The Missionary Review of the World — September 1938
SEPTEM8~
The Crisis-Looking Toward Madras Paul W. Harrison With Tibetans at the Crossroads E. B. Steiner Some Problems of a Midwest City L. Merle Rymph '
Why I Believe in Jesus Christ Chiang Kai..shek The Story of Meshed, The Sacred City Dwight M. Donaldson , The Modern Challenge to Christianity William Paton The Sunday Schools Over the World .
Robert M. Hopkins Practical Value of Missions to Pastors Archibald G. Adams 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Yea,.
I Church Management
For 1938 and 1939 IF YOU are considering the A Preaching and Worship Manual for the Year publication of a book, pamphlet, or tract, why not PRICE POSTPAID. $1.00 let us make it for you? Our facilities are most modem, (A full credit coupon in each book gives you a $1.00 and our location is at the credit on a Bubscription to "Church Management") "heart of distribution." Estimates on your particular re- ADDRESS quirements, with expert counsel, will be gladly fur- CHURCH MANAGEMENT nished on request. Auditorium Building Cleveland. Ohio e~ 8~ October 5 to 12-United Lutheran Obituary Notes p~ Church in America, Biennial Con- vention, Baltimore, Md. Dr. ~vi~on D. Lord, for over fifty years pastor of the First Baptist EFFECTIVE PRINTING AT October 6 to ll-International GOOd- church of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N. ECONOMICAL PRICES Y., the president of the American will Congress. Palaee Hotel, San Baptist Home Mission Society and re- The Evangelical Pre•• Francisco, Calif. cording secretary of the Federal October 9 to II-Home Missions Council of Churches of Christ in Jr_-.,. 2'1oe"""s"-i"e"u0I/0 / . For14 Conference. Bu1falo, N. Y. America, died in Brooklyn, on July October 14 to 20-American Luther- Third and Reily St…. an Church, Biennial Convention, 18th at the age of seventy-nine. Dr. H.rri.J,urg, Pennaylv.nia Sandusky, .ohio. Lord was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, October 20-Baltimore, Md., Insti- and was graduated from Union The- tute for Church Women. Mrs: ological Seminary fifty-five years ago. Bruce H. McDonald, 616 West Fay- He was instrumental in effecting the ette Street, Baltimore, Md. union of the Free Bapti8t Church, of October 23 to 2~Home Missions which he was a member. with the D.e. to Remember Conference. Cleveland, .ohio. • • Northern Bapti8t Convention in 1911. October 30 to Nov. I-Home Mi8- September 11 to 13-Italian Baptist 8ions Conference. Kansas City, Mo. • Convention o;f America. Cleveland. Dr. Lemuel Call Barnel, formerly THE PRESBYTERIAn secretary of the Department of Eng~ September 26-Home Missions Con- lish-speaking Mis8ions and Indian ference. St. Louis, Mo. • The only weekly in the Work of the American Baptist Home Presbyterian Church. Mission Society, died in Yonkers, N. September 11 to 16-International Y., on July 18th at eighty-three years Convention of the Disciples of • Its message is based upon of age. Dr. Barnes was born in Kirk- Christ. Denver, Colo. the Revealed Word. of God. land, .ohio, was graduated from Kal- amazoo College, Michigan, in 1876 September 19 to 30 (tentative)- • Goes into every state in and from Newton TheoloJieal Sem- School of Missions. Mrs. Mitchell, the Union, U. S. possessiOns inary in 1878. After servIng pastor- Langdon, Tex. and many foreign countries. ates in St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Newton Center and Worcester, he became the September 21 to 28-General Council, Subscription rate – $2.50 eftlclent field 8ecretary of the Amer- United Church of Canada, Toronto, Ministerial rate – – $2.00 ican Baptist Home Mi..ion Society Canada. from 1907 to 1917. He was the author SOc. extra–Canadian postage of 8everal volume8, including "Two September 26 to 30-Southern Cali- $1.50 extra– Foreign postage Thousand Years of Mission8 Before fornia (Los Angeles) School of Carey" and "Baptist Work Among Mission Study. Mrs. H. M. Horn, THE PRESBYTERKIn American Indiana." His widow, Mary 1811 Huntington Drive, South Pas- Clark Barnes, survives her husband adena, Cal. 121 7 Market Street after nearly sixty years of married Philadelphia. P •• life. September 27 to. 21i'-A Second In- ••• terdenominational Women's Insti- Dr. Paul Rader, the well-known tute is to be held in the McCormick "cowboy evangelist," fonuerly pastor Memorial Y. W. C. A., Chicago. of the Moody Memorial church in Chi- Dr. T. H. P. Sailer, Dr. Arthur E. cago, (1914-1921), died in Hollywood, Holt, Prof. Samuel Kincheloe, Mrs. California, on July 19th, at the age E. E. McClintock and Miss Esther of 68 years. He was born in Denver, McRuer will be the leaders. Dr. H. Colorado, and in early youth was a cowboy. His father, Rev. Daniel L. —–Paul Douglass will conduct a semi- Rader, was a Methodi8t minister and nar on church unity and Dr. E. K. Paul became interested in evangelism Higdon, formerly of the Philip- at the age of thirty-one. He began pines, will conduct a seminar on preaching on street corners in Pitts- the Madras Conference. Dr. Sam burgh and afterwards he fllied pas- Higginbottom will speak at an eve- (CO'1/eltuled on pa,ge 887.) ning mass meeting.
October 4 to ~Warren, .ohio, School of Mi8sions. Mrs. George Konold, 814 Scott Street, N. E., Warren, .ohio.
and because O'f the fine print-
THE MISSIONARY ing, paper and pictures used to' illus- REVIEW OF THE WORLD trate its articles."
DBLAVAN L. PIBBSON, BcUtor (2) "THE REVIEW gives a gO'O'd ac- cO'unt O'f different fields O'f missiO'nary VOL. LXI SEPT., 1938 No.9 wO'rk. I vO'te this as the best when Publication and Business omce– Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. cO'mpared with all O'ther missiO'nary Editorial and Executive omce– magazines. I like the way in which 156 Fifth Avenue, New York CltT. it handles each subject." . ~ Entered as second-class matter at (3) "THE REVIEW is a magazine;bf Post Omce, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879. the three-star variety. All the main 25 cents a copy-$2.50' a year. articles are O'f timely interest. This Foreign Postage, 50' cents a Tear. Published monthlT, except August. interdenO'minatiO'nal REVIEW gives an All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1937. British agents – Marshall, Morgan unbiased view O'f the great issues at· and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, stake." . London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, 10' shillings a year. (4) "I place THE REVIEW first MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- amO'ng missiO'nary magazines. The LISHING CO., INC. department of Wa.ys of Working is BOARD OF DIRECTORS ROIIERT E. SPBER, Prellidcmt an effective feature fO'r the far- A. L. W ABNSHl1IS, ViC7e-Praridmt WALTER McDoUGALL, Treasurer sighted pastO'r. The World-Wide Out- DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretof'll look is alsO' far abO've all O'thers in giving wO'rld news. The magazine is PAUL J. BRAlSTED SAMUEL McCREA CAVlIlRT evangelical withO'ut being narrow." D. J. FANT MRS. ORRIN R. JunD Personal Items Malwa-the Great Temple WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH Miss Anna Belle Stewart, for many When Ihe good wOl'k SAMUBL M. ZWBMBll years a very effective missiO'n wO'rker calls you Basi … sail Editorial Chat among the mO'untaineers O'f the SO'uth, is retiring frO'm active service under p&O Since nO' August number O'f THE REVIEW was published both July and the Presbyterian BO'ard O'f NatiO'nal 1938 begins a second century of P & 0 September issues are enlarged in size. service to the lands beyond Suez! When- If the subscribers will nO'te this it will MissiO'ns, having reached the age ever you are called to the other side of save extra cO'rresPO'ndence. the world, choose this traditional route. limit. Miss Stewart did a remarkable Cross to England by Cunard White Star Our October number O'f THE RE- ••. and then embark in a great liner of VIEW will be devO'ted to' India, the fO'r- wO'rk at ColcO'rd, West Virginia, and the P & 0 and British India fleets, led eign missiO'n study subject fO'r the by the new 23,SOO·ton Stratheden and cO'ming year, and a large number O'f fO'r the last few years has been pi- Strathallan, featuring air- conditioned very valuable and interesting subjects O'neering in the Smyrna CO'mmunity dining saloons in first class, hot and cold are in view. The main tO'pics and au- running water throughout, built·in outthO'rs are nO'ted O'n the third cO'ver O'f Center, Byrdstown, Tennessee. Her of·door swimming pools, children's playthis issue. These include articles by rooms! Regular service to Egypt, Sudan, outstanding authO'rities, bO'th Indian wO'rk is to' be taken up by Grace Jus- Persian Gulf, India, Burma, Ceylon, and fO'reign. Straits Settlements, China, Japan, Aus- tice, whO' has been associated with tralia, East and South Africa, Mauritius. *** Special reductions and generous bag- Miss Stewart as a vO'lunteer, and has gage allowance for missionaries. N O'W is the time to' O'rder quantities O'f this issue O'f THE REVIEW in O'rder shO'wn the ability, understanding and Convenient through bookings can be arto' take advantage O'f the special price ranged by your travel agent or any office of and to' avO'id the danger O'f waiting Christlike spirit that fit her fO'r this until the editiO'n is exhausted. CUNARD WHITE STAR LINE resPO'nsibility. *** General Agents Dr. E. Stan*ley*Jon*es O'f India, will Pastors and professors of missionll 25 Broadway and 638 Fifth Avenue, N. Y. in theO'IO'gical seminaries will be espe- address a meeting O'pen to' all mincially interested in the article in the present number O'n "The Practical isters in Marble CO'llegiate church, Value O'f MissiO'ns," by ProfessO'r Archibald G. Adams O'f Temple Uni- New YO'rk, at 10: 30 a. m., MO'nday, versity. In a persO'nal letter to' the EditO'r, PrO'fessO'r Adams quotes the September 26. He will participate in O'piniO'ns O'f many O'f his students as to' the interest and value of THE RE- the University Christian MissiO'n VIEW in keeping them in touch with wO'rld events and in helping them to' which will be cO'nducted this autumn educate their people and to' prepare at 14 American cO'lleges and univermissiO'nary sermO'ns and addresses. AmO'ng these O'piniO'ns O'f theO'IO'gical sities. •*• students are the fO'llO'wing (stated in substance fO'r brevity) : Dr. Douglas Horton, minister O'f Hyde Park CO'ngregatiO'nal church, (1) "THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF ChicagO', has been elected secretary O'f THE WORLD is rated high because O'f the General CO'uncil O'f the CO'ngregaits cO'ntent which is O'f wO'rld-wide tiO'nal and Christian Churches to' suc- ceed Dr. Charles EmersO'n BurtO'n, retired. Dr. HO'rtO'n was educated at PrincetO'n, Edinburgh and OxfO'rd Universities; has served as chaplain in the U. S. Navy, trustee O'f the American University in CairO' and at- tended many internatiO'nal cO'nfer- ences.
*** Capt. Ellis Skolfield, O'f the GO'spel Ship in the Philippine Islands, whO'
has been in America because of the ill health O'f his sO'n, has nO'w returned to' the SO'uth Seas to' cO'mplete plans fO'r taking the ship to' New Guinea and adjacent islands O'f the Dutch East Indies, as a preliminary to' O'pen- ing a permanent wO'rk there. It is expected that this survey trip will re- (Concluded on page 386.) [385 ]
I Itemi retary to the Board of Foreign Mis- What Shall We Study?
(Concluded from page 385.) sions of the Presbyterian Church, The American City and Its Church U. S. A. He assumed his new office (Kincheloe) presents the missionary quire about three months, after which on July 15, and is in charge of the task as emergent, with our rapidly in- Capt. Skolfield will return to America work in China. creasing urban population, treating to make his report and lay plans for ~!,mn5 the subject vigorously and construc- the future. *** tively. (Cloth, $1.00; paper, 60 cents.) City Man (Sears) is a special edi- Dr. Charles E. Maddry, Executive tion of a recent book that provides Secretary of the Southern Baptist of tbe Foreign Mission Board, who attended valuable supplemental material for the study topic. ($1.50 and 75 cents.) the Baptist Union of Italy in Rome, ctCbrl£ittan Urban Scene (Bro) presents the sailed from England for West Africa city today and its church in striking to visit Southern Baptist work in Ni~1 photographs, maps, pictorial statistics, geria. He expects to be back in Rich- 1Lt ~'f~ brief, gripping statements, etc. Inmond, Virginia, in September. dispensable for groups of all ages.
*** (25 cents.) ell BOOK of worship in song, com….. The foregoi,ng are for adu~t Mr. William Albert Harbison has resigned as treasurer of the American bining a hymnal for general groups. SpeCIal young people s >: Mission to Lepers and is succeeded by books are: Mr. W. Espey Albig, deputy manager A Course for Young People on the of the American Bankers' Association. Church in the City (Geer), which fur- church use and a song book for evan- ~elist. iC ~u'rposes: Onl d song~ • soun *** an the faith and Inspirational an char- nishes a guide to study, discussion, Dr. H. H. Underwood, President of acter included—emphasizing Evangel- worsh!p and. service, is based on The Chosen Christian College, Korea, has ism, Missions, and the Deeper Life. A merwan Ctty and Its Church and been elected President of Severance M any of the new—the best of the old. UrCblt;ttny SScheandeo. ws(25(Sceeanrtlse.)) – a coHec- Medical College, Seoul. At one time, tion of true stories challenging to Dr. O. R. Avison was President of 504 Songs Responsive Readings keenest interest. ($1.00 and 60 cents.) both institutions and under Dr. Underwood's administration these two Topicallndex Gold Embossed Street Corner (Hunting), a reading schools will continue to cooperate. and source book by which juniors ex- Published in round notes and Roxite cloth plore a city ($1.00 and 50 cents.) *** edition only at $65.00 per 100—an especiall~ low price. Single copy, 8Sc postpaid. My Community, My Church and Me Write today for returnable sample copy The Rev. Dr. Lloyd S. Ruland, for (Hallenbeck) is a helpful guide for eleven years pastor of West Presby- CHRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS, Inc. city groups in studying their own com- terian Church in Binghamton, New 1502 NORTH THIRD STREET munities and developing a program of York, has accepted a call to be sec- HARRISBUltG, PA. local service. (35 cents.) HAVE YOU READ?
THE LIFE OF GEORGE BOWEN OF BOMBAY By ROBERT E. SPEER The biography of a remarkable missionary whom the (then) Prince of Wales visited in Bombay at the request of his mother, Queen Victoria.
What some readers say of this book: Robert Speer's "Life of George Bowen of Bombay" is one was so far-sighted and so deep-seeing !-the former because of the richest of missionary biographies. the latter. If one wants to sum up the interests of our DR. J. LOVELL MURRAY, Director of the Canadian School of Missions, Toronto. students today-:-Biblical, social, theological-Bowen is a What a life! He was old enough to know why he went, representative figure. And what a lesson in apparent failure! . . . I ·feel strongly that every student and alumnus of our and bad enough to know the meaning of salvation. One by- Seminary needs this book. What better book to lead them to product of his experience was his wonderful humility-noth- feed on the Bible. One hears so much "vestibule religion"- men pointing to the door and taking their people as far as the ing in the show window and himself in the remote back- threshold, but no opening up of the treasures within the ground. It is inspiring. Father's House. Read the topics of current sermons, and . DR. GEORGE P. PIERSON, formerly of Japan. Bowen's expositions are precisely what Christians need in order We must all be grateful for this revealing of the main- to grow from puerility into spiritual maturity. Here is no springs of Bowen's character, his abiding faith in God, his adolescent, but a man in Christ. This is no volume to be earnest purpose to be a true and faithful follower of Jesus read and dismissed, but to be marked and to be turned to Christ; and his deep-seated conviction that the Gospel of Christ could meet the religious needs of India's people. repeatedly. HENRY SLOANE COFFIN, WILLIAM HAZEN, President of Union Seminary. Missionary in Sho/apur, India. The Memoirs of George Bowen will continue to be for A biography of one of the saintliest figures of the nineteenth century. I could not put the book down. There is a years to come a searching manual of devotion. He has set fascination and a depth in this man's soul which held me in before me an ideal which few could attain; his life is a scathdevout attention. I found myself marking his moving sayings which would serve as starting points for chapel talks. He ing rebuke to our ease, comfort, self-indulgence and inef- ficiency. J. Ross STEVENSON, President Emeritus, Princeton Seminary.
Send $2.50 to-day for your copy of this latest book by Dr. Speer THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING CO.
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Notes bined the supervIsIon of a Boy's The great white Empresses
School with evangelistic trips. Mrs. every speed record to and from (Concluded from .2d cover page.) Derr gave her time to personal evan- the Orient. 10 days direct to gelism, teaching girls' industrial Yokohama by Empress of Asia torates in Boston and Chicago. From classes and training Bible women. or Empress of Russia. Or only 1921 to 1923 he was President of the three days more via Hawaii by Christian and Missionary Alliance *** Empress of Japan, largest and and later was President of W orld- fastest on the Pacific, or Empress Wide Gospel Couriers, a Chicago mis- Miss Lucy H. Dawson, formerly of Canada. Connect at Honolulu sionary society. Mrs. Rader and three from California ports. daughters survive him. General' 'Secretary of the Presbyterian Woman's Board of Home Missions, From Vancouver and Victoria *** died in Baltimore, May. 22, after an to Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, illness of· several years. Her mission- Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila. Fred S. Goodman, for many years ary service included volunteer work Details from YOUR TRAVEL a member of the International Com- in city missions in Baltimore, re- AGENT or Canadian Pacific.: mittee of the Y. M. C. A. and for ligious work director of the Y. W. 41 offices in U. S. and Canada. some years an invalid, died at his C. A., in the Presbyterian Training home in Monclair, New Jersey, on School for Christian workers, the July 12th at eighty years of age. Mr. Daily Vacation Bible Schools and Goodman was born in Rockport, Illi- various women's missionary organizanois, in 1858 and was graduated from tions. After the consolidation of all Kalamazoo College, Michigan. He en- home mission agencies into the Board tered into Y. M. C. A. work in 1881 of National Missions, Miss Dawson and became associated with the In- became Promotion Secretary for ternational Committee twenty years women's work. later. During the World War he served on the World War Council and THE CITY had charge of the Religious Work Institutes for training those engaged The city-what is a city? in Y. M. C. A. war work. He was A city-that is where both Dives and retired in 1922 and then for ten years was American Secretary of the Wal- Lazarus live. densian Aid Society. He is survived A city-that is where men die of loneby one son, a daughter and eight grandchildren. liness in a crowd. A city -that is the land of plenty *** where men die of starvation. Dr. Charles C. Selden, formerly of A city-that is where a thousand peo- Canton, China, died suddenly in Oberlin, Ohio, June 15. He was an affili- ple live on an acre of ground that ated missionary of the Presbyterian they never see. Board, and devoted his personal for- A city is where thousands live in a tune and his life to work for the in- single block and never know they sane and the blind of China. He never have a neighbor. accepted any salary and lived simply A city is a place where may be seen in order to make conditions easier for both the glitter of vice and the the unfortunates. He retired in 1932. glow of virtue. but continued to live in China until A city is a place where vice centers in last March. sunless spots, and where virtue shines in secluded places. *** A city is all desert for some, all oasis for others. Mr. Walter W. Gethman, General A city is a place which some greet Secretary of the World Committee of with a cheer; others endure with the Y. M. C. A. from 1926 to 1936, tears. died in Geneva, Switzerland, July 8. But a city may not be characterized Mr. Gethman followed his war service in epigram. with the "Y" by founding a Y. M. C. A. in Czechoslovakia. He remained -CHARLES H. SEARS, in the there until taking up his post in Biblical World, October, Geneva. 1916.
*** Wherever the State claims to give Rev. J. H. Cope, American Baptist a theology to its people, or to set a principle of education, or tries to ormissionary to the northern Chin peo- ganize a conscience or impose a myth ple in Burma for thirty years, was upon the people, there you. will find stricken while on tour and died at the ultimate menace to the Christian Haka in the Chin Hills on June 13. Church.-Adolf Keller, G en e v a, Hundreds of converts and many Switzerland. churches organized among the Chins are testimony to the quality of his The fellowship of all the members service. In addition to preaching and of Christ's spiritual Church with one teaching, he translated the New another, overleaps all denominational Testament, Scripture portions and lines and all national boundaries.- Pilgrim's Progress; and also pre- President J. R. Sampey, Louisville, pared hymn books and school texts up Ky. to fourth grade in four dialects of Chin. The problem of more union among the churches of Christendom is not *** one of legislating ourselves together but rather that of the slow process of Mrs. Charles H. Derr, Presbyterian growing together.-T. S. Eliot, Lonmissionary to Chenchow, China, died don. in a sanatorium at La Vina, California on May 12. With her husband [387 ] she went to China in 1904, and located at Chenchow .where Mr. Derr com-
SANG TEACHING IN CHINA TELLING THE GOSPEL STORY IN
A WOMEN'S BIBLE CLASS IN KOREA WITH OVER 1 ,000 MEMBERS A SUNDAY SCHOOL IN NAZARETH, pALESTINE JAPANESE CHILDREN LEARNING OF CHRIST SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK AROUND THE WORLD (Bee arti ole by Robert M. Hopkins, page 402) electronic file created by cafis. org REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXI AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER, 1'938 Topics of the Times SOME THOUGHTS ON EVANGELISM There must follow guidance as well as training in the practice of devotion (Bible study and The University Preaching Mission has defined prayer) building up a Christian character, and its objective to be "to lead students to faith in finally help to enable the convert to give articulate God through Jesus Christ." If in this definition expression of his new found faith in service to his one were to substitute "men" for "students," one fellow men. Only then is the task of evangelism, might so define evangelism. However, when so so far as the convert is concerned, completed. doing, one should stress the fact that the term Faith without works is dead and of no avail. The "men" as used, refers to all men, male and fe- real test of faith is seen in the effect on a believer male, old and young, Jew and Gentile, black and and in what it impels and enables him to do.
white, agnostic and atheist, Buddhist and Mos- No doubt most people will agree on a basic lem without any exception whatsoever. This em- definition of evangelism and will probably admit phasis is essential in these days, when many its validity. Real difference of opinion arises foster a fellowship of religions, in which all re- when the question of methods of evangelism is ligions are more or less placed on a par, and who considered. Billy Sunday's high-pressure meththerefore protest against efforts to evangelize ods are not approved by some. The use of Bibmen as unwarranted "proselytism." The initial lical prophecy and scriptural appeal would be task of evangelism is to lead men to faith in God opposed by others; still others would claim sterthrough Jesus Christ. This task is not complete ility for any evangelistic effort that failed to until it has also helped such men to make a full stress personal sin, Christ crucified and redempsurrender to God and to articulate their faith, tion through His sacrifice. first to Him and then to. their fellow men in particular and to society in general. The intense emotionalism of many of the pre- war evangelistic campaigns and revivals are To lead men into faith in God through Jesus largely taboo' today. Such emotionalism is sup- Christ involves what is called conversion. Con- posed not to be in accord with present-day psycerning conversion Rabbi Solomon B. Freehof chology, practice and sophistication, though it is in his book "Stormers of Heaven" says: still used in certain Christian circles and appar- ently with success. No doubt the old revivals did There seems to be a uniqueness in the nature of Chris- often overstress the emotional appeal to the negtian conversion. Judaism is patient discipline, and Chris- lect of the appeal to reason. But today the tianity is sudden deliverance; Judaism is concerned with pendulum seems to have swung to the other exsocial development, Christianity is personal revolution. treme with intellectualism overemphasized al- 'fhere is explosive power in the Christian faith which can most to the complete exclusion of the appeal to the capture the souls of men in the calmest moment of their heart and conscience. True evangelism embodies self-contentment, tear down their spiritual organization, both. However much we may think and seek to and build it upon a new plan. understand God and our relation to Him, such an experience becomes ,articulate in life only when Would that more Christians had such convincing one feels it sufficiently to act. Mere argument faith in the explosive power of their Christian and apologetic, however convincing, rarely confaith! This tearing down of a man's "spiritual verts; invariably it is the Christian witness of a organization and building it upon a new plan," life that brings the'result. to use Freehof's words, is conversion or regeneration; this, is the first step in evangelism.
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Followers of Christ cannot evangelize others As we face the increasing human need in the until they themselves are more completely Chris- wake of wars, racial discrimination, social in- tian. Thus evangelism involves a further re- justice, moral relapse, and economic maladjust- sponsibility; it must include efforts to bring more ment, we are assailed by a sense of futility and Christlike reality into the lives of those already helplessness. What is the use of human efforts, known as Christians. This is of great impor-:- however sincere and energetic the individual may tance. We hear many criticisms of Christianity, be? Here one is forced to rely on God and away but few of Jesus, Christ. Many Jews, even the from dependence on man. As Fritz Beck writes: atheist type, assert that if Christians were more "A man without God, but with a knowledge Christlike, there probably would be no anti-Semi- of present world conditions, must surely despair."
tism, and more Jews would become Christians. At such times as these one realizes our utter de- Very true; but does not such assertion imply a pendence on GqQ and the need of Christ-centered remarkable faith in the power of the person of lives, projected out in service on the battle fronts Jesus Christ to mold lives and to influence human of human needs. Apart from God there is no relationships for good? hope or help for mankind.
One more word! God needs no proving. God One last word. Psychology stresses integra- is whether we are able or not to prove Him. Let tion of personality. That is essential. But inte- us not therefore be overanxious to prove His ex- gration of one's personality within one's environ- I istence by logic and apologetic. Let us not fall ment would seem to be of even greater impor- into the error of believing that God is simply a tance. In our world today, constituted as it is, one satisfying means of explaining an otherwise in- of the most difficult things is to be one's self, that explicable universe. God exists irrespective of is, to be an individual or to maintain one's dis- man's views or understanding of Him. And be- tinctive individuality. Independence of thought cause God is, I am. is not easy in the face of the intellectual "goose- IRRELIGION AND PAGANISM stepping" that is being enforced. We tend to conform to type and convention, like sheep which Today one encounters a lot of apparent irre- follow the bellwether. This is often especially ligion, if not out-and-out paganism. Experience true of the Christian. Some one has said "you reveals this to be very largely a veneer. Scratch it, cannot be Christian in this unchristian world and and you uncover great personal need and spirit- hope to survive." In other words, "Except a ual hunger. Men are hungry for spiritual and grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it soul-satisfying food. Many suffer from a spirit- can bear no fruit." How many are prepared to ual vacuum which craves to be filled. To others, go all the way with Christ? How many of us life means little or nothing beyond "eat, drink would do as the apostle Paul, or Kagawa, or and be merry, for tomorrow we die." They talk Schweitzer or Niemoller have done?
of the failure of the Church but hope against President Robert J. Hutchins of Chicago Uni- hope that the Church may somehow satisfy their versity, when speaking to a recent graduating personal and spiritual needs. Modern and so- class, declared: phisticated man still longs for guidance, for as- My experience and observation lead me to warn you surance, for a power that will give him victory that by far the greatest, the most insidious, the most where now he suffers defeat. He knows that paralyzing danger you will face is the danger of corrup- tion. Time will corrupt you; your friends, your wives or "the world within us means more than all the husbands, your business or professional ambitions will worlds without." " corrupt you. The worst thing about life is that it is demoralizing. One may well wonder whether all the interest, feigned and real, in world affairs, such as prob- Life was never more demoralizing than now.
lems of war and peace, of racial discrimination Never was there more need for Jesus Christ than and of economic maladj ustment, is not largely a now-not vague or general religion~but a per- smoke screen to hide this ache and yearning in sonal Christ and Saviour. To give men such a men's hearts. Christian Evangelists must deal Christ is the task of evangelism noW as ever in with these world issues, but our interest in them the past. CONRAD HOFFMANN, JR.
must not be a beating around the bush and an evasion of other essential factors. We need to THE YOUTH FOR CHRIST preach Christ and the forgiveness of sin. After conversion, then is the time to give needed ex- We thank God for youth. They are to the pression to the faith that has been born, and Church and the State, what fresh young shoots then it is necessary to project that conversion into are to the future harvest. Everywhere we hear service for others. But there is no first and of "Youth Movements."
second here in order of importance. We must do It is estimated that there are nearly twice as the one and not neglect the other. many people in the world under thirty-three as
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
over that age. It is a well-known fact that there the youth of the world wants is to be given a high is ten times as great a likelihood of a young man standard to imitate. or young woman yielding to the claims of Christ under twenty years of age as there is when they Primitive people look to those of more advanced are older. Youth is the time for taking new countries. India has copied England, Japan is steps, the time of adventure, the time of growth, imitating Germany; China is seeking a model in the time when foundations are laid and when the United States. Good patterns must be set in habits are formed. art, in literature, in education, in politics, in so- cial life and in religion if the world is to make And yet is not youth today largely wasting its progress and is not to slip back into barbarity. energies and opportunities? The spirit of ad- Inventions, discoveries and modern machinery venture is too often spent in seeking thrills in will not produce purity, peace, brotherhood and illegitimate and dangerous paths. Natural curi- love. All peoples are truly hungry for clear osity and the desire to investigate lead too fre- knowledge and for a better way of life. To inquently to spiritual skepticism and blindly look- spire them to higher things the youth need: (1) A ing for truth about God without finding Him. good example of unselfish service; (2) a good How often the strength of youth is wasted in fool- example of unpatronizing friendliness; (3) an ish self-indulgence. opportunity to learn and to improve their condi- tion; (4) the knowledge of God as revealed in And yet, humanly speaking, youth is the hope Jesus Christ. of the world. The young people of today must be the parents, the teachers and preachers, the All creeds and all "isms" are contending for the scientists and artists, the authors and leaders of enthusiastic and devoted support of youthtomorrow. If the youth of today are not won to though that support may not be intelligent and Christ what will become of the church, the school, unselfish. There is no ideal, no inspirational exthe home, missionary work, and still more im- ample and no assurance of power to attain ideals, portant what will become of the youth as they that is equal to those found in Jesus Christ. In pass through this life into the eternity beyond? Him and in His program are combined all the ele- ments that appeal to the best in youth of all ages. In ·the face of some disconcerting signs in the And youth is responding to the challenge in their world today, there are many encouraging signs of readiness to enlist in sacrificial missionary servpromise. All over the United States and Canada, ice at home and abroad. many thousands of youth are gathered every summer in Christian camps and conferences. No JAPAN'S LOSING BATTLE less than a half-million young people come together, under trained leaders, for physical and , In spite of Japan's military advantage in modspiritual recreation. At a thousand or more re- ern equipment and trained soldiers, her military sorts these multitudes of earnest young people party is waging a losing battle in China. This meet to listen to inspirational addresses and to is becoming more evident as the months pass. learn what life and service mean. Japan has disregarded justice and mercy, has alienated other nations that are not ruled by the Similar gatherings are being held in foreign same ideals, and she depends on deceit and force lands, not only in Great Britain and many parts to keep her people in line at home. While China of Europe, but in practically all the mission fields. has now the most enlightened patriotic and able There were pra.ctically no such Christian gather- rulers in her history, Japanese leaders in power ings for youth fifty years ago. They have grown exhibit less intelligence and more cruelty than has up as the result of the growing consciousness of characterized her and puts her dependence on the necessity for giving a Christian training _to armed force. The general sympathy of the world the youth of today to prepare them to be the -inactive as it is-is with the Chinese in their leaders of tomorrow. The Bishop of Uganda desperate struggle for life and peace. While the writes of African youth: conflict is welding China into a united country, it is sowing seeds of discontent in Japan; while Dr. Aggrey used to say that he would like to have nine China is becoming more Christian and is even lives if he could be sure that in each he would be an suggesting opening their schools to the teaching African and born one after the other in Africa in this of Christian truth, Japan is becoming more pagan present century. The future of the world lies largely and is forcing her Christian people to worship at in the hands of the youth. Very much, however, depends the shrines of the Sun Goddess; while China is on the next few years. Primitive youth is imitative-it showing mercy to the enemy, scattering peace is important that the youth of England and America leaflets in place of bombs by airplane over Japan, should give them a good example to imitate. Youth is the Japanese continue to spread destruction in perceptive: he looks below the surface and very quickly China by bombs and machine guns that ruthlessly sums up what a man really is.
There is a passion for reality in youth. People cannot "get away with" shams and "window dressing," at any rate for long; but youth is impulsive and so is easily influenced temporarily by an emotional appeal. What
bring death to multitudes of men, women and Thus failure to comply with the demand that all J apachildren; while China is looking forward to re- nese participate in certain Shinto ceremonies may be reconstruction after the fighting is over, Japan is garded as a good reason for withdrawing the privilege becoming more and more impoverished physically of freedom of religious belief. and spiritually; while China appeals for peace on the basis of justice and friendship, Japan seeks It is natural that special efforts should be made to control by conquest and alienates those who would secure the obedience of subject peoples when it comes to be her friends. Shrine observance. This has become an acute problem in Korea and Formosa, and will be so in Chinese terri- Other nations in past centuries have tried J a- tories which come under the control of Japan. pan's tactics and have failed, even when they have seemed to win a temporary advantage. If the Japanese realized what their military leaders are doing and planning in China we be- The situation in Japan is revealed by a letter lieve that they would rise up and overthrow the just received from one who has lived there for present regime… But they are misled by governtwenty years and who knows and loves the Jap- ment censorship and propaganda. They are told anese people. (The letter could not be mailed in that China must be protected from Communism Japan on account of the government censorship.) and liberated from the Nanking regime and from The Japanese themselves are kept in ignorance General Chiang Kai-shek, their Christian ruler. of the facts and the military propagandists pro- Staged motion pictures are used to show that the claim that ignorance, fear, selfishness and jeal- Chinese are welcoming the Japanese soldiers as ousy are the motives that actuate all foreigners liberators and benefactors rather than ravishers, who oppose the program of the Japanese mili- terrorists and spreaders of venereal disease and tarists. narcotics.
The letter (dated in Japan, June 12, 1938) is In the meantime the common people in Japan in part as follows: are suffering from economic depression through high prices and many restrictions. They are told We can easily understand the causes of the rising tide that such suffering and self-denial are patriotic. of anti-Japanese feeling in other lands. While the The work of missionaries of Christ, presenting Japanese' people themselves are conscious of the antago- His ideals and message of life, is more than ever nism of certain foreign nations, it is attributed in the needed and is welcomed. The Japanese are hunmain to Chinese propaganda and the jealousy 0:1; the gry for life and peace. It is a great opportunity powers who are losing their economic spheres of influence in China. . " The people here only know what for the missionaries who show spiritual life and appears in the newspapers, and the result is that they power and have the message of God's love and are the victims of a propaganda which interprets the salvation. And the missionaries with reduced war in terms of a righteous crusade "to deliver China forces and income are busy teaching, conducting from the peril of communism." They know nothing of conferences and summer camps, and working the ruthlessness which has apparently characterized the through the churches and Sunday schools. The operations of the army and believe that the conduct of Japanese are responding with larger attendance the war has been above reproach! at evangelistic services, and with increased en- As is the case in all wars, the common people are the rollment in mission schools and colleges. Dr. ones who bear the burden and they are the ones who Toyohiko Kagawa, and other Japanese Christians, suffer. In thinking of Japan we trust that you will dis- express the feeling of the sense of shame and tinguish between those who are leading the nation in chagrin that "Christians are so impotent to stem paths of conquest and the great mass of people who are the tide of militarism in Japan." in the dark and are having to submit to increasing regimentation and more personal self-sacrifice. The people ,Evidently humanity must learn lessons through are in darkness and need desperately to be "translated warfare and suffering that they are not willing into the kingdom of God's dear Son." The fact that to learn through peace and prosperity. Among militarism is in the saddle is no reason for reducing mis- these lessons are the futility of selfish warfare, sionary interest in J.apan. Recent developments here and the superiority of spiritual forces over the main other countries present a challenge to the Christian terial, the supremacy of true love over the seIf- Church to increase their missionary interest. seeking human ambitions. Christ did not estab- lish peace in the Roman world but He did sow the The Japane~e Christian Church is finding itself in an seeds of life and of peace and victory in the hearts increasingly difficult position. This is in spite of the fact that Japanese Protestants have always been distinguished of His followers. Among His last words to His by their loyalty to Emperor and nation, by their obedi- disciples were these: "These things have I spoken ence to law and integrity of character, and by their faith- unto you that in me ye may have peace. In the fulness in the performance of the various, duties imposed world ye have tribulation but be of good cheer, I by the State. But officialdom has not been satisfied with have overcome the world." . This is the peace and this and has seen fit to make the observance of the various the victorythat the world cannot give and cannot ceremonies of State Shinto the 'sign of good citizenship. take away. They have put believers who regard the observance of State Shinto as idolatrous in the position of appearing disloyal. The Imperial Constitution provides that: "Japanese subjects shall, within limits of law, not preju- dicial to peace and order, and not antago!listic to their duties of subjects, enjoy freedom of religious belief."
A Crisis-Looking Forward to
By PAUL W. HARRISON, M.D., Muscat, Arabia Author of "The Arab at Home"; Missionary of the Reformed Chutch in America A WORLD Missionary Conference is to be held will the Conference be a success. To the degree this year in Madras. The hope is that the that it fails to do this, the Conference will be a whole Church of Christ may focus there failure. her thanksgiving for the past, and her intercession for the future. Most of all we hope that God Nor is this something only for the few who go will give us guidance for the present. Certainly, to that South Indian city. Now is a time for us hitherto hath the Lord helped us, and we have all to bow down and pray for guidance and power come a long way in carrying out the command, from God. With our attention focused on gain- "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the na- ing God's guidance, and bringing our work into tions." We will stand with the Apostle Paul in line with His will so that we can go forward in Madras. In every direction, a great door and ef- His power, this should be a day, above all things, fectual is opened unto us "and there are many for reverent and careful study of God's Word that adversaries." If the Apostle could actually speak we may learn how He would have us carryon His to us, he would perhaps tell us that he faced no work. We need profound and prayerful studies such wonderful open doors, nor such appalling of the mind of Christ in regard to our missionary adversaries. problems. We must penetrate below the surface and understand what the Holy Spirit has to teach This is not the day of the grinning stone image. us in the life and policies of the Apostle Paul. We deal with emotional idols, terribly alive all of Different men will discover many different things them, fashioned after the likeness of Mohammed- in this Book which God has given us. No one anism~ Men and women and children, from the man will understand it all. Indeed, reflecting least to the greatest, deliriously worship some God's mind as it does, all of us together will enter class or race or nation, sure that thereby they be- only the fringes of the Divine revelation. God come the elite of the universe. Worship of that wants us to see visions and dream dreams out of sort must have an object of pers.ecution as well His Word. Thus He will guide us and give us as an object of worship. Jews serve the purpose power in carrying His message to a turbulent and excellently. So do Christians. Those of us who distressed world. work in the arid desert into which Mohammed transformed a sixth of the human race, look out Christ's View of the Kingdom on the nations today with a feeling very close to terror. It is a very dreadful disease that is spread- In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew we find ing over the world, but it is not a new one. And a remarkable group of parables in which Christ when this outbreak has run its course, and men's shows us the essential nature of the missionary enterprise. He was speaking of the Kingdom of hearts have hardened into shape under its pride God. The phrase has puzzled us and from it have and falsity, will it again be a thousand years be- been developed most diverse and complicated and fore the Good News of God's love finds its way materialistic notions. But evidently in Christ's into men's hearts once more and the first convert mind the idea was as simple as sunlight. Wher- is won to Christ? ever God rules over the human heart as king, No! It will not be even a thousand days for there is the Kingdom of God established.
when "the enemy comes in like a flood," the Spirit This was something new which Christ brought of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. -a gift from Heaven. With Him came the glori- But we must realize, with a deep and terrible ous opportunity of being under the direct and realization, that we on the mission field today genuine rule of God. Christ spent His time pro- need two things, and only two. We need God's claiming this good news of the possible realization guidance and we need His power. It will be only .of the Kingdom. He sent out His disciples two by to the degree that the Madras Conference sensi- two to carry the message further. He left us to tizes us so that we can hear and obey the Divine finish the task through the centuries, and finished voice, and opens. the windows of Heaven so that it will be, for "this good news of the Kingdom God can pour out a blessing,only to that extent shall be preached in all the world for a witness [393 ]
to all the nations." Here is a simple message: a seed which will grow in men's hearts. Indeed "The time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at that seed grows. up to be Christ Himself abiding hand. Repent, and believe the Good News." in us. It is thus that God rules.
Christ emphasized three things about this King- Good news of that sort is not much of a seed, dom. In the first place it is open to all men. The philosophically and scientifically. Christ explained entrance requirements are simple. "Repent ye"~ carefully that it is "less than the least of all seeds" leave your old life; "and believe the good news" which are sown so assiduously in men's hearts. -accept as genuine and true this announcement It takes no extraordinary insight to see the truth that men can actually come under God's personal of that. Any monist has us beaten philosophically control. The offer is for every man to the ends before the debate begins. Any second-rate idol of the inhabited earth. It is an ecumenical thing. temple can surpass our most ehtborate rituals, and emotionally, ~_mpared with communism, and In the second place, this wonderful opportunity, fascism, and emperor worship, we are most prethis door to an eternal destiny linked to God cisely the least of all seeds. We feel a great urge himself, is to be found only in Christ. Even the to assert that the Gospel is really good seed, and God-given Jewish religion could not provide it. we spend much time measuring its philosophical Salvation to a few, that religion certainly did and scientific dimensions and convincing ourselves bring, but apparently not to many. This Kingdom of its impressive character. However, the Gospel of God that He preached was a new thing. Christ seed is really most unimpressive, as Christ told brought it, and its lowliest member stands above us long ago. Its virtue is in its vitality and in the highest of the prophets. The implications of the astonishing result that it can produce when this are tremendous. Even with the light of the sown in men's hearts. Epistles and of the Acts, we can grasp only a few of them. Christ, however, shows us the simplicity As God looks down on a faithless and perverse and unity of the wisdom of God. One thinks of generation, perhaps few things seem so incon- Fujiyama, as he meditates on it. gruous as the audacity of men who produce a showy and resplendent philosophy out of Christ's The third characteristic, in its way as remark- teaching, but lack faith to believe that God who able as the others, is that this Kingdom is to be spread merely by proclaiming the Good News of has embodied Himself in it, can by its means over- God's gift. The Kingdom of God is like sowing a come the idols of our time. We must pit the very seed. There is food for deep meditation in that power of God Himself against the terrifying teaching. It is a message much needed in these forc·es of evil which have become so strong. There days when the missionary finds himself confused is one way to do that, and only one, in season and and perplexed. Whatever else is true of our work, out of season, and that is to sow the Good News it must always be the proclamation of the Good of the Kingdom in the hearts of men. News of the Kingdom of God. That good news is CHRISTIAN MISSIONS-BANE OR BLESSING?
Why should we make sacrifices to support foreign missions? One great reason is because of the results of this work. Had there been no Christian foreign missionaries, then Cyprus, Ephesus, Philippi, and Berea would never have heard the Gospel of Christ. Except for mis- sions the message of Life which He came to bring would not have reached Rome, and from Rome could not have spread into Spain and Gaul. Without missionaries, Great Britain and America would not have heard the message of Christ; India, China and other lands would have no Christians and no Christian enterprises. Had there been no missionaries, there would be no Christian Church today. Most, if not all, of the humanitarian and philanthropic organ- izations that now minister to mankind would never have been established. Hospitals, homes for the aged, orphanages, colleges and public schools all have had their first inspiration in the ideals of life and service taught in the New Testament. History shows clearly that these un- selfish ministries of love did not exist prior to the coming of Christ and apart from the spread of Christianity. They are due to the revelation of God and His ideals for man as revealed through Jesus Christ and as they have been imparted to His followers.
'BY THE LIPU LEKH PASS INTO TIBET-ALTITUDE 16,750
With Tibetans at the Crossroads By REV. E. B. STEINER, Dharchula, United Provinces, India Missionary of the Tibetan Border Mission TIBET-called the "Roof of the World"-is and consist of peas, barley and some type of grain the loftiest country on the face of the globe. which. can be ground and made into very coarse The line of vegetation lies at 13,000 feet alti- bread, which the ordinary European stomach is tude. Tibet has successfully kept herself aloof not able to digest.
from the outside world for centuries, and because Tibetan traders are more numerou.s than farmof this has had a tendency to draw the country ers, especially in the south. They are made up of into seclusion. two classes-Khampas and Dokpas. The former spend summers in Tibet and winters in India. The Tibetan is what he is because of four fac- Leaving Tibet in October, they cross the Himators-altitude, lack of vegetation, seclusion and layas for their trading in the foothill cities of religion. His characteristics are the product of India. After bartering they return in March, these factors, particularly in that region over entering Tibet over Lipu Lekh Pass in June. They against Bhot on the south central border of Tibet.
This country can be conquered, not by war, but speak Hindi and other Hill languages. by the Gospel of Jesus Christ that will change The Dokpas cross by Lipu Lekh Pass into India these backward Tibetans into progressive citizens. only to near-by towns in the Upper Himalayas. Tibetans may be divided into four classes: They speak Tibetan only. These traders export farmers, traders, robbers, lamas. Farmers in wool, salt and borax; they import wheat, rice, Tibet are the least prominent of the four classes. dal, sugar and cloth. They reside in valleys only; their crops are few The Tibetan robbers are called Jokpas in our [395 ]
area. In India they call at our bungal.ow and beg and another 5,500. (We do not vouch for these alms and food. In Tibet they rob us, but not in figures.) India because the British Government would im- Lamaism is a religi.on of works. The word prison them. As liquor dealers in America pay "grace," as understood in the Christian religion, license to the government and are permitted to is not found in Lamaism. The doing of religious .operate drinking establishments, so in Tibet a acts is believed to be the means of entitling a per- robber buys a license to rob whomsoever he son to a place in the Tibetan heaven. Everything pleases. a lama does-whether worship, prayers, reading, In 1930 the Tibetan Government granted Mrs. eating, sleeping or working-is a religious act.
Steiner and the writer a passport to travel 145 The spirit of the mind or the condition of the miles in Tibet. We were accosted by robbers heart has nothing to do with securing merit for twice during our twenty days in the country. the Tibetan heaven. The larger number of acts One Saturday aftern.oon suddenly three Tibetan a lama can do in a given time, the greater his robbers galloping on horseback,with flags floating merit and the Lama can accumulate far greater and guns raised, rushed out from between moun- merit by prayers than in any other way. It makes tains, calling to our Christians who were half a no difference for what he prays or how; the thing mile behind: that counts is that he performs his prayers. Be- "Halt, you are traders; you have money; open cause of this erroneous conception, the lama re- your bags! And over there is a white man and sorts to all sorts. of devices for prayer to assist a white woman; they are traders; they have in the accumulation of merit. Am.ong these de- money; open your bags." vices the most common in our area of Tibet are They continued talking roughly and yelling. prayer-wheels, prayer water-mills, prayer-flags Soon those Tibetan robbers began to talk less and prayer-walls.
roughly and finally they rode away without tak- Every lama possesses a prayer-wheel which he ing anything. holds in his right hand and revolves it as rapidly A month later we received a letter from a wom- as he can. In the wheel is written a prayer and an in Indiana who said she was praying for us. each revolution counts for merit for the owner of That letter was dated JUly 17, 1930, the very day the prayer-wheel. Large lamasaries have made that we were accosted by those Tibetan robbers. huge prayer-wheels called "Sipo Khorlo," inter- preted, "Wheel of Life." We saw one prayer- Ten days later, just as we were breaking camp, wheel seven feet in diameter in the lamasary at a robber party of twelve appeared. One robber Taklakot. On his way out of the lamasary a lama examined Mrs. Steiner's coat sleeve and after- gives the huge prayer-wheel a couple of turns, and wards my water bottle. Seeing his primitive gun I began to examine it in turn. He was pleased S.o it registers prayers to his credit. The lama and looking into my face he smiled. After that he would not rob me. While .our party .of ten does not need to say a word for the prayer-wheel Christians stood with bowed heads in silence in does the praying for him. Inside of this wheel is our morning worship, these ten robbers stood a paper on which is written that meaningless there on the side listening. Mter prayer they prayer, "Om Mani Padme Hum," interpreted in passed on and we went our way. English: "0 Jewel in the Lotus Flower." We do not know why this prayer has been adopted as the The Buddhist Lamas lama's formal prayer, save that the Tibetan be- lieves that Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, The fourth class of Tibetans, and by far the sprang from the lotus flower. About the year most prominent, are the Lamas or Buddhist 400 A. D. a great lama adopted this prayer as a Priests. The home of lamas is called a lamasary model for his followers and it has been used ever and the religion of Tibet is called Lamaism, a since.
form of Buddhism. Many lamas attach dozens of "prayer-flags"
The first-born son of each Tibetan family must to a cord or rope that stretches from one building be surrendered to the lamasary to be trained as to another, or to a tree. These prayer-flags are a lama. As all families are small, the percentage small pieces of cloth six or eight inches long in of lamas is great. A lamasary is a training school strips, on each of which is written this same . as well as a church, and some are in training for meaningless prayer-"Om Mani Padme Hum."
twenty or thirty years. The women lamas are When there is no wind these prayer-flags are silent sometimes called nuns. They are not permitted and therefore produce no merit; but when the to marry. Lamasaries are therefore like medire- wind blows, these flags flutter in the air and pile val monasteries, and sometimes the number of up millions of prayers to the credit of the owner.
inmates runs into the thousands. One lamasary Riding on a pony a hundred miles into Tibetan in Lhasa is said to admit 1,100, another 3,300, territory, we came to numerous "prayer-walls,"
WITH TIBETANS AT THE CROSSROADS
four to eight feet high, made of stone. On each Lekh Pass; our two stations,Dharchula and was inscribed this same prayer. Some of these Sirkha, are located on this highway and all who walls were twenty feet long, some fifty or a hun- travel to the plains of India must pass our way.
dred or two hundred feet. As we traveled, I no- Many call at our bungalow for alms or for med- ticed that my horseman, a Tibetan, owner of the ical aid. Each call brings a contact and makes an pony, always passed on the left side of the walls, opportunity. To many we give a Christian tract never on the right. When we came to another and to some we tell the story of salvation by prayer-wall, I said: "Go on the right side," but Christ. Most of these Tibetan travelers halt near he only smiled. Coming to the next wall, I spoke our Sunday School for four or five days at a time firmly, "Why don't you pass on the right side?" and some draw near to see what it is all about.
He paid no attention. My cook, a Mohammedan They may remain for the hour. Our Tibetan evan- from that area, told me that if this Tibetan passed on the right he would receive no merit but, pass- ing on the left, each stone with that inscription (and there are thousands on a wall 200 feet long, on its four sides and on top), produces. merit to his credit. It is the movement of something that counts, not thoughts. of the heart.
The Dalai Lama, the ruler of Tibet who lives at Lhasa, is the head of this land of seclusion reli- giously and politically. Dalai Lama means "Ocean of Virtue." He is helieved by Tibetans to be an incarnation of Chewasi, the son of the God 0 Pak Me, "the Buddha of Boundless Light." They be- lieve that "0 Pak Me" has been reincarnated again and again; being an incarnation, they think that the Dalai Lama cannot sin. It is likewise believed that each is an incarnation of that same god and therefore does not sin.
Many Tibetans practice polyandry. A woman marries the oldest brother in a family and thus automatically becomes the wife of all the brothers.
Consquently morality among the Tibetans is low, and their conception of home and family life are vague. These concepts of loose marriage rela- tions even creep into the Christian Church. Some twenty years ago two Tibetan brothers became Christians; one was married; the other was a widower. It was claimed some years ago, al- though not proven, that when the married brother was. absent from home for a month or more, his wife lived with the other brother as his wife. A TIBETAN LAMA AND HIS FAMILY About three years ago a Tibetan Christian sought a wife among Bhotiya Christians for his nephew. gelists and Bible women preach in their camps, He had difficulty in persuading members of one and our Tibetan Christians have friends among family to give their consent so he came to us. We some and invite them to their homes. Our work- suggested that he try to secure the daughter of ers also display their Tibetan scriptures and tracts one of our Tibetan Christian widows. But the on a blanket to attract passing Tibetans. We are widow said, "He who marries my daughter, mar- not permitted to preach to the Tibetans inside ries me also." Is there any doubt as to the need Tibet, but on our evangelistic pilgrimage to Mt.
of Tibetans for Christ and His Gospel? Kailash, 60 miles inland, there were ten Christians , We are sometimes asked how we make contacts in the group, four of whom were Tibetans. The with Tibetans in order to win them to Christ. We government cannot prevent us from worshipping are located in Bhot, that triangle in India on the our God as we choose and therefore on Sundays borders of both Tibet and Nepal. Lipu Lekh Pass, in Tibet, we have services and Sunday school for at an altitude of 16,750 feet, is one of the six main ourselves. Tibetans often stand around listening.
outlets of Tibet; the great Tibetan highway of The ruler of Taklakot gave us permission to this part of India passes through Bhot. Hundreds visit the lamasary in his city and there we found of Tibetans annually travel out and in over Lipu 300 lamas, men and women, boys and girls-aged electro nic fil e created by cafis.org
6 to 60. In one room we heard a Christian hymn. A family of ten pure Tibetans, devil worshipers, Upon inquiry, we learned that the lama had heard left their home, sear.ching for the true God. One us sing that song last year in India. I recalled of the number, our Tibetan cook, tells the followthat the year before, I had sung this hymn at ing story: "My grandfather was a priest of the every camp along the Tibetan highway as I was devil. Often have I seen him beat his body with returning from Naini Tal. The wonder was that heavy cords until it bled. Three times did the this Tibetan, hearing this hymn but once, was devil demand everything we possessed. After the able to remember both the words and melody. third time, we began to think that there must be Leading lamas followed us, pleading that we sing, a God somewhere who would not make unreasonand there, beside the huge wall of that lamasary able demands. Ten of us left in search for this in that land where we were forbidden to preach, true God. We wandered around Tibet. Then an four of us sang a Christian hymn. These lamas epidemic overtook us, killing six of our number, then begged for tracts. They sent two messengers including both-iny parents. My grandparents, my to our tent and we gave them forty-eight tracts. aunt and I only were left. iWe continued our search and passed through vast areas. Our food A year later I toured along the Indian side of was gone and we could get none. We came to the the Tibetan border. From Kuti, the last town, I Holy Region, Mt. Kailas, the Lakes and Taklakot, ascended a mountain up ·to 16,000 feet, coming to but we did not find the true God in this so-called a large open plain where we camped. Here an- 'Holy Region.' Then we came over Lipu Pass nually Bhotiyas and Tibetan traders meet for bar- and down into this Kali River Valley to Sirkha. tering. Among other Tibetans, were ten wealthy The Bhotiyas told us not to go near the Mission traders with 7,000 sheep, who came across the Compound or we would be made Christians. We border from their Tibetan town some twenty days' did not know what kind of wkked people Chrisjourney distant. Before we could pitch our tent, tians are, but they visited our camp and invited us these Tibetans crowded about, gazing at me, for to come to the mission. They did not look like they had never before looked upon a white face. bad people, so we thought we would go and live A peculiar feeling comes over one to think that in the Mission Compound, but would not go to one's white face is the first such face another hu- their meetings. Then we heard singing which man being has seen. sounded good and we thought that this might be the place to find the true God. We sat outside to We were hungry and tired, for we had made listen and later we went in and sat in the rear. this ascent of 4,000 feet and had had nothing to Then we found the true God we had been seeking eat since seven in the morning. Our helpers con- and we forsook Buddha for Christ." The grandcluded that this was the time to conduct a service parents have passed on, but our Tibetan cook has for these Tibetans, and each in turn gave a mes- entered deeply into the Christian life and is now sage-including my Tibetan cook, a boy of seven- one of our strongest Christians. teen. The Tibetans listened eagerly and then bought every Gospel and tract we had. They A Tibetan lama student in one of the leading wished to buy also my Tibetan hymn book and lamasaries in Lhasa for twenty years left the offered me twice its value. We forgot our hunger, lamasary because he felt that he was not sinless. but I never before saw such hunger for scriptures He married and wandered around for three years and tracts. with his wife, who contracted tuberculosis. To- gether they came over Lipu Lekh Pass into our We have been told that in certain areas, pure valley as far as Sirkha, and there his wife died. Tibetans cannot be won for Christ, as their hearts Our Tibetan evangelist, Chirring, befriended this are impregnable to the Gospel. We have not lama, Lobsang, and invited him to our Mission found it so. A Tibetan widow with two little sons Compound. Lobsang was impressed and finally came begging alms of Dr. Sheldon thirty-three renounced lamaism in April, 1929. He is now years. ago. She was told the story of Christ and conducting a Tibetan school and preaches the was asked to give up her beggar life, but she Gospel. In 1937 Lobsang and his family made an would not. The next year she came again and evangelistic tour into Tibet and brought back a yielded herself to Christ. She remained true to pure Tibetan, who came from a town eight days' her Lord for thirty years, first as matron and journey north of Lhasa. This man was baptized later as Bible woman, until she went two years on January 16th. Lobsang is now trying to win ago to be with her Saviour. Dr. Sheldon died in another Tibetan, who came a couple of months 1912', but Bunden continued as Bible woman all ago from the interior of Tibet.· Was it worth these years. One of her little sons is now a Tib- while befriending Lobsang? etan evangelist and the other a Christian tailor.
Modern Challenge to
By the REV. WILLIAM PATON, London Secretary of the International Missionary Council W HERE does the Christian missionary a world there may be religion, but religion will enterprise stand in this world of national- have become like other things just one among the ism, racialism, economic struggle, and other parts of life, ruled by its own law, an interauthoritarian states? It is not enough to show est among the many interests of man. I know no that mission hospitals do much good and that more terrible example of the secular spirit than Christian schools in the East and in Africa are the acceptance by religion of a specialized place lifting the burden of illiteracy from thousands. among the affairs of men. When religion, and In our typical modern struggles. is the missionary above all the Christian religion, abandons its enterprise relevant? claim to shed light and guidance upon the whole What is the characteristic modern issue? Let life of man and becomes one professionalized in- us go back a little in our own history. There was terest among a mass of others, we have the once something called Christendom. The word supreme secularism.
covered the idea ofa region of the world in which This was our state until these last years; but there was a civilization dominated by a single we are not facing that sort of world now. The great view of the world. In that medireval Europe, disintegration of human culture and the fading there was a common faith, a single Church, a gen- away of the central and life-giving belief in God erally accepted philosophy, and a recognition of was not an affair only of the scholar; there set in the unity of life, in such wise that, whether or not a deep disintegration of society. The World War men kept the Christian moral law, it did not occur hastened the process. One can speak only with to them to suggest that, for instance, the world of great sympathy of the situation that faced Ger- economic life lay outside the boundaries of moral many, for instance, in these post-war years. To and spiritual rule. In that sense the whole of life see their country losing all its coherence and dig- was integrated around the truths of Christianity. nity may well Ikive men to desperate remedies.
We know how that world broke up; I am no And in many lands today, as we know so well,.
medirevalist and I am not suggesting that we there has come into view the new type of integra- regret that vanished world. There came the Ren- tion, or more truly the new type of religion. No aissance of learning and the Ref.ormation; nations longer do we face a negative kind of secularist arose in Europe and separate churches came into temper; we face the bold attempt to regiment the being. Natural science was reborn and as the life of man around the primacy of the nation, or years passed science was harnessed to production of blood, or of class, or of the State. This is what and industry and we had the industrial revolution. is meant by that ungainly word the "totalitarian"
Life became far more complicated as well as much State. It is more than merely nationalism or class- richer. But one great consequence followed. The loyalty. It is the claim that devotion to this cen- world of men-our Western world at least–':'no tral standard-race or blood, community or state, longer was integrated round the Christian view or class-has absolute worth, and that in obedi- of life. The life of European man became divided; ence and surrender to it man finds his whole the world of economics was believed to have its meaning.
own law and to be separated from that of ethics; In modern Germany we have a classical instance what was true there became true of all the parts of the struggle which such a mode of life must of life, and the characteristic of our Western entail upon the Christian Church. The Church in world was that it had no common governing idea that and in every land has two essential features and was not ruled by any universally accepted which make it the enemy of the totalitarian state.
view. Each part of life became a law to itself. They are, first, that every local or national Church This is what I understand by secularism; the is not only local or national but also a part of the loosening 'of the parts. of life from their proper universal Christian fellowship. It is therefore a uniting centre in the will of God, so that not only constant reminder of a fellowship and loyalty is there no God acknowledged but there is no wider than that of the nation. But the other rea- other dominating idea to take His place. In such son goes. deeper. It is the fact that in the last r 399]
analysis the Church is' not a human society only- work, only more rapidly than in the West. Among not a sort of club that we have formed to carry educated Hindus today one finds everywhere a out purposes of our own, but is a society divine lack of belief and a communal loyalty that has as well as human. It is human and therefore nothing at all to do with true religion. In such a stained with the sins of humanity; but its origins country as Egypt you will find Moslems of educa- lie in the Divine love and it is still the Body of tion and earnestness, but for many of them, real Christ in which His Spirit dwells. So that in the faith has gone and what is left is a keenly national last resort the Church of Christ can only obey consciousness cloaking itself in religious dress.
God first and can never assent to any other pri- In such countries it is inevitable that the same mary loyalty. sort of process should be followed as we have If we look at the world of our Western life, we traced in our Western world. A force of integra- see a society that once was Christian and now is tion there must be; life must have a common pagan, with Christian forces and groups at work energizing centre. Thus we find the old cry of within it; that the emptiness' of a purposeless Pan-Islam wholly discredited in the Mohammedan society is being for myriads today filled by the countries, and nationalism or, as in Turkey, a keen worship of new gods; that these gods are in fact racial loyalty taking its place. In India you see only Man himself, worshipped in some group such a portent as the opening and consecration of manifestation; and that as against all this there a temple in which there is no object of worship is today only one force, small and weak as it may except a great marble relief map of India- seem, that is inescapably committed to a wholly Mother India, into which the spirit of the god is different view. That force is the love of God in called as in other idols of Hinduism.
Christ with the transformation of life and the In Japan and her empire we see most plainly total view of the world ·and the active fellowship the rise of the new nation-state worship. It is an that accompany it. The Church with all its weak- ancient thing there, for the doctrine of the divine nesses is still the fellowship in which men cannot Emperor, his descent from the Sun-Goddess, and be thought of as submerged in racial or commu- the divine quality of the Japanes.e nation go back nity groups, or as mere automata in the interplay to the dawn of Japanese history. Yet is it not of economic forces, because men 'are known as certain that a country like Japan, in which there those whom God made for Himself and for whom is an almost unparalleled concentration of wealth Jesus Christ was content to die. in a few hands, must be exposed almost more than But this attempt to analyze our modern prob- others to the social strains that aooompany such lem has referred only to what used to be called an economic organization? It can hardly be a Christendom. What of the rest of the world? mere coincidence that in this modern world, sub- Do we realize to what a vast extent this same ject universally to the influences I have tried to process of disintegration and this same drift away sketch, there should be felt in Japan the need to from the religious centre of life have appeared in strengthen the claim of the nation-state and to the East also, and in Africa? In Africa the mat- use the old doctrine for this purpose.
ter is perhaps. plainer than in any other place. So it is that in Japan itself, and far more reso- One does not need to have lived in Africa to com- lutely and indeed ferociously in Korea, Formosa prehend something of what it means that, for and in the nominally independent but actually instance, tribesmen come great distances to labor puppet state of Manchukuo, we find the rites of in the copper mines, there to exchange the life of emperor worship, or a rite akin to it, pressed upon the tribe, in which the individual hardly exists the schools and the colleges. It is explained that and the tribal group is everything, for the life of the rites are not religious, but merely patriotic.
a modern industrialized settlement where a man This is not the place to argue this matter in detail, is forced to become an individual. But consider but I feel that when this claim is made it is meant the countries with the ancient religious cultures. really that the rites defined as patriotic, are more Hinduism has never been a religion only in the important than religion. It is the determination sense that it offered a religious consolation and of those who rule events in that empire to lay guidance to the individual; it has been a social down as the foundation of life the absolute accept- system and upon its precepts and governing ideas ance of the State. When you have that, then you a whole society rested. The word "caste" will may have your private religion – your sectarian suggest all that is. bound up in this statement. Or Shinto or your Buddhism or your Christianity.
again Islam has never been a reJi.gion in the nar- But that absoluteness of claim and of range which row sense; it has claimed to provide an under- we associate with religions is reserved for the standing of the whole of life. It has indeed been patriotic claim symbolized by the patriotic rite.
a boast of Moslem scholars. that Islam offered a It is therefore no matter for surprise that the synthesis of sacred and secular. But today we see Christian Church in these lands should be suspect.
exactly the same process of disintegration at I would only say here–for there are many things
THE MODERN CHALLENGE TO CHRISTIANITY
it is not expedient t.o say-that my own touch in .of economic forces, or a pawn in national policy, recent months with them left me with a clearer or that He is. in fact these and these alone. The and a more poignant sense of the meaning of the Christian faith, in basing man's dignity on God's Church in the modern world than I have ever had. love, offers the only ground on which that dignity and freedom can be maintained. Can we now gather up something of what this rough and most imperfect sketch suggests? Sec.ond, the Christian Church offers in the Christian fellowship something that transcends It is the inescapable and eternal paradox of the barriers of nations, race, and class. Where man's life that he cannot find peace within him- it fails to do this it is plainly false to itself; where self but only as. he returns to God. When he de~ it does this it is plainly true to itself and its parts from God-and even from the gods of the Founder. .old faiths of the East-he finds that the disorder of his life demands a commanding centre, and he Third, and here we touch the centre of the makes a god out of some part of his human endow- Christian struggle in our modern world, the ment-race and blood, or class, or nati.on. But Christian Church is a society not only human but that god not only leads him to war and strife and also divine, owing allegiance to God and pointing internecine feud, it demands also the total sub- beyond all human associations and loyalties, merging of the individual in the grQUp .or mass claims and obligations, t.o the unshared majesty or totality. of God and the absoluteness of His will, the pri- macy of His kingdom. The Christian asserts three things in opposition to this modern idolatry: First, we declare that In this struggle there is no East and West. It man is created by God, in His spiritual image, tQ is the peculiar significance of the Christian misdo His will in loving obedience, and that in the sionary movement that it symbolizes the univerpassion and death of Jesus Christ there is ex- sality of the Christian Church and provides the hibited the value that God set upon man. It is means whereby the older church can aid and not possible for Christians to agree that any .one, strengthen the younger in facing what is essenfor whom the Lord Jesus Christ was CQntent to tially and .universally a common task. die, should be a mere racial unit, or a plaything TRENDS IN MODERN MISSION WORK By THE REV. CORNELIUS H. PATTON, D.D.
Formerly Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
1. Transfer of leadership and ownership to the national Christians of each land at the earliest possible moment.
2. Recognition more fully .of the responsibility of governments and to cooperate with them in so far as fundamental Christian principles allow.
3. Efforts to encourage and conserve the values of indigenous religion and culture wher- ever found, seeking always to domesticate Christian ideals and institutions in the environment and tradition of each land.
4. Purpose to maintain, as may be necessary, the distinction between Christianity and so- called Christian civilization.
5. Interpretation of the Christian message in such a way as to make it applicable to the total life of a people.
6. Desire to make evangelism complete byemphasizing the Christ-spirit as the saving ele- ment in all processes of social improvement.
7. Stressing the improvement of rural communities as the special need of the hour.
8. Endeavors to offer motive and guidance in the effort to save the people of the East from the mistakes of the industrial order of the West.
9. Work for the consolidation of the Christian forces throughout the world.
10. In the selection and training of missionary personnel, insistence upon the highest de- gree of efficiency attainable. .
11. Preaching the eternal Gospel by word and in terms that men and women of this age will understand.
12. Attempts to find in the leadership and saving power of Christ the only hope of a dis- tressed and bewildered yet spiritually hungry world.
Sunday Schools Over the World*
By REV. ROBERT M. HOPKINS, D.D., New York Secretary of the World's Sunday School Association A S WE look over the world today it is increas- Word to the people than the Sunday School. Even .l'. ingly difficult to decide which nations may in the lands ""here antagonism to the Bible prebe called Christian and which are non- vails, Sunday School pupils grow up to have a Christian. Some lands that have had within their very keen appreciation of the Book. An illustra- borders a preponderance of people affiliated with tion will be helpful. In spite of the fact that the Christian Church are today following pro- Puerto Rico has the largest Sunday School enrol- cedures that are decidedly not Christian. Other ment of any Spanish-speaking area in the world, lands that have been known as, "heathen" are there is a distressing lack of copies of Spanish today conspicuous. for their forbearance and other Bibles throughout the Island. A little girl, whose Christian virtues under the most difficult circum- parents are affiliated with the Roman Church, stances. somehow found her way into an evangelical In lands that have been known as "heathen" Sunday School, and with the consent of her par- and where the Christian Church is young, and ents she became a regular attendant. As her the vast majority of the people have not as yet birthday approached, her father and mother pre- openly identified themselves with Christ, the Sun- pared a party, with invited guests and special day School 'is a great factor in the spread of the refreshments. When asked what present she de- Gospel and in Christian training. It is chal- sired most of all she said, "I want a copy of the lenging at the outset to learn that in Africa, Latin Bible." This request grew out of her attendance America and Asia the Sunday School is making at the Sunday School. Her parents discovered its greatest numerical advance today. In Africa to their amazement that they were unable to buy during the past fou.r years the Sunday School has a copy of the Bible in any of the regular book made more than half the net total gain of the stores, but she was not satisfied until a copy was entire world; South America came second. What procured. Thus the Word of God found an hon- are some of the reasons for such progress? ored place in an influential home that had hitherto First, the principal constituency of the Sunday not possessed a copy.
School is the children. Young people and adults Various kinds of related Christian literature mayor may not be enrolled in mission lands, ac- have also grown up with the Sunday School move- cording to whether the standards that prevail ment. Ofttimes in mission lands Lesson Helps have come from America or Great Britain. But were at first mimeographed copies of the patient everywhere the Sunday School serves the chil- work of some missionary. Frequently the surplus.
dren. Thus its contrihution is made in the plastic materials are sent from Sunday Schools in more period of life. A single illustration will suffice. favored lands. These are greatly in demand, par- In a Sunday School rally in Aleppo, Syria, chil- ticularly the colored picture charts and picture dren came from a wide variety of home back- cards. In the village of India, the forests. of Af- ground. When asked if any child wished to send rica, the crowded lands of Korea, especially in a message to the Sunday School children of the lands like the Philippines where English is known, world, a little lad arose and said in Arabic that such used materials are never sufficient to meet he wished to send the message : "We ought to love the demands. The street Sunday Schools in Egypt one another." This boy had been raised in a and Wayside Sunday Schools in other lands are Yezidee home where the basic doctrine is one of made possible by grouping the children for the hate, rather than love. He had learned the mes- first time about the picture rolls, and by giving sage of love in the Sunday School. out Httle picture cards.
A second reason is that the Sunday School is A recent report from China indicates that the concerned with the study of the Bible. Many National Committee for Christian Religious Edu- agencies are uniting to spread the Christian cation has published ever since the outbreak of Scriptures around the world, but none make their hostilities, a special Sunday School paper giving task more directly related to the teaching of God's simple teaching material for use in refugee camps.
• See Frontispiece. One copy of this publication has a picture of the r 402] soldier camp in the background, while a little National Committee for Christian Religious Education in China Chinese lad gives thanks for the bowl of rice of which he is about to partake. Thus,even in times Congo Protestant Council (Sunday School Committee for of war and distress, the children are taught to the Belgian Congo) thank God for the temporal blessings of life. Sunday School ASEOciation in Czechoslovakia Egypt and Sudan Sunday School Union Latin America has oeen one of the leaders in Esthonian Sunday School Union the development of indigenous Sunday School lit- India Sunday School Union erature. A graded series of lessons has been pre- National Sunday School Association of Japan pared, most of it written by Latin American au- Sunday School Association of Jugoslavia thors and largely published on presses in Mexico, Korea Sunday School Association Latvian Sunday School Union Puerto Rico, Argentina, Chile and other Latin Madagascar Sunday School Union fields. Brazil has also developed its Portuguese Concilio Nacional De Iglesias Evangelical (Mexico) literature, the demand for which has exceeded Bible Lands Union for Christian Education (Palestine, the Sunday School enrolment, since many outsiders are eager to have the lessons. Syria and Transjordania) Alianza Evangelica De Peru Philippine Committee of Christian Education The Sunday School has been greatly blessed as Sunday School Association of Poland a means for securing cooperation among the vari- Comrr.ittee on Christian Education of the Association of Evangelical Churches of Puerto Rico ous denominational churches. The World's Sun- National Christian Council of Siam day School Association is a federation of fiftyone national (or in a few instances international) We have not called the roll of the cooperating organizations each of which represents the organizations in lands where the work of the churches within a given area that desire to coop- churches has been long established. To include erate in Christian education. No ecumenical or- them would bring the number up to fifty-one con- stituent units of the World's Sunday ganization is more widely representative. In many School Association.
lands cooperation began in a An especially gratifying outreach of the Sunday School union. Sunday School movement has recently A recent visit to Cuba re- been witnessed in lands where the East- vealed the way this move- ern Orthodox churches have predominated.
ment is going forward. There Early approaches of West- is no organization there that ern missionaries were often brings Christian churches to- resented as proselytizing. In gether to consider their com- recent years the organization mon task. A conference held within the Orthodox church- in Havana upon the invita- es has opened new doors.
tion of the World's Sunday One of the first approaches School Association, resulted of the Sunday School was in a representative attend- SUNDAY SCHOOL BOYS IN INDIA made to the ancient Church ance from the seven evangel- of Armenia in the Near East.
ical churches. There was an outspoken desire to A loyal son of the Apostolic church, Levon Zenian, have some agency created that would enable them eager to serve his people, was introduced to the to work together in the task of Christian edu- Armenian prelates in 1929 and with their cordial cation. approval began the organization of Sunday The Sunday School has been thus at the very Schools. His work has been inspiring and has heart of cooperation in the Christian enterprise made· possible many new bonds of fellowship.
in many lands for half a century. It seems easier Within the Greek Orthodox Church the Zoe move- for Christian forces to unite for the Christian ment, stimulated in part by what was occurring education of their children and youth than in any in other Eastern churches, has resulted in the other Christian activity. This has been especially true in mission lands. Note this inspiring list of organization of many Sunday Schools in that organizations charged with responsibility for co- ancient body. Following the historic example of operation in the work of Christian education: Robert Raikes in Gloucester, England, the Greek Orthodox Sunday Schools were first limited to Council of Religious Education in North Africa (Algeria) boys, but recently they have included girls. The EI Comite De Cooperacion De Las Republicas De La Plata leaders of the Zoe movement are in cordial fellow- (Argentina-Paraguay-Uruguay) Conselho Evangelico De Educacion Religiosa De Brasil ship with Sunday School leaders of other churches Burma Sunday School Union and attended the last World's Sunday School Con- Ceylon Sunday School Union vention in Oslo, with the sanction of the Holy Comision De Educacion Religiosa Del Comite Consultor Synod. If a banner had been awarded at the Oslo De Cooperacion de Chile electronic file created by cafis. org
Convention to the city which reported the largest movement for religious education has been wiped proportionate gain in its Sunday School enrolment out. Also the totalitarian states in many parts of during the previous four years, that banner would Europe are now drastically retarding the growth have gone to Athens. . of the Sunday School. In America the growing Another very vital contribution to Christian spirit of secularism has likewise slowed down the progress in mission lands has been through the rate of previous progress, while in Great Britain, pioneering of World Sunday School Conventions. where the modern Sunday School had its origin, Twelve of these world .gatherings have been held losses rather than gains· are recorded. It is rein the past fifty years and each was widely repre- markable that, in the face of such adverse condisentative of the Sunday Schools in many nations. tions, there has been gain at all around the world. Three World Conventions have been pioneers in their respective lands-Jerusalem in 1904 in the This has been due to the so-called non-Christian Near East, Tokyo in 1920 in the Far East, and lands. In ~_me Latin American countries the Rio de Janeiro in 1932 in Latin America. These Sunday School enrolment has doubled within four representative gatherings of Christian leaders years. This movement is thus proving to be the from around the world have made great contributions to the lands visited. For the fourth time the medium whereby there is achieved a continued net gain of the total movement in behalf of Chris- tian education around the world today. .
Movement is proposing to pioneer with the first representative world gathering of Christian lead- ALL HAIL TO THE WOMEN! ers on the continent of Africa. The next World's The Central Committee on the United Study of Sunday School Convention is announced for Durban, South Africa, July 22 to 28, 1940. Thus one Foreign Missions This remarkable organization of women for the promotion of the study of foreign missions and the publication of missionary literature was or- ganized at the time of the Ecumenical Conference in New York in 1900. Now, after thirty-eight years of very effective service, it has closed its work of pUblication (July 1) and has turned it over to the Missionary Education Movement, with which the Central Committee has been cooperat- ing. Miss Abbie B. Child was the first chairman of the Committee. Mrs. Peabody, one of the or- ganizers, was the efficient chairman of this Com- mittee for thirty years. Miss M. H. Leavis has been the agent for the literature and is largely re- A SUNDAY SCHOOL IN LAPAZ, BOLIVIA sponsible for its successful business operation.
century after Livingstone left Scotland to make Other women leaders who have been very active his first momentous journey to the then almost include-Mrs. John T. Gracey, Miss Margaret unknown Dark Continent, a pilgrimage is planned Hodge, Mrs. Helen B. Montgomery, Mrs. Fredin which thousands of Christian workers from erick G. Platt and Miss Gertrude Schultz (the many lands will trek to Africa, now the continent most recent chairman). The Committee has pubwith the largest actual gain in Sunday School lished forty-eight senior textbooks, besides hymadvance of them all. nals, junior and kindergarten books and a chil- dren's magazine Everyland. The total number of We must not overlook the contribution which Committee books sold number 3,770,947 copies. the spread of the movement in mission lands is Three of the textbooks have been translated into making to the Christian cause ata time when in one or more of the following languages: Chinese, so many parts of the world Christianity seems to Japanese, Tamil, Urdu and German. The books be retrograding. The report for the last Conven- published by this Committee form a remarkable tion, held in Oslo in 1936 (gathered by World missionary library, covering practically the whole Dominion Movement at the request of the World's world, viewed as a Christian mission field.
Sunday School Association), was in many ways the most comprehensive review of Sunday School In one New York public school a recent religious census progress ever compiled. It showed a total Sun- showed that out of 457 "Protestant" pupils only 33 had day School enrolment for the world of 37,285,519. religious instruction in any church school. The New York This is a net gain of 894,579 over the report for Federation of Churches estimates that only one-half of the previous quadrennium. At the same time it the children of the city are receiving any religious train-. should be remembered that in Russia the entire ing under church auspices-Protestant, Roman Catholic or Jewish.
Practical Value of Missions to Pastors*
By PROF. ARCHIBALD G. ADAMS t Chair of World Religions and Missions, Temple University Philadelphia .nA.S A MISSIONARY for twelve years, bO'rn with preachers who are mostly underpaid, as they and bred and almost buried in the mission- see money gQing for unseen, unappreciated needs ary tradition and purpose, I am vitally interested in interesting young ministers in mis- elsewhere while their O'wn needs are sO' painfully sions, even more than I am in securing new re- present and felt. As prQtagonists. O'f the missioncruits for WQrld service. It is a difficult task, and ary cause, they are defenceless against the critifor several reasons. First there is the depressiO'n cisms O'f their people whO' seek every excuse to which has driven many churches tQrO'b Paul, the escape gIvmg. Thus they endanger their popmissionary, to pay Peter, the preacher. An Epis- ularity by supporting missions. copal Bishop was visiting the rector in one O'f the parishes of his diQcese, and as he left his auto- Moved by these conditions and cO'nsiderations it has been my purpose to' be as practical as posmobile he carefully lO'cked it. The rector ex- sible in ,presenting the .subject to my classes in claimed, "You don't need to' lock your car arO'und Temple University. I recall the resentment I felt here, Bishop, we're all honest." "I'm not sO' sure in college on being compelled to take courses that of that," replied the Bishop, "hasn't your church seemed of nO' possible use to me in my life work, been taking the missionary money for current ex- and the joy I experienced in the theological sempenses?" inary because all my studies were more or less geared into my preparation for service. There- SecO'nd, the effects of the Laymen's inquiry re- fQre it has been my intention to present the subport, "Rethinking Missions." Its unfortunate ject of missiQns in the most practical way in order publicity played up the failures of missionary work and soft-pedalled the successes. to' meet the O'bjectiO'ns to' missions and to' meet the need of ,pastors for information and training in Third, the keen competition in the ministry, missionary sermQn preparation. compelling young seminary students to bend every effort to prepare themselves for the demands of The Need for Information About Missions the pastorate, leaves, little time for so unrelated an interest as world missions. From my experience in teaching missions to As a pastor fO'r eleven years, I can sympathize high school students I did not expect to find much with the difficulties pastQrs experience in interesting their people in a subject on which the pas- knowledge of the subject on the part of seminary tors themselves are very slightly informed, and often greatly misinformed. There is hardly a students, but I was not prepared to find so little. subject on which the O'rdinary pastO'r feels it his None had ever heard of Adoniram Judson and duty to preach, or is compelled by his church rules to preach, which he finds SO' hard, dry and lifeless O'nly a few had heard of David Livingstone! At as the missiQnary sermQn. This attitude is naturally reflected in the sermon, and his people come least there would be novelty in the subject for the to' share his attitude. Then, too, in these days, O'f reduced income, one cannQt help sympathizing students, and their surprised delight at finding the subject so interesting was most encouraging.
Their need for information has been met in my classes in the following ways: (1) The history of missions has been made in- teresting by likening it to' a Prayer Rosary. This is an appropriate figure because most religions • CQndensed frQm a paper read at a HartfQrd Seminary CQnfer- use rosaries and the Prayer Rosary is a way by ence Qf ProfessQrs Qf MisslQns, 1938. which Christians have been helping to answer t the'Ir prayer: "Thy KI' ngdom, Corne."The lI'nks TahnQdugfhorI mhaanvye tyaeuagrhs t haadvuelttaBuigbhlet cmlaissssieQsnsmOinore ytQhuanng hpaeIQt pmle'ys f the ChaI'n h ave b een supplI' ed'In the connectI' ng life, 0 summer assemblies, I dQ nOot pretend tOo be a specialist In the field facts of each periQd Qf histQry; each student has Qf teaching. I Qwe my apPQintment tOo the Chair of WOorld RellgiQns and MissiQns at Temple University tOo the fact that I have spent a supplied a pearl in the chain, each pearl being the quarter of a century Qn the fQreign mission field, half as a bQY receiving vivid impressiOons Oof Qld China, and later as a missiOonary critical and atpapkreenciaf trQivme recponosret couft. Itvhee lip. feerloofdssomI.ne fQr 12 years tOo Western China, the rapidly changing China Oof tQday. mi"SSIQnary I attacked my new task at Temple University in the same way in Church history. These reports were read in class which I apprQach this subject, nQt as a specialist in educatiQn, careful tOo Qbserve the laws Oof pedagQgy, but as a missiQnary first, f::dt';~ N~ini~~k ~~~~~:~t!~.~~~ g~sl.eleven years have been spent [405 ]
at their chronological place in history. Each source of great satisfaction. One actually bought report of from 2,500 to 3,000 words covered the for his own library everyone of the eight mis- following points: a brief outline of the mission- sionary books assigned for his reading, after he ary's life; the influences which led him to enlist had read the library copies.. Of Morrow's life and his preparations for service; a description of Judson, entitled "Splendor of God," another of the most worth-while accomplishment of the student wrote in his review, "Thank you for put- missionary ; criticism of the least praiseworthy ting this on the required reading list. It is abso- missionary methods and attitudes; the suitability lutely the most -inspiring and gripping book I ever of his message in the light of present-day stand- read." Another said that missionary biographies ards; lastly, a portrayal of the most inspiring and "had so stimulated his thirst for more" that he impressive characteristics of the missionary. was reading biographies which had not been as- As far as possible each student chose the mis- signed, duri~_ his vacation, for pleasurable in- sionary he preferred; only a few had to take sec- spiration. .Another outstanding senior enthused ond choices. At each of our two-hour sessions over Brockman's "I Discover the Orient," saying throughout the semester a paper was read, taking that it had opened a window to better understand- about half an hour. In spite of a limited mission- ing and appreciation of the Chinese. A serious- ary library, by the end of the semester the stu- minded student wrote: "The life of Adoniram dents had come to know about sixty home and Judson by his son, Edward Judson, challenged me foreign missionaries, half of them thoroughly. with the question, would I be willing to serve They were assigned readings in other missionary Christ at such sacrifice? I thank God for having biographies, besides their individual assignments. read this book, and hope that if such a command (2) The students' need for information was comes I will be found in His will and not my own."
also met by the study of some fourteen mission- Yet another student laughingly declared that he ary magazines. They had to appraise these mag- always left his mission assignments to the last, azines, and classify, giving their reasons. Then because his weariness of mind and flesh from as- they described an ideal magazine that they be- signments in other courses would always be dis- lieved would meet all needs. In this way they in- pelled by the inspiration in his miss,ionary read- directly gleaned much information and learned ing. He would retire refreshed in body, mind and where more could be secured. The examination soul ~rom the stirring information he had secured.
called for a letter to the editor of each student's After making due allowance for a desire to get denominational periodical, making criticisms and a good grade, the character of students making suggestions. such testimonies, convince me that missions, if (3) Information was also imparted through given half a chance, can be made most interesting the eye-gate, both by the professor's own stereop- and inspiring. But the subject must find good ticon slides and, in one course, by the missionary soil in which to bear fruit. It is usually the most slides secured from various denominational head- intelligent, earnest and slerious-minded students quarters, the students delivering the lectures who respond most enthusiastically to the appeal themselves during the first half hour, followed by of the heroic in missions.
criticisms from other students. We must let missions slpeak for themselves in (4) For one course that presented "A minis- the following ways: ter's brief for world missions," information was (1) Reading good biographies of missionaries. provided in lectures and by 'assigned readings.. (2) Reading stories and bi,ographies of native (5) In the course on a "Critique of Modern converts to Christ. Bishop Frederick B. Fisher, in Missions," based on the Laymen's Report, a criti- his testimony to ministers of Buffalo at their ancal judgment was developed to evaluate informa- nual retreat some years ago, said: "When I went tion, and data on the outstandingly successful to India as a missi,onary my heroos were all ,of my missionary enterprises was given to the students own race: Livingstone, Carey and Judson. Now through missionary periodicals. my Christian her,oes are of another race: men In these five ways much information has been like Kagawa of Japan,and Sadhu Sundar Singh supplied in interesting ways. of India, and Sun Yat-sen of China."
The Students' Need for Inspiration (3) Many stories of missionary heroism and sacrifice were gleaned from the lives of my own To save missions from its reputation of being parents and other missionaries I have known.
one of the dryest subjects taught in seminaries it There are books like "Waste Basket Surgery" by was with no little concern that I undertook' to Dr. Gordon Seagrave.
make the subject inspiring to our School of The- (4) A study of Christ's missionary spirit, ology students. That most of them found the teaching and practice as the minister's chief missions courses unexpectedly inspiring was a source of inspiration.
THE PRACTICAL VALUE OF MISSIONS TO PASTORS
The Pastor's Need for Missionary Defence JudsQn's challenge to missionary effort, they grew by leaps and bounds until today they are 90 times At the outset of a course entitled "The Minis- as great (9,000,000) in a little over 100 years. ter's Brief for World Missions," the class was We read that in the Baptist churches in Lincoln's asked to bring in all the criticisms they have home town in Illinois, the majQrity refused to supheard in opposition to WQrld missions. These port foreign missions. Today thQse anti-missionwere met as fully and frankly as possible; then ary-minded churches are practically dead, while a series .of lectures followed which aimed to do the missionary minded churches have over 50,000 two things.: (1) to provide the students with the members in .one ass.ociation. most convincing arguments for maintaining world missions; and (2) to provide them with the foun- What would Sunday school teachers do without dation supports fQr a year's series of monthly ser- missionary stories? mons, which, with topical variations, could last them for a life time. Grenfell's mother was right when she said: "Labrad.or has doOne much more for my son than In selecting the eight most cogent arguments my son has done f.or the Labrad.or." for missions I am aware of what my friend Guy W. Sarvis, formerly a missionary in China, writes If there were no missions in the Christian in his review of Sewell's "China Through a, College Window." There Sarvis says: "The time Church we would have to invent s.omething like has passed to defend missions on the basis of Biblical texts and abstract ethics. They must be them to keep the Church alive and growing. evaluated for their worth to the persons and communities. directly involved as well as for their (3) Because we owe a debt to the past t.O pass significance in international relations at a time on the Gospel to the future. A mother and child, when the world is contracting physically in in East Aurora, New York, attended a missionary airplane tempo, while doctrines of national sep- service. When the mother put nothing in the colaratism are supplanting the ideal of human broth- lection basket, the child said: "Mother, aren't you erhood. The missionary process is essentially one going to pay for me?" Could that mother ever pay of the impingement of cultures, inevitable in the for her Christian home, husband, church, land and modern world, good or bad in terms of concrete Gospel? Never, yet someone had to pay! "The effects." noble army, men and boys, the matIlon and the maid," martyrs and pioneers, all the way back to While we attempt to apply this truth we do not the Cross, where the greatest price was paid, tesabandon the authority of the Bible as part of the tify that "We are not our own; we have been defense of missions, because in the rightly selected bought with a price." G€neral Pershing, when passages we find the support which Jesus Christ he laid the wreath at Lafayette's tomb in France, gave to world missions in spirit, teaching and said, "Lafayette, we are here." Should we not practice. Hence the first argument, practically say to the dead champions of the faith, pioneer the only Biblical one, is: missionaries who gave their all, to Christ and to spread the Gospel we now enjoy: "Pioneers, (1) Because Jesus taught and practised world we are here" ! missions. In this lecture the student is shown, in some cases for the first time, how Jesus gave much (4) Because the sacrifices of missionaries must of His time and effort to preaching to the Gentiles not be in vain. Using the theme of Col. John Mcof His own country. As He was almost lynched Crae's poem: "In Flanders Field": by fellow townsfolk because He said He was going to preach to the Gentiles owing to the Jewish To you from failing hands we throw the Torch; Be yours to hold it high! indifference and unresponsiveness, so the preacher If ye break faith with us who die of today, to be truly like his Master, must expect We shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders field. to meet opposition from unenlightened fellow Christians to the world missionary program. But We read of heroic sacrifices of missionaries, of we must not, for that reason, desist from earnest missionary mothers, missionary children, of pareffort to spread the Gospel. ents at h.ome who have given their children for foreign service; sacrifices.of devoted Christians (2) Because the Christian Church needs world in the h.ome churches, to supp.ort missionaries. missions to keep it Christ-like and growing, by the As Paul said: "I .take pleasure in necessities for challenge of a great task, such as world missions Christ's s·ake." If soldiers, explorers, and scienpresents. "They who live unto themselves, die tists are ready to make sacrifices f.or their coununto themselves." TQ deny is to die, to give is try, why should we not be ready to sacrifice for to live. This is true of churches as of individuals. Christ? Baptists in 1818 numbered only 158,000. But, mainly because .of the spiritual effect of accepting (5) Because we should give of our best to atone for the w.orst we have given. Review of the his- tory of the white man's invasions of colored races -American Indian; African slave trade; parti- tion of Africa; Mexican conquest by Spaniards;
South American conquest; the occupation of In- lined in the previous. headings) so that they can dia, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of repeat the main theme with variations made effec- Oceania; the semi-partition of China. Albert tive by fresh illustrations. These can be obtained Schweitzer of Africa says: "A heavy guilt rests from missionary magazines. More than forty stu- upon our Christian culture," and he adds that he dents voluntarily took out a year's SUbscription to is there to try to make some atonement. a missionary magazine, and have been enthusiastic (6) Because those who sit in darkness deserve readers of it.
to share in the light of the world. Multitudes Popular magazines also sometimes supply mis- earnestly follow what light they have, though this sionary stories and articles. These are at work is often superstition; many have an earnest in minds of people who never read a missionary hunger for the truth; they are ready to make magazine. Missionary books, especially biog- sacrifices for their own religions; they suffer raphies of nY.ssionaries, are a fertile source of through ignorance, superstition, and wrong. The inspiring illustrations-stories of work, stories of least we can do is to share with them the greater converts, the products of missions. Other good light we have from Christ. missionary literature can be secured from denom- (7) Because when they have the light non- inational headquarters.
Christian peoples often rn,a,ke the best Christians. The suggestion is also made that five minutes While it is all that American Christians can do to may profitably be devoted during the Sunday get an hour or two of religious programs a day morning service to reports on missionary events over the air, the Chinese Christians of Shanghai and progress, under some such title as, "The March have their own broadcasting station and fill the of Missions" or "News Not in the Newspapers."
air with Christian messages all day long. If made brief and pointed, such a feature will edu- (8) Because the kingdom of G,od cannot come cate and inspire the congregations.
fully anywhere until it comes everywhere, and it Good missionary drama is immensely effective, cannot be accomplished without the help of Chris- and suggestions are made as to ways in which this tians of every race and nation. America could can be used. Lists of recommended missionary not be kept "dry" under prohibition, largely be- drama (one is by Rev. La Rue Cober of Colgate cause of wet Canada to the north and Mexico to Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, N. Y.) are the south, and wetter Europe across the Atlantic, distributed to the students and they or their wives so no land can ever beoome fully Christian until urged to try their hands at similar drama. every land has accepted Christ and His way of life. As Lloyd George said to Stanley High: "If The Need for Example and Practice missions fail, the rest of us will have to shut up shop!" , The seminary chapel furnishes an opportunity for the students to hear missionary speakers, as The Need for Missionary Ammunition examples of how (as well as, how not) to preach "The best defence is an offence," militarists tell on mISSIons. One speaker, using stereopticon us. The preacher needs ammunition for mission- slides, unsllspectingly furnished a good opportu- ary sermons and guidance in dropping his bombs. nity for the students to criticize pro and con, in The strategy of the Trojan horse is a wise prece- the light of their class training.
dent for the .general who would take the enemy of Only practice makes perfect. The practice pro- missions unawares. When one student started vided for the students was in sermon construction, his sermon with the bald statement: "This is a and in presentation of missionary lectures with missionary sermon," he was warned that he had stereopticon pictures in the classroom, and sermon made a tactical error before he had a chance to delivery in their own churches.
be heard. Opponents of missions close their ears Sermon construction was after this manner.
and hearts at the outset, while others need not be The professor assigned missionary books on told. The "Trojan horse strategy" is to iriter- which sermons were to be written, then to be sperse sermons with int~resting missionary illus- preached by those students who were supplying trations, occasionally at first, until an appetite for pulpits. Thus they "killed two birds with one such food has been stimulated, and a demand is stone," a feat which students alw'ays appreciate.
created for missionary sermons. Then give mis- Those students who had churches where they sionary sermons attractive, catchy titles, such as could preach the sermons prepared in class, re- Modern Miracles of the Master; Good News from ported impressions made upon their congrega- Far Countries; Saddle-Bay Surveyors of the tions.
Kingdom; Jesus the First World Missionary; At the beginning of each two-hour class half an Are Christians Color Blind? hour was given to stereopticon lectures by the Students are urged to collect clippings and students two at a time, each taking turns prac- notes on each of the arguments for missions (out- ticing the mechanics of running a stereopticon
RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS OF A MIDWEST CITY
lantern, andgIvmg the message. At the close sermons, because they have information and inthe students criticized the presentation and the spiration, and confidence in their ability to put mechanics, before the professor made his contri- the message across. bution. One of the examination questions called for a list of instructions as to the physical, mental Great encouragement to this method of teachand spiritual preparation for the presentation of ing missions comes from the fact that one student missionary lectures to guide the novice. Students was so much interested in his study of the history were also asked to criticize the quality of mission- of missions in the Caribbean islands (on which no ary lectures supplied by their denominational book has been written so that no little research headquarters, and to compose a letter to the au- on his part was necessary) that he submitted a thorities making suggestions. master's thesis, illustrated with handmade maps of every Caribbean island. The assignment had Thus the students are helped to become efficient been for a 3,000 word paper, and the student had in the presentation of missionary material so that not yet graduated. To have aroused such interest they will no longer dread that duty but will look in a missionary subject is one indication that the forward with pleasure to preaching missionary methods work.
Religious Problems of a Midwest City By REV. L. MERLE RYMPH, Wichita, Kansas President of the Ministerial Association and Minister of the Fairmount Community Church, CongregatiQnal W HAT are the religious problems of a Mid- Street and Douglas Ave. According to the story west city? Even a superficial study of of pioneers, Douglas Avenue became the prized facts, made by a casual observer, would business and residence street by a mere chance reveal a series of religious problems in a city like circumstance, in that the cowboy surveyor who Wichita, Kansas. These problems grow out of flung his rope across Douglas Ave. used a 114-foot five contributing social factors: (1) the rapid rope instead of a 100-foot rope as intended. Be growth of the city, (2) the missionary zeal and that as it may, this prairie city developed as most optimism of its pioneer founders, (3) the rapid prairie cities tend to develop in the form of a shift of its population from an agricultural econ- "cross" with the original business center at the omy and life to an urban economy and life, (4) the intersection. Douglas Avenue, being the wider secularization of its common life, and (5) the ex- and more beautiful street, attracted the more perience of chastened optimism during the more desirable business and residential development.
recent depression years. Main Street became the center of industrial de- I velopment north and south, as well as the center of the less desirable business and residential de- In less than seventy years the virgin praIrIe velopment. That fact has had its bearing today has been overlaid with a city population of 117,000 on the types of churches and the success of church residents. In the year 1867 the spot on which the developments in the various sectors of the city.
city of Wichita now stands was vis,ited by a corps In considering the city's phenomenal growth, of government surveyors. and this territory was it is well to remember that the city's growth to a laid out in government homesteads, laying the large extent has been the result of the develop- foundation for the rigid pattern of the City's north ment of the Southwest trade territory. The trade and south, east and west streets. The shallow territory in a very real sense made the city. In ford and the grove of cottonwood trees at the 1871,·800,000 cattle were driven through this city intersection of the Little Arkansas and the Big to the nearest market. When the Santa Fe Rail- Arkansas Rivers was a normal meeting place and road was extended to Wichita in 1872, two mil- trading center for homesteaders. In the year lion dollars changed hands in Wichita in the ship- 1870 the two original town plots, laid out by two ping of cattle. In the next few years most of the pioneers, Munger and Griifensteing, were joined immediate trade territory was homesteaded. By and incorporated as the city of Wichita, fixing the 1885 the Board of Trade in Wichita was adver- two main business streets of the city as Main tising the southwest territory, as "the cream of
the Southwest, . its land as rich as the plains As evidence of the underchurched situation that of Belgium, its breezes laden with the perfume is ours, I submit some facts revealed in a study of wild flowers and apple blossoms as sweet as of Week-Day Religious Education in Wichita as ever blew over Ceylon's isle, . . . its corn fields made by the Board of Week-Day Religious Edustretching mile on mile, which will ere long be cation in the year 1935. That year 10,950 elekeeping rhythmic time to those breezes." Such mentary children were eligible to attend W. D. optimism, such faith in the Southwest, such busi- R. E. schools in the churches, for one hour one day each week. Of these 10,950 elementary chilness and commercial enterprise set the stage for dren that were eligible for such instruction, only the rapid development of the Southwest and in 5,371 were in public schools adjacent to churches turn the rapid growth of the city itself. It is that were able and willing to offer facilities and against this background of individual enterprise, leadership f~. such instruction. Five thousand agricultural and business advance, that the five hundred and seventy-nine other elementary churches of Wichita have functioned until recent children were enrolled in public elementary years. schools either not adjacent to churches or adjacent What has the rapid development of the South- to churches not able and willing to offer this inwest, and the rapid growth of the city, meant to struction to these children. The proportion of the the church life of Wichita? It has reflected itself children that should rightfully be looked upon as in the mood of the churches. The churches expect a Protestant opportunity and responsibility is to grow. They expect to be fed continuously by the transfer of members from the great Southwest indicated by the fact that of the 5,371 who had -hence the success of those churches in the South- the privilege of attending W. D. R. E. in adjacent west as feeders into the church life of Wichita has churches, able and willing to offer them instrucbeen of no small consequence. The churches like- tion, 4,032 accepted the opportunity offered them. wise have expected the wealth of the Southwest The lowest percentage attending from any public to transfer itself to Wichita and express itself in school where the privilege was offered was 84% the building of great churches here. The wealth of cattle, and wheat, and oil has been a major con- and the highest percentage 96 %. These pertributing factor to the financial prestige of many of· our city churches, and not a single established centages indicate the measure of Protestant opchurch continues to function today entirely inde- portunity in Wichita, if only Protestantism was pendent of the wealth of Wichita's trade territory. organized and eager to serve the city, i. e., if the city was adequately churched. In the number of churches that have been founded in Wichita and in the number of Prot- I know that there are those that argue that estant sects and churches that are endeavoring to such things as Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and W. D. continue to serve the city, it would appear that R. E. are not necessary features of the church much of the religious faith, so expressed, has been program. I know that there are those who still ill-advised. With the hopeful expectancy that fol- contend that a Sunday church program is suffilows pioneer individual enterprise, Protestant cient. Let me call attention to the fact that Sunchurches were established throughout Wichita day School attendance is not sufficient. I have with reckless abandon. Today we have, accord- only the figures on Sunday School enrolments at ing to the Saturday Church Page, 114 Protestant hand, and could only make a guess as to the regchurches and sects trying to serve the city. The ularity of Sunday School attendance. I would omit the wild guess in favor of the hard, known city may be, as some claim, 80 % Protestant re- facts. The study made in 1935 previously referred to also reveals the fact that throughout the city sponsibility, nevertheless, it would appear that it the average percentage of elementry school chilis beyond reason to expect 114 churches to accrue dren enrolled in Sunday School is only 58ro, the sufficient leadership and financial strength to adequately serve the needs of city people. Many of greatest percentage in any sector being 63 % and the churches are so weak and feeble that whole areas are unserved by the Boy Scout and Girl the lowest being 44 %. . Certainly these percent- Scout organizations. Many other churches make no attempt to set up Week-Day Schools of Reli- ages leave a clear picture of the underchurching gion because they feel themselves too weak in of Wichita by our present program of Sunday leadership and financial resources. Still other religious education through our Sunday Schools churches carryon very inadequate and low-grade in these 114 churches. Sunday programs of religious education and worship. Wichita is now underchurched because it A study of the relative childhood responsibiliis overchurched with inadequate church organiza- ties of neighborhood, subcenter, and downtown tions. churches is still more revealing. The same study referred to in the above paragraphs reveals that it took four downtown churches with a total mem- bership of 8,900 to care for 1,284 pupils in the Week-Day Schools of Religion. The study also
shows the fact tha.t at the same time three sub- ties. Right now the sense of competition exceeds center residential churches with a total member- the sense that is ours of cooperation in meeting ship of 1,750 were caring for 341 pupils in Week- our common religious civic responsibility. Day Religious Education. More surprising still is the revelation we find in the studies referred to, The Influence of Sectarianism that three outlying re!>idential churches of 1,400 total membership were supplying Week-Day Here one may face frankly the heritage that is ours of our frontier missionary zeal in the Religious Education facilities for 601 pupils. establishment of denominational and sectarian Certainly the cost of Week-Day Religious Educa- churches. On the Saturday Church Page of the tion and the leadership of these schools is not Wichita Eagle the 114 Protestant congregations very equitably divided in the system of W. D. R. E. are listed under 36 different denominational and as it now stands in Wichita. I understand that sectarian captions. I suspect that this listing since 1935 two of the downtown churches have minimizes the actual number of sectarian groupaccepted the responsibility of helping finance and ings. Protestantism in every city has its myriad types of churches and Wichita is no exception. promote schools in outlying unserved districts. All home mission boards in the early days were Yet only one-half of our elementary children are offered these opportunities of religious instruc- eager "to possess the land" and to gain their tion. Surely no one will deny the fact that a greater statesmanlike churchmanship must be ex- rightful place in this metropolitan center. A pressed if Wichita children are to be offered this study of the Saturday Church Page reveals that minimum of religious instruction. the individual with the most rare and sensitive taste should be able to find the congregation of In a Midwest city like Wichita, all churches his choice here. We have our defenders of the are accessible to the adult population on Sundays. faith and we have churches' most tolerant and lib- From the most distant outlying point the down- eral. We have rigid sectarian churches and we town sector can be reached by bus in 15 minutes have churches that practice intercommunion as and by car in 12 minutes. The Sunday program well as open communion. We have our highly liof churches then is highly competitive and. each turgical churches and our non-liturgical churches. church finds itself in real, though friendly com- We have national cultural churches transplanted petition with every other church in the city. The from European scenes and we have typical Amerbigger downtown churches have the prestige of ican churches. We have country churches that years, of central location, of greater numerical have merely moved to town and we have highly and financial strength, and of a more highly paid ,adapted city churches. We have the more regular staff. The outlying residential church has the typ,es of Protestant churches like Methodist, Bappower of neighborhood appeal, the social power tist, Presbyterian, Congregational, etc., and we of contiguous and intimate family and age-group have a more or less irregular list including Penterelationships, and the warm spiritual appeal of costal, Tabernacle, Mission, Spiritualist, The- osophy and Unity. We have churches that insist intimate understandings. The subcenter residen- on being known as Trinitarian and one that above tial churches, many of them, face the area of all things is' Unitarian. Then beyond Protestantgreatest human need as' indicated by juvenile de- ism are the seven Roman Catholic churches and linquency, transciency, low rents and divisive the one central Roman Catholic Cathedral. Bereligious competitions. Having served for 11 yond this the two Jewish synagogues, the orthoyears as pastor of the Fairmount Community Con- dox and the liberal, with which some measure of gregational Church, a residential church five miles fellowship exists through the local Round Table from the heart of the city, I am most familiar of the National Conference of Jews and Chriswith the adaptations that such a church must tians. make, majoring in its community responsibilities The problem of fellowship and cooperation in throughout the week, without minimizing those such a myriad situation at times becomes a most opportunities that remain for intensive religious baffling one. Some of the more recept questions work on Sunday. For my own part, I ch,eri@the that ,ha:v/il come up in cooperative church fellowspiritual heritage that is ours of religious''iree- ship cit.cles are these: "How can church groups dom, with the right of people to worship and;;erve work odt an effective cooperative publicity and wh.en and where they choose; but I do hope t.hat promotioriprogram?" "Just what churches should along with recognition of that freedom as Prot- be represented in the Council of Churches-more s,pecificalIy, are churches such as "The Reorganestants we can so enhance our sense of shared ized Church of the Latter Day Saints" and "The social and religious responsibility that the needs Unitarian Church" sufficiently like-minded and of residential, subcenter, and downtown churches alike in faith and practice to be welcomed into the will be adequately met, that these several types of churches may fulfil their God-given responsibili-
fellowship of these already in the Council?" churches which were thriving churches in 1888 "Just how far and in what way should the Prot- were so depleted in 1892 that the only way they estant ministerial group share its fellowship with could see their way clear to carryon was to merge the Liberal Jewish Rabbi, who is most fraternal their forces into one church. Some churches have and eager for greater fraternity?" "What part been left stranded, located in the center of illshall Protestantism play in championing the reli- advised real estate ventures that failed to work gious rights. of minority religious culture groups ?" out. Other churches have been made by being Finally this most perplexing modern problem: located in the center of rapidly developing resi- "How can the radio time offered by the two broad- dential territory. In the main all those churches casting stations be most equitably and effectively located in good time in the heart of the "city divided among the various religious groups within cross," north and south, east and west, have the city?" If the reader of this, article is inclined grown by leaps and bounds regardless of their to feel that these questions have no real signifi- denomination~t affiliation. The only churches to cance, it would be well to sit in on some of the exceed them in growth have been those first estabconferences where these items· are inadvertently lished and centrally located downtown near the and unexpectedly brought to the fore for solution. heart of the business sector. Location means Here they must be faced as factual and emotional much to a church. Nowhere is this more evident realities. Sometimes the emotional factor is the than in a growing city like Wichita, with its varymajor factor. The religious problems that now ing types of residential and industrial developcome to a focus in this post-home missionary ex- ment schemes. pansion period are the problems that arise out of the Babel of sectarians that insist on their rights Just a word about the mind-set of the people of being heard on the city's streets, yet are more who move from the farms to Wichita, for to a or less desirous of finding their unity of expres- very large extent the city is made up of those who sion with others at the point of common under- have moved here from its trade territory. The standing and purpose. population is homogeneous and, for the most part, native American stock. Some come from the rural The Changing City Populations area, crowded off of the farms either by the mech- anization of those farms or because of the fact In dealing with the religious. problems that that the families have been too large for homearise from a shift from an agricultural economy stead farms to support all members generation and life to an urban economy and life, many things after generation. They come to Wichita full of come to my mind, but I shall limit this treatise expectancy and hope, expecting to be absorbed in merely to those problems which arise out of real the industrial and commercial life of the city. estate promotion schemes and those that appear Many of them do find their permanent place in the in the mind-set of the city man, recently trans- work life of the community. Some rise to high planted from the rural to the urban scene. places in civic and religious leadership. Others are absorbed in the city's industrial and commer- When one begins to study the different real estate promotion schemes that have had their day cial activities for a time only. Many are "let out" in Wichita, one begins to suspect that at least in at 45 and younger. Then it is that the sense of this respect Wichita has just grown up "like lostness and conscious maladjustment seizes them Topsy." Many subdivisions of the city have been and they suffer severe disillusionments, growing sanely promoted and have come as a normal result out of their own false hopes and the inadequacies of the demands of a growing city. Charts made of our modern city civilization in making perfor the city planning commission as early as 1923 manent room for them. One could not catalogue indicate some 23 different city plots that were the personal, the home, the social and the spirannexed, undeveloped, tax delinquent, and va- itual difficulties that the alert pastor must face in cated. Since that time many of these have been the fulfilment of his day-by-day pastoral duties, reannexed and developed as residential sectors. ministering to city dwellers today. The burst of the real estate boom in 1887 was purely a resultant of wild land speculation that One tremendous opportunity that the city brought a stalemate to city growth for ten years. church has today is the religious opportunity of Fifty church fammes from one church group influencing various professional groups through alone moved their residence from Wichita to the channels of religious inspiration and counsel. Eureka because they thought it offered more se- This seems to be the growing edge of the church's curity for their religious colony, and a more per- responsibility in civic life. So much of the work manent location for a denominational school of the Christian pastor in these days must be done center. The church of which I am now pastor as a professional religious adviser on the city came into being in those years, when two young streets and in the marketplace. Jesus found the condition quite different in the temple of Jeru-
RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS OF A MmWEST CITY
salem and on the streets of the Holy City from inadvertently. Adults are caught today in the what it was on the plains of Palestine and along throes of diversified and competitive Sunday pulls, the quiet shores of Galilee. The city pastor today, until Sunday for many has become a nightmare, likewise, finds the demands of the city quite dif- instead of a day of rest and worship. Schools, ferent from that of the more distinctly rural field. particularly universities, tend more and more to Religious work in the city must be adapted to the use Sunday for extras such as rehearsals, open highly specialized interests represented in city house and public concerts. Recreational groups life. The churchman in the city must face with and institutions, particularly those heavily com- courage and vision the demands of the city and mercialized, make their appeal more and more to adapt the work of his organization to the meeting Sunday crowds. Certain industries and commer- of those apparent spiritual needs, if the church of cial enterprises feel that they must open Sundays, the city is to have transforming and redemptive and the fact that people, including some church power. The city religious worker, today, who is people, patronize these businesses would indicate true to his trust, will face fearlessly as Jesus did that there is a public demand for Sunday open- the clannishness, the bigotries, and the self-suffi- ing. Then as a more recent development is the ciencies of privileged city classes, as his Master growing practice of professional and civic groups did before him. Likewise, he will follow the foot- to use Sundays as their big days for opening and steps of his Lord in entering sympathetically into closing their festivities. One divisive pull alone the problems of the underprivileged, the confused, would not be so devastating to the work of the and the harassed individuals who walk the city churches-but the aggregate of all these divisive streets without a real sense of security and "at pulls make it most difficult for churches to carry homeness." The spiritual service man renders to on consistent and constructive work on the day common humanity is still the best indication of that was once recognized as the Lord's day, and man's divinity. the day of the church's major opportunity.
