The Missionary Review of the World — February 1927
A SCENE IN RIADH, THE CAPITAL OF THE NEJD-'l'HE CASTLE OF THE RULER, IBN
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Dept. No. 20 '."M'_ New York "Lives 0/ great men all remind uS We can make Ollr li~les sublime, Atld departing lea,'e behind us .
Footprints 011 the sands of tillIC."-LONGFELI,OW.
I N THE minds of the American people twd great men are always associated with the month of February, And with the coming of this month, to the minds of many Christians the world over, comes the name of another great man born in Pebruary.
Vashington brought forth our nation; Lincoln preserved its unity; Moody ministered pre-eminently to its spiritual life. Of each it can be truly said, "He being dead, yet speaketh"; for the ideals of vVashington and Lincoln are the ideals of our nation today, and Moody's work goes on through the institutions and movements he founded.
One of these is the Moody Bible Institute, a school for training Christian workers of which he himself said, "It seems to me the largest thing I have ever undertaken, and that it is going to accomplish more than anything I have yet been permitted to do."
Some one has well said, "The world of tomorrow depends upon the schools of today," and we might add that the church of tomorrow depends upon the Christian training schools of today.
The Moody Bible Institute affords to Christians an opportunity to leave behind them, likewise, "footprints on the sands of time." This can be done by an investment in its Life Annuity Contracts. Write for complete information.
THE MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE Box Y2, 153 Institute Place Chicago, Illinois P1ease mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in writing to adv,JTtisers. THE MISSIONARY Review of the World DELAVAN L. PIERSON. Editor CONTENTS FOR FEBRUARY, 1927 Page FRONTISPIECE •………………… A Sa~E IN RrADH, ,cAPITAr, OF TUE NEJD EDITORIALS ……•……………………………………………•…. 85 CHINA DISTURBED AND DISTURBING FOREIGN MISSIONARY COOPERATION CoOPERATION IN HOME MISSIONS RESULTS OF MEDICAL MISSIONS IN ARABIA ….•…………. L. P. DAME 89 The story of how Christian tWctors have opened closed doors in Arabia and have won Arab friendship.
WOMAN'S PLACE IN HOME MISSIONS ………… MItS. W.,c. WINNSBOROUGH 95 A remarkable address showing what women have done in promoting national wel- fare tMough home mfsli'ionary work in America.
CHINESE RELIGION SEEN THROUGH CRINESE PROVERBS …………. .
……. …•……………………………………… . HARLAN P. BEACH 102 A review a1·ticle of a recent book by C. H. Flopper, showing how the popular proverbs in China rmleal the religious thought and life of the people.
A CHINESE CHRISTIAN LAyMAN ………………………. G. W. SPABLING 107 The story of Liu Tze Buh, converted from BuddhiMrt as a young man, and for twenty years a consistent Christian b1lsiness man oonneoted with the Singer Sew· ing Machine Co., using l.ia time anil money for the spread of Christianity among the Chinese.
STUDYING MEXICAN RELATIONS AT EL PASO …………….. COE HAYNE 110 The report of an interesting and important oonferenoe of mi.<siona.·ies ana 00:600- tives on the present eonditions among the Mexioons in the Unitea States ana ChA-istian work among them.
WHY I LIKE MY MISSIONARY JOB ………………….. ALBERT D. HELSER 113 The oonviotions based on experienee of a missionary in Africa.
FROM MOHAMMED TO CHRIST …………………………. HABIB YUSUFJI 117 The life story of a young Mohammeaan who Was eonverted to Christ ana has had varied experiences traveling arouna the world until he has enterea a theological semitnary in .America.
CHINESE TURKESTAN ………………………………… G. W. HUNTER 123 Interesting facts about a little-known part of Central Asia as yet almost un· touched by Christianity.
NANNING-A CITY IN CHINA. _……………………. R. LECHMERE CLIF'!.' 126 A picture of life and work in one of the cities of Southwest China.
EFFECTS OF OHINA'S TURMOIL ON MISSIONS ••……..•……………..
. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . . . REPORTS FROM MISSION BOARDS 131 Detailed facts about the experie1lees of misli'ionaries and hindrances to missionary work in various parts of China due to the present state of unrest and anti-foreign agitatwn.
WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSION BULLETIN ….. EDITED BY ELLA D. MACLAURIN' 135 WOMAN '8 HOME MISSION BULLETIN ……. EDITED BY FLORENCE E. QUINLAN 138 NEWS FROM MANY LANDS ……………….•………………………. 141 THE MISSIONARY LIBRARY ……………………………………….. 157 TERMS: $2.50 a year. ($2.00 in clubs of five.) Foreign postage, 50 cents. Single copies, 25 cents. Published monthly. Copyrighted, 1927, by MISSIONARY REVIEW PURJ,ISHING COMPANY, INC. All rights reserved.
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Robert E. Speer, President Wm. I. Chamberlain, Vice-President Delavan L. Pierson, Secretary Walter McDougall. Treasurer Publication Ofllce, 3d &' ReilY Sts., Harrisburg, EditorIal and Business Office. 156 Filth Avenue. Pa. 25c a copy. $2.50 II year. New York City Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa.• under Act "r March 3. 1879. SAFE and SANE Do You Know?
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A guaranteed r('gular income for life Send for this 5-minute A future of assured freedom from finan- Bible Test, F R E E cial worry Are you satisfied with your knowledge An assured support for relative or friend of the Bible – the most interesting book in the world? See if you can answer the FOR THE CHURCH: questions in our free 5-minute Bible Test. The ten Moody Bible Institute A memorial church or school in some Home Study Courses give you the Bibli- needy field cal knowledge necessary for the most A permanent support for effective plC'.rfect daily religious lift". They are non-secta~ workers rian and there is onc suited to the needs from the beginner to the adv'lnced Christian. The The Extension of the Kingdom wonderful experience of 34,000 men and women students is waiting for you. Find out from this Life Annuity Agreements free test if vour Bible knOwledge is what it ought to be. Mail coupon now. "'''rite for infoI mation to MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE Morri. W. Ehne., Treasurer. Board 01 Foreign CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL Mission. of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 150 Filth Ave•.ue. New "torl:, N. y~ or Dept.4682, 153 ….titut. Place, Chic….., III.
W. J. Elliott, Treasurer, Board of Home Mis_ I ~:~~~:lel~si~~~f~ute Place. Chicago. III. sion. and Church Extension of the Methodist E:piacopal Church. 1701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa. I Please send me. Free. your 5-Minute I Bible Test. No obligation. PERSONALS I Name. I REV. ARTHUR H. SMITH, D.D., author of I s~eet and No._ several well-known books on China, and missionary of the American Board in North &! ~::~.~-.'..,~-,.,.-" •.-•.••-••:-•:.-:':-::-: .-.:::-::::-::::-::_-:":':-:: JI China for fifty-three years, has retired and is making his home in Claremont, California. col, of the United Free Church of Scotland *** Mission. '* * REV. ROBERT A. HUME, D.D., another PRINOIPAL ROBERT R. MOTON of Tuskegee American Board veteran, who was born in India, of missionary parents, and has given Institute, accompanied by Mrs. Moton, their fifty-two years of active service in the Marathi Mission, is now, with Mrs. Hume, daughter, and two members of the Tuskegee living in Auburndale, Mass. faculty, sailed late in November for a trip *•* around the world. CUlVELAND E. DODGE has succeeded his father, the late Cleveland H. Dodge, as •* treasurer of Near East Relief. In 1925, Mr. REV. LLOYD CiRAIGlfILL, an Episcopalian Dodge became president of the Y. M. C. A. of New York City, which office has been missionary, and Arthur J. Allen, a Y. M. held by a member of the Dodge family for three successive generations. C. A. secretary, effected a truce between the • * .. nort))ern and southern forceS' around Nan- REV. WILLIAM ASHMORE, JR., D.D., Amer- chall~ ',c!iina, by carrying to them the peace ican Baptist missionary in Swatow, China, since 1879, who completed his revised trans- .terllll!' of"the Nanehang Chamberoj' Com· lation of the Old Testament on his seventy- . fifth birthday, has returned to America with merce. Mrs. Ashmore. DR. IWBERT E. SPEER, who, since last REV. WILLrAM PAr*oN, former Secretary August, has been visiting missions in Japan, of the National Christ~n Council of India, who visited the United $tates last year, has Kr,rea and China, holding conferences with been elected Secretary of the International Missionary Council. He has been succeeded missionaries, returned to New York on Jan· on the Indian Council by Rev. Nicol Macni. uary 3d. .. * ERNEST HURST CHERRINGTON, LL.D., a layman, has been elected Corresponding See- retary of the Board of Home Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to succeed the late Dr. David D. Forsyth.
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FEBRUARY, 1927
L TWO CHINA – DISTURBED AND DISTURBING T HINK of a people comprising about one fourth of the human race j without any acknowledged leader or accepted central government; with many new and untried theories competing with old customs and ideas; with inexperienced, young students struggling to influence the masses; with suspicion on every hand-of foreigners, of all Christians, of their own leaders; with bandits and unpaid soldiers seeking to take something for themselves; with mobs easily influenced by agitators and hard to control. Above all, there is a determination to assert and establish national independence of foreign domination and to secure acquiescence to their demands from other nations. This gives but a partial picture of the disturbed state of China today. Foreign governments and many foreign residents ill China desire to pour oil on the troubled waters, but find there is danger of the oil catching fire and so increasing the difficulties.
In spite of the disturbing dispatches in the daily press, China is not all in turmoil. The problems presented are most difficult to understand and to solve and yet many able minds are patiently and earnestly studying them. A solution will be found. The great masses of the Chinese desire peace and of the nearly eight hundred mission stations, in which foreigners reside in China, less than seventy report any unusual disturbance or interference with the mission work.
From the reports received direct from Protestant missionary societies (printed elsewhere in this issue), it will be noted that the chief unrest and anti-foreign agitation are found in the provinces where contending armies are fighting. K wangtung Province in the Bouth has been troubled by bandits, strikes and student agitators. Some anti-Christian feeling has been manifested, coupled with the antiforeign sentiment. Some schools have been closed.
SZf'('hwall Province in the west is another center of student strikes and anti-foreign agitation. The Christian University at 85
Chengtu has been closed, a number of missionaries have been captured (later released), some missions have been destroyed and priests driven out.
Hunan, Honan and Hupeh in Oentral China report attacks by bandits, missions robbed and damaged, fighting and destruction by soldiers, student strikes and some strong anti-Christian as well as anti-foreign feeling. The Yale mission at Changsha has been closed temporarily.
Kwangsi, Fukien and Kiangsu Provinces are also in the war zone and report property damaged, student disturbances and some interruption to the mission work.
The other provinces-Yunnan, Kweichow, Kansu, Shensi, Shansi, Chihli, Shantung, Kwangsi, Kiangsu, Anhwei, Chekiang, together with Manchuria and Mongolia, report comparatively little disturbance or anti-foreign agitation. Travel is somewhat interrupted and in some places is difficult and dangerous but few of the more than seven thousand six hundred Protestant Christian missionaries in China have suffered seriously. In general, they report: "People generally friendly"; "work going on as usual"; "schools and chapels open and well attended." This was the case up to about January 15th.
What are the missionaries doing to meet the present situation? Most of them are remaining at their posts and are seeking to help Chinese in every way in their power. They generally advocate the withdrawal of foreign gunboats and no armed intervention. They advise that foreign governments agree to a revision of treaties so as to do away as SOOn as possible with extra-territorial rights, foreign control of customs and other special privileges that irritate Chinese.
In many mission churches, schools and hospitals, more and more control is being given to the Chinese Christians with a view to ultimate autonomy. Some of the missions are registering their schools with the Government, and agree to discontinue required religious teaching and attendance at chapel services.
China has no truer, wiser friends than the missionaries. With no unworthy motives they are seeking to help China find the way out of her present difficulties so that she may become a strong, wellgoverned, righteous nation whose people are illteIligeut, lJl'oHperoufi, ullselfish and godly, FOREIGN MISSIONARY COOPERATION F OR thirty-three years, the Protestant Foreign Mission Boards of North America have been united in a cooperative study of the missionary program. While this has not involved union or a unified action, it has brought about close fellowship in carrying forward the great, world-wide missionary task. Among other ways in which the united study of problems and cooperation in policy have been effective, are the following:
EDITORIAL .cOMMENTS
1. A united study of the relation of missionary work to governments where missionaries are laboring; and a united approach to these governments for a satisfactory solution of problems. The results have been especially helpful in securing passports, in matters relating to education, in connection with property and special problems in Turkey, Africa and China.
2. A united study of special fields. In times of crisis, as in Mexico, China, Japan or Africa, conferences of executives and missionaries have brought about a clearer understanding and a more harmonious principle and policy of action. Causes of friction have been removed and unifying policies have been adopted. The Committee on Cooperation in Latin America represents one phase of the work.
3. A united study of special types of work. Conferences of medical missionaries, of educational workers and of those producing Christian literature have brought about an interchange of experience and closer cooperation on the fields to promote effectiveness and to prevent waste of effort and money.
4. A united study of methods of publicity and of promotion in the churches at the home base. Smaller Boards have been enabled to learn by the experiences of larger Boards; joint meetings have been held in various cities and there has been an exchange of promotion literature and promotion ideas.
5. The large Missionary Research Library (at 25 Madison Avenue, New York) has been collected at great expense and effort and has placed at the disposal of all interested in missions rich resources in books and periodicals that no one Board could gather together.
6. A united study of the preparation of missionaries: The problems of recruiting and of passing upon candidates for foreign service are so similar that they can best be studied and promoted together. The one thing needful is that candidates for missionary service shall not lose their spiritual ideals and power and their missionary passion based on devotion to Christ and faith in His Gospel.
7. Various other special problems and phases of work are best carried on in united effort-such as English-speaking churches in foreign cities, work among foreign students in America, peace programs, health and furloughs of missionaries, work among Jews in all lands, cooperation with the International Missionary Council and with National Councils in India, Japan, China and Moslem lands.
This union work has been carried on through the Foreign Missions Conference and the Federation of ,Woman's Boards of Foreign Missions. The annual meetings of these organizations have recently been held in Atlantic City' (January 11th to 14th). There were strong addresses on China, Africa, Moslem lands and Latin America -followed by discussion-but special emphasis was given to the need
THE MISSIONARY REViEW OJ!' 'rHE WORLD LJ<'ebl'ual'Y
for closer, more effective cooperation in prayer, in the adoption of a unified policy and through harmonious programs in various fields. The secret of unity consists, after all, in a close sympathy with Christ, in a clear understanding of His program and in an unselfish devotion to His cause.
COOPERATION IN HOME MISSIONS FOR twenty years the Protestant Home Mission Boards have been cooperating in the study of problems connected with the evangelization and Christian development of those in the United States and neighboring countries. 'l'heir twentieth meeting was recently held in: ,Philadelphia (Jan. 4 to 7) under the auspices of the Home Missions Council and the Council of Women for Home Missions.
The special topic for discussion was the Rural Church-studied in its many phases, its needs, opportunities and progress. Effective addresses were given and papers read by Mrs. W. C. Winnsborough, Dr. Malcolm, Dana, Mr. Ralph S. Adams, Professor Ralph A. Felton, Dr. John McDowell and others. The changing character of the rural community wa's emphasized, the need for the elimination of competing evangelical churches in small towns, and the benefits of a more diversified and adequate Ohristian service program to help all classes and conditions in rural communities.
The home missionary forces have been cooperating effectively in promoting state councils and evangelical programs in such states as Idaho, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming <ODd Kansas. They have brought home missionary workers together to meet the needs of foreigners from Europe, Latin America and Asia. They have united in studying the needs and in giving the Gospel and its privileges to the American Indians and the American Negroes. They have caned united attention to the condition of the mountaineers, migrant workers, lumber jacks and others and have helped to establish work among them. They have produced and made available much helpful foreign language literature and have made known the needs of such special classes as the blind, the Jews, the Mormons and others.
Recently a plan has been adopted for cooperation with the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America. A committee of fifteen has been working on this plan to prevent duplication and overlapping. In general, under this plan, the Home Missions Council will have responsibility for Board activities among' the Indians, immigrants, Negroes, Orientals nnd Mormons and in Alaska, the West Indies and town and country work. The F'ederal Oouncil will have to do with the ]Jl'ohlems of evangelism, social relations, race relalions, interllationnl good-will, nrmy and navy, the Canal Zone, churches in Europe, financial matters, Ohristian education, relief, research and the drama.
SULTAN OF CENTRAL ARABIA AND RULElR OF MECCA, IBN SAOUD , A,ND
OF HIS CHIEFS Some Results of Medical Missions In Arabia BY L. P. DAME, M.D., BAHREIN, ARABIA Missionary of t ho Reformed Church in Amerie.a MISSIO NARIES in Arabia have long realized that it is diffi- cult to gain a hearing on a. direct religious basis. The Arab mind is closed to anything but the Koran and its teachings. The Gospel of Christ can enter only when the mind is opened by some contact with the outside world,by means of schools, hospitals and occasionally by the printed page.
Medical work has played a notable part in the program of the Arabian Mission. This has helped to break down prejudices, to open new territory and to bring people in contact with the Gospel, though from a strictly medical point of view also this branch of the work has been amply justified. Last year in our Bahrein hospital alone we treated 33,000 patients in the dispensary, performed 758 operations and made 992 visits to patients' homes. Such work must have a softening influence on the heart of the Arab. It would be impossible to relate the many incidents that together make a complete sLory.
The hospital formerly maintained at Busra was a real power in helping to break down that most difficult and intangible opposition to combat-prejudice. Not only was the Iwme of Dr. Bennett famous in lower Mesopotamia, bnt a few years ago when I was iIi the interior province of Kaseem, sometimcs referred to as thc "Heart of Arabia," several people askeCl me about him, mentioning him by name- 89
and it is usually difficult for an Arab to remember a foreign name. Others asked about the hospital that used to be there. Having once received physical help they were not very likely to carry an intense opposition against the place.
About fifteen years ago a mission colporteur in Kuwait was, for some reason, evicted from the city. One of our missionaries went there later to see if he could smooth out the troubles, but he was not even allowed to land When another attempt was made a few months later the missionary was only permitted to spend the night ashore and then returned to the waiting steamer. A few months more passed and another attempt was made to pour oil on the troubled waters. Dr. Van Ess, who went there, timed his arrival ashore with the departure of the steamer from the harbor. He then made his way to the castle of the Sheikh, announced himself a guest and, according to Arab hospitality, was entertained for three days. There was danger of Bedouin attacks along the overland route to Busra so that the guest was allowed to remain ten days more, until the arrival of the next steamer. Dr. Van Ess tried hard to win over the Sheikh, but to no avail. In his wanderings around the town he attempted to gain the friendship of this or that citizen or shopkeeper, but an order had gone out that no one should speak to the Christian infidel. On the edge of the town on the seashore was a little rise of ground and here Dr. Van Ess was wont in his loneliness to read his Bible, meditate and pray for the opening of Kuwait.
Today the Mission has on that very mound, where prayers were daily offered for the opening of Kuwait, two hospitals, one for men and one for women; also two missionary residences. We have in the heart of that city a boys' school and a chapel in a native house, where Arabic services are held every Sunday.
What was it that was used to open Kuwait in answer to prayer 1 Medical work. The Sheikh had heard of the Busra hospital, for people of Kuwait were frequently patients there. Some of the Sheikh's relatives and retainers had been there and had only good to say of the doctor and the hospital. His own daughter was operated on under chloroform, so that the Sheikh, realizing what a great benefit hiH subjects would derive from such a hospital, made a request to the Mission to open a hospital in Kuwait.
Bahrein too has an interesting story. About twenty-five years ago an attempt was made to buy land on which to build a hospital, but try as they might, no land could be had. One day two men came to a missionary, and offered to sell him a certain plot of ground. The sale was agreed upon and earnest money paid. Then late one night an Arab friend-and they were few those days-came to the mission house for an interview. He urged the missionary not to buy that land because, he said, there was a conspiracy against him. The men who had proposed the sale had picked out a piece of ground
SOME RESULTS OF MEDICAL MISSIONS IN ARABIA
on which a mosque had formerly stood. This made that ground holy and unsalable. The owners well knew this, but proposed to sell the land, allow the Mission to gather materials for the buildings and then face the missionaries with the charge of building on holy ground. Not only would the agitation of desecration be brought up, but the money paid for the ground would be lost. The friend, and he is stilI a friend, was heartily thanked and the land was not bought. Later another piece was found and the hospital built. It is still in use today.
The sequel to this story reveals an interesting contrast. The hospital at Bahrein was getting too small. There has been a constant increase of women patients and it was deemed necessary to build ARABS TRAVELING ON A BOAT IN PERSIAN GULF another hospital for women and children. Three years ago we approached the Sheikh-son of the Sheikh of the preceding story-and asked him to sell us a piece of land adjoining our hospital property. 'l'here was a large plot there but we wished to buy a section of it that had a splendid stone base. A less desirable plot lay between the mission property and that which we sought. 'l'he Sheikh's agent came to look it over and soon after we received a letter telling us that the whole plot of ground was granted as a gift to the Mission for the service to the community in the past years and as a help towards the realization of our new plans.
'fhe construction of the building planned would cost about $17,- 000 and we had only $11,000. But we had faith that some of the local people would help. 'Ve again approached the Sheikh and asked him to write a superscription for a petition which we could present to some of the rich merchants. He not only sent the written petition but
also a check of 5,000 rupees or about $1,600, as the first local gift toward the building. The total amount subscribed by the people was about 20,000 rupees or about $6,600, most of which was paid. (This includes a gift of $1,600 from The Anglo Persian Oil Co., Ltd., a British concern, with oil fields near Busra.) The great aim of the Arabian Mission since its founding has been the penetration of the interior. This met with a great many obstacles. Few Westerners have ever been able to gain entrance to these unknown regions, probably not more than half a dozen. When, about fifteen years ago, a revival of the Wahabis broke out and the new organization (known as Ikhwan or "Brothers") made its stern and cruel power felt among the yet "unconverted" tribes, the missionaries' task seemed more impossible than ever. Then the great influenza epidemic crossed seas and deserts and entered Riadh, the capital of Nejd. The star of Sheikh Ibn Saoud was then on the rise, but he was not yet known outside his own country. His eldest son and heir was stricken with influenza and, in his extremity, the father sent to Dr. P. W. Harrison, of Bahrein, to come and treat his son. The boy was already dead when the doctor arrived, but the foreigner was allowed to treat other cases and to perform a number of operations. From that time Nejd was opened to medical missions.
Two years later Dr. Harrison again visited the capital and made a longer stay. Again two years passed and an invitation came from the Sheikh for a medical missionary to open work in the capital. The result was my first trip to Riadh. Other visits followed and each time the stay was a bit longer than the previous one and each time more patients came for treatment and for operations.
Three years l;go the fourth invitation came, this time to treat the Sultan Ibn-Saoud himself. He had been ill for over three weeks and was indeed a very sick-looking man. It is always pathetic to see a strong, active, energetic man droop in weariness and pain. Fortunately, his splendid physique responded quickly after a slight operation and treatment. A week after our arrival a public reception was held, which was attended by about five thousand people. During our six weeks' stay in the capital the amount of medical work exceeded anything done during the previous visits. We were requested to go to several other towns farther inland. Camels and guides were provided and we stayed in the towns of Shughra, Aneiza and Boreida two or three weeks each. During all this journey we were the guests of the Sultan and all expenses of travel were borne by him. The farthest point reached was more than twice as far as Riadh, previously the farthest town to which we had penetrated.
,Ve have made medical tours into these provinces, but that does not meall that they are fully open to the Gospel. It is generally understood that we have the privilege of opening our dispensary with Scripture reading and prayer wherever we go, and because we
insist 011 this privilege we cannot establish a permanent foothold. The answer of the Sultan to requests for opening a hospital anywhere in the interior is-"Without your Book and your prayers, come and we will build you a hospital; with your Book and prayers, we do not want you, though we will be glad to invite you occasionally for a few months' stay."
Oman, the southeastern province of Arabia, has also recently flhown its need and desire for the medical missionary. About fourteen years ago the interior of this province rebelled against the Sultan of Muscat, who is theoretically the ruler of Oman. Previously a number of our missionaries had traveled rather freely through the province, but since then no strangers have been permitted beyond the A GROUP OF WOMEN, WAITING FOR TREATMENT DURING A MEDICAL TOUR IN ARABIA coast. About four years ago a truce was established between the interior sheikhs and the Sultan, and an immediate increase of patients from Oman was noticed in our hospital at Bahrein. The Omani is an extremely friendly Arab, much more so than the Nejdi. There is, in fact, a marked contrast between our problem in Oman and in Nejd. In the former place, the people would gladly have us come, but the ruling sheikhs are loath to invite us. In Nejd the people would never dream of inviting us, but the invitation has constantlv come from the man in power. Our problem in Oman was to reope~ a territory once open to the Mission and closed because of local political difficulties The rulers of the interior have constantly refused to allow foreigners in their domain.
A short time ago some geologists, representing a large oil company, were refused permission to prospect for oil. From our hos-
pital in Bahrein, we sent letters with returning patients for about eighteen months to the Sheikh of the interior with only two responses. We then asked for an invitation to visit his province but were met with an evasive negative. Eventually we set out to visit some of the coast towns where we were cordially welcomed and deluged with work. Again we sent letters to the reactionary Sheikh, and were then permitted, though not really invited, to go to Somail, the most important town of the interior. Here we were deluged with work and the "common people heard us gladly." For a time there was considerable opposition to our dispensary prayers, but because we refused to do medical work without them, all objections were withdrawn and the tour was a real success. Two of the sons of the Sheikh came, one for treatment and the younger for a minor operation, three of the women of the Sheikh's household came for major operations and people from every section and from every walk of life came in great numbers. The day we left the town our courtyard was tilled with friends who bade us farewell and who asked for a speedy return. A group of the Sheikh's servants escorted us out of the town, and two went with us all the way to the coast.
Medical work supplies a definite human need. When we realize that these people have absolutely no scientific treatment that can give them relief from pain, fevers and tumors, it is no wonder that many of them travel for ten, twenty and sometimes even thirty days on donkeys, camels or in sailboats to find relief in a hospital. At present the only hospitals in Arabia are on the coasts and are conducted by the Mission. May the time come and come soon, when we shall be permitted to establish hospitals in the interior also/' hospitals to exemplify the love of Christ and to distr~ute the Book of Christ.
THOUGHTS FOR THINKING CHRISTIANS If there was more abiding in Christ there would be less abiding in America. We are saved because of past missionary efforts; others are to be saved by our present missionary efforts. The most momentous fact in the universe, so far as we know, is that 800,000,000 human beings are still groping in ignorance without knowledge of God. Even on the cross, Christ was a missionary to the robber, and His last command was the missionary commission. The real question is not how much of my money will I give to God, but how much of God's money will I keep for myself? "Missions are not a failure in heathen lands, but are a sad failure in many professing Christians at home." "A living sacrifice" is the life poured out in loving ministry for others. How often our own lives are impoverished because we reserve them for ourselves!
Woman's Part in Home Missions*
Woman's Part of the Contribution Which Home Missions is Making to the Present Day Development of the Nation BY MRS. w. o. WINNSBOROUGH, ST. LOUIS, MO.
Presbyterian Church in the United States W OMAN'S part in the present day development of the nation is so largely the outgrowth of her splendid service during many years past that no intelligent consideration of today could fail to include a glance backward at the foundation of what is now the splendid Home Mission work of the women of the churches.
More than half a century ago, the interest of the women in the advancement of the kingdom of God in America, was evidenced in the organization of the Women's Boards of Home Missions, in many of the Evangelical denominations of the United States. Thousands of local home missionary societies had been organized many years previous, and the faithful service of these organizations was a harbinger of the splendid success that should attend the work of the Boards.
These organizations were born of great need-challenging opportunity and eager desire to serve our Lord.
As the years passed these Women's Boards of Home Missions became increasingly useful in the work of the Kingdom. Some of them began as executive committees, auxiliary to the General Boards of Home Missions, gradually taking on larger responsibilities until, with the consent of their highest court, they became independent and in some cases incorporated Boards of the church. Their activities included every department of Home Missions, although in most cases their major emphasis was placed upon educational and community work.
The first quarter of a century of the life of the Women's Boards witnessed marvelous results-well equipped, splendidly manned schools were established among the under-privileged and exceptional classes, none of which failed to receive their quota of help.
Immediately following the war between the States, the Women's Home Mission Boards established many schools for the education of the Negro, and today America is reaping the harvest of this foresight in an educated and Christian leadership, from the Negro race.
Indian Schools were planted on practically all the Government Reservations as well as in the fastnesses of the Appalachian Mountains where isolation was depriving thousands of children of an educationalopportunity. From these mountain schools has come a stream • An address given at the nome Missions Conference In Phlladelphla, Jan. 4, 1927.
95
of youth of pure American blood to take places of national leader- ship. And not a few men, high in authority in our land, received their inspiration and their early education in mission schools in their native highlands. A few years ago a speaker before a national Church court asked all the ministers present who had been born and reared in the mountains to stand, and among the large number of men who responded were pastors of leading churches, chairmen of important committees, and even the moderator of the highest court of the Church. Most of these men, powers in their communities as well as in the Church had received their early education in mission schools taught by consecrated women of Home Missionary societies.
When the wave of foreign immigration into America reached its highest peak, it was Women's Home Mission Boards that employed missionaries to help the immigrant at Ellis Island, and established schools for teaching these new Americans those things which would best fit them for Christian citizenship in their adopted land.
No task was too difficult, no problem too puzzling for the high courage of these splendid pioneer women of our churches. Many were true statesmen in their planning, and the strategic place occupied today by institutions founded by these women is indisputable evidence of their keen vision and fine judgment. If it be true that the success of a republic depends upon an educated and moral constituency, then the patriotic contribution of the Women '8 Home Mission Boards to our national life is indeed a worthy one.
The organization of the Council of Women for Home Missions, made up of practically all of the Women's Home Mission Boards of America, was a strategic move for a united consideration of common problems which has borne rich spiritual fruit and grown into practical missionary accomplishment.
However, a new attitude was gradually evolving in the missionary organizations of the Church as well as in many other departments of life. Women were successfully assuming new and larger responsibilities along with men and on an equal plane. A marked change came about in the mind of the Church as to the wisdom of separate mission boards of men and of women. The amalgamation of the General Boards with the Women's Boards was discussed, and steps taken toward closer cooperation between the two boards. Soon some denominations took their first step towards uniting the work of the two Boards, not without considerable trepidation however, and some opposition on the part of some of their members, both men and women.
The plan of union spread rapidly however, until today there are very few denominations in the United States that have not General Missionary Boards composed of both men and women, or are not in the process of making this change. Those denominations which
WOMAN'S PART IN HOME
organized thei~Woill(!il.~~t~drk rlior~ rJceIltly, arid werd' ~ble' t~,dis-I eern the future plan justl i:J{s'hig; ortl the riiission:HY h6rizori,' er~ct'ed their organization to function effectively as auxiliary to the C~l~r:ch;l with women representatives on all the General Boards. The filct' that in most denominations this representation is not yet adequate in numbers is but proof of the old adage that "Rome was not made in a day," though the future will probably show that women of all denominations are Presbyterian enough to practice "The Perseverance of the Saints" until such time as women shall have equal representation on the Missionary Boards of the churches.
The same spirit of union has shown itself in the increasingly closer affiliation of the Home Missions Oouncil and the Oouncil of Women for Home Missions. Nor is this spirit of union connned to the United States. The movement is even more marked in England today than in America. The International Review of Missions published in London speaks in a recent article of the decided trend toward the amalgamation of Men's and Women's Boards today in the following words: "The principle of full cooperation between men and women is completely recognized. Cooperation in missionary work is in being or in view in everyone of the larger communities of the Church and that as a process of evolution."
We cannot, therefore, tonight fairly consider Woman's contribution to America as the work done solely by the Women's Home Mission Boards, since many have passed or are passing out of existence. We shall be compelled to consider the subject from a broader viewpoint.
The Home Mission task itself is in process of change. A restatement of the objectives of Home Missions is needed today; it must include everything that the term has meant in the past and all that is evolving from the restless changing present; for the task of yesterday is not completed, even though new ones face us today.
Such a list must include the promotion of better race relations. In the Department of Race Relations, we nnd ourselves embarrassed today by our success of yesterday. For more than half a century, the Women's Boards have been giving a Ohristian education to children of other races-the Japanese, the Chinese, the Indian and the Negro. These schools have produced a fine group of intelligent and educated Ohristian citizens, and leaders for our beloved country. But what is the attitude of America, and even of the Ohurch, towards these leaders 7 Where can even the American born Japanese lawyer or minister of the Gospel serve1 His own racial groups are too small to provide him a living. What Anglo- Saxon church would employ him, however great might be his spiritual leadership 1 Who could employ a Negro however well fitted for the position, in any capacity that involved supervision of even the most ignorant 2
February
white men 1 How many ministel'E wau'ld dare arrange an exchange of pulpits with a Negro minister, whatever might be his achievements?
Have we devoted ourselves all these years to a conquest of ignorance, only to face a more deadly foe in race hatred, which seems to increase in intensity as the object of its animosity acquires potential leadership; race hatred which is so foreign to true democracy and to the tenets of God's Word which says "He has made of one blood all nations of men" 1 The task of transmitting race antipathy into brotherly love is one to try our souls and test our faith. Yet the women of the churches are addressing themselves to it courageously and with grat- Hying results. For eight years, a group of representative Southern Church women, both white and colored, have worked as a part of the Inter-Racial Commission of Atlanta, to promote better understanding between the two races. Together they have organized similar commissions in eleven southern states. The effort of these women to wipe out the crime of lynching has been an importaut factor in the encouraging decrease until the past year, in the number of lynchings. The fact that 13 more lynchings are reported this year than last, will but cause them to renew their efforts in this direction.
In September the first Inter-Racial Meeting of Northern White and Colored Women was held at Eaglesmere, Pennsylvania, with fine results. The conflict may be a long one; but race hatred can have no place in the hearts of Christians, if the Church is to take this land for Christ! The present efforts of the women to promote better race relations constitute as necessary a contribution to the Church and the welfare of our land as was the educational program of the 1860's.
THE MIGRANT PROBLEM Industrial conditions in rural America have been gradually changing. Highly specialized agriculture has grown enormously and a large migratory population has come into existence, through the development of new crops on a large scale, in new areas of our country. Seasonal laborers are employed, who move from crop to crop as the season advances, thus making permanent homes impossible. The children are deprived of any opportunity for an education, either secular or spiritual, and of any home influences of the better kind, and are usually pressed into service as workers while children. The migratory life of this population constitutes a national and Home Mission challenge. Women's Boards, through the Council of Women are doing a most interesting work in this difficult field through women workers employed to live among and serve these Casuals. The recent EI Paso Conference on Mexican work emphasized the need of this type of work, and the women who are blazing this new trail will show others the way.
J WOMAN'S PART IN HOME MISSIONS
THE COCNTRY CHURCH The Church of the ~illage and open Coulltry is being carefully studied today. There seem to be at least two general classes under which these needy rural communities may be listed: first, those, long familiar to us, that are handicapped by the remote location, underprivileged citizens and no church or pastor. The second, of more recent development, may have a church and even a pastor but the rural delivery, the telephone, good roads and automobiles, have united in luring the people away to near-by towns and cities, with iheir movies and other pleasure resorts, though not noticeably inereasing the church attendance there. The problem, therefore, seems to be in the first case to find a preacher for the people, and in the second to hold the people for the preacher. It is interesting to note what the women are doing in both types of communities, usually under the title of " Religious Work Directors," although the title is yariously applied in different denominations.
In the state of Georgia, one denomination has seven fine, alert, consecrated young women from the Missionary Training School of the denomination, employed to work in the rural and unchurched sections of the state. The following quotations from letters show us some of the things these women are doing.
"Our Church found that a consecrated woman working and living in the community, helping in the homes, sewing, nursing the sick and caring for the children, could gain ground faster than a man, who would not put up with such an everyday life! In most cases, after a year or more of such service, we have secured a church building of some kind and sometimes a community house too. My first summer was in a community where there was a church apparently dead. After three months' intensive work in building up the community life and interest we had an evangelistic meeting held by our chairman of Home Missions, and forty-six people joined the church, and now they have a Sunday-school, a Christian Endeavor, and a minister one quarter of his time."
Another worker writes: "The remote rural communities in our State have been sadly neglected by all denominations, and as a result the people, instinctively seeking some sort of religion, have been led to believe in many false doctrines, and to follow unwise and unsafe leaders. When a woman enters such a community she has a wonderful opportunity to present the true religion and through community work such as sewing and cooking classes for the girls, industrial work with the boys, social and religious meetings with the mothers, gradually the trend of thought can be turned into different and more wholesome channels. Then in the Sunday-school and Christian Endeavor the foundation can be laid still more firmly, and almost before we know it, there is a following ready for a church organization; the enthusiasm goes still further, and with some help from the committee, a house of worship is erected, and there is a church home where the people can meet together and worship the true God."
The chairman of this work, a minister in Georgia, writes: "By this plan of sending women in to do the pioneer work, we have opened up nine counties in the last three or four years and built fifteen
churches in communities where they werc badly needed. We are running fourteen Sunday-schools and teaching abont 700 pupils."
a 'rhis plan is also being used in Texas, where the Htatc j)ireetor of Religious Education is woman, who has oversight of eight young women who are doing a great work in the rural sections of that state.
In Mississippi, six young women are employed by one denomination in similar work.
SOCIAL SERVICE Another valuable contribution to community welfare is made through the social service departments of thousands of local missionary societies. Through this secretary, jails are visited as well as orphanages, old folks' homes, county farms and city hospitals. Good cheer is carried to the inmates and friendly interest shown. Day nurseries are operated, free clinics and pure milk stations established, supervised playgrounds are provided for needy sections of the community and many other forms of helpful service are carried on by this Department.
EVANGELISM Changes are occurring rapidly in the field of Home Missions. Good roads are not only changing the problem of the rural church, but they are also penetrating the remote sections of the Appalachians where isolation will soon become a thing of the past. State schools follow good roads, and in time will afford adequate educational opportunity to the mountain boy and girl. But State schools do not proclaim the message of salvation, and these children must have Christian homes and Sunday-schools and churches before the mission schools can be spared. Dr. E. C. Branson, in a recent number of World's Work, writing on "Mothers of Loneliness," says that there are 477,000 illiterate women in the mountains east of the Mississippi River. The number of "Quare Wimmen" who are living with and loving and teaching these people needs to be multiplied many times over.
Since, however, primary education will in time be entirely the province of the State and not of the Church, since Americanization is being taken care of by public schools among the new Americans, since more adequate educational opportunities are being-increasingly afforded the Negro, the Mexican, the Oriental, by the State, and the Church will in time be relieved of this task, what then is becoming the paramount Home Mission task of the Church of America! Is it not a renewed emphasis on evangelism, that supreme task of the Church which the State can never assume, the taking of the Gospel to all people everywhere? Is not this today the crying need of rich and poor, high and low, in America 1 Said a noted secular speaker recently: "America's greatest need today is a revival of oldfashioned religion."
WOMAN'S PART IN HOME MISSIONS
Although the IVomen Home Missionaries. are not preaching from pulpits, they are none the less true evangelists, telling the gospel story throughout our land. In mill village and in lumber camp, in mountain cove and on western prairie, they are living and telling, the old, old story. It has always been so. The Church at large may need to renew its emphasis upon Personal Evangelism, but to the women "Missions" has always meant carrying the Gospel! rChat message has been the motivating power and ultimate object of their missionary effort, and they stand loyally ready today to serve in even larger measure in making this beloved land really worthy of its proudest title, "Christian America."
Our consideration of woman's home missionary contribution to her country would be incomplete indeed were we to omit a tribute to that consecrated and self-denying worker-The Woman Home Missionary. For three quarters of a century, these women have lived in the hard places of the land, sometimes shoulder to shoulder with their brave husbands. Sometimes alone. Always poor, attempting a humanly .impossible task, yet with heads up and faces forward, never retreating, never complaining, the bravest 'souls the Church has seen.
Living on a meagre pittance, yet dividing with the needy, doing physical labor beyond her strength, yet helping with the burdens of others, bearing children far from hospital or surgeon, managing in some way to educate large families, with no child allowance from the Boards, with no furlough of rest at stated periods, with no halo on her brow for leaving the homeland, persevering, sympathetic, faithful unto the end, may we tonight place upon the head of the Woman Home Missionary the laurel wreath so long denied her and acclaim her as servant par excellence of her country and of her King.
THOUGHTS FROM OHRISTIAN THINKERS "You might as well try to cure smallpox by scenery as to try to save the world by improvement of environment. "
"Let us fail in trying to do something rather than sit still and do nothing. "
"Nothing is eternal but that which is done for God and others. That which is done for self dies."
"Consistent giving keeps the soul from shrinking." "God will not look you over for medals, degrees, and diplomas, but for scars. " "Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one's self." "With God, over the sea; without Him, not over the threshold."
"Chinese Religion Seen Through
Proverbs"
BY PR.OF. HARLAN P. BEACH, MADISON, NEW JERSEY KING SOLOMON'S Old Testament collection of proverbs, in their entirety, numbered some three thousand; Professor C. H. Plopper, Ph.D., of Nanking University, has made a 381page collection of 2,448 proverbs related to China's religious thought and moral teachings. This volume is by far the best one for those seeking light on such phases of life as may be liberally called Chinese religion. Yet as the author tells us: "For showing their literary i'tructure, wit, grace, beauty, and strength, Arthur H. Smith's 'Chinese Proverbs and Common Sayings' will probably never be surpassed." Another earlier collection is William Scarborough's" A Collection of Chinese Proverbs," 2,720 in number, which we labored over in our China missionary days with the feeling expressed by Dr. Smith in commenting upon the author's deprecatory introduction, in which he craved pardon lest" a few errors may have crept in." To .this the missionary humorist added: "Crept in! They have done more than that. They have come in in swarms, each with its hat on and umbrella spread, and have then taken a front seat." This latter volume has just been republished with additions equalling Solomon's number. Some months ago, Captain A. J. Brace placed in our hands a choice booklet entitled, "Five Hundred Proverbs, Commonly Used in West China," where he has labored for years. He said that these were the most common ones in a collection of eight thousand which he had gathered. As it is said of Jesus that "without a parable spake he not unto them," so the four authors mentioned above made their addresses and conversation acceptable through the knowledge of proverbs which they copiously and profitably used.
Only a few samples from Dr. Plopper's collection can be presented here. We have taken keen delight and have gained much enlightenment from them, despite the fact that the paraphrase oftentimes does not seem at all connected with the Chinese proverbs found below, which sometimes are like Scarborough's spread umbrellas in this Chinese meeting-house. The author often gives the commOn sense of proverbs h&ving no immediate religious or moral bearing. Indeed, Dr. Propper's paraphrases are as illuminating for the student of Chinese religion and customs as are the six ponderous tomes of Professor Dr. de Groot, of Berlin University, in his proposed series of twelve volum{)s-and are vastly more interesting. '['he following are samples of proverbial religion as it is heard on the lips of educated and illiterate alike, taken from one hundred and twenty- lOll three written sources and generously supplemented by proverbs heard by the author in common conversation.
Animism and the religious ideas preceding the formal teachings of Lao Tzu and Confucius occupy eighty-one pages. The next largest section of sixty-six pages has to do with religious doctrines. In the ancient nature-worship Heaven and Earth were prominent, with the dualistic Yin and Yang-positive and negative principlesclosely second.
"Heaven is father and Earth is mother. " "First was Heaven and Earth and then all creatures were born." "Heaven and Earth are the father and mother of all creati(m; and of all things man is most highly endowed spiritually." "If your principles are not good, you sin against Heaven and Earth."
Of the two great dualistic principles, they say: "Out of nothingness was born the Great Extreme; this produced the Yin and the Yang"-the Earth and Heaven-whose "unfathomable operations are spirit." The Yin and Yang principles have been deified as the Royal Father of the East and the Royal Mother of the West, the former living in a paradise in the Eastern Ocean and the latter ruling in the K'un Lun Mountains, said to be the junction point between Heaven and Earth. Thi~ is the place where the Yin and Yang vapors are harmonized.
These two principles, and especially Heaven and Earth, "are known and appealed to in practically every home in China. Early in the morning of the first day of every year the incense burner is taken into the courtyard in front of the door, and there under the clear sky, incense is burned for the family, while the head of the house prostrates himself in worship to the parents of all life."
From that early period came also the worship of the Gods of the Soil, or the spirits of the Land and Grains, to which small shrines are erected all over the land. These often contain a quaint pair of images, represented as husband and wife. While a disparaging proverb runs, "The God of the Soil is munching a cake-he cannot hear any large offering," the great philosopher Mencius asserted 111a t "The people arc the most important element in a nation; the spirits of the Land and Grain are the next; the Sovereign is the lightest "~for which saying, rulers always held a grudge against him, while the people said a hearty Amen. In the Confucian Analects is a proverb sanctioned by the Great Sage: "Faithfulness tranquilizes the spirits of the Land and of Grain; but a sharp mouth overturns home and country." What wonder that small images of these Gods of Soil and Grain are found in many homes, placed on the floor under the altar board that they may be as near Earth as possible to protect the house and its inmates!
Omitting all reference to a host of deities mentioned in proverbs and connected with nature, we introd1lCe the Dragon, regarded as the
king of the animal creation, the emblem of royalty and the symbol of greatness. There are many varieties, inhabiting many places; yet the real element of the Dragon is the water, and there at the bottom of the sea, in a ten-thousand-feet-deep cave, is his palace. "To go down into the ocean to seize the Dragon" is a proverbial way of describing a super-brave man, while of a man who would be helpless out of his proper environment, they say "A Dragon will not leave the deep water."
But of all gods and deities of the Chinese, the one most in evi- dence in the home life is the" Kitchen God," perhaps the oldest wor- shiped in China; Of the more than forty stories that tell the origin of this deity, Dr. Plopper gives that of Chang Tsao-wang, who mar- ried a virtuous young woman who brought good luck to his home. Tiring of her he later put her away and married one of a fast char- acter. Then all went wrong with him so that, blind and a beggar, he unwittingly asked food at the home of his first wife whose cooking and good deeds brought back his sight. Seeing who his benefactor was filled him with such shame that, in trying to escape her gaze, he jumped into the stove not knowing that there was fire in it. His wife mourned for him and placed a memorial tablet over the stove. Later this custom was followed by hundreds of millions of Chinese. The proverbs connected with this god of paper pasted near the fire- place have to do with the end of the year, when as the guardian of the family and cognizant of all its good and evil of the year past, he is unpasted and sent by fire to the Pearly Emperor dwelling in the North Star. That he may give a good report, his mouth is smeared with candy or syrup so that his last impression will incline him to a favorable report to that Emperor. "The Kitchen God has gone to worship Heaven." "The Kitchen God gone to heaven-no place to live," said of one seeking a house to rent. A longer proverb runs, "When the sweetmeats are offered to the Genius of the Hearth, New Year has come. The little girl asks for flowers; the lad wants crackers; the old lady is anxious for a wig; and out of spite the old man breaks his bowl"-for thus he is importuned.
The next chapters relate to later animism and current beliefs concerning spirits good and bad, demons, the phenix, tortoise, and magic in popular religion, fortune telling, charms, jeng shtti in its thousand forms, and the graceful pagoda, protector of the farreaching countryside from malignant spirits. – A few sample religions proverbs may be given, summari'zing a number of them which describe a good woman, and remind us of Solomon's description of such a person: The virtuous wife brings honor to her husband and is a source of strength ·to his moral life. Hence parents should seek goodness rather than beauty in choosing a son's bride. Such a wife creates a desirable atmosphere in her Dew home, creating memories that will be cherished. Her children will be
1927J "CHINESE RELIGION SEEN THROUGH CHINESE PROVERBS"
trained into strong manhood and womanhood, and her virtue will be her one priceless possession, or as the proverb has it, "'fhe excellence of a wife con- sists, not in her beauty, but in her virtue."
Her estimate of its value is thus stated: "It is a little thing to starve to death; it is a serious thing to lose one '8 virtue."
An admission as to her virtue, characteristic of the old regime, is added; "For a woman to be without talents is virtue," i. e., it is better for iii woman not to be bright.
Summarizing for men the proverbs declare: "He whose virtues exceed his talents is the superior man, and to hav~ such a one in the home is to exalt the whole clan. As men of this class increase;, they strengthen the country, 'for virtuous men are a kingdom's greatest; treasure.' . . . So it is the duty of every teacher, father and elder to live~ virtuously before the young. Then the child will also show forth the same' qualities and grow into a perfect manhood."
Half a dozen proverbs indicate that living' a virtuous life is not easy, but calls for watchfulness in small things, a thoroughgoing criticism of one's own life, constant control over one's desires and feelings, for "Virtue is the foundation of happiness, vice the presage of misery. "
As to critics of character, "He who tells me of my faults is my teacll€r; he who tens me of my virtues, does me harm."
This saying of Confucius is also a worthy proverb: "Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles, and be moving continually to what is right; this is the way to exalt one's virtue"
Many proverbs having to do with virtue and vice are well worth a place in Christian living, though many others are not.
A prominent series of proverbs has to do with quietism, and that is emphasized especially by present-day scholars, and thinkers, and a few military officers. The doctrine of Taoism, the Tao, is here very prominent: "The freer, deeper life does not come through strife and searching, but by putting oneself in accord with Tao [often identified with God, Reason or Natureland peacefully going with its movements. Should any cause of trouble arise, one should not get angry and excited, but should tranquilly yield to circumstances or to men, and he will win by his very nonresistance. One gains strength by being able to bend before the winds of adversity. As he learns to be placid, his power increases; for the Tao is permeating him."
Another series, covering thirteen pages, has to do with rewards and punishment, for the Chinese firmly believe that "Good has its good recompense, while evil has its bad outcome." "Virtue and vice are sure to be rewarded in the end; only at times sooner, at times later." "Plant melons and you will gather melons; plant plums and you will gather plums." "Each man must suffer for his own sin." "How can you escape the great reckoning 1"
Yet Fate, following Indian ideas of transmigration connected
with Karma from a previous existence, is often mentioned in Ohi- neBe proverbs.
"It was determined in the former life." "Laugh not at the poverty of others; for the affairs of transmigration are just." "Life and death are according to Fate; the great reckoning will be difficult to avoid." "Both riches and honor are settled by Fate; their time of arrival each 11liin must await."
Rewards of the present life are very uncertain: "He hoards to- day, he hoards tomorrow; he does nothing else but hoard. At length he has enough a new umbrella to afford; when all at once he is as- sailed, a wind arises quick, and both his hands grasp nothing but a bare umbrella stick."
The end comes at last and man reaches the Yellow Fountain, or the Nine Fountains-Hell. The Yellow Fountain is supposed to be located in China's westernmost province, surrounded by a large rock 25,000 miles in circumference, having iron walls 10,000 feet high, from which :flames issue. Its prince Yen Wang at the proper time sends his messenger Wu Oh'ang for one's soul. Strong, wiry spirits then punish the culprit according to his deserts. Other proverbs allude to Ti Tsang, a Buddhist Reformer of Hell, who goes from point to point preaching the Law. When he sees a soul truly repenting of its sins, as Deliverer from Hell he induces the King having that particular section of Hell in charge to release him.
Pages of proverbs illustrate the fate of those in the ten great divisions of Hell with their varied tortures. Happily these glimpses of horrors are followed by other pages describing the life of the Immortals and the paradisaical Eastern Isles and Western Heaven, Buddhistic in the main. This "World of Extreme Happiness" is the dying hope of thousands every month j for there Amida Buddha and the ever-pitying goddess Kuan Yin, stand ready to welcome Buddhists to a Paradise perfectly pure as compared with Islam's shamelessly sensuous Heaven.
Chinese proverbs are of a high order relatively speaking. Impurity is lacking, and ethical ideals are dominant in most of the collection, especially when they are from the classics and other literary sources. They do not point out a way of salvation, except in the Buddhist proverbs; and even then it is an ignis fatuus that only uncertainly suggests what is not truly existent. Good sentiments are on every lip, but virtuous conduct and holy lives are rare under prevalent religious teachings. The proverb may be a good starting point for a Ohristian address j but these in Dr. Plopper's superb collection are as devoid of saving value as is Solomon's Book of Proverbs; both demand a Gospel and a Saviour truly to bless the soul.
A Chinese Christian
BY G. W. SPARLING, CH1JNGKING, WEST CHINA Missionary of the United Church of Canada I Na hilly district, one hundred miles south of the city of Chung- king, Liu Tze Ruh was born some fifty-eight years ago. When yet a youth he left the fascinating and invigorating scenes of his country home to seek his fortune in the commercial metropolis of Chungking. He was accompanied by his father who had no capital but earned his living by daily work. 'l'he lad was expected to support himself and also to make a contribution to the family exchequer. His father was brought up as, a member of the Buddhist sect, and the son inherited a strong belief in the reality of the spiritual world as well as an intense desire to inquire into its mysteries.
Soon after his arrival in Chungking the young man heard of the foreign missionaries and was pleased one evening to see, in front of a well-lighted building, a written invitation for passersby to come in and hear the Gospel. He decided to enter and gain whatever light he could on some of the problems that were continually pressing on his young mind. During this first meeting he heard the Christian story of creation. It fascinated him so that he decided to come again and soon became a regular attendant at these services. He purchased a Bible and set himself the task of reading it through. In one year he had finished it several times. Six months after he first heard the Gospel he was baptized and immediately became a voluntary preacher and bookseller. He has sold thousands of books and preached hundreds of sermons but has never accepted any remuneration for this work. From the beginning of his Christian experience he had an intense desire to tell others the news. He would go on long tours carrying Bibles and gospel portions with him preaching and selling as he went. Several times I have heard him express a wish that the last few years of his life might be spent in just this kind of work.
About twenty years ago Mr. Liu was recommended as a clerk with a foreign export and import firm but it was as agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Co. that his most rapid advancement was made. In 1913 he was advanced to the position of general agent covering the whole of the province of Szechwan with a population of seventy million. Here his ability as an organizer was soon seen and he placed agents in all the main cities of the district. He soon became a comparatively rich man and on several occasions was re- (lllGsted to go to other provinces to assist in organizing the work of the company. This work necessitated much travel.
Mr. Liu's desire to do philanthropic work seemed to increase 107
with the increase of his income and he began to look around for the best way to use his money. He early adopted the motto that all he had belonged to the Lord and after deducting sufficient for the needs of his family was prepared to use the remainder in definite Christian enterprises. His liberality was first brought to the notice of the public when he decided to open an orphanage for boys. which was afterwards followed by one for girls in which over a hundred children are working and studying. Several of these pupils have graduated and are now taking responsible positions in mission schools and elsewhere while many others have learned trades which have enabled them to earn a respectable living. In this enterprise as in all others he has insisted that it shall have a Christian atmosphere; Christian worship is held regularly and the Bible is one of the school textbooks.
Mr. Liu did not forget the country home from which he had come some twenty years before, but early decided to do something to bring the people of that district into touch with the Gos- pel and which would stand as a memorial among llis former neigh- bors. As a heathen he would probably have erected a memorial arch but as a Christian he decided that the best :ldR. LIU TZE RU thing was to open Christian schools for the children, so that the coming generation would have opportunities which were denied to their parents.
During all the years Mr. Liu has kept his membership in the same church in Chungking which is now over thirty years old. This began as a mission church entirely financed by mission money but as the membership increased they gradually assumed some of the financial responsibility. Four years ago a committee was appointed to consider the matter of becoming entirely self-supporting and it was largely through Mr. Liu's efforts that this was accomplished. He did not want to give in a way that would overshadow the other members but assumed his share so that the complete budget of $1,500 a year has been raised locally during these years. He has been a real inspiration to the other members as they have had an example of a man who has not forgotten his duty to the church during his time of prosperity. He has done much to combat the idea so prevalent on the mission field that the church is good for those who are in straight-
A CHINESE CHRISTIAN LAYMAN
ened circumstances and need its assistance but is not necessary when men are in independent circumstances.
Having been much in contact with foreign mis8iouaries and being connected with a foreign firm, Mr. Liu decided that he would like to take a world tour. In the spring of 1924 a missionary going • home on furlough to Canada offered to take him and act as interpreter.
His visit to the Christian Church of the West has helped Mr. Liu to get a truer idea of the meaning of the missionary enterprise and how it is financed and managed. Soon after his return he said, "I consider it my duty to tell what I have seen and among other things I hope to give the people of my own country a clearer conception of the Ohristian movement. Many of my people say that missionaries are here as agents of capitalistic governments and supported by strong financial concerns but I have learned the truth of the matter and will tell them that it is only the sacrifice and generosity of Christian people in the West that has made the missionary movement possible." And as we have heard his addresses since his return we 'are thoroughly convinced that he was right when he said that God had a purpose in the journey and we believe that his message on his return is proving even a greater inspiration than was his message to the people of the West. His own faith has been increased and his purpose to spend his time and talents for the Lord has been strengthened. The disturbed condition of the country has greatly interfered with his business and competition has taken away part of his trade but nothing has in any way lessened his desire and determination to spend his life in the service of God and his fellowmen. He sometimes speaks of giving up active business life and going into more direct work for the Church and if that is the way the Lord is leading him he will certainly follow it and God can make him even a greater blessing there than in the sphere that he has already occupied.
The problem of the mission field is to make the Church indigenous and in this one is greatly heartened by association with a man like Mr. Liu. While being ever ready to acknowledge the debt which China owes to missionaries, and realizing that their services are still necessary, he insists that the Chinese Christians should go to the limit of their ability to support their own work. In face of the anti- Christian movement which is abroad he continues to inspire his fellow Christians to aggressive effort believing that the gospel message is what China needs. He has faith in the ultimate triumph of truth and the realization of the Kingdom of God in his own land.
"All who look to the Lord have light in their faces!" is the Chinese version of the text: ' , They looked unto Him and were lightened." One woman who had been welcomed at the first meeting she attended, attributed her conversion to their kindly words. She had said to herself: "I must go again, and hear more of the doctrine that makes people kind."
EGATES AT THE EL PASO CON FERENCE ON ~mXICAN
Studying Mexican Relations at El Paso A ConfeTence to P 'urther InlerTu cial (JJnd International Goodwill BY COE HAYN E, NEW YORK T HE influence of the recent EI Paso Conference on the future development of work among Mexicans will doubtless be felt by all forward-looking organizations which have contacts with the Spanish-speaking people north of the Rio Grande. The conference, held December 11 to 16, 1926, to consider questions relating to the social, religious, educational and economic welfare of Mexicans and Spanish-Americans in the United States, met the anticipation of its sponsors in the matter of attendance and interest. Not only were the church boards affiliating with the Home Missions Council and Council of Women for Home Missions well represented, but present also to participate in the discussions were several officers in the departments of education and health and labor bureaus of some of the border states, as well as members of the faculty of state and denominational colleges. That these agencies met to consider their common problems open-mindedly and mutually sympathetic is in itself epochal in the history of interdenominational cooperation.
Radically transforming results arising from the conference were not predicated by its sponsors. A unity that resides in the desire cooperatively to find and face the facts presented by the five commissions that carried on a pre-conference study of the major problems affecting Mexicans and Spanish-Americans in the United States 110
'STUDYING MEXl:cAN RELATIONS AT EL PASO
was namea as a cherished goal by Dr. Charles E. Vermilya, conference chairman, in his introductory remarks. ""Ve may not all interpret the facts in the same way," he said. ""Ve ('an at least be charitable and sympathetic toward each other, and the presence in EI Paso of any delegate is evidence of a mutual interm;t in a common cause. "Ve meet not to discredit any organization, social or religious, but to . discover, if possible, the privileges to which Mexicans and Spanish- Americans, who are a part of our common social life, are entitled, and the means by which these can be provided. This conference ought to make allies of many who heretofore have had very little to do with each other."
While missionary projects of an evangelistic and educational nature had a generous hearing, these questions did not receive an undue share of the time given over to open discussion. The conference was defined by Dr. Worth M. Tippy, who represented the Ifederal Oouncil of Ohurches at EI Paso, as concerned with the "totality of the lives" of members of the racial group under scrutiny and as one of the most important within recent years. "We have posflibly two and a half million Mexicans in the United States," said Dr. Tippy. "These workers are absolutely essential to our industries. They are here with their wives and little ones. They deserve the best our civilization has to offer, and it is to our interest to give it to them. These great money-spending boards are interested not alone in the spiritual and intellectual progress of these people but in the totality of their lives. This is shown by the studies that have been under way for months in preparation for the conference. Nothing better indicates the revolution which has taken place in the scope and interests of religious work during the last quarter century."
That the discussions were confined to vital matters may be seen by a perusal of some of the questions raised. The following are fairly representative: Leadership: Is present leadership adequate? Is it adequately trained ~ What is the place of the Mexican leaded The Spanish- American leaded The Anglo-American leaded Is adequate provision available for training leaders ~ Is the interdenominational training of leaders feasible? What steps should be taken to provide training for leaders? Are salaries adequate? What is the relationship between rate of salary and effectiveness of work?
Interdenominational cooperation: How much is desirable and feasible? What things can be done better interdenominationally~ What things better by denominational groups? What are the pres- ent comity arrangements r Are they being carried out effectively1 What llew arrangements should be made? Are there present cases of denominational overlapping? How can these be corrected 1 How can they be' avoided in the future~ Local church programs: What is the usual type of local church
program in a Spanish-American or ~Iexican church 1 Is it adequate ~ 'What are its strong points and what are its weak ones ~ Is there adequate help for putting the program iuto operation'? ·What modification should be made! What provision is lllade for training local leaders 1 Is the preaching' of a satisfactory and worthy character? Is the church school on a creditable basis"/ Is attention given to young people's organizations fAre clubs and similar organizations provided for boys and girls 1 Is week-day religious instruction a factor of the work~ Are daily vacation church schools feasible and how can they best be promoted and conducted 1 The Mexican industrially: How shall our schools, our churches, our community houses make any impression upon Mexicans who move constantly from place to place f What shall we say of an economic system which, by the very nature of the case, makes homes impossible? What have you to say about the little children who toil in the beet-fields f What shall we do for people who live upon wheels 1 The Mexicarn and his comm~£nity life: What can the church do to persuade !lgricultural companies to provide adequate housing for their employees? How can we create in our people a desire for better homes? Is the Mexican a homogeneous element in our national life? If not so now, is he likely to become so, How does he measure up to our American standards-economic, social, racial ¥ What is your church, or your community house doing to help him fit in? What values does the Mexican bring with him which can be contributed to our American life? How are the factors of a steady and living wage, home ownership, and the attitude of the American community to be evaluated as helping or hindering his adjustment to American life f The Rev. Vicente Mendoza, native Methodist pastor of Mexico City, and Jose Kelly, general delegate of the Mexican Federation of Labor, both shed light on the religio-political situation in Mexico. They urged the necessity of time and patience on the part of all concerned in the working out of the ideals of the Calles government in its heroic struggle to direct affairs in Mexico to the end that Mexico may make a positive contribution to the civil, industrial and cultural progress of the world in spite of the inimical alien forces that steadfastly refuse to release their grip upon her life-sources.
More humanitarian methods in the deportation of Mexicans from the United States were recommended by the conference; also that the United States and Mexico appoint a joint commission on emigration and immigration "to recommend to their respective governments appropriate legislation" regarding immigration policies.
The conference expressed its desire "to urge upon our government that its relations with Mexico be developed in an atmosphere of sympathy and mutual goodwill, and that all questions at issue be approached with exceeding patience and resolved through conference and discussion."
CHURCH· OF THE BRETHREN MISSION SCHOOL AT GARKIDA, NORTHERN
WEST AFRICA, A JOURNEY OF 1030 MILES FROM THE WEST COAST.
The picture shows the boys and the girls and the school in September. 1925. (Those. kneeling In front row are girls.) Why I Like My Missionary Job BY ALBERT D. HELSER, F.R.G.S., NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA Author of "In Sunny Nigeria"
JAMES GORDON BENNETT sent Henry M. Stanley into Central 1frica with the commission: "Find Livingstone, never mind t~~ cost; find Livingstone and bring him back." The Word of Jesus Christ to His Church is, "Find lost men; never mind the cost; find them and bring them back to Me,"
With this in mind H. Stover Kulp from the University of Pennsylvania and the writer, from rreachers College, Columbia University, traVeled a thousand miles into the interior of North Central Africa.
On a crisp November morning we set our faces toward the land of our heart's desire. Six years in college and graduate work had made me a little impatient to be off.
By steamer to England and then on to Nigeria; by train, Ford, horseback or on foot we traveled 1,109 miles into the interior and located at Garkida, Northeastern Nigeria, south of Lake Cht!9. 1,030 miles from the West Coast.
The shadows of disease and death stalk everywherel,tmong.;.the pagans of North Central Africa and there are no cities of refuge. I visited a village which was deserted because of smallpox. Those 113 3
who were able to go had fled to new quarters; they were helpless and hopeless. As we went near the door of a hut we heard a voice and saw a form of a woman blinded and disfigured with smallpox. There were dead to be buried with few to bury them. A few months before we had seen bodies twisted with cerebro-spinal meningitis. Lepers with bleeding hands and feet cry out for help from many a gateway. Little children scream and groan from the torture of heathen practices.
'llhere are many languages in Central Africa and this creates a tremendous difficulty. In the Bura tribe where we are located the people knew nothing of a written language. There is no Bible, no school books, nothing on paper.
A BURA COMPOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORNFIELD
WHY I LIKE MY MISSIONARY JOB
Ignorance, polygamy and devil worship in their worst fOl'ms a 1'0 entrenched as deep as hell itself. I like my missionary job because it is a commission from my Master Himself, and because it is difficult but what gives a greater thrill is to realize that there is hope of victOl'Y· The doctor vaccinated the children and some grown people in that small deserted village and we told them of the hope. Some were delivered from an awful death and told of a Saviour's love.
011e father came running after us V~ as we left. A child was in his arms and the father begged that delivering medicine might be ad- ministered. Lepers are being treated and some are showing marked improvement. The new ray of hope has put a new gleam in their eyes and a smile on their faces. Little children are exchang- ing their screams of despair ror I';ongs of joy and hope and their groans for loving words and prayers to Jesus Christ.
The language is being reduced to writing and the gospels are heing tmnslated into Bura and are print~d by the British and For- eign Bible Society. Ignorance is beginning to give way. Ninety- four boys and sixteen girls have been enrolled in our mission school and have learned to read. There LI'rTLE MOSE]SS 1IlJTNriGo~O SEE WHAT are small beginnings in industrial education. The missionary doctor gives regular instruction in sani- tation and hygiene.
Harmful social customs and superstitions are giving way. Young men are beginning to refuse the urge of their parents to take the second wife. Men who three years ago marched around the moun- tain and called for rain are now quietly kneeling in our little church and praying to God for rain. Some who watched through the long nights in fear of evil spirits now say the Lord's Prayer and "lie down to pleasant dreams." It is a joy to serve Christ in Central Africa. Hopes are begin- ning to' be realized and new and larger hopes are being born all the time.
I like my missionary job because it has a great future. As we
write on the tablet of the hearts of the youth we are determining the future of the nation. VlTe hope to see established a training center for teachers and preachers that will wield a determining influence over millions of men who are now pagans and Mohammedans. There is a great opportunity in our pagan area to win the people to Christ before they have been mis- led into accepting another religion.
'1'he1'e is a great field before us. More missionaries are needed in Nigeria. For 200 miles to the north and 1,000 miles to the east there are only two Lutheran mis- sionaries. This field needs men who know Christ and will obey His Word.
A few weeks ago I was preach- ing near a sacred lake in Buraland and a horseman called for me to come quickly for a woman had been caught and mangled by a crocodile.
I found her in awful agony. A great chunk of flesh had been bit- ten from her hip and there were THREETE~r;[R~r;.r!i6c~.ftk~r;; ON other big wounds on her legs. We $ ~' did our best but she died. When we asked about killing the crocodile they said, "Oh no, it may have the spirit of a man in it and he would die." This is one of the super- stitions that need to be changed. With God's help the time is not far distant when a woman will be of more value than many crocodiles.
I like my job because it is God's work; it is difficult; it is needed; it is hopeful; it is worth doing.
SEED THOUGHTS FOR MISSIONARY SPEAKERS "The only relationship big enough for one man is all the rest of mankind. " "It is of less consequence what truth a man holds than what truth holds the man." "The consecrated missionary church is not a cistern, but a living fountain. " "No interest in missions ~ The only explanation is either inexcusable ignorance or willful disobedience." "The man who does not believe in missions had better burn up his New Testament, for it is a record of missions." "This work of missions is the biggest, the most far-reaching, most divine task that confronts the twentieth-century man."
Mohammed to
A Testimony by an Indian Mohammedan Who Is Now a Christian Student in America BY RABIB YlUSUFJI, PRINCETON, NEW .TERSElY W HILE I do not know the date and circumstances of my birth, I know that I was born about thirty years ago in that ancient and "holy" city of Ujjain, in the state of Gwalior, about five huudred miles northeast of Bombay. My parents belonged to a very strict sect of Shiah Mohammedans, known in India as Bohra-a sect which forbids its male adherents to trim their beards, to use intoxicating liquors or drugs, to smoke or chew tobacco. Women must not go unveiled in public, and both sexes are required to meet the appointed hours of prayer, and to observe the month of fasting and other Moslem customs.
When 1 was about six years of age, my family moved to Basim, a town farther south, where my father was employed by a cloth merchant. Soon I was placed in a grade school, under the guidance of Mohammedan teachers. I still remember the remarks which my father made as he introduced me to my instructor: "Sahib, here is my boy. All the flesh belongs to you, and all the bones belong to me." The teacher saw to it that I did not put on too much flesh by freely applying his professional cane to my tender hide.
While I was a pupil in the fourth grade, a terrible plague broke out in Basim and we were ordered to flee to the open country. My father, being a fatalistic Moslem, believed that nothing could harm a man without the will of Allah, so he kept on attending to business as usual. As a result, my father died of plague, leaving behind him five helpless dependents. My mother came with her four children to live at the home of my maternal uncle in the village of Rustumpur, Central Provinces, where she performed "the widow's rite," by dressing herself in white garments (a sign of deep mourning) and remaining in a state of seclusion for about four months and ten days.
After staying with my uncle for eight months, I returned to Basim, and worked as a page, assistant cook, nurse and errand boy for the same family that had employed my father. A little later on I was asked to continue my schooling, and began studying English. Being separated from my mother made me long in my heart to see her once more, but one day a postal card from my unele announced her marriage to a man in Bombay. Grief so overwhelmed me that I went to a well, determined to end my life. Just as I was about to throw myself in, I seemed to hear a small voice pleading with me not to commit that awful deed. After a brief meditation, I yielded to its pleadings.
117
When another plague broke out in Basim, I had to leave the town and this ended my schooling as I was about to finish the sixth grade. I went to Rustumpur to stay with my uncle who was very prosperous. Soon he made arrangements for the wedding of his younger brother, and at the same time solemnized my marriage to his own daughter, a girl of about ten, though we did not live together as husband and wife due to our minority.
I continued to live with my uncle, that I might pay the debt which he thought lowed him, for giving me his beautiful daughter, thereby losing a chance to make seven hundred rupees.
He treated me as his hired man, and soon showed a spirit of tyranny. One day he beat my younger brother so severely that he cried out for some one to deliver him from the blows that made the poor boy's body black and blue. I rushed into the barn and picked up a piece of firewood, which'
I threw at my uncle with such force and accuracy that he was laid up in bed for several days. I fled from my father-in-law's house and on the way met my paternal uncle who begged me to come to his house. A telegram was sent to my mother and stepfather to come down and settle the family quarrel. The truce was declared and my father-in-law requested me to write out a bill of divorce for my girl wife. I did not do it at that time- HABIB YUSUFJI for which later I was sorry. .My younger brother and I were expelled from my father-in-Iaw's roof and we returned to the city of Ujjain where we were employed by a merchant to go to the Island of Lombok, nearly five hundred miles from Australia. I went out immediately to become bookkeeper for the firm and my brother was to follow later with my employer. After a long voyage I arrived at Ampenan, Lombok, to find that I was not yet fitted for such a re- sponsible task. The man in charge of the concern asked me to tutor his son in thc Koran. 'rhc lad waR spoilcd by self-indulgence and after sevet"UI weeks J gave llim lip as a llOpeless casco I took n stcamer for Sillgaporc I1111I fOllnd clllploymcllt as a cook ill a llonw where I had stopped as a guest on the way out.
During the last month of my year's contract, my Mohammedan-
l<"'ROM MOHAMMED 'fO CHRIST
polygamist-priest-merchant-employer left his place of business for a pilgrimage to Mecca. He never came back alive, and as soon as the report of his death reached Singapore, the business was closed. I invested my salary in merchandise to peddle from one street corner to another. My younger brother arrived, and as the life was too strenuous for him in Singapore, I found steady employment for him in a neighboring city.
My life as a peddler was full of hardships~ with very little income. Another young man and I entered into partnership and traveled far and wide, through jungles and on the water. We were told there were ample opportunities to acquire wealth in China, so we sold all our goods at auction and bought tickets for Hongkong. Our trip turned out to be a fool's errand, and we returned to Singapore. We secured. employment as cooks on a steamer carrying oil to England.
In the latter part of December, 1912, we sailed from Singapore and came to Cardiff, Wales. We were horrified when we learned there that our next trip was to be to America. The Bengalese Sunnite Mohammedan seamen had no use for us, who were Shiah Mohammedans from Western India. The rough ocean in the month of January made it very difficult to prepare meals on time, but whether seasick or not, I had to feed the hungry mob. Daily insults and abuses were increasing.
When we reached Philadelphia I decided to run away, though I had insufficient clothing and, as it was February, the weather was unspeakably cold. I had to walk fast to keep myself from freezing. After many hours' wandering, I came, hungry, cold and exhausted, to the custom house where I saw a group of laborers unloading a freight car. A colored man, with a kindly face, gave me a'dime to buy something to eat in a lunch room, but it did not satisfy completely the hunger I had. It began to rain again and I felt chilled more and more. I asked the same colored man if he could find me a place to sleep and he agreed to take me to his own home. He gave me some clean clothes, including an American shirt, which I wore with the shirt-tails on the outside, much to the amusement of the young couple.
At supper I did not touch the meat because I was afraid it might be pork, which is not permitted to Mohammedans. After a short period of rest which I had needed greatly, I obtained work as a street cleaner at thirteen cents an hour. Being discouraged at the prospect of becoming wealthy, I decided to leave Philadelphia and wandered to Freeport, Long Island and Garden City Estates, L. 1., until I arrived in New York City.
One Sunday afternoon I came near a group of boys who had been gambling on the bank of the river. They robbed me of some sixty cents, which I had in my vest pocket, but failed to find three or four dollar bills in my coat pocket. I was so terrified with New York
that I left it the next day, finding a job on the Lackawanna Railroad at Analomink, near Stroudsburg. I worked in a stone quarry until the laborers went on strike a few weeks later. 'l'hen I returned once more to New York and was employed by the Erie Railroad to go to Union City to work on the section gang. I was given an old freight car for living headquarters, but one ni~ht was sufficient, as I found there unmentionable creatures ready for a real feast t I was impelled to return to Jamestown and that proved to be the turning point of my life. I found work in a table factory, where my fellow workers became friendly, though sometimes their influence was not of the best. I began to drift away from some of the teachings of my early home life and Mohammedanism. 11:y fellowlaborers told me that liquor was the thing that kept them warm in winter and cool in summer and, once having acquired the taste for it, I began to drink more and more. After a few months, some of the young men asked me to go with them to a night school. One day I saw a man from my own country, and found that he was an agent for the Salada Tea Company earning a very substantial salary each week. He told me I could do the same if I went to 8J school for about three years to learn English. Money was the thing I wanted, but I had no idea where I could get the education. Some Albanian boys in the factory asked me to come to the Y. M. C. A. each Sunday night where they learned something about the Bible, taught in very simple English. I laid aside my religious scruples so as to learn the langllage to help me in business.
One Sunday night, Mr. Baldwin, the leader of the meeting, invited me in his class and gave me a copy of the New 'restament. I had never handled the Bible with such a willingness to learn something about the Book as I did that night. The kind and sympathetic interest of MI'. Baldwin in my affairs led me to open my heart and tell him about my joys and troubles. He had a deep passion for souls and I shall never forget the night when he told me in his gentle way that Christ was the Son of God. To me it sounded utter blasphemy because as a boy I was taught that there was no God but Allah and that he neither begets nor is he begotten. If a similar statement had been made by another person I almost would have been ready to fight with him. When Eastertime came, Mr. Baldwin asked me if I would like to join the Church, but I was by no means ready to accept the Christian faith, then. Night after night at the close of the service he would tell me more about Jesus and about the lost condition of my so111 without Him. Roth he and Mrs. Baldwin kept on praying for me.
One day T asked Mr. Baldwin if tllere was any dtanee for me to go to a school. He said" Surely, thcre is a place wl1ere they take care of boys in your condition and that is Oberlin Academy, Ohio, where one of your Albanian friends entered just recently." The season
FROM MOHAMMED TO CHRIST
was SO far advanced that I could not get in that year, but I made arrangements with some teachers in the town to give me private lessons in grammar and arithmetic. The first year in Oberlin was especially hard because of my unfamiliarity with the language.
The greatest thing that happened to me the next year was my decision for Christ. One night I went to hear Dr. Sherwood Eddy and towards the close of his talk he made an appeal to us to decide what we would do with our lives. I went to my room and struggled to find out what my life was to be. Hitherto I had worshipped gold with all the passion of my heart, but after having been at Oberlin with some of the finest Christian boys and girls of America, I began to realize that money was not everything in life. I saw America's real greatness lay in its ideals and these ideals had for their foundation Christianity, or, to be more definite, Christ. I realized that Hinduism and Mohammedanism were not enough to meet the deepest spiritual and material needs of the land of my birth. I thought of the wretched condition of the millions of outcasts whom I was taught to despise and regard worse than dogs. I realized that if I were to help India truly it must be through Christ. But how could I become a Christian ~ I had been married to a girl in India-my first cousin. Could I be disloyal to the faith of my ancestors, betraying the confidence my mother had in me ~ Would it be worth while to return to India as a Christian, only to be put to death by one of my fanatical fellow-countrymen ~ As I pondered upon these problems certain verses of the Bible came to my help: .
"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? "
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
"He that loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me." "He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me." "He that findeth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
But there was on my heart the burden of sin. The more I read the Bible and studied the matchless and sinless life of Christ, the more I realized how great a sinner I was. But when I learned that the Lord Jesus had come into the world to give His very life on the cross in behalf of sinners, I found new hope and comfort. After waiting on God for some time that night, I rose from my knees, having made a surrender of my life to the will of my Saviour.
Next I went to Mount Hermon School, founded by D. L. Moody. During the junior year, there came to me the sad news of the death of my youuger brother, and my mother urged me to return to India. Soon after this, my only sister died-a victim of child-marriage. I felt it my duty as a Christian to have my marriage to my uncle's
daughter annulled by declaring myself, in a letter to my mother, uncle and the "pope" of our sect, dead to the Moslem faith. ,The word "dead" was taken literally and my girl-wife mourned for me as a widow for the usual period.
After graduating from Mount Hermon School with the class of 1919, I went to Gordon College of Theology and Missions in Boston and received the degree of Bachelor of Theology. In the fall of 1923, I entered Colgate University and was given the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1925. Since then, I have been a student in Princeton Theological Seminary and received the degree of Master of Theology last May. It is now my purpose, God willing, to spend three more years for advanced studies in America and then to return to India in the service of Christ and my fellow countrymen.
It is my prayer that those who have read this story may be encouraged in the faith that Christ can save and save to the utmost; that as He has transformed lives in the past, He can do so in this twentieth century; that when everything else fails, prayers prevail; that with God nothing is impossible. His Spirit can bring even a Mohammedan, a lost sinner like myself, to rejoice in the peace and salvation which Christ alone can give to a human heart.
A MOSLEM PREACHER CONVE:RTED A few years ago a preacher of Islam, sent by a Mohammedan missionary society to Bulandshahr, in the United Provinces, India, was brought under Christian influence. As he read the Bible, a new light seemed to dawn upon him and he began to see the beauty of Christ. He said, "The teachings of Islam, which before this seemed to me most fascinating and which I have hitherto preached with glory, now appear to me abominable." What attracted him specially to study Christianity was the testimony of a worker to the effect that Christ not only forgives sin, but also gives us power to overcome sin. When he was convinced of the infinite superiority of Christ over Mohammed he at once sent in his resignation to the Mohammedan missionary society. A number of moulvies argued with him and tried to dissuade him from becoming a Chl·istian. But the more they tried to dissuade him the more he seemed to be drawn towards Christianity. After several months of study, during which he endured many privations, he was baptized. His one great desire is to dedicate himself to God's true service in His Bon Jesus Christ.-Church Missionary Society Gleaner.
Turkestan
BY G. W. HUNTER, TIWAHFU, SINKIANG Missionary of the China Inland Mission, 1889- CHINESE Turkestan is a large tract of country extending far into Central,Asia, from the province of Kansu (China proper) to the province of Ferghana in Asiatic Russia (a distance of about 1,100 English miles), and from the borders of rribet north to the province of Semipalatinsk in Siberia, a distance of some 560 miles. The total area of Chinese Turkestan is about 550,590 square miles. The T'sien Shan Mountains almost cut this large tract of land in two, thus separating the Taklamakan desert on the south, from the Zungarian plain on the north. The eastern part of the province encloses a great part of the Shamo or Gobi Desert.
The T'ien Shan Mountains and those on the borders of Tibet, Kashmir and Fergahana, almost encircle the Taklamakan Desert, and during the cold seasons of autumn and winter they store up a great supply of snow, which in the spring and summer melts and rushes down in scores of rivers and streams towards this great sea of sand. These valuable waters, however, are not all lost in the sand for they are caught and turned into irrigation canals and water-courses which in turu fertilize the lands of many cities, villages and thousands of farms, in this western portion of the province.
The inhabitants of these cities, villages and farms are called Sarts by the Russians; and Ch'an T'eo by the Chinese. The latter name meaning wrap heads, this name is given them because of their custom of wrapping large white turbans round their heads.
With the exception of the Swedish Missionary Society in the cities of Kashgar, Yangi-Hissar, and Yarkand, in the far west of the province, there are no Protestant Christian missions at work in all this large district. In the above stations, school, medical, literary, evangelistic and pastoral work has been carried on for quite a number of years, sometimes under difficulties, yet not without a measure of success. The above society also has a printing press where portions of Scripture, Christian literature, tracts and school books, etc., are printed.
Pioneer work amongst the Sart people is not at all easy, and some of us have experienced a good deal of opposition and even personal violence when trying to preach the Gospel in some of the large eities. However, many pltrtions of Scripture and tract" have been distributed, and many of the people know about the Gospel. In some iustances this colportage work has heen a belp, and in others it has raised more opposition, especially when the people understood that the Gospel declared that Jesus was the Son of God.
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In the northwestern portion of Chinese Turkestan, there is a district extending from Barakul westward to Kulja, a distance of some 600 miles. Here also the accumulated snows of the T'ien Shan Mountains melt in summer and swell the rivers which run northward toward Zungaria, supplying large cities, hamlets and fa rms with precious water. There are also many Sarts in this district, still the greater part of the population is composed of Chinese and Chinese Mohammedans. The latter are called Tongans..
In this large district there is only one mission station, at Urum- chi, the capital of the province.
This city is called Tiwahfu by the Chinese. From this center a goo~ deal of itinerant work is carried on; and most of the large cities in the district are visited. Our methods of work have been itiner- ant, colportage, evangelistic and pastoral, together with a little medical work.
The work has been specially difficult, partly owing to the opium habit and gross immorality which prevail so much amongst the peo- ple, along with the rush for gain and the shifting nature of the population.
There are a few baptized Christians here in Urumchi but so AN OLD STYLE MONGOL OFFI CIAL far the church membership is very small. In this district there are not only Chinese and Tongans but also a large number of nomad Qazaq Mohammedans, and Mongols. In the winter time the Qazaqs spread about over Zungaria but in summer they go to the heights of the T'ien Shan, IIi, Tarabaghatai and Altai mountains. -""Ve have also tried to do colportage and evangelistic work amongst the Qazaqs and as a rule (although very wild), we find them more open to the Gospel than are the Sarts and 'fongans. Until some few year s ago they had never had the Scriptures in their own tongue, but lately the British and Foreign Bible Society have come to our aid and printed gospels in the Qazaq dialeet.
M ONGOLS The various tribes of Mongols are Torgut, Zungar, Chukllar and Uranghai. The To.rguts are mostly in the Kal'ashar district and in the Sour and Tarabaghatai mountains. The Zungars are about the
927] CHINESE TURKESTAN
Kash River and in the district west of IIi, the Chakhars at Bortala, northwest of IIi, and the Ul'anghai mostly in the Altai and Kobdo districts. We have tried to do a little itinerant, colportage and medical work amongst the Mongols, and have made quite a few friends amongst them. The British and Foreign Bible Society has supplied us with gospels both in the Kalmuk and Halha Mongol dialects, also in Tibetan which is understood by many of the Mongolian priests.
MANCHUS There are also three different tribes of Manchus in the IIi dis- trict j namely, Manchu, Sipo and Soluen. The Sipo and Soluen are mostly farmers dwelling on the south side of the IIi River and as a l"Ule only speak Manchu. The Manchus are mostly soldiers and policemen in the IIi and Chuguchak cities. Many of them ctm speak ,Chinese though they read Manchu.
'1.'he British and Foreign Bible Society has also printed the Gospels especially for these peo- ple, as they are the only Manchus who still speak their own native tongue.
During the years since the Chinese Republic was inaugurated, the Manchus have suffered finan- cially and otherwise, so that some of the Manchu cities that were for- merly wealthy and prosperous are now in ruins. Owing to the vast extent of this province and the many different tribes and different languages, the few missionaries now in the province are not nearly TO NGAN MOHAMME.DAN adequate for the great need.
'fhere are only two missionaries in the eastern district, separated from those in the west by a hard journey of fort y-five stages, over 1,000 miles in all. The work is difficult and the pioneer will be sure to encounter hardships in traveling, loneliness and opposition, etc., but this is what may be expected in all such pioneer work and should not discourage but rather inspire those who are called by God to service in far-off corners of His vineyard.
A MOTOR BOAT APPROACHING NANl'HNG
N anning-A City in China BY H. LECHMERE CLHvr, FORMERI,Y OF NANNING, WEST RIVER, CHINA nACITY in China is a conglomeration of souls who live their nar- row colorless lives, and whose fathers lived similar existences, before them, century after century. The white man comes from a far country and settles in their midst and tells them a strange story, nineteen hundred years old, and they do not believe him; but in so far as they can make use of him they do. But there are some who seek for the things that matter, and a little church gathers round the Christian missionary in time.
It was such a city to which the writer went nearly twenty years ago, with the idea of preaching the Gospel and,healing the sick. , The American, who was then the only foreign resident, beside the Roman Catholics, gave the Englishman the right hand of fellowship: the stranger had nothing, when he arrived, and did not know where he might that night lay his head: he had no Society and no Board behind him. Before a year had passed the doctor had a temporary hospital with three beds, a well-stocked dispensary, a small chapel, and a Chinese house adapted so that he and his wife could live in it, with comfort. Meanwhile the city, though more than 500 miles from the 126
NANNING-A CITY IN CHINA
coast, had been opened as a Treaty Port, and the doctor was earning a competence as Customs Medical Officer.
This city, Nanning, is now not only advanced to be an open port, but has become the capital of the Province of Kwangsi. Motor boats connect the city with the outside world, as well as with the cities on the borders of Tonkin and Yunnan. Business men have been keen to seize every opportunity open to commerce, but the Church of Ohrist has practically left the few missionaries alone, in a field more needy and neglected than any in China, while opportunities pass never to return. Weare undermanned, overworked and hampered on all sides for want of adequate support.
It seems as if throughout all heathen lands there is the same bitter cry, "Can the Church of Christ do nothing more for a lost world?"
We dare to say that there is no portion of the world more needy than Nanning, eastwards for two hundred, and westwards for six hun- dred miles.
This c.ity, being the capital of Kwangsi, draws students not only from all parts of this province but from the adjoining towns in other provinces as well. These students petitioned the writer again and again to open an English school-they asked him till they were weary and he became ashamed. An Anglo-Chinese college would get into grip with these future leaders of the nation, an<d bring them into touch with Christ as nothing else could; but there are no reinforce- ment to take this wonderful opportunity, and those men pass out of reach, and the missionaries get a reputation for weakness and inef- ficiency. < There are many baby girls born every day, who are "not wanted," and are disposed of by their parents in one way or anoth(jr.
We give public notice that we will take in these castaways: they are brought in readily enough until our inadequate staff can deal with no more, and babies have to be turned away-turned away to what? < We dare not stop to think. The neighbors mutter, "They promise to receive them and then when we bring them they won't have them!
What people!"
A third e~erience and a very bitter one: from the beginning we have desired earnestly to build an asylum for the poor wretched lepers of these parts. This opportunity has gone-how7 Because the lepers have been burnt alive! Impossible! Only too horribly possible. While we Christians were waiting for money and helpers to carry out our scheme of mercy, the Chinese authorities dealt with the problem in their own fashion. If you were to take a walk outside the north gate of the neighboring city of Lungchou, you would come across a mound. Ask the passers-by what it means and they would tell you that that mound covers a ditch with the ashes of more than a hundred lepers, men, women and children. These were enticed to
this spot by promises of rice. The poor lepers came, all unsuspecting, probably several of the children still untainted by the disease. A great ditch had been dug and soldiers were waiting who at a signal surrounded the crowd and fired into them. Dead, wounded, and living were then shoveled into the ditch; kerosene oil was poured over them, and the pile set alight.
This method of segregation in South China has occurred twice. '1'he latest instance was when the leper" village," outside the city, was surrounded, and the inhabitants, men, women, children and babies, forced into a deep trench and similarly burned to death. A THE EMMANUEL MEDIOAL MISSION IN NANNING European resident who knew the facts warned me not to write of them, as he said, "You can't expect the people at home to believe these things."
The larger human problem arrests our attention every day in Nanning. A medley of races jostle one another in the narrow streets: not only representatives from everyone of the eighteen provinces, but others who are not Chinese at all, though they dress as such and appear to be the same. They are the original natives, who were in possession when the Chinese came down a thousand years ago, and who are similar in race to the T 'ai and Shan families who inhabit Tonkin, Siam and Burma. There are millions of these left in Kwangsi, Kweichow and Yunnan, whose evangelization has
1927J NANNING-A C'ITY IN CHINA
hardly been attempted. Their languages and habits are distinctly non-Chinese, and they are on the other hand separate from the Miao and other aboriginees. These millions present the biggest problem that the Church of Christ has to face. An American, the late Rev. Clifton Dodd, who traveled overland from North Siam to Nanning told the writer that he was the first missionary he had encounteredhis whole journey had been through unoccupied, untouched fields. The Christian Alliance Mission has two men in Annam to work among the twenty millions of the T 'ai races there.
We have mapped out our own "parish" as running from Nanning, along the right branch of the West River, to the borders of Yunnan; we have even rented a house in the big "unoccupied" city of Poseh, a great trade mart and future railway center, but our small forces are tied hand and foot to Nanning and we cannot move. There are now in Nanning three British missionaries, four American Christian Alliance workers and six Seventh Day Adventists. Restricted as we are from want of workers we are using to the utmost what forces we have.
But though the doctor cannot get out to the people, as he would like to do, they come to him from hundreds of miles around and listen to what he has to say. Then the sufferers go back to their distant homes with their hearts open to new influences, with ingnorance and prejudice largely removed. The soil has been prepared, and perhaps the people of that village are ready to turn an attentive ear to the Christian message; but who is there to follow up the work, to sow the seed and water iU Our schools have worked miracles. To understand what this means one must know Nanning-its incredible ignorance, prejudice and apathy; but to see all these characteristics in their extreme one would have to live here. These people all speak a corrupt form of Northern Mandarin, being descendants of soldiers from Shantung and Chekiang, who were sent here by the then Emperor nine centuries ago to quell a local rebellion. They settled here with their families, the idea of the government being to form a nucleus of loyal population. If these worthy folk were at all like their descendants of today they must have been quite "safe"-too narrow and apathetic to be disloyal!
The adults are indifferent to the Gospel but what a mighty difference our coming here has made to the children! And yet we have no funds to build a boarding school; and that is almost a necessity for permanent results.
We who know the filth, the sordidness, the brutality of these homes can only marvel at the change in children, who every evening have to go back to their heathen surroundings and take in afresh their soul-destroying influences.
