savage, now one of his while in 1878 10,000 were baptized, and best teachers, levelled a rifle to kill in 1890 the membership had risen to him, but was stopped by Ii. look. He 33,838. Dr. Clough gives the chief persevered amid many threatenings and credit in this wonderful work to the dangers. His house became known as native preachers and the Bible women. "The Sunday House," and Christian Madagascar.-The London Missionary hymns were often heard mingling with Society has published a review of ten heathen songs. From heart to heart, years' work in Madagascar. The figures from home to home the Gospel won its are encouraging, but still more impor. way, until now 30 Christian teachers tant is the impression that is given of are laboring in as many different viI.
both progress and permanence. There lages. Mr. Michelson's field now in- is a growth of piety, vf intelligence, dudes, he writes, four whole islands.
and of the power of religion among the The people speak three ianguages. At people. Christianity is asserting its one meeting 300 rose for prayer. Ten reformatory and transforming power. years ago they proposed to eat him.
-A touching story comes from Mada- Now he lives in perfect safety.
gascar, in a letter written by native Palestine.-The medical mission at missionaries to friends in England who Gaza, in the Holy Land, has been very effectively carried on by Dr. Elliott. In Balolos, on the Upper Congo, report the 1878 Rev. A. W. Shapira opened this region to be healthy. A missionary at the mlSSlon. He has lately been appointed Lolongo station writes: .. Only one lady by Bishop Blyth to the ohapel at Haifa. here has suffered from fever since our 'l'his mission has 400 boys and girls in arrival, fourteen months ago; three of the schools. The children's hospital at us have enjoyed wonderful good health. Jerusalem is superintended by Dr. M. The combined fevers of all three of us Sandreczki. The medical mission at may perhaps have lasted twenty·four Nazareth is under Dr. Vartan, at Tibe. hours." rias under Dr. Torrance. -The London Missionary Society's Persia.-Missionary Horberg (Luthe- mission at Lake Tanganyika is rejoicing ran), writes that the pupils of his Bible in the first gathering of fruit. Kalulu class on Saturday afternoons and on was ransomed as a poor hoy Borne few Sundays visit the neighboring villages years ago, and ever since has been more and speak to the people about religious or less in contact with the missionaries. matters. About twenty villages have Only recently did he show any desire to been visited. The missionary recently become a Christian. The service when visited the leper village near Tabriz, and he was baptized and received the compreached to the unfortunate people, who munion was an occasion of great joy, begged him to come again. and made a deep impression on the natives. -One of. the most cheering signs reported is interest among laymen in vol- -The translftion of the Scriptures, unteer effort. Two from Persia are begun by Mr. Mackay, missionary to physician~, good men, full of the Holy Uganda, is being diligently completed Ghost and of faith. They support their by three of his most intelligent converts families by their profession, but find and pupils. The memoir of Mackay by time to make tours and to do the work his sister, of which eight thousand of evangelists for whole weeks at their copies have been sold, has led several own charges. Four others own prop- young men to consecrate themselves to erty in vineyards, and spend all their the evangelization of Africa. time beyond what is necessary to attend to their property in direct work Alaska.-The sixth annual report of for souls. the Moravian Mission at Bethel, Alaska, shows a year of quiet, faithful work. -A young Mussulman girl was brough t Religious services have been better atinto a missionary home in Ramadan, tended and there has been betterobserv· Persia, as a seamstress, and, becoming ance of the Lord's day. There has also interested in seeing other girls read, ap- been an effort to improve the tone of plied for admission to the school. Her family life by instructing husbands and family and friends hearing of it, forced wives as to their relations to each other, her to leave, but not until the Bible had and by helping them to provide more become familiar to her. A young man, comfortable homes. who had remained unmarried because he could not find a Christian wife, Egypt.-A clergyman travelling in the heard of her, and through friends, ac- East writes in the highest terms of the cording to Persian custom, a marriage American United Presbyterian Mission was arranged. The ceremony was first in Egypt and Syria. He says they are performed in Persian style, but after· gathering the young boys about them in ward the couple came to the mission- their mission schools, alld in ten years ary's home and were married in Chris- the tourist will find the villages· along tian form. the Nile filled with hundreds of young men who not only speak English well, Africa.-Missionaries who have gone but who are washed and .. clothed and to labor among the ten millions of the in their right mind."