The Secularization of Life What is the church to do about the seculariza- tion .of Sunday? Some churchmen are militant The secularization of contemporary urban life about the situation – and seek legislation, safemanifests itself in a number of ways, but no mani- guarding the Lord's Day for church purposes, festations of that secularization are more signifi- particularly certain well established hours. Some cant in the demands upon the city church for are troubled in the face of the situation-and seek urban adaptation than those that grow out of counsel. Some are intensely serious in the face (1) the secularization of Sunday and (2) the secularization of youth's sense of relative values. of the situation and are seeking ways to make Sunday more meaningful and ways also to sup- The secularized competitive usages that city plement th,e church's Sunday work with mean- people are bringing into their week-end and Sun- ingful week-day activities. Who is there who day experiences handicap the work of city does not recognize the gravity of the situation churches more than any reader of this article fully realizes. The chart made by the Week-Day sufficiently to realize that the church's one day of Religious Education Board reveals the percentage major opportunity has been and is being ruth- of attendance of elementary children in attend- lessly dissipated by many thoughtless and needless ance at Week-Day Schools of Religion in 1935 and competitive usages? Easter Sunday, our churches . in Sunday Schools for the same year. The aver- were crowded to the doors. One member of the age percent for Sunday School attendance stands regular Sunday worshipping congregation was at 58.70, ranging from 44% to 63%. The average heard to remark: "This shows how many people percentage in attendance at the Week-Day can go to church when they really want to."
Schools of Religion, 90%, ranging from 84% to I wonder just where are we going, and what 9670 in the different schools. Many factors enter are we going to do next Sunday, and the next into the fact that a greater percentage go to Sunday, and the next. In Wichita, we are for- W. D. R. E. than to S. S.; among these factors tunate enough to have both a board of education are "clothes," "the gang spirit," and the fact of and a city council that are sympathetic to the "no collection"-all in the favor of the W. D. R. E. church's problem. The publicly owned buildings school-but beyond these factors is the factor of Wichita are not open to the public on Sunday that parents. do not take the children away from for commercialized, competitive programs. Some the public school and the W. D. R. E. school for professional groups have given consideration to picnics, visiting and rural outings-as they take the church's need of a real opportunity to carry them from the Sunday School and the Sunday on its constructive and creative work by recog- worship program of the church. nizing Sunday as primarily the church's day. In But children are not the only ones who have the the main, however, it must be confessed that the influences of Sabbath observance taken from them problem has not seriously been faced by most in-
dividuals and groups within the city that should to be as group- and class-conscious as the Chamber be most concerned. of Commerce. A city-planning commission has been working since 1923 to effect a more whole- The other aspect of secularization I feel led to some city life. In times past the problems of face is also most real-I refer to the subconscious Wichita have been problems of its youth, exsecularization of our youth that takes place when pressed in growing pains. The problems today youth is educated only in and by our public school are the problems of middle age. Day after tosystem. Such education, valuable as it is, alone morrow they will be the problems of age. Right is not enough. The public schools, the high now interest is being manifest in filling in the schools, and the municipal university in this mid- gaps in city development by encouraging the erecwest city are so big, that the youth program of tion of diagonal streets to the four corners of the our churches appeal to the youth as too small and city. One of these has already been constructed, insignificant, unless the youth program of our terminating 'tlJt the airport. Another, soon we individual churches really does for these youth trust, will terminate at the Municipal University. what no public school, no matter how big, can ever Individual, unrelated real estate promotion do. Life to be healthy and whole must be under- schemes are giving way to city plannng and cogirded both by an adequate religious faith and an operative promotion enterprises. One cannot lisadequate religious experience in real spiritual fel- ten in at Democratic meetings these days and hear lowship. The church that meets this two-fold the words "the present recession" and at Repubneed will have the loyalty of its youth. The lican meetings and hear the echo, "the Roosevelt church's opportunity seems to be in those small depression," without feeling that the buoyant ingroup and age fellowship organizations where a dividualism of the past is really giving way to a type of religious. work and experience is nurtured sense of chastened optimism and perhaps also a quite comparable to the experience and work sense of somewhat restrained social responsibility. Jesus shared in the intimacies of fellowship with His disciple band. This likewise is true of the The Church in these days is caught up by the Christian Youth Council and the "Y" organiza- mood of the times. No great church buildings or tions. cathedrals are now being built in Wichita. No church is rushing into. new territory. The Council Looking Into the Future of Churches is not reaching out to take advanced ground with the boundless enthusiasm of the days I began this paper with an expression of bound- of its youth-yet it is conserving its status and less optimism, growing out of the consciousness it is undergirding itself for real work ahead, as that Wichita has been a rapidly growing city, are many of the churches. The Council of from the time of its founding until now. A new Churches grew out of a sense of shared church factor, however, has come into our common ex- responsibility some 18 years ago. The principle perience in more recent years. These depression of unrestrained individual church freedom had and recession years have disciplined our minds as Wichitans, as it has the minds and spirits of men run its course, and through the vision and courage and women the world around. Weare beginning of men like A. A. Hyde, Wichita's chief philanto recognize that the problems we now face and thropist, and Ross Sanderson, Wichita's pioneer are destined to face in the future will be more cooperative statesman; the Council of Churches difficult and baffling, for they will grow out of a was organized on a sane and constructive basis. more static situation. We already have one-fifth Last fall the National Preaching Mission conof our population on relief-in that we are one ducted in Wichita demonstrated the increased with our nation. Our sense of self-sufficiency has spiritual power that is released within a city like been somewhat broken in recent years as we have Wichita when churches join wholeheartedly in watched great dust clouds roll in from the South- united Christian effort. The growing sense of west and· as we have watched government agency interdenominational interrelatedness that is ours after goVernment agency established with head- today is a powerful and latent spiritual force quarter§: in our city for the relief of those in need undergfrding the churches for better days ahead. of govenhment subsidy. Kansas wheat farmers, historic~1ly individualistic and independent, have The future is uncharted. Spiritual needs will sensed their dependence and their interdepend- forever manifest themselves as real and all-com- ence, and have been learning to cooperate to pelling: The spirit of the Christ in the churches forward common interests and welfare of the com- will forever rise up to meet those needs. Just so .mon weal. Then, too, group- and class-conscious- long as the church, as "the body of Christ," emness has been growing within the city itself. bodies His Spirit and adapts itself to the changing Under the Wagner Act, labor g"roups are coming needs of the city, just so long will spiritual transinto a consciousness of group needs and bid fair formations take place and Christ's redemptive power wiiI be felt in the life of this midwest city.
I Believe in Jesus
I I~.- –tijf By GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK* of China · AITH and superstition are two entirely dif- did he receive a so-called higher education. He ferent things. We must all realize that super- was born in an ordinary home of the laboring class, the son of a carpenter. Because He per- Pstition is not faith, and that those who really have faith will not wander off into vulgar super- ceived that His nation was on the verge of ruin, stition. If a man lacks faith he can accomplish that Abraham's seed was about to be destroyed, nothing; nor can he accomplish anything if he He courageously decided to undertake the arduous admits superstition into his life. Men nowadays task of restoring His nation; He dedicated him- often regard faith as superstition, and supersti- self wholly to the cause, and resolved to struggle tion as faith, and because the two are confused, sacrificially for the salvation of his people; more those who oppose superstition also discard faith. than that, to save all mankind. So He led his fol- We should all know that the success of any lowers throughout the land, and by means of enterprise means that faith is indispensable. In preaching and healing, and through His divine these days when principles are in eclipse and de- wisdom and His unequaled power to present the sires run riot, when government is torn up, when three great themes of truth, righteousness and the people are suffering, and the nation is strug- life, He awakened His nation, He led His people, gling in disaster, how can we be saved from un- to bring about national revolution.
paralleled calamity unless there is vigorous faith Social Significance of the Gospel and confident assurance of victory? On the one hand we must break down all superstition, and Second, believe in Jesus because He was a leader on the other hand we must all the more exalt a of social revolution. The causes of a nation's de- cline are indeed many, but failure to remedy, by positive faith. For example, if we can believe in orderly change, the people's economic life is one the "Three Principles" first enunciated by Sun of the chief causes of national downfall. So who- Yat-sen, we can go and practice them. Because ever would promote a national revolution must we firmly believe the truth and righteousness. of first completely eradicate the ignorance, the corthe "Three Principles," we fear nothing. And ruption and the disorders of society, its selfishness this psy;chology of not being afraid, this spirit of and greed; then with a new spirit he can build fearlessness, comes from faith. up a new life, abundant, expanding and ascending. Thus he will seek the emancipation of His people. Jesus the Revolutionary First, believe in Jesus because He was a leader Jesus attacked with all his might the evil forces of national revolution. When Jesus came to earth. of His day; He tried with all His power to over- the Jewish nation was daily growing weaker. It come its pernicious mores. His purpose was none had suffered the full measure of insult and oppres- other than by means of His leadership and ideal- sion from the Roman imperial authority. From ism to deliver His submerged people out of dark- history we can see that the Jewish people, stag- ness so that they might become a new people. He gering under the violence of their enemies, were laid the foundat'ions of social revolution.
no different from cattle and slaves; all liberties Third, believe in Jesus because He was a leader had been taken away from them and all power put of religious revolution. Jesus saw the rottenness into the hands of Romans. At that time not only of religion in his day, the evil customs, and per- could Jewish national independence show no re- verted beliefs; the leaders one and all cheated the sistance, but even the will to resist had vanished. people, and imposed on them their false beliefs, Fortunately, at this point in the course of events seeking only their own selfish profit. Autocracy in Jesus Christ was born. the Jewish church, and the hollowness of its rit- He was not a scion of the nobility. He was ual, pained and deeply grieved Jesus. He recog- without temporal position and worldly power; He nized that unless the perverted beliefs and the did not grow up in a home of wealth, and still less hypocrisy were done away with He could not re- * A radio address broadcast fronl Hankow, China, ,on Easter eve, vive His prostrate people, and still less could He spread abroad and exalt the true spirit of religion. April 16, 1938. Translated into English by Prof. Warren H. Stuart So He constantly rebuked those who vaingloriof the College of Emporia, Emporia, Kansas. Reprinted from The Chl'istian Century.
[415 ]
ously prayed at street intersections; he vigorously China and C~ristianity opposed those who in the name of religion would Now look at our nation. Suffering the last hundeceive the people-evildoers who undermine so- dred years from the corruption and weakness of ciety. He cast out the traders and overthrew the the Manchus, its condition bears striking resemmoney changers' tables; by means of a parable blance to the situation in Jesus' day. He exposed the wicked husbandmen, brought to book the wicked tribute-eollectors, and rebuked Sun Yat-sen, cherishing love for God and man, the covetous capitalists. suffused with the revolutionary spirit of Jesus, and motivated by universal love, followed the path All these efforts were solely to lead his people of revolution for forty years as if but for a day. out of darkness into light, from defeatism into With utter self-sacrifice He sought freedom for active struggle, from riotous living into decency, the Chinese people. At last in 1911 the Manchus' from greed and corruption into frugality and holi- imperial rule was overthrown, and the Republic ness. This work of reforming religion and cleans- of China broul'ht into being. Thus was the work ing away its evils – how important it was, and of national revolution achieved. what a Herculean task! How daringly and decisively, and with what utter abando~, Jesus en- As Sun Ya.t-sen's successor, I look ahead into deavored to rescue the Church and SOCIety of that the consequences of the people's revolution and day from its myriad ills to awaken the masses think over the causes of our present spiritual defrom their ignorance! So Jesus was a leader of pression, I firmly believe that in seeking to bring religious revolution. national recovery and social progress, we must advocate Jesus' spirit of universal love and of Love the Law of Life sacrifice. I feel that whatever one does, whether As I constantly study the basis of Jesus' revolu- dealing with men and situations, or commanding tionary spirit-where it was actually rooted-I and carrying on the government, in all forms of feel that the basis lay entirely in His spirit of love. service, only love and peace are the foundations of He a.imed by this spirit of universal love to expel human life; and struggle and sacrifi·ce are a revo- lutionary's duty. This was the attitude of Jesus. the wrong thinking of men, to abolish their unj ?st This was my meaning on a former occasion when systems, to make it possible for everr man to .enJoy his God-given rights, and the blessmgs. of lIberty . I said, "Until peace has become hopeless, never and fraternity. Jesus felt that "all within the forsake peace; when sacrifice has become necesfour seas are brethren," so he wanted men to sary, then sacrifice without reservation." draw near and love one another, sharing in time During the last few years, whenever at leisure of trial, helping one another in time of illness. from pressing duties, I have been promoting a Between nations He wanted to promote peace and social movement which has produced some wide- spread results. I refer to the New Life Movejustice, so all his life He opposed v!olence and ?I?- held fair dealing. He always cherIshed the SPIrIt ment. I am well aware that in this movement the of mercy, and helped the weak. His ~ords an.d superficial aspects may easily be emphasized while deeds manifest at every point the realIty of HIS the heart of it is neglected; it is easy to stress its universal love, and His spirit of revolutionary material phase, while overlooking its spirit. Now I have something new to add: that is to say, self-sacrifice. Because Jesus desired to fulfill His heaven-ap- if we are really going to practice the new method of living, not only must we have a new spirit, we pointed mission to save mankind, h.e held. fast to must have a New Life. This new life must have an indomitable resolve, an unwavermg faIth; He Jesus' spirit of universal love, and His determinamaintained an attitude of perfect good will, even tion to sacrifice Himself; only thus can this qualat the cost of life itself, not hesitating to sacrifice ity of new life be obtained. all so that his courageous. heart might struggle to th; end. And even when He faced the cross, with In brief, the spirit of Jesus is constructive, sacits unparalleled torture, he still remained un- rificial, holy, true, peaceable, forward-looking, full moved, unshaken by his trials. He maintained of eager striving; and it is revolutionary throughsupreme loyalty to ideals and duty, supreme mag- out. My fellow countrymen, let us cherish the nanimity toward friends. and comrades. Such de- idea of a "new birth"; let us maintain the resovotion and sympathy are the more precious be- lution of "sacrifice." Let us hold Jesus as the goal cause so difficult to attain. Then see Him nailed for human living; let us keep the mind of Jesus high on the cross, asking His heavenly Father to as our mind, the life of Jesus as our life. Let us have mercy upon His foes because of their igno- bravely go with Him to the cross, to seek the everrance. Behold how limitless is His spirit of uni- lasting peace of mankind, and the renewal of our versal love! nation of China.
Jesus' creative revolutionary spirit is founded The economic mess in which the world finds itself today just on this, His spirit of universal love. is more a mess of sin than a mess of economic ignorance. ·-Professor John Baillie.
Transformations in West
By G. C. BEANLAND, Nkolmvolan, Cameroun.
THERE is warfare which is far more subtle out, then carry them to their towns where they and engaging than any military campaign; are planed and prepared for these new buildings the warfare carried on between the soldiers and for attractive furniture. Others are learning of the Cross of Christ and the hordes of evil in the art of burning brick and tile, with which they all parts of Africa. Here is the great adventure are constructing very durable and serviceable for the Christian Church. It is a difficult task to houses. Still others are learning to build houses overthrow the evil, superstitious practices of with mud walls, which, when whitewashed with paganism and supplant them with the truths con- white clay taken from the beds of the streams, cerning God, man, and nature. The missionaries' make very attractive houses. part in this great work is that of teacher of hand, Another change is noticed in the dress of the head, heart and health. His work is never done. He must be continually on the job and no matter people. Our Industrial School conducts a tailorin which of the four categories of mission work, ing class in which young men have been taught industrial, medical, evangelistic or educational, to make clothing like that worn by the white man. his work lies, all his talents must be engaged all After an apprenticeship of sufficient time, these young men graduate and, on returning to their of the time to be able to see hts cherished plants towns, set themselves up as "village tailors" and grow and flourish. very few of them suffer from idleness as they Cameroun Colony on the West coast of Africa, have all the work they can do for their towns- where the work of the American Presbyterian people. Chauffeurs and mechanics are trained in Church is carried on, is a mandated colony under our Industrial School who are in great demand to the care and protection of the French Govern- care for and drive the many motors which have ment. It was a German colony prior to the great been brought out by traders and government World War, and after the war was mandated to officials. In order for these motors to function France. Mission work was greatly hampered and properly, of course, there must be good roads, impeded during the struggle but the natives were and the old trails of former days have given way led to realize our great dependence upon God and to modern gravel roads threading the country and His protecting power over all of us and we suf- connecting the different administrative points and fered comparatively little during those terrible days. Changing regimes brought about many commercial centers. Our medical department ad- ministers to the many sick people who are broug~t changes in our mission work but we adjusted in to our hospitals from all the regions round ourselves to the new government and we have had about, so that the natives who are suffering from very cordial and sympathetic relations with the the various tropical diseases can have medical French administration since their occupation of attention. This is bringing about a great change the colony. in the health conditions of the country.
Certain changes are noted in which the mission Since the introduction of our mission schools, and missionaries have had some part since the which at first had a very skeptical reception, work of the mission was established along the there has been noticed quite an intellectual change West coast of Africa about fifty years ago. One among these people. They are a people of marvelnotices today new and attractive homes of some ous memories, keen perception and very vivid of the natives which are being built along the imagination. They are not such philosophers as motor roads of the country. The young men have are the sons of Shem and Japheth but they are learned in the carpenter shops how to saw the nobody's fools. They have a very rich storehouse planks from the great timbers of the forest and of folklore and traditions and much of their how to build their homes with these planks. Not past is to be known only as one draws it out of being able to haul their timbers to the sawmill, the older people in conversation. To introduce they resort to the primitive method of digging a our schools to them we had at first, of course, to pit and rolling a section of the log over the pit reduce some of their language to writing as they ancl with large saws laboriously rip the planks have never had any method of writing or record- [417 ]
ing their language. It has been merely handed of the hardest fields of the mission. He and his down from father to son through countless faithful wife were sent far away into the heart generations. After the first translation of some of a very heathen tribe and there they established parts of the Gospel, and after the school children a home and set up their family altar. Soon word had become able to read and write their own came down saying "I have one convert." Later language, the schools took care of themselves. on he gained others and slowly he built up a little Word spread to many of the tribes that the mis- nucleus of believers about him. Other evangelists sion was able to teach the children to read and were sent up into that tribe because the people, write and soon schools were asked for by many of through the influence of this first evangelist, be- the chiefs of the different tribes, until today our gan calling for them. Finally it was deemed ad- schools are scattered throughout the entire area visable to establish a church in that tribe and of South Cameroun, even to the border. today there is one of the strongest churches in Not only did we give them our schools but we Cameroun in "hat locality, which was formally have given them a literature. At first the Gospels a superstitious, pagan, cannibalistic tribe.
and Acts were translated and later the whole of Another young man, Ze Esim, is a very lovable, the New Testament was given to them in their Christian character. He came to us from one of own language and put into the schools as a text- the older mission fields and was placed in the book. Now we have about finished the translation center of a very wicked tribe as there were a few of the entire Bible. Other literature, such as boys there who were inclined towards the things Pilgrim's Progress, school books, pamphlets for of God. Ze scoured the country round about and distribution in the towns and a monthly· news attracted scores of children to his school where sheet are some of the materials which have been he saturated them with the Gospel and taught gotten out on our well equipped Halsey Memorial them verses of Scripture to carry away in their Press. The printed page is going into the homes hearts. Opposed by some of the old heathen men, of most of the people who have learned to read he would preach to them and pray with them until and it is having its effect of spreading the news several of these men came over into the camp of of the Kingdom of God into many parts of the Ze's God. "Pray for me," wrote Ze, "as old land. Satan is trying to tear up my work, but I know Besides the physical changes and the intellectual that if I am faithful and persistent, Christ will change of the people we notice a spiritual change give us the victory for has He not said, 'Lo I am as well. These Bantu people are animistic and with you always even unto the end of the world.' "
have nothing in their faith that we may class as Craving more learning and a better way to preach a religion, but there is a superstitious fear of the Word of God, Ze is preparing himself for the the Great Spirit (Zambe) who made the world pastorate. With such a spirit he is bound to win and peopled it. There are many lesser gods and many more souls for the Kingdom of God.
their idea of worship is only some method of On such men as these, whom we can number appeasing the wrath of the Great Spirit or of by the scores, we are depending to build up the these lesser gods by sacrifice of fowls or animals; Kingdom of God in Cameroun. It is told that the consequently the old Jewish custom of sacrifice authorities in one of the African ports desired to as an atonement for sin has a special appeal to build a wharf alongside of which ocean-going them. We have, however, sought to teach them vessels might tie up and discharge their cargo of the great sacrifice made once and for all for and take on other cargo, so they ordered great those who believe in the strong Son of God. This timbers from Europe. These timbers were sunk Good News has laid hold upon thousands of these into the mud at the mouth of one of the big rivers natives and for them there is joy and happiness and their wharf built upon them. Soon the ter- in the new found life in Christ. Young men and mites began to eat into these timbers and they women are turning away from their old fetishes crumbled away into the river. Then the authori- and are giving allegiance to the Man of Galilee ties went into the great forest adjoining and cut who "came not to be ministered unto but to min- down some of the fine old mahogony trees, squared ister and to give His life a ransom for many." the logs, and, bringing these down to the coast, There was a fine young man who entered our sank them into this same mud and built their village school. He came from a very pagan tribe wharf upon them. There they stand because they and, by persevering in his studies, progressed are indigenous to the country and the termites rapidly and later asked to be admitted to the theo- cannot destroy them. The foundations of the logical school. He was a bright, inquisitive fellow Church of Christ are strong and we have faith to and tried to carry out the instructions of his believe that the faithful, Christian men and wom- teacher very faithfully. He was noted for his en of Cameroun will withstand the ravages of all piety and prayerfulness and when licensed by the destructive agencies for they are built upon Presbytery to preach, he asked to be sent to one the solid Rock.
A MOSLEM FEAST IN GOLDEN BANQUET HALL OF IMAM RIDA
The Story of Meshed, a Sacred City y the REV. DWIGHT M. DONALDSON, -.<!Ii{ Meshed, Iran A.uthor of "The Shi'ite Religion",. Missionary of [ : the Presb'yterian Church, u. S. A.
THE modern province of Khorasan has an area This is the third largest city in Iran and lies of 150,000 square 'miles. This is a little less about as many miles east of Jerusalem as Rome than one fourth of the entire area of Iran. lies to the west. Among the Jews of the Disper- Its population, notwithstanding its vast stretches sion, who returned to their homes after Pentecost of desert, is about equal to that of the fertile prov- with the marvelous news of. the risen Christ, were ince of Azerbaijan (1,500,000). While in Azer- Parthians, liedes and Elamites, and dwellers in baijan, in the northwest, American missionary Mesopotamia. It must have been shortly after the work was begun as early as 1835, in Khorasan, writing of the great report of St. Paul's mission- the large province in the northeast, bordering on ary jour~ys and preaching in Rome, that other Afghanistan and Turkestan, there was no mission believers, 'such as the Apostle Addai and Tatian, work established until the opening of Meshed in made their way East with the Christian Gospel.
1911. This is the largest and most significant pil- We know that before the overthrow of the Par- grimage city in Iran. Preliminary itinerating thiandynasty in A. D. 225, there were more than journeys were made by American missionaries in twenty Bishoprics in Mesopotamia and in Iran.
1878, 1894, and 1905, and finally in 1911 Rev. Furthermore, at an Eastern Council in A. D. 424, Lewis F. Esselstyn, D.D., was ,sent to occupy delegates came from the distant cities of Nisha- Meshed. pur and Herat and Merw.
[419 ] electro nic fil e created by cafis.org
In spite of the severe persecutions of Christians which has acquired this significance because it by the Sassanian kings, there were still communi- has been taken from near the tomb of the Imam ties of Christians in Iran at the time of the rise Rida, whom he trusts as his Friend, his Guide, of Islam in the seventh century, but the power of hi~ Mediator, and his Master.
the old Sassanian Empire was completely over- It is believed to be a special advantage to be thrown, and the forces of Islam pushed rapidly to buried near the Imam, in order to rise along with the East. Arab influence swept across Iran and him on the Judgment day, and be thus rated Afghanistan and on to India. Devastating wars among the friends and supporters of the Prophet and famines followed, so that by the time of Mohammed. Accordingly, for nearly a thousand Harun aI-Rashid (who died A. D. 786), who years, high prices have been paid for cemetery showed marked hostility to his Christian subjects, privileges near the grave of the Imam. For ages the remote communities of believers in Khorasan were almost wiped out.We read that Christian camel caravans have wended their way on long doctors took part in meetings that were held for desert j ourne~' that ended in Meshed, and frereligious discussion before the Caliph Ma'mun quently, in addition to their loads of merchandise, early in the ninth century in Merw. they have brought the bodies of good Mohamme- dans who died in distant places but who had ex- The Imam Rida pressed the wish to be buried in the great ceme- tery here. It is the custom also for corpses to be Harun al-Rashid's last military expedition was carried in solemn procession around the Imam's to quell a rebellion in Khorasan, but when he tomb before burial. About this tomb successive reached the city of Tus he fell ill'and died.' He kings of Persia, (Iran) have built a magnificent was buried in a garden sixtl'len miles away, and . shrine, with a dome and minarets of gold. Behis son Ma'mun moved on. .with the troops. to side ·it is. a, mosque, with a still larger dome of Merw, where he established his capital and main- tiles of turquoil?e blue. The sacred center of the a tained the authority of the Abbasid Caliphate in city is thia;;shrlrte;area. Devout Moslems stop as the East. Ma'mun made what he thought was a they cross st:reetthat leads to it, and bow to- politic effort to unite the great schism in Islam be- wards its resplendent golden dome.
tween the Sunnites and the Shi'ites by designating Changing Time as his heir apparent to the Caliphate the highly esteemed lineal descendant of the "prophet" Mu- A new day has now come in Meshed. On the hammad, the Imam Ali al-Rida, who was the other side of the city from the tomb of the Imam, recognized spiritual leader of the Shi'ites. This but with money from the Shrine endowments, a expedient proved to be exceedingly unpopular large modern hospital has been erected. The gov- among the Sunnites, however, and when the army ernment is systematically administering Shrine was on the return journey to Baghdad, it is said funds for public welfare, and among the efforts that the Imam Rida fell ill from eating grapes thus subsidized is a school for boys, with an im- that had been poisoned. As he died during the posing building that resembles the main building days of the encampment at the tomb. of Harun al- of the American College in Teheran, a curriculum Rashid, the Caliph Ma'mun had him buried with for 12 classes and an attendance of over 700 boys.
conspicuous honor at this place, in the garden of There is a similar school for girls, all in the name Sanabad, which later came to be known as the of the Imam Rida, with money exacted from the mashhad, or place of martyrdom, of the Imam Shrine authorities by the government.
Rida. Meshed~The Shrine City In order to accommodate automobile traffic the streets of Meshed have had to be widened, and to In the ravages of the Mongol invasions in the the amazement of everybody a great thoroughfare thirteenth century the city of Tus was destroyed, has been cut directly through the famous old cemeand a new city gradually grew up aro~nd the tomb tery on the north side of the Shrine, and hundreds of the Imam. This was the city of Mashhad, of the flat tombstones were used to pave the new which foreigners have come to call Meshed. sidewalks. Stories were told of miracles of healing through After ten years of work; in rented houses, the prayer in the name of the Imam, or through drink- missionaries in Meshed secured the present coming water mixed with dust swept from the tomb. pound of something over fourteen acres. It lies The very clay from the garden was reported to inside the city and is within view of the Shrine. have magic powers, and tablets of it are regularly used in the ritual of the daily prayers. The wor- Formerly it was land used for truck-gardening shiper lays the clay tablet on a cloth or prayer-rug but now there are trees and lawns and it is known that lies before him, and in the prescribed pros- as "The American Garden." It was purchased at trations he touches his forehead to the sacred clay, forty cents a square yard, but now it is appraised at four times as much.
THE STORY OF MESHED, A SACRED CITY
On this land there are five missionary resi- the Mission compound. It has enrolled a small dences, a fifty-bed hospital, and an elementary but homogeneous group of boys, in spite of serious school for boys. At the entrance to the compound opposition from Moslem parents .and the keen there is a Reading Room, which is a center for the competition of government schools. The reasons sale and distribution of evangelistic literature, for the existence of Mission schools, both for boys with a room where individuals come for Christian and for girls, are at least as strong as the reasons instruction. Another small building, near the for such schools in any other city in Iran. There football field, is used as a recreation center. is no other mission school within a radius of al- Medical work was begun in 1915, in a rented most six hundred miles. Well within that circle Iranian house, with one doctor and no trained as- lies the great province of Khorasan, with a fourth sistants. After steady development there is now of the area and about a sixth of the population of a well-planned hospital with good modern equip- all Iran, and including about a dozen smaller cities ment and trained workers. In addition to the tens that would send some of the best of their boys of thousands of patients who have been treated in the base hospital at Meshed, many more thousands have been helped on itinerating trips to other cities in the province of Khorasan. In 1924 a trip was made to Herat in Afghanistan and an- other a few years later.
Patients include many Iranians, Turks and Afghans, as well as some Indians and Arabs, Rus- sians and other Europeans. The great majority are Moslems, but there are also Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, as well as some who have no religious belief. It is the aim of the hospital staff that all should receive loving care in the name of the Saviour of mankind. Many pilgrims to the Shrine also come to the "American Chris- tian Hospital," and when they return to their far- off villages they sometimes take with them, not only gratitude for physical improvement, but a new spiritual hope.
The hospital also provides medical care for lepers who live in a village two miles outside the city. This is the only organized work for lepers in all Iran. There have been some actual cures from the dreaded disease, and treatment almost always stops its progress and relieves acute suf- MOSQUE OF THE BLUE TILES .aT ME'SHED fering.
The hospital maintains a standard of medical and girls to Mission schools in Meshed if they work that may serve as an example to the na- were developed so as to have boarding departtionals as they build their own hospitals. To co- ments, a secondary school, an industrial branch, operate with the Iranian doctors there are med- and such other facilities for work as would be ical conferences and public health meetings to commensurate with the strategic location and the stress matters of hygiene, sanitation and pre- unique opportunities of Meshed. ventive medicine. Infant and maternal mor- tality, though slowly decreasing, is still appalling, The Church in Its Khorasan Environment and much attention should be given to the instruction of mothers in child-care, midwives should be The fresh-water streams of Khorasan disappear trained, and constructive public health programs in the great salt desert, for they flow from the should be inaugurated. Along with this growth upper plateau into the central depression, known are even more favorable opportunities for the as the Great Kavir. This may serve as a parable presentation of the Christian message of hope of much missionary effort which seems to have and salvation. been in vain. New converts from Islam may show Christian educational work was begun on a a kind of ecstasy and enthusiasm while they are very small scale, with classes in two hospital among the hills of vision, but too often their rooms; then the school moved to a rented building Water of Life seems to be lost as they come down and finally in 1929 a good building was erected on to the problem of making a living in Moslem SQ- electro nic fil e created by cafis.org
ciety. For several years the number of converts as their Saviour, may give more effective testiwho have been kept together in the Church group mony in their present occupations. Those Chrisin Meshed has been made up almost entirely of tians who are artisans and small tradesmen must those to whom the Mission or missionaries have be able to withstand petty persecution and boybeen able to give employment. Happily some of cotting and win their way by honesty and forthese have rendered faithful service and have bearance to recognized Christian influence. made progress in Christian living, but in the case of others, when Mission employment has not been It is said that the horses of Khorasan, the faavailable their loyalty has waned. mous Turkomans, have by adaptation to their environment become "bony and clumsy-looking At the present time there are significant changes quadrupeds, with marvelous power of endurance." in the social life in Iran and we believe that the The camels of Khorasan also are celebrated for time has finally come when it is altogether pos- their size and strength. "They have very long sible for Moslems who have become Christians to hair and beat"·cold and exposure far better than find employment without working for the Mission. the ordinary Arabian or Iranian camels, which With industry, foresight,· thrift, patience, and carry only 320 lbs., whereas the Khorasan camels other virtues that make for Christian stamina this will carry from 600 to 700 lbs." In like manner can be done. Nevertheless, these Christians, in it is greatly to be desired that the converts from their capacity as pioneer missionaries among their Islam in Khorasan, and likewise the missionaries own people, need much sustaining love and prayer who are sent to this distant province, will so adapt that those of them who became Christians as themselves as to take root as Christians in this young men in mission schools may continue to be difficult environment, and in consequence may known as Christians in the cities where they go develop exceptional powers of endurance with a to work and that those who were patients or help- strong faith to carry cheerfully extra-heavy ers in mission hospitals, and who accepted Christ burdens.
A Church Serving the Whole Community By the REV. WILLIAM C. MUNDS, Corpus Christi, Texas f3.- Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd ,:' of splendid educational buildings and parish houses closed from Sunday to Sunday. That is I N VIEW of the communal life upon which so- why the Church is often looked upon as purely a ciety is organized and in view of the service one-day-a-week institution. In the use of its equip- ideal which undergirds all Christian activity, ment, the Church must lose its smug, ecclesiastical the whole community is the definite responsibility life in the effort to have the spirit of Christ per- of the Church. If this be not so, the Church has meate every phase of our every-day life. The no reason nor excuse for its existence. Church must become an integral part of the life of man. In assuming responsibility for the whole One of the outmoded concepts of the Church's community, the Church must set up a compre- mission is that the Church is merely a preaching hensive program. This will vary in different station. According to the Gospel record our Lord types of communities, therefore we shall suggest preached very little, but he did a great deal. The a variety of activities in the hope that those in- Church should concern itself less with words and terested may find some helpful suggestions. more with deeds. The work of the Church in the ; foreign field for the past quarter century is a con- To begin with, the Church needs to understand crete illustration of this method. its community. This can best be accomplished by careful survey to determine the community's We must also cease stressing the importance of needs. Many splendid programs have failed for denominational loyalty to the exclusion of a pri- the reason that they were conceived without any mary loyalty to Christ and His way of life. This reference to actual conditions. Since the trend larger view is necessary as one cannot think in today is in the direction of highly institutionalized terms of community interests if he is first forced programs, the temptation is strong to make our to hurdle denominational barriers.
Church buildings must serve community needs. It is nothing short of a disgrace to see thousands
A CHURCH SERVING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
churches beehives of activity. But little is accom- The crux of the community problem is here. It plished through such activity unless it effectively is not possible to raise the general moral level of a serves a definite purpose. The wise minister will community until the basic causes for juvenile know his community. That is the first step. delinquency are eliminated. It is utter stupidity and neglect of duty to assume that the general In making a survey, it is also necessary to know moral tone of a community can be improved until the assets of a community as well as its liabilities. more attention is given to the underprivileged There are usually agencies doing splendid work groups. Leadership for such work should come both in the character building and in the general from our churches. health field. The Church should use these agencies and bring people in contact with the organizations The city slums constitute a terrible indictment best fitted to serve their needs. It is a sinful against the Church, for often individual church waste of energy and money for the Church to members are responsible for the continued existduplicate work already being done efficiently by ence of such areas. Every social study reveals others. Our communities need today wise social the downward pull of the slum areas upon the engineering, and the Church can make a valuable moral tone of a community. The slums are the contribution in the field by supplying the initia- breeders of every known type of crime, and they tive and leadership. must be eliminated before civilization can be pulled up to higher levels. That is a responsi- Responsibility Toward Youth bility of the Church.
But there are many other contributions that the The Church and Moral Evils Church can and should make to the life of a community. The list that we shall discuss will not be The Church, being responsible for the whole comprehensive, but merely suggestive. The most community, must assume some obligation for the important phase of the Church's responsibility for evil conditions, as well as for developing the the whole community is towards its youth, and forces that are good. It is fallacious reasoning to being responsible for youth, the Church must as- assume that God will be satisfied to receive a sume the responsibility for the whole life of youth, chosen few into close fellowship with Himself social and recreational as well as religious. The and not be concerned with the multitudes who, prevailing theory of Christian workers is that if because of unspeakably bad social conditions, are youth is given proper spiritual foundations, other outside the circle of His divine society on earth. phases of youth's life will take care of themselves. Christianity is not only a personal religion, it But such a theory does not work, for youth de- is also a social religion which touches every area mands more than religious training. A whole- of life. As our Lord so trenchantly said, "I am some, social and recreational experience is needed not sent but unto the lost sheep." and if the Church does not supply it, the youth will go elsewhere to find it, and much of the com- One of the most degrading and injurious elemercial, social and recreational activities offered ments of any community is prostitution. This sin to youth is unwholesome, even harmful to char- only encourages the beast in man, destroys the acter. The time has come to face this situation idealism of youth, harbors the criminal, spreads frankly and inaugurate a youth program which gonorrhea and syphilis to a degree which is alarmwill provide wholesome social and recreational ing, but it injures the home and takes toll· in huexperiences as well as religious. training. man life that is enormous. Far from protecting virtuous womanhood, prostitution threatens her An increasingly large number of parishes and life and happiness. Whenever it is abolished, sex congregations are now conducting socials for crimes are reduced to a low level and the moral young people with splendid results. Other forms tone of the community is raised. Nothing is acof amusement may also be provided: girls' and complished by merely publicly protesting against boys' basketball teams, choral societies, young the existence of this institution. Far better for people's service leagues, dramatic clubs, Boy the churches to employ trained experts to handle Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, and a score of other ac- the situation. Prostitution can be removed from tivities that not only fill a real need but also serve a community and it is the Church's duty to help to tie young people closer to the Church.. remove it.
In thinking through its responsibility for the If it is true, as someone has said, that "it is the whole community, the Church must also minister duty of the Church to always concern itself with to the underprivileged groups. There are chil- the social problems that harass humanity," then dren and young people who need the Church, but the Church should instantly concern itself with who belong to the group not often welcomed by the divorce problem, a problem that is threatenthe Church. Admittedly, there are very real prob- ing the stability of the American home. Christ lems presented, but such problems can be solved. cannot be a dominant factor in homes that are
being broken up by divorce. Here again preach- viding the young people with wholesome social ing will accomplish little. The roots of the divorce and recreational activities. Desiring t{) meet this problem lie deep and the Church must adopt a need, at least in part, the Church of the Good c{)mprehensive educational program if construc- Shepherd, Episcopal, decided to build a Parish tive results are expected. Since marriage is a House. Several civic-minded citizens, who were serious undertaking, greater care must be used not members of the Episcopal Church, petitioned in preparing young people for it. If ministers the Church of the Good Shepherd to allow this everywhere would refuse to perform a ma.rriage building to be used by the whole community. The ceremony until they were convinced that the con- Parish was immediately faced with the question tracting parties were well qualified to undertake as to the Church's responsibility to the whole the venture, many hasty and ill-advised marriages community. would be av{)ided. An increasingly large number of churches are offering courses for young people After carefully considering the problem, it was on "The Preparation for Marriage, Home and decided that t'he community's needs must be con- Family," with surprisingly good .results. The sidered before parochial needs. A separate cortime is near when such courses will become a poration was formed, and an Operating Board recognized part of every Church School cur- was also appointed which included members from riculum.* practically every church in the city. While it is not officially an inter-church project, yet it is an Then there is the field of mental health. Every evidence of the splendid cooperative spirit which clergyman is now called upon to deal with people exists among churches of this city. who need the services of a psychologist or a psychiatrist. While he may be able personally to The Corpus Christi Civic Center is a building handle some of these cases, yet most of them will dedicated "To God for Youth." That is its prineed the services of experts. By putting those in mary purpose although it will serve a variety of need of this type of service in touch with the uses. proper agencies, the Church gives evidence of its concern for every form of human need. Some The building has a large auditorium seating churches have sponsored mental health clinics about 500 people and a stage for amateur drawith excellent results, especially where there is matics. It will be an ideal place for lectures, conno other agency doing this type of work. certs, and particularly socials for the young people. A fully equipped kitchen will serve 200 How One Church Served the Community people. Offices are provided for the Camp Fire Girls, Y. M. C. A., and other agencies. The base- It may prove helpful to relate how one Church ment contains a handball court, shower baths and accepted responsibility for a whole community locker rooms, free clinic for indigent children, a and is seeking to fulfil its obligations. game room and two parlors where various civic clubs may meet. A survey of the city {)f Corpus Christi, Texas, revealed a deplorable lack of facilities for pro- While this building will in no wise be able to serve the needs of the whole community, yet it is • Some communions require their clergy to give some type of a step in the right direction. There was a need. instruction to all those who apply for marriage. Individual The Church felt a responsibility to meet that need ministers of many communions have long offered such courses to and then did something about it.
prospective brides and bridegrooms. Few clergymen, if any, are In Corpus Christi there is another communal project. The missionary societies of six different qualified to give technical instruction on sex matters, but in every churches support and manage a Community Mis- sion in the Mexican section of the city. Each large city there are maternal health clinics available for such .pur- church is responsible for the religious services poses. In smaller communities progressive physicians will be glad conducted at the Mission for one month at a time. A trained Christian worker is soon to be employed to cooperate. Also there are splendid books on marriage that will to work among the people of that section.
prove helpful to those who read them. Every clergyman should have Each Church, as has been said, must study its particular community, and work out its own such books in his library to lend those who are to be married. program.
Obviously, none of these services can be rendered so long as the Church and her clergy refuse to assume a responsibility for dealing with this problem. The Church has an obligation which is some- thing far greater than actually performing the marriage ceremony.
Many communions realize the seriousness of this problem and are taking steps to safeguard the stability of the .home. At the last General Convention of the Episcopal Church a measure was intro- duced forbidding any clergyman of that communion to marry any couple until they had presented him with a certificate of health which included a Wassermann test against syphiIls. The measure was defeated by a small majority and wl!l undoubtedly be passed at some subsequent convention. The home is an institution which is vital to every community. Sinee the Church sanctifies the mar- riage relationship, it must help to make it a more intelligible and a more harmonious relationship. W. C. M.
Too many Christian bodies of various kinds are spending more time and effort today in winning members one from the other than in winning souls from the darkness of the King- dom of Evil.
Christ Found a Mexican Colonel*
This is the story told to Rev. N. W. Taylor, of Mexico City, by Colonel Rodolfo Curti V., formerly an army officer and then chief of Traffic Department, Police Force, Mexico City. Now he is on the Military Headquarters Staff, the Garrison of Mexico City.
TWELVE years ago, when stationed with my carrying out this commission that I received the regiment in the Mixtec region of the State of commendation of General Calles. I received praise Oaxaca, I was taken very ill and in my suf- also and promotion for my part in the organization fering, my thoughts naturally turned to my young of the Traffic Department and for other things wife and our four-months-old baby, who were done in the interest of the welfare of the city.
then in the city of Puebla. As I became worse I But then came disillusionment! I resigned from cried to God, asking that he spare me to them. the Traffic Department and for a time it seemed Finally I sank into a state of coma and the people that I had been forgotten by the Government in the village thought that I had died. I was pre- which I had tried to serve faithfully. I was even pared for burial and surrounded with candles. tempted to commit suicide. This was God's op- After some hours I regained consciousness and portunity.
sat up, causing terror among those who were in One night I dreamed that I was hurrying down the room at the time. a narrow, dark, tortuous street. I met a group of It was thought that the only chance to save my people and inquired, life was to take me as quickly as possible to "Have you found Him?"
Oaxaca City for an operation. But the village, "No," they replied.
where I lay sick, was four days' ride from the "Then let us seek Him together," I answered.
railroad and, as, the heat was intense, it seemed We threaded our way along the narrow street impossible for me to make the trip unless they for an interminable time it seemed and our anxiety could keep ice packs on me continually. But there increased every moment. At last we turned a was no ice in this mountain village nor in the dis- corner and saw in front of us a figure sitting on trict. The General commanding the State advised a low bench in front of a closed door. His head us by telegraph that he would send ice from the was resting on his hands but as we approached he city as rapidly as possible, but it was questionable looked up and I recognized Him as Christ. His whether any ice would last long enough to get me face shone and His hands and feet glistened like to the city. The first day, while we were waiting mirrors. I fell on my knees before Him; and all for the ice, a heavy cloud overshadowed the part His goodness, from that day in the Mixtec village of the town where I was lying and hailstones, so when the hailstones fell, flooded my memory and great that they killed chickens and turkeys, fell I burst into tears.
heavily for some minutes. The people hurriedly I awoke crying and the burden of my ingrati- filled sacks with the hailstones and I was placed tude and sin seemed unbearable. For the re- in a litter and the journey to the railroad began. mainder of the night I could not control myself I recovered but so great was my unbelief I forgot and continued crying like a child. When morning my prayer to God and ascribed the hailstorm to came I was like one in a daze. I could not even mere chance. remember the name of my only daughter whom I A few years later, when stationed in Guadala- love dearly. This condition lasted for three days.
jara, I was passing an evangelical church and I was in an agony of grief and sorrow and walked heard them singing "Nearer My God to Thee." up and down my living room or in the garden for Something seemed to grip my heart and I could hoursi at a time, crying, "My God, help me. My not restrain the tears. However, feeling that such God, help me."
emotion was unworthy of an army officer, I hur- Then I procured aNew Testament and began ried away. Later, my wife and I attended a serv- to read. Still no light or peace came. At last ice but did not understand the message. there came to my mind the words of the hymn I Then I was called to Mexico City to aid my Gen- had heard in Guadalajara and I remembered eral in the reorganization of the police force. At where there was an evangelical church in the city.
that time it fell to my lot to superintend the clos- I attended a service without getting any peace.
ing of all the Roman Catholic churches in the city I went a second time but still could not understand on the 31st of July, 1926. So zealous was I in the Way of Salvation. On the third occasion the * From The Philippine Evangelist, May, 1938. speaker was giving a Bible study on sin. As the [ 425 ] •
different sins were written on the blackboard I The following Sunday was Easter. We atsaid to myself, "Someone must have told about tended the morning service at which we learned me," for it was a perfect description of my condi- that some new members were to be baptized that tion. At the end of the meeting an invitation was evening. After prayer, my wife and I decided to given and I went forward. As I knelt there at ask to be received into the church in order to make the rail to my joy found my wife was kneeling our public confession and thus cut all that bound beside me. That night the pastor of the church us to the old life. That evening we publicly took led us into the Light and peace came into our our stand for Christ. In the four months which hearts. have passed since then we have been experiencing the truth of Paul's "If any man be in Christ, he Then came a great struggle. To go on with is a new creature; old things are passed away; Christ meant breaking with the old life. Christ behold all things are become new." All things must be all or nothing. There could be no half- have become l1oriously new for us and we are hearted surrender. But what would be the re- seeking to follow His Will. suIts? Would it mean losing position, rank and friends? I walked up and down my garden fight- *** ing it out and then like a flash there came to my mind the words, "Be of good cheer; I have over- The only knowledge Colonel Curti had of the come the world." I hurried into the house and Gospel story was through a very slight contact called my wife. with Roman Catholicism, which, in Mexico, em- phasizes a suffering or dead Christ, not a glorified "It is all settled," I said to her. "Christ has one. How was it that in his dream he saw a resurovercome the world and nothing can touch us ex- rected and glorified Christ? cept as He wills." From that moment we have tried to give our all to Christ, to do His will each Today Col. Curti is active in personal work day and have determined not to let a single day among the military and political leaders of the pass without trying to win one soul for Him. country.
Enlisting the Privileged to Help the Underprivileged By the REV. SAMUEL E. WEST Rector of St. lames Episcopal Church, Wichita, Kansas T HE sort of church of which I am rector is alike repeat the words too glibly. I have caught easily labeled as "privileged" by the news- myself talking to children about their privileges papers. They revel in announcing "A fash- and urging them to realize their responsibilities ionable wedding of socialites in the swank, to the underprivileged, and then wondering if in exclusive Episcopal Church on the HilL" It is a so doing I was not actuaJly aiding and abetting form of reporting whioh is exasperating to say the the subtle process of creating snobs.
least. By the same token there are still many people As a matter of fact this congregation represents left in the land 'who, despite the fact that they have been up against it, are senSitive and have a a cross-section of substantial middle-class business lot of self-respect; they by no means wish to be and professional people, with a fringe of wealth classed among the "underprivileged." Would it and another fringe of poverty. One of my faith- not be much better to use a good old scriptural ful laymen is a WPA worker and another is a expression, such as "we that are strong ought to janitor working for $60.00 per month. We have bear the infirmities of them that are weak." It eighty employed women and girls in a communi- is true that there are in all of our cities many cant membership of seven hundred. strong self-supporting parishes and likewise many weak, struggling, mission churches. By all of Personally I am inclined to think that we over- the precepts of the Christian religion, the strong work the phrase, "privileged and underprivileged." Religious leaders and social workers
ENLISTING THE PRIVILEGED TO HELP THE UNDERPRIVILEGED
should do all in their power to help the weak. The ago, when churches were having a hard time raisdifficulty which most of us experience in enlisting ing their budgets, we were discussing missionary the so-called privileged is probably due to the ab- quotas. One of the Vestrymen said, 'I don't see sence of the personal element, rather than to any why we should continue to send money to the other factor. This is true in regard to the mis- Chinese when we are so hard up ourselves. Why sionary enterprise and to the great programs of not forget missions until times are better?" I social welfare. To many people, missions and said to him, "Would you apply that same prinphilanthropy today seem to mean programs and ciple to our own Bishop and his program in the quotas rather than personal service. Something Diocese?" He replied, "No, dog-gone it, we can't must be done to remedy this condition. let the Bishop down. I wish I were not so fond of him; then it would be a lot easier to cut out During the recent Lenten season we tried an our Diocesan Assessment." The man knew, of experiment along this line in the Diocese of Kan- course, that the Bishop was vitally concerned sas. Bishop Wise suggested that in all of the about his mission clergymen and their congregaparishes and missions we conduct a series of mis- tions. Sometimes I ask myself if I am really in sionary book reviews. I invited six women to earnest in appealing for the missionary enterundertake these reviews and a number of men to undertake a similar task for the Men's Class. We prise. Do I really care about the advancement of have had such noted personalities presented as the Kingdom, or am I motivated rather by paro- Bishop Schereschewsky, Bishop Hare, Dr. Albert chial pride? We all need to ask oUI'selves ques- Schweitzer, Bishop Franklin Spaulding, Bishop tions of that nature. We can appeal, plead, cajole, condemn, denounce, argue and quote Scripture by Talbott, Dr. Grenfell of Labrador, and David Liv- the yard, but if we ourselves are not thoroughly ingstone. In every case both the men and the converted to the cause of missions all of our pulpit women who undertook the task have, I think, been thumping will fail to produce results. The telling thoroughly converted to the cause of missions, and of a story of missionary endeavor and personal I believe that they were able to communicate their adventure is more effective in enlisting the interown enthusiasm to the others. The lawyer who' est and support of the local congregation than all reviewed the life of Livingstone made the most of the high-powered arguments of ecclesiastical complete commitment to the cause of missions, at spellbinders. the conclusion of his review, that I have ever heard from a layman. The woman who was to tell But I wish to tell about the relationship of this about Albert Schweitzer happened to be in New parish to a struggling congregation of colored York the week before her review was scheduled, Episcopalians in the city. It may not be common and had an interview with Madame Schweitzer knowledge that we have no separate denominawho was in America at that time. This woman tional organization for colored Episcopalians. had accepted the assignment rather reluctantly as They are under the same jurisdiction, are reprea '~church duty," feeling it would be dull and tire- sented in the same Diocesan Convention, are some but she kept the .other women on the edge of their seats when she told the story. To "per- confirmed by the same Bishop and many of their sonalize" missions, philanthropy and the relation ministerial candidates attend the same Theological of the strong city church to the weaker mission Seminaries as the white Episcopalians. Conseis a difficult undertaking, but in some way it must quently the relationship of the mission for colored be done. The well-to-do members of our churches people in this city to the two self-supporting white are, I believe, no less generous than they used to parishes is just the same as that of a mission for be, but they are more careful. They have lost white people. At the present time these colored much of their own security and some of them feel Episcopalians are fortunate in having a priest of that they are contributing a good bit to the under- their own race, but from time to time during privileged through taxation. However when I years past they have been without pastoral overhave a personal problem which must be presented sight except from the two white rectors. It has as such, I find that the purse strings are open. been my privilege for several years to minister to Recently a young man in my parish was ordered this congregation but it is not of this pleasant by his physician to move to another climate. He personal relationship I wish to speak. was almost entirely without funds and appealed to me. I, in turn, appealed to two laymen over We have in this parish four licensed lay readers, the telephone, and within five minutes the neces- all of whom, with one exception, have served an sary amounts were forthcoming. apprenticeship in conducting services at the col- ored church. The Daughters of the King, a group One of the important factors in "personalizing of women who have charge of altar work, from the need" is the personality, enthusiasm and sin- time to time have supervised the colored women cerity of the leader. One evening several years in the care of their own altar and finally organ- ized a similar group for them.
,In our parish we have a tradition that we thought in helping to solve the problems of this carryon no money-raising activities for the sup- weaker mission church. Our aim has been to port of the parish by dinners, bazaars, rummage- avoid pauperizing the mission congregation. sales or anything of the kind. The one exception Their membership of not more than fifty is made is that once a year the women give a Musical Tea, up of school teachers, chauffeurs, porters, domesthe proceeds from which are sent to the Bishop tic servants and some business men. But their for support of missionary work within the Dio- greatest need is not for money but for personal cese. On two occasions several hundred dollars leadership and genuine friendly interest on the from this source have been used for the support part of the stronger white congregation. They of the local colored congregation. The women of are now approaching the time when they can soon the parish also help the colored women byemploy- support themselves, but they will continue to look ing them to serve possibly half of the parish din- to their many friends in this parish for guidance. ners given in this parish. Incidentally t~s cooperation has undoubtedly helped to ease the tension which so frequently Three years ago this mission congregation was exists between the two racial groups. in great need of a parish hall, for their ramshackle structure was about to fall to pieces. They took Whatever success we have had in this respect the matter up with some of us in this parish and is due to the enlistment of so many of our white we were able to secure a loan from the American laymen for personal service to the weaker congre- Church Building Fund and also a temporary loan gation. Had it been our policy simply to make a from the Bishop of the Diocese. These loans were grant of money each year to the colored brethren, made on condition that the people themselves raise very little would have been accomplished. The a certain amount, namely, $500.00, in about eight most intensely personal story in the New Testamonths. I shall never forget a day when the ment is the parable of the good Samaritan. In committee from the mission church met me in a that story we are told that the Samaritan, who local bank with the $500.00 in hand to apply on was undoubtedly a privileged person, when he the note. When the time came to build the parish came to the man who had fallen among thieves, hall one of the members of our white congregation did several things of an intimate personal nature donated his services as a contractor and gave a -"He saw him, he was moved with compassion, great many days to the supervision of the work. he came to him, he bound up his wounds, he Later another layman, an architect, gave his time poured on them oil and wine, he set him on his in further improving and beautifying the church own beast, he brought him to an inn, he took care structure. Another member of my congregation, of him." And after all of that he told the inna lumber dealer, has helped very generously in keeper that he would stand good for the expenses their purchase of supplies for the church and the and would come back to see how the poor fellow parish hall. was getting along.
Last year the vestry of the mission church ap- It is that sort of thing which we have largely pealed for help and we appointed a committee to lost in these highly specialized modern days. give them what leadership we could in conducting Somehow we must recapture the method of pertheir own Every-Member Canvass. The joint sonal service both in religious work and in social meetings of the two committees have been held in welfare, and when we do recapture it, I am conmy study and again I find the business men of my vinGed that we will have no difficulty in enlisting own parish are willing to give of their time and the privileged to help the underprivileged.
MORAL OR FINANCIAL DEPRESSION?
Many plead hard times as their reason for failing to support the Church and to give to benevolent causes. As a matter of fact, Government reports show that income is not a cri- terion of the gifts that may be expected. In the year 1936, taxable incomes in the United States increased 30 per cent over the previous year, but for the same period contributions for religious education and public welfare work decreased. The United States Treasury statis- tics for 1936 show a total declared net income (exclusive of tax exempt income) of $19,069,- 137,719 as compared with $14,212,403,587 the previous year. The contributions reported for the same year amounted to only $388,142,000 or about 2 per cent of the taxable income. The highest percentage of contributions to charity ever recorded by the Treasury came in the darkest depression years (1930-1934). On the gross incomes reported to the Government, the contributions amount to less than 1.8 per cent. Contributions through the churches in 1936 were less than at any time between 192'0 and 1934, being 40 per cent less than they were in 1928. Moral depression is more difficult to overcome than financial depression.
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II Effective Ways of Working 'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MISS GRACE MCGAVRAN, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ~~=================~~ How Awaken Interest BOOKS ON CHINA of its civilization. Its pictures in Books? HOUSE OF EXILE, by Nora range from the old court to mod- ern factories. A study of the missionary li- WaIn – a very sympathetic picbrary at the church was discour- ture of upper class country life That is enough to give an exaging. Old books; out-of-date in China, by an American girl ample of what was done. Sevbooks; books that not even the eral women have taken to readmost ardent missionary worker who lived for a while as an ing widely the library books on could call interesting! Worst of adopted member of the Chinese the subject of whatever country, all, fifty women supposed to do family. Read it for contrast race, or nation is being studied. missionary reading and no with Pea r I Buck's "Good The mission study books proper, money to buy new books. Earth." and books of missionary stories worth buying have, conse- Here is what the group lead- LIVING CHINA, by Edgar quently, had behind them a much ers did. more fundamentally prepared Snow – translations of modern group of readers than was pos- The few interesting, recent Chinese short stories, written sible before. and worth-while boo k s were pulled out. There were new and published in China for home Even where the public library members in the group who had consumption. They contain some d.oes not have much that is modread nothing. They could start things you will find it hard to ern, there are chapters in recent with these. books which may have decided stomach. But here is modern China, in at least some of its phases, as seen by the Chinese themselves. Read it to help you Four people were asked to buy decide whether China has any bearing. For example, in Dr. for themselves and then loan to real need of the Christian mes- Heiser's "Oddyssey of an Amerthe missionary society one each ican Doctor," the chapter on lepof the best new books bearing on sage and Gospel. rosy and the colony at Culion, the subject of the current Philippine Islands, is excellent studies. HO-MING: GIRL OF NEW background for a consideration CHINA, by Elizabeth Lewis (chil- The public library was ap- dren's library), a story which of missions to lepers. you will find interesting light proached, and a committee of reading, to give you a picture of Kn.owledge awakens interest. capable women chose and read young China in transiti.on. Read For a club paper many a woman those books which seemed to it because you want to know will read background books for have promise of being at least something of young China in the months. Why not as much for good background books; i. e., terms in which young people a talk in the missionary society? those which in addition to beirig read of each other. The deeper the knowledge, the vivid, interesting and accurate, WHAT AND WHY IN CHINA, by deeper the interest. gave a picture of home, school, Paul Hutchison – an answer to town or country life; or a back- the puzzle which modern Chinese How Get New Members ground of the country, race, or history is to most of us. Clear, One young women's missionnation; or, an interpretation of concise, and interesting, though ary group has an unusual prothe people; or, a picture of their very brief, it gives us an excel- portion of new working-memneeds; or, any other specific lent summary.of China's politics bers. They have a sort of unpresentation which would give to 1927. Read it for clearer written rule that no one is ever women a background pattern understanding of some of asked to join their missionary against which their program China's present difficulties. society. Instead, a prospective talks and considerations would LOTUS PETALS, by Princess member is asked to come as a stand out. The very best of der Ling-most interesting com- guest to one of the regular meetthese were listed. ments on va rio u smatters ings; she is greeted as a guest Mimeographed sheets, bearing Chinese by one who was first- of the one who has brought her, the following sort of informa- lady-in-waiting to the old Em- and is treated as such. She is tion, were given out at the early press Dowager. Read it so that asked by the same person to fall meeting, where background you may see China through Chi- come again, perhaps not next reading was stressed. nese eyes in yet another aspect time, but soon. She is welcomed [429 ]
as a visitor for as long as she ship plays when· well produced. the draping of the graceful garwants to come. Then, as she becomes a familiar guest, she is We also know how hard it is to ments of India. asked to help with this or that. And then, sometime, quite cas- discover from the printed de- Why not secure, in your disually, she is asked if she would like formally to join the group. scription of a play just what trict or state group, a demonstra- If she does join, it is because effect it will have. And even tion program of plays and dramshe knows the group, likes the fellowship, is interested in the after reading a play it is a bit atizations, suitable for use durmeetings, and has done some work in connection with them. hard to know what impression it ing this next year? It should be She knows, through regular reports and minutes, about the will give. held at least a month before such educational and financial aims of the group, and is already taking Why not have a demonstration plays will be given in the local time to attend. There is, thus, no influx of new members to be night for missionary plays and churches. coddled along. There is no un- playlets? A district or state con- .W~y not send someone to ~ee willing member who has joined vention is a fine place to do this. ~IssIO~ary plays that ar~ bemg because she was pestered to be- An institute or young people's ,~_gIven m other churches m .y.our come a member. Anyone is welcome as a perennial visitor to conference is also excellent. A own or near-by commumtIes? that group. But no one is asked to join until she has shown a de- county interdenominational Sun- Send someone who can coach a sire to become a working mem- day school council meeting gives play for yoU! ~roup. ber of the organization. . another opportunity. Why not Jom WIth other mlS- P. S. Oh, yes, its quite true that this group has an unusually Here are two examples of how sionary groups or churches to good time together, has good this has been done very success- ask a drama~lCs club to prepare programs, and carries an inspir- fully. The Boston University and pr~sent, m each of yo~r I?roing financial responsibility. But School of Religious Education grams m turn, the b~st I?IssIonthen, you know, so could your society. used to have one month before ary play or dramatIzatIon you Improving Missionary Christmas an'd one month before can find? P!o.duce t~at play! Easter, a program of plays, You can Meetings music and other items, given as Or you can Jomtly .wlth some "If we don't stop taking so demonstration, to which were o~her group secure Its ~rodu~ much time for business," sighed tIon. A~d you can be gUIded m a bored member of a missionary invited representatives from the your chOl~e and h~ve your p~th group, "I'm going to quit com- city's churches. Two or more ~ade eaSIer for ItS productIon ing." She was right. The busi- plays, of differing difficulty and If y:ou arrange for an~ual, or ness seemed interminable. The secretary's reports were espe- type, were given each time-new cially boring. Attack at that point seemed strategic. At the plays which were available for semI-annual demonstratIOns. by next election, one of the church's most devoted club-women, was, use that season. How much bet- competent amateurs, at pomts with her previous consent, elected secretary. Her minutes, ter they could be judged, when where many are together who brief and to the point, gracious in their necessary acknowledg- produced on the stage than in can use such plays. ments, and in perfect order, have been a joy. It is noticeable that any other way! Ideas were Looking Ahead when this new secretary is oc- gained for costuming, for lightcasionally not able to be present, there is no slipping back into old ing, for music, for setting, all October is the special issue on ways. An ideal has been set up within the ability of the ordinary India. All the glamour and color for making the minutes a real church and yet stressing simple of the Orient can be introduced contribution rather than a detri- and dignified treatment. ment. into your meetings. And against A second example, which bids When You Produce That Play! fair to become a yearly custom, it you will present the tragedy is the presentation of two dem- and the hope of that ancient We all know the effectiveness onstration playlets, one on the land. We shall give some of the of missionary and world-friend- ways in which m iss ion a r y home missions theme and one on groups and leaders here and the foreign missions theme, at a there have made India a live luncheon program of the Mis- issue in their meetings.
sionary Institute of Indianapolis, In November we hope to have Indiana, early each May. It some very helpful suggestions would be interesting to know in for developing a sense of stew- how many missionary groups, ardship among the people of our missionary groups. Stewardship over Indiana and in adjacent is more than a faithful presenta- states from which delegates tion of the regular dues. It is an come, those little playlets. with their missionary message are attitude of life. And a very im- given in the missionary year portant part of Christian educa- tion is the nurture of individuals which follows; and just because and groups in that attitude. they were demonstrated there in a fashion which could be fol- Christmas and World Peace lowed in the smallest church. seem more and more to be joined in our thoughts.. We like also to For the current year, 'such a think of Christmas around the demonstration might include the world. In our December issue correct winding of a turban and we shall have some very definite
EFFECTIViE WAYS OF WORKING
suggestions for making the A missionary in Mexico, not Such a project can become Peace emphasis effective, and for long ago, found no welcome in a part of the stewardship training achieving a deeper sense of the certain village. So she moved of the children. Through it they real meaning of Christmas. over there to live, as a neighbor, become aware of the needs of Some avenues of service will be in a tiny Mexican "adobe" hut- others, they review their own regiven which other groups have to be, not a missionary, but a sources, decide to part with some found meant much to their own neighbor. She did not know things dear to them through asdevelopment. whether during the few months sociation, yet too often "hung she planned to be there, she onto" for only that reason, and Ventures in Understanding would find more than one or two they give time and money and curious children who would be effort to make the things "as A young women's missionary friends with her and to whom good as new" in order that they guild were studying the living she could be a friend. She ar- may be useful gifts to make, valreligions of the world. When rived with some trepidation. ued by those to whom they are they came to Judaism, they in- But the village people, hitherto to go. vited a young Jewish social hostile, welcomed her as they worker to come as a guest of one would have received one of them- Seven Rules for a Good of the members. They met her selves. Great things arose out Meeting socially before their supper, of that determination to give chatted with her during the herself, in their own manner, to 1. Be friendly. The regular member meal, and later listened with friendship. Is there anyone of who is retiring can be as lonely deep interest to her talk on your group making herself a as the stranger-almost. Great Jewish Women. For the member of another group, for an first time, for many of them, the hour, for a day, for a week? Is 2. Begin on time. Announce, "Thurs- Jew was linked with modern so- anyone putting herself in the day at 2: 00 P. M., with the procial reform. They began to real- position of needing from them gram beginning promptly at ize that Jews are a force for that same friendliness which she 2: 15." Stress the earlier hour, righteousness in America today. hopes to give them? for the greeting of friends and Theirs was more than a dispas- strangers is as important as the sionate study of Judaism that A New Avenue for Children's rest of the business, but begin night. They had a personal ex- Giving the program very promptly at perience in deepening their the time set. understanding of and liking for In connection with your study the Jew. What such experiences of the City, it might be wise to 3. Conduct all business with dispatch. in understanding are you plan- find out about Toy Libraries in Having planned a proportionning for your group during the your own or in some adjacent ately suitable time for the businext few months? city. Many city children in the ness, do not let it infringe upon underprivileged sections have the rest of the program. If it is *** not one toy of any sort. One of running over, analyze your tech- the interesting newer projects is nique and improve it. A young people's world friend- the establishment of a "Toy Liship group meeting included a brary" in some such district 4. See that the devotional period is Chinese boy and a Japanese girl. where children may withdraw a short but reverent in every way. What happened? Sparks flew! toy for a week, gs they would Stress simplicity and dignity; Some regretted that the two had withdraw a book from a library. and frown upon starting with an been invited at the same time. excuse for lack of preparation, But others realized, as never be- Where such a Toy Library facetiousness, or last – minute fore, how pride of race can cre- exists, an excellent avenue is passing of hymn books, etc. If ate antagonism even when Chris- open for a service project for the hymns 'are familiar, announce the tian brotherhood exists. From children of more privileged verses to be sung and sing withthat situation rose a deeper areas. Most of these children out books, not adding the hope understanding of the problem of have toys – such as scooters, that the hymn is known to everyracial antagonisms, and a sleds, roller skates, .and games one. If not familiar use books stronger desire to meet such an- which they have outgrown but or do not have group singing. tagonisms in the spirit of Christ. which are, basically, still sturdy This alone can produce. as it did and good. Dolls, games, toy fur- 5. Give sequence to your study. Rein that group, a greater senti- niture, puzzles, and other play- mind the group of the general ment than that of race, and things are lying in attics or on theme of study or program being draw alien peoples together. Are back shelves. Why not have a followed. Review in a sentence you keeping your group clear of "Paint and Scissors Club," meet- or two the ground already covsituations which might prove ing weekly for a few weeks, to ered in past meetings. State the embarrassing? Or are you out which will be brought these old aspect of the subject to be conto demonstrate, right within but good toys, to be renovated sidered today. Introduce each your own circle, that the most there by the Juniors under the item of the program with a word difficult race relationship can be direction of one or two adults or as to its bearing on today's desolved if courageously faced and young people? velopment of that aspect. met in the spirit of our Lord? 6. Relate the offering to life itself. At the time of its presentation, have a two- or three-sentence preSentation of some service the group is rendering through its gifts. Have a prayer dedicating the day's offering to its use.
7. Close on time. Never run past closing time. A meeting which closes on time has a rhythm and effectiveness which is lacking where it just runs on and on. Prompt closing makes for much more careful preparation.
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y. I ==================I~'
SETTING-UP CONFERENCE The central theme run~ing FOR EASTERN MIGRANT ""–through the w.orship serVIces STAFF was the need for spiritual re- Hartford Theological sources in the midst of a c.om- Seminary plex and confusing world – "I JUNE 16-19, 1938 can do all things thr.ough Christ As Seen by Two Leaders who strengtheneth me."
The fourth annual Setting-Up THE STAFF OF THE NEW YORK AND The cl.osing session was held Conference for the workers in NElW JERSEY CENTERS; MISS HELEN Sunday morning in the Semthe Migrant centers .of the East- inary Chapel preceding breakern Area was held this year, WHITE, SUPERVISOR fast and was led by Dr. Miller. June 16-19, at the Hartford In that early morning hour the Seminary Foundati.on, Hart- message of the joy of service ford, Connecticut, when Dr. J. Quinter Miller, Executive Sec- in crafts, recreation, s.ongs, nurs- fell upon minds and hearts alretary of the C.onnecticut C.oun- ready prepared. And as these cil of Churches, his able assist- ery school methods, child care, highly endowed young people ant, Mr. R. Stanley Kendig and camp sanitation, first aid, be- Miss Vera MacCracken, Secre- haviour problems and religious had themselves been ch.osen tary .of the Hartford County education methods made a rich largely because of the privilege Y. W. C. A. proved to be m.ost program. genial and perfect hosts. of their experience, they left The earnest and energetic Hartford newly commissioned Thither they came – 40 Col- staff .of young men and women and eager to go out to serve. lege students representing the had crammed noteb.ooks, broad- ShaufHer College of Religi.ous ened minds and understanding Into my hearl's treasury I slipped a and Social Work, Pennsylvania hearts. There was a strong feel- State, Bennett College, Kansas ing .of fellowship and unity. coin State Teachers College, Bucknell University, Virginia State Am.ong those who were .of That time cannot steal nor thief pur- College, Kalamazoo College, very special help were Mrs. Maryville College, Muskingum Phyllis Williams, of the Insti- loin, C.ollege, Oberlin College, Amherst College, Yale University; tute of Human Relati.ons .of Yale o better than the mining of a gold- Divinity Students from Hart- University, who gave an inter- crowned king ford Seminary F.oundation and pretation of 'the Folk ways. of Andover Newton The.ological the Italians; Miss Lola De- Is the safe-kept memory of a lovely Seminary; and experienced Grille, of the International Inkindergartners, recreational and stitute .of New York, interpreted thing. -Sara Teasdale. home-economics folk, as well as Polish f.olk; Mrs. John Ainley, sch.ool teachers. Many were who taught songs and also gave LAURA H. PARKER, new to the work while others meth.ods in song leading; Miss PETRICHA E. MANCHESTER. had had much experience, for one of the sl.ogans .of Migrant Frances Hedden with concrete As Seen by a Worker Workers is "once a Migrant, al- and practical suggestions. in reways a Migrant." Here they ligious education; Miss Marie Sharecropping and its horr.ors .assembled to receive training in Gaertller in nursery scho.ol have been studied and effectively "center" technique, to plan f.or methods; and Miss Agnes Diehl dramatized to the country. Yet the current season, and to ex- the migration of w.orkers from change helpful experiences. community to community seek- Lectures and dem.onstrations ing new employment, supple- menting irregular employment at customary occupations, or habitually following seasonal employment is an accepted phe- in the field of crafts. nomenon in contemp.orary in- Saturday night the picnic sup- dustrial society.
per with the singing, camp fire Consci.ous .of the extent of the and worship service br.ought to problem .of migratory labor in all a nearness of God through the United States, the C.ouncil the great .outdo.ors and a realiza- of Women for H.ome Missi.ons in tion, by contrast, .of the severe 1920 established centers for the care of migrant families. It was and sordid things that would the staff .of these centers in the have t.o be faced during the ex- East which met at Hartford perience of the summer.
[432 ] electro nic fil e created by cafis.org
BULLETIN: COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
Theological Seminary fro m grant ranks. The emplQyer June 16-19, 1938. looks at his migrant laborers as It is evident that a s'Ocial prQblem as comprehensive and people "whQm he gets cheap." basic as migratory lab'Or- 'Originating from a search for Hence, there is n'O coordination economic security and creating or cOQperatiQn among the groups. further problems of disintegratiQn 'Of family life, inadequate The good migrant social worker child care, poor housing c'Ondi- can and must break down these tions with consequent health problems, lack of sufficient edu- barriers. This was discussed by cati'On 'On the part 'Of children and adults, lack of time fQr Mrs. Manchester, Messrs. NewrecreatiQn and aesthetic expression, lack of opportunity fQr field, Glick, and Dr. Miller. participatiQn in dem'Ocracy, and a feeling 'Of intolerance–has n'O The migrant mQvies and the 'One final answer. Hence, the conference could best be viewed visit to the tobacco plantatiQn by stating its issues in terms of fundamental questions. expressed more adequately than It appears that a rather vital words the actual physical needs pre-supposition that undergirds of the migrant. each 'Of the issues, and is im- THE STAFF OF DELAWARE AND MARY- LAND CENTERS; MRS. P. E. Definite prQgram suggestions plied in each is: that the educa- MANCHESTER, SUPIDRVISOR tional and religiQus processes and helps were given in the should it be arran~ed? What which culminate in creative in- should be its extent? periods. with Misses Hedden, telligence and human under- 5. In facing the problem of healthstanding can transcend the cul- What can we do as inexperi- GordQn, Diehl, Gaertner, Mrs. ture and develop it. Upon one's enced, untrained people in giving reaction to the pre-supP'Osition first aid, camp sanitation, ar- Maramarco, and Messrs. Thomhangs the hQpe 'Of the social mi- ranging meals, summoning the grant worker. For, as seen aid of county agencies ? sen, North, and Kullgren when 6. Accompanying the maladjustment through: the issues and the dis- in labor and home, certain unde- we learned (bQth through hearcussion 'Of them, the migrant so- sirable and abnormal behaviour patterns are developed. How ing and d'Oing) something about cial worker is expected t'O be shall we meet them? an educator, religi'Ous director, 7. The migrants represent every cul- children's work; folk games and nurse, home economist, libra- ture. One works best with those rian, musician, and business he knows and understands. dances; homemade games; eveman. Unless he has faith, then, What are the folkways of the migrants with whom we are to ning, Sunday and rainy day pr'Oin the power 'Of a creative dy- work? namic educati'On coupled with grams for yQung people and the Qmnip'Otence 'Of God, he is as Let us develop these issues briefly as they were discussed at adults; and crafts. . a lost sheep. the c'Onference. ThrQugh the help of D'OctQrs With this in mind some basic The seven-minute presentaquestions and issues which were tions 'Of the four areas discussed Calverly and Clifford and Mr. cQnsidered are: picturesquely and interestingly by the Misses Vera MacCracken, Scott V e were ,able to feel that 1. What are the duties and problems Mary Cannon, CarQI Ferwerda of a migrant social worker? and Gladys Corkum prQvided an untrained health educatQrs could How does his work differ from excellent backgrQund orienta- the social case worker? tion for the understanding 'Of do something. the duties and problems of the 2. The migrants-How do they live? migrant socialwQrker. How Inspired, challenged, and defi- What are their needs? different her work is frQm a city sQcial case w'Orker! HQW much nitely helped by the experiences 3. What are the values of the migrant is involved! No longer are y'OU program for the employer, com- a case worker, or a nurse, or a of the conference we strove to munity, migrant? What should teacher, 'Or religi'Ousdirector- be the relationship between the but you must be a combination plan 'Our programs. Balanced migrant and community, em- of them all. ployer and migrant, social work- as they may be, we can still feel er and community, social worker Because any successful pro- and employer, migrant and so- gram 'Of migrant education must a lack, f'Or our prQgrams cannot cial worker? Where should the represent this cQmbinati'On, it focus be? What are some of the must include the empl'Oyer and get at the real roots of the prob- methods of attack? the community as well as the migrant. There exists, undoubt- lem. It· is evident that the old 4. Our program-What should it in- edly, a feeling 'Of intolerance clude for infants, children, among the community folk be- econQmy, attitudes land educa- young people, adults? · How cause they dQ n'Ot understand their migrant brother. There tion are inadequate, but the is, therefore, "a man without a country" attitude within the mi- problems of migrancy can be abolished is our cry.
May we keep always in 'Our hearts the spirit 'Of the "Work- er's Prayer" which we felt at the close of the conference.
Lord, speak to me, that I may speak In living echoes of thy tone; As thou hast sought, so let me seek Thy erring children, lost and lone.
Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach The precious things thou dost im- part; And wing my weirds that they may reach The hidden depths of many a heart.
Oh, give thine own sweet rest to me; That I may speak with soothing power A word in season, as from thee, To weary ones in needful hour.
-F'rttnces R. H avergal.
DEBORAH CANNON.
World–wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events .~ EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO 1 ~'='===—-=-===–=-=======~ J APAN-OHOSEN who is a Christian and I see eight out of ten, because of the sQmething in his face that is dif- Japanese insistence on attend- A Soldier's Penance ferent. I want it." AnQther ance at the shrines. These were The United Church Record wrote: "I was riding a bicycle, "-great institutions wit h fine reports the following incident, told by the pastor in whose returning tQ my home from buildings, a good reputation, a church it .occurred: school. You gave me a tract. I capacity student body, and ap- A Japanese soldier came to a little chapel at Pingting, a rural town in believe now in the true God. I parently a future of great useeastern Shansi, on Christmas Day. He knelt and prayed before the Cross have .one friend who believes fulness. But it became imposwhile the pastor looked on with a great alsQ, and we gather the village sible to preserve the Christian deal of interest. children t.ogether sometimes and c.ontent of the sch.ools and at the Rising, the soldier approached the pastor and handed him a five-dollar talk to them about God." same time meet demands made note, explaining that he and three of -Presbyterian Survey. on them which loyal followers his comrades wished to donate this to the church. He Never Met a Ohristian of Christ would find impossible to meet with.out comprQmising Asked what was his calling before An .old man in the country their consciences, so we had no the war, the soldier revealed that he was converted by reading the choice left save tQ follow the and his three friends were all evan- Bible before he ever met a orders of our Executive Comgelists before they were conscripted. Christian. Hearing of Chris- mittee and make this great sac- Why didn't his friends come to the tianity, and thinking it sounded rifice for the sake of our convicchurch too? The answer was: They reasonable, he wrote to a city tion that we, as Christians, had no "face" to come to the church friend who sent him a Bible and should serve only one God, and after all the sinful things they had a Christian newspaper. After that our deepest soul loyalty bedone in invading China and killing the reading these he asked where he longs to Jesus Christ. Chinese people. They thought they could meet a Christian and was could not present themselves in front told there were some in Hamada. "There is still a strong native of Jesus Christ. Finding some of the Christian church that is witnessing for wQrkers holding an open-air Jesus Christ. It is working and He, however, decided that he could service, he joined heartily in the growing. There are also still at least atone for his sins by coming singing, making a joyful noise wide open fields for evangelism. to worship in the church, especially quite out of tune, and laughed The Gospel can be preached as since it was Christmas Day. He and chuckled all through the freely as ever, and people listen hoped that with the love of Christ the talks, so that the wo r k e r s as gladly. WQmen's work offers world might be changed, all national thought that he was mentally many opportunities for Chrisdifferences sunk and all human suf- deficient, until they realized that tian service in home and comferings avoided. it was his overflowing joy at munity. All the hospitals are meeting fellQw Christians for filled, and witnessing for Christ The Printed Word the first time in his life! He has is being emphasized in each of never turned back from the them. More extensive Bible Japan has one point of ad- faith he entered intQ through training is being planned, SQ vantage over all other mission reading the Bible. When he that every church may have fields in that practically every prays he follows no conventional competent leadership." Japanese can read. Education method, but sits down with open there is compulsory. A mission- eyes and chats to his unseen Presbyterian Survey. ary, therefore, can write out Friend as if he could see the .one anything he wishes to tell to the to whQm he talks. A Oommunist Oonverted thronging multitudes whQm he passes in city streets, or to Korea Mission Losses A United Church of Canada farmers he meets along country missionary visited a Korean palanes, and hand it with a smile Rev. L. T. Newland, D.D., .of tient in a hQspital and noticed a and a greeting, and know that the Southern Presbyterian Mis- copy of Luke's Gospel laying on it will be read and understoQd. sion at Kwangju, writes: "With- the bed. Upon being asked what As a result, letters come tQ the he thQught of it he replied: "I mission, confessing sins, telling used to be a cQmmunist. I .of dQmestic problems, asking thought the wQrld was in such hQW tQ be forgiven or how to find peace. One man wrote: "I in the last few months the a bad state that only by destroygQt yQur tract. I know a man Southern Presbyterian Mission ing everything and beginning in Korea has lost its schQols, all over again could things be [434 ] set right. Since I have been here deeming love is read with great two or three portable steel I have been reading this book, interest and appreciation. houses that will be set up by -Bible S.ociety Record. R. G. Letourneau, Inc. One of listening to the hospital evan- gelist, and have had time to NORTH AMERICA these will be used as a dwelling think. .I am now convinced that for exhibition purposes; another the Jesus' way is the only way Christian Youth Council will be the headquarters of the Christian Business Men's Comthat will work, that of changing Problems of war, poverty, un- mittee, while it is likely that a the world by first changing the hearts of men, and I have de- employment, slum living, race third will house a Bible exhibit. termined first of all to become a prejudice, crime, in d u s t ria 1 -Alliance Weekly. strife, alcohol and political cor- Christian myself." -Korea Mission Field. ruption cannot be solved by any- New England Bible thing less than a united Chris- Demonstration ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC tian movement, according to the At the Metropolitan Theater consensus of opinion among al- Bible Distribution in Hawaii most 3,000 Christian educators, in Providence, R. 1., this sum- Thirty thousand children in representatives of forty-one de- mer 3,500 Evangelical Chris- Hawaii's public s.chools have each received a copy of the nominations in the U nit e d ti·ans lifted their Bibles high Gospel of Luke. This was in response to a request of the chil- States and Canada, who came above their heads and repeated dren themselves, and the earnestness of the request was :r together in Columbus, Ohio, for three times: "The Word of the proved by the enthusiasm with which the gift was received. the twentieth quadrennial con- Lord endu~eth forever." he Some of the teachers wrote: vention of the International demonstrabon passed resolutIOns "The children are very much Council of Religious Education· recalling people everyw~er~, "~o pleased. Many read these little volumes during the free-reading in July. The delegates discussed a reverence for the BIble m period."-"Since the arrival of such problems as Christian fam- these ~ord~: "We again a!fi.rm the Gospels of Saint Luke a new ily life, Christian leadership for ~)Ur f~uth m. the . au~henbclty, interest in religious literature has been shown."-"This school the modern world missions and mtegnty and msplrabon of the wishes to express i·ts thanks and missionary educ~tion, drama, Holy Scripture as. being the ~ne appreciation for the wonderful story in the form received. A visual education, temperance and final authorIty. for. faith dozen different nationalities attend this school, and to many education, education and gam- and conduct; that, m VIew of this is a new book and a new story. We feel that much bene- bling, Christian education and the desperate need of the world fit will follow; for surely the industrial _economic problems, ~oday, we go on ~ecord as send- Word will bear fruit." Christian education and race re- mg forth from thIS rally a clear, Messages. like these cam e from the pupils: a Portuguese lations, and world peace. Facts pl·ain and forceful call to the about the world situation were world to return to that rever- presented, not by theorists but ence f?r the Bible w~ich sh.all by experts speaking b e for e result m earnest readmg, bellef small groups that took advan- in i~s rede~ptiye message and tage of the opportunity for ques- ~bedlence to Its mvaluable.teach- tions .and discussion. The task mgs."-Watch'lnan-Examtner.
of Christian education was viewed as one that concerns . Readjustments in Presbyterian Christian attitudes in facing our Foreign Board critical problems. Because of the retirement of girl remarked: "The first night Christianity on Exhibit several members of its staff, the I read four chapters to my whole Presbyterian Foreign Board is family. I shall read the whole At the Golden Gate Interna- readjusting the duties of other tional Exposition in 1939 an ap- members. Rev. William P. book for them."
An eighth-grade Japanese boy peal for Christianity will be Schell, D.D., continues as· chairproudly remarked: "Thanks for made to those who take no man of the Home Base Council the story. I carry it in my thought for religion. About and a new division of special pocket and read it every chance 8,000 square feet of outdoor gifts and annuities; Miss Ger- space will be leased, upon which trude Schultz remains in charge I get." A Japanese girl declared: will be erected a large steel audi- of women's work in the Home "Even though I believe in the torium, and in this Mr. Irwin Base. Rev. Charles T. Leber, Buddha, yet I like this story of A. Moon will present several D.D. has been transferred from times daily his "Sermons from the secretaryship for Japan, the Christ." These children carry the Science," a series of spectacular China, Siam and the Philippines Word of God to their various scientific phenomena used to il- to the promotional work of the homes-in the city, plantation lustrate spiritual truth. After Home Base, with a supervisory center, fisherman's hut, labor eight years of preparation, Mr. connection with young people's camp, homestead shack and Moon seeks to present the first work. Rev. Willis C. Lamott, primitive native houses, scat- century Gospel with twentieth D.D., of the Japan Mission, has tered from ocean shore to moun- century illustrations. In con- been asked to assume responsitain peak, where the story of re- nection with this exhibit will be bility for publicity work while
Miss Mary Moore, one of the appointed to deal with problems Church Cooperation and Union.
secretaries f.or y.oung people's of harmonizing rituals, co.ordi- Bishop Perry presented a resolu- work, will go to San Francisc.o nating pr.ograms and merging tion passed by the General Con- to replace Miss Marcia Kerr, organizations of the Methodist vention in Cincinnati: wh.o comes t.o New Y.ork t.o as- Episcopal Church, Methodist The General Convention of the sist Dr. Young in the new de- Episcopal Church, South, and Protestant Episcopal Church in the partment .of missi.onary person- Meth.odist Pr.otestant Church. U. S. A., acting with full realization nel. Rev. S. Franklin Mack will Other questions considered were of the significance of its proposal, church extension, missions, hos- hCehruebrcyh ininvthiteesU. tSh.eA. Ptoresjobiyntewriiathn give his entire time to directing pitals, education and young peo- it in accepting the following declarayoung pe.ople's w.ork.
Rev. George T. SC.ott, D.D. is pIe, pensions and publication tion: chairman .of the F.oreign De- work. A small committee .of The two churches, one in the faith lawyers will furnish counsel in onfatetheWLoordrd oJfesGusod,Chrreicsot,gmt~z~mginctahrepartment C.ouncil, with special alliega} matters. The next meet-"'·-Holy Scriptures as the supreme rule responsibility for interdenomi- national relationships. Rev. ing wIll be held January 24, of faith, accepting the two ~acra- LI.oyd S. Ruland, D.D., of Bing- 1939, at Jackson, Miss. minegnttshaotrdtahienevdisbibyleCuhnriistyt, aonfdCbherliisetv'shamton, N. Y., a former mis- Church is the will of God, hereby formally declare their purpose to sionary in China, becomes secre- School for Missionaries achieve organic union between their tary for China. Pending the The first Iowa School for Mis- respective churches. election .of a successor t.o Dr. Leber, Rev. J. L. Hooper, D.D., si.onaries will be held January -The Churchman. of the Philippines, will serve as 23 t.o February 18, 1939, at Iowa secretary f.or the four countries' State College, Ames, Iowa. The Library, and Racial Problem recently under Dr. Leber's su- first three weeks will be devoted t.o classes in the following sub- Here is what can happen pervision. jects: sociology and rural or- when a mission study class ganizati.on, agriculture and ru- learns something and acts upon Lutheran Unification ral education, foods and nutri- it. The minister of a Colored tion, family life and health, and church in Portsmouth, Va., city Delegates to the Eastern Dis- agriculture. The aftern.oons will of 50,000, told a white mission trict Convention .of the Ameri- study group that the Colored can Lutheran Church voted to be devoted t.o conferences and people of the city had n.o access put aside "doctrinal differences" field trips. A two-day rural mis- to a library. This was news to with .other Lutheran churches sions conference will be held many of the white people. and to unite "in fell.owship .of pulpit and altar" with them. during the course .of the school. The mission study class inves- The vote foll.owed long discus- The fourth week c.oincides with tigated, secured the cooperation sion of the reports of the Ameri- Iowa State Farm and Home of the National Youth Adminiscan Lutheran Church Commis- Week, the lectures and exhibits tration, which made the desired sion on Fell.owship with the .of which will be open t.o the mis- library a pr.oject, obtained aid United Lutheran Church in from the PWA, was given space America and with the Lutheran sionaries. The Iowa School for in Mr. Birchette's parish h.ouse, Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Missionaries is being carried on received gifts from citizens for .other states. by the Iowa State College at the lumber, paint, labor, and some request and with the co.opera- but n.ot yet enough furniturre T.h e Evangelical Lutheran an,d b.o.oks (the Church Periodi- Synod of Missouri has churches ti.on .of the Rural Missions C.o- cal Club assisting) and put a in every state of the Union, and .operating C.ommittee, repre- trained librarian in charge. a total membership .of 1,305,000 senting some eighteen foreign in the United States and Can- The library was opened by a ada. At the recent Triennial missi.on b.oards in the United States. -Agricultural Mission Notes.
Conventi.on the Syn.od auth.or- Presbyterian-Episcopal program inc Iud i n g eight ized a drive for a thank offering s pee c h e s by representatives Negotiations to commemorate the hundredth from co.operating groups.
anniversary .of the arrival in the A delegation fr.om the Pres- Border Cooperation United States .of the Saxons who byterian Church U. S. A., met f.ounded this church. The sum Every Texas city of moderate sought will be in addition to the last December with Bish.oP Per- size has its "Little Mexico," cut annual budget of $1,500,000. ry and Dr. Howard C. R.obbins .off from the rest .of the town by of the Protestant Episc.opal The- United Methodism Meets ological Seminary to confer on invisible but definite lines that a closer union ·of the tW.o b.odies. are seldom crossed except by The first large j.oint meeting Representing the Presbyterian teachers, missionaries or occa- .of Methodists held since unifi- Church were Dr. L. S. Mudge, sional tourists. Few of the cation was approved by the stated clerk of the General nearly 7,000 Mexicans in Texas Methodist Episcopal Church, Assembly and Dr. J. Ross Stev- speak English: they have their South, took place in Columbus, enson, chairman of the Presbyte- own stores, newspapers, church- Ohi.o, in JUly. C.ommittees were rian Assembly's Department on es. While the majority are
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Roman Catholic, every Mexican notified the large canneries at ment is given for an hour three center has a struggling evangel- Ho.onah and Yakutat that no na- times within one week, and then ical mission, and the American tives need bother to apply for the patient is allowed to rest for Bible Society tries to provide work either as laborers in the a month before the treatment is Spanish Scriptures at cost. Sec- canneries or as fishermen, for continued. retary Marroquin, American Bi- they would n'Ot be hired." The A wealthy philanthrQpist 'Of ble Society's Mexican agent, a natives in that region, threaten- Brazil has offered a set of the few months ago made a two- ing to take things into their own apparatus to the United States, weeks' tour of the centers of hands, are prepared to fight, if for use at the Leper Clinic in Mexican population in Texas; a necessary, fQr their right to Carville, La. journey of over 1,500 miles, work. The largest cannery in -The Christian Advocate. with stops in various centers Alaska, located at Kassan, has where local c'Ommittees had definitely decided not to reopen. Thr.ough Brazil with the Bible previously planned interdenomi- Others may do likewise, rather national meetings to hear his than yield to the unreas.onable An outstanding piece .of work during the year has been the reillustrated lecture. He shows demands of the labor unions. markable journey through Brahis audience how colportage Unless the deadlock is broken, zil of two colporteurs, George work is done in Mexic'O, takes Glass and the redoubtable Antao them over mountain passes, on thousands of Alaskan families Pessoa. They c'Overed 5,000 burro back or oxcart; and tells will suffer. them how, under the present Mexican g'Overnment, the circu- LATIN AMERIOA miles, mQstly by mule back, but lation 'Of the Bible increased the SQme 1,300 miles was in a "dug past year by 10,000 copies; how the Scriptures are being trans- Educati.on in B.olivia out" and almost 250 miles on lated into the native tongues of foot. There were perils to face, 3,000,000 Indians .of Mexico The public school teachers of such as terrific cataracts, rapids, who do not speak Spanish; how Bolivia have petitioned the wild beasts and hostile tribes, the 130,000 Protestants of that g.overnment to use for public the latter sunk in poverty and country contributed 4,152 pesos schools the money now given to ignorance. Once 'On trek they (over a thousand d'Ollars) to the support the State church. The came to an abandoned region support of the Bible Society; Roman clergy have jointly is- ruled by a murderer who tried how even the illiterates often sued a pastoral letter to all Bo- to get them in his p.ower, but buy copies .of the Bible, in the livian citizens warning them with the c'Onnivance of two 'Of hope that someone will read that their religion is in danger, the man's own cut throats they aloud to them-so great is their that Communism is just arQund managed to escape. desire for the Word of God. the CQrner. and that they should The largest sales were made c'Onsider very carefully for in the priest-ridden town of Eighteen such meetings were whom they cast their vote. This Campinas. One very suspicious held, and 'Over 7,000 Mexicans year 1938, may prove a momen-· old lady refused to touch the heard 'Of the work of Bible dis- tous .one for Bolivia, especially books, but as the colporteur read tribution, while 14,000 Gospels were left with local pastors to if the Congress and the Senate one passage after another she be given out. should decide on the separation began to make exclamatiQns of -Bible Society Record. of Church and State, which ac- apprQval, and finally bought a tion is not altogether improb- copy, say i n g apologetically: able. "You see, I thought the bOQk -Baptist Missionary Review. was Protestant." The lurid pic- Alaskans in Distress tures 'Of Protestants, painted by Oxygen f.or Lepr.osy the priests, had filled the people Native Alaskans, who depend Brazil is said to lead the wQrld with dread. entirely upon the fishing in- in the fight against leprosy, and dustry for their living, are fac- These two intrepid men had ing a desperate situati'On grow- a new treatment being tried ing out of the activities of the there is reported by Dr. H. W. many adventures and escapes, Wade, of Washington, D. C. It labor unions in the United but the greatest experience was States who seek to control the consists of the administration fishing and canning industry of oxygen under pressure, and the satisfaction .of circulating throughout the Alaskan Terri- the inventor is Dr. Ozorio de 100 Bibles, 700 Testaments and Almeida, wh.o first thought of it 3,000 Gospels in 'One .of the dark- est regions 'Of the earth.
-The Neglected Continent.
tory. Demands of rival labor as a means 'Of treating cancer. Five Year Increase in Brazil unions have prevented the re- The patient is placed in a tank opening of the canneries. These into which pure 'Oxygen can be The Presbyterian Church of unions insist upon determining introduced and the pressure Brazil reported at the annual who shall be employed, discrim- gradually increased until it General Assembly held this year inating against native Alaskans. reaches an atmosphere and a in FQrtaleza that there are now A correspondent of the Presby- half (some twenty-one pounds 266 organized churches and 140 terian BQard of National Mis- to the square inch) ab.ove the .other groups, exclusive of 1,522 sions writes: "The C. I. O. has normal pressure. The treat- places where the Gospel is regu-
larly preached. These churches EUROPE heads of families-men in good are organized into three synods Mohammed's Birthday Cele- standing with the governmentand are ministered to by 183 or- must be presented for approval. brated in London dained ministers and nine licen- tiates. There are 43,100 church On May 12, a group of Mo- Calvinistic Congress members, and a Sunday school membership of 47,939. It will hammedans in London cele- The fourth Biennial Calvinbe seen by comparison with the brated the birth of their prophet istic Congress met in Edinburgh figures published in 1932 in the World Dominion Survey of Bra- and Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer was in July, and created "no small zil that this is an all round increase during the last five years. invited to attend. Two hundred stir" in the city. An announce- This church has maintained a persons were present, of whom ment of a "Nazi ban on Edinworker in Portugal for some nearly half were women. SO!lle burgh Congress" drew attention time, and it is hoped that a col- of the men wore the Pers~an to meetings which might otherleague will be sent to him from headdress, a few the IndIan .wise have passed with less nothe Brazilian Church shortly. turban, but as to the rest they tice but the added interest was -World Dominion Press. might have been any group of justified. Four German pastors cultured London people. About were refused permission by der three-fourths of those pr~s~nt Fuehrer to be present, the reason were Moslems. :r'he presldmg being that the Congress was ex- officer was a R.usslan a~d prayer pected to take a sympathetic at- Cooperation in River Platte was offered III ArabIC by an titude toward the Confessional Republics Egyptian. One speaker declared Church as did the World Con- A new epoch in cooperation Mohammed to be "the redeemer ference' on Faith and Order at among Evangelical forces in Argentina, Uruguay and Para- of womanhood, the light of the :n Oxford last year. However two world and the glory of civilizaguay is believed to have begun tion" ! !-Religious Digest. Germans of the Ref 0 r e d Church were present, but took as a result of a conference called Bans and Concessions in by the Committee on Coopera- Roumania no part in the program. tion in Buenos Aires. This Con- The Congress was made up of ference considered the question The Religious News Service about 130 delegates, and inof organizing a Confederation reports that the Roumanian cluded a number of Europe's of Evangelical Churches in this Government has made it illegal foremost theologians. Holland area, and a committee of nine for eight different religious sects and Hungary sent some of their was appointed to draw up plans to continue the practice of their best thinkers, and others came for such a federation. faiths. . from France, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, South Africa, New Of the forty-five pastors and The sects banned are: the Mil- Zealand, Australia, America, laymen in attendance, repre- .lenium group (which, .according Eire and Northern Ireland. The senting sixteen church bodies to the decision includes the In- general topic was "The Reand organizations, twenty-two ternational Students of the Bi- formed Faith and its Ethical Consequences" in the Individual, were nationals; eighteen were ble, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Family, the Church, in So- ciety, the State, in Economics, missionaries of North American others) the Pentecostalists, the in Art. It was emphasized that the world must get back to the and British Boards; and five Tremblers, the Church of God vital principle of Calvinism, the were ministers to non-Spanish- the Apostle, the Penitent Naza- sovereignty of God.
speaking groups in Argentina. renes, the Reformed Adventists, -The Christian.
It was regarded as the most rep- the Illistii, the Innocents and the resentative group ever meeting Stilisti (the Old Stylers).
in Buenos Aires to discuss At the same time, the official decision granted new concesmeans of closer cooperation. Reformed Church of France An "Evangelical Youth Con- sions to Baptists, Seventh Day gress," held in Rosario, Argen- Adventists and Evangelicals. The Reformed Church of tine, last year revealed an in- Baptists received special men- France, which now unites the creasing solidarity among young tion, the last clause of the long four principal French Churches, people. Strong leadership was decision stating that they will will officially function in its unimanifest; the delegates declared be permitted to organize church fied form on January 1, 1939. their allegiance not only to the communions throughout the The new organization will be Church and its place in deepen- country by fulfilling certain con- marked by a work of conquest, ing the spiritual life, but also ditions, which in countries like consolidation and forward evanadopted important resolutions the United States and England gelism. in the field of social action. would be considered imposi- The churches in Paris are These young people edit and tions; for example, a minister seeking to spread among their publish two excellent periodicals must confine his activities to the congregations a desire for Bible in this district and share in a four walls of the recognized study, carried on by groups radio preaching broadcast twice "prayer house," and before such meeting daily in places of worweekly. a house can be lawful a petition ship. The great success which -The Christian Century. bearing the signature of twenty has resulted is due to a deep de-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
sire to know better the Word olics are not concerned, since AFRICA of God in order to spread this they concluded a concordant knowledge throughout ,France. nearly ten years ago. Jewish Islam's Sudan Campaign The fall in the value of the problems appear to be more po- As a result of Egypt's ac- franc and the rise in the cost of litical than religious.. knowledged rights in the Sudan, living presents a troublesome The head of this new depart- Azhar University in Cairo is deproblem to all the churches, and ment has traveled widely and is veloping a Moslem missionary es.pecially to the Paris Mission- conversant with all these prob- enterprise for various countries, ary Society with its large com- lems at first hand. and proposes that young Sudan- mitments in British Sou t h There will be seven divisions ese be trained at the University Africa. It will force them to in the new department, each in the technique of teaching Isconsider seriously the salaries under the direction of a special- lam to the pagans of the Sudan; of pastors, their pensions, and ist in such fields as education, and that they imitate Christian the maintenance and current ex- religion, labor, culture and eco- missionaries in acquiring the penditure of all Christian ac- native languages of these people. tivities. Yet the church has nomics. In spite of various discour- unanimously decided upon ad- The Gospel for Refugees agements, Christian missions in vance. the southern Sudan are meeting -World Dominion Press. In spite of the difficulties with great response. In some which beset the Russian Gospel areas, thousands attend the Sun- Evangelism in Greece Movement, conversions and bap- day services, and native Chris- A small group of Grecians, tisms are continually taking tians have started hundreds of converted to evangelical faith place among refugees. in various bush schools throughout the through reading the Bible, were country. charged by the Orthodox Church parts of Europe. Evangelistic with illegal proselytizing, for meetings are held regularly at Danger in Half Knowledge which the penalty is banishment. A Greek lawyer, now Montbard, France, where there Rev. P. A. Unwin, of the studying in England, was em- are numbers of refugees. The C. M. S., says that with the ployed to defend them and was Movement is responsible for the preaching of the Gospel there so impressed with the unfalter- must be systematic Christian distribution of a magazine and education, and clinches the point quantities of Gospel literature, mostly Scripture portions and ing faith of these unlettered books. with the following story: "A men that he entered into a During the International Ex- workman, educated in a governdee per spiritual experience position in Paris last year, more ment technical school, came to through their testimony, and is than 15,000 tracts in French and my room a short while ago. 'I now devoting his life to the Russian were distributed. Large want to see the thing which Lord's work. He reports that texts were on display, where makes the noise inside that box,'
this little group has started a they could be read by visitors. he said, indicating the wireless church which is growing stead- In this connection, it is start- set. I took off the back and ily. One old, illiterate woman ling to note in a report of the showed him all I could; but I asked a neighbor to read a Bible National Lutheran Council that am ignorant in such matters. chapter to her every day, and the 1938 budget of the Godless Then he railed at me and the gist half the village was converted of his remarks was this: 'You through this one instance, one of organization in Russia amounts English are all the same ; you the converts being a man who to 65 million rubles. Of this had spent seventeen years in sum 42 millions are contributed keep the African back. You do not want him to learn lest he prison. by members and 23 millions de- rived from the sale of anti-reli- should govern himself and you After completing his studies gious literature. During the would be deprived of the shillin England, this lawyer plans to year 14 millions will be allocated ings which you get from native return to Greece and help to to subsidize activities of the In- taxes. The Mission is the ear shepherd this flock. ternational Godless committee, of the Government. You are as and the remainder will be uti- bad as the rest. Have you not Situation Eased in Roumania lized for propaganda purposes refused to tell me how the wire- less works? Did they not refuse All religious questions have within the country. It is ex- pected also that a contribution to tell me how to make electricity been taken out of the office of will be sent to aid in financing at the technical school? And the Minister of Cult, and a the International Free Thinkers' why do you not let the African special department has been cre- congress to be held in London make his own shillings as you ated by the Roumanian Govern- next autumn. This amounts to do yourselves?' " ment to handle all minority a total of $13,000,000, of which questions, including religious -C. M. S. Outlook.
and ethical. This move is high- $2,800,000 is designated for Education Proceeds Slowly ly pleasing to such minorities as "foreign missions" in the United the Baptists, Evangelicals, Re- States and other Christian na- A diagram in the Gold Coast formists and Adventists. Cath- tions. Annual Education Report shows.
the total number of children at- man it was not for them to say WESTERN ASIA tending school for the past no. Hebrew University twenty-five years: according to the ratio of increase, it would Bantu Sunday Schools The Hebrew University in Jetake approximately 600 years before a child-population of the The s,econd Bantu Sunday rusalem, when founded in 1925, present size would be attending school. School Convention in Johannes- consisted of one building, a li- burg was attended by 117 dele- brary of 74,000 volumes, a fac- A further diagram, taking galtes from 43 centers in all ulty of 30, a student body of 64 into. account increases of population, shows the percentages of provinces of the South Africa and a curriculum of four departchildren of school age attending school to the total child-popula- Union, Basutoland and Swazi- ments. Today, on Mount Scotion year by year for the 25-year land. ~us there are 12 buildings, a period; and shows that it would take over 3,500 years before The Convention endorsed the lIbrary of over 350,000 volumes, primary education would be made available for the whole recommendation of the Inter-De- ",",a student body of over 800; a of the child-population of the partmental Committee on Na- faculty of 110.; and a currICU- Gold Coast. Figures for the tive Education that native edu- lum on a par! III both scope ~nd whole of Africa would be even cation should continue to be sta.ndar?~, WIth .that of leadmg more startling. centered in religion. It urged umve:;slbes. WIt.h some of. the upon the administration of Na- world s ou~standmg ~ ~ WI S h -World Dominion Press. tive Education and the teaching ~cholars on Its facu~ty, I~ IS mak- body to make religious educa- mg ~emarkab~e strIdes m schol- Pioneering in the Congo tion worthy and effective, and arshlp and sc!ence. . . Perhaps no type of mission- that every subject in the school In. connecbon Wlt~ t~e Ulllary service makes a greater ap- curriculum should be made a verslty, a great sClenbfic repeal to the imagination than pioneering. Rev. Malcolm Guthrie medium for the teaching of re- search activity is being deof the English Baptist Society writes an account for The Life ligion. veloped. This includes special of Faith of a pioneer trip in the de~artmen~s of ~rchreology, edu- Belgian Congo, when he covered Grave concern was expressed ~abon, sOCI~1 SCIence and agrar- 315 miles in less than four at the growing evil .of gambling Ian economIcs, as well as a deweeks, walking or cycling. "In among children both native and part!llent of par~sitol?gy, wh~re the most distant villages," he European. Chu~ches were asked specIal rese.arch IS bemg carrIed says, "they had not only never to give definite teaching on the heard the Gospel-they had never even heard of people with subject, and the Government on concernmg leprosy and cana Gospel to preach. The only was urged to curb gambling by cer.-Hadassah News Letter. white men they ever see are the government doctor who comes all possible means, and to de- Challenge to the Christian twice a year, and the tax col- stroy the facilities for the evil. Church lector once a year." -World Dominion Press. Most people showed a real desire to understand the message. Laborer Starts a Church An Arab Christian leader in In the first village visited, two Palestine writes the following boys wanted to go back with Mr. A young Portuguese, with his Guthrie in order "to get wis- wife and family, has gone to Sao letter: dom"; others asked for an evan- Tome, Portuguese Africa, to gelist to come and live among strengthen a work that was What can one say about Palestine them, and there were discus- started by an indentured la- at present! It is a country torn to sions as to how his belongings pieces by strife, hatred, rioting and could be conveyed such a long borer who had been converted aggression. Materially as well as distance. At Bokwo, another to evangelical Christianity in morally the country is on the eve of village, the people ran away in Angola; and whose initiative a total collapse, and what is still fright, and during the two days' resulted in the formation of a more painful is the fact that the services nobody took any notice small group of Christians. They troubles of the country may be traced at all. Later, a solemn conclave had no Scriptures to instruct back to racial ambitions based on was held to determine whether them, but found some fragments religious tradition and history. Jews an evangelist should be allowed of a Bible in some waste paper. as well as Arabs hold fast to their to locate in the village, and they These they copied by hand and claims in this respect, while the Chriscame to the conclusion that if distributed. At first they were tian Church has not yet come forward Mr. Guthrie wished to send a persecuted, but later it was with proposals to reconcile matters on recognized that the evangelicals the basic principle of Christianity, were the best workers, and they In the meantime unemployment and were no longer molested. what it entails is growing rapidly, suffering, hunger, dissatisfaction with This young Portuguese work- life, etc. Yet missionary activities, er has been commended by all hospitals, orphanages, welfare centers the denominations in Portugal, continue their work, often under very and it is hoped that the work In strained conditions and financial dif- Sao Tome will be adequately ficulties, particularly those who de- supported. pend for their support on Middle Europe. But nobody sees how this -World Dominion Press. country's affairs may be settled, there is not one, ray of hope that matters will clear up in the near or distant future, and I think that all of us have failed in the paramount duty of pray- ing constantly for this holy land, as
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
God only can send peace and He will meeting. "I have written the the divine power of the Good undoubtedly do so in His time if we unite in prayers to Him. music for the Lord's Prayer," he News. said, and handed me a neatly -Near East Christian Council.