Some of our boys and girls have already a real personal knowl- 4
edge of the Lord Jesus-their dress, their looks, their manner reveal it. Even in the early days, when a few dirty ragamuffins came every morning to learn hymns and get picture cards, there was a dawning of the fact that the teaching of the Lord makes for righteousness: one little girl screaming on the street in one of those frenzies, common to the women of these parts, was seen by a companion, who, wonderful to relate, was shocked and surprised and exclaimed, "and you sing J esus!" It is the children who can understand the beauty and simplicity of the Truth, their minds not yet clouded and shrivelled like those of their elders, by the constant nerve-racking fear of demons. They are excellent missionaries, too, f or they chatter of everything that they hear and observe. Two of our pupils, on a visit to country relatives, were asked questions about the "Doctrine"; this they were delighted to explain according to their light.
There is a great opportunity in Nanning, and indeed throughout China, for the simple preaching of the Gospel of Christ But our buildings are too small to hold our congregations. The people are coming to hear as never before. Even Nanning feels the thrill that is sweeping over China, as the old ideals, habits, methods go; and they are crying out for they know not what. We know. 'Ve have seen the discarded idols broken by the roadside. Nothing but the Living Christ can satisfy China's great need.
MRS. CLIFT AN D A CIDNESE BIBLEWOMAN
Effects of Chinese Turmoil
Missions RECENT REPORTS FROM PROTESTANT MISSIONARY SOCIETIES AS TO TUEIR WORKERS AND STATIONS American Advent M. S.-Chao-hsien (Anhwei). Hospital closed. New station to be opened. Wuhu, (Anhwei). Student strike in academy. Now quiet. Chinese friendly. Church stronger.
American Board C. F. M.-North China Mission (Stations in Chihli, Shansi and Shantung) in war area. Some interruption of work and in touring. Main Chinese attitude friendly. Some disturbance from "Youth Move- ment." In Fukien District. Missionaries robbed by bandits. Some unfriendli- ness. Christians taking more responsibility.
American Baptist F. JI, S.-Only disturbance reported is attack on Prof. George B. 'Cressey of Shanghai while on tour. General attitude of Chinese is friendly.
Amel'ican Bible' Society.-Colporteurs report difficlllty from bandits but therc is progress in Scripture distribution.
American Protestant Episc()pal Missi()n.-Chief disturbance in Nanchang (Kiangsi) and Wuchang (Hupeh). For about six weeks work was suspended except in Wuchang hospital. School and parish house occupied by soldiers during siege. Buildings damaged by shells. Bishop Gilman's work recog- nized by Government. Bishop of Hankow robbed.
American Friends (Ohio)-Kiangsu. No interference. Chinese friendly.
American Friends Bd. F. M.-Chengtu, Szechwan. Some interference. Stu- dent strike. University closed.
British Friends F. M. A.-In Chungking, (Szechwan) last September, soldiers interfered with mission and threatened missionaries. Chinese teacher beaten. Conditions more quiet but stm dfficult. Mob destroyed missionary bungalows during anti-foreign agitation. At Tungling, soldiers threatened missionary. He escaped but home was looted. General attitude of people is friendly.
Rnglish Baptist M. S.-In Taiyuan (Shansi) there was a pupils' strike and number of students was reduced. Christianity considered imperialistic. Sian (Shensi) was besieged for eight months. Mrs. Shorrock died from hardships. Work again opened. Hospital at San Yuan practically destroyed. Fu-Yin-'rsin (a Gospel Village) was occupied by armies and practically destroyed.
British and Foreign Bible Society.-Colportage interrupted in war areafl. All of five hundred colporteurs (except 10 or ]2) are Chinese. No hostility to SocietY'8 work. Two Chinese colporteurs killed by bandits.
Baptist, Southern Conventi()n.-At Wuchow (Kiangsi) hospital was closed for a season. A Chinese worker was maltreated by mob. Some things were stolen and hostility was shown by mob. In most stations friendliness is shown to missionaries.
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Seventh Day Baptists M. S.-Luiho (Kiangsu) property badly damaged in fighting in September. Missionaries escaped to Shanghai. No unusual hostility shown. Mission not molested.
China Inland Musion.-In Yuanchow (Kiangsi) missionaries were annoyed lind robbed by soldiers. (Kuling station is reported closed.) Tai Kang (Honan) was in hands of bandits July 30 to Aug. 8 and mission looted. Bandits carried off 3,000 people, and shot many. Chowkai Kow (Honan) in hands of bandits in September. City burned with mission houses. Mr. Davies captured but released after three weeks. School girls carried off. Some returned. Pastor beaten and tortured to extort money. Chengtu University (Szechwan) closed. At Luchow (Szechwan) students demanded that all foreigners leave the city. They remained. Chinese Christians are called traitors. In Yunnan, Kweichow, Kansu and other districts work goes on ail usual. General attitude friendly. Wanhsien (Szechwan) buildings occupied temporarily by soldiers. Nanchang (Kiangsi) buildings temporarily occupied by soldiers. Damaged by shells. Sian-fu and Tatung missionaries beseiged many months. Mr. Wilhelm of Yuanchow (Hunan) was captured by bandits but later was released.
Christian and Missionary AUiance.-At Titao (Kansu) the mission was uscd as a Red Cross hospital. In June and July missionaries and Christians were in great danger. Work resumed after occupation by Gen. Feng's army. In Wuchow (Kwangsi) anti-Christian riots led by students. Some dam- age. Fbur missionaries, captured by bandits in 1924, were released. Four Chinese Christians, captured in 1925, released in Jan. 1926. In West China people are friendly.
Church of the Brethren,.-Presence of troops in Shansi caused high prices. Some trouble from students. Rural sections friendly to mission.
Church Missionary Society.-In Fukien, two missionaries were robbed. Rev. B. G. Parsons of Kutien was captured and released. In Pakhoi (Kwangtung) Chinese doctor was captured while traveling. Threatened and held lor ransom. Not released. One college in South China closed. In other sections attitude is friendly. In West China in 1925, Bishop Mowll and wife of Chengtu (Szechwan), Rev. and Mrs. Donnithorne of Anhsien (Szechwan), Miss Carleton, Miss Armfield and Mr. Iles were captured and ransomed for $2,600.
Church of God Mission.-In Kiangsu the attitude of people is friendly but Chinese think they can dispense with foreign missionary workers.
Church of the Nazarene.-At Taming, (Chihli), hospital was occupied after battle, but Government paid for use of building and medical service. At· titude favorable.
Christian Reformed Ch1trch.-Students in Jukao school (North Kiangsu), held protest meeting but were satisfied. Attitude favorable.
Evangelical Church Mission.-At Yuhsien (Hunan), the hospital staff went on strike. All buildings were occupied by soldiers and residences broken into. Some Christians joined southern army. At Liling two residences were broken into by soldiers. At Chaling mission buildings were occupied during the summer. Many unions organized. Work difficult.
SOME EFFECTS 01!' CHINESE TURMOIL ON MlSSIONS
Miss Koebbe of Tungjen (Kweichow) kidnapped in October and held IB days. Other missionaries molested in travel. Missi(mary freight looted.
Hepzibah Faith Mission.-In Chahar District (Mongolia) little interference. In Ping-tu-chuan last October, missionaries suffered a little, from retreating soldiers. Work progressing and interest growing.
Hebron Mission.-At Kunshan and Awong Tung (Kwangtung) no interfer- ence by armies. At Sai Chiu (Kwangtung) student agitation in 1925, but now quiet. Attitude friendly.
United Lutheran Church in America.-Mission station at Tsingtao (Shantung) was crowded with soldiers. Some attended services. Bandits listen to preaching. Attitude friendly.
Evangelical Lutheran (Missouri) .-In Hankow (Hupeh) work was discon- tinued for short time because of warfare. Travel difficult and unsafe. Strong anti-foreign and anti-imperialistic feeling.
Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.-Chengyang and Sihsien (Honan) were molested by bandits and the missionaries compelled to flee. One mis- sionary c!lptured and held four weeks in 1924. Several Christians killed. Mission buildings occupied and damaged. In Kinyang Rev. Daniel Nelson killed by stray bullet on Feb. 9th. In Sianyang (Hupeh) buildings were damaged in fighting. General attitude is friendly.
Lutheran Free Church.-Station at Luyi (Honan) besieged and missionaries were unable to leave the city for two weeks. People friendly.
Mennonite Board F. M.-Kai-chow (Chihli), is in the! war area. Anti-British strike has brought students from British schools which are closed. Hospital cares for wounded. Tamingfu mission compound occupied by refugees. Officials are con- siderate of missionaries. 'l'ravel very difficult.
Mennonite B1'ethren of North America.-Fukien. No special trouble at Engtung and Shanghang. Chinese committee ready to assume responsibility if missionaries should leave.
Mennonite Society of Chi~.-Tsaochow Mission (Shantung), under fire for several days. Missionaries and Christians, not molested last year. Attitude generally friendly.
nfethodist Episcopal Bd. F. 111.-In Central China, mission work in Fukien and Anwhei has been interfered with. In Foochow (Fukien) a mob damaged the Methodist Church and l<~ukien Christian University, which is now closed.
In Nanehang and Kiukiang (Kiangsi) work has been very difficult. Hos- pitals have been crowded with wounded soldiers. Buildings occupied during fighting.
In Chengtu (Szechwan) there have been student strikes which were ad- justed. The university is closed.
Methodist Episcopal, (South) .-At Huchow (Chekiang) refugees and wounded have been cared for in compound and hospital. At Changchow (Kiangsu) soldiers were billeted in school buildings dur- ing holidays. Wounded were cared for in hospital. In Soochow (Kiangsu) refugees were cared for in church and wounded soldiers treated in hospital. The power and prestige of the church increased. The Ka-ding church was destroyed by shell fire. In some
localities, work has been retarded by danger of travel. In general, attitude of people is friendly.
Free Methodist of No. Am.-Mission buildings at Chengchow (Honan) occu- pied by soldiers. Rev. T. S. W. Ryding captured by bandits and released after two weeks. Work going forward with revivals and steady increase.
United Methodist Church, (England) .-In North China (Chihli) mission centers invaded by soldiers. No personal injury. In Yung Ping (Chihli), mission buildings were occupied by soldiers and damaged. Christians were robbed and Chinese medical attendants driven away. In West China (Yunnan) colporteurR were robbed and some were killed. Rev. F. W. Cottrell of Chaotung was held by bandits in 1925 for a few hours and released. In South East China the attitude is friendly but student agitators cause trouble. Native church is assuming more responsibility.
Methodist Protestant.-Mission compound in Kalgan (North China) searched but no loss. Refugees and wounded cared for. Ill-feeling against foreigners. Mission helped by Gen. Feng.
Wesleyan Methodist M. S. (British).-At Liuyang (Hunan) a mob attacked the mission. Missionaries escaped to Changsha. At Fatshan (Kwangtung), the Chinese pastor was threatened and im- prisoned, but released. At Wuchang, (Hupeh), the mission premises were occupied by soldiers and property was left in bad condition. At Hankow (Hupeh) on December 24th, agitators entered the mission and denounced Christianity. The School for Blind was invaded and anti-British literature distributed. An Anti-Christian Society was formed to drive out the missionaries.
Presbyteri<Ln ChUI'ch, U. S. A.-In Shantung Province, bandits make itiner- ation difficult. In Ningpo (Chekiang) and Peking (Chihli), on the whole, the attitude of people is friendly in spite of anti-Christian propaganda. In Chenchow (Hunan), the southern army occupied mission buildings during their march. In Hengchow, there were threats against foreign physician. Some damage was done to buildings. Sheklung (Kwangtung) station in South China was evacuated. Labor strikes, etc., threaten to close the John G. Kerr Hospital for Insane. Kachek and Nadoa (Hainan Island) were evacuated but now are re- opened. Missionaries and Chinese Christians were ill-treated. Gov- ernment students formed mobs. Conditions have improved.
Pre.sbyterian Church in U. S. (South).-In North Kiangsu very little hostility. Relief given and appreciated. In Hangchow (Chekiang), Soochow and Nanking (Kiangsu) some anti- foreign and anti-Christian feeling manifested.
Cumberland Presbyterian.-Strike leaders in Go-tai-kai have taken possession of mission. In general, the Chinese are friendly.
Presbyterian Church of Scotland.-The station at Ichang (Hupeh) reports no interference and attitude friendly. .
Pentecostal Chttl'ch of Canada.-At Tsaap (Kwangsi), the mission was at- tacked. Mr. Williamson escaped but lost all property. From Sainaam (Kwangtung) lVIr. and Mrs. E. J. Morrison fled to Hong. Kong but have now returned. The work is running smoothly.
SOME EFFECTS OF CHINESE TURMOIL ON MISSIONS
Reformed Church in America.-In South Fukien outstations were disturbed by armies. Home of Rev. A. J. Westmass was robbed by bandits and church at Lang-ma was occupied by soldiers, some damage being done. In Amoy district the feeling is friendly. Chinese independence is en- couraged.
Reformed Presbyterian Church in N. A.-At Loting (Kwangtung) South China, some demonstrations reported against the church, but no decrease in attendance at schools. Less opposition now. Increased responsibility put on Chinese.
Swedish Evangelical of America,.-At Kingmen (Hupeh) in September bandits robbed missionaries. Efforts were made to disturb school work. Attitude of people generally friendly.
Scandinavian Alliance of Nodh America.-At Sianfu (Shensi) the work has been interfered with, but the general attitude is reported friendly to the mis- sion.
Finish Free Church Mission (C. 1. M.).-In Kiangsi warfare interferes with missionary travel. Near Yungsin the summer cottages of missionaries and out-station chapels were occupied and damaged by soldiers. General attitude of people is friendly but students staged anti-Christian demonstration.
German Evangelical Protestant Mission.-At Trlingtau (Shangtung), Dr. Seu- fert was twice attacked by robbers, but with(Jut loss.
Schleswig-Holstein Evangelical Lutheran M. S.-At Liuchowfu (Kwangtung), some hostility has been shown. On the whole, attitude is friendly.
United Brethren in Christ.-In Canton (Kwangtung), the Union Middle School was attacked by bandits. Travel is precarious but no injury to mis- sionaries. No unusual hostility to Christian missipns manifested.
United Christian M. S.-No inconvenience or molestation reported in missions of this society in Anhwei, Kiangsu and Szechwan. The attitude of the Chinese is friendly. (Recently missionaries have been recalled from Szechwan.) .'Ifission to Lepers.-Work at Taikam Island (South China) interfered with by stoppage of coastwise commerce. Attitude of people friendly. Work indirectly affected elsewhere.
United Free Gospel M. S.-In June, 1925, two lady missionaries and Chinese worker were robbed on way to Hongkong. Student riots in Kwai hsien and threats of raids and violence. Mission at Pak Nai (Kwangtung) molested.
Woman's Union M. S. (Shanghai).-Attitude friendly. Increased oppor- tunities. Increasing responsibility placed on Chinese.
Yale-in-China.-Changsha (Hunan), Campus occupied by soldiers during vacation. Anti-Christian mOVf1ment active. Student strike. College closed.
Y. W.O. A.-At Chengtu (Szechwan) anti-foreign feeling intense; not anti- Christian.
Y. M. C. A.-At ]'oochow (]'ukien) cable dispatches of January 16th reported that property had been looted by Chinese mobs. Most missionaries have left.
World's Sunday School Ass'n.-Field work seriously interfered with. Bible Institute of Los Angeles.-Evangelistic bands delayed on tours. Con- ditions difficult. Roman Ca,thQUc Missions.-From Szechwan it is reported that priests have been driven out and their missions have been burned. From F(Jochow (Fukien) it was reported on January 16th that all Spanish priests and nuns (except the Bishop) have left for Hong- kong by steamer. Students attacked the Dominican Orphanage, vicarage and church and abducted some of the girls.
Woman's Foreign Mission
EDITED BY MISS ELLA D. MACLAURIN, 25 MADISON !'-VENUE, NEW YORK CITY MAKING CHRISTIAN EDUCATION deed, they exhibit to a startling de- IN CHINA MORE CHINESE gree the charm and splendor of a By MRS. T. C. CHU Westerner's life! This is, of course, not Christianity, but has come along Christian education aims at train- with it owing to the influence of their ing the mind of t~e. Chinese youth teache;s, who keep the foreign ways. according to ChrIstian stan~ards. Attracted by the comfort and extrav- agance of this living, the young peo- This is a prodigious tas~. .r wIsh to mention some of the obJectIOns, com- pie regard it as the higher standard monly raised in China, against Chris- and prefer to live in the same way tianity in general, and mission edu- when they are able. I do not con- cation in particular, and to point out demn the missionary, I simply draw the necessity of understandin~ t~e a picture of the Chri.sti.an co~mu Chinese situation and the advisabll- nity from the non-Chnstmn Chmese ity of adapting mission education point of view.
more and more to the local needs. On the other hand, there is now a One of the common objections to prevailing feeling am0!1g sO.me mis- mission education is that it denation- sionaries to overemphasIze thmgs and alizes those who receive its instruc- ways Chinese and to exalt almost out ttihoenr~ This accusation is invalid, yet of proportion the position of the Chi- must be reasons for such an im- nese. It seems to me unnatural and pression. The situation could be re!D- rather ridiculous to swing the pendu- edied if the missionary would realIze lum to the other extreme. Virtue and that he is an outsider, taking part in scholarship, rather than racial difl'er- the work of regeneration among the ences, should be made the standard people of another nation. It is he who of merit. From time immemorial, the should adapt himself, not the Chinese. virtuous and the learned have been His primary mission is to impart a considered in China most suitable for spiritual gift., Other matters are rulers and statesmen, as well as lead- relatively unimportant. ers in thought and religion. It is a There is an analogy between school ,good tradition to keep. It also coin- teaching and mission work: in school, cides with the best conception of one instructs the children of other merit in the West. That a foreigner myoeun~'g in mission work, one leads the must be placed in a superior position people of another nation. A because he is a foreigner is as absurd wise teacher trains the pupils to be as that a Chinese must head up an not only good pupils but obedient to institution within the boundary of their parents. A wise missionary China because he is a native. Such should try to make not only good practices may be compatible in the Christians but also citizens useful to sphere of might and gain, but are un- their own nation. In order to ac- becoming to men who concern them- complish this, the missionary should selves with higher things.
be careful of his owu conduct and The second general objection to preaching. He cannot make his stu- mission education is that the gradu- dents patriotic" if he himself spe.aks ates of mission schools and colleges slightingly of the efforts and asplra- are not well-trained in the use of the tions of the Chinese. Chinese language. Since the vernac- The native Christians are sometimes ular has come to be used in writing, criticized for pomp and luxury. In- the Christians are shown in much bet- 136 ter light. Chinese should be the main .tongue in writing. There is no doubt study in the Primary and the High that this is a good movement and Primary schools and should be taught every progressive institution should as carefully and thoroughly as Eng- uphold its cause. But it does not lish is taught in the Elementary mean to discard the classical language Schools in America. In the Middle altogether; on the contrary, the latter School, the importance of the study should be more earnestly pursued, inof English should be only equivalent asmuch as the mission college was to that of French of German in the formerly careless in this respect. The American High School. If the mis- Japanese have a language of their sion school cannot provide better in- own, yet they study Chinese classics struction than heretofore and if only in their colleges. Practically every one of the two languages can be talented Japanese college graduate taught well, let us sacrifice the foreign can compose Chinese essays and language instead of the native. It poems. The Japanese are very pracseems to me, however, not an impos- tical, why do they study our "dead sibility to learn both languages well, language, " the classics being now so if the methods of teaching are im- called by some of our reformers T It proved. is because the Japanese language is derived from the Chinese and is When a student enters college, he closely related in form As well as in should have. mastered the rudiments subst~nce. Certainly, our spoken of the English language and be able tongue is much more akin to the clas- sics than is the Japanese. If one to take the more advanced courses in wishes to write well in Pai Hua, one literature and sciences. Some mis- must be well versed in the classics sion colleges have lowered the English likewise. The Pai H ua literature is requirements, and have conducted still in the process of making, from many of their classes in Chinese, in· which one can find as yet little help cluding philosophy and the sciences. to improve the style. This is another case of going to the opposite extreme. So long as there is A modern Chinese writer in Pai no standardized Chinese terminology H ua must know the classics quite for the sciences, it is more satisfactory well; he should have the command to give such courses in English, un· of one or more foreign languages; he less the professor happens to be an should have natural talent and literauthority on such matters and is a ary ability; he should have resided good translator of scientific books. in the northern provinces for a period of time, preferably in childhood or This leads to another observation, in youthful years. Of the four conviz., the danger of imparting" psuedo ditions, the first is the easiest to obknowledge" instead of "real knowl- tain because it does not depend upon edge." There is a tendency among locality, age or gift of nature; the some mission colleges to be too eager last is the least important. The misin following the fashion of the time. sion colleges can develop the Chinese A certain university is reputed for courses as well as the native schools, good literature courses; the cause for and have more prospect of making such distinction is due to the scholar- success just now, as the latter are ship or the personality of certain mostly in chaotic condition, due to members on the staff of that institu- the lack of funds or to politics. tion. When there are no such eminent men on the staff of the other col- As regards religious education, I leges, it is futile for the latter to wish only the really spiritual men and make the attempt of competing. women to come as preachers or reli- gious teachers. It is almost offensive I have one more suggestion to make to hear a matter-of-fact, materialistic regarding the curriculum of the mis- sermon. It is equally distasteful to sion college, e. g., the matter of Pai- l!ua, or the use of the vernacular
listen to those out-of-date, bygone unruly and less obedient than before tales! The Chinese are it practical but he is also more independent in people, full of common sense, never thinking and more capable of action. very superstitious, but rather skepti- The group consciousness is stronger; cal. To speak with reason in logical cooperation and unity of spirit are and philosophical terms is the best ap- exhibited in the fight for the Qommon proach to the higher classes. To deal good. Those who are teaching and squarely and unpresumptuously is guiding the Chinese youth must uncertain to win the love of all. But derstand his temper, the operations to talk of one thing, yet act in another of his mind, his ambition, feelings and way, is a sure ground for distrust and aspirations, acting more like his comcontempt. Belief is a human quality rades than his elders. He may be exand is deep-rooted iIi man's nature. acting in his estimation of others' When the right call comes, even the merits, and his opinions may be rough man on the street can respond. mainly wrong; nevertheless, it is ·a We are unspeakably miserable in the healthier sign that he thinks in his twentieth century, because the reli- own way and acts according to his gious men are often blind leaders, be- own judgment-he does not fall back ing themselves seldom in communion on his teachers nor follows lavishly, with the spirit. as he used to.
Three groups of people are most rt is, therefore, a much harder task needed here in China as missionaries. to· be a teacher in China now, espe- The first group consists of the pro' cially to be a missionary teacher who fessional men, such as writers, artists, may have to deal with the religion scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, and morals of the pupils. But he scholars of all kinds. China is in des- who succeeds in the work can bear perate need of higher learning and witness to the supreme joy and satistechnical knowledge. Through con- faction derived from the labor. tact in work and through personal re- Blessed is he who has a hand in the lations with these individuals, the making of a young life! Let me close Chinese will fathom the depth and with a passage from Meneius: perceive the grandeur of the Western mind. The second group comprises ~'Loving, yet no response,- Search inwardly and examine your bethe men of action, of great charm and nevolence; personality, and of high administra- Rnling, yet without order,- tive ability-leaders of men, who can Search inwardly and examine your wis· shape lives and change the destiny of dom; nations. They do not preach, yet Showing respect to others, yet with no practically in every way they carry return,- Search inwardly and examine your own away their followers in their thinking feeling of respect." and beliefs. The tbird group is the rarest kind among men, I mean the From an editorial in the lkdam. true religious teachers, those who have (Constantinople) July 20, 1926: spiritual insight and wisdom. IJct these do the preaching and win men "In order to be able to illuminate to Christ, while the others carryon this country, in order to wake it up, their kinds of work. The fault in the we must work like the missionaries. past was that a missionary had to act Patient like the missionaries, se1£- like a Jack-of-all-trades and do many sacrificing like the missionaries, posthings which he should not have done. sessing like the missionaries the Since the world is now more and strength of persuasion, like the mismore specialized, let each do his best sionaries combining various kinds of and contribute his special gift to knowledge with the conviction of mankind. heart. When this time comes, it will be our fortune to be successful in 'l'he Chinese youth is worth teach- awaking the people of our land." ing. It is true that he is now more AHMET JEVDET.
Woman's Home Mission
EDITED BY FLORENCE E. QUINLAN, 156 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK WEST INDIES' PROGRESS AND Seminary has been inadequately PROBLEMS housed in a rented building, close to By OHARLES S. DETWEILER a noisy highway. A suitable site has From the reports of the Committee on West been purchased near the University of Porto Rico, and plans for a complete ~~~:B·an()J.' f:r~~~ :',;'ii.~()~e~rQe::~:a~i;~~ng()fw~~~ seminary plant have been prepared in that area. Mr. Detweiler. Chairman.
Porto Rico by architects. These estimates call The committee reports notable for $228,000 for the whole project, progress in Porto Rico along two and have been approved by the sevlines. A two-story building for the eral mission boards. '1'he Board of publisl1ing house and bookstore con- Trustees in the United States has also ducted by the Evangelical Union was approved a campaign to raise this completed and occupied during the money. The successful functioning year. This .is advantageously located of this institution and the successful on the principal business street of careers of its graduates, who are now Ponce. It is a self-supporting enter- at work not only in Porto Rico, but prise, not because it has undertaken also in Venezuela and Santo Do- commercial printing, for it has not mingo, constitute a signal missionary had sufficient equipment for this, but achievement. because it has been well managed and At the Annual Meeting of the loyally supported by the seven coop- Evangelical Union of Porto Rico, held erating denominations. Beginning in November, 1925, among other rec- from July the Puel-to Rir;o Evangel- ommendations were two that are ico, the paper representing all of worthy of being brought to the atten- these denominations, has become a tion of a larger body. (1) That in weekly, without reducing its size. To view of the depressing economic con- make this possible it was necessary to ditions in these fields Christian mis- set apart an editor for full time serv- sions seek some way of introducing ice. .At the request of the editorial new industries that will give employ- committee the Baptist Mission re- ment to idle hands and form the basis leased one of its pastors, who now be- for the development of sel£-support- comes the representative of all the ing churches. (2) That steps be evangelicals, supported from a com- taken to furnish the Spanish-speak- mon fund. ing churches with a hymnal. The The second cooperative enterprise West Indies Committee is glad to sec- that gives enconraging results is the ond these recommendations. The Evangelical Seminary, supported by problem of improving the economic the same denominations. It offers its condition of our church members in students a standard three-year course the West Indies is not easily solved.
leading to the degree of Bachelor of The Committee is unIted, however, in Theology, its credits being accepted thinking that it deserves serious at full value by the principal semi- study. The provision of a Spanish naries of the United States. Of the hymnal for evangelical churches thirty-nine students for 1926-27, eight. ought not to be difficult nor long de- are Baptistl';, three Congregational- layed. Most of the churches are now ists, seven Disciples, six Methodists, using a small collection of songs which thirteen Presbyterians, and two are inferior and unsatisfactory.
United Brethren. For seven years the There ought to be available a hymn 139
book or more dignity and of a wider the Methodist, Presbyterian and range or sentiment. United Brethren Mission Boards. The work in both of these republics Little progresR has been made to- is proceeding steadily forward. The ward solving the urgent economic north side of the island is effectively problem. Unemployment is chronic occupied by the General Mission and widespread and the poverty is Board of the Free Methodists. most depressing. In recent years there has been a great development The Board for Christian Work in or the needle-work industry, which Santo Domingo, supported by the has brought some relief in opening up Methodists, Presbyterians. and United new avenues or gain, but already New Brethren, now has well organized York contractors are introducing the work in five centers, including the sweat-shop system. capital, and outstations in several smaller places. Besides an evangeli- Cuba cal program, there are day scnools in four of these centers and a hospital It is no small achievement under and social center in the capital. the conditions that prevail in Cuba, for the committee to report that Rev. The unity of the work is. shown by Sylvester Jones has been continued the fact that the six workers sent another year as a Secretary for Co- from the United States represent five operation in Cuba. Of the six Prot- different denominations and three estant bodies at work in Cuba, only workers from Porto Rico represent three are as yet ready ror coopera- three communions. Americans, Engtion, and one or these three is the lish and Porto Ricans make the staff smallest of all, while the other two also international. 'l'he support of are separated geographically by six the work comes not only from various hundred miles. In addition to the Home Mission Boards in this counthree cooperating Missions, the Inter- try, but from the united churches of national Association of Daily Vaca- Porto Rico and most healthy contrition Bible Schools has contributed butions from the young churches in something to Mr. Jones's budget. His Santo Domingo. Half of the $24,000 work thus includes the promotion of budget of the hospital was raised on Vacation Schools, as well as the man- the field. A hospital building is uragement of a Union Book Store in gently needed, the present rented Havana and of a monthly paper rep- quarters being entirely inadequate resenting two of the Missions. In ad- ror the great opportunities presented dition to these tasks Mr. and Mrs. in a country where medical work is so .Jones have been leaders in temper- greatly needed. A block of land has ance work, largely through the agency been purchased and the Board hopes of the W. C. T. U. It is worth while to raise the money this year for the to have in tIle capital of Cuba; a first unit. spokesman for all the denominationR, but it is to be regretted that nBt all of The beginnings of an industrial the Missions recognize the value of mission have been made in the inteconcerted action along certain lines rior of the island. Work for boys and in order to demonstrate to the world girls has attracted the attention and the spiritual unity of Christ's fol- cooperation of some of the outstandlowers. ing Dominicans. The budget of the Santo Domingo Board this year was Santo Domingo and Haiti about $57,000. The membership of other denominational Home Mission By common agreement primary re- Boards is earnestly desired for this sponsibility ror the evangelization of united work. Haiti has been assigned to Northern Baptists, and for the south side of The American Baptist Home Misthe island of Santo Domingo to a sion Society has accepted primary re- Board composed of representatives of sponsibility for the French-speaking
WOMAN '8 HOME MISSION BULLETIN
part of the island of Santo Domingo. can be held in Havana, San Juan and Its Mission has been established in the Santo Domingo City. northern part only. It has not yet occupied the capital, but in the south Neglected problems arc at onr doors, it is helping to support an educational such as the gradual economic decline institution under Haitian Baptist of the West Indies coincident with control. The headquarters of its Mis- the growth of great corporations that sion is in Cap Haitien, where it has exploit their natural resources, and purchased a home for its missionary the impossibility of developing such Huperintendent. Also during the fundamental institutions as the home, year it provided funds for the re- the church and the school where unbuilding of the Baptist house which employment is a chronic social malhad been destroyed many years ago, ady. In this connection it is interestand whose ruined walls had long been ing to note that The American Fund a reproach to the Protestant cause. for Public Service has recently un- It now reports eight organized dertaken an investigation of the rechurches, two foreign ordained mis- sults of American investments in the sionaries, and fifteen Haitian work- West Indies, beginning in Cuba. ers, including school teachers, in nine Also, the International Institute of primary schools. Best of all, the es- Teachers College, New York, at the tablishment of this Mission has invitation of the Government of brought new' courage to the scattered Porto Rico has undertaken an educaand neglected Protestant groups in tional survey of the island. the north of Haiti, and has promoted their spiritUal solidarity. From the standpoint of missionary administration there are important Conferences questions. Conditions have changed since the time of the Panama Con- It was the original purpose of the gress on Christian Work. The stand- Committee on Cooperation in Latin ards of the ministry in Cuba and America to hold two large conferences Porto Rico are higher; there are more on Christian work, the first one to men able to take positions of leadercover the continent of South Amer- ship, making our Missions less deica, and the other a year later to em- pendent upon missionaries from the brace Mexico and the countries of the States; and, finally, the churches have Caribbean. In fulfillment of this plan been growing in liberality, and givno sooner was the Montevideo CGn" ing promise of attaining soon to se1£- gress organized than measures were support. Indeed self-support is the taken to prepare for the second one in leading issue before our mission Mexico City. Conditions made it churches, and it deserves our most seem unwise to hold a conference for sympathetic study. Then there are the northern countries. unoccupied fields in Cuba, Santo Domingo and Haiti; and there are The Committee on West Indies has French islands altogether unevangelcome to the conclusion that it is better ized whose needs should be brought to to have conferences in various coun- our attention. There are in some of tries rather than a general West In- the islands abandoned, pastorless, dies Conference. It is therefore rec- English-speaking churches concernommending a conference for Porto ing which the facts ought to be known. Rico next summer in connection with Also, there are moral conditions the Summer Institute, and a confer- which can be little altered except by ence in Cuba to bring the national governmental action. The West Inworkers into closer fellowship. Steps dies, aside from Porto Rico, have have also been taken to arrange for a been the object of little study on the West Indies Cruise for friends of part of American and English Chris- Protestant missions in the early part tians; and it is time that they be of 1928, with the hope that in con- carefully considered. nection with this cruise conferences
FROM MANY
CHINA AND TIBET Hearts were very tender and wills were strengthened as we rDse frDm that mDst A Chinese Christian Daily uniting fellowship in prayer and meditatiDn.
THE Chinese Christians in the city The work. Df this Council meeting has been of Chungking, West China, are dDne w,th,n thDse who. were present and this editing and publishing a daily news- IS the grDund Df Dur assnranee that it will paper which bids fair to become one go <Ill.
of the largest dailies in that part of Chinese Christian Endeavorers China. The editors are trying to circulate only reliable news. They have T HE first Christian Endeavor soas reporters the pastors and the mem- ciety in China was organized in bers of the Christian churches 1885. Last year the fortieth anniverthroughout the province. Occasion- sary of its founding was celebrated ally, there are sermons and special with great rejoicing. A whole year was to be devoted to an increase camfeature articles on some phase of paign. At the beginning of the year Christian life, activity, or social wel- there were about 1,200 Christian Enfare. The Christians of Chungking deavor societies listed in China. At organized to publish this paper be- the end of the year the numbers had cause they found that their activities grown to 2,500 in spite of troubled were not being truthfully presented times. Missionaries find that Chrissince anti-Christian forces often con- tian Endeavor is a great help in the trol the other Chinese newspapers. schools in China. Miss A. N. Johann- National Christian Conncil son, of the China Inland Mission, SOME outstanding features of the writes that Christian Endeavor makes annual meeting of this important body, held last autumn, are thus de- the young people feel that they have scribed by Dr. Henry T. Hodgkin in the American Friend: "No previous to walk carefully. It helps them in meeting of the Council has been so significant. Beginning with a frank their study of the Bible, and it teaches consideration of the present need of China and the inadequacy of the them to pray. It gives them the mis- Christian Church in facing that need, we found ourselves seeking with great sionary spirit. The Endeavorers in determination for the true remedy. One voice after another called us back the school to which she belongs even to Christ's way for human life…. Nothing was more remarkable than send donations to missions outside of the growing power of Chinese leader- China. Some of the girls have been trained as nurses and teachers and many of the boys have gone o'ut of school to witness for Christ in their heathen thhoismsecsh. ooSl osmaveedyeaarlsittalO~'obatbhye boys in girl and cared for her for three years 0r more.
ship. The largest part of the speaking was by Chinese. The work behind A Ricksha Coolie's Devotion the scenes was mostly done by them. WHEN a twelve-year-old boy was The creative thinking of several was pres.ented for baptism in Hang- most marked." chow, hiS father, a Christian who Of the concluding meeting, con- pulls rickshas for a living, was asked ducted by the newly appointed Gen- to tell the committee what sort of eral Secretary, Dr. C. Y. Cheng, Dr. training the boy could expect. In a Hodgkin says: simple way the coolie father ex- 142 plained that although neither he nor of Christianity to European Civiliza- hiEl wife could read, they had spnt the tion in the Middle Ages'; and most hoy to, school,- so that every morning of it helping in our American- before he took out his ricksha he gath- Board'li country work at Changsin- ered the family together, the little tiel1. He haH conducted a free hoy read a chapter from the Bible school, for which he and the other and he prayed for the children, for teachers did also the buying and cook- the wife and for himself, that he ing, there being no servants employed might be delivered through the day -a rare thing in China. He also from the sins to which ricksha pullers preached, and, being a Fukienese, was are particularly exposed. On Sun- quite happy that in spite of his dif- day he takes his ricksha out only long ficulty in using tpe Northern dialect, enough to earn the rent for the day. the people willingly listened to his When the rental has been secured, he preaching. He writes on this point: takes no more fares, but goes directly 'Some of the listeners say that their home, and should the last fare pay a understanding of my speech is per- few more coppers than the actual haps due to the aid of the Holy Spirit rental, he does not regard this as his in the speaker. But I ascribe it to own, but adds it to his contribution the Holy Spirit working through the for the day to the Lord '8 work. listeners' instinct of curiosity.' Does Going to School in a. Flood not this show humility and discern- ment, a true Christian spirit?" ONE of the seniors in the True Light School in Canton, is quoted Chinese Gifts for Bible Schools as follows: "My sister and I have al- T ways had a school during vacation;· IlE Southern Methodist mission- aries at Wusih, Kiangsu Province, we could care for thirty, but a hundred pupils came. Once there was a report: "Our voluntary Sundaygreat flood, but we did not hear of it school was the outstanding spiritual hecause our house was on high success of the term. On the first three ground. The pupils said nothing of Sundays we had only two Chinese it. One day the parents came, say- students to attend, one a Christian ing, 'Please we have had a flood. and the other a non-Christian. But May our children stay home for a few we persevered, and after that time we days to help us l' Then we learned had a steady attendance of from that our pupils had walked every day seven to nine. Two classes were through water up to their necks to the taught, one in the meaning of Chrishigh ground, carrying dry clothes on tianity by Mr. John Chu and the their heads. There on the hillside the other in the Gospel of Matthew. little girls surrounded each girl in Through the Sunday-school we took turn while she changed into her dry up subscriptions for the Daily Vacaclothes. The wet things were left on tion Bible School movement. The the hillside to dry until time to go students gave approximately thirteen home. Do you see why I wish to dollars, and the teachers brought the sum up to twenty dollars. Nearly teach in my village T' , every student in the school gave True Christian Humility something, and considering the fact PHILIPPE DE VARGAS, Ph.D., that less than twenty per cent of them a member of the faculty of Yen- were Christians we felt much encourching University, Peking, sends this aged. Of course this gift by our stu- item to The Missionary Herald: "Mr. dents was largely an expression of Yang Ch 'ang-tung, a theological stu- nationalism, as they felt that they dent in Yenching University (Peking were thus doing something for the University), has spent part of the illiterate masses of their own people, summer vacation working on his but the significant fact about it was thesis on 'Some of the Contributions that they were willing to cooperate
with the Daily Vacation Bible School The church has about eighty members, the movement, which is essentially Chris- school one hundred and twenty pupils, the tian. " orphanage seventy boys and girlS, and the hospital is serving many people froni over a Leadership in Indo-Ohina wide area. There have been a number of other groups than our own at various places THE Christian and Missionary Al- near the Tibetan border, who have done ear- liance conducts work in Indo- nest work as they llave waited for Tibet to China from which encouraging open. This work, however, has suffered reports have come. One missionary many changes, and has not, as a rule, been writes: "The spirit among the native so established and equipped as to be of a preachers and Bible women, also col- permanent nature. The work at Batang, porteurs, is excellent, and I have however, is looked upon both by other misgreatly enjoyed the spiritual fellow- sionaries and travelers in Tibet as an earship with these native brethren. They nest and substantial effort to establish really are our spiritual children, and most permanent work among the Tibetans themof them are still very young in Chris- selves. We have a real base with the foun· tian service, but I praise God for the dations which abide, in ehurch, sehool, marked growth in spiritual leader- orphanage and hospital work, as well as exship among these native workers. cellent equipment. Since my return to the field, this evident blessing on the native leaders has St. Mark in Tibetan greatly increased my faith in the future of the native Church in this T IBETAN books are printed from land. . . . At Sadec, Caolanh and wooden blocks on very fine buff- Cantho steps are being taken by the colored paper manufactured in the native Christians to erect their own country from the bark of a certain church buildings, and we believe that shrub. The pages are long and narwithin another year the mission will row. They are not bound into a not have to pay rents for the work in volume, but lie loosely one above anthese places. After red-hot persecu- .other. When not in use, the leaves tion and real opposition by local na- are enclosed in two wooden slabs, tive officials at Caitauha, God has which are often finely carved, and tied made a way where there seemed to be with silk ribbons_ The whole is no way. An old man eighty-one years wrapped in a beautifully embroidered of age gave hisi home for a chapel, silk cover. The sacred books of Tibet, and God has started a revival, in that produced in this way, are regarded place, which I think will result in the with the greatest reverence. A lady salvation of hundreds of souls this missionary working on the borders of coming year. " Tibet suggested to the British and Foreign Bible Society that a part of Disoiples' Tibetan Mission the New Testament should be pro- duced in Tibetan style_ "This," re- SECRETARY Stephen J. Corey, of ports the Society, "has now been the United Christian Missionary done. St. Mark has assumed a dress Society (Disciples), writes of the which will make a strong appeal to plans which the Society had made to the Tibetans. They will be led from open a new station at Yengin, five the attractive appearance to the condays' journey from Batang, the place tents, which are still more attractive, on the Tibetan border made famous and we hope that many of them will in missionary annals by the late Dr. be led to the Lord Himself." Shelton. The carrying out of these plans has been postponed, because, in JAPAN-KOREA view of the troubles in West China, the American Government would not A, Ja.panese on the Spiritual Outlook consent. He says of the work in Batang: T HE Counsellor of the Japanese Embassy in Washington, Mr. Setsuzo Sawada, contributes an inter- esting article to The Living Church on the spiritual outlook in Japan. He points out some ways in which Chris-
1927J NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
tian ideas "have influenced Japan's ent budget. For some reason the pro- thought life tremendously." But he portion of persons joining the reading says that both the World War and club has fallen from about twenty the Japanese exclusion clause in the per cent to about fourteen per cent.
Immigration Act "have forced many However, we have 495 members who of the serious-minded among his are reading books and being in- countrymen to question the sincerity structed. A number have recently of the profession of Christianity." begun the correspondence eourse in He continues: Bible instruction."
"But perhaps this may prove to be, eventually, no real loss. There was a Buddhist Missionaries to America time when people embraced this faith AN INTERVIEW wit h Count mostly for the reason that it was Ii. Otani, abbot of one of the most widely exercised in advanced nations. To them the faith was a borrowed influential and progressive Buddhist one, if I may say so, but these gigantic sects, appeared in the Japan Adverevents transpiring in the Christian tiser, and was thus quoted in the New countries of the world have forced our York World: earnest Christians to distinguish Christianity as a real religion from :MallY Americans, in the midst of their husy lives, need the peaee and tranquillity offered them by the religious philosophy of that of an agent of the material civi- Buddhism, .Japanese adherents of that faith lization of the West. It may be said believe, and plans are being formed to send that to them the faith has become personal and indigenous. Thus the to the UnitBd States many missionaries to extend the work· there to white men. AI· ready a llu]nbe.r of missionaries are there, deeper meaning of Christianity is but their efforts are confined largely to work now being sounded by learned souls among Amcrkan-oorn .Japanese. Count among our Christians." Otani, who visited Westel'll nations last year and was give"n a warm we1conw l;y those of all religions, does not Yisualize Results of Newspa.per Evangelism Buddhism as supplanting Christianity in the West, but he beli(wes that need for his faith REY. CLARENCE E. NORMAN, exists among Americans and his sect is of Fuknoka, Japan, who has been called upon to meet the need ….. . in charge of the work of newspaper evangelism which Rev. Albertus Pie- He hopes that a number of Americans and Europeans interested in Buddhism will come to Japan and study the religion and ters began so successfully, reports of offers to provide quarters for them and aid the present methods: "Since the be- in paying their expenses.
ginning of April there has appeared every Sunday morning in the western Demands of Korea's New Day R edition of the Osaka Mainichi, which EV. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, ·who returned to Kangkei, Korea, is circulated principally in the island of Kyushu, a five or six inch adver- after a prolonged furlough, writes of tisement of Scripture truth. They the amazing changes in the town since are easily noticed, and a number of he first went to it in 1917. He says, people have informed us that they "It is fast waking up to the twentieth read them every Sunday. The space century. . . . The external changes is small-too small, in fact, to explain are but the visible symbols of the and apply the Bible, text, but still it greater changes that have taken in is enough to call people's attention the living and thinking of the people.
to the message of salvation. And it They are further a reminder of the may be that because the articles are still greater changes which are com- short many more people read them ing in the next decade, and quarter than would otherwise. In these three century, when the thousands of chil- months there have been over 750 ap- dren now in the government schools plications for free tracts. This makes are men and women, engaged in their an average of 250 monthly, which is regular life callings. The importance all we can take care of with our pres- of Christian education becomes more S
apparent. 'Ve must have educated the rural work in Korea to be spiritleaders in the Church of the future ual, cultural and economic. We shall -not only the pastors but the lay- seek first to help men to live in right men. The boys who will be the lead- relations with God and with each ers must now receive spiritual train- other and to realize the spiritual ing. " values in their daily tasks. We shall endeavor to eliminate illiteracy in the Kwangju Sunday-School Growth villages and to stimulate such other educational processes as may prove THE rapid development and the ef- suited to the needs of the agricultural fective work of the Sunday-schools population. We shall promote better in and around Kwangju, Korea, was economic conditions, through imdescribed in the August, 1926, RE- proved farming methods, the develop- VIEW. A reeent article in the Korea tricnt of household and village in- M?'ssi01t Field states that the number dustries, and legitimate and brotherly of schools has increased from one to expressions of the cooperative spirit. " forty-five and the average attendance from 100 to 2,900. It continues: ISLANDS OF THE SEA "At first the work of each extension Sunday-school was directed by the Training Papuan Preachers' Wives missionary who personally secured the money necessary to carry it on. FOR the past twenty-five years the However, the work grew so tremen- Methodist Missionary Society of dously that the need for a central or- Australasia has conducted at Salamo, ganization of some kind became Papua, a training school for pastors apparent, to unify the courses of and teachers. Some of them are acstudy, to train teachers, to handle companied by their wives, of whom funds and to supervise the work gen- Miss Molly Hodge writes: "Some of erally. ~~fter experimenting for the these women who come from mission past few years with several forms of stations where they have attended organization the Kwangju Sunday- school are fairly well advanced, oth- School Association, in its present ers are unable to read or write. The form, was finally organized in 1926. curriculum includes English, arith- It is gratifying to be able to report metic, writing, Old and New Testathat this organization is composed al- ment history, catechism, hygiene and most entirely of Koreans, who have geography. A government examinapractically taken charge of the Sun- tion is held each year. Twenty-three day-school work." married women sat for this in Janu- ary last, of whom twenty passed. At Rural Y. M. C. A. for Korea the end of last year, twelve of our students and their wives, on complet- ONLY very recently the Y. M. C. ing their training, were appointed as A. has made plans to reach the teachers and preachers. Several enyoung men and boys in rural com- couraging letters have been received munities in Korea (of which there from these women, telling how they are said to be over 26,000). The As- have assisted their husbands in the sociation recognizes that these young village schools and Sunday-school. men are in special need of help in per- 'l'hen, too, they are the leaders of the sonal and social development. The women's class meetings, and at times, National Council of the Y. M. C. A. when illness has prevented their husin Korea hopes to assist in dispelling bands from taking a Sunday service, literary blindness, and to bring in they have filled the breach." economic encouragement and moral discipline to the young men and boys Filipino Endeavorers in Prison in the villages of Korea. Frank M. Brockman, the Secretary, writes: CHRISTIAN Endeavor societies in "We conceive the main objectives of prisons in America are fairly common, but it is rare news to learn
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
of a society in the prison at Batangas, work Mr. Murphy enjoyed the co- Philippine Islands. In the town operation of Hawaiian missionary and there is a large society which con- religious organizations. Public school ducts a regular weekly service in the officials, teachers and the leaders of prison, and many of the prisoners Christian young people's societies also have professed conversion. Accord- gave valuable assistance. Many older ing to the testimony of the warden Japanese, who are Buddhists, bought and guards, the Endeavor services are English New Testaments for their aiding greatly in creating a new spirit American-born children. The sales in the prison. The prison Endeavor- exceeded by more than 2,000 Testaers hold their own prayer services ments the goal which had been set every morning and evening. The for the campaign. leader of these services is a stonecutter who is serving a sentence in NORTH AMERICA prison.-World Call. Federal Conncil Executives Moros a.t a Student Conference T HE general theme of the meeting T HE first student conference in of the Executive Committee of the the southern Philippines was held Federal Council of Churches, which recently in Mindanao. It is thus de- was held in Minneapolis December 8scribed by .E. S. Turner: "As I 10, 1926, was" How to Make Church glanced over the heads of the audi- Cooperation Real and VitaL in the ence of 120 people I saw here and Community." Action, however, was there the picturesque turbans of Moro taken on various questions of both students. I soon learned that there national and international signifiwere sixty-seven regular delegates, cance. It was voted, for instance, twelve of them Mohammedans . . . that the Committee on Church and Such a conference held annually Social Service undertake a study of would mean much in developing the whole question of marriage and right relations between the Christian divorce in the United States. Strong and Mohammedan Filipinos, in bring- resolutions were adopted in support ing the claims of Christ to bear upon of prohibition and in favor of parthe leaders of Islam in the Philip- ticipation by the United States in the pines, and in preparing the way for Vorld Court. The Council was practhe spread of the Association Move- tically unanimous in its opposition to ment in this island, which is probably war, and especially to war over propthe neediest of all in the archipelago. erty interests. The State Department . . . Many of the students at the eon- was urged to find a method of peace ference pledged to give themselves to for the settlement of our controversies Christ, and under His leadership to with JV[exico. work to win the Moros to a life of peace and righteousness. We expect Women and Interracial Problems this conference to be a forerunner of a great program of play, education EMPHASIZING the need for more and character building. 'We must human relationships between enter this great door of activity." white and colored women, the Con- tinuation Committee of the Inter- Bible Campaign in Hawaii racial Conference of Church Women has made public its findings for con- ACAMPAIGN to place 5,000 New structive measures for creating good- Testaments in the hands of Amer- will between them. At the conference ican-born Japanese in the Hawaiian held at Eagles Mere, Pa., which was Islands was recently promoted by the attended by white and Negro women Pacific Agency of the American Bible from both the South and the North, Society through its representative, this Continuation Committee was ap- Rev. U. G. Murphy of Seattle. In this pointed to study the various recom- mendations made and to publish them as "findings" to go to church women
throughout the country as a working Henry Sloane Coffin of New York program. "Realizing that inter- City; Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr of De- racial action must be preceded by in- troit, and Rev. Charles W. Gilkey of terracial thinking," says the state- Chicago. ment' ., we find that the women of our churches need to learn to work with The conference opened with an ad- rather than for the Negro. We be- dress by A. Bruce Curry on "Where lieve that existing church organiza- Students Are and Why." The en- tions constitute the best channel for tire conferance was divided into fifty creating this attitude. " It was urged different discussion groups during that more stress be laid on educational the following days. and recreational facilities in small towns and rural communities. Forced Episcopal Bishops' Crusade housing segregation was condemned as unspiritual and undemocratic. THE General Convention of the Church women were urged to take a Protestant Episcopal Church at definite stand against such segrega- its meeting in New Orleans took up tion in their community. In regard the matter of evangelism in earnest, to lynching, the church women urged created a strong Commission on Evanthat ., preventive measures against gelism, and put at its head Dr. James lynching be adopted, and that ready E. Freeman, the Bishop of Washingcooperation be given those in control ton. A church-wide movement reof such situations; that an open sulted which is known as the Bishops' forum be secured in the daily papers Crusade. The working plans of tht' and press generally, to create right Comm:ssion include a six-days' Crupublic opinion." sade in each diocese, the entire Cru- ~ade to take place between January 6 National Student Conference and March 1, 1927.
ABOUT three thousand students of The Spirit of "7Ifissions thus inter- American Christian Associations, prets the meaning of the movement: and some two hundred and fifty young people from foreign countries, The Crusade is to be much more than a spent the last five days of the holiday series of conferences and meetings. It is season (Dec. 28 to Jan. 1) in confer- to be a mass attack against the power of ence at .ifilwaukee. They journeyed spiritual inertia, and to succeed, its aims, from everv state in the Union to at- methods and objectives must be carried to tend tlle National Student Conference every individual communicant of the Church. under the auspices of the National To this end parishes are being organized Council of Christian Associations of into groups for prayer and study, and as the Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. the inspiration of the Crusade carries through to the hearts of the people, memo These undergraduate young men bel'S of these groups arc to become what and young women representing prac- Christians fundamentally must be, evan· tically every important college and gelists, exercising the Christian's privilege university in the United States con- and duty of carrying the Gospel to the sidered the theme, "What Resources world outside the Church. Has Jesus for Life in Our World f" This is the first time that these two A $1,000 Prize Offered intercollegiate bodies have thus united. Rev. G. A. Studdert Ken- T HE Foreign IHission Board of the nedy ("Woodbine Willie"), Chaplain SoutllCrn Baptist COJlvention to His Majesty, King George, and offers a. prize of one thousand dollars Rector of St. Edmund's Church, for the best manuscript on the theme, London, was one of the speakers. "Evangelical Christianity an Alter- Among others were the Rev. T. T. native for a Lost or Decaying Reli- Lew, a Chinese from Peking; Dr. G. gious Faith." This essay should be G. Kullman of Switzerland; Dr. between forty thousand and sixty thousand words in length. Three copies of the manuscript must be sent to the Foreign Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Rich- mond, Virginia, not later than
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
.Tanuary 1, 1928. They must be sub- ing men of this Assembly and the mitted anonymously, accompanied by thinking men of Mexico believe in and a letter giving the name of the author. love the Christ! I know of nothing For further information write to Rev. more beautiful, more revolutionary, .T. F. Love, Secretary, Richmond, more moving, more holy, or more pro- Virginia, U. S. A. gressive than the Gospel of Christ.
. . . The revolutionary party would "China. Around the Corner" like to see all Catholics become Chris- T HIS phrase is used by The Con- tian once more and we ourselves gregatiorwlist in calling attention would like to be better Christians. to the importance of reaching with We who constitute the revolutionary the Christian message Chinese in this party would rise above our past failcountry who are engaged in laundry ures-for along with the great things work and similar occupations. For we have done we have sinned-and many years a devoted group of ear- there is but one Person who can save nest men and women have been main- us, namely, .Tesus our Lord! Oh, taining Chinese Sunday-schools in would that the revolutionary party various churches of all denominations, had the courage to raise high His teaching eager pupils to read English, banner I"~ helping them to adapt themselves to American customs and institutions, Evangelical Seminary, Porto Rico T and winning them to the Christian HIS union theological institution serves the EvangelIcal churches in life. Recently a convention of the Chinese Sunday School Workers Porto Rico, Santo Domingo and Union of New England was held in Venezuela. This year there are Roxbury, Mass. JUrs. ~Iartha Henry, thirty-nine students preparing for president of the Union, states that the Christian ministry. Of these, their work could be greatly extended eight are Baptists, three are Congreif thev had more volunteer teachers. gationalists, seven are Disciples, six No technical training is necessary in are Methodists. thirteen are Presbyorder to teach in these schools, still terians and two are United Brethren. less a knowledge of the Chinese lan- In Porto Rico there is a well-estabguage. A chapel in Canton, China, lished plan of interdenominational has been erected by the gifts of Chinese in America, pupils in Chinese mission work, with a division of ter- Sunday-schools. These same pupils ritory by agreemrnt to prevent over- help support a Bible woman with lapping and to direct cooperation. • headquarters at this chapel. There is a Union Chnrch in San .Tose, an evangelical seminary and a book- storr in Ponce. The Committee on LATIN AMERICA Cooperation has a secretary, Mr.
Christ in Mexico's Congress Drury, and the Union Seminary has DEPUTY Antonio Diaz Soto y for its president Dr. James A. Mc- Gama recently made a speech iit Allister who has been in Porto Rico the Mexican Congress in which he de- for a ([uarter of a century.
nied the allegation that the present Thr seminary (founded in 1919), revolutionary movement aims at the owns land val~ed at *30,500, but is – "nnchristianization" of Mexico. He greatly in need of buildings. At said: "I shall close mv discourse and present it is housed in a rented house I wish to open it by" honoring that on the main highway. The plans ap- holy Name which the Church has for- proved by the mission boards call f()r gotten-namely, Jesus the Christ. $228.000 to complete the project-in- And in naming His Name I am cer- cluding recitation hall, dormitories, tain that I have the sympathy and chapel, profes~ors' residences, land hearty endorsement of each member and general equipment.
of this august body. . . . The think- "Porto Rico for Christ" is the
motto on which all the denominations The neighbors of this woman would unite. As the Boards cannot supply not pass her house lest fire fall from the funds for the completion of the heaven upon them, according to the seminary buildings, the money must warning of the priest. That woman be given by friends in America. today is mother and grandmother of twentv believers who are the center League to Combat Illiteracy and strength of this group. She has H C. TUCKER, Secretary of the burned her innumerable idols and in • Brazilian Agency of the Ameri- their place are found gospel invitacan Bible Society, writes in the tion verses. "
Ch /·istian Observer: "Seventy-five per cent of the population of Brazil Weekly Pay…ents for a Bible R is. illiterate, according to a recent fed-EV. GEORGE P. HOWARD, Field Secretary in Argentina for eral census. And this in one of the civilized countries of the world! the -World's Sunday-School Associa- What is the Brazilian Government tion, writes of an institute held in doing in the way of providing educa- Buenos -,-'ires for Sunday-school tional facilities for illiterate adults V work where he had an exhibit of the At present, the federal, state and mu- available literature and helps for nicipal resources available for educa- teachers. and Christian workers. "It tion are by no means adequate for is most comforting to see what a fine schools for the population between collection of books we have gradually the ages of six and fourteen years. published in Spanish in the different Consequently there is no money to countries and by the various denomi- provide for the teaching of illiterate nations. Almost the entire exhibit adults. A League to Combat Illiter- was sold out two or three times. It acy was organized several years ago is encouraging to see that our work- in the capital of the republic and has ers are beginning to realize the need extended its work into most, if not all, for reading and study. I have been of the states. Considerable interest able to get many of our Sunday- has been awakened and some definite schools to put in workers' libraries.
work is being accomplished. A League In nearly every case, they have a li- for National Defense, which has been brary for the children. In a country in existence for several years in Rio like this where there are no public de .Janeim, has recently' appealed to libraries, you may know how useful the public for rooms and volunteers these little libraries can be. And the to teach illiterates to read and write." hopeful thing is that the children are eager to read. One little girl, in a • Influence of One Chilean WODlan Sunday-school which I was visiting, CONNECTED with the American bought a Bible; she is paying for it Presbyterian mission station in at the rate of ten cents a week. I Taltal, northern Chile, are five groups wonder how many children in Amerof Christians which are entirely se1£- ica would be willing to work for their supporting. They are led in their de- Bible in that manner?"
votional meetings in their homes by EUROPE one of their own number and contribute enough to pay for their litera- C.burch Reunion in Scotland W ture and the occasional visit 0.£ the ITH true Scottish caution, the nearest pastor. Rev. Jesse S. Smith Church of Scotland and the tells the story of one of these groups: United Free Church have been deal- "Thirty years ago the inhabitants of ing slowly with the matter of reunion, the valley brought their offerings as but the movement has been progress- a sacrifice before a sacred stone. ing steadily. The question was sent Twenty years ago one woman ac- down to presbyteries and congrega- cepted the Gospel of .Jesus Christ. tions a year ago, and returns came
927] NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
before the Assemblies last May. In women's committee for work among the Church of Scotland the vote, both the women of Denmark, principally in presbyteries and congregations, for candidate work. Among the was practically unanimous for re- thirteen members of the Danish Mis- union. In the United Free Church sion Council, which includes all Dan- of Scotland, out of seventy-five or ish missions, there are two women. In eighty presbyteries, all except two the committee for missionary studies concurred, and one did not vote. In the influence of women is even the congregations of the United Free greater. Church about two thirds gave a fa- vorable vote, and of these almost The Finnish Missionary Society rethree fourths were unanimous. If the ports lights and shadows concerning Union Committee of 100, appointed its work. Among the lights must be by the Assemblies, upon which those mentioned the fact that its work has opposed to union are fully repre- increased sixfold since 1913. Then sented, are able to complete tlleir there were 3,523 baptized members. work in time, it is possible that the Now there are about 20,000 and there basis of union may be sent down by are native pastors in every field. For the Assemblies of 1927, and that the the 64 schools of that period there union will be consummated in Oc- are now 211, and the educational tober, 1928. work in Africa has moved forward in all the schools. Medical missions have Portuguese Decree on Missions increased steadily. But while the gifts for the work have increased, the T HE Portuguese Government has society has run more deeply into debt issued a decree regulating mission- with every succeeding year. ary work in Africa and Timor, in the East Indies. According to Evangeli- TransforD1ation of Oorinth cal Christendom, "provision is made for the support of Roman Catholic SO:'llE of the changes that have been missions and animosity is shown to brought about in Corinth since other missionary effort. Tolerance is the arrival five years ago of 2,700 promised to them but it is boldly children who had been evacuated stated that their methods and work from Turkey by the Near East Relief are opposed to all the traditions and are thus summarized in The New outlook of the Portuguese people. Near East: "Today Corinth numbers They are accused of being centers of between ten and eleven thousand inintrigue and their home societies of habitants. The town that in 1923 lay having been the source of false accu- drugged in dirt and disease, now sations against the Portuguese Gov- hums with activity. In the last two ernment. The paragraph devoted to years three hnndr~d new houses have Protestant missionary work bears all been built, in the erection of which the signs of rooted hostility. The at- {iye graduate boys, taught carpentry titude of the Government is, to say in the orphanage, have helped. There the least, disquieting." is a fine new hotel by the seashore. There are two open-air cinemas. A Danish and Finnish Missions theological school with seventy en- rolled pupils has sprung up on the THE outstanding fact reported for northern seashore. The Bishop of the foreign missionary organiza- Corinth, a young man and a strong tions in Denmark is the increasing factor in the progress of the town, is place being given to women. The erecting an industrial school for girls boards of societies sending out mis- that will accommodate two hundred sionaries all contain women members. and will be supported by funds de- This was a matter of continued agita- rived from the port eustollL~. A projtion for many years. Now the Dan- ect is under way, toward which a ish Missionary Society has a special million drachmas have already been
appropriated, to make a harbor of gleat field for sowing the seed of too the beautiful little bay. It is ex- Gospel. Every opening for Christian nected that this harbor will be com- instruction is taken full advantage pleted in 1928 and will bring to Cor- of, the missionaries missing no opporinth a prosperity she has not known tunity of pntting the Scriptures into for centuries and promote trade ac- the hands of these readers. The tivities that have been wakened to country is open as never before for new life since the coming of Near the g'ospel messenger . . . It is an East Relief." inspiring thing to the workers to testify openly for Christ in the midst SerlJice of Friends in Russia of the Moslem multitude.
AvVRITER in the Arnet'ican Friend TChristian Endeavor in Egypt 1 eports that in hvo towns in HE society founded in Cairo in Russia the welfare centers, the sani- I89! by Rev. J. P. White, D.D., of tarium and the work in the schools the lTnited Presbyterian Mission "are being turned over to the local marked the beginning of Christian Engovernment, who already have shared deavor work in Egypt. Today Cairo quite enthusiastically in the general has a large and very active Christian supenision, and who will, we believe, Endeavor work, and the most cosmosuccessfully carryon the welfare pro- politan Christian Endeavor societies in gram started by the Friends. The the world are to be found in that city. Friends Center in Moscow is an in- Attend a Christian EIideavor meeting ternational center in every sense of there, and you will hear many lanthe word. Often it has had to assume guages and meet Endeavorers from all the duties of a consular office. Intro- parts of the world. Egypt now has ductions are arranged, checks cashed, eighty-seven Christian Endeavor sointerpreters supplied, itineraries sug" cieties for men and boys, and twentygeste:l, lodgings located, all the hun- eight for women and girls, for custom dred and one varioHs tJlings tl18t tour- does not allow the Sexes to meet toists want done have claimed a good gether. There are nearly 5,000 mempart of the workers' time and atten- bers, and their contributions amount tion. Friends are the only outside or- to more than $5,000, most of it going ganization with sneh an office in to evangelistic work. These societies .I1osc0',", and in view of the Soviet are earnest evangelistic workers. For Government'~ kindly feeling toward instance, a few years ago a young sous there are unlimited opportnnitie~ ciety appointed an evangelistic comfor ns to develop onr Good Will mittee, which began to hold meetings (;<>nter in that city." in a town near by. The result was the building of a church which has an AFRICA attendance of about a hundred, with about fifty present at the women'8 R.eaching Moslems in Morocco prayer meeting.
T HE Southern Morocco :Iission, a Christians on the Police Force Scottish organization which sent out its first missionaries in 1889 and REI'. HENRY A. NEIPP, one of now has twenty-six workers, reports: the American Board Mi~sion at "Government schools have been Ochi1eso, West Africa, writes: opened in all the cities and towns. The youth of Morocco are thus receiv- "Our relatioM with the Portuguese ing enlightened ideas of science, Government are very good. Our adgeography, and other branches of rninl:stra.tor shows marked apprecialearning. As a result, much that they tion for the work done at Ochi1eso. were wont to consider sacred and un- Seeing that his native police force was aRsailable is now fonnd to be nnten- not above stealing and being bribed, able. and their faith in many of their he has called in new men, choosing old beliefs is being rudely shaken. In this condition of mind there is a
them from the outstations from among touch quickly and directly with any new the Christians. It is a very difficult neighbourhood. Very few Sudanese value position for these young men. The education enough to let their children stay administrator has permitted the build- a sufficient number of years to go through a primary,sehool course; but an inereasing ing of a chapel at the fort, which is a number have Borne idea that a certain great move forward, and will be a amount of education will be useful even to' great help to the many workers as well as to the Christian policemen. girls, and so are willing to let them attend a Kuttab. . . . As there are IlO social dis- tinctions in Islam the children of our Kut- Thirty evangelists from twenty out- tab schools represent evory class of society; stations came here for a special course so we touch ail, and the child of the beggar of three months. The curriculum is sits quite happily by tbe child of the judge especially adapted to their needs, and or the officer. includes lessons in the Portuguese language. A native preacher is per- Among the points which prove the mitted by the Government to have an value of the kuttab, Miss Miller menoutstation only if he knows how to tions the daily religious teaching and speak Portuguese." Bible study, including memorizing; the ready entrance to the homes of the children which is accorded to their JubUee of the Uganda Mission teacher, the consequent opportunities for talks on Christianity and hygiene, I T WAS in 1877 that the Church Mis- and for combating degrading customs, sionary Society took the Gospel to and the many means of getting into the Baganda, and many plans are be- touch with adults which the kuttab ing' made for a worthy commemoration affords, for example, a club for older of the event. A leaflet appealing for a girls, and lantern lectures for men. Jubilee Fund of £25,000, says: "The wonderful story of Uganda is one of ~~~~''''''
the precious possessions of the Church, Spiritual Growth on Kru Coast and a convincing proof that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is still the power A HIGH note of spiritual power is of God unto salvation. A great living said by Rev. W. B. Williams, church is being built up, a church Methodist missionary in Liberia, to which is showing the reality and the have been maintained during the revitality of her faith by being self- cent Native Vorkers' Institute and governing, self-supporting as regards the I<'ifth Kru District Conference. He her native church organizations, and writes: " Kever in its history had self-extending. It is hoped that the Niffoo, a former center of devil wor- Jubilee year will be to the Uganda ship, been known to be so quiet. We Church not simply a time of glad com- deeply appreciated the cooperation memoration but also a time of real given by the :,itfoo chiefs, who made a spiritual uplift to all those who pro- law, rigidly enforced, that during the fess and call themselves Christians, seven days the Methodist delegates and to that end special missions will were in Niffoo there should be no drum be held throughout the diocese." beating, dancing nor wife-beating. May God hasten the time when such Primary Schools in the Sudan legislation shall not be necessary, for ,all shall know Him, from the least to THE Church Missionary Society em- the greatest.' Increasingly do these phasizes the evangelistic value of annual gatherings of onr native lwttabs, or very elementary schools. workers show the steady improvement, and the desirability of haying them in mentally and spiritually, and the ('yen' large town in the Sndan. From steady advance in civilization being Omdurman, where the C. IVL S. has made by our Kru teachers and min- two such schools, lIiss jIiller writes: isters of the Gospel." On the confer- Prom a missionary point of view these ence Sunday a fine new church kuttalJs are a unique way of getting into building was dedicated free of debt.
THE NEAR EAST great liberty. They are all eager to Signs of Turkey's New Life send their children to school and their A CORRESPONDENT in Turkey wives to our Sunday women's meet- of Eva.ngelical Chr1:stendom calls ing."
attention to the fact that, according to the new civil code which went into Evangelizing Jews in Palestine effect in October, nominal religious THE British Society for the Propaliberty is granted to all citizens of the gation of the Gospel among the Turkish Republic. Up to the age of Jews reports for 1926: "We have eighteen, young people are expected to abundant reason to thank God for the remain in the religion of their parents, ble:ssing that is resting on the work in but after that age they are perfectly Palestine. Its growth has been wonfree to adopt whatever religion they derful. In 1921 we had but one mischoose. In accordance with this it wiII sionary; now our staff comprises ten, be possible for a Moslem after he is and they are assisted by a number of eighteen years of age to accept C11ris- honorary helpers. Then we had but tianity and to have his new status offi- one building, unfurnished, and in need cially recognized by the Government. of much repair; now we have a we11- This runs counter to the Moslem law equipped mission house on Mount concerning apostasy, and one cannot Carmel, and adjoining it new property predict how fully the new law will be has been purchased; while in the enforced, but the prospects are that center of the town we have rented the Government will carry out the premises in which we are able to deal provisions. The Government recog- with great numbers of Jews who nizes the fact that Moslem children could not otherwise be reached. Not are most influenced by religious teach- only do meetings of various kinds folings when under eighteen years of low each other in quick succession, but the Mission is crowded to the doors age. at many of them, and the marked at- tention of the Jews to the gospel mes- The American Board is authority sage is noteworthy. The services are for the significant statement that the mainly conducted in Hebrew, but ad- Turkish Secretary of E!lucation is to dresses are also given in Yiddish, select a group of promising boys and Arabic, German and English. In adlrirls ami place them in the American Board's schools.
"Inhabitants of Heaven" dition to the activities of these centers the Jewish colonies are regularly T HIS is the name given to the mem- visited by our missionaries." bers of the British Syrian Mission by grateful Druzes in Hasbeiya, because they had cured a sick young man. "Work Scholarships" at Teheran T One of them writes: "I know how HIS is the name given to a plan begun this year at the American easily thpy use such words, but we are longing to bring into these homes more College of Teheran, Persia. No student than mere physical comfo'r~. ,The receives free tuition and everyone stories the people tell us are very sad. works to earn a part or all of that We pray that the seed we try to sow which he is unable to pay. The bene- may bear real fruit one day. The fits of the plan have been many. Rec- Druzes are much more willing to listen ords in the offices have been com- than before. Today a Druze man pleted, the librar'y has been open at came and offered to do any kind OT all hours for the students, tlle pro- work for us, because I had nursed his fessors have been assisted in their wife, who is now getting better. They classes and laboratories, and special are really thankful, and all the sorrow activities have been conducted. In ad- seems to have softened their hearts, dition, the grounds of the college have so that one can speak to thelll ,vith been greatly improved. Persian
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
Ymtth, published by the students, com- the support of the children. Some ments: time ago this woman gave a rupee to one of the Christian teachers, asking The whole plan of work-scholarships has her to put it in the collection on Sun- contributed something to the spirit of P~r day. About a fortnight ago she sh, for it has taught the honor and value handed me four annas. I asked her of work. The spirit which enables a man what her motive was in giving her to shovel dirt and carry stones will enable money to the Christian church. She him to help build a better Persia. The told me that she had been praying for willingness to do hard work, the ability to something in the name of Jesus Christ do it cheerfully, the desire to cooperate, and that Jesus had given her what the determination to have a part in the de· she wanted. I could see from her face velopment and improvement of an institu· that she was very happy. Then for a tion-all these will make finer men and a moment she became very quiet, and finer nation. finally she said, 'I know Jesus Christ hears my prayers although I am not a INDIA AND SIAM Christian.' "
Beauty in an Indian Church Help for Village Schools I N the center of a Christian settle- T HE unique work carried on by the ment in the jungle at Medak, Hy- American Presbyterian school at derabad, India, stands a Christian Moga in the Punjab is widely known in church of the proportions of a cathe- missionary circles. Two of the methods draL This is the central place of by which the school extends its inworship for the great community of fluence are thus described by Rev. R. Indian Christians, numbering over H. Carter: "One of the agencies for 50,000, who have gathered around the improving the village schools is the Rev. C. W. Posnett, a Wesleyan mis- annual Village Teachers' Institute. sionary, as a result of his thirty years' For ten days of hard work, the work in this native state. The church teachers of village schools discussed was opened a year ago, but there vital methods of Bible teaching and seemed something lacking in its beau- Christian character training, effective tiful interior, despite the, marbles and ways of teaching reading and arithmany tinted tiles. There was no metic, and how to begin project work stained glass in the windows. Six in village schools. The Village thousand Indian Christians, most of Teachers' Journal (published ten tl1em former outcastes, have given tIle times a year) has been carried on, money for a window, designed by and its service seems to be appreciated. Frank O. Salisbury, a well-known It is issued to help our missionaries British artist. The, subject is the in the supervision of the village Ascension, and Mr.. Salisbury says of schools, and to help train and inspire the window: ' 'The desire of the the village teachers in service. The donors was that their Church should subscriptions to the English edition be as beautiful as any Mohammedan number 700. There are editions in mosque or Hindu temple, and I trust nine different languages, two having that my work will help them to realize been added in the last two months. their ideal of beauty as an aid to wor- The Urdu edition alone is issued from ship." Moga."
A Hindu's Gifts and Prayers A Hospital Patient's Prayer AN Indian Christian at Jullundur, A CANADIAN Baptist missionary in the Punjab, tells this story: "A writes of a village Christian who Hindu teacher who has been in the went into a, government hospital for an City Girls' School for many years, operation: "He was a very ordinary first as a pupil and now as a teacher sort of fellow whose attendance at receives a very small salary. Her three children are all reading in the school. The husband neither lives with her nor gives her any money for
prayers was very infrequent. Yet The coming legislation will secure the eon- just before he was to go under the tinuance of the system whereby chaplains anrnsthetic he asked the district sur- belonging to the Church of England ancl geon for time to pray and this was paid by the Government of India will be his prayer: ' Lord Jesus, Thou didst sont out. die on the cross for me; if I live it is Thy will and if I die take me.' The Judson College Progressing surgeon and' the attendants, all Hin- dus, were amazed at such a testimony ENGL,ISH, Baptists report of this ineoming in such a way from such an stitution in Rangoon, Burma, "a unexpected source. The operation year of more serious application on was successful and instead of being the part of the students than ever placed in the ordinary ward he was before and to this 'can largely be placed with some caste people and credited the larger number of success- ful candidates for degrees. Among given every possible attention and those obtaining B.A. 's is the first special care. The caste people were Chinese woman candidate in Burma, an educational product of our own most kind to him and Abraham, the Henzada Mission Schools. One of the name of the Christian, was soon the Karen officials of the college has the friend of all. This has been a lesson double honor of being the Treasurer of the New University Trust and a to me and also a source of great en- member of the Legislative Council. {Jouragement. We look to the educated An interesting item in Judson's fupeople for a fuller interpretation of ture plans is the attempt now being made to collect sufficient funds from Christ sometimes, and are liable to the Christians of all races in Burma forget the lowest of the low." for a Chapel in our part of the new university plant out at Kokine, seven The Church of England in India miles from Rangoon. The President of Judson College was gratified by the T HE British Parliament will be manner in which the Bassein Sgaw caned upon this year to give sanc- Karen Association voted to pay its tion to a measure conferring autonomy quota to this worthy enterprise and upon thiR church. For a long period, expresses a hope that none of our proposals have been under consider- churches in Burma will hesitate to ation for conferring an independent follow the lead of these generous constitution npon it, and now the pro- givers." posals have been shaped in a manner satisfactory to the native communi- Retreat for Siam.ese Workers cants and without prejudice to the standing of the European and Anglo- FOR four years the evangelistic force Indian members. The situation has of the American Presbyterian been summarized thus in the London Mission in Lampang, Siam, has con- Christian: ducted what is called a "a Bible re- treat" in the mountains during the hot Today, British people temporarily resi- season. The plan had its beginning deut in India form only a comparath-cly in the realization that many of the small proportion of the Anglican commu- evangelists and colporteurs, and also nion there. At the last census, of 4,750,000 the pastors and elders in the churches, Christians in India, thf're were, in :round have too little to give out to those to figures, 387,000 Inilians belonging to the whom they minister. "Each year," Anglican communion, as compared with says Rev. Loren S_ Hanna, "we have 147,000 Europeans and Anglo-Inrlians. Such seen a definite improvement. This opposition as has been offered to proposals year it was due not only to larger atfor autonomy has Come from English-speak- tendance, but especially to a higher ing congregations who have envisaged the average quality of students and to the possibility that an Indian Church, with a deeper spiritual results." Among largo majority of Indian communicants, Jnight develop on lines uncongenial to them, and that government grants for the main· tenance of churches and chaplaincies to minister primarily to British-born servants of tho Crown in India might be withdrawn.
1927J NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
the forty-five who attended there 1926 there were 38 such schools in were, beside the missionary family, Hawaii; 150 in the Philippine Islands; three pastors, one theological semi- over SOO in Korea; about 20 in Burma; nary teacher, elders from several 16 in Bulgaria; 50 in Cuba; and 7 in churches, school teachers, pupils from Syria and Palestine, including one in higher grades, Bible women, evan- Jerusalem itself. Reports had not gelists and colporteurs, and a number 'come in from Japan and China, but of young men who had personal prob- four training schools for vacation lems to be settled. school teachers were held under the auspices of the Japanese National GENERAL Sunday School Union. In Australia, South America and South Africa it is Industry as Related to Missions anticipated that the movement will be well under way by spring. The THE International Mis s ion a r y policy of the Association for some Council has decided to place on the years, has been to work through misagenda of its meeting, to be held in sionaries and native Christian agen- Jerusalem in 1928, a consideration of cies. Books and curriculum materials the relation of Christianity to indus- are issued which have the background try. This action was taken pursuant and deal with the problems of each to memorials received from several country. There are vacation school sources. 'rhe one presented by the materials in Korean, Japanese, Arabie World's Committee of Y. W. C. A. and Portuguese, all worked out by contained the following: those on the field, to meet the peculiar needs of the children there. T. S. VVe trust that in this agenda a large place EVANS, Secretary, 381 Fourth Ave., will be found for consideration of economic New York. problems and industrial conditions in their relation to mission work. With every year World's Evangelical Alliance the vital importance of this relation becomes more insistent. Western industry THIS organization was founded in has im-aded the Far East, carrying with it 1846 by representatives of the the latest inventions for the promotion of churches of Great Britain, with delemass production, too often unaccompanied gates from the Continent and the by any of the safeguards which have been United States. Henry Martyn Gooch, painfully worked out in the course of a secretary of the British organization century for the protection of the European for the past twenty-five years, recently worker. Side by side with the machinery of stated that, in the past ten years of 1926 flourish the factory abuses of 1802; progress by the Alliance, nothing had child labor as England knew it in the early been more marked than the increasdays of the industrial revolution, night em- ingly close association with missionary ployment of women, boys, and girls, hours societies through the Week of Prayer. cruelly and wastefully long, conditions of Relations were early established with employment full of peril to life, limb, and the National Christian Councils of health. When industry in this form is set China and India; while warm fellowup by men of Western race coming from ship exists with the Japan Book and countries nominally Christian, fellow-citi· Tract Society, and with numbers of zens of the missionaries who preach the individual missionaries, far and wide, Christian faith on the mission field itself, as well as with numerous other misthe question as to the attitude of the Church sionary bodies. Plans are under way in the face of such negations of the teach· for an 80th Anniversary Thanksgiving of our Master inev,tably arises. It has ing Fund of at least £10,000. The put in bewilderment and distress of· mind Fund will be expended in the direct Eastern people who have accepted the new aims of the Alliance by living agents, teaching-such as Chinese Christians-and and not upon buildings. An outstandaroused indignant contempt in their fellow ing need, also, is additions to the staff. countrymen who, rejecting the Gospel, can point triumphantly to the contrast between Christian principles and practice.
Daily Vacation Bible Schools AREPORT issued by the Interna- tional Association of Daily Vacation Bible Schools announces that in
books mentioned in these columns will be forwarded by us on receipt of price.-
'l'HE REVIEW.
The China Year Book, 1926-27. Edited by Who, " though with thirteen Chang, H. G. W, Woodhead. Pp, xxix, 1320. nineteen Chen, twenty-nine Li, and $12.50. forty-nine Wang entries, for illustra- What the "Statesman's Year tion, foreigners not knowing the Book" is to the entire world, this Chinese eharacters given would still bulky volume is to China and Us dependencies. Its mass of topics may be at Sea as to "Who's Who" of those be seen in its eleven-page table of numerous families. The draft of the contents and its twenty-nine page in- New Constitution of China, adopted dex. Of the hundreds of subjects, we in December, 1925, is as interesting cim select only a few which will ap- as it is inactive. A Bibliography for peal most 'to the R1EvIEw's constitu- 1925-26, briefly annotated, supplies ency and to prospective and actual Chinese missionaries, the best literary account of China of recent years, though not as full as is desirable. Single pages, like that on The chapters upon Geography, J. Yen's "Mass Education Move- Climate and Meteorology are an au- ment," are intensely interesting; thoritative and interesting presenta- though one looks in vain for any full tion of factors intimately affecting statement as to the National Script.
missionary life and usefulness, So The Chicago University Press is to be also is the section by Sir E. T. Back- thanked for importing these volumes house upon the Chinese Language, for American use. H. P. B.
and' the preceding sketches on the people and their history. Chapter American Villagers, C. Luther Fry. 8 yo. XIII gives an excellent account of 201 pp. $2.50. New York. 1926.
education in the R.epublic, with a very There is much new information and favorable showing for the many mental delight in C. Luther Fry's higher institutions under missionary book. In this study, conducted under care. In Chapter XVIII the various the auspices of the Institute of Social religions are described with a fairly and Religious Research, Dr. Fry adequate sketch of Protestant Mis- shows that the village is not properly sions, though with no statistics a part of the rural population but a (found in an earlier issue). A full way of life more different from the account of Roman Catholic workers country than it is from the city. He is given and their converts and ad- confirms the language of an East In- herents are said to number 2,277,421 dian who traveled in America re- in 1!>23-24, under the care of seven- cently and before setting sail said, teen Orders and Congregations. The "In India our villages are agricul- Labor and Anti-foreign Agitation tural but so far as I can observe your chapter was brought up to date, but American villages are cities." We much has since happened affecting have been mistaken hitherto in believ- foreigners. The Sino-Soviet Confer- ing that the village loses or gains its ence of 1924 constitutes an interesting population with the open country.
side-light on Soviet designs and Chi- The increase of villages surpassed nese relations thereto. Chapter XXX that of the open country in the first is China's seventy-four page "Who's twenty years of this century as 47.2 158
THE MISSIONARY LiBRARY
compares with 5.4. This is much the nature of the change and what it imparts." These Lowell Lectures, denearer the rate of growth of cities. livered in King's Chapel, Boston, during February, 1926, are in four Indeed, Dr. Fry shows that, except chapters: Religion in History; Reli. gion and Dogma; Body and Spirit; for one type of small city, the village Truth and Criticism. The volume aims to give a concise analysis of the showed the most rapid growth of any various factors in human nature which show the development of reliunit in the population. gion. The author's contention is that the ages of faith are the ages of ra- When church people come to under- tionalism. He tries to show the in· evitable transformation of religion stand the village they will cease to with the transformation of knowl- edge. The foundation of religion is load the village down with churches. found in our apprehension of those permanent elements which insure a Leaders forget two things: First, stable order in the changing world. Religion for Mr. Whitehead is the that the village is not going to be a longing of the spirit that the facts of existence which man. knows should city and cannot stand too many find their justification in the nature of exi~tence. churches; second, that the village is There are many points in which not a living part of the open country, we do not agree with the writer, but he certainly challenges thought. so that the farmers will not auto- J. F. R. matically come to a village church. W. W. Cassells, First Bishop of Western The greatest proportion of minis- China. Marshall Broomhall. Illus., maps, xxiii, 378 pp. 68. net. London. 1926. ters in America live in the village. The reviewer recalls a Thursday There are more parsons per thousand morning in late April, 1885, when the subject of this biography, fresh persons than in the city and far more from his London curacy, came into our Tung Chou home en route for than in the open country. Shansi. Thero he spent the opening months of his China apostleship, prior Dr. Fry; who takes his material to passing on to the great and needy province of Sze ch 'uan, where his life from the Census, shows that the em- work lay, first as a member of the China Inland Mission, and later for ployment groups of men-though not thirty years as Bishop of the Church of England. As cricket player at in the same degree of the women- Repton, as "footer" at Cambridge Gniversity, and later as one of the are nearly uniform throughout the famous "Cambridge Seven" who aroused a greater interest in China country. It has long been obvious to Missions than any other group had done, he had left his impress upon students that the village has an anat- all who came to know him. The spiritual impression made by him and omy of its own, that it has invariable his companion, Stanley Smith, upon our station and upon Peking missionelements which you may look for as aries was a sample and prophecy of you ride in in your car, or ride up from the railroad station, seeking a service unit. Dr. Fry shows that population divisions by occupations are also uniform throughout the countrv.
The'delight of the book is that of reading a skilled and vivid story in which statistics are made to do magic.
The author makes use of measure- ment to convey information in a man- ner so skilful as to delight and satisfy the mind. w. H. W.
Religion in the Making. Alfred North Whitehead. 160 pp. $1.50. New York. 1926.
That John Dewey writes commending this book is a fact which speaks for itself. He says: "There is news in the realm of mind. The mentality which has prevailed for three centuries is changing. Whitehead says the change is not short of revolutionary . . . He does succeed in a wonderful way in giving his readers a sense of what he continued to do for forty Amid dangers an.d heavy burdens he years. is so buoyed up by a living faith that The items in that remarkably fruit- one cannot read the record without ful service are set forth in such an abiding uplift. His cathedral city detail that one sees the devoted Chris- was Pao Ning, "protecting Serenity tian and missionary in his private of mind" or " peace, " whi eh describes and public life with a vividness that the Bishop, whether in his home, in rarely appears even in missionary bi- his shipwrecks on the Yang tze, in ographies. Yet it is not pictured perils of robbers, or when perplexed as to duty by the call of the Archwith much scenic or ethnological bishop of Canterbury from his remote background. It is written much as western outpost to the Mid-China Henry Martyn or David Brainerd Bishopric-an honor which he dewould have recorded their missionary clined. Bishop Cassells had no experiences. The "Imitation of Christ, " the writings of Frances "small talk" to waste, and humor was Ridley Havergal and those of the sadly lacking; but heavenly conver- Keswick type, are examples of the sation, upbuilding addresses and style found here, both in the Bishop's sermons wrought a rich harvest dur- ing the forty years at his inland post. own words and in the wonderful edit- Here is an apostolic memoir of our ing of Marshall BroomhalI, who has, own day, the portrait of a spiritual in this volume, added another valu- giant as he strives personally to overable contribution to missionary litera- come besetting evils and as he leads ture. his scattered flocks into the green Bishop Cassells had a difficult task set before him,-to act at once as a pastures and beside the still waters of superintendent of the China Inland Mission in Eastern Sze-ch 'nan and as the Christian life. Well did the the first Bishop of the Church of England, presiding oyer missionaries Archbishop of Canterbury, write of and churches of that denomination belonging to' the China Inland Mis- him: "The death [Nov. 7, 1925] of Bishop Cassells removes from among us one of the very foremost mission- aries of our time." H. P. B.
sion. This position of mediatorship The Cost of a New World. Kenneth Mae· between bodies so different in person- lennan. 8 vo. 185 pp. with appendix and nel and methods, Cassells filled most index. $1.00. New York. 1926. 28 6d.
wonderfully, mainly because he was London. 1926.
himself filled with the Spirit of God. Kenneth Maclennan is Secretary of Rarely do we see a biography which the Conference of Missionary Socieso impresses the reader with the life ties in Great Britain and Ireland, and filled with constant eyidences of the General Secretary of the United victorious Christ living within him. Council for Missionary Education. The Bishop cannot write a paragraph The object of tliis book is to present without clothing his thought in words a brief suryey of the material forces of Scripture, and his prayers were at work in the pre-war world and to truly his "vital breath." reveal the relation of Christianity to But action in yaried circumstances current world moyements.
and in "perils oft" is not left out No age of Christian history has had of the picture. Paul '8 Iliad of woes more serious problems to solve than in 2 Cor. 11 is here eclipsed in many has ours. Our problems are such as ways; and what that missionary dis- the g-rowth of nationality and the de- missed in the words, "there is that velopment of internationalism; race which presseth on me daily, anxiety antagonisms; the revolt of youth; for all the churches," fills many the industrialization of the Orient; p~ges-yet. the "anxiety" is always the opening of Africa; the awaken- mmgled wlth profound trust in his ing of national aspirations, especially Elder Brother and Heavenly Father. in the Far East, and the breakup of
The Missionary Review of the World — January 1891
J. M
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIV. No. t.-Old Series.–J ANUARY.–VoL. IV. No. t.-New Series.
L–LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
FALLEN ASLEEP-REV. JAMES M. SHERWOOD, D.D. Like it winter avalanche in the Engadine-sudden, swift and inevitable-Deathcame to our beloved, associate editor, on October 22d. He had been, as usual, at the weekly prayer service, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, the week previous, and had spoken-all unct'>nsciously-his last public words. At the close of a brief, but earnest and impressive address, he faltered a little, said, "Let us pray," and sank back into his seat, speechless. He was tenderly borne to his home, and, after a few days of flickering flame, life's lamp went out so quietly that the exact moment was scarcely perceptible-let us not say "went out," but was transferred to another sphere to burn and shine forever. This departure withdraws from earthly scenes a man who had a large circle of friends. He had been preacher, pastor, author, editor, and in every sphere of activity he touched nothing which he did not adorn. He was not cut off prematurely, for he was in his seventyeighth year; and his years were packed with various and versatile endeavor. Born in Fishkill, N. Y., in 1813, he had only a common-school education, and entered, as clerk, his father's store in Johnsville; until, feeling in him the resistless impulse, toward the ministry of the Gospel, he, with his father's consent, turned his steps toward the pulpit, was taken under care of presbytery and studied theology with the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Fishkill, Rev. Robert G. Armstrong. At, the age of twenty-two, he was licensed to preach, and subsequently served churches in Mendon, N.Y., New Windsor, N.Y., and Bloomfield, N. J. In each of these churches he left his mark both as a preacher and a pastor.' He also acted as evangelist for a term in Milford, Conn. After his health seemed to demand a change of occupation he found a fitting sphere for his busy brain and ready pen in the gi'eat republic of letters. His work as editor of the National Preacher, Biblical Repository, New York Evangelist, Eclectic Magazine, Princeton Review, Hours at Home, Homiletic Repiew, and MISSION-
FALLEN ASLEEP-REV. JAMES M .. SHERWOOD, D. D
ARY REVIEW, has entered, into the unchangable record of history. He was the founder of Hours at Home, which was, in a sense, the parent of Scribner's Magazine; and the richness, variety, and marvel- lous success of the Homiletic Review, none know so well as the twenty thousand readers who study its pages.
Beside all his occasional papers, published in the leading maga- zines and periodicals, he wrote the "History of the Cross," and edited a new edition of the "Life of David Brainerd." He had also written a voluminous work on "Books and Authors," which has not yet ap- peared in print.
Such are the brief outlines of an intellectual life that extended over half a century. He was thrice married; his first wife was Miss Amanda Carpenter; his second, Mills Jane E. Lamberson; the third, Miss Annie Clarke, who survives him, as do also his five children.
We have never known a man of larger capacity for work. No one who knew him would have suspected that he was far on the way toward four-score years. And there was not the slightest sign of intellectual decadence. Up to the last his mind worked with all its pristine vigor and versatility. To the very day when paralysis struck him, he seemed as fresh and young, mentally, as in the years of early manhood, and he actually worked from fifteen to eighteen hours out of every twenty-four.
He was an embodieo, conscience. Duty was his polar star. Indeed, he had but little patienc~ with anything wrong, ignoble, di3honest. In his vocabulary the word" expediency" was not found. Right was his only might, and principle his only policy. There were those who possibly construed as severity what was only an uncompromising adherence to right and righteousness. I,ow moral standards and equivocal moral practices could find with him no toleration, and but little forbearance.