Iranian Christian Art written sheet of music. "Will INDIA AND BURMA you sing it for us· tonight?" I Recent relaxation of the Mos- asked. He agreed, and later on lem rule in Iran against displays impressed us all deeply by sing- Legislators Face Problems of Christian work has been fol- ing "Our Father which art in Indian legislators are finding lowed by the use of Christian Heaven" to Iranian music of his pictures in educational p r 0- own composition. Then he gave that their economic and social grams. An Iranian was asked to a splendid testimony, telling the problems are not capable of select from a catalogue of Perry others what God had done for speedy solution. Mr. Gandhi's pictures those best suited to his him. educational proposals are called people. Unerringly, he picked impractical; and obstacles cononly great masterpieces, and one Field Widens in Arabia result has been increased sales tinue to arise in regard to childof Christian literature. Dr. Paul W. Harrison outlines marriage laws. The usual dis- some reasons for encouragement turbances involving Hindus and Converted By a Dream in medical work in Arabia. One Moslems result in clashes here of these is the steadily improv- Rev. W. McE. Miller, Presby- ing equipment. Better build- and there. However, most obterian missionary of Teheran, servers agree that the experi- ment of self-government is working not too badly. Iran, tells the story of one of the ings, instruments andautomo- A halt has been called in the latest converts, a man about 30. biles all contribute to the doc- prospects of any large communal He came to a meeting for in- tor's efficiency, but more im- movement of the d e pre sse d quirers and introduced himself portant than buildings and in- classes. Dr. Ambedkar is out at the close. He had been seek- struments, better trained men for guarantees that if any gen- ing the truth for five or six are now available, and with eral movement should take place, years, but had not found it. better training come increased assurances must be forthcoming Finally, one of his friends sug- resources of medicine itself; for that the political rights and sogested that he read the New anemia, they now have some- cial and economic well-being of Testament. He came to the gate thing better than powdered his community shall be conof our Mission where there is a shingle nails. served.
small bookshop and bought the As the friendlines:s of the peo- The general attitude of these book, and was profoundly in- ple grows, the field for medical classes is favorable to the recepfluenced by Christ's teaching. A work widens. Some have come tion of Christianity wherever year passed, and he did not be- to suspect that dirt is as much missions are in effective touch come a Christian. Finally, he to blame as the evil eye in mak- with them, and this work prohad a dream. He saw a great ing babies sick, and some of the ceeds in proportion to the abilmultitude, dressed in various most picturesque smells in the ity of missions to buy up the costumes, following a float on Near East are about to pass opportunity. The various "mass which a majestic Person was en- away. With all this have come movements" are proceeding· throned. A voice said to him, enlarged opportunities, and it is apace. The movement in the "Follow the teaching which is the day of beginnings for the Bhil area of Central India is exruling the world today!" He Christian Church. ceedingly promising, and if the tried to go nearer, but the crowd There are regular preaching missions were in a better posi- services where men and women prevented him. After ten days hear the good news about tion to follow up what is an unthe dream was repeated, and the Christ. Some of these are held doubted desire on the part of voice said, "Why do you hold in the Hospital compound, and these people to become Chrisback? Follow this teaching!" some of them in the little houses tians, there is almost no limit to the degree in which these This time he found himself quite near the glorious Person. He of the hospital helpers. There 2,000,000 people could be rerealized it was Christ, and he are social evenings where Chris- ceived into the Christian Church. determined to become a Chris- tian men and women learn how The five – year evangelistic tian, so on the advice of his Christ wants them to associate movement continues to occupy friend he had come to church, with one another. These are the attention of the churches, and the sermon had made a deep church affairs. The outside with notable results in many impression. We suggested that world is not invited. They are places. Conferences of farhe yield himself to Christ at hilarious and useful. The sum reaching importance are being once, and he said he was ready, total of all this is that the held in preparation for the so we prayed together, put his Church is emerging, and slowly Madras World Missionary Conhand into the hand of Christ, taking shape and growing, not ference, and there is a new spirit and he arose with a new light in because of any exhibition of hu- of optimism growing up in many his face. Next week he was the man skill or efficiency or wis- quarters. -World Dominion Press. first to arrive at the inquirers' dom, bp.t simply as a result of
Fighting Fear and demonstrated at a meeting of could be done for them, are now Superstition the Kolapur Church Council at being treated successfully. The C. M. S. Schools in Srinagar Sangli, when the eight or ten addition of this deep X-ray is are teaching their pupils to live up to their motto: "In all things missionaries present marvelled probably the hospital's greatest be men." Superstition and the at the progress made by Indian milestone in years, while for the fear of doing what "is not done," are twin evils in Kashmir. The Christian women in the past first time in its forty-five years' fear of public opinion is very strong, but the following inci- fifteen years since their first history an ambulance makes dent shows how this fear is being overcome. Those who lived participation in this organiza- possible more village work. The near the lake at Srinagar considered it useless to learn to tion. It was not just an occa- office has been made into a censwim because the "djinns" in the water would pull them down. sion to get together and talk; a tral unit, a cash register in- To disprove the theory, a yearly swim across the lake was organ- great deal of constructive activ- stalled to simplify routine work ized. Howe v e r, the "djinn" ity was reported. One village and a central storeroom makes woman reported apologetically. for greater efficiency and econ- for her group: '~'- omy. Plans are under way for I am only a country woman and I a second operating room and a library. can't read, but I'll tell about our so- -Western India Notes. ciety. We live in the country and Cholera Outbreak there is no one to help us or show us how we ought to do things. We don't even know how to pray proper- worshipers were not satisfied. ly, as we've never had a real opportu- In the recent outbreak of "It is true you have conquered nity to learn anything much, but we cholera in the United Provinces, the day-water 'djinns,'" they met regularly anyhow and did the 15,000 cases, out of 30,000, are best we knew. reported to have died. Fortysaid, "but how about those who four out of forty-eight districts inhabit the water at night?" The Here is a list of activities, are affeded. According to the challenge was accepted, and taken at random from reports Associated Press, entire villages thirteen boys swam safely across read: the lake at midnight. have been wiped out. Giving information regarding tem- The first crew of boys to pad- perance and missionary work of other India is one of the world's dle a boat through the city, lands. greatest cholera danger spots, about thirty years ago, hid them- Supporting Christian p rim a r y with more than 400,000 cases selves under b I a n k e t s, so schools for non-Christian children. every year. The ignorance and ashamed were they as sons of the educated to be seen engaged Helping support widows and or- superstition of the common in manual work. In various phans by sewing and other activities. ways the school is modifying people hinder the efforts of the the social customs of Kashmir. Conducting a nursery school in a officials to cope with the disease. For example, the rule that boys needy neighborhood. Native custom requires that under 18 who marry must pay double fees to enter the school Doing voluntary evangelistic work, bodies of cholera victims be is an effective method of reduc- usually in villages. thrown into streams, instead of ing the number of early mar- being buried or burned, and any riages. More than fifty widowed Conducting Sunday schools. attempt on the part of the govgirls have remarried in the past Supervising primary schools. ten years-another old custom Selling Christian literature (one ernment to prevent this is met dethroned. There is a new atti- enterprising woman sold over 100 tude toward the suffering of ani- Christian booklets to delegates in one with opposition. However, the mals; many boys are entering day). government is making every ef- Teaching illiterates to read. Teaching sewing, crocheting, knit- fort to deal with the problem on ting, etc. a large scale by using mass in- Helping small village societies to oculation and disinfection of conduct their meetings. dwellings as rapidly as possible. Cleaning the church, each woman voluntarily taking a turn.
-Western India Notes.
the veterinary profession. Bet- Bright Spots at Miraj Converts Walk 100 Miles ter still, more consideration is being shown the sick and afflict- Miraj Hospital is known all It is news when we hear of ed. There is a marked spiritual Christians so anxious to attend influence in the school, where over the world as one of the few a Christian service they will 1,400 boys and 280 girls are be- self-supporting mission instituing prepared for life. tions, and is unique in its being walk one hundred miles in order the only hospital to support a to be present. A group of eleven -The Christian. medical school. It is especially men in the Telugu area agreed Women to the Fore known for its surgery, a repu- they would walk the fifty miles tation which the late Sir Wil- there and fifty back to attend Daily papers in India indicate liam Wanless and Charles E. the conference in Hindpur. Then how rapidly women are coming Vail established. Notable acqui- they decided to make an evanto the front in politics, education sitions of the past year were the gelistic campaign of it so and social service, while their deep X-ray and the ambulance. preached in the villages en progress in the field of Christian Patients suffering from deep- route, and in order that they religion is becoming more and seated cancer, who were turned might reach as many villages as more noteworthy. This was away formerly because nothing possible with their witness, they
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
decided to return by a different Evangelism Among Bunnans result will be is not yet foreseen. route. Not only did they walk Educators find themselves in an 100 miles but it cost them at A writer in the National impossible situation. On the lease nine days' wages for the Christian Council Review asserts one hand, they face the humiliprivilege of attending the s e that Burma is today as strongly ating demands of the arrogant meetings. The leader of the Buddhist as it has ever been; invading army. On the other, group, who is a cripple, told and if the non-Burman Christian they must reckon with the risfriends how God had supplied community were removed, the ing tide of Chinese patriotism all their needs and kept them Church would number not more which suspects every attempt at from harm along the way, his than 15,000. Some have main- accommodation with the conface fairly beaming as he told it. tained that the time has come to querors as incipient treason. abandon work in Burma· and Sooner or later, the missions -Darkness and Light. concentrate upon more respon- will find it impossible to main- sive peoples, such as the Karens tain even a semblance of neu- Santal Christian Council and Chins, and thus form a ring trality under such conditions. of Christian people around the For the mission colleges in the An unusual feature of the land, trusting that the evangel- Peiping area, that time has evi- Santal Christian Council held ization of Burma will ensue. dently arrived. last February was that all the sessions, both devotional and The Burman cannot be said -Christian Century. business, were held in the Santal to be antagonistic to Christianlanguage. There were 14 Euro- ity. The message does not Farm Cooperatives for pean and American, and about arouse opposition. The Burman Refugees 40 Santal representatives pres- is influenced by public opinion ent. An entire session was which regards Christianity in a Plans are being developed to given to a discussion of the Sad- political rather than in a reli- form cooperative communities hu Movement. Sad h u s are gious light. The Burman Bud- of farmer refugees. It is estiknown as "clean people," and dhist attitude toward Burmese mated that between fifteen and they urge the Santal to give up Christians is that they have cut twenty million Chinese have eating unclean things, chickens, themselves off from the life of been driven off their lands in pigs., goats and sheep being their country by associating the devastated war zone, and classed as such. They urge the with the foreign cult. Preach- only heroic efforts by the Inter- Santals to worship the sun. The ing and routine work will not national Red Cross and similar fact that they respond to this bring the Burman into the agencies can save most of them teaching is proof of a heart Christian Church. He will from starvation before the end hunger which makes it all the change his religion only if he of next winter. Something more more imperative that they be cannot get away from the fact is needed than merely to feed given a chance to hear the that the new religion is better and clothe these helpless hordes, Christian message. than the old in the quality of and this something is now be- character it produces. ing sought by setting up in Two other subjects. discussed sparsely settled parts of China, were rural education and evan- CHINA AND TIBET far removed from the battle gelism. The following points lines where the likelihood of inwere indicated as essential: Japanese Orders Defied vasion is sma II, cooperative farming settlements. The money Training in handwork as well as Three Christian universities required to start these is coming academic subjects. in Peiping have risked their fu- in part from the Chinese gov- ture existence by refusing to ernment and in part from Chi- The use of materials easily avail- comply with orders to partici- nese banks. able in the district in which the school pate in celebrations of the Japis located, such as date palm leaves, anese occupation. The schools This establishment of farm jute and bamboo. involved are the Protestant cooperatives may have a far- Yenching University, the Ameri- reaching and permanent social Opportunities for gardening and can Catholic Fujen University importance in China. Perhaps the study of methods of improving and the French Catholic Peiping this may be one of the ways in agricultural work. University. The presidents of which an unexpected good may all three were ordered to hoist come out of the present evil of A cottage plan of hostel especially the flag of the puppet provision- war. for girls, and training in domestic al government, to make speeches science and the care of children. against Chiang Kai-shek's gov- Emergency Fund for Colleges ernment, to call on Japanese Opportunities for self-government army officers and tender official Nearly 4,500 individuals and in the hostel; responsibilities in the "thanks" for the Japanese in- organizations in the United Church and of service in· the village. vasion, and to send telegrams to States have united to raise an Chinese abroad denouncing Chi- emergency fund of $300,000 to The need for a positive faith, ang Kai-shek as "the arch crim- ensure the continuance of the 13 backed up by the testimony of a inal of eastern Asia." What the American – supported women's Christian life, was emphasized, as was also the need for a program of adult education among rural Santals.
-N a t ion a l Christian Council Review.
and coeducational colleges in Shantung Christian University, dhist theories in the form of a China, as the consummation of a seven months' campaign. The and the Central Government "Wheel of Life." The six reproject was undertaken by the National Emergency Committee University at Nanking have all gions of rebirth are painted on for Christian Colleges in China. moved to Chengtu. Dean S. N. a scroll which ranges from two This Christian educational work was begun by Americans Cheer, noted Chinese medical feet to several feet square, and as early as 1864. Some of the thirteen institutions have been educator and graduate of Har- which can readily be rolled and forced to leave their buildings temporarily; others have been vard, who has been in charge of unrolled. It occurred to misbombed, and are now in dugouts on the campus, but all of them the government medical school sionaries in Tibet that a Chrishave managed to maintain some, or all of their programs through- at Nanking, has been placed in tian Tibetan scroll on the lines out the past year. The total annual budget of the 13 colleges is charge of outpatient and inpa- of those used in the country normally about $1,600,000, of which a little more than $1,000,- tient clinical instruction at would be a novel and effective 000 comes from western sources and the remainder from Chi- Chengtu, thus centering almost way of presenting the Christian nese resources. Prevailing war conditions have reduced radical- all Chinese medical education in ". message. Services of Mr. John ly their income from Chinese sources, necessitating this spe- this one institution. ""Carey were secured, and he has cial fund of $300,000 both to replace losses of normal income -Christian Advocate. made some very beautiful paintand to meet heavy emergency expenditures. ings showing the life of Christ Another Rockefeller Gift Evangelizing Tibet and some of the parables. A lo- cal touch is given by depicting The Rockefeller Foundation Mass movements are not like- the learned men questioning J ehas made a grant of $35,000 for ly to occur in Tibet where travel sus in the temple as dressed like new buildings and modern is difficult and villages are sep- the lamas of Tibet. equipment at the University arated by mountainous districts. Hos.pital of West China Union Furthermore, the people are The scrolls, six of them, are University, Chengtu, Szechwan like the soil on which they live each sewn on to material of yel- Province. In addition to this -arid and stony. Statistically, low, blue and red, the colors gift, the University has received there is not much to show for used by the lamas. Each scroll $50,000 fro m an American the effort put forth to spread is carried in a sheath made of Methodist and $175,000 from tin with loops so that a string or sources in China. With its new the knowledge of Christ; yet leather strap can be attached equipment the University Hos- there is no doubt that the evan- when the evangelist goes on pital will have 275 beds and gelists who live among the peo- tour. -Moravian Missions. educational facilities for 150 ple and show the Christian medical students in nor mal times. In the present war emer- example are exerting a strong MISCELLANEOUS gency it has 325 medical stu- influence. An experiment is bedents from all parts of China. ing tried by opening a Gospel World Outlook for West China Union University, Inn for pilgrims and travelers Christianity "isolated" in the recesses of West China and far from the to and from Central Asia. The The World Alliance of Rewar area, is now the acknowl- object of this venture is to pro- formed Churches appraised the edged educational center of the vide lodging for these people, outlook for evangelical Chrisnation. It is a missionary in- and to tell them the Good News, tianity, and finds that in some stitution in which American besides distributing the Scrip- countries it is improving, in Methodists and Baptists, the tures to them on their depar- others declining. Adverse con- United Church of Canada, the ture. It is hoped later on to ditions affect the evangelical Friends of Great Britain, and keep an evangelist permanently churches in Italy, Germany, the Church of England combine posted in the Gospel Inn, and Ethiopia, Egypt, Chosen, Forto maintain. Faculties and stu- improve its usefulness as an mosa, Manchukuo, Russia, Spain dents of the University of Nan- evangelistic agency as circum- and Belgium. Protestantism, king, the School of Medicine of stances permit. however, is either growing or holding its own in Scandinavia, Another is the industrial proj- Holland, Switzerland, France, ect, intended to help indigent Czechoslovakia, Poland, Ruma- Christians to tide over a period nia, Greece, Hungary, India and of financial hardship, but the Africa. Finding a "marked re- isolation gives ve r y limited vival of Calvanism in the scope for such an enterprise. It Ref 0 r m e d and Presbyterian is encouraging that the little churches of Europe," the report attributes this in part to "the group of Christians in a village influence of the writings of Karl called oSheh are planning to build Barth." There is no doubt that a small church, independent of the attack of neo-paganism on any help from the Mission. -Baptist Missionary Review.
Christian Tibetan Scroll the Christian Church is driving evangelical church bodies in Eu- The traveler in Tibet frequent- rope back to the Biblical and ly meets in villages a pictorial spiritual fundamentals of their representation of current Bud- faith.-Watchman-Examiner.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
By-Product of Missions baptized converts among the year over 1936," the report states. Married women com- Missionary activity is not heathen and Moslems in the prised' 73 per cent and single limited to the field of religion, same period was 2,000,000, or women 17 per cent of this total, but flows over into other realms, one to every 525 of the heathen widows and divorcees making up and one important by-product and Moslem population. The the remainder. Their average is the contribution which mis- same degree of success among age was 41.5 years, the youngest sionaries have made to science, heathen and Moslems as among being 25 and the' oldest 65. Last especially in such fields as phi- Jews would have shown 7,000,- year's total is 115 per cent lology, geography, anthropology 000 converts, instead of 2,000,- greater than that of 1933, and and the study of ethnic religions. 000. Three times as many Jewish 159.5 per cent above the average Their contributions have often converts enter the Gospel min- yearly total number of women been of eminent importance, be- istry as of converts from among patients during the period from cause they have usually grown the heathen. A careful com- 1916 through 1936. out of a long personal contact parison of facts shows that no with the subject treated and mission field of modern times Turtle Eggs-Novel bear the stamp of a thorough has been so fruitful as the J ewand minute acquaintance, in viv- ish. Contribution id contrast with so many weak, theorizing productions of the se- The Great Delusion Dr. Albert W. Beaven, who cluded study rooms of univer- has made a recent visit to Bapsities. The New York Sun reports tist Missions in the Far East, these facts for those to ponder says that one of the queerest in- Progressive Ministry to Lepers who have thought that the li- cidents of the trip was one censing of strong drink would man's contribution of 4,000 tur- A summary of the past year's help America financially and tle eggs as his offering toward work of the Mission to Lepers otherwise: the Burma Baptist Convention. evidences an increasing scope of Some churches responded by this Christ-like ministry. Here In three years the Federal sending bags of rice, some a are some of the advances: in- government was defrauded of whole ox, while another church creased accommodations and $1,800,000 in alcohol taxes, and sent 2,000 ducks for entertain- New York State of $900,000. Five illicit stills were discovered, larger numbers in its institu- with capacities ranging from ing the 4,300 delegates. But one tions; a steadily increasing num- 200 to 500 gallons. More than man who specialized in turtle ber of out-patients; more service 500,000 gallons of alcohol were eggs sent 4,000 of them. These, for healthy children of lepers. distributed annually by the ring. being very perishable, had to be This work is developing rapidly Whiskey dispensed consisted of kept in wet sand in the basein India, especially. In China the a blend of alcohol, water, some ment of the church, and because need for such work is becoming coloring matter and a portion of of heat and humidity had to be more and more apparent, and in so-called "cooked whiskey." In turned over every ten hours to the widely affected areas of Af- this way 500,000 gallons of al- keep them from germinating. rica it is now realized how much cohol were converted into 1,000,- The entire time of two people can be done in this direction. 000 gallons of bad whiskey. It was required just to turn turtle The Children's Hospital Home was used chiefly by bars and res- eggs. in Uganda is an outstanding taurants to refill empty bottles Much has been written about example. Transcending all this that bore advertised brands and the missionary giving of the alleviation, is the spiritual com- labels of popular liquors. Karens, their self-supporting fort that is being brought to the Here was a triple delusion. churches and their evangelistic sufferers. This phase of the The government was cheated out work. Dr. Beaven was amazed work is proven of value in pro- of tax revenue. The legalized to find, instead of the bamboo, moting physical recovery. liquor industry suffered from thatch-c 0 v ere d shed for a -Life of Faith. illegal competition. The drink- church, a magnificent concrete ers were deceived into thinking and b ric k structure, seating Some Facts About Jews the bottles handed them by bar- from twelve to fifteen hundred According to the J ewish Year tenders contained what the la- people and with a pipe organ that probably cost about $15,000, Book the number of Jews bels said. throughout the world is over The K eel e y Institute at all paid for by the Karens 16,000,000. In the nineteenth Dwight, Illinois, reports that themselves. The seven or eight century 72,000 Jews accepted more women alcoholics took the other buildings, including high Protestant baptism, not to men- Keeley cure in 1937 than in any schools and dormitories, were tion the 132,000 baptized into previous year since 1915, and built 'and paid for by Karen the Greek and Roman Catholic the total number of patients of money. This in the face of the Churches. This is one Protes-' both sexes last year was the fact t hat the average Karen worker's income is from eighttant convert to every 156 of the largest since 1907. Jewish population at the end of "Women patients at the insti- een to twenty-five cents a day.
that century. The number of tute'increased 57.6 per cent last -Watchman-Examiner.
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information A History of the Expansion of Chris- jacket Df this vDlume which ….ance and especially what they tianity. (Vol. II.) The Thousand bears the symbDls Df falling pil- called the HDly Spirit-by their Years of Uncertainty-A. D. 500 to lars Df Crusader and MDslem very nature led to' variety and A. D. 1500. By Kenneth Scott La- tourette. Maps, Chronological Table warriDr; but the CrDss sur- to' extensive prDliferatiDn." This and Index. pp. 492. $3.00. Harper & Brothers, New York. mDunts the crescent and there is in line with the prDfessed in- are stars in the night-sky. One tentiDn Df the writer to' be "his- The first vDlume O'f this unsurpassed histO'ry Df the ex- reads these chapters with kin- tDrical and whDlly Dbjective" in pansiDn O'f Christianity was dling faith; thDugh God may his treatment Df the subject; reviewed at sO'me length (see December REVIEW, page 573). hide Himself, yet His truth and but his statement dDes nDt satisfy The purpDse and SCDpe Df the great wO'rk remain the same and right will win the day at last. Christians. every page bears the marks Df schDlarship and wide research. The treatment of sO' large a . Elsewhere the authDr ex- PrDfessor LatDurette has a clear theme is topical rather than presses his cDnvictiDn that Dnly style and does not waste wDrds. chrDnological. In the Introduc- thel"impDnderable"JDrces (sure- He Dmits nO'thing essential Dr tion we read: germane to' his theme and gives ly he means the HDly Spirit) "gDDd measure, pressed down, shaken tDgether and running First we will describe the conver- kept the Church alive and alight Dver" with very valuable fDO't- sion of those peoples who came into in medieval darkness. In dealnDtes. ing with the witness Df the the faith through Roman Catholicism, The title Df ProfessDr Latour- next of those who derived their faith martyrs and the patience Df the ette's book is arresting. The from Greek Christianity, and then re- saints during these dark days millenium Df racial migratiDns, count the territorial progress of the we IDng fDr a flash Df light and barbarian invasiDns and Islamic Nestorians and of the Syrian and fire. Even the stDry Df RaycDnquests seemed to be highly Coptic J acobites. Then chronologicalunfavDrable to' the spread Df ly we will double back on our tracks mund Lull is tDld in a rather Christianity. The hearts of the and tell of the spread of Islam and of lukewarm fashiDn, althDugh the faithful were perplexed. "At the the reverses which it brought to facts are faithfully chrDnicled. clDse Df the fifth century, Chris- But as Dne reads page after page tianity had becDme master Df Christianity. Next we will narrate the of the stDry Df the spread Df RDthe Mediterranean wDrld, which efforts of Christians to regain the was still, in spite Df its decay, ground lost to Islam and to carry man CathDlic Christianity in the majDr cultural centre Df their faith beyond the eastern bounds Spain, Gaul and NDrthern Eumankind. Within the next three of Islam into the lands of the Far rDpe, Df the missiDnary wDrk Df centuries it had IDSt abDut half East. Finally we will note the fresh this area and in the pDrtiDn outbursts of Moslem peoples which in the NestDrians in Ambia, Cenwhich still prDfessed the faith the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries tral Asia, China and India, Dne the level of civilizatiDn had dis- wiped Christianity from the map in is cDnfirmed in the cDnfessiDn: tinctly fallen." much of Asia and threatened it in "I believe in the HDly CathDlic Southeastern Europe. Following this The story Df these thDusand account of the varyin~ fortunes in the Church." years is black with tragedy, but expansion of the faith we will adnDt withDut rays Df hope. dress ourselves to the questions of the This secDnd vDlume Df PrD- effect of Christianity upon its en- Thrice blest is he to whom is given vironment and of the effect of the fessDr LatDurette's magnum The instinct that can tell environment upon Christianity. opus is a specific against all the That God is on the field when He Is most invisible. And the marvel is that such parDchialism and prDvincialism wealth Df material, such a sweep The entire hymn by F. W. Fa- across Europe and Central Asia, Df thDse whO' sDmetimes seem to' ber might have been put on the such a crDwding Df a thDusand years intO' Dne day, in Dne bDDk, think that Church history be- does nDt apparently Dver-tax the writer nor weary the reader. It gan with the RefDrmatiDn Dr is a great achievement. One sentence in the IntrDduction we with the DisruptiDn in SCDt- regret, where the author speaks Df the FDunder Df Christianity: land! Our LDrd Jesus Christ "The experiences which came to' His disciples after the crucifix- was head Df His church all iDn – the resurrectiDn appear- thrDugh all these thDusand dark years and made even the wrath Df men to' praise Him. He was cDntinually working Dut his eternal purpDse Df IDve in the midst Df human failure and un- certainty. S. M. ZWEMER.
[446 ] S. J. W. Clark. A Vision of Foreign presented here, are his lack of Forward Through the Ages. By Jesse emphasis on the importance of R. WHson. 139 pp. $1.00. The Missions. By Roland Allen. 12mo. prayer, his failure to state the 170 pp. 28. 6d. World Dominion Judson Press, Philadelphia. 1938. Press. 1938. This small but important book This unusual story of a Chris- necessity of the spiritual new contains a readable summary of tian business man should be read birth and the spiritual qualifica- "missions and missionaries of by every missionary and every tions for missionaries; there is yesterday and today." Mr. Wilexecutive of missions. In seven also no clear statement as to our son has written out of rich exjourneys, (from 1905 to 1924) dependence on the Holy Spirit in perience, first as a missionary in Japan, then as general secretary Mr. Clark looked into foreign the calling and preparation of of the Student Volunteer Movemission work as a pioneer "fact missionaries and in the actual ment; since 1936 he has been finder." He formed his own work that is being done on each western field secretary of the opinions as to the results of the field and in the offices at home. American Baptist Foreign Miswork and the way in which mis- Mr. Clark had positive convic- sions Society. It is an excellent sions should be conducted effi- tions and courage; he stood for book to put into the hands of ciently to be in accord with the new and better methods, rather young people and members of teachings of Christ and the ex- than for more life and better missionary societies. Even those ample of the early Apostles. As personnel; for finer mechanics who are well read in missionary a result, he severely but con- rather than for greater dynamic: literature will like its admirably structively criticized the work of clear and sympathetic survey mission boards to their face. He Der Arbeitslohn in China. By Prof. and evaluation of foreign miswas convinced that too much at- Dr. Paul Arndt, Dr. Djini-Schen sions, past and present. tention has been given to "dig- and Dr. Chii-Fen-Lo. Hans Buske. ging in" on the mission field, and Verlag. Leipzig. A. J. B. too little to surveying the fields in order to understand the need .Every missionary to China Who Is the Holy Spirit? By Henry and to evangelize the vast un- ~Ill find profit from reading this W. Flrost. 12mo. 124 pages. occupied areas. He believed that $1.25. Fleming H. Revell Co., New the Gospel of Christ must be mformabve boo k, evidently York. 1938. widely scattered as "living written after much knroeswelaerdcgh~ Many Christians are like the Seed," that the Bible must be and fro m first-hand disciples at Ephesus in that they of the field.
given to all mankind as the Word The 3,000 years of feudalism have scarcely "heard whether of God. He advocated the use of in China duplicated many condi- there is any Holy Spirit." Much "simplified script." Mr. Clark tions found in the world today, less do they understand His naheld that native leaders must be and suggests the way to organic ture, offices and relation to trained and indigenous churches cooperation among various eco- themselves. It is one of the most should be established and taught nomic groups. The study of important subjects in Christian to be self-supporting from the wages is fruitful for the scholar theology and life. Huge volumes start; and that these Christian the agriculturist, the mechanic: have been written in attempts churches must be the real agen- the tradesman and other work- to interpret the Scripture teachcies for the evangelization of ers, but not to the militarist ings. Here is a simple, clear their own people. What he stood whose life is built on the phi- and practical study that takes tip for deserves the attention of mis- losophy of force. briefly the Spirit's personality, sionary executives today. When This book traces the primal offices, baptism, filling, em- Mr. Clark died a few years ago social cell of China to ancestral powering and other subtopics. he left his fortune to make pos- relations, and then through prop- It is wholly Biblical with a few sible the world surveys of the erty holding, bartering and the -too few-facts of Church his- W 0 rId Dominion Movement. problems of industrial difficul- tory and personal experience to Mr. Clark's main principles in- ties. In an estimated population show how the Holy Spirit has cluded: (1) an organized, well- of 474,820,000 there are about been carrying out the predicconsidered plan for the evan- 78,568,245 families, of which , tions of the New Testament. Dr. gelization of the whole world; 80 % are active in agriculture. Frost 'has rendered a real serv- (2) cooperation and coordina- ice, especially to pastors and tion among all evangelical Chris- The economic facts help the young Christians, in giving us tian forces; (3) special empha- missionary to gauge not only the this illuminating and undersis on evangelization, rather condition of the people but the standable presentation of what than on institutional work; (4) possible support that may be ex- is to many a difficult or negan unpaid native ministry and a pected for the Church and its in- lected-but very vital-subject. stitutions. While there is no self-supporting native church from the beginning; and the de- direct reference to the Christian Following in His Train. By Mrs. J. missionary enterprise, every- W. Cox. 8 vo. 217 pp. 60 cents. velopment of truly indigenous thing in the book bears some re- Boardman Press, Nashville, Tenn. churches, independent of foreign lation to missions and to all life 1938. control. as related to sound economic Mrs. Cox, the wife of a deacon The essential elements that we principles. in the First Baptist church in miss in Mr. Clark's program, as JOHN M. G. DARMS. Memphis, Tenn., was for a time
President of the Woman's Mis- by friends and critics, by evan- would not accept her as a mis- sionary Union. Her chronicle gelists and by men of little faith sionary until she was twenty- of the women's missionary work in the things for which D. L. five, so she filled the intervening of the Southern Baptist Conven- Moody stood committed. These time with the study of medicine, tion is filled too much with seek to set forth the man, his and sailed for Africa in 1919.
names and dates to be popular message, his achievements and Her life was crowded with rich in style, but it gives evidences the secret of his power. All see experiences and achievements, of devoted service and real in him a great man who wielded interestingly recorded in this achievement. a vast influence and left a last- biography. Miss Veenstra died ing impression, but all are inade- in 1933, but the work goes on Dannie and the Alabaster Box. By quate. with signs of blessing.
Constance Savery. 12 mo. 62 Mr. Wilson, a Christian jour- H. H. F. pages. 9d. Pickering & Inglis, Glasgow. nalist, who never knew Mr. ""l'he Presbyterians: The Story of a Moody but has seen the results Stanch and Sturdy People. By An active, mischief-loving boy, through the dramatic, vivid of his work and sympathizes William Thompson Hanzsche. 194 stories of a former missionary, pp. $1.25. The Westminister with his faith and purpose, ha~ Press, Philadelphia. 1938. here tried to interpret the becomes enthusiastic in the "Meaning of Moody." He suc- Ministers, members of Prescause. When Dannie was kept ceeds in giving us many interat home by illness and could not esting glimpses of the man and byterian churches and other stu- attend the big Missionary Ex- some idea of the secret of his dents of religion will doubtless hibition, "Uncle Arthur" made power, but they are only frag- agree with Professor Gaius up for his disappointment by mentary glimpses and ideas. Jackson Slosser of Western telling him thrilling stories of Most of the biographical ma- Theological Seminary, that this Red Tiger, the converted robber terial given here deals with Mr. "is a distinct contribution to of India. He suggested ways Moody's early years, before he historical literature." In brief by which even a small boy could gave all his time to evangelistic compass it gives the main facts earn money to help send the work-in other words to the first regarding the founding and de- Gospel to people whose religious half of his life. velopment of Presbyterianism in beliefs often caused them to Mr. Wilson clearly points out treat even little children cruelly. that D. L. Moody's one aim was the United States, with some ac- count of home missions, but A treasured "Alabaster Box," only a short reference to the brought from India by Uncle Arthur, was chosen by enthusi- to exalt Christ and to win men extensive foreign missionary astic Dannie to hold their gifts to Him – not to himself. He w 0 r k 0 f the Presbyterian says: "I am one who doubts that Moody will ever pass out of the Church. The author, who is a and Dannie enlists his sister, pastor in Trenton, N. J., and a Charlotte, and many 0 the r friends in the good work. His picture. I doubt it because former edito,r of The Presbyenthusiasm, coupled with his Moody was never in any picture terian Magazine, has written in love of mischief, gets him into some pretty serious situations, that did not include the Cross of a fine irenic spirit, declaring and invites frequent correction. Christ. It is not Moody's par- The children are so bluntly that, while "we need to hold to truthful, that they often cause ticular job that explains his great amusement. meaning. It is the fact that he our standards in a world which became big enough for whatever job might be ahead of him. 'God apparently has no standards at is able,' he would say. Love will all, we need to be sympathetic find a way; and this means that to the viewpoint of other Chris- tians." A. J. B.
The small boy seems almost a man filled with the love of God Youth in the Toils. By L. V. Hartoo well informed, and too well becomes the capable man that rison and P. McN. Grant. 167 pp. acquainted with books, for a the world needs." $1.50. Macmillan, New York. 1938. child of seven but the story is bright, interesting and dramatic. Johanna of Nigeria. By Henry Beets. This study has two objectives: 8vo. 228 pp. Grand Rapids Print- to state a very real social proband should help any child or ing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. 1937. lem of every large city, and to a d u I t to become missionary stir public sentiment to the point This is the life story of a of dealing with it. Mr. Harrison Ir.inded. L. W. P. Dutch Mary Slessor. Johanna is an outstanding criminologist The Meaning of Moody. By P. Whit- Veenstra was born in Paterson, and Mr. Grant has devoted his well Wilson. Illustrated. 12mo. N. J., of sturdy Dutch parent- life to boy probleIru3. The book 151 pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell age and at the age of sixteen includes actual stories of delin- Co., New York. 1938. worked in the Gospel Mission quent boys, some told in their One of the evidences of the conducted by Peter Starn. One own language, showing what greatness of D. L. Moody is the day at a Training Institute she made them delinquent. These fact that no biographer, and no heard Dr. Karl Kumm explain "case studies" indicate how difnumber of biographers do justice his idea of a chain of. Christian ferent handling might have to his life and work or fully por- missions across Africa asa bul- made good citizens, in place of tray him. We have "Lives" by wark to stem the tide of Islam. criminals. It is a timely book his two sons and his son-in-law, The Sudan United Mis s ion for this present day. H. H. F.
Book. Chiang Kai-Shek: Soldier and States- Foreign Missions Conference
man. Hollington K. Tong. 2 vola. North America. Report of Forty- 322 and 359 pp. Each vol. 158. fifth Annual Meetin(r. 188. pp. Missionary Arrives in Brazil A. T. Hum & Blackett, London. $1.35. Foreign MiSSIOns CoBler- Bentley Duncan. Svo. 192 pp. ence, New York. 28. 8d. Pickering & Inglis, London. Strong Man of China: Storr of Chiang Kai-Shek. 288 pp. ,3.00. W orId's Need of Religion, The. Pr0- New Testament, The. John Wesley's Houghton Mimin, New York. ceedings of World Congresa of Translation. Introduction by George Faiths, Oxford, 1937. 189 pp. 68. C. Cell 891 ])p. John C. Winston Christian Missions in Mid-India. J. Nicholson & Watson, London. Co., Phi1adelplUa. W. Pickett. 111 pp. 12aB. Jub- bulpore Mission Press. Educational Missions at Work. Ed- Forward Through the Ages. Jesse R. ited by H. P. Thompson. DIu. 128 Wilson. 189 pp~ $1.00. Judson Niger Ibos. G. T. Basden. Map. Il- pp. lB. 6d. S. P. G., London. Press, Philadelphia. Ius. 448 pp. 2lB. Seeley, Service, London. Buddhist Sects of Japan. E. Steinil- E,!aqelize or Fossilize. Herbert her-Oberlin and Kuni Matsuo. Lockyer. 92 pp. Bible Institute, Gambia: Country, People and Translated from the French. 308 Chicago. Church. John Laughton. DIus. 38 pp. 108.6d. Allen & Unwin, Lon- Seeing London With My Young pp. 6et. S. P. G., London. don. Friend&. C. A. Puncker. 144 pp. Drama of Madagascar, The. Sonia F. 28. Pickeding & Inglis, London. Howe. 359 pp. 158. Methuen, Christianity Explained to Muslims. L. Bevan Jones. 225 ])3). Rs 8. Roman Catholicism and F.reedom. London. Y. M. C. A. Publishing House, Cal- Cecil J. Cadoux. 207 pp. 58. In- cutta. dependent Press, London. Interpretative Statistical Survey of the World Mission of Christianity. An Open Letter to J ewa and Chris- Church Can Save the World, The. Edited by Joseph I. Parker. 331 tians. John Cournos. 188 pp. Samuel M. Shoemaker. 162 pp. pp. $5.00. International Mssion- $2.00. Oxford University Press, $1.60. Harper Bros., New York. ary Council, New York. New York.
Century of Mission Work in Basuto- Directory of World MiNions. Ed- Some ASl!ects of Religious Liberty land. V. Ellenbe}"ger. 882 pp. ited by Joeeph I. Parker. 382 pp. of Nationals in the Near East. Sesuto Book Dept., Morija, Basuto- $2.00. International Miseionary Compiled by Helen C. M. Davis. 182 land. – Council, New York. pp. ,3.00. Harper Bros., New York.
Children of the Rising Sun. Willard Sir, We Would See Jesus. D. T. Church and the Tribulation, The. Price. 816_ 3)p. $3.00. Reynal & Niles. 128 pp. 28. Student Chris- C. F. Hogg and W. E. Vine. 68 pp. Hitchcock, New York. tian Movement, London. 6d. Pickering & Inglis, London.
Send in Your Order Now for The October-Special India-Number of THE MISSIONARY ~'VlRID Some Leading Articles by Leading Authors with Maps, Chart., Illustrations INDIA AS A MISSION FIELD TODAY ……………… Alexander McLeish WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR INDIA …………………… A Record THE UNTOUCHABLES AND THE GOSPEL ………… Bishop of Domakal • INDIAN RELIGIONS TODAY …………………….. Nicol Macnicol ATTITUDE OF INDIAN STUDENTS TOWARD CHRIST …….. A. Ralla Ram. OUTLOOK FOR CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA ………….. E. Stanley Jones.
INDIAN ASHRAMS AND SADHUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Father Lash • HOME MISSIONS OF THE INDIAN CHURCH ………….. Thomas David CHRISTIAN VILLAGES IN INDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Z. Hodge OUTSTANDING INDIAN CHRISTIANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. D. Devanandham NOTABLE MISSIONARIES TO INDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. E. Abraham INDIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD CHRIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. N. Wells • Expected but not yet received.
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British Agents: MARSHALL, MORGAN It SCOTT, 12 Patemoster Buildings, London, E. C. Price in Great Britain, Eight S~gs a Year, net THE LIFE OF GEORGE BOWEN, OF BOMBAY By ROBERT E. SPEER 'Ibis is the biography of a very remarkable Christian missionary to India and for twenty years the inBuential and able editor of the Bombay Guardian. Dr. J. Sumner Stone"c;alled him, "The White Yogt..
When George Bowen died i~ 1888 there was call for a worthy biography but its preparation was delayed. Later all the biographical material-including his diaries, letters, reminiscences, and the books and pamphlets of which he was author-was turned over to Dr. Speer. This material has now been put into shape for publication and the result is a frank and stimulating picture of the man,-his experiences, unique character, forceful views and methods of work. Here is a life story that is of absorbing interest and will richly reward the thoughtful reader. The book is now ready for delivery.
CONTENTS I. Family of George Bowen. XI. ADecisive Year, 1849. II. Boyhood and Youth. XII. From 1850 to 1855. III. Three Years Abroad. XIII. Ten Years' of Independent Work. Life in New York, 1840-1844. XIV. The Bombay Guaraian. IV. Illumination of a Hopeless Love. XV. Relations with the American Board. V. Conversion to Christianity. XVI. Association with the Methodist Church. VI. At Union Theological Seminary. XVII. Bowen as a Writer. VII. XVIII; Correspondence with Henry W. Rankin. VIII. His Missionary Appointment. Cosing Testimony. IX. The Voyage to Incha, 1847. XIX. X. Beginning Missionary Work.
This latest work. by Dr. Speer may be ordered at $2.50 per copy from THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY- 186 Fifth Avenue. New York
The Missionary Review of the World — May 1936
1936
A Visit to the Atlas Berbers James Haldane D. L. Moody-..-Ambassador of Christ John McDowell The Next Step in Foreign Missions Paul B. Kern Missionary Views on Simpler Living Muriel Lester Preaching Liberty to Captives in Portugal E. R. Holden Pioneering in Tennessee Mountains AnnaBelle Stewart Whitman-Spalding Centenary Arthur H. Limouze 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
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AND ticut, died on March 29th in South Mrica where he was visiting the Record of Christian Work home of his boyhood. Dr. MacKenzie was born in Orange River Colony, Edited by WILLIAM H. LEACH South Africa, seventy-six years ago, the son of John M. and Ellen Mac- A monthly journal devoted to church administration and pastoral meth- Kenzie, missionaries of the Presbyods. Every phase of church life discussed in a positive, constructive way. terian Church of Scotland. After re- ceiving most of his higher education Worship Pastoring in Scotland he was ordained a min- Music Prayer Meeting ister of the Congregational Church Preaching Unified Service in 1882, and three years later became Money Publicity professor of Systematic Theology in Missions Devotional the Chicago Theological Seminary. Education Public Relations In 1904 he was called to be president of Hartford Seminary and was pro- Subscription price, $2.50 per year. Special Trial Subscription, fessor of Systematic Theology until six months, $1.00. Sample copy free upon request. he retired in 1930. Among the many books of which he is the author are CHURCH MANAGEMENT "South Africa, Its History, Heroes and Wars," "Christianity and the Auditorium Building Cleveland, Ohio Progress of Man," "Christ and the Christian Faith." His wife, Alice Dates to Remember Obituary Notes Crother of Carlisle, England, died in 1926. Dr. MacKenzie was very highly May I-General Conference, Meth- Dr. Charles E. Vail, since 1907 a respected and greatly beloved by odist Episcopal Church, Columbus, missionary of Presbyterian Board of Christian leaders in many lands. Ohio. Foreign Missions in Miraj, India, died there of cancer on March 21st. Dr. *** May 6-20-General Conference, Afri- Vail was born in Cornwall, New can Methodist Episcopal Z ion York, fifty-five years ago. Mter at- John C. Harris, who died in Eng- Church, Greensboro, N. C. tending Princeton University and re- land early last March, was a preacher ceiving his medical degree from the of rare gifts who wrote two "best May 6-21-General Conference, Mri- College of Physicians and Surgeons, sellers"-"The Life of Khama" and can Methodist Episcopal Church, New York, he sailed for India and at "Couriers of Christ." As an organ- New York. the time of his death was head of the izer and administrator he drew to the famous Miraj Hospital founded by Congregational Church many gifted May 12-1S-National Council of Fed- Sir William Wanless. His fame men. erated Church Women. Dayton, spread throughout India and ten Ohio. years ago he was decorated by the Rev. Len G*. B*rou*ghton, interna- late King George V of England for May 20-24-Northern Baptist Con- medical service. He is survived by tionally known Baptist minister, died vention. St. Louis, Mo. his widow, Elizabeth Crane Vail and February 22 at his home in Atlanta, by two daughters. Ga., at the age of 72. In the 1890's May 22-24-National Federation of Dr. Broughton founded the Atlanta Men's Bible Classes. Kansas City, *** Tabernacle and ministered there for Mo. 22 years. He later held pastorates William Douglas MacKenzie, D.D., in Tennessee and in Florida. In re- May 24-29-Church Conference of So- president emeritus of Hartford Sem- cent years Dr. Broughton was en- cial Work. Atlantic City, N. J. gaged in speaking at Bible confer- Are YOU ences and evangelistic meetings. May 27-General Assembly, United Presbyterian Church of North This Person? *** America. Pittsburg, Kansas. Christian man (or woman); age, Dr. Charles B. Tenny. outstanding May 28-General Assembly, Presby- 18-60(say); living in city or town; leader of the Baptist Mission in terian Church in U. S. A. Syra- free all or part of day; good Japan, died in Rochester, N. Y., Jan- cuse, N. Y. health; missionary in spirit; eager uary 11. He was 65 years of age and to promote the Gospel in own or began his work in Japan in 1900. As June 4-9-General Synod of the Re- nearby community; needing fair teacher and principal of the Baptist formed Church in A mer i c a. financial remuneration. Theological Seminary and later as Rochester, N. Y. founder and principal of Mabie Me- If So, We Need morial School for men in Yokohama, June 10-17 – Ann u a 1 Conference, he served with marked efficiency. Church of the Brethren. Hershey, YOU I Pa. *** Ask (without obligation) for par- June 16-24-General Council of Con- Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Charles John, gregational and Christian Churches. ticulars about "colportage" work. Assistant Bishop on the Niger since Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Please mention this paper. 1932, died recently at 64 years of age. Mass. He was the sixth Mrican to be raised BIBLE INSTITUTE COLPORTAGE to the episcopate. He belonged to the June 23-28-Christian Youth Council ASSOCIATION Hausa race, and was a grandson of of North America. Lakeside, Ohio. slaves. Mter holding various pas- 839 N. Wells St. Chicago, III. toraland educational posts, he became June 27 – July 4 – Geneva Summer principal of the C. M. S. grammar School for Missions. Lake Geneva, school at Freetown, Sierra Leone, Wisconsin. where he had been successively pupil, teacher and vice-principal. July 6-12-Twelfth World's Sunday School Convention. Oslo, Norway. *** July 9 – August 12 – Winona La k e Rev. George Washington Taylor, School of Theology. Winona Lake, Southern Presbyterian missionary to Ind. Brazil, died January 1, aged 47. In 1920, he was put in charge of a Boys' August 16-23-World Missions Insti- School at Garanhuns, and under his tute, Chautauqua, New York. leadership the influence of the school (Concluded on third cover.)
MISSIONARY "I advertise the REVIEW by word
of mouth whenever I have an oppor- EXPRESS REVIEW OF THE WORLD tunity. I repeatedly urge that mem- bers of our Ministerial Association be- 'Comfort DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor come subscribers and our executive board sends subscriptions to a care- with Economy VOL. LIX MAY, 1936 No.5 fully selected list of our ministers and missionaries." Speed to Yokohama by the shortest Publication and Business Office— route … only 10 days. Go on the Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. REV. PAUL DE SCHWEINITZ, D.D., comfortable Empress of Asia or Em- Treasurer, MOl'avian Missions. press of Russia. Or sail via Hono- Editorial and Executive Office– lulu and reach Japan in just 3 days 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. *** more on the luxurious Empress of Entered as second-class matter at Japan (largest, fastest liner on the "The REVIEW is the only magazine Pacific) or the Empress of Canada. Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under of its kind for the person who believes Act of March 3, 1879. in Evangelical missions but is not bel- Reduced Summer round-trip fares ligerent about it. . . . The articles •.. First Class and Tourist Class. 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. are so up to date, and the stories of Also, inexpensive Third Class on all Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. human interest absolutely essential to Empresses. Published monthly. except August. those giving missionary ta;ks." All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935. Regular sailings from Vancouver British agents – Marshall, Morgan MARY E. MOORE, and Victoria in Canada's Evergreen and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, Young People's Departm,ent, Board Playground. Orient fares include London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, passage from and to Seattle. If YOll 10 shillings a year. of Foreign Missions, Presbyterian sail from California, connect with Church, U. S. A. an Empress at Honolulu. Orient MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- ports-of-call: Yokohama, Kobe, LISHING CO., INC. *** Nagasaki, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Manila. BOARD OF DIRECTORS "I always look forward to the com- ROBER'r E. SPEER, President ing of the REVIEW with interest, and Independent World Tours as low A. L. W ARNSHUIS, Vice-President always read with profit and inspira- as $585.90, Combination of Classes. WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer tion. May blessings be upon you and Write for folder of six most popular DELAVAN L. PIERSON, SecTelary the sp:endid work you are doing for world tours. the great work of helping to build the SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT Kingdom of the Master in the hearts Booklets, information from YOUR of men and nations." AGENT or Canadian Pacific: New WILLIAM I. CHAMBERLAIN York, 344 Madison Ave.; Chicago, H. C. TUCKER, 71 E. Jackson Blvd.; San Francisco, D. J. FANT Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 152 Geary St.; and 38 other cities MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD in the United States and Canada. *** WM. B. LIPPHARD ~@a+ "Through THE REVIEW you are sup- Emc M. NORTH plying one of the great needs of the TO THB Christian Church today, namely: a SAMUEL M. ZWEMER more adequate picture and presenta- ORIINT tion of the fact that 'the Gospel of Editorial Chat Jesus Christ' is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that be- The next issue of THE REVIEW will lieveth.' " ARTHUR Y. MEEKER, be the special American Negro num- ber. This covers the Home Mission Upper Montclair, N. J. study topic of the coming year. You cannot afford to miss it. Some of the *** leading Negro Christians in America contribute to this number, giving their "I have been taking THE MISSION- views of the problems, the progress, ARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD for ten and the prospects that relate to 15,- years or more. I enjoy it immensely. 000,000 Colored' Americans in the It is splendidly edited for one thing. United States. There are also articles Then the articles by the various per- by white contributors who are work- sons from all over the world are ing with and for the Negro. Secure highly educational." copies of this number for your pastor, your missionary chairman and your MISS SARA L. HAMILTON, study circle. Long Beach, Calif.
*** Personal Items Our special numbers last year sold Rev. and Mrs. C. R. Callender and over 1,000 single copies each. Order Mrs. C. E. Park have gone to what now. The main contents and the is now the most remote mission sta- special advance price are given on the tion under the Presbyterian Board- fourth cover of the REVIEW. Kiulungkiang Station, on the Mekong River in Yunnan, China, about eleven *** days journey north of Chiengrai. It was opened by missionaries from Does your pastor take THE REVIEW? Siam in 1917. In addition to evan- If not, why do you not ask ten friends gelistic work in Kiulungkiang and . to give 25 cents each to supply him neighboring towns, they will find med- with this mine of information and ical, educational and leper work to be illustration of God's work 'in the world done in a vast, raw and needy field. today? How about your Missionary Society and your Sunday school? *** *** Hon. D. Tagawa has resigned as President of Meiji Gakuin in Tokyo. Here are some comments to show He has been a leader in many Chris- what others think of THE REVIEW. tian movements and is well-known as They are culled from recent letters: a political liberal, having been vice- mayor of Tokyo at one time and a "THE MISSIONARY REVIEW is one of member of Parliament for a number the most valued magazines that comes of terms. His position at Meiji Ga- to my desk. It seems to me it is get- kuin will not be filled immediately. ting better right along. The recent numbers have been especially inter- (Concluded on third cover.) esting to me." [225 ] REV. A. M. KNUDSEN, Longview, Wash.,. President, Pa- cific Synod, United Lutheran Church In America.
SCENE OF THE WHITMAN MASSACRE THE TUTUILLA INDIAN CHURCH
MARCL'S WHITMAN – PIONEER TO OREGON INDIANS PATAWA, LEADER IN THE TUTUILLA INDIAN CHURCH THE GRAVE OF MARCUS WHITMAN THE MARCUS WHITMAN COLLEGE (See page 243.) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LIX AN INTERDENOMI!I:ATlONAL REVIEW OF 'WORLD-WIDE CHIUSTIAN PnOGRESS NUMBER 5 MAY, 1936 Topics of the Times THE AWAKENING IN IRAN have endeavored to raise a revolt against the new order but they have been powerless against the Great changes are taking place in Persia or central government. Iran as it is correctly called. The whole country is charged with a different atmosphere. Ten Unfortunately the new idea of freedom and the years ago the old conservative Kajar dynasty was equality of the sexes is in danger of breaking overthrown and a new progressive dynasty was down wholesome restraints. Moving pictures inaugurated under Shah Riza Khan Pahlevi. Since from Hollywood-such as "The Gay Divorcee"- then there have been many evidences of progress and photographs and stories in illustrated papers in the government, in material improvements and convey the idea that Western civilization and freein education, but the nation has still been under dom necessarily involve freedom in divorce and the influence of Moslem laws and customs. These low moral standards. have held the people back-socially, intellectually and religiously. Recent letters from Iran, how- Modern education is also making progress in ever, report remarkable progress on each of these Iran, and the government has assumed the relines. sponsibility for training the youth in Persian ideals. One government order makes all primary First the men were commanded to discard the e?ucation, up through the fifth grade, co-educa- Moslem fez for the Occidental hat or cap as an tIOnal. It is expected that this will soon be exevidence of a "new day." Now the women are tended to high schools. Boy Scouts and Girl told to lay aside the veil-which they believe Mo- Scouts are being organized. The result will be a hammed commanded-and to adopt modern dress. greater freedom in the mingling of the sexes and Women teachers who do not discard the veil are in marriage from personal choice-rather than by dismissed and government officials cannot draw parental arrangement. their pay until they bring their wives with them Reform is in the air in Iran but there are also unveiled. Moving picture theatres do not allow veiled women to enter, and educational inspectors signs of religious change and of a spiritual awaksend home schoolgirls who have not adopted ening. Most of the Iranians are by inheritance modern dress. Recently the Governor of Kash- Moslems, but leaders are declaring that Islam has an, with the Chief of Police and the Superintend- had its dead hand on the people long enough. ent of Schools, gave a series of talks in the Girls' Christian workers have new opportunities to call school which resulted in all throwing off their attention to Christ and His power to give true veils, and on January 9th a decree was issued light and liberty. The n~.ovies are introducing piccertifying the new freedom of Iranian women. tures with a Christian background-including a One notable result is seen in the fact that women film called "Golgotha," showing the trial, death of the Court, without veils, are now attending pub- and resurrection of Jesus. In Meshed, the pilgrim lie receptions with their husbands and are intro- center of Shia Islam, the theater was crowded duced to other men. The wives of members of the with Moslems for several days. A few years ago Mejlis (National Assembly) sent a telegram to such a film would have caused a riot; now it was viewed with quiet attention. the wife of the Shah, expressing gratitude for her efforts in behalf of the emancipation of women. Iranian Christian evangelists reported recently Many of the mullahs and other Moslem leaders that a morshid (leading Sufi dervish teacher or mullah), a man who claims to have more than a [227 ]
thousand followers in all parts of Khorassan, has Evangelicals are connected with the Waldensian made confession of his sins and his faith in Church-that faithful body of Bible Christians in Christ, saying, "I have been totally lost and with- the Piedmont Valley who trace their origin to the out God in my beliefs. I now see that salvation early apostles and never were under the control is with Christ and I believe and accept Him, and of the Pope of Rome. They have always been a I am ready to go forth to tell this good news to humble, hardy and mostly peasant folk, but intelmy followers." ligent, courageous and highminded. After many trials, with persecution and bitter warfare, they A correspondent writes: were finally granted religious liberty on February "God has been working here in a way I have 17, 1848, now observed as "Waldensian Day." never seen before. Twenty-four new believers Those Evangelical Christians have spread, like were introduced to the church on Christmas Day, the Apostolic Church and are now found all over and ten more have come since then. Many of Italy. They include men in high places of rethem are men of position and influence-three sponsibility. have been judges, two lawyers, two doctors, one a prisoner serving a life sentence. It seems like a But the World War, economic depression and quiet revival beginning. God is bringing people the Italy-Ethiopian campaign have brought many to us in most unexpected ways." great hardships. The Waldensian Church, being Another thrilling movement is due to the in- composed largely of poor farmers, while giving fluence of a young medical student, Dr. H–, generously to support its own churches, has not who came to America to study and here became a been able to carryon its larger work without the Christian. Last summer he returned to Teheran help of Christians in America and the British and first of all began to trace all his old friends Isles. These gifts from outside Italy have so and encourage them to become Christians. He fallen off in recent years that the Waldensian opened a clinic where he met a large number work has suffered greatly. Gifts from America whom he also encouraged to study Christianity. alone have been greatly reduced from what they He organized a meeting which grew in numbers were formerly. As a result churches have been and power. His personal witness is remarkable. closed, pastor's small salaries have been reduced One of his groups included army officers, grocers, not once but four times. In many cases one paspolicemen and students. He told them of his quest tor must serve many scattered communities. for a happy life and how, since he had accepted Christ, he had been supremely happy. Now the Italian campaign in Africa has taken He said: "Islam has blinded us. We have lived all these years in the shadow of truth. MyoId many of the Waldensian young men; the "sancfriends and new friends are still unhappy, borne down with a feeling that they are not getting any tions" imposed by the League of Nations and the real value out of life. We can never feel that we have accomplished the purpose for which we were strict regulations of the Italian Government have created unless we do it through Christ." Through his influence a large number have been produced further hardships. The spirit of the interested in Christianity and on Christmas morning over four hundred were present in the church. Waldensians is unshaken. In one community the Twenty-three men and four women were accepted as Catechumens in the church. At the close of the farmers agreed to set aside a piece of land, to service on last Christmas morning one of the most prominent leaders in the Department of Justice furnish free seed and labor so that the crops went up to the platform and stated that he wished publicly to identify himself with Christ. Such an might be sold and given for the central funds of unprecedented event created quite a stir. Formerly each Christmas there had been a special the Church. service, but it was evident that this year the service was limited to those who had not been asso- Naturally in most districts the Roman Catholic ciated with the church; Christians were excluded in order to make room for others. Tickets were clergy are bitterly opposed to the Evangelical given out and the church building was crowded. work in proportion as it succeeds in drawing the W ALDENSIAN SUFFERERS IN ITALY people from the Church of Rome into deeper spir- What has the Italian invasion of Ethiopia to do with the progress of Evangelical Christianity in itual experience. But in many places the people Italy? Much, every way. Most of the Italian welcome the Gospel and attend services in larger numbers. One Roman Catholic, after attending a Waldensian Day celebration, wrote to Signor Paolo Bosio, the Waldensian pastor, as follows: The commemoration was one of the most solemn and unforgettable events I was ever privileged to attend. . . . The immense congregation was moved and thrilled. I do not belong to the Waldensian Church but I admire her and partake -with enthusiasm in her fight and rejoice in her victories for the truth – a most needed work, espe- cially at this time. I believe that nothing but a true spir- itual awakening will make our dear country really great.
The Waldensians are not only thrifty, earnest Bible Christians, but they are missionary-minded and are seeking to spread faith in Christ and the Gospel throughout Italy. They have established
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
modest churches, schools (most of which are now Council and the thirty-eight Natio'nal Christian closed), hospitals, homes for the aged and orphan- Councils are all evidences of a healthy desire for ages in various parts of the country and their Christian fellowship and closer cooperation; they workers are endeavoring to promote child welfare are im,portant steps toward greater unity of through clinics and in, other ways to build up spirit, purpose and action, though these do not intelligent, self-supporting Christian communi- necessarily advocate organic church union. They ties. They are in need of sympathy and help from are motivated by a desire to carry out the ex- fellow Christians. Fourteen congregations have pressed desire of Jesus Christ that all His fol- been deprived of ministers in the past year be- lowers might be One, with the same kind and de- cause of the financial depression. Dr. Guido gree of spiritual unity that exists in the Godhead. Comba writes: "The need is very urgent. We must have help now or we shall be forced to aban- There is a vast difference in the ideals and aims don many mission stations and to close down sev- that actuate these movements. Some would sink eral parts of our work." all doctrinal and ritualistic differences to bring about organic union; others would maintain in- The Waldensians themselves are giving as gen- dependence of thought while promoting unity of erously as they can. Recently they observed self- spirit and closer cooperation. While man is man denial week by making extra gifts for the support and full of imperfection and the spirit of inde- of the work. Rings, gold chains, watches and pendence, perfect union seems to be unattainable other treasures, as well as money, were contrib- if not undesirable. Many interdenominational enterprises have proved failures because they uted to the fund. * were looked upon as requiring compromise or sur- render in important matters of faith and practice. When we think of Italy, and are inclined to How can those unite in matters of Christian testi- severely condemn the unprovoked campaign of mony who disagree on such important questions , Mussolini in Ethiopia, let us not forget the faith- as the deity of Christ, the atonement on the Cross, ful Waldensian Christians who suffer from the the resurrection of Christ from the dead and the warfare but do not condone the selfish purposes Scriptures as the inspired revelation of God? It of the Government. In their Confession of Faith is not necessary to be contentious, suspicious or we see their attitude: "Established authorities aloof in order to hold firmly to these beliefs but we honor and unto such we gladly submit; but there must first be unity in essential matters of human institutions we loathe when they put in faith, loyalty and aim before there can be any true danger the freedom of conscience." union in organization and operation.
UNITY OR UNION IN MISSIONS Dr. E. Stanley Jones, who has been so greatly blessed in his ministry in many lands, makes a Many movements for church union are in the strong – and, we believe, a practical appeal to air. Some are already realized. Interdenomina- Christians of every name to drop divisive labels; tional church union is an accomplished fact in he recommends that all evangelical churches Canada, in India and in China and in branches adopt the name "The Church of Christ"-adding of similar church families in America and Scot- any useful distinctive title to indicate the locality land; the younger branches of various churches in or special family to which the church belongs. Japan, Korea and other mission fields have also Thus: "The Church of Christ in India-Methodist formed National Christian Churches. Other Branch"; "The Church of Christ in China-Bap- similar movements are strongly advocated at tist Branch," or "The Church of Christ in the home and abroad to take in a larger number of United States-Presbyterian Branch." church bodies. The Presbyterian and Reformed churches in the United States are hoping to unite There is no question but that the present divi- and there is some talk of union between Meth- sions and even rivalry in the present evangelical odists and Presbyterians. The Church of Eng- Church are a hindrance to Christian growth and land is joining in conferences to effect consolida- testimony, if not a public scandal and a dishonor tion with other churches in India. There are al- to Christ. There is a growing desire for unity ready in active operation. a large number of inter- and cooperation in so far as these are dictated church federations in America, as well as many and directed by loyalty to Christ as Head of the union cooperative educational and philanthropic Church. At present there is no call for uniformity enterprises on the mission fields. Various inter- or organic union. church conferences, such as those on Faith and Order, Life and Service, the Home and Foreign The reasons for true Christian unity and closer Mission Conferences, the International Missionary fellowship are: • The American Waldensian Society, of which the Rev. Robert W. 1. The fact that all Christians are ideally one Anthony is the new secretary, is located at 156 Fifth Avenue, New in Christ and should recognize this oneness. York.
2. The effect on the world of a united body in cent conference of religious education directors contrast to the effect of a divided church. in Canton, one of the delegates mentioned the fol- 3. The great need to avoid dissention and even lowing difficulties in the training of youth: the appearance of rivalry among the professed 1. Since the Government has forbidden Chris- followers of Christ. Each should recognize the tian teaching schools, students are inclined to rights and values of others. regard religion as discredited, or at least unim- 4. The vast unfinished work that Christ has portant, and some are inclined to despise Chris- given His Church to do and that requires united, tianity.
harmonized witness and service. 2. The non-Christian students so far outnum- 5. The fact that diversity in nonessentials of ber the Christians, even in mission institutions, doctrine and practice is consistent with perfect that the Christian atmosphere and influence is unity in loyalty and service to Christ in different weak or lacking.
ways and places. 3. The divided opinions, lack of training and different standards of nominal Christians make it 6. A great saving of money and effort will in- difficult or impossible to unite them-the result is evitably result from increased unity and coop- a divided church. eration. 4. Non-Christian teachers are very apt to 7. The fact that the conscious experience of undermine the Christian ideas and ideals of stusuch oneness is the expressed desire and plan of dents so that they are confused or become ag- Christ, the head of His body, the Church. nostics.
There has been good cause for the protests 5. The Christian services in many mission inagainst error and for the emphasis on certain for- stitutions fail to attract or meet the needs of stugotten or neglected truths that have given birth dents. In the churches, especially in large centers, to various denominations, but the Ideal is the they often find divisions and controversy which unity of the body, directed by one head. The perplex them. vine is one, and though it has many branches going out in different directions, all draw life 6. Worldly influences tend to draw young Chifrom the same stock and all bear the same good nese away from Christian life and service; they fruit. The ideal family has different branches, incline to seek political preferment, money-makthat may function in various ways, in various lo- ing or pleasure. The Christian motive and values calities, under different names, but all are one in of life are not presented with sufficiently appealloving fellowship and in harmonious service. All ing force. Christians should contribute some important part to the whole, though their individual character- 7. The evidence of injustice, the selfishness, the istics may express themselves differently. immorality and dishonesty in so-called Christian God is too great for any human individual or lands, are looked upon as a virtual denial of Christ group to reveal Him; the work of Christ in the and discredit His teachers.
world is too vast for anyone organization to per- To correct these difficulties in Christian instituform every task and to complete it. tions, H. A. Wittenback suggests (in The Chinese Recorder for March, 1936) that all must have a DIFFICULTIES OF CHINESE YOUTH truly positive and attractive Christian atmos- The youth in China are having a difficult time. phere. Every member of the staff must be a posi- Not only is their land torn by internal strife and tive, intelligent Christian, able and eager to make threatened from the north; not only do they face helpful contacts with students in order to win poverty and distress on every side; but multitudes them to Christ and prepare them for His service. of the youth are drafted for military service and Christianity expressed must also appeal to stuan early death before they are out of their teens. dents, truly vital but adapted to their minds and They learn to fight but know not how to earn a needs, with challenging opportunities for service living when they leave the army. The better edu- that will promote human welfare. The optimism cated Chinese youth, like those of other lands, are and courage of youth mu'st be enlisted in the cause inclined to be idealistic and to seek a speedy cor- of the living, all-powerful, divine Leader who rection of the evils they see-correction by force sacrificed Himself for others.
if peaceful methods do not immediately accom- The youth of today, in China, in Europe, in plish their purpose. America, need the challenge of a cause worth liv- Political, economic, social and religious condi- ing for and worth dying for, under a Leader who tions in China are all far from ideal and many consents to no compromise and offers no easy different remedies are recommended. The situa- task, but who fearlessly, wisely, powerfully, leads tion in China presents a great problem. At a re- on to victory.
A Visit to the Atlas
-~ I By JAMES HALDANE, Mazagan, Morocco I Jie– L===========================~ THE origin of the Berbers of North Africa is meet in the recorded history of Morocco. When still obscure notwithstanding all the efforts the Arabs invaded the country it was with these of scholars to trace it. But this failure, far they clashed in the struggle for supremacy. from curbing curiosity, has given it impetus; the lack of a knowledge of facts has brought several .At any rate, the Arabicized Berbers are now theories to the fore. According to some scholars living in the plains and other sections of the coun- try. In recent years we have been able to open CALLED TO HALT AND EXPLAIN four stations at the base of the Atlas Mountains, but penetration to the glens, or ascent to the high plateau, for permanent mission work, has not been possible. For more than a millennium these peo- ple have lived behind their great natural barrier, isolated from the outside world, having no con- tact with men of another tongue, save when they descended to the plains to plunder.
But the creaky doors of this great wall, which have been bolted and barred so long, are now be- ginning to budge, and here and there at some pass they now stand ajar. Some little time ago I slipped in through one of these, traveled along the furrow and slopes and entered the glens to preach the Gospel where, as far as we know, no missionary of the Cross had ever proclaimed God's way of salvation through Christ.
the Berbers are "The people whom Joshua, the son of Nun, drove out before him." Renan, the famous French historian, championed this origi11. Others, allowing their imagination some scope, in- cline to believe that they are descended from Goliath, whom David slew in combat. This theory is based for the most part on the phrase, "people of the pebble" as a section of the Berbers call themselves, and who. to this day repeat fragments of the story of David and Goliath.
A third theory takes us far back into a hazy past-the Pleistocene Age. At this juncture of history, it is said, there was no Mediterranean Sea, North Africa being territorially joined to what is now southern Europe, while the Atlas Mountains of North Africa were a continuation of the Iberian and Italian ranges. If we accept this OUTSIDE A TYPICAL BERBER VILLAGE last theory we must treat the Berbers as descend- ants of a southern European race. Support is We began to climb at a point where a few years found for this claim.in the fact that the Berbers ago several Europeans were suddenly surrounded are a white race without any of the characteristics by a group of armed mountaineers. They were of real African people found south of the Atlas. led away to the far heights where a powerful gov- One thing, however, we know with certainty, ernor held them for ransom, demanding 3,000,000 namely, that the Berbers are the first people we francs for their release. A military expedition [231 ]
into the region was out of the question, and in troduced ourselves: "Weare ambassadors of a any case would have cost many times over the King, one called Jesus, and we are bearers of a sum demanded. An effort was made to lower the precious message." The barrier in our way was figure, but the crafty Caid perched upon his pla- teau, surrounded by a ring of peaks rising to removed and we proceeded on our journey. The 12,000 feet, far from the reach of cannon balls, slopes were too precipitous to allow the building of villages upon them, and so we climbed until, A GIRL OF PURE BERBER STOCK at an altitude of some 9,000 feet, we suddenly de- bouched into a fertile glen. The place was stud- would not budge. So the ransom money was paid ded with small villages and for the first time, and the captives were released. probably, the people were to meet a missionary.
We had not gone far when a man brought us A hurried visit and superficial observation to a halt. He looked vicious and fanatical and would lead one to conclude that here in this fer- required some tactful handling before we could tile valley, walled in with snow-capped conical . get a hearing. By the use of a little humor we peaks, far from those crushing cares that swamp forced his fanaticism into the background and in- civilized communities, we should find serenity, friendship, hope and love-the virtues that make life wholesome and good. Alas, these virtues, so we found, were scarce to the point of nonexistence. The valley was vitiated from end to end with the villainy characteristic of corrupt human nature, encrusted with a film of religion.
The first man we met was in the throes of a lawsuit. His land had been wrested from him by a neighbor. "If it were a matter of justice," he told us, "I would have no fear. But lawsuits here spell bribery, and my only chance of victory is to put down a larger bribe than my opponent."
This story was typical of many to which we listened. Up on those heights human nature. was hatching out the same forms of evil, with small variation, which are rampant among the Negroes living in swamps a thousand miles further south.
We found the sex evils, inseparable from Islam, in sturdy growth. The tendency to divert con- versation into this channel was conspicuous in almost every audience. One man, whom I nick- named "Sidi Sixty," had just divorced "Lilla Thirty" and married a maid of twelve. He told me that "Lilla Thirty" was jammed with jealousy and had threatened· the maid of twelve with poi- soning. At the end of a long story he concluded: "If this threat materializes it would be serious for me, because I bought my young wife with a bullock and two sheep." The audience enjoyed the narrative of their friend's predicament. When I pointed out to them that this conduct was im- moral the spokesman naively replied: "Weare Moslems, not ethicists."
In all their conversation we heard the name of God pattering about their sentences like hailstones on an ironJoof. No one seemed to be in earnest about life. Valorous effort for anything' but plunder was not known among them. Again and again I noticed that when one man asked a ques- tion of another he was answered with: "God curse your parents," or "God burn your ances- tors." They did this because it was easier than going to the trouble of making an intelligent reply.
ON THE TIBETAN BORDER
In our village a number of men, twelve in all, whose waters were gathered from the melting took to praying. All that was necessary to fit snows of the surrounding mountains. After gothem for the change from filthy talk and evil prac~ ing some thirty miles beyond this river we turned tices to the presence of God was a sprinkling of north into a mountain pass and after traveling water and a solemn visage. Everywhere there through it for some twenty miles, we found ourwas manifest an extraordinary show of both re- selves in a cul-de-sac. It was a beautiful district ligion and roguery! We asked for an explanation with abundance of water, hundreds of villages, of this strange mixture. There was no answer. while on every side were almond trees, vines and A pious exhibition of religion which is not coun- extensive crops. In this pass we found a small ter-poised by a solid basis of morality finds its community of Jews. They wore black skull caps, strongest support in silence.' had long tapering beards and heavy earrings hanging by their cheeks. How strange it seemed We carried with us copies of the Scripture in to find this Jewish group tucked away in this the Berber tongue. There was a reader in each lovely pass! And yet their ancestors were here village, but it was rare to find more than one. before the dawn of the Christian era. Here they They had never seen the Gospel in Berber; and had their synagogue, read the Old Testament in our feelings were stirred as we listened to them Hebrew and passed on from generation to genreading the first chapter of John, while over their eration the salient features of Judaism so that tofaces expressions, suggestive now of surprise, day the physical and religious characteristics of now of fear, now of amusement, chased one an- the Jews are retained in this small community. other. This, with the message I proclaimed, was the first glimpse tney had of Jesus. What feel- They found it hard to believe that our sole misings surged through one's soul as one faced these sion was to preach the Gospel. "Searching for men and women who had dwelt so long alone, and gold?" they hinted. Fortunately we had some who were now hearing for the first time of an New Testaments in Hebrew and some of these event of supreme importance to them, but which were received by readers. But they were disaphappened long centuries ago! pointed with the book, and handled it carelessly. They wanted us to go prospecting for gold away As I write this article that glen lies deep in up on a mountain towards which they directed our snow. Away among the peaks groups of houses, attention. huddled together to form a village, hang on the slopes like cages on a wall. Here and there-so I God willing we shall return to these people, and imagine-a venerable looking man takes out a we trust that the day is not far distant when, by book as the people gather around their fires, and the prayers and gifts of God's people, we shall reads to them in Berber, "Ye must be born again." have a permanent mission station upon these "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man heights from which the messengers of the Cross lay down his life for his friends." shall go forth to proclaim to Jew and Gentile the glad message of the grace of God. Toward the end of this glen we crossed a river On The Tibetan Border Recently we took a trip with our cook, who is 13,000 ft. mark, where crops cannot be grown also a real help in preaching, to the county of and the inhabitants, except for a few Moslem Weiyiian across the mountain range to the north. gold-washers, are nomadic Tibetans in their black, The object of our itinerary was partly to gain yak-hair tents. In one of these tents, prevented -information as to the extent and population of by rain and darkness from making our destinathe district, prior to more intensive evangelism. tion, we were forced one night to seek shelter. In this whole county is one Christian, a hairdress- It was in answer to prayer that a young Tibetan er of whom it may truly be said that no one whose called off the two big dogs that rushed out at us, head he shaves is ignorant of the Gospel. I made and invited us in. the county city, where he lives, my headquarters, and while there held meetings in his humble cot- Beside the fire sat a toothless old man, slowly tage and on the street, several entering their turning his prayer wheel and muttering the while. names as enquirers. I feel sure that a series of On the other side of the fire, our host, showed his evangelistic meetings will mean the establishment hospitality by knocking his wife over the head of a church. with a "waddy," and personally helping us to a handful of ripe butter in our tea. Another night Traveling around the district proved difficult found us in the now familiar interior of a laowing to the absence of inns and the scattered masery, where the red-robed priests fell over each nature of the population. To the west the country other in an endeavour to get tracts and Scriptures rises on to high, cold plateaux, well above the in Tibetan.-H. H. Knight, in China's Millions.
A Letter from Iran to
FOR years I have been reading articles in The non-Christian members of his household used church and missionary periodicals scolding to tell him that his illness was a retribution for members of the American churches for their changing his religion, but his life of joy has been failure to influence foreign residents in the a living denial of any such allegation. He is United States. It is said that some Chinese Chris- known far and wide in Teheran by the nickname tian student has lost his faith while studying in of "joyful liver" and his influence is immense, not a supposedly Christian college in America. A only in the church but among non-Christian stu- missionary, writing from the foreign field, has dents and all with whom he has contact.
stated plainly that one of the great handicaps to More recently a mature Moslem doctor went to the work abroad has been a lack of zeal and a bad the United States for two years of graduate med- example at home. ical study. He had worked in the American hos- Such statements hurt me a lot, for we are part- pital in Teheran some years ago but his contacts ners. While I know there are too many in the churches of America whose lack of spirituality with Christianity were only superficial. He was and careless lives give rise to such criticisms, yet I also know that thousands in every State at home spiritually restless, and one purpose of his jourfeel badly cut-up by these accusations, for you are trying to be worthy of our Lord and to testify ney was because he found no such happiness in for Him as sincerely as any missionaries in other lands. Sometimes I have wondered as to the sad his work as he had observed in the lives of the results, in the case of Christians and truthseekers who come from other lands to America, missionary doctors. In America he made contact whether the fault may lie with the strangers themselves. For instance, have the "Christians" with a hospital in the Boston area and located among them had a firm grounding in their new faith before they fared forth abroad, and have there. At first he had great difficulty with the they sought in the right places and kept at it wholeheartedly before they made their decision language and decided to attend a church largely that Christianity is ineffectual in America. However that may be, I have two bouquets that may to improve his English. But the Christian felcompensate somewhat for the brickbats you have grown accustomed to receive. lowship he experienced, together with a remark- More than a decade ago a young Zoroastrian able dream in which he heard the call of Christ, who had become a Christian in our college in Teheran went to Detroit with a group of Iranian- resulted in his conversion. He and his two schoolstudents for a special course in the Ford plant. Some missionaries were rather fearful of the re- girl daughters were baptized before his period of sults, for he was a very young Christian; but we gave him a letter which he could present to some study was ended. For some months now he has Detroit pastor and sent him off with our prayers. He made use of the letter (which too often such been back in Teheran, and never have we had an students fail to do) and found a welcome in a Detroit church. He identified himself completely Iranian Christian with more evangelistic zeal. with that church and its young people, and his Christian experience steadily deepened during his The doctor is simply indefatigable in introducing stay there. Then came misfortune in the shape of a disease which meant long weeks in the hos- relatives, friends and patients to Jesus Christ, and pital and permanent incapacity for further study or work. He was sent back to Iran and for years a number have already been converted, including has lived the life of an invalid at· home. His American friends in the Detroit church have men prominent in the life of the nation. New never forgotten him and many have kept in touch with him through their letters and gifts. Their evangelistic meetings and Bible classes are being friendship he counts one of his choicest blessings carried on in Iranian homes, and the doctor is the heart and soul of them all. The Teheran church seems to be entering a new era in its development through his influence. To our fellow missionaries at home are due our heartfelt thanks for this in· valuable contribution towards winning Iran for Christ. An important feature of your contribu- tion is that at present there is a law against reli- ° gious propaganda in Iran which theoreticallo makes it illegal for a foreigner to urge non-Chris- tians to accept Christ, but no such law can touch the case of a man who, thousands of miles beyond the frontiers of Iran, accepted Christ on his own initiative.
If you in America will give the student from the mission field that hearty friendship which you can so charmingly offer, and will not be too hesitant about sharing with him the faith and experience in Jesus Christ which mean so much to you, America will not harm him, if he is sincere.· WILLIAM N. WYSHAM.
in a life radiant with Christian faith and joy. Teheran, Iran, November 22, 1935.
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D. L. Moody-Ambassador of Christ*
I I)it- -e( By the. REV. JOHN McDOWELL, D.D., New York Some day you will read in the papers that Dwight L. ing. Through all those wonderful years from Moody, of East Northfield, is dead. Don't you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I 1871 to 1899 the crowds were· as great as ever, am now. I shall have gone up higher, that's all; out of surging around the doors and cramming the hall this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal – a as soon as the doors were open. Mr. Moody was body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint; a the embodiment of a wise and effective evangelism body fashioned like unto His own glorious body. I was that was Scriptural in its basis, spiritual in its born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1856. aim, personal in its method, social in its expres- That which is born of the flesh may die: that which is sion, cooperative in its action, effective in its apborn of the Spirit will live forever. peal, and fraternal in its spirit. His preaching THESE words of prophecy by Dwight L. was always vital, transforming and practical. It Moody are today reality, luminous and liv- changed human natures and made for holy and ing reality. In December, 1899, death took useful living. the body of Mr. Moody from us but not.his spirit. After a sermon preached in the Congregational That abides, and will abide forever as a benedic- Church of Gill (town not far from Dr. Moody's tion and blessing to the whole world. He lives home), some of his hearers, who were farmers, today in the multitude of men and women all over were discussing him. All of these farmers knew the world whose lives he touched with his inspir- him as a boy. One said: "Whatever criticism you ing and transforming message; he lives in the may have of Dwight's preaching, it has been my institutions which he established for human wel- observation that our chicken coops are always fare at Northfield, Mt. Hermon and Chicago. He safer after Dwight preaches in this town."
lives in his printed sermons and in the books Mr. Moody was never at a loss for a reply to which he published. He lives in the hymns which any question or criticism from his audience.
he inspired, and in the movements which he in- When preaching in Hyde Park, London, on augurated for human service, and in the outstand- "Christ As the Light of the World," one man ing leaders of many of the mightiest movements shouted: "Ah men, the man who invented gas of modern life. did more for the world than Christ," to which We cannot come in touch with a man of such Mr. Moody replied; "Then I suppose, my friend, colossal achievements, transforming influence and when you come to die you will send for the gas masterful power without asking, what was the fitter." All of Mr. Moody's replies and retorts secret of this man's influence and where were the were in the spirit of kindness and helpfulness.
headings of his power? Great men influence the By his spiritual motives and sane methods, world in three ways: by what they say, by what which were void of all sensationalism and clap- they do, and by what they are. trap, Mr. Moody not only won the hearty coopera- 1. Dwight L. Moody influenced the world by tion of all spiritually-minded people and secured what he said-by his preaching. Mr. Moody was the conversion of multitudes of the ungodly, but most himself, most eager and most energetically more completely than any other man of his day alive when he stood before vast audiences to pour he impressed upon the Christian Church her re- out in strong, animating words the Gospel of sponsibility for lost souls and her inescapable ob- God's love for man. His preaching was always ligation to be always and everywhere evangelistic.
Biblical, vivid, picturesque, vital, positive, urgent, He was the inspiration of the summer open-air reasonable and intensely personal. It is generally preaching campaigns in many cities, campaigns conceded that no man ever spoke to more people which carried the Gospel to hundreds of thou- directly than did he. Here was a man who held sands of people during the summer days when and swayed multitudes six days in the week for many churches were closed.
over thirty years and never lost his drawing "God so loved the world that He gave His only power. People never seemed to tire of his preach- begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him * Part of an address at the anniversary of the ninety-ninth birth- should not perish but have everlasting life" was the sum and substance of His message and the day of Dwight L. Moody. founder of the Northfield Schools, on heart of His appeal. Mr. Moody was always in- February 5, 1936, by Dr. John McDowell, a member of the class of 1890, Mt. Hermon.
[235 ]
tense in spirit but was generally conversational in that the primary purpose of education is formatone and never was theatrical; his gestures simple tion rather than information, that the mere acand his sentences direct and pungent. The New quisition of knowledge is in itself not enough. He York Times, in speaking of Mr. Moody's work in believed that the real goal of all true education is New York City, said: "Whatever philosophical the full integrated personality that finds expresskeptics may say, the work accomplished this sion in clear thinking, right feeling and effective winter by Mr. Moody in this city for private and action. Mr. Moody rejoiced in all that made the public morale will live. The drunken have be- minds of men and women more capable of undercome sober, the vicious virtuous, the worldly and standing. He also believed that the man who self-seeking unselfish, the ignoble noble, the im- could read the Bible for himself had opened up pure pure, the youth have started with more gen- the avenue through which God could speak to him. erous aims, the old have been stirred from gross- This was a fundamental conviction in the life of ness. A new hope has lifted up hundreds of hu- Mr. Moody, and for this reason he made the Bible man beings, a new consolation has come to the central in all the work of his schools, going so sorrowful, and a better spirit has entered the far as to put a Bible in the cornerstone of every sordid life of the day through the labors of these major building erected on the campuses of the plain men. Whatever the prejudiced may say Northfield Schools. against them, the honest-minded and just will not forget their labors of love." Dr. Arthur T. Pierson has well said: "As Arnold made Rugby a nursery of a peculiar type "Dwight L. Moody was undeniably the most of British man of culture, Moody made the Northextraordinary Gospel preacher that America has field Schools nurseries of Christian character and produced in this century as Spurgeon was the Christian service." Mr. Moody recognized that most extraordinary that Britain has produced, the methods and means of Christian education said Dr. Theodore Cuyler. "Both had all Chris- would change but its purpose and aim should retendom at their feet." main unchanged and unchangeable. There was no divorce in Mr. Moody's mind between his work The Testimony by Deeds as an evangelist and his work as an educator. All of his activities were one in his own mind, and 2. Dwight L. Moody also influenced the world hence wherever he was and whatever he did he by what he did. The man of thought is the brain was preeminently The Ambassador of Christ, and of the community, the man of feeling is the heart that because in his faith Christ was his Saviour, of the community, the man of deeds is the hand of his Teacher, and his Lord. the community. Many facts show that Mr. Moody was all three of these things in every com- Measured by whatever standards you please, munity in which he lived and worked. "Time," whether by his influence on men or on movements, said Prof. Drummond, "has only deepened the im- or both, Mr. Moody stands out as one of the greatpression not only of the magnitude of the results est men in the magnitude of his achievements and immediately secured through Mr. Moody's visit the preeminence of his influence. As a preaCher to Scotland, but equally of the permanence of the of the Gospel, as a master of great audiences, as after-effects upon every field of social, philan- an administrator, as an agent for men of wealth, thropic, educational and religious activity." Mr. as a transmuter of money into bricks, stones, Moody was keenly alive to the fact that religion books, tracts and Christian character, Mr. Moody and education were the primary factors in the rightly ranks as one of the greatest men of any making of the individual and the nation. Out of day. this conviction grew his untiring effort to make and keep both religion and education genuinely The Testimony of Character Christian. The primary aim of every institution which Mr. Moody founded was to make Chris- 3. Mr. Moody also influenced the world by what tians, not critics; to make servants as well as he was-by his life and his character. Emerson scholars. Mr. Moody sought not simply to edu- said: "Men are not quite so anxious to know cate but to educate for a definite service, the serv- what you do as what makes you do it." The dyice of Christ. namic forces of Mr. Moody's life were spiritual forces. He was the product of his faith in Jesus Mr. Moody's conviction was that without reli- Christ and apart from this faith it would be imgion life cannot be noble, without service it can- possible to account for him. He was a man of not be unselfish, without duty it cannot be free, unfaltering faith, a faith that was real to him and without companionship it cannot be human. and he made it real to others. It was active rather Over and over again he used to say to us: "The than passive for it was intensely practical. Its purpose of life is service, and the reward of serv- nature is splendidly set forth in a reply he once ice is more service." It was his conviction, also, made when asked why he did not run his schools on faith. "I do," he quickly responded, "I always
D. L. MOODY – AMBASSADOR OF CHRIST
have and always will. As an evidence of it if you Of his visit to Harvard, Dr. Francis G. Peabody, will tell me of any Christian man who has money in His Reminiscences of Present-Day Saints, said: to whom I have not written or on whom I have "Moody immediately impressed all hearers as not called, I will do so at once. I show my faith completely single-handed and sincere. He was when I go to men and ask them to give to God's genuinely conscious of his own limitations, and work." Faith in Mr. Moody was a matter of con- while a guest at my house with his wife for a secration as well as affirmation, a way of walking week's meetings with Harvard students inquired rather than a way of talking, a way of working one morning about the duties of a professor. Berather than a way of loafing. It was the power ing told that one usually lectured four or five that held him rather than a form of truth which times a week during the whole winter he said he held. He was the embodiment of a "faith that across the table to his wife: 'Emma, this is no worked by love." "I have never known," said place for us, I only last three weeks.''' "His Lord Kinnaird of Scotland, "anyone whose faith prodigious popularity," continued Prof. Peabody, was so real and abounding. No difficulty could "had not cost him his simplicity or humility. He daunt him, no perplexity could cloud his faith in remained a plain man and knew himself to be God or dim his calm belief that all would be well." about his Father's business."
He was also a man of singleness of purpose. If wisdom is knowledge made our own and ap- His heart was in everything he did. As a sales- plied to life, then Mr. Moody must be credited man in the shoe store, a teacher in the Sunday with large and unusual wisdom. If education is school, a preacher of the Gospel, a leader of men not a dead mass of accumulated items but power and movements he showed that his life was dom- to work with the brain, then Mr. Moody was one inated by one great purpose, namely, the doing of of the best educated men of his day. If the mark the will of God. His was not only a consecrated of an educated man is found in the union of calife, it was a concentrated lif~. He realized that pacity and sagacity, inate mental vigor and practhe secret of all moral force, of spiritual success, tical ability to use it for a purpose, we come to say of reality is in consecration and concentration. that Mr. Moody was no common specimen of a He could not only set a dozen men at work, he man of education in the best sense. Recently in could outwork them. New York City in one of the public schools a teacher asked a ciass composed mostly of chil- He was a man of sterling sincerity. "It is re- dren of foreign-born parents' what the difference freshing at all times and especially in this super- was between an educated man and an intelligent ficial and artificial world," wrote the editor of man. One of the pupils replied, "An educated The Catholic World at the time of Mr. Moody's man knows what other people think; an intellideath, "to come into contact with such a genuine gent man works his own thinks." On the basis soul, a nature so sincere, so simple that it seems of this definition, Mr. Moody was not exceeded a mirror of nature itself." Mr. Moody never sac- by any man in his generation. rificed sincerity for success. The transparency of his character and the sincerity of his acts were so He was a man of democratic spirit. He knew marked that none who ever knew him could never no difference between rich and poor, high and low. forget them. Between his pulpit utterances ana He knew everybody in the community, and everyhis private life there was no fixed gulf, nor was body knew him and loved him. One evening at a there any between his Monday warfare and his great meeting in London a certain peer was in- Sunday worship. He had a passion for sincerity, troduced. "Glad to meet you, Lord," said Mr. "the clean heart," "for truth in the inward parts." Moody, "just get two chairs for those two old He had an inborn dislike for all sham and decep- ladies over there, will you?" That was the spirit tion. For a man to say what he really thinks and of the man. to be outwardly what he really is in his heart requires heroism of no mean type. This heroism Mr. Moody's keen wit and practical common Mr. Moody possessed in a remarkable degree. His sense is splendidly illustrated by the following presence killed insincerity and inspired sincerity. incident. On board a train on which Mr. Moody He was a hero to his own children and to his was riding the newsboy came through shouting: friends. "Ingersoll on Hell." Mr. Moody caught the boy and placed one of his own books, a book on heaven, He was a man of genuine humility. Henry in the boy's hand, saying: "Here, my lad, here is Drummond said: "The way he turned aside from another book. Give them that at the same time." applause in England struck multitudes with won- In a few minutes the boy came through the train der." The criticism which sours and the adula- shouting: "Ingersoll on Hell, Moody on Heaven." tion which spoils left untouched this man who Mr. Moody was a firm believer that the best way forgot himself into immortality. Among college to show that a stick is crooked is not to argue stUdents, Mr. Moody was always a vital power. about it or to spend your time denouncing it but
in laying a straight stick alongside of it. Much religion, the center of his message, the incentive of his achievement and the secret of his power. of his success in· dealing with many of the com- When urged on one occasion by a supporter of his schools to raise the tuition from $100 a year plicated problems which confronted him was due to $200 with the suggestion that those who could not pay the extra $100 should secure some friend to this kind bit of practical philosophy. . to do it, Mr. Moody with tears streaming down his face replied: "It has been the prayer of my D. L. Moody was a man of unceasing prayer. life that I might be that friend to every student who enters these schools," and he was until the Here we touch the source of his matchless power. day of his death. His interest in his students never ceased. They were on his heart day and God was not to him a mere law or an abstraction, night.
but he knew God was a Person who feels and No career of modern times is a better commen- tary on the high motto of the Apostle Paul, "For thinks, a Father who rules and loves and is con- me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," than that of Dwight L. Moody. Neither God nor man will cerned with everything which affects His chil- let such a life die.
dren. As a result we are not surprised to find Mr. MoodY leading a life of ceaseless communion with God, out of which grew a life of overcoming strength. There was a correspondence between Mr. Moody's life and his prayers: both were mas- sive and on a grand scale.
He was a man of deep, strong, abiding love.
This was the motive of his life, the essence of his Among Australian Aborigines By MRS. D. MATTHEWS, Adelaide, Victoria, Australia T HE aborigines of Australia are said to be the who was a full black with eight half-caste chil- most difficult race in the world to civilize and dren. Mr. Matthews had selected the land for- Christianize. My experience among them merly belonging to the squatter and tried to keep dates from 1872 when Mr. Daniel Matthews and the black and white men working for him. We I were married in Melbourne and went forty miles had a schoolhouse built and I was there with our out among the mountains to spend our honeymoon little daughter and a piano. Eventually the numon a mission station superintended by a Scotch- bers in the school increased to one hundred and man named Green. fifty-three. It was a work of faith and the in- come grew from £30 to over £1,000 a year. We ABORIGINAL CHILDREN AT PLAY prayed for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and They amuse themselves painting their bodies with clay for a showers of blessing came until one hundred were converted and became bright Christians. native dance One of our interesting characters was Bur- Mr. Matthews had a store at a place called rawaja, a fearless little Australian aboriginal, Echuca, about 150 miles from Melbourne, on the ready to meet an attack at a moment's notice. He Murray River. After two years we went sixteen was tall for his age (eleven years), truthful and miles further into the bush and began our mis- always ready to own up to any wrong-doing, even sion at Maloga (aboriginal name for sand). if it meant punishment, He would ask to be cor- About ten miles from Maloga there was a camp rected if he had done wrong and was not content of blacks on a squatters station – one woman, if a fault was overlooked. Burrawaja's father (known by the name of "Flourbag") was a fine type of Australian aboriginal. So were Torraline, his clever mother, and Badbagurrior, his elder brother, a handsome young man of seventeen. Any of our brown girls would be proud to be thought fit to marry Badbagurrior. These, with two older members· of the family who have not had the privileges of the mission home, were all noble in bush character. Each one a jewel worth winning for our Saviour's crown.
The father and mother were chosen to go as guides to assist Sir Hubert Wilkins (then Cap- tain Wilkins), the Antartic explorer, a wonderful hero in the eyes of Burrawaja, our young warrior of Arnheim land in Northern Australia.
Next Step in Foreign Missions~
By BISHOP PAUL B. KERN, Greensboro, North Carolina 1'- Methodist Episcopal Church, South ~==========================~I "WE ARE at the end of an era and on the of Christianity. Missions is by its very nature border of another for which we have no cosmic. It is at home only amid universal con- technique," said Frederick W. Norwood cepts and reaches its true height and power only recently. "We have really succeeded in reaching as it deals with humanity in the totality of its life our objectives and are in danger of being defeated as nations and races and civilizations. For this by our own victories." reason, therefore, we have always looked to our These words hardly startle us any longer. The missionary enterprise to set the stage for the ad- average informed citizen complacently recognizes vance of the Christian faith and if it should fail the fact that an old era is dead and a new one is in this daring commission which is so vitally a being born. The fact of the imminence of a new part of its very essence, then it would not only world order is no longer questioned; the interest- collapse as a movement within the Church but it ing query that still claims our would entail a far more serious attention is what kind of a new result, namely, the lowering of national and international set- We cannot stand still in the spiritual tone and the ob- up will eventuate from the personal life; we either ad- scuring of the spiritual outlook vance or retrograde. It is present confusion and turmoil. equally. true that we cannot of the Church itself. Chris- If a new day for mankind will merely mark time in foreign tianity could never have surbe born tomorrow what kind of missions; we either advance vived had it timidly entrenched a day will it be? with Christ, who is always itself in Jerusalem. Its very leading on, or we drop be- perpetuity was dependent upon The Christi-an Church can- hind and lose our vital con- the agonizing recklessness with not for a moment allow herself tact with Him. Bishop Kern, which it broke away from ecto be indifferent to the revolu- tionary processes which are re- in his Florida addresses, has clesiastical traditionalism and called attention to the HNext making the very world in Steps in Foreign Missionstt thrust itself and its risen Lord which we live. Our faith was and His Way of Life into the born in a time of restless world as he sees it – the end of one indifferent, lust-infested cenagitation. Conflict is conso- era and the entrance on an- ters of Asia Minor and Europe. nant with its very nature. The It grew great by refusing to Church has grown great and other – will it be forward stay safely at home. When with Christ or a step back- ward, with separation from influential when it has taken Him and His service? therefore we are discussing its courage in hand and dared "Our Next Step in Foreign to become a central factor in Missions" we are dealing with those critical periods which have marked the up- a theme which holds implicity within it the imme- ward climb of nations and races toward a higher diate future and destiny of the Christian Church.
social dream. She remains aloof only to imperil For neither the Church nor the Gospel can stand her soul rather than save it. When her faith still in a world that is moving forward.
falters and her voice hesitates the ardent spirits A Olear Message and Purpose of the world's adventurers turn to lesser creeds and more selfish loyalties, the Church refusing to What then are the next steps that insistently risk her life by losing it in the common struggle challenge us in our foreign missionary underfor a higher Kingdom of values. taking? In the first place, we must reexamine and reaffirm Christianity's central message and No part of the Church can less afford to remain purpose. Many world currents and modern phiinsensitive to these structural changes than that losophies have combined to throw an element of group which is specifically charged with the ad- dubiousness around the Christian message and ministration and projection of the world mission • An address delivered at the Florida Chain of 'Miss[onary As- ideal. Conceptions of society which afford either semblies. 1936.
[239 ]
no place for religion or a place of subservience Redeemer. James Denney summed it up when he for the Church have taken shape in Europe; an said, "Christ not only was something in the increasing dependence upon diplomatic maneuver- world, he did something that make an infinite difing and ever-mounting armaments has supplanted ference, and that puts us under an infinite obliour growing confidence in the power of interna- gation. He bore our sins." And central in the tional goodwill; the fading of democracy from Gospel message is the Kingdom of God. Jesus the international map carries with it a conception held out as a practicable ideal a new world order of the value and dignity of the common individual in which love should supplant hate and cooperain society which leads to the glory of dictators tion should put to rout unholy competition. That but the submerging of rights of the individual; we have so slowly achieved this commonwealth the prevalence of pessimism and despair upon the of divine goodwill is an indictment of our perpart of so many of our fellow citizens who are the verse human nature rather than a reflection upon victims of economic selfishness and maladjust- the practicality of the Sermon on the Mount. ment raises questions which involve the effectiveness of the Gospel in our American social order; How strongly do we believe these central facts the easy-going creed of humanism and the brittle of our Christian message? Do we not need at philosophy of materialism have left us groveling home and abroad to reaffirm their inescapable in the dust rather than struggling upward to meet centrality in all our teaching and preaching? Our a divine ideal which is ever reaching down to set first step, therefore, is to redefine the intellectual our hearts on fire for godlikeness. This is to- and doctrinal basis upon which we posit the whole day's challenge to the Christian Church. Will she Christian movement. This must be done in no be able to offer moral and intellectual leadership formal and indifferent manner. A Church that for the confusion of our times? "The Church can refuses to believe greatly cannot live grandly. never interpret its own truth in terms of the Unless in the center of our souls bells ring with world's falsehoods." She must declare a trans- a clear and impelling sound they will call no worforming message that will be true to New Testa- shippers to prayer. Amid the welter of confusion ment Christianity and at the same time be ade- that besets the world mind today the Christian quate to meet the grievous needs which arise out evangel needs to proclaim a gospel that has about of the moral bankruptcy of our times. It is not it the dogmatism that is implicit in the utterance our business to conform our message to the pass- of Jesus when he said, "Ye have heard-but I say ing fashions of each generation. It is rather our unto you." business to bring each passing age into conformity with the eternal Gospel. It is no theoretical reason which calls for the redefinition of our faith in terms which are mod- Unyielding Oertitudes ern because they are eternal. Every practical consideration drives us to the same strategy. The The reexamination and reaffirmation of the doc- Church itself needs to clear up much of the mood trinal basis underneath our message will reveal of uncertainty in faith which has characterized three cardinal and unyielding certitudes. Jesus her hesitancy in more recent years. The world is Lord. He is not merely a way but the Way; enterprise will not proceed further in geography not merely a truth about God but the Truth about than it does in belief, and men and women will God; not simply a life redolent with the divine not go 1;0 the ends of the earth merely to ask but the Life through which and in which God questions and lead discussion groups concerning completely and unequivocally revealed Himself. God and the eternal life. Also we take note of Or as Principal Forsyth has said, "In Jesus Christ the fact that competing non-Christian religions we have one who was conscious of standing in an are stripping themselves of superstitions and entirely unique relation to the Living God. He outworn customs in order to meet the issue of a held a relation to God as Father that never existed more widely diffused knowledge. Buddhism is in any man before, nay, more, it was one that no having an intellectual rebirth and Confucianism man can ever reach again." Let us frankly face and Shintoism are being readapted to the needs the fact that ours is a supernatural religion be- of the intelligent Oriental. Christianity cannot cause at its fountain head stands One "who spake remain an obscurantist faith in a world where the as never man spake" and lived as never man lived. light of education is steadily lifting the level of intelligence. Furthermore, Christian youth in The second cardinal fact which needs reaffirma- our own land needs to be reassured concerning tion is that Christianity offers salvation for the the future of the missionary enterprise. Far too individual life. It undertakes not merely to change one's environment but rather to recon- many of them have been forced to abandon life struct the centers of one's personality. The world purposes which had thoroughly captivated their needs supremely not a moral teacher but a divine wills because the church under whose banner they were eager to serve has been retreating rather
THE NEXT STEP IN FOREIGN MISSIONS
than advancing, has counseled them to wait and common task. To underestimate the gravity and wait and keep on waiting until the precious years the urgency of our world problem is to be blind of their young manhood and womanhood have to the signs of the times. "The materialistic phislipped away and the Church sends them not losophy of the day, the violence of the destructive, forth unto the fields which are white unto the communistic activity, the powers of paganism and harvest. If the youth of our colleges and sem- of faiths and systems contrary to the teachings inaries give to this enterprise all that they have of Christ, the reactionary attitude of so many govto give, namely, their lives, has not the hour come ernments with reference to religious liberty, the when the Church should carryon the campus perilous subordination of religion to serve the again a modern philosophy of the missionary en- political ends of the totalitarian conception of the terprise and a resolute and dependable world pro- State, and the necessity of recasting the prevailgram into which our choicest young men and ing industrial and commercial system so that it women may build their lives with confidence? will not negative the principles of Christian love or conduce to international war," these – to use A Complete Gospel the words of Dr. Mott-present a challenge to the followers of Christ so momentous and far-reach- The clear emphasis upon the cardinal necessity ing that they can be met by no one group but of a belief in a complete gospel, embracing a di- only by all Christians acting in common effort vine Saviour, a redemptive power that redeems for the· preservation of the faith and the spread the individual, and the Kingdom of God as the of the Christ ideal. urgent ideal that awaits our full obedience to Christ, is made even more pertinent because of A pioneering period is always a time of indicertain trends of the native churches among vidualism in effort. But we believe that there is which we have been working. Take for example no longer a need for an independent, noncooperathe doctrinal conflicts which have arisen in Africa tive enterprise on the foreign fields. The emand China. Upon the rear end of every mission- phasis must rather be upon the Kingdom of God, ary enterprise there seems always to be a fanati- the unity of purpose and faith in Christ of all cal fringe of well meaning conservatives who those who labor for the salvation of the world, interpret religion in terms of nonessentials and and the primacy of love as the exhibition of abnormal manifestations rather than accept the Christ's way and the open road into the heart of great underlying verities of the Christian faith. mankind. Who can doubt that Christ wills' this This minority has about it all the enthusiasm of kind of unity for all His disciples? Our luxurious ignorance and often in energy far outstrips the and expensive divisions cannot longer justify saner interpreters of the Christian message. Un- themselves at the bar of the Christian judgment. reasonably rigid ideas of the Bible, psychic faith healing, rabid individualism and exclusivism, all This cooperation does not imply the fusing of these come in the trail of the Christian movement all denominational groups into one. Such types and often embarrass not only the missionary but of unity can come only as men grow together in the earnest native seeker after the Christian way. Christ and cannot be superimposed by idealistic These proponents of a marginal gospel make up missionary strategists. But we can multiply the for their lack of intellectual acceptability by their apostles of reconciliation, clear up recognized obdogmatic and unyielding confidence in their gos- jections and difficulties, embrace the spirit of tolpel. And the world listens strangely enough to erance, minimize nonessentials, magnify Christ men who make the impression that they know. and seek the unity of the spirit in the bond of The cure for this condition which embarrasses the peace. The results of this attitude, at home and Christian movement in more than one area is not abroad, will not only more effectively extend the the hesitancy of views tentatively held but as- Kingdom but will assure us of that divine leadersurance regarding pivotal beliefs which grounds ship which becomes operative only when men itself not alone in intelligence but also in experi- share the Master's consuming passion that they ence and widely tested social action. may all be one.
Let us therefore reexamine in the frankest Onward to Victory spirit the elements that make up our Gospel, and having found them to be eternal and sufficient, The next step that lies before us beckons from let us proclaim them in faith that is rooted in be- the angle of both faith and action. Faith is still lief and confidence that is born of God. the victory that overcomes the world. The annals of missionary history are rich in examples of how The second forward step in missions lies in the faith "conquered kingdoms, obtained promises, realm of cooperation. We should definitely seek shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of a larger unity of effort in accomplishing the work fire and routed hosts of foreigners." If we lose ahead of us. We need to think, plan, pray and this element from our planning, this daring couract in terms of the wholeness and oneness of our age to undertake the humanly impossible in the
name of Christ who assures us that "all things a pioneering spirit upon the part of the Church?
are possible to him that believeth"; if we lose, I Take as a concrete illustration of this unfin- say, this divinereinforceinent through lack of ished task the work awaiting us in the villages faith, then our enterprise drops to the level ofa and open country of Japan. I can testify to the drab bit of proselytism which soon defeats itself. sustained enthusiasm with which the Gospel is In this spirit therefore, let us face our third and received in these rural areas. Japan has 11,434 final step: we must initiate a definite and stra- towns and villages. Of her towns of 2',500 and tegic advance in the face of an awakened but hesi- more exactly one-half have some Christian con- tant Church and a confused but eager world. tacts, even slight though it is. Of her 9,737 vil- Barriers that once blocked us are gone, "a world lages only 610 are occupied by a church or preach- is on the anvil," and we may create a new type of ing place, leaving 9,127 lying beyond the range Christian world culture if we are sure of our goal of the Christian advance. These figures speak and our spiritual resources. The safest defense for themselves; almost 10,000 towns and villages is a bold offense. There are latent powers of love still remain absolutely virgin soil for the Gospel.
of money, of personality which the Church will More than one-half of Japan's population have never place on the altar of humanity's need until never in any true sense heard a Christian it beholds in all its appalling agony the condition preacher. Small wonder that Kagawa could say of a world without Christ and catches the inspira- recently, "I feel that the evangelization of Japan, tion of a leadership which shares the sacrificial very far from being accomplished, is only barely abandon of a Saviour who counted not his lii begun." There is a Japanese proverb which says: dear unto himself. . . . "If you are in a hurry, don't try a short cut."
The Christian mind in our churches must come One wonders how soon we shall arrive by re- to view the missionary task in its world relation- trenching on every field and taking short cuts ship. Never have so many intelligent citizens that lead us only into confusion and retreat.
been so conscious of a world conflict as today. One other step is immediately ahead. We need Whether it be in South America, China, Japan, to be finding and training a selected group of India or the Philippines, or where not, forces are young men and women to be thrown into this in conflict that are remaking the world. Jesus battle line within the next ten years. There can commanded us to "make disciples of all nations." be no random commissioning of the Church's sec- He visioned Christianity as a world force. It ond best. Sound bodies to bear the strain of in- structurally affected the Grreco-Roman world. hospitable climates; steady psychic centers to It has been, as it was meant to be, a vitalizing, overcome novelty and loneliness; keen, well- integrating, redeeming force in the political and trained minds capable of entering sympathetically social life of every generation. . . . The Chris- into age-old cultural backgrounds; hearts that tian message and the Christian messenger are in- are aflame with incandescent ardor for Christ and dispensable factors in building a new world order a Christless world-upon these must the Church and no nation will long be safe when the founda- lay the high commission of the Master: "Go ye tions of world security crumble through lack of into all the world. . . . Lo, I am with you always."
moral strength. When the Church has done these things, has All of this is only another way of saying that acted on the light she has, has dared to adventure we need to project a program of missionary edu- for God-then she can pray in righteous sincerity, cation into the life of the local church that shall "Thy Kingdom come." Faith without works is deal with missions in the light of present-day de- dead and prayer without sacrifice is futile. We velopments and ideals. Far too few of our min- used to say, "When a million Christians go from isters are preaching missionary sermons which their knees to any task, it shall be done." Pos- reveal a modern viewpoint and impress the faith- sibly we need now to reverse that historic state- ful and intelligent judgment of Christian laymen ment and say, "When a million Christians go of the higher and creative type. A whole new from any task to their knees, God will answer."
generation of church leaders has arisen which has And so our next steps are clearly to accept the never confronted the imperative and persisting abiding obligation which the cross of Jesus placed quality of Christ's last command. Ours is a holy upon all believers, to minimize our differences and cause. Let us not hesitate to lay it upon the heart magnify our agreements, laboring together for a of the church with unabated zeal. common goal in Christ, and finally, to move out Another urgent reason for this advance is that upon His promises, trusting where we cannot see, the unoccupied areas of the world are still unoc- until the eternal purpose which He purposed in cupied. Why is it that there are today virtually Jesus Christ shall become the glorious fact which as many unoccupied fields in the world as were God believed possible when He gave the world reported at the Edinburgh conference twenty-five His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth years ago? Is it spiritual apathy or the lack of on Him might not perish but have everlasting life.
Whitman;.Spalding
By the REV. ARTHUR H. LIMOUZE, New York Se.,etary o/Promotion, Board 0/ National Missions, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
O NE hundred years ago a little group of mis- less; but news of the massacre of the Whitman sionaries took the long fearsome overland party in 1847 crawled on leaden feet across the trail from the East to Oregon to write a continent. chapter in the Christian occupation -of the Northwest that will engross the attention and challenge Yet, in spite of the speedy tempo of our own the pioneering spirit anew of the Church of Christ day, it is a question whether our missionary enter- prise is any more farseeing and aggressive than today. the Oregon mission of 1836-1847. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, Henry and The Whitmans and Spaldings had a real mis- Eliza Spalding, and William H. Gray were in that sionary program. It included the creation of that venturesome band. Within two years they were fundamental of American society-the Christian joined by the Walkers, the Eells, and the Smiths, home, the evangelization of the Indian for Christ, all commissioned by the American Board of Com- the ministry of preventive and curative medicine, missioners for Foreign Missions. These were the the project of agricultural missions, anticipating days when, under "The Plan of Union," Congrega- the economic needs of nomads soon compelled to tionalists and Presbyterians interchanged pastors settle down; the establishment of schools; the and cooperated not only in local churches but also development of community life; and the organizain foreign missions. Presbyterians like the tion of the Christian Church. Whitmans and Spaldings went "into all the world" commissioned by that great pioneer missionary organization, the American Board. Together this group sought the evangelization of the Indians of Oregon Territory, and the establishment of the Church. In this particular instance they went to what was known as a "foreign mis- sions" field.