Religiously he was a thoroughly evangelical disciple. He knew no theology but the old theology of Paul. That was good enough for him. He regarded the new notions creeping into the doctrinal beliefs of our day as signs of degeneration and disintegration. He believed implicitly the Word of God and the whole of it, and bowed in humility before tIle mysteries he could not explain. To no work of his life did he give himself with such absolute heartiness as to the editing of a REVIEW whose grand object was to promote a world's evangeli-' zation. ,He was especially desil'Ous' to live till he might see this, the last and most precious work of his life, established on a basis of permanency and having a world-wide circulation.'
As a man, especially in his own household and within th~ circle of intimate friends, we cannot in these pages undertake to photograph his character. There are some secrets that cannot be unveiled to the common eye-they refuse to emerge from their privacy; they lose their beauty by disclosure. It is enough to say that 'he was most bel6lved by those who best kRew him.
Our readers will no longer read his words or feel the pOWEl'!' of his guiding hand in shaping the content·s of this REVIEW. His work here was invaluable. Although his duties, as simply editor, gave him little leisure as a 'Writer, and it was only in an occasional paragraph or a more infrequent article that his hand was seen, even while hidden, it still moved beneath the whole structure of this REVIEW. He was constantly seeking to engage the most competent pens to contribute to its columns, and was always on the alert to improve its quality and increase its circulation and enlarge its influence.
He rests from his labors; we devoutly believe that his works will follow him.
"MORS JANUA VIT.LE."
It may be well for the editor to add that, being left now in sole <lharge of this REVIEW, he proposes some minor alterations, which will be noticeable in the present issue. The number of departments will be less, and the fine print, so trying to many eyes, will be abandoned. Instead of letters from abroad, we shall venture often to give only their substance, and notices of books will appear on,Iy as editorial notes. The Monthly Bulletin will be simply an appendix to General Intelligence, in the briefest and most compendious form, presenting the latest news from various fields, etc. And, in view of the unselfishness of our work, which is undertaken solely for the promotion of the Kingdom of God, we again ask the prayerful, sympathetic co-operation of all who daily pray " Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done In earth as it is in heaven."
SYSTBMATIC GIVING.-To raise large sums for missions we have no need to depend on a few large givers, but only to "organize the littles." Dr. Guthrie eloquently urged hundreds of the poorer folk to take subscription cards and fill them up with such sums as they were able, from a sixpence to five shillings; and explained to them how the drops unite in showers, the showers produce rills, the rills, rivers, and the rivers make the sea! Not six hours after his speech a poor woman in Currie's Close had collected from scavengers and night police and basket-wives and match-sellers-and beings who live no mortal can tell how, over half a sovereign! And a little woman, who sat in all weathers on the street selling eggs from her ba8ket, brought in five shillings, the earnings of many a day's labor.
LIVINGSTONE AND STANLEY
LIVINGSTONE AND STANLEY. [EDITORIAL. ] On the map of Africa, which history is making, these two names will be engraven in letters so large that they will be read at the distance of ages. It may, therefore, be well to put on permanent record some characteristic facts which link with Equatoria and with each other-David Livingstone and Henry M. Stanley.
DAVID LIVINGSTONE, born March 19, 1813, died April 30, 1873~ having just passed his sixtieth year. Converted at twenty, he was. for forty years, in heart and aim, a mIsSIOnary. Thus have we roughly outlined a life that, within those two-score years, poured forth as much of the costly ointment of a consecrated service as, perhaps, anyone life since the age of the Apostles.
He was a man of singular force. As Sir Bartle Frere said, "Any five years of his life might have established for him, in any other occupation, such a character, and raised for him such a fortune, as none but the most energetic can realize." His last public utterance in his native Scotland seems to have been in Oswell's school, where his closing sentence was: "Fear God and work hard," and these words disclose the double secret of his life. By simple, God-fearing, hardworking perseverance he traveled 29,000 miles in Africa, .and added to the known regions of our globe a million square miles; he discovered Lakes 'Ngami, Shirwa, Nyassa, Moero, Bangweolo, the Upper Zambesi and other rivers; he unveiled the Victoria Falls that surpass Niagara; revealed the high ridges that flank the basin of the central plateau; first, as a European, compassed Tanganyika and gave it its true orientation; explored the geology, and hydrographyfauna and flora of the continent; nd so grappled with the two great enemies of man and beast, in Africa–j'ever and tsetse-that he himself said those two words would, at his death, be found engraven on his heart.
To energy he joined industry. What Livingstone was, as a scientist and explorer, the world does not yet fully know. His powers of mind were but medium, and his early opportunities were but meagre. But, like William Carey, he could" plod;" and rigid economy of time, yoked with patient resoluteness, gave a momentum to his life which native genius and great advantages often fail to secure. In the factory at Blantyre, where attention to his cotton-spinning was necessarily incessant, it was only fragments of time-often less than a minute-that could be spared from his work; but those fragments he gathered up, and it was upon solid and substantial diet that he fed his growing mind. In the books he read as a lad we can see the germs of his scientific career as a man. He was also careful in details. That famous" lined journal' of his was a quarto volume of over 800 pages, where the plain, neat writing is a model and a marvel -of pains and patience. The mind that, even in African wilds, found Telaxation in "Smith's Dictionary of the Bible," will not be charged with lightness or waste of time!
He was certainly ve1'satile~' and what great questions he studied! the dessication of Africa, the possible utilization of her great rivers, .as water highways; the physical structure, geology, climatology, botany, of the tracts traversed! Then, again, we find him translating hymns into the Sechuana language, and adding to all else the toil of book-making, in which, perhaps least of ali, he was a success. This was the only task he did not approach with that enthusiasm, without which he himself said that nothing either good or great is done. Book-making was to him a mere task, to which even crossing Africa was far to be preferred. But it is no marvel if a man, shut in with pagans and for years without contact or converse with a white man, not to sayan Englishman, should feel that he had none of the facile <Jommand over his own tongue, and none of that leisure to digest and .assimilate his own material, which are needful if a book is to be any- thing more than a printed jou1'llal.
Livingstone's services to science were too great for hasty recognition. The accuracy with which he traced his course and marked his geographical points, leaves almost all other explorers behind him. His astronomical observations, his dilicovery of the fact that the In- terior is a plateau intersected by various streams and lakes, whose waters reach the ocean through great fissures in the flanking hills; and his manifold contributions to every department of natural science, compelled even sages to say that such various and versatile suc- .(lesses were without precedent.
Traveler, explorer, geographer, astronomer, zoologist, botanist, physician, missionary-what a many-sided man! What accurate observation of details! What husbanding of results! He brought home twenty-five different sorts of fruits; told of oils, dyes, fibres, varieties -of sheep and vegetable-products of which even the Chamber of Commerce knew hitherto nothing. In May, 1855, the Geographical Sodety decorated him with their highest honor, the gold medal; London, Glasgow and Edinburgh conferred on him the freedom of their dties, while he who loved to minister but not to be ministered unto, shrank from publicity and courted retiracy.
Humor is a conspicuous element in all great natures. A hearty laugh, genuine and generous, somehow inspires confidence. Livingstone's habit of seeing the funny side of things saved many a tragic ending and tU1'lled many a tragedy into a comedy. He writes to his daughter Agnes, about his almost toothless jaws, that if she" takes .any more kisses from him it must be through a speaking trumpet." He declared the sight of a soko (gOt'ilIa) nauseating, and that he is so bideously ugly that he could conceive no other use for him than" to sit for a portrait of Satan." When showing his lantern-slides-the only service for whose repetition the natives clamored-it greatly amused him that those who stood on the side where the slides were withdrawn shrank back in mortal terror lest the mysterious figures that so magically appeared and disappeared should prove wandering spirits and enter into their bodies!
.Duty was his watchword. He was an incarnated conscience. In the scales of a candid mind he weighed eve)·y question, and, aftercarefully considering a course, judged for himself; and then dared to act independently, even though against the remonstrance of his best friends. To keep his word and to do his work was the double motto of his life.
Such elements of character always crystallize about a strong will. His favorite maxim was" Try again!" His persistence and perseverance were heroic and herculean. "If I live I must succeed in what I have undertaken; death alone will put a stop to my efforts,'" were his words in 1866, and they proved prophetic. Half-starved on tough and tasteless African maize, even his goats lost, and milk denied him; his medicine-chest stolen; in the heart of Africa without resource or defence against a thousand ailments, like a warrior without weapons at the mercy of his foes; afterward, narrowly escaping' death thre!l times in one day, and then almost dead of debility and disease;-not one man in a million would have gone forward. Especially when, in 1872, Stanley himself begged him to return with him to England, he never flinched from his resolve to remain in Africa. Nay, when a strange presentiment burdened him that he was on his last journey and would never reach its goal, he pressed on, praying' that before he fell he might work out his purpose!
Self-denial was, from the first, a habit. Privations and sorrows he accepted and expected, as Moses did when he calmly exchanged the treasures and pleaBures of Egypt for a share in the afflictions of the people of God. Rather than sacrifice Africa's good he would spend his last penny, surrender his dearest gains, and give up his last drop of blood.
Such was THE ~IAN who, beyond all others, henceforth stands in history as the heroic friend of Africa. Mr. E. D. Young, who knew him so long and so well, pronounced him" the best man he ever knew.'" Such filial trust in God, such a childlike, Christlike spirit, such loyalty to duty, purity of motive, simplicity of aim, energy of purpose and unselfish love, united to make his life one grand sermon. The iron pen of action, held in the hand of resolve, wrote out its sentences in living deeds on history's imperishable scroll, for all future ages to read in letters of light!
Iile was a man of great faith. His strong but simple confid~nce· in God's providence was the north star of his life. He saw how every' crisis of his life turned upon some seemingly trifling event, as a door swings on a hinge-but the hinge argues a workman who knows how much to hang upon it. He remembered how the chance reading of Dick's" Philosophy of the Future State" led him both toward faith in the unseen and toward a reverent philosophy of science; how Gutz- laff's appeal led him to be a missionary and a medical missionary, too; how while the opium war closed China against him, Moffat's visit wedded him to Africa and to his beloved" Mary" ; how the friendly word of a director procured for him another" trial," while his dangerous illness in London strangely shaped his unconscious future.
He learned also that the leadings of Providence, like the subtle sense of the Inspired Word, are to be read not by the natural but by the spiritual eye; and he sought, by specific prayer for guidance, to cultivate the" single eye," that there might be no dim or confused vision; and carefully watched every motion of God's beckoning hand, pointing finger, or guiding eye. One text gave telescopic range and microscopic delicacy to his vision: "In all thy ways acknowledge Htm, and He shall direct thy paths." This trust in God's providence discerned good and cause for gratitude even in trials and troubles.
Apparent calamity became a storm signal of the will of God; and when, in the death of his wife, that nameless sorrow which finds no earthly balm smote him, his only answer was that great petition of his life: "Fiat, .Domine, voluntas tual"
He believed in special providence. Even among men it is the great minds that give heed to minutire: the astronomer grasps an infinity of small things; the general-in-chief commands the least details in his wide survey of camp and campaign; and so God is not so high above us as not to "number the hairs of our head."
Such a man, of course, loved his Bible, wrote on his heart its pre- cious promises, and became so absorbed in them that he was indiffer- ent, if not insensible, to praise or blame; and, that he might neither be misled nor inflated by human approbation, he made it a rlile never to read or preserve any words ofpraise-which resolve, of itself, marks him as a most uncommon man. While in Manyuema, he four times read his Bible through; and when in Ulva Cottage, in Hamilton, I took that very book in my hands, I saw dimly through my tears the evidences upon its worn pages of the singular devotion of its la- mented owner.
Whatever Livingstons may be in history, in his own eyes he was, first and last, simply a missionary. Charles Gutzlaff's "Appeal for China" first set his heart aflame; but, when his early longing toward China was transferred to Africa, the fire of his enthusiasm lost noth- ing by the transfer of those live coals to a new altar of service and sacrifice. ' When he began his work his conception of himself was that of a mere missionary laborer, but better acquaintance with Africa's wants and woes gave breadth to his aim. He said there was need of one whose plans would embrace a whole continent and its whole. future. The entire land must be surveyed and mapped out; the accursed traf- fic in the bodies and souls of men abolished; the resources of the country developed, and new facilities devised for travel and traffic. Before the missionary could go, his path must be explored. Some John the Baptist must go before Jesus to make a level highway for our God. And this humble missionary-worker unconsciously devel- oped into the MISSIO~ARY GENERAL AND STATESMAN. Restraining the natural impatience of visible progress, he was willing to wait a century for the fruits of his works to be seen; as he grandly declared, the "END OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL FEAT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE EN- TERPRISE."
And so this humble man had a passion to act as a PIONEER, and open a path for others to follow; if he could not himself sow the seed, he could break up fallow ground, where as yet neither sower nor reaper had ever trodden.
Livingstone's ideas of mission work were evangelical and catholic. He offered himself to the London Missionary Society, because its sole aim was to send the Gospel to the heathen; setting up no par- ticular form of church order, but accepting laborers from different denominations, it concerned itself mainly with rearing churches of Christ on Pagan soil. Paul's motto was also Livingstone's: "THE REGIONS BEYOND." He took no "other man's line of things made ready to hand," but yearned to preach Christ where He had not hith- erto been named. As he told the directors of the London Missionary Society, he was at their disposal to "flO anywhere provided only it be FORWARD." The views of Blantyre's great hero, as to missions, are such as we wish might prevail everywhere. "Vith him the foremost law of mis- sions was NOT CONCENTRATION BUT DIFFUSION! However important to secure conversion of individual!'! or of communities, the field is the Vorld, and seed, scattered broadcast over the whole area, is far bet- ter than seed sown however thickly over a limited area. Ve are to seek to sow the whole field, rather than seek harvests however abun- dant in any part of it. He favored colonization, transplanting a body of Christian workmen into the midst of the dark places of the earth and the habitations of cmelty, to show how men and women in every calling, may "abide therein with God;" and he yearned to see twenty . 01' thirty families going together, at one time, to build up a Christian community in the heart of paganism. He gauged missionary success not by the shallow showing of so many converts for so many pounds, shillings and pence; but by the diffusion of better principles which no statistical columns can exhibit, any more than Babbage's calcula- ting machine could suffice for a barometer 01' a thermometer.
He was, in every best sense, a missionary martyr, both in witnessing and suffering. "Sacrifices" he would not call them; but they were many and great. Often soaked with drenching rains; his bed, the coarse, damp grass; his food, bird-seed, roots, African maize; forty timE)s scorched in the furnace of fever; what words can tell the agony, when, April 27, 1860, he left his dear "Mary" in the grave at Shupanga, and turned from her dust to find the only balm for his broken heart in seeking Africa's redemption! Three years later he must have touched the bottom depths of trial. His wife dead, his <lhildren orphans, his expedition recalled, his very efforts to serve God and man apparently turned by Satanic ingenuity into instruments of {lviI, isolated from all true human companionship, with the prostra- tion of disease added to all the vexation of delay and disappointment, how many men have ever faced such environments without suicidal ~e~pair? Seven years later, long without tidings from home,or contact with any European, lingering on a sick bed, without wife, child, mother, brothel' 01' friend to cheer him, a horror of great darkness fell upon him!
Among the great charms of this great man his genuine interest in individuals, however humble, was at once one of the highest, both as an ornament of his character and a secret of his influence. His deep piety transfigured this noble trait into a passion for souls which begot unsparing self-scrutiny. His lament over "poor Sehamy," and his misgivings and self-accusations, lest he had not done all he might to save his soul, reveal profound depths of habitual watchfulness over the lost. He bent every energy to the good of men. When he could not preach, his lantern-slides were made to tell to the eye great facts of Bible history; he subordinated everything to service.
His abhorrence of the slave trade was literally detestation-i. e., it compelled a testimony, which marked his whole course and even his dying utterances. To abate 01' abolish this evil was, perhaps, his master passion. What a debt Christian nations owe to Africa! The destruction of life in the" middle passage" forms but a fraction of the total waste. For every slave transported, a score have fallen by war or violence, disease 01' fatigue. Such atrocities have been linked to this nefarious traffic that the victims sacrificed by it, if laid side by side, would reach round the world, paving with skeletons a pathway over land and sea-bed. Everywhere he saw signs of this continued and continuing desolation-bones bleaching in the sun, fresh corpses floating on the rivers; often heaps of bodies where slave caravans had abandoned their sick, helpless 01' dead. Inhuman drivers shot, stabbed or left to die tho1<e who could not keep up with the rest, and often these were found not yet dead. On his way to Lake Bangweolo he heard six men, wearing the slave yoke, singing in the joy of the vengeance they anticipated in coming back after death to haunt their captors. Exaggeration as to the horrors of this trade is impossible; as the sailor said: "If the devil don't catch these fellows, as well have no devil at all! " The massacres he witnessed gave him the impression of being in hell, and to disclose the horrors of this business so as to lead to its suppression, inflamed his holy ambition more than to reveal the fountains of the Nile. And so, wherever he went, he aimed to teach the first truths of the Gospel and to rouse the dormant Christian con- cience to the measureless atrocity of this traffic. Just one year before his death he uttered those memorable words which still speak from -that memorial slab in Westminster's aisle: "ALL I CAN ADD IN MY LONELINESS IS, MAY HEAYEN'S RICH BLESSING COME DOWN ON EYERY ONE, AMERICAN, ENGLISHMAN OR TURK, WHO WILL HELP TO HEAL THE OPEN SORE OF THE WORLD!"
Livingstone's devotion to Africa was n.ot more remarkable than his power over her sable sons" even his first year there showed that in his hand was the sceptre that could rule Africans. His power was an open' secret. His simple frankness, kindly bearing, honest courage, transparent unselfishness, trust even in strangers, disarmed both sus- picion and antagonism. While with prayer and faith he sowed the seed of the Word, he sowed himself as the seed of the kingdom; and by forgiving injuries and trusting even the unworthy, by absolute fidelity even to trivial promises, and by a Christlike life that taught more than any words, he moulded even savages into noblemen. What his character wrought in this direction may be seen in Susi and Chuma, his faithful body servants, who amid such hardships bore his body from Ilala to England.
Dr. Blaikie, in his charming" Personal Life of Livingstone," sug- gests that the old Roman fashion would have written his name Livingstone" Africanus." When first overwhelmed with the vastness , of Africa, he asked: "Who will penetrate through the Dark Conti- nent ?" And that was the question of his life. From the day in December, 1840, when he first set forth for those shores, this double work, the emancipation and evangelization of Africa, was his passion. When, in 1863, he expected the recall of his expedition, he could only say: "If I am to go ' on the shelf' let that shelf be Africa." And history presents no fact more pathetic, poetic, prophetic in its sym- bolism, than this-that when, on April 80, 1878, he was found on his knees, at Ilala, dead, his heart should be buried there beneath a moula tree, while his body was borne to England to be laid in the great sepul- chre of her greater dead! Emphatically Livingstone's heart was from the beginning buried in Africa; but buried as the seed of a future harvest. It shall not abide alone, but dying, and springing up, bear much fruit-fruit too vast in measure for our arithmetic to estimate! 1Ve yearn to see that life and death bearing fruit in many holy lives. How slow are disciples to learn the ministry of money. Moffat nsed to say that the coming day will :find rich and great disciples regarding it an honor to spend their money not on hounds and horses, but in the support of whole stations of missionaries. Many who read these lines are providentially kept from giving their lives in personal labor for the degraded and destitute. But how many of Ull, had we but the spirit of David Livingstone, would be found living in the persons of other consecrated men and women, and, by the agency of these workmen, preaching the Gospel where Christ had never yet been named. Oh, that those who read the story of such a life, and walk over that memorial stone at the Abbey, would take up the work he laid down, and by their money, their prayers, their tears, their influence, if not their personal efforts, help to heal this open sore of the world, and light the flame of the Gospel and of the new life wherever darkness reigns and habitations of cruelty are found!
Yes, David Livingstone-thy candle, found burning in the grass hnt at IIala, still burns and shines, and never will it go out, until, from Zanzibar to Banana, from Nile to Niger, and from the Cape of Good Hope to the Pillars of Hercules, shall shine the Light of the World!
HENRY MORTLAKE STANLEY is by birth a Welshman, and his. original name was John Rowlands. The same year, 1841, that David Livingstone first reached Africa, was the year that ushered into life the boy who was to be his distinguished successor in the exploration of the Dark Continent. This is one of the striking coincidences of history: while the cotton-spinner of Blantyre was on his way to the Cape, an infant boy at Denbigh, in Wales, was :first starting on his voyage upon the unknown sea of life. A certain Mr. H. M. Stanley,. in New Orleans, adopted this Welsh boy, transmitting to him his own name, little knowing what high honor that boy was to reflect upon it. We follow this waif of humanity, as he enlists in the armies of the Confederacy, and subsequently drifts into the Federal ranks; until 1865, when, acting as secrctary for an admiral, he was promoted fOl' heroism, having manifested his courage by swimming, under :fire, to fasten a hawser to a Confederate vessel.
The next great step toward his after career was his becoming a· representative of the press'-;"a newspaper correspondent. He served in a Guerilla warfare against the North American Indians, then wrote letters to the New York Herald, accompanied the British expedition into Abyssinia, etc. Thus a mixed experience on land and sea, in army and navy, :fitted him for camp or campaign, tent or vessel; picking up scraps of information and gathering treasures of varied experience, he grew to be peculiarly adapted for the unique life he was to lead, but which only God's Providence had foreseen.
In 1869 he was commissioned by James Gordon Bennet, of the New York Herald, to find the lost Livingstone. His expedition was to be kept secret. He went by a round-about course, arrived at Zan- .zibar January 6, 1871, and started for the interior, feeling his way toward Livingstone by such indications as only the most sagacious instinct could recognize. He had used the time at sea, en route to the African Coast, to learn how to take astronomical observations and lJrepare himself as a surveyor. November 10, 1871, found him at Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika, and there he grasped the hand of the .scotch herb, of whom for three years no certain word had reached the ears of an anxious outside world. Twenty-three times Stanley }lad been prostrated with fever, but he felt repaid when, on December 27th, the travelers set out together for Unyanyembe; and more espe- {)ially when, on March 14, 1872, they parted, having been four months .and four days together.
In 1873, Mr. Stanley again accompanied the British expedition to Coomassie. That same year, May 4, 1873, Livingstone was found by Susi, at four o'clock in the morning, in the little grass hut, not in bed but at the bed-side, his head buried in his hands, and both buried in the pillow; the candle still burned, but the candle of life that bad shed its rays so far over benighted Africa, had gone out. In 1874, April 18th, the sacred dust of the great traveler reached their final resting-place in the Abbey; and MI': Stanley led the body of pallbearers, as they deposited, in the tomb in the nave, the body of the man to whom he owed more than to any other human being.
And now begins a new chapter, the .fourth in the weird experi- ence of that Welsh-American. He who, at U nyamyembe, had sorrowfully parted with Livingstone, by that open grave in Westminster, resolved to take up and finish the work he had left undone. And so a new chapter also opened in' Stanley's African experiences. On August 5, he left England, and on November 12-three years almost to a day from the time he first grasped Livingstone's hand-he left Zanzibar again for the unknown interior. At Uganda he met Mtesa, whose warriors he estimated at a quarter of a million. "While at his {)ourt he translated the Gospel according to Luke, and actually wrote a brief analysis of Bible history in Kiswaheli for the monarch's use. Mte,sa professed adherence to the Bible instead of the Koran, and invited to his capital Christian teachers. Stanley then wrote a letter, which was published in the Daily Telegraph, urging that missionaries should be sent. And so Stanley began, in more senses than one, to follow in the steps of the grand Scotchman. The Church Missionary Society sent men to Uganda, who, in 1877 began to labor. That letter of Stanley's had a stl'ange histOl"Y. It was given to I~inant de Belfonds, one of the officers of Gordon Pasha. When he was killed by the Baris the letter was found in his boot and forwarded by Gor- .don Pasha. After a journey of 7,000 miles, consuming 999 days, Stanley reached Banana point, August 9th, 1877. In January, 1879, he was again en route to the Dark Continent, at the head of the expedition, organized by Leopold 11., of Belgium, who, in place of his dead son, adopted Africa as his child and ward. Stanley reached the Congo's Estuary on August 14, 1879; Leopoldville station was built in April, 1882. Compelled by illness to return for a time to Europe, he came back to the Congo toward the end of the same year; and in August, 1884, reported to the King of Belgium that his mission was ac.complished. He had performed the stupendous feat of opening up the Congo basin, with its 5,249 miles of navigable waters, its 43,000,00() of people, its area of nearly 11,000,000 square miles drained by various streams. In February, 1885, the Congo Free State was erected and recognized as such, with Leopold II. as its sovereign.
January 20, 1887, Stanley begins a new chapter, and again Africa is the theatre of his action. He departs from London for the relief of Emin Pasha. February 25th, he once more left Zanzibar, and, going by the Congo's mouth, reached Leopo}dville, April 21st. A year later, April 29th, just fifteen years from the last day of Livingstone's travels, he met Emin Pasha at Kavalli, and December 6, 1889, emerged from darkest Africa once more at Zanzibar.
From that day honors were showered thick as autumn leaves on Stanley's head. The reception given him, May 5, 1890, at Albert Hall, in London, when 7,000 people were present, was one of the most brilliant assemblages of all modern history. Then, on July 12th, in the great Abbey, he led to the marriage altar his accomplished bride, Miss Tennant; and sInce, in her jubilee year, the Queen was there, Westminster has had no such gathering. Had it been a ,royal ceremony, the interest could not have been more intense or the throng more dense. 'l'he long, crimson carpet broke its lines only over the slab which in the isle bore the name of LIVINGSTONE. Two magnificent floral wreaths, one from the officers of the relief expedition, and another from Mr. Stanley himself, were laid on the sides of the prostrate tablet, and when the bride moved up the aisle she gracefully laid still another tribute upon the marble memorial, bearing, in flowers, the words, "In memoriam, DAVID LIVINGSTONE-H. M. STANLEY."
Thus, at no little length, we have chosen to place before our readers in outline, for permanent record, the twin stories of these two strangely-linked lives. We do no injustice to Mr. Stanley when we say, what he himself is reported to have said, that, to the four months and four days that he spent with Livingstone in Africa, he owes the greatest impulses of his later life, and especially his attitude toward Christianity. Livingstone found himself suddenly thrown into the society of a stranger who was far from being a Christian disciple. There is no. evidence that during all those months he ever directly <lonversed with Stanley as to his spiritual interests. But sure we are that by his manifest character he commended the religion of his }Iaster. His uncompromising loyalty to Christ, his unobtrusive conscientiousness, his unselfishness, considerateness, readiness to obligeall this impressed Stanley as no words had ever moved him; and, when he parted from his new friend, he was constrained to' say, what Pilate said of a far greater, " I find·no fault in this man!"
From that day Mr. Stanley has led a life that runs strangely in sympathy with that which had its spring in Blantyre. When Sir William Mackinnon asked the pleasure of presenting· him with some token of friendship to carry with him to Africa, Stanley replied, "Give me a Bible," and he took it and read it thrice through. Afterward, in darkest Africa, constrained at the darkest hour humbly to confess that, without God's help, he was hopeless, he says: "I vowed a vow in the forest solitudes that I would confess His aid before men. Silence, as of death, was round about me. It was midnight; I was weakened by illness, had been prostrated by fatigue, and wan with anxiety for m'y white and black companions, whose fate was a mystery. In this physical and mental distress, I besought God to give me back my people. Nine hours later we were exulting with a rapturous joy. In full view of all was the crimson flag with the crescent, and beneath its folds was the long-lost rear column."
And now he whose previous reserve upon such matters had seemed to bear a special seal of silence, has made this, his latest confession: "Many forms of belief and curious ideas respecting the great mystery of our being and creation have been suggested to me during my life and its wanderings; but after weighing each and attempting to understand what must be unsearchable, my greatest comfort has been in peacefully resting firm in the faith of my sires. For all the human glory that surrounds the memory of Darwin and his wise compeers throughout advanced Europe, I would not abate a jot or tittle of my belief in the Supreme God and that divine :Man called His Son."
Space alone compels our pen to halt as we pursue this fasciitating story of these twin lives. We have had space not even for a paragraph about that last book, with its thousand pages, of forty lines each, all the work of fifty days, and itself a greater feat than his march in Equatoria; and the production of which as a printed volume is said to have employed an army of nearly 15,000 men and women. We have had no space to repeat Mr. Stanley's noble tributes to the heroism and success of Christian missions which present such a marked contrast to some modern critics who ought to have been in better business. We have sought merely to put side by side two lives whose unique parallelism demands a permanent memorial and suggests lessons of lasting value. We must not fail to note one marked contrast. As Livingstone's great successor followed the mIssionary explorer, he iltrewed his path with the blood of the slain. Livingstone had trodden those same paths without even a pocket pistol for personal protection from wild beasts; his great weapon of defence was a magnanimous Love that forgave even the injuries it could not prevent. And, when we read of the demijohns of strong drink which Stanley, in his former passage across the Dark Continent, distributed to those sable sons of her soil whom he employed in building his stations, we cannot but deplore any such ministry to the destructive appetite for intoxicants. We recall that letter, the first written in English by a Congo native, and addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury: " Great and Good Chief of the Tribe of Christ, Greeting: " The humblest of your servants kisses the hem of your garment, and begs you to send to his fellow servants more Gospel and less rum. " In the bonds of Christ, " U GALLA."
And now, 3S we turn from these two lives, may we not invoke the prayers of all Christians that the latter, the unfinished one, may complete its noble and heroic course by a service to God and a ministry to man that shall surpass anything yet accomplished by Stanley, or even by Livingstone? Our living hero is decked with many medals and crowned with many laurels. We crave for him one ,still higher and brighter-a crown wrought by no human handswhose lustrous gems burn with immortal fires and outshine in splendor ~Ven the glory of the stars!
A PERTINENT REPLY.-We understand that our friend, Chaplain :McCabe, has sent the following message to Colonel Ingersoll: "DEAR COLoNEL:-Ten years ago you made the following prediction: 'Ten years from this time two theatres will be built for one church.' The time is up. The Methodists are now building four churches every day-one every six hours. Please venture upon another prediction for the year."
Evidently the Colonel is as far out of the way as Voltaire was when he set up a printing press at Fernay to demolish Christianity. That press is now used at Geneva to print Bibles !!
MONEy.-Early in our own generation there were but five men in this country who were millionaires: John J. Astor and Stephen Whitney, New York; Nicholas Longworth, Cincinnati; William Gray, Boston, and Stephen Girard, Philadelphia. To-day in New York alone there are 500 millionaires, some of them worth from 100 to 300 millions, and in the coffers of American Protestant Christians there are not less than ten thousand millions oj dollars. One man in 1869 spent as much for a corner lot on which to build a private residence as the Presbyterian denomination spent for its entire foreign mission work!
NEW EFFORTS IN BELGIUM
NEW EFFORTS IN BELGIUM.
BY REV. HENRY E. DOSKER, A.M., HOLLAND, MICH.
Of all the countries of the continent Belgium is one of the most peculiar. With an area of 11,373 square miles and a population of nearly 6,000,000, it is the most densely populated strip of land on earth. This may seem strange, and yet it is true. While the Nether- lands come next in order, with a population of 312.86 to the square mile, Belgium crowds together, in the same space, not less than 481. 71 of its inhabitants. British India has only 311.57 and China but 83.86. These figures are respectively taken from the census-reports of 1885~ 1881, and 1887.
The physical aspect of Belgium, generally speaking, is flat, like that of Holland; a great part of the country actually lying below the level of the sea. In t.he south-eastern districts, alone, a considerable highland is formed, of some 2,000 feet high, by a spur of the Ardennes. This mountainous region, rich in different minerals and coal, together with a proverbially rich alluvial soil in the lower parts of the coun- try, enables Belgium to maintain its enormously dense population.
Its inhabitants are of a mixed Teutonic and Celtic stQck. The two main branches are the Flemings of German and the Walloons of Celtic, origin; the fonner out-number the latter, in the proportion of 4 to 3, throughout the country.
The French language is spoken at court and among the higher classes. In the rural districts and provincial towns a curious patois prevails, in various dialects of either Flemish or Walloon. This lack of a national language and literature has greatly retarded the intel- lectual progress of the nation, which is in no wise proportionate to its physical advantages. The educational system of Belgium was, till recently, quite deficient, and the sharp antagonism between the cleri- cal and liberal parties has made adequate provision in its behalf well- nigh impossible.
As might be expected from its history, the religion of the country is prevalently Roman Catholic. Of the nearly 6,000,000 of inhabit- ants, from 13,000 to 18,000 are Protestant, with some 35,000 Jews; the remainder nominally belong to Rome. Nominally, I say, for the close contact with France, the permeating influence of its periodic re- , volutionary attacks, and the prevalence of socialistic and rationalistic tendencies among the masses of the people, have so materially changed the religious 'complexion of the country, that a large pro- portion, possibly a majority, of its inhabitants may be put down as irreligious, if not atheistic.
The Gospel of Christ in Belgium meets with much the same dif- ficulties as it does in France. Efforts to bring the Word of God to the masses of the people have been made for years, and the so-called "Belgian Mission Church," and similar organizations, have not been unblessed in their endeavor to reach the Belgians by the channels of the two great languages of the country. But the trouble was that heretofore the labor performed has been too staid and conservative; the methods adopted were antiquated and ill-adapted to the peculiar character of the people and of the work in hand, and the little focus points of life, which resulted from such efforts, have had a tendency to develop too quickly into establishments for the edification of the few rather than for the salvation of the many.
A new attempt has been made of late at Brussels, which, if it should prove to be tenacious of life may become for Belgium and its capital what the McAll Missions are for France and Paris.
Allow me to outline the new movement. The name of its leader is Rev. N. De Jonge, who, some sixteen years ago, came to Brussels as a young preacher in the Dutch Evangelical Church. Through his personal influence, his church soon developed a rare missionary'activity. He made his people understand their divine call to labor among the bigoted 01' irreligious masses who surrounded them in the capital.
The year 1880 was one of special activity in this line. A revival visited the church, and especially those who were engaged in this department of her labors.
A city evangelization society was organized, of which pastor De Jonge became the director. The double task soon grew too heavy and he was placed before the inevitable choice between his charge and his mission. He was not long in deciding, and yet the decision. was one, in which he staked all on his faith in God; for he lost his salary and had no visible means of support. His resignation took effect on the first of Jannary, 1887, and another pastor soon took his place, whilst~ he began to devote himself, with all the energy of his young and vigorous manhood, to the work of evangelizing the masses of the Belgian capital, trusting, for the support of himself and large family, in the promise of God. And not in vain!
The work now rapidly extended and assumed encouraging proportions. It affords, to-day, the following aspect: a hall, named "Silo," with a seating capacity of 300, in the suburb I..acken; another, "Bethel," with l'oom for 80, about a mile distant, in the same neighborhood. In the suburb Anderlecht, a hall, named "Pniel," with seats for 200; neal' by, at the hamlet of Veeweyde, the hall "Bethlehem," with a seating capacity of 100. And still another and larger hall in the village of Ruysbrock, neal' by, as yet unnamed, but offering room for more than 300 hearers. As with the McAll rooms, the stations are simply but neatly furnished. Every night of the week, meetings are held in at least foul' of these mission halls, and the attend:l.llce is steadily increasing.
Besides all this the Mission has a printing-office in connection with the Silo station, where hundreds of pamphlets. and. tracts are pub- Hshed, to be spread broadcast over the entire kingdom. Two week- lies are issued fram this press: "Het Ohristelijke Volksblad" (The Christian National Paper), and "])e Blijde Boodschap voor Vlaamsch Belgie" (The Glad Tidings for Flemish Belgium.) The circulation of the latter, the smallest paper, has reached the number of 1,500. Moreover, a mission hospital has been opened, and h~ndreds of Catholic patients have been treated and evangelized at this "Beth- esda," as it has been appropriately named.
By catechetical instruction and Sabbath-school work the Mission endeavors to reach Roman Catholic children; hundreds of whom at- tend, notwithstanding the open opposition and secret scheming of the priests. All this missionary work is clinched by systematic house- visitation, which is richly blessed. Besides Rev. De J onge, the director of the Mission, two evangelists, two colporteurs, two regular trained hospital nurses, and some forty assistants are employed. It seems to me that this movement is worthy of close observation and encouragement.
The Catholic masses of Belgium are harder to be reached than those of France. The antagonism against Protestantism here is a.
growth of centuries; its earliest roots lie hidden in the memorable struggle of the eighty years' war. The southern part of the country never fully shared in the struggle for liberty. At Brussels the Spanish court was established; there the two most noted political victims of Alva's wrath were beheaded; there the "bloody assizes" held their councils. At Antwerp the two earliest religious m;utyrs of the Nether- lands fell. When the cause of freedom finally triumphed, and the North became independent, the South was still held in the Spanish vise, and the reformation within her borders had literally been drowned in a sea. of blood. From this time on, the unfortunate country was tossed to-and-fro between the great powers. To-day Austria, to-morrow Spain, then again France ruled it, as a whole or in part. In 1748 it finally came back to Austria, in whose g-rasp it remained, with varying fortune~, till the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, united it with Holland. But the two countries were only united never unijied.
In the revolution of 1830, the Belgians revolted and established their own independence and the severance became a fait accompli, by the treaty of London, May 21, 1833. Hence the antagonism against Protestantism has a political background. To the Belgian mind it is a thoroughly "Dutch" affair. And the overcoming of this prejudice is no small factor in the difficulties of Protestant missions in the country.
May the movement of De Jonge prove for the Belgians what the McAll Mistlion is to France, for the spiritual rescue of hundreds of thousands. Foreign Protestant missions, generally considered, in heathen lands, are far easier and far more hopeful than those COllducted by the handful of trusty laborers, who have given their lives to the evangelization of countries, thoroughly and for centuries nnder the influence of the papacy.
HELPERS AND HINDERERS OF MISSIONS IN JAPAN
[The following charming letter is from the beloved son of Rev. A. J. ·Gordon, of Boston, one of our editorial contributors.] HELPERS AND HINDERERS OF MISSIONS IN JAPAN.
BY ERNEST B. GORDON.
While enjoying the cordial hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Brand, the excellent missionaries of the Baptist Union, I have had considerable opportunity to observe the progress of the work as well as some {)f its drawbacks.
I went over to the Shogum's tombs, in Shita, the other day, and while straying in and about the temple of Zojigi, stumbled across a little fellow, a Buddhist novice, who spoke a little English. He had Dr. Hepburn's Dictionary, and was reading Peter Parley's Universal History. I struck up an acquaintance with him, and learned that he was a protege of Oolonel Olcott, who was to take him to India to study Sanscrit and the sacred books, but was prevented by the boy's poor health. Olcott, as is known, is the American Buddhist who goes about wearing a jewel said to be a crystalized tear of Mme. Blavatsky. He has published a Buddhist catechism in Singhalese, which has received the imprimatur of the Southern Ohurch in Oeylon, and is considered by Oeylonese Buddhists as almost canoni- ~al. It has gone through seventeen Singhalese editions, and was recently published in English by Estes & Lauriat, of Boston. I invited the boy around to Mr. Brand's to dinner and gave him a copy of the New Testament, which he promised to read. Last night he came again and talked a long time with Mrs. Brand about Shaka or Buddha and Jesus. He seemed much interested, especially when she told him of what Jesus left when He came to earth. He was surprised to find that Ohristians were not hateful and bitter.
The story of Roman Oatholic misl"ions in Japan is well known. Shinabara and the Oliff of Pappenberg will ever bear witness to the constancy and heroic endurance of the Roman Oatholic converts. Nevertheless, Oatholicism left a bad impression. I met the other day an old Japanese who remembers distinctly the annual ceremony of trampling upon the cross. A brass cross was brought around to every house in his village by the authorities, and everybody was required to trample upon it as a sign of his repudiation and contempt ()f Ohristianity. Much of this misapprehension and. bitterness still lingers among the Buddhist priests. The little novice, therefore, was pleased at our attention. He promised to come again and hear more about Ohrist.
Oolonel Olcott has done much harm here in Japan. An American is a person of influenee on account of his birthplace. To find an American teaching Buddhism was an experience, therefore, which startled young Japanese and which encouraged the Buddhist priests to attempt the galyanization of their putrescent superstition. Arthur May Knapp, too, the Boston representative of "Reciprocity in Religion," to use his own phrase, is encouraging the Buddhists in every possible way. He has abandoned his title of "missionary," and has assumed that of "ambassador"; the idea being, (,7idently, that he and the Buddhists are to exchange ideas and to treat with each other on an equal footing. This reassures the Buddhists and amazes the advanced men in Japan, who look upon Buddhism with the hatred and contempt which the liberals in Italy feel for the obscurantists of Rome.
Have you seen what Mr. Takahashi Goro, a prominent newspaper man, said at the banquet last May about the Unitarian movement in Japan? Its significance will fully appear when one takes into account the extreme politeness of the Japanese people. He said that he had not yet succeeded in fully mastering the doctrine of Unitarianism. He had perused the books kindly placed at his disposal by Mr. Knapp, but he still remained more or less in the dark. One thing, however, he had ascertained beyond question, viz., that Unitarianism is the child of orthodox Christianity. There was no manner of doubt about its parentage. Why, then, he wanted to know, should the attitude of Unitarianism to orthodox Chistianity be one of antagonism. He had read a book by Mr. Savage, entitled the "Religion of Evolution," and he had learned from it that Unitarianism regards orthodox Christianity with strong feelings of dislike, and would spare no pains to sweep it away from the face of the earth. Was that the proper attitude of a child toward its parent? Certainly not according to Japanese ideas of filial duty. Such an unnatural antipathy could only shock and deter Japanese observers. Besides, the Unitarians should remember that the law of heredity applies to bad qualities as well as to good. ""Vhen a man denounces his parents and declares them unworthy of respect he denounces himself by implication, for as the father is so, to a great extent, must the son be also. U nitarians coming to Japan, and arraying their forces against orthodox Christianity, would immediately find allies in the Buddhists and Confucianists. What would be the sequel of such an alliance? If the three united succeeded in driving out orthodox Christianity, the Unitarians might be quite sure that from that moment these sincere allies, the Buddhists and Confucianists, would turn on them and leave no stone untu'l'ned to drive them out also I In a. recent number of the Japan Mail, Mr. Takahashi Goro invites the attention of the Rev. Mr. Knapp to the short-sightedness of his alleged wish to ally himself with the Buddhists. Mr. 'rakahashi premises that he entertains no ill-feeling toward Unitarianism itself, but being convinced of the folly of the views of its representative in Japan as to Buddhism, he cannot but give utterance once more to the opinions he expressed at the Unitarian banquet some time .ago. Since then, he obse~ves, the Buddhistic press throughout the country had more and more distinctly shown a tendency to utilize Unitarianism as an instrument for attacking Christianity. Mr. Takahashi, however, believed Mr. Knapp to be too sagacious to become a tool of Buddhists. What, then, was his surprise to learn that the Unitarian missionary is still bent on cultivating the friendship of the Buddhists, as is shown by his article on the" Similarities and Dissimilarities of Unitarianism and Buddhism." Mr. Takahashi even goes so far as to say that Mr. Knapp'S attitude toward Buddhism is that of one who flatters, prays and solicits its favor.
"Does Mr. Knapp know," he asks, ,,, what Buddhism is really like? Buddhism is essentially an atheistic religion. This proposition can be proved by quotations from the Buddhist sacred writings." He then proceeds to consider another statement of Mr. Knapp, that, on the fundamental idea of creation, Unitarianism and Buddhism are directly opposed to orthodox Christianity. Mr. Knapp is represented to have stated that creation is not an event, but a perpetual progress which has neither commencement nor end.
"Now, in the first place, it is an abuse of a philosophical term to speak of 'creation' in connection with Buddhism, for how can there be any creation in a religion which does not recognize God? Nor is it correct to say that creation is a perpetual progress without either commencement or end, because man, as maintained by no less an evolutionist than Virchow, does not seem to have made any progress -during the first five or six thousand years. Further, there is no place for the idea of progress in the conception of atheistic creation."
If J-"1r. Knapp means to adopt the theory of atheistic evolution, Mr. Takahashi thinks he would better leave the Unitarian camp and join the atheistic Buddhists. Our author, however, believes that these apparently atheistic opinions have been expressed by Mr. Knapp for the purpose of obtaining the good will of Buddhists, for, from ·other utterances of his, it is evident that he recognizes the existence of God.
Mr. Knapp is said to have observed further, that Buddhism is, next to orthodox Christianity, a representative of the pessimistic religions; but that Unitarianism represents the optimistic religions. Mr. Takahashi does not attach much importance to the fact that Christianity is included among the pessimistic religions of the world, for he thinks this is merely a device of Mr. Knapp's to please his Buddhistic friends. He refers Mr. Knapp to Schopenhauer and Hartmann for an account of the crushing pessimism of Buddhism. He warns Unitarians against being utilized by Buddhists, and quotes from a Buddhist tract, by JUl'. Maesa Unkei, as follows: " Unitarianism will not be productive of any positive bendits / Jmt, as it will be negatively useful in neutralizing the evil effects of Christianity, we approve its spread for the sake of the country / nay" for the sake of our Shin-shu (Buddhistic) views."
It is interesting to note that the so-called " short cut" movement has extended to Japan. Last year the Japanese Presbyterians of Tokyo came to the conclusion that the work in Japan requires not only all the men who could be put through their theological school, but also those whose age or means would not allow them to take the full five years' course. Accordingly, of their own free will, they opened a school for evangelists. This year there are between thirty and forty men studying the Bible and receiving enough instruction to fit them for the work of preaching to the common people. The school is designed of course to supplement, not to antagonize, the Presbyterian Seminary. The Japanese Christians initiated the move.- ment, recognizing as they did the intense need of evang~lizing preachers, skilled in the Word, as well as of pastors versed in hermeneutics and apologetics. Many of the missionaries consider the success of the school as one of the most hopeful signs in late years.
It shows the determination of the Christians here to spread abroad the story of the Cross, and their good, common sense in choosing practical means for the furtherance of the work.
Christian work in Japan is complicated greatly by the present political excitement. The nnwillingness of foreign powers to repeal the unjust and unrighteous treaties forced upon Japan a generation ago has resulted in an increased hostility to foreigners and to foreign things. Christianity, of course, is classed in the latter category. Of our present United States representative, Mr. ,Swift, we will not speaK, except to say that the removal of his predecessor, the Texan Baptist minister Hubbard, appointed by President Cleveland, is greatly regretted. A Christian man, he did all in his power to assist Christian workers. No American since Perry, Minister Bingham possibly excepted, has been so popular in Japan. As to diplomatic. results, the Hubbard treaty negotiated with Count Okuma, although finally breaking down, was the first attempt to settle the vexed question of Treaty Revision in an honorable and statesmanlike way. If Mr;, Hubbard had been retained in Japan, it is likely that the revised treaty would be an accomplished fact, and the Christian missionaries would not be hampered now by the irritated condition of public opinion which prevails throughout the empire.
TOKYO, Oct. 12, 1890.
A JAPANESE CONVERT, who united with Bethany Church, Philadelphia, in 1886, said that "so great were the changes in his native country during the ten years previous, that nothing was left, as it. had been, but the naturalsceneryl"
EXAMPLES FROM MODERN MISSIONARY HISTORY
[Although the number of competitive essays sent in, in response to the editorial note in August number, 1890 (p. 631)-631), is not sufficient to justify the award, the edltor will avail himself of one or more of the best, as was then intimated, as articles in these pages.] EXAMPLES FROM MODERN MISSIONARY HISTORY OF THE UNMISTAKABLE INTERPOSITION OF GOD IN ANSWER TO PRAYER AND IN BEHALF OF HIS SERVANTS AND THEIR WORK.
BY REV. JOHN RUTHERFORD, M.A., B.D., ROTHESAY, SCOTLAND.
Pentecost was preceded by prayer. The coming of the Holy Ghost and the conversion of 3,000 souls in a single day were the result of ten days' continuous prayer.
Events like the siege and relief of Leyden, in 1574, when the Spanish armies were compelled to retreat, not before the brave Hollanders, but before the force of nature itself, visibly used by God in defence or the oppressed, witness to the fact that the hand of Almighty God is still interposed in behalf of those who trust Him. "As well," shouted the Spaniards derisively to the citizens, "as well can the Prince of Orange pluck the stars from the sky as bring the ocean to the walls of Leyden for your relief." But what was the issue? "A' violent equinoctial gale, on the night of the 1st ana 2d of October, came storming from the northwest, and then blowing still more violently f!'Om the southwest. The waters of the North Sea were piled in vast masses on the coast, and then dashed furiously landward, the ocean rising over the earth and sweeping, with unrestrained power, across the ruined dykes." The relieving fleet sailed up almost to the walls of the city. As the historian records, it was the hand of God that sent the ocean and the tempest to the deliverance of Leyden, and that struck her enemies wi th terror likewise. We cannot doubt that the preservation of Holland and Britain from the Spanish fury were in answer to many prayers offered up by those who fled to God as their refuge. (Motley, Dutch Republic, II., p. 558).
And much more does the history of the church assure us that God answers prayer. If we review the qistory of missions in any part of the wo,dd, we see that those who do the Lord's work live near to Him, and that He guards them in danger, and watches over that work which is not so much ours as His.
1. In the "Life of John G. Paton" (I., p. 118), the events are narrated which led to his leaving Tanna. He says, "On reaching Nowar's village we found the people terror-stricken, crying, rushing about in dispair at such a host of armed savages approaching. The whole village collapsed in a condition of indescribable terror. The approaching multitude had gone to the mission house and broken in the door, and, finding that we had escaped, they rushed on to Nowar's village. W e ~rayed as one only can pray when in the fear of death and on the brink of eternity. We felt that God was near and omnipotent to do what seemed best in' His sight. When the savages were about 300 yards off, N owar touched my knee, saying, 'MisRi, Jehovah is hearing! They are all standing still.' On gazing shc-rewards, we saw a dense host of warriors, but all were standing still. To our amazement the host began to turn and entered the remote bush at the head of the harbor. We were on that day His trusting and defenceless children; would you not, had you been one of our circle, have joined with us in praising the Lord God for deliverance from the jaws of death? I know not why they turned back, but I have no doubt it was the doing of God to save our lives."
2. Again Mr. Paton writes (p. 345,) "About ten o'clock the savages surrounded the mission house. My faithful dog, Clutha, pulled at my clothes and awoke me. I silently awoke Mr. and Mrs. Mathieson, who had also fallen asleep. We committed ourselves, in hushed prayer, to God, and watched them. Immediately a glare of light fell into the room. They set fire to the church all round, and the'l a reed fence connecting the church and the dwelling-house. In a ""lW minutes the house, too, would be in flames, and armed savages waiting to kill us on attempting an escape." Mr. Paton then ran out and cut the burning fence and tore it up, thus preventing the fire from reaching the house. He stood surrounded by seven or eight savages who had raised their clubs in the air, yelling in rage that none of them ventured the first blow, though they shouted "Kill him! kill him!" "At this dread moment occurred an incident which my readers may explain as they like, but which I trace directly to the interposition of my God. A rushing and roaring sound came from the south, like the noise of a mighty engine or of muttering thunder. Every head was instinctively turned in that direction, and they knew from previous hard experience that it was one of their awful tornadoes. Now mark, the wind bore the flames away from our house, and had it come in the opposite direction no power on earth could have saved us from being all consumed. It made the work of destroying the church only that of a few minutes; but it brought with it a heavy and murky cloud which poured out a perfect torrent of tropical rain. Now mark again: the flames of the burning church were thereby cutoff from extending to and seizing upon the reeds and the bush, and besides, it had become almost impossible now to set fire to our house." A panic siezed the savages, and, throwing down their torches, they fled.
Returning to the house Mr. Paton was met by Mr. Mathieson, who exclaimed, "If ever, in time of need, God sent help and protection to His servants, in answer to prayer, He has done so to-night. Blessed be His Holy name."
3. In "Darkest Africa" Henry Stanley writes, "Constrained at the darkest hour to humbly confess that without God's help I was helpless, I vowed a vow in the forest solitudes that I would confess His aid before men. A silence, as of death, was round about me; it was midnight. I was weakened by illness, prostrated by fatigue, and worn with anxiety for my white and black companions whose fate was a mystery. In this physical and mental distress I besought God to give me back my people." And' what was the result of Stanley's vow and prayer? "Nine hours later we were exulting with a raptur- ous joy. In full view of all was the crimson flag with the crescent, and beneath its waving folds was the long-lost real' column."
4. Shortly before the disruption of 1843 the Church of Scotland sent Dr. Keith, Dr. Black, Rev. R. McCheyne and Dr. A. Bonar, the last of whom still survives, on "a mission of enquiry to the Jews ;" they went to Palestine, and on their return journey visited Buda Pesth. There Dr. Keith took suddenly unwell, and all hope of his l'ecovery was abandoned.
In Buda Pesth there lived the Archduchess Marie Dorothea. Liv- ing, as she did, among a morally, degraded people, she longed that they might be made acquainted with the Gospel; for seven years she had prayed that God would send them a missionary. And God answered her prayers in a way she thought not of. She heard that an English clergyman lay dying in the hotel; she sent word that nothing should be left undone to save his life. The physicians had given up the case, but to please the Duchess they redoubled their efforts, applying friction and using other means, until, as they held a lighted taper neal' his mouth, the flames wavered: he lived.
The Archduchess visited him, and begged that the proposed mission should be located ill Buda Pesth. This was agreed to, and as long as she lived she gave it her protection and support. Thus the Gospel came into Buda Pesth. Fifty years Gospel work among a people held down by popery and ignorance and sin; such is God's answer to a woman's prayer (see Bonar's "Mission of Enquiry to the Jews").
5. Rev. E. Pearse in "China's Millions," September, 1882, vouches the truth of the following incident (see "Progress in China," by Rev. Arnold Foster, p. 52). "A man was converted, who had been for many years a vegetarian to gain merit and be saved. He came to our chapel, heard and believed the Gospel, and for years has lived a consistent Christian life. Some time ago the people collected a large sum of money to be expended in idolatrous work, in order that their houses might be saved from fire, and asked this man to contribute to that fund. He declined, on the ground that he trusted in the living God, and that the idols were not able to save them from fire. No sooner was the idolatrous ceremony over than an extensive nre broke out in the very street in which this man's house was situated; 120 houses were burnt down, and when the flames were coming nearer and nearer to his house, the people said, 'Now you see what you have got.' And they wanted to persuade him to take out all his furniture into the street that he might save something. He knew that if he brought the things out into the street, even though they would be safe from fire, they would probably be stolen. But he believed that God was going to preserve him from suffering loss, and he told the people so. While they were hurrying to-and-fro in all their excite- ment, he, in the presence of them all, prayed God that He would show that He was the living and true God. And then he watched the fire as it came nearer and nearer, until there was only one house standing between his own and the flames. But just then there was a sudden change in the wind: God had said, 'Thus far shalt thou come and no further,' and his house was saved. If I had time, I could tell you of a great many more instances."
6. David Livingstone, returning from Central Africa, tells of a great inland sea-Lake Nyassa. The Scottish churches and the Uni- versities' Mission take possession of the land for Christ-money and life are freely spent to evangelize N yassaland. After a dozen years the envy of Portugal is aroused; she sends Major Serpa Pinto to sieze the country, and Cardinal Lavigerie is ready with his priests to sta- tion them in all the places where the missionaries have labored, where the graves of English men and English women are "the title deeds to Nyassaland." Alas! is all this work for Christ to be overthrown? No, indeed; a spirit of prayer comes over the British churches, and the Portuguese encroachments are defeated not so much by the s~ates manship of Lord Salisbury as by the prayers of those who sent out the missionaries, and who, day by day, cease not to pray on their behalf. "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes."
7. On August 19, 1856, Rev. William Burns arrived at the city of Chao-chow-fu, south China; he had gone there in order to preach the Gospel and do colportage work. vVhen suddenly he was arrested and the same night examined before the district magistrate (Life of William Burns, p. 290). The magistrates decided to send him to Canton., It was the time of the Taiping rebellion, and, in addition to this, his arrest took place immediately on the eve of the war which that same year broke out between Britain and China. Had he arrived at Canton just a very little later, while the events begun by Commissioner Yeh were in progress, death would have been the probable result to the missionary. N ow compare an entry made by Mrs. Stewart Sandeman, at Perth, Scotland, in her diary, of date 28th December, of the same year: "Mr. Burns was safely kept through his arrest and imprisonment in China. Comparing the dates I find that we were met in prayer for him during his dangerous jOttrney under guard of the Ohinese ofJicials." (lVlemoir of Mrs. Stewart Sandeman, p. 177).
[ NOTE: The 8th and 9th instances are omitted, having been already published in the REVIEW, 1889, pp. 29, 348-ED.] 10. The repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts in Britain was a.
work as arduous as any in Asia or Africa. Those vile acts roused t(} a white heat the zeal of a noble band like Mrs. Josephine Butler and Miss Elice Hopkins who were aRsisted by men like Mr. Stead, Mr.
Stanfield, ~1.P., and Professor Stuart, M.P. Almost the whole strength of the House of Commons and of the House of Lords were against them. The army and the navy were against them. Two or three women and as many men against a nation! but they determined to struggle and suffer in order to save our poor, lost sisters from the brutality of demon-like men. They could endure to he hooted, to be insulted, to be written against in the daily press, as "the howling sisterhood," and they could enlist the arm of God against the power of British immorality. Christians gave themselves to prayer through- out the whole kingdom, and the power of prayer conquered, the Gov- ernment yielded, and by the unanimous vote of Parliament the Con- tageous Diseases Acts were abolished. '
Verily, there is a God that judgeth in the earth, whose ear is not shut to the cry of those who wrestle in prayer as they do His work.
11. And pr~er which God thus answers for the preservation of His servants and their work, also brings spiritual blessing. We have testimony to this on all hands. For example: Rev. Griffith John, of Hankow, says (Records of the Shanghai Conference of 1877, p. 26)), "Feeling my own lack of spiritual power, I spent the whole of a Satur- . day in earnest prayer for a baptism of the Holy Ghost. On the fol- lowing morning I preached on the subject. At the close of t·he ser- vice I proposed that we should meet for an hour on every day of the ensuing week to pray for a baptism of the Holy Ghost. From fifty to seventy of the converts met day by day, and confessing their sins with tears, pleaded for an outpouring of the Spirit of God. The na- tive church at Hankow received an impulse then, the force of which continues to this day. The Holy Ghost became a mighty reality t(} many. vVhere once other things are preached, Christ and His power to save is now the theme."
12. What a successful mission is that carried on in China by the English Presbyterian Church. Begun in 1847, by that apostolic man> William Burns, it has increased until now it has five separate centres, Amoy, Swatow, Formosa, the Hakka country, and Singapore. With its thousands of converts, its native preachers, its ordained native pastors, its schools and Sabbath-schools, its medical missions, its lady missionaries, it has received from God much spiritual blessing-bless- ing which has enabled the converts to stand true even when persecu- tion brought the loss of worldly goods and when heathen fury against the native Christians resulted in murder: this occurred at Poih-buan, in 1878. And they willingly acknowledge that much of the divine blessing, so abundantly given, is to be traced to a monthly prayermeeting for China, held in a room in Edinburgh.
Whether we are opposed by immoral legislation or the opium trade {)r the cruelties of slavery or of the African trade in alcohol, or by the vast forces of heathenism, let our resources be the power of God made available for all the needs of His church. Yes, in all Christian work God supplies all our need according to His riches in gl'ory in Christ Jesus.
GREED IN THE WAY OF MISSIONARY ZEAL.-We fear that there is no form of selfishness more fatal to missionary consecration than the worship of the dollar. Avarice prevents abundant giving, and it hoards fol' the sake of gain what could be used with the most ~bundant profit in the wide harvest field. Not only so, but the Scripture phrase is sagaciously accurate, gold "blinds the eyes." Men do not see the facts or feel the force of the appeal of God and {)f souls because the love of money intervenes as an obscuring medium. There are many professed disciples who hold a dollar so Dear the eye that they can see scarcely anything else in the world.
Robert Hall, arguing with a clergyman suspected of having -changed his opinions from mercenary motives, proposed to him several reforms of great importance, but was invariably met with the reply: "I don't see it; I can't see it at all."
At length, penciling in small letters the word "God" upon an .envelope which lay on the table, Mr. Hall showed it, and asked: " Can you see that?" "Yes. " Then, covering it with a half sovereign, he asked again: " Can you see it now? " " No." Whereupon, without another word, he went away. The argument was sufficiently conclusive without any drawing of a "moral" after it!
THE " New Theology," according to Dr. O. W. Holmes, in teaching probation beyond this life, has as effectually deadened all sensibility to the fear of eternal punishment, as cocaine, the new local anresthetic, deadens the sensibility of the part to which it is applied. We may be permitted to raise the honest inquiry whether any doctrine which practically destroys the power of the retributions of a future state can have any other effect than to paralyze missionary activity. And, if the tree is known by its fruit, can that be a safe doctrine to hold which either deadens sensibility to the plain warnings of the Scripture or to the degradation and destitution of the heathen world?
DO HEATHEN MULTIPLY FASTER THAN CONVERTS?
DO HEATHEN MULTIPLY FASTER THAN CONVERTS?
BY THOMAS LAURIE, D.D., PROVIDENCE, R. I.
The thought of the conversion of the world prompts the question, " How large is it?" There have been v~rious estimates of its popu- lation. In 1753, Voltaire said 1,600,000,000. Fifty years later Volney put it at 437,000,000. Matte Brun, in 1810, made it 640,000,- 000; Balbi, in 1816, estimated it at 704,000,000, and in 1843, at 739,000,000; Behm and Wagner, in 1880, fixed it at 1,456,000,000, and in 1882, with probably greater accuracy, at 1,434,000,000, though it was less than their previous estimate by 22,000,000. This popUlation they distributed as follows: Europe …….. 327,743,400 Asia…………… 795,591,000 Africa………. 205,823,200 America …………100,415,400 Polynesia…… 4,232,000 Polar Land……… 82,500 Total population of the globe………………… 1,433,887,500 These statistics do not introduce a dissertation on population, but only a brief consideration of a recent objection to the missionary work. It is estimated that modern missions have won about 4,000,- 000 converts from idolatry; but we are told that running parallel with these conversions is an increase of the number to be converted from 600,000,000 to 800,000,000, and if 200,000,000 heathen are added to the number, while only 4,000,000 become Christians, at that rate when will the world be converted to God? At first sight the case seems hopeless, and that on these conditions we can only make progress backward; but is the prospect as dark as it seems? Let us look at it carefully and dispassionately. One thing is plain: while the 200,000,000 are the natural increase of the previously existing 600,000,000, the 4,000,000 are an absolute creation. Four millions from nothing is a vastly greater proportion than the other, though the Bums are larger.
But let us examine the subject yet more carefully. Modern evangelical missions have now been in operation about a century. The first missionary society (the Church Missionary Society) dates from 1792. Now, if conversions began immediately, then the 4,000,000 converts are rightly set over against the 200,000,000 increase of heathen; but if they did not begin for a number of years, then the heathen increase of the years during which there were no converts must be subtracted from the 200,000,000, and so we have already reduced the seemingly hopeless contrast.
But that is not all. '1'he first converts were not only the fruits of many years of labor, but they were very few in number. For many years Leang Afa was almost the only convert among the many millions of China, and this introduces a riew element into the discussion, for while the natural increase goes on from year to year, and from age to age, with slight variation, missionary converts in~ease in the ratio of a geometrical progression. At first there were no conversions at all; only a work of preparation. The military stores are gathered together and the forces massed for the coming conflict, and, when that begins, each prisoner taken is not immured in a dungeon, but becomes at once an active soldier, able to avail himself of his famil- iarity with the condition and position of thc enemy for their over- throw. And it is worthy of notice, that the Lord of Hosts does not isolate the converts, but scatters them purposely among those to be acted on by their example and their labors. Already in some.of the latter decades of the century the increase of the converts has been at the rate of eighty-one per cent., and the natural increase of the heathen during the same period only six and one-half per cent. Now, if that proportion were to continue it would only require a sum in arithmetic to find out how soon the eighty-one per cent. would overtake and go beyond the six and one-half per cent. But we have seen that the ratio is one of geometrical progression-" the constant quantity by which each term is multiplied to produce the succeeding one "-and so we see the way clear to transfer very rapidly the hundreds of millions from the heathen side to the Christian side of future increase.
It may be said this is a very beautiful theory, but-. Then take an actual case. Robert Morrison entered China through much tribulation in 1807. When Dr. Happel' went there in 1844 he found only six Protestant missionaries and two native assistants in all that empire. While at the Shanghai Conference, in May, 1890, 1,285 missionaries and 1,469 native assistants were reported as then in that field, and with slich an increase in the past, what may not be hoped for in the future? Other examples might be given equally encouraging. When a fire is kindled in the forest its progress depends on the denseness of the mass of trees to be set on fire, and when everyone of the millions of China is a tor~h waiting to be lighted, it needs no prophet to foretell the effect of casting in these torches already lighted.
Take another view. A century ago there were in all the earth 174,000,000 nominal Christians, 44,000,000 of them Protestants. Now there are 165,000,000 Protestants, almost as many as the whole number at that time, among 450,000,000 nominal Christians. Add to that that the energy and efficiency of the race is concentrated in those Protestants, and the prospect for the future is radiant. Furmerly the Latin race was the conqueror and colonizer of the world, but since it fell under the paralysis of Popery it has lost its power. Now the race which lives by truth is marching at the head of the race, carrying the source of its own energy to all the nations.
It is significant in this connection that, while one hundred years
THE PRAYER LEAGUE
ago only 22,000,000 of the race spoke E'llglish, 115,000,000 now use that language, an increase of more than 500 per cent., and while at that time the 22,000,000 had neither missions nor missionaries, the 115,000,000 now sustain 120 missionary societies, of which our American Board is only one, and these societies raise annually $11,250,000 for the conversion of the world to God.
Then we need only to call to mind the immense store of Christian literature in that language to thank God that it is having such free course in all the earth.
Indeed, we thank the objectors for calling attention to a line of truth where there is nothing to discourage but everything to fill us with the assurance of a glorious success.
THE PRAYER LEAGUE.
We note with sincere gratitude the movement toward covenant prayer in various parts of the Church, and we regard it as the most promising sign of the times. When God's people begin to pray in faith and with true agreement marvels begin in the earth. And not a crisis of missionary history, from the beginning until to-day, has been turned except by prayer.
The Reformed Church has recently formed a Foreign Missionary Prayer League, whose purpose it is "to unite God's people in abundant and prevailing prayer; to intensify, accumulate and direct the power of prayer so that multitudes of heathen may be turned to the Lord in our missions."
In the very impressive appeal which has been issued prayer is recognized as the mightiest power in missionary work, whether to open the doors, thrust forth the laborers, secure the needful means, or to call down abundant blessing. Those who cannot go to the foreign field can, at least, sustain the work by prayers for it, "striving together" with the workmen by their own supplication. United prayer carries resistless power, as is shown throughout all history, and is especially acceptable to God. The method encouraged is special seasons, daily set apart, and particular prayer for individual persons and places: abundant prayer, prayer with fasting, arid with intercommunication among those who join the league.
Mrs. Joseph Scudder, 57 Cannon street, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., acts as secretary of the league. We exhort all who belong to that communion especially to join this league, and make its objects and aims heartily their own. We believe that if the whole Church would get into a new attitude of fervent, believing prayer there would be such a new Pentecost as the history of man has never yet recorded.
COl>'VENTION OF CHRISTIAN WORKERS AT BANGALORE, INDIA
CONVENTION OF CHRISTIAN WORKERS AT BANGA- LORE, INDIA.
BY REV. JACOB CHAMBERLAIN, M.D., D.D., MADANAPALLE, INDIA.
Bangalore, the chief city of the kingdom of ]fysore, has just witnessed a singular sight for the capital city of a non-Christian kingdom.
Pursuant to an invitation from the missionaries of all societies working in Bangalore and other earnest Christians residing there, a convention gathered at that place on the 23d of September, of missionaries and other ChriAtian workers from all parts of the Madras Presidency with some also from Bombay.
'l'he convention was not for the discussion of abstruse problems of missionary policy, but for the promotion of spiritual life and growth and earnestness in work for the Master.
Trains arriving on the afternoon of September 23d, from four different directions, centering at that place, brought those invited, and others who could attend, from many different provinces, districts, cities and villages. .iUJ. parts of the Tamil country, from near Cape 00morin to Madras and the N eilgherry Mountains,sent representatives. All parts of the kingdom of Mysore, the Kanarese kingdom, were represented. Two delegates from the Marathi country and one from the Gujarathi; myself and another from the Telugu country; missionary workers among the Mohammedans in Hindustani; workers in English among the Eurasians and in the English army, and native preachers in Tamil, Kanarese and Telugu were there. Seven languages were required to do the daily work at their stations of the workers there assembled.
Not missionaries alone: many laymen were there. Coffee planters from the Shevaroy and the Neilgherry mountains. An executive engineer from one of the new state railways on the East Coast; a general and several other officers from the Madras army; soldiers in uniform from the garrison; artisans and tradesmen and their families; natives, male and female, in their striking costumes. All mingled, as children of the King, in this conference. It would be hard to match it in any city of the Western world.
Twelve different branches of the Church of Christ were represented-the Church of England,English Baptists, American Baptists, English Independents, American Congregationalists, English Wesleyans, American Methodists, AustralasianWesleyans, German Lutherans, American Reformed, English Plymouth Brethren and Salvation Army officers-all joined heartily in counsel and prayer for higher spiritual life, for more absolute consecration, for more efficient. service.
Tuesday evening was devoted to an informal reception, a social gathering, the Rev. and Mrs. W. H. I. Picken, Wesleyan missiona- ries of Bangalore, behlg host and hostess.
It gave us all an opportunity of becoming acquainted. English, Germans, Hindus, Americans, Australians, and an exceedingly pleas- ant gathering it was, closing with half an b1u ~Cff more formal words of welcome, praise and prayer.
The next three days, with three sessiOn!, each day, were given to the consideration of "What Christ does for His people," "What Christ does in His people," and "What Christ does through His people," one day being given to each theme.
The vVednesday morning meeting was a Bible reading on the first theme, conducted by Rev. E. Chester, M.D., thirty-one years a missionaryof tbe American Board in the Madura Mission. The afternoon meeting was devotional, led by Rev. I. G. Hawker, twenty-five years a missionary of the London Missionary Society at Belgaum. It was a helpful, uplifting meeting. The evening's session was a more public meeting for addresses on the day's theme, presided over by the representative of the Arcot Mission of the Reformed Church in America, thirty years a missionary among the Telugus, at which every seat in the large audience-room was filled and some stood. Addresses were given by the chairman, on what Christ does (a) by His atonement; by Rev. G. W. Lawday, of Tumkur, Wesleyan, (b) By His example; and by Rev. W. Ioso, London Mission, Madras, (c) By His intercession. The exercises were interspersed with warm prayers and spir:ted singing by a volunteer choir who had previously practiced for the purpose.
Thursday's was the second theme, "What Christ does in His people." The morning's Bible reading on it was led by Handley Bird, Esq., Plymouth Brother, from Coimbatoor, and was exhaustive and stimulating. The afternoon meeting was for ladies only, and was said to have been of exceptional interest. The evening meeting, for public address, was led by Dr. Chester, of Dindigul, and addresses were given by the chairman, by Mr.E.Lynn, Plymouth Brother, Malvalli, and by Rev. John S. Chandler, of the American Madura Mis- SIOn.
Friday was the crowning day. The theme, "What Christ does through His people." The morning Bible reading, led by H. Clift, Esq., railway executive engineer, mapped out the subject well. The afternoon meeting was a conversational session on "Methods of Evangelization," or "How shall God work through us for His higher glory?" 'rhe writer was asked to open and guide the conversation. This was declared to be a "Council of War" for the conquest of India. And it proved one of the most stimulating of the meetings, full of val'lety and suggestiveness.
The methods referred to were: Oral proclamation of the Gospel in the streets, villages, markets, fairs, with such accessories as large colored Scripture pictures or magic-lantern Bible scenes, by night;with cornet and bicycle to tow in the crowd and "baby organ" to hold them for the preaching: Medical missionary work, with preaching to all patients, and terse Gospel tickets for the patients to take home; and Zenana medical work by lady doctors; Reading rooms and preaching halls in crowded thoroughfares; Sunday-school work among Chris- tian and heathen children; Young Men's Christian Association work in large cities, and Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor in smaller places. The Press and Tract Gospel and Christian book distribution all through the country. Christian school work to reach non-Christian pupils, and to train workers, and Zenana work and Bible women, and lIindu girl's schools to reach non-Christian women.
This meeting being a "family gathering," all mingled freely in the discussion-ladies and gentlemen, lay and clerical, English, Germans, Australians, Americans, Hindus, Episcopalians, Methodists, Salvation Army, Presbyterians, Plymouth Brothers, "Faith Mission" Workers, Baptists, strict and open, Congregationalists and Wesleyans, with prayers of unction, and hymns of victory thrown in all the way. The only difficulty was in bringing the meeting to a close.
Friday evening'S meeting, the closing one of the series, was the most crowded one of all. General MacAusland, of the Madras army, presided and made the opening address, on "What Christ does through His people." (a) by the example and influence of their live!', and was followed by Rev. L. S. Gates, of the American Board's Mission, Sholapore, Bombay, on (b) by their testimony to truth and experience, and by Rev. I. G. Hawker, of Belgaum, on (0) by their works of faith and love.
After the Benediction there was a general handshaking of those who had come, many of them one and two days' journey to attend, and so this memorable "Mildmay Conference," held in India, of Christian Workers, was brought to a close amid a universal desire for a similar meeting to be held next year, at which very many more workers, lay and clel'ica~, will be sure to be present. The Kingdom is coming. We can see its onward progress. God bring it in speedily!
SAID a heathen to a mlsslOnary: "There must be something in your religion which makes you come all the way out here to tell us of it. I am sure I would not go so far to tell you of mine." Nothing is perhaps more likely to impress the minds of pagan people than the evidence that missionaries afford, that the good news is worth telling! And the more sacrifice our evangelism costs us the more eloquent is t.he testimony that missions give to the value of the great salvation and our own passion fOI" souls.
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK.-I.
BY J. MURRAY MITCHELL, M.A., LL.D., NICE, FRANCE.
We intend to take a view, if possible, of that field which is the world. It follows, of course, that in so general a survey, many particulars that are by no means unimportant, must pass unnoticed, and that only the most outstanding objects can receive more than a passing glance.
It is often said that we have entered, or are entering, on a new era in missionary history. Various things seem, on the whole, to justify this language. Of these we shall specify only three-the student movement in America, the request of the Missionary Conference at Shanghai that a thousand missionaries be sent to China within the next five years, and a prayer from members of the Church Missionary Society that its missions speedily receive the same accession. Ten or five years ago such things could not have been. The double, indeed ,triple demand (Mr. Hudson Taylor had already asked for a thousand new laborers for the China Inland Mission) for a thousand missionaries, if made, would have been scouted as ridiculous. Reserving to the end of this paper Bome questions as to the practical carrying out of the proposal, we can express nothing but admiration in view of the enlargement of heart which the demand implies.
We divide this paper into three parts. We first advert to the missionary spirit as it exists at home. 'Ve then speak of the position of things in the foreign field. We shall conclude with a few suggestions grounded on the sur~ey we shall thus have taken.
I.
First, then, let us attend to the missionary spirit as it exists in Christendom: Undoubtedly there has been, for a good many years past, a steady growth of missionary zeal. The movements we have already mentioned are the natural result of what preceded. Hardly any portion of the Church of Christ now fails to take a share in foreign evangelistic work; or, if it fails, it is quite aware of having to explain its position and apologize. Otherwise, it knows it will stand condemned at the bar of Christendom. There is not merely a growing interest in non-Christian peoples, arising out of a growing knowledge of their condition; there is a deepening sense of duty towards our fellow-men -an increasingly clear perception of the social character of Christianity. Time was when even good men thought not too much, but too exclusively, of their own salvation. We see better than we did that we must "add to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity"-to love of God and love of Christians-a love that embraces the entire human race and that does not evaporate in talk.
Such is increasingly the feeling of the church, and the general public shares it to a considerable extent. We are old enough to remember the time when any new missionary effort that might be pro- posed was sure to be sneered at-classed under the head of "missions to the moon and elsewhere." But no man will scoff at missions now who does not scoff at the Bible itself, and he who speaks of the useless- ness of missions is prepared to assert in the same breath the useless- ness of Christianity.
This growing appreciation of missions on the part of the general public is due to the strong testimony in regard to their practical ef- ficacy, which has been so often rendered by men fully qualified to form a judgment-many of whom were prepared to look on missions with an eye severely critical. Among .such witnesses Charles Darwin has been one of the most tnfIuential. He certainly had no predispo- sition to think well of missionary work; but, as an entirely honest man, he told what his own eyes had seen. One of his expressions has become proverbial: "The lesson of the missionary is an enchanter's wand." Speaking of some who had ridiculed the work in the South Seas, which he himself had carefully examined, he used the scathing language: "Disappointed in not finding the field for licentiousness quite so open as formerly, they will not give credit to a morality which they do not wish to practise." Testimonies in favor of missions are multiplying. Stanley has spoken, with characteristic warmth, in praise of Mackay and others, and, as we write, an eye lights on the high eulogium which Mr. Johnston, in the New Review, pronounces on the doings of Dr. Laws, of Nyassaland. Mr. Johnston says Dr. Laws "learned to make bricks in order that he might teach others. He has become a practical engineer, carpenter, joiner, printer, photographer, farrier, boat-builder and druggist, so that he might instruct his once savage people in these arts and trades."
Mackay, the "engineer missionary," labored with much zeal in teaching the arts of civilized life at Uganda. He spoke very warmly of the missions at Lovedale and Blythswood, in South Africa, as exemplifying what he regarded as the right kind of missions for Africa. They combine intellectual and religious teaching with industrial training.
Men who are believers in Christianity may be expected to write in terms such as we have been referring to. And when those that are not believers use such language as we have quoted from Darwin, we need not be surprised. For now-a-days many who never think of the service of God, plead earnestly for "the service of man." They have drawn the lesson, directly or indirectly, from the Bible, which makes the service of man an essential part of the service of God; and this they ought, in fairness, to acknowledge. But, although they believe in no Divine command to evangelize the nations; they can hardly deny the elevation of the aim. They may blame the missionaries for proclaiming dogmas which to them seem unintelligible, but the philsnthropic character of missions they do not seek to deny; and, when testimonies multiply as to their practical efficacy in raising degraded races, they cannot but express approval. 1'his is true, at least of the higher class of unbelievers-of men like Cotter Morison, one of the ablest of the Agnostics. He speaks of the "unequaled potency" of Christianity in moulding character, and of the "true Christian saint" as "one of the most wonderful phenomena of the moral wOl·ld-so lofty, so p~re, so attractive." We do not wish to make too much of such testimonies; neither do we despise them; but, at all events, language like this rises infinitely above the polished sarcasm of Gibbon no less than the vulgar ribaldry of Paine.
While we speak thus, we are not ~rgetting that, if missions are better appreciated than they were, yet the missionaries themselves have lately been subjected to severe criticism. It is not long since an Anglican canon was writing foolishly about Mohammedanism, and bitterly about the missionaries of his own church. And, certainly, we cannot overlook the excitement aroused among the 'Vesleyans by charges made by one who had seen very little of India-charges which were repeated in one or two influential quarters at home. Such attacks do temporary harm, both at home and among the heathen; but, as the truth becomes known, there is a great reaction in favor of the men assailed. Canon Isaac Taylor will hardly return to the bat-' tIe, seeing he was not only refuted by missionaries, but charged by literary men like Mr. Bosworth Smith with "invincible ignorance" and" headlong heedlessness." The Canon has done good service in linguistics and archreology, and to these he should confine llimself. And as for theWesleyans, it is, we trust, a joy even in the quarters at home in which the accusations were rashly credited, that, instead of their being" proved to the hilt," the sharp weapon, though powerfully wielded, has not pierced-has barely grazed-the skin. For the mis- .sionaries were, after the fullest inquiry, completely exonerated from all charges made, or implied. And so let us pass from the whole thing as from a painful dream.
Of course, criticism is not over. It is inevitable, if real interest be taken in the work. There will be unjust and ignorant criticism; for some men have a perfect genius for finding fault, and there will be room for legitimate and enlightened criticism, for missionaries are not infallible. Inquiry into evangelistic methods there ought to be. Every true-hearted missionary will be most grateful for any new light that can be thrown upon his work, and all friendly criticism he will meet in a friendly spirit. He will indeed be disposed to smile at not a few of the changes that are suggested as improvements on pres- ·ent methods, for probably either he himself, or others, have already tried the thing proposed and found it wanting; but he will fully appreciate the spirit oy which the criticism is prompted. No doubt, as he watches the slow, steady advance of the truth wherever the Gosper is faithfully made known, he will be pained to note the impatience of some who think that the high places in heathenism ought to be cap- tured by a rush; and he will be disposed to ask why things move so slowly at home-why the Pope and the College of Cardinals are not r converted-why unbelief and worldliness are still so fearfully strong A craving for the salvation of souls is beautiful, but a craving for results, mainly in order that we may get our money's worth, is pitiable; and the Church of Christ needs to examine her own heart and see which feeling chiefly sways her. The Apostle speaks of the need of the sower having" long patience," "till he receh-e the early and the lat- ter rain." N ow, in this ale of unsettlement and restlessness, "long patience" is, to the best of us, difficult of attainment; and many crave- for perpetual excitement and perpetual change. Let the Church be " instant in season and out of season," but let her also seek to enter into fuller sympathy with Him who sees the end from the beginning, and who is seated at the right-hand of God" from henceforth expect- ing till His enemies be made His footstool. "
We hail a growing desire on the part of the Church at home to draw tighter the bonds between the foreign laborers and herself. .One mark of this is the sending of deputies to the missions. When these are wise and sympathetic men, only good should result from this. Would that all home ministers could visit heathendom! It would enable them on their return to plead the cause of missions far more zealously and effectively. "Mine eye affecteth mine heart," and a sight of real heathenism would be a lesson and an impulse for life. Indifference to missions is often traceable to ignorance rather than unfaithfulness. Certainly, in this case, zeal will be in proportion to· knowledge.
All that we have said implies that the interest of the Church, and even of the general public, in regard to mission work has been, and still is, deepening. The world begins to see that the work is good, and the Church that it is glorious. Now, do we sufficiently realize the magnitude and importance of the change? Doubtless everyone has heard of the rebuke administered by Dr. Ryland to young Carey for his excess of zeal, and most of us -can repeat the story of the Scottish Assembly, and good Dr. Erskine's "Rax me that Bible.'" But at a later date such representative men as Bishop Horsley, in England, and Dr. Timothy Dwight, in America, were opposed to the' movement on behalf of missions. Or, going farther back, it is deplor– able that from the Reformation till about the end of the sixteenth century the only great man who is known to have seen the import– ance of missions was Hugo Grotius. When from about the year 1664 the Austrian nobleman Van Welz was striving to arouse the churches: of Germany to a sense of their obligations, he encountered the sternest opposition from men of position and unquestioned orthodoxy, such as Ursinus, the superintendent of Regensburg. "The heathen," said this high ecclesiastic, "have already had sufficient means of learning the truth. The Greenlanders could have learnt it from their neighbors, the Danes and Swedes; and the Turks and Tartars from the Greeks. God is not bound to help these'heathen more than He has done." "As for those who have been persecutors of the faith, why should heaven's pearls be thrown to dogs or swine like them?"* Can such things have been said by the leaders of the Christian Church? Unhappily, yes; and they were, by the people under them, all too readily acquiesced in.
Let us thank God that such words cannot be used again. They would arouse one general feeling of horror throughout the churches.
One proof of the deepening interest in missions is the increasing number of university men that are offering themselves for service. It was long before any such, in the Church of England at least, were willing to work among the heathen; but, during the last four years, seventy-nine English university men have become missionaries. In former days of coldness special colleges for training missionaries were wholly indispensable; but the belief is growing that ordained men in the foreign field require at least as good an education as ordained men at home. In the Presbyterian churches the same training has long been given to both classes; there is no abbreviated curriculum for missionaries. The flower of university youth everywhere is pressing more and more -into the foreign field.
The steady increase of female missionaries is equally remarkable III all missionary churches and societies. If we mention the C. M. S. as an example it is not because it stands specially prominent in this respect, but because the requisite information regarding it happens to be at hand. Three years ago it had twenty-two female missionaries. (excluding the wives of missionaries); now it has sixty. Equal or nearly equal progress has been made by the distinctively female missionary societies connected with all the churches. For example, the Zenana, Bible and Medical Mission has, during the last eight years, sent out 138 additional workers, and is making an effort to send twenty more.
The claims of the heathen world are overwhelming, and the conviction grows that the class of ordained missionaries must be supplemented by the unordained men, with or without academical training. This is as it should be. In certain fields, and for certain kinds of work, the higher education is indispensable; a thorough acquaintance with Hebrew and Greek, for example, is necessary for those who are to translate, or revise, the Holy Scriptures in foreign tongues. Devout laymen do admirable service at home, and why may they not abroad?
* See The Nordisk Missions-tids sleri/t. vol. 1, pages 62, 68. This excellent missionary maga- zine has just been started under the able editorship of Provst (Dean) Vah!. As for women, of course, the question arises: "Is the Church to Rend forth only those who are in the position of ladies?" Certainly; native ladies in India and elsewhere can quickly take the measure of their foreign visitors, and a woman of little education or refinement will hardly be welcome in the homes of the higher and middle classes. But are the lower classes to be' overlooked? No woman whose heart is burning with the love of Christ need despair of doing good to her heathen sisters. And, then, the Spirit of God will seldom work powerfully in the heart without imparting a large measure of sweetness and refinement to the bearing-whereas, polish of manner without the grace of God is nothing worth-for Smooth, good breeding, supplemental grace, 'Vith lean performance apes the work of love.
The importance of medical missions is now pretty fully recognized in Britain and America. lVIedical missionaries having British degrees are about 141 in number; while from America and the Continent there are 150. China has the largest proportion. The number of female practitioners seems to grow rather more rapidly than that of medical men.
So hI' we have spoken of Britain chiefly, though we trust our remarks apply also to America. We proceed to refer briefly to the Continent of Europe.
In Germany there is decided progress in missionary zeal. 'rhe vast territories which Germany now possesses or " influences" in East Africa have naturally led Christians to feel that new obligations rest upon them; and new societies ha~e been formed to meet these claims. For example, one at Neukirchen, another in Bavaria, and another at Berlin (where a third society has thus been set up). In medical missions Germany does comparatively little, though the late Professor Christlieb earnestly pleaded for them. Still, the lVIoravians and the Basle and Bremen societies now recognize their exceeding value.
There is a clear advance in Denmark. The imperative obligation of evangelizing heathen nations has been of late earnestly pressed on believing men and women, and a great many missionary uriions (450, at least, we understand) have been formed. The first university men that have become foreign missionaries did so in 1888 and 1889-one in each of these years; but several students of theology have resolved to give themselves to the foreign work on the completion of their course. ,"Vomen also begin to come forward. A deaconess was sent to India, in 1888; two young ladies are under training for foreign work, and several others are likely to follow their example. No medical missionaries have as yet proceeded from Denmark; but two young men are receiving medical tralning with a view to go out in 189l. The mission to the Red Karens has been given up; but one is to be begun among the Burmese. All this, it may be said, does not amount to much. Still, it distinctly implies progress; and some Danish Christians are very much in earnest with regard to missionary work.
Three missionary societies have for a good many years existed in Norway, and a fourth was formed a short time ago, called the" Free lEssion," which sends out men and women to Natal. Quite recently a small society has been set up which will send missionaries to China.
In regard to medical missions Norway is in advance of Denmark.
Au ordained medical missionary was sent to Madagascar in 1869; a second in 1876, and in the same year a third, who had taken his degree in Edinburgh, was sent to Zululand.
In Sweden there are three larger societies-that of the state (lhurch, the evangelical union, and the missionary union. '1'he Swedes work earnestly in various places abroad, especially in Africa, in the Congo Free States and among the Gallas. They have not been able to enter Abyssinia itself, but among Abyssinians on the borders they have done a good deal. These bodies send out among their agents both m<edical men and ladies. There are several other small SOCletles. There is evidently au increasing zeal for missions in Sweden, and it is interesting to note that the state church, as a (lhurch, is hearty in the cause.
The French Societe des Missions Evangeliques has of late made ~al'llest efforts to increase the zeal of French Protestants. The synods of the National, Free and Lutheran churches some time ago recommended that there should be annually a mission Sunday-a day on which the duty of evangelizing the heathen should be pressed on the attention (If worshippers. Mission festivals (fetes) have been established in "Various places~* though by no means as yet in every parish, as was the hope of the synods; publications giving missionary information are largely circulated, and subscriptions to missions have considerably increased. '1'he missions have struggled with great difficulties (in Senegambia particularly); and now, when France has obtained such vast possessions in northern and western Africa, the question is, (lan the French Protestants rise to the requirements of the high occasion? '1'hey deserve sympathy; they require help in their foreign, as in their home work.
In Holland missionary zeal is increasing, though not rapidly. Switz('rland has the Basil Missionary Society-a most valuable and progressive institution, and the small Canton de Vaud has, sinee 1872, had foreign missions connected with the Free Church. In 1883 the free churches of Geneva an<d Neuchatal joined in the work. The united society is called La Mission des Eglises Libres de la Suisse Romande. The venerable Waldensian Church, while it feels itself especially .. See last annual report, p. 3.
NUNNERY LIFE IN NAPLES
called tp evangelize Italy, has taken some part in foreign missions since 1881. It works in South Africa in connection with the Paris society.
The Finnish Christians are not neglectful of missions to th~ heathen. We wish we could say the same thing of the Hungarians (who are also of the Turanian stock). Still, let us not forget that the "T Hungarian Church works both in Herzegovina and Roumania. e have been speaking of interest in the evangelizing of the heathen nations as it is manifested in Christendom. Happily, the bounds of Christendom are enlarging. Ve may now include Australia and New Zealand under that designation. In point of missionary zeal the churches in these regions are hardly behind those of Europe and America. The Dutch Church in South Africa" is also earnest in missionary work.
[To be continued.] NUNNERY LIFE IN NAPLES.
The recent disclosures in this Italian city have produced a pro- found sensation throughout the whole bounds of the thinking world. A convent in Naples, which for four centuries has been shut to all, and has been appropriately known as the nunnery of the "Buried Alive," has been opened by the police and the secrets unearthed. A young girl had been hurriedly" buried" there to cure her of an un- fortunate passion; but when her family afterwards wiRhed to com- municate with her it was found impossible. An appeal to the Italian Minister of Justice procured an order for entrance, and, against vio- lent opposition, the police forced their way. They found twenty-six nuns, ragged, wretched, and some of them half-insane. Eight of them had been immured in this death trap by order of their parents, against their own will. The horrible spectacle thus brought to 'light has caused the Governor of Naples to order a further and complete investigation, and all the closed nunneries of Southern Italy are to be visited officially. "Free Italy" is proving both her right and her power to be free! These women were walled in, 'Yith only a small opening to " pass in food, and were like bony skeletons, The government pro- poses to turn the large convent into a school for girls. Of course the priests cry, "Sacrilegio I Sacrilegio!"
One of the Erskines said: "I can call God to witness that I have done my best to bring on a definite issue between Christ and the adversaries of the truth." .Let us not be afraid of conflict. Christ came not to send peace, but a sword. Loyalty to the truth will inevitably arouse to violent opposition the minions and myrmidons of' error.
"HOW MUCH BETTER THEN IS A MAN THAN A SHEEP?"
"HOW :MUCH BETTER THEN IS A MAN THAN A SB,EEP?" MATT. xn:12.
BY A. J. GORDON, D.D., BOSTON, MASS• • An absurd question! you may exclaim at first. But it was a very pertinent question when Jesus asked it. And it is just as truly so to- day. For do you not know that our American congress has given vastly more attention to the protection of sheep's wooi than it has given to the protection of the home and family? And this is a typi- cal fact which illustrates the conduct of worldly rulers and secular shepherds in all time. Therefore, it is necessary for us to answer anew the question: "How much better is a man than a sheep ?"