. A foreign field it was then, indeed. If a strange ~WJOO:"""""""'''lI''''''' environment, a native people, a new tongue and I llU)fAttl.W '111'& J'zt. ?£.a~ 'J.IUH. YlIT~I:IW!"'''''''''''' separation from home are factors creating such a field, then theirs was such. Today we make I.oW('f!lJ•• o-tTi!ilJIM1·tlll:t.llUAT WUHef!. . . . . . ." " " '. . . . . . . . . .' " much of the length of time required for a letter "X'jVt:;u,,'l A&,gt 02 ·t~ qr~ INDU.N to reach remote mission stations. Narcissa Whitman waited two years and five months in distant r:Wtt I.. ,I"(ga ilO/.&!) ill':; .f.iJ!i'i.t ~ifD lAlbt.1' ltU'OItE .JUtm Oregon, after leaving her New York home, for a letter from her people. "Home and friends and YUrt,. "I:s,""l C..#Ii'. "tllLltl.al iI·V.rt!:C1'UlI) "tam 'ROlf KrtACit..
fiC-; t;'-…..J,J OY 1:>"'s0 …..a::t,rrJ "tUIS iut.n IN lP'Jt«lR orWIU'LlIW 'ru~ '''/tJ~. tl…JliIAiUiJljljj ..lilJ) llV,.A.1a, utADtR 0.1 A. HO~ ~.£OPL!..
TABLET TO HOL-LOL-SOTE-TOTE WHO PREIVENTED A MASSACRE kindred" were further away from WaiiIatpu, "the All of this had to be wrought out anew. If place of rye grass," and Lapwai, "Butterfly Val- Oregon was virgin territory for settlers, it was ley," in Oregon, than is the most distant mission the same for mission work. Out of what they station in the world today. dragged over prairies and mountains, across There were no planes, or radio communications rivers and deserts, and from that which was nato keep these missionaries in touch with the folks tive to the field, these pioneers brought into beback home. A depression could occur, as it did ing a crude replica of the dear familiar ideals and in 1837, and be over before word of its occurrence institutions of their eastern homes. The story reached them. The untimely end of .Wiley Po~t of what they accomplished, in the face of diffiand Will Rogers was known in the States within culties natural and human, is remarkable. Clifa few hours after it occurred near the Presby- ford-Merrill Drury, in his new book, "Henry terian Mission at Barrow, Alaska, due to the wire- Harmon Spalding, Pioneer of Old Oregon," por- [243 ]
trays in a vivid and accurate fashion the goals an industrial situation marked by long hours, they reached in the short years they labored. poor pay, and all the problems of mill towns. They were real pioneers for Christ, the Church and civilization. Canal and river transportation grew by leaps and bounds. "By 1834 river navigation had be- The Whitman-Spalding Mission was the result come important. In the forties the West had of the urge to carry the Gospel to the Indians of more marine tonnage than the entire Atlantic the Northwest born of the visit of four Nez Perce seaboard. By 1850 there were nearly a thousand Indians to St. Louis in the fall of 1831. Their boats operating on the Mississippi, and as early famous quest for "the White Man's Book" has as 1834 the steam tonnage on that river was come down as a familiar story in modern mis- nearly half that of the British Empire." sions. The spiritual hunger they represented stirred the Methodist Episcopal Church to send Whitman and Spalding with their wives were Jason Lee and his compatriots to the Willamette. the products of a growing educational system It moved Dr. Samuel Parker, a Congregational marked by two characteristics: the inauguration minister of mature years, already touched by the of free education in the lower grades, and the zeal of the Haystack Prayer meeting spirit which multiplication of colleges, 150 denominational infired him at Williams, to offer himself to the stitutions coming into being by the middle of the American Board for a similar mission. It caught 19th Century. up Dr. Marcus Whitman, a Presbyterian elder of Rushville, N. Y., as his companion on a trip of The great question of human slavery was beexploration, sent him back to New York to secure ing raised in many quarters. Just five years be- Henry Harmon Spalding, a graduate of old fore, in 1831, William Lloyd Garrison had pub- Western Reserve College and Lane Seminary, and lished "in the sight of Bunker Hill and in the his young wife, Eliza Hart of Holland Patent, birthplace of Liberty," Boston, his first number of N. Y., as well as Narcissa Prentiss as wife and The Liberator. Daniel Webster was shaping a fellow laborer, for the mission to be established principle of nationalism that was to be of proin Oregon. It also enlisted William H. Gray, of found significance within thirty years. The Fairfield, N. Y., as an industrial missionary later Church itself was being divided by the issue of to become the writer of that "History of Oregon" slavery. Old School and New School Presbywhich describes in eye-witness fashion the labors terians were forming their lines, while at the and sorrows, the victories and the tragedies of same time the great foreign missionary passion the Whitmans and Spaldings. of the Church was gripping its ministers and youth. The Whitmans and Spaldings lived in a stirring era of America's history. It was a time of great "The wants and woes of the heathen," wrote national territorial expansion. The year they Eliza Spalding from Cincinnati to her sister, started for Oregon was the year of the Alamo, "have too long been neglected by Christian nawhen that little band of Texans within the mis- tions, who have not only the Saviour's command sion building at San Antonio were wiped out by binding upon them, to go and proclaim His Gospel Santa Anna and his three thousand Mexican to all nations, but are furnished with ample troops. That massacre led to the birth of a new means for the mighty work. When I reflect upon State and a further increase of the territory of the wretched condition of those benighted souls the Republic. who are sitting in the gloom and shadow of death, I actually long to depart and be with them, to tell With increasing land area went an accompany- them the story of a Saviour's dying love." ing growth in population, industry, transportation, and educational opportunities. Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Prentiss were united in marriage on February 18, 1836, in the Immigration began to swell until in one year little Presbyterian Church in Angelica, N. Y. it shot up from 10,000 in 1825 to 300,000 in 1849. Immediately afterward they started west by In the two decades of 1830 to 1850 two and a sleigh via Elmira, Williamsport, Harrisburg and half million foreigners were added to the popula- Pittsburgh. They were accompanied on this trip tion of the United States. by the two Nez Perce Indian boys, Richard and John, whom Whitman had brought east on his Along with this increasing immigration a move- eventful trip with Parker. Along the route they ment set in which carried westward "16% of all were joined by Rev. and Mrs. Benedict Satterlee. persons born in the Middle Atlantic States, and The party proceeded to Pittsburgh from which nearly 27% of those born in the Southern States." point they journeyed by river boat down the Ohio to Cincinnati where they met the Spaldings. At At the same titne industrial mills began to Cincinnati they outfitted and then took another spring up in various sections of the East, turn- steamer to St. Louis. From there the third boat ing wool and cotton into piece goods and creating
THE WHITMAN-SPALDING CENTENNIAL
carried them to Liberty, Missouri, at which point time of the commissioning of the Whitmans and William H. Gray, joined the party. From there the Spaldin:gs, will observe the centennial in their Spalding and Gray went ahead with the wagons, national gatherings. The Congregational-Chrisexpecting the rest to follow by water to the wagon tian Church, at their annual General Council train's starting point. meeting in Mt. Holyoke, June 16 to 23, will direct the thought of that great denomination to the Left behind by the steamer, whose captain re- contributions of 100 years ago to the missionary fused to stop for the little group, saddened by the enterprise then under their care. The Presbydeath of Mrs. Satterlee the day before, the Whit- terian Church, U. S. A., at the convening meeting mans and the others hurried to overtake Spalding of the General Assembly in May in Syracuse, and Gray, finally catching up with them at the N. Y., will recall the spirit of these early mission- Otoe Indian Reservation and then hurrying on to aries and emphasize the need of a similar pioneerjoin the fur company's wagon train at the Loup ing attitude on the frontiers of present-day life to Fork. win men for Christ.
Then began the long hard trail overland ending CHRISTIAN NEZ PERCE CHILDREN AT KAMIAH TODAY at Vancouver September 12, 1836, which Narcissa Whitman has described so humanly in her diary. Following the Assembly there will be two sig- nificant gatherings in Rushville and Prattsburg, Numerous works deal with the eleven years' N. Y., communities linked up with the early life labor of the missionary group. Writers such as of Dr. and Mrs. Whitman and Henry Harmon Myron Eells in his "Marcus Whitman"; Mowry Spalding. In the old Congregational Church at in his work of the same title; Marshall, Craig- Rushville, Congregationalists and Presbyterians head, Gray, and more recently Drury and Pen- will unite in a commemorative service, and at rose and others, deal with the development of the Prattsburg, the Presbyterians will have as guests mission stations. This period culminated in the officials of the Synod of New York and of the massacre of the Whitmans and twelve others on General Assembly, with officers of the Board of November 29, 1847, at Waiilatpu and for some National Missions. The program will include the years all mission activities at that station and unveiling of a marker to be located at the site of Lapwai were suspended. the boyhood home of Whitman.
Today there is a Presbyterian mission at Tu- Next October the Presbyterian Synod of Idaho tuilla, Oregon, among the descendants of the expects to rededicate the old Spalding Church, to Umatillas, Cayuses, and Nez Perces of Whitman's be restored by a special fund of $10,000 now beday. Spalding's pioneer work bears its fruit in a ing sought by the Board of National Missions of Christian Nez Perce people in Idaho with several the Presbyterian Church, as a memorial to one churches ministering to the spiritual needs of of its pioneer sons. This memorial will conthis loyal people. tinue to serve as the House of God for the pres- ent Nez Perce congregation, and whose spire will The centennial of the founding of this mission ever point upward to Him whose Gospel it was will be observed with appropriate celebrations the joy and glory of Marcus and Narcissa Whitand memorials in different parts of the United man, and Henry and Eliza Spalding to teach and States. live.
In the West the Whitman Memorial Commission of the State of Washington is seeking the Federal Government's participation in the complete restoration of the old mission as it was in Whitman's day. This commission hopes to recreate the buildings as a monument to the heroic sacrifice of that martyred missionary and his associates, and to celebrate the occasion with fitting ceremonies this summer on the campus of Whitman College at Walla Walla, and at Waiilatpu.
In Idaho, the State has purchased twelve aCres of land adjacent to the old Spalding Church to be dedicated as a memorial park in honor of the pioneering contributions of Spalding to Idaho's corporate life. The plans in this State call for a pageant, addresses, and dedication of memorials in May.
In the East two of the great denominations, which cooperated in "The Plan of Union" at the
Shakers of the Pacific
SARA ENDICOTT OBER, of Crescent City, make it his own before he will give evidence of sCiaolniaforyrnisa~rvhiacse had a long history of mis- his approval and acceptance. in the Southern mountains "Eighteen months ago God opened up the way and among the Indians of the Pacific Northw~st. for me and enabled me to go out upon the work She has for the last thirty years been studymg that had burdened my heart for over twenty-five the Shaker Movement among the Indians of Cali- years. Then nearly eighty years old, partially fornia, Oregon and Washington. She writes:* paralyzed, and with serious heart t~ouble I went "In a 'former existence,' as I term the decades forth, rejoicing that my heart's deSIre was to be of my long life, I worked under the American given me. I had very little means, but God led Missionary Association in Tennessee and Ken- me and provided for me, and I sought no o:r;e's tucky ,among the poor whites and the mountain- help, and paid my own expenses, as I have durmg eers. That was for seven years, from 1887 to all the years. 1895. Later I was two years a pastor of several "I lived entirely among the Indians for seven months attended and took part in nearly eighty mission churches in Washington. Shaker 'services, and found I was well received. "I came west over thirty years ago and became Now I can only wait until the way opens for me interested in the West Coast Indians, especially to go up the Coast to every Shaker church not ~et in that great religious movement, the Indian visited. There are those old leaders who so VIO- Shaker religion. For years I have been trying lently oppose the Word, but God will open the to bring it up to a better Gospel standard. Yet way in his own good time, his own good way; so over that 'bridge' between ancient ta-mahn-a- I wait patiently for Him. wous and Christianity have passed thousands of souls from the utter darkness. of paganism, igno- "During my stay with the Indians here the old rance, sin and despair into deliverance from vice, ones told me the most wonderful legends; not at degradation, and drunkenness by a transforma- all grotesque or fantasti.c like mos~ Ind~an ~y~hs, tion into the image of Christ. The 'shakers' wor- but exalted in conceptIOn, beautIful m dICtIOn, shiped in the old Indian way, with the dance; but marvelous in psychic truths, and revealing inthey had a vital conception of Christ-a true wor- sight into natural phenomena and historic events. ship and reverence for the T~iune God-and t~ey While waiting I am putting these in shape for experienced the transformatIOn of heart and hfe pUblication, hoping to save from utter extinction only known through our Saviour Jesus Christ. these chronicles of a fast disappearing race. I They could not read, and even yet none of the have also about two hundred words of their lanolder ones can read, so they refused the Bible, guage, only known to these older ones, and to and were prejudiced against it. But their preju- disappear with their lives into oblivion. These dices were because of the differences and an- legends reveal a strong belief in a ~upreme ~e tagonisms of the religious bodies with whom they ing, a vital conception of the soul, of Immorta~It~, came in contact. of the powers of the supernatural; crude, prImI- tive, but real. I feel that this work is one of vital "For years I have been trying to induce them to accept the Bible, and giving them its truths. importance in revealing the true concepts of I.n- dian hearts, the real nature of these often mIS- Many have accepted them. But most of the lead- understood people. I hope to have these legends ers are strongly opposed, and my work has been and also my history of the Shaker religion ready very slow and hindered in every possible way. During the past year I have visited quite a num- for publication within a few months. ber of Shaker churches in Oregon and California, "During the past twenty years I have been among primitive or backward people. For eig~t and have distributed over a hundred Bibles and een months I have lived in my suitcase. To gam testaments and four hundred small copies of the Gospels. Everyone of these has gone whe;e my information I have 'suffered many things,' it will be read and welcomed. Now I am waIt- odfitret ~ discomfort, privations, extreme fatigue, ing till the Indians are ready for another 'dose,' dangers, which many times threatened for one cannot hurry an Indiim; he must slowly chew, masticate and digest any new food, and death. I have won the confidence of old Indian hearts; have not only received these priceless legends, but have imparted divine consolation, so Am• eFrircoamn aMlisestitoenr atroy DArs.soGceioa.tioWn.. H(inTmheanI,nfdoiramn erShsaekcerer taMryovoefmtehnet many an old Indian has gone into the beyond grew up in connection with the work of Myron Eells, a. Congrega· with hope, courage and solace, instead of utter tiona! missionary to the Puget Sound Indians.) despair and darkness."
[246]
Views on Simple
By MURIEL LESTER, London, England Author of trWays of Prayintt'
A NUMBER of friends came up to visit the pressing satisfaction and quiet confidence. Once Ashram that Dr. P. C. Hsu, the Chinese you taste that sort of joy in comradeship you can- Christian leader, set up in Lotus Valley, not easily go back to the old way." Kuling, during August. It was an experiment in Christian communal living and included sunrise Another missionary contributed her experience. prayer times, hours of devotion, study, discussion "I felt as the last speaker did when I first arrived and writing, as well as doing all the sweeping, here. I'm in country work. Mine was a fairly laundry, cooking and latrine cleaning. large house. I simplified it as much as possible and kept 'open house' foraH Chinese friends. But At an afternoon session one day, a visitor said, the result did not cheer me. My visitors concen- "I do not believe Chinese people really object to trated their attention on every detail of the furnithe difference between the sort of houses we live ture and were so deeply impressed with the money in and their own. They know the needs of for- value of all they saw that they kept inquiring, eigners and don't mind our keeping to our own 'How much did you pay for that?' 'Did you not standards so long as we never assume any atti- give a very high price for that?' This was not tude of superiority." the sort of reaction I had hoped that Christian . A pause followed this remark. The air was fellowship would evoke; these are not the sentiheavy with things unsaid. Then rather quietly a ments that go to make good relationships, good woman missionary began to explain why she citizenship or good character.
could not agree. "When I settled down in China "I set my mind on planning, designing and twelve years ago," she said, "I felt awkward at measuring. I found a bit of land in one of the the obvious solidity and desirability of the house villages I served; it was by a canal side, close to allocated to me. As soon as possible I found a an old stone bridge. I could build a model mud Chinese girl willing to share it, and hoped that brick cottage there at a cost less than a month's our friends of both races, whether business peo- salary. pIe, factory girls, or members of the official and professional class, would feel absolutely at home. "'But you mustn't,' adjured all the villagers, It worked fairly well, but after a time I grew con- 'the spirits of wind and water will surely blow vinced that I was not really manifesting the way you or flood you out of your home before you've of Christ to the people of China. He threw in been in it six months.' his lot with the common people, sharing their disabilities, so that they might share His Good News "Well, that's where I live now. There's nothof God. Our girl friends had come in and out of ing in it that a villager couldn't have except that the house freely; as often as not when I got home I have fourteen windows instead of one. They at night, I would find people sitting by my fire prophesied disaster from those fourteen but none unasked; the chocolate box was always there, has eventuated. Even the one thief who came, purposely left open. Many working girl friends broke in by none of them, but came through the lived in a hostel; these offer little home life un- thatched roof. The mud floors are hardened by less the inmates are drawn together into a fel- elm solution. Except for the ordinary village lowship. Indeed one can be lonelier in a per- beds, tables and benches, the furniture is mostly fectly organized, sanitary and super-respectable made of soap boxes covered inside and out with institution than outside it. It was only after I brown paper. There are shelves round the living had moved into the girl's hostel that I noticed the room to hold dolls, games and books that children width of the gulf I had bridged. I could hear my come in to enjoy. The neighbors now have such fellow lodgers talking with their guests-the in- confidence in me that they leave their babies with credulous exclamation when first the guest heard me for days at a time when the work in the fields who occupied the end room; the girl's reassuring is specially important. I would not change my her as to the actual fact; the tone of voice ex- life for any other."
That afternoon's witness brought to mind other points of view I had heard in China, where gen- [247]
eralizations are impossible, for almost any fact for a neighborhood center, the university on one recorded in one area can be denied in another. side, an industrial area on another, a residential section on a third, a shopping district on the "People who go in for living Chinese are only fourth. trying to curry favor with the people." The second period occurred when the family "It is not fair for individual missionaries to moved upstairs, turned an attic into a kitchen, a lower their standard of living. They ought to passage into a dining room and the guest room remember that this lets down the standards for by night into a nursery by day. The ground floor all of us." was given over to Japanese, and students who had been assiduously attending weekly classes in "These innovators are setting themselves up to Christianity now had the bracing experience of be better than anyone else." being challenged to work out for themselves what they had learned. There had been the usual " 'Take no notice' is the advice one is often hav- amount of ubiquitous criticism of missionary paing to give, for a surprising number of people ternalism, of foreign ways, of double standards have allowed themselves to be intimidated by in living expenses. The missionary hated these such pronouncements." by-products of the selfish capitalist system per- haps more than any of his students did. So when How funny it is, how self-revealing and rather half his house was put at the disposal of the stupathetic, when people talk like that! dents, the manual and even menial work which they all performed together in fellowship, for- All round the world comfortably placed Chris- eigners and Japanese, proved a salutary educatians are developing an uneasy feeling that per- tive force in Christian character building. haps they ought to live less securely; that the reasons they have always put forward as to why The third stage was when the missionary went they are not in the same category as the rich home on leave and his place was taken by a young young man and need not heed Christ's command man, who, having no family, did not even need to him, are wearing a bit threadbare, that even the whole of the second floor himself. All the communists outshine them in some respects. rooms but his own could now be enjoyed by others. When I arrived there on my return visit last Feb- Unconsciously some of them set to work to pro- ruary, I found a new sort of Christian home. duce an alibi for themselves saying, "I'd certainly Four Japanese students and one missionary were go the whole way in following Christ and live living together and sharing expenses and houseamong the poor-if I were unmarried, if I were work. a minister, if I were convinced that there is a God, if I did not owe it to my university, or my It was a rare privilege to take part in their defamily, or my position, to keep up appearances." votions before breakfast and supper, to spend long evenings with them and their nonresident One missionary came to the conclusion, so she friends, discussing the changing national policies explained to me, that people cannot come to know and God's unchanging purpose. Most satisfying God merely by sermons, schools and social work; of all, perhaps, was to do an hour's cleaning with that in the intimacy, the forbearance, the reveal- them before breakfast and to know that one's ing daily routine of ordinary home life, Christ broom and duster were helping to create somecan be more clearly manifested. So this mission- thing significant and eternal. ary opened to the Chinese her family life. She let a student, who was far from home and lonely, *** live in one of her extra rooms. Gradually, as the dire need of each became apparent, she took in The advantages that accrue from living like seven or eight young people of varying ages. One the Chinese were most clearly demonstrated by of them proved to be an opium patient. Imagine the experience of one of my hostesses. She wrote what it cost her even to appear to risk her chil- to her daughter: dren's moral welfare for the sake of a stranger; imagine what it wrought in her of perseverance When we had been out here about a year and a half, in prayer, of actual wrestling with fear, to attain we were sent to open a new station. No foreigners had her final quality of courage and faith. Today she ever lived in Kihsien and none was wanted. It was not can give a record of each member of her synthetic easy to -find anyone willing to rent a house to. us. At family and can note steady improvement in all last an opium user's need of money made him take the of them. risk. Our first home was a one-roomed mud hut with earthen fioor, one paper window and a door made of thick * '* * slabs of wood. We were exceedingly happy in this humble abode with friendly Chinese neighbors everywhere. We Three stages of development were passed had expected to live in such a place when we left the through in a missionary's home in Japan. The States and were a bit disappointed to find the comfort first was marked by brick walls and a solid iron that had been planned for us on arrival in China. As gate, effectually hiding from the eyes of neighbors and passersby the attractive nature of that Christian home, His house was ideally situated the opium habit got a stronger hold on our landlord, he standing, and when her husband proposed one day that gave up more of his place to us. he would push her on his wheelbarrow two days' journey Our next home in the same yard had three rooms and to the nearest hospital, she could· hardly be:ieve her ears.
was made of brick instead of mud. Otherwise it was just By the end of the· journey she was convinced that her the same as the hut which was now converted into a study husband was a new creature in Christ Jesus and she room for girls. It was the kind of house in which middle wanted to find what he had found. Her husband has now class Chinese of the interior live. We put down rough passed on but she and her daughter are still active in the board floors and were very comfortable in these quarters. church work.
As I look back to those early days I can see why that In time the growing work called for reinforcements and was such a happy .spot. Our way of living did not sep- two foreign women were sent out to join us. A new resi- arate us from those whose love and confidence we must dence must be provided and the mission decided that it win before we could hope to lead them to Christ. They must be a foreign two-storied house. With this move we came and went freely with no sense of awkwardness, for built a barrier between us and our people. Things for- many of them were used to coming to that place to see eign were uncommon. Wild rumors were spread about.
our land:ady. Many of them lived in better houses than No matter how often I took people through the house to ours and so possessions did not come in as a barrier to prove that these rumors were false, they always came separate us from our friends. Things often create the away sure that in some closet or in the basement they feeling that we belong to a different class, even when the had seen with their own eyes the proof they needed. They possessor has no such a thought. We have never since, were certain that they had seen dead men's bodies in our it seems to me, grown so completely into the lives of our basement. Also the house created the impression that we Chinese friends. So completely did they fill our lives that were wealthy. The church, which had been large:y self- we were never lonely, though the nearest foreign friends supporting, began to look for foreign funds to carryon.
were a day's journey off. Why not, since we seemed to have so much?
When, after nearly eight years among them, we were *** sent on furlough, it was not an easy parting. When Daddie went off on his long country trips and I was shut In concluding this article I must refer to my up at night in the city, the on:y foreigner, all sense of own recent leisurely hot weather program of fear or loneliness was absent for I was surrounded with loving friendliness. On one of these occasions I was taken visiting rural reconstruction centers. with their very ill and seemed to be dying of cholera. So great is farmers' cooperatives, newly set-up clinics and the superstitious fear of a departing spirit that even my short-term schools. I have had a month or two faithful servant, Mrs. Tsao, did not dare to come into my of travel, staying in remote districts, occupying bedroom. She had only left her old ways a short time. a mud hut or part of a mud brick house, which I do not recall now any concern for myself, but I dis- already sheltered ten families of villagers. tinctly remember the look of anxiety on M·rs. Tsao's face Canned milk was especially provided for me, as she would peep through a crack in the door or through sugar, bread, bedding, water and basin. A dea hole in the paper window.
Another who taught us much beside the meaning and lightful experience for a month or so. One's pronunciation of Chinese words was our cultured and dig- mind kept reverting, however, to the stalwarts, nified teacher, a true product of Confucian ideals. I had to stumble on to the fact that the cosmic Christ has been the quiet behind-the-scenes missionaries, lovers of revealing some Truth to the Chinese sages long before the Christ who have been steadfastly preparing the missionaries ever reached China. The classics were as way for today's renaissance movement, tramping sacred to my teacher as the Bible was to me. Whenever these roads, being jolted in springless carts, week we found the same truth revealed in both his books and in, week out, for years, itinerating sometimes ten my Bible, we had a time ofrejoicing. Jesus said that He months out of the twelve. Noone goes on before had come not to destroy, but to fulfil, and so I used to to get mosquito lotion or "flit" for them. They memorize all such places pointed out to me by Mr. Ma, sleep in the house of any poorest villager who inconvinced that Christ is the full revelation of God. One evening at our vesper fellowship hour when all in the vites them. Canned milk and sugar perform no compound, together with any neighbors who wished to join us, gathered together for a time of informal worship, appetizing function for them. Their morning and Mr. Ma had his first vital sense of God as revealed in evening meals consist of millet porridge minus Jesus Christ. With dignified tread he walked up and even salt, which is a luxury to them. Midday down the little earthen hall of worship, his face all lit by food is rice and a little vegetable for them. Yet the light of God within, and he kept repeating quietly, these, I have found, are for the most part the "I have found what I long have sought." happiest, the most serene foreigners one can find Also there was that yamen runner, most dreaded by all in China today.
in our district because of his merciless ways of extorting money from the people, who in one of these evening hours of worship wept and asked God to be merciful to him, a What does the Church stand for? It stands to sinner. He confessed that there was no sin he had not offer men Christ; to tell men that way of life is committed. But he was most broken up by the fact that possible by which they become sons of God; that he had sold his brother's widow into slavery. As people life can be victoriously lived; that Christ offers a met him, they would ask each other, "Can this really be the same man we have so dreaded?" His wife whom he reinforced personality, an inward serenity, an treated with less consideration than he treated his donkey, infectious gaiety, an outgoing love which would was frightened by the changed man she saw in their home. invite the whole world not into a system of belief She thought that he must have eaten some foreign medi- primarily, but into an experience which spells the cine and that when the effects had passed off he would be mastery of the art of living. worse than ever. She had a leg with a bad sore of long
to Captives in Portugal*
By JOSE ILIDIO FREIRE, ROSE MATHEZ, and E. R. HOLDEN, Quinta do Almaraz, Almada, Portugal JOHN HOWARD, the English Christian philan- wrote reqqesting further supplies of such books. thropist and pioneer of prison reform, visited As a result of this work there was formed in the prisons of Spain and Portugal in 1783. He left on record the statement that the main the Lisbon penitentiary a nucleus of converted prisons of Lisbon were comparatively praise- men. Interviews must take place in the parlaworthy. In the Limoeiro, which is still the cen- torio, where the convict and his visitor are septral jail, he found 774 prisoners. This prison had arated by a thick pane of glass flanked by strips been the Royal Palace to which, in 1387, was of sheet iron, perforated to enable conversation brought the English princess, Philippa of Lan- to be carried on without any opportunity to pass caster, daughter of John of Gaunt and bride of anything from hand to hand. Dom J 03.0 I of Portugal. This Lisbon prison accommodates six hundred In 1868, two English ladies resident in Oporto, convicts, and it is always full. Men under sen- Mrs. Hastings, wife of a merchant, and her sister, tence of penal servitude are first sent there and Miss Frederica Smith who married the United later to Monsanto jail, where they serve part of States Consul, Mr. Fletcher, began to visit the their sentences. Relagao prison in that city. To the initiative of Mrs. Fletcher is largely due the modern Evan- Alfredo Oliveira and Eduardo Moreira gelical movement in Oporto. Not long after we had begun to receive letters During many years after Mrs. Hastings' death, from inmates of the Lisbon penitentiary, there Evangelical and philanthropic work in the prisons came one from Alfredo Oliveira, asking to be of Oporto became restricted to the distribution of given lessons in English. He expected to be de- Christmas gifts and occasional evangelistic ad- ported to Angola where a knowledge of this landresses at Christmas or Easter. More recently, guage would be of use. He was an attractive contact with individual convicts was again estab- young fellow, intelligent and well educated, but lished, mainly through educational work; but at who had led a life of dissipation, culminating in present a not well disposed governor brought the the murder of an army officer. Being alone in work practically to a standstill. The work in the world, he yearned for friendship. This con- Lisbon and Coimbra jails, though more recent, tact afforded me an opportunity to establish more has made progress. intimate contact within the prison, and I had the privilege of leading Alfredo to Christ. A little Twenty years ago Dona Manuela Nunez, a later another convict obtained permission to share Spanish lady who was in the habit of distributing the lessons, but he never showed the same interest tracts in hospitals, gave a tract to a soldier. in spiritual things. Later this man committed a theft, for which he was dismissed from the army and was sent to From the Lisbon penitentiary the work spread prison. The name and address of Mr. George to Coimbra through the instrumentality of Gil- Howes, the publisher of the tract was fixed in his berto Francisco, a man who was transferred from memory and he wrote from the Limosiro prison the Lisbon. He distributed tracts among his requesting a visit. Mr. Howes passed on the re- mates in the workshops and several commenced quest to me, and I thus commenced my mission correspondence with me. The Coimbra penitenin the jails. tiary accommodates 270 convicts, and at one time we were in correspondence with over 25% of By the time this prisoner, Mauricio Silva, was them. – transferred to the Lisbon penitentiary, he had numerous tracts and other Christian literature The Rev. Eduardo Moreira came to reside in which he began to distribute among his fellow Coimbra and obtained permission to hold a weekly convicts. The result was that several of them service in this jail. He was even permitted to baptize several convicts, to officiate at two prison th: J:~~h~~r~/G:3·~o~~~~I~~ WorW Dominion and is supported by weddings and to celebrate the Lord's Supper. Later a hostile governor put a stop to all the Evan- [250 ] gelical work, and men who had professed conver- day of salvation, tomorrow may be too late for you. You sion were subjected to severe restrictions. Now know not the day of your death, and what if it should more liberal conditions once more prevail. surprise you in your sins? God may not patiently wait many years for you as He did for me, so I urge you to In Lisbon permission has been given me to hold forsake your sins this very day and accept Jesus Christ, services in the Limoeiro and Monsanto jails, but our Lord, as your Saviour. Thus alone will you enjoy not in the penitentiary. In the Limoeiro the aver- true happiness in this world of corruption and deceit. age attendance at Evangelical meetings is over Satan doesn't slumber, and he will dog your steps con- 150. At both places we receive a most attentive tinually lest he lose a victim. He even strives to win back hearing, so that thousands have heard the Gospel those who are no longer his. This he is seeking to do to and not a few have given evidence of conversion me and my family, keeping me from finding work and during these last fourteen years. Thousands of trying us in all sorts of ways. But my soul is no longer copies of the Scriptures, as well as tracts and his, and will never again be his, as the precious blood of other Evangelical literature, have been distrib- Jesus Christ our· Lord has purged me from my sins and uted and circulated. His divine grace cheers and strengthens me in all my troubles, Jesus having said: "Him that cometh unto Me When an unknown prisoner writes, asking for I will in no wise cast out." information or for tracts, he receives a reply and a number of tracts suitable for such enquirers. Oh my God and Father, I pray for sinners, that Thou If he responds intelligently, he is sent more tracts, wilt touch their hearts. I pray for those who already and if these have been productive, a New Testa- belong to Thee, especially for our missionary brethren in ment is given. For the supply of the Scriptures Africa who are facing so many and great difficulties. I and other literature the work is much indebted to pray that they aU may have their hearts warmed by Thy the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Re- love and that they may be granted Thy wisdom in proligious Tract Society. claiming the way of salvation-and all I ask through the merits and for the love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Many prisoners, deported to Angola, have kept Saviour: Amen. up correspondence with me and not a few have got into touch with missionaries in the colony. Four years ago, I gave a tract entitled "The One man proved of valuable assistance in this Drummer Boy" to a man in Monsanto jail, Anwork. He was subsequently pardoned and has tonia Correia, a peasant farmer from a village returned to Portugal. near the Spanish frontier, who had been caught and conviCted for smuggling false banknotes. He Many of the wardens in the prisons I visit are our friends and appreciate what is done for the wrote to me, and I kept in touch with him prisoners, being impressed by the change in the throughout the two years of his sentence. On his conduct of the converted men. release, he returned to his native village, Esper- an<;a, and began to tell his relatives and friends of Discharged prisoners have great difficulty in his faith in Christ. He gave away all his tracts finding employment and the families of those in and books, and wrote for more. Being popular in jail are often badly in need of help. the neighborhood, he was given a good hearing, and his friends were struck by the change in his An Appeal to Prisoners life. He continues steadfast in his faith and there is great interest in the Gospel among his fellow The following extract is translated from an ap- villagers. peal by Mauricio Silva, published not long ago in the "Prisoners' Section" of 0 Caminho (The Two years ago, I received an unexpected visit Way) a little paper I edit. This man to whom from another ex-convict to whom I had given a was due, under God, the initiation of our work in Testament ten years previously. Through many the prisons, returned from Angola a year and a ups and downs, he had never wholly lost sight of half ago, on completion of his sentence. He the truths he had found in the Word of God. He wrote: is now leading a steady Christian life, and his four children are members of our Sunday school. Oh Lord, our God and Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast preserved my life till today in a world of corruption, The Conversion of Alves Reis sin and untruth, in order that I may acknowledge how great a sinner I was, and how vainly I strove against sin The most outstanding conversion is, however, till at last I won through, strengthened by Christ, our that of Alves Reis, a brilliantly clever youth. In Lord and our Saviour. 1918, at the age of 22~ he was manager of the state railways of Angola, and shortly afterwards After describing his early resistance to the was appointed Inspector of Public Works for that striving of the Holy Spirit from the time when he colony. He became imbued with a great ambiwas impressed by the tract given him in the hos- tion for the development of Angola, and his ferpital till my visits to him in jail and his conver- tile brain devised grandiose schemes to this end. sion, he continues: The need of capital on a vast scale led him to plan the fraud which ruined him. By means of forged . . . but let me impress upon you, Brothers, that you correspondence, purporting to be from the Bank should not postpone your decision, as I did: today is the
of Portugal, he induced the Bank's own printers deep-rooted hatred of Reis, as the man who had to print an issue of duplicate banknotes which been his undoing. Ultimately, however, he bewas to total £3,000,000. This involved his mak- came interested in the Gospel and was so iming use of various accomplices, including the Por- pressed by the radical change in his enemy that tuguese Minister at the Hague and his brother, the two met daily for prayer and study of the who were given to understand that he had been Bible. Silva was set at liberty and is now in a intrusted with the promoting of this special note good position in Oporto. issue under a State secret. On the strength of these bogus notes, Reis floated the Banco Angola A few days ago I received a letter from a e Metropole, which was to finance the many de- stranger in the penitentiary, asking me to visit velopment schemes he had conceived. him. This man, Santos Carvalho, had been a rail- way clerk and he is now under sentence in con- Overconfidence led to his undoing and arrest; nection with forgery. Religiously inclined, he subsequently he sank lower and lower in crime, joined the Roman Catholic catechism class in the seeking to defend himself by falsely incriminating jail and he purchased an expensive Roman Cathprominent men. When he seemed doomed to fail- olic edition of the Bible which he read carefully. ure, Reis attempted suicide by means of poison; It seemed to him that some of the doctrines and but he took an overdose, and lived. practices of the Church were not in agreement with what he found in the Scriptures. He drew up In prison, Reis came across an ex-army officer a list of these points, which he sought to put forwho had a Bible and read it. Reis borrowed this ward in the class but the teacher refused. A .Bible with a view to proving its worthlessness and priest was sent to enlighten him, which he failed absurdity. Instead, the Book aroused his interest to do, so Carvalho applied to me. He placed beand he made a careful study of it. He sought fore me his list of perplexities, which, with God's help from a distinguished priest of the Roman help, I was able to solve to his satisfaction. Two Catholic Church, and felt impelled to make con- of the points raised were concerning auricular fession of his crimes, first to this priest, then to confession and sacerdotal absolution. his wife and lastly in open court, to the.astonishment of everybody throughout the country. He Alves Reis and Carvalho provide two instances took full blame to himself and exonerated all of men enlightened by the unassisted reading of those he had been accusing. the Scriptures.
Reading Reis' confession in the papers, an old In Lisbon, stimulated by what was taking place schoolmate, grandson of the lady whose tract dis- among the men, interest was aroused on behalf tribution in the Military Hospital had led indi- of the women. An opportunity came to obtain. rectly to the commencement of our prison work, entry to the Monicas prison when I was asked to felt impelled to send him some of Mr. Howes' visit a young woman convict, a Communist of tracts. Russian extraction. I was told later by the lady superintendent, now my friend, that I was within For six years Reis has been "growing in grace an ace of being arrested as suspect when, a and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour stranger and a foreigner, I sought permission to Jesus Christ." A visit to him is usually a spir- visit this girl ! itual tonic for he has a wonderfu.l grasp of Scriptural Christianity. Not a few have learned to go The Monicas is not a gloomy prison. A oneto him for prayerful counsel. time convent, cloistered and built around a spa- cious courtyard, it is sunlit and airy, whitewashed Reis' conversion was later followed by that of throughout, spotlessly clean and orderly. It achis wife, who, in contrast to the life of luxury she commodates all the long-term female convicts of led in the days of her husband's ephemeral pros- the country and a considerable number of shorlperity, is having a hard struggle to make ends term women from Lisbon and its environs, bemeet for herself and their three boys. When Reis tween 220 and 250 in all. Three years ago I obrepented and confessed, he was received into the tained permission to hold weekly services and now Roman Catholic Church and influential religious the average attendance at our meetings is bepeople befriended him and his family. When, tween thirty and forty. Many a dark, sin-stained later, he was impelled by his conscience enlight- face lights up when listening to the message of ened by the Scriptures to sever his connection salvatron. We see to it that all who can read with that church, his boys were turned out of the possess a Testament or a Gospel; but, unforparochial school. He has received visits from the tunately, the majority are illiterate. Some well- Cardinal-Patriarch, the highest church dignitary educated women attend our meetings, among them in Portugal, and other ecclesiastics, downwards, a young graduate of Oporto University, convicted offering him material advantages. of being implicated in a murder. She was then an avowed atheist and up in arms against all the One of Reis' dupes, Adriano Silva, manager of the Oporto branch of the bogus bank, nurtured a
PIONEERING IN TENNESSEE MOUNTAINS
world. She would listen to nothing we could say, she has been at liberty for some time without havbut in answer to prayer, little by little her bitter- ing repeated her former encounters with the ness was overcome; she began to attend the meet- police. ings and finally she was converted. She now says, "I deserve all the suffering I have brought on my- Last Christmas, through the kindness of the self; but I know God has pardoned my sins." Director General of Prisons, we were permitted She witnesses to this by her changed life, seeking to give a lantern slide lecture on the life of Christ, to honor and serve her Saviour among her prison at whi,ch all the convicts were present. What a joy companions. She says, "When I am free, I shall it was to have this opportunity to tell of the become a missionary," reckoning little on the love of God to so many sin-stained, burdened twenty-four long years in jail stilI ahead of her hearts. They paid rapt attention and evinced unless her sentence should be in part remitted. much gratitude.
Another interesting case is that of a woman of When prisoners leave the jail, those who wish good family and social standing, whose outrageous it are given the address of the Evangelical church behavior has landed her time and again in jail. or mission hall nearest their home. We do not She was the terror alike of wardressesand fellow seek to persuade them to adopt a new religion, convicts, but by degrees the Word of God pierced but aim at leading them to God by means of His her heart as she read the New Testament and Word and into "newness of life." listened to the Gospel. A great change in her life was observed by all in contact with her, and now Will you remember in prayer the work in the prisons of Portugal (2 Cor. 1, 11), thus partici- pating in it and in the resultant rejoicing.
Pioneering in Tennessee Mountains C OMFORTABLY settled in districts that of- companion and a young man and his wife as help- fer every advantage of material civilization, ers, are stationed at Smyrna, near Byrdstown, many of us are prone to forget the multi- Tennessee. It is forty miles from a railroad. tude of things that others must go without, things There are no graduate doctors or trained preachthat we count as essentials to health and effective ers in this district. One of the preachers is a service. We are so accustomed to electricity farmer and the other works in a mill-each of and gas, to well-heated houses and an abundance them scarcely able to read. For a funeral they of pure water that we sometimes forget the en- send to Kentucky for a minister to preach the tire lack of such facilities in arctic mission sta- sermon. tions like Barrow, Alaska, in the jungles of Africa or the outposts of China. Accustomed as Miss Stewart lives in a little four-room shack we are to letter carriers, and rapid transportation, -half of logs and half of boards. In very cold to doctors and hospitals, to shops and filling sta- weather the little wood-burning cookstove cannot tions, we are prone to forget those who have mail heat the kitchen. "One day," she writes, "with and produce delivered once a year, and who may our table pushed within one foot of the stove, the be weeks or more from the nearest trained doc- milk in the pitcher froze, and when coffee was tor. But it is to such outpost stations that many left for a few minutes in the cups it froze solid." missionaries go to carry the Gospel of Christ. At night the two workers took turns keeping the They go gladly and voice no complaints because wood fire going to keep from freezing. Describof hardships. It is well for us to become ac- ing the mountain district, Miss Stewart says: quainted with the life of these courageous pioneers, and to share with them some of our trans- "Our work centers about Lovelady, Smyrna and portable privileges. Fairview – all on rural routes from Byrdstown which, by the way, is the smallest county seat in One of the many stations that it would be in- the United States. At the end of five weeks in teresting to visit is on a high windswept plateau this community we had five flourishing organizain the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee tions, and two more groups are begging for atwhither has gone a refined and educated gray- tention; and Fairview wants a Sunday school. haired woman as an ambassador of Christ. She The work of Elizabeth, my helper, has been chose the place because of its need and lovingly greatly blessed. She has the young people's orministers to the people with the skill and energy ganizations at Smyrna and Lovelady, in every that would put to shame many a strong man. session of each she makes plain the way of sal- Miss Anna Belle Stewart, with a young woman vation and gives opportunity for decisions for Christ. Several who have never attended any
religious meetings before have become much in- them to worship-nothing to make Sunday differterested in spiritual things and have asked for ent from any other day. When the people are so prayer and promised to pray for themselves. The anxious to have a Christian leader the work should Sunday school superintendent at Lovelady said go well from the first. It is a wonderful field for the young people would follow Elizabeth through service. There has been no Sunday school in this neighborhood nor in the adjoining communities. fire. There are difficulties and problems but unlimited opportunities for service and growth. "In a small scattered community in. zero weather she has a class of over 25 and a young Ohristmas in the Mountains people's group of over 30. There were three Christians when she first took them. There are "We came to the field so late last autumn, that now five and you can almost see them grow. things would not be in good shape for Christmas, Elizabeth has asked all five Christians to lead in but it has aU opened up wonderfully. The first prayer and four promised gladly while the fifth, Sunday we were here, two schools were organized a fine young lad, said, 'Holy smoke, I never have.' and plans were made for programs, drilling vol- But he will. They are doing a great many things unteers for crude attempts at portraying the that they have never done before! Every Wednes- Scripture story of Christmas. Their enthusiastic day night we have the Smyrna young people presentation of the sacred scenes was in sharp here and Thursday night we have the· Lovelady contrast to stately pageants but they caught the group at their schoolhouse. All the night meet- true meaning of Christmas. Little tots squealed ings are at six or half-past six, but people come as they recognized their elder brothers in wise at five o'clock. Twice we missed our meal, before men and shepherds. we learned! Last Saturday afternoon I turned over the junior organization at Smyrna to Eliza- "The village of Lovelady seems thrilled over beth so that I could take the corresponding group having a Sunday school, even wading the deep at Lovelady. The program in these four organ- snow in wholly inadequate foot gear, with babies izations include Bible study, chorus music instruc- snug in blankets and toddlers riding paternal tion, a social gathering and work for others. How shoulders. The little portable organ is a neverthey love it! ending delight to them, and how they do sing! For the first time in all our years of carrying "More than sixty years ago, a rough board Christmas joy by your gifts, the people of Lovechurch house was built, innocent of paint or any lady felt the urge to make immediate return. decoration. With a few planks missing and a Even before the Christmas eve distribution was hole burned in one side where a lamp once ex- complete, some of the householders had gone into ploded it still st~nds the joint property of several a huddle from which the bravest emerged to ask denominations which seem to have abandoned the shyly, 'Would you-all be insulted if we'd bring you church and tl).e people. Of late years this com- some presents? All we have to give is just 'taters munity has been sadly neglected. One old man and canned stuff and a little fresh meat.' Being said, 'Old Smyrnie was once a godly and reli- assured that their gifts were exactly what we needed, they went away to butcher hogs and apgious neighborhood. When we met together we pear early Christmas morning with a poor little talked of the goodness of the Lord and now we topless car loaded full of delectable food. are everyone back-slidden.' In sentences broken by sobs he told of his joy in having someone to "The Smyrna people did not wait until Christtalk to them of the Lord and to explain the Bible. mas. Ever since we came, generous offerings He left the first group meeting, praising God and have been appearing .with such regularity that declaring his determination to come back into a only a few staples, such as flour and sugar, have close walk with Him. As we visited from house had to be bought. Little gifts blossomed mysto house, opening the Word and praying for the teriously on the Christmas trees. One of the wise households and community, a number of the older men volunteered to tend fires. The wife of 'Jospeople wept, remembering former days and again eph' in the pageant came with meat and stayed renewed their allegiance to the Lord. The weeks for Christmas dinner. The family of the 'Christof work in that field were a real joy. The people mas angel' entertained us all with a crude little begged to have a worker sent in and their former battery radio and real refreshments. All day the church organization renewed. They asked for a neighbors kept dropping in 'to let us know that Sunday school and for something for their young we were among friends and to keep us from being people who are growing up with nothing to call homesick.' "
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN CCC CAMPS
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN 000 OAMPS One of the most effective ways that chaplains have found of reaching the hearts and consciences of the large number of workers in Civilian Conservation Corps camps has been through Pocket Testaments supplied by The American Bible Society, Pocket Testament League and other organizations.
It is discovered that many of these young men, though coming from public schools and living near churches, have never owned a Testament, nor have they had any religious instruction. Most of them show an eager readiness to receive these Testaments and by this means opportunities are offered to reach their families with the Gospel of Christ. From twenty-five states come testimonies as to the effectiveness of this work. The Testaments are of great value for Sunday schools and Bible classes in "Chapter-a-Day" Clubs, for personal devotions and as a guide to Christian faith and life, and for personal work in soul winning.
Some Testimonies of Ohaplains "We have used the Testaments in Sunday school especially in the infirmaries and hospitals." Ken- many times. On some occasions they were the only tucky. Christian literature we had. . . . It is not an unusual thing to go into a hut-building and find a group dis- "I have never seen one New Testament go out by cussing what they read or have read in the Testa- way of the waste basket. They are kept and they are ments or Gospels." Al(})bama. prized." Massachusetts.
"The boys are so eager for copies that they flock "One young enrollee has gone back to his native around me like a bunch of chickens around an old state to continue his studies looking toward the min- hen. My only regret is that I do not have enough istry, as the result of an interest aroused by a Bible for everyone. . . . They regard it as a high privilege class in his CCC Camp." Minnesota. to be the possessor of one of these New Testaments. Many of them have seen life at a different angle after "In one of the camps where I distributed about fifty they have studied these Testaments. Send us 1,200 Testaments a young man who had been wayward and more copies; they will have their influence upon the ungodly came to me privately and said that the Testayouth of America." Arkansas. ment I had given him had set him thinking, and that he wanted to join a church in the town near by." "We have regularly organized Bible discussion Ohio. groups in each camp. I never give a Testament unless men ask for it. . . . Many of the boys have "I have had CCC boys in my services who were never had any sort of Bible or part of one and they never in a religious service of any kind before. . . . have never been given the op,portunity to read one." This is the greatest opportunity to reach the un- Florida. reached, and to carry the printed Word to those still in darkness." Tennessee. "I have seen a general change in the atmosphere in the camps since distributing the Testaments." "I have been truly amazed to find boys who are so Georgia. hungry to read the Bible. I have seen as many as twelve boys resting at the lunch hour in the woods "As evidence of the enthusiasm and interest, a num-' 'on the job' reading the Testaments." Vermont. ber of readers have come to me with questions regarding the meaning of various passages." Illinois. "I have been on this duty for two years, in Cali- fornia and Washington, and it has been my happy "In one camp a Bible class meets regularly each privilege to personally place in the hands of mem- Sunday evening and the work of the class has done bers of our various companies several hundred Testamuch to heighten the morale of the entire camp." ments. I have never had sufficient numbers to supply Indiana. the demand. No one can possibly estimate the good accomplished." Idaho. "Out of approximately 2,100 boys in ten camps I have between five and six hundred signed up in 'Chap- "Eighty-three boys in one camp came to me at the ter-a-Day' clubs. In order to become a member, a car asking for Testaments." Michigan. signer must agree to read a chapter a day of whatever portion of the Bible is agreed upon. I shall endeavor "I would like to have Spanish Testaments for the to carryon this program. Without these Testaments Spanish-speaking men. They would read much more such a program would have been impossible." Iowa. if they could have the New Testament in their own language." New Mexico. "Many who are timid and afraid to take aNew Testament in front of the whole company will come "I've seen more than 12,000 boys in the past fourafter dark and ask for a copy. They really desire a teen months of service, and never have I seen anycopy and will use it." Kansas. thing more worth while in the way of soul-building and character-building. This is the greatest oppor- "In my evening visits to the barracks I often see tunity that the United States ever had in building for boys lying on their bunks reading the New Testament, future citizens." Oklahoma.
TherBe uatrethtehroeusiasnadsshoofrytaoguengofmTenesitnamcaemntpss,anodthcehratphlaanincs,crea,thfoerr than a lack of opportunity. which no chaplains are pro- vided. Why cannot these be served by ministers and laymen from neighboring churches and by ministers without charges? Good literature might also be supplied from the surplus in many homes. Write to the Federal Council of Churches (105 East 22d Street, New York) for information as to this work, which one layman, R. C. Tillinghast, calls "The greatest evan- gelistic opportunity the United States has ever had." I Effective Ways of Working 'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRI:l. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS of Joash is at your service to help The 13 tracts in the order in which MONEY you bring money again into the house they would be used were inserted in of the Lord. a loose-leaf notebook, one copy of It is the greatest partnership which was given to every teacher, in the world and the most profit- MINISTER: 0 most gracious king, pupil and home in the church. So the able but one which, like com- we accept your offer. Let the Chest entire school with the exception of mercial partnerships, suffers of J oash be brought in that it may re- the beginners' department: studied from fluctuations and depres- ceive the gifts of those who worship tithing for a quarter. sions. "The money question," here. like "the poor," we have always The result was that there ensued with us. As the time for set- (Trumpets sound at the rear of the largest number of tithers in the ting up the every member can- the sanctuary. Bearers of the chest, history of the church. Cards were vass in many denominations preceded by the trumpeters, bring it merely passed out and the member- draws near, we submit the fol- down the aisle and place it on the ship so inclined signed up voluntarily. lowing spiritualized plans for communion table while the organ The fol!owing month the church debt church use on a background of plays a march. The trumpeters pro- was paid off. Three months later a the long article on "Concerning ceed to the king and conduct him to building program was started using the Collection," pp. 363-4 in THE the chest, where he places his offering $5,000, three-fourths of which was REVIEW last July which gives and goes back again to his station. cleared off in one year. The tithing the undergirding principles of The minister follows the king, then instruction was then dropped for two the subject. Leaders in all de- the choir and the congregation pass years, after which the workers' conpartments of church life, inclu- the chest and deposit their offerings ference was again called to consider sive of the pastor, may profit therein. When all is completed, chest the tithe and it was decided to repeat from the plans sent in for our bearers, trumpeters and the king the teaching. It was to be used as a consideration. quietly withdraw. Costumes borrowed background for a drive in favor of a from a friendly lodge made this serv- new educational building. Another J oash Chest Service ice very effective.) supply of tithing tracts was ordered from which each teacher made his The Pastor's Journal tells of a A Great Adventure with selection and gave his instruction for simple pageant which proved of great the Tithe a month, thus avoiding the expense of value for balancing the budget in a making the loose-leaf notebooks. (The church of Linton, Indiana. After out- In The Christian Observer, drive, we take it, is yet in process.) lining the financial situation the pas- Rev. J. M. McKnight tells of his tor asked: surprise, when he started out to Every person who had tithed for study the tithe, in finding the past year was asked to write out "And now, my friends, what shall neither anyone book or Bible his experience in 50 words or less, the we do?" school quarterly teaching or ex- resulting material being mimeo- plaining it to the children. He graphed and sent through the mail to Trumpets immediately sounded at urges our lesson committee to every home of the church and Bible the door at the left of the pulpit and insert into the three-year cycle school. Four or five of the best testias the door opened King J oash was of lessons one whole quarterly monies were printed each week in the discovered at the entrance. on tithing so that at least once church bulletin. The experiences of in three years the important persons in the community whom the J OASH : I am J oash, the son of matter might be studied inten- membership had known for years Ahaziah, the king of Judah. In my sively. His (abbreviated) ac- proved vastly more impressive than reign, the temple of Jehovah needed count of his own experience is any from far-away places. The Layrepairs and we had not the money to as follows: men's Company has been asked to do it. When I heard your appeal, I select the best of the leaflets and comcame back among men to tell you how The only material to be found on bine them in a booklet or Bible school my subjects brought gold into the the subject was about 40 tracts and quarterly – which might be done if temple of the living God. three or four booklets put out by the more than one church agreed to use Laymen's Company, of Chicago, all of the material. MINISTER: Say on, a king. which he read and evaluated -as to its availability for pupils of the different How a Missionary Offering JOASH: Jehoiada, the priest, took a ages, selecting 13, which he asked the Was Doubled chest, bored a hole in its lid and put departmental superintendents to read it at the right side of the altar of the and pass an opinion upon as to their Mrs. C. F. W. Froelich tells in Lord. And those who came into the suitability for the different age The Sunday School Times of the house of the Lord to worship put groups. Then dropping out the reg- success of an experiment in therein their offering. And behold, a ular lessons for a whole quarter they faith: very great sum was brought in and proceeded to substitute their own matherewith we repaired the house of terial, making their own quarterlies. In the small Bible school with an the Lord. And now, behold the Chest enrolment of 50 and an average at- [256 ] tendance of 26, it had been the cus- tom to pay local expenses and send
EFFECTIVE W.NYS OF WORKING
anything left over to missions. But contributions of the total given a dinner at the close. A leader on rally day three years ago the su- for missions during the pre- was appointed for each division, perintendent produced a lighthouse ceding year. Thus "the status and each leader, in turn, selected and announced that henceforth all of a 'Forward Fund' church may five lieutenants. Every leader birthday pennies would be placed be reached at any time of the distributed the books and booktherein as a one-hundred percent of- year because a church will be so lets among the contestants, fering for missions. This objective listed in the first month that gathering up and redistributing was made a matter of prayer among sees its giving for the year rise teachers and children, but birthdays above the amount produced in the material each Wednesday were few and ages discouragingly far the 12 months ending April 30, and Saturday evenings and rebelow the Methusalean standard. So 1935." A "Forward Fund List at the first of the new year anyone of Individuals" is also published cording the score at the rate of willing to place an extra offering in in some sections. Any donor from five to 20 points per unit the lighthouse was invited to do so giving more than the amount according to the length of the and the heretofore impossible goal of contributed last year becomes a publications and the value of $25 a year was set. contributor to the Forward Fund. their contents. This was con- Each Sunday the superintendent tinued for four weeks and each held up the different coins and had The women are using a poster Sunday the complete score of the children count the offering for the in which a rainbow-colored road dav, the total being placed on the appears whenever the member- each division was posted on a blackboard so that all might see the ship of a church gives over-and- bulletin boa r d. Scriptural fund grow. Then as the offerings above offerings. On this poster teaching, experiences of tithers, were sent out to different individuals a quarter measures one inch, outlines of methods of proceor countries, corresponding "rays" which is taken as the unit of were drawn out from a blackboard progress on the Road to Tri- dure, etc., were exploited in the lighthouse and marked with the umph. "Multiplying this in reading matter. The dinner at amount and the names of the objec- linear measure we find a foot is the close furnished one of the tives. When the last Sunday of the $3.00, a yard $9.00, a rod $50.00, best social occasions of the year. year rolled around, the total year's a furlong $2,000.00, a quarteroffering was counted and amounted to mile $4,000.00, and a mile $16,- But better still, this intensive $51.25. The goal had been more than 000.00. Thirty-one and one- reading for four weeks gave the doubled! fourth miles will bring us to the people a wider outlook and deep- goal." Starting the following year with ened sense of obligation to the enlarged faith, the new goal of $75.00 But this financial goal is only Owner of all. The minister acwas set, with the result that the last secondary, the main objective centuated this by preaching a month of the 12 showed a total of being a spiritual advance. "The $103.35! And this in a church where Forward Fund is a banner, a strong· sermon on the duty of "most of the children are poor and guerdon carried in the van of a every individual to make an honthe depression has hit all of us." pageant whose line of march en- circles the world. . . . Even as est return to the Giver of life, Now the missionary program has men and women form a living ability, strength and possess;ons been extended to the homes. Small, wall along the route of the Big attractive brass lighthouses have been Parade, so Baptists of every -this as a climax to the study. secured and 25 have been given out race and clime are watching New pledges to become tithers already, some going to other Bible with eager interest for the Bapschools wishing to try the plan and tist host to appear." were signed by 115 of the conthe rest to homes of the congregation. gregation; and those 115, says The fund keeps growing month by Stewardship Reading Contest the writer, gave more to the supmonth and the adventure of faith goes on. A regular schedule of dis- Church Business* tells of a port of the church and its benevbursement has been agreed upon. strong and very successful plan olences than all the other mem- The sum received each month is de- used in Trinity M. E. church of bers together. So this method voted to that month's objective, con- Oswego, N. Y., in which infor- was strongly attested in action. cerning which the children have been mation proved the key to the informed through stories. Several pocketbook. A general commit- Another article in Church returned missionaries are called in to tee was appointed to arrange Business says that the basic speak in the course of the year. and supervise details for a con- test in which books on Steward- idea, as conceived by the First [Anyone desiring further information ship were selected and given out about the lighthouse plan may write Mrs. to all adults willing to join in a Christian church of Pampa, Froelich at 131 Homer St., Waterville, friendly contest, the congrega- Conn.] tion being divided into East and Texas, is to give the stewardship West, the losing side to furnish of money a very vital place in The Forward Fund • Duplex Envelope Co., Richmond, Va. the life of each member and This year the Northern Bap- Copyrighted. show that the financial support tists have instituted a movement of the church is not a necessary called The Forward Fund Proj- evil but a means of grace and blessing to the individual Chrisect which, in terms of money, is tian. This church uses the Uniintended to increase missionary fied Budget plan, making its sucreceipts by half a million dol- cess hinge upon adequate preplars in two years ending April 30, 1937. In its new terminol- aration for the annual canvass ogy, a "Candidate" church is by full publicity, etc., and havone making missionary' contributions in excess of the amount ing a careful follow-up program paid d uri n g corresponding all through the year. The minmonths in 1934-35; a "Forward ister, faced by difficult financial Fund" church is one making conditions in the current ex- pense and building debts, bor-
rowed books from the Duplex ice, have young people distribute a meeting in the interests of library and settled upon "The small plain envelopes and pen- boys' work was held at which Sunday School and the Church cils-one to each family repre- the subjects for discussion Budget" (Arthur Flake) as the sented. In the course of the eve- were: one best suited to local condi- ning, a copy of the publication The debt we owe our boys and those tions. After much personal is held up and attention called of the community.
work on the minister's part, the to its contents inclusive of sub- Juvenile delinquency, its cause and finance committee recommended ject matter, features and illusthe plan therein outlined to the trations and a brief talk on the cure. official board who, in turn, sub- value of such a periodical is What are our churches doing for boys and what can we do? What about the Boy Scout organiza- mitted it to various groups and given. All willing to subscribe tion?
organizations in the church for are asked to raise their hands, Department 2 fostered a Fastudy. When the matter came then either enclose the price or thers' and Sons' banquet. to a vote in the congregation else agree to hand it in later, three months later, it was ap- writing names and addresses on Department 3 held a debate proved unanimously. In brief, the envelopes, which latter are on "Resolved, that Preparedness each group is asked to submit a collected by the magazine's club Leads to World Peace." tentative budget for its own manager. The plan is reported needs, on the basis of which bud- as working well. Select your Department 4 con d u c ted gets the finance committee own magazine, not forgetting "Ladies' Night". with the topic, builds a tentative Unified Bud- THE REVIEW, and get busy. "Home Ideals," considering the get. This is submitted to the place of the home in civilization; several groups and finally to the A Oommunity Brotherhood homes of yesterday versus those official board for study and criti- of today; the place of religion cism. With it goes a ballot af- The program of the 1935 plans in the home; what a child has a fording expression of opinion as of "The Drummond Community right to expect from his home. to (1) entire approval, (2) gen- Brotherhood," in Oklahoma, eral approval but revision on sent by Rev. H. D. Davies, fur- In September the brotherhood specified points and (3) disap- nishes a pattern which might discussed "Men's Share in the proval of the whole. The plan' well be used with profit all over Church Program" – in increasis working wonderfully,' only the map. Its declared purpose is ing church attendance, enlargfour dissenting ballots having as follows: ing the Church School, in the been received in 1935. program of evangelism and in 1. To organize the men of the financing the church program. The Duplex Reference Li- community in Christian fellowbrary, by the way, is free to all ship and service. In October the general topic users of the duplex envelope, the was "Thinking Missions"-reaonly expense being the payment 2. To promote among them sons for indifference to misof postage one way on books bor- the study of the Bible and sub- sions; why each member should rowed. The collection is of jects of a religious nature. be interested in m iss ion s ; standard books on every sub- money and the enterprise; can ject of interest to workers in 3. To enlist them in winning a church survive and not be church, Bible school and young men for Christ and the Church. missionary? people's societies, with new books being added all the time. 4. To stimulate interest in In November the theme was, A free catalogue will be sent on civic righteousness and encour- "Is the Cause of Temperance request. The subject of reli- age participation in interna- Lost?" – whether Prohibition gious education and exalting the tional and community better- was "done for"; the causes of idea of world friendship is made ment. the wet victory; whether Provery prominent. The Editor has hibition was a failure in action, looked through a partial list of The membership consists of and what the price of success the books and notes many names men over 16 years of age who against the liquor traffic must of the latest and best among accept the purpose of the organ- be. them. ization and have been received by a majority vote. In December came "The Chal- Magazines As a Spur to lenge of Hum a n Need"- Benevolences The meetings are not entirely whether the demand for benev- at set intervals but rather cap- olent activities is as great as in The Presbyterial Tribune rec- italize seasons, occasions and the past; whether the Church ommends a plan for boosting the probably available s pea k e r s should assume more or less re- SUbscription list to a good mis- throughout the year and are sponsibility for the conduct of sionary magazine whose read- successively in charge of the de- benevolent institutions; the ing would, in the natural course partments of endeavor, namely, evaluation of benevolent -insti- of (1) the Devotional Life; (2) tutions in the community, etc. Evangelism, Stewardship, Mis- sions; (3) Training; (4) Fel- A closing injunction on the lowship, Social Service, Commu- program read: of events, stimulate giving. At nity Betterment. Man, go to church every Sunday. some special church night serv- With Department 1 in charge, Start every week right. The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK SPRING SONG patient person in the Scrip- Paul continues with, "Where- fore, receive ye one another, Do only the young sing in the tures? even as Christ also received us." spring? What has patience to do with The "God of Patience" might well be the title of a modern pic- In "A Catch for Singing," by God and religion? One can hear ture of God made by the German Wilfred Wilson Gibson, we find almost instantly the reply of the reverse to be true, and the scoffers: "Too much-that's the artist, Barlach. The illustration reason for the old young man's here given is the last in a series singing should be evident to all trouble with this country-the depicting "The Wanderings of who meditated recently on the Christians are spineless!" But God" in the modern era. You Cross and the Resurrection of consider the ways of the truly Jesus. Several verses of Gib- patient. Verily, "they have their will recall how in the old Heson's poem are quoted to reveal reward – even eternal life" in brew anthem, God contemplated the faith of the "old young the midst of confusion caused by each day his creatures and "saw man" : nature and men. And for them, everything that He had made faith that the cherry trees are and behold it was very good"; Said the Old Young Man to the in flourish makes them servants Young Old Man: of men, hurrying about to help and how He rested on the sev- whom they may. At least, they enth day and hallowed it for "Both flower and fruit decay." Himself and his creatures. In Said the Young Old Man to the Old are found more useful in every- this modern conception we again day life than the idle scoffers. find God resting, at the conclu- Young Man: Paul, in a letter to Roman sion of a number of visits among "The cherry tree's in flourish!" friends, wrote, "Now the God of patience and of comfort grant his creatures. You may think Said the Old Young Man to the you to be of the same mind one that the picture shows great sor- Young Old Man: wit h another, according to row. He may be seen better as Christ Jesus: … " In a foot- the God of patience, or sted- "Alack and well-a-day! note, the reader is given the The world is growing grey, fastness. And flower and fruit decay. choice of the word "stedfast- No doubt God in his wander- Beware Old Man, beware Old Man ness" for the word "patience." For the end of life is nearing, ings today views children at And the grave yawns by the way. . . . "
Said the Young Old Man to the Old Young Man: "I'm a trifle hard of hearing; And can't catch a word you say … But the cherry tree's in flourish!"
The poem is in an old copybook made by a young person. The punctuation may not be according to the original, but the meaning of the verse was learned and that is enough!
THE PATIENT GOD AN ARTIST REPRESENTS "THE PATIENT GOD"
Have you ever taken an Eng- [259 ] lish Bible test and been asked to place quotations accurately? In what context do you find the expressions, "bring forth fruit with patience," "run with patience" ? Who said and under what circumstances, "Lord, have patience with me"? .Tell in fifty words so that a child understands the meaning of, "the patience of Job." Is Job the only play, and at the same time chil- one district in Brooklyn, the pas- their homes. Ten different dedren whose labor is exploited for tors presented the interdenom- nominations and 27 churches the comfort of adults who would inational missionary projects, united." express horror at child slaves in toward which the offerings are China but who constantly argue contributed each year. Individ- In Riverhead, New York, a for the "right of little ones to uals participated through the large map of the world was form habits of industry and radio. We learn that going to hung where all the congregation thrift." What does God th·nk offices in autos did not prevent could see it, while young women of Christians who say that they participation in the united told of observance of the World can do nothing about the con- prayer for social justice and Day of Prayer in 1935. tinuance of child labor in the world peace. U. S. A., while the parents of In a little town in souththe same children cannot find The program for the next western Texas of 150 inhabitwork to earn enough to furnish World Day of Prayer is being ants, 35 persons prayed for the family with bread and milk? prepared by Miss Mabel Shaw world peace. The superintend- of North Rhodesia, Africa. The ent of one of the Sunday schools Also, God in such a visit sent the offering of $1.59, with would find many "young old holiday need not interfere with a "blessing on the offering and men" grown cynical in the midst the observance, for as you real- on those for whom it is given." of earth's abundance, and too ize, the same program in many few of "the old young men" re- Danville, Iowa, sent with the membering the promises of languages is used in united missionary offering a sheet of spring and the Resurrection of service for almost forty hours' signatures to the People's Man- Life. In this modern conception date which begins, "We the peoof God one sees with compassion intercession encircling the earth. ple are determined to end war." the multitudes of men, women, It is now three weeks since the Other places signed the People's and children longing rightly for Day. Reports from observances Mandate following the services. happiness and peace, when their come daily to the Foreign Mis- Many groups report the first leaders, even statesmen, betray Union services. One such group them into war instead of using sions Conference offices and to had an all-day meeting even our God-given reason to secure our headquarters. The attend- "though it is hard to get folks all the people from flood and ance in the Greater New York out to prayer meetings." Thus famine, fire and desolation, de- area was nearly 10,000. prayers from Indian Schools, spair and death. from oil towns in the West and Within three weeks following Southwest, from student groups But, "The cherry tree's in February 28th, in the Council such as the Conference of the flourish !" office alone, 1,897 letters from Lutheran Student Association of groups-west and south as well the North Atlantic regions, from [The editor will welcome in- towns large and small, from interpretations of the picture from as nearer New York were re- dividuals and groups who parreaders to report later in the ceived. The free-will offerings ticipated in the radio services, .Bulletin.] in the 1,897 letters were for the from tens of thousands rose in home and foreign mission enter- mighty intercession prayer that WORLD DAY OF PRAYER God would overrule the blind- prises carried interdenomina- ness and stupid ways of men The next World Day of tionally, and totaled more than and bring nearer the Kingdom Prayer for missions, always the $14,000. One village held its of heaven on earth. first Friday in Lent, occurs in the U. S. A. on Lincoln's Birth- first union services, and in send- "A PREFACE TO RACIAL day, February 12, 1937. It may ing the offering of twenty-five be that the holiday will make UNDERSTANDING" possible the participation of the cents (six cents to each of the whole family. In Coffeeville, mission projects) wrote "we did The new home mission study Mississippi, this yea r, "the text for adults carries the title, stores of the town were closed the best we could and it was "A Preface to Racial Underfor the hour of service, so that worth while." The offerings standing." The word "preface" the merchants and employees indicates that the main responsicould attend." from the metropolitan areas, in- bility rests with the church to cluding cities like Detroit and bring about better understand- In places like Pittsburgh and Cleveland were well over a hun- ing. A selected reading list on Schenectady, the Council of dred dollars. Many places send- the Negro in America may be Churches was ready to carry re- ing offerings on the World Day secured from our office (5 sponsibility for the services, cents). Also for ten' cents planning for participation of of Prayer for others, are now (stamps acceptable) the New men and women, young people, in the troubled flood areas. We York Public Library Circulation and children in several union pray that relief for them may office, 42d Street and Fifth Ave., services. Many reports tell of be speedy and adequate. Thus, New York City, issues "A the presence of the pastors of the ways of "charity" bind us Selected Bibliography on the the cooperating churches. In all together. Negro."
The reports as they cQme in are very helpful and show vital strength of the missionary spirit in our country. Excerpts from reports follow: Macon, Georgia, reported "over 200 present even though at least 70 % of our mis- sionary women had illness in
~' Our World–wide
I A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events ~, EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO NORTH AMERICA committee will attempt to for- present set-up in mission work mulate one which will have a is too expensive." New Church Federations constructive connotation. To meet these conditions he Dr. Rey B. Guild announces The committee consists of Dr. advocated the almost exclusive four new church federations George L. Kieffer, statistical sec- use of unmarried missionaries, which have recently been organ- retary of the National Lutheran a more itinerant missionary ized in various parts of the Council, Dr. William Lamp~, force, the fuller identification of country: The Colorado Council Philadelphia, of the Reformed the missionary with native life, of Churches, organized Feb- Church in America, and the Rev. less elaborate station equipment ruary 21 with the Rev. Harold Herbert Rugg, Director of Pub- except in strategic centers, and M. Gilmore as Executive Sec- licity for the Congregational the quicker and less hampered retary. The Jackson (Mich- and Christian Churches of development of native leaderigan) Council of Churches with America. ship in the Church and its man- Mr. C. H. Johnson as Executive agement. "What is wanting in Secretary. The Bay County Lutheran Foreign Missions the missionary enterprise is not Federation of Churches, Bay new machinery, or methods. City, Mich. The North Carolina Eighteen foreign missio""aries Foremost is the necessity for a Council of Churches, formed by from all parts of the world were fresh outburst of spiritual life ten denominational bodies and a present at the Lutheran Foreig'l in the Church." group of Baptist churches, hav- Missions Conference of North ing a total membership of America in St. Paul, Minnesota, Gideon Bibles 1,500,000. March 24 and 25. A committee was appointed to petition Con- Recently, at the suggestion of Religion for New Communities gress to enact legislation en- an atheistic society, the Gideon abling a missionary who is a Bibles were removed from a Prevention of spiritual desti- citizen of the United States to 600-room hotel. The first night tution in new communities now continue his missionary service there were 200 inquiries as to being developed by the United in a country at war, if he so de- where the Bibles had gone, so States Government is urged by sires, and relieving his govern- the management placed them in the Home Missions Council and ment of all responsibility on hiS the rooms again. the Council of Women for Home behalf. This would answer the Missions, representing more criticism that foreign mission- It is interesting to note that than twenty Protestant denom- aries are a liability to the gov- in 1934 several thousand Gideon inations. Interdenominational ernment and that "gunboats Bibles were stolen from hotel cooperation along the line of the must be used to protect ambas- rooms, or shall we say borreligious work now being jointly sadors of the Prince of Peace." rowed? -Religious Digest. done by seven national churches at Boulder Dam was asked for. Further study is to be made New York's New Chinatown Grand Coulee Dam in Washing- of the possibilities for a joint Center ton state and Bonneville Dam in Lutheran missionary magazine. Oregon were also ment:oned. Next year's convention will A new Christian center was probably be held at Detroit, dedicated in the heart of New -Presbyterian Banner. Michigan. York's Chinatown on March 10. Hundreds of guests crowded the New Term for "Denomination" The Rev. M. J. Stolee, of St. five floors of this recently com- Paul, discussing the subject, pleted building to hear distin- The National Religious Pub-. "What Factors in Modern Mis- guished speakers. Many leaders licity Council, at its annual sions Require a Changed Em- of various Chinese groups were meeting, appointed a committee phasis?" declared, "We are not present, including Hon. Tsuneto recommend a better term for getting results commensurate chi Yu, Chinese Consul General general use than the word "de- with the machinery and man- of New York; Mr. Hin Tse Wu, nomination." Use of that term power we have." The disquiet- United States representative of (though it means only "a ing fact is that the population Confucians, and Mr. Paul T. name") was declared to be ob- in non-Christian lands is in- Linn, of the Chinese Benevolent jectionable on the ground that creasing faster than those who Association. it is a "divisive term." The turn to the Saviour. "The This community center will [261 ]
devote itself to problems pecul- are in college or seminary pre- ment schools. Several Catholic iar to Chinatown. It has a Sun- spokesmen have called the order day and weekday program of paring themselves to become "nothing but a political maeducation-religious and secular ministers to their own people. neuver." -with special courses in English for all ages, a kindergarten, All of the pastors of the colored Ministering to Neglected scout troops and young people's churches are college and semi- Indians organizations. nary graduates. The ministers in the Spanish – s pea kin g Physicians from the Hospital -The Christian Century. Latino – Americano in' Mexico churches are trained men. The spend each year five months in "New Americans" Plan first Eskimo to be ordained is the aggregate visiting the In- for Church now the stated supply at Wain- dian tribes in isolated sections. Some of these villages have no Korean Presbyterians of Los wright, in the Arctic Circle. doctor except the Wi5Ch doctor Angeles are making plans for a and medicine men. Medical supnew church home, to cost be- The Sheldon Jackson School at plies are carried in the saddle tween four and five thousand Sitka has sent its graduates into bags of the missionary doctors, dollars. They have about $2,500 every phase of Alaskan life until and upon their trips they are in hand, and pledges for the bal- today its graduates make up by usually accompanied by one or ance. This Christian group has more colporteur missionaries been holding church services in far the majority of the members who give out scripture portions. rented quarters for nearly 30 The s e traveling missionaries years, and their joy in the pros- of the Alaskan Brotherhood and undergo the hardships of piopect of having a building of 'the Alaskan Sisterhood. neers, riding horseback over their own knows no bounds. steep and rough mountain trails -Presbyterian Banner. in order to take the ministry of -Presbyterian Banner. healing for body and soul to a LATIN AMERICA neglected people. It is hoped Echoes of Marcus Whitman that nurses may be trained and Campaign in Cuba sent out to their own people. Walla WalIa, Washington, a city of 16,000 persons, is re- The Superintendent of South- -Watchman-Examiner. ported, according to police rec- ern Baptist mission work in ords, to have passed through Cuba reports that a province- Home Missions in Nicaragua 1935 without a traffic fatality, wide evangelistic campaign in murder or manslaughter case. Santa Clara Province has re- The Woman's Missionary So- sulted in 500 professions and the This is the town established revival fires are still burning. ciety of the Managua Baptist seventy-five years ago near the This Province, with a population place where Dr. Marcus Whit- of 1,000,000, has nineteen Bap- Church now numbers 100. Last man and his young wife built tist churches and sixteen mistheir log cabin and established a sion stations. There are thirty- year the membership was doumission among the Cayuse Indi- nine missionaries. The meetans on the Walla Walla River. ings were held in thriving cities, bled. The motto of the society Two years later they organized a ranging in population from church of seven members. Ten 8,000 to 60,000. is "Nicaragua for Christ." Bapyears later, in 1847, Dr. and Mrs. Whitman and others were -Watchman-Examiner. killed by treacherous and misguided Indians. Later the un- Churches Reopening in Mexico tists have established work in friendly tribes were defeated by government troops and peace nearly all sections of Nicaragua, was established. Walla Walla was founded as a town in 1859. The government of President the best developed evangelical and has now grown to a well ordered city of 16,000 inhabi- Cardenas has decided to permit work being in Managua. tants-and no lawbreakers. reopening of the many hundreds On the east coast the Mora- Churches Becoming Indigenous of churches closed early in 1935, vians have evangelized another Presbyterian work among ra- and once more the religion pro- narrow strip all along the Atcial groups in North America, including the West Indies, is fessed by more than 16,000,000 lantic Coast. Their work is in rapidly becoming indigenous. The church in Puerto Rico and of Mexico's 18,000,000 inhabi- English or among the native In- Cuba is directed entirely by nationals. Several young Indians tants has opportunity to be put dians in their own language.
in practice. Churches remain This leaves a wide strip through the property of the government. the center and several sections The order does not apply to in the north entirely untouched churches which have been taken by the Gospel.
over for use as schools, libraries Everywhere is felt the need or government offices. for trained native leadership.
It is said that one of the gov- The Managua Baptist Church ernment's motives pinedneci indigng to illustrates what may be accom- permit the reo of plished under proper leaders.
churches was the hope that the During three months the Mana- action would remove opposition gua Church received 21 new by Catholics to the official social- members by baptism, while 5 istic education program, and more have been accepted, and that Catholics would willingly the candidates' class has 20 en- send their children to govern- rolled. -Missions.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Roman Catholic Growth followed by Italians and Poles. the country is 100 per cent pro- The many European nationali- Recently Dr. Web s t erE. ties create special problems, and fessing Christian. Since Green- Browning, regional secretary of in part account for the multipli- land belongs to Denmark, the the Committee on Cooperation cation of churches. Greenland Church is under the -World Survey Service. in Latin America, sent out a Bishop of Copenhagen. A proquestionnaire, asking impres- vost is stationed at Godthaab sions from a number of leading EUROPE and a vice-provost farther north. missionaries and national work- Seven Danish and fifteen Es- ers of the evangelical movement French Protestants Seek Unity kimo pastors are in charge of regarding the religious situation ten parishes in the west, two in in various republics. The first Negotiations for union be- the east and one at Cape York. question dealt with the growth tween the two leading Reformed The country is so large that the of influence of the Roman Cath- Churches in France are still in parishes are from 150 to 200 olic Church. The substance of progress. During recent years miles each way. Church attendreplies to this question is as fol- French Protestants have become ance is good, the people are lows: "There is general consent convinced that their divisions thrifty and happy, they are litto the statement that the dom- are a cause of weakness, and erate, and have schools, includinant church is, at present, en- that they keep souls in search ing normal school and seminary, joying what may be called a re- of truth a way from the Sunday schools and young peovival of influence and power. churches, paralyzing efforts at ple's societies. Religion is evangelization and wasting re- taught in the public schools be- There is, it is stated, an in- sources. They have come to see -Fattig og Rik. creased attendance on its serv- sides.
ices; there are street proces- that their doctrinal divergences sions in cities which formerly are not as great as might ap- Sweden's Religious Bodies pear, so that the two churches forbade them; its schools report Religious statistics for Swea heavier enrolment, especially can adhere to the three evan- den have been compiled from gelical positions stated at the various sources and are, aptheological seminaries in which Lausanne Conference. During proximately: Adventists, 2,500 ; young men of the country are the negotiations of r e c e n t Salvation Army, 20,500; Swedregistering in greater numbers; months an attempt has been an air of greater confidence pre- made to find a declaration of ish Salvation Army, 2,000; faith which will affirm the Missionary Association of Orevails and more modern methods bro, 1,525; Baptists, 68,151 ; are being used in propaganda, eternal truths of the Gospel and Independent Baptists, 5,000 ; the permanent principles of the such as broadcasting and more Roman Catholics, 4,100; Swedeffective advertising in the Reformation, and which will ish Church (Lutheran), 5,830,- press; and by means of specially constitute a common basis for 000; Swedish Missionary Fedprepared books and other litera- thought and action. The prin- eration, 200,000; Jews, 10,000; ture." ciples on which the mixed com- Methodist Episcopal, 30,000 ; mittee, charged with preparing -The Christian Century.
Some Problems in Argentina this basis, is proceeding are the Orthodox Greeks, 349; Pente- costists, 55,000; the Lutheran Methodist work in Argentina following: common obedience to Church of Sweden has 2,741 owes its origin to Rev. J. Demp- the authority of the Word of pastors at work. God, common profession of the ster, who arrived in Buenos Christian faith and common fi- Heroism Brings Revival Aires in 1836, and his initiative delity to the true mission of the has resulted in a Methodist com- Church. A recent compilation reveals that of 83 pastors still remainmunity of some 6,000. The total -World Survey Service. ing within the boundaries of evangelical community of Ar- Soviet Russia, 47 have been suf- gentina is 193,000. In Greenland The work of evangelization in Hans Egede, the Apostle to fering for years in concentrathis field is somewhat paralyzed, Greenland, was born on January tion camps, on the White Sea or especially as regards that car- 31st, 250 years ago. Greenland in Siberia. Two were recently ried on by national workers. is one of the successful mission condemned to death; others Quite often foreigners without enterprises of the Lutheran have been forced to stop their the language requirement have church. Every year, on All- work. Probably less t han the necessary funds to carryon Saints' Day, every congregation twenty Evangelical pastors are intensive work, but good native in Greenland celebrates the still at work in Russia out of the preachers are limited to work- memory of Hans Egede and at 300 who formerly preached the ing among small congregations Godthaab, there is a fine granite Gospel there. The same writer which cannot support them, or monument erected in his honor. relates how two Christian colgive them scope for advance. It is reported that on Pentecost porteurs were preaching the Immigration t 0 Argentina Day, May 20, 1934, at Cape Gospel in a village. One crum- continues. Last year Spaniards York, the last heathen in the pled up suddenly, struck by a claimed the largest increase, whole land was baptized, so that bullet. His comrade, instead of
fleeing, took the Bible from the or been deeply interested in the Lutherans Start Mission Gospel message, is marked with in Nigeria martyred man, and continued a star in the hospital records. There are recorded between 300 The Lutheran Missouri Synod, preaching to the frightened lis- and 400 "star" cases, names of one of the largest Lutheran former patients, with whom spe- bodies in America, with a memteners. His heroism made such cially to keep in touch in their bership of 1,460,052 in the villages. Middle West, will inaugurate its a profound impression that a re- first missionary work in Africa -Edinburgh M. M. S. when Prof. Henry Nau and vival broke out in the village Quarterly. Mrs. Nau arrive in Nigeria. The synod has been carrying on which extended beyond its bor- Haile Selassie and Missions extensive missionary activities in Asia, Australia, Iceland and ders. -Alliance Weekly. This emperor, whose name North and South America for means "Hero of the Trinity," is more than seventy-five years. Religion in Russia eagerly devoted to the further- ance of his people and is per- Early last year, Dr. Nau, in Observers notice an intensive sonally concerned that the Gos- company with two others from turning of people in Russia to- pel should have free course in the synod, sailed to Africa to ward religion. Cases are cited the country. The Amharic peo- survey the field in response to a where factory workers have vol- ple have been Christians for petition from Nigeria asking the untarily collected money for a 1,600 years; but much of their Synodical Conference of Lunew church building; many religion is set in rigid forms, theran Synods to begin mission were imprisoned for this. New especially on account of the long work there. During his stay, churches have been built in in- isolation of the country. Dr. Nau completed the transladustrial districts, some of the tion of Martin Luther's cateparticipants actually being com- While Haile Selassie is a chism and a number of standard munists. faithful son of his own Coptic church hymns into the native or Abyssinian church, he is dialect of the people, and when The Russian Missionary So- eager to open it to Evangelical he returned, in June, reported ciety reports that the excom- influences. He has been favor- bright prospects for mission missioner of education in the able to all missions. The Basel work in Nigeria. Soviet has confessed that mem- Mission looks back upon a cenbership in the communist party tury's participation in the work Revival Begins with has increased only a million in inasmuch as the first mission- Missionaries ten years, whereas the Stundists aries were trained in Basel, (the equivalent of vital Chris- among them the great Samuel W. J. Anderson, Jr., American tianity) has increased six mil- Gobat. The Amharic Bible was Presbyterian missionary at Lulion in the same period, in the printed at St. Crishona, near bondai in the Congo, writes that face of all the opposition of Basel. spiritual blessing began when Soviet propaganda. the missionaries, burdened by The emperor is a zealous sup- the need for a fresh outpouring AFRIOA porter of the work of spreading of the Spirit, set apart a week the Bible in the new vernacular to humble themselves before Preaching by Works translation and he took part per- God, determined that if any- sonally in the dedication of the thing in their lives was block- When the Egypt General Mis- beautiful building of the British ing progress it should be done sion commenced work in 1898, and Foreign Bible Society in away with. "God revealed a it was with no idea of winning Addis Ababa. He himself pub- number of things; they were the people except by direct lishes Biblical books in two ver- made right. When this was preaching of the Gospel. As the sions, the old sacred translation done and we held back nothing, work developed in the villages, which is no longer understood but surrendered all to Him, then some of the young missionaries, by the people and the modern God's blessing came. Peace, joy, handicapped by their lack of the which they can read. He ex- fellowship, power, such as we language, felt constrained to plains all this work in a preface had never experienced before. preach by "deeds, not words" till with his own portrait. He sends We witnessed to the leaders such time as they mastered out loads of these Bibles on among the natives, then to the Arabic, so they began by carry- mule-back to his leaders for the evangelists. Much confession of ing bottles of eyedrops with purpose of distributing them sin followed! them, to relieve suffering and among their people. show forth something of the "It spread to the workmen, to love and compassion of Christ. He also sets a good example to near-by villages. All hours of Later, this eye work developed his people in the matter of the day and night the people until an amateur dispensary was church attendance, being at his came, under great conviction of opened in the Delta. place every Sunday in the sin, wanting to get right with Church of St. George in the cap- God. The transformed evan- As patients return to their vil- ital. lages they are followed up by a system which has been carefully developed during the last few years. The name of each patient who has been found. to have accepted Christ as Saviour,
1936J OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
gelists went back to their vil- the Cape country are gradually Immigrants from Germany lages, witnessed and preached combining in a larger union. include a large proportion of as never before in their lives. This means that now actual mis- And what were the results? sionary work is over in this part professional men, also leaders People began seeking the Lord of Africa. in the world's thought. by the score and then by the hundred. Villages that, a couple In 1842, the first Rhenish mis- Affiliation of Colleges of years ago were most offensive sionaries came to the Hottentots to visiting missionaries, and in Namaland in Southwest International ColI e g e at most antagonistic to the Gospel, Africa. Two years later the have since been begging us to first station was planted among Smyrna, Turkey, will affiliate establish work in their midst." the Hereros. Then was added work among the Ba'stards and with the American University -Congo Mission News. the black slaves in the land of the Hill Damas. For 50 years of Beirut, Syria. Negotiations Revival at Bolobo the work here was hindered in many ways, most of all by the for the sale of the campus and Compromise is expressed by great rebellion in 1904 and then Congo church members as the World War. The many in- buildings at Smyrna to the gov- "using their two legs to travel terruptions broke up the tribal two different roads." A recent coherence which caused great ernment are under way. The revival resulted in pro t est language divisions and finally against this, and a low level of led to relinquishing the work in new plans, of which details and spiritual life in general. Young Amboland. From 1929 to 1933, men were fired with zeal to the whole area suffered from re- legal adjustments are still to be carry the Good News into the current droughts~ The greatest hinterland, and preaching difficulty lies in the fact that the worked out, will be provisional "classes" wen t everywhere. land is thinly populated; but of Fetishes were exposed and dis- its 90,000 inhabitants 56,000 for five years, and contemplate carded, and many pagans gath- have now been gathered in the ,ered into the Church. Special congregations of this mission. no further capital investment in pamphlets, extra Bible classes .and prayer meetings had to be The mission is having a won- grounds and buildings, and the planned. New prayer houses derful increase in its work for were built, all by native initia- the last two years. It amounts cooperating boards will each tive, and reg u I a r morning almost to a mass movement. prayers are held in the villages The special object of its care is maintain identity and control of of Bolobo, where formerly the the mission among the Bushefforts of missionaries to orig- men. These people from South funds. -Advance. inate such prayers went on for Africa are coming by the thoua while, then died out. sands begging for reception into A Consecrated Christian the Christian Church. One of the most remarkable The Syria News Quarterly reresults of the revival is the spon- WESTERN ASIA taneous desire of the people to counts the story of a consecrated reshape the community's life Type of Jews in Palestine Christian worker named J alaI, nearer their heart's desire. The whose experiences paralleled .amount of palm wine or sugar- Immigration of Jews to Pales- those of Paul. Armed with cane beer brought in for sale to tine in 1934 exceeded 42,000, ac- Bibles, books and pamphlets Bolobo market suffered imme- cording to the Jewish Mission- specially written for Moslems, diate curtailment; in short, a ary Intelligence. In 1922, they he had set out in November on new standard has been set for were 11 per cent as compared to a missionary tour to include the Christian living. 78 per cent Moslems; in 1931, more benighted and sin-scarred nearly 17 per cent as against 73 of the villages in the northern -World Survey Service. per cent Moslems and 9 per cent part of Syria. He got on very Christians. The type of the well until the police interfered. The Rhenish- Mission Jewish population has definitely Finding that he had no local per- changed. Time was when Pales- mit to sell books they summarily This mission opened in 1828 tinian Jews were orthodox, poor took him to the police station. when its first four missionaries in substance, not well educated. There he was requested in no landed in Capetown and began Today, they are self-reliant and polite terms to leave the town. work among the colored popula- pride themselves on being self- J alaI insisted mildly that he was tion. Since then 20,000 Chris- supporting and independent, not a transgressor, and repaired tians are gathered in 10 congre- and their nationalistic aspira- to the French Secretary of the gations. In 1840 this mission tions find little use for religious Interior to obtain a license. In also took over the work of the observances. his office were a young Syrian London Missionary Society. interpreter, a Syrian lady ste- Since 1933, the congregations of nographer, a number of men and a Moslem woman heavily veiled. In true oriental fashion this group constituted itself a jury in his case. When they had heard all, they gathered about asking him questions, and sev- eral were moved to open their hearts to him and to ask his ad- vice in the solution of their own difficulties.
As for the French secretary, he was so interested in Jalal's tale of his conversion from Is-
lam and his occupation in INDIA This mysterious Bible was spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that he immediately be- Revival Fires printed on the presses of the came a warm friend and advo- Basel Mission in Mangalur in cate, and lost no time in supply- Methodist Christians in India 1865 and has attained to such a ing the permit. write hopefully of signs of degree of veneration that for awakening in their districts. decades it has been preserved in Premium on Unveiling Dr. J. R. Chitambar, of Jubbul- a Hindu temple and is wor- pore, says: "Many Christians shipped as divine by these non- Iran has taken a daring step. are experiencing a new filling Christian people. Two Swiss Under order of the American- with the Holy Spirit and deep missionaries, Pastor Noverraz trained Minister of Education, spiritual power is noticeable in and Miss Dr. Petitpierre have boys and girls of seven and meetings . in various places. been permitted to see it. They under will attend school to- Lives are touched and changed." tell the following story. gether. The age limit will be Rev. O. M. Auner writes of a raised annually until it reaches revival in Khandwa that "noth- About sixty years ago there sixteen, the age at which girls ing like it has been seen in India may marry under the new law. before." The same kind of re- was in Mustigiri, near the mis- The new law sets the marriage port comes from Shabjahanpur sion station of Guledgudd, a age of men at eighteen. School district: "Things are on fire priest, Kalappa, serving the· girls and their teachers now go from God in Parahpur, Karswa temple of the goddess Durgavva. to their classes unveiled, and to and Ranjitpur." After various further encourage unveiling, conferences, workers have gone He was so receptive to the Gosgovernment offices are offering back to their fields with new pel that one of the Swiss mispositions to girls who have put power and deeper Christian ex- sionaries presented him with the aside their veils. perience. Bible.
-Alliance Weekly. In the Lushai Hills Then a fanatical swami, fear- ing the holy book of the Chris- Experiences in Arabia A generation ago two pio- tians might prove detrimental and cause secessions from Hin- Dr. Harold Storm, of the neers, F. W. Savidge and J. H. duism, got possession of it and American Reformed Church nailed it shut with a big nail. Mission in Muscat, who is tour- Lorrain, were sent by a wealthy ing the coast of Arabia, was Before he died, he uttered the warned not to enter the Mahara Christian of Leeds, England, to prophecy, that when the hole country of southeastern Arabia. Other foreigners have nearly open a mission among head- caused by the nail would close lost their lives at the hands of up again, he would himself rethe Mahara. Being delayed by hunters of the North Lushai turn from the dead. This prophbad weather, Dr. Storm walked ecy was believed by the people nearly twenty miles to Quishu, Hills, in the area between India the capital where he met the and so it came that the old book Sultan of Mahara and received and Burma, near the Assam came to be superstitiously venan invitation to stay with him erated. or to return for another visit. border. In four years they mas- Last year, Missionary Schuler, The Mahara people are made tered the unwritten language, also of the Basel Mission, sucup of a confederation of small ceeded in being permitted to see tribes numbering about 50,000, reduced it to writing, translated the Bible and the priest who is speaking their own language and maintaining almost com- two Gospels and the Book of the its custodian. The latter had the plete independence. Dr. Storm book carefully wrapped in red was delayed in carrying out his Acts, wrote hymns, a catechism, plans in reaching Dhufar, but silk, locked up in a casket, found that this delay was a pro- a primer, a grammar, and a dic- which he brought out and placed vision of God since one of his on a stand. On the wrapper hospital boys, who had gone in tionary of 7,000 words. When there were leaves of a sacred advance to prepare the way, had tree that were still fresh and been able to treat the Sultan of their work was well started they also some grains of rice, all of Muscat successfully of eye trouble. As a result a warm wel- handed it over to the Welsh Cal- which showed that the Bible recome awaited Dr. Storm and the ceived daily worship. It was a best house in Salala was put at vinistic Methodists. Today, as solemn moment of the utmost his disposal. quiet, until the relic was un- a result of their work, there are wrapped. The binding is loose and the worse for wear on ac- in these southern hills 6,000 count of the ravages of the white ants. In the center of one church members in full stand- board of the binding there is a small hole, diminishing as far ing, with a Christian community as the book of Leviticus. Many leaves are loose and worn. The of 16,000 and 9,500 Sunday priest had smeared his forehead with red paint and on it were school scholars. The native staff pasted grains of rice. He said consists of 11 traveling superin- tendents and 117 honorary vil- lage pastors. The whole New Testament has been published in Lushai. -So S. Times.
The Nailed-Up Bible This title sounds almost as if it were taken from a story book. It is so very characteristic of Hindu mentality that it deserves to be told further.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
he did not read the book and so On Sunday, December 8, a preparation for another. There the missionary offered him an- Christian procession of wit- is a married lepers' village, other Bible for a present, the nesses was organized. About where about 100 people make priest promising to read it him- 260 people met at the Christian their homes. The arrangement self and also to read it to the high school and mar c h e d seems to be quite satisfactory. visitors at the temple. through the streets, with ban- The outstanding event of the ners flying and texts displayed, year in the colony was the sep- What Humble Folk Can Do halting at various points to sing aration from the mother church. and witness. By the time the Their new status as a separate In the Telugu country mis- procession had returned to its church was celebrated with ap- sionaries were moved to see what starting place, the number had propriate services and cere- poor, uneducated people can do grown to over 400. The route monies. They now have their in the way of evangelism. They was about two and a half miles own budget, support their own cannot make long speches. They long, and very dusty which made pastor, and give generously to cannot argue and engage in con- singing difficult. Christian pro- evangelistic work. For the past troversy as St. Paul did in cessions are rare, but this one few months they have had entire Athens, but they can tell others met with encouraging· success. charge of their own services what Christ has done for them, with no help from the mother sell Gospels and exemplify the -C. M. S. Outlook. church. They also have a reg- love of Christ in their own lives. ular schedule of study classes, Finding Title for God and a number are well versed in From a report of an evan- the Scriptures. The medical gelistic campaign of Anglican, Agents of the Bible Society treatment has been varied dur- Methodist and Congregational from Calcutta and Rangoon, ing the year by the addition of Churches in 1934, we find the missionary representatives of two new remedies, which gave following: the Bible Churchmen's Mission- them new interest in their treat- ary Society and other organiza- ment, though no specific cures In one village illiterate Chris- tions at work in that area met are reported.-Siam Outlook. tian women were trained to sing in February to discuss a suitable hymns and learn lessons by title for God in the Khumi and CHINA heart so as to repeat them in kindred dialects. The Khumis the village bazaar before caste are a Chin tribe, with several Communist Opinion of employers, and with good effect. branches; of the forty-five Chin Missionary tribes, forming a total popula- Christian children took their tion of only about 350,000, less What Chinese communists part in the campaign: they than a dozen can at present hear think of missionaries appears in would go with banners in pro- the Gospel in their own lan- the trial of Messrs. A. Hayman cession through the caste quar- guage. The difficulty which this and R. Bosshardt, the members ters and sing hymns. mission is facing among the of the China Inland Mission Khumis in Burma is one which who were captured as spies at Small children would stand up has been met in many parts of Kiuchow, their station, on Oc- in the village street and repeat the world and illustrates the tober 2, 1934. Both were scripture verses or a Gospel care which is necessary in the charged with having been sent story, and then say a little selection of proper terms in any to China "under imperialistic prayer. language, if the Christian doc- principles, to delude with – the trine of God is to be satisfac- teachings of Jesus the docile In one village Christians of torily understood. Christians people," and with having served outcaste origin bought Gospels number 331,000 in Burma, the as a vanguard in the interest of and tracts and gave them free great majority being Karens imperialism with a view to "di- to the caste farmers. One very or members of nonindigenous viding up China as a melon." poor Christian woman gave a races. Less than 12,000 Bur- Special deprecating reference farthing for three Gospels and mans, little more than one in was made to their work among some handbills and gave them to every thousand, were returned the Miao, one of the tribes in her master who was a caste as Christians in the latest cen- West China. "With the Bible of man. -C. M. S. Outlook. sus figures. Jesus they h a v e positively drugged the people with a view Public Witnessing -World Survey Service. to destroying all those who are opposed to imperialism." St. Paul's Church, Jubbul- Lepers Have Their Own pore, held a "Week of Witness," Owing to the increasing ill when they erected a tent near Church health of Mr. Hayman he was the main road, and a band of released on November 18, 1935. . workers invited the passers-by The Leper Colony at Kiulung- Mr. Bosshardt remains in cap- to come in and see the lantern kiang, Siam, has grown until tivity, with his whereabouts un- slides and listen to the good there are now over 220 patients. known.-The Living Church. news. Attendances averaged Two new dormitories have been about sixty to eighty non-Chris- built and many bricks made in tians, and many heard the Gos- pel for the first time.
Chiang Kai-Shek Appeals most of the listeners, a striking J APAN-CHOSEN to Nation object lesson was presented re- cently in Tientsin when a large All-Japan Christian General Chiang Kai-Shek, on crowd heard The Beatitudes Conference January 1, broadcast a message (or, as the Chinese call them, to the Chinese nation in which 'The Eight Happinesses") read The 200 delegates to the Allhe asserted that national salva- in several different languages. Japan Christian Conference in tion could be achieved within They were read first in Chinese, Tokyo, November 26-27, repre- ,one year, through the New Life then in the Latin Vulgate; a sented practically every commu- Movement. With the old Chi- Greek merchant read the mod- nion and every national Chrisnese virtues, courtesy, justice, ern Greek version, and a Jap- tian organization in the Empire. honesty and conscientiousness, anese Christian read them in Interest ran high in the two he believes it possible to build Japanese. Then they were read major questions-Church Union up the moral character of the III English, afterwards a Jew and a Nation-Wide United Cam- nation and wipe out all evil and (putting on his hat) read a pas- paign of Evangelism. The con- undesirable habits of the people. sage from the Old Testament in ference was opened with aserv- To consolidate material safety Hebrew, followed by a Swiss ice of rededication and commu- ,he urges the "People's Economic who read in French, and finally nion, led by Bishop Akazawa. Reconstruction Movement," and a Swiss woman read them in outlines eight main steps as es- German. When the Japanese An interlude in the discus- sential; among them develop- was heard with perfect respect sions was provided by Mr. Y. ment of agriculture, mine ex- and attention by an audience al- Takata, Head of the Bureau of ploitation, labor conscription, most completely Chinese, there Religions in the Department of regulation of consumption and was added meaning to "Blessed Education, and I. Kanzaki, a transportation improvement. are the peacemakers." Shinto priest. The former ex- plained some of the general Referring to the gravity of -L. M. S. Chronicle. principles of the "Religions Bill" the national emergency, General which the department is pre- Chiang said that the nation must Leadership – the Great Need paring and proposes to intro- awake to its mistakes, and rec- duce in the coming session of tify them without further delay. The lack of leadership in Parliament. One of these prin- He regards moral training of China has been the subject of ciples is to secure proper educa- the individual as of most im- investigation and planning by tional and moral qualifications portance. -People's Tribune, the National Committee for for religious workers. The Christian Education. Dr. Lu- other is to provide some method Shanghai. ther A. Weigle, Dean of Yale whereby each denomination will Divinity S c h 0 0 I, spent six have a recognized representative Campaign Among Students months in China in 1935, study- with which the government can ing the problem. In preparation deal when matters arise which The "Youth and Religion for his visit a survey was made call for conference. The Shinto Movement," now in its second and the results embodied in a priest declared that Christianity year, in which Dr. W. Y. Chen, pamphlet, "Training for Leader- has a great contribution to make Professor of Psychology in Fu- ship in the Chinese Church." to the life of Japan. kien Christiim University, and This formed the basis of discus- Dr. Y. C. Tu, Professor of sion at an enlarged meeting of Among actions taken was one Physics in the University of the Committee held at Kuling. granting a form of ordination Shanghai, have been the leaders One outcome of that meeting to women evangelists. ' and speakers, has recently closed was the formation of an associa- a most successful campaign. tion of theological colleges; an- -Japan Christian other, the resolve that the train- Quarterly. The team visited in all thir- ing of lay church workers twehenerceiitnies1,59o,n0e00beliinsgteYneudnntoantfhu~ should constitute the main work Toward Abolishing message, of whom 6,212 signed of the Committee for the next Prostitution cards, 56 per cent of these being year or two. Not without sig- inquirers and the rest reconse- nificance was the adoption of the One of the goals set by Chris- crations. The leaders were espe- words "education for service'~ in tian leaders is the abolition of cially successful in a number of place of training for leadership. licensed prostitution. In De- cities in making contacts with It is of interest, too, to read that cember it was reported that the teachers and students in govern- the old-style training schools for Kochi Prefectural Assembly had ment schools, thus opening what Bible women are increasingly adopted a resolution in favor of may prove another opportunity giving place to women's adult abolition, bringing the number of Christian service. education schools. of prefectures which had passed such resolutions up to thirteen. "The Eight Happinesses" -W. W. S. S. News. The evil has already been abol- ished in several prefectures. Although the proceedings This action is in line with the were largely unintelligible to recently adopted policy of the Home Office which has drafted
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK 269J
an Abolition Bill to be presented Christian influence by working this very badge, that we have to the forthcoming session of as a farmer among farmers. used for close to thirty years, the Diet. There is a disposition His wife is as sincere a Chris- will be the first thing that. to remove the stigma of being tian as he. Presently, Christian strikes the eye of every person one of the few nations which missionaries living in Yamagata entering the school gate. Once, protects licensed vice. One news- challenged them to come to the more, the Cross has conquered.'" paper editor remarked: "It is city and engage in a work in humiliating that the govern- which their influence would Ohung Sin School ment licenses prostitution as a have larger scope. After much legitimate business. It is con- prayer they accepted the chal- Chung Sin,PresbyterianAcadtradictory for Japan which poses lenge, and today the Kantos are emy for Girls in Chosen has been as the possessor of a civilization engaged in what is known as given "designation" by the Govin no sense inferior to that of Rural Correspondence Evan- ernment. This does not mean Europe and America to permit gelism. Brief sermons and that the school is better than such a system to exist." Christian articles are published before, but that the Government in the local newspaper. Inter- now acknowledges it as worthy. -Japan Christian ested inquirers write for more Its graduates hereafter will be' Quarterly. detailed information about the accepted in higher schools, and Christian faith, and Mr. Kanto in future work on an equal basis, Developing Ohristian Leaders answers these letters. Young with those of private registered folks from these rural villages, and Government schools. The enrolment at Wilmina Jo believing they have found a sym- Gakko, Girls' School in Osaka, pathetic ear, pour out their On May 25th the Parents' Aswas 350 in 1925; ten years hearts to him through this cor- sociation was organized, and' later it was 957. A Christian respondence; and he, with his started its work with real enemphasis is maintained. Every keen understanding of the prob- thusiasm. Their personal intermorning the whole school as- lems of rural folk, comforts and est in the school has been mani-. sembles for chapel service; the satisfies them and leads them on fest. The Chung Sin Y. W. C. A. Y. W. C. A. meets each week; toward Christian faith. Grad- completed their first full year of special classes are held to pre- ually his influence is extending service in a small rural church.. pare the girls for baptism; Bible throughout the entire rural area In September, Chung Sin stustudy is required in the cur- of Yamagata Prefecture. Their dents organized a Sunday School riculum; early morning prayers best work is done simply in in this church and have been are held at intervals throughout visiting the homes of their faithful in making, two by two, tbe year; and every other week friends and talking quietly each Sunday, a trip which takes; a church service is held in the about the Christian faith. all day long to teach these little chapel and attended by all the children. In December, two of girls. The superintendent of -Missionary Herald. the girls spent a week in this; the school is an ordained min- rural church helping to put on ister, and last year 160 girls The Oross Prevails a very attractive Christmas prowere baptized. gram. The foreign missionary Dr. Koons, Principal of the work of the Korean Church in -Presbyterian Banner. John D. Wells Academy for Shantung, Chi n a, has been Boys in Seoul, cites the follow- helped by these students as they Rural Oorrespondence ing as the most significant event send forty yen each term for the' Evangelism of the school year: "The grad- work there. Sunday they have, uating class of 1935 gave the faithfully taught in nearly every South of Yamagata, an hour's school a copy of the school Sunday School in connection ride by train, is a little village badge, cast in brass, to be placed with the Seoul city churches. called Ippon-yanagi (One Wil- on the wall over the entrance of low Tree), just a small group of the main building. Five or six "Finished" farmhouses surrounded almost years ago, Korea was swept by entirely by rice fields. In one of a wave of antireligious feeling Rev. Bruce Hunt, of Chung'- these homes, some 50 years ago, among the young people, espe- ju, Korea, lists projects either' Motohei Kanto was born. Moto- cially the students. At that completed or developed to the hei followed ancestral tradition time there was a strong wish point where they can be turned in becoming a farmer, but ex- among the John D. Wells stu- over to Koreans. One district, ceeded that tradition by attend- dents, for a new badge, without hitherto feeble, has undertaken ing an agricultural school, by the Maltese cross. As they partial support of an evangelisbecoming a Christian and by pointed out, no other school in tic helper and plans in three traveling abroad for further the city had a badge of this years to carry his whole supstudy. After three years in kind; the others were nearly all port. As to agricultural work, America and seven in Germany, conventionalized Chinese char- station pioneering is over, and studying theology and evan- acters. Now all on their own, this phase of country-church gelistic methods, as well as agri- these lads make the school this self-support turned over to a culture, he returned to Japan, gift, insuring that for all time trained Korean. Another job. where he decided to test his
done is consolidation of many A Sunday in 'Sumatra seven years from 1928 to 1935. Contributions for 1935 slightly "special offering days" in the A writer in the Christian Ad- exceeded those for 1934, how- vocate describes a morning serv- ever. The contribution per capchurches into the four author- ice at Balige, Sumatra: ita for all purposes in 1934 was $12.07 and in 1935 it was $12.10. ized by General Assembly for The church was filled to capacity- The contribution per capita for about fifteen hundred. We saw congregational purposes only Sunday schools in this country- throngs entering two other churches was $9.92 in 1934 and $9.98 for as well. That entire community is 1935. Easter, Children's Day, Thanks- now Christian and all work is laid aside on the Sabbath day. Total gifts declined from giving, Christmas. $532,368,714 in 1928 to $304,- . -Monday Morning. The people in the churches were 692,499 in 1935, while total clean, intelligent and worshipful. The gifts for congregational pur- ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC music was all of the German chorale poses declined from $402,683,- type, and was the most beautiful we 861 to $251,347,435. The per Scene in Manila Cemetery had ever heard. There were no hymn capita contribution for all pur- books; the lines were read out by the poses declined from $23.30 in Moody Institute Monthly de- choir leader and the people all sang. 1928 to $12.10 in 1935. Per .scribes a scene in a Manila, P. I., capita contribution for congre- .cemetery in the evening of All- At the close of the service twenty- gational purposes declined from Saints' Day. six babies were baptized. They had $17.30 in 1928 to $9.98 in 1935. to be divided into two groups in order "All the tombstones were to be accommodated at the altar rail. The report says that nearly lighted with electricity. In many The mothers stood with the babies in all the communions maintained Df them were statues of the vir- their arms and the fathers in a row their per capita contributions gin, or statues of Christ on the behind them. for congregational expenses betcross with a light effect which ter than those for benevolences. :showed up his heart in red. New Vision for Village The Protestant Episcopalians Vendors of all kinds were on the Leaders were the only group to lose progrounds, and there was even a portionately less on benevolences booth where electrical supplies Two conferences for village than on contributions for conwere sold. The people believe leaders in Papua are reported in gregational expenses. that the souls of the dead ac- Kwato Mission Tidings; one at tually come back on this night. Kwato, the other at Koeabule. w. C. T. U. Is Growing Some time during the day a priest visits each grave, says a If one thing was more obvious than The Woman's Christian Temprayer, and charges twenty pisos another among the 86 men who fore- perance Union is now organized ($10) for each prayer. gathered at Koeabule, it was the spir- in fifty-two countries with a itual hunger of all who came. There half million paid-up member- A group of Christian students was no necessity to try to inspire ship. New members are joining ,distributed about 9,000 Gospel them to seek a fuller surrender, or to by the thousand. Mrs. Ella A. tracts that evening in the ceme- convict them of unfruitfulness and Boole, world president declared tery. the need for a new consecration. That at a recent meeting in New was just what they were yearning for, York : "Weare working not In the Face of Obstacles and the very reason why they had only for outlawing the liquor come. The Lord stated that those traffic in the United States, but Rev. William Swaan is labor- who hungered and thirsted after all over the world." The next jng among Dyaks and Chinese righteousness were the lucky ones world convention will be held in in Borneo. He .writes: "for they shall be filled," and these Washington, D. C., from June men certainly came longing to be 4-9, 1937. About ten villages are taking an filled and renewed. Some came from active stand for Christ, but Moslems an atmosphere of failure, where the – Watchman-Examiner. :and other enemies concentrate on our spiritual life had grown slack. A converts and make life very trying Buhutu man put it thus: "Every boat Bible 1,000 Years Old for them. With all our poverty and needs to be hauled up on the slips persecution and increased opposition and scraped and cleaned and painted, At the time of his coronation, from Moslems and Roman Catholics, and put into repair. We are like that Haile Selassie presented to H. eighteen souls were accepted for bap- too." He appealed earnestly to the Murray Jacoby, former Ambastism during the month of December. rest not to risk g'Qing back unfit for sador Extraordinary to Ethio- They are mostly people of one village commission through any shirking of pia, a one thousand-year-old ,close to Bengkajang, and have been response to the highest call that God Bible, written in Amharic. Mr. ,coming to our meetings for several would give them. Jacoby has just presented it to years. Please pray especially for the Friends Seminary, 226i East young Christians of this village, that A testimony meeting had to be con- Sixteenth Street, New York, of iGod may give them grace and power tinued the next day and the next. It which he is a trustee. to endure persecutions and hardships, required skill to keep the meeting in ·and witness faithfully for the Master. hand, as people were getting up three -New York Times. The Moslem problem is one of the at a time. greatest obstacles that we have to face. Many government officials are MISCELLANEOUS Moslems and have a tremendous influence over the lives and the affairs Survey of Church Giving .of our Christians. We know, how- ,ever, that God is greater than any The research department of ,obstacle or any force in the world. the Federal Council of Churches reports that annual gifts to -Fellowship of Faith for twenty-five Protestant church Moslems. bodies dropped 43 per cent in the
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Our Miss'ionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information I~ Popular Hinduism. The Religion of roes (sometimes these are crim- men and women of various races the Masses. By L. S. S. O'Maney, started out, not for war, but to C.LE., I.C.S.246 pp. $2.50. Mac- inals). There is also a chapter give their lives in heroic deeds millan Co., New York. 1935. on priests and holy men, while for peace. Their object was to the last chapter deals with sec- save men, not to kill them. This This is an extraordinarily tarianism and toleration. Hin- required courage and training able and interesting boo k. duism, which ordinarily is a and sacrifice, but the results Clear, concise and logical in its static and pacific religion, can were beautiful beyond words. language, it gives an account of be aroused to fanatic passion, Hinduism in eight chapters, and instances are given where "Peace on earth, good will each of which is packed with in- the Hindus without provocation toward men" must come through formation and sententious state- rose against their Moslem neigh- such Christlike service. Young ment. The author's earlier bors to pillage, destroy and mas- people are not responsible for book, entitled "Indian Caste sacre. making war; that responsibility Customs," received a warm wel- lies with older men-the poli-, come in the British press. The One of the strangest chapters ticians and rulers who for selfpresent volume gives reliable in- is that which deals with the dei- ish purposes are willing to sacriformation based not only on fication of heroes. fice millions of lives. Youth is wide reading but also on per- naturally militant, and easily sonal observation. Here we have With their extraordinary combina- persuaded to enter the army, or tion of ignorance, credulity and super- they can be inspired through stition the masses are prone to such stories as this to seek the victories of peace. the contrast between the belief ascribe supernatural powers to per:. Those who have gone at the of the masses and that of cul- sons of great gifts, singular person- call of Christ, through all the tured Hindus who form a small ages, have found that "kingminority. The first chapter ality, and even strange habits. doms are subdued" not through murderous warfare, but through Two missionaries may be reckoned the treaty of Bethlehem and by among the number of those who have following the leadership of the Prince of Peace. deals with beliefs, and is funda- been treated as divine beings. One mental. The author says that was Dr. J. E. Clough, an American Lucy W. PEABODY. Baptist missionary, under whom there three characteristic features was a mass movement to Christianity Forty Happy Years in Japan. By constitute popular Hinduism: in the Nellore district during the George P. Pierson and Ida G. Pier- son. 8vo. 130 pp. $1.25. Flemcaste, the veneration of the famine of 1876-78, when he was dis- ing H. Revell Co., New York. 1936. Brahman, and the sacredness of tinguished for his philanthropy and the cow. The first is the spinal From 1888 to 1928, Dr. and cord of Hinduism; the second practical ability, and carried to a suc- Mrs. Pierson lived and labored in Japan as missionaries of cessful conclusion the construction of Christ under the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. They a section of a canal, which gave re- came to understand and to love the Japanese, and because of is its handicap for the depressed lief to many thousands. After labor- their knowledge and love for ing for forty years among the Telugu- God, they earnestly sought to classes; and the third unites all win them to Christ. Their field Hindus, for "the cow is the pre- speaking people to the north of was in the most northern island siding genius of the country." of Hokkaido which is still Madras, he was surprised and dis- largely unevangelized territory.
tressed to learn that many of his con- This volume is chiefly a col- lection of scattered reminis- Almost universal illiteracy does verts had reverted to some of the practices of their former religion and not militate against fanatic be- invoked his name in various rites and lief. Superstition is rife, and incantations as if he were a deity. In polytheism runs riot. another mission field further south Mr. O'Malley doubts whether men who had been Christians treated India is more spiritual in its out- the grave of a missionary who had recently died as if it were a shrine, look than Europe. Litigation on and when his friends buHt a high a scale of five million cases a wall round the grave, in order to put a stop to the worship, they continued year is scarcely an index of a it outside the wall. S. M. ZWEMER. spiritually-minded people. In chapter three, which deals with· Victories of Peace. Stories of moral influences, he points out Friendship in Action. 12mo. 28. 6d. the gulf that separates religion Student Christian Movement Press. from ethics. Other chapters 1935.
deal with worship, evil spirits, In this interesting book of ten present-day deifications of he- stories of adventures of peace, Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by tlie REVIEW publishers on receipt of price, [271 ]
cences of forty years in evan- hood of Man as exemplified by tress during many months of gelistic work-memories of mis- Christ. The lectures are good sleepless nights and pain-filled sionaries and Japanese; of ex- but in our judgment do not go days, and, like her Master, has periences in typhoons, tidal far enough in their New Testa- learned obedience by the things waves and earthquakes; of per- ment position. she has suffered. One result is sonal work and conversations on this beautiful, inspiring book. religion; of work with children A Grain of Wheat. By Toyohiko Its tone is not gloomy and reand the Japanese Church; of Kagawa. Illus. 12mo. 150 pp. signed to defeat but joyous and meetings and revivals in thea- $1.00. Harper and Bros. New victorious. The pictures are arters, prisons and rural towns. York. 1936. tistic reproductions of the beau- There are also reports of prog- ties of God's creation-in forest ress and some conclusions as to Dr. Kagawa, the well-known and flower, in hill and valley, in Japanese history and customs; Christian evangelist and social summer and winter, in storm as to methods of work and the reformer, here appears as a and sunshine. place of women missionaries; as novelist-a role in which he is . The message is correspondto Japanese converts and work- famous in Japan. Over a million ingly beautiful- in verse and ers; as to missionary life and and a quarter copies of his books prose, with quoted gems and obwhat Japan most needs. While have been sold in Japan and this servations from personal experithe book lacks in literary merit, novel has already been through ence. The whole is inbreathed it makes up for this lack in in- two hundred editions. with trust in God and a recogformation and inspiration. The nition of His loving care. Any authors have shown themselves It is an interesting and mov- who come into contact with life's to be truly devoted missionaries, ing story of a young Japanese darker side will find here comwith courage and perseverance; of the rural masses who strug- forting help and peace that prayerfully depending on the gles against poverty and sin and comes from harmony with God power of the Holy Spirit to finally discovers the way to vic- and rejoicing in His will. make their work effective. tory and satisfaction through Christian teaching. Here in a The Case for Missions in Modern The Kingdom of God in Japan. Lec- popular form is a strong plea for India. By E. C. Dewick, M.A. tures by C. Burnell Olds. Pamph- helping to carry out Dr. Kaga- 25 pp. 3 Annas. The Palghat let. 25 cents. C. B. Olds, Jr., wa's Christian program for the Mission, Coyalmannan P.O., Pal- 1888 East 81st Street, Cleveland, rural population. The story is ghat. South India. 1934. Ohio. 1936. well told and the purpose of it is clear – to promote temperance Within the pages of this little The author of these lectures and economic reform. It 'will hook much insight and wisdom has been in Japan for thirty- help the reader to understand are to be found. As it states the three years as a missionary of and to sympathize with the peo- case for missions in every counthe American Board. The man- ple of that Empire who are try as well as in India, no one uscript was read by Rev. Akira handicapped by poverty but who will fail to profit by reading it. Ebisawa, Secretary of the Na- have such great possibilities. All who realize the modern detional Christian Council of The illustrations are from the cline of interest in missions not Japan, so that the statements cinema version of the story, only in you n g mISSIOnary and views have been doubly which we are told has created a churches, hut also in the parent checked. Mr. Olds' purpose is sensation in Japan. churches, will be glad to have to show the progress made by the situation examined with Christianity in Japan and to Gold by Moon,Iight. By Amy Car- candor and restraint by one as consider the most effective meth- michael. Illus. 8vo. 182 pp. S. P. well qualified to do so as the ods for its extension. The pres- C. K. London. Obtainable in author. entation is popular and inform- America at $1.50 from Hope Church ing – factual and from experi- Sunday School, St. Louis, Mo. After following his discussion ence. Mr. Olds' idea of the ob- 1935. -in the modern way-of such jective of Christian missions is questions as: the promotion of understanding Here is another book for sufand harmony between God and ferers and other Christians in Unfair methods of propaganda, man and between man and man. difficult places; for those who Missions are the expression of an Apparently he would not put the long to understand, or if they spiritual regeneration of the in- cannot understand, to draw pre- out-of-date religious imperialism, dividual first, and does not em- cious values out of seemingly Who should go as missionaries, phasize the necessity for per- impossible places. Miss Carsonal acceptance of Christ's michael, the human founder of few readers will fail to agree atoning death on the Cross and Dohnavur Fellowship-the mis- with Mr. Dewick's conclusion of belief in His resurrection from sion for temple children in South the matter which is: the dead. His emphasis is on India – has been used to bring the realization of the Father- many dark and suffering souls If the Christian missionary hood of God and the Brother- into the light and joy of Chris- presents Christ in His simplicity tian experience. She herself and grandeur, as pictured in the has suffered great physical dis- New Testament, he will have a message and a contribution for the world which can be given in no other way. JANE C. GOHEEN.