Answer first: "The gooa shephera giveth his life for the sheep,'" (Johnx:ll), which, being interpreted, means: "The Son of God gave himself for the sons of men." Our first computation of the worth of man, then, is not in an earthly currency but in a heavenly; not in the denomination of "corruptible things as silver and gold" but of "the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Think of that, ye monopolists and Christian millionaires~ who have ground humanity between the upper and nether millstones of combination and capital in order to make gain and grist for yourselves, till the Lord has cried out repeatedly: "Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up My people as they eat bread ?" Here is the difference between man's estimate of man and God's estimate: The one will grind the masses into food for his own stomach, if he can do so; the other-the Son of God-will give his own body to be ground into food for man, saying, as he offers us his own wounded and bleeding members: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." The philosopher, Compte, is said to have instituted and kept what he' called "Man's Supper," in which he partook of a crust of bread and a cup of water, saying, as he did so: "This I do in remembrance of the great multitude who have only a crust to feed upon.'" But such a sacrament is not needed: for the Lord's Supper, instituted centuries ago, declares all this and vastly more. By it our Lord says to our hungry, oppressed and suffering humanity, " I give myself to you, My.body to be your loaf, lIy blood to be your life, take, eat ye all of it." When was ever such valuation set on man as this? "Every man has his price," says the proverb. And the politician is in the market bidding for him; and the capitalist is in the Exchange bidding for him; and the man-slayer stands in the door of his saloon bidding for him. All these are bidding him down, vieing with each other in deadly competition to see which will get him for the smallest. and most paltry price. But Jesus Christ steps into the circle and sternly asks of the bidders: "How much better is a man than a sheep? Look on him, made in the image of God, and, though bruised and broken by the fall, capable of being restored to that image, and re- dothed with glory and honor and immortalityl And is this all that he is fit for, to be sheared of his daily income by the saloon; to ~ Tobbed of his fleece by the usurer, and to be sold in the shambles by the monopolist? I will not bid him down, I will bid him up. 'As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down my lifefor the sheep,''' (John x:15). Here is the Divine valuation of man; Christ's invoice of humanity. Look at the price-the Lord Himself – and then estimate the purchase. N ever was such fine gold of purity and perfection coined into a single life; never was such weight of priceless suffering crowded into a single death. And all this the purchase money of our redemption. "Or what Hhall a man give in exchange for his soul?" asks Jesus. And He answers His -questions by giving Himself. We want no more powerful argument for missions than this: "Who loved me and gave Himself for me"- Himself, so infinitely much, for me, so insignificantly little. Then woe to the Christian who can hoard his gold, when the dying millions are crying out for more missionaries to be sent to them; and our bur- dened and anxious Boards are crying out for more money with which to send them.
"How much better is a man than a sheep?" Answer second: "I willmake a man more precious than fine gold/ even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir" (Is. xiii. 12). The seer looked on, through the long perspective of prophecy, to .the day when the heavens shall be shaken; when the sun shall be darkened .and the moon shall withdraw her light. In this time, when God shall }mnish the world for its eyil he "will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible"- then" a man shall be more precious than fine gold." Here is something new in the history of the race. For ages the gold brokers of this world have counted humanity as oBly so much crude ore to be reduced and coined into cash for their vaults. But now the golden age has come when a man stamped with the image and superscription .of God will pass for what he is worth-the highest currency on earth. Hear this, ye missionaries of the Cross! You have forsaken all to go down into William Carey's "Gold Mine," while many of your brethren at home are filling their safes with thousands and ten thousands of superfluous wealth, leaving you short-handed and discouraged for want of helpers which they might send you if they would only give as the Lord has prospered them. And in hours of heart-sinking and faintness you sometimes wonder what you will get for all your thankless sacrifices. Be of good cheer. You are mining men, and that for the most part out of the lowest strata of humanity; and though your products have little value in this world's market, wait a little. There is a financial panic approaching in which yellow gold will go down, while there will be an astonishing rise in your securities. Listen to the report of the coming crash, as it appears on the bulletin-board of James, v: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 'Your riches are co~ rupted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat yourflesh as it wereflre. Ye have heaped together treasure for the last days." Did you ever hear of such a gold panic as that? Boom the market; form syndicates; pass silver bills; enlist the banks! It is of no use. The day of judgment has come. "Your gold and silver is cankered." :Millionaires become insolvent, banks suspend, and the only people who have anything to depend on are those who laid up somewhat in the savings bank of heaven.
But what news for the missionary on St. James' bulletin-board? Listen: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman 1vaiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient/ stablish your hearts/for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." "The coming of the Lord." And what of that? Ah, that is going to revolutionize society. Read the :Messianic Psalm 72d and learn for yourself the change that will be ushered in by the millennium. :Money will go down, man will come up. Immanuel will now control the market in the interest of his clients. "And to Him shall be given the gold of Sheba," and" He shall deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also and him that hath no helper."
And most wonderful of all: "A man shall be more precious than gold." Hear that, 0 long-suffering and patient missionary; your stock will be at par now-as it never has been before. The poor souls which you dug from' the dark caverns of heathenism, and which you coined in the mint of redemption, will be worth millions of such "corruptible things as silver and gold." Did the mother of the Gracchi present her own children to those who inquired concerning her treasures, saying: "These are my jewels?" How much more will the missionary exult in his spiritual children in that. day when the ]~ord shall" make up his jewels," presenting them before the Redeemer, and before the angels, saying: "These are my riches!" :Moffat, who is that black man who stands by your side, and what do you count him worth? And the aged apostle of Africa replies: That is Africaner, the once bloodthirsty and raging man-slayer, now become as gentle and tender as a Iamb since Jesus laid him on His shoulders rejoicing. Do you ask me wha':. he is worth? He is "more precious than fine gold. Yea, than the golden wedge of Ophir." 'Who is that, 0 William Carey, whom you are introducing with such joy to your Lord? That is Khrishna Pal, my first convert from among the heathen of India. Listen, and you shall hear him sing, " 0 thou my soul forget no more The friend who all thy sorrows bore."
And who is this, 0 Boardman beloved, whom you are leading up to the throne with such thanksgiving? This is San Quala, whom God gave me from the dark-faced Karens, and who himself in turn led thousands to Jesus Christ.
" Where can I invest most safely and profitably?" is the question constantly asked on 'Change. Invest in souls; seriously, deliberately and solemnly we urge you to inv~st in souls. There is no insurance on gold and silver that will protect tllem against the fires of the last day. But saved and glorified souls-these are" the gold tried in the fire," out of which your crown of rejoicing shall be wrought. Get money, you mayor may not, 0 Christian. But as you care aught for the rewards of heaven, fail not of getting souls. Get them at your own door; get them from the ends of the earth; but fail not to get them.
" I FEEL age creeping on me. I know that I must soon die. I hope it is not wrong to say it, but I cannot bear to leave this world with all the suffering in it /"-Earl of Shaj~esburJ/.
SCHLEGEL, and Madame de Stael after him, called" architecture, frozen music." From some of the music we have heard in so-called sanctuaries during the past five years we have concluded that the praise was frozen in the icy surroundings of an !esthetic performance, in which all the warmth of devotional fervor had somehow been utterly lost. Is it not possible for even our missionary spirit so to be chilled by the icy rigidity of a heartless formalism, that even while we are boasting of our efficient organizations, God sees that they are like frozen corpses, from which all life is gone?
ARE OUR PASTORS FAITHFUL?
The large number of our non-contributing churches, after making a liberal allowance for unintentional omission, and churches having only a nominal existence, also the trifling amount given to the Foreign Mission Work by congregation" whose wealth runs up into the millions, shows the necessity of some new movement. I have been attending a prominent evangelical church in a great city for the last three years and more, ministered to by one of the most mature preachers in our church, and during the whole tiJlle he has made no reference to the foreign work from the pulpit. The attention of the officers of the church has been called to the strange omission but no explanation has been given. If men who have the ear of the church are silent, God will raise up others. " The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber and help destroy it." This is beyond endurance.-A Parishioner.
1891.J Tl4-NSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.
BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK.
-The Missions-Blatt der BrUdergemeine, for June, 1890, gives the follow- -ing account of the peculiar relations of the mission-stations in South Africa to the civil authorities: " The practical English government has long since come to see that mission_ stations are the very best representatives of good morals, good order and civilization, the most trustworthy guarantees of public quiet, above all in the domain <>f the hot-blooded, turbulent Caffres, who have already cost the English colony streams of blood and untold sums of money. No wonder, then, that the higher -officials, in the well-understood interest of the common weal, encourage missions~ It is natural, therefore, when a mission-station is laid out, that they should gratuitously grant the ground required for church, school and missionhouse, if it is in the hands of the government. Indeed, they used also to give, without compensation, even the land for fields and gardens likely to blil required by a future community. This was known as the station-land. The rules and ordinances necessary for such a station then receive government sanction, and the presiding missionary receives civil jurisdiction to expel, from the station and its domain, those that offend against these ordinances by gross offences. Less important violations of station rules are visited with a fine paid into the public purse of the congregation. Thus the presiding missionary of the station is armed, not only with ecclesiastical, but also with civil and judicial prerogatives. On the other hand, the State naturally reserves to its representatives the right to ascertain whethcr the grant in land is actually applied to the designated purpose, whether discipline and good order prev:;til at the station, whether the school is efficiently carried on, and so on. Moreover, those that are condemned to leave the station lands have the right, in case they esteem the penalty unjust, to appeal to a government officer, who takes cognizance of their complaint."
This banishment from the station, however, especially as concerns submission to the heathenish and degrading rites connected with circumcision, is now in disuse, milder, but practically less dangerous and more effective measures of discipline taking its place. This universal Caffre usage, in itself indifferent, is so inextricably interwoven with all manner of vile concomitants, that it seems to be Satan's chief instrument for holding the Caffres under his dominion. Yet a Caffre yputh who does not submit to it becomes virtually a pariah among his tribesmen, and can scarcely obtain, even from Christian parents, the hand of one of their daughters. Its final overthrow will storm the citadel of darkness.
-The Rev. Mr. Stahle, of Australia, a Moravian, though at present connected with another society, communicates the decision of the" Aboriginal Board," appointed to look after the interests of the rapidly-vanishing native race, that they shall all be removed to certain stations, where they shall be kindly cared for, and not allowed intercourse with the whites, or even with the half-whites, until the race disappears, as within a calculable time it appears that it must.
Mr. Stahle says that for several months an awakening, accompanied with rich blessing, had been in progress among the Tapuas of his station. "Much sickness, however, had prevailed, and from January till October there had been eleven deaths. But all who fell asleep bore witness on their deathbed of their faith in Him who justifies the ungodly, and of their fervent desire that they might be permitted to enter into the joy of their Lord."
A visitor to the station, who attended a meeting, says: " But, ah, the hacking cough, which is heard on every side from among them! It sounds like the deathknell over the remnant of the once so numerous native tribes of Australia. Sitting thus in the midst of them, we cannot fail to remark how weakly they are, and how evidently the sentence of death against them is already proclaimed by their debilitated constitution. How emphatic is the appeal to our affectionate Christian sympathy, which resounds in our ears as we listen to this cough!"
-This work of bringing the regenerating influences o(the Gospel to the last survivors of a dying race, casts, of course, a shade of sadness over the minds of the missionaries, such as appears in these words of Missionary Kramer, of the Brethren's Mission, at Ebenezer: "Our beloved Ebenezer will, doubtless, be permitted to enter, as a mission station, upon the new decade. But how will it be at the end? The Lord alone knows. If it is to be dissolved I hope that ourlittle church will remain 'God's house,' and not be turned to the uses of a barn or a· stable. Many blessings, by God's grace, have descended upon us therein, and a certain sadness comes over me when I fear that in the place where we have assembled so often, in the name of the Lord, seeking to be built up out of His Word, or to present before Him our supplications and thanksgivings, or to raise to Him <;lUr songs of praise, the voice of riotous blasphemy may be heard. May the Lord forbid that it should be so !"
The following description of Cashmere, from the Missions-Blatt, reminds one of Moore's "Who has not heard of the vale of Cashmere, With its roses the brightest that earth ever gave, " etc.
"It is a region so richly and bounteously endowed by the goodness of God. that some naturalists have ventured the conjecture that it must have been the cradle of mankind-the origin at Paradise. That wonderful union of the sharpest antitheses in the life of nature, which characterizes the mighty Indian empire, the heat and luxuriant vegetation of the tropics, combined with the refreshing alpine ail' of snowy summits, glaciers and blue-green mountain lakes-so strengthening to the nerves-this fullness of God's glorious creation bursts upon the traveler in Cashmere in its purest, noblest forms. We cannot wonder, therefore, that the children of men to be met with there are also a. wonderful combination of the most startling contrasts. These are the proper inhabitants of the land, genuine Asiatics, arrested in their development for centuries back, and still bound in the chains of a relaxing heathenism. On the. other hand, you meet here with all the facilities of modern intercourse, and the country swarms with Europeans, some seeking recovery from the ill effects of a long sojourn in the heated plains, some finding delight in climbing the glaciers and snowy mountain-tops, like the tourists of Switzerland and the Tyrol."
-It is known that the Moravian Mission among the Himalayas is at oncein Thibet and in India. In other words, the people are Thibetan Buddhists, but are on the Indian slope of the main ridge, and are subject to British authority. They say: "As a missionary, Brother Redslob, so long as he and his wife, though seeking relaxation, are still within the range of Thibetan speech, he feels it incumbent on him, wherever he makes a stay of any length, to bear his witness to the crucified and risen one."
-The Roman Catholic government of Nicaragua, after many refusals, has finally granted permission to the Moravian brethren to establish mission stations in Nicaraguan Territory, for the pastoral care of the converted Indians, who have emigrated thither from the Mosquito State, or have received the Gospel from there.
-The Missions-Blatt' expresses surprise that John Morongo, a leading Indian of their Ramona Mission in California, had previously been a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, but until lately was unbaptized! Of course he was only an adherent, not a member, of the Episcopal Church-a distinction with which our German brethren seem to find it a little difficult to become familiar, as almost everybody in Germany is baptized, and, therefore, accounted a member of some church, though not necessarily a communicant member.
-The Missions-Blatt likewise makes a slight slip, very natural in a German magazine, in speaking of the government of California, instead of that of the United States, as controlling the Indian reservation. The distinction, of course,. is of no consequence to German readers.
-Our German brethren greatly admire the American and English institution of medical missions, to which, for want of suitable candidates, they themselves have not as yet been able to give any wide extension. The Unitas Fratrum, however, has its first, and, at present, its only trained medical missionary, in Carl Marx, who is established in Leh, in connection with its Thibetan Mission. The different German societies are making special effort to come up in time with the Anglo-Saxons in what may be called this left-hand of Christ's work, which now, as with the Lord Himself, has always so mightily supported the work of His right hand.
-The annual report of the Societe EvangeZique of Geneva, for 1890, has-the following remarks: "It is, in fact, beloved hearers, a word of hope, of confidence, indeed of certainty, with which we would fain conclude this reporta word of faith, for that is it of which we have need, in present conjunctures, to sustain us in our work. The times are most serious, and, in face of the growing troubles of the present hour, one might easily be tempted to dl~wur agement. Owing, to our limited view-owing, above all, to the deafening cries of our adversaries, who, in the name of science, of progress, of liberty, of equality, of democracy, proclaim that the era of Christianity is past; that the hour of the definitive enfranchisement of human thought is about to strike on the clock of time–one might believe that it is over with the reign of Christ; that the last times are here, and that the world, given over to itself, is about to undergo the final convulsions. In face of the storm, some are ready to lay down their arms. Why strive, when defeat is certain, why suffer when there is no longer a morrow? Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. Others, more spiritual in appearance, hold another language: "Let us separate ourselves," say they, "from this perverse world, destined to a final destruction. Little Hock of the Good Shepherd, as we are, let us withdraw into His fold; the hour of deliverance is at hand. Let us go out of Sodom and Gomorrah, and, in prayer, await our Deliverer. Let us, too, eat and drink; let us feed on the heavenly bread, let us refresh ourselves with the spiritual drink, and let us abandon to their fate the masses destined to destruction.' Gentlemen, let us listen to neither of these voices, the voice of discouragement and of pessimism or the voice of spiritual egoism; the voice of insane enjoyment or the yet more culpable voice of abdication in the name of sanctity! No, no! neither: .. 'Labor, labor, for the thankful 1 let the thankless hold their hands, Happy the servants whom the Master, when He comes, shall find watching I'
"Is it true, in fact, that the final hour of defeat is arrived, and that everything is discouraging in the Church? Must the rapidly approaching twentieth century necessarily witness a new inroad of barbarians, the more terrible that it will be the inroad of science turned infidel? I do not believe it. It is true that humanity, that unceasing traveler, marches uninterruptedly through valleys and mountain ranges, now ·on the summit, in full sunshine, to-morrow in the depths, in darkness and peril. Possibly we have reached one of those dolorous hours when it descends towards the precipice; but let us not forget it stops an instant; where it takes breath and rests, in order there to address itself to the climbing of new heights. And, gentlemen, let me be taxed with optimism, but I must still say, in spite of all I hear, in spite of all Isee, in de- spite of the sombre prophecies of the guardians of Israel, and of the cries of distretls from the leaders of the flocks, I believe that the present hour is not an hour for despair; I believe that at this end of a century Christianity is not like a wild creature brought to bay; I believe, and I may even say I affirm, that never has the Church been more active, more audacious, more victorious; that never, at any epoch of its history, has Christianity exercised upon the world a power more energetic and more glorious.
"To open, Christians, the way to you, the princes of industrial civilization are transformed, without willing it or knowing it, into pioneers of Providence. These bridges which they hang in air, these mountains which they transpierce, those roads on which fire is their ,bearer and which they desire to serve their ambition, are only channels through which the Spirit is to flow. Thus did three centuries before Jesus Christ, the conquering Alexander, when he sub- dued Asia and transplanted the Hellenic civilization into the distant Orient; thus did the Romans, his successors, when marching in their turn to the con- quest of the world, they brought peoples together by their arms, and furrowed the three continents with their military roads. They believed that by these their legions would eternally pass and repass to impose their commands on the world. They knew not, what we know to-day, that they were preparing tri- umphal ways for the Saviour and his Apostles. 0, you, then,masters of science and of wealth, engineers, colonizers, conquerors, whatever may be your names and your designs, continue the work of your predecessors, abridge space, les- sen the breadth of the sea by your steamers, and suppress distance by your telegraphs, draw from nature her final secrets, so that one day the Truth may no longer be checked by rivers and by mountains, but may advance rapidly to break the last-remaining bonds of slavery and to stifle the ultimate lurking places of barbarism and superstition !"
-The report for 1889 of the Societe des ll:fissWn8 Evangeliques gives for Tahiti: 23 parishes; 4 European missionaries; 20 native pastors; 2,044 church mem- bers; 44 catechumens; 8,949 francs for home work, 594 francs for foreign missions.
-The Paris society, speaking of Tahiti, remarks: "The religious life of the Tahitians is still in a state sufficiently rudimentary. It has its bright sides: profound attachment to the Word of God, very general observance of the Sunday; regular attendance on worship; practice of Christian liberality. Butit has its deep shadows likewise: for one thing, the considerable number of the unconverted, who form the majority of the population; then, even among believers, are insufficient apprehension of the -exigences of the Law of God; the almost complete absence of true Christian faInily life; in brief, to speak with our brethren, 'a piety which still localizes itself too much within the walls of the churches, and which does not spread abroad sufficiently in good works and in regenerating influences.'"
-In speaking of the great work of the Paris society, that in Basutoland, or, as the French call it, Lessuto, the report remarks: " We bless God that He has given to the churches of France a work proportioned to their strength, adapted to their genius, and the success of which has stimulated a zeal which efforts too long without fruit might have discouraged. And, to-day, that which strikes the eye in the Lessuto mission, by the side of that in still advancing, it from time to time regains some large plateau where weaknesses and defects inseparable from every human work, is its sound and vigorous growth."
This mission last year experienced a remarkable revival, bringing in many pagans. This has not continued, but it has left open many new doors of access. Paganism, on the other hand, having recovered from the early impressions of awe before the missionaries, has become at once more malicious and more aggressive. It is assisted, as in Paul's day, by two rival missions, the Roman Catholic and the Propagation Society. The latter, however, excites the contempt of the Basutos, who regard it as coming to the ground between two -stools. "The danger is in the scandal of these three rival Christian confessions, these three Gods, as the natives still phrase it."
The awakening among the heathen Basutos resulted in the addition of 514 new members, making the present number 6,543. The present number of catechumens is 3,332. Out-stations, 110; for 1888, 94; native helpers, 194; for 1888, 176. Primary scholars for 1889, 5,347; for 1888, 4,566.
-11. Coillard, of the incipient, but noble mission of the Zambesi-anoffshoot (){ the Lessuto mission-speaking of the imperative need of extension, or rather 1)f filling up intermediate space, remarks: "We are no longer in the earlier time when missions of magnificent distances had leisure to develop themselves as they might without the risk of taking any harm. To-day the centre of Africa is the object ofa general assault, which contests every point of attack. God grant that we may be resolved and faithful."
-It is known how discreditably,indeed, ridiculously, jealous, both the French and the German governments are, of having missionaries of any other nation in their colonies. Germany, however, being Protestant, does not dislike them as Protestants, and, by its late agreement with England, expressly allows them in Africa. France, however, whose occupancy of the Gaboon, in West Africa, is much more recent than the American missionary occupancy of it, distrusts .our Presbyterian brethren there as foreigners and dislikes them as Protestants. Even French atheists are" Catholic atheists." They have forbidden our missionaries to use English in their schools, to which acceding, the Americans have obtained from the Paris brethren several teachers of French. The Journal says: "The authorities, having obtained satisfaction on the point as to which energy"-French-" colonial administration is inflexible, the teaching of the language of the mother country in the schools, have come to regard the American missionaries with a more favorable eye. If, as we hope, these friendly dispositions become fixed, every one will at last comprehend that which has always appeared evident to us, namely, that an intelligent administration, eager to extend civilization, ought not to refuse any assistance, even though offered by foreigners; especially when these foreigners are the repre sentatives of a friendly nation, and only ask leave to preach the Gospel without any intermixture of political aims."
Should the French Republic, as Father Hyacinthe forebodes, swing over from atheism to Jesuitism, it would fare ill with Protestant efforts, French or foreign, in her colonies. But, as Sainte Beuve remarks, whenever Jesuitism stretches out its hand to some great work of mischief, the eternal wound dealt by Pascal reopens, and it gives up the ghost afresh.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
n.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND OONDUOTED BY HEV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Past Ten Years in Persia. rians, and Catholics; and the Jews, who are quite numerous. BY REV. W. L. WIDPPLE, D.D. The field of the Bible work is divid- In looking backward ten years we ed with the British and Foreign Bible find very little change in the status of Society. Dr. Bruce, its representa- Persia. The same king, ~asr-ed-deen tive, looks after the southern, while I Shah, who has reigned, according to superintend the northern portion or the Persian reckoning, nearly fifty the kingdom for the American Bible years-the longest of any Persian Society. monarch-is still on the throne, a wiser and better sovereign than he There has been decided progress wastenyearsago. The journey which made in the missionary work, reprehe made to Europe, for the third time, sented, on the one hand, by the Amerilast year, seems to have had a bene- can Presbyterian Board, in the North, ficial effect upon him. He visited and on the other hand, by the Church most of the principal capitals and Missionary Society of England, who manufacturing centres, and appeared have their centre at Isfahan. to be in earnest in obtaining information and an insight into the various. In taking a retrospect of the Bible improvements and progress of the 19th work in Persia during the decade just century. Since his return he has be- drawing to a close, I am glad to say gun to introduce changes and reforms that it comes up, in the main, to my of a practical nature. This is no easy reasonable expectation, though not so task, for the same forces are still at extensive as I should wish to see. In work, opposing in every possible way forming plans for the work, when I the introduction of Western ideas, as first entered upon my duties, July 1, on his return from his previous Euro- 1880, I thought that if I succeeded pean tour. He has, however, gained in placing in the hands of the people in solid stamina, and we trust that he of Persia, in ten years, 40,000 copies will not be held in such subjection by of God's Word, I should be thank- "the power behind. the the throne" as ful. I was not over-sanguine that in former years. I should be able to attain that cir- culation. I find that the total cir- The kingdom has been quite free culation, including grants, has fully from internal troubles, with the ex- reached that amount. The sales exception of the Koordish Rebellion, ceed the grants in the proportion of which occurred about nine years ago, fourteen to one. The larger portion and was soon suppressed. are in the Persian, Turkish, and Ara- bic languages, representing the Mos- There has been no foreign war. The lem population. The Syriac comes. territory remains the same, contain- next. Then follows the Hebrew, ining nearly one-fifth of the area of the dicating the interest manifested by United States, or about as much as God's ancient people in His Word. Germany, France, Austria, and Hun- The Armenian does not enter so gary combined. Roughly estimated, largely in our sales as we expect it to it is 1,500 miles long, by 850 miles do in the future. There is too much wide, in its greatest extent. light creeping in on all sides of that ancient and dark Christian Church to Our work is among the following debar God's Word from its communion nationalities: The Moslems-the pre- much longer. dominent class-including the Sheah and Sunee sects (the Koords, as a In 1885 I made an address at the rule, are all Sunees); the nominal jubilee celebration in Oroomiah, com- Christian nations-Armenians, Nestomemorating a half century of mis- mission to the present time, it is be- sionary labot among the Nestorians, <>n the subject, "What part has the lieved that 70,000 copies of God's Word Bible had in the work of the last fifty years in Persia?" There were have been distributed, in different present about 2,000 persons, nearly Qne-half of whom were women and languages and among varions nation- girls. It was stated then, that fifty years before there were only two alities in Persia, apart from what has women in the entire Nestorian nation who could read, and the request was been done by the British and Foreign made that all the women present who (lould read the New Testament would Bible Society, through the agency of rise to their feet. Imagine our grati- fication when 800 arose. It was a Dr. Bruce. This may not seem very sight never to be forgotten by those present, who saw those daughters of wonderful to one unfamiliar with the the East, with intelligent and beaming faces, rise up, en masse, and remain bigotry and self-satisfaction of the standing until they were counted. And these were only representatives Persian Moslem, especially when he from many villages and towns upon the plains of Oroomiah, Sooldooz, and reads the circulation reported each Balmez, with a few from the moun- tains of Koordistan. The incident is year in some larger and older estab- a very impressive and encouraging object-lesson of what missionary ef- lished agencies. But let us not despise forts have accomplished in one di- rection merely-a rather liberal per the day of small things, nor forget >cent. of return in fifty years. Itspeaks even more teIlingly, when it is borne that these millions in Persia are a part in mind that at the commencement of the work among the Nestorians by of the world into which the triumph- Dr. Perkins and Dr. Grant these poor peeple did not have the Scriptures in ant Master commanded to preach the their own language (the Syriac). There were a few manuscript copies on Gospel. ' parchment of the ancient Syriac, so revered and precious that they were The fact that the representatives -only used on special and very holy oc- Clasions, and upon which oaths were from this Oriental land were the first administered to Moslems. as well as Christians, as they were counted very ambassadors to pay homage to the in- sacred by all classes. fant Saviour, and to lay at his feet It was the privilege of the American Bible Society to furnish the means to their royal gifts, is a very significant -carry through to completion the publication of the entire Syriac Bible, in one. And cannot we bring this up both the ancient, or sacred, and the modern languages. It is now revising before the adorable Master as "a methe modern version, and preparing to :,print a new edition with references. morial" in her behalf? We all in Per- From the commencement of the sia believe that there are brighter days in store and greater ,blessings held in reserve. The people are beginning to be aroused to a sense of their duty.
There is no more potent energy at work to bring about this greatly de- sired end than the printed Word. It enters silently where no preacher is allowed to stay, and quietly'and daily preaches to some one or more in that village or city where it finds lodgment and then suddenly the place is thrown into commotion by the rumor that one of their number has left the faith and become an "infidel Armanee"
(Christian). Then persecution begins; loss of relatives and friends and prop- erty follow, and revilings, beatings, and imprisonments hasten on apace; then threatenings, and, at last, it cul- minates in casting out and banish- ment from home and country. It may terminate in death itself.
But, meantime, this faithful one has taught a few of his firm friends, or read to them night after night from this new and interesting Book, .And this was the fact, as I can testify until they, too, have been won over to from what I have seen as I walked believe in the Injeel, and to accept through the bazaars. Christ as their Redeemer. And when a colporteur or evangelist visits the .After various methods were tried, place again, he is surprised to find a without avail, it was decided to pronumber who are not only favorably hibit all sales of Scriptures by colinclined, but who actually accept porteurs, whether in cities or towns Christianity, and petition the mis- or villages. So they could not make sionaries to send them a teacher or tours. This was made a jetwa, or ofpreacher. This has been the case in ficial action by the chief mujhtaheeds, a number of instances. It is inter- or highest ecclesiastical authority; esting, indeed, to see how the leaven 'and when the notice was communiworks, "until the whole lump is leav- cated to the governor-general hedared ened." not disregard it. He therefore in- formed our representative of this or- But in Persia, as elsewhere, "the der, and requested him to notify the kingdom of Heaven cometh not with agent of the American Bible Society observation." Very little attention at to respect it. After careful deliberafirst was paid to the circulation of the tion and counsel, we all deemed it Scriptures. When I began the work, expedient to observe the rule until reten years ago, they were admitted free dress could be obtained. of duty; but as the demand increased, and the cases of books-fifty and This proved to be by far the heaviest eighty at a time-began to arrive, the blow our work ever received. It was custom-house officials deemed it worth over one year before we could get the their attention, and soon we had to order rescinded, and receive permispay customs. A moderate rate wa..'1 sion to resume our work. This profixed, to be paid in kind. But it was hibition was in force only in .Azerbinot long before the officials com- jan, the other provinces being still plained that this was burdensome to opened to the colporteur. The printhem. They did not have room, they cipal part of our work, however, was said, to store away their share of in that province, where such cities Scriptures received for duties; so it and districts as Tabreez, Oroomiah, was decided, after due consideration, Salmas, Maragha, Sooldooz, etc., are that mone,y would be paid instead of situated. It affected, in conse- Scriptures. Soon after these points quence, our sales very materially. were settled, then the mullahs and high ecclesiastics of the Moslems ap_ I have told this story of the conflict, peared on the scene. They seemed to between truth and error, which has have been taken by surprise, and were been in progress for some years, so not aware how many Scriptures were quietly that few have been aware of going into circulation. They began to it, to show what advances the former investigate, and the more they in- is making over the latter, and, how quired the greater were they dis- stubbornly each stronghold has been turbed and alarmed. They held coun- held until captured by force. Progcils in various places, and discussed ress has been slow all along the line;' meaures for putting a stop to this but the fact that nearly 100,000 " torwork. Some were heard to say: pedoes" have been" placed," and are' " These men are filling the bazaars only abiding their time set for them with the Injeel, and wherever we go to accomplish the work intended for' we find one. Even merchants and them to do, is full of encouragement tradesmen are seen neglecting their to those who "wait patiently on the work, and poring over this book." Lord."
The colporteurand evangelist going' out together to the districts and, cities in the distant portions of Persia Testament. There are a number of have had a marked influence for good. converts to Christianity from the Indeed, they have been the advance Jews, and all have been faithful readguards, and have prepared the way for the establishing of every station in ers of the Tourat, or Old Testament. Persia except Oroomiah. All the others, viz.: Teheran, Isfahan, Ta- But as they compared Scripture with breez, Ramadan, Salmaz, and the Scripture, they were at last convinced new one recently established in the that the Messiah had surely come, and mountains of Western Koordistan, they hastened to acknowledge, and do were visited and canvassed first by him honor. There are many intellicolporteurs and evangelists, sent out gent Jews in Persia to-day, intellectuyearly by the missionaries in OroD- ally converted to Christianity, who do miah. They would spend, every not confess Jesus publicly" for fear visit, one week or more in each city in of the Jews," lest they be cast out of preaching and selling Scriptures. In the synagogue. That means to-day this way much precious seed was what it did 2,000 years ago. But the sown, which, after many days, has truth is working in many hearts, and sprung up and brought forth fruit–a will eventually prevail. The missionrich spiritual harvest–already; and aries' schools are composed entirely of the work is only fairly begun., Jewish boys and girls, who daily study the New Testament, and even the OBSTACLES IN THE WAY. catechism.
During these ten years a civil war, Another encouraging fact is the following closely upon the heels of large sale of Scriptures to Moslemsfamine and pestilence, has interfered perhaps the largest part of the gross with and curtailed materially the sales. These are in the Persian and sales of the Scriptures. Likewise, as Arabic, the Azerbijan and the Osalready mentioned, for over one year manli – Turkish languages. Weare no colporteur' was allowed to sell able, by these languages, to reach all Scriptures in the large and influential classes of the Mohammedans of Persia province of Azerbijan, where the larg- and Koordistan. Not only that, but est share of sales was usually made. they are purchased and carried home These circumstances, combined with to dwellers in Mghanistan, Beloochisthe constant animosity and vigilant tan, Turkestan, and even India. opposition to our colporteurs and the scarcity of ready money, have ham- It is a grand accomplishment and a pered the sales. Should the Armenian powerful agency in the evangelization bishops and priests withdraw their ob- of Mohammedans that the entire jections to the people purchasing the Scriptures have been translated, pub- Scriptures, and permit them to be lished, and circulated for years in the used in their schools, our sales would Arabic tongue, the sacred language of be greatly augmented; for they are all Moslems. abundantly able to purchase, and they are well supplied with schools. We The Arabic Bible and New Testahave been working to bring this about, ment are popular with the Moslem and some recent indications lead us to high ecclesiastics and clergy; for, behope that it will not be long before our ing in the sacred language, they al'e en<! will be accomplished. not suspected of reading the holy books of the Christians. If questioned ENCOURAGING FEATURES IN OUR WORK. what they are reading, they can re- ply, "the blessed Arabic tongue," and Among others might be mentioned then they read aloud a few verses in the number of Scriptures that are sNd confirmation of their statement. Our yearly to the Jews. It is true that colporteurs have sold Bibles in this most of these are copies of the Old language to some of the highest rank of Moslems, both clergy and nobility. I could mention some very interesting In concluding this paper, I append cases of this character, which it is not the resume of sales and grants for ten prudent to publish. years. The figures for 1889 are only All the converts 'from Islam to Christianity, whom I have met, at- approximately correct: tribute their conversion directly to the reading of the New Testament in The average number of men employed Persian, and not any human agency. annually ………. ~ •….. . . .. …. …… 25 Number of years spent by them…….. 170 " U miles (on horseback) tray· eled by your agent …….. 10,000 " " months spent on those jour· neys….. …. …. ……… 22 RESUME OF SALES AND GRANTS FOR TEN YEARS. GRANTS. SALES.
Bibles. Tests. Parts. TotaL Value. Bibles. Tests. Parts. TotaL Value.
From July 1880 to 2,114 1,921 4,488 $1,24800 50 285 402 737 151.00 end of 1881. .. .. . 453 2,129 1,755 4,308 1,069 12 47 265 394 706 149.40 2,178 2,363 5,026 1,295 48 58 185 240 483 127.85 F,?r 1882.. …….. 424 1,973 1,977 4,426 1,050 03 …2.9… ..1..7.3.. 236 ….4…3..8….. .1.0.6…2.5.. 1883………. 485 1,105 1,310 2,754 94090 1,549 2,974 4,852 …….. ……. . …… " 1884………. 476 1,023 1,625 2,844 1,311 98 . …… " 1885…… …. 339 2,464 2,129 5,004 384 36 1,500 1,870 3,625 87588 48 " 1886 ……… 329 1,225 15 ……… …9.0… ..1.7.1… ..3.0.9… ..6.4…0.0. , 1887. ……… 196 " 1888………. 411 " 1889………. 225 Total Sales in 10 years. .. ……… 3,368 16,035 17,924 37,327 $9,401 50 232 Total Grants in 10 998 1,448 2,637 $598.50 years… … ….. 232 998 1,443 2,637 59850 Total circulation, 10 years….. '" 3,600 17,033 19.367 40,000 $10,000 00 [NOTE: The above paper was read before International Missionary Union, 1890.-J. T. G.] Missions to the Native Mexican Races. and saving power of the Lord Jesus than their ancestors knew in the old REV.WH. P.F. FERGUSON, BANGAL, N.Y. days when the Aztec altars were piled with human hearts. I showed, in my former paper (see What prospects are there for their MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, Christianization under present meth- ods? March, '90, p. 218) that there are today in Mexico, out of a total popula- The Roman Church has given them tion of less than 12,000,000, nearly all that it ever can.. They have the 4,000,000 who speak some one of the rosary, the crucifix, holy watermany ancient languages. In other pretty idols, compared with the fiendwords, to-day, after 370 years of the ascendency of Spanish blood, one- ish representations of the old Aztec third of the nation still use the lan- divinities; but only idols, and Rome's guages of their fathers, hands hold no better gifts.
In regard to these peoples I shall The Protestant missions' now at raise a series of questions and suggest work in the country have not, as yet, such answers as are in accord with attempted any very considerable work my conception of the facts: among the indigenes, not can they in the near future. Given the money Have these people been Christian- and the men, and to·day, in parts of ized? the Republic already under the eye of the missionary, 100 workers could be I might give a very extended an- placed in Spanish-speaking towns and swer. I might array facts and pile cities of from 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitup quotations to show you their con- ants where there is now no teacher of the Gospel and where good and sucdition. i refrain, and, with full real- cessful work could be entered upon at izationof the sad import of the words, sum up the condition of the native Mexicans to-day, in the one statement, that they know no more of the love <lnce. It is to be expected, and is To say nothing as to the ability of right, that these missions should ex- native workers to create a Christian pend their slowly increasing force literature of which I shall speak, none upon this work, lying right before of the missions at work in Mexico them and for which they are prepared. have as yet succeeded in training any It will be many years, in the probable considerable number of native minis- -course of events, before any of our mis- ters who would be considered by those sions can offer the Gospel to even the who best know them, as competent to greater part of these ancient peoples. manage the affairs of a mission with- out the constant supervision of the It seems to me, then, not in the least foreign missionary, and, besides, they unreasonable to urge the establish- are, with a few possible exceptions, as ment of special missions among the ignorant of the native languages as native Mexican races. At this day are foreigners. Some boys and girls missions are being founded among in our mission schools, and a few wasted tribes that contain only a few young men employed in the "supply" thousand, or even only a few hun- work would be available as interpre- -<Ired souls, and shall we neglect these ters, but I need not draw upon my peoples who, remnants though they own slender experience to show to .are, still are counted by hundreds of anyone who has ever been obliged to thousands and even by millions? Their work by such agencies that such work romantic history, the remains of their is often worse than unsatisfactory. .ancient greatness, their manifest and And I believe that the best results can' admirable qualities of mind and heart, never be attained by it. The bearer and, above all, the love of our common of the Glad Tidings must come into Saviour impel us to the work of their personal contact with those to whom salvation. he is sent.
This leads me. to question: Can mis- Is there any reason why the Amerisions to the native races employ the can missionary should not go to these Spanish language as the means of peoples, leaming their languages and -communication? entering into their life as he does among other nations? I speak with the fact fully in mind that there are others whose observa- Some have expressed the belief that tion uponthis point has been far more the Mexican government would asextensive than my own, and thus sume an attitude toward any such more valuable; but, in my judg_ movement not unlike that of our govment, the answer to this question is, ernment toward the use of the native No. As well as I am able to judge, languages in the Indian schools. much less than half of the 4,000,000 of whom I speak, have any knowledge of This seems to me in the highest dethe Spanish, and the greater part of gree improbable. I would expect that these but very little. I have seen the government would rather look people living within six miles of one with favor upon anything that would <If the largest cities and gaining their tend to arouse a pride of race among living by selling garden produce in the indigenes, It must be remembered its streets, who could' scarcely under- that Mexicans to-day are fond of 13tand or 'use the Spanish language thinking of the Republic as the lineal enough to transact their business. To successor of the Aztec Empire. Many confine us to the Greek language for scholars would, too, I think, give a <lur religious instruction would be welcome to a missionary who should about a parallel. undertake the study of the ancient languages. It may next be inquired: What are the available resources among our va- Some, again, look upon such labor tive Protestants? as unnecessary, believing that the use of the native tongues is soon to cease. Scriptures and religious books, my I consider this also improbable. For 370 views would be as follows: The be- years the Spanish has had every advan- ginning already made by the publica- tage in Mexico, but has failed to dis- tion of the Aztec Luke, I look upon as place the native languages. To-day it is valuable, more because of the interest· itself growing weak. The day comes, I that it has attracted than for its prac- venture to predict,when, in the greater tical use, which must be slight because- part of Mexico it will be of no greater of its antiquated form. But if mission importance than isthe French language work is ever conducted among these to-day in some of our Southern States. people to any extent, a translation of It cannot be expected to do, in its de- the Scriptures into the languages used cadence, what it has failed to do in will be a necessity. Independent. its strength. So that I do not expect translation by each worker could not to see the native languages spoken by be thought of. If schools should be any very greatly less numbers until a established and the people taught to stronger than the Spanish race rules read their own language, which they in Mexico. cannot now do, the Bible would, of course, be put into their hands and Again, it is asked, if these lan- other Christian literature would be guages are capable of expressing the called into use. The teaching of the truths of the Gospel, and if they are native languages, would, however, de- not of so barbarous a character as to pend upon conditions not as yet fully be almost impossible of acquirement. understood.
Man speaks no language in which The facts which I have briefly he may not be told that "Jesus Christ stated warrant, it seems to me, the came into the world to save sinners." appeal and give promise of success. There is no linguistic impossibility to It may be, that some of the missions the successors of those upon whom now established can be so enlarged fell the baptism of tongues. And, and adapted as to include the most from what little study I have given urgent part of the needed work; but I the subject, I am of the opinion that a should expect better results from new man who has the courage and ability missions established either by the soto begin his study at the very basis cieties now engaged in Mexico, or by anew can master even the most diffi- others. If each would confine itself cult of these in about the average to one nation, or, at least, if the work time required to master other foreign could be so adjusted as toavoid waste, languages. and conflict of forces, much could be accomplished in a short time, while The existence of numerous dialects the less numerous tribes would furnish is also urged as an insurmountable fields of labor for societies of limited obstacle. We are told that even a resources. slight change of location among people of the same race would render Conceeding the possibility that some useless the study of years. I question of my condusions may not be well if this obstacle is not very much over- founded, and doubting at the same rated. I believe that missionary his- time if data are yet at hand for a pertory will show many instances of fect judgment of the case; I would greater difficulties of this character urge that the first step should be an overcome elsewhere. And, it is to be exploration with a view to discoverremembered that the introduction of ing accurately such points as, to what missionary work in the languages will extent these peoples are dependent strongly tend to remove the differences upon the native languages, to just – of dialects. what extent the more important of them are divided by dialects, and If we shall raise here the question of the necessity of translating the what is the present prospect for their interest to remember that the mission- survival. Attention should also be ary living among these peoples, mak- given to the disposition of the people ingan intelligent studyof theirlife and toward the Roman Church, their wil- language, would doubtless encounter lingness, or otherwise, to receive in- many facts, and would give light upon struction and other things that would that most perplexing problem, the aid in the selection of fields of labor history and origin of American races. among-them. If those who were ex- pected to become the missionaries This work is a duty to someone; is should make this exploration (and this it not to us? How can the Protestant would be desirable), a good beginning Christianity of the United States be should be made toward a mastering blameless if it fail to preach the true of the native languages. Gospel to these dying millions, who, right at our doors, have been for cen- The outfit for such an expedition turies cursed with a false faith ? When need not be very expensive and. the we stand before the judgment throne total cost of a year's work could be will not we hear the question, "Where more than met by the literary pro- is thy Mexican brother?" Shall we ceeds. This part of the work might be answer, "Lord,we left him in his filth entered upon at once and would do and ignorance and vice." Or shall we much to arouse an interest in the sub- answer, "Lord, we told him of the ject and make further advance pos- blood that cleanseth, we brought to sible. In fact, I believe that it must be his dark mind the knowledge of Thy done and that, too, by private effort, be dying love, we showed to him 'the fore any organization will move to the Lamb of God that taketh ..way the work of planting a miSflion. sins of the world,' and here, Lord, he is, washed and redeemed, a jewel for Once in possession of the facts that Thy diadem." could thus be brought to light, some society, or it might be, some man of llnent the ~ec~ means whose heart God should touch, would, I trust, furnish the necessary BY REV. LEVI B. SALMANS. financial support for the opening of the work. The field chosen would Anglo-Saxons, as we are, and misprobably be remote from civilization sionaries, too, suddenly set down in and full of dangers. A small, care- the midst of a Latin people, we could fully selected and well-furnished force not fail to admire the Astec populashonld be sent to make a beginning and tion of the fastnesses of the Sierras. advance should be upon the lines de- They have never been conquered by veloped. It might prove that,under the force of arms, though the Latinized touch of Christianity, elements of the government, which has come to preold civlization would spring to life and vail throughout Mexico in a certain thus new peoples be brought into the way, has come into the power of ruler- "federation of the world." Or, it ship. Yet the Ancient Cacique is the might prove that all traces of the old organized ,power behind the throne. were but forms of dust to vanish at Nothing of importance can be done by that same potent touch. Then it the Mexican government in these would be the work of the missionary mountains except it be agreeable to to guide these peoples clear of the the leaders among the Indians, as we dangers of the present Spanish-Ameri- would call them, though they are as can civilization, and introduce them different from our Indians as the Japinto the better and purer form of life anese are from Chinamen, or French into which we are already trying to from English. I do not know whether lead their Spanish-speaking neighbors. these comparisons are just right or not, but the Astcc was a semi-civil- It cannot fail to add a thought of ized race, living in cities built of stoneand morta'!', and had laws and govern- than the inhabitants of the Sierra of ment, with arts and industries, and Pueblo, risen into prominence or fur- were by no means the wild savage nished political leaders in the national nomad, known as the Indian in the affairs of the past generation. United States. Bishop Hurst says: .. while the Spaniard conquered and On Board the "Taichiow," Two Days ruled for three hundred years in Mex- From Bangkok Siam. ico, and grafted upon the people his religion, laws and customs, the Mexi- August 30, 1890. can or Indian has at last conquered DEAR DR.GRACEy:-Am on my way the Spaniard, and taken possession of to my field of missionary labor, in the realm. More than this is true of Laos, and, in reading the July num- the Sierra of Pueblo. They were ber of THE REVIEW, 1 have been much never conquered at home, while they interested in an article headed "Meaided nobly in conquering and ex- chanic Missionaries," by Secretary pelling the Spaniard, and afterward Brown, of the International Commit- the Roman hielarchy. They formed tee of Y. M. C. A. the troops who saved the day on the The Church is waking up to the great fifth of May, 1862, at Pueblo, grand importance of utilizing its lay and on many another fiercely fought element, though slowly. Themechanic battlefield. They hold their land in missionary comes in contact with a severalty, and live largely on their class of people, the very bone and land, rather than in villages. The sinew of a country, unreachable by personal independence of the Anglo- either the ordained or the medical Saxon largely. characterizes them. missionary. The rank and ,file of an They are fierce in war, while at the army could not be made up of colonels Bame time they are very mild-man- and generals. Private soldiers do the nered in peaceful intercourse. Ro- fighting directed by their officers. manism destroys the individual and Why should not the Church carry on builds up the institution. When Pro- her work both at home and abroad on testant evangelism seeks in the midst the same plan? -of a Roman civilization for individuals Secretary Brown speaks of an extento convert, who, after being converted, sive movement to establish one or more will have independence and individu- Christian undenominational schools ality enough to become useful evan- of technology, to fit men to become gelists and leaders among their people teachers of the trades and first-class against the odds of sin, conservatism, mechanics, and at the same time to and feudal inequality, it rejoices the enlist and prepare them for personal heart to find such a people as these in work in winning souls. This is a the Sierra. It is true they are not laudable undertaking, and ought to .nearly so highly civilized as the people have the hearty support of the entire in the cities of Mexico, but they are in Church. But it will, necessarily, be sympathy with the country and the some time before these institutions country is in sympathy with them, can be in readiness for students, and and they belong to the race that is on then some time before these students the top at this time; and when we get will be ready to be sent to work. Let them converted we will have a most us call attention to the fact that you valuable evangelizingagency. Nearly have just such a school in your midst. -one-half of the whole population of Park College, Parkville, Mo., has for Mexico still speak their original fifteen years been sending its trained tongues, and maintain, to a greater or men, and women, too, into all parts less degree, their original customs. of the home field (1 am writing as an Among these none have, more notably American), and into many foreign countries. There is this difference be- hundreds of her sons pleading to be tween this college and those proposed fitted to carry the Gospel to all lands?
by Mr. Brown: its distinctive work is ROBERT IRWIN.
the training of Christian workers for M. Henri Lutteroth, who died personal Christian work. The study February 12, 1889, was the last surof the Bible and the inculcation of viving founder of that lamp shining, personal piety are first; then the col- we will not say amid darkness, but lege work proper leading up to the de- certainly among vapors, the Societe gree of A. B., and lastly, the manual des Missions Evangeliques de Paris. training, embracing nearly all the Speaking of him, the Journal says: trades. " Our work has never had greater This would seem to be the natural need than at the present hour of colorder, and an argument in its favor laborators of this stamp, knowing how is the great success Park College has to place at its service the intensity of had. Everyone of our hundred and piety and of zeal together with all the twenty-five graduates is actively en- distinctions of culture and of knowlgaged in Christian work, besides a edge. Never, in fact, has the amount. great many who were unable to of labor imposed on the committee graduate. There is a practical advan- been more considerable than during tage in their mechanical department. this year." Nothing is done simply to show how it is done, but because it is necessary. The Moravian Church, which first The institution depends largely on the sent a missionary to the south of work ,of its students. They quarry Africa, in 1737, and which has a flourthe stone, mould the brick, burn the ishing work in Cape Colony and the lime, cut the logs, saw the lumber, neighboring lands, now proposes t() and build their houses; they cultivate join the ranks of those who are seekand tend large gardens and a farm of ing the evangelization of the equaseveral hundreds of acres; raise cattle, torial regions. A mission has been sheep and hogs; make wagons, repair projected, under the protection of the implements, shoe horses, and do the German government, for that part of one-thousand-and-one other things the German zone of eastern Africa necessary on a large industrial estab- adjoining the northern and northlishment. There are now over three eastern shores of Lake Nyassa. The hundred students in attendance, and two pioneers of this newest Moravian' hundreds are refused admittance mission, Theodore Meyer and Theaevery year just because there is no phile Richard, will shortly set out for room. If now there are those who the sphere of their future labors. want the mechanic missionary training, proposed by.Secretary Brown, J. TAYLOR HAMILTON, they need not wait until several other Secretary of the Societyfor the Propainstitutions are equipped. Let twenty gation of the Gospel, Bethlehem, Pa.
such be built at once, they will not be A Waldensian church-edifice, hold- too many; but let the Church use, to ing four hundred, has been opened its utmost capacity, that one now in by Cav. Dr. Prochet in Vittoria, a existence. The foreign field is calling Sicilian town with a population of for men. It is the loud cry from the 25,000. The church was so full that north and the south and the west and Dr. Prochet could scarcely reach the the east and from all over the home pulpit. After sermon seven catechu- field. Shall the Church hear the cry mens were admitted, and the crowd, and withhold what is in her power to inside and out, was so much interested give-viz: facilities for training Chris- and excited that the municipal guards tion workers, and oppo~nities to the had to disperse it.
ii2 EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
1II.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Editorial Prospectus for 1891. eluding notes by the editor on various The editor cordially salutes his read- topics and books of a mISSIOnary ers with the best wishes of the New character, and editorial correspon- Year. Notwithstanding the decease dence. of the associate editor, no material change will be needful either in the IV. The Department of Intelligence, character or contents of THE MISSION- including the Monthly Concert, Gen- ARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD. The eral Items of Information, Statistics editor-in-chief will be aided by the and Monthly Bulletin. prolific and graceful pen of the Rev. J. T. Gracey, D.D., president of the The editor will spare no pains, and International Missionary Union, under the publishers no expense, in securing whose sagacious control it is hoped from the ablest sources whatever will that the International Department enrich the columns of this magazine. IDay supply to our readers even richer We hope to make it indispensable to stores of missionary information and every minister and missionary, theoinspiration. The Rev. A. J. Gordon, logical student or friend of human D.D., of Boston, whose praise is in all weal. We have planted our standard the churches, will act as a regular on a level higher than any denomina. editorial contributor, and we can tional platform, and shall seek to think of no man in this country whose unite all true disciples of Christ in a words will be read with more interest new crusade against all the powers of and profit. darkness, and in favor of a speedy Beside this editorial staff we shall and universal proclamation of the be aided by a large and able body of Gospel. Once more we ask the prayer. editorial correspondents and contribu- ful and sympathetic co-operation of tors, and no pains will be spared to every Christian, and invoke, upon this secure the best talent and the most sincere and unselfish endeavor, the consecrated piety in the service of this blessing of the Master of us all! REVIEW. These pages will be devoted to the discussion of all the great ques- The editor would add a special word tions connectedwith the spread of the to contrlbutors of articles intended Gospel both at home and abroad, and for publication. So great is the influx will be open to the advocacy of every of unsolicited manuscripts already cause or IDeasure which is linked becoming that even the reading of with human well-being, and to the them has been almost impossible. Of impartial and critical investigation of course, preference will be given to papers which have been solicited; but those who desire to send manuscripts all forms of philanthropic and Chris- would ordinarily do wisely, before tian endeavor. sending, to inform the editor of such intention, state the topic, and inquire It will be observed that, in the whether they are likely to be used. interests of greater unity and sim- The editor begs to say, also, that the plicity of arrangement, we have but qualities of brevity, directness, and, four main departments: especially, freshness of matter and pertinency to the great qUj*ltions of I. The Literature of Missions, in- missions, will give particular value to cluding papers pertaining to general contributed matter. We cannot undertopics, translations from foreign peri- take to return rejected manuscripts odicals, etc. unless stamps for that purpose are enclosed with them when forwarded II. The International Department, to us. Any recent and well accredited under the efficient conduct of Dr. Gracey.
III. The Editorial Department, inintelligence from any part of the field tional interest, and at Cleveland, Ohio, will be especially valued, and all the evening meeting held in Music accepted articles will be paid for so far Hall numbered, probably, 4,000 peras the limited resources of the REVIEW sons. Some very beautiful examples allow. Manuscripts, written in a clear of the power of consecrated mission_ and legible hand, and not obscured by ary-spirited pastors to mould their corrections, interlineations and other congregations into missionary helper, blemishes, are also more likely both to and to stimulate systematic and cheerbereadandaccepted. Wehaveattimes ful giving, have been found. As in been compelled to cast aside a manu- Great Britain, there have been many :script because it was neither possible gifts of jewelry, etc., showing how for the editor to read it, nor the printer God is leading His people to sacrifice <correctly to put it in type. Special superfluities for Him. A gold pen pains should be taken by writers to with pearl handle, a seal ring, two make proper names correct and plain, solid gold chains, a society badge, a and statistics accurate and unmis- pair of gold-mounted eye-glasses, etc., takable. No second article should be have been sent to me for missions. sent, ordinarily, until it is known that Large collections of money have, in the first is accepted. If the corres- several cases been made for the Board pondents will observe these sugges- of Missions. And the farther the tour tions and exercise due patience, the has reached the more abundant the editor will endeavor to see that there calls for service became. It was a is no just cause of complaint as to his curious coincidence that the very day part of the work. The burden of on which the last week-day appointeditorial duties and responsibilities is ment was fulfilled, was the day on excessively onerous, but the constant which the co-editor, Dr. Sherwood, endeavor will be to deal courteously, departed for the Better Country! In promptly and impartially by all con- any case that death would have made tributors and correspondents. further engagements, to any consider- able extent impracticable, as it im- Since arriving in this country, in posed double duty on the survivor. June last, the Editor has been making But no impression is stronger as left a brief tour of the churches in the by these four months of contact with great centres, mostly east of Chicago, the churches, than this, that the best in the interests of missions, and with agent a mission board can have, is results most gratifying and encourag- simply an unselfish missionary-spiriting. Boston, Northfield, and Green- ed, well-informed pastor, who keeps field, Mass.; Willimantic, Conn.; Ger- the vital interests of the world-field mantown, and Pittsburgh, Penn.; Al- constantly before his people. We bany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, never once struck an apathetic church Buffalo, Lockport, Binghamton, and where there was a man in the pulpit Elmira, N. Y.; Montclair, Newark who was full of passion for souls. and Camden, N. J.; Baltimore, Md.; Youngstown and Cleveland, 0.; Lan- Are Mission Oonverts a Failure? sing and Detroit, Mich.; Indianapolis, In The Ohurch of Scotland Mission Ind.; and Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, Record of May and October, 1890, Dr. and Chicago, Ills., have been among the places comprehended in this hur- Archibald Turnbull, B.D., of the Darried tour. Almost without exception jeeling Mission, writes on the above the audiences have been large and the topic. The author is abundantly able interest manifested unusually intense. to discuss the subject. He is one of the At Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, El- ablest and most accomplished missionmira, the gatherings were of excep- aries in the field and his labors have been remarkably successflK. The A. Beautiful Epitaph.
work begun by Rev. McFarlane, in The most interesting specimen of an 1870, yielded to his prayers and labors, epitaph is one to be seen in a pretty but little apparent fruit, for some church, in Aneityum, one of the Loy- years. When Mr. Turnbull first joined alty Islands, or New Hebrides. It is the Mission, in 1880, there were some a tablet erected by the grateful natives hundreds of converts; and Mr. McFar- to their missionary, John Geddie. On lane, having been called to his rest, this tablet is inscribed, in their lan- Mr. Turnbull is now at the head of guage, the following: the mission, which has branched out When he landed, into three divisions, each headed by in 1848, able and devoted missionaries. Considerably over a thousand baptized there were no Christians here, and when he left, in 1872, Christians are now in communion with there were no heathen. it. Professor Lindsay, convener of On almost any island within 2,00<1' the Free Church Foreign Mission, who miles of the shores of Tahiti, in any recently visited India, has described direction, a similar tablet might be this Darjeering Mission, as the "best erected, as an expression of the results mission he had seen in India." When of the twenty-two years' work, besuch a man as Mr. Turnbull, with tween 1817 and 1839-the epoch of such a large experience, tells what he John Williams-and yet, "missions has seen of converts, his opinion can- are a failure! "
not but be of great value, and by per- A Practical Cure for Scepticism. mission of our beloved friend, Rev.
Thos. Nicol, B.D., the editor of The In the life of Dr. Fleming Stevenson Ohurch of Scotland Record, we pro- we find an interesting commentary on pose to give our readers hereafter, at the words, "He that doeth my will least, some portions of Mr. Turnbull's shall know of the doctrine." At one valuable testimony. He proves, to a time his mind was in a somewhat certainty, that the Gospel is the unsettled state regarding some ele- power of God unto salvation, even in ments of the creed in which he had India. been brought up, to which he clung with loyal reverence. Itwas by plung- Rabinowitch, the Hungarian Jew- ing into practical mission work that ish Rabbi, who, a few years since pub- light was to come to him upon these licly conf03ssed Jesus as the Messiah, thorny points of theology.
and led out a new body of Jewish be- This reminds us of what Shaftesbury lievers, adheres to his faith and used to say to young men: preaches to great crowds. A new, ,,Nothing is more likely to keep you large hall, called after the great evan- from mischief of all kinds-from mis- gelist of the Free Church of Scotland, chief of action, of speculation-from the Somerville Memorial Hall, is to every mischief that you can devise, be opened soon. We look with the than to be everlastingly engaged in intensest interest upon the new some great practical work of good.
movement, known as the "Israelites Christianity is not a state of opinion of the New Covenant," and bless God and speCUlation. Christianity is essen- for the Hebrew New Testament trans- tially practical, and I will maintain lated by Dr. Delitzsch, and for the this, that practical Christianity is the sermons and addresses of such men greatest curer of corrupt speculative as Rabinowitz, David Baron, Wilkin- Christianity. No man, depend upon son of Mildmay and a host of others it, can persist from the beginning of Who are taking the warmest interest his life to the end of it in a course of in the conversion of the Jews. self-denial, in a course of generosity.. in a course of virtue, in a course of ing service, go first to gather in and piety, and in a course of prayer, un- teach the poor neglected children in less he draw~ from his wellspring, un- the afternoon, then hold a yoke-felless he is drawing from the fountain lows' prayer-meeting and take supper of our Lord Himself. Therefore, I together at their humble place of meetsay to you again, and again, let your ing; and who then go out for an hour, walk the streets, and personally invite Ohristianity be practical." * to service those whom they find. And then, at eight o'clock, they go to their To all of which the writer adds his meeting-hall, or tent, and, in their confirmatory witness that never, since simple way, preach, simply as laymen, the taking up in dead earnest the work and hold after-meetings for inquiry. of a world's evangelization, have speculative doubts harrassed the mind.
As to churches and missions, I think The Ritualism, which is more and their true relations to each other are more obtruding itself upon observation very simply defined. The church is in the Anglican Church, and in some both a rallying and a radiating point. of the High-Church services of this We are to come there to be fed and go country, is compelling some who have from there to feed others. GenerallyI been zealous champions of the Episcomake my morning service especially a pal Church, to look with alarm on the encroachments of a latent Romanism feeding time for Christian swubosrtkaenrcs~ .that is rapidly becoming patent. If when I try to bring out the of the Word-the promises, the ways these things go on, they will compel a of serving, the motives of true work withdrawal of those who cannot felfor God, the preparations of prayer, lowship these semi-Papal practices. etc.-whatever helps to qualify any Take these two examples: Canon Scott mHogllhaI.nSds,eirnmSont., Preafuelr'srinCgatthoetdhreald' edautrh- . disciple for holy living and unselfish serving. Then I am glad to have my Christian workers go out after that of the late Canon Liddon, thus solicitmorning service to preach and teach ed prayers on his behalf: "Pray for that sermon and that Gogpel else- him-for his refreshment, for his ilwhere, and am quite willing to have lumination, for his eternal repose." their places empty at the second service Praying for the dead finds no warrant that they may go and hold little evan- in Scripture; it is a Romish practice gelistic meetings, cottage meetings, that ought to receive no countenance prayer services, etc., where they may from Protestants. A service, which was, to say the get at the non-church gael's. I do not least, novel, was held lately in that believe in Christians feeding without same Cathedral. It was styled a "Serworking. "If any man will not work vice of Reconciliation." In Septemneither shall he eat." Activity for ber last, during public worship, one souls prevents spiritual dyspepsia. It Sabbath morning, a stranger suddenly is the exercise needful to carry off the drew a pistol a.nd shot himself, and food into normal channels and assimi- I?hortly died within the sacred struclate it to our constitutional wants. I ture. Having no precedents to folcannot understand how any man can low, after much consultation, the dean be jealous of his workers going out to ' and chaplain formally requested the carry the Gospel and leaving an empty Bishop of London, in the exercise of place half a day for some one else to his Episcopal authority, "to declare fill who needs the Gospel far more. I the said Oathedral church exempt and have had a band of such young men, reconciled from all canonical impediespecially, for years, who, after morn- ment, and from everyprofanation con- * Hodder's Life of Shaftesbury, 1: 328. tracted and incurred by or through the aforesaid acts of suicideand blood-let- all thatoffends refined taste, the Salva- ting, forever." Hence this "Service tion Army compels recognition by of Reconciliation" on the 14th of Oc- downright earnestness and heroic self- tober. The London Times, with a denial. One of the most conservative tone bordering on contempt, asks why, ministers of the Presbyterian body, in if the great temple was "polluted" by a recent visit to London, went re- the crime, services were not entirely peatedly to the army meetings, and, suspended-why the altar was not after careful investigation, declares dismantled, and the edifice closed un- himself wonderfully impressed with til the profanation could be removed· the evidences of God's presence and by a "reconciling service?" Others power.
ask, why the freak of a sensational Shortly before his death Canon suicide, should be considered as "pol- Liddon went to one of the Salvation luting" a sacred edifice. Army meetings in London. As' he was returning with a friend, he said: General Booth gives to the world "It fills one with shame! I feel his new contribution to the great guilty when I think of myself! To problem of how to take care of the think of these poor people, with their unhoused, unfed poor of London, imperfect grasp of the truth! And yet almost at the same time that his wife's what a contrast between what they do body is borne to burial. and what we are doing! When I Her funeral was one of the most compare all the advantages we enjoy, impressive events of modern social we who possess the whole body of history. Whatever we may think of truth, and see how little use we make the Salvation Army, it is one of the of it, how little effect we produce com- most remarkable developments of our pared with that which was palpable time. Its genesis is recent-it began at that meeting, I take shame to my- in the year 1865, and kept its" Silver self. I did not like the women speak- Jubilee" in 1890. A quarter of a cen- ing, however. You know I have the tury ago William Booth resigned his misfortune to agree with the Apostle post as a'Methodist minister, New Con- Paul on that question. "
nection, and began his "Christian And now, Mrs. Booth, after long ~fission," thirteen years later called and acute suffering, has died, and the the" Salvation Army." day of her funeral, though raw, foggy, After this quarter century, this dismal, the procession numbered Salvation Army, at whose members probably 50,000 people, and the streets and methods the world and the were densely thronged with spectators.
Church sneered, now has its banners At the head of the marching columns flying in thirty-four countries or colo- were the 5,000 officers of the army, nies, boasts 10,000 men and women men and women, marshaled in fifteen wholly given up to its work, holds battalions. Each battalion carried a 50,000 religious meetings weekly, flag, some of them a number,of flags, which are attended .by millions of generally of white, with inscriptions hitherto neglected and outcast people. in colored letters, such as "Love one It has, moreover, twenty-seven weekly Another," " Save your Soul," " Believe newspapers, of which about 31,000,000 in God," and one especially striking copies are sold in the streets, saloons, flag bearing the words, "Mother of etc. It has accumulated nearly $4,000,- the Salvation Army." The coffin was 000 worth of property, and its rentals carried on an open hearse, and bore for meeting-places reaches $1,000,000 no emblems beyond Mrs. Booth's a year, while it has a total income of bonnet and cloak, and the flag of the between three and four millions. army, according to her earnest desire Despite all ita sensational methods, for simplicity in funeral reform. Even the London Times lends two or the individual statements and >()olumns to a detailed description of propositions of this book, in common the event, and the Methodist Times with thousands of the best men and describes Mrs. Booth as " the greatest women on both sides of the sea, we Methodist woman of her generation." heartily wish General Booth success. No one who has read the little volume of her addresses, known as " Aggres- Canon Farrar, on November 9, sive Christianity," will doubt her preached a sermon on this philan- })ower. thropic scheme, and even the great Abbey would not hold the crowds that And now, almost simultaneous with thronged to hear it. He had, the her death, General Booth issues his week before, made a tour of the army book, inscribed to her memory: "In centres, and was so impressed that he Darkest England, and the Way Out." made a fervent and impassioned We have read it with profound in- appeal in behalf of the proposed plan, terest, and we find ourselves very far while he disclaimed any authority to from being disposed to ridicule or dis- represent anyone but himself. regard its practical suggestions. From a somewhat extended study of the Those who wish to get the substance practical methods of the Salvation of General Booth's scheme may find a Army, especially in Great Britain, we l·ecapitulation of it in Chapter VII, were compelled to admit that, more Section 5. Some of the most pious than all the churches put together, this and philanthropic of British Chrisunique organization is bringing relief tians are coming forward with liberal to the unfed, unhoused and uncared contributions toward the $5,000,000 for masses of the great cities of for which General Booth appeals, as Britain. the financial' basis of his plan. So awful and so widespread is the degra- General Booth's book is a bold dation and destitution of this "sub- ~ttempt to solve the most perplexing merged tenth" of Britain's population, <>f social problems. His plan is a that we rejoice at any honest attempt mere expansion of that which on no to relieve and remove another of the small scale is in actual operation in open sores of the world. Let the new the Salvation Army ~ntres in London. project have at least a fair trial. He proposes a scheme of three colonies -a town, a country, and an over-the- The following is from the son of the sea colony. Cheap food depots, advice editor, studying this winter in Edinbureau, labor shops, a household sal- burgh, Scotland: vage brigade; the gathering of what would be wasted otherwise, and its " After tea we went to the univerutilization as food for human beings sity to hear Professor Drummond on and for animals, or for various pur- , Christian Evolution.' He dwelt par- })oses of manufacture. He proposes ticularly on the progress of missions to exact a reasonable amount of work and their condition and work, as he from colonists and to pay reasonable had noticed it in his recent trip around wages, so that there may be no en- the world. The lecture was a fine one couragement of paupers; to help out- in every particular, and he seemed to cast and criminal classes to a better be thoroughly in sympathy with the life; to help those who are disposed missionary movement; to have obto help themselves; to maintain whole- served keenly on the subject in his some discipline, and afford religious tour; and he urged all to consider care- {lulture without compulsion. Those fully if their lives could not be best who would know details must read his used for Christ in the foreign field. book. Without giving endorsement He lamented the fact that there seemed to the peculiar methods of the army, to be so much misdirected effort by well-meaning Christian missionaries, because the problem of missions, in Here is another, enclosing a gold. connection with the special countries pen with a pearl handle: in which they worked, was not more thoroughly studied and understood. Sabbath Morning, Oct. 5,1890. He contrasted Australia and the South Sea Islands, Japan and China, espec- DEAR DR. PIERSON: ially, as presenting entirely different kinds of fields, which were to be sown This gold pen was a Christmas gift. with the same seed but in different It has a sad story. It has nev!'r been ways, according to the nature of the used-it has lain idle ten years. May ground, and growth already planted the dear Lord now use it in some way there. One thing he said about Japan so as best to tell of the "Peace on was pretty well put-Japan is ready earth and good will from heaven for anything new and European; she toward men." has taken from France a system of law; from Germany an organization ONE OF YOUR HEARERS. for an army; from England a navy; from America a public school system; The American Missionary Associafrom' the civilized world in general a tion has 500 missionaries. Among fine system of railways and electric the Indian children they have entelegraph, etc. At present she is in couraged unselfish efforts to help in the unique position of prospecting for carrying the Gospel to the destitute a religion. There are, too, on the and unevangelized. But the children islands many missionaries prospecting had no money. Some of them had for converts: they include Episcopal- never seen a copper coin. The governians of every degree of height, Presby- meNt had offered premiums for the terians of every degree of breadth, and killing of gophers, and so the boys Methodists of every degree of warmth. would hunt the gophers and bring Roman Catholics are practically out of their tails in as proof of the work the race. done. Among other contributions was an enclosure, wrapping a gopher's tail " It was a thoroughly good lecture, within, and bearing this memoranand I would like to have it in print. dum: "Richard Fox, one gopher's tail: four cents." "DELAVAN L. PIERSON." One old colored saint in the far South Latterly, the editor has been making used to pray with great fervor for the a short tour of the great cities in the missionaries, and this was one prayer interest of missions. Among numer- heard from his lips: "Oh, Lord, let ous letters received by him, the follow- de missionary down deep into de treasing will suggest their own lesson: ures of de Word, and hide him behind de Cross of Jesus." For whom might DR. PIERSON: not that prayer well be offered?
Dear Sir-Enclosed please find four While Christianity makes us more dollars and ten cents, a small sum that and more tenderly considerate even of I had intended to use toward a society the welfare of the most distant and pin, but if the Master can use it for destitute of the race, sin makes IlUtelling the good story in the lands of man beings more callous eve:n to the darkness I dare not keep it for my own most appalling misery close at hand. pleasure. We have all heard of that notorious gambling resort on the Gulf of Genoa, I would that it were more than Monte Carlo, and of the wretched and it is. summary life-ending of many who have thrown away their means in its May God, our Master, bless you in elegantly-furnished halls. Very lately the work you are doing for Him, is it was reported that during ten weeks the prayer of a college girl. of this year as many as forty-nine E – College, Oct. 6, 1890. suicides had occurred there. "Every before the introduction of Christianity. night," says The Christian, of Boston, All interested in South Sea missions "'the grounds are carefully searched should procure it. It especially com- by the police after the casino is closed. mends itself for brevity. Other vol- Dne man drags a covered spring-cart, umes in this series, lives of Carey, the wheels of which have India-rubber Chalmers, Comber, Crowther, Morri- tires. When a body is found, for son, Patteson, Griffith John, etc., are which a reward is given, it is immedi- as readable as romances. Such vol- ately stripped of clothes and valu- umes can scarcely be multiplied in too ables, tftrust into the cart, and silently great abundance. hurried away and buried. Next morn- jng the sun shines again, the band The Success of Christian Missions, plays, saloons and tables are thronged, by Robert Young, F. R. S., G. S. In and people gamble as usual." this volume, Mr. Young has made a careful compilation of testimonies in New Books. favor of foreign missions in most heathen lands, similar to that of Mr. F. H. Revell has issued two more vol- Liggins. Personal, official and .pub- umes of the short biographies of mis- lic testimony to the value and influ- 'sionaries: Henry Martyn and Robert ence of the missionary operations of Moffat. If there are any better brief many societies is here gathered and biographical sketches for general nse preserved. For permanent reference, .as educators of the young, and as a and as an answer to the slurs and at- means of general stimulation to the tacks of adversaries, the book will be missionary spirit, we have not met always useful and should be at hand them anywhere. 'Within the compass in every well-stocked missionary ,of 160 pages, there is comprised a library as, in its way, an encyclopedia mass of information that is often di- of testimony. London: Hodder & .luted through three times the space. Stoughton. Cheap, thrilling, fascinating, these stories of missionary life combine the While we write, there just comes facts of heroism with the fancies of by mail from a dear personal friend, romance. They are very near to Dr. George Smith of Edinburgh, the ideals realized. We believe that few last book so far produced by his schol- will read one chapter without wanting arly and prolific pen. It is entitled A to read the whole, or read one of the Modern Apostle, and is the life of series, now embracing twelve, without Rev. Alex. N. Somerville, D.D., "the wanting to possess the entire series, world's evangelist." He was an ex- ,and give them away to others. We traordinary man, and we propose here- would like to give the series to every after to present an article upon young man and woman in every him to our readers. Suffice it to say Protestant congregation where Eng- that he thirteen times made a "world lish is spoken. The whole twelve may tour of missions;" viz.: to Canada, be had for $6, exclusive of postage I Syria, Spain, India, Australasia, France and Italy, Germany and Rus- The editor also cordially commends sia, Central Europe, Greece, Asia and to all readers the following books on Africa; and beside this was the able missions: James Calvert; or from and faithful pastor of one of the most Dark to Dawn in Fiji, by R. Vernon. prominent churches of Scotland. Here F. H. Revell, Bible House, New York. is a story of more than seventy-five 'This account of mission work, in what years, full of service and every form was once the cannibal group of Fijian of inspiration to heroic endeavor. – Islands, is rendered specially valuable Those who have read the lives of Carey, by its graphic account of native man- John Wilson of Bombay, Alexander .ners and customs as they were found Duff, Stephen Hislop, and that Short History of Christian missions which terestmg and valuable. One sees as. we have never seen equaled in its in a birdseye-view the steady and sure way, all of them by the same gifted advance of the Master's Kingdom, and author, will not need to be told that we rejoice. this latest volume from his pen, recently issued by John Murray of Lon- In the work of a missionary there don, is a book without which no min- is often much to disappoint. One has isters library is complete. It is one to sow in faith and labor in patience, of the grandest books that modern seeing no sign of a reaping-time. But biographers have offered to the public. when one reads of others who are al- ready rejoicing in the ingathering of Livingstonia Mission. an abundant harvest, he for a mo- ment forgets the plowing and sowing, [The following letter relol,ched Dr. the watering and waiting, and cannot Sherwood's home November 3d, too help sharing in their joy and the Maslate for his eyes to read it. Notwith- ter's. standing the personal references, the Another end gained by your REVIEW Editor feels that it belongs to the is that our hearts are enlarged and we begin to have a fore-taste of that readers of THE REVIEW.] glorious time for which our Saviour LAKE NYASSA. prayed: "That they may be one even as we are one. . . . that they may Mvera Station, May 11, 1890. be perfected in one, that the world DEAR BROTHER:-Were there the may know that Thou didst send Me." least doubt about the excellence and usefulness of your REVIEW, I With reference to the contents of should gladly give my testimony in THE REVIEW I have no suggestions to its favor. Let me merely mention make. What we in the field need is that, along with many thousands of an occasional inspiring article, one to, your readers, I most heartily enjoy rouse and encourage. To my mind and profit by it. Especially on a Sab- there is no pen so gifted, in this rebath afternoon or evening, after sev- spect, as that of Dr. A. T. Pierson. eral services and two Bible-classes, Let us be urged to prayer, patience, feeling somewhat tired, it is with personal devotion to Christ, to faith great pleasure that I take up THE and faithfulness. "Ve know these MISSIONARY REVIEW and read it things but do not realize them. through, I may literally say, from beginning to end. Even though the As many of us are unable to have "news" is from four to five months large libraries, a summary of the biold when it reaches us, we, neverthe- ography of some missionary hero (as less, eagerly look forward to each fol- has appeared of Carey, Egede, etc.), is, lowing number. always most acceptable, or even an I have, of late especially, enjoyed episode from such a man's life, or his an article in the number for Septem- views on any important missionary ber, 1890, on "Prayer-Basis of Mission subject. And why not pubhsh a whole Work," by Dr. Pierson. I have read biography, continued in several numand re-read it, and read it to my com- bers ?" panions, and each time I feel more than ever that "the whole basis of suc- As regards my own work Ishall not cessful missionary work is to befound say much. At this present station we in believing and importunate prayer." have been at work for only about six These words should be written in let- months. The work is much the same ters of gold on the tablets of our- here as on other stations round the memory. lake. Weare 3,400 feet above the sea The items of news you give from in a healthy and fertile country. A various fields of labor are most in- great door has been opened to us. The work is becoming more and more, interesting. Some 500 to 600 people simply as a way of introducing the hear the Word preached every Sabbath letter. Mr. Baldwin will be remem- day. In the school, however, we bered as the writer of the papers in have as yet only some twelve boys- The Christian (London), on "The boarders. People are afraid to send Question of the Hour," advocating the their children lest, having secured a conduct of missions on the lines laid good number, we should run off and down in Matthew x.
sell them as slaves! This fear, will, of Without giving our endorsement to course, pass away in course of time. every sentiment of Mr. Baldwin in Should you care to publish any part those letters, we confess to a large of this letter and any discouraged measure of sympathy with his general worker happens to read it, let me position. And we cannot but feel that stretch out to such an one a brotherly when any missionary in these days hand, and say, "Courage, friend! the attempts a work for God in the spirit Master is looking on and is intensely of faith and prayer, it is not for other interested in our work; let us press on, Christianworkers toridiculeor criticise if not so ably as others, then at least or oppose. There are many ways of as faithfully. Let us often prostrate doing the Lord's work. Why not let ourselves before the 'WondroUB Cross,' them all have a fair, faithful trial?
and in deep self-abasement and lowly Experiment will show whether God reverence, there learn to be' nothing, is with such methods; but the ex- nothing,' that the world might our periment must not be embarrassed Saviour see. When weary let us rest with the secret or open hostility of at His feet; when sad, lean on His even nominal disciples. Mr. Baldwin's breast. Let us drown our cares and personal consecration not even his worries in the ocean of His love, and critics can question. He is about to we shall not sow in vain, but receive start on a prolonged journey, with a the sower's reward." single companion, probably among the Bedouin. May God be with him!
Itis because I so often feel the need of encouragement myself that I am seek- Rev. Dr. Wayland Hoyt, his brother, Colgate Hoyt, and Charles L. Colby, ing to encourage others to-llfght, for Esq., have been preparing a" chapel the Master bas been very near to-day car," for use in Minnesota and on the and wonderfully kind. My subject of Wisconsin Central and Northern to-day, "My son, give me thy heart," Pacific railroads. ' , Uncle Boston" is has touched my own heart. to use this chapel-on-wheels for his I cannot ask your readers to pray Sunday-school mission work, and it is for us and our work specially; there finely adapted to his purposes. Atone are others who have probably a end are arrangements for living, and greater right to their prayers and the rest of the car is a chapel fitted thought; but let me urge all who pray for about 100 persons. During summer for missions to more "believing and months a tent will be carried, which importunate prayer," and we also can be set up for temporary use where shall receive our share of the blessing. crowds are too great for the chapel. Bishop Walker, of the Episcopal ANDREW C. MURRAY. Church, has done a like thing for the territory under his jurisdiction, in The Rev. E. F. Baldwin, now in North Dakota. Each of these moving Beyrout, Syria, desires it stated that chapels is about 60 feet by 10. The latter has gothic projections to give it the letterin the October number, 1890, a church-like appearance, and is finpages 776,777, was not a specific letter ished in oak, in gothic style,. with for THE REVIEW, although Dr. Sher- . chancel, altar, lectern, cabinet organ, wood so understood it at the time, but and even baptismal font and bishop's a circular sent to THE REVIEW. The chair. Weare surely making pro- adch'ess, "Dear Editors" was affixed grE'ss!
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
[EDITORIAL. ] Faots and Figures about the World-wide Field.
-.Alaska's coast is the sepulchre 40,000,000 were called Protestant; now, of ships. Dr. Sheldon Jackson says the population is more than double, that almost a hundred vessels have and the nominal Protestants more found a watery gra,e there within than quadrupled!
twenty years! In one storm, and atone -The first convertamongthe natives place, thirty-three ships were ground of India was Krishna Chundra Pal between ice-fields, and 1,200 sailors in 1800. Renry Martyn said it was a cast, wrecked, on a barren shore. miracle as great as the raising of the -According to the census of 1890, dead. Now, every ten years the con- the population of the Unite9. States is verts increase over eighty per cent.
62,480,540. It seems to us that this is The first convert in western Poly- an underestimate; we have supposed nesia was King Pomare II.; now there 66,000,000 nearer the actual truth. are 850,000, and all western Poly- -A Messianic pretender appears in nesia is evangelized.
an Indian tribe. He claims that the -Up to 1853, the Edict Board of Indian power and prestige is to revive Japan made it capital offence for a and the lost ground be recovered. If Christian to set foot on the island this notion gets hold of the mercurial empire. Now, there are 30,000 pro- red men no one can tell what may fessed converts and 17,000 children in come of it: they may attempt to ex- Sunday-schools. One in twenty-eight terminate the whites. .Already, for of the elect members of the new par- three months, the whole northwestern liament is a Christian church member.
part of our country has been in a state As the Christians of Japan number of disturbance and serious alarm. but 1 to 1,200 of the population, it will -Principal Magee,ofDublin,says the be seen that the proportion of Chris- dogma of the infallibility of the Pope tian members of parliament is forty- has repelled the bulk of Irishmen, and three U'Yhes as great. This impresses led to intellectualindependencewhich us as one of the most remarkable is reducing the ranks of Romanism signs of the power of Protestant mis- and filling up those of Protestantism. sions in Japan. The contributions of He thinks vaulting ambition has native converts were about $50,000 again" overleaped itself" and "fallen last year, nearly $2 a head!
on-tother side." -At Oroomiah, Persia, last year, -These are old figures, but their fifty-one out of sixty-seven pupils in lesson is always new: the seminary were Christians and In 1800, not over 50,000 converts in members of the church.
all heathendom; now, over 1,500,000, –The McAll mission schools had and five times as many adherents. last year 235,000 children under in- In 1800, not over 70 mission schools; struction.
now, about 14,000, with 600,000 -The Established Church of Scot- scholars. land reports 2,034 converts and 2,465 In 1800, 50 translations of the Bible; pupils in the schools in the Punjab now, between 300 and 400, of the whole Mission, India, with 723 converts bap- or parts, like the Gospel of Mark. tized in 1890.
In 1800, not over 5,000,000 copies of -Dr. Robert N. Cust reckons 223 the Bible; now, more than that issue missionary societies in the world: 113 from the press every year. in Britain and colonies; 56 in the In 1800; the population of the globe United States; 20 in Germany; 14 in about 700,000,000, of whom some Netherlands, and 20 in other lands. Many of these are doubtless small. sustained by the facts. Mr. Henry Fifty have incomes of $10,000 and up- A. Hinshaw, in the August Science ward, and twenty report over $100,- Monthly, says: "At the end of the 000. At least ten of these have got mission rule the Indian was really three-fourths of their funds from less capable of taking care of himself 1tative converts! than at the beginning. He was found Roman Oatholicism, if we may trust a free man, he was left a dependent.
the "Catholic Dh;.ectory," for last year, Driven to church by the whip, forced has, in the United States, 13 arcb- to kneel by being punched by goads, bishops, 73 bishops, 8,332 priests, 2,132 with no free or rational cultivation of ecclesiastical students, 7,523 churches, mind or conscience, the religious in- 3,302 chapels and stations, 35 theo- struction made up of scarcely any- logical seminaries, 102 colleges, 635 thing else but ritual and superstition, academies, 3,194 parochial schools and the idea of obedience to the priest, with 633,238 pupils in them, 553 chari- the result was what might have been table institutions, and about 8,000,000 expected." Why should the Govern- members. ment continue to appropriate money The approximate distribution of to such schools?
missionaries is said to be as follows: -M. Monod says he adopts very No. of Mis- .much the words of one of his best col- Populatlou. sionaries. Proportion porteurs: "It seems to me supersti- .syria …….. 3.000,000 100 lto 80,000 tion is not so general as it was, and Turkey …… 21,000,000 450 lto 45,000 that what people call the' Protestant Madagascar. 5,000,000 50 1 to 100,000 Burma …… 8,000,000 40 1to 200,000 faith' is honored by many Roman Japan……. 38,000,000 200 1to 200,000 Catholics, who ten years ago felt noth- Jndia …….. 250,000,000 900 1 to 275,000 Persia……. 7,500,000 80 1to 300,000 ing but a bitter hatred against the ·.Africa.•… _..250,000,000 600 1 to 400,000 Gospel and the Scriptures which we s. America'.. 80,000,000 75 1to 400,000 colporteurs circulate. Blessed be the Korea…….. 9.000,000 25 1to 400,000 Lord for that! Those times are gone, .Siam …….. 8,000,000 18 1to 000,000 and the light of the Gospel seems to Chiua …….. 380,000.000 600 J.toQ..A5O,OOO spread. The Lord gives me new Arabia……. 6,000,000 4 1 to 1,500,000 'Tbibet.. ….. 15,000.000 7 1 to 2,000,000 openings, and I must hasten to meet In Sahara district with 3,000,000; . theln." ~ Afghanistan, etc., with 3,500,000; An- -The women's societies in America nam, etc., with 12,000,000; Russia, are doing untold good by preparing 16,000,000; Algeria, etc., 12,000,000; and scattering broadcast missionary Soudan, 75,000,000, there is an ENTIRE literature in condensed and cheap DESTITUTION. forms. Some of us, in·this fast age, [Weare aware that the above must skim the great pan and serve figures are not exact, but they are the up the cream in little pitchers, rich best we have been able to'Obtain from and sweet. Our" little pitchers" are a variety of sources. We shall be multiplying. Brief, compact and in- grateful to anyone who will furnish teresting leaflets, containing the great us correct and reliable statistics.-ED- facts of missions, or short biographical lTOR.] sketches, or quaint stories of a half- -Senator Dawes, opposing an in- humorous sort to illustrate giving and crease to the appropriations to Roman praying, and helping in the work, are Catholic schools among the Indians, freely circulated. Those who can declared the 120 years of Jesuit mis- condense the facts into a small space sionary work among the Indians of and yet preserve all their vitalizing California had left them less capable force are benefactors indeed, and this of self-support than it had found the women of our day are doing with them. The accusation seems to be well grand success. -The Church of Scotland Mission -On the plains and in the selva.s of Record nobly says: Brazil there are a million of wild " But no one can pretend that our Indians, ignored by the Christian missionary collections are such as world.
ought to satisfy us. Let us remember – During the past ten years over how large is our number of communi- 11,000 converts have been gathered in cants-about 588,000. Our missionary the missionary fields of the Moravian contributions show but a very small Church.
sum as given per communicant. For -Sabbath observance is making the foreign mission, or mission to the great progress in Paris. A determined heathen abroad, there was contributed effort is made to close all places of last year by the church at home, business on Sunday.
through the assembly scheme, the -Ninety thousand copies of the ladies' association, legacies and special illustrated Bible, issued in weekly subscriptions, a total of £28,331-not , parts, have been sold among the quite one shilling from every com- Roman Catholics in Italy.
municant. And when we exclude the -The last five years have seen ladies' association, legacies and special greater developments in the opening subscriptions, it appears that the sum and Christianizing of Africa than the raised for tilis object by church col- ninety-five years preceding.
lections in Scotland was £13,172-giv- -The Gospel of Matthew has been ing an average of only 5 1-4d from translated into the Laos language by each communicant. We grant that Mrs. McGilvary of the Presbyterian many of our communicants are poor Board. The Acts of the Apostles is persons, but it will not be denied that also nearly ready.
the great majority are in circum- -The American Baptist Telugu stances to afford some help to any Mission calls for a re-inforcement of good cause which thoroughly interests twenty-five men in the next two sears.
them. If they give nothing, or very Dr. J. E. Clough, of Ongole, has under little, we must conclude either that his care more than 17,000 Christians.
they do not know that there is an -:Et!!',">Dr. Boggs, of Ramapatam, object deserving and needing their aid, says all India is in a state of ferment.
or that they feel no interest, or little The Hindus and Mohammedans interest, in it." actively oppose the advance of Chris- -Arch-deacon Farrar, of London, tianity, and at the same time mis- says: "It comes with shocking ill sionary work is pushed more vigor- grace, and sounds like shameful ously than ever.
hypocrisy, when those who give -The appropriations of the Ameri- nothing and do nothing for mis- can Baptist Missionary Union for the sions, make the 'home heathen' year ending March 31, 1891, are $503,- a false excuse for doing nothing. 159.53. The society calls for an im- They talk as if it were weakening the mediate special contribution of $50,000 resources of England and surely that to meet the deficiency caused by the is stupendous nonsense when we are passage of the silver bill.
not even spending as much on mis- -Four railroads are projected, or sions as on tobacco and Christmas in process of construction, from the cards." east coast of Africa toward the in- -Canon Christopher, one of the terior ; one in the territory of British notable men of Cambridge, England, East Africa Company, one in German proclaims his interest in missions territory, one in the Portuguese pos- by annually entertaining a great sesions, and one passing through Port- company of representative men to uguese territory to the domain of the breakfast. British South African Company.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Foreign Mission Notes, by Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, England.
African Mlssions.-There are re- cessible. remarkably intelligent, and ported to be over 500 missionary considered by the missionaries to be stations in the Dark Continent, with more Christian, on the whole, than the which 400,000 converts are associated, ordinary run of Christians in England.
whose numberis increasing at a yearly By the Rev. W. E. Taylor, (C. M. S., average of 25,000 souls. Frere Town,) it was observed that the Slavery.-A meeting held at the present is the time to win the popula- Stanley and African Exhibition in tion to Christianity, otherwise they London was addressed by several re- would be made converts to Moham- turned missionaries, of different so- medanism. The Rev. R. P. Ashe cieties. Their reports were very en- (late missionary of the C. M. S. at couraging, especially as to the Congo Uganda) said that the friends of mis- region. Lord Knutsford urged more sions do not realize that the mission- exertion for the suppression of the aries in Central Africa have, with less horrible slave traffic. Although the assistance, d1fficulties to face, corresc British are less directly active in com- ponding to those which Mr. Stanley batting it they seem determined to narrated in "Darkest Africa." A col- banish the great curse of Africa. So lection was taken for the purchase far as Pro1!estant societies are con- of a steamer to be launched on the eerned they are free from the disgrace waters of Victoria Nyanza for the use of buying boys and girls to train them of the Church Missionary Society's as Christians, whereas, French Catho- agents. The total outlay will be £5,000, lie societies openly countenance this of which £2,300 has been secured. In unwisfj .pgliey. A representative of aid of this desirable object Mr. Stanley the -~Anti-Slavery Society entreated made an eloquent appeal in the eol- English people to eschew the use of umns of The London Times, to British ivory, every scrap of which, accord- Christians. ing to Mr. Stanley, issteep~la:lnblood. Bishop Smythies.-The brave lead- The venerable Archdeacon Maple, of er of the Universities' Mission, de- the Universities' Mission, described parting once more to his field, his work on Lake Nyassa. He paid a preached a farewell sermon to a eon- warm tribute to the African Lakes gregation of supporters in St. John's, Company for resistance to the intro- Red Lion Square, Holborn, from the duction of liquor and to similar evils. mlsslOnary passage in Col. il-:3, The work of Dr. Laws, of the Free "Withal, praying also for us, that Church and of the Scotch Established God would open unto us a door of Church, on the Shire Highlands, was utterance, to speak the mystery of equally eulogized. The Archdeacon Christ, for which I am also in bonds."
said, in face of the partitioning of He returns, accompanied by three Africa by European powers, their clergymen and two lady nurses, mak- duty as pioneers was to maintain their ing a complete mission staff of seventy ground unless superior force com- persons. During his sojourn in pelled them to retire. Dr. Guinness Europe the Bishop visited Berlin, and referred to the scope of the Congo was cordially welcomed by the young Mission, founded in 1878, by Mr. Emperor of Germany, who spoke with Henry Craven and others, which had marked sympathy and appreciation of at the present time three missions the Universities' Mission.
and seventy-five missionaries. No- Cardinal Lavigerie. – After dis- where in the world is mission work cussing in Rome further plans bearing more hopeful. The people were ac- on the anti-slavery question, the • Cardinal passed through Marseilles, on 1890, they had received only £13,000; his way to ~'.lgiers. From there, to meanwhile they had to borrow money Biskra, whence he will make various at a high rate of interest to meet their ,excursions in southern Algeria. . liabilities.