&!npl.. 01 0101' St.incUy School pubheatl_••1'4 Sheaves After Harvest. Andrew A. THAT
llabl. Ceur_ for Younq People', Soc..U.. Bonar. 126 pp. Is. Pickering & ..n! free on Jequeet. Inglis. London. THE BIBLE Used in thousands of Sunday Schools EST. 1886 Sources of Power in Famous Lives. where leaders believe in the inspira- Walter C. Erdman. 158 pp. $1.00. tion of God's Word• CHRISTIAN PUBUCATIONS.lN<: Cokesbury. Nashville. FREE PROSPECTUS of department 1502 N. Third St., Herrl.burl, Pe. Victories of Peace. D. M. Gill and in which you are interested and sam- A. M. Pullen. 128 pp. 2s. 6d. S. C. ple lessons (Graded or Uniform) will New Book. M. Press. London. be sent on request. Desk MR-S.
The Making of a Pioneer. Percy The Clash of Color. A Study in the Rev. W. Y. Chen, Ph.D., has been Mather of Central Asia. Mildred Problem of Race. Basil Mathews. appointed General Secretary of the Cable and Francesca French. Illus. Second Edition. Maps. 160 pp. National Christian Council of China 288 pp. $2. Stokes. New York. 2s. Edinburgh House Press. Lon- to succeed Dr. C. Y. Cheng, now Mod- don. erator of the United Church of China. The Apostle of the Chinese Commu- Until recently, Dr. Chen was pastor nists. Daniel Nelson. 139 pp. $1. At the Point of a Lancet. One Hun- of the Methodist Church of Foochow. Board of Foreign Missions of the dred Years of the Canton Hospital, During the last twelve months he has Norwegian Lutheran Church. Min- 1835-1935. William Warder Cad- been Acting President of Fukien neapolis. bury and Mary Hoxie Jones. 304 Christian University. pp. Kelly & Walsh, Ltd. Shanghai. Arthington's Million. The Romance Obituary Notes of the Arthington Trust. A. M. Congo Crosses-A Study of Congo Chirgwin. Illus. Maps. 160 pp. Womanhood. Julia Lake Kellers- (Concluded from second cover.) Livingstone Press. London. 2s. berger. 222 pp. 50 cents, paper; and 3s. $1.00, cloth. Central Committee has been extended for hundreds of for the United Study of Foreign miles throughout the vast North The Problem of Japan. Malcolm D. Missions. Boston. Brazil area. It has been a great force Kennedy. Illus. Maps. 287 pp. in the religious and cultural life of 15s. Nisbet. London. Glitter or Gold. M. E. Gillespie. the evangelical churches of that area. 240 pp. 2s. Pickering & Inglis. Papuans of the Trans-Fly. F. E. London. F. H. Hawki*ns,*fo*r over 40 years Williams. Illus. 452 pp. 30s. Oxford University Press. London. Jewels of Promise. Boardman Ser- a secretary and director of the Lon- mons. W. M. Seay. 151 pp. $1. don Missionary Society, died on Feb- Sharing Observations with the Home Boardman Press. Nashville. ruary 6. Until his retirement he was Church. Charles D. Bonsack. 287 responsible for the Society's work in pp. $2.00. Brethren Publishing Kagawa. An Apostle of Japan. House. Elgin, Ill. Margaret Baumann. 95 pp. 75 China. ** * cents. Macmillan. New York. Education for Service in the Chris- Bishop William Burt, for twenty- tian Church in China. The Report Daniel Alexander Payne. Josephus five years in charge of the European of a Survey Commission, 1935. Roosevelt Coan. 139 pp. A. M. E. Conference of the Methodist Epis- 157 pp. 60 cents. World Sunday Book Concern. Philadelphia, Pa. copal Church and later of the Buffalo School Assn. New York. Diocese, died at Clifton Springs, New John and Betty Stamm: Martyrs. York, on April 9th, at 83 years of Christian Education Overseas. A Lee S. Huizenga. 95 pp. 35 cents, age. Brief Survey. A. Victor Murray, paper; 75 cents, cloth. Zondervan F. F. Monk and Ronald Rees. 45 Pub. Co. Grand Rapids, Mich. He was born in Cornwall, England, pp. Is. S. C. M. Press. London. but moved to Massachusetts as a lad Henry Hammond Spalding. Pioneer and worked in a machine shop to help The Malabar Syrians and the Church of Old Oregon. Clifford Merrill support his family. He was gradu- Missionary Society, 1816-1840. P. Drury. 438 pp. $3. Caxton ated from Wesleyan University in Cheriyan. 438 pp. C. M. S. Press. Printers, Ltd. Caldwell, Idaho. 1879 and from Drew Theological Kottayam. Seminary two years later. In 1887 We Beheld His Glory. Nicholas he went to Europe and made his home Primitives and Supernatural. Lucien Arseniev. 220 pp. $3. Morehouse in Rome. In 1912 he was made Bishop Levy-Bruhl. 405 pp. 18s. Allen Pub. Co. Milwaukee. of Buffalo District and held that posi- & Unwin. London. tion until his retirement in 1934. He Personal Items is survived by his widow, three daugh- The Question of the Church in the ters and two sons. World Today. J. H. Oldham. 32 (Concluded from page 225.) pp. International Missionary Coun- Dr. Paul L. *Co*rbin*, for 30 years cil. New York and London. Dr. Courtenay H. Fenn, for thirty- five years a missionary of the Presby- a member of the Taiku Station of the The Christian Faith in the Modern terian Church and recently Recording American Board in Shansi, died on World. J. Gresham Machen. 258 Secretary of the Presbyterian Board January 9th. Under his leadership pp. $2. Macmillan. New York. of Foregn Missions, retired from ac- many new outstation churches and tive service on April 11th, having schools were opened, and the member- Uganda. H. B. Thomas and Robert reached the age limit. His total ship of the churches increased rapidly. Scott. Illus. Maps. 559 pp. 15s. missionary service connected with the Oxford University Press. London. Board of Foreign Missions was forty- three years, most of which was spent The Customs of the Baganda. Sir in North China. As principal of Apolo Kagwa. 199 pp. Columbia Truth Hall, professor of the North University Press. New York. China Theological College and prin- cipal of the Union Bible Institute of North China, Dr. Fenn has rendered very valuable service. He was also for fifteen years secretary of the North China Tract Society, and made notable contributions to the literature of the Chinese Christian Church, in- cluding a concordance of the Man- darin Bible, the Interwoven Gospel, a Chinese-English Pocket Dictionary and a number of tracts. Dr. and Mrs. Fenn have also given a daughter and a son to missionary work in China.
AND WHITE VIEWS
AMERICAN NEGRO PROGRESS In Our Special June Number HELPS AND HANDICAPS TO NEGRO CHRISTIAN PROGRESS W. R. WRIGHT, JR., Wilberforce University BISHOP R. C. RANSOM, Wilberforce, Ohio SOME ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE EMANCIPATION CHARLES H. WESLEY, Howard University MONROE N. WORK, Tuskegee Institute WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE? JOHN LITTLE, Louisville, Kentucky FRED 1. BROWNLEE, Secretary, American Missionary Association WHAT NEGROES ARE DOING FOR NEGROES 1. 1. BERRY, Secretary of Missions WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR AMERICAN NEGROES W. A. C. HUGHES, Philadelphia THE FUTURE OF THE NEGRO IN AMERICA CHARLES S. JOHNSON, Fisk University WHAT NEGROES ARE THINKING TODAY FORRESTER B. WASHINGTON, Atlanta, Georgia PROGRESS MADE IN RACE RELATIONSHIPS WILL W. ALEXANDER, Atlanta, Georgia SOME OUTSTANDING NEGRO CHRISTIANS JOSEPHUS R. COAN, Morris Brown College C. H. TOBIAS, National Council, Y. M. C. A.
THE NEGRO YOUTH AND THE CHURCH MARTIN 1. HARVEY, JR., African M. E. Zion Church TRAINING CHRISTIAN LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE CHARLES LEANDER HILL, Turner Seminary BEST BOOKS ABOUT AMERICAN NEGROES WM. LLOYD IMES, New York ORDER NOW FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR CIRCLE 25 Cmts a Copy $20.00 a HUl1dred $2.50 a Year THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD Third and Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
Robert E. Speer, President Delavan 1. Pierson, Editor
The Missionary Review of the World — February 1901
noblt Jfrmy of martyrs in £bina
" Slain for the Word 0/ God and the testimony which the)1 held. "-REVELATION vi: 9 CHINA INLAND MISSION Ku=cheo, Chekiang Tatung fu, Shansi July 21, 1900: End of June, 1900: Rev. D. B. Thompson, wife ami two Stewart McKee, wife and child children C. S, I' Anson, wife and three children Miss J. E. Desmond Miss Maria Aspden Miss M, E. Smith July 22, 1900: Rev. G. F Ward, wife and child Ching=chia-wan, Shansi Miss E. A, Thirgood July 1(i, 1900: Geo, McConnell, wife and child July 24,1900: Jlliss S. A. King Miss E. S. Sherwood Miss Elizabeth Burton Miss M. Manchester John Young and wife Pao=ting fu, Chihli Near Wenshui, Shansi July 1, 1900: August 16, 1900: Rev. Benjamin Bagnall, wife and A, P. Lundgren and wife child ~Iiss A, Eldred Rev, "'m, Cooper Sih=Cheo, Shansi 'October 10,1900: Daughter of Mr, C, H. S. Green July, 1900: ,y, G. Peat, wife and two children HSiao=yi, Shansi Miss E. Dobson Miss E. G. Hurn June 30, 1900: miss F. E. Nathan Miss Emily 'Vhitchurch lIliss 11. R. Nathan Miss Edith Searell Miss E. ~I. Heaysman Alfred Woodroft'e Tai yuen fu, Shansi Ku=wu hsien, Shansi Jnly 9,1900: July, 191J1J: D. W, Millar 'ilson, wife and child Duncan Kay, wife and child P. A. Ogren Miss J. 8te"lens En route to Hankow Miss 11. E. Clarke July 13, 19()O: miss H. J. Rice So=ping fu, Shansi July 27, Aug. 3, 1900: Two daughters of Mr. A, R. Saunders June 29, 1900: Aug. 3, Aug, 20, 1900: S. A. Perss::m and wife Two children of Mrs. Lutley O. A Larsson Aug. 6, Aug, 19, 1900: Miss J, Lundell ]frs. E. J. Cooper and child Miss J, EngvaU Aug. 11, 1900: r.Iiss A, Johansson Miss IUary E. Huston Miss M, Hedlund Aug, 28, Oct. 25,1900: E. Petterson Mrs, A, E. Glover and child N. Carleson G. E. Karlberg In the Mountains, Shansi July, 1900' D. Barratt
BOARD
Pao=ting fu, Chihli Taiku, Shansi July 31, 1900: July 1, 1900: Rev. D. H. Clapp and wife nTiss A. A. Gould Rev. G. L. Williams Miss)lI S. Morrill Rev. F. W. Davis Rev. Horace T. Pitkin Miss Rowenna Bird Miss M. L. Partridge Tai yuen fu, Shansi Near Wenshui, Shans; July 9, 1900: August 16, 1000: Two daughters of nIl'. Atwater Rev. E R. Atwater, wife and two children Rev. C. W. Price, wife and one child AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION Pao-ting fu, Chihli Rev. F. E. Simcox, wife antI three June 30, 1900: children Cortland Yan Rensselaer Hodge, Geo. Y Taylor, M D. M.D" and wife ENGLISH BAPTIST MISSION Tai yuen fu, Shansi Hsin-cheo, Shansi August 9, 1900: July 9, 1900: Rev. T. J. underwood and wife Rev. Herbert Dixon and wife Rev. Geo. B. Farthing. wife and Rev. W. A. lIcCurrach ami wife three children Rev. S. W. Ennals Miss B. C. Renaut Rev. F. S. 'Whitehouse and wife SHEO YANG MISSION (Independent) Tai yuen fu, Shansi G. W. Stokes and wife JUIlf' 27, 1900: Jan18s l::;iInpson, n'l.D., and wife Miss Edith Coombs T. W. Piggott, wife and child John Robinson July 9, 1900: Miss Duval Dr. A. E. Lovitt, wife and child Miss E. JlI. Stewart HOCIETY FOR THE ?ROPAGATIO;,[ OF THE HOSPEL Shantung Yang Ching. Chihli June 1,1900: December 31, 1899: Rev. C. Robinson June 2,1900: Rev. Sidney m. Brooks Rev. H. Y. Norman BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY Tai yuen fu, Shansi July 9, 1900: 'V. T. Benyon, wife and three children Tai yuen fu, Shansi INDEPENDENT July 9,1900: Taiku, Shansi A. Hoddle July 9, 1900: MissR. Ford C'HRIS'l'IAN AND lIUSSIONARY ALLIANCE So=ping fu, Shansi C. L. Lundberg and wife .Tllne 29,1900: lI1iss Hall C. Blomberg, wife and child O. Forsberg, wife and child Unidentified missio:cary 'V. NovellI wife and two children A. E. Palm Houpa, Mongolia O. Bingmark1 wife and two children Date unKnown: E. Anderson, wife and child Miss E. Ericksons l1. Nystrorn, wife and child Mr. E. Olsson, wife and three children SCANDINAVIAN ALLIANCE lInSSIOX Houpa, Mongolia Rev. C. Freidstrom Date unknown: Rev. C. Suber :Mr. Helleberg, wife and child Miss H. Lund Mr. Wahstedt Miss A. Lund :If1'. SteI'nberg Miss lf. Lund
and MRS. D. B
and CHILDREN, China Inland Mission, 1881-1900. Killed at Ku-cheo, July 21 , 1900 REV. HORACE T. PITKIN, SOME NOBLE American Board, 1897-19CO. MISSIONARY MARTYRS Killed at Pao-ting lu, July I, 1900. to the YEAR 1900 IN CHINA MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
Old Series. } FEBRUARY. J New Series. VOL. XXIV. No.2. 1 VOL. XIV. No.2.
THE MARTYR MISSIONARIES IN OHINA.
BY REV. JOHN R. HYKES, D.D., SHANGHAI, CHINA. Agent of the American Bible Society in China, 1873-.
Since the beginning of the "Boxer Uprising" in Ohina, the names of more than two hnndred missionaries have been added to the " Noble Army of Martyrs;" and the magnificent heroism displayed by them, as well as by the myriad of native Ohristians who counted not their lives dear, has never been surpassed in any age of the Ohristian Ohurch. The full details of their martyrdom will never be known, but the story of their sufferings and their constancy ought to be an inspiration to the Ohurch in Ohina to the end of time. They t( were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection; they had trial of cruel mockings and sc(mrgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment; they were stoned, . . were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy; they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."
The first to offer up his life was the Rev. S. M. Brooks, of the Ohurch of England Mission (S.P.G.), who was massacred in Shantung, December 31, 1899. He had spent Ohristmas with a married sister in Ohinan fu, and was on his way back to his station when he fell into the hands of these fanatics. He was stripped of his clothing, except a thin cotton undergarment, and in this condition was led from place to place in the biting cold of a northern winter. While his captors were having lunch at a tea-house, he managed to escape, but was pursued by a man on horseback and was cut down with a sword.
The first victims in Ohihli province were the Revs. O. Robinson and H. V. Norman, also of the Anglican Mission. 'fhe former was killed at once, but Mr. Norman was horribly tortured for twenty-four hours and then beheaded. The details can not be published; I will only say that among other cruelties, his hands were tied behind his back and his body burned with sticks of lighted incense. These
crimes, which occurred on the 1st and 2nd of June, 1900, began to arouse the foreign ministers in Peking to a realization of the serious- ness of the situation and possible magnitude of the Boxer movement.
The massacre at Paoting fu was one of the most atrocious of the long series of missionary murders for which the Manchu government is responsible. It must have been carried out at the direct order of the officials and in response to the infamous edict of extermination issued by the empress dowager on the 20th of June. The missionaries, anticipating trouble, had taken refuge in the yamen of Ting Yung, the provincial treasurer and acting governor. They were there as late as the -25th of June. Between that date and the end of the month they all returned to their homes in the northern and southern suburbs of the city. The presumption is that they were deliberately sent to their homes and to their death by the governor. It is inconceivable that they left the yamen without protest, for they must have known that the moment they passed out of the door they left all hope behind. On the 30th of June the Boxers attacked the Roman Catholic and the American Presbyterian missions. I do not know how many missionaries were in the Roman Catholic premises, but in the Presbyterian compound there were Rev. F. E. Simcox, wife and three children, Dr. G. Y. Taylor, and Dr. and Mrs. C. V. R. Hodge, who had recently returned to Paoting fu from Peking. Dr. Taylor attempted to remonstrate with the mob, but the Boxers were implacable and he was hacked to pieces outside the compound. It is said that he was beheaded, and, on account of his well known skill, his head was offered in sacrifice before an idol in the temple. The others were burned to death in the flames of their buildings. After the allies entered Paoting fn, the charred remains of a man were found in the ruins of the house. All the native Christians who could be found were ruthlessly slaughtered.
The members of the American Board and the China Inland Mission soon heard of the terrible tragedy which had been enacted in the northern su burb. They knew that it could be only a short time till t!!ey would suffer the same fate. 'fhe missionaries of the American Board gathered their native converts about them and spent the whole night in prayer, not only for themselves and for their loved ones so soon to be bereft, but for their children in the Gospel. In the dim light of the early dawn of Sunday, July 1st, they wrote their last farewells to the friends in the dear home-land, showed their faithful, devoted Chinese where these loving missives were buried and bidding good-bye to the heroic little band of converts, told them to seek safety in flight. They then calmly awaited the hour of their martyrdom. About 9 A.M. the villagers began to loot the premises, but were too cowardly to venture into the room where Mr. Pitkin and the two ladies were. They therefore sent for the Boxers. Mr. Pitkin bravely
THE MARTYR MISSIONARIES IN CHINA
defended himself and the ladies. He is said ·to have killed twelve Boxers, including the second leader of the organization in Paoting fu.
He was wounded in the side with a shot gun and. was then hacked to pieces and beheaded by the infuriated mob. Miss Gould had a weak heart and literally died of fright-a most merciful providence. Miss Morrill was captured and carried in triumph to a temple where the Boxers had their headquarters. ']'he buried letters were discovered by the Boxers and destroyed.
The members of the China Inland Mission (Rev. B. Bagnall, wife and daughter, and Rev. Wm. Cooper) fled to the camp of Kw'ei Pin, the commander of the Manchu garrison, who had been a friend of Mr. Bagnall for years. They took with them a small box containing some little things they most valued, and about fifty taels in silver.
'l'he box was kept (as evidenced by the fact that Mr. Bagnall's mar- riage certificate was found in the camp), but the missionaries were refused admis~ion. The commander gave them a guard of soldiers to make a pretense of escorting them to a place of safety; but, ill accord- ance with a previous arrangement, they were met half way to the city by the Boxers, and the helpless victims were turned over to them by the soldiers. They were taken to the Boxer headquarters, and with Miss Morrill, were kept on view all day Sunday in front of the tem- ple, subjected to the cruel taunts and gibes of the mob. 'rhat evening they were taken outside of the city and beheaded. The heads of all of the victims were exposed on the city wall. Thus per- ished eleven missionaries and fOllr innocent little children; and of this number all but three adults and one child were American citizens.
MURDERS IN HUNAN AND CHEKIANG.
The only lives lost south of the Yangtse River were in the prov- inces of Hunan and Chekiang. At Heng-cheo, in the hitherto noto- riously anti-foreign province of Hunan, several Roman Catholic priests were massacred after enduring th8 most exquisite torture which their fiendish persecutors could devise. One was taken to the temple of Confucius, after enduring nameless tortures, and offered in sacrifice to the sage! Another, after having his eyes gouged out, was partially flayed alive; then covered with cotton saturated in oil, and set alight!
In the massacre at K'u Cheo, in Chekiang, all of the victims, eleven in number, were members of the China Inland Mission. They were Rev. D. B. Thompson, wife and two children (Edwin, six years, and Sidney, two years), Rev. G. F. Ward, wife, and infant son (six months), and Misses J. E. Desmond, M. E. Manchester, Edith S. Sher- wood, and Emma A. Thirgood. Miss Manchester and Miss Desmond were Americans. The governor of Chekiang was in hearty and active sympathy with the empress dowager and her reactionary party at
Peking. When he received the edict of the 20th of June, ordering the extermination of all foreigners in China, he lost no time in pro- mulgating it throughout his province. Altho afterward, under pres- sure of the Yangtse viceroys, he suhscribed to the agreement securing the neutrality of the southern provinces, the mischief was already done so far as K'u Cheo was concerned. The taotai of the city was a willing henchman of the governor, and upon receipt of the edict, he immediately sent out emissaries to collect ruffians to seize and bring in all the foreigners in the neighborhood. The magistrate (Mr. Hu) was very friendly with Mr. Thompson; and this fact marked him as a victim of the unreasoning hate and fury of the mob. On the 21st of July the militia took him; his entil'e family, and all of his assistants (more than thirty persons) to the taotai's yam en, and killed them there. This inhuman official, Pao Taotai, when asked by t.he militia what they were to do with the foreigners, answered, "Do with them what you ltke." The mob accordingly attacked the missionaries in their home and wounded Mr. Thompson with a spear. He sent the native pastor to beg help from the taotai, but the appeal was in vain. The Thompsons and Miss Desmond were eventually escorted to the yamen by a native Christian, but instead of receiving protection, they were all brutally murdered by the militia in the yamen of the highest official in the city. Miss Sherwood and Miss Manchester, who were living in another part of the city, left their home on hearing of the terrible fate of their colleagues, but they were delivered to the mob by the neighbors. They were taken to the temple, where they were kept till the 24th of July, and then executed.
The Wards and Miss Thirgood belonged to another station (Ch'ang Shan). Being advised by the mandarin, Mr. Liu, to escape to K'u Cheo without delay, they took boat and departed. They arrived at the city on the 22d, and found the gates shut. Toward the afternoon they were discovered by the ruffians, who dragged the boat to the shore and killed all in it with swords and spears. A number of native Christians were also massacred.
Miss Whitchurch and Miss Searell of the China Inland Mission were murdered at their station, Hsiao Yi, on the 30th of June. On the day of the massacre 'some roughs collected outside the front gate and behaved in such a riotous manner that the ladies sent to the magistrate complaining of the disturbance and asking for protection. He came in person, flew into a towering rage, abused the messenger and slapped his face. The ladies then appealed to the official, who informed them that his soldiers were for the protection of the Chinese, not for such as they! He then returned to his yamen. The crowd of Boxers who had in the meantime collected outside the gate, understood from the magistrate's demeanor that they had nothing to fear from him, and they immediately rushed into the house, looted it of
THE MARTYR MISSIONARIES IN CHINA
everything of value, and stripped the ladies of everything. They knelt before the mob and begged for mercy, but the inhuman wretches were dead to all appeals and began to beat them to death with clubs. Some of the crowd took glass bottles and broke them over their heads; and so adept were they at their devilish work of torture that they took more than an hour in killing them. The official on being informed of their death, did not hola the usual inquest, but sent two boxes, such as are used to bury paupers, and had them interred in the baptistry in the courtyard.
Very few particulars of the massacre of Mr. McOonnell's party are known. They were trying to escape from Shansi, and at Oh'ing-chiawan, near the Yellow River, they were intercepted by emissaries of the bloody Yu Hsien, who had given orders that no foreigner should be allowed to cross the fords, and were murdered on the 16th of July. The party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. McOonnell and child, Mr. and Mrs. John Young, and Misses S. A. King and Elizabeth Burton.
FIENDISH ATROCITIES AT TAIYUEN FU.
The murders at Taiyuen fa, the capital of Shansi, took place under circumstances of fiendish atrocity and under the personal direction of the governor. There was a riot on the 27th of June, in which Dr. Edward's hospital was destroyed. The missionaries managed to escape to Mr. Farthing's house, but Miss Ooombs was left behind, looking after her school girls, and in the confnsion of flight she was not missed by her companions till it was too late. Some of the school girls were trampled to death, and soon Miss Ooombs fell into the hands of the Boxers. She plead piteously for her life, but their answer was to throw her into the flames of the burning buildings. On the 30th of June four deputies from the governor's yamen came and told them that the city was in a turbulent state, and that the governor could not protect them unless they came to a place which he had provided for them, and where they would be safe. They were all taken to a house in a street called Oheo-t'eo Hsiang, where all of the foreigners in the city, including the Roman Oatholic priests, were confined and strictly guarded by soldiers. In the meantime other foreigners were being sent to the provincial capital at Yu Hsien's order, so that this Ohinese Nero might gloat over a wholesale butchery.
The treatment of the missionaries at Sheo Yang forms one of the blackest chapters in this terrible record of outrage. At this station were Mr. and Mrs. Pigott, their twelve-year-old son, Mr. John Robinson (tutor to this lad), Miss Duval (a teacher), and the two daughters of the Rev. E. R. Atwater of Fen-chou fu. On June 29th there was a disturbance and they fled to the mountains; but, for some unaccountable reason they almost immediately returned. They no sooner got back to Sheo Yang than they were arrested by the district magistrate,
handcuffed, loaded with chains and sent to Taiyuen fu, seventy miles distant. Doubtless all this was in obedience to the governor's orders. During all the time they were on the road they were not permitted to buy food; and the soldiers would not sell them eggs even at a dollar a piece. They were treated worse than murderers. On arrival at Taiyuen fn they were imprisoned in the same house as the other foreigners, but by order of the infamous Yu Hsien, they were separated and Mrs. Pigott was not allowed to communicate with her husband. On the 7th of July the governor sent to Mr. Farthing for a complete list of the foreigners. On the 9th he invited all of them to appear before him on the pretext that he wanted to arrange for their safe conduct to the coast. He sent soldiers to escort them, and, in case they suspected treachery and refused to go, to bring them by force. The prisoners were taken to the front· of the governor's yamen-an open space abutting on the main street-where they were then each stripped to the waist, as is usual for condemned criminals about to be beheaded. The governor came out and had them arranged in a line in front of him, and, compelling them to kneel, he upbraided them for the evils which he said they had brought upon the Chinese. He then asked them where they came from, and one of them answered, " From England." At this he laughed scornfully, threw off his coat, stepped forward and with his own sword struck off the heads of three of the helpless prisoners. He then gave the order to the soldiers, who immediately butchered the others, iucluding women and children, in his presence, the prefcct and sub-prefect also being present. All met death with the utmost courage. The soldiers cut the hearts out of their victims in order to inspect them. Their heads were cut off, placed in cages and stuck on poles in front of the yamen. The bodies were dragged to a hillside outside the walls and thrown to the dogs.* Bishops Grussi and Fagola of the Roman Catholic Church were massacred at the same time. 'I.'en more priests and nuns were killed the next day, making a total of forty-five killed in the governor's yamen. The heads of the six missionaries murdered at Taiku on the 31st of July were sent the governor at Taiyu'en fu, and he gave those who brought them some tens of taels for their trouble. Yu Hsien must have regarded these, too, as his victims; for they make up the exact number, fifty-one, for whose execntion he claimed the reward of four hundred taels each, promised by the empress dowager for every foreigner killed-as was learned after the relief of Peking.
* The nameS of the martyrs are, two daughters of Mr. Atwater, of the American Board Mission; Dr. A. E. Lovitt, Mrs. Lovitt, John Lovitt (child), G. W. Stokes, Mrs. Stokes, James Simpson, Mrs. Simpson, T. W. Pigott, Mrs. Pigott, Wellesley Pigott (child), John Robinson, and Miss Duval, of the Sheo ·Yang (Independent) Mission; A. Hoddle, unconnected; G. B. Farthing, wife and three children, Miss Stewart, F. S. Whitehouse and Mrs. Whitehouse of the English Baptist Mission; Dr. W. Millar Wilson, Mrs. Wilson, Alexander Wilson (child), Miss J. Stevens, lind Miss M. E. Clarke of the China Iuland Mission; and Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Beynon and three children, of the British and Foreign Bible Society-in all thirty-three souls belonging to the Protestant mission.
THE MARTYR MISSIONARIES IN CHINA
There is one very pathetic incident connected with the massacre at Taiyuen fu. A nati ve elder named Chang Chi Hung, wrote to a foreign missionary in Shanghai that a foreign child, age and sex not known, had been brought away from Taiyuen fn by the prefect of P'u Cheo Fu, a city in Shansi near the Yellow River. This child is the sole survivor of the massacre. Who is this little waif? Will it ever be recovered? The expression used in the letter would indicate that it was quite a young child. 'rhere were two little boys in Taiyuen fu, either of whom it might have been. If Yu Hsien reckoned Miss Coombs as his victim then there were 52, one more than he claimed in his official·report to his imperial mistress. Is it this child that makes the difference?
TAIKU AND FEN-CHOU FU MISSIONARIES.
It seems that the officials at Taiku were on friendly terms with the missionaries there; and, altho the city is only some twenty miles from the capital of the province, they protected them until they could no longer disregard the order of the governor, Yu Hsien. lIe issued a proclamation which was widely posted in the neighborhood of the capital, saying that whoever killed the foreigners would be doing him a great service. How genuine was the friendship of the local officials is shown by the fact that altho Yu Hsien butchered fifty-one helpless foreigners in his yamen on the 9th and 10th of July, the attack on Taiku did not take place till the 31st. On that day a band of between three and four hundred Boxers attacked the mission premises, and one of the helpers, Liu Fang Chi, was killed while the gate of the compound was being forced. The three men, Revs. C. H. Clapp, G. L. Williams, and F. W. Davis, fought bravely t.o save the women, and fired on the mob from the top of their houses; but their ammunition was soon exhausted and they were overpowered and bGheaded. Their bodies were thrown into the flames of their burninghouses, their hearts having first been cut out to be sent as trophies to the 1loodthirsty governor. The ladies of the mission, Mrs. Clapp, Miss M. L.· Partridge, and Miss R. Bird, took refuge in one of the outhouses, but they were soon found and beheaded. The heads of all of the victims were taken to the capital and exposed on the city gates like those of common criminals.
The prefect and the magistrate at Fen-chou fu were so friendly that the missionaries there were not disturbed till the end of July. About that time the old friendly prefect was superseded by a man sent by the governor to carry out his malevolent designs. The old official would not turn over the office to his newly appointed successor, and there was considerable friction in consequence. On the 30th of July a very fiercely worded proclamation was issued, ordering the missionaries to leave at once. It appears that the new prefect took over
the seals on the 13th of August, Oile report saying that in the meantime the other had died. On the 15th he demanded of the local officials why the foreigners had not been driven away as in all other places. The magistrate replied that these Americans were quiet and peaceable, and had never done anything but good in the place, and therefore he had no reason to send them away. The prefect said that he had been ordered to drive them out, and that, if the magistrate did not do his duty, he himself would drive the missionaries out with a whip. The magistrate begged for a few days respite, as Mrs. Atwater was about to be confined; but the prefect insisted that they must go at once. In the meantime the magistrate, acting under compulsion of the prefect, arrested the dispenser at the hospital, gave him three hundred blows with the bamboo, and ordered him to secure all of the firearms in the mission. These were accordingly given up, and the missionaries were left without means of self-defense. Carts were got ready for them, and on the 15th of August they started under an escort of twenty soldiers for Tientsin, as they were treacherously informed by the officials. Before starting the missionaries requested that they be permitted to sell their honses in order to secure money for the journey; but they were informed by the prefect that all of their property had been confiscated by imperial decree and could not be sold! 'rhe Christian teacher who tells the story says that soon after they started he heard suspicious remarks by the soldiers, and, acting on the advice of one of their number, he escaped. Almost immediately he heard the firing of a gun, which was the signal for a party of soldiers who were concealed in the village of K'ai Shih (which they were then entering) to join in the attack. Both parties of soldiers rushed upon the helpless missionaries and ruthlessly cut them down with their swords. Not one escaped. Their bodies werestripped and they were all burned by the roadside. 'rheir death was cruel and lingering.
Thus did eight Americans and one English lady (Miss Eldred) obtain the martyr's crown. The Americans were, Rev. E. R. Atwater, wife and two children; Rev. C. W. Price, wife and child, and Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Lundgren: 'rhe two other children of Mr. and Mrs. Atwater were massacred at Taiyuen fu on the 9th of July. 'rhey had been attending school at Sheo Yang and were arrested and sent to Taiyuen fu in chains, as has already been related.
The following pathetic letters, written by Mrs. Atwater shortly before she was murdered, have just reached Shanghai. They were given in charge of the gatekeeper, and were carried to Tientsin by his son. The first was addressed to the three ladies at Taiku, Mrs. Clapp, Miss Rowena Bird, and Miss Louise Partridge. They were killed the day after it was written, and the horrible fact was known
THE MARTYR MISSIONARIES IN CHINA
to Mrs. Atwater on the 2d of August, as is shown by the note on the envelope. The letters are as follows: FEN-CHOU FU, July 30, 1900.
Dear ones at Taiku-Mrs. Clapp, Rowena, Louise. – The last news from you confirming our fears concerning the dear ones at Taiyuan was hard, God knows how hard, for us to bear, but I can not write of it yet. We passed a terrible night, and in the morning there was a very Li Hai [severe] proclamation order- ing us out almost at once. I could do nothing but cry to God; it seemed as if I could bear no more in my present condition. No one talked at meals. We seemed to be waiting for the end, and I for my part longed that it might come speedily. He Kou went like a brave fellow to the yamen to ask if we could not have an escort to the river. We could hire nothing unless the kuan [official] helped us. He stayed so long we feared he had been beaten, but our fears for once were ground- less. And yet, altho an escort has been promised, I feel very uneasy.
The new kuan has come, but the old one will not give up his authority, and there is considerable friction in consequence. How it may affect our going I do not know. We are in the Lord's hands. .May God keep each one of you. He is our only help.
Ever lovingly, Lizzie Atwater.
Later. 2d August.
Our plans are upset; we do not think we can escape from the city.
Several of the church members are planning to conceal us if we divide up. It is hard to do that. Mr. Lei wishes to conceal me in his home right here in the city, but I want to stay with my dear husband while life is given to us. Heaven seems very near these last hours, and I feel quite calm. There will be a joyful welcome for us all above. I am fix- ing my thoughts more and more on the glorious hereafter, and it gives me wonderful peace. God bless you all.
Yours in blessed hope, L. A.
[Note on the envelope.] The foreigners at Taiku, six in number, were beheaded yesterday (August 1st).
FEN-CHOU FU, August 3d, 1900.
My Dear Dear Ones: I have tried to gather courage to write you once more. How am I to write aU the horrible details of ·these days! I would rather spare you.
The dear ones at Sheoyang, seven in all, including our lovely girls, were taken prisoners and brought to Taiyuan in irons and there by the gov- ernor's orders beheaded, together with the Taiyuan friends, thirty-three souls. We are now waiting our call home. We have tried to get away to the hills, but the plans do not work. Our things are being stolen right and left, for the people know that we are condemned. 'Vhy our lives have been spared we can not tell. The proclamation says that whoever kills us will be doing the governor a great service.
Dear ones, I long for a sight of your dear faces, Lut T fear we shall not meet on earth. I have loved you all so much, and know you will not forget the one who lies in China. There never were sisters and brothers like mine. I am preparing for the end very quietly and calmly. The Lord is wonderfully near and He will not fail me. I was very restless and excited while there seemed a chance of life, but God has taken away
that feeling, and now I just pray for grace to meet the terrible end bravely. The pain will soon be over and, oh, the sweetness of the welcome above. My little baby will go with me. I think God will give it to me in heaven, and my dear mother will be so glad to see us. I can not imagine the Savior's welcome. Oh, that will compensate for all these days of suspense. Dear ones, live near to God and cling less closely to earth. There is no other way by which we can receive that peace from God which passeth understanding. I would like to send a special message to each of you, but it tries me too much. I must keep calm and still these hours. I do not regret coming to China, but I am sorry I have done so little. My married life, two precious years, has been so very full of happiness. We will die together, my dear husband and I. I used to dread separation. If we escape now it will be a miracle. I send my love to you all, and the dear friends who remember me.
Your loving sister, Lizzie.
A trusty messenger sent to Shansi to make inquiries about the fate of 'the missionaries tells of the massacre there of Mr. and Mrs. T. J.
Underwood, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. W. A.
McCurrach, Mr. S. W. Ennals, and Miss B. C. Renaut, of the English Baptist Mission, at their station Hsin Chou. The last word we had from them was that they had escaped on horseback on the 26th of June and were being pursued. 'l'hey got to a mountain cave, but were discovered. They defended themselves with two fowling-pieces for five days, during which time they were absolutely without food.
Being unable to drive them out of their stronghold, the Boxers resorted to their old ruse and "talked peace:" They said that they had been sent by the officials to offer them safe escort to the coast.
They must have known that to desert their place of refuge meant only death, but there was no alternative.. To remain was to starve.
Hunger forced them to accept. They were conducted back to Hsin Chou, kept in the yamen for a day or two, then led outside the town by the soldiers, stripped, and cut to pieces in the most horrible manner. Their mangled remains were left lying in the road.
The wave of anti-foreign fanaticism seems to have swept over the northern part of Shansi before it touched the other places in the province. It is probable that the officials ill these places were more in sympathy with the fiendish purposes of the empress dowager and her bloodthirsty minion, the governor. The missionaries who did not escape to U rga were killed some time between the 25th and the end of June. This would allow just sufficient time for the edict of the 20th of June to reach the officials at these places through the provincial governor, to whom it was sent by wire from Peking; and they must have lost no time in carrying it out. It is known that the missionaries at Ta-tung fu were all massacred, but the manner of their death is not known. It is probable that we shall never know anything beyond the mere fact of their death, for their converts were annihilated. The martyrs were Stewart McKee, Mrs. McKee, Alice
THE MARTYR MISSIOXARIES IN CHINA
Mary McKee (child), C. S. I. 'Anson, wife and three children, Miss M. E. Smith, and Miss Maria Aspden, all of the China Inland Mission.
The Swedes who are associated with the China Inland Mission held the conference of their Holiness Union at So-ping fu, beginning on the 25th or the 26th of June. The missionari88 at the other sta- tions who were members of the ITnion, attended these meeting!'!; and they were all, residents and visitors, massacred on the 29th of June, while assembled in the church. It is probable that they were burned in the building. The victims were U. Blomberg, wife, and child, and one other missionary (name unknown), of the Christian and Missionary Alliance; S. A. Persson, Mrs. Persson, O. A. L. Larsson, Miss J. Lundell, Miss J. Engvall, Miss A. Johansson, Miss M. Hedlund, E. Petterson, G. E. Karlberg, and N. Carleson, of the China Inland Mission.
Mr. Duncan Kay, wife, and child, of the China Inland Mission, escaped from their station, K'u-wu Hsien, and hid in the mountains. A native Christian supplied them with food, but on the Boxers learning this, they killed him. His widow smuggled food to them for a time but she too was discovered and murdered. The Boxers then guarded the entrance to the place of refuge and the missionaries starved to death.
It is stated on reliable native authority that the following members of the China Inland Mission were massacred at Sih-cheo (Hsi-chou), date not given, but probably early in July: W. G. Peat, Mrs. Peat, two children, A. Woodroffe, and Misses E. Dobson, E. J. Hum, F. E. Nathan, M. R. Nathan, and E. M. Heaysman. D. Barratt managed to escape to the hills, but died there of exhaustion.
The following members of the Swedish Mongolian and Scandinavian Alliance have not been heard from since the 30th of June, and they are believed to have been massacred: Mr. and Mrs. Helleberg and one child, Messrs. Wahstedt, Sternberg, Freidstrom, Suber, and Misses H. Lund, A. Lund, and M. Lund. The last six were American citizens. Vera, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Green, of Huailu, died at Paoting fu, October 10, in consequence of privations and injuries received in the remarkable flight from lIuilu, and while in the hands of the Boxers. It is peculiarly sad that this little one should be taken after relief had reached them. It was to her bright, sunny disposition, and ready 'IVit, that the party probably owed their lives.
At the beginning of these troubles the Christian and Missionary Alliance had some thirty-four adults and seventeen children at their stations in North China. Of this number two (Mr. and Mrs. Book), were in Peking during the siege, and are safe. Seventeen (eleven adults and six children) fled north from Shansi, and arrived at Kincbta in Siberia. Two, Mr. and Mrs.F. Nystrom, escaped through
Kansuh, and thence made their way to the United States. This leaves twenty-one adults and eleven children to be accounted for. Mr. and Mrs. O. Blomberg and child, and one other missionary (name unknown) were massacred at So-ping fu. A report has been received of four foreigners being killed near Ning-hsia on the Yellow River. They are said to be Swedes, but whether they belonged to the Ohristian and Missionary Alliance, or to another mission, is not known. The Ohinese say that one, who was taller than the others, fought like a lion, and died fighting. It is supposed this man was Lieut. Watts- Jones, R. E.
A party of Swedish missionaries from Kw'ei-hwa Oh'eng, numbering twelve, with their wives and children, took refuge with Fathers Dobbe, Zylmans, and Abbeloos in the Roman Oatholic cathedral at Houpa, in Oentral Mongolia. They were all burned together in the church. 'fhe following were among them, viz.: Miss E. Erickson, Mr. and Mrs. E. Olsson and three children, and Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Lundberg. The report is, unfortunately, ambiguous. It may mean that there were twelve men, exclusive of the women and children, which is the construction that I put upon it. Or, it may mean that there were twelve including women and children. If the former is correct, then all of the Swedish missionaries about whose fate there is still an element of uncertainty, were burned in the cathedral in the Houpa district. It is remarkable that including those whom we know were burned in the church, there are just thirteen men still to be definitely accounted for. We know that there was one Swedish missionary, name unknown, killed at So-ping fu. Deducting one name for this unknown man, there are just twelve left-the number said to have lost their lives in the flames of the burning church.
The thirteen names are: Messrs. Helleberg, Wahstedt, Sternberg, Fredstrom, Suber, Olsson, Lundberg, Forsberg, Noren, Palm, Bingmark, Anderson, and ~1. Nystrom. I think it fair, therefore, to assume that all of the members of the Swedish Mongolian and Scandinavian Alliance (five men, four women, and one child); the members of the Ohristian and Missionary Alliance whose fate is unknown (six men, six women, and seven children), together with those whose names are already given (two men, three women, and three children), all lost their lives in the cathedral at Houpa, in Oentral Mongolia. This would make the appalling total of thirty-seven (thirteen men, thirteen women, and eleven children) massacred at this place. The members of the Ohristian and Missionary Alliance, whose fate is not definitely known, and whom I a3sume to have been massacred at Houpa, are Miss Hall, O. Forsberg, wife, and child, Mr. and Mrs. W. Noren, wife, and two children, A. E. Palm, Mr. and Mrs. O. Bingmark and two children, Mr. and Mrs. E. Anderson and one child, and Mr. and Mrs. M. Nystrom and child.
MIRACLES OF MISSIONS – "KHAMA, THE GOOD."
P. A. Ogren, wife, and child, Graham McKie, and Misses Chapman and Way were supposed to have been massacred in the general slaughter which took place in their district. A telegram was received about a month ago saying that Mr. McKie, Miss Chapman, and Miss Way 'Were still alive! This could hardly be credited; but later a telegram was received from Tientsin which said that five or six foreigners were reported to be alive in Taiyuen fu and mentioning Mr. McKie's name as being among them. It has since been learned definitely that only Mr. Ogren was killed. They probably escaped to the mountains, and after Yll Hsien was removed from the governorship of Shansi, came out of hiding and took refuge in this city, which has become notorious for the crimes committed in it.
(To be concluded with an account of thrilling escapes.) MIRACLES OF MISSIONS No. XXX.
"KHAMA, THE GOOD "-THE CHRISTIAN CHIEF OF AFRICA.* BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
When Rev. James Davidson Hepburn arrived at Shoshong, in August 1871, to take up his life-work among the Bamangwato, he was met by two young chiefs, Khama and Khamane. It is of the first of these that we now write-one of the most remarkable meu ever brought to Christ in the Dark Continent, himself alone a sufficient witness to the value of foreign missions, as one diamond may sometimes justify all the cost of a mine.
Macheng was then ruling the tribe, a usurper into whose hands Sekhome had put the tribal scepter in order to keep out of the succession Khama, his son and lawful heir; but Sekhome himself was now in exile. Macheng had a visitor, Kuruman, chief of the Matabele, who was stirring him up as Jezebel did Ahab, to get rid of all missionaries and white folk, and to help him to do the same with intruders in Matabeleland. Macheng fell into the plot, and sent three regiments of the Bamangwato back with Kuruman. On the way however the Bamangwato rebelled against Macheng's orders and declared that they would acknowledge no chief but the lawful ruler, Khama. This added fuel to the flame of Macheng's hatred llnd he resolved, if possible, to get rid of Khama. He secretly resorted to native charms and drugs, and tried to get strychnine as a more deadly weapon. His more harmless medicines proved of no effect; and, as for the strychnine, a sharp-witted fellow, having his suspicions, sold his agent marking-ink for the poison. But, had it been the deadly drug he thought, the plan would have failed, for when Khama and Khamane • "Ten Years North of the Orange River," by Rev. Jno. Mackenzie. "Twenty Years in Khama's Country," edited by C. H. Lyall. London: Hodder & Stoughton.
were invited to drink Macheng's wife's coffee, they respectfully declined, and so the" marking-ink" went untasted.
A crisis was reached in August 1872, and Khama drove away the murderous usurper and became actual chief. And the following Sunday he inaugurated his reign in a manner that became a Christian chief, and which reminds of the similar coronation day of Ranavalona II. in Madagascar, in the year 1868. Khama held in his courtyard a service of worship to the true God, and moreover, announced that henceforth no other sort of service would be held there. This caused great joy to lovers of God, for Macheng's rule had been most reckless in tyranny. Anarchy had been rampant, traders robbed and maltreated beyond endurance, and even the missionaries suffered, and the native congregations were violently dispersed and scattered. It was these outrages in fact that had brought on the crisis of revolution that drove out the usurper.
For a few months matters moved on smoothly, tho beneath the surface there were disturbing forces at work. Between the brothers Khama -and Khamane there was strong mutual distrust. Khama was an out-and-out Christian, and would not even conform outwardly to pagan notions and customs. For example, he publicly and positively refused to "make rain," and persisted in his refusal even in the face of the entreaties of the old heathen headmen. He wisely forbore to force his religion on others, neither would he allow them to force upon him their superstitious rites, since he had found a better way. He bade them to cry to their God like the Baal worshipers of Elijah's time; but he, like that prophet, would know only Jehovah, and pray for rain in another fashion. Khamane was more vacillating and deceitful, and really resorted to sorceries.
About the end of 1872, Khama, prompted by filial regard and a forgiving spirit, recalled his father from a six years' exile. Old Sekhome came back to Shoshong early in 1873, and with his return old heathen abominations revived, and shortly afterward Khama left for Serue, a day or two's journey off, followed by nearly all his tribe. It seemed strange that God's Providence should permit such a turn of affairs, but it appeared later that there was a Divine design even in this absence of Khama, for it was overruled to work a greater good, it being during this interval that mission work was undertaken on a larger scale.
It was a great tribute to Khama's real greatness and goodness that, after his withdrawal, matters became so much worse that messengers were sent to Serue to beg him to return; and, when their plea proved unavailing, Khamane was induced to go on a similar errand, and the missionaries sent a deputation with him. Khama calmly but resolutely refused. He saw that they were inviting him back to a ruin, and that what Sekhome and Khamane and their followers sought was not
MIRACLES OF MISSIONS-" KHAMA, THE GOOD."
Khama whom they hated, but his people who had followed him into his voluntary exile but who were the real strength of the tribe. The chief was inflexible. "When I was with you," he said, "my presence was soreness to the eyes; you treated me as a dog in my own courtyard and before my own people. Therefore I refuse to sit with you and Sekhome in the same town. I have had enough of that; let us separate. Take your path and I shall take mine. Those who prefer to stay with you, let them stay; and those who wish to come to me, let them come." The deputation returned unsuccessful.
As Serne was lacking in natural defenses, to remain t'here long was to invite attack from the lVIatabele, and so Khama moved to the river Zouga. On the journey and afterward, raids were made on his cattle, and even the women were taken captive, but, in all this trial of patience, Khama evinced no passion or resentment, but conducted himself like a Christian, altho Sekhome and Khamane themselves were the main aggressors, and Sekhome actually sought his life — the father seeking the life of his own son.
The year 1875, however, witnessed Khama's triumphant release from his voluntary exile, and his establishment in bis proper positio'n, as undisputed chief of the Bamangwato. The darkness now began to give way before a brighter dawn, and God .showed tha't even the trials to which the missionaries and native church at Shoshong had been sub- jectcd, was not without a purpose in the mind of God. A Christian chief and his followers had been driven away by the malice of foes, but their forcible withdrawal God had used as the opening of a door to a new native church among the Balauana at T-,ake Ngami.* These details we only note in passing, as we mainly seek to give the profile of this remarkable African chief. Morellii, the Balauana chief, came to Shoshong, and saw how the good Khama ruled his people, and got good counsel from him, though he failed to act on it. He 'pleaded with Khama for native beer, and smuggled it secretly into his house. Khama had told him what a hard work it had been to break down the drink habit in his town, both among white and black, and calmly reasoned with him on the injustice of thus visiting the town of another chief and obstructing the working of beneficent laws. The subtle Balauana chief pretended to acquiesc·e, while he not only trampled on Khama's injunctions, but got Khama's youngest brother to act as his agent!
This upright Christian chief had no tame amiability. Holy love has its holy wrath, and he that loves good loathes evil by the same law; and Khama's indignation was aroused. He burned down his brother's honse, setting fire to it with his own hand, to punish him for his course in becoming the accomplice of Moremi in his duplicity and iniquity.t The battle against drink had been long and resolute.
• P. 36. et seq. t P. 85.
In 1870, five years before, Macheng had been chief at Shoshong, and hostile to the Gospel. There was a beginning made in a school and a congregation of believers. But the traders on the station were godless, and drinking, gambling, swearing, and general recklessness stamped their daily life. They were in constant quarrels with the native Bamangwato, whom they plundered and outraged, and by whom they were plundered in turn. Any appeal to Macheng was not only useless but rather returned on the head of the outraged complainant. 'rhe chief was the administrator of injustice, and Shoshong was the hell of the country, from whom no respectable party cared to hail. The traders themselves owned that it was the best place to ruin body and soul.
This was surely a place to test the power of the Gospel, and especially the patience, prayerfulness, and purpose of a native Ohristian ruler. Here were the "Augean stables," and could any Hercules be found to cleanse them? "Mr. Hepburn, in 1880, wrote to the directors of the London Missionary Society, "Truly my eyes have beheld the mighty power of God at work, both in providence and in grace, or it has never been seen on earth."
He saw Macheng removed: he died of drink, that" civilizing agent" of some who call themselves Ohristians. The brandy seller is sometimes himself proof against drink, while he is ruining wholesale the bodies and souls of the poor, degraded victims to whom he sells it. Khama became chief of the Bamangwato. Old traders died out or moved out, and a Ohristian community began to grow up, and young married men began to come in, who not only were not foes of missions, but disposed to aid the missionary. This, however, was a gradual change. For a long time, however, Khama's position was one of conflict and difficulty. He had against him the old heathen element again, and, at the same time, traders who, as he said, "trod his laws under foot because he was a black man." They would hide brandy casks in mountain caves, and then come and lie to the chief, and nse a missionary as interpreter, while they were smuggling in their " fire-water."
Mr. Hepburn, after personal and constant contact with the persons and events, writes: "I know of no other interior chief who has even attempted the half that Khama has accompl£shed, in advancing his people toward the goal of civilization." lIe not only kept foreign brandy out, but stopped native beer-making. He put an end to pagan" rain-making," and other hoary ceremonies of snperstition, but he brought in Ohristian services and rites to take their place. He made a law against the slave trade in Masariva (Bushmen), and he abolished bogadi (bargaining for wives in cattle), and introduced the law of marriage from free choice. On the ruins of anarchy and social chaos, he built up a Ohristian state, stable and orderly, and he made
MIRACLES OF MISSIONS – "KHAMA, THE GOOD."
home sacred and a purer morality to grow up side by side with better crops.* At the same time Khama, while refusing to observe or counte- nance old heathen customs, did not force anyone to adopt ItM religion, in which he remained firm and calmly persistent. The old men set themselves to maintain the pagan observances and to organize oppo- sition to the new chief; he had trouble from Khamane and the Boeis, and worse trouble from famine. But, in this hard time, Mr. Hepburn encouraged him to do what Hezekiah and Nehemiah did in times of distress -lay it all before God in prayer. Amid the seoffs of neigh- boring chiefs, it was hard for Khama to hold his ground, but a week of prayer was held and rain fell in torrents; but, what was bet- ter, God opened other windows in the higher heavens, and floods of spiritual blessing came down. There was an outpour of rain for twenty-seven days, and, as Mr. Hepburn says, "If that was not answering prayer, then I don't know how God is to answer prayer." t The Makalaka rain god, a man Ukwali, who lived in a cave, tried to get a hold on Khama, through Lobengula, another chief, but Khama calmly answered that he " could not see how a god who ate porridge like himself could be of any use to him;" and this defeat was the ruin of the Makalaka rain god, and led his followers, too, to desert his cause, eager to have more of the God of Khama and the Christian Bamangwato.
Khama seems to have been conspicuous for what Mr. Hepburn calls a "steadfast, God-inspired determination." Much that was attributed to the missionaries was due to him. When yet a lad he used to dream of governing a town as it should be, and one thing he determined on was that no drink should curse any such town whore he ruled. When he set his eye on a goal he moved quietly and steadily on toward it. He himself stood out against the ideal of Bechuana "big chiefism," which is to drink, smoke, snuff, and have a harem. He had never anything to do with native charms, medicines, witchcraft, etc. He had early refused to perform a sacred religious ceremony at his father's command, at risk of being disinherited, and he continued to carry out his program of independence and intrepidity.
He began to fight red rum systematically. He called the white men together and told them his mind. They pleaded to be allowed to bring in small cases of brandy as medicine. He gave consent, but he must see no drunkenness. Of conrse the drunkenness came. Then there was a new summons for the white men, and this time they were forJ:>idden even to bring in drink for their private table use. "Bring none! I will allow none! There's an end of it." He had to resort to fines, threats, and even to banishment from the country; but • P. 121-2.
t f, 13~.
he stood firm. When, after many provocations, the crisis came, and notwithstanding oft-repeated warnings, there was drunken violence and uproar, the good Khama wore a stern face which always meant fixed purpose. He went and saw with his own eyes how his laws were trampled on, and then he said: You despise my laws because I am a black man. Well, if I am black, I am chief of my own country, and I rule here and shall maintain my laws. Go back to your own country. Take all that is yours, and go. lf there is any other white man who does not like my laws, let him go, too. I am trying to lead my people to act according to the Word of God which we have received from you white people, and you, white people, show them an example of wickedness such as we never knew. You know that some of my own brothers have learned to like the drink and that I do not want them even to see it that they may forget the habit; and yet you not only bring it and offer it to them, but try to tempt me with it. I make an end of it to-day. Go, leave my town, and never come back!
The effect of such talk from an African chief was like a thunderclap-everybody was stunned. One man at last ventured to plead for exemption from the stern law of banishment on the ground that he had grown up in the country, and he and Khama were old friends. "Surely, for old friendship's sake you will pity me!"
"Friendship!" said the indignant Khama, "you call yourself my friend, do you? You are the ringleader among those who insult and despise my laws." Then, with withering words of rebuke, he answered hili plea for pity, by reminding him that there was a "pity" which he owed to his own people. His answer was worthy of Ohief-Justice Hale, who had used similar words, of the "mercy" due to his own country and which he would endanger if he was unduly merciful to criminals. Khama flamed with righteous anger, but he cleaned his town that day of the white man's drink curse; * and then he also forbade the use, and sale, and manufacture of native beer. At one time death seemed to threaten him if he carried on his holy crusade; but he only answered, " You may kill, but you can not conquer me."
But this was not the only noble stand that good Khama took for God. When in 1881 four men were selected by the native church for a mission to the Lake Ngami, there was a sunrise service, March 26th, which was wholly conducted by black men, and the chief Khama and Seretse, his brother, addressed the men, urging them to fidelity and earnestness; and then he took part in_ the ordination of these native evangelists, offering prayer that "God would Himself send them forth, by the Spirit." , Khama spoke words worthy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, when he said, " The work we are engaged in to-day is not that of the kingdom of the Bamangwato; it is the work of the Kingdom of the great King Jesus Christ. It becomes us to be faithful, to be earnest, * P. 150.
FLIGHT FROM THE "BOXERS" BY WAY OF SIBERIA
to do what we are doing with our hearts and not with our lips, and to rejoice that God has given us such work to do."
There were white traders present, and all were impressed with the fact that they" had seen strange things to-day." The services which began with sunrise had not ended at sunset. Even the children's gifts were upward of twelve and a half pounds sterling, and represented in all two hundred and seventy-two different donors. In the heart of that same town, which formerly was a gateway of hell, an infant Christian church had grown up to a tree whose seed was in itself after its kind.
This was surely rather a revolution than an evolution. Jesus the Nazarene had again conquered. Khama testifi9d of one of the converts, "It is nothing but the power of God; it fills me with wonder!"
This one man – Khama – brought to Christ in the Dark Continent, ruling as a Christian chief, standing firm amid all the opposition of foreign and native foes, and actually carrying on measures for Gospel extension, is a sufficient evidence of Christianity as from God, a volume in himself.
FLIGHT FROM THE" BOXERS," BYWAY OF SIBERIA.
BY REV. W. P. SPRAGUE, KALGAN, NORTH CHINA. Missionary of the American Board, 1874-.
It was about the end of May, when the first "Boxers" came from Peking to Kalgan, where I had pursued missionary work in peace and safety for twenty-five years.
When Mr. Williams and Mr. Roberts, responding to my telegram, returned from Peking they reached Kalgan Sunday, June 10, and found a crowd gathered about our front gate, who said they came to see the ruins of our houses. The Boxers had announced that they were to be burned the preceding night. From certain evidences we believe that burning firebrands were thrown over the ten-foot-high adobe wall-which surrounded the premises-on that evening with intent to burn us out. That Sunday, at dark, another and a very different crowd came with clubs and stones and tried to break the gate in. This was a double door, eight feet high and eight feet wide, made of two-inch plank and always locked at night. On hearing the pounding and great noise, the gatekeeper and servants in great alarm rushed in crying out, "The Boxers have come, the Boxers have come!" "Bring out your guns quickly! " We took our guns, went out quickly, firing several volleys into the air as we passed on to the gate, to let the crowd know that we were armed. Then one of us, by means of a ladder, ascended the wall, and aiming a loaded gun at the crowd in the moonlight, told them to scatter or we would shoot. They scattered, evidently not expecting to find us armed. We called
together our helpers aud other natives on the place and consulted as to what was best to be done. We prayed for guidance. All agreed that it was necessary to leave the place at once.
At about three o'clock in the morning we silently left our homes and went to an official's residence in the upper city. We placed ourselves under the protection of this official, who received us kindly, gave us an early hearing, and promised the protection we sought. During the morning I returned, by an unfrequented path, to the place; and finding all things quiet, took the opportunity to pack two or three trunks and boxes with clothing and provisions. The officials became alarmed, and concluded that it was not convenient to entertain us, and asked us to go to an inn where rooms had been provided for our accommodation. As this inn was near our mission compound we refused to go, but said we would gladly go into the plains of Mongolia if he would provide us an escort of soldiers. This he consented to do. At midnight, in our carts and on horseback, escorted by fifty swordsmen and four armed horsemen, we passed out through the big gate of the great wall, up through the valley past the Russian settlement and on into Mongolia. Ohina's front door was closed. We had escaped through her still-open back door.
Once safely out in the northern valley, the footmen returned, leaving us in the care of the horsemen. At sundown we reached the home of a Mongol friend, who received us kindly, but soon told us that we were not safe there. The Boxers were practising in various Chinese villages about, and had already threatened to burn Roman Catholic chapels not far away. We must" move on."
The next day we joined some Swedish missionaries who were encamped at Hara Asa, a Mongol village fifty miles north from Kalgan, and who had left Kalgan a short time before. We found the people in commotion. They had been ordered by the head Mongol of the village to "move on," and were already busily preparing to start for Siberia. We joined the party, seeing the necessity of getting farther away from the seat of trouble. There were now twelve adult missionaries and six small children. There was almost a panic among the Mongols, and not a Chinaman could we hire to help us. But see how the Lord had provided a way for us through the wilderness, Last summer a young Englishman by the name of Campbell,. from the legation at Peking, had spent his vacation in Mongolia hunting. He became acquainted with Mr. Larso!)., a Swedish missionary located in Kalgan. In the summer Mr. Oampbell wished to return to England by Mongolia, Siberia, and Russia. He invited Mr. Larson to accompany him as guide and interpreter, promising him opportunity to prosecute his missionary work among the Mongols. He also authorized him to prepare a good caravan of
ten camels, eight horses, six Mongol servants, and one camel cart, and to be ready by June 1. The caravan was ready, but Mr. Oampbell was locked up in Peking. We needed and so took the caravan which he could not use, and afterward paid him for it. But it was not sufficiently large to accommodate our party, and we were detained ten days at Hara Asa completing preparations for the long journey. 'l'hree rough ox-carts were rigged up with covers for the ladies and children. A tent was bought for the gentlemen to sleep in. Two of us, at different times, returned to Kalgan, one to draw the remainder of our money from the bank, the other to secure food, necessary clothing, and another cart for the journey. This was hazardous, but necessary.
We had hardly got well started, when the second night out, a Rev. J. H. Roborts. Miss Engl!. Rev. Mark Williams. Mrs. Sprague. Rev. W. P. Sprague.
MISSIONARY FUGITIVES FROM KALGAN, NORTH CHINA.
camel strayed away. While we waited in camp for the drivers to hunt it up, a messenger overtook us with a letter from another Swedish party of four, who had been mobbed and driven out from their station, and were stranded at an inn, two days' journey from us. 'fhey asked that animals be sent to bring them up to us. This was done. Two days later they joined us. The mob had gathered about their place. They sent to the official for help; the crowd broke through a poorly fastened back gate; they fled through the front gate, and were pursued, stoned, bruised, and knocked down, but were met and rescued by soldiers from the yamen. The official received them kindly, gave them money, and sent them under escort to this inn. Had they npt secured our assistance, they would undoubtedly again have fallen in'to
the hands of the Boxers, for their protectors deserted them. We saw then the reason why the camel strayed away, and we thanked God. The party who came to us was Mr. and Mrs. Urberg, Mr. Jacobson, and Mr. Sandberg. Those killed were Mr. and Mrs. Bingmark and their two children.
We thankfully and with no little anxiety resumed our jour-· ney, averaging about twenty-five miles a day, and traveling often far into the night. We must stop part of every day for the animals to graze, as we carried no food for them. We must travel till a well was reached, be it far or neal', as water was a necessity for both man and beast. We did our own work, as our Mongols attended only to the animals, loading and unloading them, and putting up of the tents. The picking up of fuel, cooking of food, and washing of dishes kept each day's committee busy while in camp. Weariness, thirst, and hunger were familial' conditions. '1'here were other annoyances.
THE MISSIONARY CARAVAN CROSSING CENTRAL ASIA.
At one place water was refused at the well-word having been sent from Kalgan to that effect. A sharp word and exhibition of a gun from our leader secured the water. 'rhrough another section of the country two Mongol soldiers followed us, who were instructed to see that we did not put poison in the wells. (!) Theil' 8ltre method was to get to the well first and draw the water for us-to which we did not object. Again, we were refused camels and horses which we needed to buy; sheep were refused us. Our rice gave out. Foul' of the little children had whooping cough and suffered for lack of nourishing food; one of them died and was buried in Kiachta.
The last day of our caravan journey we traveled far into the night through a beautiful pine forest, and then camped on a hill. The next morning, which was Sunday, we rose to see the sun shining on the white domes and gilded spires of several beautiful Greek churches. We had reached Kiachta, just on the edge of Siberia. Two of the party entered the city Saturday night to arrange for our crossing the
ANTI-FOREIGN CRUSADES IN CHINA
border, showing passports, etc. After several delays by policemen, soldiers, and officers, they were permitted to enter and complete arrangements for our entertainment. But there, on the extreme edge of Chinese territory, one thousand miles from Peking, was a city of Chinese traders, where the Boxers' influence had reached and whose o~cials were opposed to our passing through. But by means of the intervention of the Russian governor, who claimed us as his guests, and who had our passports translated to the others, we were allowed to pass over the boundary line. This was on Monday. Just before entering the city a Russian artist photographed the caravan.
Passing through the city we were soon settled in a hotel, glad to say good-by to the caravan part of our journey. 'l'he Russian flag floated over us. Many Russian soldiers were about us. 'The Russians everywhere treated us most cordially. Here we received money by cablegram from our American Board in Boston, through our minister in St. Petersburg and our government at Washington. We then started by Russian tarantas for Lake Bikal, a journey of five days, through a most beautiful country; mountain streams, and many forests, with frequent settled openings, made romantic scenery. Crossing Lake Bikal by steamer, we reached the Siberian railroad at Irkutsk. From there we had a comfortable ride of ten days through a constantly changing, but always interesting country, to Moscow and St. Petersburg.
ANTI-FOREIGN CRUSADES IN CHINA.
BY REV. GRIFFITH JOHN, D.D., HANKOW, CHINA. Missionary of the London Missionary Society, 1855-.
In 1891 the whole of the Yangtze valley was greatly disturbed by the Hunan Anti-Foreign Crusade. In October of that year, a letter from me on the cause of the riots appeared in the columns of the North China Daily News. Nearly a decade has passed since then, but there is much in that letter which is applicable to present conditions in China. The following extracts, read in the light of current events, wiII not fail to interest those who are seeking an explanation of what has been going on of late in this land: It must be admitted that the foreigners have forced themselves on the Chinese. We are here, not because they have invited us to come, or wish us to remain. We have, it is true, our treaty rights, but everyone of them has been obtained at the point of the bayonet. Our presence in Peking, our presence at the coast ports, our presence in the interior, our presence in the valley of the Yangtze, our aristocratic settlements, our extra territorial jurisdiction, all these things are now, and have been from the beginning, an abomination to the Chinese government. The governing classes have never changed in their hatred of the foreign element, or in their desire to banish it from the land. They would, if they
could, bring things back to their pristine state, and confine both us and our commerce to one spot.
The idea of casting out the foreigner, sooner or later, has been tena- ciously held and fondly cherished by the officials all these last fifty [now sixty] years. The idea may have been allowed to sleep, off and on; but they have never relinquished it, and of late they have been greatly moved by it. The question before them for some time seems to have been how to realize the idea; and the plan which has commended itself to their judgment, seems to be this: "Let all the missionaries, in the first instance, be frightened back into the open ports; if that succeeds, let an effort be made to drive all the foreigners, whether merchants or missionaries, to the coast ports." This is intended for the immediate future. It does not exhaust the scheme.
Now this id-ea, which I father on the governing classes, needed a con- genial home in order to take root and develop, and that home it has found in Hunan. The Hunan scholars have been engaged for many years in propagating their anti-foreign creed with the view of pre- paring the minds of the people for the decisive moment. Believing that the time of action was at hand, they made, at the beginning of last year, a special effort to poison the minds of the people in this valley. The Hunan publications were widely scattered up and down this river. The poison found its way into the homes of all classes of society, and was greedily devoured by all conditions of the people. The way having been thus prepared, and the propitious hour having arrived, the blow was struck, and the work of destruction began. There was no accident about it. The whole thing was deliberately planned, and carried on with a definite purpose. Behind the people were the Hunan emissaries, and behind these emissaries stood the real power, which worked in both and through both.
By this time, no doubt, many among the officials have been brought to see that a great blunder has been committed. They probably imag- ined that, by making the movement appear to be an anti-missionary movement, and the riots an uprising of the people against the mission- aries, the foreign powers might be bamboozled and won over to their side. In this, however, they have failed signally, and they can not but know it. They would probably be glad to undo the work of the last few months, and they may set themselves to the task of pre- venting further mischief, at least for the present. But they will not readily relinquish their anti-foreign idea, and it is more than probable that the anti.foreign spirit evoked by it in Hunan, and more or less throughout the land, will prove itselfstronger than they.
I am not now discussing the merits or demerits, the reasonableness or unreasonableness, of the Chinese position with regard to foreign inter· course. Looking at things from their standpoint, it must be admitted that the Chinese have a good deal to say for themselves. But the Euro- pean standpoint is just the opposite of theirs, and the one or the other must yield. The real question which the foreign powers have to consider at the present time is this: Shall we maintain our present position in China, or. shall we bow to the Chinese idea and clear out? "China exclusively for the Chinese," that is the idea-the official idea, the reali- zation of which is the grand aim of the present anti-foreign movement.
It is not an anti-missionary movement; neither is it a sudden uprising of the Chinese against all foreigners. It is anti-missionary because it is
ANTI-FOREIGN CRUSADES IN CHINA
first and above all anti-foreign. The people are moved, but they have not been moved by an internal impulse. The whole movement, in my opinion, is to be traced to a government policy, and it is with the gov- ernment and its policy the great powers are called upon now to deal.
There is one lesson which the Chinese government ought to be taught at once, namely, that however fondly they may cherish their idea, they must not and shall not use the methods which they have been using recently in their attempts to realize it. They must be made to see and feel that all this is barbarism pure and simple. China wishes civil- ized nations to look upon her as a member of the family, and to grant her the privileges of international law. It is high time that China should be told that by these inhuman and savage deeds she is showing herself to be unworthy of a place among the civilized governments, and forfeiting every right of appeal to the law which regulates civilized nations in their mutual intercourse. If she would profit by this law she must be bound by it.
There is a good deal in the above that has a special bearing on the present crisis. Of late the idea of driving the hated white man out of China has been very active among the officials, and especially among the Manchus in- Peking In Prince Tuan we have an incarnation of the idea. He may be an ignorant man, and as devoid of literary polish as most of his fellow-clansmen, but there can be no doubt of his being a man of strong will, boundless ambition, and exhaustless energy-the very man to lead the Boxers, or any other band of ruffians. In the heart of the empress dowager, a woman of great ability, but utterly unscrupulous, the idea has found a congenial home. Under the influence of the fiery Tuan, her fears were roused into frenzy, and her ambitions stirred to their deepest depths. She was led to believe that the psychological moment to favor China had come, and that nothing more was wanted than her word of command. Her imagination was fired, the word was spoken, and the result was what we see to-day. Behind the Boxers you have the officials, and behind the officials you have the real power which has been working in both and through both.
Once more the Chinese have been trying to realize their idea, and once more they have failed. But the idea is not dead, and will not die readily. Will it ever die while the integrity of the empire lasts? Will the yellow man, while free, ever give up the dream of his ambition? Within this one decade we have seen two grand attempts to realize the dream, and both have been accompanied with unspeakable horrors, tho the former has been completely eclipsed in this respect by the latter. Between these two grand attempts there have been others of a grave nature, tho comparatively of less significance. The decade has been one full of trouble and sorrow, and all due mainly to this one canse.
Is the next decade to be a repetition of this? That will depend, I think, on the coming settlement. If that is satisfactory, we may reckon
on better times. If not satisfactory, then the past will repeat itself, and repeat itself in a worse form. If the powers listen to the voice of Russia, and patch up this business in the way indicated by her, we shall not wait long before we face another crisis, compared with which the present one will be counted as nothing. 'I'o withdraw the foreign troops from Peking, before this matter is satisfactorily and finally settled, would be sheer madness. To recognize again as the real ruler of that empire the cruel woman who has brought this terrible disaster upon the Chinese people, as well as upon foreigners, would be sin and shame. To accept any member of the reactionary party, anyone of the creatures of the discredited dowager, as a peace plenipotentiary, would be self-degradation and senseless stupidity. To allow Chang Chin-Tung and Liu Kun-yi, men who have manfully stood by us throughout the whole of this crisis, and have preeminent qualifications as statesmen, to be shunted in order to gratify the spleen of our bitterest enemies, would be ingratitude and cruel injustice. Surely these are impossible things-things that never can come to pass. It is to be hoped that the powers will pause to think, think deeply and pause long, before they commit themselves to the guidance of Russia.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE BY THE POWERS.
If I were asked what action the foreign powers should take at this time, I would say: 1. Insist on the deposition of the empress dowager. Her responsibility for the recent outrages can admit of no doubt.
2. Insist on the reinstatement of the emperor; and let the control of the empire be restored to him.
3. Insist on the instigators of the outrages being delivered up to punishment, however exalted their rank. As to the innumerable instruments employed' by these wicked men in carrying out their cruel designs, let them be pardoned.
4. Insist on pecuniary indemnity being paid for all property destroyed.
5. Insist on the whole empire being thrown open to foreign intercourse, and let Hunan be thrown open to foreign trade.
6. Let the treaty rights of foreign missionaries and Christian converts be reaffirmed.
7. Let there be no partition of the empire, and let the independence of the Chinese government be maintained.
8. Let not the foreign troops be withdrawn from Peking till a satisfactory settlement be reached.
Other things will have to be attended to, but I feel sure, that if these are secured, the settlement will be satisfactory.
Let no one suppose that I advocate the punishment of the instigators of the recent outrages in the spirit of revenge. The nature of the case demands it. Not to exact just punishment would be, in the eyes of the Chinese, a proof that we looked with indifference on the
ANTI-FOREIGN CRUSADES IN CHINA
crime itself, and that we regarded the repetition of the outrages as a matter of no moment.
THE EXCITICS"G CAUSES OF THE OUTBREAK.
I have spoken of the long-cherished idea of casting the hated white man out of China as the cause of the present outbreak. In conclusion I should like to refer to the causes which have given life and motion to the idea in the present instance. Many years ago Prince Kung attributed "all causes of serious international disagreement to missionary propagandism;" and the officials of to-day are doing the same thing. It is an official convenience to do so. It is convenient for them, for instance, to say that the Boxer movement sprang from missionary troubles, and thus shift the blame from their own shoulders to the shoulders of the missionaries and their converts. Superficial observers among foreigners also find in this hypothesis a very easy solution of the problem, while our enemies are only too ready to welcome it as a proof of the soundness of their views on missions. And yet nothing can be further from the truth. What had missionary propagandism to do with bringing about the Opium war of 1839- 1842. What had missionary propagandism to do with bringing about the Arrow war in 1858? Absolutely nothing.
'['his is onr third war with China (we do not call it so, but it is so, nevertheless), and I am prepared to maintain that among the exciting causes missionary propagandism stands last and least. Missions were attacked by the Boxers in Shantung in 1899. The converts were persecuted in many places, and one missionary was actually put to death. But the movement was a feeble one at the time, and might have been easily stamped out, had the governor, the infamous Yu Hsien, been so minded. He, however, saw in the" Patriotic Volunteer Trained Bands," as the Boxers are otherwise called, the very instrument which the reactionary party needed in order to start an anti-foreign crusade. Hence his tender care of the Boxers; and the undisguised heartiness with which he encouraged them in their evil designs on the missionaries and native Christians in the Shantung province. The Boxer movement had for its aim the extermination of everything foreign, and the casting out of all foreigners, and hence its attraction to Yu Hien and to every member of the reactionary party, not excluding the empress dowager herself.
As to the real exciting causes, we have not to go far in order to find them. They are: 1. The annexation of Formosa by the Japanese. 2. The seizure of Kiou-Chou by Germany. 3. The acquisition of Port Arthur and Talienwan by Russia, of Wei- Hai-Wei by England, and of Kwang-Chou by France. 4. The claims to "spheres of influence," leading to protectorates, and ultimately to absorption.
5. The construction of railways and the opening of mines by foreign syndicates.
6. The reform movement, which strikes at the very foundations of the existing order of things.
These are the things which have raised the Chinese idea into activity. To the conservative party, both at Peking and in the provinces, it seemed as if the European nations had made up their minds to parcel out the empire among themselves, not leaving to the Chinese a square" mile which they could call their own. "What shall we do to deliver our country from the hands of the enemy, and to preserve our national existence? " That seems to have been the all-absorbing question with these men, a question forced upon them not by the missionary, but by foreign governments, not by missionary propagandism, but by the earth-hunger which has taken possession of the nations.
That is, I sincerely believe, the true explanation of this uprising, in so far as the exciting causes are concerned. 'The fact that more missionaries have suffered than any other class of foreigners, is to be put down to the obvious fact that they were more numerous, more exposed, and more defenseless. Other foreigners, placed in similar circumstances, have suffered in the same way, and even our ministers, at Peking, and all the members of the legations, would have perished, had the empress dowager and her party succeeded in their intentions. The fact that mission property has been extensively destroyed counts for nothing. Even legations have been destroyed, railways torn up, and railway stations burned to the ground. In this movement no distinction has been made between the missionary and any other foreigner, between missionary property and any other property. The aim has been to drive out the foreigner, no matter who he may be, and to destroy his belongings, no matter what they may be.
THE MISSIONARIES IN CHINA.
One word about the missionaries in China. I do not think it necessary to defend the missionaries at length against the many false and vulgar charges brought against them these days. But there is one question which I have often put to myself, namely, "What would have been the Chinese' impression of the intellectual, moral, and spiritual life of the West, had the Chinese people never seen a Christian' missionary, never heard a Christian sermon, and never read a Christian book?" The missionaries in China represent all that is highest and best in the religious and social life of Christendom, and as such they are respected more highly by the people than any other class of foreigners. They have among the people tens of thousands of genuine friends, among whom there are multitudes who would lay down their lives in their defense. Of what other class of foreigners in China
ANTI-FOREIGN CRUSADES IN CHINA
could this be said? Other foreigners are here solely for their own ends-their own selfish purposes; and the Chinese know it only too well. The missionaries are here for the good of China, and the Chinese are not altogether ignorant of the fact. Speaking of the Protestant missionary, I can say emphatically that the masses of the people do not h1te the missionary, and the longer he lives among them the more friendly do they become. After having lived at this center nearly forty years, and having traveled extensively over the provinces, I find that the people become more and more friendly every day.
The fact is, the missionaries are emphatically the friends of the people, and the people are becoming more and more convinced of the fact every day. The missionaries are more than religious teachers; they are benefactors in every sense of the term. The poor are taught in their schools, the sick are healed in their hospitals, and the helpless are helped by them in manifold ways. The Chinese are indebted to them, not only for their knowledge of Christianity, but also for nearly all the scientific knowledge of which they can boast. They are earnest, hard-working men, who are trying in every possible way to pour into this dark land the light of truth. Taking the Protestant missionaries all in all, it would be impossible to find a class of men more earnest, more circumspect, more hard-working, and more devoted to their life purpose. They are not perfect, but they are true men, and they love China. They love China for Christ's sake, and their one ambition is to promote the well-being of her people. Of what other class of foreigners in China could this be said? Where are the foreigners in China, outside the missionary circle, who even profess to love the Chinese, or whose business it is to promote their good? Take the missionary out of China, and you rob the people of their one true disinterested friend. The Chinese as a people may not recognize the fact to-day, but it is a fact nevertheless, and the day is coming when they will recognize it gla4ly and thankfully.
THE OUTLOOK.
I do not take a depressing view of the present situation in China, but the very reverse. I believe that there is to be a new China, and that the agonies through which China is now passing are mere throes preceding a new birth. The new China will be a different one from the old one in many respects. It will be all athirst for Western lore, Western methods, and Western improvements of every kind. The empire will be open as never before to commerce and civilization. Mines will be opened, and the land will be covered with railways and public roads. Above all, the hitherto closed doors will be thrown wide open to the Gospel, and the hearts of the people will be better prepared than ever for the reception of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. Weare on the eve of a brighter day in China than the people have
ever known. This has been a dark hour; but the darkest hour is just before the dawn.
One of the secretaries of one of the oldest of our missionary societies writes that a gentleman has just called to ask him, if it was not his opinion that these troubles would not effectually prevent the resumption of mission work in China for a very long time; my friend adds that it really seems as if many people have the idea that the government should step in and forbid missionaries to enter China again. The" many people" spoken of by my friend are, I imagine, Christian people, friends of missions. They feel, I suppose, that the sacrifice of so many lives in the cause of Christ in behalf of China, is too great a waste-is an extravagant demand on the resources of the Christian Church. What a strange conception of the Church, of its place and mission in the world! What about the tens of thousands of lives that have been sacrificed in South Africa, within one year, on behalf of the British empire! What would the Christian Church in Europe ha,'e been without her confessors and martyrs ! Was it to be expected that the conquest of China would be achieved without the Cross and the Crown of Thorns? Was there not a need for this terrible baptism of fire and blood with which the native Church in China is being baptized?
Missionaries resume their work! -Of course they will, and with as little delay as possible. I am hoping that within a short time most of the mission stations will be reoccupied, and that before long all will be in full working order. There is not a merchant in China who talks about these troubles as likely to prevent the resumption of trade, but the reverse. Men of business are looking into the future with new hope, and are laying plans with the expectation of good developments in every direction. Shall the missionary fall behind the merchants? Shall he be less daring, less ambitious? Think of the government stepping in and forbidding merchants entering China again on account of these troubles! The thing is too absurd to be thinkable. We, the missionaries, have no intention of backing out of China, and there is not a government in the world that can keep us out, or that dares to make the attempt.
Moreover, the societies can not abandon China without condemning China to sin and perdition. The great need of China to-day is vital religion. What the Chinese need, 8,bove all else, is a heavenly principle that shall infuse a new moral and spiritual life into the nation, a mighty power that shall transform them in their inmost being, a Divine inspiration that shall create within their breast aspirations after holiness and eternal life. In other words, what they need is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Apart from Christianity I can see no hope for China. There is no power in the religious systems of the country to develop a holy character, a true manhood. China can not
J THE NEW HEBRIDES CHRISTIANS
advance in the path of true progress without a complete change in the religious life of the nation. It is Christ alone who can lead in the glorious dawn of the Chinese renaissance; the new birth of a mighty nation to liberty and righteousness, and ever-expanding civilization. Ffleling this to be true, in our heart of hearts, we, the missionaries, have come to China to preach Christ, unto one a stumbling-block and unto another foolishness, but unto them that are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. This is our work, and wo to llS if we turn our backs on it.
There is one fact that cheers my heart greatly as I think of the future, namely, that we shall have in China as the result of this terrible trial, a purer, stronger, and nobler Church than we had before. We shall have also a Church wonderfully qualified for witnessbearing. The Chinese have been looking upon the Christians as "rice converts." It will be more difficult for them to look upon the Christians in that light after the splendid proofs they have given of their perfect sincerity during these four months of testing. The Church in China has passed through one of the severest persecutions with which the Christian Church has ever been tried, and we know that thousands of converts have faced suffering and death in their most appalling forms, rather than deny their faith in the Lord who bought them. Yes, the Church in China can stand to-day before the whole world, Christian and heathen, as a witness· bearing Church, and say: "From henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks of the Lord Jesus."
Let the people of God in Christian lands be of good courage. These troubles in China will soon be over, and the demand for missionaries will be greater than ever. China will soon be prepared for the churches; will the churches be prepared /01' Ohina,'! May God so move the Christians at home that they shall be prepared to joyfully undertake the new duties and responsibilities which the new China shall devolve upon them.
THE NEW HEBRIDES CHRISTIANS.
BY REV. JOHN G. PATON, D.D., NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS. Missionary to e,e New Hebrides Islands, 1858-, The New Hebrides Christians are a people of simple faith who have embraced the Gospel, and try to love and serve Jesus Christ according to their knowledge of the teaching of His blessed word. They try to observe in their every-day life and conduct, all that Jesus has commanded. They begin and close every day with private and family prayer, and ask the Divine blessing on all meals of food regularly, and try to train their children in the fear of God and for His service. Theil' constant every-day walk and conversation are power-
ful object lessons to the heathen and to all, of the wonderful change they have undergone by the teaching and power of the Gospel, as they try to live for Jesus and eternity. They are far from being free from faults 'and failings common to man; nor are any of them perfect, for we all sin and come short. There are none righteous, no not one, except our Saviour, the God and man Jesus Christ. But according to their li~ht and education, they ·would stand a favorable comparison with a similar number of Christians, say any eighteen thousand taken promiscuously from any white Christian community. A few years ago, as heathen, they knew nothing of the Sabbath, yet now it is better kept by them, and their churches are better attended than I have seen in any land since I left the islands. They also highly value and carefully read and study the Scriptures, as to man they are God's only infallible guide and rule of faith and practise.
THE MATERIAL FROM WHICH CHRISTIANS ARE MADE.
When we began the .Lord's work among them, they were all pai"nted savage cannibals without any clothing and without any written language. The women had to do all the plantation work, while the men were engaged chiefly in war or in talking about it. They lived constantly in a state of superstitious dread of AN AGED HEATHEN OF FUTUNA. the revenge of their heathen gods and of their enemies, and of He Is said to be the oldeBt man In the Paclfic- the spirits of the people they had about 115 years old. He Is still active, murdered, and of evils brought on though he was too old to fight sixty years ago.
them by their sacred men, heathen priests, and wizards, whom they all exceedingly fear.
As heathen they have no idea of natural death, but believe that every person who dies is killed by some one through sorcery or witch- craft, in using a piece of an orange or banana skin, or something of which the dead person has eaten a part. So after a death they all meet daily and with each other talk over the case to find out who has caused the death. When, as soon as some person will name anyone with whom he is unfriendly as having caused the death, they load a rifle and the priest or chief walks up to some young man and presents him with the loaded rifle saying, "You are to go and shoot this fowl or hog for us." He generally has no alternative but to be shot or take the rifle, lay it aside, and go and paint his face, neck, breast, and
THE NEW HEBRIDES CHRISTIANS
arms black, and return, take up the rifle and go and shoot the inno- cent person, after watching for him concealed in the bush near his house. War often follows in revenge, and in this way many lives are lost and sometimes a whole village or tribe is swept away.
On the islands first occupied by us, infanticide was common; the aged were murdered, and all widows were strangled to death when their husbands died. This was one of the most difficult savage prac- tises to get the natives to give up, as they thought it was a great dis- honor for the spirit of the husband not to have the spirit of his wife to wait upon him as a slave in the world of spirits. Notwithstand- ing all these dreadful savage cruelties and superstitions, even as a heathen they were an interest- ing, industrious people, living in villages and towns, and like country farmers, cultivating and planting the lands around them for the sup- port of them- selves and fam- ilies. Yet they have almost no buying and sell- ing, and no money is in cir- culation among RECENT CONVERTS IN FUTUNA. them. " Might is right," and by club-laws the strong oppress the weak without mercy.
THE TRANSFOmrATION PROCESS.
The missionary first tries to acquire the language of the natives among whom he is placed; he has no help nor teacher, but tries to pick it up as spoken by them, to discover its grammatical construc- tion, phonetically reduces it to a written form, translates some hymns into it, and teaches the people to sing them. He also translates and prepares a small book of extracts of Scripture, giving them an account of the creation, the fall, the flood, of God's love and mercy to men in Jesus Ohrist. He teaches them to read and understand it, and to re- ceive the Scriptures of God as the only infallible guide and rule of faith and practise, to all men of all colors and countries.• and that in it, by the suffering and death of His only begotten son, Jesus, Goel
offers salvation and eternal happiness to all men who will accept it, believe and obey it, having repented of and give up all sin. A good God of love and mercy, so loving our lost and ruined race as to send His Son into our world to die for man and give them etemallife, is that by which Divine grace enlightens the mind and moves the heart of the savage to love and serve God above all else. Hence they delight to attend school and church and prayer-meeting in order to learn all possible about the Saviour and their privileges anu duties in Him, whom they try to love and serve as their present abiding friend and eternal reward.
All who attend our communicants' classes as catechumens must have a pretty correct general knowledge of whatever portions of Scripture they have translated and printed in their own language; they must also know the church catechism or confession of faith which I prepared for them in Aniwan, and which has also been translated into other languages. Each man and woman must also have an unstained character, so far as man knows, for a year before they are allowed to attend the communicants' class. Then according to their Christian knowledge and devotion they attend the class from one to three years or longer before we baptize them and admit them to the membership of the church. Hence, by God's blessing on such careful training and preparation of them for church membership, we have fewer of our members falling away, and far more intelligent consecrated Christian help from them in working for the salvation of others and in all God's work than we would have if we baptize them as some do on a confession of their faith and because they are able to answer a few simple questions. We believe that neither they nor we can really know, love, and serve Jesus and feast upon real communion with Him at His table and in the joys of His salvation and service, without doing all we can to teach others to accept and enjoy the same blessings for time and eternity. 'They are thus taught and led by Divine grace to ,believe in all the evangelical doctrines of our common faith and to try earnestly to live up to them, in all things serving Jesus Christ.
THE RESVLTAKT CHRISTIANS.
All through life God's people grow in Christian knowledge and consecrated devotion to Jesus and His work, by their daily communion with Him in prayer and reading the Scriptures, as in humble penitence they follow on, loving and serving Him more perfectly, using all diligence to make their calling and election sure, till at death Christ perfects them in heaven. Our converts and church members begin and close every day in private and family prayer. They ask God's blessing on all meals of food. On Sabbath none of them are seen turning their backs on the Sabbath-school and church services; and going away, as many do in these lands, on foot, on bicycles, in
carriages, street cars, railways, and steamboats, to spend God's day in pleasure and amusement, forgetting or disregarding the Divine com- mand, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." Unless con- fined to a bed of sickness or having to attend one so confined, all our church members are in their seats in the church on the Lord's day in all weather, and also at the week-day prayer-meetings. And being accus- tomed to prayer with their families, no male member when requested ever declines to open or close publicly, a church service with prayer.
Their education and knowledge is limited and far from being like ours, and yet they can all read what of the Scriptures they possess, and show great zeal and exercise much self-denial in trying to teach and bring the heathen to know and love and serve Jesus Christ as their God and Savior. Some of them die and others have been murdered when away as teachers, but others zealously volunteer to go and occupy their places, as lately from Aniwa one died on Tanna and the Aniwans sent five additional teachers in his place.
Our converts build and keep up their own schools and churches without outside help, and by planting and preparing arrowroot yearly they have paid at the rate of about five dollars a leaf, in- cluding the binding of the Scrip- A NATIVE CHRISTIAN TEACHER IN .'UTUNA.
tnres, as we have been able to translate them into twenty-two of their languages. This is a great undertaking for them. '['he natives of Aneityum paid one thousand, two hundred pounds or six thousand dollars to the British and Foreign Bible Society for printing the complete Bible in their language, and a number of the islands pay the thirty dollars each yearly to keep their own teachers.
Even now the change in the living and conduct of our converts is a wonderful work of Divine grace, and we hope that Jesus will be able to show the "finished product" among His Redeemed in the glory of Heaven. Pray that they and we may be led faithfully to live and labor for Jesus till death, and that He may spare us and give us the help and means of extending the teachings and blessings of the Gospel to the from 40,000 to 60,000 cannibals yet on the New Hebrides.
THE INFLUENCE OF FOREIGN MISSIONS ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHUIlOR.
BY JAMES JOHNSTON, F.S.S., LONDON, ENGLAND.
Christian work is an essential condition of spiritual life; but a full and healthful spiritual life is also essential to the highest form of Christian work. Success in spiritual work is a natural and legitimate object of desire and aim; but the spirit of the worker is of more importance than the amount and apparent success of his work. God sets more value on what a man is than on what he does. Being is before and higher than doing/ tho doing is necessary to the healthy and the highest form of being.
If we can say this of life in its manifestations in work, how much more may we say it of the form and methods by which the agent, or, the organized body, the Church, regulates its mode of operation; and yet we find a constant tendency in human nature, even within a spiritual body like the Church of God, to attach more importance to the things which are external and secondary, than to those which are internal and primary. The expression of the Church·s faith in formal creeds, the drawing up of an elaborate liturgy, the formulation of an ecclesiastical polity, and the introduction of rites and ceremonies, too often occupy the attention of Christians, to the neglect of that which is first and all important-the spiritual life of the believer, and of the organic body of which he is a part.
We are prone to forget that the life is more than creeds, and the spirit is more than ecclesiastical organizations-that life is more than liturgical forms, and the spirit is more than rites and ceremonies. To arrest this tendency, and to call attention to the importance of the development of the higher life of the Church, we desire to show the designed adaptation of foreign mis&ions to be the means for the attainment of this all-important object.
We need not say that missions can not be the original source of life, either in the individual or the Church; but they are both the sign and the sustenance of the life which is derived by faith in the crucified and risen Savior. That life is developed and strengthened naturally by the exercise of the functions of life in the spiritual organism, just as we see it in the youth and maturity of animal life in man and the lower creatures. It may.be, and often is revived and enlarged abnormally, by other means, such as trials and afflictions, but the normal means for the enlargement and elevation of the spiritual life is by the active exercise of the functions of life-feeding upon the heavenly manna-the Word of God; prayer, which is the breath of spiritual life, and by active exercise, which calls into play all the powers and graces which the Spirit of God has implanted in the regenerated soul of the believer.
THE INl!'LUENCE OF FOREIGN MISSIONs
May we not even go further and say, that the acti ve service of the Christian and of the Church is chiefly of value as a means for promoting a higher form of life in both. We all admit that Christian service is twice blesssed; the agent is blessed as well as the object, and Paul in his counsels to 'ritus on the formation of Christian character in believers gives as the great motive for its formation the great truth, that" Our Savior Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." In other words, that life is more than work, and that the cultivation of the spiritual life is the chief concern even in our most sacred enterprises.
We can here only point out two or three of the ways in which foreign missions are designed and fitted to quicken and enlarge the spiritual life of the Church.
1. A TEST OF LOYALTY TO CHRIST.
The Christian dispensation is not a dispensation of positive and prohibitive commands, like that of Moses. Christ gave few commands to His disciples and followers, and of these none was given in words or under conditions so impressive as those of the Great Commission: "All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth; go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations."
This command is the basis and authority on which all true missionary effort rests, and no authority or motive in support of missions must ever be placed in the same category with it. Arguments for missions based on the immoralities, crimes, and cruelties of the heathen, or on their ignorance and misery, are not for a moment to be put on the same level with this command, which is the true test of the Church's loyalty to her Divine Lord. Motives drawn from the crimes and miseries of the he~then world, are legitimate in their own place, but when dwelt on to the exclusion or neglect of the explicit command, they obscure the true ground of obedience, and lower the motive and authority on which missions rest; they are human and appeal to mere natural feeling; the command is divine, :lnd the motive is spiritual; the one is an appeal to philanthropy, the love of man, the other to the love of God-" If ye love Me keep My commandments"; and what command could be more dear to the Christian than that which places him on the same line of duty toward Christ, on which Christ stood to the Father? "As 'rhou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sellt them into the world." The command of the Lord makes missions to the heathen or non-Christian world imperative, irrespective of either character or condition. If the heathen were pure as Nazarites, gentle as lambs, and happy as the day is long, the command would be as binding on the Church as if they were cruel as demons, lower than the brutes, and more wretched than the lost.
It is the carrying on of missions in this spirit of loyal love to the Savior, and obedience to His command, that makes them so precious as a means of grace for the perfecting of the spiritual life of the Church. "In the keeping of His commandments there is a great reward;" not there shall be, but there is, the reward which comes in the most important of all ways-the formation of character on the same lines of loving obedience on which Christ kept the commandments of the Father.
Our Lord referred to the close relation into which the spirit of obedience brings the soul with Himself, as identical with that in which He stood to the Father: "If ye keep My commandments ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love "-the closest and most blessed union of which even the soul of the Savior was ~apable. In His last address Christ refers to obedience as the condition of union with the Father and of loving communion with Him: "He that keepeth my commandment, he it is that loveth Me, and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and we will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him"; and to make the union of the obedient believer with each person of the Trinity complete, Jesus adds; "If ye love Me keep My commandments, and I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter that He may abide with you forever."
This perfect form of union and communion of the soul with God through the Holy Spirit, is supposed by many to be the fruit of contemplation and ecstasy-a mystical fellowship springing from the depths of our intellectual and emotional nature; but our Lord shows by His example and teaching, that it is the reward of loyal obedience and active service, especially in the great work of the redemption of our fallen race by His obedience and death, and by our obedience to His command when He rose from the dead. Obedience to this command is the evidence of the Church's loyalty to her mission, and at once the sign and sustenance of her spiritual life II. BROAD VIEWS OF GOD'S PURPOSES.
2. Foreign missions develop the spiritual life of the Church, by giving broad and comprehensive views of the purpose of God in redemption: "Go ye into all the world, make disciples of all the nations." While conversion is the persona] work of each individual, the scope and plan of salvation is always wide as the world, and comprehensive as the human race. The union of the two is beautifully brought out in the precious words of our Lord to Nicodemus: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
THE INPLUENCE OF FOREIGN MISSIONS
III. THE BEST APOLOGETIC FOR CHRISTIANITY.
Every case of con version, even in Christian lands, is the result of a superhuman and spiritual power, and is a standing evidence of the presence of the Spirit of God in the Church and accompanying the Word, but the transforming power of the Gospel in the case of the sunken and savage races, and even in turning the civilized heathen from the worship of stocks and stones, to the service antI worship of the living God, are striking and convincing object lessons, which the world can see (as in the well-known case of Darwin and the brutal- ized natives of South America), while they strengthen the faith and stimulate the zeal and courage of the Church.
IV. A BOND OF UNION FOR CHURCHES.
The Church is becoming more and more conscious that if the world is to b,e evangelized it must be by the cooperative, not the antagonistic or isolated, action of denominational missions. The cooperation of missionaries abroad and the occasional incorporation of their missions in drawing the churches at home into closer and more harmonious action is a pledge, we trust, of that rising tide of spIritual life which will merge the many denominational pools on the beach in the one great Church of the living God for which the Savior prayed" That they all may be one, as Thou Father art in Me, and I in 'fhee, that they also may be one in Us."
V. STRENGTHENS THE ALTRUISTIC SPIRIT.
Without questioning the existence of disinterested affections in our fallen race, we may safely say that human nature is self-centered. The nniverse, of which man thinks himself the center, moves on the ptolemaic, not on the Copernican principle. The great design of the Gospel is to get man out of self, and to make God the center of his life, as the sun is of our solar system. Selflessness and self-sacrifice were fundamental lessons taught by the life and lips of the Savior. So long as man is self-centered he can not put the claims of others on a level, much less above his own. The stream of his benevolonce can not rise higher than himself. He can not be expected to love his enemies like Christ, who died for them, or to fulfil the llew commandment which lIe gave to His disciples, "That ye love one another as I have loved you."
'fhere is llO work in which the Church is, or can be engaged, so fitted to cultivate this altruistic spirit as that of foreign missions. 'fhis is the most unselfish and self-sacrificing kind of work ill which her members ean engage. It adtIs nothing that is of this world to the home church or its members, while by its reaction it cultivates the spirit of the Master, who" pleased not Himself," but" went about doing good."
The ingenious egotism of our fallen nature brings self into almost every enterprise, even the most philanthropic. If we are to get rid of self we mnst get into sympathy with the Divine, and in all our enterprises be moved supremely by loving loyalty" to Him who loved us." The charge brought by David Hume that Evangelical preaching tended to make men selfish, was not entirely without foundation. It is quite possible, and we fear not unusual, to present salvation as so entirely a personal advantage, that the hearer thinks only of himself; and such is the perversity of human nature even when our better instincts prompt us to convey its blessings to others, it is apt to be only to those who are related to us by the personal pronoun my-my wife, my children, my kindred, my countrymen, my denomination.
We do not object to the order of working out from the center of one's own personality; but the danger is that we limit our aims to what is within the narrow limits of what we regard as connected with ourselves. Even home evangelization may be only patriotic or philanthropic feeling, not Divine altruism. In the case of foreign missions the risk of self-interested motives is comparatively small; they give no outward help to the home church as a home mission might, and being slow to yield returns in proportion to the amount of money and labor expended, they do not feed the vanity of their supporters. To the philanthropic spirit they are a trial of faith, to the commercial spirit they are a failure, to the ambitious they are a humiliation. It is only to the meek and loyal spirit of the obedient disciple of Ohrist that they are a real 'source of joyous service, and means of quickening to his higher life. It is enough for him that he is obeying his Master's command; the issues are in the Lord's hand, and the reward of the laborer will be according to his mork, and not measured by his success. 'l'he more trying the work, the more is he sure of the sympathy of the Master; and he sympathizes the more with his Lord who labored so hard when on earth on His great mission, and with so little apparent results.