Holland and the S,ave Trade.- Japan. – To secure more help for The principal members of the Belgian the English Church mission in Japan government are impressing upon the an important meeting has been held Dutch cabinet the absolute necessity in the library of the Lambeth Palace, 'of giving its signatures to ,the general London. Bishop Barry said, not- act of the Brussels Conference; if not, withstanding the lateness of the Eng- a stigma will rest on the country in lish Church in the field, it would ulti- preventing the execution of effective mately take the leading place in measures for the suppression of the influence and responsibility among slave trade and its horrors. The ex- Christian communities there. A re- port trade'of the Congo State for the markable feature of the Japanese is second quarter of the year 1890 was their capacity to adapt themselves to double that of the corresponding what they had adopted. The church period of 1889, and five times larger mission had certainly no desire to than it was in 1887. These figures hinder the growth of native institushow the necessity of giving the Congo tions, or .to press upon the Japanese State the means to pursue its honor- any western customs which could not ,able and humane mission. be appreciated or assimilated.
Wesleyan Missionary Society- Madagascar. – Excitement reigns Tonga. – The good news is con- in the island consequent upon the fumed respecting the improved condi- terms of the Anglo-French agreement tion of affairs among the native Wes- becoming known. The various misleyans, chiefly due to the wise inter- sionary societies view with lIlisgivings vention of the High Commissioner, the ultimate action of the queen and Sir J. B. Thurston. The majority of her advisers. As to the immediate the exiled Wesleyans have returned prospects, religiously and politically, from Fiji. With the re-affirmation of the sta£ements of authorities are conreligious liberty, the hitherto sup- flicting. According to agents of the pressed feeling of fear and restraint is London Missionary Society recently beginning to disappear, and large arrived in England, no alarm is ennumbers are again attending the Wes- tertained in relation to Madagascar's 1eyan Church. agreeableness to the French Protecto- rate. An experienced missionary, the Secunderabad.-That ardent Wes- Rev. J. Sibree, believes that there isa leyan missionary, the Rev. William tendency to exaggerate the differ- Burgess, reports that he has baptized ences and apprehend risks only in 200 natives this year (1890), and ex- days to come. The English Governpects shortly to announce double that ment have been gradually compelled number. to subscribe to what the Malagasies must have foreseen many years since. Italy. – In, connection with the A younger missionary, the Rev. James vigorous campaign of English Wes- Taylor, declares the influence exerleyans in the Italian peninsula, the cised by the London Missionary Socidoubted secession of a whole Roman etyon the natives is unequaled by any {)atholic village in Italy to Method- kind of organization in the island, and ism is now ascertained to be beyond that from the Society it would be difdispute. ficult to wean the people.
English Wesleyan Missionary So- On the other hand these assurances ciety Finances. – With regret the are vigorously controverted by the secretaries state that out of a procSpective home income of £100,000 for latest mail communications from the car has remained quiet because she island. Great unrest prevails touch- believed that she was outgrowing the ing the Anglo-French agreement; the time for foreign aggression. She now Hovas pronouncing vehemently finds that she has been sleeping in fan- against a French Protectorate sway. cie<i'security, and to-day she is awake For two powers to deprive a country in a rage. The country is aroused. sUbstantially of her rights and privi- There is a dangerous spirit thrilling leges without consulting her is con- throughout the country. The late po- sidered cruelly unfair. In retaining litical calm has disappeared. To an her freedom to conduct her civil and individual the Hovas are patriotic, commercial intercourse, "Madagas- and, if France insists upon putting car," says the principal local journal, a wrong construction upon the Treaty "will fight to the last if France de- of 1885-6, the Malagasy will heroic- mands the control of the foreign of- ally repel her aggression. Watchful fice, or assumes a protectorate over sympathy is desired for the religious the Government of Her Majesty Ran- and national welfare of a people who avalomanjaka III." This language is are beginning to enter on a civilized unmistakably decisive. Until very career. By the missionaries in particu- recently the government in Madagas- lar, abounding grace and wisdom are car had no idea of the island's liberty needed to guide their converts in the being endangered. A claim of France right paths. some time ago to represent Madagas- London Missionary Society. – car in her foreign relations was re- The London Missionary Society will fused, consistent with articles 1-2 of send delegates to the International the 1885-6 Franco-Malagasy Treaty. Council of Congregationalists, to be It was consequently surmised that held in London in 1891. This step is as France did not urge it ,that she regarded as a sign that the society is inte~ the clauses to refer to moving from a broad evangelical basis the pledge of Madagascar not to to one of a more denominational enter into compact defensively or character. offensively elsewhere unless–tt";"'con- Church Missionary Society.- sent of France was previously ob- The benefactions to the Church Mistained. The Malagasy Government sionary Society for the current year is content to allow France to intervene are about twice as much as those of on her behalf in exterior political mat- the average of the last five years, and ters, quite otherwise respecting inter- the ordinary income steadily increases. nal affairs. Madagascar cherishes her Six London societies send out unindependence and sets great store on ordained missionaries, not demanding everything which develops her re- college education. Thus not only sources, and naturally wishes to retain are wider doors opening before the ' a free hand for her administration and, church in foreign lands, but the gate an openseaboard to transacttrade with ,of entrance for workers is becoming other lands. The organ of the Eng- much broader. lish, The Madagascar Times, asserts Two more young ladies went out that the agreement is a monstrous last month to the Zenana work in contravention of past treaties, and Rajahmundry, India, sent out by the warns France of the dangers which Lutheran Mission Committee. The await her should she persist in taking two workers, Miss Sadtler of Baltinominal possession. "Europe," this more and Miss Schade of New Brighpaper states, "is mistaken in her be- ton, Pa., were given a farewell meetlief that Madagascar has been unde- ing in St. John's Lutheran Church, monstrative because the French con- Philadelphia. A chest of medicines trol affairs. This is not so. Madagas- was presented to the missionaries. Monthly Bulletin. -Miss Anna E. Johnson has left Bryn Mawr, Pa., for the McAll work -Mr. David Sinclair, M.A., princi- in Paris. pal of the Missionary College at Mad- ras, and who, after twenty years of -Two Bengalese ladies, after a five service, retired at the beginning of the years' course, received at Calcutta last year, is dead. University the degree of Bachelor of Medicine. They are both disciples of -Professor Riggenbach, of Basel, Christ. for twelve years president of the great Basel Missionary Society, died also -The British and Foreign Bible So- September 5. He had a fascinating ciety issued last year 3,790,000 copies history. of the Bible, either wholly or in part; -Some 200 Hebrew students in the and the London ReligiouB Tract So- University of Odessa petitioned the ciety 77,000,000 publications, every Russian government to be allowed to one of which, in some form, ango forward with their studies as nounces the glad tidings of salvation Hebrews, and met a refusal. It re- in Christ.
sulted in their conversion to Ohris- -The French Protestant Mission tianity! among the Basutos has over 6,000com- -Bishop Hannington was cruelly municants.
murdered by Mwanga, of Uganda, -Rev. R. Glover, D.D., of Bristol, whose Christian subjects have now re- and Rev. T. M. Morris of Ipswich, instated him on his throne. Two years two of the foremost men of the Bapago Bishop Parker, who followed tist deilOmination in England, are in him, perished on the shores of Victoria China as a deputation from the mis- Nyanza. And now, a third bishop, sionary society to visit the stations Mr. Tucker, has started for equatorial Africa. Thus far these bishops have and report on needs and claims of the ~-…. work.
held office less than two years each; -Arthur Brooks, whom the natives but lor the work in which they per- killeq a year ago in Africa, was the ished .more than twenty have been elev~lM:llartyr the London Mission- found ready to take the place of each ary Society has given to the East one who has died. African Mission. Since then Mr.
-It is proposed to build a sort of Slade's death left but three men to "People's Temple" in London, with carry on this work.
sufficient space for 100,000 persons, so -Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jackson has been that when great public interests are at establishing three new missions-Con- stake room may be found for popular gregational, Episcopal and Presby- meetings and discussions. terian respectively, in Alaska. This -A "Hindoo tract society" in is a practical illustration of inter- Madras is trying to neutralize the denominational comity.
missionaries' work by leaflets in de- -In three colleges of North Caro- fence of Hinduism, as they have lina 15 students have volunteered for already imitated Christian "cate- mISSIons. At Oberlin 32, and $400 chisms " for teaching and indoctrina- have been raised for their outfit.
ting the young. -On Lake Nyassa the Scottish Free -A chair for study of the English Church has, at Bandawe, 1,180 pupils Bible was last year established at and 38 native teachers in its schools.
Princeton College. At Yale over 150 -Moravians distance us all in mis- students of the higher classes elect a sionary heroism. One of their Alaska course of Bible studies, with two lec- missions is 3,000 miles from its base tures a week. of supplies, and sometimes the cold is so intense that even the smoke is a pronouncedly good influence upan turned to frost in chimneys. him and his people. He has abolished drinking in his land, and is always -Mr. Penazottj, the agent of the intent on some reform. His word is American Bible Society, in Peru, is always trusted, not only by the mis- in prison solely for the crime of circu- sionaries, but also by traders and lating the Word of God in the Spanish hunters, wl'lO are mistrustful of every- tongue. His instructing of the people thing accomplished by missions. He has been construed as violating a is sincere, courageous and manly, and semi-obsolete decree of the Peruvian if all Caffre chieftains were like him, {lonstitution. We watch the result of Caffreland would have a very different this trial of Protestantiam in South look from its present one. America with interest. -Basel Missionary Society recently -Rev. John Newton, seventy-eight observed its seventy-fifth anniversary. years old, and oldest of missionaries It has missions in India, China, and in India, landed in Calcutta in 1835, on the African Gold Coast and the and is still a hale and happy worker. Camaroons, and not until recently He is a Presbyterian, and believes in have unmarried lady missionaries goue the" Perseverance of the Saints!" to the frontier to engage in educa- tional and other work among their -According to Dr. Pentecost, dark and darkened sisters. Bishop Taylor is the only evangelist who has left behind him in India a Alaska.-Important are the openpermanent work. We may be per- ings for the spread of the Gospel in mitted to say that our friend Pente- this largest possession of the United cost sometimes allows himself to make States. Its area is 531,409 square statements which are too sweeping, if miles: Arctic division, 125,245; Younot careless. Bishop Taylor not only kon, 70,884; Southeastern, 28,980. Its worked as an evangelist, but he extreme length north and south is founded churches, and large churches, 1,100 miles; its extreme breadth is too, which few evangelists do. Hence, 800 miles. Total population about his eminently scriptural and apostolic 30,426; white, 430; Creole, 1,756; Inwork abides, which cannot be said of nuit, 17,617; Aleut, 2,145; Tenneh, some who only do the work of an 3,927; Thlinket, 6,763; Hyda,788. It evangelist. . occupies the extreme northwest of the continent. This important coun- -Think of America sending a few try was purchased from Russia by the missionaries to Africa and finding it United States government in 1867, difficult to raise enough money to and is now under its control. support them, while Boston alone, from 1882 to 1887, sent to the Dark Turkey.-Great Revival in Aintab. Continent 3,500,000 gallons of strong In the annual report of the American drink! Rev. David A. Day, at Monro- Board the siguificant event in Asiatic via, saw landed at one port on one Turkey was the revival, whereby 538 Sunday 50,000 casks of gin! were added to the church in Aintab, and by its influence no less than 1,000 Africa.-Mr. J. Nixon declares of hopeful conversions occurred within Magata, a chief near Pretoria, where the limits of that one field. The three the Hermannsburg missionaries are centers of collegiate and theological working, that not even in England training were specially blessed. Only has he met with a more perfect gen- a small number of college graduates, tleman. Chief Kchama, he declares, however, enter the theological school, is also a chief whose word can be de- and there is an increasing tendency to pended upon, a noble example of suc- come to America to complete their cessful missionary work. His Chris- studies and to better their fortunes. tianity is nothing nominal, but exerts Cost of War.-According to rep- Canon Liddon on Missions.- resentations given recently in the Across the triumphs and the failures German Reichstag, France has'a war of well-nigh nineteen centuries, the footing of 3,300,000 men; Russia, spiritual ear still catches the accents 2,570,000; Germany, 2,900,000; Austro- of the charge on the mountain in Gali- Hungary, 1,150,000; Italy, 1,090,000; 100; and, as we listen, we note that or these five powers can summon into neither length of time nor change of the field, should the necessity require circumstance has impaired their it, 11,019,000. Who can foretell the solemn and enduring force. It is a awful consequences should any power precept which, if it ever had binding be so rash as to let loose the war virtue, must have it at this moment dragon? And to prevent such a catas- over all who believe in the Divine trophy, it is deemed necessary to keep Speaker's power to impose it-it must up a peace footing for Russia of 314,- bind us as distinctly as it was binding 000; France, 511,334; Germany, 486,- on the first disciples. Weare ambas- 983; Austro-Hungary, 325,693; Italy, sadors of a charity which knows no 255,418; or in all, 2,393,423. distinctions between the claimants on Worth Noting.-The secular press. its bounty, and no frontier save those announces that Abbe Mesmer has of the races of man. A good Chrisstarted from Rome to assume his posi- tian can not be other than eager for tion at the head of the Roman Catho- the extension of our Lord's Kingdom lic University in Washington. In among men, not only from his sense of this case at least, we regret that the what is due to the Lord who bought law which prohibits the importation him, but also from his natural sense of of contract labor will not be enforced. justice, his persuasion that he has no We trust, however, that the American right to withhold from others those public will not lose sight of the fact privileges and prospects which are the that this new university is to be placed joy of his own inmost life. When he under the direction of tt foreigner, and finds comfort in the power of prayer, of one who comes witk the blessing of when he looks forward in humble a Pope who, from his hatred of free confidence to death, when he enjoys institutions, continu~s to keep up the the blessed gift of inward' peacefarce of his being a prisoner in the peace between the soul and its God, Vatican, and is arrayed in open an- peace between the soul's various powtagonism to the civil law of Italy. If ers and faculties-he cannot but ask the man is like the· master, we may the question: "Do I not owe it to the reasonably expect that the consistent millions who have no part in these policy which has been so long main- priceless blessings that I should do tained in Italy will not be forgotten what I can myself, or through others in America. to extend to them a share in this smile of the Universal Father which is the Mr. W. F. Wilkinson.-Another joy and consolation of my life? Can worker fallen on the Congo. The I possibly neglect the command to Baptist Missionary Society have re- make disciples of all nations?"-Spirit ceived this.sad intelligence of one who of Missions.
less than ·six months ago was set Rev. Dr. A. P. Happer, President apart at the Society's Birmingham of the Christian College, Canton, meetings for the noblest of callings. China, .is ordered by his physician to Of heroic ardor, the death of so give up work and return home. He young a man cannot be other than a has disease of the heart. As soon as source of grief to all wilo follow with the trustees appoint his successor he interested eye the course of the con- will hand over the College, which he flict. is now arranging to do.
The Missionary Review of the World — November 1890
THE DUTY OF CHRISTENDOM TO THE JEWS
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No. ll.-Old Series.– NOVEMBER. –VOL. ill. No. 11.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE DUTY OF CHRISTENDOM TO 'I'HE .JEWS.
BY REV. F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK.
That most intelligent and devoted friend of missions, Robert N. Cust, LL. D., of London, has published recently in the Church Missionary Intelligencer, an able article on the changing phases of the non-Christian religions, in which occurs an interesting monograph on "Neo Judaism." Dr. Cust is a member, not only of the Administrative Committee of the Church Missionary Society, but also of the London Missionary Society to the Jews, and he is equally qualified to speak of the operations and the successes of both. More than this, he is a man who thoroughly acquaints himself with the character of those systems which he hopes to see displaced by the Gospel of Christ. He confesses that great success has not as yet crowned the efforts of Christian missionaries among the Jews, either in London or in the cities of the Continent and of northern Africa. But he is none the less certain as to the duty of the Christian Church. He states that the Jews now number not less than 7,000,000, and are, therefore, a much more numerous people than were ruled over by David or Solomon-more numerous, in fact, than Palestine could possibly have supported.
If Dr. Custis correct in this estimate-and he seldom errs in matters of fact-the return to the Holy Land must be hastened, or it can only be re-occupied by representation. For what race, unless it be the American Negro, increases so rapidly as the Hebrew? Wherever the environment is favorable, and he has an equal chance with others, the Jew is the most thrifty of men, not only in money-getting but in the number and healthfulness of his children. Where the native American imagines that he cannot afford to marry, and must be satisfied with the" club" instead of a home, the Jew rears a prosperous family, and in the end endows them with wealth.
That the Hebrew race have suffered great persecution during the past centuries, must be confessed to the shame of the Christian Church. They have found in Europe as well as Africa and western Asia, another and much longer Babylonish captivity. But that this has been wholly due to religious prejudice cannot be affirmed. The tone and implication of Shakespeare's" Merchant of Venice" must rest on a basis which, even in his time, was historic. Probably the prejudice and contempt entertained toward the race by their Roman conquerors was fully as strong as has ever been exercised by the most bigoted of Christian nations. Nay, the latter .prejudice may have been in part an heirloom of the former.
The strangest prejudice and the greatest injustice and oppression now visited upon the Jews, so far as the Christian powers are concerned, are found in eastern Europe, where the doctrines of Christianity have the slightest hold, and where governmental policy and the bitterness of industrial competition must be held responsible for the entire crusade. One million of Jews are now being banished from Russian territory, not because of their faith but because the Government does not regard them as desirable subjects.
One thing is certain, whatever prejudice exists against the Hebrew population in the United States, does not arise from differences of .faith. Their best friends, both in this country and in Great Britain, are found in the Christian Church-certainly in the Protestant Church.
Some months since, the question was sent out to different men of prominent positions among us, "What is the occasion of the prevailing prejudice against the Hebrews ?" , Generally the re.sponse given was, "We are not aware of any prejudice." . Several clergymen disavowed any feeling of the kind. But Rev. Edward Everett Hale was cre~ited with charging the hostile feeling to a difference of religious faith.
As the implication was that of a prejudice now existing on the part of the American churches, we must earnestly protest against it. Mr. Hale cannot be aware-possibly he has forgotten-that four or five years ago, U. S. Minister Strauss was chosen to represent our Government at Constantinople on the recommendation of the missionary boards, and that petitions from the missionaries in the Turkish Empire were sent to Washington asking that he might be appointed for a second term.
The hostile feeling against the Jews in this country grows out of business relations. It is not cherished by Christians as such, but by those who have had to do with them in trade, or by those who have been employed by them in manufacturing. The trades unions, largely composed of infidels and Nihilists, would probably be found to represent the most bitter of all the animosities that they encounter. Whether it be just or not, there exists a feeling that the chief oppressors of poor needle-women are Jews. The industries in which unfortunate and starving females engage, as a last resort, are mostly in the hands of this class of men, and when the ruinous rates at which manufactured garments are produced in the attics and tenement houses of desperate poverty corne to be known, it must not be thought strange if popular sympathy and indignation are aroused. Some Americans join in the same extortion, but their miserable plea is that .competition compels them to do what others do. As a rule, women do not "strike." They suffer on and die, and their employers prosper .and live on Fifth Avenue.
There are among our Hebrew citizens thousands of worthy and honorable business men who suffer unjustly from the prejudice which .other thousands of their race have brought upon them, and it is to be hoped, that on the one hand, public opinion will become more discrimjnating, while on the other, the example of the nobler Hebrew tradesmen will raise the standard of honor and humanity among all their race.
Another thing which creates prejudice against the Jews may be regarded as a mere accident of their phenomenal thrift. At the summer resorts they are deemed undesirable guests on account of rough and disagreeable manners. This is no proof that the average of the race is more clownish or swinish than other races. Quite as disagree- ,able companionship might be found among the Irish, or some classes of native-bom Americans, but the difference is, that these are not found at first-class hotels; with them, there is a different relation between manners and money. Financial competency reaches a lower stratum in Jewish society than in any other. It extends to classes among whom the gentle amenities of life are unknown, and even good grammar is wanting. And the same habit of overreaching, which has made the money, is carried into all the contacts and experiences of hotel life.
Now, it is quite time that the common notion that Jews are suffering from any narrow religious prejudice of the Christian Church were laid aside.
How is it in Mohammedan countries where a common rejection of Christianity might be supposed to draw both classes of rigid Monothists together in full sympathy? In no Christian country-not even in Russia-is there so bitter a hatred, so degrading a bondage for the ~ews as in northern Africa-particularly in Morocco. They are thrifty in money matters, even there. It is impossible to impoverish them by any ordinary measures of oppression. On some accounts it is for the interest of impecunious Moors, and even of the officials, to have such a class from whom to borrow money, and by whose energy business shall be kept from stagnation, but as to indignitIes of every kind, the treatment meted out to them is almost incredible. They must wear a prescribed attire, and dwell in a certain quarter, and submit to many special police regulations; while in taxation, the only question is how far the life blood can be drawn with safety.
It seems strange that in their wide range among the nations, these people who are not a nation, cling to the Mohammedans and the Christians. Though the world is open before them, and they do not seem bound by local attachments, they are never found among the heathen. Opportunities for money-getting have been great in the East; almost every other race of Europe and western Asia-ancient and modern-has been lured by the wealth of India or China or the southern Archipelago, but never the Jew. His financial counterpart, the Parsee, is everywhere found in the East, driving bargains with Jewish sagacity, in opium or in spices and coffee, but the Hebrew has never crossed their track. Even in those centuries where he has suffered the greatest disabilities in the proscribed "Jew quarters" of European or Levantine cities, it seems never to have occurred to him to join the rush of Persians, Pathans, Macedonians, Portuguese, Dutch, and English, after the wealth of the heathen Orient. He preferred to be snubbed and crushed by Christian and Moslem nations, and to find solace in that money-getting passion which, in the course of centuries, has become a nature.
Hertzog alludes to the fact that the Jew confines himself mostly to temperate latitudes; he is not found in the tropics of either hemisphere. And our readers hardly need to be reminded that he is always found in the cities. Who ever heard of a Hebrew farmer ?-at least this side of Bible times. The Nomadic character has forsaken him. He is no longer a keeper of sheep. Yet, no other race except the Hindu or the Mongolian has shown such tenacity of life and such unimpaired vigor. The Romans who crushed the national life of Israel, on the one hand, and t].}e Assyrians who enslaved and scattered the chosen tribes, on the other, have alike perished, while the seed of Abraham, driven everywhither, have survived and are more numerous and a hundredfold more thrifty than in the days of Solomon and his glory.
The financial power of Jewish bankers on the Continent of Europe has become proverbial. The author of La France Juive claims that French politics, as well as finance, are largely controlled by the same race. We have, in our day, seen a D'Israeli climb to the heights of power in England, and wield a magician's wand over Queen and Parliament, and finally win for himself a statue in the consecrated shrine of national heroes and statesmen.
On this side of the Atlantic, the main business thoroughfare of our great metropolis is exchanging the names of its old American firms for the names of German Jews. 'l'hey are sure to become not only a great financial power but a strong social and political element in this country. The logic of their twofold increase-by natural generation and by immigration-renders certain a great future development.
Meanwhile, there is reason to believe that a better state of feeling is springing up. If the Jew has been rather Ishmaelitish than Israelitish it is not wholly his fault, though it is in part. On both sides, there should be confidence, and among business men of the highest grade there is already a clasping of hands over the old "wall of partition.'" Dr. Cust quotes from an address, delivered this very year, by Dr. Adler (not Felix), in the great synagogue in Aldgate, in the presence -of the Lord-Mayor, himself a Jew, in which the Rabbi alluded to the influence exerted by that synagogue. "Many a soul-stirring service," said the speaker, "has been witnessed within its venerable walls. Whatever the event that moved the hearts of England's sons-when a great victory evoked national rejoicing; when a sovereign had been _stricken down by illness, and when it pleased the Lord to send him healing; when a joyous jubilee was kept, and when death had entered -the palace-every event was commemorated in the great synagogue with the voice of prayer and supplication, of praise and thanksgiving, proving that the Israelite then, as always, was steeped to the very lips with loyalty. Nor were the administrators of the synagogue unmindful of the needs of their fellow-men-though of other lands and -creeds. Whether the appeal came to relieve a famine in Sweden, or to diminish the sufferings of English prisoners in France, or a plaint reached these shores from the hunger-stricken children of Ireland- the authorities of the great synagogue were ever ready to aid and to succor."
The benefactions as well as the exalted character of a Moses Montifiore are fresh in the mind of every reader. And that love of fair play which is so strong in the character of Englishmen, is welcoming :such men as he to their confidence, and is appreciating the philanthropic efforts of the great synagogue.
Instead of clinging to an old religious grudge against the race, Christian London is the focal centre of interest ih their welfare. Mis- -sions to the Jews at home and abroad are multiplied, and the strong :prayer of faith is offered up by thousands of devout Christians that God 'Will redeem His own chosen people by the blood of an accepted Christ!
It must be confessed that the Christian Church at large has seemed to be apathetic in regard to Jewish missions, but it has been rather the apathy of despair than of indifference. There has been too great .a readiness to "turn unto the Gentiles" and to consider the engrafted "wild olive" the real tree. At the London Missionary Conference of 1888, Mr. James E. Mathieson quoted the late Dr. Schwartz as saying, '''You Gentile Christians take all the sweet promises to yourselves, out you leave all the curses to the poor Jews." And in continuing, Mr. MathieRon alluded to a custom of the Scotch ecclesiastical bodies .()f rising at the close of their sessions (though they usually sit in prayer), and singing with marked solemnity: "Pray for the 'peace .()f Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee," etc. "But they do not mean Jerusalem," he added, "and they do not mean the Jews: they mean the Established Church and the Free Church of Scotland." 18 Dot this something like "robbery for burnt offering ?"
But, however, the Church, a8 a whole, may have negleeted her duty, there have always been those who have God's chosen people in their hearts. Count Zinzendoof, the founder of the Moravian Mis- sions, took a warm interest in the Jews, and he had the great joy, in 1735, of seeing a prominent Jewish rabbi become a member of the' Moravian Church, and a successful missionary among his people. "Everywhere," says Dr. Fleming, Secretary of the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, "he won the esteem of the Jews, and not long since, a gift was sent to the Moravian Church at Herrnhut by a Jewish family who cherished the traditions of bless- ing through Rabbi Lieberkiihn."
The London Society, above named, has been at work for over eighty years. Nor is it alone. There are altogether eight Jewish missionary societies in England, five in Scotland, and one in Ireland. Together, these employ 312 agents. On the Continent of Europe, the societies number 27. America has seven, with 34 agents. Thus 48 societies with 377 agents are striving to win God's ancient people to· tlileir own Messiah. That their labors have not been wholly in vain is shown by the estimated fact that 100,000 Jews have been baptized in the last seventy-five years, and that with their children the number' of believers may be set down at 250,000. Among these have been many distinguished men.
Though these numbers are not relatively great, yet it is believed that the breaking down on both sides of an unrelenting prejudice, has been a far greater result and one which opens the way for blessed in-gatherings in the time to come.
There are certainly some valid grounds of hope for the Jews, even aside from the Divine promises. They are less tenacious of their old faith than they were formerly. Though still more or less clannish, yet they are more than ever disposed to break down barriers and be like other people. They are getting tired of the real or imagined stigma and reproach attached to their name. Each successive generation cares less for the old shibboleths and more for the privileges of social life without distinction of race.
It is seen that the prophetic situation is awkward. If the Messiah has come, who, and what was He? If He has not come, when will He appear? If sacrifice symbolized a promised Redeemer why is it not 'kept up? Why is the Moslem permitted to hold century after century, the only place of sacrifice, unless to show that its meaning is done away and its necessity gone? Perhaps it is in despair over such questions as these that multitudes of Jews are driven to Agnosticism., More and more Jews observe our Sabbath as a day of rest, and their Sabbath-schools inevitably tend toward Christian ways. It is well-nigh impossible to prevent their children from coming intosympathy with the Christian institutions and customs which prevaiL around them. Two or three years ago a liberal-minded and philanthropio Jew in Italy offered an immense sum of money to be devoted to the edu- oation of children in Russia, and recommended that Jews and Chris- tians be educated together. His idea was that the race distinction should be ignored, and that the young of his people should be allowed to become absorbed in the national life wherever they might be, and that gradually the distinction between Jew and Gentile should dis- appear. It may be, that social abs!)rption, intermarriage, the assimi- lating influence of the common school, the fading out of the Jewish pride and prejudice of race are to be factots in God's plan of recovery. Doubtless, they will have a part to act, but God's express will is that the Gospel shall be ,faithfully preached meanwhile, and that prayer be .offered for His people. '
Surely the Christian Church owes it to itself to present no higher consideration to promote the spiritual enlightenment of the Jews. We ourselves need this effort, if only tt> remind us continually how much we owe to the race that ga,ve us the Saviour of mankind-if only to keep fresh in memory the great missionary whom the Jewish race gave as the Apostle to us Gentiles. Our indebtedness for the Chief of the apostles will never be paid. The Gentile world, with its Christian institutions, is a monument of the great fact that it is possible to overcome the most inveterate Jewish prejudice, and to win the stoutest Pharasaic heart to Christ. If Paul could be converted and could convert thousands of others of his own faith, the Christian Church has no right to despair. Jew:ish synagogues were the first cradles of the nascent church in all lands. They opened their doors to the apostles for the planting of the first germs of truth, and Jewish converts everywhere gave character and steadiness to the ignorant Gentile church.
But, how shall the Jews of our time be reached? The London Society, as the result of eighty years of experience, answers this question under the following heads: (1.) By striving to win their confidence by removing prejudice: (a.) Never speak sneeringly or disparagingly of them; overcome the habit in ourselves and others. (b.) Manifest sympathy with them as a nation and as individuals. (c.) Win confidence by medical missions.
(2.) By preaching the Gospel as the apostles preached it-proving from their own Scriptures that Christ is the promised Messiah.
(3.) By encouraging a diligent, oandid, and prayerful study of the whole Bible-the Old and the New Testament in their connection.
(4.) By educating Jewish children. In a school supported by the Society, in Palestine Place, London, where 595 Jewish boys have been educated, the master, after 28 years of service, does not know of one pupil, who, after pursuing a full course, has relapsed into Judaism.
(5.) By assisting poor Jewish youth to obtain positions and Imcouraging them in seeking a subsistence.
(6.) By training promising young men as missionaries. tt should not be forgotten, as an encouragement, that the Jews are worshippers of our God, have a large portion of our Bible, are sharers of our civilization, speak our language, and are-or ought to be-our friends as well as neighbors, and are even before us, heirs of the covenant of promise !
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS.
THE WONDERFUL STORY OF MADAGASCAR. [EDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] To an English boy, Robert Drury, wrecked near Port Dauphine, the Southeastern cape of Madagascar, we owe the first full account of the savages on this great island. He saw the captain and crew, who escaped with him from the angry sea, pierced with the lances of the inhospitable natives, till out of over a hundred only a dozen survived, and he himself was saved only to be enslaved. This was early in this century. He found the country divided among many warring tribes; might the only right, women and children carried off like cattle and made slaves; woman, so degraded that even the King's daughter, wife or mother, cringed before him and licked his feet. Heathen ceremonies of the most absurd and degrading kind were matters of daily occurrence. A wooden charm called an owZey, borne up by forked sticks, was worshiped with incense. Fortune tellers, or umossees, held the people in the bondage of superstition, and lived upon their ignorance and credulity. The Malagasy were the victims of magicians, and constantly fought and plundered one another, The arrival of a European vessel was the signal for wholesale crimes of lust and trading in human bodies and: souls. All who had slaves drove them to the seaside.
Half a century ago the Hovas held the interior portion of the island, and their King or chief, who was called Radama, had come to the throne in 1808. With these Hovas and their sovereigns the modern history of Madagascar is mainly concerned, Morally and spiritually the picture is very dark. From three to four thousand natives were sold, it is said, every year, and the spot where they caught the last glimpse of home, and the first glimpse of the sea that was to bear them into hopeless exile, is even now called the''weeping pZace ofthe Hovas." Though they had courts of law, bribery was so common that trial was a form and a farce. Honesty was scarce known, and children were trained to falsehood and deception as a virtue. Punishments were savagely cruel, devised to give long, lingering pain-burning by slow fires, drowning in boiiing water, poisoning by tangena, beating, starving, hurling over precipices, crucifying. 'fhe tangena was a substitute for trial, and thousands died every year from this poison, while those who proved their innocence by outliving the dose were wrecked in health.
The people were a nation of thieves as well as liars. Madame Pfeiffer's property was stolen while at the house of the Chief Justice, but }'ecovery was impossible, where even high officers stole. Even graves were robbed, bodies stripped, and every article of value buried with the dead was an object of ruthless plunder. The nation was so wedded to lying and thieving that Christianity was objected to because it taught people to be true and honest. They were so far lost to all virtue that they resisted any influence that promised moral improvement. .As to the homes of Madagascar, there were none. A native never I:lpoke ,of family or family ties. Madame Pfeiffer's travels had brought t.o her knowledge no people so immoral, and her pen refused to chronicle what her eyes and ears were compelled to see and hear. The worst vices were so universal as to seem natural. A man might put away his wife for no cause and take a fresh one as often as his caprice or passion led him; female virtue was of so little account that it did not ·even affect the legitimacy of offspring. Children born on unlucky days it was no crime to strangle, drown or expose to the trampling feet of cattle.
The Hovas were not an irreligious people-idols filled the land. ·Gods were so plenty that anything new, which they did not compre- hend, though it were a machine or a photograph, they deified. Their idols were conceived as having all power, but neither knowledge nor .goodness, virtue nor love; they were simply human greed, cruelty,mean- ness and malice, invested with almightiness! monsters of lies and lusts.
Among such a people-of whom the French governor of the Isle of Bourbon said, "You might as well attempt to convert sheep, oxen or -asses, as to make the Malagasy Christians "-among such a people the gospel has gone to win some of its mightiest triumphs.
The first obvious step that God took was one of preparation. He -gave Madagascar political unity. King Radama in his reign of twenty years"proved himself the Cresar or Napoleon" of his realm, making him- self master of the whole island except two districts in the South,and this rendered easier the spread of a new faith, as the unification of the Roman Empire had done eighteen centuries before. Radama was at ·once a general, a ruler and a reformer. He had with all his faults and vices a patriotic spirit. Contact with European civilization had becn sufficient to satisfy him of its superior type, and he first opened the -door to civilization and Christianity that he might secure the progress .and prosperity of his people. He made a treaty with Britain, abolishing the slave trade, though domestic slavery still prevailed in his own ,dominions; and seeing t~e benefits accruing to even heathen lands from the gospel of Ohrist, he welcomed the pioneer English mission- -ary, in 1820, to his capital Antananarivo, and kept his word, which pledged to him and others who might join him royal protection.
The missionaries reduced the language of the people to writing, and in teaching and preaching had all their time and strength employed. -God gave them the king's patronage; an adult sch,ool was opened in the palace court yard, and by his favor a central model school was -opened for training native teachers for the villages round about; and when murmurs arose against the missionaries, because their teachings lessened respect for the native religion, Radama had the independence ;and the indifference to go on with the work of education, at heart -caring nothing for the idols that the Hovas worshipped. In 1826 the first printing press was set up in the i.sland, and a new literature began to be created. The people were slowly waking from the sleep of ages. But at the death of Radama, in June, 1828, not'om~' convert had yet made a confession of Christ. The king himself was a progressive sovereign, but he was led simply by worldly wisdom. It was civilization and not Christianity, as such, that he encouraged. He was too intelligent to have faith in priestcraft and witchcraft, but too carnally minded to embrace Christianity or even attend preaching services.
And now opens the era of a most bloody and cruel persecution. One of Radama's wives, Ranavalona, took forcible possession of the throne, mounting it by murdering all rivals. If Radama was the Cresar, she was the" Bloody Mary," of Madagascar. From twenty to thirty thousand victims fell annually a prey to her cruelty. She was as reckless as Nero, as treacherous as Judas, and as selfish as Cleopatra. Her chief amusement was a bull-fight, her imperial journeys were·· destructive raids that left famine in their track, and her whole rule was that of a despot that cared neither for the liberty nor life of her subjects. She would waste tears over the death of a favorite bull, and lavish honors on its burial, such as not even the decease of her whole· family would have drawn forth. Had her reign been long, the island would have been a depopulated desert; and as it was, it has been calculated that half of the population perished under her. bloody sceptre. We purposely draw her hideous portrait that it may be seen what wasthe natural flower of the Madagascar society, and under what a deadly influence the infant church of Christ there struck down its tender' roots and unfolded its stalk.
There was everything, humanly speaking, to prevent the gospel from getting any hold in Madagascar. The soil was thick with the awful growths of a paganism of the lowest type; and a queen who had neither justice nor mercy was ready to pluck up the first plant of godliness, 01' burn over any field where the seed of the gospel might spring up. Among her first acts was the prohibition of all preaching and the breaking up o~ the schools. 4fterward, probably from motives of policy, she permitted the missionaries not only to make converts, but to organize native Christian churches, and, in 1831, twenty were baptized, among them "Paul," who had been a famous heathen diviner, but who had become a humble learner in the school of Christ.
As soon as the work of conversion thus began in earnest, the queen Bet herself resolutely against it. Her hatred and cruelty were so satanic' that a pall seemed to have fallen upon the whole people. The preaching went forward, and the queen was besought not to persecute the· new disciples. But it was all in vain. In March, 1834, a royal proc– lamation was made in the ears of a hundred thousand people drawn. up on the plain, Imahamasina, declaring war against the new faith•.. Converts were branded as criminals, and required to accuse themselves within one week on pain of death. Astonishing as it may seem, the, great body of these native disciples stood firm. Praying for help, trusting in God, they appeared before the judges and confessed their faith in Jesus. In these days of peril these Malagasy Christians spent whole nights in prayer, by their fidelity to an unseen Saviour exciting the astonishment of their very enemies. The queen contented herself in this case with degrading four hundred officers and fining two thou~ sand others. A week httor she demanded all books to be delivered up. As all literature on the island was the creation of the mission press, this edict was aimed against the Bible. But the brave Malagasy would not give up the Scriptures, which some of them had walked a hundred miles to procure.
The strong hold of the gospel upon the native J,J:ovas could be ac- counted for on no philosophy that excludps the power of God. Al~ ready twenty~four hundred of the queen's officers were among the con~ verts, and in the army the best and bravest soldiers were also soldiers of Christ. In vain were they placed in the most exposed positions in the battle: they still routed the foe. Thirty~thousand Hovas could read the Scriptures. Many cast away idols and superstitious charms.
Large congregations met at the capital and the influence reached hundreds of miles in every direction. No fault could be found in the Chi-istians of Madagascar, except that founl! with Daniel in Baby~ lon-they believed in their God. Wheu compelled to cease public labor, the missionaries worked privately, and besides teaching the people, published the complete Old Testament and" Pilgrim'S Progress." Then, driven from the island, they left the young church of Christ without a foreign mi~sionary among them, in July, 1836; and for twenty-five long years, persecution which had bared her red right arm continued to make it a crime to confess Jesus as Saviour aud Lord. .
Ranavalona 1., ather coronation in June, 1829, took two of the na- tional idols in her hands and said, "From my ancestors I received you; in you I put my trust, therefore support me.. " And, robed in scarlet.
and gold, those idols were held at the front of the platform to overawe the multitude while the ceremonies went forward. Here was a throne literally pillared on idols, as her reign abundantly proved.
There .were four eras of persecution, lasting respectively for fourr seven, three and. two years, together reaching from 1835 to 1860, with intervals of comparative quiet. The third was the most severe.
Christians met secretly in each other's houses, and traveled sometimes twenty miles to mountain tops, to praise and pray and read the word of God.
A woman of high family, Rafaravavy, became a sincere disciple and opened one of the largest houses in the capital for Christian worship. Despite the queen's hostile attitude, she continued to hold Sunday .evening meetings. She refused to reveal the names of her fellowworshipers, and the queen in a rage ordered her put to death. While -expecting cruel tortures, she retained her serene composure; the peacc {)f God filled her soul. Her life was spared, but her property in part ~onfiscated. She continued to meet believers, however, and the number of converts constantly increased. These persecuted disciples, bereft of human teachers, looked only to the Holy Spirit as teacher, and became themselves instructors of others who could not read. Their .quick sensibilities made them weep at the bare mention of Jesus. Rafaravavy's house was assaulted by a mob, and she was led away, as ~he snpposed, to execution, and put in irons; but a terrible conflagration that same night was snpposed to have alarmed the queen and .aroused her supe;stitious fears, and the penalty was delayed. At last .sentence of perpetual slavery was inflicted on all who had been seized in Rafaravavy's house, and Rasalama, another of the women, was speared while kneeling in prayer. Thus, on August 14, 1837, the first Mada- .gascar martyr died witnessing for Jesus. Two hundred converts were .enslaved for Jesus' sake at this time. Some of those thus enslaved to traders, afterwards escaped, but astonished their masters by returning to them accounts of their goods, with money obtained from sales. Fugitives hid three months at a time in forests. Wanderers often 'came into contact with lonely dwellings, where little congregations hitherto unknown gathered for Christian worship.
These are fragments of this remarkable story of Madagascar which read like the highest romance of Christian chivalry.
In 1839 some fugitives, on their way to England, stopping at Port Elizabeth, in South Africa, met with fellow-converts. Unable to communicate freely with these converted Hottentots, their Bibles be- -l'ame actually vehicles of converse. The Malagasy and Hottentots turning to the same passages in their respective translations of the Word, in this way made known to each other their sentiments. For .example, the Hottentot disciples pointed to Ephesians ii : 2 : "Among whom we all had our cop,versation in time past," etc. The Malagasy disciples responded by Eph. ii : 14, 15: "For He is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition." Also Gal. iii: 28: "Ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Again, the Hottentots pointed to John xvi: 33: "In the world ye .shall have tribnlation." The Hovas replied by Rom. viii: 35: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation?" etc. When was e'Ver the Bible put to a more beautiful use even by the most mature Christians? Then they sang the same hymns to the Bame tunes in different languages. Verily, "Multm terricolis lin~um; celestibus una." Then the Hottentots made them a voluntary contribution to help pay costs of their voyage, and knelt on the beach commending them to God. And these were Hottentot" dogs" and Malagasy "asses!" How soon and strangely they had developed into Christian men!
When these fugitives reached England, in May, 1839, they wrote a letter to their suffering fellow-disciples at home, which for beauty and purity of Christian sentiment might have graced the fame of Paul, theapostle and writer of epistles. For three years they stayed on British shores, winning universal esteem and love, and furnishing an unanswerable proof of the reality of the gospel. When, in 1842, they returned to Mauritius, their mission station at Moka became the asylum for other fugitives from persecutions at Madagascar. The queen was only enraged by the escape of her victims. She became the more bloodthirsty. She ordered her soldiers, when they found any Christians, 4J;0 dig a pit, cast them into it, pour boiling water on them and then fill up the pit, and go in search of others on whom to wreak similar vengeance.
Meanwhile, the patience and fidelity of these poor disciples confounded their very enemies, and constrained them to admire and wonder at a power so mysterious that could take away the fear of death, even in forms so horrible. In July, 1840, nine perilons, recaptured out of sixteen who had fied, were put to death by the spear of the executioner, and among them PauZ the Aged, the converted conjurer and preacher. And still the Gospel made conquests in these, the darkest days.
Two years of respite from persecution passed by, and a second era of cruelty began about June 19, 1842. Two converts were seized while returning from a missionary tour among the Salaklava tribes, and tortured to induce them to reveal the names of their fellow-disciples, but in vain. These lambs went to the slaughter without opening their mouths to betray other believers.
A few months later the queen was wrought to fury by the act of some imprudent person who affixed to the wall of a house in the capital a leaf of the New Testament, underlining Matthew xxiii, 13, "Woe unto you," etc. Construing this as a personal insult, she required the unknown offender to confess in four days, under penalty of being cut into pieces as small as musket balls. As no confession followed, the queen arrested several Christians and selected two, whose bodies wereliterally chopped as fine as mincemeat, and then burned to ashes! And the only ground for attaching to these disciples the guilt of this offence was that they knew enough to read and write!
Strange to say, it pleased God that the only son and heir of this atrocious Jezebel should, at the age of sixteen, become interested in the very Christians who were the,objects of his mother's persecuting rage! Rakatond.-Radama was one ofthat illustrations of that paradox of heredity, that a lamb should be born of a hyena. His gentle spirit was the exact reverse of his mother's ferocity. Where she delighted in cruelty, he delighted in kindness; he hated blood-shedding even as she thirsted for it. Of course, the people soon found out where to go for sympathy and succor. He cut the cords of those who were bound, and released those appointed to death; and yet the natural affection existing between the son and mother prevented a rupture between them.
About tliis time, 1847, Ramaka, called Rasalasala, or the BoZd One, arose, a mighty preacher, the first in the Madagascar church. Prince Rakatond was drawn to hear him, and was so impressed that he had Christian teachers come to the palace to instruct him in the Scriptures and pray with him. So far as he could he prevented all executions, .or, at least, modified and mollified the severity of the sentence against accused disciples. Though he never seems to have become a convert himself, he often attended OhrIstian worship and befriended the converts in every possible way. His cousin, Prince Ramonja, older than he, yet singularly like him, and also a favorite of the queen, joined him in the chivalrous defence of the persecuted followers of Jesus. The nephew of the prime minister went further than these two royal princes, and openly declared himself a disciple, and so the gospel once more invaded "Ooosar's household." His uncle threatened him with the loss of his head, but he calmly answered, I l( am a Ohristian, and if you will, you may put me to death, but I must and will pray." He might be assassinated, but could not be in- timidated, as Ourran said of himself when conducting the defense of Bond.
To recount all the fascinating story of the Malagasy's sufferings would require a volume. But we seek rather to portray in outline the main features of this romance of missions. One of the most affecting memorials of this persecution may be found in the fragments of Holy Scripture afterwards brought home by Mr. Ellis. During this famine .of the written word, the more educated converts copiAd out portions .of the blessed book, and these were found, worn, soiled and rent, with the toru edges carefully drawn together and sewed with fibres of bark, .or repaired with pieces of stronger paper; and giving evidence that they had been buried in the earth or hidden in smoky thatches, to conceal them from the eyes of the malignant persecutors.
In 1849 a third era of persecution began with the a~sault upon Prince Ramonja. A kabar or business meeting was summoned at Andahalo. rrhe queen addressed a message to her subjects, asking «why it was that they did not give up praying," in view of the :severe penalties affixed to the crime of apostasy from the gods of Madagascar.
The Ohristians made mild but firm answer, refusing to recognize idols. Rainitraho, a noble of royal blood, was among Ohrist's conlessors, and his heroism was so contagious that the officers stopped the -examinations lest the whole people should be carried away with his example. Four nobles were burned alive, and f.ourteen others hurled from a precipice 150 feet high, and their families sold as slaves; 117 were publicly flogged and compelled to labor for life in chains; 1,700 were fined, and Prince Ramonja was degraded from his rank. The -prince royal was accused of being a Christian, but the queen was too indulgent to her only son to take notice of the charge.
No acts of violence could sway these simple Malagasy converts from Jesus. They calmly replied, "None of these things move me." They sang a hymn of "going home to God," as they were borne to ~,x:ecution, and prayers and praises ascended in the very flames that wrapped the stakes. Once, indeed, the flames were extinguished by a sudden rain, and a bow appeared, one end of which seemed to rest on the very posts to which the martyrs were tied. The spectators were overwhelmed with awe, but the fires were relit, and the martyrs gave up the ghost.
To the precipice near the palace, .JI.mpamarinana, fourteen prisoners were then led and hurled over its awful edge, bounding from ledge to ledge until they were broken on the granite rocks below, and one of them was heard singing as he fell. One timid woman, Ranivo, who was kept to the last, compelled to look over the edge of the cliff upon the mangled bodies below, in answer to the '6ntreaties of friends that she would save her life by apostasy from Dhrist, only begged to be hurled from the precipice too. And yet the word of the Lord had free course and was glorified. Converts was still gathered. Believers numbered thousands. In at least seven places in the capital secret meetings were held.
Rainiharo, one of the ministers who had placed Ranavalona on the throne and propped her persecuting policy by his influence, died, and this period of relentless persecution came to a close. The prince royal, Rakatond, now became associated with his mother in the government: The time now seemed to have come for the return of the expelled mIsSIOnaries. The London Missionary Society, to whose planting the gospel owed Its harvest in Madagascar, sent a deputation, composed of the veteran missionary, Rev. William Ellis, and the Rev. Mr. Cameron, to prepare the way for re-establishing the mission which for about eighteen years had been broken np.
Mr. Ellis found two parties on the island, led respectively by Prince Rakatond and by his cousin, Ramboasalama, the former favoring Christ~anity and all its noble institutions; the latterin league with idolatry and all its vicious associations. But Mr. Ellis found the church of Christ in the island stronger than before persecution began, and the knowledge of the gospel spread to the remote parts of the island. Not until his third visit, in 1856, did he reach the capital. But when he did, he found that just the fruits which the blessed gospel had produced in the most enlightened communities, it had borne in Madagascar. Disciples had there fought the same fight of faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, and burning with zeal for God and passion for souls. Closet and la:mily prayer were more common than among disciples in London; the word of God was daily searched as for hid treasure, and the meetings for worship were attended at all risk. . The fourth and last persecution may be traced to a plot to depose the wicked queen. June, 1857, was fixed as the time for carrying out the design. Mr. Lambert, a Frenchman, first sought aid from Louis Napoleon and the English prime minister, Lord Clarendon, in relieving the misery of the Malagasy. When the hope of foreign interference failed, he is said to have enlisted the co-operation of Prince Rakatond with some of the nobles and soldiers, in' the plan of revolutionizing the government by native aid alone. No violence was to be done to the queen's person; she was simply to be removed from the throne, and her son to be proclaimed king. But ou the eve of accomplishment the plot failed, and when the knowledge of the conspiracy came to Queen Ranavalona's ears, she refused to allow anyone to hint a suspicion against her son, and like Nero when Rome burned, fixed the guilt of the whole plot upon the poor innocent disciples of Christ. A traitor who had professed conversion gave the queen a list of seventy whom he charged with a share in the conspiracy. Prince Rakatond got hold of this list and tore it in pieces. But the bloody queen must have some victims for her new fever of rage, and so another kabar was called. Not more than three hundred Christians were found, as they had fled in bands so numerous as to put to flight the detachments of soldiers sent to capture them. The infuriated queen declared that her search should extend to the bowels of the earth and the very beds of lakes and rivers; but the more she raved the more calm and cautious were the followers of Jesus; only Prince Rakatond's energy and interposition prevented the destruction not only of hundreds of natives bUl of the six Europeans who were on the island, including Madame Pfeiffer, the traveler. They were, however, banished and barely escaped from the island with their lives.
Christians were pierced and tortured with spears and then beheaded. More than two hundred suffered punishment, most of them men of mark, and stoning was now for the first time employed as a new and cruel mode of execution. Iron necklaces were attached to the necks of others and they were thus linked together and compelled to constant companionship until death ended their sufferings; if one died the rest had to drag about this body of death-a revival of the hideous forms of ancient torture. Fifty-seven Christians were thus chained together and banished to a distant province. This was the last triumph of persecuting hatred against the little church in Madagascar. For thirty-two years Ranavalona had held her red sceptre. She had sought to trample upon and stamp out with iron heel the humble plant of renown that was growIng in the soil of this great island. But God used all this rage of this modern Jezebel to test and develop the faith and love of disciples. The tan.gena draught, the boiling caldron, the rice-pit, the awful precipice, the chain, the spear, the stone, the stake-all united in vain to compel these poor~ ignorant, persecuted disciples to disown their newly-found Saviour. For the first time iu the history of modern missions God permitted a. feeble church, just planted and scarcely rooted on pagan soil, to undergo It quarter of a century of persecution, having scarcely a parallel in violence and cruelty. That church was literally anu emphatically isolated; not only on an island, but cut off from sympathetic contact and communication with the Ohristian church in otber lands, and yet it more than survived; for a,t the end of that twenty-five years, when, if not plucked up by the roots, it might have been expected to be found feeble and half dead, it was strong and firmly rooted, and among its precious fruits were many of the soldiers, the nobles and even the royal household. Many thousand persons had been sentenced to various punishments by the" Bloody Mary" of Madagascar, for theirfaith; and yet when, in 1861, persecution ceased, the Christian popUlation was fivefold greater than before she began to exterminate them; and more than this-this Plant of Renown had spread its roots through the very soil of society, and its branches reached afar; the perfume of its golden blooms pervaded the very atmosphere; its fruits were to be found in every home. The whole community was undergoing transformation. The name of Christian had become the sign and synonym, the pledge and promise of truth, purity, fidelity, integrity-new virtues were growing, where vice had sprung up rank as weeds. A miracle had been wrought. A Supernatural Power had been at work. The Spirit of God had breathed new life into Malagasy hearts.
July, 1861, came and the queen died~ and Rakatond, as Radama II., became king. His first act was to proclaim his policy of toleration. The era of religious liberty had dawned for Madagascar. He proclaimed deliverance to the captives and the opening of prison doors to them that were bound. Exiles returned home, slaves were set free; it was a year of jubilee. Idols were banished from the palace, and to show his contempt he sent some Christians to burn the very shrine of one of the national gods, while he looked on to witness the impotency of the so-called" deity." Radama was a reformer, but not a Christian. He was tolerant of the gospel, and so he was of rum, and 60,000 gallons flooded the island in a week and debauched whole villages.
It was now safe for Mr. Ellis to come again and resume missionary work, and in November. 1861, he sailed for Madagascar. On his arrival, with Radama's permission, he secured the sites made sacred by the blood and ashes of the martyrs, for the building of churches; and so the houses of worship in Madagascar to-day are monmilents and memorials of the faith and faithfulness of those who there s~ered for Jesus.
!;Ir. Ellis's arrival was the signal for a triumphal march through the island. Delegations of disciples met him, and processions went ont to welcome the veteran missionary. Throngs of worshippers assembled. at early dawn. .A second service would begin by 8 o'clock in the morning. Every encouragement was now given to the devoted missionary from the hut of the poor to the palace of the king.
Radama II. fell a victim to a conspiracy within a twelvemonth. :ge who had never shed blood was strangled by assassins, in May, 1863, and his widow, under the title of Queen Rasoherina, ascended the vacant throne, the first constitutional ruler of the Malagasy. She reigned five years, and her subjects enjoyed full liberty of conscience. 'rhe work of evangelization went rapidly forward. Nevertheless the government was not Christian, and at her coronation, which was on Sunday, the priests and idols were conspicuously in the foreground.
Congregations multiplied and converts increased, and a native ministry was trained up, and a native Christian literature created. The thirst of the native Christians for the word of God was insatiable, and every mark of a Christian home was to be found in their domestic life. Marriage was honored and divorce discouraged. Contributions were liberal, aud the missionary spirit led to abundant labors to spread the gospel by both home and foreign missions.
The queen's health was failing, and before she died, it is believed, her mind turned from her old idols, which she had placed in her court and carried on her journeys. She died in April, 1868. Her youngest sister took the throne as Ranavalona II. And now, for the first time, Madagascar had a Christian as well as a constitutional ruler.
He who would see the marvelous change in Madagascar, need only contrast the coronation of the two queens-Ranavalona I. and Ranavalona II. One took place June 12, 1829. Then the Bloody Mary of Madagascar took two of the national idols in her hands, and declared: " I received you from my ancestors. I put my trust in you, therefore support me." And then the scarlet-clad images were held at the front corners of the platform to awe the superstitious multitude. On September 3, 1868, a Christian queen was crowned, and the ceremony befitted such a monarch. 'I'he symbols of pagan faith were nowhere to be seen. In their place lay a beautiful copy of the Bible, side by side with the laws of Madagascar. A canopy was stretched above the queen, and on its four sides were four Scripture mottoes: "Glory to God"; "Peace on earth"; "Good-will to man"; "God with us." Her inaugural address was interwoven with Scripture dialect, and instead of Ohristianity it was now idolatry which became a suppliant for toleration. And all this took place seven years after Ranavalona I. expired! Astrologers and diviners were no longer to be found at court; Rasoherina's idol was cast out of the palace. Government work ceased on Sunday, and the Sunday markets were closed. In the palace court services of divine worship were instituted, which are kept up to this date. Ohurches now grow rapidly, sometimes fivefold in a year. The Madagascar New Year, formerly an idolatrous festival, now became a Ohristian holy day; and the queen's address declared, "I have brought my kingdom to lean upon God, and I expect you, one and all, to be wise and just, and to walk in His ways." Just one month later Ranavalona II. and her prime minister were publicly baptized by one of the native preachers, in the very courtyard where, a few years before, the bloodiest edicts had been issued.
In the queen's examination by the native ministers, it transpired that her first serious impressions were traceable to a native Ohristian who, when she was a mere child, sought to impress her with the truth as it is in Jesus. It was Andriantoiamba, one of the four noblemen who were afterward burned as martyrs, who thus sowed the seed in that young heart that afterward ripened into the first Ohristian queen of the island. Two days before their baptism the queen and the prime minister, were wedded, and shortly after both publicly joined in the Lord's Supper, thus magnifying the Ohristian family and the Sacraments of the church of God.
Such an example was likely to be followed. Almost all the government·officers of high rank, and among them the chief idol-keeper, the astrologer of Rasoherina, came forward to receive baptism. Oongregations multiplied beyond all means of accommodation. One hundred new buildings were in demand; 37,000 persons attended worship, an increase of 16,000 in a year! On July 20 the cornerstone of a chapel, designed for the use of the queen and court, was laid in the very courtyard of the palace.
To-day in that palace courtyard the traveler may see a beautiful house of prayer. In gilded letters upon two large stone tablets forming part of the surbase of the structure, appears engraven the following royal statement, read at the laying of the corner-stone in 1869 : "By the power of God and grace of our Lord Jesus, I, Ranavalomanjaka, Queen of Madagascar, founded the House of Prayer, on the thirteenth Adimizana, in the year of our Lord Jesus Ohrist, 1869, as a house of prayer for the service of God, King of kings and Lord of lords, according to the word in the Sacred Scriptures, by Jesus Ohrist the Lord, who died for the sons of all men. and rose
THE INHERITANCES OF NATIONS ALLOTTED BY GOD
again for the justification and salvation of all who believe in and love- Him. ":For these reasons this stone house, founded by me as a house of prayer, cannot be destroyed by any one, whoever may be king of this my land, forever and forever; but if he shall destroy this house of prayer to God which I have founded, then is he not king of my land, Madagascar. Wherefore I have signed my name with my hand and the· seal of the kingdom.
" RANAVALOMANJAKA, "Queen of Madagascar.
" This word is genuine, and the signature by the hand of Rana- valomanjaka is genuine.
"RAINILAIARIVONY, "Prime Minister and Commander-in-Ohief of Madagascar."
If you should visit this island to-day, you would find four sacred sites occupied by memorial ehurches. .I1.mpamannana, the summit of the martyrs' precipice; .I1.mhohipotsy, where Rasalama, the first martyr, w~s speared; .I1.mhatonakan,ta, where so many were kept in prison; and Faravohitra, where the rainbow rested over the burning pile, and where the first stone of the church was laid exactly beneath the spot where the remains of the martyrs were found.
Is it possible to account for changes such as these, wrought within the space of sixty years by the simple preaChing and teaching of the gospel, unless the power of God is indeed behind the Bible? If there ever was a wonder that compelled even the sceptical and the unbelieving to exclaim, "What hath God wrought I" it is to be found in the story of Madagascar.
THE INHERITANOES OF NATIONS ALLOTTED BY GOD.
BY REV. A. W. PITZER, D.D., WASHINGTON, D. c.
"God's works of Providence are His most holy, wise and powerful, preserving and governing all His creatures, ordering them and all their actions to His own glory."
Individual life cannot be detached from God and His overruling Providence; and nations rise, flourish, decay and die in accordance not merely with natural law and second causes, but also, in accordance with His eternal purposes and plans. Before man was created, or human history had begun, God had a fixed place for every nation and a definite phm for every man's life. Nor has this Divine decree· and Providence ever impaired the freedom and responsibility of the individual or the nation, nor is God the author of man~s sin, nor is the efficiency of second causes diminished.
The nations of the earth come to their separate places of inheritance on the globe, moved by various motives and impelled by different forces. Restless for change, greedy for gain, envious of their neighbors, ambitious for fame, filled with cruelty and thirsting for blood, the nations of the past and the present have freely worked ()ut the problem of national destiny. And yet, it was the Most High God, whose Providence divided to these nations their inheritance, and who decreed and settled the bounds of all kindreds, tribes and peoples; and to each and to all He said, "Thus far shalt thou go and no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." There is a philosophJt of history, but the Godless historian has never seen it-a philosophy of history human, yet divine-that m"akes full estimate of all human forces at work in the world, but fails not at the same time to see the mighty Providence of God in the onward march of all earthly things.
The Most High God located the nations of the old world and the new. He planted the Egyptian by the waters of the Nile, ,flowing from the ever-living lakes of equatorial Africa; He gave to the sons ()f Ham the "dark continent" teeming with life and filled with food; from central Asia His hand led out the people after the confusion of tongues at Babel to the Euphrates and Tigris; to India, to China, and to the islands of the great seas that wash the coasts of the Asiatic -continent. To the sons of J apheth, the Cimbri, the Tartars, the Medes, the Greeks, the Muscovites, He gave northern Asia, Asia Minor and Europe.
The ethnology of the lOth chapter of Genesis remains an unchallenged chart of the nations to this day. Fifteen hundred years after Moses incorporated in his writings this chart, and after he had sung this song, another descendant from the family of Shem, stood in the midst of Mars Hill and declared to the wisdom-seeking sons of Javan that God had made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath deterniined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him and find Him.
God, then, has a purpose concerning this race and world of ours, and His overruling providence is silently, but irresistibly, conducting the races and nations along the great highway of human history. He plants and He plucks up dynasties, kingdoms, nations and empires, and orders, controls and governs all things according to the counsels ()f His own will.
What, then, is that supreme purpose of God, to the development and accomplishment of which, all agents and agencies, all forces and events, all kings and empires are made subservient and tributary? Surely it must be an object worthy of God Himself, and commensurate with His all-embracing and resistless providence. It is nothingless than the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth, in visible sovereignty and glory. Devout worshippers of the true and living God in all ages and lands have cried in prayer to -Him, "Thy Kingdom Come." In his last song, Moses tells the children of Israel encamped on the plains of Moab and in sight of the promised land, why it was that God had divided to the nations their inheritance and fixed the bound- aries of the peoples. He had taken Israel, the seed of His friend Abraham, as his possession and portion, and, in relation to their number and location on the globe, He had arranged all other nations and peoples.
The Kingdom of God is to come on earth through Israel; for sal- vation is of the Jews; and David's greater soil' is yet to sit on David's throne, and hence God's people, His portion must be the centre around which and for the sake of which, all national movements, great and small, shall revolve.
The little strip of land on the western border of the continent of Asia, not 200 miles from north to south, by less than 100 miles from east to west, washed by the Mediterranean Sea, almost in sight of the life-giving waters of Africa's great river, and touching to the west- ward, the isles and lands of the Gentiles, is the divinely ordained home of the chosen people, and the geographical centre of all human history until the Kingdom of God shall come in power and glory.
Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, Rome, all the nations of modern Europe have gazed with greedy eyes on this historic spot of earth.
Canon Farrar, in deAcribing this land, as it spread out in beauty before the eyes of Jesus of Nazareth, says, "Pharaohs and Ptolemies, Emins and Arsacids, judges and consuls, have all contended for the mastery of this smiling tract. It had glittered with the lances of the Amalekites; it had trembled under the chariot wheels of Serostris; it had echoed the twanging bow strings of Sennacharib; it had clashed with the broadswords of Rome; it was destined to ring with the battle-cry of the Crusaders, and thunder with the artillery of England and France. Here, Europe and 'Asia, Judaism and Heathenism, Barbarism and civilization had met and struggled for supremacy."
The careful student of history cannot fail to see that the destinies of the empires of the Old World were determined by their relations to this land and its wondrous people whom the living God had chosen for portion and possession.
If he in<iuired why this land and people were so important in the history of the race, the answer is easily given. From Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Malachi, by words and acts, God made Himself known to this people. He came into this earthly realm, and became a factor in human history. Israel received from God the truth unto salvation in trust for all the nations of the earth. They are the divinely appointed trustees of this sacred deposit-to hold this in trust and preserve it pure, for all the families of man, is their high calling and providential mission to all tribes and races and nations. The history of Israel, therefore, will have relations that reach out and embrace all lands and all peoples.
To the Egyptians, God gave the fertile valley of the Nile, that, here in the midst of this ancient civilization, the !!Qns of .Jacob, His chosen, might be developed from a clan into a nation, and be taught and trained in all the wisdoms and arts of this mighty and marvelous people.
To the Assyrians he gave the lands along the Euphrates and the Tigris, t.hat here might be founded an empire that should, as His minister of justice and judgment, at the appointed time, sweep the kingdom of the ten tribes from the land of their fathers.
He, too, ordained that Assyria should be wasted by Babylon, and that Babylon should become the hammer of the whole earth, and should carry His people, Judah, captives to that far-off land, that in the horrors of the seventy years' captivity they might forsake idolatry forever. And when God has accomplished His purposes concerning Israel with Babylon, then He raised up the Medes, who broke down her broad walls, and burned her high gates with fire, and Babylon became heaps of ruins, a dwelling-place for dragons, an astonishment and an hissing without inhabitant_ The Hebrew pi'ophets depict with the utmost minuteness and clearness the relations of the nations to Israel, their providential places in history, and how God used them to extend on the earth the knowledge of that truth given to His chosen and covenanted people. Isaiah foretells the fate of Moab, of Damascus, of Egypt, of Tyre, of Assyria, and of Babylon. Daniel in vision, and under the symbol of a beast, beholds in succession, the empires of Babylonia, the Medo- Persian, the Greek and the Roman, and even the destruction of the old Roman empire, and the ten kingdoms of modern Europe, that continue until the return of Jesus our Lord, from the heavens.
God divided to all these nations their inheritance; He fixed their boundaries; He appointed their providential mission; He determined the days of their dominion, and the day of their destruction; their highest use and chief end were what service they rendered in the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. Egypt furnishad the tempOl'ary home of the Israelites; the Babylonish captivity cured them of idolatry; the Persians restored them to their own land; the Grecians prepared the language to contain the Gospel of the son of David; and Rome builded the great highways whereon the apostles of our Lord carried the glad tidings to the ends of the earth.
Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, the son of God, was the climax and culmination of the revelations of God to the Hebrew people; and when He died upon the Cross, the inscription over His head, testifying to His kingship, was written in the world's historic language!;l, the Hebrew, tIle Greek and the Roman. Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel, did whatsoever God's hand and counsel had determined before to be done. To this great central and germinal event all the ages had looked, and all nations had oontributed. The wise men from the east spake not for themselves merely, but for others, when they said: " Where is He that is born King of the Jews, for we have seen His 'star in the east, and have come to worship Him." God's kingdom must come on earth through Him, who is both David's son and David's Lord.
The Risen Christ, from His father's throne in heaven, exercises now an invisible, but resistless, dominion over all nations, kingdoms and empires, and the nations still come to their inheritance according to the divine appointment, and as they serve to make known on earth the sacred truth given in trust to the Jews, they prepare the way for the coming. Lord, by proclaiming the glad tidings of that kingdom that shall never end.
God still determines the appointed times of the nations and the bounds of their habitations, with reference to their relations to His son, Jesus Christ, and the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. Many nations shall yet say: "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths;' for the law shall go forth out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
So far as nations have had any history, since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that history has been connected with and tributary to the extension and establishment of the Gospel of that Risen Lord among all the peoples of the earth: for that Gospel must be preached to all nations, as God's witness, before the Kingdom of Heaven can come in power and glory on this earth.
The movements of men and nations through eighteen Christian centuries have been guided by the divine eye, and controlled by the divine hand. 'fhe dismemberment of the old Roman empire, the rise of the kingdoms of modern l£urope, the growth of the Papacy, the career 'of Mohammed, the wars of the Crusaders, the darkness of the Middle Ages, the 'revival of learning, the persecutions of the Church by Rome-Pagan and Papal-the invention of printing, the translations of the Scriptures, the reformation of the sixteenth century, the exile of Christians for conscience sake, the use of the mariner's compass, and the opening up of new and unknown lands, were not less directed by the Almighty God of heaven, than Israel's march from Egypt to Canaan, and the times and bounds of the nations of the Old World.
Nowhere is the overruling providence of God more clearly seen than in this our land, and in the history of the people of these United States. Israel's God and our father's God divided to us this rich inheritance; and He has appointed our time and fixed our bounds, that we might not only seek the Lord ourselves, but should give His -Gospel, committed in trust to our custody, to all the nations. Morde- ~ai's question to Queen Esther comes with fearful emphasis to the rulers and people of this republic: "If thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whe'ther thou art come to the king- ·dom for such a time as this?"
Our forefathers brought with them to this new world that fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom, that liberty of conscience to worship God that could not be enjoyed at home. With them came, too, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, the inspired and infallible Word of God; the family as the basis and unit of all true life in both Church and State; the sanctity of the oath unto God as the hope of a pure administration of justice in our courts; the divinely .ordained rest of the Lord's Day, not for a holiday but for a holy day -in short, they brought with them, not monarchy, nor anarchy, not .communism, nor atheism, not infidelity, nor materialism, nor papacy, but God-fearing piety and customs founded on the Word of God.
We have come to the Kingdom at such a time as this-a time when there are no longer any hermit nations, nor Chinese walls of ·exclusion; in a wider and deeper sense than ever before, every man may now say, "The world is my parish." Steamships supersede sail vessels, the engine does the work of a thousand men and horses, the :Bun paints our pictures, electricity illumines our cities and sends our words with lightning speed around the globe. All the ends of the .-earth are brought face to face in the great struggle for existence; .and all races and nations jostle each other on the broad highway .of life. Surely the Anglo-Saxon Christianity of America must have .a mission from the God of Heaven to all the races and nations of the .-earth. "The wheels of history are the chariot wheels of the Almighty, .a.nd with every revolution there is an onward movement toward the goal of His eternal purposes," to establish here on earth the Kingdom .of God in supernal splendor. .
The providential mission of this nation is to give the blessed Gos- ]>el of the Son of God to all peoples of the earth. The weary and :sin-stricken children of Adam, of every continent and island, of every tribe and tongue, in their darkness and degradation, look, with long- ing eyes to us for light and help and healing. "Come over into Mace- .donia and help us," is the despairing cry borne on every breeze and from every land beneath the skies-from China and Korea, from In- .dia and Japan, from Persia and Papal Europe, from the South Ameri- .can Republic and Mexico, from the islands of the oceans and the "'dark continent" of Livingstone and Stanley.
We hold the Gospel, not merely for ourselves but in trust for a
THE CONGO MISSIONS
lost world. We have the men and the money, the missionaries and the agencies, methods of transit and transportation, in more than abundance, to give the Gospel in ten years, as God's witness, to every nation under heaven. The supreme duty of this nation is to realize her sublime providential mission, and bear the blessed light of the Gospel to all the dark places of the earth, to the habitations of men now filled with cruelty. There is no second C~lumbus to be born~ noi' any new continent to be discovered. This is the "last days," and this "the ends of the earth," the light that shines across the' Pacific from San Francisco and Portland reaches to the very lands where first that light was kindled "Now or never," is the world to be eV2..ngelized by us.
THE CONGO :MISSIONS.
BY MISS HELEN F. CLARK, NEW YORK.
[Mr. C. J. Laffin went out to Africa llilder Bishop Taylor, but when his Congo Mission failed, he worked independently, though unofficially associated with the A. B. M. U. He sent us various notes from the Congo. He has just returned to take a medical course, then goes back to Central Africa. He has furnished Miss Clark with the facts and experiences of his three years' mission tour, which she here puts into form, under his supervision. The paper, being reliable and fresh from the Congo, cannot fail to be of special interest at the- present juncture.-J. M. S.] The question of evangelizing Central Africa is one that now en- grosses the attention of aggressive Christianity in both England and America. The best plan of work, and the character of the workers, is largely discussed among the various boards and missionary com- mittees; consequently any light that can be thrown upon these topics by missionaries who have been upon the field, and are, therefore, best qualified to give an opinion, is gratefully received.
Mr. Laffin spent his iiz-st few months in Africa in the vicinity of Vivi and Isangila, but afterwards pushed on up the Congo river 800' miles to the equator, stopping at Equatol'ville station, forming theacquaintance of various tribes along the banks of the Congo and lesser streams.
From the first he was keenly interested in the methods of work followed in the various mission stations which he visited, and carefully studied their every detail. Then followed much practical work Qn his o,*n part among the natives as he traveled throngh the country and mingled with them.
As an independent missionary, Mr. Laffin founded no station, nor reported his work to any superior, but to the great Master Himself, but wisely spent his time in examining the country and the conditions under which he must work, and in forming his own opinion as to the wisest and most effective way to prosecute that work.
The Africans he came in contact with are a peculiar people, and must· be dealt with in the utmost candor and with straightforward simplicity. With them no half-hearted work is possible; no clouded testimony in word or life will receive the 81ightest regard from them.
Nothing but sterling Christianity in word or deed will convince them that the Gospel you preach is true; but the testimony clearly borne, and the life that will bear the sharpest scrutiny, will bring a multitude of hungry hearts to God. Perhaps the work done is more satisfactory in Africa than in any other country, for the man or woman who is converted is converted in deed and in truth, and becomes at once as aggressive for the truth as the missionary himself. Mr. Laffin has vouchsafed the following interesting facts under the heads of "What has been done in Africa;" "What is being done," and" What can be done," which we give, as nearly as possible, in his own words.
FIRST-WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
There are, at the present time, four societies prosecuting active work in Central Africa: the American Baptists, the English Baptists. the Swedish Society, and the Congo Balolo Society, who have a combined working force of about 80 missionaries in all, occupying 20 mission stations. Of these stations 13 are situated on the lower Congo and Cataract region, below Stanley Pool, and the remaining 'l are on the upper Congo and in the Balolo district. Thus far 'l churches have been organized-all among the Bakongo people-which aggregate about 1,500 communicants, with half as many more who profess conversion, but whom the missionaries are keeping on probation for a short time. Besides these regular stations, there are in this vicinity from 15 to 20 out-stations and preaching-posts, all manned by able native evangelists. It is but thirteen years since the first missionaries penetrated the Congo districts, and but ten of these have been spent in actually publishing the Gospel, for the first three were spent by the little band of sturdy English Christians in fighting fevers, and in trying to conciliate the hostile natives. Since that time, one tribe only has been, to a large extent, evangelized-that is to say, the Gospel has been preached the length of the land upon which this numerous and powerful tribe of Bakongo people live. The difficulties experienced by these indomitable pioneers seem almost beyond belief. During those first three perilous years the missionaries were driven from place to place and were not able to settle anywhere. They found it difficult to establish any communication with the natives~ since the black men regarded them with the utmost suspicion and distrust, and gave them almost no opportunity to acquire the native language. In the course of time, seeing that the strange whites were neither slave traders nor state officials, the suspicion of the natives finally gave way to confidence, and their would-be friends were allowed to found their station in peace, and to begin the publication of those good tidings which afterwards brought peace to so many troubled souls among them.
The greatest difficulty in reaching the interior has ever been in getting above the falls in the great river, about 100 miles above its mouth. To navigate the stream at this point is impossible. Therefore, all stores and baggage for the interior must be conveyed a distance ·of 250 miles around in sixty-pound packages, which the lithe and .agile natives bear upon their heads. The steamboats for the upper .congo were taken apart and packed in this manner, and rebuilded upon the upper side.
There are thirty-one steamers now running upon the upper Congo, three of which are missionary boats, the others belonging either to the Government or to the traders. Two more mission steamers are now in process of construction for the lower Congo, and one for the upper.
Stations have been established among three other tribes, but as yet only one convert has crowned their labors. Here the difficulty <>f acquiring the language hinders the missionaries. There is no written language, and the tongue must be acquired slowly and unsatisfactorily by mingling with the people as often as they will permit, and there is no missionary upon the field to-day who has mastered it sufficiently to talk intelligently, without having frequent recourse to an interpreter: In these distant stations on the upper river, isolated from @ne another, it has required a long time to gain the confidence of the natives, but the past few years have sufficed at last to convince these distrustful people that the white man really came to them from an unselfish motive, and he has now won their hearts, so that to-day these perse:vering workers have a firm footing in the three tribes, and are ready to branch out into large work as soon as their numbers are re-inforced by the arrival of new missionaries.
WHAT IS BEING DONE.
As to what is being done, perhaps the most successful of all the ~fforts put forth, is that of the native evangelists. This, of course, brings us back to the Bakongo people along the Lower Congo.
Of the members of these churches, a very large percentage-considerably more than half-are persevering, energetic, aggressive Christian workers-such workers as put to shame the feeble and childish efforts of many Christians in our own land.
To them, black man or white man, State official, of however high degree, or slave, of ever so mean a degradation, is either a "son of God" or a "son of the Devil." They know but two classes, and if you are not avowedly of the first, they immediately pronounce you in the second, and proceed to give you the Gospel on the spot. They fear no man, soldier or government-official, trader or traveler, brother African' or slave, and one of the first questions asked, upon formingone's acquaintance, will be, "Kanzi, ngeye mUJana' nzambi?" (are you a son of God?) If the -answer is in the negative, they very frequently respond, "B08i mUJana' mbungi /" (Then you are a child of the Devil.) After which they present the Gospel to you with all the eloquence and clearness of which their incomparable language is capable.
These workers are continually organizing themselves into bands of twenty or thirty, and with neither scrip nor staves, they go from village to village, preaching the Gospel, and often remaining away for weeks at a time.
The missionaries freely acknowledge that one native is worth threeor four white men as an evangelist. They speak with marvellous oratorical effect; indeed, they are said to be born orators. "A sermon that I heard from one of them," says Mr. Laffin, "waf> as fi,ne as ever I heard in either Europe or America, not only in point of delivery, but in its clearness of reasoning, and in its profound perception of spiritual truth."
These bands of workers go out invariably at their own expense. Besides these unpaid volunteers there are some 25 native evangelists who go individually to out-posts and preaching-stations, and who are nearly all self-supporting or are maintained by the native churches. The natives believe the Gospel at the mouths of their own people far more readily than they do from the missionary himself; consequently their work is of vastly more value in the general evangelization of a tribe than is that of the white man.
But the simplicity of the native evangelist is, as a rule, altogether spoiled by transportation to America or England.. A taste of European life robs him of his unconsciousness of self, and, thereafter, he looks down upon his kindred and will no longer associate with them, but must live as we live, and wants more luxuries than any missionary would allow himself. These people frequently travel half a day's journey, bringing their food with them, in order to attend divine service.
The loyalty of the native Christian to God's Word is marvellous. While the people are perfectly obedient to the Supreme Being, they will bear no dictation from us whatever. If we insist upon their conforming their lives to any precept or principle which we may lay down, they immediately begin to reason the matter with us. If therule be a scriptural one, they insist upon our finding the text, when we must read it to them and translate it into their own language. But if the scripture bears out our words, that is an end of all controversy; thereafter, it becomes a law to them, or as they style it in their own beautiful native tongue, "The Lord hath said it, and we must obey." On this account we are obliged to discriminate accurately in our teaching against what is purely a matter of custom with us, since they will learn nothing from us save that which is scriptural. But when they are told not to lie, or cheat in business, or to steal, seeing it in Scripture, they immediately desist.
As an illustration of this, I will give you· an incident in my own experience. Traveling through strange villages one day, I saw a woman by the roadside with a pawpaw beside her. I asked what she would sell it for, and she named a price; I bade the boy who was with me take it away for our noon-day meal. "No, no," she cried, "the pawpaw will not be ripe enough until to-morrow; go on down the road, sir, and you will find plenty more that are ripe enough to eat now." I then learned that she was a Christian. She had heard the Gospel from a native evangelist who had ollce come to her village to preach, and she had received the truth, and, although untaught in the principles of Christian living, yet by the Holy Spirit's help, had instinctively perceived the right.
When the surveyors for the Congo railroad, which is now being built, were laying out the road through a certain tract, one of them approached the chief of the neighboring tribe, and, as is customary, offered him a glass of rum. The chief thanked him for the courtesy, but declined the rum with these words: "That is what destroys the bodies alld souls of my people. As a Christian I cannot take it."
I come now to our last proposition:.
WHAT CAN BE DONE }N CENTRAL AFRICA.
The whole of the Congo Free State is now open to mIssIonaries. This district contains about 1,680,000 square miles of country, all of which is accessible through the Congo and ,its tributaries. This immense system of rivers affords at least, according to explorations up to date, 10,000 miles of navigable waterway above Stanley Pool. This district contains from fifteen to twenty different tribes, speaking as many different languages, and numbering in the aggregate, as near as may be estimated, from thirty to eighty millions of souls. The best known of these tribes, the Balolo, is calculated to number ten millions of itself. Many parts of the interior are said to be particularly healthy and free from malaria and fevers. Dr. Summers, in speaking of Luluaburg, calls it a very healthy place, and states that at night the thermometer will sometimes fall to the freezing point.
There is not known to be a single town in the interior, or Central Africa, that will refuse to receive a missionary, if once satisfied that he is a missionary. To them the yoke of a foreign government is so galling that the very sight of the men in its employ, as a rule, arouses all their enmity.
The Congo Free State obliges all vessels to fly its flag, and wherever the missionary goes he is marked as a State man, and only undeniable proof will suffice to convince them that the missionary is lIot an enemy in disguise. To them, words prove nothing, and deeds purporting to flow from an unselfish motive are an unsolvable .enigma; hence, it is only the" heroes," who can persevere without the slightest show of fear or alarm, and endure the suspicion and the consequent tribulations until their identity is established. This some- times takes a long time. In the case of the first missionaries on the lower Congo it required three years, and it has required almost as long a time for the faithful pioneers on the upper river to gain an .entrance and a footing.
In Africa, the women missionaries are the happier. Nothing is feared from them, and they are allowed to go in and out at their pleasure without molestation. Their presence in a party has more than once spared valuable lives to the Congo work. At one time a small party, including two ladies, sailed up an unexplored river, and at night-time they attempted to land and camp for the night. The natives immediately assembled, and ordered them off. They expostu- lated in vain, insisting that they were not foes, but missionaries de- siring to be their friends, but they refused to believe them, and they were forced to take refuge on a sand-bar for the night. In the morn- ing their men came out, and examining their boat carefully, and find- ing no arms or weapons such as the State men carried, finally permitted them to land and make friends with them, but averred that it was only the presence of the ladies that had kept them from killing them immediately on their approach.
At one time, in company with two blacks from a village where I had been working, I rowed up another river a distance of probably .eigM or ten miles, when, coming within sight of a strange village, We were surprised to hear a hasty alarm sounded, and instantly a multitude of the brown-skinned fellows rushed to the banks of the creek, armed with bows and arrows. Then, with a peculiar beating of drums, a message was telegraphed down the creek to the adjoining village, and from there the alarm was sounded on to the next, and the next, till at last the hoarse din died away to a faint sound, and finally hushed to our ears altogether, while up and down the river-bank were gathered the wild people eager to wreak their vengeance on our defenceless heads.
I surely thought it was all over with me, and the blacks by my side had settled themselves stoically to meet their fate, when far off came the hurried tang-tang-tang of a message swiftly sent back. The word had gone even to the village I had left, and instantly came the response: "Let him alone! He is a missionary!" Then the assembled blacks apologized, and treated us with the utmost cordiality and friendliness, saying: "We have no complaint againt the ambassadors of God." Weare always called by them "ambassadors of God," and native Christians are called" witnesses of Jesus Christ." The mIssIonaries in Africa, as a rule, count the work of onEl' woman worth that of twelve men, since they can go anywhere, even among the fiercest tribes. Their motives are never qnestioned, and they are invariably listened to with the greatest respect. Miss Silvey went about among the Bayansi tribe with perfect freedom, althongh they are by far the most formidable of all the tribes yet known. They are also the most inveterate of the cannibals, since they buy slave- children and slaughter them for the markets, as we do cattle. Miss Silvey spoke to them only through interpreters, since their speech. has not yet been reduced to language. Miss de Hailes and Mra. McKittrick work quite as freely among the Balolo people.
These inland tribes are, as a rule, a fine, powerful people. They are not Negroes but Bantus, and are of a choclate brown color, with thin, well-curved lips and fine features. They are wonderfully energetic, pushing and business-like, and, if converted, will make princely evangelists, since they fear nothing, and will make long journeys from home, remaining away many mouths at a time. While they are suspicious of the white men, they have no hatred for them unless they have done them an injury. Government representatives they count their mortal enemies, but the missionaries, when they are once known to be such, are invariably welcomed.
The missionary's first step is to gain the confidence of the people,. and then it is easy to win their affections, and his opportunity to preach the Gospel is unlimited. When they believe in you they believe your gospel, and are quickly won to God and to abide by His. Word.
At first they will give you two motives for not believing yC!u: 1st, The improbability of people doing anything from a purely unselfish motive. 2d, The impossibility of it. Therefore, they are not willing in the beginning to believe that Jesus could possibly have loved and died for them. But the life of a missionary among them, self-sacrificing and exhibiting unfeigned love for their souls, becomes at last incontrovertible proof of the truth of the Gospel, and they accept it gladly and fully.
But one· great question troubles them, that has troubled many Christians before, "If it is all true and Christ's unselfish love begets a, like love in your souls, why is it that you never came to us before, why do not more come now?" Christian reader, can you answer it ?'
One of these men said to me one day, "White man, my heart is hungry for something, and I don't know what it is." After he was converted I said to him, "Well, have you found out now what it was that your heart was hungering for?" "Yes," he answered, quickly; " It was hungry for salvation !"
, My advice to every missionary coming here, would be, not to try to educate the people, not even to make the civilization of these tribes
THE RO~IANCE OF GOEDVERWACHT
their initiatory effort, but to make their one effort, first and last and all the time, to PREACH THE GOSPEL !
Any child or adult will refuse to come to school after the novelty wears off unless paid for it, but when converted, they Clamor at once to be taught to read, that they may search the Scriptures for themselves.
It is most unwise to attempt to Europeanize them. It is far better to leave them Africans still, since the Word teaches them all that is required for purity and wholesomeness of life and morals, and customs are only galling and useless to a people so differently situated from us.
It would require, probably from twenty to thirty missionaries per tribe to equip Central Africa; after which, the work of the native evangelist becomes the main factor in the gospelizingof this darkened land.
The Jesuits, backed by the government of the Congo Free State, are coming into this region like a flood, from the west, and the Mo- hammedans are coming in almost equal numbers, from the east. Hence, whatever is done for the spreading of the Gospel here must be done quickly.
THE ROMANCE OF GOEDVERWACHT. BY REV. PAUL DE SCHWEINITZ, NAZARETH, PA. Goedverwacht is a Moravian mission station among the Hottentots in South Africa, almost a huudred miles due north from Cape Town. The Moravians began missionary operations, both in Guinea and in the Cape Colony, in 1737, but this particular station was not founded until 1858. Like many tales of fiction, so, too, the veritable romance of Goedverwacht is founded upon a most peculiar and very complicated testament, which became intricately involved with the history of the mission, and upon which for a time its very existence depended. In 1810, a certain wealthy Dutch farmer, by the name of Buergers, purchased a beautiful, well-watered, fertile valley, of some 900 acres, in the Piquet mouutains, and, by means of his Hottentot slaves, transformed it into a prosperous little colony, which now bears the name of Goedverwacht. Here Mr. Buergers lived most contentedly uutil the year 1838, when the emancipation of all slaves should take place. To his great displeasure he noticed that his slaves had become filled with spiritual desires, and, as soon as they became free, would forsake him and move to a mission station. In order to prevent this, Mr. Buergers chose six of his slaves whom he valued most highly, and told them, that if they would remain with him and care for him up to his death, he would will them his entire estate. He drew up his will accordingly, decreeing that these six slaves should hold the estate in common, but that it could not be sold until the last of the six slaves died, and then it must be sold and the proceeds divided equally among the living children of these six slaves.
This will was considered an insult to his white neighbors and relatives, but it was drawn up so skillfully, that all attempts to upset it proved utterly futile.
Thus, in 1843, six poor, despised Hottentot men and women, having faitlfully fulfilled all the conditions of the will, suddenly became wealthy real-estate owners. The property did not fall into unworthy hands. These six gathered to- gether their friends and relatives, and soon had a colony of over 500 souls, and they at once _proceeded to take measures to have their spiritual wants sup- plied. For this purpose, they applied to the Moravians for missionaries.
The Moravians in their work among these peoples, have always found it best to gather their converts into little villages around the mission-houses, which, for this purpose must, of course, stand upon ground owned by the Church. Owing to the peculiar conditions of the will, they could purchase no land there, and so had to serve these Hottentots as best they could from a neighboring station. However, a flourishing congregation of Christian con- verts was gradually gathered. – In the meantime, the six owners began to die off. It became apparent that the time when the estate must be sold, was fast approaching. If the Moravian Church could not purchase the estate, the flourishing mission-work would be destroyed. The surrounding white farmers could scarcely await the time when tJtey could avenge the imagined insult of making Hottentots equal landowners with themselves. They openly boasted of the sums they would pay, and de- clared they would resell the land to the highest bidders. The Mora-vians, with their scanty means, could not compete with the fat purses of these hostile farmers. The future looked very dark. The survivors of the six would gladly have secured the possession to the Church, but the courts had decided that, under the will they were powerless.
In this extremity, the good brethren put in motion the mightiest force of which the Kingdom of God knows. They and their converts prayed-prayed unceasingly, prayed in Africa and prayed at home, prayed constantly-for the roofs over their heads, and the ground under their feet seemed to totter and tremble. It was an invisible power, but it was silently at work.
In the meantime, the courts had decided that, according to the letter of the will, only the actually living children of the original six, and not their grandchildren, would be thp heirs of the estate. Further, that unless all the heirs were of age the estate must be sold at auction to the highest bidder.
Further, that even if all were of age, if there was a single one who refused to agree upon a price, it would again have to be sold at auction to the highest bidder. In either of those two cases the estate would be lost to the Moravians, and their faithfulla bor of years scattered to the winds, and the scene of their prayers, and tears and triumphs for Christ become the abode and property of godless men. On the other hand, the courts had decided that, if all the heirs were of age, and if all were unanimously agreed, then they could sell the estate at private sale for any price they chose, no matter how low, and to whomsoever they chose.
:::'inally the fate -of the entire mission depended upon the life of one old womaa, the last survivor of the original six slaves. At length, on December 28, 1J) j, old Christine, who for thirty-eight years had lived the life of a true Chri~tian, died in her ninety-third year.
At once the hostile-minded neighbors began to tempt the poor Hottentot heirs with fancy prices. What would be the fate of the mission? After thorough investigation, the court decided that there were thirteen heirs ac- cording to the letter of Buerger's will, and as one of these thirteen died after Christine, the three children of that one were also heirs. By the merciful overruling of Providence the life of old Christine had been preserved just long enough to permit the youngest of these heirs to become of age. The power of prayer began to be evident. But were these all willing to sell their valuable estate to the 'Moravian mission, and not only to sell it to the mission, but also
HIDDEN SPRINGS-oR HOW MISSIONARIES ARE MADE
for a price the church could afford to pay-which must be one far below its value? Upon this now hung the fate of this flourishing mission. The count- less prayers of the believers had not been in vain. The numberless difficulties and delicate negotiations cannot be detailed here. Suffice it, therefore, to say that a prayer-hearing God so ruled the hearts of these fifteen heirs that they voluntarily adopted the unanimous resolution to sell their estate to the Mora- vian Church for the moderate sum of £750 on Jme 30, 1889. Each heir re- ·ceived £51 and 15 shillings, of which nearly everyone at once returned £1 as a gift towards a church building, and some more. However, there is still a need for much more before all the expenses of the transactions can be paid ;;'nd th!" necessary church buildings erected. But the Lord, who won the hearts of the self-sacrificing heirs, will also move the hearts of Christians to give of their' means to upbuild this noble mission.
What is the" moral" of this tale? A prayer-hearing God can overrule the testament of one who cared not for the Church, can guide the decisions of {)ourts, can defeat the machinations of malicious men, can guide the hearts of poor Hottentots.
And further, when Christians at home are earnestly, and non-Christians are sneeringly, seeking for permanent results of missionary work among debased people, here is again a shining example of the precepts of Christ entering into and controling the practical life of converts. Imagine fifteen Ameri- {)an nominal Christians of all ages and conditions, not rich, but really poor, deliberately refusing a fancy price for real estate, when it could be honestly gained, and being satisfied with a very moderate figure, out of love for the Lord Jesus and pure loyalty to the Church. It would have been so easy to have simply put the estate up at auction and taken the highest bid, and no one could have acpused them of the slightest crime, as the world goes. But higher, more Christlike principles controlled these poor South Africans. See how Christ has transformed these poor, degraded, down-trodden, despised Hottentots! God bless their self-sacrifice to them and their children!
HIDDEN SPRINGS-OR HOW MISSIONARIES ARE MADE.
BY MARIA A. WEST, SARATOGA, N. Y.
In the deep recesses of the forest and mountain solitudes, far away from human sight and pen, God prepares the hidden fountains which send their pure, perennial streams down to.the valleys below, causing life and beauty, verdure and fruitfulness, to spring up on every side, and filling the rivers which flow onward to the great sea, to carry its blessings to the distant places of the earth, till the desert shall revive and blossom as the garden of the Lord.
And, as in the economy of nature, so, also, in the Kingdom of Grace, the most powerful and· permeating forces are often those that are secretly, silently working, nnheralded and often unknown, but set in motion by the Divine Hand which keeps the heavenly record, and marks the onward flow and fruitage, through time and through eternity!
A remarkable instance of this hidden spring of far-reaching influence, l}as recently been brought to light, and is especially worthy of mention at this time, when its power is strikingly illustrated.
In the year 1837, Mrs. Francis G. Clewe-born in the year 1801-and living at Genville, a village four miles from Schenectady, listened to the preaching of a missionary sermon, at Hudson, which, as she said, "Converted her tQ missions, as much as she was ever converted to Christ!" Her first query was, "What can I do? " The result was the formation by her, of a Woman's For-
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS
eign Missionary Aid Society. Perhaps the first one of the kind in these United States of America.
At the first meeting of this new-born society. she pledged one dollar, as her free-will offering to the cause. To obtain that sum, she walked four miles to Schenectady, secured some vests to make at one of the shops, and then walked home again with her work. And, at every meeting of the society, she never failed to bring an offering for herself and for each of her children, while they were still ~mall. One of her daughters died, but the gift in her name was still continued, with the words, "And this is for Ann." Her yearly offering sometimes amounted to $20,00, and was sent, now to the American Board, and then to another foreign missionary society, in which she was also interested. For this sacred purpose, Mrs. Clewesometimes reared "missionary chickens,'
sometimes planted a piece of land, or set apart a portion of her butter and eggs. And, during all those fifty or more years of her consecrated life, this "mother in Israel" continued to hold the missionary meeting of the society she had originated in her own home; even if none were present but herself and one of her children, a chapter was read, a hymn sung, and prayer offered-and this, not monthly, but every week! One of the original members of that little society is still living and testified that when Mrs. Clewe was too ill to rise from her bed, the same order was observed; and that she would "turn herself," and offer a fervent prayer for missions and missionaries throughout the world, and pleading that some of her descendants might thus be used of God.
September 9, 1889, she was called from the earth to the heavenly Kingdom, being 88 years of age, and, like a shock of corn, fully ripe. Her last earthly home was with a daughter in Schenectady. And now, a grandson of this noble Christian woman, of whom the world never heard, is appointed as a missionary of the American Board for West Central Africa; soon to depart with his young wife and little child for that "dark continent." To some in that city, where this young physician, in the opening of his career with all of earth's allurements before him, had every prospect of success, this decision seems the height of folly-like the throwing away of a life and all that makes life worth the living. They have not seen the silent working of the sacred leaven in divine preparation for this culmination. They little think that it will have its fullest manifestation and justificationon theday when' 'all the kingdoms of this world shall have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and when Christ shall reign over all, for ever and ever."
The consecration of any life, in fellowship with Christ, receives added dignity and grandeur from partnership with Him, "who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, that He might bring many sons unto glory," and "see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied," When they shall come from the east and the west, the north and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God-"A great multitude, whom no man could number-of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues." The glorious harvest-time of souls, when the "new song" shall arise: "Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood-to HIM be glory and dominion, for ever and ever, Amen !"
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
M. Alfred Casalis, speaking of the Basutos, to whom he, like his father be- fore him, has now become a missionary, says: -''How can we fail to experience a closesense of unity with this little nation, so desirous of maintaining its unity and independence? It is undoubtedly, the influence of the Gospel which has alone protected it from partition and complete annexation to the invading neighbors who covet its land so greedily. .Are we sure that God may not have a great destiny in store for this pettv people? Whence shall come the missionaries capable of resisting the terrible climate of the Zambesi, ifnot from Lessuto-from that school oftheology modestly founded at Morija, and which, perhaps, in the near future, will give us a chosen band ()f native pastors? On the day when these 200,000 Basutos shall be Christians, we shall have at our disposal an incalculable force, a veritable Christian army, ready to carry afar into the interior of this Africa, still buried undera darkness so deep-the blazing light of the Gospel."
Pastor Schneller, of Bethlehem, writing, in the Allgemeine Mission3chrijt, says: "Talking lately with a priest of the Greek Church, I quoted something from the Acts. He retorted, 'You Protestants always make so much of the Old Testament and its Acts of the Apostles. Only quote some books of the New Testament, I know all of them.' The same priest, wishing to convince the people of the unsoundness of our doctrine of Jesus Christ as the only Redeemer, proved his point as follows: 'These poor Protestants! Why, they are for be- mg saved through Jesus Christ alone. DQYou believe that Jesus is able to save anybody whatever, without the help of saints? If He could, why must Judas Iscariot perish by the very side of the Lord? Why did He not save him? Why must the impenitent thief be lost by the very side of the much-praised atoning Cross? Why? Because they had not the saints! And the poor Protestants have not a single saint to help them, they have only Jesus and cqnsequently they are bound for hell.' "
Before our Anglican Church, to strengthen hersel'f against Rome, becomes too earnest for union with the Greek Church, she had better counsel her to re- vise her teachings of her clergy a little. Profe~sor Mahaffy says, that he can understand proposals to unite with the Roman Catholics, on one hand, or with the Protestant Dissenters, on the other, but, after traveling in the East, proposals to unite with the Greek Church, are, to him, an inexplicable marvel, uuleas, of course, as some parts of the Greek Church are said to have shown a disposition to do, she maintaining her own distinctiveness, welcomes the vivifying stream ()f Protestant warmth and enlightenment. At least she is not pre-committcd by an assumption of infallibility.
-"When, often, on the spot where Jesus did his greatest works, one sees how the Lord, together with his .Gospel, has become a stranger here; how, in the home of Christ, faith in Christ has been distorted into an unrecognizable caricature, it must come into the consciousness of every evangelical Christian, that, if anywhere in the world, our evangelical church has a great and momentous task to accomplish in the home of the Gospel, however great the difnculties may be."
"Almost every one in these lands," says Herr Schmeller, 'lknows only himself and his own interests, without regard to others, were they even members of his own family. His cold indifference represses the development of men that might have a benevolent interest in promoting the common weal, whether in village, city, or province of their native country. Where here are friends of the people, friends of the fatherland? The people have not even the idea of such a thing. The inhabitants of one quarter of a village or town only too often regard those of another quarter not only as utterly foreign to them but as hostile, which gives rise to perpetual feuds. To bring about unity or to carry through any unanimous purpose, is no more possible in a city or village than in the country at large. Yet, it is in just this state of disintegration that the Turkish government finds a strengthening of its own security, and it favors this accordingly."
-January 1,1888, the following were the missionary statistics of the Nor- wegian Miasionary Society.
Ordained missionaries, 41, (1 being a physician); 6 unmarried ladies, 1 layman, 16,555 church members, 87,500 school children, 44,000 adherents, 16 native pastors, 900 native teachers and evangelists, $81,050 contributions from Norway, and $12,000 from America. The fields of labor are Natal and Madagascar. The Schruder Mission in Natal, has 2 missionaries, 1 single lady, 352 bapt,ized members, 130 communicants, and 124 school children. Income, $1,505. The Santal mission h India, has 3 or4 Norwegian missionaries, and a revenue of $8,918. It now works independently of the Gossner Mission.
The sum totAll of Norwegian missionary contributions for 1887 (omitting the $12,000 from America), amounted to $91,841.76. The population being 1,913,000, this average, about 20 cents ahead.
-Herr Nather, of the Leipsic Society in South India, speaking of some famous- of bathing festivals on the banks the southern Ganges, the Kaweri remarks; "They avail for the cleansing away of ceremonial sins; for other than cere- monial sins the heathen do not really know."
-M. Teisseres and M. Allegret, missionaries of the Paris Society, after a stay of about a year with the American Presbyterian missionaries, on the Gaboon, were. in April, about leaving for the Congo, under a convoy furnished by the French government.
'-The Allgemeine Missions-Zeitschrift for June, 1890, in a detailed article treating of the present condition of Protestant missions in South Africa, says, that the Cape Colony is growing poorer. Much of it is incapable of sustaining ths growing population. Moreover, the almost entil'e withdrawal of imperial control has given the colonists opportunity to repel the laws restricting the manufacture and sale of brandy. This is one of the many ways in which England has done immense harm by being too eager to throw responsibility off her shoulders before the tid. She staggers "Under the too vast orb of her fate." The latest statistics of the Cape Colony, (1888-9), give: Christians of European descent,. belonging to established congregations, 267,817. Colored Christians, 234,329. Chureh sittings, 287,825. Average church attendance,172,428. Sunday scholars, 57,678. Nearlya quarter of thecolored people are baptized. Twenty different Protestant denominations are laboring in the country with 547 clergymen. The different churches receive from the colonial government, £190,432, yearly. Of this, about $150,000 may be counted for proper missionary work. The Boer (pronounced Boor) party, however, now in the ascendant, is unfriendly to these grants. Cape Town has 41,704 inhabitants, of whom 8,000 or 10,000 are Mohammedan Malays. Among the half-breeds of the west of Cape Colony, the Rhenish, the Berlin SOCieties, and the Unitas Fratrum are the principal laborers. The Berlin Society has 11 stations, 13 ordained European missionaries; 87 native helpers, 11,138 baptized adherents,' 3,918 communicants, 2,378 scholars. Contributions, $9,300. The Berlin Society (in the west), has 7 stations, 8 missionaries, 74 helpers, 4,335 baptized adherents, 1,843 communicants, 614 scholars. Contributions, $4,688. The Moravians have (in the west) 11 stations, 20 brethren, 2 native ordained missionaries, 239 helpers, 9,145 adherents, 2,218 communicants, 2,154 scholars.
The Brethren's Church, on July 9, 1887, celebrated the 150th anniversary of its first arrival in South Africa, 'Its work is still important and fruitful, but suffers under a growing difficulty. Not laboring in colonial villages, but in distinct stations, it finds its people sinking more and more into poverty, because of the scarcity of arable land. Their people are therefore widely scattered, many being in the diamond fields, whither they are followed by colored 'Diaspora laborers.' "
The Dutch Reformed Church of Cape Colony, which has 175,555 baptized white members, is coming, under Scottish and English stimulus, to show a much more animated missionary zeal. "Stellenbosch, with its theological institute, is very especially a focus of missionary zeal."
Among the others, the Wesleyan Missionary Society is most prominent. It has (in the west): 9 stations, 6 missionariE'S, 96 native helpers, 1,476 communicants, 1,467 scholars The South African Wesleyans are quite indepepdent of the British Conference. In the whole Colony, they have 71 stations, 156 churches and chapels, 55 clergymen, 1,198 native helpers, 16,840 communicants, 88,000 baptized adherents, 218 schOQls, 310 teachers, 13,803 scholars.
"But no other British society laboring in South Africa compares with the Scottish societies as respects capability, sobriety and diligence, combined with true evangelical piety."
The Free Church of Scotland haa9 stations, 10 ordained Europeans, 2 ordained natives,23 native helpers, 4,214 commnnicants, 12,113 baptized adherents, 3,510 scholars. Their institute of Lovedale (largely assisted by the colonial government) is a great force for education and indus· trial training.
The United Presbyterians have 11 stations, 12 missionaries, 60 native helpers, 2,307 communicants, 8,080 baptized adherents, 43 schools, 1,735 scholars.
-Of the 500,000 or more of Protestant Christians in India, 7,000 live in the city of Madras ~tself. South India is still the great seat of Christianity, its in- habitants being not Aryans but Dravidians, and, therefore, being related to Hinduism somewhat as the Turks are to Mohammedanism, which they have accepted, but which is not native to them, as it is to the Arabs.
-Missionary Lazarus says of the moral condition of the people of Madras an admirable example of south India at large), that, like Greece in Paul's day, the things that they do "are a shame even to speak of." But whereas Paul's admonitions show plainly that his converts had but imperfectly extricated themselves from "the moral chaos surrounding them," "it may be confidently said," declares Mr. Lazarus, himself a native of India, "that the native church of Madras has raised itself above the abominations of the encompassing hea- thenism. Devil-dances, drinking-bouts, quarrels and tumults, unchastity, prac- tised under the cloak of religion, and similar abominations, are absolutely foreign to the native Christians. Such exhibitions of godlessness as are common among the lower classes in Europe, are unknown to them. The Hindus have an immeasurable vocabulary of vituperation, but I do not remember to have ever met with a native Christian that made any use of it. No native Christian has been sent to the gallows, or convicted of crime before the courts." Mr. Laza- rus, it should be remembered, is here speaking only for the Protestants; cases of crime, among the native Christiahs, it would seem, are mostly of Roman Catholics, though among these also, it is rare. The Mohammedans in M&dras, though vastly less disposed to crime than the Hindus, make but a poor show compared with the Christians generally, and seem to sink out of sight, com- pared with the Protestants.
This great superiority of the Protestants, is, however, rather an inference of my own than a distinct statement of Mr. Lazarus, and may bean exaggeration.
"The native Christians, moreover, are as good as wholly emancipated from faith in astrology and palmistry, from child-marriages and compulsory widowhood, from neglect of the education of their children, from the foolish marriage-system involved in caste, from polyandry and polygamy, from perjury and prostitution, and other violations of the moral law, which are so general among the Hindus, from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin. Even if no wider results had been reached, this alone would have been a great achievement, which must be ascribed to the steadfastness and faithfulness with which the missionary pioneers have administered their difficult trust.
"The more positive virtues are less satisfactorily developed, yet, I may venture to say, that for family virtue the Christians have established a solid reputation. Hypocrisy, however, suspiciousness, mutual detraction and backbiting, hardness toward the poor, prodigality, fickleness, pride of birth, are faults only too common among them. . . . If 'cleanliness is next to godliness,' our people have not yet discovered it, or at Ip,ast have not yet applied their discovery. In this respect they are inferior to the Hindus of the same social level. As to the English standard of moral obligation, there is much of it to which their apprehensions are not yet at all awakened." It should be remembered, however, that the English are by nature, a much higher development of mankind. "As respects the higher, active virtues, which our Lord pronounces blessed, poverty of spirit, sorrow for sin, forbearance, hunger and thirst after righteousness, compassion, purity of heart, willingness to suffer for righteousness sake, the whole moral scale, the highest that humanity can attain, of these we find in the native Christians only the first feeble shoots. There are, of course, honorable exceptions, which, in reference to deve~opment of character and Christian virtues, may easily stand comparison with European Christians, hut they are not man:r." "But when we consider the infection which lies in the air of India, together with the dullness and inertness of the people, and all the various forces, which join to work against the development of the moral sense, and also consider that the mass of the native Christians comefrom the most deeply sunken social stratum of the Hindus, there is certainly occasion for surprise and thankfulness, that the moral standing of the native church is so much higher than that of the Hindus. Thus, the last are higher than the first, as compared with the most of those who stand outside of Christianity."
"Docility, tractability, respectfulness, sobriety and meekness, trust in Providence, and careful discharge of religious duties, are, indeed, traits of our converts; but they are not peculiar to them. They were traits of the Indian character long before Christianity came hither. And it seems surprising that so eminent and learned a man as Bishop Caldwell should have described them as distinguishing traits of our Christians. They are genuine Indian traits, just as courage and capacity, sincerity and manliness, vehemence and violence and energy are genuine European, or, if you will, specific Anglo-Saxon qualities."
Mr. Lazarus thinks, that until pains are taken to secure a higher grade of catechists, we must make up our minds to a comparatively low grade of native Christians. He tells his fellow-missionaries some plain truths: "If the missionaries are to raise the native standard, they must take pains to learn how to speak elegant and accurate Tamil, a thing which, I am sorry to say, receives less attention here in Madras than in old days. Clergymen must not be content with their Sunday services. They ought to establish Bible classes for youth and grown people, as well as for children, and make these entertaining, so that they can mspire native Christians with a taste for an intelligent and thorough study of the Holy Scriptures, and in particular, of the life and work of our Lord. By these, and like means, there will !3pring up a clearer, purer and more thorough conception of what Christianity is, and this will thus exercise a growing influence upon the moral condition of the native church."
• Mr. Lazarus severely criticises the mission1l.ry schools of south India: "These schools are often Christian in name, but heathen in effect. Their main element is made up of heathen boys, and there is only a little fraction of Christian children. Most of the teachers are heathen, the rector is often a Brahmin. The director of the mission prefers heathen to Christian teachers; the former are 'wiser towards their generation than the children of light.' They are more creeping and busy; this is taken by the easily-believing director as humility and zeal; Oll the other hand, he cannot bear with the faults of 'the own children of the family.' What makes matters worse is, that the instruction in br Christianity is committed to the 'Bible teacher,' who is often a poor native Christian of the catechist class, who is nothing accounted of either his pupils or his fellow-teachers. Thus, the whole is under strong heathen mfluence; the Christian element is as a drop in the bucket. Think what it means to be eight hours daily, year out and year in, in contact with a hundred heathen lads and teachers, whose mouths overflow with abominations, and whose hearts are leavened with heathen rottenness. Such a contact cannot otherwise than strikingly infect and corrupt the young Christian's soul before he comes under the missionary's immediate influence. I speak from sad experi- ence.."
Mr. Lazarus is utterly opposed to the appointment of heathen teachers in Christian schools, in any case whatever. He also uses some plain speaking toward the English missionaries in South India: "The fault lies with the native Christians as well as with the whites, that there is so little mutual affection between them. Yet, the latter, as belonging to an older and more developed church, which is renowned not less for piety and philanthropy than for zeal and learning might be expected to be first to lay plans of love toward their weaker brethren. . . Impelled by the Saviour's self-sacrificing love, a messenger of God ought to be able to lay aside his pride of race, to overcome his prejudices, to condescend to the native level, and by free and familiar intercourse, to endeavor to lift the native Christians up to l1imself, and thus, with his Lord, to strive to develop the native church into a glorious church, not havin~ spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.' Only by the exercise of love can the mISSIOnary lead the church on and up. He ought, at least, to show himself as often in the homes oofort he native Christian s as at the dinner-tables of his c~untrymen. It is bettoc !"-:m to exercise his influence
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER
in modest native civility, than by a presence at games of ball or on croquetgrounds. It is pleasanterto see him befriending the poor, than doing homage. to the rich. In brief, all his works, all his walk, ought to be such as to call back into living remembrance the days when the Lord of heaven lived and walked in intimate converse with His own disciples."
Mr. Lazarus bears emphatic testimony to the inestimable good wrought by missionary labors in South India. But he desires, speaking the truth in love, to lay home to the hearts of some of the missionaries, considerations which they have great occasion to weigh, if they would see established in India a stable and richly developed native church.
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
Tke New World of Central Africa; With a History of the First Christian Mission on the Congo. By Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness. London: Hodder & Stoughton. New York and Chicago: Fleming H. Revell. $2.00. Central Africa, by means of God's wonder·working Providence, is in- deed, become a "new world," to us. And the great Powers of Europe have hastened to improve their opportunity to extend "the spheres of their ir:tluence" and establish their "protectorates" over its vast areas. This is well. This is a part of God's wise and comprehensive plan for Africa's enlightenment and regeneration. This secures the rapid introduction of civilizing agencies, the development of its immense resources, the protection of life, the extinction of slavery and civil and religious liberty to all its teeming millions. The Church of Christ, also, is astir to enter this new world with the missionary, the Bible and the school, and conquer it for One greater than Cresar. And this book is just what the exigency calls for. It tells just what we want to know. It shows, briefly and intelligently, what has been done and attempted for the evangel- ization of Africa. It is well written-written with a purpose; written by one whose whole heart, as well as that of her husband and family, is given to the missionary cause. It is pro- fusely illustrated. It gives us vivid pictures of the "dark continent." It gives facts of momen· 100us interest. Take this: "The Congo and its tributaries have been already explored to a length of 11,000 miles, giving 22,000 miles of river bank, peopled with native villages. In his journey across Africa, Stanley gazed on the representatives of tribes numbering at least 50,000,000, and to none of them has the message of mercy ever been proclaimed." And this: "From the last mission station on the Upper Congo, a journey of 1,000 miles would be needed to reach the near- .est stations on the east-those on the great lakes. Seventeen hundred miles to the northeast, lies the Red Sea, and there is no mission station between. Two thousand, two hundred miles due north is the Mediterranean, and no mission station between; while 2,500 miles to the northwest are the .stations of the North African nUssion, but no single centre of light between I Seven hundred miles to the west is the Cameroons Station, but the whole intervening country is unvisited; and in the south-west, the American Mission at Bihe, is fully a thousand miles distant. "-J. M. S.
Daybreak in North Africa. By Mrs. F. T. Haig. London: Partridge & Company. This is An account of missionary work in Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripoli. Our readers have heard from time to time from this region, from one of our correspondents, Rev.E. F. Baldwin, of Tangiers, Morocco. The mission here is but a few years old, and is but little known and feebly supported. 'The North African Mission had no child's play before it when it sought to carry the 'Gospel to Mohammedans in that part of the world where Mohammedanism had most completely triumphed over Christianity, and had, for more than a thousand years, held undisputed sway over Berbers and Arabs alike. The success of the Gospel even against such fearful odds is proof that Islam is not invincible. Here, as elsewhere, the testimony is that Mohammedan power is passing away. But eight years have passed since the effort began, and what hath God wrought I Mrs. Haig says, "At the present time there are 51 missionaries occupying 12 dilferent statious, in connection with the North Americar: Mission. beside a nnmber of in- .dependent workers [Mr. Baldwin, for one, who has been quite successful], several of whom be· gan work with the help of the Society, but afterwards preferred working on separate lines." The book is modestly and pleasantly written and well illustrated. It encourages hope and labor for Africa.-J. M. S.
A Friend of Missions in India. The journal of Rev. Henry S. Lunn. London: James Clarke & Company. Our readers will remember that a flerce and prolonged controversy has agitated the missionaries and friends of the London Missionary Society (Wesleyan,) for a year or two past,growing out of serions criticisms,which appeared in the Methodist Times (London), respecting the administration of the Society and the habits of living on the part of it. missionaries in India, etc. The anthor of this work, and the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, editor of the Methodist Times, were chiefly responsible for stirring up this severe controversy. In the last number of the REVIEW we gave the report of the Special Committee appointed by the Society to investigate :this whole matter.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
The chief interest which attaches to this book is the fact that It consists of "The Cyclo- • styled Indian Journal," in the form of twelve letters, which Mr. Lunn wrote while in India as a. missionary, "thirty copies of which he sent to thirty circles of friends in England." These letters of course, laid the foundation for the discussion and warfare which followed. And when, after his return to London, he wrote a series of anonymous articles to the Methodist Times on "A New Missionary Policy," which the editor strongly 'endorsed, the writer's identity with the letters sent home from India was seen by all who had read the Journal. Bitterness of feeling, at home and abroad, and angry discussion was the result. The missionaries demanded a thorough investigation and persisted in their demand, and, at length got it, and got a vindication. Hap- pily the war Is now ended, and, apparently, all parties are snbstantially satisfied. The lesson from It all isobvions, and should be laid to heart-Young missionaries are too apt to criticise those of age and long experience.-J. M. S.
A ThousandMiles on an Elephant. By Holt S. Hallett. Dedicated by the author to the Ameri- can missionaries in Burmah and Siam. Blackwood & Sons: Edinburgh and London. This book is the record of a tour of exploration by Messrs. Colquhoun and Hallett for a railway from Bur- mah to China, through the Shan States of Northern Siam. Dr. J. N. Cushing, whom the author designated as the most learned Shan scholar, accompanied the exploring party as interpreter. They met a cordial welcome and much helpful information from Dr. McGilvary and associates of the Preshyterian Mission to the Laos of Chiang-Mal. They there enjoyed a refreshing rest after their tedious jungle-travel from Burmah. Thence onward through unexplored regions of unwasted resources of commercial wealth, and opening an easy access to the hoards of superstitious spirit-worshippers of the Shan tribes in northern Slam, and leading to the unharvested fields of commerce in China, and giving to the disciples of Christ an open door to the uncounted myriads of her inhabitants when these explorations shall result in a living railway from India to, the middle kingdom.
The book is Wllitten in an attractive style, presenting a clear picture of the dwellings, character and customs of the people, the forests of teak timber and other wood that shelter herds of elephants and buffaloes, poniesand cattle, tigers and monkeys, chickens and peacocks,with rich fiE-Ids of rice, sugar, tobacco and tropical fruits. which include pineapple, pumelo, plantin, orange, lemon, mango, mangosteen, durean, custard-apple, and in great variety and rich fiavor the fruits generally found in the tropics. Extensive plains of fertile soil still remain uncultivated for want of facilities for the transportation of the productions. It has been intimated that the Burmah·Siam-China railway, for the extension of British trade and the civilization of" south-eastern Asia, may be classed with the Slez canal and tbe American Pacific railway as one of the grand works of tbe century. We think it in harmony with the call for a thousand missionaries for China, and the Christ-command to preach the Gospel to every creature.-W. D.
Personal Life of David Lit,lngstone. By William G. Biackie, D.D. London: John Murray. This is one of the hest worth reading of all missionary hooks. I am now reading it a second time aloud to my family. For fullness of detail, intense interest, graphic portraiture of character and freedom from exaggeration, it stands very high. And I would recommend all readers· ol the REVIEW to get it.-A. T. P.
Life of John Hunt: Missionary to Fiji. By G. Stringer Rowe, London. This Is one of the most kindling books I ever read. Mr. Hunt was a pioneer, and hurned .out his life's fiame in his holy zeal for God. He died October 4, 1848, at the age of 36, but he had lived a century, judged by the standard of effective work. This hook is full of the rarest inspirlition. It is one of the finest evidences of Christianity it has fallen to my lot to examine. He, who has any doubt of the Divine Power unto salvation, should read this book; and yet. valuahle, as it is, we have seldom seen a copy of It in any missionary library.-A. T. P..
H.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions.
A leaflet lies before me setting forth with personal and peculiar interest· the Students' Foreign MissionaryUnion because of its origin. of Great Britain, not yet one year old. Some facts concerning this organi- "It began in one Howard Taylor's zation will be of interest to the read- study, on his return from Northfield, ers of this REVIEW, because of the Massachusetts, and in the hearts and tremendous significance of a new prayers of a group of missionary men student movement abroad, and vol- at the hospital, shortly before he sailed unteers will regard the movement for China." A London correspondent goes on to say "Two large and influential meetings were lished volume of letters edited by her held in connection with its foundation: one at sister, under the title "In the Far' Spurgeon's Tabernacle, when he (Spurgeon) East." Miss Wilder's name is familiar delivered a grand missionary sermon on Mark to readers of THE REVIEW by reason xvi: 15, to as many London students as could of her occasional letters to that peribe gotten together (and the great building was odical, and to young women in our full to doors and roof), and one at Exeter colleges and connected with Y. W. C. Hall." A. She is known through her mes- sage to them, entitled, "Shall I Go?" The Union numbers 165 members, which has already reached its Fifth all men. London has 74 members, edition. Miss Wilder's pamphlet, "An Cambridge 6, Oxford 5, Edinburgh 32, Appeal from India," should be read Aberdeen 3, Bangor 1. Besides these with very great care in order to be there are some scattered members and understood rightly, and not' read merely, but pondered on-not because some fu. Ireland, making the total of of any obscurity on the writer's part, but rather by reason of the meaning 165 men. of statements-which meaning does The membership consists of all not lie readily on the surface.
students who accept and sign the fol- "The fact that our Saviour is using us in the lowing declaration: salvation of souls, and for hastening the day of His coming-that is certainly the reason "It is my earnest hope, if God per- for our staying in India. So we who are here mit, to engage in Foreign mission would say to you in America and Canada, this work." is the strongest appeal we can send you for coming to India. The presence of the moving The objects of the Union shall be: cloud was sufficient reason for the Israelites 1. To band together students who to follow. Does not the presence of God's feel called to Foreign missionary work. Spirit, as now felt in India, convince us that 2. To urge the claims of the Foreign He is calling a large portion of our volunteer Mission field upon Christian students band to work for Him here I" everywhere, and to advocate the formation of missionary associations in In refutation of the popular notion connection with the various universi- that Africa presents the greatest need ties and colleges where they do not al- for missionary workers, the writer ready exist. says, "Do you say there are large 3. For the furtherance of its objects tracts in Africa unoccupied? True. the Union shall use the following Yet, relative to its population, India agencies: Meetings of members, meet- must have some 119 more missionaries ings in universities and colleges, de- to equal the missionary force of putations, correspondence and indi- Africa." vidual effort, and the pUblication of an occasional paper. Miss Wilder has corresponded with On the ground of respect for and ap- missionary agencies of the Protestant preciation of the work of the authors denominations in India, and in brief of these appeals from different coun- extracts which she gives from letters tties, the appeals, though without any from various districts, a very adequate pretence to literary merit, should be. and true picture of India's needs is read with undivided attention, and in a receptive and prayerful spirit. presented~ Mr. Forman's views on Foreign missions are familiar to us through his From the Central Provinces one addresses delivered in our colleges, in 1886-87. Miss Geraldine Guinness, writes: author of "An Appeal from China," "I am persuaded in my own mind noticed in the last number of THE RE- VIEW, has already shown herenthusi- that the most eventful period in the asm for, and consideration to her history of missionary effort in this work in China, as disclosed in the pub- country is rapi~ly approa?hing. Th.e Lord is preparmg for a time of gI01:1- ous in-gathering. These souls will need the care of his children." Arcot Mission of the Reformed the answer to every difficulty, hin- drance or disappointment." Church: "Never, in my somewhat long ex- Unoccupied fields: "The Nizam's dominions are now perience, were the claims of India ap- open; population 10,000,000. Only a parently so urgent as now. A restless, beginning has been made in the Conaalmost feverish spirit of inquiry per- rese portion on the west. Much of vades the community." India is but nominally occupied. The region about Jhonsi and Bhopal is Madura Mission, American Board: said to have 10,000,000 unprovided for, "To-day, one brother has four sta- except for the mission at Jhonsi, and tions, another three, and two others a native worker of the American two each. How can they do justice . Board at Lalitpun. to the work? They are all driven to "In closing: To you who have finthe verge of desperation and ill-health. ished your course of study, and waver We thank God that we have recently not at the question of ultimate comreceived into our mission-circle one of ing, but of coming this year, I would· that large band of consecrated stu- say, Satan is taking advantage of our dents. How we long, and pray, and delays. Our aboriginal tribes, numwrite, and implore, that more be bered at some 50,000,000, now very acsent !" cessible, are said to be getting rapidly absorbed into Hinduism. In large Marathi Mission, American Pres- cities, where for years there has been much undermining of old faiths, inbyterian Board: fidelity, materialism, and theosophy "An earnest request has been sent are being pressed u1>0n the attention of the people, and there is danger of for sixteen new workers. In Kolha- seven unclean spirits coming in place pur State alone there are 1,097 vil- of one. lages; it would take a missionary a "We need you now. We pray God whole year to preach once around to to send you to us, filled with the Holy the village population of that single Spirit. It is useless to preach Christ State." to minds steeped in ignorance and idolatry, in any other way than in the From the Akola Field, Mrs. Fuller power of the Spirit."
writes: "The greater need is the quality of the men. We need anointed menmen who know Christ, who find in God Africa.-Progress. Letters from gether for the good of the country. the missionaries in Uganda say that There is still considerable bad feeling King Mwanga has been almost wholly and jealousy, but there seems to be no stripped of the despotic power which prospect now of the open rupture that he and his fathers for centuries have recently threatened. The parties have exercised. He is now of little import- taken an oath, signed by their leaderll. ance in his own country-white influ- agreeing that whatever their disputes ences are in ascendancy. The King may be they will not spill one another's can get nothing that he does not ask blood, but will depend upon sober for from his chiefs, who are under the arguments and arbitration to settle all control of the Protestant or Catholic their quarrels. religion. This is a great change for the young King, who awhile ago killed The Mohammedan party seems to a bishop, imprisoned white mission- be entirely defeated. Thus a remarkaries, and slaughtered native Chris- able change has been wrought in tians by the score. No heathen are Uganda, where a while ago the allowed to hold any office in the new Mohammedans ruled everything, and Government. Many of them are per- by their influence upon Mwanga and mitted to remain in the land, but there his successor, Karema, drove the is not a chief among them. The great whites out of the country and threatoffices, of which there are about six ened to retard the progress of white very important ones, have been enterprises and of all civilization in equally divided between the two Central Africa for half a century to Christian parties. come. Now the Mohammedans have been driven from power in a series of There has been great danger of bloody battles, their influence is enserious clashing between the Protestant tirely gone and the Arabs are fugitives, and Catholic sects. By the advice of Uganda is a British J?rotectorate, and both Catholic and Protestant mission- the white missionarIes, recently peraries they have, however, decided to secuted, are the power in the country. bury their differences and work to- Never before was the prospect so bright for the rapid extension of European of the most valuable concessions' influence and commercial enterprise granted her by Germany. The history in the African lake region.-N. Y. of English rule in India shows how Sun. adroit she is in turning the office of protector to her own advantage. [Uganda is the field where Bishop Hanning- The situation of Zanzibar was not ton was murdered by Mwanga, and where the likely to escape the attention of the- slave-stealers. Their interest lay in lamented Mackay spent his brief but heroic making the road from the villages which they depopulated to the coast as life. Stanley speaks in warmest terms of this short as possible. On the journey, however short it may be, many of mission, declaring it "a most remarkable suc- their victims died from fatigue and exposure to the sun. Zanzibar was cess." Of Mackay, in whose house at the near, and it was also convenient. There the dealers came from Europe sonthern end of Victoria Nyanza, he took who had commissions from the Turks and Egyptians to supply them with grateful rest, "sipping real coffee and eating slaves. There, too, vessels might be chartered to carry away the living home-made bread and butter for the first time booty to other ports. So Zanzibar early became a mart of commerce in the in thirty months," he says: "He has no awful traffic. The efforts of Germany and England have largely suppressed time' to fret and groan and weep, and God this trade in Zanzibar, and under the protectorate of England we may be knows, if ever man had reason to think of sure it will not be revived. The mar- kets will now be better occupied by 'graves and worms and oblivion,' and to be the trade in ivory.-African News.
dolefuland lonely and sad, Mackay had, when, Chi n a. – A great evan~elizing after murdering his Bishop, and burning his agency. – The Chinese, especially pupils, and strangling his converts, and those in the southern part of the em- clubbing to death his dark friends, Mwanga pire, are going out from China in all turned his eye of death on him. And yet the directions. They are not only going little man met it with calm, blue eyes that to many adjacent islands and those never winked. To see one man of this kind, more remote in the Pacific, but they working day after day for twelve years, are settling upon all the coasts of bravely, and without a syllable of complaint south-eastern Asia, pushing up an the or a moan, among the 'wilderness,' and to rivers, and in every place holding hear him lead his little flock to show forth tenaciously the ground on which they God's loving kindness in the morning and His settle. They are a great colonizing faithfnlness every night, is worth going a people, and, if only the Gospel is long journey for the moral courage and con- given to them, they will assist greatly tentment that one derives from it."-J. M. S.] in the redemption of the lands to Zanzibar.-The importance of which they go from sin and darkness. Zanzibar, as a key to Central Africa, was recognized early in the era of ex- They seem to be destined, in the good ploration. What New York is to the United States, what Liverpool is to providence of God, to become a pow- Great Britain, Zanzibar is to Equatorial Africa. In his first expedition erful evangelizing agency, and a great Stanley made it the base of operations, and he went there again, in 1879, to blessing to humanity. . organize his second expedition. It lies on the east coast of Africa, seven Bishop Thoburn, writing from Sindegrees south of the equator. Its chief markets and the seat of the govern- gapore, says of these Chinese colonment are on the island of Zanzibar, but the adjacent country on the main- ists: land is also under the Sultan's domin- "'fhe more I see of our mission work ion, and is also called Zanzibar. It is at this point that the caravans from the in this part of the world, the more do interior strike the coast, and from I bQcome confirmed in the conviction there the explorers, Burton, Grant, which I received the first time I Stanley, Cameron and others, hired visited Rangoon and saw the Chinese their carriers and set out on their ex- there; mingling as they were with the peditions, and to that place they re- Burmese, that God would use them as turned, and came once more into com- a great evangelizing agency all up and munication with civilization. It was Stanley's first business, in organizing the Congo Free State, to establish a chain of stations extending from Zanzibar to Nyangwe and the lakes. Under the new arrangement with Germany and England, the latter country has acquired the right of "protecting" the Sultan of Zanzibar, which is one down these coasts. They are not only converts are mostly gathered from the most energetic people to be found in this region, but, strangely enough, the poor, he argued that it was better they seem more accessible to the Gos- pel than any others; and those of them so. When a house is to be lifted, jackwho are born in Malaysia will be able to speak the vernacular of the coun- screws are put in at the bottom. If try in which they live, and this, added to their knowledge of English and the roof was grappled it would be only Chinese, will qualify them for usefulness on the widest jossible scale. the top that would be lifted. Strange are the ways 0 Providence!" -Spirit of Missions. Hawaii.-Rev. W. A. Essery, in a recent address in London, said: England.-There is much in the "The gospel has won the victory English papers of the increasing flow over heathenism in the Sandwich Islands. It was a peculiar joy to me of converts from the ritualistic section when I found myself in Honolulu. On a certain sunny Easter Sunday of the Anglican Church to the Church morning I wended my way to the old stone church, a large square sanctuof Rome. The activity of the priests of ary, built of blocks of reef coral that had been cut out of the sea for. this Rome is very great, and their boastful- purpose by the early converts. I ness is greater. But the Pall Mall Ga- stood in the pulpit and spoke to an zette concedes that the tide sets rapidly eager audience of the purpose of {lne way. In a recent issue it says: Christ's gospel, the many triumphs thereof I had seen in all parts of the " The conversion to Catholicity is recorded world, and exhorted them to cleave of Rev. Dr. Townsend, superior of a mission to the Lord. Where are the idols the house of Oxford University at Calcutta, and people worshipped a hundred years this so soon after a similar step taken by Dr. ago? More of them are preserved in Rivington, principal of a similar institution at the museum cases of the London Mis- Bombay. Itis also given upon good authority sionary Society than I could hear of that Drs. Tatlock, Beasley and Clarke, sta- in the islands to-day. All around me tioned respectively at Christ Church, Clap- were proofs of how the gospel had ham, Helmsley, Yorkshire and St. James', raised and civilized the community. Liverpool, will shortly enter the Catholic The entire money cost of converting Church. Since the beginning of the Lenten these islanders, which was done by season no less than 100 Anglicans have em- American missionaries, was less than braced Catholicity, and this in one parish the cost of one first-class British ironalone. At Brighton, a centre of ritualistic clad. Christ's gospel has been wafted activity, the number of converts is reckoned to New Zealand. Last Good Friday at 500 persons." twelve months I landed at Gisborne, in Poverty Bay; it was about three India.-Bishop Thoburn's picture o'clock in the afternoon. Going up over the same beach where Captain of the poverty of the people of Asia, Cook had landed a hundred years before I heard the music of a churchespecially of India, where families going bell; turning in its direction I came upon a wooden, weather-boarded live on five cents a day, and thousands church; stepping inside I saw a con- gregation of Maoris, the natives of of growing children go to bed hungry New Zealand. The clergyman had just started the service, men and every night, drew forth a chorus of women had their Bibles and prayer- books, and all were taking part in the groans and sighs as well as generous worship of Him whose sorrows are remembered on Good Friday. It was gifts. He mentioned, as a sample: a a simple sight but it gladdened the heart to find Christ's name honored in man who was paid $2.50 per month, the ends of the world. And so from these illustrations we learn that the whose wife, by hard work, added 28 missionary spirit is once more a power of life in the earth, and that the work cents per month to it. This had to of Christianizing the nations has actually commenced, and is making be divided among a family of five, real progress."
none of whom could have enough even Japan.-The new Constitutional of their own coarse food (rice mixed Government assumes control of affairs with weeds). "Five hundred millions of the people of this world," said the Bishop, "will go to bed hungry to- night. The tramps of this country would be 'swell' in any part of India." Speaking of the fact that missionary in November. The Parliament will a considerable interval, iinds the <Jontain many liberal-minded men. changes that have recently occurred There will be manifest in it four dis- so marked and suggestive that he is tinct parties: the Conservatives, the induced to indicate some of the most Conservative-Radicals, the Moderates, prominent. He writes as follows: and the Radicals. All of them, " On approaching the city from the west, in former years, there were however, have more or less ad- scarcely any buildings except the Russian convent and the Monteiiore vanced notions, and have no desire to Almshouses to intercept the ·…iew of the city walls; now the whole plain is go back exclusively to the old order covered with private residences and colonies of Jews, whilst near to the ()f things. The Moderate party is Jaffa Gate· are large numbers of shops called Kaishinto. It took its rise in already tenanted and numerous others in course of construction. This ex- 1882, and has been very active in the tension beyond the walls has become necessary on account of the rapid agitation for and adoption of the increase of the population. I am in- formed by Mr. Moore, British consul present Constitution. It is very pro- here, that within the last three or four years about 20,000 Jews have come to gressive in its aims, and favors "gov- Jerusalem for permanent residence in and around the city, and that of the €rnment by party, treaty-revision and entire population of about 70,000 it is estimated that nearly 40,000 are Jews. the reform of almost all departments of He also stated that the influx of Jews into other parts of Palestine during the government." The Conservative- recent years has been entirely without precedent. The principal streets,which Radicals came into recognition in 1888 but a few years since were almost impassable in rainy weather, have and have adopted as their motto, been paved with stone, a new wide street has been opened up through a "United in great things-differing in densely-populated quarter, and five hotels are now open for the reception small." They are, as yet,few in num- 6f the annually-increasing number of visitors and traders from all lands. bers, and not very influential. The " Public works of importance have Jihu-to is the real Radical Party. been executed, and others are in pro- gress. The road from Jaffa to Jerusa- I lem, at one time all but impracticable, has been reconstructed by an eminent -Appeal from Baptist missionaries. engineer-over it our own and other "At a conference of the missionaries carriage services are in full operation ()f the American Baptist Missionary -a good road has been formed from Union, held at Yokohama, June 11, Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and another 1890, it was resolved, in view of the from Jerusalem to Hebron; several great needs of this iield and the en- others are rapidly approaching comlarged opportunities for work in this pletion-from Jaffa to Nablous (She- <Jountry, to beseech God, and, under chern), 40 miles; Jerusalem to Jericho, Him, the missionary union and the 20 miles; Caipha to Nazareth, 20 Baptists of the north, for a speedy re- miles, and Nazareth to Tiberias, 18 inforcement of twenty-three men. miles. Jerusalem has hitherto been almost wholly dependent for its water "That there has been a crisis in Ja- supply upon its large underground pan is admitted by all, and this crisis cisterns for the reception of rain water, has not passed away in the late revul- which, after a summer's drouth, often sion of feeling against foreigners, al- proves insufficient in quantity and though, we believe, it has changed in almost unfit for use. The Governsome of its phases. The situation is ment is now about to introduce an more urgent and pressing than ever. unfailing supply from a spring of pure There remain as many souls to be water beyond Solomon's Pools-about reached; the work has been increased nine miles distant. A large flour mill, in difficulty, and our time for its ac- established by the Messrs. Bergheim, complishmentis diminishing.
[This appeal is urged by many "very startling and solemn facts."-Ens.] Palestine. – Anything indicative of an awakening and a revival of energy in the Holy Land, especially at Jerusalem, must prove of especial interest to every Christian who is watching "the signs of the times."
A correspondent of the London Christian World, now on a visit to the Holy City for the seventh time, after having proved both a great benefit try to commerce, are without preceand a financial success, others, with dent in modern times. Viewed in large steam power, are in progress of connection with the numerous and erection; soap factories have com- active efforts being made by various· menced operations, and at Jaffa steam religious agencies throughout the saw-mills have been established. conntry for the evangelization of the Colonies of Jews following agricul- people, and the conversion of the' tural pursuits, stated to be successful, Jews, these facts must encourage are located, one about five miles from every lover of God's ancient people to Jaffa, and a larger one at Limerin, hope that His set time to favor Zion is near Cresarea, originated and assisted fast approaching."-Exchange. by the Rothschild family. The beforenamed rmid to Jericho is being con- The Silver Law's effect on misstructed by the Government, who sions.-Strange as it may seem, the have taken up all the land available in Silver law seriously affects Christian the best parts of the valley for the de- missions. Weallknowwhatithasdone velopment of an extensive scheme of for the silver barons. It has made a agricultural operations, which, with fine market for their ore, and lined such a temperature, so fertile a soil, their pockets, not with their own coin, and well watered by the copious but with good, merchantable money. stream from Elisha's fountain, should stamped with the seal of the United promise abundant and remunerative States Treasury. It has raised the crops. Grapes, bananas, sugar-cane, price of silver, and therefore accomcotton, and various fruits and vege- plished the purpose for which it was tables have for some time past been forced through the two Houses at cultivated here with much success. Washington, It has enriched mine- The increased amount of rain which owners; has it blessed anybody else? has fallen the last few years in Pales- We will wait to see. Meantime, it is tine has had a most marked effect in having a disastrous effect on the mislarger and more abundant harvests sionary societies which make largeexthan hitherto known. penditures in foreign lands. By rais- lUg the price of silver it has so ad- "The most important results, how- vanced the rates of exchange for all ever, of all may be anticipated from those countries which have a silver the railway about to be constructed standard that a large percentage of between Jaffa and Jerusalem. As every dollar transmitted to the various rumors in former years have pre- fields is lost in discount. vailed which have never been realized, I called upon Mr. Frutiger, the banker, The dealings of the societies, it to whom the concession has been should be explained, with Mexico, granted by the Turkish Government, Brazil and other American countries, and was assured by him that the with India, China, Japan, Syria, Pernecessary capital had been subscribed, sia, and other Asiatic fields, are all and that the works would commence conducted on the silver basis. In makimmediately npon the close of the ing appropriations for the year, the sorainy season in the early spring, and cieties make them on the basis of an pushed on urgently to completion. exchange rate, averaged on the rates of The influence such a line of communi- the previous years. -While this rate difcation between Jerusalem and the' fers in different countries, it has avercoast may be expected to exert is in- aged less, the treasurer of the Presbycalculable, for as a natural sequence terian Board, Mr. Dulles, informs us, the harbor, which is now inaccessible "than 80 cents to the dollar for all to Mediterranean steamers, must be countries. " deepened and enlarged, and the rocky barrier which prevents ingress re- Now for the effect of the Silver Bill moved. on exchange. Mr. Dulles writes us: " It is contemplated to snbsequently "I find, by reference to my records, that on extend this line via Gaza and EI-Arish over the Short desert to Port Said and April 9th, our bills sold in Chiua at 77~ (this Ismalia on the Maritime Canal, thus connecting with the railway system is discount on the Mexican silver dollar); on of Lower Egypt for Cairo, Alexandria April 21st it had risen to 79~; May 28 to 82li; and Suez, and to the Fayoum and Upper Egypt. Such important action July 15th to 86jf; July 28th to 88.03, which is for the improvement of the Holy City and the development of the resources thelast date at which I had advices of actual of Palestine, and opening up the coun- sales; or a rise of 15 per cent. This will serve as an example. In fact, our estimates were made below 77, the first price above given; but assuming the variation as above, it means that when we contract to pay a native helper or incur any other form of expense for a given number of Mexican silver dollars, we must now, in order to meet our accounts, add 15 per the Church's history has recorded' a cent. to our disbursements of American gold. similar advance, although that ad- This is not a simple illustration, but the state- vance is relativelv small in the light ment of an actual fact." of the unexampled growth of popu- lation, even in non-Christian lands. The rise in India is somewhat less. The ten missionary organizations of On April 15th £500 yielded 6,832 the United Kingdom have become 65; rupees; on May 14th, 6,357: on July the 27 of all evangelical Christendom 21st, 6,140. The last· advices, says have increased to 185. The sum of Mr. Dulles, show that the rate is still half a million sterling raised to evanrising. Withal, the market is so gelize the world has grown fivefold uncertain, that 60-day bills cannot be -to two millions and a half. The sold at all. The rates in Mexico are living converts, then under 400,000, higher, even, than in China and India, now form native Christian communivarying from 15 to 20 per cent. ties three millions strong. The mis- sionary band, ordained and unor- What is true of the Presbyterian dained, was then 760 strong, and Board is also true of the American not 12 of these were women or Board and other societies. A note natives; now it is a host of nearly to us from one of the 'secretaries of 40,000, of whom 2,000 are women, bethe American Board says its expen- sides missionaries' wives: 33,000 are ditures are affected, "not only in India natives, and of these, 3,000 are orand China, but in Japan and Mexico dained. Besides all that Carey and as well-fields in which fully one-half his imitators had done to translate the of our total expenditures are made." Word of God, we see now in other 41 The Western Christian Advocate says languages the Old Testament, and in a "special appropriation of about other 64 languages the New Testa- $20,000 to meet the increased cost of ment. Our empire has grown till we exchange" in India will have to be have become responsible for a fourth made by the Methodist Missionary So- of mankind. The English speaking ciety at its meeting in November. race were only 22 millions when Carey The cost of the Silver Bill to the So- made his survey; we have increased ciety will be, the Advocate estimates, at the rate of nearly a million a year, fully $40,000. till in and outside of Christendom we are 113 millions. Our wealth has The outlook is a serious one for all swollen even more rapidly. Our the societies. A large increase in the mother-tongue, the Queen's English, incomes of the societies will be neces- has become the Christianizing and saryto pay the same bills as informer civilizing speech of earth, carrying to years. Says Mr. Dulles, speaking for the thousand millions who are still barthe Presbyterian Board: barians in the Hellenic sense, even as Greek influenced the hundred millions "It is early to calculate the etl'ects of a of the Roman Empire, that Divine revelation which, to all who believe it, change of 15 to 20 per cent. upon appropri- is the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation. Save in the ations of $900,000. Without entering into the very heart of Asia-Mohammedan, Buddhist and Russian-The Spirit of merits of the silver-question or venturing God has opened every door, as our fathers prayed.-Free Church (Scotprophecies as to the results, it certainly is un- land) Annual Report.
likely that silver will fall much below its pres· Farewell Meeting in Boston under ent value, and those who are considering the the direction of the secretaries of the American Board, in view of the early obligations of the Church to foreign work departure of missionaries for the several fields under the care of the must bear in mind the unavoidable demand Board. The missionaries were intro- duced by Dr. Clark and Dr. Smith, acupon them this year, and indeed in subsequent cording to the fields to which they were destined, and addresses were years, on account of the special change in the made by Dr. Herrick and Mr. Bartlett, for the Western Turkey Mission; by rise of silver. " Messrs. Hill and White for the Japan Mission; by Messrs. Lay and Jeffery Upon the churches the burden must for the missions in India, and by Mr. fall. It will not do to cut down former Ransom for the Zulu Mission. When appropriations by 15 or 20 per cent.; therefore, it will be necessary for them to increase their contributions by that amount. If last year a society appropriated $500,000, it must appropriate this year, to keep up its work, $575,000 or $600,000.
What a pity the extra percentage cannot be assessed on the silver barons! -The Independent.
The Missionary Age. The Victorian has been emphatically the missionary era. Since the immediately post-apostolic days, no half century of
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
the name of Mrs. Ransom was read, Dr. sent to the field since the last annual Alden stated that she was a daughter report is now 54, a greater number of Rev. Simeon H. Calhoun, formerly than has been sent out by the of the Mission to Svria. The Rev. Board during anyone year for the past James D.Tracy, of theMadura Mission, 50 years. The number of missiontemporarily in tIns country, extended aries appointed since the last annual the right hand of welcome to Mr. Jef- meeting of the Board is 63, 22 of fery, who goes to the same mission. whom are men, representing all the The exercises occupied two hours, Congregational theological seminaries and were listened to with the closest of the country, excepting Bangor and attention and deepest interest by a Oakland. These facts, taken with the large audience. Thirty-four mission- very handsome increase in the receipts aries were named at this farewell meet- of the Board during the past year, and ing, either now on the way or soon to the good reports of work. from all go to their respective fields; going out parts of the mission field, give abunfor the first time. The total number dant occasion for thanksgiving and of new missionaries that have been good courage for the future.
III.':"'-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Madagascar. where we hope shortly to build a dwelling- house, leaving the town of Ambatondrazaka to Antsihanaka, May 1, 1890. our friend and colleague, the Rev. E. H. Strib- DEAR EDITons:-Herewith I enclose a copy ling, thus extending the mission. We are of circular on the subject of a Cottage Hos- already about 100 miles, or four days' journey, pital, which it is proposed togo on with imme- from any other missionary, and a new hospital diately here iu the heathen province of Antsi- has become an absolute necessity. We intend hanaka. You will note that this mission is to to build a suitable structure to accommodate be extended by our removing a day's journey about sixteen patients, and this comparafurther north, where we hope to have much tively small effort will cost about £250. It is blessing on the work in future years. I need our earnest desire to build it without assishardly trouble you with details, other than to tance from the society, if possible, and so we say that the Christian public at home should are making known the present position of not be allowed to run off with the generally- affairs to personal friends, and to the friends accepted idea, which is false, of the "ad- of missions in general. To the former, we vanced religious and social condition of the would suggest this as a fitting opportunity for island," referred to in a letter received yester- affording encouragement to lonely workers in day from a Christian friend at home. The a far country, which, added to the far higher fact is that Madagascar is about one-third consideration of helping on the work of God, simply evangelized, and that one-third -about we hope will prove a sufficient inducement to three-fonrths-civilized. The work of deepen- help forward this particular object. Almost ing and spreading the spiritual life is only the whole of the working expenses (except now beginning in the above one-third of the the very important items of medicines and island. The work of evangelization and estab- medical appliances) have been obtained for lishment of new missions is being carried out the last two years without any help from the in about half of the remaining two-thirds, society, our patients paying more than twowhich, like here in Antsihanaka, is heathen, thirds of the expense of board and nursing; without missionary agencies at all; and the many of our native friends, too, having conrest is in "gross darkness." tributed to this object." The above is only a very general way of looking at it as a whole, but still it will give a LETTER FROM DR. BROCKETT. good idea of how things really are here. Brooklyn, July 28, 1890. With kindest regards, DEAR DR. SHERWOOD:-I was very much in- JAMES G. MACKAY. terested in that part of Dr. Pierson's letter, in your August number, which treated of the [We regret that space permits only important questions of education and evan- gelization in the mission fields, and the coman extract or two from the printed parative success of the two methods, education first, and then evangelization, or evangeliztlr circular accompanying this letter.- tion first, followed by Ohristian education. EnS.] As I have been for many years studying these questions carefully, with reference to the , .. And now to come to the point of our re- missions of most evangelical denominations, I port. Our present hospital served well for a beg leave to offer a few thoughts, which Inay beginning, .but is now too small for us. Further, the directors of the L. M. S. have agreed to our removing to a more healthy spot at Imerimandroso, a day's journey to the north, be of service in the settlement of the difficult who had the privilege of hearing Rev. Dr. J. problem. E. Clongh, the Apostle to the Telugns, tell of his experience in endeavoring to carry the 1st. I find in our Lord's missionary tours in Gospel to that [,,,ople, will ever forget how Palestine that He devoted His instruction this matter presented itself to him. The mis- and preaching to .. the common people, who sion to the Telugns was founded in 1836, and heard Him gladly"-to" publicansand sinners, in 1866, thirty years later, when Mr. Clough who thronged to hear Him, and almost trode reached Ongola, there had not been a hun· upon one another to listen to the gracious dred native Telugns converted. There were words which He spake." He opened no about fifty members of the single church there, sChools, rabbinical or other, for Pharisees and but some of them were Tamils, English sol- Sadducees, practised no asceticism like the diers or sailors, or men of other nationalities, Essenes, but the burden of his discourses was and not to exceed 25 or 30 were Telugns. concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. There was one native assistant, and sChools had been maintained for instructing the chil- I cannot find that the Apostles opened any dren of Brahmins. The missionaries were ex. school to instruct or propagate the Gospel cellent men, men of deep piety and learning, which they preached. Paul tells us that it and thoroughly in earnest in their efforts to pleased God that by the foolishness of preach- win souls. But, somehow, they did not sucing mlln might believe, and that not many wise, ceed. The Brahmins were very friendly, ana not many learned were brought to the knowl- often called on them to discuss questions of edge of the truth-that" He had hidden these science, and if pressed on the subject of perthings from the wise and prudent, and revealed sonal religion, would reply that they were exthem unto babes." Throughout the Acts and amining the Christian doctrines, and were the Epistles, whether they were preaching to very favorably impressed with them, but Greeks, Romans or Barbarians, the theme desired time to consider. They did not wish was Christ, as the Saviour and Redeemer from to mingle with the lower castes, but thought sin, and no time was spent in endeavoring to they should, in time, come over to Chriscivilize or educate the people before convert- tianity. ingthem. When Mr. Clough came to Ongola, in 1866, 2d. I think it will be found in all modern they pursued the same course with him, and missions that the great snccesses have been at first deceived him; but his faithful assistachieved by following in the line of Christ's ant had preached the Gospel to the poor outexample. In almost every Asiatic mission casts (pariahs) at one of the out stations, and field there will be found two distinct classes, had sent some of the converts in one Saturday often of different origin, the one aristocratic to Mr. Clough for examination and baptism. and lordly, generally the ruling race, educated The Brahmins heard of it, and sent a message after their fashion, and looking down with to him, begging him not to disgrace himself contempt upon their ignorant inferiors. In and them by having anything to do with these India, this class are the Brahmins, proud, in- low and degraded people. The Brahmins telligent, in some respects the superioI'S in could not visit him Or hold any intercourse inteliectual culture of even the best European with him if he thus polluted himself. Mr. a,pd races. Their inferiors, who are gi-ound down Mrs. Clough devoted themselves to the study to the lowest degradation, are the men of low of the Word of God and prayer that night. caste or no caste at all. the pariahs or out- They found that they had erred in respecting casts. persons; they humbly confessed and repented of their sins, and the next day openly went to Many of our missionaries and missionary one of the large tanks in the city, baptized societies have made the mistake of trying to these converts, and preached the Gospel to convert the Brahmins first. They were so re- the poor, who had gathered by thousands to fined and cultured, so polite, and took so witness the ordinance. The Brahmins were much pleasure in discussing-religious ques- furious: they showed tHeir displeasure by tions with the missionaries, and sometimes cutting his acquaintance and reviling him confounding them with their dialectic skill, publicly, but the common people heard him that the poormissionaries indulged high hopes gladly, and received the word with joy. Bapof gathering a church whose members should tisms were constant, and in the ten years all be converied Brahmins, and through whom (1867-1877) preceding the famine, the church the whole nation should ere long Le brought at Ongola alone had received 4,394 members to Christ. It has now been about a hundred by baptism. After the famine, and Mr. (now years since missionary labor was commenced Dr.) Clough's noble and self-sacrificing efforts in India. Has anybody ever seen or heard of to relieve the sufferingcaused by it, the people a church there composed wholly of converted began to press into the kingdom of God, and Brahmins, who, as being all of. the highest to take it by violence. In 1Si'8, 8,691 were caste, did not need to break its bonds and defile baptized in six weeks-2,222 of them in one themselves by associating with Sudras or day-and during the 13 years since the ,,-ork Pariahs? Converied Brahmins there have certainly been, but never those who came in cempanies and retained their caste. Those has gone forward steadily, till on the first of was the only God to be worshipped. Now, January, IS90, there had been during the pre- contrast with this the Karen Missions in Burvious year, in the thirteen stations of that mah. Beginning in 1828 with the baptism of mission, 3,340 baptisms, and the number of a single convert brought to Christ by Dr. Judliving members at that date was 33,838. A son's efforts, it spread through Tavoy, Moullarge majority of these are people of low caste, mein, Rangoon, Bassein and Henzada within or of no caste, but of late the higher castes a dozen years, and has now extended wherehave begun to come in, and some Brahmins ever there are Karens. These people were among them. Of course, schools were neces- very poor; they were cruelly oppressed by sary after this rapid evangelization, and they their Burmese rulers; they were illiterate; have been provided liberally. There are sem- had no written language, till the misinaries for training native preachers (many of sionari.,s reduced their languages to writing; these poor people have developed remarkable they were not idolaters, and while they had abflities, both asscholars and preachers); there some:ideas of a Supreme Being they had never are high schools for girls and boys, and sta- heard of Christ, yet they came to Him at once tion-schools for instruction in the vernacular. when they did hear of Him, and in such num- In some of the stations there are caste schools bers, that for three years and more, under the for girls, in which ·the Bible is tanght, and fierce Burmese persecution, the thOllsands very soon the bonds of caste give way. The who were willing to die for Christ could not girls in these caste schools do not seem to be receive Christian baptism. They have in sixty superior in intellect or ability to their outcast years become an intelligent and powerful peosisters. There are connected with the mission ple, advancing from semi-barbarism to civilinow 47 missionaries, f!7 of them women-IS are zation, education and administrative ability, in America or Enrope. There is pressing need till the Government of British India, whose of at least 20 more missionaries. The number subjects they are, are putting them into places of native helpers is 421, of whom 204 (67 01'- of honor and trust in the place of the Burmese, .dained and 137 unordained) are preachers. whom they have found dishonest and untrust- The appropriations of the Missionary Union worthy. This wonderful change has come for all departments of the work in 1889-'90 solely by the preaching of the Gospel of ,yere $67,972, of which about one-half was for Christ, and in their case evangelization preschools. Here, out of 54 years of mission ceded education. They have had comparawork, only 24 have been productive of large tively few American missionaries (they have visible results. now 57, of whom only 20 are men). They have 560 native helpers, of whom 125 are or- Take another instance, which illustrates my dained pastors and evangelists, many of them point still more fully-the Baptist missions in the peers of our pastors in city or country, Burmah. Dr. Judson entered upon his mis- 492 churches, with a membership of 28,000, and sion to the Burmese in 1813. No abler or more an adherent population of about 175,000. Over· devoted missionaries have been connected 40,000 have died in these sixty years. They with any missions in the world than Dr. Jud- carryon Home and Foreign Missions with son and some of his associates; they were great success. Of course they have schoolslaborious, patient and persevering to a degree over 400 of them, with 11,000 pupils, all receivalmost beyond belief, yet six years elapsed ing an elementary Christian education; ten or before the baptism of the first convert. At twelve academies-some teaching English, but the close of the first Burmese war (1824-'26) all giving instruction in the Scriptures; a theothere were not more than 30 converted Bur- logical seminary, a college, and two highmese living, and now after 75 years of very grade high schools (boarding}-one of them earnest labor, with a large force of mission- with over 400 students. Their native preachers aries constantly in the field, and 63 (20 men are well educated, and their schools have reand 43 women) now at work, there are only ceived the highest praise from the Govern- 29 Burmese churches, with about 2,000 mem- ment Commissioners and inspectors for their bers (probably 4,000 or 5,000 have gone to thorough and critical scholarship. They are heaven in these 75 y£>-&rs). The reasons of growing spiritually; aboU:t 1,850 were bapthis scanty return are not far to seek. The tized the past year. Three·fourths of missionaries are not in fault; they have done their native pastors and four-fifths of the their work faithfully and well. They relied schools, including the costly high schools and to some extent on schools, in many of which college, are supported by the native churches, English was taught. The Burmese were and every church has a chapel of its own, proud, intelligent, imperious, and cruel in built by native Christians. Their contributions temper, bigoted in their Buddhism, and looked to church and benevolent purposes, taking all down with contempt on all other nations, es- their churches together, average $1.75 per peeially upon the Karen tribes, whom they member, while in the missions, where they held in a sort of peonage. They were glad of have plans of systematic beneficence, they the schools, because their children coul~ learn come up to $3.25 per member, and this where English, though they hated the English peo- $50 a year is considered a liberal salary. Here" ple, but they insisted that the Lord Buddha most certainly, education followed evangeli· missionary life does not allow of much time zation. for writing, but I am going to do better in the I might go on to speak of the Mallegassy, who certainly were evangelized before they future. In the meantime I send you an article had anything more than the most meagre education, but are now rejoicing in many good written by my husband, Rev. F. E. Hoskins. schools; of the Kohls, of Central India, Goss· ner's converts*-in this mission, also, evangel- On.him has fallen Mr. Dale's mantle, and it ization preceded education, and indeed educa· tion has not proceeded very far yet; and of is a heavy one, eombined with the study of many other missions of a like character, did space permit, but the points I want to make Arabic. We are feeling especiaJIy burdened are these: at this tillIe, as word has COme to retrench 1. That among the nations who profess and maintain the systematized false faiths- Zahleh station ($554). Buddhism, Brahmanism, Tauism, Moham- medanism – and even, in a somewhat less If we ask which of the out stations we will .degree, the doctrines of the Greek and Roman Cathoftc churches, and who have' a written close, it is like asking a man which of his chil- langnage and literature defending and ex- pounding their respective faiths,. progress in dren he can spare best. With the present evangelization will be slow by any method, and education will help very little, if at all. state of the Government, if we close we will Comparatively little impression has been made in Siam, in the Buddhist portion of not get permission to open again. It is hard China, and in Burmah, upon the Buddhists, .and general scientific education, however com- fighting to hold what we have, and no pros- plete it may have convinced the intellect, has not touched the heart. The same is pect o~ getting more. Turks and Jesuits make equally true of the educational assaults which have been made upon Islamism among the a trying combination. Three girls' schools Turks and other Mohammedan nations. That system of faith has too strong a hold upon have been closed; each one had over seventy the weakness of human nature to be readily relinquished. It does not seem that either the pupils; $40 each would run them to the end adherents of the Greek or the Roman Church have been often educated into Protestant of the year. Can yon not stir some heart to Christianity. Indeed, the results of the educative process have very often found to enure help us? Think of the large sums that were to these religions, e. g., Cardinals Manning, 'Wiseman and Newman, and many bishops raised at Northfield. and other perverts. We have church buildings that need repair; 2. It seems easily demonstrable that our Lord'S plan was to begin missionary work. we do not see how they can stand another with the poor, the lowly, the illiterate and the sinful; to present the dying, risen and glori- winter. fied Saviour to those who are conscious of t.heir You must pray that we may have patience need of such a Saviour from sin; and when the Gospel has lifted them up to Christian under discouragements, wisdom in' facing manhood and brought them to work for the salvation of others, then Christian education many vexing questions, and a great outpoursteps in, and prepares them to lead the hardened idolaters, by the force of a holy example, ing of God's Spirit. to Him who alone can save them. In my sister's absence I have the little organ L. P. BROCKETT. you sent her.* • Syria. During the last ten days I have had a guest Zahleh, Aug. 19, 1890. who formerly lived in Zahleh, so we have had DEAR DR. PIERSON:-YOu asked me to be one of your" Editorial Correspondents." My over a hundred callers, everyone has had a.
* I think the missionaries of the Society for glass of sherbet, about half have been fed; the Propagation of the Gospel, who have ab- with a little maid (Jeannette) to look after, sorbed tbis mission, overrate the conversions among the Kohls. They took over only 7,000, do you wonder that I do not write more? But and their latest report gives only 11,954 communicants. The 32,000 were only adherents. notwithstanding all, I have read the REVIEW for July and retailed its contents to my caIlers.
How we wish you could have extended your mission tour to Syria! You mustspend some time with us when you do come. Our home is near to the grand old ruins of Baalbec.
For some years I have been gathering suo perstitioI!s of these people. Very odd, and of course have their infiuence; and if sueb articles would be acceptable to you, will send one.
Mr. Hoskins is away for the day. Since Jan. 1st he has traveled more than 1,500 miles, 1,200 of these in the saddle, in all weathers and all hours of the day. Yours sincerely, Mas. F. E, HOSKINS.
Moravians not Lutherans.
Nazareth, Pa., Aug. 20, 1890. In the August number of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW (page 634), in the "Table of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Foreign Missionary Work," we find as the 27th Society (sic) the Moravian Church included among the Lutheran Mission- ary Societies, with the foot-note: .. The 110- * This little parlor organ was sent as a help in carrying on Sunday-school and prayer ser- vices. It was given by Bethany Church, Phila- delphia.~A. T. P.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
ravians have the same confession of faith as stuecke des christlichen Glaubens klar und the Lutherans." einfach ausgesprochen sind. Die Freiheit der " Gewissen unsrer Geschwister wird dadurch This is a very inaccurate and misleading in keiner Weise gebunden, insonderheit in statement. The official statement of the doc· solchen Laendern, wo die Augsburgische Kon· trine of the Brethren's or Moravian Church, fession nicht dieselbe Geltung hat, als in as determined by her General Synod, contains, Deutschland. ") among many other statements, this paragraph (freely "trausJated): "In common with all The peculiar position which the Moravian Christendom, the Moravian Church subscribes Church holds among the continental churches to the doctrines enunciated in the so-called makes it necessary for her to take some Apostles' Creed, and acknowledges further notice of the Augustana in order to retain her that in the 21 doctrinal articles of the Augs· legal standing and to carry on her work un· burg Confession the chief points of Christian trammelled. As a matter of fact the Moravian belief are clearly and simply defined. The Church technically has no "confession" of freedom of conscience of our memhers, how· her own, and binds herself to no confessioR of ever, is in no wise infiuenced by this state· any other church, while in all essential p<>ints ment, especially not in those countries where she agrees with the creeds of all Protestant the Augsburg COnfession is not of SO much Churches. She gladly co·operates with any importance, as in Germany." Results of the Protestant Church that will work with her. General Eiynod of 1889 : However, Moravians, as such, are in no sense of the word Lutherans, and Moravian mission (" Die Bruederkirche bekennt slch daher mit work has nothing whatsoever to do with the der gesammten Christenheit zu den im apo· Lutheran Church, although the Moravians stolischen Glaubensbekenntniose enthaltenen gladly and thankfully acknowledge that they Lehrsaetzen, und erkennt weiter, dasz in den have frequently received aid both from Ger· 21 Lehrartikeln der Augsburgischen Konfes· man and American Lutherans sion als dem ersten und allgemeinsten Be· kenntnis der evangelischen Kirche, die Haupt- PAUL DE ScHWEINITZ.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Kingdom of God in the Land of planet on which changes of most sig- its Origin. nificance in the tife of races of men, have, in recent years, taken place most [Condensed from an address of Rev. George rapidly, you must leave behind the F. Herrick, D. D., of Auatolia College and great cities of this land and of Europe, Marsovan Theological Seminary, at the 7th and pass over into Asia. Annual Meeting of the InternatIOnal Mission· ary Union, June 12, 1890.] I. GLANCE AT RECENT OTTOMAN mSTORY. Occidental life is proverbiaIlyrapid; Oriental life, we are all sure, is ex- Reference is not now made to tke ceedingly slow. We travel by ex- press a thousand miles a day. The restless and aspiring empire on the Asiatic still plods on horseback along ememe margin of Asia. I do not a bridle path, or, more recently, in assume to tell of India, where, accord- a springless wagon, over his twenty- ing to those best informed, the English four miles in twenty-four hours. He language has already become the lan- smokes his nargileh, and takes no note guage of all arms of the Government of time. He scratches the ground service, of travel, of all schools; the instead of plowing it; he threshes one vehicle of a progress whose silent his grain as his ancestors did 3,000 and bloodless revolutions are in happy years ago; he puts off his shoes contrast to the numberless revolutions and wears his hat when he enters a that have characterized the life of dwelling; he pulls a saw instead of India for thousands of years.
pushing it, he builds a city with mole I point to the fact that, twenty-nve tracks through it, and if he makes years ago, the Ottoman Empire posstreets at all, it is an after-thought, sessed a territory fully as large in and he burns out the needful spaces; Europe as in Asia, and almost equally by his watch it is always twelve o'clock as large in Africa. The dismember- when the sun sets. And with all this, ment of the empire in respect of terri- if you would find the portion of our tory and its depletion in respect of population, within a qnarter of a hopeful indication of possible entercentury, has been with a rapidity that prise seen in Turkey in modern times. would be startling if we could be Meantime Russia – that essentially startled with anything which is at Oriental Power illy domesticated as once distant and Oriental. yet in Europe-has played her game with singular fatuity in South-eastern Roumania and Servia are inde- Europe. There is no Power, great pendent kingdoms, Montenegro and or small, Slavic or Greek, German, Bulgaria are independent princedoms. French, Italian or English, that will Greeceis enriched by some of Turkey's consent to see Constantinople in the fairest provinces in Thessaly and control of Russia. We should not de- Epirus. Egypt is as much under spise those smaller States, anyone British control as India. Syria is of four can mass a trained army under European protection. England of a 100,000 men, and little Greece holds Cyprus, Austria dominates Her- can launch a fleet that would rival zegovina and Bosnia, Russia has ac- our own navy. But there is one quired Batoum, the most important Power, viz: Austro-Hungary, to which Black Sea port, and Kars, the key it is a question of life or death to keep fortress of Asia Minor. Russia out of Constantinople. The great northern Power may count on In place of 44,000,000 of pop- Austria's opposing her march southulation, the Ottoman Empire now ward and westward by the full force has about 23,000,000; the proportion of her army and her navy. It is of Moslems to Christians has greatly almost equally impossible for Russia changed. They were about equally to push far into Asia Minor on the divided; ?ww the Chritsian population east. She may take and hold Erzroom is but little more than one-fourth of easily enough. She may, perhaps, pass the entire number. Van and even Harpoot, where the Christian population is proportionally The seeming strength of Turkey large, and she may, if she will, push on during the years which followed the to the Euphrates, but she may not Crimean war was fictitious and de- pass on into the heart of Asia Minor. lusive. The semblance of prosperity There, from the Black Sea to the was kept up by immense loans at ruin- Arabian Desert, and from the Euphous rates. "Let the evil come when it rates to the Mediterranean, the Ottowill, so it be not in my day." So runs man people will live, and an Ottoman the Oriental proverb. Turkey was Power will rule for long years to come. rushing on to bankruptcy, at the very Nor is it easy, in the light of history, moment when she was constructing or on principles of justice, to see how an iron-clad fleet, and building palaces the Turks can be driven from Constanon every eligible site at and near Con- tinople, where they outnumber all stantinople. She did not build roads other races put together, or from nor develop her mines, nor undertake Adrianople, their ancient capital and commerce or manufactures, nor es- a Moslem City. tablish schools, except on paper. For two years after the commence- The record of the last disastrous war ment of the present Sultan's reign of twelve years ago is well known. Turkey exhibited the farce of Consti- Strangely enough, ever since then, the tutional Government, played at a policy of the Government of Turkey Parliament with representation from has been studiously cold toward Eng- the different races. But all this was, land, and friendly toward Russia. in the expressive language of one of the ablest mi.nisters our Government We must not fail to give the Turks ever had at the Sublime Porte-HoN. the credit of covering Asia Minor, within the last ten years, with a net work of carriage roads, built without the aid of foreign capital-the most Horace Maynard, "for EUl"opean con- and acknowledge the obligations of sumption." friendly European powers ?"
II.- TURKISH PATRIOISM. "That is all very well for you to There has, under the present Sultan, say," replied my friend, "but for us been a reaction against the liberal the problem is not to be solved in that ideas that prevailed during the years way."
following the Crimean war. Many "Do you mean to tell me," I asked good things can, with truth, be said of again, "that you would prefer to per- the reigning Sultan. He certainly de- ish, as an independent people, rather sires to secure justice and the welfare than owe your continued existence of all his subjects, but he is not a and your future prosperity, with what- liberal man, as we use the term. He ever that would necessarily imply of does not see that the traditions and European influence, to th,e aid of responsibilities of his House, with all Christian nations ?"
that these imply, constitute the load ,'Yes," he promptly answered,"that of lead which leaves him hopelessly is precisely what I-what all faithful weighted in the race with the rulers Mussulmans-mean."
of his age, even with the rulers of Can any true American fail to feel States which have been erected out of a thrill of responsive sympathy with what was just now his own domin- the patriotism, the devotion to ances- ions. If he would but cultivate a tral faith, which underlies that an- relation of real friendship toward swer? And does not such a spirit fur- Christian and especially Protestant nish a new incentive to bring the bless- and English-speaking' nations, the ings of our own civilization within Ottoman State might yet justify its the reach of every race in western place on' the arena of material, com- Asia-not to impatiently force a Chris- mercial, and even of intellectual and tianity, weighted with the gravest e),- moral progress, in western Asia. rors of teaching and of example, upon One chief reason why the Ottoman Moslem races, but, watchfully keep- Turks have been so greatly misunder- ing step with the unfoldings of God's stood and maligned is that we, of the providence, to exhibit before Moslem 'Vest, in defiance of a wise maxim, eyes, at all points, the winning graces none too often quoted, have never of truly Christian example?
taken the pains to see and consider We should never forget that when the Turkish problem from the stand- Islam rose, in the first half of the sev- point of the Turks themselves. Less enth century, it was confronted by, vituperation and wholesale, and really and was a protest against, some of the unjust, condemnation, and more con- most corrupt forms of Christian doc- siderateness would greatly benefit trine and worship, some of the worst every party in interest. caricatures of Christian living, in Some time since, in conversation Arabia and northern Africa, that the with an enlightened Turkish official, world has ever seen.
on the Bosphorus, I criticised the un- Those reckless raids from Europe wisdom of his government in deliber- into Asia, called, in bitter irony, "holy ately keeping foreign capital from en- wars," in the eleventh and following tering Turkey, to construct railroads centuries, violently repelled Moham- and develop her mineral resources. medans from Christianity. How could "But," he replied, "if foreign capital they do otherwise? The expulsion of be welcomed the interference of the Moors from Spain, early in the foreign powers must be accepted sixteenth century, under the greatly too." over-praised Queen Isabella-is any "What harm can it do to govern- 'right or justice discoverable in that ment or people," I asked, "to receive movement on the Christian side, ex- ,eept the right of might? The author worldly men; examples-that is, more read, some years ago, in Turkish, cer- . than 10,000 members of evangelical tain trenchant articles of historic cri- churches in Asia Minor now–of his- ticism, from the pen of an enlightened fellow country~en who are true, liv- and acute Turk, which presented a ing disciples of their master. Evan- long array of facts from the history of gelical worship attracts, it does not Christian Europe, in a fashion not repel the Moslem. Protestant Chris- likely to win Moslem minds to an ac- tian doctrine does not, like the bald eeptance of Christianity. "orthodoxy" of the Eastern Church, And not only in the earlier years, set his reason continually at defiance.
but all down through the later centu- We must not, however, suppose that l"ies, in all western Asia, the Moslem, the Turks officially recognize the right with his clear-cut doctrine of God, or contemplate the contingency of and his sharp recoil from every sem- Mohammedans becoming Christians.
blance of idolatry in worship, with his To this degree, religious liberty is not sobriety and his generous hospitality, yet a fact. Still, in the face of dif- has pointed, with a certain contempt, ficulty and opposition, scarcely con- to the Christians around him, as less ceivable by us, some Mohammedans sober, less truthful, less hospitable, have become Christians, have lived less manly than himself, with a form and died as shining examples of Chris- of religious worship redolent of idola- tian confessors as the early ages ex- try, while his own is simple and pure, hibited. To-day there is, in a town even if it be exposed to the charge of of Asia Minor, a young Turkishwoman lifeless formality. who witnesses a good confession in the We do not say the Moslems' charge house where she was born, enduring against Christil¥lity and Christians is repeated beatings and living down cal- true. Clearly it is not true, but it is umny by Christian gentleness-who not strange the charge is made. The told her Christian sisters, only in ans- vitality and the vigor of the. Christian wer to their inquiry one day in meet- races, their better morality, their men- ing, why her arm was in a sling, that tal and moral elasticity under centu- her brother's last beating broke it.
ries of oppression, is one of the marvels Once, in conversation with one ~f of God's government of Asia. Why the most liberal and best educated do the Christian races remain in kindly Turks of the present age, a man who neighborhood to the Moslem races, has, at one time or another, filled all through western Asia, but to be to nearly all the highest offices of the them in the coming years, the means ~tate, I referred to a well-known of the largest blessing? And who are case of religious persecution that had to be theagents, and what theagencies, recently occurred. He drew me up for which those races have silently sharp on the expression, "religious and sullenly waited for so many gen- persecution," and said, "No religious ,erations? persecution is possible under our Gov- m.-OUR GRAND OPPORTUNITY. ernment. A man's faith is his own, It was, in God's providence, com- between himself and God only, and mitted to American Christians, to re- Government cannot interfere with it."
~stablish vital Christianity in the land "What, then, shall we call the ~f its origin. Call it duty, call it high case?" I asked.
privilege, thEl responsibility, the un- "Why," he replied, "it is perfectly "dertaking, is ours, to put the Bible into plain. The man renounced his ances- Moslem hands and then set before his tral, the national, faith, in which he ~yes living examples of a true and a owes duties to the State. All right, so pure Christianity by which alone the far. But he has publicly avowed his Bible is illustrated to the conviction of renunciation, and declared himself a Christian. In so doing he has com- we that we should withstand God!" mitted a civil offence, and it is, for this The Church of Christ sends out her alone, that he is arrested and pnt un- challenge, "You can do nothi-.g der discipline." against the Truth but for the Truth !"
That is, being a Christian is all right Nearly sixty years ago the Turkish for a born Moslem, if only he will never Government demanded that those say he is above a whisper. pioneer missionaries, Goodell, Schauf- fler and Dwight, be sent out of the In the meantime, as the years have country. Our ambassador, Commo- passed, the Christian races have reo dorePorter, communicated the order. sponded, more and more widely, to evangelical influence. It has pene- "Do you order us to go ?" they asked: traLed all parts of the country. Ameri- "No, I only notify you of the de- can Christian philanthropy has, mand of the Government, and of my through the several departments of inability to protect you," the work, planted the Christian home, "Then we notify you that we de- the evangelical church, developed cide to stay," they replied. Christian education, created through Political events, which shook the the press a periodical and permanent throne and resulted in the destruction Christian literature in the several lan- of the Janizaries and the introductiou guages, begun to establish Christian of European forms of law, hastened philanthropic institutions, and every- on and the missionaries were forgot- where fostered, together with loyalty ten. During all that crisis, and up till to the' existing Government, ideas of the close of the Crimean war, the freedom and of justice. American cit- leading mind, the most imperial presizens have established institutions, an ence at the Turkish capital, was that extensive Bible-house, churches, high- Christian Statesman, Lord Stratford' schools, colleges and seminaries. They de Redcliffe, of England. have acquired property in a hundred As evangelical influence extended different places all over the country. among Armenians, Greeks and Syri- These business interests have become ans, the persecuted Protestants found the care of our Government through aid and comfort from the Turks, as its-official representatives. The power the Jews who rebuilt the temple found of the United States flag is second to aid and protection from Cyrus. none. The Turks have no reason for Twenty years ago, in the Koordislt jealousy of the great republic across mountains, above the city of Mosul, a the sea. Illiberal men, in the govern- young Arab Koord, a born Moslem. ment and out of it, are jealous of was dipping deep into Mohammedan evangelical progress, and wish it had lore, at the feet of a famous teacher, not gained so strong a foothold in the his total wardrobe, a shirt; his food, land. But many Turks see that ,they the coarse bread of the tribe; his bed, also may profit by those ideas that the ground. He committed the Koran Protestant Christianity everywhere to memory, he acquired a most involves and develops, viz: The su- thorough knowledge of' Arabic, of premacy of truth and justice, the in- Moslem law, tradition, history, sciviolability of the individual consci- ence, and interpretation. He found" ence, and individual and social edu- one day, the binding of an Arabic cation and elevation. Bible which had been destroyed. Afterwards, when a teacher at Mozul, IV.-DIVINE INTERPOSITIONS. he sought, found, bought a Bible in Arabic, read and studied it, was in- The modern history of western Asia structed in it by Deacon Michah, as is a history of divine interpositions, Apollos by Aquilla, accepted Christi- These have been so accentuated, that anity as true, accepted Christ as his. men of the world, however highplaced, may well exclaim, "Who are Slaviour, was obliged to flee his part come, found him interested in anti- of the country, came to the Bible trans- quities, of which there are specially lators'room,in the.Constantinople Bible fine relics near where he had lived.
House, and aided in giving the Bible to In fine, we made ourselves as agree- the Ottoman race, a special aid very able as we knew how, not forgetting few men living could have given; to give His Excellency a cordial invi- found of God, led of God, and taken tation to visit our college and other home-to God when,the work was done. schools. "I was just about to mount Permission was asked to print the my horse to do that wnen you called,"
Biblein the Osmanly, and was refused. he said. "Ah, indeed," we replied, After long months of argument, of "then, our call and invitation are propositions and counter-propositions, quite opportune!" They were indeed.
the Board of Censors unwittingly did Thus forewarned, all was in readi- the greatest possible service to the ness at the college to receive the Gov- spread of God's Word, by condition- ernor with all respect. We showed ing the permission on the placing of him all through the buildings; he ex- the statement of the fact of Govern- amined classes, asked to see our text- ment permission on the title-page of books. Among our books he found every copy; and the time when the one of his own composition, and, nat- final version was launched was fixed urally, was not displeased with the by the Author of the Word Himself. It delicate compliment. He visited the was just as the last war closed, just as girls' boarding-school, enjoyed the the last sharp crisis of the Eastern choral singing, and, as he mounted question was attracting all eyes, that his horse at my door, he leaned over, God, by his Word, in the language of and said, "I have been greatly pleased all the people, sent forth His challenge with all I have seen; you may rely on to the Cabinets of Europe, set His wis- me for a report every way favorable.
dom face to face with their folly. And I wish we had such schools in every between that time and this, inquiry city."
concerning the Bible has become as And he meant what he said, as after common among TUl:ks, as before it echoes clearly showed. God's special was rare. They inquire from curiosity, guidance was conspicuous at every it may be, but many do buy and read point of this incident.
God's Word. V.-THE OPPORTUNITY MET.
Four years ago, just as Anatolia The evangelical centres in Turkey College was organized under that now number more than 300. These name, a demand was made through are the centres of influence, extending the local government that we procure from the extreme western border to· from the central government at Con- the farthest east, and from the Black stantinople a formal recognition of Sea to the Arabian desert. The in- our college. Meantime, one morning fluence of the evangelical press is the we learned that the Governor-General leading influence in the department of had come to town over night. We literature. The newly established, hastened to call upon His Excellency, and rapidly growing girls' boarding and invite him to visit our schools- schools, have already revolutionized all the difference in the world from the country in respect of female ectu- which side the invitation comes. In cation.
the court-yard of the house where the But there, as everywhere, the col- governor was entertained were horses, lege is the leader; and Robert College saddled and ready for mounting. We on the Bosphorns, and Syria Protest- were received in audience, praised the ant College at Beirout, and Euphra- public-spirit he had shown in the tes College at Harpoot, and Central province from which he had recently Turkey College at Aintab; and now. the last four years, Anatolia College at guiding all in the interest of His Jllarsovan, in the heart of Anatolia- church, is, by our hands, re-estab- these are the challenges of Christian lishing His Kingdom in the lands of America to the darkness of Asia. Its origin.
Once the comparative importance of The work will not stop for discus- educational and evangelistic agencies sion and criticism. The army of God was a subject of animated discussion will march right onward, and with in missions and missionary societies, accelerated step; and the legacy we .and among the churches of this coun- will commit to those who come after try and of Great Britain. This dis- us will be to hand on our Lord's com- -cussion is a thing of the past. Edu- mission, "Go, make disciples of all the cational work, as represented and led nations," and the testimony and as- by Christian colleges–colleges in- surance we will offer to the diffident tensely Christian and Biblical-is shall be, that the Master ever fulfills His promise to be with His chosen, pressed, and to be pressed to the ut- amid all toil and conflict. Great will most possible-that is, just as far as be the multitude, who, with no alloy resource.9 can be obtained with which of sin, will chant the Hallelujahs of to carry on the work. On this all are the heavenly choir. . agreed. There is no consensus of The Brussels Anti-Slavery Oonference. those interested in the evangelization -of the world which is more perfect; The Christian world has occasion to .and the economy of administration of rejoice in the late Brussels Conference these institutions may be shown by the of signatory Congo powers, and to statement that the actual sum used to carefully study its proceedings. Per- run Anatolia College is one per cent. haps it is not too late-it is rather ·of the cost of running Yale or Cornell doubtful if it may not be too early-to University. The American Christian pass in review what it did. College-these three words are used .advisedly-The American Christian King Leopold of Belgium was the college is the hope and light of Asia. official source of the Convention; but This institution, with its Biblical in- delegates from Great Britain, Austriastruction, with its thorough culture, Hungary, Belgiuin, Congo Free State, with its pervasive Christian spirit, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, with its development of manly, self- Italy, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Spain, reliant Christian character; this in- Sweden and Norway, Turkey, the stitution, in which the preachers and United States and Zanzibar, were the teachers are prepared for their present. work, in which men of affairs are trained for the responsibilities that are The object of the Conference was coming upon them in all eastern lands plainly as possible stated in the circuin this fl.nd the next generation: this lar of invitation issued by Leopold, American Christian college is the which was "the necessity of effectively pledge of a Christian home, of a per- preventing the slave-trade in the inmanent and self-propagating church, terior of Africa, the capture of slaves of all true progress and harmony of destined for sale, and their transport races, of the gradual realization of by sea, which can Qnly be stopped by free and just government in those the organized display of force greater lands of Asia, for ages and centuries than that at the disposal of those who oppressed and groping amid the dark- take part " in the traffic. ness which has enveloped them. This was not the first Convention of Seen or unseen by our eyes, God, the great Powers held to consider the by His Word in every language, by main question. What is known as the Christian example, by education, Berlin General Act had already pro- vided that "All the Powers exercising rights of sovereignty, or any influence 6, ThQ Liquor traffic. 7, General Proin the territories in question,undertake visions, and 8, The Custom's regulato watch over the preservation of the tions of the Congo Valley. native races, and the improvement of their moral and material conditions THE SLAVE TRAFFIC. of existence, and to co-operate in the suppression of Slavery, and especially 1. The maritime trade in slaves was in the negro traffic; they will protect first considered as the part where and favor, without distinction of na- united action could be made most ef-· tionalities or worship, all religious fective if agreement could be come to. The sensitive point here was on the· scientific or charitable institutions and "right of search," whether on the high seas, or in territorial waters, over all undertakings, created and organized sailing vessels,under any Hag, suspect-· ed of being engaged in the slave-trade. for this object or tending to instruct France was specially sensitive on this· point. She, after a month, suggested the natives and make them under- a series of new measures for the pre- vention of the abuse of the French stand and appreciate the advantages Hag, and for checking the crew and passenger-lists at places of departure, of civilization." call and destination. The British government proposed a compromise, It had been fUrther provided that, subjecting only vessels of 500 tons, and under, to the right of supervision and "In accordance with the principles of detention on the high seas, which was agreed to, unless slavers of over 500 the law of nations as recognized by tons shall hereafter be discovered.
the signatory Powers, the slave-trade 2. The suppression of the foreign market was also a delicate and difficult being forbidden, and the operation part of the general question. It is the existence of slavery in foreign counwhich on land and on sea furnish tries which keeps alive the maritime traffic. Abolish that in countries outslaves for the traffic also being consid- side of Africa and the motive for the slave traffic on the high seas is extinered as forbidden, the Powers which guished. The eastern market for exercise, or shall exercise, rights of slaves must be broken down, as a part sovereignty or any influence in the of the general plan to destroy the territories forming the conventional African traffic in slaves. basin of the Congo, declare that these territories cannot serve either as a It is readily seen that this touched market or as a means of transit of most delicate lines of diplomatic slaves, of whatsoever race they may courtesy. Had Turkey been invited be. Each of these Powers undertakes to this general council, to learn that to employ all the means in its power the combined European Powers would to put an end to this traffic and to interfere here and thus with her terpunish those who take part in it." ritorial authority ? Was anyone of these Powers to find in this Congress a It was, however, recognized that dictator domineering its independence as a State? This was, indeed, a delithese most excellent provisions and cate matter. The Conference could do no less, however, than deprecate the understandings were too inoperative, influence of such domestic slavery, and it thus brought the force of Euroand the British House of Commons, in pean public opinion to bear directly March 1889, said so. In August of that year the Queen of Great Britain said in her speech that the King of Belgium had consented to call the Conference of which we now write, and it convened in Brussels November 18,1889.
The three great topics which it traversed were the slave-traffic and the means to suppress it, the importa- tion of fire-arms and the liquor traffic.