-LIKE THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
The spirit fostered by foreign missions, is the nearest approach the Ohurch can make to the mission of the Son of God into our world. It is thus Ohrist puts it in His last intercessory prayer: "As Thou Father hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world;" and to show that He meant this not only for the salvation of the world but for the sanctification of His people, He adds: " And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth," or truly sanctified, or as it may be rendered, "truly consecrated;" the Ohurch is not "in truth" or "truly sanc_ tified," but by conformity to Ohrist in His mission to the world.
We may even go further, and say, that the spirit fostered by foreign missions is not only the nearest approach the Ohurch can make
THE lNFLUENCE OF FOREIGN MISSIONS
to the spirit of Ohrist, the God-man, it ts the nearest approach she can make to the highest manifestation of the character of the God- head. We need not say that the attributes of God have been eter- nally the same, but the display of the Divine attributes to His creatures has been by a process of evolution, and it was the self-sacrificing scheme for the salvation of our fallen and sinful race, that gave occasion for the manifestation of the highest form of the altruistic character of the Deity.
The manifestation of this Divine altruism is showed forth in the relations which God established in human society, when He made man in His own likeness. We can trace a shadowy resemblance between the Divine and the human relations, developing on earth the altruistic element of our nature, in harmony with the manifestation of the eternal altruism of Heaven. 'rhe human family with parents and children is a triad, in faint outline of the ever blessed Trinity; in which mutual love is combined with a unity which symbolizes that of the Godhead. The love which men have for one another, outside the family circle, corresponds to the benevolent feeling of God toward the holy angels, whom He created for the expansion of His love to beings outside the limits of the Trinity, a manifestation of His eternal altruism.
When God created man, a weak and humbler type of being, made of clay and allied to the inferior animals both in physical nature and in natural appetites and passions, there was an outlet for the exercise of that tender form of Divine love or compassion, which had ever dwelt in the heart of God; and the counterpart of which He implanted in the heart of man in the feeling of sympathy with the feeble and helpless, corresponding to God's attribute of mercy. But when man sinned, a new form of the attribute of love was revealed to all intelligent beings, of which no creature could ever have formed a conception, until it was manifested by the love of God for the unworthy and the wickedthe attribute of grace. 'rhis could only be exercised at the cost of an inconceivable sacrifice on God's part, even the giving up of His only begotten and well beloved Son to a life of degradation and a death of shame and agony, on behalf of the sinful and fallen.
It is the spirit of disinterested altruism on the part of God, which foreign missions are designed and fitted to foster and perfect in man. The further the objects of missionary effort are from God and righteousness, and the more remote they are from our personal interests, the more they are fitted to develop the altruistic spirit of the Church, and the more Divine the missionary spirit of her members.
When the Ohurch sends forth her best men and women to seek and save the perishing in the most remote parts of the world, it is the most Godlike work in which she can engage, and no work is so well fitted to conform her to the image of God, and to make her worthy to become the bride of Christ. It was for this twofold purpose that God
committed this work to His.Church-a work which was begun by our Lord as recorded in the Gospels, and entrusted to His people after the Resurrection, and carried out for a season by His Spirit as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, which may more appropriately be called the Acts of the risen Savior, so closely was He associated with them· in their work. It is only in so far as the Church fulfils this great commission that she can look for the continued presence of Christ. It is conditioned by obedience to His command, (( Go ye . and 10 I am with you," and it is only by obedience to this command that the members of the Church are conformed to the image of the Lord, according to the intercessory prayer: "As '1'hou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world, that they also may be truly sanctified."
'1'he revival of the Church in the last century was strictly on missionary lines. The churches slowly awoke under the influence of this spirit of life; and it is only now that the missionary spirit is bringing the representatives of the churches to meet in ecumenical conferences, and to unite in the spiritual bonds of a sympathetic unity in devising the best means and methods for carrying out our Lord's command to evangelize all the nations in every part of the world. If this spirit spreads and strengthens, as we trust it will, we may soon see the fulfilment in the Evangelical churches of the prayer of the great high priest" that they all may be one . . . . that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me."
The self-sacrificing spirit of the altruistic spirit, if prevalent in the Church, would raise it far above the petty strifes among individuals and sects. They would look not each man on his own things, "but every man also on the things of others." It would strengthen the bonds of true brotherhood, when love had reached the high-water mark seen in Christ, and enjoined on His followers, "That ye love one another as I have loved you." It would elevate the aims and broaden the sympathies of the faithful, for they would enter into the feelings and plans of God who "so loved the world." It would put an end to the financial difficulties which now limit and hamper the work of the Chureh both at home and abroad. Believers would feel and practise what each now formally admits, that "he is not his own" and that he is only a steward of his earthly possessions.
The all-eonstraining motive for Israel's payment of the tithes, was gratitude to God for a great deliveranee-a gratitude which, finding no outlet Godward exeept in love, which cost them nothing, they willingly gave vent to their self-sacrificing devotion in the support of one whole tribe, to which no portion had been given in the division of the land; the Lord alone was the portion of Levi,and He made the snpport of them the expression of the nation's gratitude to Himself: "Inasmuch as ye did it unto them ye did it unto Me."
SAMUEL WELLS WILLIAMS
How much more powerful the appeal to the gratitude of the Christian than to that of the Jew! Theirs was Ii temporal deliverance, by judgments upon their enemies in Egypt, and the destruction of the heathen in Palestine; ollrs is a spiritual and eternal deliverance from the curse and dominion of sin, by the grace of God, at the infinite personal cost of the sacrifice of His well-beloved Son, who lived and died for onr deliverance.
After His resurrection, Ohrist asked as the expression of His people's gratitude, that they would go into all the world in His name, and for His sake, to make known the salvation He had wrought out for all who would accept of the free gift. In giving this gracious commission to His believing people, He made it as much a privilege as a duty -a means of grace for the perfecting of their spiritual hfe, as well as a means of salvation for a fallen world.
SAMUEL WELLS WILLIAMS.* BY REV. J. T. GRACEY D.D.
It is now nearly twelve years since the" Life and Letters of Dr. S. Wells Williams" was first given to the pu blic. It is timely readi?g at this jUllcture of affairs in Ohina. He was descended from Robert Williams, who came from Norwich, England, to Roxbury, near Boston, two hundred and sixty-three years ago, who lived to his hundredth year, and became the ancestor of more ministers-and more long-lived ministers-than probably any other man in this country.
It is an old story now, but worth recalling, that Samuel Wells Williams came near of missing the great work he did for the world. The ill health of his mother made it necessary that his early infancy should be spent away from home, and for some years he was put in charge of his mother's aunt, Miss Dana. 'l'hat excellent woman once capsized the sleigh while driving with him on a stormy day from New Hartford to visit his parents; after picking herself and her conveyance out of the snow-drift, she hurried on, when, with the recollection of her errand, came the discovery that her muff and the baby stowed within it were lost. "Shall I go back?" she queried. "Yes, for God may have something for him to do; moreover, I can not spare the muff."
'rhe Lord did have "something for him to do." Many a missionary, the old as well as younger ones, will relish his entry that he did not think much of his own incompetence till he reached China, and was fairly a missionary in the field, when it came upon him very * ,. The Life and Letters of Samuel Wells Williams, LL.D., Missionary, Diplomatist, Sina- logue," by his son, Frederick Wells Williams. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London.
strongly. He adds, "I learned, however, that it grew by nursing, till I was likely to have nothing else to think or muse upon, nor could I even perform my immediate duty." He found the remedy in the thought, "I have something to do now, and can do it, if I try, whatever else more remote and difficult I can not do."
Another touch of missionary experience will be as widely recognized. "It is much easier loving the souls of the heathen in the abstract in America than it is here in the concrete, encompassed as they are with such dirty bodies, speaking forth their foul language and vile natures, and exhibiting every evidence of their depravity."
There is often exhibited ill-acquaintance with the marked changes which have come over Chinese and European intercourse in little over half a century. Sixty years ago no European or American woman was allowed to go to the city of Canton, and they were forbidden by Chinese authorities, to land even at Macao, the government of which was half Portuguese; and not till 1838 did even these Portuguese venture to surreptitiously admit foreign women to land at the Portuguese Custom-house. In striking contrast with this is the fact that, at the close of 1899, there were fourteen hundred foreign ladies in China, wholly engaged in missionary work, throughout the empire.
The personal liberty accorded such Europeans as gained access to the treaty concessions was in quite as marked contrast with what we witness to-day. Williams, with the other. Europeans, found it monotonons to get all the outing conducive to health, on the fifteen acres within which they were required to spend their time, year after year. He happened on one occasion with three others to get beyond the limits of the concession, walking round the walled city, when they were set upon by a gang of fifty Chinese, who threw snuff in their eyes, beat, and robbed them. There were no gunboats to come to their redress, and all the authorities had to say about it was, that it would teach them to keep within their" fifteen acres." One-third of the present century was gone when that "camel's nose" was pushed in at the Canton" factory," since when foreigners have gone into every province of China, not excepting Hunan.
Because it was not safe to attempt the printing of Chinese books in Canton, even at the end of the year 1835, the mission decided to remove Mr. Williams and his office to Macao, and three years later even Dr. Parker and his hospital were transferred thither for the same reason. A search was made by the provincial authorities at command of the emperor, to find any natives who had been engaged in the manufacture of two Christian books which had been sent to Peking by the governor of Fukien. Mr. Williams wrote, " We can not get a book printed, and those now printed can neither be sent away nor prudently distributed in Canton." The attempt to print the
1901.J SAMUEL WELLS WILLIAMS
Scriptures m Chinese resulted in the imprisonment of the block- cutters.
Contrast this with the annual issues from publishing houses and printing presses of the missionary societies alone, .which Dr. Dennis gives at over one hundred millions of pages, and one seflS that even China moves. Bible translations have advanced since Williams' day from that of Morrison, to renderings of Scripture into twenty-four Chinese languages and dialects. Mission hospitals in China in 1899 were treating three-quarters of a million of Chinese patients in the course of a single year.
n must be borne in mind that there was not a gingle Christian government, in 1835, to extend protection over the work of Protestant missionaries. The policy of the companies who assumed all the prerogatives of government in India and China, were not only restrictive,. but positively and publicly antagonistic to diffusing higher education or Christian doctrines in the far East, and had been such for nearly two centuries. '1'he termination of the company marked the beginning of a new era, in which the consular service was initiated by the British government in Canton, "and Christians began to learn and act upon their duty to evangelize these ignorant races."
Mr. Williams lived to see marvelous changes in the governmeut's attitude toward missions and himself became a chief factor in framing the treaties which since then have made Protestant as well as Roman Catholic nations stand a belted and armed guard to the missionary. His personal convictions were on the side of protecting the missionaries, in aU his influential dealing as a "go-between" of the Chinese and foreign diplomats in the construction of the treaties. Even Hon. Mr. Reed, the American ambassador, grew indifferent to the clause which secured liberty for the missionaries, and it was lVIr. Williams' patient persistence that won the triumph. He had no scruples in wrenching these concessions by the force of threat and war vessels. The Chinese, he said, "would grant nothing unless fear stimulated their sense of justice, for they are among the most craven of people, cruel and selfish as heathenism can make men, so we must be backed by force if we wish them to listen to reason." His own nation, however, had had no wars with China, and has had none since. Elsewhere he says, " The Chinese nation is a wonder indeed, but the chief surprise is not that it gets on, but that it does not immediately tumble into ruins. God alone supports it, as He does all other nations, and we mistake when we look upon it apart from Him and His governance." lVIr. Williams found that the great missionary toleration clause, which came so near failing altogether, did not for some cause meet aU the expectation of some zealous missionaries. He wrote like a prophet, when (1858) he said, "They will find, however, if any of them live in China twenty-five years longer, that they have not been
able to occupy all the lands which these articles give them; they will discover, too (the italicizing is ours), that laws and treatws do not restraln the wicked heart of man, and that to the end it will be true that 'whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.''' It must be remembered that Mr. Williams' position as interpreter was not one of authority, and what he wrought was by ingenuity and influence. The position of the allies was much then as now. He says of them) " The position of the four ministers here is something like that of four whist-players, each of whom makes an inference as to the others' remaining suits and honors from the cards they throw down."
In 1878 Dr. Williams wrote regretting that the statement about the toleration clauses in the treaties made twenty years before, should not have been more accurately stated in the Shanghai Missionary Conferellce. This matter was not brought forward by the Chinese in any shape, for it was a point on which they were wholly ignorant. He says the Russian minister was the first to formulate an article on the subject, and the discussion showed that the Chinese were not unwilling that missionaries should travel through the country, because they could speak the language; but they antagonized the extension of the privilege to merchants, because" their ignorance would breed trouble." The Russian priests in Peking had always been quiet and industrious. But they could form no opinion of Christianity, for they knew nothing of its tenets.
The day following the discussion of the Russian article, Dr. Williams drew up one for the "Gnited States, which was objected to on the ground that Protestants had their families with them, and must be restricted to the open ports, but it was accepted the next day, reading, "Any person, whether citizen of the United States or Chinese convert, who"- this was Ambassador Reed's modification,-" because he wished every part of the treaty to refer to United States citizens, and cared not very much whether it had a toleration act or not." Dr. Williams says, "I did not care, arid was thankful to God that it was inserted. It is the only treaty in e;Tistence which contains the royal law," (italics ours). The British treaty followed, being abridged from this of the United States.
It is worth while noting once more that Dr. Williams' confidence in the value of treaties in the work of evangelization was well tempered with good judgment. H~ knew that they were of only negative value, and not very much of that, save in theory. lIe says, "Tho Christianity does not depend upon treaties for its progress and power, these articles have proved a check upon native officials, who have been taught therein not to destroy what they did not approve. I thank God that the imperial government was thereby bound not to become a persecuting government, as it has more than once since wished to be." While Dr. Williams believed that this had proven a protection
SAMUEL WELLS WILLIAMS
to the native Church, he after twenty years wrote, "The difficulty of convincing the converts that the degree of toleration granted does not release them from their allegiance to their own rulers, has been increased of late years by a kind of semi-protection claimed by Roman Catholic priests to appear before the rulers in case of oppression of their neophytes." What would he say, if he could know of these Roman Catholics holding courts of their own, thus invading the very civil and criminal jurisdiction of the empire?
There is no room now to follow Dr. 'Villiams as an interlocutor for the United States government in China and in Japan. Ambassador Reed said of Dr. 'Yilliams after close and confidential intercourse for more than a year, that he was the" most learned man in his varied information," he had ever met, and the most "habitually religious man," he had ever sccn. "I do not believe," he wrote, "the idea that he is all the time actually in the presence of his Creator, who watches every word, is ever absent from his mind. Withal he is very cheerful -and I have never seen him depressed." Plenipotentiary Reed generously acknowledged the service of mis~ SlOnanes. lIe considered the" studies of the misionaries and those connected with the missionary cause" as "essential to the interests of the country." "I could not but for their aid," he wrotc, "have advanced one step in the discharge of my duties here, or read, or written, or understood onc word of correspondence or treaty stipu- lations. With them there has been no difficulty or embarrassment."
lIe affirms the same to have been the case with all his predecessors, and says his principal interpreter for the spoken language of North China was Rev. W. A. P. Martin, D.D., then of the Presbyterian Board, and since president of the Imperial University, Peking.
But Mr. Reed's general remarks on missions are worth re-reading. "Having no enthusiasm on the subject, I am bound to say that I consider the missionary element in China a great conservative and protecting principle. It is the only barrier between the unhesitating advance of commercial adventure, and the not incongruous element of Chinese imbecile corruption."
It is a thousand pities that this missionary element should have become frequently the very means made use of by those exploiting this" advance of commercial adventure." 'fhe heathen over the world have unfortunately been obliged to consider the missionary as a political suspect. The Chinese have put it as the axiom in the mouths of Europeans, "You give us your country and we will give you. the Bible." It is the same elsewhere. Canon Missionary Robinson in "Nigeria, our Latest Protectorate," gives this story of an African schoolboy's composition: "Africa is a British colony. I will tell you how England makes her colonies. First she gets a missionary. When the missionary has found a specially beautiful and fertile tract of country, he gets all his people round him and says, 'Let us pray!' and when all the eyes are shut, up goes the British flag." Missionary alliance with governments is a thing to be chary of and is never a dependence for the ultimate triumph of evangelism.
THE ARABS OF ARABIA. * BY REV. S. M. ZWEMER, F.R.G.S., BAHREIN, ARABIA.
Missionary of the Reformed (Dutch) Church of America, 1890-.
[We hope that the present absorbing interest in things Chinese will not involve the overlooking of such an important and fascinating book as" Arabia,the Cradle of Islam." It takes a broad view of Arabia and the Arabs, and tells in a most interesting style of journeys and observa- tions in Arabia, of curious customs and traditions of the people, and the needs, difficulties, and opportunities of the field from a missionary stand- point. Mr. Zwemer has been well fitted for his work, and has performed it most acceptably in giving us the most complete volume on this people and peninsula, and one of the most valuable missionary books of the last decade. We make extracts from the chapter on "The Arabs. "-EDITORS.] The modern Arabs classify themselves into Bedouins and towndwellers; or, in their own poetic way, ahl el beit and ahl el h' eit, "the people of the tent," and" the people of the wall." But this classification is hardly sufficient, altho it has been generally adopted by writers on Arabia.
Character is difficult to define-to depict the moral physiognomy of a nation and their physical traits in such a way that nothing important is omitted, and no single characteristic exaggerated at the cost of others. This difficulty is increased in the case of the Arabs, by their twofold origin and their present twofold civilization. That which is true of the town-dweller, is not always true of the Bedouin, and vice versa. Moreover, the influence of the neighboring countries must be taken into account. Not losing sight of these distinctions, which will account for many exceptions to the general statements made, what is the character of the Arabs?
Physically, they are undoubtedly one of the strongest and noblest races of the world. The typical Arab face is round-oval, but the general leanness of the features detracts from its regularity; the bones are prominent; the eyebrows long and bushy; the eye small, deep-set, fiery black or a dark, deep brown. The face expresses half dignity, half cunning, and is not unkindly, altho never smiling or benignant. The teeth are white, even, short, and broad. The Arabs have very scanty beards as a rule, but those of the towns often cultivate a patriarchal beard like the traditional beard of the prophet. The figure is well-knit, muscular, longlimbed, never fat. The arms and legs are thin, almost shrunken, but with muscles like whip-cords. As young men the Bedouins are often good.looking, with bright eyes and dark hail', but the constant habit of frowning to protect the eyes from the glare of the sun, soon gives the face a fierce aspect; at forty their beards turn gray, and at fifty they appear old men.
The Arabs rarely have the power of taking in complex unities at a glance; the talent for arrangement is absent. An Arab carpenter can not draw a right angle, nor can an Arab servant lay a tablecloth square on the table. The old Arab temple called a cube (Kaaba) has none of its sides or angles equal; their houses show the same lack of the" carpenter's eye" to-day. Streets are seldom parallel; even the street, so-caUed, was not straight in Damascus. The Arab mind loves units, not unity; they are good soldiers, but poor generals; there is no partnership in business, • The extracts are from "Arabia, the Cradle of Islam." Fleming H. Revell Co., New York.
THE ARABS OF ARABIA
and no public spirit; each man lives for himself. That is the reason why Yemen can not shake off the yoke of the Turk, and this explains why the smallest towns in Arabia have a great many little mosques. The Arab has a keen eye for particulars, great subjectivity, nervous restlessness, deep passion, and inward feeling, and yet joined with strong conservatism and love of thQ past. In everything he follows old models and traditions; witness their poetry and their tent-life. Eloquence and poetry are still worshiped. The only fine art which Arabs admire is that of caligraphy; and those who have seen finished specimens of an Arab master-penman, must acknowledge that in them are all the elements of painting and sculpture.
The Arabs are polite, good-natured, lively, manly, patient, courageous, and hospitable to a fault. They are also contentious, untruthful, sensuous, distrustful, covetous, proud, and superstitious. One must always keep in mind this paradox in dealing with an Arab. There are Arab oaths such as 1vatlah, which are intended to confirm falsehoods and signify nothing. There are others, such as the threefold oath, with tea, bi, and ti as particles of swearing, which not even the vilest robber among them dare break.
Robbery is a fine art among the nomads; but the high-minded Arab robs lawfully, honestly, and honorably. He will not attack his victims in the night; he tries to avoid all bloodshed by coming with overwhelming force; and if his enterprise miscarries, he boldly enters the first tent possible, proclaims his true character, and asks protection. The Dakheil, or privilege of sanctuary, the salt covenant, the blood covenant, and the sacredness of the guest, all prove that the Arabs are trustworthy. And yet, in the ordinary affairs of life, lying and deception are the rule and seldom the exception. The true Arab is niggardly when he buys, and will haggle for hours to reduce a price; and yet he is prodigal and lavish in giving away his goods to prove his hospitality.
It was a law among the ancient Arabs that whoever sheds the blood of a man owes blood on that account to the family of the slain. This law of blood-revenge was confirmed by the Koran and is a sacred right everywhere in Arabia. An Arab is considered degenerate who accepts a fine or any consideration save blood for blood. This law is both the cause of continual feuds, and tends to terminate them without much bloodshed. Arabs of the town and of the desert will quarrel for hours without coming to blows; it is not cowardice that prevents an open encounter, but the fear of shedding blood and blood revenge.
Family life among the Arabs is best studied by looking at child-life in the desert and at the position of women among the Bedouin and the town-dwellers. In no part of the world does the newborn child meet less preparation for its reception than among the Bedouin. A land bare of many blessings, general poverty, and the law of the survival of the fittest, has made the Arab mother stern of heart. In the open desert, under the shade of an acacia bush, or behind a camel, the Arab baby first sees the daylight. As soon as it is born the mother herself rubs and cleans the child with sand, places it in her handkerchief and carries it home. She suckles the child for a short period, and at the age of four months it already drinks profusely of camel's milk.
In education the Arab is a true child of nature. His parents leave him to his own sweet will; they seldom chastise and seldom praise. Trained from birth in the hard school of nomad life, fatigue and danger
do contribute much to his education. Instead of teaching the boy civil manners, the father desires him to beat and pelt the stl'angers who come to the tent; to steal or secrete some trifling article belonging to them. The more saucy and impudent children are the more they are praised, since this is taken as an indication of future enterprise and warlike dis- . position.
The children of the desert have no books but the Book of Nature. This magnificent picture book is never more diligently studied than by those little dark eyes which watch tp.e sheep at pasture or count the stars in the blue abyss from their perch on a lofty camel's saddle in the mid- night journeyings. When the Bedouin lad grows up, and begins to swear by the few straggling hairs on his chin, he can not read a letter, but he knows men and he knows the desert.. The talk heard at night around the sheik's tent or the acacia-brush fireside is much like the wisdom of the Book of Job. A philosophy of submission to the world as it is; a deification of stoicism or' patience; a profound trust that all will end well !1t last. Sad to say even the little nomads, with their ignorance of all religion, share in the fanatical antagonism of their elders toward the Christian religion and Christians. They learn that all outside the pale of Mohammed's creed are kafirs, and to please Allah are glad to throw stones at any wayfaring Nazrani. Little do the Bedouins, and still less do their children, however, know of the religion of Islam. The Koran is not a book for children's minds, and of such is not the kingdom of Mohammed.
Among the Bedouins polygamy is not common, nor is it among the poorer Arabs of the towns. From a western standpoint the women of the Bedouin stand on a higher platform of liberty and justice than those of the towns where the Koran has done its work on one-half of society to repress intellect and degrade affection, and sensualize the sexual relation to the last degree. On the other hand divorce is perhaps more common among the Bedouins, than among the city Arabs. Burckhardt met Arabs not yet forty-five years of age who were known to have had above fifty wives. Concerning the marriage contract in the towns, the ceremony, the divorce proceedings, and the methods by which that is made legal which even the lax law of Islam condemns, the less said the better.
A NOTABLE CONVERT FROM ISLAM.* Rev. Imad-ud-din, D.D., of India, was one of the most remarkable of all the converts ever made from Mohammedanism, and his experiences are very valuable as showing the power and working of the Mohammedan religion. His autobiography was written in 1886, and was translated from Hindustani by the late Rev. Robert Clark, who baptized him, April 29, 1806. He passed away on August 28, 1900, at Amritsar, North India. His autobiography contains the following: My ancestors were inhabitants of the city of Hansi, in which city there were twelve religious chiefs, whose beautiful tombs, built by the kings, exist to this day. The name of one of these religious chiefs was Jelal-ud-din, whose son was Shiekh Fateh Mohammed, whose son was Moulvie Mohammed Sirdar, whose son was Moulvie Mohammed Fazil, whose son was Moulvie Mohammed Siraj-ud-din; ,my father.
When I was fifteen years old I left my friends and relations for my • Condensed from the Mission World. London.
A NOTABLE CONVERT FROM ISLAM
education, and went to Agra, where a brother was the headmaster in the Urdu language. I remained there a long time under him to receive instruction; and as my only object in learning was, in some way or other, to find my Lord, as soon as I had leisure from the study of science, I began to wait. on fakirs and pious and learned men, to discover the advantages of religion. I frequented the mosques and the houses set apart for religious purposes, and the homes of the moulvies, and carried on my studies in Mohammedan law, the commentaries of the Koran, and the traditional sayings of Mohammed; and also in manners, logic, and philosophy. Even when I was a student, and knew nothing of the Christian religion, I had some doubts in my mind_respecting Moham- medanism, in consequence of intercourse I had had with some Christians; but the taunting curses of the moulvies and Mohammedans so con- founded me that I quickly drew back from all such thoughts.
When the necessary attainments in the outward knowledge of relig- ion had been acquired, and I had become brimful of Mohammedan big- otry from it, I became entangled in another snare which the learned Mohammedans have placed in the path of the seeker after truth. The Mohammedans always set before inquirers after truth the outward rites of their law, unprofitable stories, and the'affinities of words used in their controversies. Then, in order to make him rest contented, they tell him that what he has already learned consists merely of the outward ordinances of Mohammedanism, but that if he wishes to attain to the true knowledge of God, he must go to the fakirs and Mohammedan saints, and remain in attendance on them for many years, because they possess the secret science of religion, which is the fruit of life.
Mohammed from the very first forbade his followers to read either the Old or the New Testament, and even to the present day, if ever Mohammedans see this Holy Book in the hands of any Mohammedan, they call him accursed. Mohammed knew well that anyone who ever read this Holy Word of God would never approve of his Koran. .
As soon as I was entangled in this subtle scie;nce I"began to practise speaking little, eating little, living apart from men, afflicting my body, and keeping awake at nights. I used to spend whole nights in reading the Koran, and constantly performed the special repetitions of the Koran, and all the various penances and devotions that were enjoined. I used to shut my eyes and sit in retirement, seeking by thinking on the name of God to write it on my heart. I constantly sat on the graves of holy men, in hopes that, by contemplation, I might receive some revelation from the tombs. I used to go even to the dreamy and intoxicated fanatics, in the hope of thus obtaining union with God. I did all this, besides performing my prayers, and always was repeating the salutation of Mohammed, and the confession of faith. In short, whatever afflictions or pain it is in the power of man to endure, I submitted to them all; but nothing became manifest to me after all, except that it was all deceit.
Doctor Wuzeer Khan and other leading Mohammedans, appointed me to preach the Koran and the Traditions in the large royal mosque at Agra, with the view of opposing the Rev. Dr. Pfander. I remained there preaching and expounding the Commentaries and Traditions, for three years, but the following verse from the Koran was all the time piercing my heart like a thorn: Every mortal necessarily must once go to bell: it is obligatory on God to send all men necessarily once to bell; and afterward He may pardon whom He will.
I retired into my private chamber, and with many tears I prayed for the pardon of my sin. I often spent half the night in silence at the tomb of Shah Abul Ala. The thought of utterly renouncing the world then came into my mind with so much power that I left everybody, and went out into the jungles and became a fakir, putting on clothes covered with red ocher, and wandered here and there, from city to city, and from village to village, alone, for about two thousand cos (two thousand five hundred miles). Faith in Mohammedan religion will never, indeed, allow true sincerity to be produced in the nature of man; yet I was then, altho with many worldly motives, in search only of God.
I wrote the name of God on paper during this time one hundred and twenty-five thousand times, performing a certain portion every day; and I cut out each word separately with scissors, and wrapped them up each in a little ball of flour, and fed the fishes of the river with them, in the way the Book prescribed. During half the night I sat up, and wrote the name of God mentally on my heart, and saw Him with the eye of thought. When all this toil was over I had no strength left in my body; my face was wan and pale, and I could not even hold up myself against the wind. The treasurer, Taj Mohammed, and Fazl Rasul Khan, the minister of the Rajah of Karuli, and many people of the city became my disciples, and gave me much money, and reverenced me greatly. But still my soul found no rest,and I only felt daily a growing abhorrence of the law of Mohammed.
I was a vehement opponent. however, of the Christian religion; but experience had now also shown me something of the state of the Mohammedans. I therefore became convinced that all religions were but vain fables; and that it was better for me to live in ease and comfort myself, to act honestly toward everybody, and to be satisfied with believing in the unity of God. For six years my mind remained afflicted with these foolish thoughts.
I heard of the conversion to Christianity of Moulvie Safdar Ali at Jubbulpore, which greatly amazed me. For some days I wandered about speaking harshly of him, and many evil thoughts respecting him came into my mind; but gradually I remembered that Moulvie Safdar Ali was a true and just man, and I began to ask myself how he could have acted in such a foolish manner as to leave the Mohammedan religion. I then thought that I ought to dispute with him by letter, and determined that I would do so fairly and without bigotry. With this object I procured the Old and New Testaments, and several copies of controversial books. When I had read as far as the seventh chapter of St. Matthew, doubts fixed themselves upon my mind respecting the truth of Mohammedanism. I became so agitated that I spent whole days, and often also whole nights, in reading and considering the books. Within a year I had investigated the whole matter, chiefly at nights, and discovered that the religion of Mohammed is not of God, and that the Mohammedans have been deceived, and are lying in error; and that salvation is assuredly to be found in the Christian religion.
As soon as this had become evident to me, I made everything known to my Mohammedan friends and followers. Some of them became angry; but some listened to the proofs I gave them. I told them they ought either to give me satisfactory answers, or else to become Christians with me. They said quite plainly that they knew that the religion of Mohammed was not true, but they were afraid of the opposition of the world,
BETTER TRAINING FOR MISSIONARIES
and of the reproaches and curses of ignorant men. They then urged me not to make my faith public, but to call myself a Mohammedan, and yet in my heart to believe in Christ.
I went to Amritsar, and received baptism from the Rev. R. Clark, of the Church of England. Since my entrance into the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ I have had great peace in my soul. The agitation of mind and restlessness of which I have spoken have entirely left me. Even my health is improved, for my mind is never perplexed now. By reading the Word of God I have found enjoyment in life. The fear o'f death and of the grave, that before was a disease, has been much alleviated. I rejoice greatly in my Lord, and my soul is always making progress in His grace. My friends and acquaintances, and my disciples and followers, and others, have all become my enemies. At all times and in all manners they all try to afflict me; but having found comfort in the Lord, I think nothing of this, for, in proportion as I am dishonored and afflicted, He gives me peace, and comfort, and joy.
BETTER TRAINING FOR MISSIONARIES.* BY GEORGE B. SMYTH, D.D., NEW YORK.
Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch at Fuchou, 1882-.
One would suppose that for an enterprise so difficult Bud delicate as changing the faith of a great nation the churches would have always taken infinite pains in the training of their agents. Yet there is no other kind of foreign service for which special preparation has been so generally neglected: The successful applicant for a position in the British consular service in China spends the first two years in Peking under the eye of the minister in the careful study of the language of the country, and the best methods of dealing, socially and officially, with the Chinese whom he is to meet. Yet even then he is not promoted to a consulship. That goal is not reached without passing through a long apprenticeship in subordinate posts. The commercial houses of Germany exercise great care in the training of the young men whom they send to the far East. The German clerk does not go to China as a stranger. Before he leaves he is thoroughly familiar with the industrial and commercial resources of the empire, and has received in some technical school, finely equipped, the training which will enable him to successfully exploit them. This is the secret of his success in the East.
To the missionary alone, tho sent to a task far more delicate and difficult than that of consul or trader, it has not hitherto been thought necessary to afford any further preparation than that which he receives in the ordinary courses at college or theological seminary. The result is that, with few exceptions, he reaches China a stranger. He knows nothing of her history, her religions are but foolish superstitions, her people " idolaters," her customs ridiculous, the whole land a vast warehouse of personal, social, and religious absurdities. After he arrives no systematic methods are employed to prepare him for life among a strange people, for effective service in the new world which he has entered.
The methods of the mission to which the writer belongs may be taken * Condensed from The Ohristian Advocate.
as fairly illustrative of those of nearly all Protestant societies. The young missionary is given a short and simple course of study in the language, and if at the end of a year he passes a satisfactory examination before a committee of his colleagues, his formal preparation is over. During that time, however, there is no one whose duty it is to see that he is studying to the best advantage, no lectures are given on the character, customs, or religions of the people, there is no instruction in methods of work, no effort is made to show him how he may most easily and efficiently bring about the results for the accomplishment of which he was chosen and sent. He is literally left to grope his way blindly in the dark, with the almost inevitable result that for the first few years he is quite as likely to be a hindrance as a help to the great came which he serves.
It is in no such wasteful, costly, and ineffective fashion that the missions of Catholicism treat new missionaries. At Sikawei, a suburb of Shanghai, the Jesuit missions have a finely equipped training- school. The young missionaries are kept 'there for a certain number of years under the teaching of experienced priests, taught the languages by the best Chinese scholars, inducted into a thorough knowledge of the literature and religions of the country, familiarized with all the requirements of Chinese etiquette, shown how to act as Chinese gentlemen, how to deal with all those whom it will be their duty to meet-in fine, specially and thoroughly prepared by competent instructors and under the most favorable circumstances for the work to which, when ready, they are sent. In addition to all this there is provided for their use a fine library containing everything necessary in the studies they pursue. The Jesuits know, as Protestants do not, the value of training. They believe that the regulated energy of a trained :intellige!lce is incomparably more effective than the rough and often wildly directed blows of a hot, untrained enthusiasm.
It is time that the Protestant societies awoke to a sense of the vital importance to their work of the training of their missionaries. The secretaries are not to blame for not giving it. It is not their business, and they have not the time, but when they are convinced of the need of it, and ask for it, the training will be given. They have a right to demand that in every theological seminary such preliminary training as is impossible in this country shall be given the candidates for missionary service, and they may demand with equal emphasis that their boards or societies shall make the fullest provision for thorough and systematic training in the field itself. Nearly all our schools of theology are greatly at fault in this respect. A theological seminary should be, as far as possible, a training school for the whole work of the Church, wheresoever it is done, whether abroad or at home. There are seminaries at which courses are given in comparative religion, and these may be of great value if conducted by men who know the non-Christian religions, not only as they exist in the old books, but as the people of to-day live them. It is necessary to see these faiths in action in order to describe them accurately and to rightly a,ppraise their value.
But these courses are not sufficient; they do not teach enough. There should be in every school of theology a professor of missions, whose duty it should be, in addition to the course mentioned, to give some account of the character and history of the people, the climatic conditions, the requirements of health, and everything else which pertains to the first
BETTEl/, TRAINING FOR MISS10NARIES
period of a missionary's career. It would not be possible or desirable to give instruction in the languages, or to attempt a profound and extensive study of the religious beliefs and character of the people. This could be done far more efficiently on the field. The course given at home should be inthe nature of an introduction to the missionary's work, showing him what to expect, forestalling early disappointment, a warning against excessive individualism, a kind of intelligent general itinerary of the way which the missionary is later to pursue.
It is after reaching the field that the real training of the missionary must begin, and the fullest provision should be made to supply it. His chief study at first is the language, and it should be pursued under competent direction. It should be the aim to impart not only the plain colloquial of the uneducated, but, in addition, the higher language of the Chinese gentleman. The student should not be permitted to go on acquiring a vocabulary and style which can not later be used in addressing a scholar without exciting contempt. There is no danger that knowing the speech of the educated will raise the missionary too far above the comprehension of those among whom most of his work must be done. They will have no difficulty in understanding him, and will respect him all the more for having taken the trouble to learn the language of their leaders.
Again, every missionary should be required to study in the original the great classics of the country. These books contain the teaching of the sages, the principles on which the political, social, and religious ideas and ideals of the people are based. No teacher of the new faith can secure a hearing from educated Chinese who does not know what they believe. But it is not among the educated only that a knowledge of the classics smooths the way of approach for the Christian evangelist. Great numbers of passages from these sacred books have passed into the common speech of the people, and there is no more effective method of clinching an argument than quoting an appropriate sentence from Confucius or Mencius.
The great Buddhist system, also, should engage the earnest attention of the missionary student. Buddhism has given the Chinese the best conceptions of immortality that they have; it has done more than any other influence to keep alive in China a faith in the unseen. It has, moreover, furnished the Christian missionary with the best part of his religious vocabulary. He can not preach a sermon or give a brief prayermeeting address or administer the consolations of religion to the dying without using terms which have been borrowed from Buddhism. It is incumbent, therefore, on every man who aspires to teach the new faith to know what this system teaches, and to discover, if possible, the secret of the influence which, for well-nigh twenty centuries, it has exercised over the people of China, ignorant and learned, the rich and the poor, the prince and the subject alike.
Such a course would save from much misdirected effort, show how much of genuine goodness there was to which appeal might be made, secure a respectful hearing for the message of the speaker, and keep him from the cruel and dangerous habit of labeling the religious beliefs of myriads of people as base superst,itions, and flinging them aside as unworthy of consideration. For those who believe them they are the very substance of truth, and the missionary's business is to learn, if he can, the secret of their power.
Another purpose of this course should be to familiarize the young missionary with the social etiquette of China. This is a subject of great importance in a country where to do things in the right way is as necessary as to do right things. With the Chinese an offense against good manners is sometimes as serious as a crime is among ourselves. The manners of a gentleman take one a long wayan the path to Chinese confidence. Their code of etiquette is an elaborate one, and l>equires time to master, but it is time most profitably spent, for it can not be doubted that the violations of the personal and social requirements of Chinese good manners, of which foreigners are frequently guilty, cause no small part of the dislike with which the people regard them.
Every effort should be made to teach the student the best means of making his presence and his message acceptable to the people, the most efficient methods of preaching, the working of the Chinese mind, the best arguments to use, the motives which may be most powerfully appealed to.
It would, indeed, tax severely the resources of almost anyone society to provide such facilities for training, for it would require the setting apart of one or more of its best Inissionaries as teachers of their younger brethren. In some places it would be necessary to have union schools, and this would require a larger admixture of good sense and Christian comity among the societies at home than can be truthfully said to prevail now. There would be no danger of theological or ecclesiastical differences, for questions of doctrine and polity need never be discussed. The subjects of study would be the language, religion, and life of the Chinese people, and the best methods of winning an acceptance of the great message to be afterward preached.
Time would be gained rather than lost. More would be learned in two years under such a system than any missionaries now learn in five, than some learn in a lifetime. There must, system or no system, be a period of preparation. At present that time is largely wasted, the work is not directed, there is no one to help or to guide. Under an organized system more work, and work of an incomparably higher character, could be done than is possible now, and, when the course was finished, the mission would know what the young missionary could do best and set him about it.
The adoption of this plan would necessitate sending young unmarried men to the field, and this would have great advantages over the present method of sending married men, some of them too old, and others having families. It would make possible entire devotion to study and a thorough command of the language. The earlier the study of Chinese is begun the better. If taken up too late in life it can never be spoken with the fluency and precision so necessary in the preaching of a new evangel. Experience has shown that the man who does not acquire a thorough grounding in the language in the first two years rarely ever does so. As to marriage, the missionary who wishes to enter that happy state may do so when his fitness for work is established; he should not be permitted to enter it before.
Probably not as many missionaries could be sent as enthusiasts ask for, but that would not necessarily be an evil. It should never be forgotten that the number of missionaries is not so important as their quality. It is not many men we need so much as the best men, and the best men trained in the most approved methods.
EDITORIALS
EDITORIALS.
Evangelistio Campaigns. of the Christian churches. The great metropolis is to be the center There is now in progress a simul- and headquarters of the work, from taneous mission, conducted by the which the influence is expected to Free Church Council of Great radiate through the whole land. Britain. Beginning January 20th, Dr. Francis E. Clark of the Y. P. S. it continues ten days for London; C. E., Drs. Geo. T. Purves, D. S. then following in the Provincial Gregory, R. S. McArthur, Asa towns, February 16th-20th, and Blackburn, Henry Moffett, J. Wil- in the villages, March 2d-6th. bur Chapman, and nearly thirty The hope is that all the Free other prominent men and women Churches will take part. United of the country are associated on the prayer-meetings will be held, and national committee. union services in different local- ities where large and central audi- The plan of work includes a toriums are available. Several division of the city into sections, carefully prepared pamphlets are with district committees, each dis- issued, embracing hints and sug- trict to have its own plans of gestions to missioners, also for the action. Correspondence with minisdirection of inquirers, house to ters all over the country has been house visitation, and other meas- conducted in the hope of eliciting a ures for preparing the way and cordial cooperation, and it is concarrying out the work. Extensive fidently hoped that almost every foundations are being laid for what, church in the United States except it is hoped, will prove to be the the Episcopal, whose customs formost pervading and permanent bid the interchange of pUlpits, will evangelistic campaign ever under- take part in this campaign. Before taken in Britain. these lines meet the public eye we shall already know, in part at least, In America a somewhat similar how far these expectations are fulmovement is already in progress. filled. Mr. William Phillips Hall, who, after Mr. Moody's death took up Terms of Peaoe for Ohina. the work of stimUlating the evangelical churches to a new and larger Not everyone realizes the imeffort to reach the unsaved, has portance of the negotiations which been for months undertaking to are now going on in China relating enlist wide cooperation both from to the terms of peace and the fuministers and laymen, and with ture of the Chinese Empire. A false much success. The primary object step now will require years to was and is to kindle a religious en- remedy. On the one hand it is thusiasm; then it is hoped that necessary that justice shall charcertain subordinate ends may be acterize the demands of this interreached, such as the exhibition of national court. Vengeance may the essential unity of the Protes- well be left in the hands of God, but tant creeds; to dem,onstrate that " the powers that be are ordained notwithstanding the attitude of the of God," and are for the punishment higher criticism, popular faith in and restraint of evil-doers and for the Bible survives; to impart new the protection and encouragement vitality and vigor to the churches; of those who do well; this work and finally to reach and reclaim the must not in any sense be a farce. indifferent masses of the people The crime against God and man for now practically beyond the reach which the Chinese officials are re-
sponsible. must not go unpunished A Message from China. or fail to be dealt with according to its heinousness. and every pre- There is something tender, trust- caution must be taken to prevent a repetition of the recent tragedies. ful, submissive, and hopeful about On the other hand, justice should be tempered with mercy. Only the message which the refugee the principal leaders who are re- sponsible for these fiendish cruel- missionaries in Shanghf',i sent to ties need suffer the severest penalties; others may be pardoned or the General Missionary Conference let off with less punishment. in Tokyo, Japan, in October last. There is now an opportunity to impress the Chinese nation-es- If the reader will stop long enough pecially the officials-with the wisdom, justice, forbearance, and to read Philippians third, from the firmness of so-called Christian nations_ The future of China, and 7th to the 14th verses inclusive, of Christian missions in China, seems to hang in the balances. Mis- which was made a part of that sionaries are not the forerunners of vVestern armies or the proteges salutation, we are sure it will be of vVestern governments, but as long as foreign nations are to have illuminated by the circumstances intercourse with China, that intercourse must be regulated according which environed those who made to civilized principles of justice_ reference to it. The whole saluta- The powers have at last agreed on their preliminary demands and tion reads like one of Paul's letters they have been accepted by the Chinese Government. These in- to the ancient churches. ",Ve can clude as the principal features: quote but one paragraph. They 1. An embassy to Berlin headed by a Chi- Dese imperial prince, and a statue in Peking say: to express regret tvr the murder of the German ambassador. We need the sympathy of the whole Church of God at this time. The outlook for 2. Adequate punilihment for Prince Tuan, poor China was never darker than to-day; Prince Chung, Duke l.an, and other ring- but the prospect for Christ's work is as leaders who are respocsible for the growth " bright as the promises of God." The counof the Boxer movement, for "he persecution try is swept clear of nearly all God's mesof Chinese Christians, and for the edict of sengers of the Gospel. The roll of martyrs, extermination. both native and foreign, is a long one, tho probably not yet complete. Japan in former 3. The prohibition of the importation into years has passed throug h a similar baptism China, for a nUlllber of years, of arms, ammunition, and war materials. of fire, the fruit of which is being seen to- day. •• 4. An indemnity for destruction of life and property of foreigners, and the cost of the Christianity and Other Religions. war. Minister vVu, the Chinese repre- 5. Destruction of the Taku forts, and the sentative at Washington, recently right of the powers to occupy certain points delivered an address in New York between Peking and the coast, so that free in which he compared Confuciancommunication may be maintained between ism and Christianity to the disthe capital and the sea. paragement of Christianity. It is not long since .Mohammed Webb We earnestly hope that peace undertook a similar office for Islam may soon be established on a basis and Vivekananda for Hinduism. of righteousness, and with a view This brings up the question as to to future reform and progress to- what is the test of i1'uth. ward true civilization. What Chinese statesmen need, however, is to After all there is no better test of make their peace with Goa. * truth than that proclaimed by our Lord, "By their fruits ye shall know them." An educated Hindu or Buddhist, who has received most of his culture from contact with Europeans and Americans, may proclaim Brahmanism or Buddhism to be the ideal religion, teaching the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, in very beautiful and plausible language; a Chinese statesman may com·-
1901.J EDITORIALS
pare the ethical teachings of zens of Protestant nations. It Christianity and Confucianism and prove to his own satisfaction should be remembered that while that Christ has added nothing to the teachings of the Chinese sage; it is exceptional to find a Turk who or an American convert to Mohammedanism may seek to whitewash is not a Moslem, a Hindu who is Islam and its founder and to convince us of the truth of its teach· not a follower of the Brahmans, a ings; and yet we may refuse to accept their statements or their Chinese who is not a Confucianist, conclusions either in regard to Christianity or their own religion. or a Japanese who is not a Shinto- We hold that no one but a ist, it is on the other hand unfor- Christian can adequately set forth Christianity, and that all the world tunately very common to find should listen to its claims. A Chinese may also hold that none American and English soldiers, but a Confucianist can correctly set forth their religion and that merchants, and diplomats, who are he has as good a right to lecture on Christianity as we have on Con- not Christians. Therefore, while fucianism. it may be just to judge the value of We grant that no religion can be set forth in its beost light by Confucianism by the recent riots in other than an intelligent and sincere believer in it; but to cor- China, it is by no means just to lay rectly estimate any religion or system of truth and life, we must the sins of American and European both examine the teaching and see what effect it has on the lives of merchants and soldiers at the door its adherents. '1'he difference between Christianity and other re- of Christianity-these men being ligions lies not only in the truth taught in regard to God and man, too often in reality infidels and but in the power to enable man to benefit by the truth. Christianity libertines. When the ethnic religis not mainly adherence to a creed, but living union with a Person. ions of Asia can point to trans- Regeneration and salvation by faith find no parallel in other formations of character and life in religions. those who embrace their tenets, From this fact two others follow: viz., that only those who are regen- such as accompany conversion to erated can be taken as true examples of Christians, and that the Christ, then, and then only, can best evidence of Christianity is the transformation effected in the they demand a hearing for their lives of those converted from heathenism and from other relig- beliefs on an equality with Chri>.- ions. Christianity is too often judged by foreigners in the light of tianity. * the character and conduct of citi- Missionary Oooperation.
The need of greater solidarity of the mission forces of the world is being increasingly felt, both at home and abroad. This is more and more manifest to anyone who studies the sentiment of mission- aries and missionary boards throughout the world. In evidence, we quote the action of the Japan general missionary body recently assembled in Tokyo.
This conference says that they "recognize the high degree of har- mony and cordial cooperation which has marked the history of Protestant missions in Japan;" they yet affirm the work of evan- gelization is often "retarded by an unhappy competition," and by the "duplication of machinery" which the present duplication of machin- ery involves.
It is cheering to see their at-
tempt to correct this cross-pur- astic description in The Sacnd posing and lack of economy, by Hem't Review, by a Catholic bishop, electing a "promoting committee" of the "angelic character" of the of ten to prepare a plan for a late Bishop Smythies of the Uni- "standing committee of the mis- versities' Mission, and of the good sions," to become authoritative done by him and his associates. It when approved by representatives must be remembered that these of not less than two-thirds of the excellent men border very closely Protestant missionaries in Japan. on Catholicism in their way of doing things. Another indication of the grow- ing recognition of closer coopera- Even the Ave Maria (edited by a tion is found in a proposition in gentleman who was once a Prot- the Chinese Recorder. A writer in estant), which is generally ready to the North China He1'ald proposed praise goodness in Protestants, that the missions in China appoint declares that the Protestant misa "strong representative mission- sions in China are made up of unary expcutive," to stand in some- influential missionaries and insinwhat the same relation to the cere adherents, "rice Christians." general missionary body as the Now will Father Hudson explain China Association does to the mer- from what quarter the means come chant classes. Rev. 'V. M. Upcraft to sustain 75,000 Protestant "rice seconds this proposal in calling for ChriE:tians" and their families? some" collective action on the part The missionary accounts show so of the whole missionary frater- much for missionaries' salaries, so nity," specially for some "sug- much for the payment of helpers, gestive line of treatment of the so much for schools and chapels, so whole question of mission work, much for gifts of tracts, and a very mission status, and mission rela- slight surplus. How many out of tions." 75,000 can be used as nati ve helpers? So far is this talk of "rice Chris- Roman Catholic Disparagement of Prot- tians" from being true, that a estant Missions. Catholic priest in China has re- buked the Protestants for not pro- The Roman Catholics complain, curing means at home for the better and often not without reason, that care of their poor. Protestants not only criticise the faults of their missions with great Since the beginning of summer, severity, but that thE'Y commonly in the neighborhood of Peking, are hardly willing to see any good 10,000 Roman Catholic Christians, in them at all. and 6,000 Protestant Christians, being offered the choice between 'Vhat they lay to our charge apostasy and death, have all alike comes down on their own head chosen death. 'Vhere are your with stunning force. Along with "rice-Christians" there? a great deal of vulgar abuse of Protestant missionaries in Roman Father Hudson has not even Catholic papers, we see from time taken the pains to learn elementary to time an acknowledgment of facts. He says that the Protestant their" good intentions"; but who work lies only in the treaty ports, has ever seen in a Roman Catholic that inland as good as all the mispaper, European or American, any sionaries are Catholics. He has acknowledgment of any consider- not learned that the China Inland able good wrought by a Protestant Mission, furnishing one-third of mission? Almost the only excep- the Protestant missionaries, had tion we have noticed is an enthusi- occupied 16 of the 18 provinces;
EDITORIALS
that the chief missions of the appointed Sunday, February 10, American Board are inland; that there are thousands of Protestant 1901, as the universal day for pray- converts in Manchuria; that you er for students. The committee can hardly open a missionary re- port which is not largely taken up which has appointed this day with the village out-stations. includes official representatives of However, when we see the gross ignorance of the commonest facts the Christian Student movements of Protestant missions that is found in the chief Roman Catholic ency- of Germany, Scandinavia, Great clopedia, that of 1Vetzer and WeIte, we must not blame a simple Amer- Britain, France, the Netherlands, ican priest too severely. Switzerland, the United States, The Ave Maria says that the Canada, Australasia, South Africa, Protestant missionaries in China are" uninfluential." This provokes as well as Japan, India, Ceylon, a smile when we think of John Legge, Ernest Faber, Bishop Moule, China, and other mission lands, in- Griffith John, Dr. J. L. Nevius, Dr. W. A. P. Martin, Arthur H. Smith, cluding 1,400 student societieJ, Hudson Taylor, and others. China, with a membership of 65,000 stulike India, is a land of villages, and we notice that a Catholic mission- dents and professors. During the ary declares Arthur Smith's book on "Village Life" to be the best he past three years this day has been knows. University graduates can observed in over 30 different counnot presume to judge of tbe cuIture tries by Christian students and by of the Catholic missionaries, but people specially interested in the we are pretty sure that very little work of Christ among students. of it was gained at a university, great or small. To insure the most fruitful use of the day, the committee empha- Reference has lately been made sized the following points: in the .Method·ild Review to a letter of an eminent English Jesuit, in 1. Let the Christian students take advan· which he expresses his deep disgust tage of this opportunity both by entering with the current Catholic dispar- into the heritage of the prayers of Chrisagement of Protestant missions. tians, and by putting forth wise, earnest Not only, says he, is this unchari- effort. table, but it is uncatholic. Protestants, he remarks, proclaim, not 2. Wherever practicable, let the Saturday unmingled with errors, and not in preceding, or the Monday following Sunday, all its fulness, but in good faith, February 10th, be devoted by Christian the salvation of God in Christ. students to special meetings and to personal Catholics are bound to believe that dealing. God will not withhold his converting grace from such a message. t 3, The prayers of the Church should be en- listed on behalf of the progress of Christ's Day of Prayer for Students. Kingdom among students. Let clergymen F~:~~~d:~~,ons and call forth more prayer The Genera.! Committee of the World's Student Christian Federa- 4. Let the primary object of the day be tion, at their meeting held in Ver- the promotion of intercession on behalf of sailles, France. in August, 1900, students. The great need in all parts of the student world is that of a mighty manifesta- tion of the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
OBJECTS FOR INTERCESSION.
Pray that the spirit of supplication may come upon Christian students and teachers, Pray that Christian students may recog- nize their obligation to help win their fellow- students to Christ by consistent life, earnest prayer, and faithful personal dealing. Pray that students may in larger numbers and with greater earnestness devote them- selves to the reverent and thorough study of the Christian Scriptures. Pray that strong leaders may be raised up to take charge of the student Christian organizations in the universities and col- leges.
Pray that the members of our movements may go forth to evangelize the world and to help enthrone Christ in all relationships of mankind.
Pray that the doors may be opened for the extension of the Christian student movement to Russia, and also to Latin countries as yet unreached. Pray that ignorance, distrust, jealousy, national or racial prejudice, and all else which might tend to divide the disciples of Christ in the student world may be avoided, and that the prayer of our Lord that we all may be one may be realized. "According to your faith be it unto you." *
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS.
RUSSIA AND THE RUSSIANS. Edmund Noble. Noble's statements f.t every point. 12mo, 285 pp. $1.50. Houghton, Mifflin For instance he says: and Co., Boston. The Doukhobortsi or "Spirit wrestlers" Russia has recently received … disbelieve in spirit and doubt the existence much attention from travelers, of a personal God, . . . deny the divinity of historians, statesmen, and novel- Christ, . . . refuse to recognize the author. ists. The czar's realm is immense, ity of the Bible, and reject the Orthodox and while his government is strong views regarding heaven and hell. in diplomacy and military power, both land and people are a century On the contrary, these people are behind the times. Medievalism very "imilar to the Friends in thpir still reigns, and ignorance, super- belief regarding all these points, stition, oppression, and bigotry and while they may be defective in mark the beliefs, institutions, and doctrine their life is truly Christian. customs of the land. Russia, and They do not accept the Protestant Siberia are countries of tremendous Christian statement of belief in possibilities, and there are signs of every point, but are particular to progress in subjects and in rulers. call themselves Bible Christians The church is most backward in and love to recite portions of the reforms. There is not yet any real Scriptures. freedom of faith or worship, and no Christian missionaries are allowed Again, Mr. Noble speaks of to work among Orthodox Russians. Tolstoi as "denying the soul's sur- Bible distribution is, however, vival after death." Tolstoi "bepermitted, and has been carried on lieves that all true life is immorwith much blessing. tal." He says in one of his books: Mr. Noble has given us a readable As to the questions about what awaits us and condensed account of Russia after death, I would answer by the conjecand its inhabitants, the best up-to- ture that the will of Him who called us into date brief description we have seen. this life for our welfare leads us somewhere He sketches the early beginnings through death probably for the same purof the nation and later history of pose. the empire, tells the interesting story of Peter the Great, and his These errors of the author, howradical reforms; he describes the ever, are few, and comparatively work of the "wonlen refornlers," unimportant when we consider his the revolt of the "Decembrists," broad purpose and the vast and the rise of the secret societies amount of information which he with which Russia is honey- has packed into a small compass. * combed. Then follows an account of the emancipation of the THE SIEGE OF PEKING. w. A. P. Martin, D.D., peasants, the Nihilistic and other revolutionary movements, and LL.D. Illustrated. 12mo. 188 pp. $1.25. the "religious protest." The con- Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. cluding chapters treat of Russian expansion, Siberia, language ani The title and author of this book literature, and the Russian future. are a guaranty for its cordial recep- tion and prompt perusal. Dr. Mar- We regret to say that we can not tin is a veteran who has devoted have perfect confidence in MI'. his life to China, only to be hunted down by those whom he was seek- ing to serve. He was in the Brit- ish legation during the memorable siege, and has described the thril- ling experiences most graphically and fully. Other chapters deal with "The Allies and the Man- chus." the "Emperor and Reform
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS
Party," the "Dowager and her of latitude and includes a hundred Clique," "The Boxers and their Allies," and the outlook for "Re- islands, almost everyone of which construction." Certainly nothing has yet appeared which deals with has a separate language or dialect these important and stirring events with anything like the accuracy and of its own, and some possess sever- force of Dr. Martin's narrative. * al. It is an important field, and TUSKEGEE, ITS STORY A"D ITS WORK. Max Bennett Thrasher. With an Introduc- the story of the mission includes tion by Booker T. Washington. Illus- trated. l2mo, 232 pp. Small, Maynard the account of the work of such & Co., Boston. noble missionary pioneers as Bishop All who have followed the phe- nomenal career of the" hero" of the Geo. A. Selwyn, Bishop John Cole- narrative will welcome this volume. The theme relates to one who is, ridge Patteson, and others. The without doubt, the most eminent African of our generation, and to history relates to the period be- an educational undertaking, the success of which inspires new hope tween 1841, when the mission was both for the future of the colored race in America and the Dark Con- founded and Geo. A. Selwyn was tinent, and for that of all depressed peoples everywhere. The author consecrated bishop of New Zealand, is perfectly familiar with his sub- ject, and marshals and wields the to the year 1899, when the jubilee . facts in a plain, straightforward way_ The volume includes a wel- of the mission was celebrated. The come biographical sketch of Mr. "Vashington, an account of the ori- character of the leading mission- gin and' development of his famous school, its present condition and aries is well portrayed, the islands scope, and its influence in the founding of other similar enter- and people are picturesquely de- prises. The following sentence from the introduction presents an scribed, and the story of the work admirable summary of the ideas and aims which characterize both of the missionaries interestingly the institution and its founder: told. It is a notable record and Every black man who is so trained that he can do something better than somebody else, should be read not only by mem- can do a common thing in an uncommon way, can make himself indispensable to the bers of the Church of England, but community where he lives; not only helps our own race, but secures at the same time by all wishing to know of the the respect, confidence, and cooperation of the Southern white people in the community progress of the Kingdom. * where he lives. FROM CAPE HORN TO PANAMA. By Robert H,STORY OF THE MI<LANESIAN MISSION. E. S. Young, F.R.S.G.S Illustrated. Maps. Armstrong. Illustrated. 8vo, 372 pp_ 8vo, 202 pp. 28. lOde South American lOs. 6d. Ibister & Co., London. Missionary Society, London.
The Melanesian mission field ex- Too little is thought and known tends over a twelfth part of the of South America and its neglected circumference of the globe. It races. People think of it as civi- reaches over from 30 to 36 degrees lized if not Christianized. Many portions have indeed the forms of modern civilization, but the inte- rior is still full of superstition, cruelty, and immorality, with no truly Christian churches able to carryon adequate home mission work among them.
This book by Dr. Young is a val- uable addition to the list of mis- sionary books on South America. The first half tells the wonderful story of the transformation of the Patagonians through the instru- mentality of Captain Gardiner and others. The Terra del Fuegians were probably the most degraded of the human race, and were pro- nounced by Darwin and Capt. Cook to be too beast-like to be civilized,
much less Christianized. For some missionary facts, and quotations time it was thought that they pos- for every day in the year. One sessed no articulate language. could scarcely do better than to Many of these people, however, memorize them day by day. * have been thoroughly transformed, and are now clothed, physically, ALMANAC OF MISSIONS, 1901. Pamphlet. 5c. mentally, and spiritually. The American Board, Boston. story of their transformation is well told in this volume. This almanac has become a look- The second half of the book de- ed-for and welcome yearly visitor. scribes the work of the society in South America: Seamen's mis- with its pictures, map!:!, calendar, sions, among Paraguay Indians, lVlapuche Indians of Chile, the and well-selected array of valuable tribes of Brazil, and on the Isthmus of Panama. The maps are excel- facts and figures. I t is especially lent, the illustrations numerous, and the index full. valuable to Congregationalists, but its information is by no means lim- ited to the missionary work of that denomination. * CHILD LIFE IN CHINA. Mrs. Bryson. Illus- MISSIONARY READINGS .AND RECITATIONS. trated. 8vo, 160 pp. 2s. 6d. Religious Tract Society, London. 12mo, 107 pp. ls. Paper. London Mis- sionary Society. Mrs. Bryson' bec.ame interested These excellent selections tell, in in the children of China by living prose and poetry, of life and work in mission lands. They offer firstand working among them as a class material for use in interest- ing Sunday-schools and missionary missionary of the London Mission- societies.
ary Society. She learned to under- stand them and to love them, and Monthly Missionary Bibliography.
now has made it possible for those ECUMENICAL MISSIONARY CONFERENCE. 2 vol., 8vo. $1.50. American Tract Society, who have never visited China, to New York. Religious Tract Society, London. do the same. CHINAMEN AT HOME. Thomas B. Selby. The chapters of the book deal 12mo. 3s. 6d. Hodder & Stoughton, London .. with the Chinese child, his home CHINESE BOOK OF ETIQUETTE. Lady Tsao, and friends, the sights he sees, at Translated by Mrs. S. L. Baldwin. 16mo. 75 cents. Eaton & Mains, New York. school and at play, girls at home, CHILD LIFE IN CHINA. Mrs. Bryson. Illusfestivals and holidays, idolatry trated. 8vo. 28. 6d. Religious Tract So- ciety, London. and superstition, and the nature of STORY OF THE CHINESE CRISIS. Alexis Chinese education. The illustra- Krausse. Map. 12mo, 240 pp. $1.00. Cassell & Co., New York. tions are numerous and appropri- HALF HOURS IN JAPAN. Rev. Herbert Moore. ate, representing child life and Illustrated. 12mo. $1.00. Cassell& Co., New York. customs at all ages and under many AMONG THE BERBERS OF ALGERIA. Anthony different conditions. Wilkin. Illustrated. Map. 8vo. $4.00. Cassell & Co., New York. No one interested in China or in A WHITE WOMAN IN CENTRAL AFRICA. Helen children can fail to be interested Caddick. Illustrated. 12mo. $1.25. Cas- sell & Co., New York. in these descriptions, given with EAST AND WEST. Mary N. Tuck. Illustrated. the aid of pen, brush, and camera. 8vo, 219 pp. 28. 6d. London Missionary Society. vVe wish that similar books were HUNTS ON My HOBBy-HORSE. Gertrude published on every Asiatic coun- Frere. Illustrated. 8vo, 48 pp. 28. Church of England Zenana Missionary try. * Society, London.
M,SSIONARY CALENDAR. 4Oc. Fleming H. MISSIONARY READINGS AND RECITATIONS. Revell Co., New York. Paper. 12mo, 107 pp. 18. London Mis- sionary Society. This is a very attractive, suggestive, and inspiring missionary calendar, filled with Scripture verses,
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
AMERICA. penses. The party will take from Tuskegee a full outfit for cotton The Anti-Vice Not within a gen- raising, including cot ton see d, Crusade in eration have the plows, cotton-gins, and wagons, New York_ moral forces of this and carpentry tools. metropolis been so A Notable The American massed and wielded as now, under Benefaction. Board has received the recent tremendous appeal of Bishop Potter, a document seldom from the Rev. J ee equaled for excellences of many Gam, of San Francisco, the first kinds. The resistless movement Chinaman in the United States to already in progress to administer be ordained to the ministry, and deadly rebuke to official encourage- who for years has been a missionment of vice, already organized ary in San Francisco of the Ameriand under way, appears likely to can Missionary Association, a follow the bishop's suggestion con- check for $100 for the North China tained in these words: Ohristian relief fund. The money has been contributed by the follow- ·We shall not redeem New York, men and ing Congregational Chinese misbrethren, by emotions. We shall not redeem sions: San Francisco, $40; Oakland, it by denunciation; we shall not redeem it by $5; Berkeley, $2; Santa Cruz, $7; pessimistic temper that wraps its garment Santa Barbara, $18; Los Angeles, around it and turns its back upon it. There $12; Pasadena, $13; balance by an are burning with zeal and enthusiasm and a individual Chinaman. More conhigh purpose of sacrifice in this ~reat city tributions from Chinamen on the to-dayI great multitudes of men and women; Pacific coast are promised. they are of different religions, they must forget that; they are of different political asso- Wise Words Andrew Carnegie, ciations, most of all they must forget that: and if, having reached that point, we could from a the" steel king," at find three or five men whom all of us trusted and believed in (there are hundreds of them), Millionaire. various points may and say to these three or five men-now, then, tell us what you want us to do, where not be above critiyou want me to stand, what relation you want our party, our church, our organiza- cism, but certainly two reported tion to bear to the betterment of New York, we will trust your judgment, we will follow sayings of his are well worthy of your lead, and the work is done, and next to that in this service of tho enlightened soul heed: "No wealthy man has any we want vigilance. right to die rich," that is, ought to High Honor Officials of the Gerfor Tuskegee. man government be his own administrator. "I do have arranged with not wish anything upon my tomb- Booker T. Washington, the principal of the Tuskegee Normal and stone relating to what I have given, Industrial Institute at Tuskegee, Ala., to send 3 graduates to Togo, hut instead a list of the names of the German colony on the "Vest Coast of Africa, for the purpose of those I have. induced to give." introducing the raising of cotton into that colony among the natives. Student No department of J. N. Calloway, an instructor, ac- Christian Ohristian work has companies the party. The German government pays the men a liberal Work. shown the remark- !'lalary, as well as all traveling 'ex- a b I e development that is manifest in the student world. A comparison covering the past five years shows that the 900 student Christian associations in universities, colleges, and higher schools have increased to 1,400; the 45,000 members to 65,000; the 11,000
members of the Bible classes to Brooklyn. They give $20 toward the 23,000; the 2,000 members of mission support of a missionary in Japan, student classes to 5,000. Whereas and $15 to help support a missionthere were then 10 national stu- ary in Persia. They give $5 each dents' movements, now there are to the Freedmen's Board and Syn- 15, and the World's Student Chris- odical Fund, and $15 toward the tianFederation unites all these dif- support of a missionary in the ferent movements in a sympathy Asheville Farm School. They are which has developed a world con- raising money for a missionary sciousness. Instead of 38 secretar- library, and expect to adopt an ies there are now 101, and the 21 India famine orphan. It is needless buildings, valued at $400,000, de- to say that this society has adopted voted to the work of these associa- the system of tithe-giving, and that tions, have increased to 39, valued it has joined the Macedonian Phaat over $1,000,000. Five years ago lanx. there were 10 National Student Conferences, attended by 2,600 The Bible for Rev. Egerton R. delegates. During the past year The Red Men. Young's book, "On there were 20 such, with an attendance of over 5,000. The 50 the Indian Trail," pamphlets and books published in gives vivid pictures of the romance the interests of the movement have and hardships of such missionary grown to nearly 200, and the 6 work in the far Northwest. He periodicals, with a combined circu- describes how the language of the lation of about 6,000, have increased Cree Indians was first reduced to to 13, with a circulation of fully writing by the Rev. James Evans, 20,000. At that time the Volunteer one of the early Methodist mission- Movement for Foreign Missions aries in the frozen land. "Mr. had been organized in but two Evans invented a special alphabet, countries; now it includes students each sign of which represented not not only of all Protestant Christian a letter, but a syllable, to express lands, but of Asia, and more stu- the sounds of this strange tongue. dents have gone to the mission field At first he used birch bark for during the past five years than paper, and made ink out of the. during the preceding ten years.- soot from his chimney, mixed with Independent. sturgeon oil, and in this fashion he succeeded in printing portions of Children's Aid To readers whose the Scripture and some hymns in Society. memory goes back the language of the Cree Indians. a generation or Later on the whole Bible was trans- lated; the British and Foreign Bible more, few names are more familiar Society took up the work, and now than this, with C. L. Brace, the all Bibles these Indians require are soul of its energy. It is pleasant furnished them by that society." to be reminded that; not less than $382,537 were received for its uses EUROPE. last year, and to the substantial betterment of 38,232 boys and girls. English- Taking the world The total income from the be- Speaking around not Inore ginning is $9,740,523. Catholics. than one-tenth of the Roman Church A Model A varied missionary Y. P. S. C. E. work is carried on are English-speaking people, and by the Bethany hardly more than 1 in 40 of these Presbyterian Ende:tvorers of are of the Anglo-Saxon race. In the British Isles, according t.o Father Lynch, of San Francisco~
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
the Roman Oatholic population is of the century. These are a few of diminishing both relatively and ac- the figures: An increase since 1887 tually; and.he says that it is a fact from 309 European laborers (exclud- that the Oatholic population of the ing wives) to 889 (up to June last), isles is hardly two-thirds what it from 225 native clergy to 365, from was at the beginning of Victoria's 3,500 native lay agents to 6,500, reign. " England, Ireland, and from 182,000 adherents to 270,000, Scotland had then 8,000,000 of from 44,000 communicants to 71,000, Oatholics in a total of 25,000,000. from 2,600 adult baptisms in 1887 to To-day they have 5,500,000 in a 8,478 last year. Thus far the population of 33,000,000. Oatholics foreign field. The ordinary income were then a third of Victoria's sub- at home, excluding special efforts jects; to-day they are hardly a such as the centenary fund, has sixth." And there are now in all grown from £210,877 to £304,000.
the queen's dominions a million Woman's The annual report fewer Oatholics than when she came to the throne. In every other Work of the Zenana Bible country they have increased; in the British empire alone there has for Woman. and Medical Misbeen a steady decrease. " Year by year they are diminishing, as if sion shows t hat struck by some fatal disease, wherever the English flag flies." Father altho the expenditure for the year Lynch argues that the spread of the empire is no preparation for increased by £2,339, there was a the growth of Oatholicism. decrease in income of £1,321.
Nevertheless, the sum received from associations was larger than ever before, and reached a total of £9,453. The society employs 415 workers, of whom 95 only are The Gospel to The London Society Europeans. They have 2,610 zena- na pupils, and over 3,000 in their Israel. for Pro mot i n g schools. Their hospitals have re- ceived 1,487 in-patients during the Ohristianityamong past year, while 63,949 have been treated at dispensaries, and over the Jews, is the oldest organ- 600 have been attended in their own homes. Eleven new missionization of the kind, having been aries, 2 of them medical women, sailed for India last autumn. founded in 1809. It has to-day 55 stations in 19 different countries, with a force of 194 laborers (includ- ing wives of missionaries, 227). Of this force 28 are ordained mission- aries, and 82 are converted Jews, The Christian Literature Society some of these being men of great for India published during last year scholarship as well as devout spiri- 134 new works, in 11 languages, tuality. The society has done an and reprinted 124 others. It is important work, not the least being stated that the number of readers in the literature it has put forth in India increases at the rate of for enlightening the Jewish mind about 2,000,000 yearly.
concerning Ohrist and Ohristianity. Sabbath Re- It is said that re- Its annual expenditure for all de- form in Paris. cent visitors to partments of work is about $200,000. Paris have noticed An Inspiring A paper has been the great advance which has been Record recently published made in the direction of Sunday of Growth. which sets forth rest. Very few shops are now the growth of the opened on the Sabbath, and scarce- work of the Ohurch Missionary So- ly any after midday. On the ciety during the last thirteen years wooden shutter of a business house
[THESE statistics are designed to include only Missions among either non-Christian or nonreduced. Accuracy has been sought, but also completeness, and hence conservative estimates within the space afforded by two pages of this Magazine, a large number of the smaller and = g ~ ~ THE~~.]g NAMES OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES IN <~D ~.S.~0~0 S~ "d E .o~£ ~as ~~ ~~~~. GREAT BRITAIN AND UPON ~~ ~~- ~ CONTINENT, AND SUMMARIES FOR s:l …. 'eEe 0 cC i.sO~~: O'Cr~~:! E'"' ·§.e ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, ETC. cC .£3 't2 ~o I'EW ~.+J o_~ ~ O_~_:!l _~ 5 ~ ~ .10 _~_'"'_ __________________ ________ ___ z Baptist (England)………………… 1792 $388,460 105 32 98 28 2631 72 860 London SOCiety (L. M. S.) …………. 1795 620,485 172 36 165 72 445 890 5,393 Church SOCiety (C. M. S.)…………. 1799 2,009,020 412 146 3491 331 1,238 365 6,839 Propagation Society (S. P. G.) … ,…. 1701 410,535 472 1,632 640 102 2,846 188 3,338 Universities' Mission……………… 1859 186,375 37 25 1 44 117 12 177 Society of Friends…………… , . . . .. 1867 100,640 30 o 26 23 79 o 1,049 Wesleyan Society ………………… 1816 615,890 125 74 100 67 366 142 9,408 Methodist New Connection ……….. 1859 27,899 7 0 7 0 14 0 131 United Methodist Free Churches….. 1837 GO,705 32 13 27 5 77 9 584 Welsh Calvinistic ………….. , . . . . .. 1841 37,806 17 3 14 7 41 8 97 Presbyterian Church of England….. 1847 120,500 20 19 29 28 96 20 310 Presbyterian Church of Ireland…… 1840 106,135 28 5 26 8 67 17 441 China Inland Mission. ….. . . ….. …. 1865 216,404 75 252 275 209 811 25 769 Established Church of Scotland…… 1829 139,170 26 17 28 52 123 11 534 Free Church…… . …….. …. .. ….. 1843 343,795 63 39 61 78 236'1 1') 1,327 United Presbyterian……………… 1847 222,257 65 15 66 45 191 23 1,019 Other British Societies …….. _.•….. 1,240,582 132 282 170 695 1,299 68 3,560 Paris Society………… , , .. .. . .. .. … 1822 265,400 51 27 65 1, 160 42 311" Basel Society ………….. , . .. .. .. … 1815 292,560 46 1,190 Berlin Society….. , .. …… …… . .. .. 1824 128,280 196 60 117 8 381 0 242 88 13 80 11 192 Gossner Society ……………… _. . .. 1836 47,270 3 3 0 2 2 5 6 0 2 0 5 2 0 Hermannsburg Society…………… 1854 102,126 62 0 45 0 107 0 184 Leipsic Society…………. ….. … … 1836 165,883 3 9 6 3 0 5 8 0 2 2 6 4 8 Moravian Church………………… 1732 173,260 145 30 175 22 272 18 1,865 North German Society …….. , …. … 1836 36,000 11 0 7 5 23 1 183 Rhenish Society (Barmen) ………… 1829 161,889 123 7 98 14 142 25 177 Eleven Other German Societies…… . 78,200 60 15 39 87 201 10 90 Fifteen Netherlands Societies ……. . 128,300 85 4 62 3 154 22 280 Nineteen Scandinavian Societies….. . 342,680 152 28 97 56 333 45 1,940 Societies in Asia,Africa,Australia,etc- – – 1 -5-97-,00-0 -4-23 –25-6 –31-2 -1-80 -1-,28-5 -4-251-2,-80-0 Totals for Europe, Asia, etc………. – – — — —-1— $9,365,816 3,296 3,036 3,2312.20211,765,2,53856,266 Totals for America……………….. 6,114,759 1,442 3731,4191,220 4,45412,72516,100 Totals for Christendom…………. ·. I 15,479,575 4,7383,4094,650 3,42216,2195,26372,366
GENERAL MISSIONARY I'N'TELLIGENCE
Protestant peoples, and hence the figures of certain societies doing colonial work have been have been made concerning certain items omitted from some reports. Mainly in order to keep special organizations have been grouped together.] ,.; -,,""- ,," "" "" " … ~~~ ~ "0-1:: 2 .S 'd W 0:: <P ~~~ 00 '""'- W… Countries in which Missions <pod 0ee:.:$'::: "<:Z·- -2 're Sustained. .8 i>< <Ii 0 0 0'- 00" .<=: <=l ~ —- ..<: r"n Ii. Ii.~OUl?" rn oj.<=: S …. rno S — .. " 0" 'd — 0 <P Eo< 'd — 0 'd —- -<I-i 1,743 987 40,316 3,259 130,000 650 37,367 India, China, Palestine, Africa, West Indies. 5,838 1,357 50,730 3,976 171,551 1,208 55,974 China, India, Africa, Madagascar, 8,077 1,441 71,500 8,478 270,000 2,139 Polynesia.
6,184 2,700 42,000 2,600 130,000 850 104,386 Persia, China, Japan, India, Africa, North America, etc. 294 73 3,055 1,240 9,978 92 38,000 India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Africa, West Indies, "tc.
3,846 Africa (Lake Nyassa and Zanzibar).
1,128 252 3,149 101 14,377 255 21,045 Palestine, India, China, Madagas- 9,774 car. 668 47,372 1,153 121,702 1,174 62,149 India, China, Africa (West and 145 South), West Indies. 41 584 China (Shantung, Tientsin). 220 2,640 258 7,000 661 213 12,902 513 35,000 23 1,620 China, Africa, Australia.
138 381 4,294 739 15,000 215 7,127 N. E. India, France (Brittany).
406 207 6,703 981 20,000 82 1,900 India, China, Malaysia.
508 131 2,252 306 6,000 135, 1,790 China, India (Kathiawar), Syria.
1,580 290 8,540 1,194 25,000 140 1,930 China (Fifteen Provinces).
657 103 2,534 210 7,000 22( 9,421 India, East Africa, Palestine.
1,563 367 11,436 459 35,000 51(; 34,965 India, Africa (South and East), Ara- 1,210 bia, Palestine, New Hebrides. 4,859 425 30,431 3A60 100,000 380 21,170 India, China, Japan, Africa (West . And South), West Indies.
363 24,730 2,320 52,000 1,040 34,600 471 270 14,788 388 17,000 190 11,022 Africa (South and We.t), Tahiti, 1,571 Madagascar.
460 21,480 2,224 42,000 520 19,993 South India, China, West Africa.
434 274 17,644 1,722 37,293 96 6,606 Africa (East and South), China.
570 57 15,725 400 40,000 205 3,782 India (Ganges, Chota Nagpore).
291 177 27,093 4,471 50,163 122 6,~28 India, South Africa, New Zealand.
728 196 8,413 656 18,588 248 7,857 South India, Burma, British and 2,137 German East Africa. 207 191 32,446 1,610 91,283 275 24,174 South Africa, Australia, South Am- erica, West Indies, Eskimo. 1,349 127 3,000 40 1,037 West Africa, New Zealand. 35 819 325 31,560 2,294 77,819 296 13,988 Africa, East Indies, New Guinea, 94 3,000 80 2,200 China.
291 120 1,750 434 287 72,000 2,260 175,000 470 39,000 2,21'3 204 35,097 5,603 85,000 445 44,600 2,547 326,000 9,782 750,000 1,847 175,300 — —- —- — —- – – 13,085 13,944 794,461 15,321 62,881 2,539,754 — —- — —- – – 68,031 20,644 969,929 -31,6-81 1,016,346 6,252 240,263 —- —- — —- 9,787 400,496 — —- 88,675 25,108 1,369,425 94,562 3,556,140 20,196 1,085,724
in the Rue Pierre Charron may. be church of their fathers. Patriotism seen these words printed in large, moves them to wait for reformation bold letters, just where one would within. The old church accordexpect to see an advertisement of ingly has a growing element of the shop: "6 Jours pour t,'availler enlightened men. Cities like Tocat et le 7el1w pour se reposer," or, and Sivas have large congregations "Six days for work and the seeking the truth as it is in Christ, seventh day for rest." but with no present purpose to leave their mother church. Pic- Baptisms Die Evangelische ture worship is losing its influence. in German Missionen gives Many are calling on their ecclesi- Missions. the following en- astics to give them the Gospel, not rites and forms. Many feel that couraging statistics they have lost the way to God, and of baptisms during the year 1899, they want to find it. Here a monk by the different German Evangel- and there a teacher rises up to ical, or Protestant societies. This preach Christian truth, and the list gives the baptisms of the people welcome it. Sometimes ferheathen apart from infant bap- vent prayer-meetings are held. tisms of the children of Christian Sporadic attempts are being made parents: to introduce Sunday-schools, the leaders in all such endeavors being Die Rheinische Mission, 4,456; frequently students from the mis- Die Gossner Mission, 3,119; Die sionary schools. The patriarch en- Basler Mission, 2,224; Die Berliner courages the reading of the Bible, Mission 1., 2,089; Die Hermanns- and the American Bible Society burger Mission, 2,074; Die Leipziger reports a circulation of over 11,000 Mission, 812; Die Brudergemeine volumes in its Armenian depart- Mission, 602; Die Breklumer Mis- ment in 1899.-R~v. G. E. White. sion,433; Die Bremer Mission, 157; Die Berliner Mission IlL, 155; Die A Busy Dr. D. M. B. Thorn, Neukirchner Mission, 64; Die Neu- Physician. our medical misendettelsauer Mission, 27-16,212 in all. sionary at Mardin, in Eastern Turkey, for the year "His Holiness" and the Holy City. 1899, states that on account of his -One of the Vatican organs sug- absence from the station for two gests that the pope should migrate months, and for other reasons from Rome to Jerusalem, and out largely connected with the poverty of the £4,000,000 saved by successive of the people, a smaller number of popes should buy from the sultan patients was treated than usual. of Turkey such a large extent of This number was 5,280, which seems territory as would insure the rec- large enough for one man to care ognition of the papacy as a tem- for; but during the 26 years of his poral power. connection with the station, the total number treated is 290,686, ASIA. making an average of 11,180 per year. In the hospital there had Good Omens During the last fifty been treated, the past year, 59 pa- in Turkey. years of the nine- tients,26 of whom were Christians, and 23 were Moslems. One of the teenth century 50,- most remarkable features in Dr. 000 persons, mostly Armenians, Thom's medical practise has been joined the Protestant movement in the extraordinary number of cases Turkey originated by the American Board. Young men in·whose hearts evangelical convictions are a wakened are now slower to abandon the
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
of lithotomy he has treated. These ly $5,000,000, while enormous sums number 247, a record which few, if were contributed by the native any, surgeons can exceed. Mardin rulers. is a central station for a very large region, and cases demanding skilled Hindus are The Baptist Missurgeons often come from a long Better than sionary Review, of distance.-1I'Iissionary Herald. Their Gods. Madras, has a very "A Life KashaOshana, who interesting article Indomitable." has lately come entitled, "The Real versus the Ideal in Hinduism." In it the down from the writer, Mr. Geo. M. Thomssen, mountains, says that wbile he was says: "Now, while the Hindus are at Memiken, in Gawar, there came not so good as their flatterers, or to him the wife of a Kurdish cbief, they themselves would have us bewhom he recognized as Johanna, a lieve, I assert without fear of con- Nestorian woman who, as a girl, tradiction, that the Hindus are was stolen for bel' beauty and car- better than tbeir ideals as revealed ried away by tbe Kurds. This was in their literature, their mythology, forty years ago, when Mr. Rhea was and their worship. Why, if the staying in Memiken, and now she Hindus were like their gods as we comes begging to be allowed to see them sculptured on their tempartake of tbe Lord's Supper. ples and idol-cars, they would be Tbink of forty yenrs spent among devils incarnate! And if the pestbe Kurds surrounded by utter simism of their sacred books were spiritual darkness! And yet, the to be lived and acted upon in daily little ligbt she had has been fed life, within a year the country and kept burning. She had taken would be depopulated, for murder her little Testament with her when and rapine would destroy millions; she was abducted, probably one re- and sorrow and desperation would ceived from Mr. Rhea, and a trans- drive other millions to suicide." lation of Spurgeon's "Morning by Morning," and she has insisted The Basel From the annual upon reading in them every day, Mission. report of the Basel tho forbidden by her husband. She said to him: "My Testament Germlln Evangelical Mission for is my very life; I shall die unless last year we learn that it was repyou let me read it."-Assembly resented by 78 ordained and unor- Herald. dained missionaries, and 4 women working in India, at 23 stations Some of It is stated by the situated in South Canara, Coorg, India's Famine viceroy, Lord Cur- the Southern Marathi country, Malabar, and the Nilgris, and by 16 Losses. zon, that the loss missionaries at home. It also had to India by the fail- 623 native agents doing its bidding as pastors, evangelists, and cateure of the crops amounts to chists, colporteurs, Bible women, $250,000,000, in addition to which schoolmasters and schoolmistressseveral millions of cattle have es, and the number included 138 perished. It will excite no sur- non-Cbristian schoolmasters. Its prise to learn from the same au- work was carried out amid a poputhority that the finances of India lation of slightly over 6,000,000, have been severely strained, and while the number of its church even disorganized, by the famine. members and catechumens was $30,000,000 were expended up to nearly 15,000. It maintained 154 September 1, in relief works, and schools, and these various instituthe relief committee received near-
tions were attended by nearly The two years compared are 1878- 10,000 pupils, of whom 6,304 were 98. During these years the number non-Christians. of communicants has nearly treb- led, while the Christian commu- Anti-Tobacco There is one mis- nity has grown from 295,929 to Teaching. sion· operating in 523,494 souls. The native pastorate India which reso- has increased from 206 to 407, while the annual contributions of native lutely insists-wisely, as we believe Christians have risen from $21,500 -on total abstinence from alco- to $75,000. The missionary force holic liquors and tobacco on the has grown from 260 to 406, and the part of all its agents-foreign and total native agency represents a Indian. In the case of the latter, mighty army of 10,675 men and there is more difficulty in regard to women. The educational work of tobacco than to liquor. Very these missions is represented by rarely, indeed, is there any neces- the 83,000 boys and 51,000 girls who sity for applying the discipline be- attend the mission schools. This cause of intemperance. It is at represents much seed-sowing in once remarkable and a source of these young minds and hearts.- much thankfulness that in the Rev. J. P. Jones. large body of native Christians connected with this mission, large- Growth in the Rev. John McLaurly recruited from the lower classes, Telugu Field. in, of the American intemperance is practically unknown.-Indian Witness. Baptist Telugu Mis- sion, entered that field in 1870, Christianity Mr. Modak, con- when there were but 3 stations, is Profitable. nected with the Nellore, Ongole, and Ramapatam, with about 1,000 church members. Marathi Mission at There are now connected with this Ahmednagar, has prepared an In- mission 24 stations, 113 churches, dian Christian directory, from 462 out-stations, 53,633 church which it appears that, while in mem bers. There are also 600 1890 there were only 797 ordained schools, with 12,475 pupils. There Indian ministers, there were last are 15,000 Christian families under year 1,010. This directory contains the supervision of the American the addresses of 92 Indian Chris- Baptists alone in the Telugu countian lawyers, 590 qualified Chris- try; all the growth of a single gentian doctors, 1,098 government serv- eration. Many such "failures of ants drawing over 50 rupees a missions" as these may be seen in month, and 646 editors and authors. India. Of the 100 Protestant Christian graduates from Madras College, Have" Mis- But missionaries, 35 per cent. are engaged in mission- sionaries no we are told, have ary or educational work. There are Business in no business in about 1,500 Protestant foreign missionaries in India, working among China? " China, forcing a all classes. foreign and hateful Growth in Recently compiled religion upon the people; their very South India.. statistics give us presence and work naturally arouse resentment and hatred. the results of mis- This is an astonishing statement. sion work in South India during Had the apostles no business to the last two decades. There has preach the Gospel when they went been an encouraging and signifi- forth from Jerusalem, turning the cant progress all along the line. world upside down? Had the
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
martyrs and missionaries of the Excellence in The extended artiearly Church no business in that Confucianism. cles in the Zeitdark and loveless Roman world, which they presently filled with schrift fur Misheavenly peace and glory? Were sionskunde by Prof. A. Dorner Augustine and his followers em- show how much there is that is exbarked on an impertinent errand cellent in Confucianism. There is when, at the peril of life and for- also a much deeper religious sense tune, they came to' England and in it than is commonly assumed, preached the Gospel to our savage altho it does not sufficiently bring and pagan forefathers there? This out the personality of God, or the charge strikes back to One who personality of man, and therefore brought a heavenly glory to the is condemned to stop short with earth which repaid Him with a mundane interests. We may well cross and a crown of thorns, and believe that our Savior would say charges Him with folly, and seeks of it also: "I came not to destroy, to cover with shame the brightest but to fulfil." This point of view pages of Christian history, the is suggested by the title of a recent noblest names upon the beadroll of work: "Christianity the Perfection the ages.-Rev. Judson Smith. of Confucianism." 50,000 copies of this have been sold in China.
It is Victory, Dr. Griffith John is How Rome .An English mis- not Defeat. in no uncertainty Makes sionary, in a letter about the future of Mischief. from China, throws missions in China. "Twelve out an interesting light of the 18 provinces," he writes, "have been swept clean of mission- on the methods employed by the aries; but here at Hankow, and in priests. He says: "The policy of all the surrounding counties where the Roman mission is to defend we are at work, there has been no their converts, try cases them- suspension. Christians have been selves, inflict punishments, demand meeting for worship as usual, hos- the heads of assailants from the pital work has gone on, and our Chinese government, ask for enor- day-schools have never been closed. mous compensation for damage to Till a fortnight ago the daily property in riots, and, wherever preaching was carried on regularly, possible, have a French gunboat at but when the officials suggested hand. Our policy is to avoid inter- that 'it would be ad visable to sus- ference as far as possible, and so we pend this branch of the work for tell our men that if they get into the present, we thought it only rows, we shall not try to get them right to meet their wishes. I do out. I am convinced that our sysnot take a desponding view of the tem is right, but on account of the future-quite the reverse. There constant miscarriage of justice in are glorious days before us. I am the Chinese courts, it is very diffiamazed to hear that people are cult." talking about giving up the work in China. They must be mad. The Indian China and India Our prospects to-day are vastly Mutiny and will hereafter be asbrighter than they were 6 years the Chinese sociated by a new ago. At that time I was beginning Massacres. band, but one of a to despond. I do not despond now. My heart is full of eager expecta- somber shade. In tion." many of its features the outbreak of the Boxers is strikingly similar to the Sepoy rebellion in India. Two events in each are peculiarly
parallel. The memorable defense king University. At Cornell Uni- of the British residency at Luck- versity and the Troy Polytechnic now, with the heroic relief by the School he was trained as a civil en- British column under Sir Henry gineer. How providential it was Havelock, is duplicated by the that he was in Peking when the brave defense of the British lega- missionaries and legationers were tion in Peking, and the rescue by shut up there, besieged by thou- the allied forces; anil the terrible sands of fiends! The British minis- slaughter of men, women, and chil- ter put him over the defenses.
dren at Cawnpore in 1857, is repro- 11any providential things occurred.
duced in the frightful atrocities of The 400 marines got there just be- July 9 and 10, 1900, at Taiyuen fu, fore the railroad was cut. Our in Shansi province, China, when preachers and their wives, who had '30 Protestant missionaries, 10 Ro- been in annual conference session, man Catholic priests, and many failed to get away, and so were Chinese Christians were barba- saved from possible massacre else- rously murdered. where. Native Chinese converts He Went In lYoman's W01'k fled to the legation for safety, and Out by Faith. f01' fVo1Han, 11rs. made useful soldiers and laborers. The women were there, who Cunningham gives worked night and day making bags an account of a visit to Peking, and for sand out of everything, even mentions the arrival of Dr. and out of their wearing apparel. And 11rs. Inglis. She speaks of him as then he was there himself-tireless, " A physician of Chicago, just com- sleeping in his clothes, never for a ing into an excellent practise, when moment out of danger, on half and there was brought to his mind one poor rations, while shot and shell evening in 1898 his pledge as a rained on them continuously." student volunteer. After a long struggle victory for God came, even Unsophisti- R. E. Speer, in Lestho it meant pulling up stakes, cated Chinese. lie's Pop 1t l a l' lcaving It lucrative practise, and breaking unwelcome news to an Monthly for Nointended bride. His pastor even vember, says: "One of the delights tried to block his way, but to no of travel in China is the innocent avail, when his word had gone ignorance of the people. They forth. Dr. Inglis said to my hus- think themselves the most sophisband one evening, 'If I am called ticated and heaven-enlig~tened horne before I have been two weeks people on this earth, and so make in Peking, I shall still have no doubt their naive childishness the more that I did right in coming.' Do engaging. They live very close to we not want more quietly waiting, the primeval superstitions, and the till God does definitely show us the gods and devils, between whom way, and then to tread it with the they make little practical distincsame certainty that we are in the tion, command their healthy reright path, as when we pass along spect. Our slipper-boat men stuck to our workday by day?" a bunch of incense sticks into the bank at the foot of some bad rap- A Missionary Says the Western ids, to placate the favor of the Engineer. Ch1'istian Advocate spirit of the rapids, who indeed of Prof. F. D.Game- was so far pleased as to let us as- well: "He is a most interesting cend. Our house-boat admiral laid character-unassuming, but full of out an elaborate offering of chicken capacity. He belongs to our Pe- and rice, and soup and pork, and
901.] GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
chicken blood and lighted candles, Japan as a Never was the reas we entered the North River on House of sourcefulness 0 f our downward journey. 'What is Refuge. missionaries of the this for, captain?' we asked. 'For the enjoyment of the spirits of the Anglo – American river,' he replied; 'they are eating type revealed with more splendor half the sacrifice.' 'But it is all than when the Protestant missionhere still,' we told him at the close. aries in Japan realized that Japan ,,,Veil,' he replied, 'at least, the was to be a station on the route candles are gone.' " which the exiled missionaries in China were to travel to America Life Through If, as Dr. "Villiam and Europe. The record of the work done in the city of Kobe lies Death. Butler said, the before us. The girls' school of the A. B. C. F. M. was turned into a mutiny and blood- hotel on July 12th, and for the next 53 days of its life the Kobe shed in India in 1857 brought the College Hospitality Hotel and Refugees' Restaurant registered a redemption of that land one hun- large number of guests. Of 310 persons entertained, 93 were men, dred years nearer, what may God's 128 women, and 89 children and youths. Of the 200 adult missionmore recent judgments not have aries, 161 came from China. They represented 24 different denominadone toward ushering in the won- tions. Some came to. the hotel moneyless and without clothes, and derful twentieth century, which, none of them spoke Japanese. Yet they found they were among -brethwe pray, may also be a new age of ren; they were succored and sent on their way, and their missionary blessing! hosts, after paying bills amounting to 1,70:1 yen, came out of the try- Queer Korean All things in Korea ing ordeal without a debt. It is Customs. are strange to for- needless to add that what will eigners. Thimbles grow to be lifelong friendships, were formed, that gratitude are of cloth, beautifully embroid- abounded, and that comity between ered. There are no buttons or pins, Christians of all names and lands and garments are tied on with rib- multiplied.-Congregationalist. bons. Soap is sold in the form of a powder, and the only matches are Moral Reform Thanks to the shavings tipped with sulphur. in Japan. efforts of an Amer- These have to be put into the fire to ican missionary in light them. The market scenes are' interesting. You see pompous men Nagoya by the name of Murphy, to in long gowns and high hats, the Salvation Army, to Hon. S. poor women with green cloaks Shimada, a Christian politician, over their heads, and scores of and to other influential Japanese, boys carrying vegetables. The and, perhaps, most of all-to its people are early risers, and the best credit be it added-to the Japanese time to market is between five and press, there has been a tremendous six in the morning. Two hours social agitation over the question later the stands are all cleared away of licensed prostitution. Dramatic and you have to rely on the retail results have followed close upon stores or little shops. Eggs are bought by the st'ick, and are stacked up like kindling wood. Ten eggs are laid end to end, and they are then wrapped about with straw, so that they stand out straight and stiff, and look more like clubs than eggs. In the stores these sticks of eggs are piled up crosswise, and the price is about three cents a stick.
the heels of drastic measures. New mission. Its numbers and its police regulations now make it Christian spirit greatly declined. possible for the inmates of houses It is now, however, back upon its of legalized vice, hitherto hopeless old foundation. During these 25 slaves, to leave at their option. years 4,611 students have entered Christian reformers have freed at the school. Of these 936 have been least 40 such unfortunates during graduated. Of these graduates, the past two months, and the 147 are engaged in teaching; 95 are papers report that during the past preaching the Gospel; 78 graduates 42 days in the one city of Tokyo, of the nurses' training school, are 429 contract prostitutes voluntarily engaged as nurses; 19 are engaged left their life of shame, and that on newspapers; 34 are in banks; suicide, formerly very frequent 148 are in mercantile business; 16 among this class of women, has are artisans; 166 are pursuing farpractically ceased. ther studies; 28 are officials; 102 graduates of the girls' department Wise Sayings At a recent conven- are in homes of their own, most of of Christian tion these state- them centers of Christian homes. Japanese. ments were made and sen tim e n t s On November 29, 1900, the anni- versary exercises were pervaded were uttered: "The number of with a spirit of faith in God and Ohristian societies now laboring in hopefulness for the future which Japan is 36, or just double the speak well for the school. There number in 1883, while 85 Christian are now about two hundred young periodicals are now registered at men connected with the school, of the office of the home department." whom nearly twenty are in the " English literature far more than theological department. The girls' that in the vernacular is molding school numbers about seventy. the thought of educated Japanese to-day." "Charities, like higher J. D. DAYIS, D.D. criticism, should be in the hands of the friends of Christ and of His AFRICA. Bible." "New men, that is, renewed men are needed for the new Newspapers There are some incentury." in Liberia. dications of prog- The Doshisha In Kyoto, on N0- ress that are grati- Anniversary. vember29, 1871, two fying .to the friends of the little republic. For a while there was no teachers and eight newspaper or other publication scholars gathered in a rented room regularly issued in the country. and bowing before God, each one During the past year, however, 4 prayed to Him with strong crying publications have been regularly and tears, and thus the Doshisha issued: The Recorder and The New was started. It encountered great Africa, under the auspices of Bishop opposition from the city officials Hartzell and the Methodist Episcofor the first six years. God blessed pal Church Mission, at Monrovia, it, however, and at the time of Dr. the capital; The Baptist Monitor, Neesima's death, in 1890, it num- at Ricks Institute, Montserrado bered in all its departments nearly county, and The Cape Palmas nine hundred students. Then be- Reporter, a quarterly magazine, at gan a period of reaction. Waves Cape Palmas. These publications, of nationalism and rationalism all but one of which are issued swept over the school. For three entirely independent of any foreign yea~s it was separated from the assistance pecuniary or otherwise,
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
indicate enterprise and ability women trained within its walls, its highly creditable to the country missionary society supports 9 misand very encouraging to its friends. sionaries, and during the last dec- ade has sent more than 50 to toil Rome in the Protestant mission- for Christ in Kimberly, Johannes- burg, beyond the Limpopo, and Dark aries in Africa will Zambesi, even to the shores of Lake Nyassa. Continent. have to r e c k 0 n A New Hos- Mrs. Albert Cook with a formidable pital in Uganda. sends to Mercy and organization founded by the late Truth an interest- ing account of the opening of a Cardinal Lavigerie-" The "Vhite hospital in Mengo. She says: " It is situated on the side of Namirembe Fathers." The order (if it can be Hill, and commands a magnificent prospect, including Lake Victoria, so described) has at present 50 sta- the islands of Kome, and Nsazi, and sweeping round to the south, one tions with a staff of 249 mission- can see the Singo Hills, while the King's Lake makes a very pretty aries, 132 nuns, and 642 catechists. foreground to the whole; below us are the English and French Roman This body of more than 1,000 work- Catholic mission stations. The building itself is the finest in the ers has gathered 67,190 neophytes country of Uganda. and is built in the shape of a double St. George's and 180,080 catechumens. The cross. The extreme length is 120 feet, and at its widest part it is 60 White Fathers also control 184 feet across. It is entirely con- structed from native material, and schools, containing nearly 6,000 the fact that no less than 112 tons of grass were needed for the roof, children. The society is fed by 2 shows the magnitude of the work. The whole of the construction and training colleges or seminaries in building was done by one of our missionaries, Mr. Borup, of the In- Jerusalem, which together have 139 dustrial Mission, who has spent much time and labor over it. students. " The interior is a grand piece of The S. P. G. By the Church of native work with a beautiful reeded in South England m iss ion ceiling-a kind of docoration the Africa. work has been es- Baganda excel in; the walls are of tablished in Cap e mud and wattle, and nicely white- washed inside and out, which gives Colony, Natal, Zululand, the Free a very clean and striking appear- State, and even in the Transvaal. ance to the whole building, and be- In 1847 the first South African dio- ing on an eminence it shows out cese, that of Cape Town, was or- well, really acting as a fine beacon, ganized. At present there are 9 which can be seen from all parts of -South African sees, with 10 bishops. the coun try. There are 50 beds The work in South Africa has been in all-25 for the men, and an chiefly under the Society for the equal number for the women and Propagation of the Gospel. During the 80 years since it began its work it has maintained 545 missionaries, and has given to the evangelization of the country more than $4,000,- 000. At present it is maintaining 155 missionaries, of whom 23 are natives.
Wellington Little do we appre- Seminary. ciate how wide- spread is the influence of this institution for civilization and godliness, which has well been called the Mt. Holyoke of South Africa. In addition to the hundreds and thousands of young
children; the bedsteads are made 1900. In Sumatra the same mission of the branches of the palm tree, had 2,352 baptisms in 1899. Of and only last a very short time, these about 2,150 were from heathbut we hope before long these may enism, and 200 from Islam. The be replaced by plain iron ones from total Christian community of the England. The mattresses are made Rhenish Mission in Sumatra has from the dried peelings of the now reached about 43,600. banana tree, which are rolled and then sewn together, and on this we The Netherlands Missionary place a mat of grass, which the Union, which is workil1g in West Baganda use as a sheet and seem to Java, has now 11 stations with 26 like very much, and they have the churches. At the end of last year great advantage that they can be the number of native Christians easily scrubbed." has reached 1,660, being an in- crease of 178 on the previous year. The An in d e pen den t The number of children taught in the schools of this mission is now Typewriter in testimony to the 686. Since the work was begun in 1863, 2,728 persons havl? been bap- Uganda. progress of mis- tized in all.
sions in Uganda, The wic10w of missionary Hend- rich, who is continuing her hushas been given recently by Sir band's work among the Dyaks, in South Borneo, has had the joy of Harry Johnston, a government seeing the fruit of her labors. The small church has been gathered commissioner: "The difference be- together at the place where she is Iiving, and two out-stations have tween the Uganda of 1900," he already been opened in the neigh- borhood. She has two native helpwrites, "and the blood-stained, ers working with her, and now and then missionary Renken comes harassed, and barbarous days of from the next station, Mandomai, to administer baptism and the Mtesa and his son Mwanga is really Lord's Supper.
extraordinary, and the larger share Melanesian This organization Mission. was founded by in this improvement is undoubt- Bishop G, A. Sel- edly due to the teaching of Anglican wyn in 1849. Its staff consists of Bishop Cecil Vilson and 12 Engand Roman Catholic missionaries." lish clergy, 2 English laymen, 12 native clergy, 400 native teachers, Of the thirst of the people for edu- and 7 English women. There are 170 mission stations in 26 islands. cation he saysI "It is surprising Christianity is established in many of the islands, but large numbers what a number of men, boys, and are still heathen. There are 12,000 baptized Christians in Melanesia even women, have been taught to and over 12,000 more people under instruction. Over 1,000 persons are read and write at the mission baptized annually. St. Barnabas College, Norfolk Island, is preparschools. Several of the chiefs 'use ing 160 boys and 50 girls to become: typewriters; in fact, nearly all the official communications that pass between the regents and myself in the Luganda or Swahili languages are neatly typewritten by a chief or a 'native secretary.' The chief of Toro, on the borders of the Kongo Free State, possesses a type- writer also."
ISLANDS OF THE SEA.
The Dutch In South and East East Indies. Borneo, the field of the Rhenish Mission, there were 55 baptisms from heathenism during the year 1899, so that the total Christian community (including children) is now
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
teachers, and at St. Luke's, Siota, be sent out from America, to be Solomon Island, there are 70 schol- appointed "two and two" to 5 ars. different provinces, with the under- standing they remain unmarried New Guinea. The Rev. J. Chal- for four years on a salary of $350 mers sends a list of each. They also ask that the mis- sionary society make a special 26 villages on the banks of the Fly appeal to the home church for River in which services are held funds to erect a substantial church twice daily and three times on edifice in Manila and for a minister Sunday. "The services are very to devote himself to the English primitive, and, when conducted by work. The Methodists at Manila the people themselves, the words promise to pay house rent for the spoken are very few, and these in minister, an expensive item in the great ignorance. I have just sent rapidly transformed city. Another Hiro and 6 church members and modest request is for a first-class their wives up the river to preach mission press, equipped with best Christ and hold services in every plant and a competent managerpossible village. The church mem- a request which the church, if wise, bers are to remain three months, should comply with at the earliest and then return here for a spell. moment. Of course they need a They have no education, but they host of women workers. With a know the story of the Cross, and strong prefere'nce for deaconesses, they are in downright earnest. they ask that 4 of the order be sent It would have done your heart good without unnecessary delay. to have seen with what enthusiasm they went. I got wearied of wait- Worthy of Note.-Forty years ing and praying, and it was heavily ago the first contribution was laid upon me to act and do some- given by a Hawaiian church in thing for the heathen." Hilo ($1,000) for the building of the first Protestant church in Japan, Civilization Sixty years ago and now missionary work is done in Hawaii by Japanese for Japanin the who would have ese!-lI'Iissionsblatt fiir Kinder.
South Seas. – thought it possible? MISCELLANEOUS. A Call to A new period of Tawkiao is the Consecrate. time brings to us a name of a native king in New new sense of re- sponsibility. The world is taking Zealand, who edits a small eight- account of stock to-day, and mak- ing plans for the future. The page paper, printed in English and newspapers are describing what the old century has done, and what the native tongue, and called the it has put into the hands of those who are passing into the new. 'Ve Pleiades of Seven Stars. And have a great access of knowledge over what our fathers had. Our Fiji, which once disputed with understanding of the universe, the world we live in, and ourselves, in New Zealand for the primacy in all kind and degree far exceeds theirs. We have railroads where they had things horrible and hellish, has to- oxen and horses, swift steamships where they had sailing vessels, teleday more-.than 30,000 in Christian churches!
Methodism The American Meth- in the odists at Manila Philippines. are evidently de- termined not to let the grass grow under their feet.
The district conference which met there recently under the presidency of Bishop 'Varne, passed resolu- tions asking for 10 young men to
graphs and telephones where they know how to manipUlate a steam had nothing. We have means of boiler, so that I could avoid accicommunication with all the world; dents. I must be able to work the we trade with and come in daily stereopticon, make the gases used contact with peoples of whom they in the lime-light, and also know knew little or nothing. The mes- how to ' build' a stereopticon, sage of Jesus is, "Trade ye here- after having purchased such parts with till I come." All these new as the lenses and dissolvers, and things are ours for a purpose-to make lantern slides. And after build up the Kingdom of God. "Ve going through these processes I are not only to sell goods to Japan must be so acquainted with them and China and the Pacific islands, as to go out in India, and meet the and to furnish to their peoples the new conditions of climate in the comforts of civilization at good use of chemicals, and the many prices, but we are to make it our emergencies that would arise in the business to make men Christlike- erection and moving of machinery. brown men, black men, yellow I knew nothing whatever about men, in all lands. They are all our photography, but must acquire the neighbors in a sense made new by most difficult processes. I knew modern inventions.-Rev. A. E. nothing about machinery, but I Dunning. must acquire the manipUlation of 25 different machines, apart from A Missionary This -hit of autobi- the machinery used in the printing " Hustler." ography is from the and binding departments, and the founder of the Meth- erection of shafting and the fitting of belting." odist publishing house in Madras: " In the spring of 1895 a train of cir- A More The American cumstances made it evident that I Excellent Way Board in particular must abandon all idea of carrying outmy promise to the many who had of Giving. is u I' gin g its contributed toward the founding of wealthy friends to the publishing house at Madras, or I must learn electrotyping, photo- deposit, while yet living, with the engraving, half-tone, and line work treasurer the amount they propose by sunlight and electric light, the to leave the society, this as a secure working of the booklet machines; I investment on which they can must gain a practical knowledge o~ draw interest. There is thus no the construction of the dynamo, be will that can be broken. And able to set up an electric-lighting President Holden, .of Worcester plant and do the work of a 'line- University, points out the fact that man;' I must know how to erect if one gives $1,000,000 to a college, shafting, counter-shafting, calcu- the State imposes no tax for the late the speed of pulleys, and fit transfer of the gift, and charges belting; I must have a practical no tax upon it after it is given, knowledge of half-tone printing, thus encouraging giving by the which includes underlaying and living donor. If, however, the overlaying. That I might not be same amount is left by will, it is taken advantage of in the working subject to reduction to the amount of the machinery, I must be able to of $220,000. It is better to give take an engine apart and put it to- what one can while he is still alive, gether again and run it. I must and have the JOY of the greater good.
The Missionary Review of the World — October 1895
TOlIB OF EZR_ OX THE TIGRIS
A GLIMPSE OF THE CHEEK AT Bl'SRAH. ARABIA. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XVIn. No.lO.-.Oltl&riu.-OO~OBER.-VoL. YIn. No.lO.-Ne?JISerie8.
MIRAOLES OF MISSIONS.-No. XXIV.
* THE ROMANCE OF THE HovA BIBLE.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
As the heart makes the theology, so, it is to be feared, it often makes the history, or at least misreads it. Because amid the four millions of Madagascar nine tenths still ramain heathen, there is on the part of some no little proneness to depreciate the grand results of Protestant missions there, and to disparage the magnitude of the work begun in 1820.
We have thought well to reproduce, from the ·panorama of these seventy-five years, one scene which is at once full of romance and reality, pathetic and poetic, vivid in its contrasts and intense in its interest-the story of the Malagasy Bible. Christian missions have many such pictures, which need no retouching by humau hands to make them brilliant with historic lustre, and fascinating with romantic beauty; but this story of the Hova Scriptures wiJl bear to be Fut beside any similar narrative of this Illissionary century.
Seventy-five years ago two humble Welshmen landed on the coast of Madagascar-David Jones and David Griffiths. But one year apart in their arrival at Antananarivo, they were the pioneers of Protestant missions on this great island, which has been called the Britain of the Dark Continent.
They found the French missio~, which had preceded them by more than a century and a half, had scarce left even a permanent footprint to mark its twenty years of experiment. Madagascar was still virgin soil ; the people lacked all true knowledge of Christ, and had not even a written language. It waa still a pioneer work that was to be done ; and a score of years of teaching, discouragement, and hardship had failed even to lay the foundations for a church of Christ.
* See" Mada,galiCal'.of To-d&y." By Rev. W. E. ColllliDl. F. U. Revell" Co.