The chapters of the work as completed deal with-1, Places of capture of Slaves. 2, The Caravan routes. 3, The Maritime traffic in slaves. 4, The Countries of destination. 5, Institu- tions created for the purpose of insur- ing the execution of the general act.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
()n Turkey and Persia in the matter l.-The territory to be regulated ()f slavery in those lands. The rash- in the matter of fire-arms extends n€ss of this influence is manifest. through 42 degrees of latitude (from 20 degrees north to 22 degrees south), An effort was made to provide for from coast to coast, and a hundred the regulations of caravans for the miles seaward. prevention of slave-trading expeditions. It was sought to exact security 2.-The principle of prohibition is from the chiefs and organizers of laid down, with exceptions. The ~aravans, and for the examination of arms are to be deposited in Govern- ~aravans at their places of destination ment warehouses and taken out only inland, as well as on the coast. No se- on permission, and are not to include curity from caravan organizers, how- the most improved weapons. €ver, was feasible, as these caravans seldom return to their starting points THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. with the same elements. They are renewed from place to place among the If the rights of humanity are to be tribes they pass, remain long at the conciliated with the interests of trade, ~entre, and return to the coast at dif- so far as such interests are legitimate, ferent points. The security, how- as the Conference proposed to attempt, ever, it was agreed, is to be demanded the liquor question had to be dealt ()f those who had already been con- with. The Conference distinguished demned for slave-trade.offenses. between regions where no traffic in liquors had begun and those where it FIRE-ARMS. already existed. For the first of these, the British delegates proposed absolute But slavery was only one feature of prohibition, and for the second, a the great task to which the Powers heavy duty on the importation of had pledged themselves to each other, liquor. The Conference agreed to the when they undertook "to watch over prohibition in the cage of races with the preservation of the native races, whom at present no trade exists; but and the improvement of their moral it was not so easy to reach a concluand material conditions." sion on the other cases. The powers had themselves agreed to Free Trade in From 80,000 to 100,000 muskets and the Congo Basin; how could they then rifles, mainly the disused arms of Eu- now agree to a duty on liquor in that ropean standing armies, are imported districr, and yet, how could they keep annually into Zanzibar alone, and this great channel into the interior of these fire-arms are bartered to Arab Africa from becoming contaminated traders for ivory and other inland with the liquor traffic, unless they products. If the negro is to be pro- prohibited or restricted by the impotected from the slave hunter this slave sition of a duty? The races of the hunter must be disarmed. That was second class, or those among whom a the argument. But there are great traffic in liquors is already established, trade interests which require arms it was agreed that there should be al!l for their conduct and defence. France impost of l~d. or 3 cents per quart, here, was zealous for total prohibition this duty to be subject to advance at throughout Africa. Others would the expiration of three years. limit the territory. Two things seem to have been decided upon: V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY SECRETARY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
Brazil. to a republican form of government The year 1890 is the most eventful without bloodshed, renders it proper of all years in Brazilian history. The that the November concert of prayer fact that an empire has given place for Brazil should be largely an occasion for thanksgiving. Civil liberty is fol- standpoint. Whoever will examine lowed as it always has been by liberty our constitution will there read that ()f conscience. There is now perfect the Apostolic Roman Catholic religion ~ualityofreligious privileges among is the religion of the State; that the Emperor, Senators, Deputies, and all all sects. the public officers, are obliged by pub- The following outline of the pro- lic and solemn oath to maintain and defend it, and that the criminal code clamation of religious freedom issued establishes punishments for any of- after the establishment of repub- fence against it.
lican order will show how completely " A people that, by its fundamental the new authorities have overthrown law, gives special privileges to Roman the assumptions of the Papacy. Catholicism, and seeks by oath to "The text of a decree of the Provisional . guarantee it; that requires its profes- Government of the United States of Brazil of .January 7, 1890, states in substance: sion as a condition of holding office; 1. That Federal and State authorities alike that considers penal all offences against it, ought to be regarded as profoundly religious, eminently Cathare prohibited to expedite laws, regulations, olic. But an observer, looking only or administrative acts establishingor prohibit- at our political Constitution and penal ing any religion, or to create distinctions code, would infer that Brazil is a dis- between inhabitantsof that country on account sonant chord in the infernal chorus of ofreligious and philosophicbeliefsor opinions. imprecations against the Catholic 2. That all religious denominations have Church.
equal rights ~o liberty of worship, and to gov- "But," continues the writer, "let .em themselves in accordance with their us look on the other side of the picture.
respective creeds without being constrained in Whoever reads the history Qf Brazil the acts, private or public, which pertain to in these latter times will learn that the the exercise of this right. Government destroyed, by an edict, 3. The liberty hereby instituted shall em- the religious orders, J?rohibiting the brace not only individuals in their personal receiving of any nOVItiates; that no .acts, but also churches, associations, and insti- country pays such insignificant sal- tutes in which they may be Joined; to all of aries to its church officials; that two which belongs the right to organize and main- bishops were shamefully imprisoned tain their corporate existence in conformity for observing faithfully the Pontifical with their creeds and policy, without the Bull; that the priests are hindered on interference of the Government. every hand in the fulfillment of their duties; that any act directed against 4. That patronage with all its Institutions the Church is applauded; that a .and prerogatives is hereby abolished. bishop, respected even in Protestant countries, here has not the privileges 5. That the legal capacity of churches and of the most humble citizen. As to religious denominations to acquire and admin- the churches, some are already fallister property is recoguized within the limit ing into ruin, while others are comof the laws concerning mortmain, securing pletely stripped of their parapherto each their possession of their present nalia." properties, as well as their houses of worship. The writer goes on to show that the Over against this full and complete guaranty of freedom, the following attitude of the press is no more favorquotation from a Brazilian Catholic paper of ten years ago will show what able to the Church than the Governthe ideal empire was supposed to be in those bygone days. It is a jere- ment. With the exception of five or miad uttered by a bigoted Catholic editor over the inroads which had al- six Catholic papers in the whole em- Ieady been made upon the old regime • f intolerance and oppression, even pire (there is the difficulty) the press under the mild and progressive sceptre of Dom Pedro II. of the country is either indifferent or . "What is the religion of the Brazilian people?" says the writer. openly hostile to the Apostolic Roman " At present, this country (Brazil) is Catholic Church• in an abnormal and contradictory Yet, bad as the case seems for the Catholic, the writer spurns the idea that Brazil is, or is to be, a Protestant country. "Here and there a Protest- ant Church, frequented by a few dozen souls, is all that we see of Pro- position, viewed from a religious testantism. It is clear that with such a state of affairs soon there will be no ernment. This fact doubtless pre- religion at all in Brazil." vented Brazil from becoming a repub- Well, the evil has not mended, as lic during that series of revolutions in seen from the writer's standpoint, and the Spanish States of Central and to an enlightened American reader it South America which followed as a seems that just such specimens of result of Napoleon's usurpation of narrow bigotry as this must have power in th(l Spanish Peninsula.
been the very means of bringing about The home revolution, which oc- the fulfillment of all dark prophe- curred in Portugal in 1820, led the cyings. people of Brazil to demand a govern- More than-was predicted has been ment quite distinct from that of the fulfilled. Doubtless, it is in the mother country, and in 1822 it was power of the priesthood to obstruct declared an independent sovereignty, the extension of Protestant freedom under the heir-apparent, Dom Pedro L and enlightenment to a greater or less A year later the Portuguese court em- extent, but the civil authorities are on barked for Portugal, no more to re- the side of equality, the press willcast turn, and in 1825 Dom John formally its influence in the same direction, abdicated in favor of Dom Pedro I., and the whole spirit and drift of the and the independence of Brazil was age are against the hierarchical as- acknowledged by Portugal.
sumptions which have so long cursed In 1831, Dom Pedro I., alarmed by the country. another movement toward republi- Now that Brazil has joined the large canism, as he thought, abdicated in group of American republics, with favor of his son, Dom Pedro IL, then all the religious freedom enjoyed by five years old, and embarked for the most highly favored, a glance at Europe. Some injudicious republican its eventful history will be in place. agitations which occurred during the The country was discovered in 1499 regency prepared the country for an- by the Spaniard, Vincent Yonez Pin- other trial of monarchy, and on the con, though it was first settled by the 23d of July, 1840, Dom Pedro II. was Portuguese under Alvarez Cabral in proclaimed emperor.
1500. Other small Portuguese settle- This remarkable man, thus pro- ments were made between 1500 and claimed the sovereign of a vast empire 1550. of 3,288,000 square miles, or nearly as Rio de Janeiro was settled in 1558 large as Europe, doubtless owed his by the French as an asylum and a long reIgn to the enlightened and mission field for the Huguenots. By liberal policy which he was wise the adverse influences of shipwreck enough to adopt.
and the treachery of Villegagnon, the While the Spanish-American repub- leader of the colony, it was utterly lics were tossed with political convul- broken up, and Protestantism, as well sions, Mexico alone having experienced as French influence, was swept out of over fifty between the years 1821 and the country. 1867, Brazil, with quite as much real Brazil came under the power of political freedom as they, held on her Spain in 1578 by the assumption of peaceful way. Dom Pedro became em.
the crown of Portugal, but was re- peror at the age of fourteen, and con.
stored in 1648 on the accession of the tinued to reign for nearly fifty years.
Braganzas to the Portuguese throne. Few sovereigns have been able to In 1807, upon the invasion of Portu- maintain a sceptre so long in the gal by Napoleon's army, King Dom midst of a mercurial people, and sur· John VI., appointing a regent at Lis- rounded on every side by nations with bon, fled to Brazil and established which revolution seemed to be the- there the seat of the Portuguese Gov- normal condition of political existence._ But in late years the more advanced priesthood has so long been associated of the Spanish republics have attained with habits of profligacy and vice. and to greater stability; the increase of the hollow sham of mere official sancwealth, and the multiplication of tity, that the intelligent classes have manufacturing and commercial il;l- become infidel, while every form of vestments have rendered the ruling error-8piritualism, Theosophy, Nihilclasses more conservative, and their ism, and even Mohammedanismrapid and prosperous development have been imported; and a paralysis has spurred the aspirations of Bra- of general indifference has settled upzilians for complete freedom. At the on the country. same time, the gloomy outlook. of a possible reaction toward It tyranni- Yet, there are not wanting many incal absolutism under the probable stances of encouragement, especially successors to Dom Pedro's throne, led in the country districts, where the in- Brazilian statesmen to the conclusion fluence of foreign contact has been that the opportune moment had al- little felt. In the last reports of the ready come for a Republic. Brazilian Mission of the Presbyterian Board (North). there is evidence that The world was, therefore, suddenly the most fruitful source of results is startled by a peaceful revolution, the native ministry. The chief inwhich had been precipitated in the gatherings of converts into the quiet evening of Dom Pedro's reign. churches during the last year were in rather than wait for the dubious congregations ministered to by native morning of a bigoted and impracti- pastors. And the argument thus furcable sovereignty in the hands of his nished for the education of young nafanatical daughter. tives for this important field is strong and significant. Thus, under the pressure of an irrepressible longing for liberty, on the The Northern Presbyterian Mission part of the people, there have been reports at the close of 1889, 9 churches three notable embarkations of royalty and 5 ordained missionaries, -8 nativQ for Europe. First, in 1825, when Dom preachers and 22 teachers. The num- John VI. acknowledged the indepen- ber of communicants is 1,009-153, or dence of the Brazilian Monarchy under about 11 per cent., having been added his son, Dom Pedro 1. Second, in 1831, during the year. when Dom Pedro I., alarmed at the appearance of republican tendencies, The great educational centre of this abdicated in favor of his five-year old mission is at Sao Paulo, where 395 puson, Dom Pedro II., and, with what pils of all grades are under instruction. seems a cowardly desertion, left him Under the efficient management of alone and returned to Europe. And, Dr. Lane and his associates a noble last of all, when Dom Pedro, nearly work has been accomplished during 60 years later, was obliged to renounce the year. Dr. Chamberlain, who has a sceptre which he had swayed with labored in connection with the Sao rare moderation for half a century, Paulo institution for many years, is and sail away an exile to the land of now in this country raising funds his fathers, to find there so soon a to endow it as a college for the traingrave for his empress as well as for ing of native ministers and teachers. his life-long hopes. The success gained by the few native pastors during the year is too instruc- Brazil enjoys now perfect freedom tive to need enforcement. of opinion, but it is rather late to reap the harvest which might have been A NATIVE MINISTRY. gained years ago. Other things being equal, a native The cause of religion has so long preacher familiar with the idiom of suffered discredit, the idea of the his mother-tongue, and at one with the people in all his habits of thought, can reach his countrymen far more ons mission in the Argentine republic, effectively than a foreigner. Besides, at with five ordained missionaries and least three natives can be supported as 15 native preachers. Eight stations cheaplyas one missionary. If we add are occupied,.of which Buenos Ayres to this, the fact shown in the Brazilian is the chief. I reports, that four-fifths of the con- In Uruguay there is but 1 ordained verts have been won in the out-stations missionary, but 8 native preachers are under native preachprs, we have a at work; 7 stations are occupied, the pretty strong argument for the educa- largest of which is Montevideo.
tion of more Brazilians and for the Paraguay, Brazil and Peru are also building up of a strong and efficient occupied by the Methodist Episcopal college and theological seminary. Church, each with OIie station. In While at Sao Paulo a given number all these South American missions, a of men shall be trained for the first total membership of 882 is reported, rank of preachers and leaders, it is also 688 probationers. The total num- felt that an institution of a different ber of adherents is reported at 8,935.
grade and, perhaps, having something The missions are apparently charac- of the industrial element, should be terized by remarkable vigor, and all opened for the practical preparation friends of the cause will rejoice that of a clsss of men of lower grade of an influence so directly opposite to the scholarship to be employed in evangel- droning and stagnation of the Rom- istic work in the interior districts. ish church for nearly three centuries Probably this diversity of education past is now awakening these south- should be observed in all the South ern races.
American republics. The enterprise with which the mis- The old order of things is every- sions are carried on is shown by the where passing away. The days when fact that the mission reports $222,290 ignorance was the safe cover for in church property-viz: in churches, religious oppression have gone. Under $190,290, and in parsonages and or- the new impulse imparted by republi- phanages, $32,800, can institutions, schools and colleges The contributions reported in the will be multiplied by Government, and missions in 1889-90 are reported at they will be indifferent in religion ex- $11,205 for self-support, and $13,666 cept so far as they are infidel. for other purposes-a total of $24,871.
The Roman Catholic Church, by a Of conversions 89 were reported, and radical and politic change, will either 335 baptisms of infants. These vigor- compete on the ground, or will im_ ous missions are represented by only port well educated 'priests from Eu- 6 ordained missionaries. " . rope, and Protestantism must not be THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH open to contempt as the repreSenta- (SOUTH).
tive of an ignorant ministry. Some Missions in Brazil begun in 1875. The men must be well prepared, others first Conference was held in 1887, at must not be out of relation and sym- Sao Paulo. There are 7 local preach- pathy with the rural masses-all ers, and 288 church members. Eleven should be filled with a devoted.spirit. Sunday-schools with 33 teachers OTHER SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONS. and 339 pupils are reported. Three Of the flourishing mission of the church buildings at Rio, Piracicaba Southern Presbyterian Church in Bra- and Juiz de Fora are valued at $52,938.
zil and the missions of the Northern Contributions dur-ing the year amount- Presbyterian Church in U.S. Columbia ed to $2,221. Bishop Granberry's re- and Chili, there is not space to write port credits the Woman's Missionary in the present article. The Methodist Society for all the educational insti- Episcopal Church (North) has a vigor- tutions of the mission, viz•• 2 colleges,
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
with'4 missionary teachers, and 13 as- the inhospitable shores of Terra del sistants and 143 pupils. Fuego, grew the South American Mission. His heroism roused all the MORAVIAN MISSION IN SURINAM, DUTCH best manhood, as well as the most de- voted Christian sentimentof England. GUIANA. It was resolved that, by the grace of God, so noble an attempt should not In this interesting Mission 17 sta- fail. It was another of the many in- tions are reported with 71 "mission- stances in which sacrifice and death ary agents," and 377 native helpers. have brought forth more abundant The communicants are 8,313, baptized fruit than a long and laborious life adults, 7,408; baptized children, 8,901; could have accomplished. By the re- candidates, new people, etc., 1,640. port of 1888, the South American S0- Total, 26,262. The missions carried on ciety received contributions, amount- by all Protestant societies in the three ing, with legacies, to $70,000. They Guianas are all attended by peculiar came generally in the form of indivi- hardships. These hot and malarious dual gifts. and from every land in countries have been settled from time which Englishmen wide. to time by the captives rescued from slave-ships. In fact, they were, in It will be remembered that the the early days, regarded as rendezvous late Charles Darwin, after actually for all refuse and castaway classes of seeing the work done in Terra ael humanity, and the population consists Fuego, became a supporter of the S0- -of colonies of English, Dutch, French, ciety. and Spanish, with every cross and grade, with bush-~egroes (the larger The work takes on a wide variety. -class), Indians and Asiatic Coolies. It is directed largely to the Indians in Terra del Fuego, Patagonia, and Para- The susceptible and half-savage guay, but also to chaplaincies in the bush-Negro, on the banks of the low ports and for the seamen of all nations. .and marshy rivers, affords the hope- It embraces the Falkland Islands, ful, because fruitful, field of labor for Terra del Fuego, Wollaston Islands, 1he self-denying Moravian. the Argentine Republic, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Chili. Of almost equal interest with the mission in Surinam, is that of the Mo- The Earl of Aberdeen is its presiravians on the Mosquitoe Coast. It dent, and many eminent names of reports 12 missionaries, and 490 com- England, both clerical and lay, are municants. among its vice-presidents. It has 1 field superintendent, 29 clergymen, THE SOUTH AMERICAN MISSION. and 5 native helpers.
The romance of missions will not' The annual reports of the society, esdie out till the name of Allen Gardner pecially those relating to work among shall' be fotgotten. Out of the melan- the Indians, are deeply interesting. choly circumstance of his death with that of six associates, from starvation, while trying to found a mission on VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
.Important Official Documents From from Downing Street, London, under Sierra Leone, West Africa. date of August 28, 1890. We have not space to give the documents entire, The Editors of this REVIEW have but quote the main facts which conbeen both surprised and shocked to cern the Christian public, and espereceive a copy of sundry official com- cially all the friends of missions. One munications "relating to some Ameri- of these documents is from Dr. Ross, ('an missionaries who have latelyar- Colonial Surgeon at Freetown, and rived" at Freetown, specially directed another from Sir J. G. Hay, Governor to us by order of Lord Kuntsford of Sierra Leone, transmitting Dr. Furthermore Dr. Ross states that he understands these "missionaries. Ross's lengthy report to Lord Kunts- intend going due east into the interior, guided only by a compass;" that they ford, of the home Government, Lon- have been "living as the natives, in the hope that by so doing they will don, and one from him through his sec- gain the confidence of the people;" that they "have been eating native· retary, transmitting the whole corres- food, cooking and washing for them- selves and even collecting their own pondence to the editors of the MISSION- fuel, in this rainy weather." Of course· that they should expose themselves to ARY REVIEW, calling special attention fatal fever and should actually court death by such manner of proceeding to their contents, and "to a notice, is not strange.
headed the 'Soudan Missionary Move- Such is the purport of the commu- ment,' which appeared at page 555, of nications referred to; and the Editors of this REVIEW feel compelled to say the REVIEW for July, 1890." in this connection, that up to this time These documents inform us that sun- they had never had the least intima- dry "American missionaries .have lately arrived at Freetown with a tion that this "Soudan Movement" view of proceeding due east into the was characterized by any such fanat- interior for evangelizing purposes;" that "three of their number have al- icism. We felt that, like other move- ready died," and that "the first inti- ments originating among well meali- mation Dr. Ross had of their being ill was by receipt of a letter ing but inexperienced persons who from Mr. Kingman, reporting that are young in years, it needed a head, two deaths had occurred in the 'Mis- wise counsel and sound discretion. sion House' that afternoon," (July 9th). Even now we see no reason to recall a.. "On Inquiry," continues Dr. Ross, "I gathered that no medical man had word of commendation of the singubeen asked to attend the deceased, the lar unselfishness and heroic consecrawhole party being staunch believers in the 'faith-healing' doctrine, nor had tion that appear to have marked these any medicine been taken." Further- pioneers, but we confess to being asmore Dr. Ross "remonstrated with tounded at the statementscontained in Mr. Helmick, another member of the this correspondence. Itis a sad affair, p~rty," but could not obtain from little less than wanton suicide. To him any satisfactory promise that they persist in such a policy would not would in future depart from the course they were adopting, nor did he only ruin this whole movement but' mention that there were any more inflict a lasting damage onall missionpersons suffering in the house. To ary enterprises and compel sensible prevent this. neglected tropical fever from assuming a virulent and con- people to wash their hands clean of tagious form, the bodies were at once buried by his order and the sanitary all abetting such supreme folly and policeman sent to disinfect the house, practical madness. Certainly the destroy all infected bedding, clothing, editors of the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF etc. On the 10th of July Mrs. King- THE WORLD, have not the slightest man was found in the last stages of exhaustion from neglected fever, sympathy with such disregard of all which had then assumed a malignant proper precautions, not to say defiance type, she having been ill nine days before; and in spite of all that could be of all sanitary and social laws. done Mrs. Kingman died on the even- From the inception of this moveing of the 11th.' "Mr. Kingman was ill also and visited by Dr. Ross, who ment we have said to these western strongly urged him to take medicine. Finding Mr. Trice ill, Dr. Ross re- brethren, "move slowly; gel compemoved him to the hospital, and at last tent medical advisers, and experienced prevailed on Mr. Kingman to be treated, on the ground that his "action explorers, .that you may not risk endangered the whole coummunity." health and life by needless exposure." Dr. Ross felt "compelled to keep the God not only gives a "spirit of power missionaries from going into any other house than their own, and stopped and of love, but of a 80und mind 1'" all communication with other white poeple." We repeat the advice. Call a halt! their own lives dear unto themselves, bui and let it be fully understood that no have obediently gone forth to proclaim the man or woman goes to Tropical Africa joyful Message. to throwaway life on a theory, and -endanger the lives of others by pro- "Our beloved friends believed that nothing moting infectious disease. was too precious for their Saviour, and have made the supreme offering of their lives, and, A. T. PIERSON. standing to-day, where we may again see the J. M. SHERWOOD. broken body of the Christ and hear His words 'As the Father hath sent Me, even so send I On receiving these communications you, ' we are confident that there are -many the Editors felt bound to transmit a who will gladly offer themselves and take the (lOPY to the brethern in Kansas, who place of these messengers who have been are more closely connected with this called home, and, by His grace, plant the ban- movement, expressing also our sorrow ner of the Cross in -darkest Africa. -and apprehension as to the disastrous effect of such a course as that pursued "Asking that continual prayermay be made in Africa, not only upon this, but all to our Lord so that indeed He may speedily other mission enterprises. We have a send His messengers to the uttermost parts of reply from Geo. S. Fisher, Esq., dis- the world, I am, claiming all responsibility for these peculiar views, and saying that these "In the hope of His coming, sincerely thine, pioneers had no such views when they "GEORGE S. FISHER." left the west, but on their way a certain well known advocate of " faith heal- The National Missionary Convention ing" in New York City got hold of them and infused into them his views which met at Indianapolis Septem- <If the subject. We mention this in ber 3d to 9th, inclusive, was, in some ·order to attach responsibility to those respects, a remarkable gathering; not -to whom it 'belongs; and that responsi- in point of numbers, for but a few hundred visitors were there, and resibility, in our judgment, is a very grave dents of _the town were largely kept out of the city by the excessive heat. <lne. But there were signs of the Holy In response to our inquiry, Mr. Spirit's presence and power. Mr. Robert E. Speer, traveling secretary Fisher sends us also the following more of the Students' Volunteer Movement, -cheerful news concerning the surviv- and GeorgeS. Fisher, Esq., of Kansas, as well as Augustus Nash, of Neors.-3. M. S. braska, and Rev. T. C. Horton, of St. Paul, were among the leading spirits. "Ourvery latest Information is to the effect that, Mr. Kingman and Mr. Trice, the colored After watching the Convention with man, have both recovered, and that the others a careful eye, and noting the addresses have had no sickness whatever. They are now made and the tone of general feeling, waiting until the arrangements can be ef- we were constrained to acknowledge :fected so that they can leave Freetown, cross that there were signs of a Higher the Kong Mountains, and enter upon their Hand than man's in the whole miswork, if the Lord will, and enter among the sionary movement of which this is one Mandingo tribes." expression.
Also the following, which we read The band of intending missionaries with many "falling tears:" that we found there, were nearly all young-under thirty years. Moved "The enclosed letter is sent out with some by the awful destitution of a hundred :faIling of tears, but with much peace of heart, millions who, in Africa, are utterly for none who are conversant with the history without the Gospel, they have felt of the spreading of the Gospel in the dark more needed there than here, and have lands, will be surprised orcast down by reason practically offered thelllseives to go ~f these words: abroad to the Regions Beyond-most of them to the Soudan, some to China "'Except a corn of wheat fall into the and other lands of the Orient. No ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it <iie, it bringeth forth much fruit.' This scripture has indeed been fulfilled many times in the history of the early church, among the lllartyrs, and those who have not counted doubt there is some zeal that needs to so that this snall be a gift to the be tempered with knowledge-no Lord's cause for His servants' use doubt a good deal of imprudence that when at home for a season to gather experience will correct and chasten. new strength for further toils. Dr. A.
There is excess of enthusiasm that J. Gordon, of Boston; D. L. Moody, should be restrained, and impulsive Esq., S. P. Harbison, of Pittsburgh; activity that must be wisely guarded. Dr. Munhall, and a few others, will But there seems to be also a passion for be asked to act as counsellors in the souls, a self-surrender to God's work, completion of the plan; and it is not a certain abandon of confidence in his designed to ask any help from a~yone Word and guidance, that we would but leave to those of ~he Lord's people gladly feel were more general in dis- who may feel so inclined to assist in ciples of more mature years. We rearing the cottages. The ground is· should say that not less than fifty already paid for, mostly by one indi- young men and women were present, vidual; and already unsolicited con- whose faces are set toward the deso- tributions have been made to the ex- late regions of the earth, and who are tent of $650. Any who are so disPosed only waiting for the door to open. may send contributions to the editors of There were present several of these this REVIEW and they will be promptly young men who have been traveling acknowledged. Ultimately, after the through the States, mainly o( the cottages are built, a report of the work West, presenting the needs of the per- will be printed and sent to the par- ishing millions, and urging consecra- ties contributing, with pictures of the tion of men and of money to supply houses erected. A. T. P.
their need of the Gospel. These "trav- A Remonstranoe that Should be Heard. elling secretaries" have gone like primitive disciples, carrying nothing "Pardon me, if I seem presump- in their purses, and their unanimous tuous, but do you think the' Presby- testimony was that they ~ave lacked terian Church is moving in the right nothing. Some who heard them wit- direction in its efforts to remove the ness, publicly confessed that, though heavy indebtedness of the two Boards? they had been prejudiced against the Does it not seem that a curse, rather movement, they felt constrained to than a blessing, will follow one form say this is the Finger of GOd. A. T. P. adopted, viz. : cutting down the meagre' salarie.s of our missionaries, and leav- The Home Rest for Missianaries at ing them with no escape from this. Northfield, Mass. iron rule? Is not this 'muzzling the ox which treadeth out the corn?' I By a strange fatality a part of our do not know when anything has so editorial note on this topic in our last burdened me as this mismanagem!'nt issue was left out. We said further on the part of the Assembly. Surely, that these 15 acres of land are to be some better plan could have been laid out in a sort of park, to be named adopted there. This is something like Livingstone Park, in honor of. David 'making bricks without straw.' Livingstone, and it is proposed to erect a few economical and conven- "In my own mind it is clear that ient cottages on these grounds, to be this great debt could have been made furnished rent free to returned mis- the means of rousing the Church to sionaries who are at home for rest and a sense of its responsibility as nothing recuperation. It is desired to have else could have done. It would have these cottages free to those who oc- called out a special day of preaching cupy them without reference to de- on the subject of missions-humili- 1'I.0mination; and to enlist various ation and prayer-aday of collections. benevolent people in their erection, for the debt alone, making at least two Sundays of the fifty-two to be de- voted to the great work of the church. The letters one reads from missiona- ries on the frontier a,re pitiful; and if the church does not hear will not God avenge II "Pardon me, but I feel I am only saying what many must feel. I do awakening in this country. His 00- not like to seem to criticise over-much, dresSB evinced considerable familiarity but it makes me sick at heart to be at with the present situation of things in ease in our luxurious churches and India, and appreciation of the diffi- notice the indifference, the want of culty and importance of the mUwion reference to this, the most, crying evil he had undertaken. I have known; for it is from thosepoor missionaries that part of the money Among other things he said: already collected (?) is wrested–not voluntary offerings, but oppressive "There are 5,000,000 Hindus, young men, taxation, in a sense. " who speak English. We aregoing to reach them. They have never been evangelized. Oc- The above letter is from one -of the casionallya lecturer like the Rev. Joseph Cook largest and best known givers in the will drop in among them; but he is gone in a denomination, and we publish it, first, week. What they want is preaching every because such a munificent giver has a day for six months. All has been touch and right to be heard; and again, because go sofar. We go to preach and not to prove the this church and other denominations Gospel. Disabuse your minds of one thought. ought to know how their principal We don't propose to convert India. Weonly benefactors look on such a mistaken policy as retrenchment; -and thirdly, intend to do our share. It we come back because we feel in absolute accord with these sentiments. God will never without having made any visible impression, bless any policy which is practically we won't feel disappointed. Fifty blows may robbery both of Him and His poor be necessary before the rock of heathenism is and faithful servants, It cannot be split. We hope to strike one of those blows. our duty to do wrong, and we believe The Hindus say that as the English go to this course, whenever and wherever India they drop their religion in the Red Sea, adopted, is dishonoring to both the hoping to lind it there as they go back. The church and to God. There must be people of India are profoundly religious in some way of meeting a crisis like this their way. They look on our missionaries as beside doing an' aditional wrong. being merely men who are hired to conquer This policy reminds us of the man who their religion with our own, just as they were borrowed money to pay a debt! and politically conquered by the English. They the fact that at this time of the judge our religion not by our missionaries but world's history a great denomination by the English people among them, sevencan Bound the cry, Retrench! while tenths of whom are there to trade and not to every call of God says Advance! is it- set a religious example. Belf a melancholy sign of the times. We know one city where a craze for "We will go first to Calcutta., where we will expensive church-buildings has led to open an evangelistic mission and begin on the the abandonment of large and com- English themselves. From them-having by modious edifices for others that cost the help of God brought them to a condition enough more than the old to pay thill where they can exemplify and reflect the debt by the excess on each building. Gospel-we will proceed to evangelize the Eng, lish-speaking Hindus. After them, Provi- EDITORS. dence permitting, we will evangelize the half- breeds. We hope to make a break among the Dr. Pentecost's Farewell Words. high castes. Don't think we are pl"oud be- cause we are going to work among the high We were present at the farewell castes. We have chosen them because nQ service in Dr. Meredith's church in work of evangelization has ever been done Brooklyn, of which he was formerly among them. Finally, we are doing this work pastor. He gave an outline of his strictly at our own expense. If anybody feels plan of evangelistic work in India. He moved to chip in and help us pay our current is sanguine that a great break in expenses, all right. But we are not begging. heathenism will begin there, which Persoually I will pay my own expenses. We will be followed by a wide-spread are a voluutary mission, repreaenting no society and no fuud."
May he not be disappointed in this bold undertaking! May India be moved as never before! He needs and asks and deserves the earnest prayers of Christendom. He remains a month in England and then sails for India. Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins, who have aided him in his €vangelistic Alloa, Scotland, has recently gone to his reward, in his eighty-seventh work, will accompany him in this year. He set an example of benefi- cence which will be fra~ant in Scotforeign tour. J. M. S. land and in all the Christian church for many years to come. His liberal- The Tribune (New York), in a re- ity toward foreign missions is very cent editorial entitled, "Why Foreign conspicuous; but scarcely less so to- Missions Languish," exhibits the most ward all home missionaryschemes also. surprising ignorance of the subject. AUoa, where he built up his fortune, The very reverse is true. Instead of witnessed its dispensing in all good being in a languishing condition the works. He supported missions in the cause of foreign missions was never destitute neighborhoods, provided for so active, so promising, so full of en- the free entertainment of infirm minterprise, so far-reaching and world- isters at Criefi' Hydropathic; and gave, wide in its scope and plans. The great as few men since apostolic days have English societies in 1889 expended given, great sums to God's cause. He $13,000,000 in the work; and our has spent a vast fortune of $1,000,000 American societies full $6,000,000! on missions; and, out of the small anmore than in any former year! Does nuity reserved to keep him from acthis look like languishing? tual want, he managed to give, at the time of my visit to AUoa, another Quite as false is the reason assigned 250 pounds sterling; and, as a letter for the decline of missions. It argues from Dr. McAll informs me, his last they "languish" because the Gospel if! act of giving was the sending of $500 presented so as to repel rather than more to the same great work of French attract, by men not properlytrained. evangelization. He was an office- It is sure that the prevailing methods bearer in the United Presbyterian of mission work are radically wrong. Church, and one of the brightest orna- Now thousands of the ripest scholars, ments of that beautiful body of breththe broadest culture, the most distin- ren, of whom we may say on personal guished gifts, the noblest educators, knowledge that it contains some of the and the most eminent and useful men noblest examples both of piety and of in the Church to-day, are found in the generosity which the United Kingdom foreign field! Methods radically wrong furnishes. That dear old saint gave that have civilized and evangelized not grudgingly nor of necessity, but whole nations, converted millions of cheerfully. Self· denial became to him souls in heathendom, established a habit and a delight for Christ's sake. schools and colleges, and hospitals, To press his hand and look in his eyes and Y. M. C. A.'s all over the world! was one of the rare privileges of that Does not the Trtbune know these recent tour of missions in Scotland. facts? Such stupendous ignorance is He was the patriarch of givers, and, enough to bring Horace Greeley up we trust will have a numerous spiritfrom the grave to weep over the pa- ual progeny who shall emulate an per he made so grand a power for good. example that has few rivals since the This attack on missions is a very feeble days of Barnabas of Cyprus. echo of Canon Taylor's charges two years ago, the falsity and grossness of A. T. P. which were abundantly shown by testimony that could not be set aside. Bishop William Tay:or seems to be The Tribune is late in reviving a man of great common sense. He these exploded charges.-J. M. S. says that on the dead level of heath- enism all genius is excluded; any in- A Princely Giver's Death. ventor is liable to the charge of witch- craft, and the poison draught is the David Paton, Esq., of Tillicoutry, inevitable doom of one who im- Canada, and for years residing in proves upon the crude implements of his ancestors. In the South of Africa the men wear two coats, one of red paint, the other of grease well-rubbed in; and women dig, hoe, gather crops, carry burdens and do other hard work. To educate an African without chris- tianizing him is to train a polite loafer. He instanced the educated native known as "Hodge," who, with a tine culture, turned to Paganism, put on
ORGANIZED lIIISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
the breech-clout and took six wives tian church, he will again let loose this and set up a harem. The educational system of false religion to drive out plan must include all industries that an infernal rum traffic let in by prepare for a life of self-support. The Christian nations! Already are 300,- short and sure cut is to be found in 000 mounted followers of the False rearing in Africa Christian industrial Prophet said to be overrunning th{l homes, adopting about 12 children Dark Continent. under five years of age. Young chil- A. T. P.
dren are not yet heathen and must be The India Sunday-school Union, prevented from becoming such. It is having secured the hearty' co-opereasy to get boys but not girls, to adopt. Girls are a marketable commodity for ation of the British Sunday-school polygamous purposes. The only way Union, has been planning a large ex- tension of its work. Dr. James L. at present is to redeem them from this Phillips, 17 years medical and educapolygamous slavery by a virtual pur- tional missionary in Bengal, has been {lhase. They are sold in infancy for appointed general-secretary of the the future harem of these polygamists, India Sunday-school Union, and sailed and if not redeemed will be claimed ~ven after adoption and education. from New York for Europe. He will A young and pretty girl was thus speak in behalf of this promising movement in the chief citIes of the adopted by a missionary's family and United Kingdom during September iirained as a converted woman, and and October, and then embark for -one day claimed as the betrothed wife Bombay, where he will enter upon his -of a rich polygamist. She was al- work, attend the Punjab Sundayready pledged to a converted young school Convention at Lahore in Thr man connected with the mission cember, and reach Calcutta for the .and presents were freely given to annual meeting of the India Sunday- -secure her release from the prior con- School Union in December. All India iiract. Apparently she was released seems ripe for Sunday-school exten- sion at this time. and the marriage consented to. But afterward under pretext of a visit to It has been our privilege to make the her parents was, with her husband, acquaintance of this beloved brother induced to go to their home, and -on entering the village her young while home on a furlough. Failing husband was literally hewn to pieces, to find us at the office, where he called and she was tied to a tree and whipped to say good-bye, he left us a very kind every two hours till she consented letter from which we make an extract: to go and live with this wretched pagan. That is a glimpse of woman's "Now I go back to my dear India, condition in the dark continent. where I was born, as general-secretary Meanwhile all the work of missions of the India Sunday-school Union, is threatened by the awful flooding of with headquarters at Calcutta. For Africa with rum. Hamburg alone two or three years I shall be on the -exports by two companies annually move constantly all over India, organ- .200,000 tuns of liquor, not to speak of izing and pushing Sunday-school what France, Spain, Portugal, Eng- work. My post is a new one. I am land and New England are doing to called back to India by my brethren ]lOur into that land an Amazon river of all the churches. Our Sunday- -of rum. If Mohammedanism were let school Union there, as here and in Eu- loose, it would soon put an end to this rope, is international and inter-debusiness, for Islam's banner is the nominational, like the evangelical banner of total abstinence and pro- alliance work in the U. S. A., with hibition. It may be that as God at the which I have been connected as gen- beginning let loose Mohammedanism eral-secretary at Philadelphia for a as the scourge of idolatry in the Ohris- year." J. M. S.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
SPecIAL'l'IELDS. square miles, including 30 towns and 3,579 vil· lages, and containing a population of 3,286,889, INDIA. of whom 2, 835,382 are Hindus and 284,889 are American Marathi Mission. Mussulmans. (A. B. C. F. M.) Stations, 5; outstations, 107; missionaries, REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1889. 27 (of whom 11 ordained, 1 lay, 9 missionaries' Stations at Bombay, Ahmednagal', etc. wives, 6 other ladies); n~tive helpers, 302 (of This mission covers a territory of 16,9i4 whom 18 pastors, 21 preachers); churches, 33; ordained); churches, 22; communicants,. communicants, 2,115 (1,197 male, 918 female); 2,466; additions not reported fully, about 300: added on profession, 192; schools, 127; pupils, schools, 40; average attendance, 583; Sunday- 8,280,(2,461 male, 819 female); Sunday-schools, schools, 19; average attendance, 626. 124; pupils, 4,718 (of whom 1,688 Christian); Jlatients treated at dispensary in Raburi, new, Malayalan Mission of the London Mis- 5,052; old, 9,428; total, 14,480 (of these, 12,045 sionary Society, South Travancore. Hindus, 2,059 Mussulmans, 76 Parsees, 41 R0- man Catholics, 259 Protestants). The report for this mission comes to us in four parts: the Trevandrum, Quilon and Ne- PROGREIlS IN TWENTY YEARs. yoor districts and the mission seminary.
Number of churches, 1869, 22; 1889, 33; net In the six stations there are 9 ordained mis- gain in twenty years, 11. Received on pro- sionaries; 18 ordained native ministers; 22S fession of faith, 1869, 53; 1889, 192; net gain in other native helpers; 273 congregations; twenty years, 139. Number of communicants 5,659 church members; 521 admissions; 718- at close of the year, 1869, 677; 1889,2,115; net candidates; 311 schools; 10,560 boys under in- gain in twenty years, 1,438. Contributions by struction, 3,504 girls-total scholars, 14,064; native Christians, 1869, 1,651 rupees; 1889, patients registered iu mission hospital anddi&' 4,630, rupees; net gain in twenty years, 2,979 pensaries-Protestant Christians, 13,874; Ro- rupees. Number of schools, 1869, 35; 1889, 127; man Catholics, 1,698; heathen, 12,116; Moham- net gain in twenty years, 92. Number of medans, 676-total, 28,SfU. Publications, by pupils, 1869,667; 1889,8,280; net gain in twenty London mission press, periodicals, 52 numbers, years, 2,613. 116,600 pages; tracts, 33, S23,100 pages. South Travancore Tract and Book Society has. From this it will be evident that the number published since 1833, when it was formed by of communicants on the church rolls, the con- the union of tract societies long existing at tributions of native Christians, and the num- Nagercoil and Neyoor,442,549 monthly maga- ber of schools, have trebled in the last twenty zines, 181,200 tracts, 28,500 catechisms, 13,500' years. The number of pupils is five times as books, 3,146,900 handbills, and 260,000 Glad IDany as then attended our schools. News for Children, in Tamil-4,072,649 publi- cations. American Madura Mission, South India. Basel German Evangelical Missionary- Population of district, 1,775,000. Stations Society in Southwestern India. at Madura, Pasumaleli, Battalagundi, etc. Canara, Coorg, South Mahratta, Malabar. Stations, 7; out-stations, 25; missionaries, 36 Stations, 24; European miSSionaries, male, (of whom 13 'ordained, 1 lay, 13 missionaries' 66, female, 40; native agency, pastors, 15" wives, 9 other ladies); native helpers, 448 evangelists, 106; other helpers, 27; teachers,. (of whom 17 ordained pastors); organized 27'8; communicants, 5,160; additions, 1M;: churches, 35; communicants, 3,562; added on schools, 121; pupils, 6,707. .profession, 272; schqols, 156; pupils, 5,410; Sabbath-schools, 146; average attendance Mackay Mission Hospital, Formosa. 4,151; patients treated at dispensary, new fi,066; old, 6,504; total, 15,570 (of these 4,775 Connected with the Presbyterian Board of' Hindus, 3,272 native Christians, including Ro- Missions, Canada. manists, 815 Mussulmans. New patients, 3,055; old patients returned American Free Baptist Mission, for medicines, etc., 7,224. The number is less. Southern Bengal, than the last year by 225, due to the fact that there has been less sickness and that fewer Population, 3.817,65.~. Stations at Balasore, soldiers have been admitted. J ellltSOre, Midnapore, etc. Methodist Episcopal Church, (North)t. Stations, 11; missionarles,25 (of whom 9 are North China Mission. ordained, 1 lay, 9 missionaries' wives, and 6 other ladies); native preachers, 17 (of whom Peking, Tientsin, Shantung, etc. 5 are ordained, 12 lay); other native helpers Stations or circuits, 20; ordained missionanot enumerated; organized churches, 11; ries, 15; missionaries' wives, 14; other ladies, communicants, 646; added, 55; schools, 105; 9; native ordained preachers, 6; unordained,. pupils, 3,619. Considerable medical work 10; teachers, 20: other helpers, 22; members, seems to hav" been done, but no statistics are 782; probationers, 517; averagtl atten<jancegiven. Sunday worship, 931; Sunday-schools, 10; scholars, 746; Theological schools, 3; st.udents, Canadian Baptist Telugu Mission. 40; other schools, 27; scholars, 529, Population reached 3,000,000. Stations: Board of Foreign Missions of the Presby- Akidu, Cocanada, Bimlipatam, Bobbili, etc. terian Church, (South).
Stations, 9; missionaries, 30 (of whom 11 Secretary: REV. M. H. HOUSTON, D.D., Nashare ordained, 10 missionaries' wives, 7 other ville, Tenn. ladies); native helpers, 74 (of whom 8 are [By some error the statistics reported for municants, 625;' additions, 100; schoQls, 37, pnpils, 916; medical work, out-patients (at-· this society in the September number of the tendances), 59,311; in-patients, 1,459; visits at homes, 647; surgical operations, 2,868. REVIEW were drawn from the report of 1889,in- stead of from that of 1890. Dr. Houston has kindly called our notice to the error, alld sent corrected ftgures.-EDs.] General Baptist Missionary Society.
REPORT FOR YII:AIl ENDING APRIL 1, 1800. Secretary: REV.WILLIAHHILL, Mission House. 60 Wilson St., Derby, England. Receipts. . REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING HAY 31, 1890. Balance on hand ..••••••..•••… $ 8,457 59 Receipts.
From churches……………….. 49,812 90 Collections, etc …………….. . £3,257 4 5· Legacies …………………. .. 1,497 4 11 Sabbath·schools….. .•.•• •••••••••. 8,673 50 Miscellaneous ………………. . 693 17 10 Missionary societies ••••……••.• 27,258 80 Legacies……… ..•••••••• ••••.•• 14,927 02 Miscellaneous… ••••.•••••••• •••.• 8,652 88 Total for general purposes … ,£5,448 7 2· Speclalfunds……… ………… 225 17 6 Total ••••••••….••••.••.•••••• $117,782 69 In India…. ………………… 2,929 9 6 In Rome……. … . .. . .. .. . ..• … . 149 0 11 Expenditures.
Three Brazil Missions•..•.•••••..•• 5 36,100 32 China llissions.• '" . • . •. • . •. • ••.• •• 24,701 71 Total. ………………….. , £8.752 15 1 Japan •••••••••.•.. ••••. .• 12,814 31 Pavments.
Congo . •.. .••• . • …. . . . . . . 4,000 00 Balance due May 81, 1889…….. .. £20 12 11 Greek • •• ••••• ••••• •• • . . .. 3,453 70 Orissa Mission ……………… .. 3,27013 2- Italian . . . . ••.• •• . . . •.••• •• 1,200 00 Agency…………………….. . 31517 7 Indian •••• • • ••• • •••• ••.. . • 6,490 00 Publications………………… . 171 12 0- Mexican U •• ,. • • • • ••• • •••• •••• 7,870,29 Incidentals. .. • • . .. .. …. .. …. . .. 144 5 7 Totalfor Missions. •••••.••.•••• $ 96,680 33 Assurance, Annuities, and Capi· General Expenses. . . • . . . . ..••. . … • 8,663 02 Balance on hand (including Relief tal, etc ……. " …………… . 1,441 0 4- Fund)….. • •. .. • . .. • ••.• .•••• •••• 12,489 34 In India, (see ahove) ………… . 2,929 9 9 In Rome, ……… "… .. 449 011 Total…. • • •• . .. •••••…•••••• $117,782 69 Balance to new account •••••••••• 10 3 STATISTIcs. Total……………………. £8,75215 .; STATISTICS OF ORISSA MISSION. ~ .,; -d .,; ..:=:l Stations, 4; 15 out·stations, 8 missionaries,. g 0 4 missionaries wives, 4 other female mission· s:l .'"~ -d aries, 21 native preachers, 18 chapels, 1,376 ..= ~ ~'>" church members; 1 orphanage, 122 members; '" :0;:~. '" ~ 12 schools, 641 scholars; 12 Sunday·schools, 751> • oji o[ '" '" " ] '" .$8 ..0= Z members. Local contributions, 8,411 rupees. ~~ '".." ~ » UjUj..~'Si"~1II-5..:.l..r9 ~ '" .9 f/1 ~ s:l ,Q s:l oj Baptist Missionary Society. '~I'~ ~ oj oj ~O A Secretary: ALFREn H. BAYNES, ESQ.,F. R.A.S•• 1 gl§ ~ g! Baptist Mission House, 19 Furnival St., j ~::: Holborn, London, E. C. ~ <I .S .S ~ REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1890 ::l8 Receipts. !,! ~ ! ~ — 8 – – zz 8 oj oj ::l Balance from last year, on Special — – ._- -~ Fund, and Widows" etc., 00· count…………………….. £4,894 14 9 Brazil… 3011 10 510 670 126 224 165 $1,400 China .. 1113 16 .. 15 158 12 245'260 165 For debt……….. ………….. 2,405 2 ;;. Japan •. 19 8 8 5 2 766 151 305 130 651 General Fund . . . …. …. .. • . 68,331 0 1 41111 Special, etc., account…. ……. 3,978 9 6 Greece. "c:' ~'" Total receipts…………… £74,714 12 0 28 ~ 15 … Balance over·drawn on General Italy .•. 1 .. ~ 0 Fund……………………… 2,472 3 1() Mexico. 51 2 Africa •. Z Total …………………. £82,081 10 7 2· ·8 40 …… Expenditures. 4 '3 450 71 ··~~r~ 635 Balances. Debton General Fund. £2,862 3 6 2 .. General Fund. … .. £70,346 2 10 Special, etc., account 6,761 10 3 Total. 116 3741 1931 2,072 360 1,207 845 $2,851' £77,107 13 1 1 Total expenditure……….. £79,969 16 7 American Presbyterian, (North), Mission Balance on hand on Special,etc., in Oanton, Ohina. account ……………..•.••. 2,111 14 () Stations, 2; out-stations, 28. Foreign missionaries, ordained, 8; lay, 6; mediC'.a.l, 4; mis- Total. ………………… £82,081 10 '7 sionaries' wives, 11; other ladies, 6 (1 medical); total, 31. Native 'ordained ministers, 3; other native assistants, 84; churches, 8; com- STATISTICS. Income of Funds ••..••..•••••• " 21,796 51 Government Grants-in-aid, etc…. 8,017 47 I 15 J,'"<ll i1 ~ " oj0;oj "" O.:goj $440,788 07 0; • <ll ~ U-"0=l -UC"=l Balance due April, 1890…… …… 7,942 06 ., 1=:1=l'd …. ~~.[~ ) .0 Total. …………………….. $448,730 13 """'Iaj.9 ~;;<;ll In addition there has been added to the Per- ~ ~1ii S manent Fund, $118,739.68, making the gross ! I~"' ""E"" O~~w";";d''§''~ receipts for the year $559,527.75. …. O·S ."E.:~~ -~= Expenditures. t'l Burmah ………………………. $151,290 85 z~ Assam ……………….. _…….. 22,31258 – – – – — – — — 38 Telugu…. ….. . ….. ……. …… • 64,778 India .,. 147, 57 94 9 4,129 231 15 4,027 Ceylon .• 104 4! 25 868 160342.0..3.,.1.9.0 Siam ………………. ………. 1,373 95 ,China..• 60 21 10 60 1,049 China…. …. …………. …….. 31,605 25 ~!fe~~ine 157 8 1 58 Japan ……………………… , 39,122 72 20 15 75 2 2 69 Africa…….. ……………. ….. 43,780 42 3 1 ••. Europe …………………. …… 32,984 57 Enrope •• 60 W.Indies 111 641143.73 18 1,860 210 .. 409 $381.248 72 12 6,135 423 5 Home expenses. .. …………….. 39,71387 – – – – – – – ,Africa.•• – 10 25 5 .' Publications…. ……………… 1,671 40 43 12 4 143 Annuities…….. ……….. ….. 11,92';) 58 — S440,55657 – – – 515 119319 99 14,316 1,053 47 7,896 Balance due April 1, 1839………. 8,173 56 American Baptist Missionary Union. Total. . •. …. .. . • . . . … •.. • . .. $448,730 13 Secretary: REV. J. N. MURDOCH, D.D., Tre- mont Temple, Boston, Mass. REpORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, lR90. Receipts.
Donations ………… _………… $212,96294 Legacies……….. … ………… 91,935 49 Woman'sBoards…. … …….. ..•. 93,94922 Miscellaneous ……………….. 12,126 44 STATISTICS.
Mission· Natives. .,. ! j aries ~ ~o0~ joj~o~i ~1~~p~;1~"1'.~~jjoi ~ r/.lo)i:j~il<OO 0 ~ a.: 00 Z '21-593 45li7 116 "Bn~-rm-a':'h-..-.-..-.-.-..-.- ..-.-..-.- .•-.-..-.-.. 021 520 29,689 2,039 444 12,669 – $52,633 I Assam .. …… … ….. .. .. 7 64 11 14 22 54 30 1,937 185 87 1,900 740 381 Telugu ………. …………. 13 635 21 26 204 217 72 33,838 3,340 460 4,934 564 China (inch!ding Siam)………. ' 8 59 18 23 25 17 1,535 61 23 325 521 Japan …•… …….. ……… 8 27 15 26 29 17 10 lO5 158 6 216 311 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Africa……. ….. …… …….. 7 4 23 16 5 8 5 386 156 10 471 75 Total…………………… 64 1382 133 192 8191437 654 68,290 5,939 1030 20,515 $54,844 ,Europe …………………. 917 707 70,003 5,638 169,425 TotaL ………………….. 64 ii2 133 100 i7a6 4a7.WtI38,29311.57711OOO 2O,5i5J~ Ohurch Missionary Society. Collection 0 f Funds…….. 13,739 13 2 The Secretaries, Church Missonary House, Administration. 10,596 11 5 Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London,E. C. £215,222 11 0 REPORT FOR' THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1890. Deduct, charged Receipts. to Special Fonds.. …. 8,193 6 7 Through Associations.. £146,771 6 10 Total Ordinary……. '" .. £207,029 4 5 Direct to the Society, including Special Funds…………….. 17,556 8 1 Legacies23,862 7 9……… . 56,046 4 8 Disabled Missionaries' Funds 1,646 10 ..
Rent and Interest …………. 4,05215 9 Total Ordinary….. ……. £208,516 17 10 Total Payments……….. £224,585 12 6 Special Funds… …………. 51,765 13 7 Balance carried to Contin- 35,696 18 11 Total Receipts…………. £26a,282 11 5 gency Fund: OrdinaryRe- Expenditures. ForMissions…..£I82,845 3 2 ceipts……… £1,487 13 5 Disabled M i s- Special Funds.. 34,209 5 6 sionaries, etc.. 7,941 3 3 —– Total…… ……………. £260,282 11 I:>
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
STATISTICS.
Natives, Eurasians, Missionaries, etc, ~ ~ ~..$.~; , g i 'I 3 __________________I§~ ~ ~ i~ ~ h ~ ~j~;. ~ _~_~_§__~_~____ ~ ~ @ ~ Africa ……………. ,…………. 5 59 30 17 15 48 293 9,826 445 108 8,8U Egypt, Arabia, Palestine and Persia.. 3 13 16 6 9 9 107 597 4 50 2,575 India…………… …… ………… 8 96 128 14 15 144 2150 26,942 1,577 1191 47,184 21 Ceylon.,……………… ………… 1 14 18…. 2 15 446 2,363 172 229 11,345 Mauritius…… …… .. …. .. . …. . 1 7 81 3 51 542 108 25 1,562 S!~':t~:::: .. ·:::::.~:::::::::::::::·::: ~ ~ 171 …. 19 1~ ~ 2,~~ .~ Iii 2,~ 1 38 151 2 27 378 2,631 5 1 18 2Q 65 2,455 109 58 1,424 3.835149;016 3,llo i700 ,= 59 286 75:"'581 New Zealand ……… ".. N. W, America and North Pacific .. " 6 55 321 4"..
-~L====·.~: ;iii 3t5 "286152 VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Africa-It is said that the annexations of Their professed object is to convert the Afri- Great Britain in Africa amount to over cans to their faith; and their modus oper- 2,000,000 squa.re miles, "Spheres of influ- andi is to civilize them first, and then to make ence" they are termed, not annexations. We Trappists of them. Their largest monastery care not what they are called; we are glad is at l'IIarianhill, in Natal. At present it con- to know that under the flag of Great Britain tains 170 monks, and in a convent, half a mile the slave trade cannot live. Under that flag, away, are 135 nuns. There are 300 native boys the Bible may be printed and scattered with· and girls under tuition, and the knowledge im- out "let or hindrance," Under that flag, parted is almost entirely industrial. The rear- missionaries of the cross will be safe, and can ing of bees is one of the important industries, go about their work unmolested, Ambitious Papers are published in four languages. They and grasping England, men may call her, but have a church capable of holding 2,000 people, she carries into her colonies, all over the world, the light of civilization, to brighten -Harvest Field. the faces of their ignorant and degraded. -The grant of an immense territory -Rapid progress all along the line is being along tbe Zambesi river has been made to the made in the opening up of the new world of Duke of Fife and some English colleagues, Central Africa. Europe has 'such vast re- The region embraces nearly 300,000 .square sources of power and wealth to bring to bear miles and is very rich both in soil and mines, on the enterprise that the rate at which civili- The company has power to abolish slavery zation is advancing on barbarism is surpris- and restrict the liquor traffic in its domains, ing. and missionary work will be as free there as in India. -To explore Central Africa.-The Siecle says that a French expedition to explore Cen· – The Portuguese have released the British tral Africa is being organized. It will be African Lakes Company's steamer, which divided into three sections, which will start was seized by Lieutenant Continho, Thecrew simultaneously from Algeria and the Niger of the steamer have also been released, and Congo rivers, and converge at Lake Tchad, -The Roman Catholic missions at Uganda will be strengthened by a new party of priests, -The Universities' Mission in Central who were ordained in the cathedral of Car· Africa employs seventy Europeans at four thage, June 29th, According to Roman Cathoprincipal centres in Africa and on Lake Nyassa, where a church steamer is maintained, lic usage, the feet of these 20 "messengers of Bishop Smithers is the leader of this mission, which extends over 25,000 square miles, peace" were devoutly kissed by all priests present, including high dignitaries. Cardinal -The Trappists, an order of Jesuits, have Lavigerie even kissed the feet of two black lately begun work in South Africa on a large surgeons, formerly slave·boys, purchased by scale, In Natal they have an estate of 2Q,OOO white monks on the Nile. acres, and in Griqualand of 500,000 acres, Belgium.-The Government has voted a loan of $5,000,000 to the Congo Free State. The expense of the founding of this State, and introduction into-the-familyof nations, has been Catholic Church has moved against the here- borne chiefly by the king, at an expense of tic, and suppressed his services by the power $~,OOO to $300,000 a year_ In return for this of the civil law. During the present year Diaz grant, King Leopold makes Belgium the heir, and his helpers have been arrested,sent to jail, ten years hence, of his African possessions, and harassed in all possible ways. Diaz is ont which it is believed will one day prove a great on bail, but the courts hesitate and keep him source of revenue_ and his friends in suspense. The intervention of the American Government has been in- -Pastor Anet's Christian Missionary voked. Church of Belgium, added to its members last year 500 converts from Romanism and infidel- England.-The report of the Bible Car- ity. It employs 4 evangelists, 7 Bible-readers, riage Mission in England, shows tbat this so- ,and 5 colporteurs. ciety is doing an important work in the rural parts of the country. Over 49,000 Bibles and Canada.-The Presbyterian Church in Testaments, and about 367,000 books, tracts, -canada has, in all, 326 distinct fields of home etc., were circulated in 270 villages and towns. mission work, and 990 preaching places. The In these places the Gospel was preached, number of missionaries employed last year with many conversions as the result. was 329, of whom 121 were ordained ministers and liceL. iates,and 208 students an.d catechists. -Another new missionary band of special 'The average Sabbath attendance at all the interest is about to go forth in connection stations was 43,065, the number of families with the Church Missionary Society. Rev. Bar- connected with them, 11,701, and of communi- clay F. Buxton, son of Mr. T. Fowell Buxton, cants, 13,907. The progress made in the Pres- has offered to go to Japan with a smaIl party bytery of Manitoba may be given as a speci- of missionaries, undertaking both the direction men of the result.q. It was formed 19 years and entire charges himself. Mr. Barclay is an ago. Winnipeg had tben a popUlation of 421, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge. It is pro- now it has 22,892. Manitoba had then 19,000, posed that Mr. Buxton's party should occupy now it has 150,000. Then Presbyterianism stood the town and district of Matsupe, an import- third relative to other denominations, now it ant place at the west end of the maIn island heads the list. In meeting the expenses in- of Japan. volved in this vast home mission undertaking, the church acknowledges grants from the ~Mra. Hannington, widow of Bishop Han- Presbyterian Church of Ireland, the Church nington, who was murdered in 1885, near <>f Scotland and the Free Church. Uganda, conducts a weekly missionary prayer meeting, in Brighton. -The Toronto medical students' Y. M. C. A., which has 179 members, has just sent one France.-Cardinal Lavigerie opened the <>f their number, Dr. Hardie and his wife, as a Anti-Slavery Congress, in Paris, with an admissionary to Korea, and have agreed to sup- dress, in the Church of St. SuIpice. He highly port him"for a period of at least eight years." praised the enthusiasm of England in the anti- His destination is "Fusan, where he is to co- slavery work, although it was headed by <>perate with Mr. Gale, of University College Catholics. He said he, did not desire the im-, Y. M. C. A." $1,800 is requisite for outfit and mediate abolition of slavery, as that would support for the first year. entail starvation of slaves, but that man-hunt- ing must be immediately suppressed. China.-TheChina Inland Mission hasestablished in China, 16 opium refuges, 3 hospi- Germany.-According to Bisho» Warren tals, and 5 dispensaries. The churches num- the members of the Methodist Church in Gerber 66 and chapels 110. many average, in their contributions, $4.40 per member annually, while the largest incomes -Dr Douthwaite, of the China Inland Mis- among them do not exceed $1.25 per day." sion, Che-Foo, says, that in the late famine district in Shan·Tung, there are now over a. India.-Some of our missionaries in India thousand applicants for baptism. have been caIled on to stand at the bar of the civil courts. Rev. J. J. Lucas and Rev. -The government has indemnified the Henry Forman were summoned before the Presbyterian Board to tbe extent of over a High Court in Allahabad, to answer for the thousand dollars for property destroyed by a baptism of a youth of eighteen, who had promob, in 1885, in the province of Kwong-Sai, fessed to be a convert to Christianity, and China. It has taken our United States lIIin- who had acted throughout of his own free ister a long while to securethis justreimhurse- will, and with intelligent comprehension of ment, but the final action is encouraging, in what his act meant. The judge was a Mothat it recognizes the right of foreigners to hammedan, but so clearly arrayed before him hold property in interior cities. were the facts in the case, and so explicit was the law, that the decision rendered was Cuba.-The Rev. A. J. Diaz, an evangelist that the missionaries had violated no law of her Majesty's empire, and the yonng convert <>f the Southern Baptists, in the Island of was his own master in religious affairs and Cuba, has been wonderfully successful in at liberty to dwell and worship where he preaching and organizing churches. He is a pleased. The case was regarded as an Ironative of Cuba, and preaches with great ease and freedom in his own tongue. The Roman portant one, and the judgment rendered years that the Chinese have been able makes the work of evangelizing the youth of to plant themselves in the country he India much easier and less dangerous. traveled through, so hostile have the na- tives always shown themselves, It is said -The Woman's Christian Temperance that in Thibet nearly every crime is pun- Union of Singapore has organized 'a mission ished by the imposition of a fine, and tha~ for the benefit of European sailors that visit murder is by no means an expensive luxury. tht.t port. This, of course, greatly increases the danger of travel in that remarkable land. Ireland.-The Irish Church Mission So- <:iety seeks to give a pllre gospel to the Irish United States.-The Presbyterian Wo- Roman Catholics. A good work has been done man's Mission Society received for last year through this instrumentality. Fresh impetus $337,842. The society was able to support the has been given to it by the munificent be- following missions: Indians:–ll3 schools, 164 ,quest of $150,000 by Mrs. Susan Hopper. teachers, 2,264 pupils. Mormons:–37 schools, 99 teachers, 2,374 pupils. Mexicans :-32 Korea.-A missionary, Mr. Appenzeller, schools, 67 teachers, 1,627 pupils. South:-16 in the Fndependent, says, that when mission schools, 48 teachers, 1,213 pupils. Total. 118 work began in Korea, the missionaries pre- schools, 361 teachers, 7,47'8 pupils.-Mid·Consented a Bible to the king. The prime minis- tinent. ter took the Bible to the palace, showed it to the king, and then, with the klng's approval, -The Universalists, after an existence of tore it in pieces. Years afterwards, a Ken- more than a hundred years, send out their tucky man presented the Korean minister at first missionary. Washington with a bottle of the best Bourbon whiskey for the king. This was accepted. -The Annual Report of the International 'Then the Christians of Kentuckyresolved to Medical Missionary Society, shows that 7,356 show the king, at as early a period as possible, new cases of disease and injury were treated that the country produced something better during the past Society's year; 14,717 attendthan whiskey. Recently they sent, through ances were given at the dispensaries, of which the Korean minister, three Bibles, one for the there are 7 in New York and 2 in Brooklyn; king, one for the prime minister, and one for 1,641 visits were paid to the sick in their own the foreign secretary. The present has been homes. DuriIig the eight and a half years of 4Ccepted. the Society's existence, over 32,000 cases were treated, about 70,000 attendances were given -Roman Catholic missionaI'ies have at dispensaries, and over 14;000 visits were been in Korea 200 years, yet have never Is- made to sick at their homes. This Society sued the Bible In the native language. They co·operates with all existing Christian agenhave translated the New Testament but have cies, as far as possible, and establishes medinot put it into print, and the only copies, cal missions at Gospel missions, or mission made by hand, cost from $10 to $20 each. churches, wherever practicable. The presi- dent is Boudinot C. Atterbury, M. D.; the -Sad News.-Dr. John W. Heron, Medi- treasurer, Cleveland H. Dodge, Esq., No. 11 <ml Missionary of the Presbyterian Board in Cliff Street; and the medical director, George Seoul, is dead. He died of dysentery. The D. Dowkoutt, M. D., 118 East 45th Street, New loss is great, 'for he was Superintendent of the York City. The Society deserves the liberal Royal Hospital in the capital, and had won the support of Christian people. {lonfidence of the King. His infiuence in the foreign comniunity and in Seoul was also -The receipts of the American Board for very great. the year ending Septemb"r 1st, are $617,723. This amount is $69,025 in excess of last year. .of-Moravian Missions.-The latest statistics Of this increase $22,876 is from donations, the our missions show an increase over last balance is from legacies. During the year 64 year of 620 communicants and of 1457 In the new mission aries have been appointed. 22 of total membership of our congregations in the whom are men: 54 of. these new recruits have foreign fields. The number under the direct already been sent to the field. This number care of our missionaries DOW amounts to 87,263, is in excess of any year since 1837.-The Adand of these 30,591 are enjoying the full privi- vance. leges of communicant membership. These are solid figures, and we thank God for the un- -Secretary Ellinwood of the Presbyterian mistakable token of His blessing on our work Board of Foreign Missions writes, that the in Asia, Africa, America and Australia.- new value put upon silver has so affected ex- Periodical Accotlnts. change in all the foreign countries where silver is the chief medium, that the purchasing power Thibet.-Mr. W. Woodville Rockhill, of the Board's appropriations is diminished formerly of the American Diplomatic Service, from 15 to 20 per cent., and the rate of exhas recently returned from a long and peril- change is constantly fluctuating. A heavy, <>us journey through Thibet, the unknown needless tax is thus laid upon the missionary heart' of Asia. For 700 hundred miles he cause for the benefit of a few silver kings. passed through a country where no white man had ever set foot, journeying, of course, in disguise. It is only within the last few
INDEX OF CONTENTS OF THE NOVEMBER NUMBER
INDEX OF CONTENTS NOVEMBER NUMBER.
PAGE PAGE I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS••••••• 801–842 plore Central Africa, 877; Universities' IT.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLI- Mission, 877; the Trappists, 877; Roman Catholic Missions in Uganda ………… 877 GENCE•• – …………….. _…. 842–850 IIT.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE… 85O-S54 BELGIUM.-Loan to the Congo Free IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT ••• 854-862 States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877 V.-MONTHLY CONOERT OF MISSIONS 862–867 BRAZIL.-Political Changes, American VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT Missions, etc., 862; Other South Ameri- can MiSSions, Brussels Anti-Slavery Con- TOPICS …… _……………. 867-873 gress……………………………… 86(t vn.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK BURMAH AND SIAM.-"A Thousand AND STATISTICS. .. ……..–873-877 Miles on an Elephant. " …………….. 842 VIIT.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS; MONTH- CANADA.-Presbyterian Church, 878; LY BULLETIN ……………… 877-879 Toronto Medical Students' Y. M. C. A… 878 IX.-INDEX TO CONTENTS. .••••• •• • ••• 880 CHINA.-A Great Evangelizing Agency, 845; Inland Mission, 878; Presbyterian Authors. Board Indemnified …………….. : …. 878 EDITORS.-A. T. Pierson. The Miracles ENGLAND.-Flowof Converts to the of Missions; The Wonderful Story of Church of Rome……. .. . … .. …… 846 Madagascar, 808; Editorial Notes. J. M. Sherwood, Book Notices, 841; Editorial FRANCE.-Anti-sla.very Congress …… 878 Notes …………………………….. 871 GERMANY.-Generous Giving………. 878 HAWA H.-Rev.W. A. Essery's Address Blackie, William G., D.D., "Personal Life of David Livingstone, " noticed………. 842 on the Victory of the Gospel ………… 846 Brockett, r,. P., M.D., Education and INDIA.-Lunn's Work; "A Friend of Missions in India," 841; Poverty of the E.vangelization…………………….. 850 Clark. Miss Helen F., The Congo Missions, 826 People, 846; Missionaries in Court. 878 Ellinwood, F. F., D.D.• The Duty of Chris- IRELAl'U>.-Irish Church Mission So- tendom to.the Jews, 801; Brazil and its ciety ……………………………. 879 Missions. Other South American Mis- sions………… _._ ……………….. 860 JAPAN.-The New Constitutional Gov- Gracey, J. T., D.D., International Depart- ernment, 846; Appeal from Ba.ptist Mis- ment …………………………….. 851 sionaries. ……………………….. '" 847 Guinness, Mrs. H. Grattan, "New World of Central Africa," noticed…•…. __ .. 841 JEWS.-The Duty of Christendom to …. 801 Haig, Mrs. F. T.,"Daybreak in North Afri- ca," noticed…. …….. …………… 841 KOREA.-The gift of a Bible to the King, Hallett, Holt S • "A Thousand Miles on an 879; Roman Catholic Missionaries, 879; Elephant," noticed……….. .. .. . •. 842 Moravian Missions ………………… 879 Herrick, George F., D.D., The Kingdom of God in the Land of its Origin…….. 854 MADAGASCAR.-TheWonderful Story Hunt, Life of John; Missionary to Fiji, of its Evangelization, 808; Letter from noticed ……….. _…………………. 842 Rev. James B. Mackay…. .. …. . 850 Lunn, Rev. Henry S., "A Friend of Mis- sions in India, " noticed ………… "…… 841 Moravian Missions in Surinam………… 867 Moorhead, Max Wood, Student Volunteer Moravians not Lutherans……………… 853 Movement ………………… …….. 842 Pitzer, A. W., D.D., The Inheritance of PALESTINE.-An Awakening of Life Nations Allotted of God….. ………… 820 and Energy………. .. …… 847 Schweinitz, Rev. Paul de, The Romance of Goedverwacht ………………….. 833 South American Missions ……. _…….. 866 Starbuck, Rev. Chas. C., Translations from Foreign Missionary Periodicals………. 836 Turkish Empire, Dr. Herrick's Graphic West, Maria A.. Hidden Springs, or How Sketch of its Present Condition .. _. . . .. 854- Missionaries are Made.. .. .. … . . . . .. …. 835 THIBET.-A perilous journey………. 879 Countries and Subjects. UNITED STATES.-The Silver Law's AFRICA.-The Congo Missions, 826; Effect on Missions, 848;.Farewell Meeting New World of Central Africa, 841; of Missionaries in Boston, 849; Presby- Daybreak in North Africa, 841; Dr. terian Woman's Missionary Society, 879; Blackie's Life of Livingstone, 842; Mwan- Report of International'Medical Mission- ga Stripred of Despotic Power, 844; ary Society, 879; Receipts American Editoria Notes on Uganda, 845; Zanzi- Board ………………………. _…. 879· bar, 84.5; The Slave Traffic, 861; Fire- arn1S, 862; The Liquor Traffic, 861; Great Statistics of Foreign Missions. Britain. Sphere of inlluence, 877; to ex- American :r.larathi Mission, 873; American Madura Mission, South India, 874; Amer- ican Free Baptist Mission, South Ben· gal, 874; Canada Baptist TeJugn Mis- sion, 874; Malayam Mission of L. M. S., Basel G. E. M. S., Southwestern India, 874; Mackay Mission Hospital, Formosa, 874; M. E. Church (North) N. China Missions, 874; American Presbyterian (North) Mission in Canton. China., 875; B. F. Missions of Presbyterian Church (South) Report for 1889-90, 874; Ameri- can Baptist Missionary Union, 876; Church Missionary Society…… • … 876·
The Missionary Review of the World — April 1890
THE CHRISTIAN DAWN IN KOREA
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF TilE WORLD.
VOL. XIll. No.4.-0ld Series.—APRIL.-VOL. m No.4.-NetO Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE CHRISTIAN DAWN IN KOREA.
M., BY REV. JOHN ROSS, A. MOUKDEN, MANCHURIA.
[In sending me this paper from London, Dr. Pierson writes: "Mr. Ross gave this thrilling account in my hearing, and at my solicitation he wrote it out for our REVIEW. It is a wonderful story of the opening of Korea to the gospel, by one who had a most prominent place in it, and it belongs among the archives of missions."-J. M. S.].
In the autumn of 1873, after a journey of seven days eastward from the port of Newchwang, in Manchuria, I arrived at the" Korean Gate." The village of this name was a long, straggling one, form- ing then the most easterly outpost of Manchuria, towards Korea. Its name was derived from the fact that it was the only place where Ko- rean merchants could exchange the product of their country for other merchandise bought of Chinese. To me the most interesting of much that was novel was the appearance of the Koreans themselves, as they quietly sauntered over the green hillsides, or their long, loose, white robes crowded the streets where they moved slowly along. With the purpose of ascertaining as much about themselves and their country as possible, I permitted them the most perfect freedom in entering my room at the inn. They began to drop in at 8 A. M., and desisted onlyat 10 P. M., when they retired to rest. Naturally curious to see the- "foreigner," , and to learn what they could about western countries~ their questions were endless. But in return for my abundant infor- mation to them, I got none. They insi!l.ted that the language they spoke to each other was Chinese-they wrote only Chinese. In re- sponse to questions put to numerous groups for several days in suc- cession, my knowledge of their laws, social customs, family life, na- tional institutions, and even the products and physical character of their country, was exactly what I had before. It subsequently trans- spired that I was taken for a spy sent to investigate as much about th~ country and people as possible, in order to utilize the information in some way not to their advantage. Disappointed at failing to se- cure on any terms a man, however poor and ignorant, who would in- struct me in their language, I returned to N ewchwang; but a keener interest in the people led me to revisit the" Gate" the following year, when I was more fortunate. The Koreans divide themselves into three classes: The" upper," composed of officials, and the descendants of such; the" middle," consisting of merchants, and others able to hire labor; and the "lower," embracing all who are employed in any form of manual work. And, as the dignity of labor has yet to be learned in that country, the middle and upper classes never apply themselves to any handicraft. One of the merch'ant class embarked the value of his worldly goods in a boat across the migpty Yaloo to go to the" Korean Gate." A strong southwest wind blew up the river, and the waves rose high. The storm-beaten boat was upset, and the goods precipitated to the bottom. The owner landed safely up the river; but soon found himself a " ruined" man. " He could not dig; to beg he was ashamed." In his sorry plight he came across the servant who had been sent amo'ng the Koreans to hire a teacher. One evening he came with the others, and waiting about half a minute after the others had departed, he engaged himself to be my teacher; then hastily urging me to take no further notice of him than of a stranger, he hurried away. and overtook the others before they had entered their inn. He came and went for the next week like any other stranger; but the night before my departure he again staid after his fellow countrymen had departed just long enough to tell me that he would remain with his fellow lodgers till midnight, and when they were sound asleep would start westwards, travel all night, and in the early morning rest at an inn, where I could breakfast just before midday. It appeared afterwards that he had not informed even his own brother of his intention; and he gave me as the reason for his jealous secrecy that if it were known in his native country that he had gone to serve the" foreigner," all his relatives would be thrown into prison, and the principal men among them probably beheaded. The laws against intercourse with foreigners had always been stringent; but after the failure-first of the French, and then of the American Squadron, for lack of water-to force their way to the Korean capital, the Regent issued a still more severe law against any communication with Europeans. Hence the difficulty in obtaining information or service. The accident which upset the merchant's boat was the first of a series of interesting incidents, which have finally resulted in giving the New Testament, translated from the Revised Version, to the Korean people. The dissemination of the Scriptures and of Christian truth in tracts is all the more important to a people like the Koreans, even though their numbers should be only half of the thirty millions they claim, when we know that every woman in that country can, or in a day, may learn to read. The alphabet in which the language is written is phonetic, and so beautifully simple that anyone can easily and speedily master it.
Before the Korean New Testament was ready for the printer, it was deemed advisable carefully to prepare a gospel, which, with a simple tract briefly and intelligently setting forth Christian doctrine, might be first circulated among the people. The gospel according to Luke was selected. . In frequent translations and revisions, my colleague, Mr. MacIntyre, did excellent work on this gospel. After it was supposed to be sufficiently accurate, and after the printing press was set up, and Chinese printers initiated into its use, a Korean was required who could set the type. A Korean was then a rare sight; it was still more difficult to secure the services of one. But again help came through a providential accident. Korean medicine is held in high repute among the Chinese, and a glib-tongued quack soon makes money. There came one, however, who was the reverse of eloquent, and he could sell "gold" or "silver" pills only enough to barely cover his daily expenses. With the exhaustion of his stock (lame the end. of his resources. He could not pay his inn fare; he was still more unable to travel homewards. He came a beggar to the mission house, and gladly remained to work. Had there been any alternative this man. would not have been employed, for a more unpromising individual I have not encountered. His eye was sleepy, his fingers clumsy, his gait slow, his thoughts of the most sluggish. To understand any process, he required four times as much explanation as any ordinary man. He was just able to keep the two printers going, setting four pages of type while they threw off three thousand copies. But though slow he soon proved himself trustworthy, carrying out satisfactorily whatever he had to do. He had, in setting the type, necessarily to scrutinize closely the manuscript before him. He became interested, and in his broken Chinese began to ask of the printers, who were well-trained Christians, the meaning of this term and that statement. By the time the Gospel of Luke was printed, he became an applicant for baptism. Much to my surprise, he proved himself well acquainted with Christian truth, and in due course was baptized.
It appeared that even before Luke was published, the translation was revised abroad in the Korean capital, and caused so much interest that an occasional underling attached to the annual embassy, bearing tribute from the Korean King to the Emperor of China, dropped in to see the work. These visits gradually became more numerous, and among the young men was one the exact antipodes of the compositor. He was nimble-fingered, quick-eyed, and smart in speech, in thought, and action. He was engaged as compositor, and the other man set free to begin a work for which he seemed, on account of his acquired knowledge, better adapted. With a few hundred copies of the printed gospel and as many more large tracts, he was sent to his native valley, about four hundred miles directly east of Moukden. He spent a fortnight in the journey, and in half a year returned, reporting that he had sold the books, which were being read by the people with deep interest, and that some men wished me to go to baptize them. Believing that this last statement was merely intended to please me~ and made on the supposition that I would never face the arduous jour- ney implied in going there, I paid no attention to it. The man was sent, however, with a further supply of books to other valleys, and after the lapse of another half year he returned, repeating exactly the same story.
During the period of this book-distribution a revolution had broken out in the Korean capital, in which the Progressists, who< sought to open their country to western nations, worsted the official and literary men, who opposed any change. Many of the latter were killed~ more were cast into prison, and some, who were transported into the armies on the frontier, escaped across the Yaloo to Manchu- rian soil, where their lives were safe. A few of these found their way to the valleys which had been visited by the colporteur. They saw our books, and their curiosity was excited about the work going on in Moukden. Having nothing to do, they slowly wended their' way towards us. On presenting themselves, they mentioned the books they had seen, stating that many of the men were praying to> the" God of Heaven." This statement from men who were ignorant of the meaning of what they were saying, was such strong confirma- tion of the story of the colporteur that I resolved to investigate the matter on the spot, believing it too serious to be neglected. As soon as my colleague, Mr. Webster, was informed of my resolution, with his characteristic courage and enthusiasm, he volunteered to accompany me. It was then summer. The heavy rains of early autumn would soon fall, after which the considerable portion of the road~ which was boggy, would become impassable. Waiting till the keen frosts of our winter solidified bog and quagmire and made bridges. across our rivers, we started in the middle of November. After the first half of the journey was over, we were compelled to leave wheeled vehicles behind, and with a few indispensable articles on pack mules finish the other seven days' journey on our ponies. We were gradually ascending, till one afternoon we halted at an inn about 2,000 feet· above the sea. Two feet of snow lay on the ground, a pathway having been trodden down by preceding travelers. About 3 A.. M. next· morning, in brilliant moonlight, we set out to scale the two passes which lay between us and the Koreans. From the west fort of the one pass to the eastern base of the second was a distance of thirty miles. Once we tried to ride; but soon had to dismount, and made no second attempt, as the path was so steep, narrow and rough. With a halt on the top of the first pass, we had to walk the whole distance~ and thoroughly worn out we at last came in sight of a house, which to our delight proved to be a Chinese inn. Entering the gateway, and throwing our horses' reins to the nearest attendant, we moved into the inn, and threw ourselves on the brick bed, resolved to rest there till next day before searching out our Korean friends.
We were resting for but a few minutes when in marched a body of about a dozen Koreans, gentlemanly in appearence, garments, man- ner and speech. They came in to welcome us. This they did with a smile lighting up their faces, as though they had been welcoming long- lost and very dear friends. Being very hospitable, it would have been a disgrace to them had we remained in the inn, so, perforce, we had to go to be their guests. We were conducted into the home of the principal farmer, in whose guest-room we found a crowd of men nlling the warm, close room.
Of the refugees, on whose story we had undertaken the journey, €very man sooner or later became a convert, and was baptized. The oldest of them was the first. He was a hereditary official, and possessed of the Korean highest literary degree. Him we had brought with us to act as our intermediary, as from his degree, his birth and his social status, he was acknowledged superior, and could secure information beyond our reach. He was sent out in the evening to investigate the character of the Korean farmers. Late at night he returned, with a favorable report. Next morning we were therefore prepared to receive the applicants for baptism. About thirty men appeared, and the fact was noticeable that they were all well clad. None of the farm servants-no boy, and no woman-was among them. They were all farmers and heads of families. Their women and children were, they said, believers; but they thought the younger people would not be received, and their women, for social reasons, could not present themselves where the men were met. As this was the only opportunity for investigation, the examination through which the men had to go was pretty thorough. Some were baptized, and some postponed for further Christian instruction.
In the afternoon of the same day we rode to the other end of the valley, where we enacted the same scene. Next morning, in a falling shower of snow, we crossed a mountain ridge to the second valley, where we encountered the same experience. On the following day, over a higher and more picturesque range, we entered the third and most extensive valley. Nearly a hundred men, from 16 to 72 years of age, presented themselves for baptism. In the three valleys, 85 men were baptized, and far more postponed. We were here informed that the heavy snowfall might come. on at any time. This fall would prevent us for at least three months from returning to Moukden, and for various reasons it was impossible for us to venture that risk. We resolved, therefore, at that time to proceed no further, but to return to the same place again. Our resolution -was formed with the less reluctance, as the experiences of those baptized, and especially of those postponed, would be useful in spreading the knowledge among the other applicants, both of the amount of Christian instruction demanded and the kind of life required on the part of those who desired to become members of the Christian Church. We were informed-and from what we had seen we were now prepared to> believe almost anything-that in each of the 28 valleys which lay between us aud the long, white mountain 400 miles to the northeast, there was a larger or smaller number of believers waiting to be received into the Church.
Early in the following summer we revisited the valleys; but, though we found guides awaiting us to lead us to other valleys, we concluded it would be both unkind and unchristian on our part to proceed further then in the matter, for a serious persecution had broken out against the converts. The landlords were Chinese, and the Koreans were farmers. As we confined our visits and attention to the Koreans exclusively, the Chinese came to the not unnatural conclusion that a plot was being formed against their interests. To prevent further mischief they hired a "rabble of the baser sort," chiefly Korean farm servants, and arming them with swords and other weapons, set them upon those who had been prominently connected with the new movement. No man was killed, but many were slashed and wounded. The design was apparently not to kill, but to terrorize; and this was effectually done, for several men had to> abandon the houses they had built and the farms they had reclaimed. With the exception of doing a little to undo the erroneous suspicions of the Chinese, we proceeded no further then. But some men were baptized, who, persecution 01' no persecution, desired to enter the Church.
It was painful, on account of still more important work in Moukden, to have to refuse the frequently expressed and earnest wish that we should remain among them for at least half a year. Another opportunity for seeing the people has not recurred. But the work, by means of the colporteur, supported by Mr. Atkinson, of London, and another, who has since joined him, under the British and Foreign Bible Society, has not only retained its ground, but has widely extended its influence. So that on the Korean and Chinese sides of the Yaloo river, I am told that" there are thousands who daily read the Scripture, and pray to God."
THE FIRST KOREAN CONGREGATION.
One of the youngest of the refugees seemed to me to possess greater force of character, and a more fearless disposition than the others, while he was also a fair scholar. As he expressed a wish after baptism to return to the capital, whence he had fled for hIs life, to instruct his relatives and acquaintances, he was placed under special training for a time. When he was supposed sufficiently well informed to be able to meet the objections of the gainsayer, and to answer the questions of the inquirer, he was permitted to go to the Korean capi~ tal. As his class are all educated in Chinese, read and write only a high-class Chinese style, they contemptuously ignore the "vulgar" tongue, and will neither read nor write in that tongue. Giving'this fact its due weight this man was given a few books in Christian lit- erature, and a few portions of Scripture in that Chinese style.
Next year I had a letter from him requesting me to go to the capital, as 13 of his friends desired to be formed i.nto a congregation. It was impossible for me then to spare the long time implied in an over- land journey even if a European could obtain permission to enter the sealed nation. Next year another letter urged me to ,the city, as there were 79 believers. It was still impossible to go.
In due course Kf)rea opened four ports to foreign intercourse by treaty: First with Japan, then with the United States and various European nations. Our American Presbyterian brethren, forward in all mission work, sent to Korea one, and then other missionaries. In connection with the New Testament I went to the capital by sea, which made the journey both possible and easy, arriving on an evening which was to me of peculiar interest. My host, the Rev. Mr. Underwood, informed me that he was to go to his little chapel that night to organize his small company into a Presbyterian Church. Gladly accepting his kind invitation, I accompanied him and his medical colleague, when the darkness had fairly enmantled the city. Crossing the wide main streets, which, like all those eastern city streets, are unlit, we were guided by a Korean, with a small lantern, among narrow lanes till at last we were ushered into a small, open courtyard, whose gate was opened to our knock. A gentle tapping at a paper window secured our entry into a room, where we found a company of fourteen well dressed, intelligent-looking men. One of these was baptized that night, but the principal business was the election by the others of two men to be their elders. Two were unanimously elected, and the next Sabbath ordained.
It turned out that these two men were cousins of the man who had gone from Moukden. They were believers for six years, so that they must have beeu of the first company. It also transpired that thirteen of the fourteen baptized members forming the church were the converts either of that man or another, who had left Moukden subsequently. But what was most interesting to me was the assurance that there were over 300 men of that class in the city believers, who werefor various reasons not then quite prepared, publicly, to join the Church.
The man who was the human instrument in starting this remarkable movement was then away in another province, and frequent letters to his missionary notified him of similar work in that other prov-
LIFE AMONG THE KARENS
ince. It is needless to adduce other facts of a like nature to show how the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared in Korea, and is moving among that people in a manner justifying our expectations of a rich and speedy harvest. Nor is it possible here to give our reasons for believing that Korea will be one of the first eastern nations to become a Christian nation.
LIFE AMONG THE KARENS.
AN ADDRESS BY MRS. W. F. ARMSTRONG, OF BURMAH, AT EXETER HALL, LONDON, JUNE, 1888.
[The following narrative of life in Burmah impressed all who heard it as of the most thrilling interest. At the time, the editors sought to get possession of the manuscript, but have only just got a copy for our readers.-A. T. P.] The Karens are the hill tribes of Burmah. They were treated by the Burmese in former days with the greatest cruelty and injustice. Their crops and cattle were stolen, and they were caught and sold as slaves; so that they lived in constant terror. They hid themselves in the jungle on the mountain sides, concealing the paths to their bam- boo houses, and constantly moving from one place to another to avoid detection. They were content to live on the produce of their fields, and to weave their own clothing. Indeed, they were as much at home and as independent in the forest as the birds or the bees. Their religion was peculiar to themselves. They lived pure, honest, truthful lives, were unbounded in their hospitality, and had no idols. They made offerings to propitiate evil spirits whom they feared, but they had no symbols of them, nor did they worship images of any kind. They had no books, but they had carefully preserved legends-" grandfather's sayings," they called them-which were very carefully handed down from father to son. Their tradition told that they had once God's book, but they were disobedient to it, and their younger brother carried it away. Some day their white brother would come across the sea in a ship, and bring back the book which told of the Great Father and the life to come. They must watch for its coming. No wonder such a people should receive the Gospel when it came. No people have ever been discovered who were so prepared for it, and whose very prejudices were on its side. When missionaries came among them their old men said, " This is what our fathers told us of," and they flocked by hundreds to receive the Book they had waited for. Their simple faith took Christ at His word. They did not question, but believed and received His promise to everyone that believeth. The fruits of the Spirit were manifest in their lives. Now there are about 40,000 communicants, and fully 100,000 nominal Christians -about one-sixth of the entire tribe in Burmah. They are divided into many churches, each one supporting its own native pastor and its own village school. The first aim of the missionaries was to reduce the language to writing, and give them the Bible in their own iongue. Sinoe then many books have been published, so that they have quite a literature of their own. It is about sixty years sinoe the -first Karen was baptized, and now they are an eduoated people, ready io help in the evangelization of the world.
A marked charaoteristic of their piety is their enthusiasm in foreign -mission work. They have their Foreign Missionary Sooiety, and .send out their young men north and east to distant countries, support- ing them there, and re-enforcing them as the need arises. These have -established churches among those tribes, and done a grand evangel- istic work independent of other missionaries, in the face of persecu- -tion, and long separation from their homes, and from the privileges -<If Christian intercourse with those they love. These Karens are th3 ·only foreign missionaries in some regions north of Burmah. They are poor in this world's goods, but rich in faith. It is true of them as it -was of the Macedonian Christians, that "their deep poverty abounded -unto the riches of their liberality." When I was in charge of a miscSion statio;], there, an old Karen pastor came one day with ~ large ·contribution for the foreign mission work. I said to him, " How can your people give so much? I know they are very poor, the overflow -of the river has swept away your crops, your cattle are dying of dis- -ease, it is the famine time with you." "Ob," he said, with such a contented smile, " it only means rice without curry." They could live on ;rice and salt, but they could not live without giving the bread of life -;to their brethren.
A Karen girl has been associated with me more or less all through -my missionary life. She was brought to my notice when I first reached the cou!ltry, as the girl at the head of all her classes, the brightest- .and most promising in the mission school. After I had learned to :speak Karen, I was free to do evangelistic work wherever the door ;should open. I was unmistakably directed to Tavoy in the south of Burmah, near the mountain wall between Burmah and Siam. There were large numbers of Karens there without help. They had onceheard the Gospel, but for lack of mission schools among them, had no ieachers to educate their children, and few pastors to care for the -churches. Thither I was sent. Christians to be taught were everywhere around me, and the heathen, unreached as yet, lay beyond the mountains in Siam. Who was to go with me? The old Karen pastor, ·of whom I have spoken, and others like him, said, " vVe will pay all the expenses of two native pastors for six months, and we will also :pay for whichever of our teachers in the girl's school is willing to go with you." The men were to return to their families at the end of six months, but her teacher was to remain with me, unless she too wished io return. On our way when we had reached Rangoon, the girl so favorably known when I learned Karen, came to me and said, "Mama, my school work is done, and I want to work for Jesus; there are many who love Him here who can tell the story, but in Tavoy there is. no one to teach, no one to tell the heathen of Christ; my heart is longiug to go there; will you take me?" I said, "Nan-Nan, I have no money for you, the Bassim Karens pay the expenses of those they send; I have faith for my portion, but I have not asked for any money from home for this work. I dare not promise anything out of my salary, for my plans will take every rupee of it." In my own mind I doubted if she realized what she was doing in leaving a comfortable home, and the pleasant society of educated people in the station at which she had grown up. I thought very likely she would grow tired of our· jungle life, and would be home-sick, and return in a short time to pleasanter surroundings. She did not say much, and I thought she was discouraged, but she came back again and said, " Mama, I cannot rest, I want to go with you. I have plenty of clothes, enough for· some years. If I come with you can you not give me rice?" " Oh," I said, "Nan-Nan you shall share my rice every day, but I can promise you nothing more." So the matter ended. Rather to my dismay, when I went on board the steamer, there was Nan-Nan with her basket of clothes, and quite as large a basket of books,-all her worldly possessions. She seemed to be not very sure of a welcome, but determined to go, and I concluded it must be of the Lord.