JlI&ACLIII 0.- 1II11l0lfS
The reason was obvious. Roman Catholics had made there, as in 1M) many other places, the fatal mistake of not gitJing to the J"OPle the Wortl of God. God has ordained that no mission work shall be lasting which does not magnify the Holy Scriptures as the corner-stone of Christian education. These two WcIslunen recognized the cause of the failure of Nacquart and Gondree, and they began, as soon as they learned the Malagasy tongue, and when, in fact, they were u yet novices in this strange language, to translate into it the Word of God. Distrusting their own imperfect acquaintance with the vernacular, they selected from their more promising ~cholars, some as usistante, and they are still honored in Madagascar as "The Twelve." So faithful was the work done, that by March, 1830, only ten years after D~vid Jones had reached the capital, the first edition of three thousand copies of the New Testament was com. pleted j and considerable portions of the Old Testament had likewise been translated.
The devil now came down, having great wrath, as though he knew that, with an open Bible, his time would be short. Already the Word of God we had begun to turn the little world of the HoVAS upside down; and need no greater proof of the mighty power and inlluence it had begun to wield among the people than the organized opposition it now encountered.
Soon after King Radama I. died, in 1828 clouds began to gather OD the horizon, and lurid lightnings played amid the darkness. There were threatenings of a coming storm, and seven years later the violence of a malicious and cruel persecution burst upon the infant church. Queetl Ranavalona I.-the Bloody Mary of Madagucar-issued her famous edict against the religion of the Christian's Bible, March 1st, 1835.
At that time a part of the Book of Job, and the whole of the Old Testament from Ezekiel to Malachi, remained yet to go through the press. Uncertain how soon, by expulsion or martyrdom, they might have to leave the young church to itself, the missionaries prayed for time and strength to complete the Malagasy Bible. It wu like attempting to gather up household goods and put them in a place of shelter when a volcano WIUI belching out lava and ashes overhead. Undismayed by danger, undaunted by difficulty, deserted by timid converts, and watched by a suspicious government, they toiled without resting and prayed without ceasing.
Unable to secure native aid, they had to do the work of printing aDd even of composing type; but by the end of June, four months after the edict of intolerance had pealed out its thunders, the first bound copies of the complete Bible were ready for the HOTa Church !
And now the next question wu bow to prevent this whole editiOD from destruction by the Satanic queen and her sernle miDions. Most of these new Bibles were secretly scattered among· the converts in whose piety and loyalty they could repose most confidence. But, for greater securi~1' and so that, if all these were discovered and consigned to the lIames, as many of them were, a precious remnant might I1U'vlVe, they bnriedsevellty
189r;.] KIRACLES OJ' KI88IONS. '728
copies in the earth-precious seed for a future harvest when the storm should have spent its fury.
They had done their work none too soon or too speedily i and now their expulsion was decreed, and for twenty-five years Protestant missionariel!l were exiles. The translators of the Bible were driven from Madagascar, but the Bible they had translated was not so easily driven away. In th. story of that martyr church two facts stand out like opposing mountain peaks on a landscape-like Gerizim, the mount of blessing, and Ebal, the mount of curse, at the gateway to the plains of Sychar-the intense hatred of the persecuting queen and her court toward the new Bible, and. the equally intense love and devotion of the Hova martyrs toward that hateci and proscribed book.
History furnishes few more pathetic tales of heroism, even where touched with the pencil of romantic fancy, than is found in the Inartyr church of Madagascar. The blessed Book had to be treasured in secret, and in secret read and studied. Discovery meant the sure destruction of the book, and the almost equally sure death of the possessor. Every copy of the Bible was therefore kept and read at risk of life. A quarter of a century is a long period of testing i but they stood th~ test. When some of the Bibles were found, as they were, and committed to the flames, they hid the rest in trunks of trees and in rock caves, and many of them committed large portions to memory, that at least one imperishable record might be preserved which no fire could destroy. And, when the missionaries once more found welcome at Madagascar, very few complete Bibles were. left i perhaps not more than a dozen or so survived i and with these was associated a most pathetic interest. They were thumbed and worn into shreds, or patched and so preserved, but treated as precious relics that no price could buy i and he was counted specially bappy who could produce even a few leaves of the sacred Word, however soiled or ragged through much use, or mildewed with the mould of the damp place where they had been secreted.
The revision of this early translation supplies in its way a story scarcely less romantic. On December 1st, 1873, eight foreigners and three natives began a work, not completed until thirteen years later, of retranslation. When the first Bible had been prepared, the knowledge of the language had been so imperfect that, as in all other similar cases, errors had inevitably crept in, and it became necessary to prepare another version, embodying all the results of later and, more accurate scholarship. On that new Revision Committee five denominations of Christians were represented, all working in loving harmony during all the years of the work, though only two Europeans and one native, who were members at the inception, remained on the committee until its completion.
The meetings were held on Wednesdays, and two sittings of three hours each were given to the task. So slowly and carefully was the work done that a day was sometimes spent on a dozen verses, though sometimes from sixty to eighty were covered. But what a beautiful sight in God's eyes it must have been, when, for nearly fourteen years, Anglicans and Lutherans, Presbyterians, Independents and Friends sat every week studi- ously seeking to make a new and complete Bible for the people, forgetting all minor differences in one absorbing aim and work! and, as Mr. Cousins beautifully says, even Mr. Richardson's Malagasy Dictionary lying com- paratively unused on the table, because at one end was a living lexicon of the native language in the person of three native helpers, * to whom, in fact, the final re,·ision was mainly entrusted.
When the labor of these long years reached completion, and the prayers of more than six hundred successive sessions had been answered, it was felt that a thanksgiving service should signalize the close of such a gigantic task. And the place chosen for such a praise service-there could be none so appropriate-was the stone memorial church at Ambonin' Ampamari- nana, the sanctuary reared on the verge of the precipice over which, thirty- eight years before, fourteen Malagasy martyrs had been fiung, because they loved that Bible and would not disown the Christ it had revealed !
But in what different circumstances that thanksgiving service was held!
When that earliest edition had been completed, a storm of pitiless perse- , cation was beating on the heads of native Christians, before which even the ,translators were driven away. Now it was eighteen years since the public burning of the idols, and at the thanksgiving meeting behold His Excellency, Rainilaiarwony, the Prime Minister, sent by a Christian queen, Ranavalona II., the first Christian sovereign of Madagascar, to represent her and convey to all who, had aided in this great work the thanks of the queen. With what emotions must they who remembered the horrors of the reign of the first Ranavalona have heard this noble premier, the queen's consort, as he told of the profound personal interest his royal wife had taken in the work of revision, and how in her jealousy for its perfec- tion she had herself often suggested to the revisers certain suitable words and phrases to convey tho sacred sense. And so in more than two thou- sand congregations and nearly as many schools, representing more than three hundred thousand Protestant Christians, this revised Bible is to be used. .
If facts have any force, surely no one who candidly surveys this pano- ramic scene can doubt that a Divine Artist has been at work. The hand of God has drawn these outlines, and there is a touch of celestial color- ing. The rainbow round about the throne reflects its sevenfold beauty in the history of the Hova Church; there is something which arches this whole seventy-nve years, in sight like unto an emerald. Shall we question the Divine sanction upon missions when seventy-five years among the Hovas work such chang.es and reveal such fruits ~ • P. 122.
THE GOSPEL IN RUSSIA
THE GOSPEL IN RUSSIA.
The writer, in conversation with a highly placed Russian official, in- quired what he thought was the greatest obstacle to the progress of true religion in the great empire of the Czar, and the remarkable answer was immediately given: "There are no obstacles j the people are ready, even the Church is ready. Let the movement but have life, and be in harmony with our Russian sympathies and character, and nothing can oppose or retard it. Before all else, we are a religious people. "
From his peculiar point of view there is much of truth in this dictum of the Russian official. The people are unquestionably prepared for a great religious revival, and in many ways the Orthodox Greek Church shows a liberality and a receptivity which is quite remarkable. Nevertheless, in spite of the official's opinion, there are obstacles to the spread of evangelical religion in Russia, so formidable and so numerous that one almost despairs of seeing them altogether removed in onr day. Let us look for a moment at the position of affairs. Of the one hundred million Russians inhabiting Russia in Europe and Siberia, about eighty millions are orthodox Greek Churchmen, and some twent.y millions are heretics of one school or another-Old Believers, Old Ritualists, Molokans, Stundists, etc. The policy of the Church and State toward dissent has been almost invariably one of severe repression, appalling sometimes in its severity. The result is that persecutor and persecuted view one another with an hostility difficult for people to judge who enjoy perfect religious freedom. Besides, the conduct of the" heretics" themselves has been often so indecorous, so fanatical and intolerant, and the excrescences which they have put forth have been frequently so offensive, that almost all the sympathy felt for them by the warm-hearted and more liberal of the orthodox has been chilled. In Russia, therefore, dissenter and Churchman are face to face, hating one another bitterly, the former excluded from every privilege, from every office in the State, hunted down by those two steady allies, priests and police, prohibited in most cases from worshipping in his own way, his children often taken from him and forcibly brought up in the orthodox faith. The position of the Russian dissenter is an intolerable one, and only the most steadfast belief in the infallibility of his doctrines, and the ever-present hope that his fidelity to principle will have its glorious reward hereafter, could compensate him for his !ifeof toil and trouble, for the ignominy and contempt poured upon him.
There can be no doubt that among the different dissenting bodies in Russia there are, on the whole, far greater evidences of energetic religious life than among the orthodox. The very multiplicity of sects among them, however harmful and disastrous it may be in many ways, is still proof that they are thinking, that religion is a reality to them, that it is a tremendous force playing a controlling part in their lives. Hardly a sect among them that is not eagerly missionary in spirit and practice. Generally it is this very propagandist zeal of theirs which gets them so often into trouble, for no orthodox Russian is allowed to leave the Greek Church without being liable to transportation to Siberia, and the same terrible punishment is likewise meted out to any sectarian who either attempts to or succeeds in perverting any member of the Orthodox Church. These drastic punishments, however, have never deterred enthusiastic propagandists anywhere, and the result in Russia agrees with universal experience, that danger lends attraction to the missionary's work, and that a martyr's crown is often a far greater inducement to work than the prospect of full money-bags and an easy old age.
I am often asked, apart from the Stundists and other Russian sects professing what is known as Protestant doctrine, is there any vital evangelical force at work among the numerous millions of the other heretical bodies f I believe there is. To too great an extent the leaders of the Old Believers, the most numerous of these sects, are taken up with the empty points of ritual which divide them from orthodoxy, their minds are too full of an antipathy almost absurd in its strength to anything modern or that deflects in any way from the methods of their fathers, but their very isolation, and the fact that they give their minds to the consideration of sacred subjects, are evangelical forces of the strongest character. Many of them will not take a New Testament or other religious book in their hands if it is written in modern Russ. They deem it profane to quote Scripture in auy language other than the ancient Slavonic, but this very conservatism of theirs has forced them to pay attention to the Scripturel, and to learn by heart whole chapteri of the Bible, which are handed down orally from father to son, from generation to generation. One of the most affecting services I ever attended was in the little hut of one of these sectaries. Before retiring for the night my host and his wife stood in the middle of the room and recited psalm after psalm, passage after passage, without an error so far as I could judge. Neither of them could read, and their parents and grandparents before them were equally illiterate. After careful study of these, the more ancient of the sectaries, I am led to believe that the vital principles of religion are slowly and steadily finding their way among them, and that there seems to me some slight softening of the asperities which used to mark their dealings with those who were not their co-religionists.
But in addition to the hostile attitude of sect toward sect and of orthodoxy toward heresy, there is another far more fatal obstacle to the uninterrupted course of evangelical truth in Russia. I refer to the influences which centre in the great lay procureur of the Holy Synod, M. Constantine Pobedanostseff. This able man, notwithstanding a temporary eclipse at the accession of the present Czar, is still the most powerful statesman in Russia. He is thoroughly sincere in his notion that the welfare of the empire depends upon the intimate connection of Church and State, and no
I•.] TO fiOfI'ZL IN BVIIIU
pains are too great and no labor is without reward which has for its object the welding together the closest interests of both. Dissent from the Church is, in his view, disloyalty to the empire. The dissenter who, enamored of Luther's doctrines, hangs up a picture of the great reformer in his room, is not far from hanging up a picture of the German Emperor, or from deposing the picture of the Czar. These are in reality M. Pobeda- nostllej!'s views more than once expressed. The passionate love which this statesman bears to his church is part of the fibre of his being. In a well-known passage he once declared to the leaders of the Evangelical Alliance, that it was the Russian Church which stood for two hundred years between Western Europe and the Mongolian invaders from the East, that if the East has left its impre88 too deeply on the Russian character, it is because Russia took upon herself what might have destroyed Europe, and that instead of the Western churches sneering at the supposed intoler- ance and immobility of their Russian aister, they should be filled with admiration at the constancy and fortitude which has enabled her to preserve inviolate her holiest traditions and her undying hopes. Both as Churchman and as politician, therefore, Pobedanostseff will tolerate no deftection from the atandards of the orthodox faith, aud if a handful of peaaants here and there in the interior maintain their right to liberty of conscience, or if the Lutheran pastors of the Baltic provinces interfere with the rights of the RWlSian clerC', or if the Roman Catholics of Poland attempt any undue aasertion of the rights of the Latin Church, they are one and all summarily crushed. We can have nothing but admiration for zeal properly directed and guided by discretion into right channels, but when a highly placed statesman, a man of great culture and knowledge of the world, thinks that he can advance the cause of true religion by petty restrictions, by vexatious harryings of peasants' cottages and kidnapping of their children, by prison and stick and banishment, by depriving hundreds of innocent men and women of their personal rights and privileges, by conduct, in a word, which approaches in its ferocity the methods of the Spanish zealots of the seventeenth century, we have nothing but reprobation for such a statesman, we have nothing but condemnation for his principals, and our most entire sympathies are wholly with the wretched victims who for the faith that is in them remain undaunted in face of the priests and police who hound them on to prison and exile. It was the foolish notion of many well-wishers of Russia that the persecutions which had disgraced the last years of Alexander Ill.'s reign would cease under the sway of Nicholas, but auch hopes have turned out to be groundless, and after a short spell of quiet the jails are again receiving the more prominent of the Stundists and Baptists, and almost every chain of prisoners which crosses the anows of the C~Ucasus from Russia contains one or more representatives of that patient and heroic body of Protestant peasants who have done far more for the real advance of RU8sia than all the states.. mell in Peteraburg.
72i PEACE WITH JAPAN' :RIOTS m SZOllUAN'
But despite persecution and many a dark cloud on the horizon, the outlook in Russia is anything but gloomy. Even if we abide by the somewhat uncertain test of numbers, there is every reason to believe th&t the Protestant or evangelical sects are increasing. If in one or two places the Orthodox Church can boast that it has eradicated dissent, there are innumerable districts all over Russia which now contain il!lolated bodies of Stundists where ten years ago there were none. Th8 very dispersal of these brethren must tend to their rapid increase. Filled with zeal for his cause, the banished man and his family at once start to make known to their neighbors the great truths which have done so muw for them.
Perhaps no factor in the situation is so important and far· reaching as the extraordinary circulation of the Scriptures, which is effected year after year in the mighty empire stretching from the Baltic to the Pacific. Between five and six hundred thousand copies of the Word of God are circulated every year in Russia, and he who would learn what is being actually done in bringing the Gospel to the people of Russia has only to study the deeply interesting reports of the agents of the British and Foreign Bible Society and t.he report of the Russian Society for Circulating the Scriptures. From all parts of the huge country the colporteurs of these societies meet with encouragement. It is not merely in the towns and cities that this work is being done. We read of hundreds of copies being distributed in a village, of the peasants on steamboats sitting all day long reading the Gospell!l, of employers buying copies for their workmen, and officers for their soldiers. The writer of this article has seen the colporteurs at their work, and more than once has noticed the tears start to the eyes of great rough fellows as they became possessed for the first time in their lives of a copy of the New Testament. This wonderful sowing will some day, and some day soon rather than late, bring in a rich harvest of Bible-illuminated souls.
Unquestionably the prospects are bright, and it is safe prophesying that the day is not far distant when the sweet faith and tender paRsions of the Russian nation will be used by the Master in the advancement of his kingdom to the uttermost ends of the world.
PEACE WITH JAPAN! RIOTS IN SZCHUA~ !
BY REV. WILLIAM M. UPCRAFT, SZCHUAN, CHINA.
Again the flame of persecution and destruction has broken forth in China. While lovers of peace specially, and th8 world generally, were rejoicing at the restoration of peace in the Orient, and all were hoping for the fruits of peace in enlarged opportunities for intercourse with the subdued Chinese, Christendom was startled by reports of widespread uprising and persistent attacks on all kinds of missioB :wark and workers, such as have not been known before since the right to travel and rellide in the interior of China was granted to Western nations. On May 29th, a date coincident with the annual fifth month festival, the trouble began at Chentu, the capital city of Szchuan province.
Owing to the recent extension of missionary enterprise in the western provinces, quite a large work was in course of development at Chentu, this being one of the most eligible as it is one of the most important points in this vast inland province. The China Inland Mission (pioneers in this as in many other places), the Methodist Episcopal, and Canadian Methodists, each had a company of workers and a working plant in operation, so that some seventeen adults (all young and nearly all new to the work) and eleven children, English and American, were at home in Chentu.
For some weeks before the actual riot ugly rumors had been spread throughout the city and neighborhood, retailing the old stories of child murder and mutilation, with local embellishments, but nothing serious was apprehended. Missionaries in China are accustomed to a maximum of misrepresentation.
Inflamed with wine toward the close of an exciting day, the crowd of riotous rowdies bore down upon the Canadian premises, forced the doors, took possession of the courts, and finally caused the little handful of helpless missionaries to lieek Hight by a rear gate, where escaping to the city wall, they hid in the darkness till midnight, and then escaped to the house of the Inland Mission. Repeated applications to the officials failed to bring relief, owing, as we now see, to the hostility pf mandarins high in office, who refused the help that might easily have averted the disaster.
Returning early the following morning, the rioters finished their work of destruction upon the Canadian Mission, and then began an attack on the Inland Mission, in which the refugees of the previous night had taken shelter. Flight again was forced upon them, and having no door at the back, the wall was scaled by means of a ladder, and shelter purchased in a neighbor's house, where men, women, and children were hustled behind the curtains of a friendly bed, and the little crowd forced to wait in suspense and discomfort, within earshot of the yelling mob outside.
Who can tell of the hours of suffering in that poor refuge, and the uncertain future pressing upon them all! Meanwhile, over at the Methodist Episcopal Mission a similar scene was being enacted. Calmed somewhat, after the excitement of the previous night, by official assurance that no harm could befall them, the missionaries had returned to their house and arranged themselves for their usual work, when the crowd swept down upon them intent on destruction. Before the outer gate gave wa.y they were able to get the children and a very few things over the back wan, into a loft placed at their disposal by a friendly neighbor. The dust of years was in accumulated wealth on floor and rafters, a hot slln beat npon the unceiled tiles, while the motherli stifled the cries of their babes lest such a sound should attract the rioting crowd in the next yard.
01lJUSTIAN MIllION. IN ABAJtIA
All that day they remained as spectators of the scene, while home and chapel and dispensary, their furniture, books, even trees and 1l0wers, were destroyed, so eager were the crowd to wipe out the traces of the foreigners' home and work.
For ingenuity and diabolical delight in finding reasons why this should be done, the Chentu mob holds the palm. Bones were dug up and displayed, recent corpses exhumed and paraded, chickens killed and their blood smeared around on the walls, as evidence to support the charges made against the missionaries.
At length, from various points the driven, hunted ones were gathered together at the magistrate's yamen and found all safe; no one missing, though many a narrow escape was related as experiences were compared and the day's full total made up.
Starting from this central point, the contagion spread till Kiating, Suifn, Yachow, Lnchow, and many other points were involved. At some only a partial wreck was made, at others again the ruin was complete. In happy contrast to the conduct of the officials at Chentu, the mandarins at some other places did their utmost to protect the foreigners, and in a few cases succeeded.
The full tale cannot now be told. God intervened for His people marvellously, and in all the widespread trouble no life was lost. The native Christians suffered much and suffered well. And China stands again disgraced and discounted in the eyes of Christendom. The causes are not far to seek for this and other similar outbreaks.
It is, in the nature of things, only too true that we reap as we sow. Like seed like harvest. Given a credulous people, an incompetent administration, an assiduous misrepresentation of all foreigners, a relentless slandering of mission work and doctrine, and the result is not difficult to foresee. Sow Hunan placards; reap Szchuan riots.
A diligent inquiry should be promptly instituted in this cass and safeguards devised against a repetition. The right of Westerners to residence thronghout the interior should be made unquestionable, and freedom guaranteed. There is a strong plea in present circumstances for prayer and intercession on behalf of China, her rulers and people, that she may see her hour of opportunity and acceptance.
THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF MODERN CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN ARABIA.
IIY GJ:NERAL F. T. HAIG.
It would be deeply interesting, did space permit, to trace the gradual unfoldings of the Divine Providence in the re-introduction of the Gospel into Arabia, thirteen hundred years after Christianity had been blotted out in that land by the sword of Mohammed and his successors, but the limits imposed upon this article forbid anything more than a glance at this part of the subject. For many centuries the Arabs had ceased to be a menace to Christianity and civilization. As the great missionaries of Islam they had spread their creed over nearly half the African Continent, and the ever-advancing wave of Mohammedanism had begun even to threaten the young Christian churches on the western coast. Still it was not until some time between 1880 and 1890 that Arabia itself, the cradle and home of the race, seriously engaged the attention of the Church of Christ. About that time, however, it became evident that the Spirit of God was moving upon the hearts of His people, and that the yearninga of His love were beginning to find expression in their prayers for the 1000t sons of Ishmael. "For some years," wrote an American minister in the far West, " I and my people have been praying for Arabia. " More than one appeal went forth, pleading for the Arabs. Interest was awakened. Old Dr. Lansing, of the American Mission in Egypt, who for over thirty years had labored there, waiting for the dawn of a brighter day for the Moslem world, when one of these appeals fell into his hands, was all on tire to start for Yemen. "I could scarcely keep him," said his wife, "from mounting his donkey and setting off at once." Keith-Falconer felt the same mighty impulse, left home and country, and settled oat Aden, which for two short years became his mission field, and then his grave. The mantle of the elder Lansing fell upon his son, and he with a few other kindred spirits rose up at the Divine call and started the Arabian Mission, which now occupies the three most important points on the eastern side of the peninsula. Another mission, afterward taken up by the Church Missionary Society, was commenced at Kerak:, on the mountains of Moab, by a Methodist preacher, Mr. Lethaby and his wife; and Bagdad, which had already been occupied by the same society, in connection with their PerSian Mission, now assumed new importance as a great Arab city. Finally the venerable Bishop French, who, after some thirty years of missionary labor in India, could not, though feeble and broken, cease from his loved employ, commenced work: at Muscat, where shortly after, in a little nook: at the foot of the cliffs, where the waves have washed up just sand enough to afford space for a few graves, he was laid to rest, consecrating the whole movement by his noble example of devotedness Ullto death for the salvation of his fellow· men.
Thus six of the most important strategic positions aroUlld the great peninsula are now held for Christ : those on the East Coast and at the head of the Gulf, commanding the whole hinterland of Central Arabia, by the (American) Arabian Mission i that at Aden by the Scotch Mission; and the two on the north by the Church Missionary Society. When we remember that this has been accomplished in little more than ten years since the attention of the Christian Church was first drawn to the subject, including all the preliminary organizations at, home aud inquiries abroad, before actual settlement on the spot could be effec'ted, there is cause for thankfulness and praise. At the same time it is necessary to point out that each of the three stations of the Arabian Mission is held at the present moment by only one man, whose death or disablement by sickness would instantly stop the work at that point. Immediate and strong reinforceme~ts are called for. Only one side of the great fortress is as yet, and that but partially, invested, and no advance into the citadel, the great populous centres of Nejd and Jebel Shommar, is possible without further help. Ten millions of Arabs need- something more than half a dozen men for their effectual evangelization. It is surprising, indeed, how much of vigorous forward movement and exploration has been done, chiefly by the Americans, in this short period. They have explored the beautiful mountainous country of Yemen in the southwest; several hundred miles of the coast of Hadramaut on the south, including the centres of Makallah and Sheher; and many hundred miles of the Euphrates and Tigris on the north, making the acquaintance there of new forms of Arab life, and of the interesting little community of the Sabeans, the descendants of the Hemero-baptists of the first centuries.
They have annexed Bahrein and Muscat to Busrah, their original settlement, and Rev. S. M. Zwemer has pushed his reconnaissances inland as far as Khateef and Hofhoof, on the way to Nejd and Central Arabia, finding more than one evidence of t.he truthfulness of Palgrave's picturesque descriptions of that country. Thousands of Bibles, Testaments, and portions of Scripture have been scattered by the Bible societies and missionaries around the various mission centres. Thus a good beginning of the great work has been made, most of the strategic points for mission work have been occupied, but nothing more; but enough at least has been done to show that if only the men now in the field be properly backed up by the churches at home, not many years will elapse before all Arabia, north, south, east, and west, shall have heard the joyful sound, and " Ishmael shall live."
Let us now look a little more closely into the conditions of this great problem, the evangelization of Arabia. Nothing need here be said about the geography, climate, etc., of the country. Ample information already exists upon this part of the subject, and may be easily found elsewhere by those who desire it. Of the present distribution of political power, however, some account must be given, and I take the following from a tract by Rev. S. M. Zwemer.
" Sinai is Egyptian, and also the 200 miles of coast south of the Gulf of Akaba. Hedjaz belongs to the Turk, and he also grasps (not holds) Yemen, Asir, El Hasa, and Irak. All the rest of Arabia yields neither love, obedience, nor tribute to the Sublime Porte. The oppressed tribes of Upper Yemen were recently crushed into submission, but do not despair of future revolution. El Rasa (on the East Coast) frets like an Arab steed under the yoke of taxation, and Mecca itself dictates at times to the
THE TOMB OF A MOSLElIl SAINT AT
2. A CONVERTED 1Il0SLElIl HELPER. 3. REV. S. M. ZWEMER IN ARAB DRESS. 4. NATIVE HOUSES AT BUSRAH.
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN ARABIA. ~83
power behind the throne at Constantinople. The tribes near Aden, and the entire South Coast, including Oman with. Muscat, are in one way or another under subsidy or ' protection' by the English, who ruIe the Gulf, and have a voice at Busrah and Bagdad. Wide, wild Nejd bends to the iron sceptre of the greatest Arab of our day, Ibn Rasheed, the Ameer of Jebel Shommar. For the rest, nomads roam the free desert, acknowledging no Sultan save the sword ; they hold the parliament of war or peace in the black tents of Kedar. Thus, within the last fifty years have the schisms of Islam, the turmoil of Arab rebellion, and the diplomacy of English commerce, burst the barriers of the land of Ishmael for the Allconquering Son of Isaac ; the very cradle of Islam is aJmost unveiled for the heralds of the Cross." To ~hich I may add that Bahrein, the name given to two islands which lie just off the coast of EI Hasa, and are the centre of the pearl fishery, has in a remarkable manner been preserved from Turkish aggression, and is ruled by an Arab Sheikh under the control of the British Resident at Bushire. The islands have a large population, are the nearest point along the coast to Nejd and all Central Arabia, and are therefore of the utmost importance as a mission station for an advance in that direction. In all these political arrangements we clearly trace the overruling hand of God, curbing Turkish aggression, suppressing Wahabee fanaticism, and so preparing the way for His Gospel. There is not room to dwell here upon other influences which have told in the saIDe direction, such as the extension of commerce and intercourse with India, and the spectacle of the beneficent results of the British Government in that country, in Aden, and in Egypt.
But of yet greater interest is the question of the present religious condition of the Arab races. Does Islam retain its hold upon them as firmly as ever ~ How does their present mental attitude toward it, and toward the Christianity which it once supplanted, compare with that of the past ages and with that of the Arabs of North Africa ~ The question can only be lightly touched upon here. To treat of it at all satisfactorily would need a wider and fuller acquaintance than we yet possess, not only with the extent to which the outward forms of their religion are observed, but also with the inner thoughts and life of the people. Arabia is an immense country, about three fourths the size of India. Vast portions of it have as yet been unvisited except by a chance traveller passing hastily through, and having little real intercourse with the inhabitants. There may be lying, deep below the surface, phases of religious thought in parts of it with which we are wholly unacquainted. Has Christianity quite died out in the course of ages, or are there still faint memories and traditions of it which have influenced the religious ideas of the present day ? We know not. It is certain, however, that in another country which might be named such a survival of as remote a past has actually taken place, and may yet prove a powerful factor in the conversion of its inhabitants. In general terms, however, it may perhaps be said that the influences of
C. .I.TLUi MIIIBIOlf. Ilf AllA.:aIA
time have told less unfavorably, from the Christian point of view, upon the Arabs of Arabia than upon the scattered but probably equally numerous ponions of the race in North Africa. Romanism with its idolatry, on t.he one hand, and the scepticism and atheism which are the reaction from it, on the other, are the only forms of religious opinion, under the general name of Christianity, which the Arabs of North Africa have been acquainted with. The one they contemptuously reject, but. the other is secretly spreading among the more cultured classes, especially in Algeria and Tunis, where French education is rapidly extending, and the state of mind it produces is even more unfavorable to the reception of the truth than the most fanatical forms of Mohammedanism.
The isolation of Arabia has to a great extent preserved it from these forms of error, while there has been nothing within the borders of the peninsula itself to strengthen or resuscitate faith, or effectually to counteract the disintegrating forces of sectarian division, Persian speculative thought, and, more perhaps than either, the indifference to all religion. questions, which seems, according to some authorities, to· be a characteristic of the race, and which in the case of the; Bedouin is said to have led even Mohammed to despair of their conversion. In point of fact, Islam from the very first seems to have taken far less hold upon the Arabs than might be supposed. Immediately after the death of its founder a general revolt from his teachings took place, and for centuries the popular religion seems to have been little more than semi-paganism. Wahabeeism, which was an attempt to reinstate the religion of the prophet by his favorite weapon, the sword, has failed egregiously, and is now in the last stage of decay. The Arabs remain Mohammedans simply because they know of nothing better j fanatical in some parts, doubtful and bewildered in others, not because they have rejected the Gospel, but because they have never heard it. The Bedouin, constituting perhaps a fourth or fifth of the population, are for the most part Mohammedan only in name, observing the prescribed forms in the neighborhood of towns, but speedily casting them aside on regaining the desert. Yet there are men among them not without reverent thoughts of the Creator, derived from the contemplation of His works, thoughts which, according to Palmer, take sometimes the form of solemn but simple prayer. A missionary who some years ago spent more than two months with one of these tribes, living with the Sheikh, and accompanying them in their wanderings from pasturage to pasturage, found them willing though not particularly interested listeners, and singularly amenable to the Word of God as the one authority in matters of faith. The Sheikh, seeing that the missionary disliked travelling on the Sunday, inquired the reason, and willingly accepted the word of the Book as de. cisive upon the point, and indeed upon every other point, and from that time the tribe never marched upon the Sabbath. How sad it seems that 10 few of the race have as yet come under the sound of the Gospel !
In the cities and toWJll there is, of course, a more rigorous observance
CIIlUSTIAN MISSIONS IN ABABIA
of the outward forms of Mohammedanism, but there is also among the upper and middle classes, especially on the eastern coast, widespread doubt. A missionary writes: "There are very plain indications of an undercurrent of scepticism and free thought. Indeed, to anyone who knows the Mohammedans intimately, it is scarcely an undercurrent at all. I know men in the most learned Mohammedan society of B– who, judged by their dress and outward appearance, would be taken for bulwarks of the Mohammedan religion, and who yet have no more belief in it than Professor Huxley has in Christianity. One of these men astonished me by his expressions of downright loathing of the religion of which he is a professed teacher."
It would be foreign to the special object of this paper, and altogether beyond its scope, to give any detailed description of the doctrines and practices of Islam. It may suffice to say with regard to them all, that holiness of heart has absolutely no place in the religion of Mohammed, and that just as polygamy, unlimited concubinage, and divorce, being regarded as of Divine sanction, are not in the least degree revolting to the moral sense of its votaries, so there is no connection, either in fact or in popular estimation, between the most rigorous observance of the outward forms, which are of its very essence, and a holy life.
Arabs are not in the least deceived by what they know to be merely outward and ritual, and wholly without effect upon the heart j they draw, in fact, an unfavorable inference from much outward show of religion. In North Africa they have a saying, " Shun a man who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca once; live not in the same street with one who has performed it twice ; and reside not in the same country with one who has visited the Kaaba thrice. " I once myself formed one of a circle of some twenty gnests in the house of an Arab gentleman, who (excepting myself), when the evening adtham, or call to prayer, sounded forth from the mosque, joined the host in the most solemn and impressive recitation of the prayers, with the prescribed genuflexions and prostrations, but of whom he afterward privately declared that everyone was a thief, handing me at the same time the key of a room where he had had my baggage locked up, and warning me to be on my guard. The true Christian idea of prayer appears to be wholly wanting, though in times of great distress short ejaculatory prayer will be put up. The intercession of saints is much resorted to; prayer is offered at their tombs. At times the poor people, failing to receive an answer to such prayers, resort in their despair to necromancy.
In Arabia the women" pray." "At home," says Mr. S. M. Zwemer, "a larger proportion observe the times of prayer than do the men." (This is not the case in North Africa.) In the towns girls seldom, and boys never, "pray," until they are over twelve years of age. Women. are seldom or never allowed to attend the public prayers in the mosque.
Few of the Arabs can read, perhaps not above 10 per cent ot the dwellers in towns, and only some of these nnderstand what they read of the Koran. The Bedouin are wholly illiterate. Slaves are imported via Jeddah and the Persian Gulf, they are sold in Busrah privately, and doubtless in other towns, being brought from Mecca as merchandise by the returning pilgrims. Polygamy is· practically universal among the well-to-do classes, and divorce, almost unlimited, with its attendant horrors of cruelty and. suffering, takes its place among the poorer. Thus, with polygamy, slavery, and divorce (all sanctioned by their religion) the state of Arab society may be imagined. Happily space does not permit me to enlarge upon this terrible subject.
So, with fasts and prayers and pilgrimages, hoping in his good works, the mercy of God, and the intercession of the Prophet (such intercession being wholly unauthorized by the Koran), the poor Arab wends his way down through life, is laid to rest at last with his face toward Mecca, and passes into eternity with a lie in his right hand. One thing he never knew, that gracious message that was intended to be familiar as a household word to every member of the human race, that God loved him as God only can love, that Christ died for him, and that a free pardon and full salvation awaited his acceptance. He knew it not because he was never told, and he was never told because for ages the Church lost the blessed truth, and since it recovered it has neglected the one great duty, to proclaim it to every creature. Thank God those times of ignorance are nearly over. Through the tender mercy of our God the day-spring from on high has visited Arabia. And may we not hope that the churches which have taken the lead in this gr~at movement will spare no effort, neither men, nor life, nor money, to carry it on to the destined consummation.
Thus far we have traced the rise and progress up to the present time of the Arabian missions. A few brief remarks as to the future may not inappropriately conclude this paper.
1. It will be seen from what has been said that all the western and southern sides of Arabia are still without a missionary. The Free Church of Scotland Mission at Aden is doing an important work, and there is a wide field for extension before it. Not, however, being acquainted with its plans for the future, I do not venture to say anything on the subject here. Jeddah, however, the port of Mecca, might afford a base where, in spite of the intense jealousy and watchfulness of the Turk, a work might be begun. Asir and Yemen may not be accessible just at this moment, but they soon will be so.
2. As to the rest of Arabia, including the eastern, central, and southern provinces, in fact quite one half of the peninsula, I am indebted to the Rev. S. M. Zwemer for the following sketch, the result of four years' study of the subject on the spot, of a missionary scheme, such as the Church which sent him and his fellow-laborers out can hardly stop short of. I give this sketch only in very abbreviated form. Such a scheme would
—-~—— – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – —
ARCH OF CTESIPHOX NEAR BAGDAD.
ARAB PILGRIMS BOUND FOR lHECC_~.
OllRlSTLUT lUBSIONB IN ARABIA
include thre~ provinces, HasS3, Oman, and Nejd, with Busr.1h on the north, and a part at least of Hadramaut on the south. There would be twelve centres-viz., the seven coast towns already occupied, or visited, by the American Mission, four inland towns, Hail, Boreyda, HOfhoof, and Riad in Najd, and two or three inland towns of Oman, and Hadramaut (MakalIah is included in the coast centres). These would require twentyfour missionaries and twelve native helpers. The cost would be, in round numbers, $30,000 a year-viz., *25,000 in addition to the present outlay on the missionarie!!l and native helpers, new in the field. "With this demand supplied, all of Eastern, Central, and Southern Arabia would in ten years be p&rmeated with the Gospel message, by word and printed page. Leaving all other results with God, is that too much to pay for such a privilege! Can the Dutch Reformed Church do it ? Will she do it 1" To such an appeal there can be but one reply. That Church when it took up the mission originally commenced on an independent basis as the Arabian Mission, did so with full knowledge of the plans and purposes of its founders, which, as the very title of the mission shows, embraced nothing less thaD. !!Iuch a comprehensive scheme of evangelization as that above described. Surely then that church will feel it to be both a duty and a privilege to carry that scheme through to the end.
is As to the qualifications needed for the work, here a description by one of the missionaries now in the field: " 1. A strong and sound constitution. " 2. Ability to acquire the language. This is the one aud only quaIl- fication needfRl, mentally. Scholarship is good, but not at all necessary. Deep and abstruse arguers will not be wanted in Arabia for fifty years to come.
" 3. As to character-humility, patience, love-these three. A man with a hot temper could never stand three seasons in the Gulf. But after you have got these for foundation, pile 'on all the fire and zeal and enthusiasm you can get.
" Lastly, men foll of the Holy Ghost, sine qua non. " Christians of America, hearken to your brethren's call from the Gulf, come and take your stand by their side. The future of Arabia is largely in your hands. It will be very much what you make it. "Who among you is willing to consecrate this day his, service to the Lord ~ The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up."
SPECIMEN OF A MOHAMMEDAN PRAYER.-·O God, bestow blessing upon our lord Mohammed the beloved, and upon his father Abraham the friend, and upon his brother Moses the word, and upon the faithful Jesus the Spirit of God, and upon David and Solomon and Zechariah and John the Baptist and their people, as long as the thoughtful ones remember thee, and the thoughtless ones neglect to think of them.
THE JEWS IN PERSIA
THE JEWS IN PERSIA.-I.
BY REV. S. G. WILSON, TABRIZ, PERSIA.
The Jews in Persia can themselves Beni-Israel, which accords with the Bible account of the captivity of the Israelites in "the c:ties of the Medes," " by the river Gozan," which may be the Guzul-Uzun, the longest river of Media. Shahpoor II. transported Jews from Armenia to Persia.
The Jews now found in the limits of ancient Media are in the western part, having been driven there by Tamerlane. Starting at the northwest. ern border, we find them in Salmas, Oroomiah, Suldooz, Sonjbulak, Miandnab, Sakkus, Senna, Kermanshah, Ramadan, and other places. In Azerbijan there are twelve hundred and thirty houses of Jews. They are found also in Teheran, Kashan, Khorasan, and Ispahan.
These remnants have survived the persecutions of centuries. Tabriz has none except a few strangers. The cause is that old slander which is constantly renewed even in the present day and in Europe. It was reported by some renegade Jews that the Jews had killed a missing Mohammedan child and drunk his blood. The late Kala-Begi narrated how the police snatched a Jew, thns accused, from the hands of an infuriated mob, which followed him mto the courtyard yellmg for hIS blood. The Kala-Begi bastinadoed him to appease the mob, and afterward told the English consul, who remonstrated with him for beating an innocent man, that it was the only way to save him ahve from the mob. At that time the Jews fled from Tabriz.
A somewhat similar affair occurred in Oroomiah in Dr. Perkins's time. A Mohammedan infant was found dead before a Jew's door. The latter was accused of murder and arrested. The Mohammedans collected in an angry mob, and for several days surrounded the governor's palace, demanding that all the Jews should be put to death. To appease the mob, the Jew was delivered to them, beheaded, and burned.
In Meshed, the ancient Tus, the Jews have resided for centuries. It was one of their rabbis who made the first Persian version of any part of the Bible in the eighth or tenth century. They continued there near the sacred shrine of the Emaum Reza, until several decades ago a report was spread that the Jews had killed a dog in ridicule of the ceremonies of the Festival of Sacrifice. A mob rose, killed a Jew, tore down some of their dwellings, and finally gave the Jews the alternative of Islam or the sword. In fear of death they accepted an outward profession of Islam.
At Balfurush, in Mezanderan, in 1866, a massacre of Jews occurred. * The cause was, perhaps, a lack of rain. For this an efficacious remedy was supposed to be the disinterment and scattering broadcast of the dust * See Mormsey's "Through the Caucasus and Persia."
TJ[]I JBWI IN PBlUIIJ.•
of a Jew. For some unknown cause the Mussulmans rose one night, set fire to the Jewish quarter, and killed eighteen men and six women. Two of the men were besmeared with petroleum and burnt alive. The rest, to the number of four hundred and fifty, escaped to the woods. The British Minister made representations for redress. The Shah gave orders for the punishment of the culprits, and indemnifying the Jews j but the mollahs rose in their wrath that anyone should be punished for injuring a dog of a Jew. Popular fanaticism rose high in Teheran. An attack on the British Legation and on foreigners in general was even contemplated. The Shah was alarmed by the agitation, and to appease the mollahs dis· missed some French army officers from his service. Finally the Jews were partially indemnified for their losses.
In November, 1892, I was in Hamadan during a reign of terror for the Jews. 'Wishing to find a cause for the cholera, the Mohammedans turned their wrath upon the Jews, an ambitious mollah instigating the attack. Several Jews were seized and beaten. The mollah commanded that the Jews should wear a distinctive cloak, should have a badge of red on their coats, should not come out on rainy days, should dismount until a passing Mussulman went by j that Jewish women should wear black veils, and houses of Jews not be higher than those of their Mussulman neighbors. Some of the Jews took refuge with nobles, others fled to the telegraph office and appealed to the Shah and the English Legation. A crowd of Mussulmans shouting, "Ya Ali ! Ya Ali !" surrounded the refugees and threatened them, so that a dozen were frightened into accepting Islam. The Jews in Bagdad hearing of the disturbances, appealed to their friends in England. Lord Rosebery made inquiries concerning the affair. The Shah sent word that the mollah should come to Teheran. A month of confusion followed. Once the police seized the mollah. A frenl'ied crowd attacked the governor, looted his house, and killed a servant. It then turned toward the Jewish quarter, crying, "Kill the Jews!" The gate of their quarter was closed and the Jews escaped.
One young Jewish convert, who is a pupil in the school, was surrounded by some Mussulmans and pressed to become a Mussulman. He stood his ground as a Christian, and afterward gave before the governor the reasons for his faith.
After a while the mollah was taken to Teheran, and the Jews were again in peace.
These incidents do not show the continual state of the Jews, but they well indicate the continual attitude of the people toward them. Continual watchfulness is necessary on the part of the government, as there is no moment when fanaticism may not direct its attacks against the Jews. The Shah always tries to protect them from such attacks and oppressions.
Thus situated, it is no wonder that the Jews have a downcast mien and abject manner. They live apart from all, and not only hate, but no doubt despise their oppressors. They largely maintain their laws of food. I
'740 THE JEWS IN" PERSIA
invited a Salmas Jew to send bis boy to our Tabriz boarding-school. He replied that God had commanded the Jews not to eat the l-read of other races. Some Jewish doctors were invited to the wedding of our teacher in Zenjan. Separate dishes of natural products, as honey and fruits and bread prepared by one of their own race, were set before them. They gave thanks to God both before and after the meal. It is only lately and with difliculty that they have at last yielded their prejudice in Teheran and Hamadan, and pupils have begun to eat with their companions of other races. The Jews of Persia always kill their own animals, -and cut the meat into bits in extracting the sinews and veins from it. They are particular about the condition of the meat. If they find the liver diseased, they will eat none of the animal. Armenians, who are not so particular, sometimes buy such a butchered cow for one dollar.
Christians in Persia somewhat reciprocate the feeling of the Jews toward them. I took lodging in Sonjbulak in a Jew's house, much to the astonishment of the Armenians. They did not want me to drink milk furnished by Jews, saying it was unclean. Our evangelist for the .Jews in Sonjbulak told me that his innate feeling of aversion to Jewish food was so great that when he first plucked up courage to eat it, it stuck in his throat.
The Jews are limited in their occupations. Very few, if any, are farmers. Many sell dry goods in the bazaar or peddle them in the villages. Some are goldsmiths and jewellers, and dealers in antiques, real and false. A considerable number are physicians, sometimes celebrated, and the Mussulmans who refuse their food will take their medicines. In Hamad,n there are about one hundred Jewish doctors, and many more druggists. Many of them are liquor-sellers, and are themselves much addicted to drink.
On other points of morality they differ little from the rest of the population. They are polygamists, as the Mohammedans, and with the same results. They are very strict in keeping their Sabbath. They will not light a fire on that day, but will hire a Mussulman to do it for them. Some say that Sabbath-breaking is the sin for which they are suffering. They look for a national return to their own land, when they shall rule over the nations. Their schools are taught by their rabbis. Most of the men can read Hebrew, though they do not understand it perfectly. Their spoken language is an Aramaic akin to the Syriac. They speak also either Persian, Kurdish, or Turkish, according to the language spoken in the region in which they reside. They best understand the Persian Bible in the Hebrew character.
(To be C01IIJlud«l.)
HI88ION.A.BY JilFFOBT AND THE NESTOBIAN CHUBCH. '741
RELATION OF THE PROTESTANT MISSIONARY EFFORT TO THE NESTORIAN CHURCH.* BY REV. WILLIAM A. SHEDD, OROOMIAH, PERSIA.
It is generally known that the purpose of Protestant mIssIonaries among the Nestorians was at first to reform the old church, or rather to revIve spiritual life within that body. Various causes prevented the reali- zation of this effort in the manner and to the extent anticipated, and the missionaries have striven to establish an evangelical church, scriptural in constitution and spiritual in life. The change has been gradual, not sud- den, and the' relation of the old and the reformed Churchmen has never been that of bitter hostility, except in individual cases. The old Church is the mother Church, and the history and traditions of the past are rightly cherished by all. Within the last ten years a new force has come into the field, which is doing much to rear a wall of partition and to excommu- nicate and place reformed Christians under the ban. The old Church is persistently warned against the errors and schism of Protestant heresy by the members of the mission of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Just as far as possible, directly and indirectly, by precept and by example, in ser- mons, in teaching, through Nestorian ecclesiastics, the old Church is being , fortified against Protestant influences. This is simply a statement of fact based on daily increasing evidence.
'Vhat right Anglicans have to pose as the exponents of Nestorianism or Englishmen to represent the long descent of Assyrian Christianity is not easy to comprehend. They are unable to commune in the Nestorian Church, for she is, from the High Church point of view, the most venerable schismatic in Christendom, and yet forsooth t.hey offer themselves as her stanch defenders. Our right to preach the Gospel of repentance and life to those who call themselves Syrian Christians and our duty to do so are based on the great command, not only to baptize, but also to teach men to do.
I shall attempt briefly to discuss the question before us, viewing suc- cessively the old Church itself, the Reformed Church, and the Protestant missionaries from abroad.
1. The Old Ohurch. The theology of this ancient Church of the East iii, of course, Nicene, with the addition of the Nestorian definition of the relation between the human and Divine natures in the incarnate Son of God. Definite and logical development has not gone much farther, due partly to the character of the Syriac mind, impulsive in initiative and often vigorous in execution, but not constructive of either theological or ecclesiastical system. Another reason, perhaps the principal one, is that the vital conJiict of this church • A paper read at the Conference filf Mi~~ionarie8 to Persia, Hamadan, September, 1894. •
UroB'l' UD THE NESTOBUN CIIUlWR
has not been with heresy or variations of Christian doctrine, but with heathenism and Islam. On most theological questions, except the person of Christ, the Trinity, and the authority of apostolic and Old Testament Scriptures, a diversity of opinion is found in their literature. For example, transubstantiation is both affirmed and denied. There is, however, a practical tendency to replace simple faith in the crucified and risen Saviour with some sort of sacerdotal mediatorship. Still stronger is the tendency to trust to legal works instead of living faith. The fast is the greatest Christian institution, votal offerings and pilgrimages to shrines are most important auxiliaries. The priesthood of the clergy in succession to the Levitical priesthood is recognized, but the name commonly used to designate the clergy is not priest, but elder (qasha or qa8hi8ha), the New Testament presbyter. The sacrament holds a high place in popular regard, aod yet the fact that there is no confessional deprives the priest of inquisitorial power. Vows to famous saints are trusted means of curing disease and procuring blessings. Religion is largely divorced from morals, and has little power of moral restraint. The clergy are no better than the common people in general morality. are more given to idleness, and possibly more generally demoralized by begging in Russia. The higher clergy (there being at present the patriarch, one metropolitan, and eight diocesan bishops) are, with a few exceptions, shamelessly venal, and in some instances of notoriously evil life. Two favorable points may be emphasized.
The authority of Scripture has never been impugned, and is a holy tradition of universal acceptance; nor is there any objection raised to the Scriptures in the vernacular. The old dispute of Cyril and Nestorius has been fought over again by every educated Nestorian for fourteen centuries; and the appeal is always to Scripture as against conciliar authority. The possession of a pure and ancient version is an additional advantage.
The true catholicity of the Nestorians is the second point-that is, if catholicity consists in the recognition of other Christians as members in the viilible body of Christ. How far this has been true in the past is a subject for historical research, but certainly Protestant missionaries have been recognized as true ministers administering valid ordinances. The only exceptions, if any, are within the past few years, when the invalidity of non-episcopal ordination has been preached by the archbishop'S mission.
The dangers threatening this old church are mainly two : disintegration and perversion•..
The terrible storm of persecution which broke out under the Mongol emperors at the close of the thirteenth century was followed by the deluge of blood and fire when Tamerlane swept over these lands. Troublous days followed, and when peace was in a degree restored under various Turkish and Persian dynasties, the two Syrian churches, Nestorian and Jacobite, were shattered wrecks. The story since is one of continual loss. Oppression and fighting have held the Christian population in check. There has been a constant but small secession to Islam. Rome has beell the
MISSIONARY EFFORT AND THE NESTORIAN CHURCH
great gainer. As early as the thirteenth century the Nestorian patriarch, Mar x:-abha11aha, acknowledged by letter the primacy of the Pope j in 1445 the Nestorians in Cyprus became Roman Catholics, and in the beginning of the stJventeenth century a large part of the Christians of Saint Thomas, in India, were won over. During the sixteenth century the disorganiza- tion of the Nestorian Church led to various rival patriarchs, who were not slow to recognize papal authority in the hope of securing their own. About 1580 the present line of patriarchs, from its beginning dynastic, gained the authority over the Nestorians in Persia and Kurdistan. If we may trust Roman historians, patriarchs of this line during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries have acknowledged the authority of the Pope and renounced Nestorianism. In the region of Mosul the proselyting to Rome has gone on so successfully that to-day nine out of ten of the Nestorian churches south of the Kurdish Mountains are in the hands of the Roman Catholics. This same work, begun in Persia over two hundred years ago, has not met the same success. The inaccessibility of Persia, and still more of Kurdistan, which have been ecclesiastically joined, is one reason, but not the chief one. French monks came to Oroomiah fifty years ago, but it was too late. They had now to meet not only Nestorians, but American Protestants, -the most watchful defenders against Rome. The struggle is not yet over, for Catholicism on the south is pressing to enter the mountain valleys of Kurdistan. Three years ago (1892) beyond question the Chaldean patriarch, subject to the Pope, had bargained for the submission of the Nestorian patriarch. The scheme was frustrated by an American missionary.
The condition of affairs in Turkish Kurdistan and Armenia is a most terrible disintegrating influence. Recent events have illustrated the misrule and anarchy more vividly than words, and leave little occasion for remark. Suffice it to say that extinction and ruin threaten most imminently.
A thir~ such influence emanates from Russia. The Greek Church has shown little concern for the Nestorian Church, but for half a century Russia has been open to Nestorian laborers and beggars from Persia. The former have supported their people very largely, the latter have demoralized them. Many thousands of roubles have been gathered from the superstitious Christians of Russia by beggars, working on their pious credulity in the name of shrines and churches with the aid of pretended relics. Long absence from home, often years at a time, and vicious habits contracted in a wandering life, have been the cause of an alarming increase of transgressions of the seventh commandment. The ill-gotten wealth, spent in extravagance and gluttony, has impoverished rather than enriched. The shameless blasphemy and sacrilege of these adventurers have gone far to destroy the simple faith of the people. Canting hypocrites in Russia at home are cynical scoffers. A chief source of revenue to the bishops in Oroomiah is the ordination of priests and deacons, that they. may beg more successfully, The old church alone cannot withstand this evil influence. In the conllict with Rome the higher ecclesiastics have again and again proved traitors j and the ignorant and superstitious people have been tho conserva- tive force. The archbishop's mission will do something to preserve the fabric of the Church, and most effectively in so far as it is a purifying power. Theirs is a helping hand held out to this tottering, falling sister church, and may God guide their efforts. They are ne~essarily and 'in loyalty to their principles under manifest limitations.
1. Moral reform is subordinated to ecclesiastical reform. 1£ the Church's life is its legitimacy, like a decrepit dynasty, thiil is right j but if the Church's charter is its life, it is wrong. The Anglican mission must either reform the bishops or effect moral reform under immoral bishops. A distinction is made between spiritual authority and spiritual character which is destructive of righteousness.
2. Emphasis is placed on conservatism. The life, the faithful endurance, the bold testimony, the zealous evangelizing, these are the glory of the old Nestorian nation-and these are lost. The old rituals are doubtless full of spiritual truth, but.the archbishop's mission prefer, in their zeal for the old forms, to hide the truth in an unknowll. tongue rather than print them in the vernacular.
3. The doctrinal reform cannot be more evanielical than the mission. This is a truism, but implies much. Loyalty to their conception of Christianity will compel a doctrinal reform. Nestorianism must be obliterated, and St. Cyril substituted for St. Nestorius. That old controversy is dead, and the name signifies little. More than this, the doctrinal reform means impressing on the old Church in fixed form the doctrines of sacramenta· rianism and sacerdotalism. Much can doubtless be found in Nestorian practice and teaching to support these errors, but they have been tindencies rather than dogmas. To impress this old Church with nineteenthcentury High Church Anglicanism is a perversion of her doctrines, a narrowing of her historic catholicity, and leads her to the schism of cutting herself off from other members of Christ's body. When a bishop of the old Church, a man of pure character, at his own request communed with Protestants, he was said by an Anglican priest to have taken part in " a blasphemous mockery." The past few years have been marked in Oroomiah by a revival of masses for the dead, a practice of late years fallen into discredit.
From such a source can we hope for reform, or must we expect the entrenchment of error'
II. The Reformed Ohurch. The first duty of the Reformed Church is to exemplify the Gospel of Christ. A strong, pure, loving Church of Christ will do morEl to hring about a reform in the old Church than any other rower. Let us emphasize the adjectives, strong in loyalty to truth and in its proclamation j pure in that life which is the characteristic of tho kingdom of heaven j loving in her conduct to aU, especially those who love the Master. The first duty is example.
The second duty is clear and unwavering protest. This, I take it, must be threefold and not entirely against the mother Church.
There is, first, the protest for morals, against the unrebuked evil in the old Church, against the bloody hands that receive the broken bread, the lips filled with revilings and foulness that are raised to His cup, the avarice that sells for gain the offices of God's Church, the unspeakable hypocrisy that uses holy things to coyer schemes of lying beggary.
There is the protest against false doctrine, against sacerdotalism and sacramentarianism binding God's free grace to men and rites, against Rome with her great high-priest on earth. This protest is not against the old Church as much as her self-appointed guardians.
There is,finally, the protest against formalism. Some years ago a Christian, to escape punishment for a kinsman's crime, became a Moslem. Authority was obtained for him to return to his own faith. "How can I~" he exclaimed, "I have eaten the great fast." Fasting is to multitudes the chief evidence and exercise of Christianity. It must also be a protest against unintelligible worship and ignorant ministers.
The Reformed Church must be a Protestant church. A third duty is that of nationalloyaIty. The true inheritor of the missionary spirit that inspired the fathers of this people is the Evangelical Church. Her sons have been the pioneers of missionary labor in this age, and from her sons in large measure must be expected the evangelization of Persia.' She is also the inheritor of the love and loyalty to God's Word shown by the Fathers. The best loyalty is devotion to the highest national ideal, and the past of this people is full of glorious aspirations. Herein lies a danger. Experience is showing us that breaking from old ties is too often the loosening of all ties, that the past is despised and not honored. There needs also to be a loyalty to the present duties and needs, a recognition of national unity and common sympathy. None have been more ready than our Protestant brethren to bear common burdens and to honor those who are in positions of honor. The patriarchal house in its civil functions has been frankly acknowledged and cheerfully honored by the Protestant Churchmen. III. The Missionaries from Abroad. The fundamental principle is that missionari8S are sent· to the whole people, not to the Evangelical Church alone j indeed, to all the peoples. While Christian equality seems best exemplified by our becoming members and ministers of the Evangelical Church, we must keep ourselves free from partisan animus. Neither our personal activities nor the missionary ;nstitutions must be confined to a section of the people. Our medical work is without any race or religious limitations whatever. Our educational work benefits many hundreds outside the Evangelical Church. Our literature is
DIVEBSITY OF OPJDU.TIONS IN TO MISSION FIELDS
by no means confined in its inll.uence to the Protestants. All this must be maintained, and if possible increased.
We need a fuller knowledge of the old Church and a deeper sympathy with its peculiar trials and dangers. Superstitions, old customs, and traditions are elements in the life of the people which we need to understand. Furthermorfl, we are losing in some measure an inll.uence of the highest importance in not making more use of the past as an incentive to present achievement. Martyrology, in spite ofits extravagances, has been a power in the Church everywhere. Such a martyr history as that of Mar Shimon bar Saha'ee, killed by the Sassanian king Shapor, is too precious to be forgotten. Scholarship is fostered· by the memories of former scholars, and this nation has many honorable names. We have no more right to doubt God's providence in the past than in the present, and the history of one's own nation is a book of God to him.
It may seem to be a strange Providence that has brought us children of the New World, even by our Old WorId ancestry only a few centuries removed from barbarism, to be the guides of this old apostol!c Church and ancient people. May God give us the wisdom to lead them aright, and to be warned and encouraged by the lessons of the past. May we and our generation be worthy of those who once before gave the Gospel to these lands, often sealing their testimony with their blood. Every one of the missionary stations in Persia was a bishop'S seat in the old Church of the East, Ispahan, Ramadan, Rhages (Teheran), Tabriz, Salmas, and Oroomiah j while Bagdad and Mosul were successively patriarchal cities. May the time soon come when everyone of the many other places where the banner of Christ was once raised may be made strongholds of truth and righteousness.
DIVERSITY OF OPERATIONS IN THE MISSION FIELD.
BY REV. D. L. LEONARD.
if mISSIonary zeal is to be according to knowledge, and so prove worthy and lasting, it must have length and breadth as well as depth, and facts are the fuel upon which this celestial flame must be fed. Let one, informed only concerning the doings of his own denomination, enlarge his field of vision sufficiently to include the entire evangelizing activities of Christendom, and an astonishing revelation will ensue. His little island is at once transformed into a continent, a universe crowded with strange phenomena. Row exceedingly complex the nndertaking, which before seemed so simple! What a heterogeneous mass of conditions to be taken in hand! All this we might well expect when we recall that multitudinous sects are engaged iu telling the glad tidings, and each with its marked idiosyncrasies of opinion, conviction, and ruling tastes i and remember also that heathen humanity is represented by peoples intellec-
DIVERiITY OJ' OnKATIOHI DIi TIlE KIIIilOH J'DU.DI. '14'1
tuallyas far apart as Eskimo, Hottentots, Pariahs, Brahmans, and lapsnese. A glance at this much-embracing realm may help to understand how mnch more is required for the world's redemption than the mere sending of a host of fervid souls to go up and down through pagan lands, by word of mouth declaring to the perishing millions the way of life opened by the sacrifice of the Son of God.
First, all to the matter of organization for the carrying on of missionary operations. It was Carey's idea that the task of proclaimwg Christ to the nations should be taken in hand, not by monarchs, or by ecclesiastical bodies as such, but rather by societies formed for this expreas purpose, and controlled by those who longed for the universal coming of the kingdom. The Moravians are unique at this point, since they make the furtherance of missions the reason for their existence as a church. Some denominations appoint mission boards and control their action. Curiously, the great English Establishment bears no direct part in Christianizing the nations, but all planning and performing are left to Churchmen who co-operate with the Church Missionary Society, the Propagation Society, the Universities' Mission, etc. In certain cases a close corporation hali entire control, while in others a single individual is supreme. And when it comes to details of management, the fashions are almost as numerous as the sects. For example, almost a treatise would be required to set forth the relations existing between the various woman's societies and the " parent" organizations.
It sometimes happens that a single fundamental principle will characterize an entire mission, like self-support. Carey's scheme was that, as soon as possible after arriving at the field appointed, he and his companions must needs in some way secure their own living. This is also the conviction of Bishop Taylor among others. The common conception, however, is that the herald of the Gospel can be engaged in far better business than "pending his time and strength in earning his daily bread. There are" faith missions" also, of various kinds and degrees, shading off from Hudson Taylor's China Inland Mission, which constitutes one of the chief evangelizing forces at work in that vast field, through the East London Institute, Bishop Taylor's, the Missionary Alliance, to certain. Swedish and other bodies, of which nothing commendatory can as yet be wisely said. Of all these the idea is not to solicit funds, to seek no certain income, and to make no pledges of salary. " Faith-healing," too, seems to be a natural concomitant. Industrial missions constitute another class. For these tracts of land are required, shops and machinery, the teaching of trades, etc. Commerce and merchandising are in order to supply funds. In tropical countries, and among sarage tribes, it would seem to be necessary to teach industry and impart mechanical skill. It was largely in this way that William Duncan, at Metlakahtla, has been able to work such wonders of transformation.
Unfortunately, even yet not everybody is able to see just how" mil-
DIVERSITY OJ/' OPERATIONS IN TB1!l MIlstON FIELDS
sionary money" can be expended for spelling-books and arithmetics without robbing God. The time is sho~t, the emergency is so great that we have no time to educate. Let us send forth great hosts of evangelists. Or if schools must needs be, who shall be admitted ~ Heathen children, or only those whose parents are Christian? And how much" secular" knowledge shall be bestowed? In aU this there is wide diversity in opinion and practice. Some societies have ·no place for the school-teacher, and others again lay spch emphasis upon education as almost to cast into the background matters lying much nearer to the realm of the heart and conscience. Happy indeed are they who keep the spiritual and the intellectual each in its place, and in proper balance j but alas for him whose soul does n.ot kindle as he ponders upon the sublime achievements wrought for the Gospel by such institutions as Lovedale, Robert College, and the Doshisha !
Then there are medical missions, or rather medical missionaries are in ever-increasing demand. But what I Shall we turn away from ministering to diseased souls, and stoop to caring for the bodily aches and pains of humanity? Even yet in societies not a few the physician is conspicuous by his absence. Others commission him, though without enthusiasm, and because such is the fashion, or because other missionaries may need his services j while yet others set great store by hospitals and dispensaries. Surely at this point it should be enough to justify and even to compel, that the Saviour of the world was the Great Physician as well as the Great Preacher. But, besides, the fact is thoroughly established that there is no more effectual method of reaching the indifferent and prejudiced soul than by relieving suffering and healing disease. Salvation is also meant to restore to wholeness the entire man.
At least until recently there has been diversity of opinion as to the length and breadth of woman's sphere as a missionary. By the fathers she was regarded mainly, if not wholly, as an adjunct, a helpmeet to the man. The Germans believe most heartily in missionaries' wives, but have slight occupation for unmarried women. Most American and British societies regard it an advantage for men to be married, though also according to women without husbands a large and honorable place. The Universities' Mission to East Africa, however, tolerates only the celibate of either sex. But probably, on the whole, at no point has missionary development been more marked during this generation than just here; and whether we regard the thoroughness and vigor of organization, the amount of interest excited and of money gathered, and the increase of laborers in the foreign field.
Neither is there any agreement as to what constitutes fitness for evangelizing work in foreign lands, what grade of intellect, what degree of education shall be required. Probably the standard is highest in the United States, though even here there is wide diversity of judgmel:t and practise. With some the noblest specimeils of cultured manhO<.)i and womanhood are eagerly sought, while for preachers a college and seminary course is required. With others much less care is taken in selecting, and almost anybody with a proper spiritual experience will pass muster. European societies commission a far larger proportion of persons possessed of only average natural abilities and education. Self·supporting missions and industrial missions readily make room for those whose skill is in the hand rather than in the brain. Besides, the world is wide, the unevangelized range all the way from savagery which approaches the bestial, to lofty attainments in intelligence and refinement. And hence, though in a sense there is room somewhere for every humblest disciple who longs to help hasten the day when the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God, it still remains that in every field learning and the qualities of generalship and statesmanship are imperatively demanded.
This further question is yet under debate. To what countries is the missionary called to go, or who are the proper subjects' for his pray~r and toil 1 Clearly, to all lands where Christ is not known, and to all classes both high and low. And the queer Moravians actually prefer tribes that are most degraded and wretched. As clearly, also, to Mohammedans and Jews. Yes, and most would add, Roman Catholics and all other corrupt churches; and hence Austria, Italy, the Spanish-American States are visited, arid a pure Gospel is taken to Copts, Armenians, and the like. Here probably most would draw the line, though several societies go further and sustain missions in Lutheran Germany, Scandinavia, etc. At the extreme in this direction are certain rilects whose" missionary" zeal is wholly expended upon Great Britain and the United States, and in proselyting to the utmost from their brethren of every name. Since some 800,000,000 of the human family are perishing in the darkness of utter paganism, this proceeding would seem to be a case of missions gone stark mad.
One of the burning questions in the foreign field, as well as at home, relates to what constitutes fitness for baptism. The conclusions are various. The Baptists, of course, administer the ordinance only to adults who give evidence of conversion, while others would include such and their children. The continental societies make much of catechizing in the doctrines and church rites, and count those Christians who pass an examination, while the Methodists with their system of probation are ready to count as brethren any who desire to flee from the wrath to come. Some who are soundly orthodox believe that mass-baptism, baptism by the wholesale, is in order in certain cases, as when whole communities cast away their idols and put themselves under Christian instruction. Ah, what wisdom is required to decide just how far to go in meeting such poor souls whose faces are turned toward the light !
Can it be that not all missionary bodies require their representatives to preach and practise total abstinence from all that intoxicates! In this country those who come short at this point are few and far between.
'750 emTIOIfXI Olf 'I'D ORltI8TUN b»….VOlt CON'YDTIOlf
Aeroo the sea. also a large number are just 8S scrupulous; but yet, accord. ing to credible rumor, there are societies still retaining the conviction that alcohol is nece888ry for the stomach's sake, and so despatch regularly invoices thereof as a portion of the supplies required for the furtherance of the Lord's work.
It is worth while to take note how societies differ as to size and strength. While a few have attained to mammoth proportions, the many possess but a limited treasury, a little group of laborers, and a handful of converts. The English Church Society is the greatest, with an income of ,1,500,000, and an army of men and women scattered all the world over. The American Baptists can count 115,000 communicants, , and the London Society almost 95,000, with 125,000 pupils in the schools.
And, finally, no society is equally successful in every field. If here great successes are won, then over there certain fields stony and barren are likely to be discovered. The American Board can point to the Sand. wich Islands, the English Wesleyans to Fiji, and the London Society to Madagascar. The Baptists have beheld wonders among the Telugus and Kar.ns, but not among the Burmans, while over against the frnitful Northwest Conference of India the Methodists must set Bulgaria with its years of sowing much and reaping next to none. In every case, such are the wisdom and goodness of God, with succe!l8es enough to inspire, are mingled failures sufficient to keep the saints humble and prayerful.
Thus in missions as elsewhere it is "many men of many minds." The tremendous problem is perplexing because so complex, composed of such a heterogeneous mass of facts. Countless experiments must be tried, that proving all things the good may be held fast. No single denomination is in possession of the wisdom required to couquer the whole world for Jesus. And when any disciples in His name undertake to cast out the devils of paganism, we are not at liberty to " forbid them because they follow not us," our ideas, our convictions, our methods of work. Paul W&8 made all things to all men, that by all means he might save some.
CRITICISMS ON THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR CONVENTION.
BY UT. JAMES M. GltAY, BOSTON.
Now that the Christian Endeavor Convention is over, it is very notable how much is Mid in commendation of it and how little criticism of any kind is heard. Concerning the latter, however, the question is being raised in some quarters as to whether so great a gathering pays. It is estimated that the Boston convention cost, in round numbers, .1,000,000 ; might not this sum have been expended to better purpose in the Lord's cause' Fifty or sixty thousand enthusiastic young people collected together at one time and in one place, bent on Christian culture and ser·
18915.] CBITICI8H8 Ol'f TBIl CBlUITUN ENDEATOR CONVENTION. '751
vice, is an impressive and valuable demonstration before the world, and there can be no question also but that it has its effect upon the young people themselves, and through them upon the work of the churches they represent. But did the average individual delegate obtain as much, either of instruction or inspiration, as he would bad he been able to hear better, or to get nearer the heart of things, or had his attention and interests been less divided by other powerful attractions incident to such an occasion? This is not a question for Christian Endeavorers only to consider, but appertains also, for example, to the Baptist Young People's Union, whose convention, more recently concluded in Baltimore, is open to something of the same criticism. Could these great conventions be divided into three or four parts, and held in as many different locations, and could their officers and principal speakers be conveyed from one place to another after the manner of the bishops who preside over the Methodist conferences, might not the expense be very much less and the benefit proportionally more?
Speaking of the great size of these conventions, another inquiry is being heard as to whether it has not a tendency to beget a trust in numbers, or rather a trust in men, instead of the power and grace of God. And if this be put aside, then there is the other thought, that so large a concourse makes great demands upon the commercial world for financial help and upon the political world for civic recognition, which give to the convention or the movement a semi-secular tone, if they do not necessitate a spirit of compromise on certain critical questions of public moment.
Moreover, the success of such mighty gatherings means the perfection of organization and machinery of a certain kind; and while every one admits the value and importance of both, yet there are true friends of the movement who deprecate the utterance of one of its representatives that "Christian Endeavor stands for organization." This cannot be true. Christian Endeavor should stand, and we believe it does stand, before everything else for spiritual life. But organization is not life. To quote the suggestive words of one of the critics we have in mind: "The organization, rules, and practices of the Christian Endeavor may have been the expression of an ardent and devoted life j but the mere adoption of these expressions wm never produce that life, and the too rigid adherence to them or the too great dependence upon them may be a hindrance rather than a help to the desired end." While this criticism bears rather upon the society itself than its convention, yet the latter is what it is only because of the nature of the society.
The convention which has just closed gave a powerful impulse to the subject of good citizenship as one of the principles of the Endeavor movement. Indeed, before the convention met, at the preliminary meetings of the great chorus, the speeches that were heard bore chiefly upon that topic, the addresses of welcome climaxed upon it, some of the Ressions of the convention were charged to the very full with the electricity of patriotism, and tho pilgrimages that followed it to points of historic interest gave a culmination to " Boston '95" that must make it memorable as the great " civic" convention. Every true Christian citizen must rejoice over this. Moreover, it seems the most likely thing imaginable that a real revival of religion such as Christian Endeavor is should result in purer primaries, in better legislators and legislation, and in the more thorough execution of righteous laws. But it is just here again that a danger signal is raised. Can young Christians have their attention turned and their energies en- gaged with such persistency and power toward the betterment of their earthly citizenship without in some degree detracting from their apprecia- tion of that which is from above 1 In other words, if more attention be paid to the cultivation and development of their own inner IIpiritual life, will not that be the better way of promoting good citizenship in both direc- tions 1 There is in this city an institution known as the Sunday Patriotic Meetings. It dates back to the time, in 1888, when there was a great uprising of the communi/;y against an attempt on the part of the papal hierarchy to dictate the policy of our public schools. These meetings were then begun on Sunday afternoons in one of the largest places of assembly, for the purpose of educating the people in the history and plans of the Church of Rome as a political machine. They have been continued ever since with immense audiences, and at times manifesting the most intense enthusiasm. But many who were interested in them at the first have come to see that they have taken the place of religion to a large ,proportion of their regular attendants; they are the only church they attend, the only worship they engage in, and practically the sum and substance of the gos- pel which they know. To be an intelligent and consistent opponent of the papacy is to have a clear title to a mansion in the skies. Those who have passed through a temperance revival have met with the same phase of ex- perience, and have found scores of otherwise very intelligent people who • believed that total abstinence was not only the chief good in the present time, but that merit which had the all-inclusive claim on the time to come. It is suspected and feared in some quarters that the enthusiasm for good citizenship in Christian Endeavor may work: somewhat in a similar direc- tion unlellS most carefully watched and guarded. Of course it is not alISumed that it is not carefully watched and guarded. The criticisms which the writer has heard and read, in other words, are not those of ene- ' mies of Christian Endeavor seeking in some way to weaken its hold upon the young people of our churches, but sincere and sympathetic friends, in some sense leaders in the movement, who speak of these things chiefly in the hope of awakening each individual society to exercise special care and supplicate special grace on account of them.
In my own judgment, God Himself, who has originated this movement and is directing it, has in this last convention provided a safety-valve of escape from many of these anticipated dangers. I find this in the engage- ment of Endeavorers in evangelistic effortS. The different conventions have seemed in their particular features to mark a progress or development in the principles and work of the movement as well as in its numbers. At first consecration and loyalty to Christ and the Church were insisted on, then special attention was called to the duty of foreign missions, then came good citizenship, which we have seen culminating in this convention in a mighty patriotic impulse ; but side by side with the consideration of this last subject in the present gathering, there has been an aggressive movement for souls which marks an advance upon the work of any convention hitherto. Not only were the noon meetings at Faneui! Hall and Bromfield Stre~t Church filled to overflowing with audiences who came to hear the great evangelists, but the young men and women of the convention themselves went everywhere preaching the Word. They visited the wharves and lumber-yards, the stores and engine-houses, the factories and lanndries, bringing the glad tidings to thousands of needy souls at the same time that they were training themselves and stimulating their appetites for more of such work in their own respective localities. Dr. Duff once said that the e~angelistic Church would be the evangelical Church. He might have added also that it would be the holy Church. Practical work for souls not' only makes for sound doctrine, but consistent living. Let the Endeavor conventions henceforth seek more and more for the evangelization of the cities in which they meet, and the reflex benefit upon every society represented will be the best that their truest friends can desire.
There was just one feature of this convention that the writer of these lines would deprecate, and that was the tendency to speak jocularly of older people, and to intimate that if it had not been for this uprising of the young people all our churches would have been dead and buried. There is such a"thing as pressing a truth like that too far. When the once noted theologian and revivalist, Dr. Lyman Beecher, was too aged to engage longer in regular employment, he removed to Brooklyn and attended the ministry of his more famous son, Henry Ward. One Sabbath morning, as the congregation was retiring, he heard them praising the sermon and the preacher in, the most exalted terms, and turning round when he reached the vestibule he shook his finger at them, and with a merry twinkle in his eye exclaimed, "Ah, if it hadn't been for me you'd never had him 1" It is certainly not only bad taste but bad judgment, as well as bad religion, for Christian Endeavor to make too many comparisons to its own advantage at the expense of the Church to which it is almost entirely indebted.
But critics may say what they please about the Boston convention, it was, nevertheless, a great demonstration. It was a great demonstration of the fact that yonng people are now coming to the front in religion, as they have long been coming to the front in other lines of thought and action. Such a convention makes it very much easier to present the subject of personal religion to a young man or woman of your acquaintance than if it had never occurred. It was a great demonstration of the life and power of the Gospel. These young people bore witness to something
THE LATEST BLOW TO THE AFRICAN SLAVE POWER
different from the Unitarian cultus of Boston. Theirs was an infallible Bible, a salvation of grace, a Divine Saviour. Theirs was a faith that awakened a lively and unselfish interest in the lost. Theirs was a faith that begat a life and walk of righteousness. A great army of youth entering a city within forty-eight hours of one another, and not a keg of beer or cask of wine added to any cellar, not an extra chair placed in any gambling-room, not an additional ticket sold at any low theatre, no brothel made richer by them, no low rough crowd following them, no uncouth manners or bad actions seen in them, no increase in the number of arrests on their account-a decrease rather of thirty-three per cent! Boston entertained the flower of the world for one week when it entertained the Endeavor convention. Evil was out of harmony with these young people, and yet they had a happy time. They sang continually in the houses, and on the streets, and in the cars, as well as in the hall and tents. Wherever they went the richest laughter fell. upon the ear. There was a peculiar urbanity about them, a winsomeness in their Christianity, as another expressed it, which has left a most delightful impression on the whole city. Yes, and this convention was a great demonstration of anotherfact, namely, the power of a Divine idea lodged by the Holy Ghost in the heart and brain of a consecrated Christian man.. This Christian Endeavor movement is of God. There can be no doubt of this when we consider its origin, its character, its development, and its results. No man, no hundred men can account for it. And yet God was pleased to use a man in bringing it into being. How this thought exalts our human personality! It is the truth that is to convert the world and conquer it for Jesus Christ, but truth incarnated, truth dwelling in men, borne witness to by men, lived out in the lives of men. As one thinks of what has been accomplished by this religious movement among the young people of our generation, and what its possibilities are, he may well ask, who would not be a man, sanctified and surrendered, for God to use ~ THE LATEST BLOW TO THE AFRICAN SLAVE POWER.
BY REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, DARWEN, LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND.
Another crushiug defeat has been delivered to the slave traders in Nyassaland. By the intrepidity of Acting Commissioner Sharpe, Kawinga, a notorious human hunter and terror to his peaceful neighbors, has been chivalrously resisted and defeated. So far back as 1859, when Livingstone explored the Nyassa regions, this same chief, then known as Kainka, belonging to the Yao race of slavers, was in the habit of harrying the Mauganja tribes, and of his ravages Livingstone wrote graphic and thrilling narratives. Kawinga has ever !lince been one of the most active slavers firmly intrenched on the southern and eastern shores of the lake. Part of the country of the Yaos lies in the northeastern corner of the British Cen- tral Africa protectorate and a greater portion within Portuguese territory, and over the entire district the slave trade has had a vigorous stronghold through unknown generations. Similarly Kawinga's own town, though covered by the British flag, has been a regular halting-place for slave cara- vans on their journeys from the slave fields of the interior to the Portu- guese settlements on the east coast. To rid himself of Kawinga and two or three minor chiefs holding effective positions, Commissioner Johnston, who has rendered valiant service against slave chiefs along the shores of Nyassa, was obliged to leave for India in order to recruit a few hundred Sikh soldiers for the accomplishment of his unavoidable militant object. Kawinga assumed that the commissioner's absence would afford a favorable opportunity for an assault on the protectorate. Happily this anticipation has been wholly frustrated.
The incessant energy of Commissioner Johnston in putting down slave operations around the lake, which has a length of 350 miles and a breadth averaging from 16 to 60 miles, roused Kawinga some time since to plan an attack on the Shire settlements to the south of his town. To effect this he determined last March to make war on Malemya (a chief under British protection), and, subsequently, to destroy the thriving Domasi mission station, for long years associated with the famous Blantyre missionary headquarters of the Church of Scotland. If success had attended Kawinga it meant an invasion of the whole of British Nyassa (looking southward) ; and, inasmuch as six chiefs rallied to his call and others were awaiting the results to share in the spoils, it is apparent that this perilous combination of slave raiding-chiefs would have swept away the promising civilizing colony from end to end. Unpleasant as it is to make use of the Angel of War as the forerunner of the Angel of Peace, the Acting Commissioner, Mr. Sharpe, bravely confronted his wily antagonist and proved a sufficient match. In the darkness of night Domasi, the branch of the Blantyre Mission lying to the southwest of Lake Shirwa, was assailed hy a tremendous force of native Yaos from different points, and, save for the gallantry of the Sikhs at hand and the traders acting under the directions of Messrs. Sharpe and Fletcher, Domasi and its surronndings would have been utterly lost. With considerable loss Kawinga was repulsed, and ultimately his pursuers, following up their advantage, took possession of his capital, the fugitive chief being obliged to find refuge across the Portuguese borders in the valley of the upper Lugenda River.
Had Domasi been captured by the Yaos, the Scotch missions and plantations on the Shire highlands, for the growth of which a quarter of a century of patient labor has been required, would have been levelled to the ground. If the defeat has not finally broken the back of the Yao slavers, it will enable the colonists to extend their activity northward unmolested and eventually abolish the old slave trade route around the south end of Nyassa. The passage of the slave traffic across the lake is impossible,
'156 THE LAW OF SPIRITUAL.HEREDITY
states Archdeacon Maples, of the Universities' Mission, now that the last. of the slave dhows is destroyed. On the arrival of Commissioner Johnston's reinforcements from India there will be no further dread of victorious slavers overunning Nyassaland. At an early day it may be expected that the country stretching to the distant north between Nyassa and Tanganyika will be equally cleared of Arabs, whose staple commodity is hnman flesh, and whose forays are stained by organized murder. By that achievement the slave trade in East Central Africa will have received a deadly blow. For its extirpation it would almost seem, as an authority has observed, that" of the slave trade it may be said, without extravagance, that there is nothing in African human nature which leads us to suppose that this abomination will eventually yield to any argument save force."
Meanwhile, the outlook over Nyassaland presents an encouraging prospect. Missionary and civilizing agencies exhibit a forward movement. Strangers unarmed are growingly trusted by the natives and welcomed as defensive allies. As a thoroughly interesting race of people, skilful in a variety of native trades and willing to adopt Western ideas and handicrafts, the Nyassa tribes are universally described. Nor is it anyexaggeration to say that for their moral, material, and spiritual salvation magnificent efforts have been made by men and women, mostly of Scotch ancestry, whose record makes an epic volume in the history of modern mlSSlOns. The standard of the cross has been unfurled on the sonth, north, east, and west, at many points of the silvery beach of Nyassa (the Lake of the Stars) by the ensigns of faith whose sanctified vocation it has been, as Whittier sings, to "Right the wronged and raise the weak."
THE LAW OF SPIRITUAL HEREDITY.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
Rev. J. Murray Mitchell, LL.D., tells how he once climbed to a mountain peak in the Western Ghats, in India, in search of the source of one of India's noblest rivers, the Godavari; and how at last the exploring party reached a spot where a few drops were trickling from the rocks, so few that for two or three seconds the whole stream was held in the hollow of the hand, and it needed but to scoop out a small channel to divert the stream in a new direction. From this small beginning the insignificant rill could be traced, descending the slope and gradually broadening. It flowed eastward toward the Bay of Bengal, widening, deepening, gathering volume and momentum, until it was the secret of fertility to tens of thousands of acres of otherwise barren desert.
That river is a parable of human life. "The king's heart is in the hands of the Lord, and He turneth it whithersoever He will." Is not that proverb a reference to the point in the stream of life, near the heart, out of which flow life's issues, and where character and destiny wait for a determining hand ~ And does not God put the mother at that point of power where the heart of the child-and every child is one of God's born kings-is in her hand to be turned whithersoever she will ~ Thackeray says, ' , We sow a thought, and we reap an act; we sow an act, and we reap a habit; we sow a habit, and we reap character; we sow a character, and we reap des1iny." What an awful responsibility when you or I have the opportunity to give direction to the thought, the aim, the desire, the motive from which conduct, habit, character, destiny spring!
No lesson of missions is more sublimely and pathetically grand than that which is taught us in the proof afforded by the lives of missionary heroes and heroines, of the power of a spiritual ancestl·y, of a faith first dwelling in a mother and a grandmother, and by a law of spiritual heredity descending to the son or daughter. It almost seems as if there were an inheritance, not of aptitudes only, but a legacy of character.
Ziegenbalg was trained to be Christ's pioneer in the East Indies, not first at Halle, under the saintly FrancH, but before that in the primary school of his own home, under the teachings of a mother who baptized her words with tears and hallowed them with prayers. In a humble hamlet near Dresden that consecrated mother was dying with a group of little ones about her, and being very poor she amazed them by saying, "A great treasure I have laid up for you-a very great treasure. Seek it, my children, in the Bible, and there you will find it. There is not a page which I have not wet with my tears. " One of those children was Bartholomew Ziegenbalg. And when after thirteen years of apostolic labor he passed away singing, "Jesus, my Confidence," it was his mother's treasure that had been his from childhood to the end.
In Sonnenberg, Germany, another holy woman Jay dying, and with her last breath confided to her weeping husband this whispered secret, "Our youngest son I have dedicated to God for such service as He shall appoint. Assure me that when he hears the Lord's call you will not discourage it." That lad was christened Friedrich Schwartz. Then, under Francke, at Halle, what his mother had begun in his heart received development, and Schwartz went home to announce to his father his conscious call from God to the career of a missionary in India. Then the father sought the dying chamber of that holy mother, and in that atmosphere, after three days of agony, gave up his boy to God. At twenty-three Schwartz sailed for India, where for forty-three years he did so grand a work that it may be well doubted whether any other man has so impressed that empire for good. Schwartz's name is to this day spoken with a sort of holy awe in India. This man, who lived in one room barely big enough for a bed and table, who was cook for himself and ate rice and other vegetables, and who spent less than seventy-five cents a day on his entire support, held a sceptre which swayed not only the common people, but princes and kings in their palaces.
The story of Zinzendorf, the Moravian bishop, is very familiar. His grandfather was a martyr in spirit, resigning his estates for the sake of Christ, and he was brought up by a grandmother and aunt who faithfully nursed his infant piety. At four years of age he covenanted with Jesus, "Be Thou mine, dear Saviour, and I will be Thine," and the simplehearted boy, yearning for communion with Jesus, used to write to Him little notes, un burdening his heart, and flinging them out the castle window to be found and read by Him. It was he who could say, "'One passion have I, and it is He, He alone j" it was he to whom any country was home and native land where Christ had need of him j he it was who would rather be hated for Jesus' sake than loved for his own. How little did the grandmother know that she was shaping the whole course of Moravian missions !
Alexander Duff, so famous in the history of missions in India, owed everything to his spiritual ancestry. Back to and through a former generation the subtle influences must be traced that ripened into the self-offering of this marvellous man, so that from the hour when he was led io care for his own soul he began to know a passion for the souls of others, and especially the heathen, that led him once for all irrevocably to devote himself to their salvation.
Samuel J. Mills is entitled, if any man is, to be called the father and founder of missions on this side of the oceltn. Though he died at sea, on to the African coast, and was never permitted enter fully upon the work for which he set himself apart, he had set in motion the springs of both home and foreign missionary effort and organization. A score of various forms of benevolence, wide as the United States, the continent, the world, owe to him their inspiration and encouragement, if not their origin. And yet that wonderful life whose lamp went out so early and yet wrought such marvels, was sealed with consecration to God and to missions before birth by a holy mother j and when Mills grew to boyhood and was yet unrenewed by the Spirit, and even blind to his own need of regeneration, it was his mother's prevailing prayer that on a definite morning caused him to be overwhelmed with a new sense of sin and guilt, and l~d him to a full surrender to a new master.
When the secrets are brought to light, what wonders will be revealed of parental influence, known only to God, shaping the character and lives of children !
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
n.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY BlIV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The International Duel in the Far East. the fact that France and England con. stitute, either merchant or missionary, It is well to remember the severe their avant IXntreur. Either may afford strain put on some non-Christian na- occasion tor new foreign political comtions. So far as China is concerned, plications. The missionary may preshe stands chullenged to single-handed cipitate national disturbances as well combat against the combined nations of as the merchant. He is the picket of a Europe and America in their solidarity. new order of things. If we remember correctly, it was Hon. William B. Reed, as United States Pleni- Let us illustrate. The Republic of potentiary, who, now, nearly fifty years Liberia prohibits titles of property to ago, introduced into the treaty with any white man. She needs foreign China the" most favored nation" clause. capital and knows it ; but she knows, Perhaps the most penetrating diplomat too, that property investments by forof the world had little anticipation of eigners become, too frequently, the occathe ultimate result of that shrewd and sion of national strife. The Chinese apparently just demand. But what has know this as well as the black man of been the outcome? Every treaty-con- West Africa does. cession, however incidental or however ruinous to China's interests, made After having pigeon-holed for more amicably or at the cannon's mouth, to than a third of a century applications anyone of the European nations or to to allow titles to the Christians, and to that of the United States, is necessa- direct that the vendor who chooses to rily made to everyone of them. For lIell to them property be allowed to do so forty-five years all the Western powers unrestrained, the emperor has just now have been a unit as against China. 'fhe gazetted the governors that this must be duel is unequal. the order. At the same time, Christian missionaries are urging their govern- It is little wonder that the Chinese, ments to demand anew treatybywbich finding themsel ves in danger of being the foreign missionary or his society parcelled out, like Africa, into ,. spheres shall be granted the privilege of holding of influence" by Europeans, should titles, alleging as one reason, that if held grow increasingly restive In their pres- by the Ohinese Church the government ence. Millions in China have before may at any time confiscate their investthem the prospect of starvation during ments of foreign money. and their own the transition from the old industrial governments be powerless to demand and commercial conditions, to the new redress. It is just this that the Chinese ones which contact of foreigners is re- themselves know. We make now no sistlessly introducing. A million of argument, pro or con, but state the pro idle, pensioned ex-soldiers or their de- and con of this case as a mere illustrascendants organized about the gambling tion. Take as another illustration the den as a unit, are ever present to stir the following : The hcad and centre of the quiet people to riot that they may plun- anti-foreign agitation is the province of der. The ruling class, the literati, are Hunan. Thence issues indecent and always disposed to resist the presence strife.engendering literature against for· of foreigners' as liable to become the lIigners, missionaries in particular. A occasion of disturbance, and thus af- Hunan Inan, an officer in Szechuen, ford ground of fresh encroachment of boasted during the recent riots at Chenforeign powers. They are not blind to tU,that if a foreigner entered Hunan they killed him and wiped the streets with him. This riot occurred in Szechuen, but Kucheng, the turbulence having sub· the diplomatic pawn that it is proposed sided-Dr: Gregory, of the same mis- to move forward is,that the French army sion, also. We have no tidings whether march on Hunan and demand the open- the missionaries of the English Church ing of at least one port for foreigners in removed or not temporarily from Ku· that province. The" most favored na- cheng at the time of that disturbance.
tion clause" will of course apply. The But it appears that several of them were Chinese see all this, resistless as the tides. at a health·station at Whasang farther A thousand other similar complications up in the mountains. Miss Hartwell steadily result in foreign political, com- went up there also. It was at Whasang mercial and religious advance. Seen that the massacre took place; those mis- from their standpoint, it is humiliating sionaries of the American Board, the and irritating. We must bear all this in Methodist and the English churches who mind in judging of and dealing with were at Kucheng were undi~turbcd.
China. On the night of July 31st the mob rushed into the mission premises and The Massaore in Kuoheng, Ohina. murdered Rev. R. W. Stewart, his wife, and two children;' Miss Elsie It is scarcely worth while, except for Marshall, Miss Annie Gordon, Miss Bes- making the historical record in this peri- sie Newcombe, and Miss Flora Stewart, odical, to repeat the details, which the all of the Church of England Mission.
secular press has made widely known, Miss Hartwell was lodging in a native of the riots of March 28th and massacre house near by, and escaped with minor of Christian missionaries, which took injuries, after a severe struggle with one place at Kucheng, China, July 31st last. of the mob and a race for her life.
That of March 28th was conducted Mr. Stewart, who was slain with his by the vegetarians, who, whatever wife, had been some twenty years in the their original organization was designed country and was the head of his mission.
to effect, are now known as one of the In his last report of the Church of Eng- secret political organizations which are land zenana mission he referred to the a constant menace to the peace and pros· ladies who were since cruelly murdered perity of entire Central China from the as follows: seacoast to the borders of Tibet. .. Nangwa is the centre mission for the Previous to March 28th everything ladies in the far Northwest. It is four had been quiet for a long time, and no days' journey over high mountains from disturbance whatever was apprehended. Kucheng. I visited them ,at the be- On that day the rumor was current that ginning of the year, and found there the vegetarians would march into Ku- :Miss Johnson, Miss Newcombe, Miss cheng, kill the local magistrate, and Rodd, Miss Bryer, and Miss Fleming; burn the missionary property belonging they have also among them a Miss Sin· to the llethodist and other missions. clair, who has come from England in- The wildest confusion prevailed for dependently, and is making herself use- three days, when the United States ful in various ways. These ladies are consul at Foochow warned the Ameri· living as nearly like the native women can missionaries that they must retire as possible; no knives or forks are seen to Foochow, as no soldiers could be sent in the house. I am told that one knife to protect them. Dr. Gregory, Miss is kept for any unhappy guest who can· Rouse, and Miss Hartwell proceeded not manage chop.sticks, and though the to Foochow, which lay s:lUthwest of locality is far from healthy, and our Kucheng, the route being thirty miles C. M. S. missionaries have one after an· " through the mountains by chair, and other felt the effects of malaria, your sixty miles by the river Min, in boats. ladies have in a surprising degree main· Miss Hartwell subsequently returned to tained their strength. You know the kind of life they lead, visiting from vil- at a place called Sek'ci-Du, with Miss lage to village, sometimes at long dis- SaunderS, of the Australian Association, tances from home, putting up not at who is stationed in Kucheng while chapels or at Christians' houses, for, learning the language.
alas! there are none, but in the native " A letter has come to-day from Miss inns or the house of some hospitable Marshall telling of the great encourage- heathen woman. Their reward for this ment they find in Sek-ci-Du. This is devotion is being used of God. It is remarkable because, although we have truly invigorating to the soul to sit down been for years endeavoring to rouse an and listen as they tell of the good hand interest there, hitherto we llave entirely of their God upon them, and the spir- failed, and purposed retiring from the itual results they have seen. Oh, for station altogether. Thank God for the more of these" women that publish the ladies whom you send us; wherever tidings" I They have, too, a little hos- they go God gives His blessing, and the pital here, and this year they tried a secret lies in the quiet, unwavering trust small station class, though in doing so in a living Saviour by their side. Such they had to face difficulties that were trust He does not disappoint."
not met with in the old districts. The only American missionary who "The three other ladies who regard suffered personal harm in the murder- Kucheng as their headquarters are Miss ous Whasung attack was Miss Mabel Gordon, Miss Marshall, and Miss Stew- C. Hartwell, of the Methodist Episco- art. .Miss Stewart is still working for pal Mission, who was in a native house her examinations; when she has got near by the mission premises where the through them her sphere of labor will English missionaries were quartered.
be in the country, in the western sec- Miss Hartwell makes the following tion of the -district. Miss Gordon's sta- statement: tion, where she spends the greater part "August 1st, at 7.30 A.M., I heard of the year, is Dong-Gio, the chief cen· shouts. They were the yells of servants tre of the Ping-Nang district. This who rushed in shouting to me to get great district, or, as we should say in up, for the Vegetarians were coming, England, county, has no other lady tearing down the houses on the hill be- worker, and I need not say that, how- longing to the English mission.
ever hard she may try, she can do little " A few minutes later a teacher came more than touch what is waiting to be to my door and told me to run. I put done. At that one station of Dong-Dio on my clothes and rushed to the door.
80 or 90 women usually attend the Sun- I was met by a man with a trident day service. We have to thank the spear, who yelled, 'Here is a foreign Rev. H. R. McCartney, of Melbourne, woman.'
for this valuable missionary. Miss " He pointed the spear at my chest.
Elsie Marshall's work is also in the coun- I twisted it to one side and it just try; she only returns now and then to grazed my ear and head. He threw me Kucheng as headquarters. Her sec_ to the ground and beat me with the tion lies north of Kucheng, and covers wooden end of the spear. A servant more than 300 square miles. She has came and wrenched the spear away, several centres in this region, where she then told me to run. I jumped down stops for a few weeks or two months at the embankment and ran along the road.
a time, collecting the women together A servant came and pulled me along and visiting from house to house. Our until I got up on the side of the hill. I plan is for your missionaries to travel then lay down there to get more breath.
in pairs, accompanied by a Bible wom- After resting twice I reached a seclud- an and Christian servant, and to put up ed spot and lay there. All this time at chapels where a married catechist is the yells went on and two houses were stationed. Just now Miss Marshall is burning to the ground. " After a while the yells stopped. I but I only saw one, the man who rat· supposed tbe Vegetarians had gone tacked me, who shouted, C Here is a away. A servant went to see how foreign woman.' He had a trident matters were. He returned in half an spear. Some had swords. There was hour, telling me to come home, that five at least one gun, for I heard it fired off. ladies of the English Mission had been The natives say there were more." killed. and some had been wounded, but that my house-a rented native Government Defence of Missionaries. house-had not been troubled at all. A great deal of nonsense has ap· " I went home to find Miss Codring· peared in the secular press of this coun· ton much cut about the head and beaten try since the riots in Chentu and Ku· all over; Mildred Stewart, twelve years cheng as to the duty of the United old, with knee cut and bleeding very States Government to demand redress hard; Herbert Stewart, six years old. for injury done to person and property cut on the head and almost dead ; baby to missionaries. Even such rubbish has Stewart, with one eye black and swol· found place in influential newspapers. len; the second Stewart girl; Kathleen, as that, affording protection to missiona· eleven years old, with the second boy, ries and missionary property is propa- Evan, three years old, were beaten and gating religion by the sword. pierced with a spear, but not seriously injured. The boy vomited all day, So far as missionaries are concerned, but we thought it was from fright. they go to these foreign fields fully aware that they are liable to be harmed .. Mr. Phillips, of the English Mis· by such outbreaks. Weare not aware sion, who lived in s native house some that the missionaries from America ever distance away, escaped all injury, only asked government aid or protection in arriving in time to see the bodies of the the prosecution of their calling. If they dead and hear the Vegetarians say, ' We obtain it it is on the basis that they are have killed all the foreigners.' American citizens. It might be possi· ble that they would advance their influ· U At first we heard that some foreign. ence more by not demanding redress at ers had escaped and were in hiding, but all. Native Christian Chinese have over Mr. Stewart did not come and we feared and over refused indemnity proffered the worst. Mr. Phillips went to the by the authorities for injuries to person ruins and found eight bodies-five not and property. They gained greatly in burned and three burned so as not to influence as religionists among the peo; be recognizable. Dr. Gregory arrived pIe thereby. There may be occasions at dark and dressed the wounds of the when missionaries might choose to do patients. Coffins were made and the likewise. The missionaries in Uganda bodies put in them. The bones of the gained great triumphs while absolutely burned were put in boxes. unprotected to any degree by the Brit· ish Government. The Gospel can win .. When I was thrown down my its way without patronage of any po· teacher's wife called on some Whasung litical powers. But no state can afford men around to save me. There were to see its subjects unprotected. This, four men there to only one Vegetarian, regardless of their calling, whether mis· but they would not help me. She came sionary, merchant, or bicyclist reporter. and tried to pull me away as he was The British Government in one instance beating me. The Vegetarian kicked spent millions to defend a single one of her. its subjects-and he a Jew! The per- son and property of the citizen of any U When the Vegetarian who beat me country must be held to be absolutely started down the hill to come to our inviolate in every other country, Thus house three others were with him; but these ran off after some Chinamen, so I escaped with only one persecutor.
" There were about fifty Vegetarians, missionaries as citizens or subjects must it appear vast and well worth remark be protected by their governments,' not for size. But this knowledge isolated, for missionary interests, but for the pres· counts for nothing. Look at the" Dark tige of the government. Whatever the Continent ;" our land would go more missionary may choose to do or not to than three times therein; then recall, for do in the ca8e, when wronged or harmed, our one minister to 800 persons, Africa the government has no alternative. It has one for every 600,000. Or note must protect an American citizIJn, Brazil, larger than us, yet with as little though he be a Jew, Moslem, or Budo chance for enlightenment as Africa. In dhist propagandist, or whatever else, in the land east of the Mississippi (India'S any part of the globe. A government area) put one·sixth of the world, or that does not do that, or attempt to do let the swarming millions of China over· it, is not worth owning. flow our fnll area, somewhat. You are utterly powerless to grasp even the out· Maps and Money. side edge of these facts unless you have BY v. F. PENROSE. a map of the world.
But if you have been constantly in The Christian Church is nowevery· contact thus with maps, your present where using maps. Hence we read rate of giving fails to satisfy. How that the " estimated increase of wealth could it ? "There remaineth yet very among evangelical Christians in the. much land to be possessed," and your United States was four times greater utmost efforts cannot make up for the than all the contributions for foreign anti·mission and partly.mission multi· work by all American Christians duro tudes. What railroad would proceed ing the entire century," for we are giv· to work without maps? What army ing at the rate of twenty·five cents a could be active unprovided with map~ ?
year apiece. The latest historical books are having What does the use of maps mean? their maps so printed that a blank space Accurate knowledge. The children who equal to the page is on the bound·side never have a meeting without maps of of each map in order that it may be al· the world and of the country studied, ways before the reader.
comparing every land in area with our It is not, however, enough to have own, and then imagining the quarter of maps; you must use them. "Oh, yes, the world's population, the Chinese, we have maps. They are put away in our somewhat lesser area, while reo somewhere. I forget where and what membering we have 65,000,000 people, they are; but we have maps ;" and the are gaining the intelligent interest based search the minister then made for me on business and scientific information revealed a map of Paul's missionary that will make their future gifts, put to journeys, which scarcely answered my shame those of grown people who are needs in telling of India after the above yearly giving without ever seeing and methods. The same incident occurred realizing the vast areas utterly un· in more than one locality.
touched by any Christian influence. A .. Weare so impressed by your map map of the world cannot be done with· of the world," a missionary speaker was out. You do not know China or Mex: told, "that we are going to buy one.
ico unless you compare it with other How much did yours cost ?"
lands and see its neighbors and find " A dollar and a half. It is paper their political influence. which I mounted on cloth, is eight feet Take Pennsylvania; it looks large six by four feet six, and came from the when compared with the New England American Board. I add our own sta· States. Bring California or Washing. tions as I need them. Your members ton forward and it is tiny. A large can -examine it, and ten·cent donations railway map of the United States makes will soon secure it," and they got it. When new members join your so- meeting while the influence of each naciety, if you have no map of the world, tion is being described. while you are studying China, how can they be expected to take a money inter· Have you ever tried to have an exest in your Osaka scholarship-for few hibition of all the maps of your local· can locate our mission stations without ity? Such a one has recently proved maps. Therefore first make or buy a wonderfully suggestive. Each society map of the world, and then secure the had individual map-methods. maps of the lands to be studied. It is not difficult to draw an outline of the Start an audience from where they live continents on a large sheet of paper or across their continent-on the map-reo on cloth. ferring, in passing, to the missionary' from Japan who returned- home after Clay or putty maps moulded on a ten years' absence and could scarcely large board covered with oil cloth, In· credit the increase of luxury in every terest greatly. Putty, not cracking place, and ye1; everywhere, as excuse for readily and softening in linseed oil, Is not giving, heard: "Debt, debt, debt." better than clay, though both can be Then crossing the Pacific, show the rela· used over and over again. Candles In tive size of the United States and China, Christmas-tree holders mark the mission and turn to a large map of China, speak. stations, and are lit one by one as bits of ing of the swarming population, illusinformation are given of the medical trating by the popUlation chart of China. work at this one, the press·work at that. A hundred squares, each representing The grains or names of animals can be 4,000,000, form a square, ten each wuy, affixed. Tiny flags may indicate where and all are needed for China. InRide, our missionary heroes have lived, or the tbe United States have their 65,000,000 mission stations. (A bit of ribbon and a in one corner; underneath, Great Brit· big pin make a flag.) The "black ain, France, Germany, and the Russian map," a map of the world with tbe Empire half fill the square, and China continents painted solidly black on some has one missionary for 300,000. They cheap material, or else on your ordinary give for their "spirit offerings" an· map covered with black paper or cloth nually $400,000,000. We gave in 1890, cut to fit, has the various denomina- $11,000,000 for home and foreign mistions' work represented by little circles sions; $1,200,000 we spent for drink in of white fastened by means of a pin, as that year; $24,000,000 we spend for work is described in Africa and Asia, cutjlower8 each year. till, at th<l last, a fringe of white repre· sents the Gospel in all lands. After such a map-illustrated talk, a most interested auditor said he felt com· Represent Africa alone in this way, pelled to arrange his household exor any country, marking all the socie- penses that he might ha ve more to give, ties at work. While the different col- so overwhelming was it to ored circles are being placed for the missions, you might have some defini· U Contrast tions read by various persons-diction- The petty Done, the Undone vast;" ary definitions of darkness, light, uncivilized, evangelized, mi88ionary, Ohristian· and others have proved the 8ame by ity, ending with Jesus as defined in their gifts when facts were once thus Matt. 1: 21. presented.
Again, have a mere outline of Africa Three leaflet·charts may be enlarged on brown paper, and cut the areas to assist this map force. They may be owned by England, France, Spain, etc., had for thirty cents per hundred of in red, blue, yellow, and other papers. W. B. Jacobs, 148 Madison Street, Chi· Have these fastened on at a public cago: "A Mute Appeal," "Trifling with a Great Trust," and "A Com· parative View;" the first two may be also had enlarged for sixty cents aim of miSl!ionary work. They either each. lay too much streSl! on the work of testi- fying, or they depend wholly on the Grown persons need not rebel at such Holy Spirit regardleSl! of human methmethods. Money comes spasmodically, ods. from impulse of the moment, unless the mind can recur again and again to the Such is the gist of the criticism. reasons for giving. The two· tenths area Now, while we do not belong to the of the whole world that alone have class of men who imagine that miSl!ionknowledge of Christ is a fact not to be ary methods are above criticism, we canforgotten when once seen demonstrated not but take issue with Professor Kozaki on a map of the world, and is empha- in what he says regarding present methsized each time the map is seen afler- ods of work, and also in what he outward. lines as the" true scientific method." It is somewhat startling to read that to- At oncll we feel we must give morc. day, after a hundred years of mission- Ask for birthday offerings of dollars, ary work, neither the churches at home dimes, or pennies. Give out nickels or nor their representatives abroad have dollars for investment. Find out every any idea of the true aim of missionary way in which you may increase your work. If that be true, no wonder that gifts; nay, lessen your indebtedness to our methods are bad and our converts the One whose light makes our life. few. The wonder is that such aimless men should have any methods or any To this, a constant use of maps, im- converts at all; and, wonder of wonpels me. ders I how have they been able to ac- complish what even Professor Kozaki From Another Standpoint.* speaks of as a work not inferior to what was done in apostolic times? It seems BY REV. W. WYND, BAPTIST MISSION. to us that, although the churches are not all that they ought to be, the ones OSAKA, JAPAN. which support missions are pretty clear about the aim of missionary work. As In your June issue of the MISSIONARY for the missionaries, God knows how REVIEW we were favored with a discus- hr short we feel ourselves to be of these sion of the missionary problem by Pro- grand ideals that we read of in the fessor Kozaki, of the Doshishi College, .. Acts of the Apostles," but even of Kioto. Looking at the problem from the worst of us, it cannot be truly said the point of view of a Japanese Chris- that we have no .. definite idea of the tian, the learned professor sees the prea- true aim of missionary work." In that ent methods of missionary work to be at least we k7W1J) our Lord's will; how wholly at variance with scientific prin- we are doing it is another question. ciples. More especially is his criticism Some, he says, are laying too much levelled at present methods of conduct- stress on the work of testifying, thinking work in civilized c(luntries. ing when they have done this their work is done, whether men are converted or Neither the missionaries who are sent not. to the field nor the churches that send If a missionary gives his time and them have any definite idea of the true strength and whatever talent God has given him to the work of testifying, is *[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the he not following in the footsteps of the great apostle of the Gentiles, who went views of contributor., and much prefer that r~ from city to city doing nothing else 1 joinders to any article that appears should take Without minimizing in the least the imthe form of independent presentation of oppo- portance of educational work; without site opinions, common now, as a symposium. But as this paper is written in a good spirit we make an exception. In securing Mr. Kozaki's paper we intended it to inangurate a series by pastors native to several fields. We expect to furnish such an article from a Mexican minister in an early issue, and invite others of these brethren to send US contribntions from time to time.-J. T. G.] detracting from the value of work done verts that the missionary searches for, by noble-hearted, courageous, consecra- and it is converts that together both ted native workers, the fact remains that Church and missionary rejoice over.
to·day in non·Christian civilized lands Again, he says II we depend too much the foreign missionary of the right on the Holy Spirit regardless of human stamp,by the power of his testimony can methods." Those who believe the words do at least as great a work as he could do of Christ have a right to depend on the in any other sphere; a work that but for Holy Spirit; but certainly they have no his presence would probably not be right to depend on Him unless they done, even if the independent native themselves are using means and meth- churches had plenty of funds at their ods to accomplish the work with which dispolilal. they have been entrusted. The mis- I would remind the reader that in sionary who does so, to say the least of Japan, during the last three or four it, betrays a sad lack of sanctified com- years, the gain in almost the whole of mon sense.
the independent churches has been very In Japan each mission has its yearly slight; in some cases, indeed, they have or quarterly meeting for discussing, gone backward, and the churches Which formulating, and improving methods of have gained have been for the most part work, for devising new meaDS of reach- churches with which the missionary has ing the unbelievers. I know not of a had more or less to do. From the days society, a mission, or a missionary that when the disciples went everywhere tes- expects to see men becoming Christians tifying that Jesus was the Christ, the without human means beiDg used to Saviour of men, the blessing of the Lord make them so, and am consequently has followed the work of testifying; wholly at a loss to know where Profes- and statistics to.day will show that that sor Kozaki found the type of men of blessing hath not been withheld from whom he writes. The advocate of foreign missionaries testifying in non- " scientific methods of Christian work"
Christian civilized lands. To say that ought to have been the last man to de- too much stress is laid by, the foreign part from a scientific method of criti- missionary on the work of testifying is cism.
to betray a superficial knowledge of the After a careful perusal of the article subject in question, and to tell the in question, the following I take to be churches at home-these churches that the substance of the new II scientific hunger to hear of conversions, that scan method" outlined by the professor in every missionary periodical to find out his article : how many conversions are taking place 1. Send only a few first·rate foreign -to tell these that both they and their missionaries, and let their work be edu- representatives in foreign lands regard cational.
their work done when they have testi- 2. Instead of sending missionaries to fied, whether men are converted or not, testify to the unbelievers, send funds to is to betray utter ignorance of these the independent churches and do the great principles that are working in the work through them.
home churches and impelling them on He is convinced that the great need to missionary efforts. of non-Christian civilized lands is na- If the Church regards her work done tive workers; and in order to provide when she has testified, why has she these he would have the home churches again and again kept her missionaries send out only a few select teachers.
ten, fifteen, and twenty years working With the help of these, and a staff of in fields where not one has turned from eq ually gifted native teachers, first-class idols to serve the living God '1 Even a institutions of learning could be estab- superficial observer might see that it is lished. from which a sufficient number converts the Church longs for, it is con- of cultured workers might reasonably be expected. With these at work the native churches, doing the work through first step would be taken toward put- them.
ting missionary work on a scientific That is not an original idea. For the basis. We also believe that what is last year or two it has been the pet cry, greatly needed in these lands is more not of the Church in Japan. but of a native workers of the right stamp; but few leaders more or less imbued with however important a part schools may an anti-foreign spirit. That such a have in furnishing such men, with all spirit should manifest itself at times is our applications of modern science to most natural, human nature being what our school system we have not yet it is. In the churches at home there reached the point where we can take in are always those who are ready to hug men, by disposition, sentiment, and some personal grievance against their training, estranged from God, and turn pastor until they are firmly convinced out spiritually-minded men, full of the that he is the round man in the square Holy Ghost, of faith, wisdom, and hole, and so in all good conscie!lCe they power, for only such men are titted to clamor for his removal.
be entrusted with the future wellbeing of If so at home, the foreign missionary the Church. To get such men, the in civilized lands must always expect present system, in spite of its draw- some ready to clamor for his removal; backs, seems to be preferable. The but in spite of these things, until the missionary who sees the young Chris- native self-governing, self·supporting tians in their home and at their places churches are ready to take the whole of business, who listens to their first responsibility of raising up other self- feeble testimony, who witnesses them governing, self-supporting, self·propa· conquering pride and making a Chris- gating churches, are the home churches tian confession before unbelieving justified in withdrawing their repre- friends-in short, the missionary, even sentatives? We think not. When the if he be a " mediocre man," who watches gardener sees the plant push out its the development of the spiritual life of tendrils, the tendrils taking root, grow- the young Christians, is better fitted to ing, multiplying, and surpassing the make a wise selection of workers than parent plant in strength and beauty, he the professor who hears the student knows .that there is no danger of that demonstrate a problem, prove the exist- species dying out. It will,even under ad- ence of God, or conjugate a Greek verb. verse circumstances, propagate its kind.
Itmight be mentioned, in passing, that It were foolish of the missionary to Captain L. L. James, who is mentioned leave a great nation in darkness as soon as an example of a foreign educator as he sees a few independent churches j doing a great work, is a man who, what- but when he sees the children and grand- ever he may have been in the past, now children of these churches shooting out, makes a specialty of ridiculing every- taking root, springing up, and surpass- thing that Christians hold sacred, while ing the parents in faith, hope, and char- some of those men whom he was the ity, he may depart with gladness, for a means of raising up are not the kind of church has been founded which, even men the Christians at home would care under adverse circumstances, will prop- to entrust with the care of the Japanese agate its kind. As for the home church. Others, it is true, of the men churches ministering to the independent whom he taught are men of ability and native churches, that is to reverse the piety and worthy of all honor i but that order that we read of in the good old is in spite of the fact that in their early Book containing the first missionary days they were under the influence of records.
Captain L. L. James. Professor Kozaki reminds us that the Again, he would have the home church at Philippi did so to the church churches send fewer missionaries, and at Jerusalem; but that is no plea for send the money saved to independent the churches at home to do so to their independent offspring abroad. We can un- missionary station to the Sassoon mas- derstand how the church at Philippi sacre, writes that one of the Turkish would be strengthened by the effort it soldiers, troubled in mind by the mem- made to pay back in temporal gifts what ory of those awful scenes, told his wife it had received from the mother Church to ask the wives of the' Giaours ' (in- in spiritual gifts; but we fail to see how, fidels, unbelievers), who is 'Hissoos in civilized non-Christian lands, the Nazaretsee ' (Jesus of Nazareth). For churches which have attained their ma- all the women whom they had to slaugh- jority will be strengthened for their ter died calling upon Him. They could work by continuing to draw money have life by just saying, 'Mohammed from the parent who has still to support is the prophet of God.' The Turks call many children under age. On the con- Jesus'Isa,' and so the ignorant soldier trary, we see every reason for believing did not understand the Armenian form that such a course would be the means for Jesus of Nazareth. This incident of stunting the growth and dwarfing must touch any Christian heart."
the life of these churches, not because the brethren in the independent churches The Turki8h &ldier to hi8 Wife after the are unworthy to be entrusted with the Ma8SaCre8 at Bas8oon.
funds-far from it-but because such a "Who is this' Jesus of Nazareth '?"
course would be a violation of the law The Mussulman soldier caught his breath of growth and development. In these And knit his brow, like a man oppressed lands there is no lack of money. Let Whom the soft divan hath brought no rest. the leaders of the independent churches not turn to the foreign churches or the He had come from a field of God accursed: foreign missionary and demand that He had fought where devils did their worst! The fearful fray he would faiu forget- In his soul its echoes were ringing yet.
more responsibility be put on them. .. Who is this ' Jesus of Nazareth '? Let them rather open their eyes to the The women all called His name, in death: great fact that the responsibility is al- And the very children, caught to impale- ready on their shoulders, placed there Nay1 not for a woman's ear that tale 1 not by any society or any missionary, .. Your blood would freeze at its very fount; but by the Lord Jehovah. When the Yet the fire up into your brain would mount, leaders realize that fact and the mem- Till you shrieked at night, when the wind awoke, bers realize that they are but stewards And, shuddering, cowered till the morning broke. of the Lord, that their time and talents and means are to be given without stint "Nay, ask no question! I know not why for the spread of the Gospel, then the The women and harmless babes must die. 'Twas my chief's to order-mine to obey. Be it on his head at the Judgment Day I missionary problem will be one step "Yes-there was one alternative: nearer solution. • CalIon our Prophet, and you live I'
But every victim, with dying breath, Called upon' Jesus of Nazareth !'
"Who is this Jeaus of Nazareth 7" .. Who is this ' Jesus of Nazareth'?
Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, one of the ablest Does He bear the sword that conquers Death? of the able corps of the corresponding Must I meet Him there, when Azrael calls editors of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF My naked soul to the Judgment halls? THE WORLD, sends an interesting explanatory note of the incident in the .. Go-ask the Giaours-and tell me true, Who is this 'Jesus of Nazareth'? Who? I have fought for Allah 1 But if He be massacre of Armenians at l:lassoun, Allah's vicegerent-woe is me I"
Turkey, which inspired Mrs. Hamlin, J ""US of Nazareth 1 Lord of Life, wh:> was many years with her husband Conqueror of all this world's mad strife 1 in Constantinople, to write the follow- VeJlgeance for blood that cries to Thee 1 ing lines, which appeared in The .Ad- Bow the False Prophet on bended knee, 'Dance, under the caption quoted above. Dr. Hamlin says: Till the Cross shall quench the Crescent's ray From St. Sophia to the Gates of Day; "Mrs. Knapp, of Bitlis, the nearest And murderous Moslem, with contrite breath, Shall call upon Jesus of Nazareth !
FIELD OF :MONTHLY SURVEY
I1I.-FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY.
BY D. L. PlEBSON.
Turkey,* Persia,t Arabia,t North Africa and Egypt,§ Russia, I Oriental Ohristianity-r Mohammedani3Dl. ** '
THE TURKISH EMPIRE. impulse or resentment. Missions in Turkey have always been carried on The feeling against the .. unspeakable amid tremendous difficulties. Islam has Turk" has by no means subsided either here undisputed sway in the governin America or in England. There is but ment, so that while, according to the letslight difference of opinion in the gen- ter of the law, freedom of religion is pro· eral condemnation of the action, or non- claimed, the law is interpreted by the action, of the Porte in regard to the Ar- Moslem to mean simply that any man menian massacres. It seems certain, at may become a Mohammedan. The any rate, that the government is not Turk has no sympathy or mercy for an grieved at the sufferings of the Chris- " infidel," whether he be so by birth or tians. It is rumored that the Turkish au- conversion. The Moslem races of Turthorities are trying to induce grain mer- key consist of Ottoman Turks (the chants to hold back food products in rulers, chiefiy in Asia Minor and Conorder to increase the sufferings of the stantinople), Arabs (in Mesopotamia, Armenians. What the final outcome Arabia, and Syria), Kurds (mostly outwill be is not yet determined, but in laws in eastern Asia Minor), Circassians, any case it seems that it will be as the Turcomans, and various smaller tribes. result of calm deliberation and not of The Christian races are the Armenians * "History of the Ottoman Turks," E. S. (in Asia Minor and northern Syria), the Greeks (Greece and Asia Minor), the Creasy; "My Life and Times," Cyrus Hamlin, Bulgarians, Jacobites, and Chaldeans D.D.; "Forty Years with the Tnrkish Em- (tn Mesopotamia), and the Maronites in pire." E. D. Prime, D.D.; "Antoblography of Syria. W. G. Schoulller, D.D.;" "The Armenian Crisis in Turkey," F. D. Greene; also pp. 32 (Janu- The chief missionary organizations at ary), 133 (February), 339 (May), 604 (Angust), 768 work are the American Board, laboring (present i~sue). in the Balkan peninsula and Asia Minor; the Presbyterian Board in Syria t See "Persia and the Persians," S. G. W. and Mesopotamia; the Reformed Pres- Benjamin; .. Henry Martyn," George Smith, byterians, in Syria; the Methodists in LL.D.; "Woman and her Saviour in Persia," Bulgaria ; the Church of England. 'the Dr. Thomas Laurie; "Dr. Grant and the Monn- Friends, Disciples, and Free and Estaio Nestorians;" "Persia, the Land of the tablished Churches of Scotland, and Imams," Rev. James Bassett; also pp. 3 (Janu- various other independent educational ary), 738, 741 (present issue). organizations in Syria. Turkey in Asia has an area of about 500,000 square :I: See "Memorials of Hon. Ion Keith Fal· miles and a population of 16,000,000. coner," Sinker i h Arabia Desena," Doughty; The total number ordained missionaries also pp. 1 (January), 414 (June), 730 (present is- is 75; lay, 15; medical, 18; and wom- en, 140. With these labor 270 native sue). pastors and 640 other workers. Prot- § See "Daybreak in North Africa," Mrs. estant communicants number about F. S. Haig; "Pioneeringin Morocco," Dr. Rob- 01040,00n0o. miBneaslidCeshrtihsetisaensthewrheoaraere5'0s0c0a~- ert Kerr; "Morocco as It Is," Stephen Bon· sal, Jr.; "Open Door for the Gospel in Egypt," tered throughout the empire, and among Mrs. F. 'f. Haig. whom the most promising missionary work has been carried on. The earnest II "The Highway of Sorrow" (Stundlsts), and united prayers of Christendom are Stretton; also p. 725 (present issue).
~ See "Missions to the Oriental Churches," Rufus Anderson, D.D.; "The Armenians," Rev. M. C. Gabrielian, M.D.; "Romance of Mis· sions," Miss West; also pp. 523 (July), 741 (present issue).
** See "Mahomet and Islam," Sir William Muir;" "Islam and its Founder." J. H. Stobart; "The Mohammedan Missionary Problem,"
H. H. Jessup, D.D. neeued for these downtrodden strug- kinds-the people living in the cities, gling races. the wandering tribes, and the inhab- itants of villages and country districts_ The government censoi-Bhip of the The latter are engaged in agriculture, pres8 is one of the features marking the and some of the best wheat in the world opposition to all religious and elevating is raised in Persia. Cotton, sugar, rice, influence. As is stated in the official re· and tobacco are also raised in the southports of the United States Government ern provinces. The wandering tribes (1893), the quotation of words of live in tents, and move about with their Scripture has been subjected to the will flocks and herds as the seasons change. of the censors. Appeal from the deci- They spend the spring and the summer sion of the censors is practically unavail· on the mountain slopes, and the winter ing. The censors insist that the phrase on the plains. The two principal races " kingdom of Christ" may not be used are the Turks and the Persians, the latter by Christians. The censors refused to of whom belong to the Mongol race. Bepermit the publication of the index to sides these, there are Arabs, Kurds, and Bible lessons for 1893 unless certain Gypsies, and other smaller tribes. words were erased-e.g., "Gospel lib· erty," omit liberty>" "sorrow turned to Most of the people belong to the joy" must be suppressed; "encourag- Shiah, or heterodox system of the Moing the people" must be erased; hammedan religion, although there "wicked devices frustrates" (Ps. 33) are a few adherents to the Sunni, or must be stricken out; also" sorrow in orthodox system. There are also the palace" (Esther 4), "saved by Parsees, Jews, Armenians, and Nesgrace" (Rom. 4), "hope in distress" torians. (Ps. 38), " fear not" (Josh. 1), " rejoicing in persccution" (Rom. 8), " a benevo- The Persians were first called Elamlent object" (Rom. 15). iteB. Their descent is traced to Shem, through his son Elam. The first relig- The references indicate the passages ion of the Persians, as well as of their on which the Bible lessons were found- neighbors, the Medes, was that of Zoroed, and the erasures are in themselves a aster, which knew but one God, though commentary on the Turkish Govern- fire, the sun, moon, and stars were, by ment, indicating, as they do, the ideas its followers, worshipped as his symwhich the authorities consider might bols. The Jews and the Persians were foster rebellion, etc., in the minds of brought into contact through Daniel the people. and the other captives in Babylon, and when Babylon was overthrowll and the PERSIA. ]Iedes established the Medo-Persian Empire, Cyrus, King of Persia, was in- The" Land of the Lion and the Sun" strumental in the restoration of God's has an area of 628,000 square miles and people and the preservation of the true a population of about 9,000,000. Mis- faith. sionary work is carried on chiefly by the American Presbyterians and by the It is conjectured that Thomas and Church of England Society, mainly Bartholomew carried the Gospel to this among the Nestorians, Armenians, and land. Old documents tcll of the mis- Chaldeans. The missionary force con- sion of Thaddeus to Edessa, in Mesosists of 23 ordained men, 8 physicians, potamia. There are documents, too, 20 women, and 84 native preachers; recording the acts of martyrs at Edessa these have gathered about 2500 commu- in 115 A.D. The Christians were numernicants. ous at that time, and the conversion of [ As elsewhere in Mohammedan coun- the king is proved by coins as early as tries, Islam is the great obstacle to the A.D. 165. spread of the Gospel in Persia. The Jews and the followers of Zoro- The population of Persia is of three aster opposed Christianity, and terrible persecutions began in Persia, and lasted released, as well as in direct evangeliza- for a century after they had ceased in tion, the physician is a power of GOd.
the Roman Empire. In the sixth and The missionary physician does a great seventh centuries there was much mis- work in promoting true medical science.
sionary activity in the Persian Church. The old medical practice is very defi- The missionaries even went into China. cient. At its best it is unscientific, but, Later, the ~lohammedans overthrew the mixed with superstition, it is still worse_ whole system of the Zoroastrian relig- The conjurer and the astrologer are the ion, and now its only followers arc companions of the physician. The about 5000 souls in Yezd, and 100,000 Vendidad of ancient Persia says: "If Parsees in Bombay. several healers offer themselves-name- Christians were subject to heavy ex- ly, one Who heals with a knife, one who actions by the Moslems, but were recog- heals with herbs, and one who heals nized as the" people of the Book," and with the holy Word-it is the latter who the Nestorians had special privileges will best drive away sickness from the and held offices of trust. Missionary body of the faithful." The astrologer work was still carried on and gained consults the stars as to the favorable influence in Tartary and China, beyond time for calling the doctor, and which the Moslem rule. When the Moguls one shall be called, and whether the conquered Chinese Tartary and Persia, medicine he has given shall be taken.
in 1202 A. D.. Christianity was tolerated A noble living in a distant city consult- for awhile, but finally the Nestorian ed the astrologers as to what physician Church fell before persecution, and not he should consult. The lot ,indicated a vestige of the Christians was left east Dr. Holmes, so, leaving the able help of the Kurdish Mountains. The Nes- at hand, he took a five days' journey on torians left, however, a monument in horseback to Tabriz. At a case of China in the shape of the Nestorian childbirth a Mollah led a sheep into the Tablet described in our February issue. room and around the couch of the wom- Persia has been gradually reduced by an, and then took it out and offered it Russian aggression and Mohammedan as a sacrifice for the life of the woman.
misrule to a desert. The American Sometimes the priest will write a pray- Presbyterian Board conducts successful er, and the patient will swallow the missions at Oroomiah and Tabriz in the paper or dissolve the writing in water west; at Teheran, Hamadan and Resht and drink the solution. For craziness in the east; the Church Mission is at priests are called, as their holy robes, J ulfa, the Armenian suburb of Ispahan. especially the blue and green of the There Dr. Bruce has amended Henry Sayids, are supposed to frighten the Martyn's Persian translation of the devils. Sometimes they exorcise by New Testament. It has a medical mis- beating in a barbarous manner. Others sion at Bagdad. In 1747 two Moravians are taken to a shrine and shut up in a made the first and unsuccessful attempt dark cave for several days to be cured to reach the Parsees or Kerman, and of lunacy. Others make the long pil- the Greek Church of Russia drove out grimage to Kerbela, hoping to be healed the Scottish and Basel missionaries who, by being tied in the portico of the from Shooshab in the Caucasus, sought shrine.
to influence Persia. European science is being introduced, Medical missions are very influential partly through European physicians, in Persia. In relieving suffering, mak- through the Shah's College, and natives ing the heart tender and friendly to re- who have received a foreign education.
ceive the truth, removing prejudices, The medical department of Oroomiah CUltivating the friendship of the authori- College, in charge of Dr. Cochran, is ties, so that doors of opportunity are doing a good work educating Christian opened, and the persecuted or:oppressed physicians. The hospital gives full opportunity for practical work. Instruc- them /lore at present mainly occupied in tion is from the best English text-books, learning the languages. As the bulk and is thorough.* of the population are in villages, many workers are needed to evangelize this country. The Scotch Presbyterians North Amollo and Egypt, have a mission in South Morocco. Algeria is the most advanced in civ- North Africa consists of Morocco ilization of all the countries of North Algeria, Tunis, Tripoli, Egypt, and Africa, having been held by the French the Sahara. Almost all its native in- since 1830. After great expenditure of habitants are Mohammedans whose life and money, it is now thoroughly creed has nothing in its teaching that subject to their rule. Its extent is can save the soul. It carefully denies ~bout three times that of England, and the fundamental doctrines of Christ's Its popUlation about 4,000,000, princidivinity, death, and resurrection. No pally ltIoslems, but with some tens of effort has, until recently, been made to thousands of French, Spaniards, Italevangelize this part of the Moslem ians, Jews, etc. The country has a world. It was considered impossible good climate, and much beautiful scento gain an entrance, much less a hear· cry; there are many good roads, and ing, among these followers of the False more than fifteen hundred miles of rail- Prophet. God has lessened and is still way. The North Africa Mission has lessening the political power of Mo- seven stations and twenty-two brethren hammedanism in Africa. Its vices and sisters working there. The bulk were too glaring for civilization to en- of the people live in villages scattered dure. Slavery and piracy in Algeria over the country, and only a very few led to its subjugation by the French, ha ve, as yet, been reached by the Goswho also are paramount in Tunis. pel. Tripoli is still under the Turkish Government. Egypt enjoys :the protection Tunis is under French protection, of England, and Morocco is as yet an and practically under French rule. It independent ~,[oslem empire. Islam's' is hardly so extensive as England, but spiritual deceptions and social degra- has a population of about 2,000,000, dations cannot be r€moved by force of nearly all of whom are Mohammedans. arms. Only the reception of the truths There are, however, a few thousands of of the Gospel can remedy these evils. Italians, Maltese, French, and Jews, etc., on the coast. Thirteen workers 'Morocco has an area of about 260,000 of this mission are stationed in the capsquare miles, and a popUlation estimated ital, some of them at present engaged at from 5,000,000 to 8,000,000. It is in study; the remainder of the Regengoverned by a Sultan, whose name is cy, with its cities and villages, remains Abdul Aziz, a youth of about 'sixteen unevangelized. Who will go to them ? A medical mission is now carried on in years of age. The North Africa Mission (British) began work in Morocco Tunis. in a small way in 1884; at the close Tripoli is a province of the Turkish of 1892'it had substantial mission premiscs, with hospital in Tangier, and sta- Empire, several times larger than Engtions in Tetuan, Fez, and Casa Blanca. land. It has a population of about It has twenty·six missionaries in the 1,350,000, who, with the exception ot a few thousands, are followers of the False Prophet. The Moslems here are country, laboring among Moslems, more intelligent and better educated Jews, and Europeans; but several of than farther west, but much opposed to the Gospel. Two brethren began, * For much of this review of Persia we are in 1889,. to labor for Christ among them, and others have since been sent, A indebted to an article by Rev. S. G. Wilson. medical mission has been conducted as midwifery diploma. Ability to ac- quire Arabic should be manifest. here with cheering results. 3. Stewards or associations of Chris- Egypt is still tributary to Turkey, tian contributors are earnestly sought but under the protection and super· of the Lord.
vision of the British Government. The' (a) To support individual miBBiona- ries. The inclusive expense of ft single miBBion commenced work in Lower brother may be reckoned at $500 (£100) Egypt in April, 1892, and has, includ· yearly, and a single sister at $350 or ing wives, six missionaries there. The $400 (£70 or £80); married missionaries population of this portion of the coun· at the same proportion, according to the extent of their families. try is estimated at nearly 4,500,000, the (b) To support forms of work such as bulk of the people being Mohamme· medical mi.ssions, schools, or provide dans. There are 40 towns with from for itinerating and rent of miBBion 7000 to 40,000 inhabitants each, and houses. 500 towns with from 2000 to 7000 each, (c) To secure and, if po~sible, find without any Gospel agency whatever. working expenses of a house·boat. As The vast Sahara, with its few scat· the Delta is a network of canals an easy tered millions of Berber and Arab Mo· and inexpensive method of evangeliza· hammedans, remains still without a soli· tion is at our hand, if only we had a tary missionary. We pray God that small craft at our disposal– one to ac· soon some brethren full of faith and of commodate three or four missionaries the Holy Ghost may be sent to preach could be procured for $1000 (£200). Christ amid the inhabitants of its palmy Perhaps some would like to pay the oases.-North Africa. hire of a boat for a few journeys dur· Northern Arabia is peopled by the ing the winter season. Bedouin descendants of Ishmael; they 4. Remembrance8 at the Throne of are not bigoted Moslems, like the SyrI· Gl·ace.-To be daily importunate on ans, but willing to be enlightened. behalf of the Egyptians and the mis· One brother went to labor among them sionaries who labor among them. in 1886; he has now retired, and an· Besides the North Africa Mission, other brother and his wife, who were which supports three men and four thinking of taking up the work, have women missionaries in Egypt, there are: through ill·health been obliged to come 1. The United Presbyterian Church home. of America, with headquarters in Cairo.
The Lord has greatly blessed their work among the members of the ancient The spiritual claims of Egypt are Coptic Church. They have raised up a strongly presented by Mr. W. Rum· native Protestant Church in Egypt with mers, who thus voices the needs of this native pastors. 2. The British and Foreign Bible S0ancient land of the Pharaohs : 1. Men are needed as evangelists ciety, with principal depot in Alexan· whose first qualification is to be soul· dria ; and the American Bible Society winners. They should not be without in affiliation with the American Pres- some intellectual and theological train. byterian Mission. ing. If possible, a rudimentary knowl· S. The Church Missionary Society edge of the healing art would be of carries on work in old Cairo. They great assistance. Fair linguistic abil· have a medical miBBion, small hospital, and school work. ity is absolutely necessary. Qualified Physicians. – Medical mis· 4. Church of Scotland Mission to sions are practically a forgotten agency Jews, with four well·conducted schools. in Egypt. What little has been done 5. An undenominational Dutch mishas proved successful. Government sion has been working for eighteen hospitals have free dispensaries, but years in Calioub, a town near Cairo. are as a drop in the bucket among those A native church is formed, and schools needing medical aid. There are dozens are efficiently conducted. of centres in the Delta alone where 6. Sailors' and Soldiers' Institute in medical missionaries would find large affiliation with Miss Robinson's work. Besides individual effort among Engand unoccupied spheres. 2. Women who have a passion for lish and other Europeans. souls, even if they live in the midst of Still the dense Mohammedan popula- filth and disease. Much patience and tion in the Delta remains unreached by ,love for Christ are needed to win the the news of the world's Saviour. They Moslem women to Christ. Ladies hav· mU8t be evangelized, for " They shall ing some medical knowledge should know that I am the Lord God" (Ezek. take an elementary qualificati.on such 29: 16).
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.
The March of Events. aonf dAsmuecrhicaannaatnidonBarsitiCshhinmaissshioonualdrie~s A massacre of missionaries began at held to strict account, entirely apart Whasang, near Kucheng, China, on from any religious question involved, August 1st. A mob fired the mission for the sacrifice of valuable lives, not to premises, killing ten people-one man say buildings. No money indemnity is and his wife, with seven other women, adequate in a case like the present. It and one child. Several other Christians is too loose and easy a method for rewere more or less seriously hurt. All pairing au irreparable wrong, and sets the killed were British citizens. The a premium on such merciless crimes. attacking party are said to belong to a Nothing less thau the arrest and severe Chinese sect, the "Vegetarians," and punishment of such assassins can satthe outrage was unprovoked and mali· isfy the common conscience and act as cious. The Chinese Government was a preventive. China should be made to compelled to take steps to discover understand that about the person of and punish the guilty parties, but the every citizen of America or Britain all governmental action was slow and un- the power and prestige of these two satisfactory. great nations wrap their guarantiel!, and that whoever unlawfully touches them, These murders are the more unac- when innocent of violating law, will be countable as being in the Fo·Kien prov- treated as an enemy of humanity. We ince, where a friendly feeling has gen- see nothing un-Christian in extreme reerally existed between the natives and sorts when nothing less suffices to inforeigners. Kucheng is on the Min sure immunity from such acts of vio- River, some ninety miles above the lence. treaty port of Foochow. The river is not navigable at this point, and hence The Armenian atrocities, as disclosgunboats cannot be used to protect the ures and exposures now warrant us in foreign residency. For months past saying, exceed for wanton outrage and the officials, or literati, have been at cruelty and nameless horrors anything work breeding discontent and riot, and on record. No wonder Britain's" Grand this is the result. All Americans at Old Man" finds one more burning fire work there were sent to Foochow for shut up in his bones which must have safety in June last. The mandarins are vent. Indignant protests from civilsaid to be charging ou foreigners the ized nations seem unheeded, and peace failure of China in the present war with may be purchased for Armenia at a Japan, as having stood by indifferent heavy cost. Mr. Gladstone sums up and beheld China whipped. the crimes committed against these people by four fearful words: "plun- The indignation aroused by these der, murder, rape, and torture;" he wholesale murders, and outrages on charges the Sublime Porte with the reproperty, is intense, and severe measures sponsibility, which, he claims, must be are threatened. We have no conscious brought home to the Turkish governspirit of retaliation or desire to magnify ment. China's faults unduly, but avenging is not revenging. There is a protection The treaty of 1856, he said, gave the which Government owes its citizens, Powers the right to march into Armenia and which Britain is usualJy jealous to and take the government of the country afford. We have long felt that, while out of the hands of Turkey, and under any nation may lawfully exclude for- thetrcatyof 1878 the Sultan was bound eigners or compel their withdrawal from to carry out reforms. He makes three proits territory, all needful guards should posals. First, that the demands of the be put about the person and property Powers should be moderate; second, that out .. fear of contradictIon." Of these no promises of the Turkish authorities should be accepted; and third, that the gatherings we have 5rowing conviction Powers should not fear the word •• coercion." .. We have reached a critical that, whatever good may be the outcome position," said he, .. and the honor of the Powers is pledged to the institution one way, the ultimate result is confuof reform iu Armenia." A resolution was then adopted by the meeting which sion-a Babel of ideas as to religious Mr. Gladstone addressed that the government would have the support of the obligation and the way of salvation. If entire nation in any measures it might adopt to secure in Armenia reforms guar- all religious faiths are entitled to recog· anteeing to the inhabitants -safety of life, honor, religion, and property; and nition, not as ethical systems having in that no reforms can be effected which are not placed under the continuous them a modicum of virtue and value, control of the great Powers of Europe. The speech made a profound impres- but as entitled to comparison as having sion. Mr. Gladstone said he was glad to see that as much indignation exists in in them essentials of salvation, the America as anywhere over the atrocities. unique position and claims of Christian· It is becoming a question whether those who act as the Turks do should ity must at once and forever be aban· not by other nations be treated as burglars, highway robbers, and murderers doned; Christian missions become im· generally are served. There is a broad question of political economy that is pertinent as a declaration of one only awakening Blore and more attentionviz., whether the race is not to be con- Name whereby we must be saved, and sidered as a whole, in its solidarity; and whether an "international police" is sink to the level of a friendly confer· not a demand of the age. It is felt, and not without reason, that there are some ence in which we may have as much to crijlles which are against humanity as such, and should so be punished. It is learn as to teach. hard to see why a city, State, or nation should exterminate a band of villains We quote from Ohristian Work, a who infest the highways, lurk in hiding places to assault the innocent, and paper so liberal that some orthodox peouse weapons of torture and assassination, and yet the community of nations ple think it lax. Yet hear its earnest stand by in helpless inactivity and see a whole district swept.by atrocious mur- and faithful testimony: derers I .. To whatever extent the Toronto The Pan·American Congress at To- Congress would place an equal value ronto, which was held in July, provid· and authority upon each religion, to ed a platform from which the various that extent it is misleading, dangerous, .. religions" of the world might plead and false to the facts. And it is signifithrough their respective advocates. cant of the character-'of the discussions Bishop Ireland, of the Roman Catholic held at Toronto that none of the relig- Church, Rabbi Gottheil, the Jew, with ions was put on the defensive; conserepresentati ves of nearly every Christian quently their reverse side was not seen. denomination, as well as of Mohamme· Take, for example, Mohammedanism. danism, Buddhism, Confucianism, etc., Mohammed certainly did perform the had the" right of presentment" with· noble service of overthrowing idolatry in Arabia, and he proclaimed the one- ness of God: so far we are with him. But the failure of Mohammedanism is to be found in its wholly inadequate conception of God, which rests on the mere fact of his unity and sovereignty-. The sacrifice for sin, the fact that 1D love only is there power to save from sin and turn earth into heaven-the abo sence of all this is the fatal weakness of Mohammedanism: this weakness was not brought out at that Toronto Con- gress. Then, take Confucianism: the cause of its failure-snd it has failed- is that Confucius based religion on man and wholly ignored God. Confucianism makes no full provision for dependence, fellowship, progress; certainly there can be no sense of dependence where the worship of God is restricted to the offering of sacrifices on State occasions by the emperor, thus relegating God to the background; there can be no fel· lowship with a God who is afar off! It is _little wonder that Confucianism failed. And Buddhism ; how could it be expected to succeed, excellent as is embarrassed by a gift made by Robsome of its ethical precepts are, when ert Arthington, of Leeds, England, some it is agnostic, if not positively atheistic? yeats ago, for the opening of a miBBion -for Gautama considered there was no south of Khartoum, on the Nile, which such spirit. Really, Buddhism, with has grown by regular increase and the its act force, is only an older form of addition of other donations till it amounts the deification of force and is nineteenth to $52,400. The money cannot be used century materialism dressed in the garb to carry out the design of the donors on ilf twenty·two centuries ago. account of the Arabian occupation of the Soudan and tbe exclusion of all for· " The one tremendous fact not to be eigners, and yet much of the money ignored is that whatever be the ultimate given could not be restored to the unfate of the deluded heathen in their known donors. The society has there- fore brought a friendly suit to secure a ignorance of sin and of the fact that love decision that the use of the fund in the only can save the sinner, Christianity region specified is impossible; and jualone supplies this: the religion of dicial instruction as to what use shall be Christ alone satisfies the wants of the made of it. This leads us to say, again, weary, sin-burdened soul. bringing him that it is well for donors not to condiinto reconciliation with God. Theolo- tion their gifts too restrictedly. gies are misleading. and confessions and standards and creeds are imperfect and Many questions of vital importance often foolish: but these are not relig- to missions require carefully to be ex· ion; but the implanting of the Christ amined and adjusted. The Independent life in the soul is. Any' congress' spirit of the Japanese makes them imor • parliament' which ignores this su- preme fact, and thinks to bring all religions down to a common level along the line, not of thorough discussion even, but of presenting the best photograph of each, makes a jest of the eternal verities and sows a crop the harvest of which will be fruitful of tares."
From a Chicago journal we quote: patient of foreign control even in the missions established by missionaries "Without assuming to decide the from abroad and in the schools they question, the Living Ohurch ventures originated or helped to develop, and a an opinion as to the cause of the gen- deputation has bee!. appointed by the eral falling off of mlBBionary offerings. A. B. C. F. M., consisting of Hon. It is an opinion which two years ago W. P. Ellison, Boston; Rev. J. L. Barwas a prophecy, when the extraordi- ton, D.D., foreign secretary; Rev. J. nary spectacle was presented in Chicago G. Johnson, D.D., Chicago; Rev. A. H. of the apostles of all the false religions Bradford, D.D.. Montclair, to visit of the world being invited to give an Japan. Some changes may be made in ea;-parte representation of faith and life the deputation, which started in Septemunder the religious systems which they ber. represented-or, rather, misrepresented. The Babel of Christian sects was mar· August 26th a company of missionshalled by Drs. Barrows and Bonney, aries of the Protestant Episcopal body who did what they couId to make a left Vancouver for China. Bishop good showing for the Christian religion Samuel 1. J. Schereschewsk; goes to (without any church), while they afded superintend the publication of his Bible in working up a hospitable enthusiasm translation into the Wen-Ii, his wife for the savants and picked men of all and daughter accompanying, also Rev. heathenism. Returning home, these D. T. Huntington and Miss Steva L. represented Christianity to be a failure Dodson, with Dr. W. L. Ludlow, mediin the countries they had visited; and cal missionary. in one case, we believe, missionaries were sent to America to convert our benighted people. Some part of the present falling off of enthusiasm for missions may be fairly attributed to this • exploiting' of heathen systems (without rebuttal) at the central point of the world's interest in 1893."
The African Inland Mission sent forth, The American Missionary Association August 17th, Rev. P. Cameron Scott as pioneer, who llaS spent already seven first at Shanghai, and then at Tung- years in Africa, with his sister, Miss chow for over thirty. He was of a Margaret C. Scott, a medical mission· genial spirit, full of humor, a fine stu- ary, Miss Bertha M. Reckling, Lister R. dent, especially gi ven to historical study, Severn, and Rev. Willis Hotchkiss and [.nd a cultivated man of scholarly tastes.
Rev. Fred W. Kreiger. Walter MeL. He was a native of Buffalo, N. Y.
Wilson joins the party in Scotland. The Such deaths leave a great void.
mission is interdenominational, and em· phasizes basal truths, such as the divino The death of an American citizen of ity, atonement, and second coming of Siam, Marian A. Cheek, is announced.
Christ, person and work of the Spirit, He went there twenty·two years ago as the verbal inspiration of the Word of a medical missionary of the Presbyte- God, salvation by faith, the eternity of rian Board, at the age of twenty, and future punishment, and the evangeliza· had become one of the most influential tion of the world as the duty and mis- men in the country, the intimate coun· sion of the Church. They go in the sellor of the king. Ten years ago he strength of these truths to confront severed his connection with the Board, deadly climate and relentless Moslem engaged in trade, and accumulated a hatred in the Soudan. May God go large fortune, and at the time of his with them! death was pressing a claim against the United States for several hundred thou· The well-known Charles N. Critten- sand dollars alleged to be due on ac· ton, of New York, founder of the Flor- count of the negligence of American ence Mission, attempts a t(Jur of the officials in Siam. Some years ago he United States to found similar missions -obtained a concession from the king to for outcast women. He left New York farm out a teak forest. While he was August 19th in a special car, Good floating thousands of logs to market in New8, and a trip of eighteen months is be- the form of a raft, they were confiscated fore him and his party. Portland, Ore., by representatives of an English com- California, the Southern States, and pany. Cheek floated the stars and Atlantic coast are the boundaries of the stripes on his rafts and called on the trip. Services of song and exhortation American officials for assistance. They from the car platform wherever there is failed to come to the rescue, and Cheek a wait of a quarter of an hour, and more accordingly sued this government for extended services where longer stops damages. The officials at Washington are arranged for, with meetings in halls contend that he had no right to fly the or churches wherever a night can be American flag in the situation he was spent in a city, are among the plans. then in.
Up to this time nineteen missions have heen established through the efforts of At St. John's l'lission, Grand Cape this New York merchant, whosedaugh- Mount, Liberia, Mrs. M. R. Brierley, ter's death gave such impulse to his life. one of the oldest missionaries on the What strange ways God has of leading African field, died July 6th. She was His people who are ready to be led. We about sixty-five years old, and went to know of no one man whose life is more the Dark Continent with her husband telllng on the reclamation of fallen in 1865 as missionary of the Church of womanhood. May great blessing fol- England. After her husband's death, low this new method of extending these in 1882, she was transferred to the mis· rescue missions. sions of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States and placed at the Rev. Charles R. Mills, D.D., died sud- head of St. George's Hall, one of the denly in Tung·chow, China, June 22, largest schools in Liberia, and was at having been in China about forty years, the head of it when she died. The death of J. L. Phillips, M.D., of practice in general use of assigning It young, inexperienced girl to each China- Oalcutta, already noticed in this RE- man for the purpose of teaching him VIEW, has awakened widespread sorrow our language and bringing him to a and left a great gap which will not be knowledge of the truth. I stated that easily filled. He will be most lovingly in all my experience among the China- men of this city I had never known a remembered in connection with the De- single one that·1 regarded as hopefully cannial Oonference of December, 1882. converted in this way, nor was I at all He was a man of deep spirituality and hopeful of ever seeing one thus brought great spiritual power, and had marvel- to Ohrist. I was simply criticising a lous tact in harmonizing discordant ele- method, and not considering the ques- tion as' to the possibility of the conver- ments. He was a peacemaker. If he sion of a Chinaman to Christianity. It had a new method to introduce he had is too late to discuss this latter question, singular felicity of manner, which made since many have been hopefully con- verted both in China and California. I • it seem unlike an innovation. He kept am not now, nor have I ever been en- a weekly prayer-meeting in his family gaged in missionary work among the on Friday evenings. and this is one of Ohinese.My interest in these people the influences which moulded his fam- has simply been a philanthropic one, the work being forced on me as an offi- ily for Ohrist and His service at a tender cer of the Prison Society, in which I age. His whole influence was in favor have been called to defend them against of a consecrated life. The memorial the cruel and' unjust persecutions to service was an impressive and mem- which they have been from time to time subjected at the hands of our own peo- orable occasion, in the college chapel ple. In this way I have come to be at Keuka Park, N. Y. According to recognized as their friend and advocate previous announcement the people as- in this region, and not because of any sembled, and all seemed intent on special missionary work among them. I have the hope and confidence that paying homage to the model modern God's elect will be safely gathered into Ohristian hero in the world's great the kingdom out of every nation and mission work. tribe under heaven; but I do not be- lieve that the coddling methods used to get these Ohinamen into the Sabbath- The newspaper8 have been making school will ever result in any success.
no little capital of a reported remark of " Respectfully, .. E. R. DONEHOO." Rev. Dr. Donehoo, of Pittsburgh, to the effect that, after long and large ex· perience of mission work among the Yukichi Fukuzawa, the" Grand Old Ohinese in this country, "he has never Man of Japan," though about twenty yet found, and never expected to find, years younger than the members of a thoroughly converted Chinese." ,This that famous triumvirate, Gladstone, statement has been made the more of in Bismarck, and Li Hung Ohang, has view of Dr. Donehoo's advocacy of more than any other man brought Japan Christian missions, etc. And now Dr. to her position among civilized nations.
Donehoo rises to explain; and, as a Thirty-five years ago he visited this country, and on his return home intro- specimen of the facility with which duced the Webster Dictionary to his countrymen, a book that is considered some people misunderstand and mis- the foundation of Japan's intellectual power; he also introduced English into quote, it may be well to append his own all the schools. In days when Japan was divided into two parties-one for explanation. He writes to the New and the other against foreigners-he ad- vocated the opening of his country to York Obser'l!er: the New World; and his book in be- half of Western civilization, which he .. Entirely too much has been made wrote from his studies and travels in out of a very .innocent statement of America, had a considerable effect in mine, not intended for publication, in restoting to the throne the dynasty of regard to the outcome of missionary work in this city. When questioned as to my opinion of the method"here em- ployed to reach Ohinamen with the Gos- pel, I unhesitatingly condemned the which the present emperor is a member. familiar friend by his carefully pre- The Jiji Shimpo (the Times Newspaper) is his organ ; and although he does not pared monthly notes of the progress of actively manage it, his sons are the editors, and its influence is widespread, the kingdom. We have seen no other doubtless because it is independent in every sense_ Perhaps his greatest bene· book that covers the same ground. And faction was the founding of a school known as the Kewgijiuku University, this was one reason for the work so carewhich is second only to the Imperial Uni.versity at Tokio in point of num- fully and admirably done. The book bers and rank of scholarship. Mr. ]j'ukuzawa comes from the common begins by laying down principles, the people, and is known as the "great commoner," and what shows above all basis of all missions, in Christ's own the character of the man is that he has never allowed himself to be carried conception and command. Then are away by his success, and has modestly refused to accept decorations, honors, briefly traced early attempts at evanor even the peerage from the Mikado.- Exchange. gelization, the influence of medireval " Missions at Home and Abroad" is missions on European history, etc. ; the title of Dr. E. M. Wherry's com- then the modern revival or renaissance pilation of papers and addresses at the of missionary life from Carey on to World's Congress of Missions in Chicago our day. He describes what he aptly in 1893, of which the editor was corre- calls the phenomenon of missionary ex- sponding secretary. It is published by pansion, traces the work done in India, the American Tract Society, New York. Africa, Persia, Korea, Turkey, China, In this book are thirty or more essays South Seas, Japan, North and South or addresses from representative men and women on home and foreign mis- America, etc., and then gives a final outsions, the questions that concern Jews and Mohammedans, Turks and Indians look on the unpossessed domain. For and lepers, etc., and city missions as well. Some of the papers are profound- this book we invoke God's blessing. It ly philosophical, others as profoundly practical. While there are flentiments is a new and valuable contribution to here contained which we could not agree with, the body of this testimony the study of the greatest practical probis of peculiar value. We would call special attention to Bishop Nicholson'S lem ever put before the Church. paper on" The Jew and his Land ;" Dr. Dennis's, on "The Inaccessible R. H. Woodward Company, 220 and Fields;" Wellesley C. Bailey's on "The Work Among Lepers;" George 222 North Charles Street, Baltimore, E. Post's on "Medical Missions;" 'Ehomas Kane's on "Consecration of Md., have published" Forty Years in Property;" and Joseph Cook's on " Victories and Hopes of Missions." China," by Rev. R. H. Graves, D.D.
One of our editorial staff, Rev. D. L. The retail price is $1.50. The work is sold by subscription, but where there Leonard, recently published .. A Hun- are no agents the book may be obtained by writing direct to the publishers. A dred Years of Missions, " through part of the proceeds from the sale of this book are to be given to missions, Funk & Wagnalls. This is the story and iu order to interest ministers in for- eign missions, the publishers furnish of the march of events since Carey's this volume to any minister whose year· ly income is less than $500 upon receipt humble beginning in 1792. The author of 40 cents in stamps.
was himself a very useful superinten- Dr. Graves has been in China for more than one generation, and has been dent of missions in the home field of a personal witness of the stupendous changes which he chronicles, and which Utah and surrounding territory, and in have nearly all of them occurred since the Tientsin treaty of 1861, when he had theso pages he has for years been a already been in China five years. In this valuable book an unusually ob- servant man has traced the conservative and reconstructive forces which have been contending for the mastery. He shows that ruin is before the Celestial Empire which can be arrested only by the acceptance of the lessons taught in history as to the secrets of a true and progressive national life, and especially the necessity of a religious faith that has in it the elements of individual and SHANGHAI, May 21, 1895.
national regeneration. The illustrations DEAR FRIENDS: I feel it laid on my in Dr. Graves's book are superb. heart to communicate with you by let- ter, as I have done before when delayed in China, and to thank you very warm- Mrs. M. G. Watt writes from Guelph, ly for your continued help in our ser- vice here. I shall not be able to meet Canada, that much more is being done any of you personally for some time, for the lepers of India and other lands and I have been unable to keep in touch than is usually known, and that a large with you as I could have wished through amount of .. leper literature" is free, Ohina'8 Million8. I am, therefore. ask- ing Mr. Sloan to forward to you a copy distributed only on one condition-that of a little sketch of the mission which I it be passed round after reading. Her daughter prepares pamphlets on the mrwas able to prepare when confined to room by sickness. You are partners subject of European lepers, etc., and wIth us in this branch of God's work in China, and will, I am sure. rejoice wit h thus th'lY were enabled to send $1500, us in what He has wrought tor the in· $600 of which came from Guelph, to terior of this needy land.
the treasurer in the old country. Six It is over a year now since we again auxiliaries are already at work iii. Can- reached Shanghai, expecting, after a short stay, to return to England. We ada, that in Guelph being the pioneer had not been here long, how('ver, ere and holding monthly meetings in all the we felt unmistakably called to visit a churches in turn. number of our inland stations. While away in the interior the sad war be- tween Japan and China broke out, and F. A. Jefferd, missionary in Funchal, it became clear that my duty was to re- Madeira, asks prayers of our readers for main here until thc rest.oration of peace.
the mission work he is conducting in A second journey enabled me to visit other stations, und was safely accomconnection with W. G. Smart, his plished before the end of the year.
brother-in-law. In 1884 the Protestant In January I was laid aside, and a General Mission was founded, with the protracted tIme of weakness ensued, object of evangelizing the island, with from the effects of which I have not yet its population of 140.000. They have fully recovered. I was able, however, since been permitted to form the first to visit Yang-chau and Gau-king be- Baptist church and two sub·stations in fore the scattering of the students; and other parts of Madeira. The objects my heart was greatly rejoiced a); each kept in view are the work among sail- place. Never have parties of brighter, ors stopping at the port. the teach- more capable, and more consecrated ing in day schools. and preaching among workers gone out from these homes the residents of the island, and the circulation of the Word of God and Chris- than this year. tian literature. After these brief visits, when consid- The mission among sailors was found- ering the question of reaching home in ed in 1876 by the late George Smart, time for Keswick, we were led to see and the Sailors' Rest in 1882 by W. G. clearly that Mr. Stevenson should re- Smart. turn and we remain in CIJina. I trust that he may have the opportunity of During 1894 vessels carrying a total crew of 31,225 men and 29.191 passen- meeting many of you. gers entered the port. It will be seen The restoration of peace will have rewhat ample opportunity is afforded for most needed service among seafaring joiced you, and is the answer to many men. Only 5 per cent of the inhabit- prayers. We must thank God for the ants of Madeira can read or write. preservation of His servants during the time of war, and continue to pray that These brethren. Smart and Jefferd, rebellion may not be permitted to folwill gladly respond to any inquiries. low, and that the troops may be safely and welcome any gifts to aid in their blessed and self-denying work. The disbanded and dispersed. address is 29 Rua do Conselheiro, Fun- A new call is given us to hasten the chal, Madeira. evangelization of China; let us remem- ber the power we possess in united prayer. Five years ago there were 1296 China missionaries. The Shanghai Mis- The following letter, addressed to all sionary Conference of 430 missionaries prayed and appealed for new ordained friends and donors to the China Inland and unordained workers-1OOO men in Mission, will be read with interest: fl… " years. What has been the response? No less than 1153 new missionaries have filled missionaries may be <lent out, and come out since that time-481 of them that all of us here may be filled to overhaving been men. Not just as we asked, flowing with the living water, and bebut as God saw best. And doubtless lieve me, there would have been a still fuller re- Yours gratefully in Christ, sponse but for the war. Now we have J. HUDSON TAYLOR. peace, and we must look for large and immediate reinforcements.
We in the C. I. M. have been con- Ohina's Orisis. scious that God was preparing us for this. Needed facilities have been sup- An .. Appeal for Missionaries for plied without which large reinforce- China, " addressed to all Protestant ments would have embarrassed us. The need of enlarged premises in China and churches of Christian lands, has been England was spoken of at our annual issued by Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, and meetings in 1887, and it was mentioned that a site had been obtained in Shang- we gladly reprint it : hai, and that one was in view in Lon- In May, 1890, the General Conference don. In the record of the annual meet- of Missionaries, assembled in Shanghai, ings of the following year Mr. Broom- and representing the 1296 Protestant hall reported that the latter also was missionaries then in China, issued an obtained, and gave the reasons why the urgent appeal for 1000 men within five mission needed and should have" much years; and appointed a permanent com- more accommodation" for the home mittee to observe and report the results work. Both these needs hal'o been of the appeal, consisting of Rev. J.
met, and we have to thank God for suit- Hudson Taylor, of Shanghai; Rev.
able premises, not only in London and William Ashmore, D.D., of Swatow; Shanghai, but also in several important Rev. H. Corbett, D.D., of Chefoo ; Rev.
centres in China. God has also given C. W. Mateer, D.D., LL.D., of Tung- us valued workers who are carrying on chow; Rev. C. F. Reid, D.D., 01 Shang- the business work of the mission in hai.
them. My beloved brother-in-law, Mr. At the same time the lady missiona- BroomhalI, has retired from the work, ries of the Conference put forth an ap- and we shall often miss him; he has peal for additional lady 'Vorkers.
not done so, however, before our hon- The five years have now elapsed, and orable secretary, Mr. Sloan, with our the Rev. C. F. Reid, D.D., has carefully competent staff of helpers, was thorough- collected and tabulated the returns.
ly able to carry it on. Miss William- From these it appears that 45 societies son, who as an honorary missionary had have sent new workers to China since superintended the Shanghai home for May, 1890. Some unconnected mis- some years, is at my request rendering sionaries have also come out. Includ- the same kind of service in London. ing these, the following numbers are And I need not further refer to the help reached: Male missionaries, 481 ; wives of Mr. Marcus Wood in England, of of missionaries, 167 ; single ladies, 505.
Mr. Graham Brown in Scotland, or to Total in fi ve years, 1153.
Miss Soltau's honorary services in the These numbers do not exactly corrc- ladies' training home, etc. Here in spond with the appeal-only 481 of China. during Ml·. Stevenson's absence, them being men. God knew the needa Mr. William Cooper, who has been of China, and sent those He saw would helping him for some time as assistant be most helpful. The answer, there- deputy director. is conducting the fore, is a gracious response, and shows work; and we have now the help of What may be done by united prayer and Mr. C. '1'. l!'iske here, who for so many effort; and thus adds to our responsi- years acted as financial secretary in bility to use these means stilI more large- London. Never before were we so well ly for the advancement of the Redeem- prepared for definite advance, and our er's kingdom in China. An important hope and prayer is that now that the crisis in China's history has been war is over we may have given to us reached. The war just terminated does many" willing skilful" helpers-men not leave her where she was. It will and women-for every department of inevitably lead to a still wider opening missionary service. of the empire and to many new develop- Continue to pray for us, dear friends, ments. If the Church of Christ does not and to help us as God may lead you. enter into the opening doors, others Thank God for the hundreds of souls will, and they may become closed against being reaped each year, and ask that her. We would reiterate some of the soon the aunual increase may be very earnest words of appeal, written five llluch larger. Pray that only Spirit- years ago, which have to-day, on the eve. of great changes and of great op- help. • •• That the holy and loving portunities, still more urgent weight and Spirit of God may incline your hearts should lead to more vigorous effort. to respond to His call is our earnest The Conference said in 1890 : prayer." " Realizing as neTer before the magnitude of China and the utter inade- To the above extracts we will only quacy of our present numbers for the speedy carrying into execution of our add the last paragraph of the appeal of Lord's command, 'Go ye into all the the Conference for 1000 men: world and preach the Gospel to every .. We make this appeal in behalf of creature,' therefore " Resolved, That we, the 430 members 300,000,000 of unevangelized heathen j of the Missionary Conference, now in we make it with all the earnestness of session in Shanghai, earnestly and unanimously appeal to you to send out our whole hearts as men overwhelmed speedily as many hundreds as can possibly be secured of well-qualified or- with the magnitUde and responsibility dained men…• of the work before us j we make it with "We appeal to young men to give unwavering faith in the power of a risen themselves to this work, .•. to indi- Saviour to call men into His vineyard vidual congregations to greatly increase their contributions for the support of and to open the hearts of those who are one or more of these men ; to Christian men of wealth to prayerfully consider His stewards to send out and support the duty and privilege of giving themselves personally to this work, or of them, and we shall not cease to cry supporting their representatives. mightily to Him that He will do this "This Conference • • . would also present a direct appeal to the home thing, and that our eyes may see it." churches for lay missionaries. . . . ,It would point to the many millions of Time is passing. If 1000 men were our fellow·men who have never heard the Gospel of the grace of God j and to needed five years ago, they are much some millions more who, though tbey have possessed themselves of some por- more needed now. Of the 1296 mis· tions of His word, still fail to compre_ hend its meaning for want of some one sionaries in China, only 589 were men j and of them not a few have entered into to guide them. . • . .. We appeal, then, to our lay breth- their rest or have returned home from ren .•. to solemnly ask themselves various causes. In view of the new whether, for the greater glory of God, they are not called to meet this pressing facilities and enlarged claims of China, need and to devote themselves, their the next five years should see a larger service and their wealth to this missionary enterprise in China." reinforcement than that called for in To the above earnest words we add 1890. Will not the Church arise and the following extracts condensed from the" Appeal of 204 Lady Members of take immediate and adequate action to the Missionary Conference" : meet the pressing needs of this vast land? " We . . . come to you, our sisters in Christ, with an urgent appeal on be- On behalf of the Pel'manent Commithalf of the • • . women and children of J. HUDSON TAYLOR. China. . • • tee, "Beloved sisters, if you could see SHANGHAI, May, 1895. tbeir sordid misery-, their hopeless, loveless lives, their Ignorance and sinful- (Additional copies of this appeal may ness as we see them, mere human pity would move you tJ do something for be had at the Presbyterian Mission their uplifting. But there is a stronger motive that should impel you to stretch Press, at $1 per 100.) out a helping hand, and that we plead -the constraining love of Christ. We Rev. J. Hudson Taylor well says: who are in the midst of this darkness " We need persons who will consecrate that can be felt send our voices across their lives to foreign mission service at the ocean to you, our sisters. and be- home. It is for some to consecrate their seech you, by the grace of Christ our lives, their thoughts, their prayers to just this service. I believe that some Saviour, that you come at once to our of the best missionary work that is done to-day is done by invalids who never leave their bedrooms, or by old people, or by those who are very poor and have not much to give; but they give the Lord what is most precious-a true yearning heart, a constant remem- brance, a constant prayer."
W. Burns Thomson, M.D., F.R.S.C.E., FiR.S.E., was in some sense one of the fathers of modern medical missions. He accounted it his highest earthly honor to write "medical missiouary" after his name, for it identified his whole career They arrived in Yokohama without any with the Lord and His apostles. This place to live, but soon rented a Bud- godly man was God's elect servant to dhist temple for a house, and all the cOlhmunicate to the Church the medical idols were taken away and stored. Mrs.
missionary impulse after the way had Hepburn was the first American woman been prepared by Asahel Grant, Parker, who ever landed in Japan, and was con· Hobson, Lockhart, in various quarters sidered a great curiosity. She is pres of the globe, and when the Edinburgh ent with her husband here. Dr. Hep- Medical Missionary Society had been burn opened the first dispensary in that organized, and men like Dr. Coldstream country; and performed the first surgical and Dr. Handyslde had been the elo- operation. He worked for six years quent advocates of such forms of mis- before the first convert was made, who sbn work by both their tongues and was baptized in Dr. Hepburn's dispen- pens. sary. He assisted in the first transla- Dr. Thomson we have long regarded tion of the Bible into Japanese, a work as the finest specimen of a medical mis- which was completed in siX; years.
sionary we have ever met. His large Now there are 40,000 converts, and pos- brain and well-furnished mind was the sibly :t.oO,OOO under Christian instruc- handmaid of one of the tenderest and tion.
most sympathetic natures trained in Seven of the great missionary family suffering's school. And his passion for of Scudders were present. This famhis Lord and for the souls He died to ily counts five hundred and thirty years' save brought him into such identity service on the mission field. Dr. and with Christ that he was ever filling up, Mrs. Blodget have been in continuous like Paul, that which is behind of the service since 1853, and Dr. William Ashsufferings of His Master in his own flesh more since 1850. These men do not for His body's sake. With holy insight " die at the top." They are out on the into God's truth, rare singleness of aim, picket line of all the thinking and childlike simplicity of character, de- movement of the age. voutly prayerful l$bits, and a peculiar charm of personality, Dr. Thomson The Sunday morning service will be stands before those who knew him as ever memorable. The Fellowship and one of the most unique men of modern Consecration Meeting at nine o'dock history. furnished a fitting prelude to the ser- mon at 10.30 by Rev. W. E. Witter, These reminiscences of his life, edited M.D. The serVlCe for young people, a by Dr. J_ L. Maxwell, published by stereopticon composite lecture, the presi- Hodder & Stoughton, Paternoster Row, dent's reception on the lawn, and the London, E. C., will be thankfully read farewell meeting for those returning to by thousands. their fields before another annual meet- ing were all interesting. Forty-four of We cannot find space for the bio· those present expect to be once more in graphical sketches of the veterans. We the midst of the fray abroad within a give only one. Dr. Hepburn graduated few coming months. at Princeton, and in 1840 was appointed to missionary work, and he and his The officers elected for the ensuing young wife sailed in a whaling ship year are: President, J. T. Gracey, when there were only two steamers in D.D., Rochester, N. Y.; Vice-Presithe world. They went to Singapore, dents, Cyrus Hamlin, D.D., S. L. Baldand soon were transferred to Amoy, win, D.D., Rt. Rev. C. C. Penick, China, when they were associated with D.D., F. A. Cassidy, William Ashmore, many of the early missionaries. Owing D.D., Henry H. Jessup, D.D., Jacob to failing health they returned home, Chamberlain, D.D.; Secretary, Rev. and in 1859 were appointed to Japan. W. H. Belden, Clifton Springs, N. Y. ; Associate Secretary, Mrs. Dr. C. C. Thayer; Treasurer and Librarian, Rev. C. C. Thayer, M.D. ; Executive Com- mittee, Rev. J. A. Davis, Chairman, Nyack, N. Y. ; Rev. C. W. Cushing, D.D., Rev. J. L. Ammerman, D.D., Rev. L. R. Luther, Mrs. W. H. Belden, Mrs. Wellington J. White, Mrs. J. T.
Gracey.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
lIDITED BY BEV. D. L. LEONARD.
Extracts and Translations from Foreign manam vres both on land and sea; has Periodicals. utilized ironclads for sea fights; has availed herself of the most modern type BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, of death-dealing weapons; and has seized on the most approved forms of MASS. high explosives. She has struck terror into the hearts of the Chinese, and has MISCELLANEOUS. pUed up dead Chinamen all over the neighborhood of Japan. What more -" Dr. Glover, in his valedictory ad· evidence is needed? Our brethren of dress, at the Baptist Union, to missiona- Korea are indeed civilized."-Catholie ries returning to the field, gave utter- Home JOU1'nal. ance to some weighty thoughts which are more and more coming to the front. -The brethren of the Rhenish Mis- He said: •If you could reproduce in sionary Society are, on the whole, India and China a churcb exactly on cheered by a steady progress of their our pattern it would be to your dispar- work: 50, 60, or 70 baptisms in a month agement and not to your praise. There seems to be a very usual report for It. are bits of the Gospel which only the missionary. heathen can see, and which, in this atmosphere of smoke, we cannot behold. _co Her Majesty's Acting Consul- Find those out, brethren. Let forms of General at Seoul, in Korea, Mr. C. T. church life be native to the place. You, Gardner, has published a pamphlet exin all your judgments, must be inde- pressing his views on the question of pendent of us, and you must teach your • How to lessen the recurrence of anticonverts to be independent of you. Christian and anti-foreign riots in You must decrease that Christ the Mas- China. ' Among the causes of dislike ter may increase, and that you may which actuate some of the Chinese serve Him. Your work, so great, use- against Christianity he instances jeal. ful, successful, has opened t~e way for ousy at the superiority in intelligence work still greater, more useful, and and morality of the Christians. He more successful. Go on, not with the says: • The Christian education of the idea of mere continuance, but walking children of converts undoubtedly proby the cloud and fire, and then become duces greater intelligence and a higher to others a pillar of cloud and fire which moral tone than the Chinese non-Chris· will lead them.' "-Bombay Guardian. tian education; the consequence is that Christian Chinese are obtaining a suc- -" That world which assumes to it- cess in life far greater than non-Chrisself the appellation of civilized awakens tians of the same class. There is hardly to a realization of the fact that the a ·high official in the empire who bas genius of civilization has retraced a not one or two ChrIstians in his employ course back to the farthest East, and as confidential servants. These Christhat the Zeitgei8t has possessed even the tiaus are equally successful in obta.ining heathen of those lands. Japan has at clerical and other employ in Governone bound stepped into the ranks of ment and commercial offices, such as the civilized powers. England has by the Imperial Maritime Customs, Mining treaty explicitly recognized it as such. and Public Works, the China Mer- What else could be done? Japan has, chants' Steam Navigation Company, as It were, passed a public examination etc. "~Chureh Missionary InteZZigeneer. and demonstrated its fitness for admission into the company of civilized pow- -The Tibetan, published at Toronto ers. She has displayed her skill in war
EXTBACTB AND TRANSLA.TIONS
by the Tibetan Missionary Union, baa in consisted for the most part of serfs and the December number a full notice of slaves; few of the noble or wealthy be- "The New Acts of the Apostles," longed to them, as Paul attests. Chris- which it pronounces "pre·eminent tianity always found a firmer hoid in a among the books iBBued from the re- people in proportion as it took hold of ligious press during 1894,." "The vol- the poorer classes. The successes of ume is 80 replete and complete with all Boniface in Germany would not have that concerns the extension of God's been possible without the previous toil- kingdom on earth that we feel con- some activity of the Irish evangelists strained to recommend it to the careful addressed to the insignificant and weak, study of all who have the interests of and of such men as St. Severinus, who, that kingdom at heart. A handsomely from 4M on, was, amid the hostile colored map showing the extent of pre- storms of the Volkerwandm·ung, a help- vailing religions of the world and the ing, comforting messenger of Heaven progress of evangelization forms a valu- to the sorely harassed dwellers in the able supplement to the book, being the ancient Noricum along the Danube, and most complete thing of the kind ever at the foot of the Alps, and in no mean published. " measure alleviated their distress. He -The Harvelt Field (English Wes- was one of those figures that remain unleyan) has changed its place of publica- forgotten in the memory 01 a people betion to Mysore. Wherever published, cause they knew how to grave imperit is one of the wisest and most valu- ishably into the fugiti ve current of time able of missionary publications, and one the characters of self·denying love. So of the freest from partisanship. also to.day is Ohristian Frederick Schwartz (t1798) unforgotten in South -" Some weeks ago we alluded to India, who for fifteen whole months in the increasing number of well-lo-do· Tanjore fed daily before his dwelling Ohristian men and women who enter more than 11)00 persons (heathen, Mos- the mission field at their own expense. lems, Ohrlstians), and, among other We referred also to the increasing prac- deeds, delivered, by his intercession, tice of missionaries being supported by the city of Ouddalore from destruction. {ndivldual friends. Our editor has re- ..• We may well say : The measure of cently been the guest in London of Mr. the active benevolence which a mission Benjamin Broomhall, the General Secre- exercises is the measure of Its success. tary of the Ohina Inland Mission. In If missions ceased to account benevoregard to the two subjects above men- lence as the soul of their work, assuredtioned, Mr. Broomhall says that there ly their results would become a soundare 82 missionaries of the Ohina Inland ing brass and a tinkling cymbal. This Mission laboring at their own expense; fundamental tone and attitude of mis- 87 are supported entirely by friends, sions is under all circumstances a social and 16 are partly so supported. One factor of the first rank. In the measure friend supports five missionaries; three in which the individual missionary suppornwo each; and 39 support one shares in this temper, his activity will each. In two cases two friends support be lure in some way to result in an abiLl- one missionary between them. "-BtIfn,. ing blessing. The application of this 11(1,1/ (}u(1,rdi(1,1I.. principle to definite individual rda- -" Everywhere it appeal'll in hi.tory tions demands great wisdom. "-HERB that building from below upward hu I!IToSCH, in Der Mi88icn, Freund.
greater 8UCcess than the revel'll!. The way to the hearts of the great goes -" The year 11191) finds Nicaragua in through the hearts of the wretched. So undisturbed possession of what has for was it even at the time of the apostles. so many years been the territory of the The congregatioDi founded by them HOIklto Indians. A free nation, the
GENERAL HISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. [Octobel'
majority of whom are Protestants, has from God the gifts needed for the crisis : now, contrary to its strongly expressed wise fearlessness and faithful endur- desire, been incorporated with its Ro· anee. Amid the waves of excit6ment man Catholic neighbor. This has hap· and anxiety, amid frequent disquieting pened in spite of the Treaty of Managua, rumors, amid arrests and acts of vio- which guarantees independence and lence, amid lawlessness and public inse- autonomy to the }Ioskito Indians sub- curity, amid the flight and emigration ject. to a limited and defined 80verelgnty of those around them, tbey have stood on the part of Nicatagua. The explana- like rocks, a comfort, a help, and a tion of the strange riddle Is the attl· strengthening of the faith of many.
tude of the United States In view of They have lived as they have prayed, American interests in the projected endeavoring, as far as consistent with Nicaraguan Canal. So it comes that the the Word of God, and teaching their most decisive word that has been spoken people to • submit themselves to every as to this incorporation of the reserve Is ordinance of man (yes, of their new Ro· Prellident Cleveland's message to Con- man Catholic rulers) for the Lord's sake, gress, January 3d, 1895. He accepts and to seek the peace of the place where the Nicaragnan representation of the they dwell.' Without cessation they circumstances which led to their, occu- have discharged all their regular offices pation, and supports the action of that as pastors and teachers as far as e'ver the rcpublic. The Moekito side of the ques- circumstances allowed. And when duty tion has never been heard. "-Periodical demanded. they have stood out boldly Accounts (Moravian). against the pride and unreasonableness – " Bound up as our mission has been of the conquerors, defenceless as they for nearly half a century with the best were, save for the might of the Spirit, welfare of this little seml.independent of truth, and of a good conscience."- country, we cannot but regard the Ibid. Nicaraguan occupation as a sore blow for Moskito. It will be many a day be· -The excellent Australian missionfore Bluefields and Magdala recover It. aryof the Brethren, Dr. James Ward, has been called home.
Several of their best citizens have gone, -We observe that De Vrije Kerk, of never to return, and their slowly revlv· Holland, describes the Parsees as fire· ing trade has to contend wIth the in· worshippers, and says that the cbief creased customs duties demanded by object of tbeir worship is the sun.
the new rulers. As ,to the cost of the They, however. emphatically deny the mission, whose maintenance in full effi· designation, declaring that they wor- clency is now doubly necessary, it:is ship God alone. They reverence all the plain that it will be very much higher elements as being the work of the good in the future than it has been in the God, and especially fire, but deny that past. "-Ibid. they identify it with God.
-" Not one of our missionaries has -The FJrije Kerk from time to time been touched ; not one has fled from his publishes valuable reprints on various post, though advised to do so by white missionary Bubjects, under the title of as well as colored neighbors; not one Zendingsrubriek. Among them have of them has sat for a single hour within been some excellent papers on medireval prison walls, though the intruding missionaries, drawn out with true Dutch • Spaniards' have shown them much thoroughness . distrust, and though varied calumnies have threatened to issue In violent meas- -The Abogado Ori8tiarw Ilu8trado ures of that kind. The brethren in very justly holds up to those Mexican Bluefields have had to bear the brunt of Catholics who will not give charity to this situation, and they have received anyone that cannot show a confessor·'s certificate the example of the present
ENGLISH NOTES
Pope, who is paying the expenses of a of the Bible.' "-RlJ1Jue au ltli,l1onI young Protestant art student in Roml', Oontemporainea.
saying th!lt his Protestantism has noth· -:-The Jesuit missions of Paraguay, ing to do with his profession. whIch fell ultimately into such unhappy -" As the hardest struggle of Paul's abuses of cupidity and tyranny that missionary life was with those who, Spain and Rome were obllged to pro- pretending that the heathen were not scribe them, have been succeeded J>y ripe for the Gospel, insisted on first missions of that simple, cheerful, bibll- making them Jews, so the missionaries cal kind which are not likely to need of our day are bound manfully to with· any proscription.
stand those who, under a similar pre· tence that the heathen need a special preparation, insist on making extraneous English Note8.
additions to the proper missionary com· BY JAMES DOUGLAS. mission."-Dr. F. M. ZAHN, in Allge· meine Mi8sions·Zeitach1-ij't. London Mi.Bionary Society-The I88a· -" The following official report, ad· mutti DiBtriet.-The Rev. W. R. Le dressed by the Chief Surveyor to the Quesne, who was recently entrusted President of the RepUblic of Paraguay, with the charge of this district, gives testifies to the results obtained by the an account of a visit lately paid to its South American Missionary Society three stations, Baduria, Goburdanga, among the Chaco Indians: and Bongong. At Bongong he found the society's agent cowed by a sense of " , Knowing the interest which your educational inferiority and unable to Excellency cherishes in the prosperity take the bold stand called for. At Go· of the Chaco Indians, I have the honor burdanga the outlook was equally de· to inform you that I have to-day reo pressing. Here some three or four yearl turned from an excursion into the inte· ago a convert of great promise had been rior, made for the delimitation of a ter· won, and after his baptism at Calcutta, ritory in which the S. A. M. S. desires had returned to his home. But since to establish a station. In traversing the then he has disappeared, whether as the country I have been struck with the se· result of foul play or not has never come curity which we can now enjoy in the to light. The ZemindarB are hostile to bosom of this tribe, thanks to the labors the missionary aim from mercenary and of the agents of the aforementioned oppressive reasons. What is needed to society. Six years ago, when I last withstand them is such a witness for traversed this country, I dared only Christ as adds to his faith courage. The venture into it accompanied by fifteen state of things in Badurla has not yet picked men armed to the teeth. We properJy entered the reaping stage. never dared to stray to any distance The good work has been carried on in from our camp; at night sentinels kept this place for many years, and there guard and we remained with our arms have been in the course of the years within reach. several baptisms, but the converts won have removed elsewhere, and there is as " , This time I made my survey with yet in Baduria no church at all. Thil Indian help and without fire-arms. At is trying to the workers, but out·door night we slept in full security, no mat· preaching and house·to-house visitation ter where we chanced to be ; instead of are maintained, as well as two schooll, avoiding the villages, as formerly, we one for boys and the other for girls. sought to encamp near them. . .. A missionary lady, a young unmarried Englishwoman, can traverse without Ohinese Oovenantera.-The Rev. J.
danger countrios absolutely unexplored, Sadler, of Amoy, has just made the dis- healing the sick and teaching the trutba covery that at Lohin there is a little
'788 GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
company of men who, for seven or eight funds not available for the society's years, have entered into a covenant with general work, have amounted to £272,- all diligence to stir up each other to 000, thus exceeding by more than £20,- right conduct. They are known among 000 those of any former year. Cause the Christians as Covenanters. One of for praise Godward is due for the mani- these writes: "The most lamentable fest evidences of the working of His thing is that vested interests of the fam- Spirit all over the world which is great- ily hinder one in obeying Christianity· ly in excess of former years. The total and getting itf:l instruction. What is in number of adult converts this year is my heart cannot be written by the pen ; 4200. including 1500 in India, 1400 in but the doctrine does not despise those Africa, 650 in China. Among these are less instructed. The great thing is a many individual cases of deep interest, holy life. This is the essential. Now, including a notable band of prominent though I meet that which fetters me, men in the Punjab, of whom Dr. Clark stm my heart keeps on hoping. Please writes: .. Such splendid fellows, with pray for me, so that what we say to one gentle yet strong faces; it is an inspira- another may not be without effect. In tion to see them." We felt special in- this way my grief may be assuaged." terest in the sentence, "Among the B4ptist Mi88iona'1'1f Societll.-The Rev. Ainu there are now more than 400 H. Ross Phillips, who has just returned Christians." The remotest outpost of to the Congo, writes in B most cheerful this society is occupied by Edmund strain of the hearty welcome received Peck, the intrepid Bailor missionary, and the missionary prospects. .. The who bas been conveyed in a whaler, people," he says, .. came a long way on with a young companion, to Cumberthe road to meet us, and Saturdayeven- land Sound, in the polar regions, where ing they crowded the station and ex- the Eskimo have put up for them a litpressed very heartily how glad they tle tabernacle twenty feet long. made were to see us. For several days I had of whalebone and sealskins.
people coming in to sec me from other We,leyan Mis8iona'1'1f Societll.-We towns, bringing messages of welcome glean the following particulars from from those whom I had visited when the abstract and general summary of out in itineration in former years. . . . the operations of this society during the The decided increase in membership, past year: Circuits, 328 ; chapels, 2104 ; the ever.deepening interest in the Gos- missionaries and their assistants, 349 ; pel in the outlying towns, and the ear- other paid agents, as catechists, daynest appreciation of the New Testament school teachers, and interpreters, 2587 ; in their own language, to say nothing full and accredited church·members, of the wider-spread efforts of the native 40.994; scholars, 80,791. More than Church-all these convince me that half the missionaries are natives of the there is every reason to thank God and countries in which they are working, take courage." and no part of the work is more steadily G!&urch Mis8iona;ry Society.-From held in view than that which is directed the general review of the year we cull toward raising an Indian ministry in the following particulars: Within Benn India, a Chinese ministry in CWna, and years the total number of missionaries an African ministry in Africa. Evan- bas almost doubled. In 1888 the num- gelization, as the primary and central ber reported was 888; to-day It is 684 duty of the missionary, is kept ever -in both cases exclusive of wives. prominent, and the number of those en- Financially. too, the result has been in gaged in it increases year by year. The accordance with the forward movement work among the children comprehends of faith. During the past year the total a total of over 65,000 in Asia and Af- receipts, excluding gifts to special rica.. Ital!/.-In an address recently given Kottedankada, four years ago heathen, on the subject of Wesleyan missions In and now transformed into a Christian Italy, the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes re- community. At the present time the lated the following circumstance of agents of this society are preaching the which he was an eye-witness: "I went Gospel in 54 different languages in vari- to our church in Rome and haw Capel- ous parts of the globe.
lini addressing a hundred young sol- Ohina Inland Mi88i0n.-As instances dIers. fifty of whom were received into of Chinese brotherly love, the Rev. the fellowship of our church that night. James Meadows relates the two follow- Later in the evening, one of them, who ing incidents: .. At Hsinghien, while was going to America, gave an account we were there holding services for canof his history. He said he had come to didates for baptism, news came that "ne them nominally Catholic, but really of our very poor brethren in the counagnostic, but that Capellini had brought try had just been burned out of house him into that hall, and bit by bit the and home. One of our earnest preachlight had dawned on his mind. Now ers broke into prayer for him and his he was rejoicing in Christ, and he was wife and family, but was so affected going to be a minister for Christ." that he could not proceed, and straight- Pre&byterian Ohurch oj Englarul.- way $16 were subscribed, $11 of which Speaking on the subject of Formosa, the poor men and women assembled Mr. Campbell, missionary from that contributed 1 The Christian affection uland, described the work there as in a existing among these country people is hopeful and encouraging state. " The often thus manifested in most practical Church," he said, .. was well advised ways. A widow could not get her fields by Dr. Douglas thirty years ago, when reaped, as all her deceased husband'.
she turned her eyes to that rich country, friends were opposed to her being a wherein mission work was commenced Christian. The brethren in a neighbor- by Dr. Maxwell.•. _ One thing that ing village heard of this, and meeting was beyond all cavil and criticism was together, deputed certain of their num- that whereas thirty years ago the island ber at once to reap the harvest for her, was a spot of unbroken heathen dark- while the remainder kept watch I"
ness, there was now a large native church." Mr. Campbell further said THE KINGDOM. that at a recent conference held with a view to form a presbytery on that island, -" Which is tbe 'foreign nation' in two intelligent young men were chosen the thought of God 1" pertinently asked to be ordaIned as native pastors. a foreign miBBionary in a great audience recently. And it is more than likely Societyj01' the Propagation oj the Gos- that not one in that multitude was able pel.-This society, which .will in the to make reply. course of a few years close its second century of labor and prayer, has many – A recent writer notes that the visit signs of increase. Special attention is of a very disagreeable and unappreciacalled to the venture into Kashmir; to tive Afghan prince recently cost Engthe expansion of the Church in Assam land the sum of $250,000. This amount and the Transvaal; to the independence would pay for 250 men, good, faithful of the Malagasy in building their own and agreeable, who would return the churches and restoring those destroyed visit each by a year's missionary work. by a hurricane without thought of aid – Ob8e1"/!e1'.
from the mission; to the increasing -The Westminster Gazette says that hunger of the people in the Telegu the popularity of Spurgeon's sermons is country for the privileges of the the most amazing literary success of the Church; and, further, to the village of century. The number of sermoDll published is 2396, and the total number of come was £2,477,132, a decrease of volumes sold is nearly 100,000,000. nearly a quarter of a million compared They are kept in sheet form in a large with that of 1892. Of the decrease, cellar in Paternoster Square, in long £31,000 is in English contributions, lines of cupboards, so that a supply of £18,000 in Scotch; the decrease in any particular discourse can be got at American over £200,000, The contri- once. Four fifths of the supply have butions from England amonnted to £1,- been sold in the United Kingdom; the 159,888; from Scotland to £197,856 i remainder have gone to this country from America to £614,594.
and to Australia. -" When the history of the Protes- tant churches, at the end of the nine- -Not long ago two Americans, trav- teenth century, shall be written, two elling in Alaska, approached the Kus- facts will have to be related, contradickokwim district. They heard the na- tory in appearance, and yet equally true. tives everywhere talking about the The first .is the sterility of religious " Kilbuckamuks," and expected to thought, the strange disintegration of meet with some tribe hitherto unknown beliefs. Criticism has so analyzed, disto georraphers. Presently they reached sected, and discussed the objects to a Moravian station where they found the which it has been applied that the facts missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Kilbuck, and which were formerly the most certain, It trsnspired that the new" tribe" con· the facts on which our most sacred slsted of those who had surrendered hopes repose, have become, as it were, themselves to the infiuence of the Gos- volatilized in our hands, and even the truest believers ask t.hemselves in hours no.- pel, the name of their teachers being at- of anguish: .. Am I really sure of that tached to them by the surrounding tlvel.
-India, like Ohlna, Is to have its own which I believe 1" This is one fact, medical missionary journal. Each of and it is a sad one. But there is an- the following countries have medical other which is very consoling: it is the missionary magazines: Scotland, 1; development in our Protestant churches England, 2; America, S. Two others of a multitude of works which are the in England are largely devoted to thIs product of faith, works of mercy, of agency, and several missionary journals help, of reformation, of evangelization, devote space specially to medical mis- and among all these enterprises the most sions. admirable certainly is the work of mis- -In May, 1890, the General Confer- sions. It is certain that never since the ence of missionaries in Shanghai, repre- first days of Christianity has the Gospel senting 1296 Protestant missionarIes accomplished more rapid and more asthen in China, issued an urgent appeal tonishing conquests than in our own for 1000 more men for China within five epoch. Missions march with giant years. At the same time the women-of steps, so that we can already foresee the conference appealed for more wom- the moment when the good news shall en workers. Rev. C. F. Reid, of Shang- have been carried to the very ends of hai, for a committee appointed to report the earth, and when, in accordance with the results of the call, states that in the the word of our Lord, the times shall five years there have been sent out 481 be ripe for the end. "-.M. Jean Meyer.
male missionaries, 167 wives of mis- WOMAN'S WORK. sionaries, and 505 single women, mak- ing a total of 1153. -The Intelligencer has this to say -Dean Vahl has issued his mission- with reference to the Church Mission- ary statistics for 1898, relating to no ary Society: "In Jnne, 1887, there fewer than 381 societies engaged in mis- were-22 women on the roll. Since that sions to the heathen. The entire in- date, more thaD 200 names have been entered; and after deducting a few home and abroad such a noble reinforce,.
deaths and retirements, 192 remain, ment of women filled with His Spirit, which does not incJude those lately ac- it is our part, surely, to render Him un- cepted togo out this autumn. We have faltering praise."
41 in West and East Africa; 39 in -The last report (1895) of the Lon. Egypt, Palestine, and Persia; 35 in don School of Medicine for Women ex- India; 11 in Ceylon; 32 in China; 30 hibits in detail the high standing and in Japan; 4 in the North Pacific." work of its IItudents. A steadily in· But in addition, at the stations of the creaSing number of the graduates are same society no less than 214 other being appointed to responsible official women are at wOlk, sent out by socie- pOllitions in Great Britain and the coloties in close affiliation. nies-iluch as medical officer to the gen- -As a result of such remarkable eral post-office; examiner for the govfeminine consecration and activity, to ernment life assurance fund; queen's quote again from the same magazine: lecturer on physiology to the National •• It has been said C. M. S. is becoming Association of Nurses; lecturer to the a women's society. If this referred to Technical Instruction Board, London our home circles, the word ' becoming' County Council; assistant medical offiwould be inadequate, for there is noth- cer, St. Stephen's Hospital, Delhi; resiing new in the fact that women take a dent physician, Kama Hospital, Bomlivelier interest in all Christian work at bay; lady principal female department, home and abroad, including C. M. S., Ceylon Medical College; and resident than men do. From the earliest days physician, Lady Aitchison's Hospital of the society, or at all events since for Women, Lahore. Last, but not least, 1813, when local associations began to we may mention by name the acting be formed, the larger part of the work house surgeon at the Kama Hospital, of spreading information and raising Bombay, Rukhmabaf. This high-caste funds-other than the actual preaching young Indian woman, after successand speaking-has been done by wom- fully resisting, through the English en. But the remark no doubt refers to courts, an attempt to coerce her into the increase of women missionaries; fulfilling 8 marriage contract made for and we have even been asked' why we her during infancy, came to England neglect the. men'! Neglect the men! to study medicine; she passed satisfacwhy, we are always appealing for them. torily all her examinations and took the Thank God, their numbers .have in- triple qualifications of the Scotch colcreased more rapidly than ever before leges and the M.D. degree of Brussels. during these very eight years that have -New York Evening Post.
seen the accession of so many women to -A paper, by a German zenana mis· our ranks; and the idea that men are sionary, in the Allgemeine Hi88ions-Zeit.
hindered from coming forward because schrift, gives a vivid glimpse into the women come forward is opposed to life of women and girls in the Moham· plain facts, besides being an unreason- medan harems of North India. This able notion in itself. It might as well woman was in the habit of visiting the be said that the Church of England is houae of a 1tlohammedan saint. One of becoming a female Church, because the his daughters was a bright: lively girl, large majority of workers in most par- to whom the visits of the missionary ishes are women, and that the' dearth gave the greatest pleasure. She over- of curates' is due to the increase of whelmed the .. Doctor Miss Sahib" with lady district visitors and lady Sunday- questions about the beautiful world school teachers I Seriously, when it which she had never seen. Her great has pleased God of late years to add to desire was to visit the missionary's our armies of Christian workers both at house, and as, in spite of her father's salntship. her notions of right and etoriea and basement, and containing 24 wrong were very elementary, she sue· rooms, was secured. The outlay, In.
ceeded at last, by feigning a aerlou! ill· cluding rent. taxes, and repairs, for the ness, in moving her lather to send her use of this property will be about $120 to the mission hospital. She was filled per month. The house is now being ,.ail with delight at the pleasant tlower gar. rearranged to make it suitable for the den of the hospital, a Bight ,he ne'lJeT' work.
8een before. But her fraud was discove~ It is expected that during the com· ed, and the poor girl had to go back to Ing fall and winter 21i students will be her cage. And even such 111 Moham· in residence. The co-operative board· medanism. Ing rate has been fixed at $4 per week, YOUNG PEOPLE. ea"h student to help with the work. The home Is at 112 Loomis Street, near -One of the most remarkable phases Jackson Boulevard, and is conveniently of the development of the Y. M. C. A. located for students attending the medimovement has been the increase in the cal schools.
number and value of the association -The BrooklynTimea evidently be- buildings. In 1890 there were reported lieves heartily in "practical politics,"
205, valued at $8,352,910. In the Year but has no stomach at all for such prac- Book of 1895 there are reported 805, tical religion as the Endeavorersof that valued at $16,091,780•. The increase in city display in their activity in helping five years is thus 100 buildings, or to enforce the law closing saloons on nearly one every two weeks; the total Sunday. This perturbed sheet would valuation being, In round numbers, have thoae youthful saints " go back to doubled. This remarkable growth in- primitive Christianity," and let good dicates two things chielly-that; the as· citizenShip alone I sociation movement has permanency – Yes, it is even so. "That in fourand that it meets with favor on the part teen years a single society, formed withof business men.- Young Men', Era. out any Idea of the future before it, but -An ~nalysis of .the attendance at the bent on a local work, should increase to recent World's Student Conference, at more than 10,000, and spread world- Northfield, shows these facts: Number wide, embracing a membership of 2,500,- of institutions represented: State, 10 ; 000, and generate a high enthusiasm and deuominational, 24; medical, 10; pre· consecration in Christian work, is a phe· paratory schools, 23; scientific, 8; nomenon not to be passed by with in- agricultural, 2; training, 8; theologi- difference or a sneer."
cal, 4.; unclassified, 39. Total, 118. -This table tells what the Presbyte~ Number of students in attendance, 459 ; rian Endeavorers have been doing for other delegates, 41 ; speakers and work- foreign missions : ers, 37. Total, 536. Amount subscribed to intercollegiate work, $2400. The de- Year Ending Societies. Amount. nominations represented were as fol- $5,265 April 30, 1891…. .. ….. . 864 14,228 April 30, 1892.. ………. 864 lows: Presbyterians, 120; Congrega- April 80, 1898….. . . . …. 1,269 24,808 tionalists, 89; Methodists, 76; Bap- April 30, 1894………… 1,856 29,244 tists, 78; Friends, 17; Reformed, 13; April 80, 1895………. ,. ~,487 38,161 Lutherans, 13; Episcopalians, 12; Total tor Aye year………….. '" ..S106,706 Christians, '1; no denomination speci- Increase of societies in four years, fied, 56. Total, 485. 2078 i average increase per year, 518, or -Chicago contains a home for young about Ii new societies for each day. men and women who have volunteered They are now supporting 45 missionafor the foreign field as medical misslona· ries.
ries. Last May a large tlat of three -The wide reach of the Endeavor
movement is Hown ia the fact that The first year the income reached but there is in Los Angeles a Chinese society 8187.62, with which only GO were sent of 15 boys and girls who aupport a na- into the country for two weeks. Since tive helper in China; one in Atlanta, then it has grown to near $80,000, with Ga., supports a free dispensary and a over 15,000 beneficiaries. In all about Bible training class and cultivates dOlV· $328,000 have been donated to this fund, ers for distribution among the sick and and almost 270,000 have been afforded aged. The society on board the Ohalrle8- an outing, one half for a aingle day and ton is planning for a seamen's mission half for a fortnight. with a reading-room and temporary home at NaillSaki, Japan. -The Christian Alliance, at its recent meeting lit Old Orchard, Me., raised -The societies in Cleveland have $72,000 for foreign missions. One memundertaken to set up about a score of ber gave land in California worth .10,- fountains or drinking-placeS in conven- 000, which rllpresented the savings of ient localities, and for the comfort of years, and a like spirit was shown by both man and beast, not omitting the others. Within a year this society has dogs even. lost 10 of its missionaries by death. The number now in the field or at home UNITED STATES. on furlough is 240, while 40 more are under appointment and about to take -General Carl Schurz is bearing a their departure. hand in home missionary effort in New York City by preaching righteousness -Rev. A. McLean, Secretary of the and sound sense to his brother Germans Christian (Disciple) Mission Board, hIlS in the current Parkhurst-Roosevelt sailed on a world tour to last a year, and campaign. He tells his fellow-Tcutons to include a visit to all the fields of that that they cannot afford to act as though society. they were the slaves of beer or the servants of the brewers in the controversy -During the last four yeara there over the enforcement of the excise laws. have been erected in the city of Chicago Also that they can .. get along better 41 new Methodist mission churches, without the opening of saloons on Sun- valued at nearly $500,000. Of these, days than without clean streets, a 81 have become self supporting. This plentiful supply of good water, good work has been accomplished through schools, public security, effective Bani- the efforts of the City Missioaary and tary arrangements, and the like, all the Church Extension Society. days of the week," IlS would be the case if Tammany government were re- -The Presbyterians can tell of " our stored. Quoth he: .. We should not twentieth church among the Sioux. " overlook the relative importance of this and other public interests, and espe- -To all appearance the American cially we should not make interests of Indian, like Dickens's little Jo, is fated more general importance dependent on evermore to be moving on. Even New this one thing." Metl&kahtla, which William Duncan, after being thrust out of .British Colum- -A recent I~pe~nt has an article bia, founded on Annette Island, Aluka, on the summer charities in New York has been invaded by a wild rush of City which traces them back to their miners, and his much·affiicted flock may beginning in 1878, when George F. be compelled again to abandon their Williams, of the Time8, was deeply homes. moved by hearing five ragged urchins in the City Hall Park say: II Let's play EUROPE. that we're in the country." The Tribune Fresh Air Fund dates from 1887. Great BritaiD.-At one of the recent meet.ings of the London Hissionary So- ciety, Dr. Wardlaw Thompson, the sec-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLI!'IENCE
retary, announced that since its com· work is done. Nine missionary socie- mencement the society has received ties share in this, and are represented £5,500,000 ($27,500,000) in contributions by 18 physicians, of whom 5 are natives.
lit home, and that nearly another mill- -Rev_ S. M. Zwemer, of Busrah, has ion had been contributed in the field by an article in the IntelZigencer entitled Christian friends, and especially by na- " There Is Much RulJbish," with refertive ChrIstians. In commenting upon ence to the Koran, to divers lives of this fact, he exclaimed," Why, we the prophet, and to Mohammedanism could buy six ironclads with that in general as a religion. And the text money, and in five years they would be of the article fully justifies the title_ obsolete. The first vote for the present French expedition to :lHadagascar was -Rev. R. M. Cole, secretary of the more than £2,000,000. They will spend Bitlis mission station of the American on that expedition more than all the Lon- Board, tells of their regret on the death don Missionary Society has spent for the of Rev. G. C. Knapp, who died of apoconversion and transformation of mul- plexy March 12th, after prolonged prostitudes during the century. Expendi- tration. He entered this mission fleJd tUfe on missions is the most economical in 1855 and continued in charge till channel for spending money, and yields 1890, when he was succeeded by his son, the largest return." As the ample re- George Perkins Knapp. He met with turn for such cost, 95,000 Malagasy are great opposition in his early days in the now members of the churches, with . field from the Gregorian Church. He nearly 500,000 under Christian instruc- lived to so win their esteem that they tion, While about 100,000 have cntered tendered burial for his body in their own church, which was, however, deinto the life of the redeemed above. clined. Mr. Cole says: <. The Lord -The medical auxiliary of the Church gives us this cheer of late, that the old Missionary Society gives this as a sum· Church people, who in early times permary of work accomplished: 29 fully secuted Protestants, even latterly lookqualified medical missionaries; 4846 in- ing askance, as if our only business in patients in the mission hospitals last the land might be to transmute Aryear, and 373,355 out-patients. The menians into noxious Protestants, now auxiliary proposes this year to relieve turn toward us as genuine Christians, the society's general funds entirely of having deep sympathy for abused huthe medical expenses of the missions, manity, so that our congregations and other than the personal allowances of schools are much increased of late. the missionaries and the cost of new Partly from this and partly from high buildIngs; to defray, that is, no less esteem of our aged associate a throng than £4000. of some two thousand crowded our -When recently Mr Wigram, so church and yard at the funeral, three long secretary of the Church Mission- leading priests, with their select singers ary Society, sent in his resignation, he and all the paraphernalia of a burial of enclosed in the letter a gift of £1000, their highest grade, taking prominent with which to start the fund for the part in the services at their own re- new Calcutta Divinity School, as "a quest. "
thank-offering for mercies and privi- India.-A live American Brahman leges enjoyed during upward of four- has been discovered, believed to be the teen years as honorable clerical secre- first of the gemt8 (may his tribe not intary." creaae) presiding at a shrine in the ASIA.. depths of the Himalayas. It is enough to know his name, which is Charles Islam.-In Palestine are to be found William De Rousette. He leads a her- no less than 14 stations where medIcal mit's life and one approaching to the asceticism of the average fakir. He and all, both young and old, some with becomes known to fame through an in- one eye, and some with the remains of terview lately published in the Phila- two, and some with terrific squints, and delphia Ti'TMII. baring their heads, proceeded to form a circle, with their hostess in the centre. -A calculation appears in the Indian Then all, with one accord, continued to Ohurch Quarterlv which figures it out shriek piteously for the space of two that, at the present rate of progress, at hours, while they beat their thighs and the end of four hundred years it will temples alternately with both hands. be found that Christianity has made ad- This is the customary mode of public vances in India equal to those made in mourning, though usually practised Europe during the first four centuries. only on the death of a husband or a son. A woman, to show her excessive -Rev. F. L. Neeld, in charge of the grief, will frequently go on day after Bareilly Methodist Theological Semi- day for a month, inflicting blows on her nary, India, reports that that institu- temples in the manner described till tion now has: Seniors, 22; middle blood flows and severe inflammation is class, 23; juniors, 30-total, 75. He excited in the eyes, accompanied by inemphasizes the necessity of training a tolerable headache. And now follows native ministry on the field. ulceration of the cornea, followed, after months of suffering, by cicatrices and -F. J. Martin gives this well-nigh opacities, and frequently as not by cata· incredible story of the lengths to which ract and all but total blindness. And Hindu women carry their" grief." He all this for the sake of, not genuine lays of the sex: II As a rule, one eye is grief, but for the sake of making an imgone, or both are red, bleared and tear· pression of mourning on the neighbors. ful; the eyelashes have turned inward And though aU the neighbors know it and have scratched the cornea till it is is sheer hypocrisy, yet each and all will, opaque and nearly sightless and past in her turn, do the same thing, iDlbginhealing; or a cataract has formed in ing she is imposing on the rest." one or both the eyes. On inquiring the cause of all this, the usual reply is that China.-Miss Ford, of the Canadian she has lost a son, and has cried till she Methodist Mission, gives this bit of obhas literally cried her eyes out. It is servation and experience: "One has to always a son, sometimes a husband: learn to have the Easter joy in the but a daughter-I never heard of a heart, and not depend on outward cirwoman crying seriously for the loss of cumstances out here, where • on every a daughter. In the present case, how- high hill and under every green tree' ever, the patient I was called to see, are shrines, pagodas and images. For both eyes had been sacrificed for neither a few days past we have been noticing son nor husband, but, by way of vari· an image very different from any seen ety, for a buffalo. Gurmukh Singh in- before, and wondered what it was. formed me that he had lost a valuable This morning Mr. Cady asked the wife buftalo for which he had paid the ex- of the boat-owner, who explained that travagant sum of seven times twenty there are a great many devils around rupees, and that his wife had been in- the section of country we are just passconsolable ever since. The women of ing through; so these images are more the neighborhood would come in to re- numerous than in other parts; and at mind her of her loss, exaggerate it as regular intervals a rooster is sacrificed far as possible, and finally their advice to them, after which process the idol was that she should cry about it as long has knowledge of the devils, and proand loud as possible. In fact, in the tects against them. These devils are discharge of this duty they were pre- mimy of them spirits of people who pared to assist her. So the dames of Mrs. Gurmukh's acquaintance came, one h&ve committed suicide, and are waiting Chinese idolatry and superstition. In around to torment those who troubled consequence of this the mission W81 al- them while they were on this earth." most given uP. but just when things -A story is told by Rev. Hr. Adams, looked darkest a ray of light shone of the American Baptist Mission in Cen· which has steadily increased. In 1861 tral Chlna,ot a Mr. Tsen, formerly a 3 men came out from idolatry and dewealthy merchant, but who, ruined by clared themselves followers of Christ. oplum·smoking, became a low fortune· and to-day in that one province there teller. He came afterward under the are no lesa than SO,OOO converts to Chrilinfluence of the Gospel and burned his tianity, 12.000 of whom are connected magical books and BOught· to reform. with the mission of the Church Mis- The sufferings he endured while seek- sionary Society. This society has at ing to break off the habit were intense, present 10 ordained Chinese clergymen, but Wf'J.·e borne patiently. Thetempta- 170 churches. 120 catechists or lay readtion to seek relief by returning to the ers, 110 Christian schoolmasters who use of the drug was such as few could have charge of as many schools. and a have resisted, but he would not yield large number of trained Bible women though he died. And die he did, stead- carrying on effective work among the fastly refusing to yield again t<' the women of the province.
seductions of the drug which had blight- Korea.-A private letter from Rev. ed his life. T. H. Yun, dated Seoul, says: ., The -Rev. Mr. Ament writes: "As to government is now more firmly settled China, people may talk of great internal than some months ago. The Japanese reform and a general renovation of the influence Is strong ;it makes for prog- government, but there Is no evidence of ress. and therefore for good. On my any change at present. Personally I first returning to Korea. I was appoint- expect no reforms except under compul- ed private secretary of the prime minis- sion. No sledge-hammer blows from ter. A few weeks ago I was promoted without will break the hold of this em- to the position of vice-minister of edu- pire on the past; but the little plant cation. I thank the Church and the truth, working from within, will do this friends in the South. who made it possi· some day. If there is any growth in ble for me to get such a position, and I China I am afraid it will be more in the shall try to make my fidelity and con- line of military enlargement and a de- 'scientiousness show that a Christian is sire to get even with Japan. The war not one who forgets his own country.
has utterly failed to arouse the nation; as he is often charged out here with in fact, the nation as a nation knows doing. I am the only outspoken Chris- nothing about the war. and no lesson tian in the Korean Government."
can be taught the officials before the -Mrs. Underwood writes in Wompeople are instructed. The growth an's Work for Woman of A II Baby's must be from the lower strata upward. Visit to the King," as follows: I II as it has been in all lands. Hence I went to the palace yesterday. taking look for a patient continuance in the little Horace with me. who had a fine usual lines of work, being assured that time of it. The palace ladies caught our first duty Is to sow the gospel broad- him up in their arms and fairly ran with cast and let the truth do its own perfect him into the presence chamber. The work." king and queen and prince hugged and -Rev. Llewellyn Lloyd, of the kissed him. exclaiming how beautiful Church M.issionary Society, says that he was and how pretty his hands. The for nearly eleven years missionaries king had him lifted into a chair and labored in Foochow Ilnd its neighbor- . ~hen got down on the floor on his knees hood without one single convert from in front of him and talked to him, pet· ting and caressing him. The queen than ever before for the conquest of took him in her arms in a motherly this kingdom for Christ. grasp, smoothing his hair and saying anxiously, 'His head is too hot.' They " The war and attendant alarms have ordered about four quarts of Korean in no way interfered with the wondercandy, as many nuts and about a hun- ful prosperity God has granted the work dred oranges, and had them sent home in Korea. In faith, hope, and charity, for him. The queen also gave him an· n eincerity, steadfastness, and patience, other of tIle pretty little embroidered the Korean Christians are a constant bags full of beech nuts, which means source of joy and gratitude to God, to 'long life and happiness.' When we the missionaries. The Korean Chris. came away the palace ladies whirled tlana are distinguished by simplicity of him off, and about tifty of them got faith in God, and patience, endurance around him. petting and caressing him. of aspersion, both by the heathen na· I could not get near the child. The king tive and the unsympathetic foreign. himself put on his hat and coat and er. We need reinforcements. The mis· buttoned it up for him, kneeling on the sionarles spend many an anxious hour floor in front of him." because they are not forthroming ; the native Church goes half shepherded be· -The Korean boy at tirst sight can cause of the lack ; the highest authori· easily be mistaken for a school-girl Gut ties in the land ~y, 'Send us more of doors without her hat. His hair is teachers (missionaries).' " parted in the middle and hangs in a heavy braid down his back. When he , AFRICA. is married, his hair is twisted in a topknot on the crown of his head and adds -There is considerable perturbation much to his dignity. You may see a among the French authorities in AI· boy with his hair querIed on top of hi!! geria, owing to the work of the North head making mud pies by the road- Africa Mission, which Is chiefly carried side, and feel sure that here, at least, is on by English young ladies. The gen· an exception to the custom, but on in· eral council of the department of COI1quiry you learn that he is a married stantlne has addressed a note on the man. He enjoys his sport none the less subject of the supreme authority, in for the dignity of his topknot. which it states that the safety of Algeria is menaced by the work of the English -Rev. George Heber ~Tones writes Methodists (sic). .. The English danger from Chemulpo, Korea, June 10th, becomes from day to day more serious 1895: "Just one year ago to·day the in Algeria, as its agents become more tirst Japanese troops landed in Chemul· numerous. The Methodists and the solpo, to begin their astonishing campaign diers of the Salvation Army work under against China. What changes a year the guise of benevolence and charity, has witnessed I China is tOOay a beg- and thus attract the natives. They dis· gar among the nations, with few tribute money, clothes, medicines, Ara· friends, and a sad prospect of internal bic books (among others, translations of dissension, rebellion, and anarohy, and the Bible), and in appearance they only the certain prospect of being stripped occupy themselves with proselytism; of some of her territories by foreign but in reality a vast net of espionage is powers. Korea has reaped great benefit being drawn around us, and a propafrom all the changes of the year, and ganda of disaffection among our native especially the infant Church of Christ, subjects Is being carried on." The which has rode safely and steadily the council, therefore, petitions the Mlnl8try waves. We have reached a position of the Interior to put an end to these where we can Btrike mightier blows manmuvres.-.Re1JU8 deB Miuio1l8 (Jon. temporainu. -The New York Sun, in an editorial speaks specially of one of them who ia on climatic conditions and health in Ar- now the leading man among the Zulu rica, gives the following data: "In preachers, saying, " When r first came British India the annual death-rate to Umzumbe this man was a naked, among Europeans in the early part of scrofulous, hard boy, with a dirty sheep- this century was 84 to the 1000; but in skin thrown over his shoulders. We 1890 it was reduced to 16 to the 1000. cured him of his scrofula; then the So in the Dutch East Indies, the Euro- Lord cured him of his sin·sick heart, pean death-rate has been reduced from and to·day he stands up among our 170·to the 1000 in 1828 to 16-much leM churches as Dr. Storrs stands among than the native death-rate, which in 1892 your churches-a lsader of men."
was 23 to the 1000. In the basin of the -Sir Gilbert Carter, Royal Governor C.:>ngo the death·rate among white men of the British colony of Lagos, has rein 1893 was 70 to the 1000, but this em- cently given some interesting figures braced many mere adventurers and respecting the extent of the gin and rurn campaigners deprived of the comforts traffic on the west coast of Africa for and conveniences of life. In Leopold- tbe year 1893. The colony of Lagos, ville and Boma, white settlements, where with a population of 85,000 souls, imgood homes are available and fair sani- ported $450,000 worth of ardent spirits tary conditions, the death-rate is but 32 -more than $5 worth to each inhabto the 1000." itant I The Gold Coast, a British col- -In June, 1869, the missionary Ram· ony with a popUlation of 1,500,000, im- seyer, of the Basle Missionary Society, ported gin and rum to the value of was dragged as a prisoner into Abetifi, about $500,000. Sierra Leone, another then a city of Ashantee, with his wife British colony, with a population of and child. They spent three days in a 180,000, imported liquors to the value miserable hut, with their feet in chains. of $100,000.
Human sacrifices were then common in -At the recent annual meeting in Abetifi, which was under the tyrannical Londonof the Native Races and Liquor rule of the Ashantee chieftains. To- Traffic United Committee, Sir George day, in the same streets, under the same Goldie, Governor of the Royal Niger shady trees, instead of the bloody exe- Company, stated that in the Niger reo cutioner going his rounds, a Christian gion 1,100,000 gallons of spirits were congregation gathers together every imported in 1892,1,'700,000 in 1893, and Sunday, followed by a troop of Sunday about 2,000,000 in 1894. He said: scholars. Christian hymns, such as .. There is ample evidence of this extra " Who will be Christ's soldier 1" ring liquor finding its way to the Mohamjoyfully through the streets of Abetifi. medans of the interior, whose nominal The people come out of their houses, religion is no barrier against drunkenthe chieftain is invited ; he comes with ness. " Furthermore, this royal govhis suite and listens to the joyful tid· ernor said that after sixteen years of ings of salvation. And it is not in experience in administration :n Africa, vain; many have become the disciples he was prepared to affirm " that if steps of Jesus. Many even dare to tell their were not taken to prohibit the liquor fellow·countrymen in the streets what trade, a state of things would be brought joy and peace they have found in Him. about that would lead to the total aban- Who would have dreamed of this donment of the country." twenty-five years ago ?-.t1Ugemeine Mis- 8ions-Zeitaehrift· -Dr. J. E. Hine gives a ghast- I.Y account of a witch.burning near -Mr. Bridgman, of Umzumbe, in Unangu. The" boys" came and re- writing of the five Zulu preachers who ported. that a witch was being burned have been raised up under his care, alive at a place two miles from the sta· tion. He was incredulous, but went to young fellows from Borneo, Sumatra, see. "When I got a little nearer," he Java, Celebes, and New Guinea are says, "a sudden whiff as of burning eagerly studying the Scriptures in the flesh made me suspicious that the story Malay language, under the tutorship of might ,be true, and a little farther on I a German scholar and hisnativecoadju. saw it was. The body (of a woman I tors. Looking into the faces of those was told) .was lying on a heap of ashes, two men from Dutch New Guinea, of face downward, with the charred re- those converted Bataks from Sumatra, mains of the skull and hands projecting how his heart was moved by the from the end, and fastened to a small thought that the Gospel had brought tree, the feet apparently having been together here in this Christian semfastened to another tree behind. All inary the descendants of cannibals, the flesh on face and arms had been de- east and west, and of savages of all this stroyed, but the body was still burning, Asiatic archipelago I The Bataks on frizzling and spitting in the flames-a the west coast of Sumatra have furhorrible sight, such as I never thought nished 100 missionaries already for the to see in my life." army of our King.
-J. E. Burdett Meakin has told in ISLANDS OF THE SEA. the London Ohri8tian a most remark- able story of the rise and spread of tllC -The seamy side of the work of the kingdom in a portion of Java. Fifty Gospel in Madagascar is seen in the years ago the son of a Russian colonist persistence with which the converts and a Javanese woman was converted still cling to slavery. In particular the by a dream that he was called to evan- English Friends are urgent in seasollj gelize the nations, and forthwith set and out of season to end this" relic of about the task and continued, though barbarism," but hitherto with slight sharp persecution befell. Later the effect. The Malagasy conscience is dull Dutch Reformed Church came to his at this point, and strong feeling is aid, and now a Christian settlement of stirred by exhortations to let the op· 2500 is found with 1000 besides in out- pressed go free. stations, 725 children in school, a kin- dergarten, hospital, etc.
-The Methodists have been at work in Singapore for ten years, and are able -Dr. Schreiber writes thus of the to report substantial progress. Rev. W. success with which the Rhenish So- F. Oldham has a school, with an average ciety is meeting in one portion of the attendance of over 500. In 1880 only Sumatra field: "When we began our 10 natives were connected with the mis· work six years ago in the almost entire· sion, and these were Tamils from South ly Mohammedan district of Padang India; but by the end of the next year Bolak, a Dutch official of high position, 31 adult Chinese were members of the who was friendly to our work, assured church, and now the number has in- us that it was a most foolish step, that creased to more than 200, with the addi-' we could not accomplish anything in tion of 80 Tamils and 30 Malays and the Padang Bolak, we were too late Malay-speaking Chinese. there, since Islam had already occupied the whole region. This was the uni· -The late J. L. Phillips, M.D., versalopinion at that time about work wrote to the Sunday-&lwo~ Timea of a among the Mohammedans in Sumatra.
visit to a seminary for the Dutch and But we did not allow ourselves to be German missions of Malaysia, at Depok, discouraged : the work already done by south of Batavia. Here 40 bright a capable native missionary, Marcus, gave us good ground for hope, and a – -New Guinea has a missionary col- zealous and experienced missionary, lege well started with buildings, stu- Irle, took possession of the field with a dents, etc. W. G. Lawes writes of it : cheerful courage. And what has been .. In aU the work that has been done we the result? Missionary Irle, who works have had the ready help of a number of with a nati ve preacher and /) teachers at natives from the surrounding villages. one central and 4 out·stations, an- Every piece of timber used in our buildnounces in his last report that he has ings has been carried up from the coast baptized 350 persons, and haa no less (two miles) on men's IIhoulders. We than 500 preparing for baptism, among cannot always get help wben we want them a large number of Important chiefs. it ; but the people have been TOry good Earnest requests for teachers are con- and willing. Of course we have had to stantly coming from new districts; even pay them for their services, but the rate formerly fanatical Mohammedans have of wages is not high, and as waist-cloths turned to tbe Gospel; and from several and shirts are most in demand, we thus villages the Mohammedan mollahs have help the people in their efforts to get already retired in confusion because the ell!ternals of civilization. I ought, they see that they have nothing more perhaps, to explain more fully our purto hope; and the impression is becom- pose in establishing the college. The ing general that, over a great part of name may appear mi6leading, and yet the country, Islam is breaking up." it.ls the best for the object we have in view-viz., to train and fit young men -The friendly attitude of many gov- to be _teachers of Christ to their counernment officials toward missionary trymen. Before we receive a candidate, work is a feature of the time. Tho work we must have evidence that he is a sinin New Guinea, whore tho London Mis- cere Christian, and then he must be able sionary Society has no less than 114 na- to read in his o~ language. That is tive teachers and 57 students, has re- all. The minds of the most advanced ceived marked commendation from Sir are only just opening, and the time has William Macgregor, the governor of not yet come when any, except a very the British portion of the island, who select few, will acquire ,knowledge eays, .. Several years' work of the Lon- from books." don Missionary Society has greatly changed the habits of the Lese tribe. A -At the missionary devotional meetbrief glance at the work done by the ing of the Jamaica English Baptist London Missionary Society from Maiva Mil!lBionary Society, attended by memto Carama was considered to reflect the bers of the Baptist, Congregational, greatest credit on Rev. James Chalmers. Moravian. and Presbyterian denomina- Under the firm discipline practised at tions, an addre88 of much spiritual pow- Dobu in the schools and services estab- er was delivered by Rev. D. J. East, lished there very extraordinary progress who has had fifty-seven years of minis- terial service. His reminiscences of has been made. Rev. Mr. Abel is en- misaion work in the West Indies, where he has labored for forty years, were of couragin« some of the young men in his district to form Industrial settle- a atfrring character. He emphasized menta tor the cultf"ation of cotton and such-like commodities. an attempt that the fact that the Baptist churches in duerv" enry enooura,emant the 10"- Jamaica lon, ago became self-llupporternmlnt can give to it." It is only ing, and are now contrlbutin, 8. larie twenty years since the missionaries sum every year tor home and fonilgn landed among these cannibals. and took missionary work. MOlt ot the conpossession of thofr island ill the llama ot JUUI.-TM OlvrUtian. tributora give over a dollar each, thouih they receive lC&uty wage&.