We reached Tavoy, renovated things as best we could in the disused mission house, and, as the Karens were all in their jungle homes far from town, we set off as !loon as possible to find them. But our hearts were burning to get at the heathen over the border, where no· one had gone to tell of Jesus. One missionary had passed rapidly through the country, and had told of the Karel}s there, but none had yet gone to give them the Gospel; and while our hands were free from other work, we wanted to take the message there, and see if there were any opening for establishing a native evangelist among· them.
It "'as Christmas morning when all preparations were concluded,. and we mounted our elephants and started away under the overhanging bamboos, glittering with dew, to cross the mountain ranges into Siam. That night we camped far away in the forest with very happy hearts. There is no joy in this world like foreign missionary joy.
After m:j.ny days of travel, we reached the Karens on the other· side. We had engaged Siamese elephants returning home from Burmah, because no one else knew the route; and as the elephants were owned by Siamese Karens, they could take us to their villages. I have told you that the Karens are naturally a most hospitable people; wherever we went the chief of the village had a large covered veranda. built expressly to accommodate strangers. The villagers all brought a share of their food to the chief's houf>e, and he supplemented it out of his own store, and whoever came were village guests as long as. they choose to stay, and were served with the best they had. They treated us in the same way; we were all Karens. I was the only adopted child of the party, yet my party would not have gone without me.
As we proceeded farther into the heart of the country, we found among the Karen villages a most unaccountable unwillingness to receive us. It was contrary to all precedent among the Karens, and the Christians with me could not understand it. At last we came toa village where they absolutely refused to allow us to enter, or tohave any dealings with us, so we did as we were accustomed to do at other times-we camped under the trees just otltside the village. Karens and others from a distance gathered round our fires, and wepreached to them till we were all quite exhausted. It was twelve, and still they stayed; at last I told them we had to leave early in the· morning, and must have our rest, and reluctantly they departed, and we were left alone under the quiet stars. All night we were disturbed by a prowling in the woods around, and ~ad the strangest guard I ever had. The pariah dogs of the village all left their kennels, and came and curled themselves up beneath the bamboo platform on which the girls and I spread our rugs to sleep. Anyone whoknows anything of these dogs knows that they avoid you as much as rats would; but they slept beside us all night, and whenever the prowling was heard in the bushes they rushed out barking till it was· quiet again, and we could not drive them away. The next morning early we were on our way to a friendly village, where we were sure of a welcome, for it was Saturday, and we would rest there over the Sabbath. We got to the village about noon, and here again the old chief looked troubled at our coming. We took up our place on his veranda, thankful for the shelter, and told him we had come to stay a day or two. But I felt a great cloud drawing down over us. Shortly after we reached his house, the old man came and said wewere welcome to stay, but an urgent summons had come from another village which they dared not disobey; they must all go, but would be back in the morning. One by one we sawall the men pass away int() the forest, and we were left alone with two 01' three old women of the village.
The last thing the old chief did was to go out into the green around which the village was built, and open up a little lime kiln, in which they were burning limestone. The cloud of terror had been drawing down over me since noon, and when I saw the smoke rising from that, although I had no apparent reason for it, I felt it through and through me that it was meant for our grave; that the lime kiln was to be the hiding away of some great crime, and an undefinableand uncontrollable dread took possession of me. I called our party together, ahd told them what was in my mind, and asked if there was .any place to which we could flee. Our elephant driver had taken .away his elephant, and had told us where to send if we wanted him .again, so we were left quite alone then. I remember so well how Nan-Nan spoke; the men, of course, could not understand such fan- ,cies at all; but Nan-Nan spoke out: "Why mama, you have never been afraid when there was real danger, and now, when we are here among Karens, and there is nothing at all to fear, why are you .afraid? Where can we run? The forest is our enemy, here we are .safe. It is only that mama is very, very tired; when you rest you will be brave again!' I could say no more, so I told them we would bave our evening worship. We went out into the open green beside the lime kiln, and, as our custom was, the native pastor read the Bible, commented upon it, though we were alone, and the heathens, who usually gathered round us, were gone, and then they prayed. I :knelt quietly in an agony of prayer. I thought death was near, though there was no sign. My mother would never know what had become of me. The dear Christians at home would be discouraged in the work; they would think that God could care for men, but not for women. How could it be for His glory? And so I prayed, and wrestled in prayer for help; and help came.
I rose from my knees, sure that God would come to deliver us. We had scarcely risen when we saw the old chief coming back through the wood~; he came silently, and was going silently up into the nouse, when I said to him: "Grandfather, we are glad to see you back; we thought you would be away all night." He gave what I must call a Karen grunt, and went stolidly up the ladder. One by .one they were all coming back through the dusk. Soon the fires were lighted, and the rice was cooking; but there was a strange expectancy over it alL There is never anything to fear from Karens; there is no treachery, nothing but kindness to be expected from them, .especially towards their guests.
Dark had fallen on the forest when some elephants came tramping through the jungle, and stopped at the chief's door. There was a great noise of dismounting and tethering the elephants; then a group of men came up into the house, brushed past us, and went in to talk with the old chief. They were not Karens, and talked in a language we could not understand. We went to our rest, and about three in the morning I awoke, as the men went tramping past us over the vibrating bamboo floor ; they put their trappings on their elephants, and went away. We had a very quiet Sabbath, and then went preaching to the villagers along the path to meet our elephant driver, to whom we had sent word to come for us, I shall never forget that morning.
Now let me tell you what we did not know till more than two years afterwards, when a messenger came from this village, asking for a teacher to be sent to them, and saying that whoever came must. send word first, and they would send trusty men to meet him. Then we learned that a band of .Dacoits h.adfollowed us for a week. '.rhat. all the Karen villages had been warned that if they harbored us they would share our fate ; that this old chief had been told that if he stayed in his village, he must either help to kill us or be killed him- self ; that all the men had left the village in consequence; but the old chief had been so troubled in mind that he was constrained to come back again. That the Dacoits had come there, and, finding him there,. asked the reason. He had told them that he could not stay away, that many signs and auguries assured him that it would be the worse for anyone who touched us, that the English would discover it, and they could not escape. He was a wise man, or soothsayer, among them, and they tried several auguries, and they were all so alarming that the men reluctantly forebore to touch us, and they went away. When Nan-Nan heard this, she came to me with such an awed face,. and referring to my fear that day, she said: "Mama, you were right,. and we were wrong; but God took care of us, after all." The reason why I have told you this is that you may see that the age of miracles is not quite past. For, however we may think of this, to the heathen Karens in that district it was a miracle. Our elephant driver thought it so; he had left us with a grim thought of pity, but was unable to' help. When we sent for him again it was as though he heard a voice from the dead. The villagers all thought it so. When we talked to' them next morning we all noticed how pre-occupied they were ; they gazed on us with such a strange look, and scarcely seemed to hear what we said. They were glad that we were safe, and in their own quiet way, which I did not understand then, determined to keep us safe; they invited us to a village we had not heard of before, and hid us there for two or three days; they said their elephants must rest. Then, when I urged them to take us further on into the district, not knowing the danger, they said little, but allowed us to get on the ele· phants, thinking we were going in another direction, and then they turned the elephants tO'wards Burmah. When I expostulated with them, they said: "The cQuntry is dangerous; we will lose Qur ele· phants if we go further into Siam. We dare nQt take you there, but we will take you back." And sO' they did; not by the usual route, but they cut a new path through the forest, and made a long detour, lest the Dacoits, repenting of their mercy, might follow us again. We did not understand it then, but we did afterwards. I came home, feeling that we had accomplished little or nothing.
Twelve years passed away, and I was pennitted to go back to' Tavoy; only then I discovered that the elephant driver, his mother and his wife, had come over into Burmah, and were living among the Christians; they had been baptized many years, alid he was the
254 DR. PIERSON'S MISSIONARY CRUSADE IN SCOTLAND
-deacon of the village church. The old chief and his wife had been baptized, and had removed to another Karen village, where they lived :a most useful life, and died honored and revered by all the Christians. This much I know of the fruits of that trip, and there may be more to know hereafter.
When I went to India, Nan-Nan came to me again. "Mama, I want to go and tell the Telugus about Christ." This time myanswer was ready: "Nan-Nan, you want to go? I am only too glad to take you." So we studied Telugu together; but she outstripped me. She started a girls' school, teaching them in Telugu more efficiently than any of their own people could do in that district, on account of her previous training. She won many women and children to esteem the Gospel, was everywhel'e treated with respect, and was called by the same title as I was. She was in all respects ~a genuine Foreign Missionary. She is now living in Rangoon, where she is married to an educated, intelligent Karen, a, wealthy merchant. They both delight to give to missions, and to speak f01' their Master on every opportunity. She is secretary of the Karen Women's Foreign Missionary Society, which carries on its work just as our societies here do, and supports and sends out its own Bible women. Nan-Nan is only one .of many like-minded women among the Karens.
'l'hink it over, my sisters, and ask yourselves: "How does this compare with what I have done for my Master? Have I done all I could in the past? With the gracious Master's aid, can I do more in time to come ?"
DR. PIERSON'S MISSIONARY CRUSADE IN SCOTLAND.- LETTER II.
lIfy ])ear ])1'. Sherwooa: LONDON, J anIiary, 1890.
The interest here awakened on the subject of missions is like a kin- dling of light all around the horizon. Never in modern days have the past success and future progress of the world's evangelization ex- cited an interest so intelligent and general, as now.
Archdeacon Farrar, in Westminster, is giving addresses at Satur- day Afternoon Vespers, on Missions. We heard his half hour talk .on the" Success of Missions," on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 11. An audience of several hundred was gathered into the seated space about the choir, and the address was familiar and colloquial, and, though a few sentences savored of elaboration, it had the air of extemporiza- tion.
He began by intimating that there were some who audaciously in- timate that missions are either" an organized hypocrisy, or a disas- trous failure," which statement he met with indignant denial. As for ourselves, we thought any assault, so reekless and malicious, deserved no denial. As Lyman Beecher used to say, "that gun kicks so badly, it were better to be before it than behind it." The Archdeacon then proceeded to give two preliminary cautions: 1. If the success of missions seems slow, we must not forget the fact that all great religious transformations are gradual. He instanced England-for centuries under Christian influence before Augustine landed on its shores. 2. We must remember how feeble have been the efforts of the church, and how few the laborers she has sent forth into this world-field. He then proceeded to indicate, first, the indirect results. He affirmed that the gospel is now making more rapid stddes than ever, even in apostolic days. He quoted the late Bishop of Durham, Dr. Lightfoot, whom he pronounced the most learned prelate in the kingdom, as having said before the" Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," in 1873, that in the first three centuries, the Christian religion had subjected only onetwentieth of the Roman Empire, and only one- one hundred and fiftieth part of the race of man; whereas now, Christians constitute ()ne-:fij~hof the population of the globe. He remarked that in 80 'years the missionary Episcopate had risen from one to one hundred and fifty bishops, and the inferior clergy from twenty to two thousand, since this century began. He pronounced the Christian religion dominant in three of the great divisions of the world, and fast spreading in the fourth, and now penetrating the fifth.
Instancing particnlar countries and fields, he spoke of Sierra Leone; of the 100 tribes represented among that refuse population gathered from slave ships; of the death of 53 missionaries there in 20 years, giving the colony the unenviable name of the "White man's grave;" and then contrasted the subsequent transformed condition of the colony, and instanced Bishop Crowther, the slave boy, exchanged for a horse, and returned as a bad bargain, to be bartered again for rum and for tobacco, then attempting suicide, and afterward -converted, educated, and rising to the dignity 'of the mitre, etc.
lIe turned to Madagascar, and outlined the rapid development of these persecuted Malagasy-their martyrdom and heroism, the gathering of 100,000 children into the Mission schools of the London Missionary Society alone, the building of hundreds of churches, etc.
lIe referred to Japan-to the native nobleman who picked up a New Testament, found floating in the harbor of Yeddo, in 1854, who was curious to have it read and explained to him, and who, taken captive by its new truths, became the first convert. "Now," he said, " 35 years later there are 60 native churches." China also passed under his review, and the Fiji Islanders; the work of Samuel Marsden in New Zealand, then full of barbarous savages, now Christianized, and he concluded by a reference to India.
The address was popular, and we rejoiced to hear in Westminster .a prominent voice lifted to advocate world-wide missions. The effect could not be otherwise than both instructive and stimulating. Would that such an example might be emulated in all parts of the king– dom! We confess to no little surprise, however, to hear from such a· source so many careless, unguarded and inaccurate statements. The present income of the Church Missionary Society was referred to as· two millions of pounds sterling / ($10,000,000.) Would it were! The converts in India alone as reaching two million / Commodore· Perry was characterized as an "A.merican sailor." The Fiji group· was spoken of as an island, and that island as now having over 800" churches upon it, and "102,000 Christian converts." India was represented as having" one missionary" for every 250,000 natives, which makes the number of missionares 1,000, for he gave the population as· 250,000,000, and if so, one-third of all the missionary force is in India,. for the Archdeacon gave the entire number of missionaries in the entire field as but 3,000! He said there were now over seventy missionary' societies, which is far below the true figures, aHd that the Bible is· translated into 200 languages and dialects, which was true years ago~. and takes no account of the grand work of the last decade! Referring to China, he intimated that 'it was necessary to translate the· Bible into all its various spoken dialects, as though the written lan-· guage were not uniform throughout! These are but the flies, of course, in the ointment; but where such inaccuracies occur, and are detected, they awaken suspicion that the whole address is untrustworthy, and an audience having such men as Robert N. Cust, Esq., in it, knows something of the subject.
The recent letters of Stanley have been remarkable as tributes, both. to the providence of God and as to the character and reS1J.1ts of missionary labor. His letter of Oct. 15, 1889, written from Ugoga, contains some misapprehensions. It was not Mwanga, but Kiwewa,. his successor, who drove out the missionaries, or rather the Arab traders and their minions, who had obtained power in Uganda. Mr. Mackay is forty years old, instead of a little over thirty, etc. ; but. the main facts referred to in Stanley's letter have already been given to the public. And, as he says, Livingstone's great heart would have beat with joy could he have foreseen this powerful body of Christianain the heart of A.frica, who prefer exile for their faith to the serviceof a hostile and impious chief.
Prof. Max Muller recently (Jan. 11) gave~n address at the Royal Institution, in connection with the opening of the School for Oriental Languages, in which he significantly says: "The history of England's taking possession of India is more marvellousthan any story of the 'Arabian Nights,' and what is the most marvellous in it is the apparent absence of any plan or plot from beginning to end. No English statesman was ever so hare-brained as to conceive the plan of sending out an expedition for the conquest of India. But, though there was no plan or plot, nowhere in the whole history of the world is there a higher purpose more visible than in the advance of England towards the East. It was the innate vigor of the Saxon race, its strong political instincts, its thirst for work, its love of enterprise, its craving for progress, that drove its sons across the sea, and made them the founders of new empires in India and the colonies. There was no plan or plot; but read the history of the English Empire in India, and you will find that the readiness, the presence of mind, the self-reliance, the endurance, the heroic bravery in moments of supreme anguish of Englishmen and Englishwomen, and, taking it all in all, the political wisdom and moderation of the best of India's rulers and statesmen, would supply materials for a perfect epic, more wonderful than the ' Iliad' and ' Odyssey.' And, as in the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey' the old poet shows us, behind the human, heroes, the Greek gods fighting their battle, though unseen by mortal eye, the true historian also must try to discover, behind the conflicts of races and rulers in India, the working out of higher purposes, though at the time beyond the grasp of the human mind."
Who can study history, and not see God's plan in it all, and where more conspicuously than in laying hold of India, that centre and stronghold of Oriental idolatry, superstition and civilization, and then planting in it the English race, with its Protestant faith? Be- hold a great country, peculiarly central in the vast Asiatic Continent, with English roads, English laws, English courts, English postal system, and English schools, placed like an open field before the Church, to till for a gospel harvest. It took Britain 250 years to _ learn the secret purpose of God in permitting British occupation of the Indies; but we see it all now!
I have just received privately from my friend, Rev. E. F. Baldwin, our Editorial Correspondent at Mogador, Morocco, very inter~ esting information. Mr. Baldwin. and one of his missionaries, Mr-..
Richmond, were going from Mogador to Tangier, but the vessel faile<l to stop at Tangier, and, greatly to their disappointment, went on to.
Gibraltar. When Mr. Baldwin got there he found a very prominent man, who had been specially praying that he might see Mr. Baldwin, but who was so situated in Government service that he could not leave his own post, and here by a strange Providence Mr. Baldwin was brought to him, most unexpectedly. ~ Mr. Baldwin was, morever, anxious to go to Beyrut, Syria, to ar- range for the training of certain workers in Arabic, with reference to reaching the Mohammedans at large, who, whatever be their native tongue, may be reached through the sacred tongue of the Koran, and this very man at Gibraltar offered to transport, without cost, as far as Malta, Mr. Baldwin ana his companion. On arriving at Malta he took a steerage passage fOI' Syria, according to his principles; but the captain gave him a first-class stateroom, and invited him to sit at his o.wn table" so marvellously went the 1m'd before him. At Beyrut, eIght or nme days sufficed to accomplish all he had gone to secUl'f'.
He found only the most sympathetic reception from the American Educational and Medical Missionaries. Drs. Jessup, Post, Bliss and Dennis were most helpful and cordial. Mr. Baldwin was afforded every facility for presenting his proposed methods privately and publicly. He expounded his principles, according to :Matthew X., and his plan for sending out young men, pledged to work on these lines, to study Arabic in Syria, and then go, two by two, into Moslem lands, and with simple, inexpensive methods, in Apostolic fashion, preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. The missionaries in Syria seemed to hail the movement as full of promise. 'l'he sight of men coming among them to live simply, forsaking all things, to follow Christ, and preach the gospel, will, it is hoped, bl'ing forth much fruit in the professed Syrian converts. Mr. Baldwin believes that the result will be, that in future, Englishmen and Syrians will be found going, two by two, among Bedouins, dwellers on the Nile, in Arabia, and elsewhere. Dr. Post offers to superintend this part of the work, and believes the seven or eight million Bedouins will be found receptive of the gospel. Mr. Richmond, who went with Mr. Baldwin, remains in Syria for language study, hoping ultimately to work among the Bedouins, and Mr. Baldwin takes back with him a Syrian teacher for th~ Mogador missionaries.
Dr. Jessup offers to receive at Suk el Gharb, a Lebanon village, 3,000 feet high, where there is a large boarding-school for young men, all the workers Mr. Baldwin may send, at a nominal cost for board, say $35 a year, each worker having a room with a native family in the village, for the advantage of language practice. The prominent official, who met Mr. Baldwin at Gibraltar, is deeply interested in the whole work, and may even devote himself to it.
It is no strange matter if Mr. Baldwin, whose Southern Morocco Missi.on has now been successfully begun on the same lines as Hudson Taylor's China Inland work, should be greatly encouraged. A wide door is now opening fOl' scores and hundreds of young men to come out to Morocco and Syria, and study the Arabic in the Lebanon until grounded in the language, and then push forward into Moslem communities wherever God leads the way. It seems as though a new day had dawned for Syria and Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, Tripoli and Arabia. We chronicle these steps carefully, for this new South Morocco movement may have a most important bearing upon the whole future of missions, especially in Mohammedan lands. Mr. John Anderson, of Ardrossan, Scotland, is the secretary of the mission, and The Reaper is the official organ.
The two days, January 13th and 14th, were about the fullest days I ever spent. I went to Olney, Hackleton, Bedford, Elstow and Cardington. At Olney, after visiting Cowper's summer house and residence and Weston Underwood, where he afterwards lived with Mrs. Unwin, I drove over to Hackleton, seven miles off, and stood in the house where Wm. Carey lived, and in the very shop where he worked as a cobbler, and it made everything seem vivid, for there' was a man putting a sole on a boot! 'In Hackleton, Carey was converted, and in this shoe shop he began those pious meditations which .ended in his becoming the first missionary from England to India! Never have I felt more solomn than when I took off my hat in that place, and reflected on the great outcome of that "sanctified cobbler's" .conversion! A memorial chapel has been built at Hackleton, to Wil- liam Carey; but the old pulpit is still preserved there, from which he heard and afterwards preached the gospel. At Olney is the old Baptist Chapel, sacred alike to Sutcliff and Carey, where Carey became a member, and" exercised his gifts," preaching his first sermon in 1785. At Bedford, I addressed a meeting in the "Bunyan Rooms," attached to the Chapel, which stands on the very site of the original chapel of Bunyan, and where now Dr. John Brown, his accomplished biographer, preaches. Dr Brown and Dr. Samuel McFarlane, one of the pioneers at New Guinea, kindly assisted me in my search for the points -of interest thereabouts. We were shown the door of Bunyan's prison cell, preserved in the chapel; also his chair, cane, cabinet, will, pitcher, etc. Dr. McFarlane drove me to Elstow, to the cottage where Bunyan lived, and the quaint old chapel where he preached, .and the stone on the green around which he played, as well ,as to the parish church whose bell he rang, and where I looked on the old, de- .caying pulpit, from which he heard the sermon that turned the whole .course of his life. Then we drove to Cardington, near-by, and saw ,John Howard's house, and the cottages of his tenantry.
Here is the sacred soil of Britain, if allywhere. What lives flowed from these fountains! John Newton, William Cowper, John Howard, John Bunyan, William Carey, not to speak of J olln Sut- .cliff, and Thomas Scott, the Commentator. This day of events was .concluded by an address at Leicester, where Carey was in pastoral charge when the first action was taken by the Baptist Association towards the new Missionary Society, and Carey offered to embark for the Indies. Kettering is close by, where, in Widow Wallis' humble house, still standing, the room is shown, where, in 1792, the Mission- .ary Society was organized, and that first offering laid on God's altars. Surely this is missionary ground! Here, within the compass of sixty or seventy miles, the whole modern missionary movement found its ,cradle. It was in Paulersbury, near Northampton, that Carey was born; in Hackleton he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, and converted; in Olney he was baptized in the Ouse, and began to preach; at Moulton, in his humble shop, he conceived the idea of translating the Bible into the Hindu and other Oriental tongues; in Kettering he organized the great Baptist Missionary Society, and in Leicester .offered himself as its first representative abroad! Behold how great
FOREIGN MISSIONS IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES
a matter a little fire kindleth! Over the whole world to-day the missionary altars burn with coals largely brought from that altar first erected in the cobbler's shops at Hackleton and Moulton! How much interest may, in God's eyes, hang like a halo around some obscure cradle where to-day a future Carey may lie sleeping!
FOREIGN MISSIONS IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES.
BY REV. EDWARD STORROW, BRIGHTON, ENGLAND.
[Our readers may be interested in knowing that the venerable writer of thil' paper, after spending a long life in the mission field, in his l'(ltirement is using his pen in the production of books and magazine articles to help on the cause. Heis known in mission circles as a careful and highly intelligent writer.-J. M. S.]: Three causes withheld the sympathy and zeal of Protestants from. missions to the heathen prior to the present century. Their own internal weakness, their contention with the Papacy, and the evangelistic work that absorbed their zeal within their own territories and colonies.
It is difficult for us, who see the strength and consolidation of many Protestant denominations, as exhibited in their thousands of costly and spacious places of worship, their numerous organizations, their settled principles and policy, and the general prosperity, if not. wealth, of their adherents, to imagine how much of all this has come into existence within the past one hundred and fifty years. The Protestantism which existed as the result of the secession from Popery during the Sixteenth Century was as different from the Protestantism of the Nineteenth as the struggling, incipient vegeta- tion of March is from that of July. * Its energies were absorbed in consolidating and perpetuating the civil and religious heritage that had been so perilously won, and which was so incessantly threatened by sacerdotal craft like that of the Jesuits, and political force like that of Philip of Spain. Anyone familiar with the foreign and domestic plots and enterprises with which the Protestants of England were threatened for almost two, hundred years, and the theological literature of the times, which was so largely an argument, a. defence and a denunciation against the Papacy, will easily understand that they were as a garrison, hardly able to hold their own against open and secret attack on the part of a merciless, unscrupulous and powerful enemf' and therefore having no heart and little ability tosend a force far distant to wage an aggressive war.
And when any State, as England) Denmark or Holland, became • Those who are alanned at the supposed spread of Popery would do well to consider that at. the former period the three most powerful States were intensely Catholic-France, Austria and Spain: now the three most powerful and progressive are Protestant-England, Germany and the United States. France, Russia and Italy are politically classed with these, but the former is n-.t. Catholic, either in conviction or policy. as Rhe once was; tlJe second is as anti-Romanist as a.llY- Protestant State. and the last is Protestaut and liberal in policy and sentiment. strong enough to undertake distant enterprises, the duty of caring for the spiritual welfare of their own countrymen absorbed the resources (If all such as desired the extension of the kingdom of God. Missions then were colonial rather than foreign, and if the enormous diffi- <lUlties in the way be taken into account, the efforts of some conti- nental States and of the English Puritans, Episcopalians and Presbyterians to carry Christian truth and principle into the various plantations and colonies to which they resorted, will be acknowledged to be worthy of gratefnl recognition.
But it must be admitted that there was a general want of what is -expressed by the missionary spirit. The duty of preaching the gospel to the entire human race, its power as a regenerating and ,civilizing agency, quite apart from State and military intervention, and the actual moral, social and religious state of pagan races, were most imperfectly understood. And this apathy was derived from the Roman Catholic Church. The zeal which converted the Roman Empire, and then Northern and Western Europe, had long died down, so that for more than three centuries prior to the Reformation 110 earnest attempt was made to enlarge the boundaries of Christendom.
Popish missionary zeal, it is well to remember, had its origin with the Reformation. The loss of one-third of Europe awoke the pride and zeal of Rome to recover her influence by conquests elsewhere, and Spain in America and Portugal in Asia, with the fervid zeal of Loyola and Xavier and their disciples, were her ready and powerful agents for such an enterprise.
This reacted on the Protestants, for it must be admitted that much of the colonizing and proselytizing zeal was stimulated by the policy and practices of Roman Catholics rather than from pure apostolic missionary zeal. But true gold was there, though mixed with iron, and even clay, and beyond the admission of mixed motives, it is not necessary or advisable to proceed in an analysis of the proportion of each. The gold was there, and sometimes in unex- pected localities. Erasmus is an instance. No man of his time had a clearer conception of the dlJty of the Church of God toward the pagan world, or a more ardent desire that it should be discharged.
In his treatise" On the Art of Preaching" are passages which read like a modern missionary address. * "Everlasting God," he writes, "how much ground there is in the world where the seed of the gospel has never yet been sown. What, I ask, do we now possess (If Asia? In Africa, what have we! There are surely in those vast tracts barbarous and simple tribes who could easily be attracted to Christ if we sent men among them to sow the good seed.
I speak of nations who stray as sheep without a shepherd because they have never had any Christian teaching. Christ orders .. Dr. Smith's Short History of Chri-tian Missions, page 115. us to pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers, because the harvest is plenteous and the laborers are few. But some excuse themselves on the ground that they are ignorant of foreign languages. Shall princes have no difficulty in finding men who for the purposes of human diplomacy are well acquainted with various languages? Even Themistocles, the Athenian, in one year so mastered Persian that he could dispense with an interpreter in his intercourse with the king. And shall we not show the same zeal in so noble an enterprise." After combating with great skill and eloquence the objections that danger and want may hinder the missionary, and death come in some· violent form, he says: "Bestir yourselves then, ye heroic and illustrious leaders in the army of Christ. Address yourselves with fearless minds to such a glorious work. Do not make earthly gain your object, l?ut strive to enrich the heathen with spiritual treasures. Count it great gain if you save for the Redeemer souls snatched from the tyranny of Satan. !t is hard work I call you to, but it is the noblest and highest of all." Thus Erasmus wrote at the very beginning of the Sixteenth Century. His words were addressed to Christendom, irrespective of party, and their first practical outcome in the Catholic Church was when Xavier sailed for Goa in 1541 and began the first Jesuit mission.
The first Protestant missionary enterprise was conditioned by the critical and turbulent spirit of the age, and had a national and colonial as well as religious purpose. Emulating the enterprise of Spain and Portugal, France was wishful to gain possession of part of Brazil. The Admiral, Coligny, who perished in the massacre on Bartholomew's Day, in 1572, seeing in the enterprise a hope of relief from trouble for his Protestant co-religionists and a field for the propagation of Christianity, encouraged the enterprise, and sent in 1556 missionaries and ministers who had been selected by Calvin, who were joined by others. Numbers would have followed, thus seeking relief from persecution and "freedom to worship God," had not the governor of the colony, Admiral Villegaynon, who had invited su?h colonists, proved false. . Some of the leading Calvinists were hurled from a precipice, most of the others returned to France, and the Portuguese completed the ruin of the colony. As to missionary work in Villegaynon's island in the. bay of Rio Janeiro, there were native auxiliaries, and the Calvinists were instant in preaching so long as they were allowed, and there were frequent conversions. But soon the Indians fled from oppression into the forests of the mainland, where the Protestants joined them for a time. Six years after, Coligny tried a second Protestant colony under Ribaut at Charlesfort in Florida, and again at Caroline. There the settlers were first thinned by famine, then slaughtered by the Spaniards. Thus ignominiously ended the only attempt made by French Protestants to propagate their faith during the centuries under review. * It is interesting to reflect on what might have been the different issues to America and Christendom if the French Huguenots had succeeded in Brazil as the English Puritans did in a subsequent age in New England. Shortly after this, in 1559, Gustavus Vasa, of Sweden, sent ministers to attempt the conversion of his pagan subjects in Lapland. Schools were opened, books were translated, and some converts were baptized. The effort, though not very successful, was well sustained not only by the sovereigns and government, but by the people. It is gratifying evidence of this that in 1738 it was resolved that the whole of the Bible should be translated into Lapanese, and for this, schools and the mission generally, £60,000 were contributed. I The Dutch and Germans were most active in the propagation of Christianity throughout the East in the 17th and 18th Centuries, and this was largely owing to the influence of a small number of men, in whom there was an unusual combination of learning, piety and force of character. Grotius was one of the most eminent of these. He was in thorough sympathy with the Dutch in their endeavors to evangelize the people of their foreign possessions, encouraging ministers and schoolmasters to engage in the undertaking, and it is interesting to know that he wrote his celebrated treatise on "The Truth of the Christian Religion" as a text-book to be used by missionaries. Walleus, professor in the University of Leyden, was the first- 1612-to form a college for the training of missionaries, and his colleague, Hoornbeek, followed in the path of Grotius, by writing in 1659 his treatise "Summa Controversia cum Gentilibus, Judies Muhamidis et Papistis."
But no one equalled the Baron Von W elz in combined zeal, learning and practical endeavor. In 1664 he published two short treatises in German, called "A Christian and I.oyal Reminder to all Right Believing Christians of the Augsburg Confession regarding a Special Society, through which, with the Divine Help, our Evangelical Religion could be Extended," and "An Invitation for a Society of Jesus to Promote Christianity and the Conversion of Heathendom." In these he asks: "Is it right to keep the gospel to ourselves? Is it right that students of theology should be confined to home parishes? Is it right for Christians to spend so much on clothing, eating, drinking, and to take no thought to spread the gospel?" He urged/the importance of having a well appointed missionary college in every university, and then himself became a missionary. Laying aside his title, he was consecrated "an apostle to the heathen," and taking with him 36,000 marks, went to Dutch Guiana. He soon died, but surely such have high honor and unusual blessedness in a future life!
Later on we find the illustrious Leibnitz ,suggesting that German • Dr. Smith's History of Missions, page 119. Brown's History of Missions, Vol. I., Chap. I. missionaries should be sent to China by way of Russia, and so earnest in the design was he that when in 1700 the Berlin Academy of Sci- ences was founded he caused the design to be inserted in the statutes.
But now we come to record definite and practical efforts, and along with them the names of those who either at home or abroad rendered, in spite of prevalent indifference and immense difficulties, the most illustrious services to the great cause.
To the Dutch belongs the honor of being the first Protestant State to recognize the importance of seeking the spiritual good of their pagan subjects, although in a most defective manner, with inadequate a.gencies and disappointing results, as indeed might have been anticipated. As soon as they wrested Ceylon from the Portuguese in 1636 they established their form of Protestantism as the religion of the island, dispossessed the Roman Catholics of most of their churches, and attempted to Christainize Hindus and Buddhists by the most defective processes. All that was deemed necessary for baptism was ability to repeat the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, a morning and evening prayer, and a grace before and after meat. To induce a profession of Christianity it was ordained that no native should hold any situation under government, or even farm any land, unless he was baptized and subscribed to the Helvetic Confession of Faith. The apparent result was a large number of converts, the real one the most shameful hypocrisy and irreparable damage to true religion. At one time the converts were almost half a million, but after the British conquest of the island in 1795, when all political and civil temptations to profess Protestantism were withdrawn, more than four-fifths of the supposed converts relapsed into paganism. This is the more significant since the Dutch were zealous in establishing schools and circulating the Scriptures; but the primary causes of the ignominious failure were the essentially vicious incentives held out to induce a profession of Christianity and the great lack of true spiritual insight and motive on the part of the ministers of religion. Had they been earnest and competent a large amount of good might have resulted in spite of the defective policy.* Similar zeal, conjoined with analogous defects, characterized the Dutch elsewhere. After they had settled in Java, in 1619, means were adopted by the Government to bring the people to a profession of Christianity. So in Formosa in 1626; in Ambogua in 1647. In these, as well as in Sumatra, Celebes, and other islands, tens of thousands and even a hundred thousand converts were said to exist; but the work was usually superficial and formal, and such as it was even was allowed to languish.
We now come to the beginnings of Protestant effort in India. They are worthy of far more attention than usually they have • Sir Emmerson Tennant's HiStory of Christianity in Ceylon. received, if it were only to do justice to noble men, not adequately appreciated, of a different nationality to our own, for Danish and German Lutherans, with rare courage and zeal, labored for ninety years to evangelize India, before Carey or any other Englishman ,definitely entered on the immense and splendid sphere.
T~e Dutch were the pioneers. As early as 1630 there was a native Christian congregation at Pulicat, twenty-five miles north of Madras. It must have been of recent origin, but of its formation we have no record. It is, however, known that Baldens, one of the most evangelical and gifted of the ministers in Ceylon, went in 1660 to N egapatam on the Coromandel coast, to preach the gospel. He was followed by Nathaniel de Pape, who labored not unsuccessfully in the same locality. But to Frederic the Fourth of Denmark belongs the honor of commencing Indian missions with a definite purpose and in methods well considered and approved, as we shall see in the next issue of this REVIEW.
A very different yet most romantic and pathetic enterprise followed the one just mentioned, and from the same quarter. The Norwegian pastor, Hans Egedi, and his noble wife, after eleven years of repulse and discouragement, found their way to Greenland in 1721. Twelve years afterwards the two Moravians, Matthew and Christian Stach, settled in the same dreary region, and were followed a year after by two co-religionists. For fifteen years Egedi heroically persevered in spite of the climate, want, and the unbelief of the people. The two Stachs and their companions suffered even more. Sometimes they had no change of clothes; they lived in miserable huts; they had to toil hard to secure unpalatable food, and were often in peril. Such success as such a sphere could yield came, but yet more important even was the profound interest in missions generally their almost life- long sacrifice did so much to create. * .
Before passiug on to trace the manifestations of missionary zeal -on the part of Englishmen prior to the present century, a reference must be made to the Moravians, since no religious community has ever been more nniformly and intensely evangelistic, from the time when their great leader, Count Zinzendorf, saw at the court of Christian VI., in Copenhagen in 1731, two of the natives of Greenland who had been baptized by Hans Egedi, and learned from a negro that many slaves in the West Indies thirsted for Christian knowledge. In the following year, when their community did not exceed six hundred persons, most of them poor and distracted by recent exile, they sent two -of their number to St. Thomas, in the West Indies; in 1733 other two to Greenland, and in the short space of eight or nine years, others to Bt. Croix, Berbice, North America, Surinam, Lapland, Tartary, Guinea, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Island of Ceylon.
• Carne's Lives of Eminent Missionaries, Vol. I., p. 185,
BABYLON IS FALLING
Besides the immediate results of their widely extended and most. unselfish zeal must be placed the powerful effect of their example in exciting the missionary zeal of others and indicating the methods in which that zeal should act. Wesley and Whitfield owed much tothem. Their influence and example were powerful in the formation of the great missionary societies in England at the close of the last century and the beginning of this, and their efforts, in behalf of theaborigines of America and the slaves both of the West Indies and_ the United States, greatly stimulated the zeal of others.
(To be continued.) BABYLON IS FALLING.
BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, BELLEVUE, OHIO.
" Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day Stands tiptoe on the mountain tops."
In Utah, that-is. After a long and wearisome and hitherto discouraging struggle with theological, ethical, social and political evilscombined in the Mormon Church, these choice phrases of Juliet well set forth the current situation and the outlook for the future. It is a time, not indeed for peace, or even for truce, but for gladness and hope. '1'he last year was by far the best for substantial gains, and already 1890 has witnessed progress something such as was made by the armies of Grant and Sherman in 1864.
On the politico-judicial side, the beginning of good things dates from the passage of the Edmunds law some eight years since, by which, for the first time, it became possible to inflict fines and imprisonment upon polygamous law breakers. From that day to this the courts have been busy. More than a thousand in all have been tried and convicted, and the neatness and dispatch with which the " saints" can be landed in the penitentiary have become such that. last year the number. reached 357, an average of considerably more than one a day, Sundays excepted. They are a stubborn folk, and cases are strangely numerous where from prison they have retu~ned straight to their old practices, and have served out their term twice and even thrice: Now that President Harrison has summacily removed a reactionary chief-justice and reinstated Judge Zane, the Utah bench is composed of four men thoroughly able and determined to execute the law, with a fifth like-minded in Idaho. And never before has the Government been represented in Salt Lake by a class of officials at once so competent and so devoted to the performance of their duties, including the governor, secretary, marshal, district-attorney, and four out of five of the Edmunds commissioners.
In addition to inflicting judicial pains and penalties upon polygamists, the law of 1882 also disfranchised all the overmarried, some 15,000 in number, while an amendment included the entire female" voting population. But, even yet, the whole political power was in. church hands, and the o~d chiefs continued to dictate all nominations, and to fill all the offices with their favorites, and every office-holder had it for his business, first, last, and all the time, to do the bidding of his masters, the priesthood, and look out for the interests of the· Mormon "kingdom of heaven." But, fortunately, a few years ago, through mining activity, the advent of new railroads, and other causes, a business boom struck the territory, hitherto so forlorn in its business condition and so medieval in its business methods, and in particular into a few of the chief cities a large anti-Mormon element began to pour. As a result, at an election held last spring, Ogden, with a population of 15,000, was lost to the church, and every office was filled with such as know not Joseph Smith and the book of Mormon. Then la!!t August followed the territorial election,!tt which the Gentiles were able to seat eight men in thc legislature, three of them in the upper house, and further, to the astonishment of everybody, it was found that Salt Lake, a city of 35,000, the sacred Zion of all Mormondom, the headquarters of the theocracy, seat of the $2,000,000 temple, etc., etc., had been carried by the hated foe!! The blow was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. But all was not. lost, for from mayor to police every official was a faithful elder, and before the February municipal election the small Gentile majority might be wiped out. Almost immediately the campaign commenced,. and increased in activity and enthusiasm until the' supreme crisis came. Ward meetings, processions and illuminations were the order of the day. Never had Salt Lake, and seldom has any city, witnessed such a canvass, and when the votes were counted, behold, the uncircumcised had triumphed by more than 800!! And a great, glad shout went up from thousands of patriot and Christian hearts which had suffered much and waited long. Of course, the chalice commended thus to the lips of the haughty theocracy ruling by divine right, is. exceedingly bitter, and these sage-brush hierarchs will find it hard almost beyond expression to bend the neck. But it may confidently be predicted that Salt Lake will enter at once upon a period of material prosperity, and will hasten to take rank with Omaha, Denver, etc.
But much the worst (that is, the best) remains to be told. The courts have been making some recent rulings which go far beyond the limits yet touched by any Federal legislation, which threaten tocarry much further the disfranchisement of Mormons, and so open up a vista nothing less than appalling to the eye of the" saint." For' the future final and absolute overthrow and end of the political power of the Mormon Church are thereby revealed to light, aud if the hierarchy cannot carry the elections and maintain a solid vote, then this world is but a dreary waste, and life itself but vanity. As we have already seen, all polygamists were long since debarred from the polls. Next, for quite a period and increasingly, the Utah courts. had been exammmg more carefully into th,e fitness of Mormon emi- grants for American citizenship, and at length the practice was fixed .of refusing naturalization to all who were not outspoken in their repu- .diation of polygamy. And finally, last November, Judge Anderson took several days to make judicial investigation to· determine whether .a step much more radical was not demanded. And his decision was, that because of secret oaths taken by many, and also because the .church makes such claims and wields such power, is bitterly hostile to the Government, and teaches as a duty what the law of the land .denounces as a crime, therefore, no comer from the Old World, who .accepts the rule of the priesthood, is fit to become a citizen, and hence this fruitful source of supply for votes is forever closed.
Still further, and the very climax of latter-day woe: In Idaho, where some 30,000 Mormons dwell, two or three years since, weary .and disgusted with the continual and most outrageous political med- .dling and mischief-making of the Salt Lake church bosses, the Re- Fublicans and the Democrats combined and passed laws which pro- hibited the ballot to every member of the Mormon Church, as being a .disloyal and treasonable organization. Again, last summer framing .a constitution in preparation for Statehood, provisions to the same .sweeping effect were inserted, and this document is now before Congress. In the minds of not a few it was a question whether such heroic treatment would stand the test. For months the matter was under advisement in the Supreme Court, was fully argued, and Feb. 2, just one week before the Salt Lake election, by unanimous vote, the highest judicial tribunal in the land decided that the Idaho statute was good, sound, constitutional law. In due season Idaho will be- ·come a State, with that ironclad provision, and for every" saint" the daily alternative will be, give up polygamy and theocracy, or else be forever a political nonentity. And why should not Congress make haste to embody this decision in a statute, and so make it possible for the non-Mormons to carry and control the entire territory?
So far, as to the political situation in Utah, which nowhere else this side of Turkey and Persia is so inextricably blended with morals and religion. Upon the more strictly missionary side, progress is not so marked; but yet, here too the indications are encouraging. It is only within the last decade that the various denominations have undertaken in thorough earnest to fight this strange combination of folly .and fanaticism, superstition and depravity, with the double potency .of the gospel and the spelling book. But it has already come to this, that almost all the considerable towns are supplied with teacher and preacher, one or both, while the larger cities are fully furnished with all the instrumentalities required for ultimate redemption to civilization and Chl·istianity. Thus, in Salt Lake seven denominations have .churches and schools established; in all, twelve of the former and four-
UNoccupmD TERRITORY. 269>
teen of the latter, while in addition not less than eight of the public. schools' are fully in the hands of Gentiles, with several others to beadded in the near future. In the aggregate, in the territory are found upwards of 60 Christian ministers and upwards of 30 church organizations, most of them small, with 93 mission schools, 230 teachers, more than 8,000 pupils, with property worth $600,000. There is yet occasion for long and abundant prayer and giving and toil. The end is not, yet, but it will surely come ere long.
UNOCCUPIED TERRITORY.
BY A. P. HAPPER, D. D., PRES. CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, CANTON, CHINA.
The statement has been made in various publications that Thibet. is the only country to which the Christian missionary has not pene- trated. And now the agents of different mission societies are watch- ing about its borders seeking to break through its exclusive laws and regulations, and make known the gospel to the people within its bor- ders.
A few years ago great attention was directed to Korea, as the- country in which the gospel had not been preached, and many mis- sionaries from different Protestant societies have been sent there~ though the laws of the country still forbid the preaching of Christianity. But for fifty years before the interest and efforts of Protestants were directed to Korea, Roman Catholics had entered that country, and were secretly disseminating Romanism in that land, though exposed to persecution and death. It was considered by all Protestant mission associations that the presence of noman Catholic missionaries in the country did not preclude the sending of Protestant missionaries to that land. In other words, in general usage the Protestant missionary societies do not consider a country occupied by missionaries till some Protestant missionaries are laboring within its borders.
r.rhis being accepted as the Protestant view of the matter, thestatement that Thibet is the only country that is not occupied by Protestant missionaries, as made in many missionary papers, is not correct. There are some extended countries in which there is not Ii single Protestant misRionary laboring. I wish now to refer to two countries in which there are no Protestant workers, and to invite those who are looking for new districts in which to plant mission stations, to consider the claims of these lands, and the facilities and opportunities for engaging in missionary labor therein. Why should any wait around the borders of lands where the laws of the country exclude them when there are wide regions open to evangelistic labors?
The attention of the whole world has been more or less directed, for the last twenty years, to efforts of France to establish a great colonial system in the southeast part of Asia. 'fhis work has been ef- fected by successive steps. First, France took possession of Cam- bodia, the extreme southeast part of Asia, with a protectorate of An- nam. Subsequently the possession of Tonquin was sought for, which resulted in a war with China for its possession. Now France has possession of all three of the countries known on the old maps by the name of Cambodia, Annam and Tonquin. 'The territory is say 1,000 miles long and from 150 to 200 miles broad, and has some 175,000 square miles. The whole territory is a tropical land of great fertility of soil and of great mineral wealth. It has an estimated population of from 10,000,000 to 15,000,000, some placing the popula- tion as high as twenty millions.
The French Government is establishing its rule over the whole territory-establishing order and peace and safety of perRon and prop- erty. There are two seats of authority: Saigon in the south, and Haiphong in the north, i. e., in Tonquin. The hope and purpose of France is to make it the counterpart of British India. It is no part ()f this paper to refer to how the French Government came in posses- 8ion of this very important part of Asia; but to call the attention of the Protestant churches to the fact that an European power has possession of a vast territory in southeast Asia, where it is establishing a stable government and affording peace and protection to person and property to a numerous population, and that there is not a single Protestant missionary in this whole region of territory.
There have been Roman Catholic missionaries in Annam and Tonquin for more than one hundred years-these were from France and Spain. They have frequently had to endure terrible persecutions from the heathen governments. They have had many followers; but during the war with China these Christians were counted partisans of France, and thousands of them were murdered, as enemies and trait- ()rs to their own country. A number of European priests were murdered, the churches burnt, and missions scattered. With the restoration of peace and order these missions are being reoccupied and restored by the Romanists. But there is wide room for a great increase of Christian workers. As the French Republic is tolerant of all denominations, there is now no reason why Protestant missionaries should not work side by side with Roman Catholic missionaries in Annam, as they do in China, India, Japan, Siam and in the other parts of Asia. With this opportunity to engage in Christian work under the protection of a European power, comes the obligation of the Protestant churches so carry out the command of their Lord, and" Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."
The other territory which is yet unvisited by any Protestant missionaries, is that portion of the Eastern Archipelago which belongs to Spain and is called the Phillippine Islands. They comprise about 120,000 square miles, and the population is estimated by different writers to be from four millions to seven millions. These islands have been held by Spain for more than three hundred years. Roman Catholic missions have existed among the native inhabitants for more than two hundred years. But no Protestant missionary has ever been established in any of the many islands included in this designation. N ow that Spain tolerates the Protestant laborers in Spain and Cuba, the inhabitants of these fail' islands of the Eastern seas should not be over- looked by those who are seeking for lands in which to propagate the Gospel. It is not yet time for the soldiers of the cross to sit down at ease, saying to themselves there is only TMbet that is not yet occupied by Protestant missionaries, when such extensive districts have never yet been even explored by messengers of Protestant associations, to inquire into the needs or conditions of the inhabitants, or the opportunities for reaching them. What society 01' societies in Eutope or America will look to Southeast Asia and the Phillippine Islands of the Eastern Archipelago, as fields of missionary labor, and enter upon this great work?
But there is another part of the Ea~tern Archipelago which has a special claim upon Protestants to. afford to its inhabitants the Gospel. This district is in the northern part of the large Island of Borneo.. It is designated British North Borneo. This part of Borneo, comprising some 25,000 square miles, has been granted to a British company under British protection, in absolute control, to establish government and rule over all the territory thus designated. The company had .appointed a governor and enacted laws and regulations, and appointed Tulers for the administration of the laws. They are establishing towns, inviting settlers, and taking efficient means to develop various industries, agriculture and manufactures. A large number of settlers are going from China, and more are expected and desired. The population is not numerous yet-say 200,000 to 300,000. But in a region under a British company and under the protectorate of the British Government, toleration to Christian work may be counted upon, if not as- 8istance and support. It is most desirable that Christian institutions should be laid with the first foundations of the new order. We suppose British Ohristian effort would keep pace with British commercial enterprise. All Protestant lands will consider that this part of Borneo has special claims upon British Christians. And, perhaps, most will consider that it has still more special claims upon that British Missionary Society which has commenced work upon a part of Borneo adjacent to British North Borneo, and known as Laburan, where a British Bishopric has been established. But while this fact may be considered, this new opening should not be neglected, if that Society does not enter upon Christian work in this land now fully open to evangelistic effort. I trust that we will soon hear that some
MISSIONARY CHURCHES
British Society has entered with zeal and energy upon the work in British North Borneo, and will make it a center from which shall go· out an influence over the whole northern half of Borneo and the sur– rounding island.
MISSIONARY CHURCHES.
BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D. D., NEW YORK.
What shall constitute a missionary church, judging from the' standpoint of the present time and with the light of the New Tes- tament and of subsequent Christian history? For such a question there ought to be no necessity; it should have no pertinence. The New Testament knows no other than a missionary church. The Acts of the Apostles are simply a missionary record. The very name "Apostle" is a synonym of "missionary." The Epistles of Paul are only a body of missionary correspondence. The theology of the Chris- tian church, from the early days to the present time, is based upon world renowned missionary letters, written not in seats of learning,. nor in the quiet studies of erudite bishops or professors, but written afield,-now in one place and now in another, wherever the earnest her– aId of the cross might chance to be. They were written for the partic,ular instruction of some far-off mission church, and yet so written as to state in logical and enduring forms those great doctrines which haveconstituted the intellectual and spiritual life of the Christian church.
Yet, even in the early church the conception of a distinctively missionary character was not clear to all minds alike. There were the· J udaizers, who felt that the Christian religion, whatever else might. happen to it, must not lose lts pivotal centre at .Jerasulem; that the old_ Hebraic system must not be so overlaid as to be in any degree obscured; and that the proselyting of a few heathen tribe~, more or less, was. not to be compared with the retention of that historic prestige which belonged to Mount Zion. James and Cephas and others at Jerusalem did finally extend the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and Paul and to their heathen converts, but it was stipulated that contributionsshould be gathered for the home church at Jerusalem. Barnabas and Paul, in the largeness of their hearts, needed no persuasion on this. point. They were" forward" to do this very thing, and as the result proved they collected more from the far off mission fields of Macedonia and Corinth for the poor saints of Jerusalem, than was realized from all other sources. Thus early was the lesson taught that a broad and generous missionary policy, so far from impoverishing, only en-· riches the Church, and strengthens it on its own ground. But, following the line of history, it is evident that the character of a Missionary Church has not uniformly been maintained. The missionary element has been fitful; it has been developed in one branch more than in another, and at one time more than at another. Of the Eastern Churches, the N estorians were the only truly missionary body in the centuries following the Apostolic period. Hair "plittings in doctrine, strifes for pre-eminence, bitter persecu- tions, fanatical worship of relics, as well as of pictures and images, absorbed the strength of the ecclesiastical bodies.
What a marvellous and fatal mistake that the Church of the By- zantine Empire did not turn its attention to Arabia! Whether Paul made any considerable beginnings there during his three years' so- journ, does not appear. If so, they were not followed up. Judaism had been driven thither by early invasions, and Christianity followed from the same causes at a later day, but no earnest missionary effort • appears to have been made in Arabia during the early Christian cen- turies. The Church was wasting her strength upon heresies and her- esy hunting, upon ecclesiastical ambitions and contentions, upon Christian fetishes and upon the stagnation and waste of droning asceticism.
Not only was a glorious opportunity lost-an opportunity which might have turned the moral earnestness of the chivalric Arabian tribes to good,account in reclaiming the regions beyond-but dire retribution was gathering for the negligent and apathetic Eastern Church. Her stagnation brought corruption, and its virus extended beyond her own borders. When Mohammed arose he found on the one side the idol- atry of the heathen Koreish, and on the other what he regarded as an equally impious idolatry in the Christian Church. A degraded and superstitious sect had found its way into Arabia, which taught a doc- trine of the Trinity represented by the Father, Mary, and the. Son! This not only filled the false Prophet with disgust, but it furnished!. him with a pretext. The place of the Paraclete (the Holy Ghost} was left vacant, and he took it, and so strengthened his position with. New Testament authority.
Thus the day of doom approached. In due time the false Prophet, "Sword of God," appeared to take account of neglected duty. Over the dusty deserts came the stern, fanatical hordes who were to sweep away the vestiges of idolatry, drive forth 'the soft and luxuri. ous Bishops from their churches and the grizzly monks from their cloisters, and to tread down the whole effete Empire of the East. Even to-day the Greek Church has not recovered from its stupefying shock, and the Arab is the herald, not of the Gospel, but of Islam.
It would be well if the modern churches of all favored lands would' ta,ke to heart this lesson of neglected opportunity and its dire results-, the lesson, namely, that it is not optional to do or not to do, the work which Providence assigns in reclaiming the world to Christ. It must be done, or privilege is turned to retribution.
The We8tern, or Latin Church, inspired in part, perhaps, by eccle- l'iastical ambition, but in part, also, by a more aggressive missionary spirit, carried the Gospel to new and unknown lands, and came at length to mold and elevate those hordes of barbarians, who, while they vanquished the power and the civilization of the Roman Empire, were themselves vanquished by the faith of the Cross. The Latin Church bore the Gospel to Spain, France, and Britain.
Perhaps the most eminently Missionary Church of the early centuries was that of Ireland, founded by the earnest and apostolic Patricius. What nobler outstart could it have had? What more Christlike recompense than his, who, having been kidnapped and sold into degrading bondage, became a missionary at last to those who had enslaved him? From the Irish Church to lona, and thence into Scotland and the north of England, and finally to the continent, this mis- :sionary impulse extended. To this movement, evangelical in its teachings, simple, fervent and Christlike in its spirit, the later Reformation in Germany and Great Britain owed more than has generally been ascribed to it; and to its permanent influence, quite as much as to any other cause, the Protestantism of Great Britain may fairly trace its origin. Nor is it too much to say that this same missionary impulse of the Irish missionaries, who first planted Christianity.in Germany, was subsequently the means of evangelizing those fierce Northmen on the shores of the Baltic, whom all the armies of the continent had not been able to resist. Up every river that emptied into the German Ocean the piratical fleets of the Vikings had swept, till even Charlemagne had wept at the hopelessness of a11 resistance. But a handful of missionaries, with only spiritual weapons, carried the war into this Scandinavian Africa. They wrought that timely transformation among the savage hordes of the North which the Eastern Church had neglected to work upon the hordes of Arabia. They saved not only the scourge-smitten shores of France and Germany, but the Baltic provinces as well. No people are now more pacific, and orderly, and industrious than they. Their fair-haired descendants invade only the American shores in our time, and none are more wel- come. If we take our stand at a somewhat later period, and consider the three centuries which followed the Reformation in Germany, we find that the Protestant branches of the Christian Church did not compare favorably with the Catholic with respect to missionary enterprise. Not, however, because there is less of missionary spirit in their teach. ings, but only because Protestantism in Europe was so overborne by persecution and so absorbed in its struggles for'l'eligious liberty.
But the strange and inexplicable fact is that even after those struggles were at an end, Protestantism had to begin with the very alphabet of Christian missions. It even had to overcome narrow prejudices which set strongly against the whole enterprise, the light of the New Testament and the missionary history of centuries to the contrary, notwithstanding. 'l'his seems the more strange when we consider that through all the long period of neglect brave protests were uttered here and there by noble leaders. The learned Erasmus, in his treatise on The Art of PreaeMng, wrote these words, which would pass for an eloquent missionary appeal to-day: " We daily hear men deploring the· decay of the Christian re- ligion, who say that the Gospel message, though once extended over the whole earth, is now confined to the narrow limits of this land. Let those, then, to whom this is an unfeigned cause of grief, beseech Christ ~arnestly and continuously to send laborers into his harvest. • . • Europe is the smallest quarter of the globe; Greece and Asia Minor the most fertile. Into these countries the Gospel was first introduced from Judea, with great success. But are they not now wholly in the, hands of Mohammedans and men who do not know the name of Christ? What, I ask, do we now possess in Asia, which is the larg- .est continent, 'when Palestine herself, whence first shone the Gospel light, is ruled by heathens? In Africa what have we? There are Burely in these tracts barbarous and simple tribes who could easily be attracted to Christ if we sent men among them to sow the good seed.
Regions hitherto unknown are being daily discovered, and more there are, as we are told, into which the Gospel has never yet been carried.
And what shall I say of those who sail round unknown shores, and plunder and lay waste whole states without provoca- tion? What name is given to such deeds? They are called victo- ries. Travelers bring home from distant lands gold and gems; but it is worthier to carry hence the wisdom of Christ-more precious than gold-and the pearl of the Gospel, which would put to shame all earthly riches. We give too much attention to the things which de- base our souls. Christ orders us to pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers, because the harvest is plenteous and the laborers are few. Some excuse themselves on the ground that they are ignorant of foreign languages. Shall princes have no difficulty in finding men, who, for the purposes of human diplomacy, are well acquainted with various tongues? Even Themistocles, the Athenian, in one year so mastered Persian that he could dispense with an inter- preter in his intercourse with the king. And shall we not show the same zeal in so noble an enterprise ?"
It is not easy to understand why such appeals as this, issued early in the 16th century, should have been so little heeded both then and also later, _though the works of Erasmus were so greatly prized.
. Rev. A. C. Thompson, in his recent work, entitled "Foreign Mis- sions," has shown that some of the very highest ideals of the Chris- tian life, as set forth in the religious works of the 16th and even to the latter part of the 18th century, were strangely wanting in their recognition of Christ's great commission. Personal experience, as leading to personal salvation, claimed an undue place in the then cur- rent literature, as compared with the needs of the world.
Among the strongest impulses in the modern missionary move- ment were those born of necessity on the part of the Moravians, who, like the disciples at Jerusalem, were scattered by persecution. "If we have been cast out and rendered homeless," reasoned the devout saints at Hernhut, " it must be the Divine will that we shall become ambassadors of the Master, who had not where to lay his head." From the beginning it was their rule to go where men were most in need, and where others would be least likely to reach them, and they still retain their prominence as the most self-denying and consecrated of all missionary bodies. The chief motive to missionary endeavor has differed with different bodies of the Christian Church. From the Moravians the missionary spirit extended to the Wesleyans and to the· Independents of Great Britain, and even to that mother church from. whose formalism the apostles of Methodism had broken away.
With the Moravians the chief inspiration was found in the love of Christ. In their doctrinal standards they never greatly emphasized the doctrine of eternal punishment. Rescue, which is certainly em-· phasized in the commission of Paul, acts xxvi: 18, was not so much in their thoughts. It was enough for them that the heathen were without. God and without Christ. They thought chiefly of the unspeakable privilege of realizing in the hearts of all men, however degraded, the matchless love of a Divine Redeemer, and they seemed to feel that just where the conditions of human life were hardest and least endurable, whether amid the gloom of the Arctic regions, or under the rocky crags and bleak snow peaks of Thibet, or in the most malarious regions of the tropics, there it was the most delightful to point the gloomy and despondent sons of men to that Divine love, which everbent compassionately towards them, and which pitied most of all, the suffering and the lowly. Everywhere by the camp fires of the American Indians also these faithful Moravian missionaries took their stations, sharing the wrongs and hardships which white settlers visited upon that race whom only God seemed to pity.
Towards the close of the last and in the first quarter of the present century, the fire of missionary zeal spread among all branches of the Protestant Church. There was that readiness to hear the voices of Providence, which did not allow special calls to go unheeded. The slave trade, which had so long disgraced two continents, appealed to- Christian consciences for Africa. The blacks who were occasionally brought to London from the West Indies, could not but prove living reminders of what England owed to those islands in which she had sought only gain.
A scientific expedition to the Pacific, returning with new and thrilling facts concerning Tahite, stirred up the early zeal of the
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES
London Missionary Sooiety. A Sand wich Island boy, weeping on the steps of Yale College, in his great desire for an education, gave unconsciously the Macedonian call for Hawaii. The wrongs of traders and frontiersmen among the Amerioan Indians, scarcely less than the early and noble Moravian examples, stirred up the American ehurches.
Thus the stations occupied by the different missionary bodies have been chosen, not by any general agreement, but in response to the various leadings of Providence. In some instances it has been a matter of conscience, in others an opening made by trade or new discov- ,eries, or the movements of conquest and colonization. And the greater the number of influences which have been at work, and the more fortuitous they may seem with respect to concerted planning, the more strikingly does the unity of a divine direction appe8,r And no particular class of distinctive doctrines has won pre-eminence as leading to missionary zeal. It is not the most positive Calvinistic creed, with profoundest sense of man's moral ruin, or the nighest Arminian insistence on the freeness and fullness of the offer .of life, or the most assured prelatical derivation of apostolic authority, or the strictest adherence to the alleged New Testament forms and rites, that can claim pre-eminence in this grandest of all proofs and demonstrations of doctrine. All types of evangelical truth have been owned alike and blest of God with success. Where Christ, as divine and all-sufficient, has been proclaimed, the Holy Ghost has wrought with power. It is only where Christ has been denied as divine, and simply a great teacher bearing His name has been presented to the heathen, that missions have failed and withered away, " as grass upon ,the housetop."
And now all churches are Missionary Churches. None dare exdude themselves. None dare expect a blessing on their own life without at least doing something for the waste places of the world.
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
-The Rev. A. Mabille, writing in the Journal des Missions Evangeziques, describes a strange illusion which checks the acceptance of the gospel by the chiefs of the Bassutos. "It appears that some of the principal chiefs have lately received impressions more serious than ever, but the character of their. retinue is well calculated to hinder them from making progress. There is especially an idea which their pagan and even their Christian subjects present to them incessantly-anideawhich cannot fail to deaden their conscience-namely, that because they have granted the missionaries leave to introduce the gospel into the couptry, God will take them into his favor, although they are sinners, like other men. This idea has so thoroughly possessed itself of some that one cannot uproot it, and they assure you that they, at all events, shall be saved."
-The French brethren on the Zambesi, a year or two ago, seemed to be undergoing the extreme of monotonous misery. Separated by hundreds of miles from all other Christian men; obliged, for the most part, to sustain themselves on a scanty measure of the coarsest food; in the dominions of a bll,)Odthirsty, heathen tyrant, who reverenced them, indeed, but followed none of their pre- cepts; in the immediate neighborhood of chiefs whose characters were a re- production of their master's, with his intelligence and respect for the gospel left out; holding services, at which few but themselves were present; opening schools which only a few villainous young princes attended, and their worthless young slaves, who provided for themselves by plundering the missionary of his cattle, great and small; sometimes, in walking, stumbling over the burnt re- mains of unhappy wretches that had been burnt for sorcerers; only the grace of God and the sublime purpose of redemption kept them from sinking to the ground. The elasticity and cheerfulness of a French temperament, doubtless, were a human means through which these higher influences could work.
At presentthe isolation still continues,and the deprivation ofcomforts is proba- bly not very much less. But already their labors are beginning to tell. The King is not converted, nor apparently near conversion; .but his reverence and affection for the missionaries seem to have become as great as they can be, while he remains a heathen. For months back we have seen no allusion in their letters to any scenes of murder. The chiefs, too, patterning after their sovereign, and, moved by some sharp admonitions which he has addressed them, have exchanged their former indifference into so excessive a zeal for the missionary's rights, that lately, on a complaint of M. Jalla, they fell upon the offender, and, to the missionary's horror, left him for dead. Fortunately, he at last recovered, and fled from the village. The Sunday services begin to illl up. The schools are enlarging greatly, mostly with children of chiefs, who, of late, instead of a torment, are beginning to be a main comfort of their teachers, and, instead of plundering them, make it a point of honor to go often on the hunt, always, on their return, offering the first portion to the " Father" and the" Mother." We confess that a year ago it was only the cheerful courage of these brethren and sisters that kept us from doubting whether they ought not to give up their work.
Unhappily, as we should say, if Christian martyrdom were an unhappiness, the malarious plains of the great river are having their effect. M. Jalla writes: " We have all been, for several months, enjoying remarkably good health. We have some hope that the rainy season and the winter will be easier to bear than last year. Who is there of us here that will be remaining if we have to dig four tombs in 1889, as was the case in 1888?"
-The scarcity of food on the Zambesi is easily explained. "The rainy season," says M. Jalla, "has passed, without bringing us much water. Many fields have been scorched by the sun. H there has been an average of ten or twelve days of rain at Shesheke during the two years we have been here, it is all. Our attempts at gardening, therefore, are not brilliant, notwithstanding the beautiful waters of the Zambesi which flow but two paces distant from us.
-The missionaries do not exaggerate the extent of their influence, increasing as it is. M. Jeanmairet writes: "In the village, at evening, you hear our hymns resounding often in place of the pagan chants, and the chief even closes the sitting with prayer. This ought to encourage us, without leading us, however, to see in it the mark of a change of their hearts, of which there is, as yet, no real proof. You know yourselves how much the natives love to sing, and how little they understand all this which passes before them, even our prayers. We must take account of their superstition in ·order to comprehend them. No deity must be neglected; and our Zambesians also, in their fashion, have altars erected to unknown gods; but the true Christianity of the heart is not yet implanted in the souls of the people of our charge, at least so far as we know… -It is interesting to see the influence of our American evangelist of song penetrating into the depths of Southern Africa, and expressing itself in a Pentecostal affluence of tongues. M. Adolphe Jaila, returning from Europe to missionary labors in his native land, and writing of his wagon journey from Kimberley to the capital of the Christian King, Khama, says: "Established on the front box, I opened conversation with my coachman, Mochuana, a young man of some twenty or twenty-five years, but the honest fellow knew just as much English as I knew of Sechuana, so that every topic was soon interrupted by a ha ke uthlua (I don't understand), sometimes accompanied by a burst of laughter. After awhile I turned to singing hymns in Sessuto, French or Italian, especially Sankey hymns, I taking the air, and my wagoner the bass."
-M. Goy gives an account of Khama, the noble-hearted Christian chief of South Africa. Being about to remove his people to a new locality, "he assembled them all, men and women; then, with a voice of emotion, he prayed them to praise the Lord for all the blessings of the past, and exhorted them, in the name of the Lord Jesus, to leave behind in their abandoned huts their superstitions and their pagan habits, and engaged them all to become new creatures-to serve the Lord in the new city. He then invited his son and his brother to read a portion of Scripture, then he pronounced the benediction." .
-" Mr. Heany," says M. Goy," an American, who is the director of the Bechualand Exploration Company, finding me embarrassed for the want of a wagon, offered me one to continue my route with all my goods, and not only that, he gave me the provisions needful for the journey. This is a gift of 300 francs to the society, and he has already offered me everything I can need in the way of furniture at very low prices." It is only fair that this good deed of our countryman on a distant continent should be noted in his own country and in his own tongue.
-It will be remembered that the Zambesi Mission is an offshoot of the Bassuto Mission of the French Protestants, which they name Lessuto, the latter being the name of the country, the former of the people. M. Goy writes: "When I see all these churches of Lessuto, these great congregations, these numerous communicants, I am happy, but still more zealouS in thinking of our dear mission on the 2;ambesi. My daily prayer is that, like that of Lessuto, it may become a focus of light, and, above all, a means of salvation for our poor Zambesians. I should love to live ten years longer, because after this time I hope we shall also have numerous Christians on the Zambesi."
-The Journal des Missions Evangdiques gives a summary of the operations. of the Berlin Society in South Africa. The following dates and numbers will make them more distinct: First Berlin missionaries sent to South OrdaIDed missionaries in the Transvaal. 26 Africa (Orange Free State) . …….. 1834 Native helpers (2 ordained). •. •.•• . …• •• 234 Oommunicants…………….. ;…….. 5,311 First Berlin missionaries sent to Ca1l'ra- Whole number of baptized (inc. com) … 10,925 ria …………………………….. 1836 Berlin missionaries in South Africa, inc.
First Berlin missionaries 'sent to Cape Transvaal……… … …………….. 53 Colony .•_… …………………….. 1838 Communicants in South Africa, inc.
First Berlin missionaries sent to Natal.. 1848 Transva.a.l……………………… 9,772 First Berlin missionaries sent to Trans- Whole number baptized (inc. com.) ….. 20,058 Whole income Berlin Society.•.. minus $80,000 va.a.l (Northern Baasutos)………….. 1860 First Berlin missionaries sent to Trans- va.a.l (Southern Baasutos-French)…. 1860 -The Nachrichten aus dem Morgenlande communicates some curious facts respecting one important means by which European powers are pushing their interests in the Levant, namely, popular schools supported by these foreign governments. Imagine France or Italy supporting out of its public treasury schools in the United States, in which French or Italian should be the medium of instruction, only French or Italian teachers be employed, and which should be supported by regular government appropriations from Paris or Rome. Our government would soon have something to say to that. But Turkey has fallen too low to dare object. It seems that lately Italy, finding that the Italian schools in the Levant, being Catholic, had fallen under the control of France, who, atheistic at home, poses everywhere abroad as the protector of Roman Catholicism, resolved to mend matters. Therefore, the Italian Parliament now votes $200,000 a year for the support of government schools, taught by Italians, in Italian, under the inspection of the Italian Government, but open to all who will come. These schools are sustained in Tunis, Tripoli, Beirut, Aleppo, Con- stantinople, and a good many other places, and, by a strange encroachment on a Christian power, in Athens. Tuition is free, the scholars are furnished with books and stationary free, and in some places with their dinners. No wonder that the native children come in such numbers as rather to disorganize other schools. Religious instruction is given only when desired by parents. What effect this curious national missionary work, not of Christianization, but Ital- ianization, will have on the missionary work proper, does not seem quite cer- .tain. At present it seems principally to affect the Roman Catholic missionary schools.
-The French Government spends yearly on the French schools of Syria from $60,000 to $80,000. These schools are a force of enlightenment, and do not appear, as yet, to be made, either by France or Italy, a propagandism of in- fidelity, as the goverment schools, of France at least, largely are at home.
-The Nachrichten, mentioning the new vigor with which the various Christian parties, especially the Roman Catholics, are bestirring themselves in Palestine, remarks: "The Pope seems not to have miscalculated in believing that by making large personal contributions for the Roman Catholic mission in the Holy Land he should reap an ample harvest. It would not be extrava- gant to say that a new crusade has developed itself for the possession of the Promised Land."
-The Nachrichten gives reports from the German Asylum for Lepers at JeI'11fI8.lem. Medical examination, attesting a profound difference of almost all the symptoms from thoSe described in the law, seems to make it certain that the disease has in the course of ages very greatly changed its form, and that much for the worse. There would now be no occasion to provide for the case of a cure, for a cure is now never known, at least in Palestine.
-A little narrative from the asylum for lepers at Jerusalem gives some insight into the possible experiences of a soul enclosed in this loathsome body of death: "How blessed and refreshing was the deathbed· by which we were lately permitted to stand. A malden entered into the joy of her Lord. She had been eleven years in the asylum When first here she had great controversies with God, that he had smitten her with such a sickness. She was often very much exasperated over it, and sometimes broke out into loud expressions of anger against God. But subsequently she became aware that this availed nothing; she became more and more wretched. One day, not long before her departure, she had me called. To my inquiry, what I could do, she replied, with a voice of entreaty, that she wished I would read something out of the Bible to her. How my heart rejoiced I At once I took the blessed Bible, and read the Gospel of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. I then had a somewhat lengthened conversation with her. I spoke to her of the pastoral faithfulness of Jesus and his love to poor sinners, and how he has ways and means enough to allure his wandering sheep to him. Even her loathsome sickness, I suggested, was a means whereby the Saviour would fain draw her to him and save her. I asked her whether she, too, would not willingly become a lamb of Christ, and enter into him in the realm of health. With tears in her eyes, she answered: 'I believe from my very heart that Jesus is the Son of God and the King of kings, and I know, for my
-1890.] THE REVOLUTION IN UGAND~
-heart tells me, that Jesus loves me, too. And by no other than Jesus will I be saved.' After I had prayed with her, the next morning I visited her. How astonished I was when she received me with the words: •How glorious it is to be a lamb of Christ.' I talked long with her, and she –confessed, with many tears, how heavy it lay on her heart that she had cost the Saviour so much trouble and effort; but that she was heartily glad that she was now certain of the forgiveness -of her sins. With the words: •The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has made me also pure from all my sins,, she composed her head to rest, and fell asleep."
-The Turkish Government, which is increasingly hostile to foreign Chris- -tian schools and churches, shows great kindness to the lepers' asylum, and has ,;secured the perpetual title to the property to the president of the Brethren's -Unity at Herrnhut for the time being.
-The Berliner Missions Berichte speaks of a great danger threatening the whole Caffre people, namely, the spread of infectioUs diseases from the promisocuous use of the same drinking vessels.
-The Missionstidning for Finland for May, 1889, gives some account of the Norse Santal Mission, which is carried on in common by the three Scandinavian nations, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, having been founded in 1867 by the Swedish missionary, Borresen. The Santals are an unhinduized aboriginal race of northeastern India, bordering on Assam, or extending into it. For the first ten years the mission made little progress. In 1878 there was only one station and one little out-station. There are now 13 stations, 7 of them luLving solid dwellings for whites, and appropriate dwellings for native help- ·ilrs. In 1879 there were 2,283 native Christians, now there are 4,840. In 1879 the outlays were 18,911 rupees, now they are 58,897. Sweden in 1879 contrib- -uted 73 rupees, she now contributes 6,972. The Christian Santals, in their turn, :are beginning to prosecute missions among the native races of Assam, which is .a connecting link between India and Burmah.
THE REVOLVTION IN UGANDA.
[The Morning Post (London) of very recent date gave a three-column paper <>n this important event. The writer is evidently well informed, and his con- iribution is highly interesting. We give the following extracts.-J. M. S.] "Who does not remember the enthusiasm of the great African explorer when he first beheld this land? That his views are still unchanged he lost little time in announcing to the world after his arrival at Zanzibar the other day, and on his return to England we may look to hear some still more emphatic declarations of his faith ill the resources of those regions, and the field of splendid enterprise to which they invite our commercial and missionary energies. That his enthusiasm was not mistaken the history of the last twelve years has amply proved-and the history of the next twelve years will doubtless/rove :more permanently. 'What a land they possess! And what an inlan sea; ! How steamers afloat on the lake might cause Ururi to shake hands with Usongora, and Uganda with Usukuma; make the wild Wavuma friends with the Wazinza, and unite the Wakerewe with the Wagana! A great trading port might then spring up on the Shimeeyie, whence the coffee of Usongora, the ivory, sheep and goats of Ugeyeya, Usoga, Uvuma and Uganda; the cattle of Uwya, Karagwe, Usagara, Ibangiro and Usukuma; the myrrh, cassia and furs and hides of Uganda and Uddu; the rice of Ukerewe; and the grain of U zinza might be exchanged for the fabrics brought from the coast, all the land be redeemed from wildness, the industry and energy of the natives stimulated, the havoc of the slave trade stopped, and all the countries round about permeated with the nobler ethics of a higher humanity. . . . Oh! for the hour when a band of philanthropic capitalists shall try to rescue these beautifullands, and supply the means to enable the gospel messengers to come and quench the murderous hate with which man beholds man in the beautiful lands around Lake Victoria.' How the man's invocation was answered, almost as soon as uttered, by the noble advance of our missionaries, all the world knows, though the breadth and depth of the success which has attended the labors of Mr. Mackay and his fellow missionaries on the shores of the Victoria Nyanza are but inadequately known. To-day or to-morrow we shall hear more of their triumphs, enough to make even Stanley himself confess to an emotion of grateful wonder. While he was buried in the darkness of the western forest, fighting for life with hunger and hostility and disease, and almost given up for lost by the world, his invocation was being answered in another direction.
What he may have to say on these things when he returns will be worth hear- ing and heeding, as they will truly be heard and heeded, with deep conviction of the importance of the man's great faith. What has been happening, mean- while, in Uganda, has most important bearing on the realizatIOn of Stanley's hopes. His friend, Mtesa, died in 1884, after a reign of twenty-seven years, and was succeeded by his son, Mwanga. It is unnecessary to recite the events of the brief reign of this young savage. The murder of Hannington, the mas- sacre of the Christians, the revolt which dethroned him, are welfknown. His, weak, cowardly and cruel character gave the Arabs the opportunity they were watching for to enable them to drive the missionaries from Uganda, and estab- lish their own power there. They have so far succeeded that, after dethroning and murdering Mwanga's successor, Kiwewa, they have a puppet on the throne in the person of Kalema, who is merely the creature of theIr will. But Mwanga is a factor with whom the Arabs will still have to reckon. He is the heir of Mtesa. Nothing good can by any stretch of charity be said of him, but, the cruel and impolitic massacre of all the princes and princesses of the royal house by Kalema has left Mwanga the only rival under whom the disaffected Waganda can place themselves. It is, therefore,either the Arabs' creature, Kalema, or the Christians' leader, Mwanga. It is a curious ap,d striking revo- lution which has made Mwanga now the head of the party in whose blood he, had rioted before; but such is the way of revolutions. The situation which has thus come about in Uganda has brought us into the presence of the astonishing and almost incredible hold which Christianity has attained in that country. It looks little short of a miracle that there should be a Christian army in Uganda, defeating in more than one pitched battle the forces of the King, and threatening the existence of his throne. Whence has it sprung?
The lowly and modest labors of our self-sacrificing and self-effacing handful of missionaries in Uganda, hindered, menaced, persecuted, at every step. hardly prepared us for this result after a few years. Yetthere it is. Immedi- ately following their expulsion from the scene of their labors, when the faint-, ing fugitives landed on the south shores of the lake, despoiled and shattered in soul and body, and the last hope of Christianity seemed crushed forever be- neath Arab hatred, there arose in arms this astounding testimony to the suc- cess of their work-an army of Christians strong enough to shake the strength of the kingdom. The events of the past year on the shores of the Victoria Nyanza are full of'
interest. The Arabs, after having the missionaries expelled from Uganda, en- deavored to get them driven away frow the lake region altogether. The missionaries escaped to. the south end of the lake. The Arabs asked Rwoma. the chief, to drive them all, English and French, out'of his country, but he re- fused. Then the King (Kalema) was requested to send a force for the purpose with a fleet of canoes; but he probably could not spare a force for such a distant operation, and had no canoes. But, meanwhile, the fugitive Christians from Uganda were fortifying themselves near Koki, in Usagala, a country south of the Kagera or Alexandra Nile, and were daily joined by numbers of other people, who were disgusted with Arab rule in Uganda. Many of the fu-· gitives were adlIerents or pupils of the French mission, and it appeared that these were desirous of making war a~ainst Kalema and setting up another king, and invited the Protestant ChrIstians to join them in the enterprise.
The latter sent across the lake to Mr. Mackay, at Usambiro, for advice, and he dissuaded them from any rash enterprise of the kind, and bade them be content with defending their King (Ntale, King of Nkole), should. he be attacked.
Mwanga was at this time a refugee with the French missionaries at Ukumbi, close to Usambiro, and, after applying to Mr. Mackay, without effect, for con-· veyance across the lake, it a:{'pears he induced the well-known trader, Mr. Stokes, to take him across in hIS boat to the mouth of the Kagera River, in order to put himself at the head of the insurgents in Usagala, and with their aid make an attack on Uganda. With Mwanga proceeded some 50 Va~anda from the French mission, with rifles and ammunition. Mr. Mackay tried to intercept the boat with a letter, but was too late. Meanwhile, the fu~tives gathered in Usagala, resolved to invade Uganda, liberate one of the imprIsoned princes, and make him their leader in the war against Kalema and the Arabs•. It was on learning of this that Kalema cruelly murdered all his brothers and_ sisters, and Mwanga's children as well. The Christians fought two fierce bat- tles with Kalema's forces before the arrival of Mwanga—one in Uddu, and the other after crossing the Katonga. In both they were victorious, although in the latter case the King's army, commanded by the Katikiro, or chief minister, was much the larger. It is worth noting that in this victory fell three of Christianity's bitterest enemies in Ugandar-Pokino, one of those who decreed Bishop Hannington's murder; Serukoti, the murderer of the Christian Ad- miral Gabunga, and the one-eyed Arab, Masudi, who used to mistranslate the letters sent to the King by the Sultan of Zanzibar and the Consul-General, al- ways to the prejudice of the Europeans. Soon afterwards Mwanga arrived, placed himself at the head of the insurgents, was defeated at Dumo, and, tak- mg refuge on Stokes' boat, fled to the Sesse Islands, where the fishermen in- habitants, already rebels against the Mohammedan Government of Kalema, gave him their adherence. Since then Mwanga, having command of all the can~s of U:ganda, has left Besse, burning and pill~ging the. coasts, aJ?-d has es- tablIshed his headquarters on the Island- of Bulinguye, III Murchison Bay, where he is being joined by his former chiefs deposed from office by Kalema. Mwanga invited the Christians in Usagala to join him there. Daily conflicts were occurring with Kalema's forces, and Stokes advised a bold dash on the capital. Mwanga, however, was waiting to collect a stronger force. It was before leaving Mwanga at this stage that Mr. Stokes heard of the advance of the East Africa Company's officers towards the lake on the north. Mwanga. invited both the French and English missionaries to repair to Sesse to carryon the religious instruction of the people. Mr. Stokes, it appeal's, was preparing to go at once to the assistance of Mwanga (whose position on the island was au unassailable one) with a cargo of arms and ammunition, and Mwanga, apparently well able to wait his time, was offering his abject submission to the British missionaries if they would adopt his cause, and looking out for reinforcements and the arrival of the white men. But to restore, or assist in restol'lng, Mwanga, except as a tributary and subject prince controlled by European power, would be a misfortune for Uganda and the doom of all those who have· opposed him in the late civil war, Christians as well as others.
The opportunity presented by the condition of affairs in the Kingaom of Uganda is unique, and all will hope that the end of the present stateof things will be, as Mr. Mackayindicatesthat it should be,the permanent establishment of British influence in Uganda, the expUlsion of the Arab slave traders from the coun– try, and the assurance of a future field for missionary work, whose results will be immeasurable if merely estimated by the astonishing spread of Christianity at present evidenced. Happily, no international rivalry or question of right can arise with respect to Uganda, which, by the treaty or understanding with Germany, of July, 1887, is entirely within the sphere assigned to British influence. Mr. Stanley's ideal is, therefore, in a fair way of being realized, hastened on by a revolution of an extraordinary character. It may be asked why Mr. Stanley, when on his way to the coast, knowing, as he must have known, the condition of things in Uganda, and the opportunity that offered itself of establishing supremacy there by one bold stroke, failed to take advantage of it. The answer is-if we know anything of the redoubtable explorer's characterthe same as that which he gave in reference to the supposition that he had made an advance towards Khartoum in the role of the White Pasha. His duty was to take his expedition to the coast, and one inch right or left from the line of duty he was not the man to be drawn by any temptation. We believe that England will hear a good deal more from Mr. Stanley, however, in his vigorous and downright manner, concerning the regions of the Victoria. Lake' on his return. The advance of commercial enterprise in that direction cannot fail to stir his deepest interest, and we shall be considerably surprised if we do not hear some expression of his astonishment and admiration at the startling phenomenon _of missionary success in a region where Christianity was believed to have lost all the ground it had ever gained.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
n.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missioll& Ever since the student uprising at fields. Second, co-operation with ex- Mount Hermon in 1886, the young ecutive committees, to obtain the best men in our colleges and theological information relative to the fields as- seminaries have been active partici- signed to the group. Third, calling pants in the great movement for the together members of his group at stat- -evangelization of the world. Through ed periods for prayer. Fourth, secur- the efforts of students, missionary en- ing missionary literature from the thusiasm has been kindled in many of various boards for distribution in ,our churches and educational institu- churches visited.
tions; and $45,361 has been raised for In groups, the labor is divided as missions over and above what had follows: Let us take China, for in- been given before. Distributed as stance. One man speaks on the his- follows: Churches, $11,500; Colleges, tory and geography of China. The ~18,350; Seminaries, $8,500; Miscel- second speaker gives an account of the laneous, $2,011; Mr. Speer's tour, social and religious condition, stating ,$5,OOOi (These figures are approxi- encouragements and discouragements matelycorrect.) to missionary enterprise. He is fol- The' problem before us is: How lowed by the third speaker, who closes can bands of volunteers work together with an appeal for volunteers and for mosteffectivelyinarousingenthusiasm money, presenting, in his appeal for and in securing funds and men forthe funds," the plan for systematic giv- world's evangelization? Experience of ing," already adopted by many individual workers and of bands has churches. The plan is that each demonstrated that church members church is to support a worker in con- are glad to give if facts are intelli- nection with the board of the denomi- gently and squarely presented. The nation to which the church belongs; working of a method adopted recently and that the salary be over and above by the Union Theological Seminary in what the church already gives.
New York City has been attended The results from twenty-six meet- with certain definite results, which ings conducted during the present presages success in future endeavors. year (1890), from January 18th to The Mission Band in Union num- February 19th, by Union Seminary bers 38 volunteers. An executive Students may be sumarized briefly as committee is composed of three men, follows: Amount of money pledged, one from each class. Upon this com- about $4,000; volunteers secured, six; mittee devolves the duty-first, to find a considerable degree of interest an opening for the band to present awakened in churches and societies of their cause in churches in the city and Christian Endeavor.
vicinity, aiming specially to reach Reports from the State of Ohio young men and young women. Sec- show aggressive work on the part of ()nd, to appoint groups of men, each some of the volunteers. During a visit group comprising three men, to pre- of Mr. Wilder to Allegheny College in pare on one topic-say China, or Af- Pennsylvania, a brother and sister rica, or Japan. Third, to appoint a volunteered; afterwards they went to captain for each group. Mount Union College, Ohio, and at The duties of the captain of each once began to work enthusiastically group are as follows: First. corre- for missions, and as a result a band of spondencewith mission boards relative seventeen was formed. In coming to his particular field, as, for example, from Findlay to Ada College, Ohio, the to ascertain the number of men and corresponding member of the State amount of money needed for special had to wait for a train at Lima. Just before train tillie, opportunity was to talk. The young woman volun offered to call on a young lady who was thinking of offering herself as a teered, andwill probably enter the field missionary. He had but eight minutes as a representative of one of the Lima.
churches. M.
Notes on Africa. the audience was stirred by the fare- well appeals of the three young speak- -By the last Congo mail intelli- ers. In a personal interview with Mr. gence was conveyed of the lamented Brooke, one is impressed with his un-· death of the Rev. J. G. Brown, a mis- daunted determination to carry the· sionary connected with the English Gospel to the sixty millions of bronzed Baptist Missionary Sooiety. skins in the Western Soudan, whither he is essaying for the fourth time to. -A telegram from Zanzibar, Janu- proclaim it. ary 18, announces a very heavy loss of Arab life at the recent engagement -The Convener of the Foreign Miswith Bwana Heri, whose son, Abdul- sionsCommitteeof the Church of Scotlah, Mr. Brooks'murderer, is declared land has received a letter from the to have been mortally wounded. Rev. David Clement Scott, superin- tendent of the Blantyre Mission, East -Hundreds of slaves are being en- Central Africa, under date November listed on the Zanzibar mainland for la- 12, intimating that at that time all was. bor on the Congo. Large advances of well. When he wrote, news hRd reachmoney tempt the owners to loan these ed Blantyre reporting war on the Shire wretched human chattels. River, in which several of the Makololo had been slain by the Portuguese -It seems that the Arab slave pro- troops. Mr. Scott enclosed a copy of prietors ridicule the Sultan's recent the Declaration of Protection served enactment, making all slaves free who on the Portuguese, bearing.the seal of returned to his dominions after the Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at date of November 1, 1889. Verily, the Nyassa, presumably Mr. Consul John- Brussels Anti-Slavery Conference has ston, signed at Molomba, Makololo. a task which demands unwavering country, September 21, 1889. The deczeal and superhuman resolveI laration was printed by the mission boys at Blantyre. In addition to a -The report of Mr. A. M. Mackay's specification of the boundaries from intended withdrawal from the Uganda the junction of the Ruo with the Shire, Mission to accept a position under the and eastward to the Milanje moun- British East African Company, is not tains, and again northward to the upcredited by the Church Missionary per Shire, the document states that the Society.• From a conversation with Makololos,Yaos, and Machingas,chiefs. Mr. Eugene Stock, of the C.M.S., I was and tribes, desire henceforth British informed that the enterprising com- protection. pany doubtlessly regard the heroic Scotchman with covetous eyes, which -Bishop Smythies, of the Universimust have been intensified since Mr. ties Mission, after visiting the mis- Stanley penned, a few months back, sions on Lake Nyassa, called at Blanhis magnificent tribute to him in the tyre October 4th, remaining there vivid narration which he sent to Mr. until the 21st. During his sojourn Bruce, the son-in-law of Dr. Livings- he conducted two Scotch services. tone. Subsequently the Bishop descended the Shire as far as the Ruo confluence, -At a notable valedictory mission- but failing to persuade his boatmen to ary gathering in Manchester, on Janu- continue the voyage, he re-ascended ary 23, 1890, to Mr. Graham Wilmot the river and went a second time to Brooke, Dr. Battersby and Rev. Eric Lewis, who form one-half of the new Niger and Soudan Mission, identified with the Church Missionary Society, Blantyre, November 1st. On the 11th support these men, and to have them he hazarded an overland march to prayerfully in cons!;a.nt remem- Quillimane afoot, where he safely ar- brance. It is a grave undertaking for rived about December 1st. Proceed- a young mission to send forth these ing north by a Donald Currie steamer, young ardent brethren, but the Lord he eventually returned to Zanzibar on is rich in mercy, and will hear the the 19th of Jannary in a dhow from cry of those who fear Him. Magila by way of Pangani. The Germans have shown him the utmost con- -African and European Influence. sideration. Above Zanzibar the coast Mr. Joseph Thomson, the African is reported quiet and safe.-Our Eng- traveler, gave a recent lecture to the lish Oorrespondent, Y. M. C. A. of St. Cuthbert Church, Edinburgh, on "The Results to the -Lord Salisbury has devoted him- African of European IntercoUrse." <self to master the tangled web of Afri- There were about 2,000 persons prescan affairs. The line of his pollcy ap- ent. In the course of his remarks, Mr. pears to be, not to burden the State Thomson said he was able to say from with increased duties, but by a pro- his own observation, and not merely {leSS of devolution to secure the bene- from missionaries, what had been the fits of good government and the nature of the results to the African of development of their resources for European intercourse, and to put a extensive territories in the Dark pin into the beautiful iridescent bub- Continent, by the formation of char- ble which his hearers had had so often tered companies. The terms of these placed before them. He ~ould un- <:harters vary according to the special hesitatingly affirm in the plainest lanrequirements of the districts to begov- guage, that, so far as our intercourse erned, but in all they are very string- with the African race was concerned, ent, and secure protection of the instead of it being a blessing, it had native races, impose severe restric- been little better than an unmitigated tions as to the sale of alcohol, and curse to them. There were, no doubt, maintain freedom of trade. We have many things full of promise, but as first the Niger Company, then the Im- yet merely of promise. Our comperial British East Africa Company, merce with Africa had consisted and the latest is the British Zambesia chiefly in gin, gunpowder, and guns, or the South African Company. Prob- alongside of which the good we had ably others may follow. Why should tried to achieve was hardly discernthere not be one for Calabar, where ible. Taken as a whole, our,trading our own Church has proseCuted mis- stations on the greater part of the west sions so successfully for half a cen- coast of Africa, instead of being century? ters of elevating influence, were cen- ters of corrnption, moral and physical. -The first number of The Soudan Trading ships were laden with gin out and Regions Beyond has appeared. of all proportion to the carriage of H. Grattan Guinness is the editor. useful articles. He then spoke of the The object of the jourual is to dis- success of the Mohammedan missionseminate information regarding the aries in some parts of Africa as com- Soudan, and like territories awaiting pared with the failure of the Christian the missionary and evangelist; also, missionaries. The reason of the sucto report the development of the Kan- cess of the Mohammedans was that sas Pionee:c Soudan Mission, and the they only presented that amount of movements of the missionaries, the good which the negro could comprefirst batch of whom will soon be on hend and make part of himself. On their way to attempt pioneer work the other hand, the Christian missionbeyond the Kong mountains. Many ary, instead of simplifying the presenindividual churches have promised to tation of the Gospel, had generally second gateway the sentry was "stalk- done his best to stupefy the negro with ed," and an entry was forced. Three views and doctrines which were men who guarded the inner gate were largely incomprehensible. Once the asked to permit an entrance, and after negro was educated in the right man- a show of resistance they did so. The ner, there would be splendid results. narrative continues: " We then went as the negro, with all his intellectual all around the temple and photo- deficiencies, is very religious. His graphed. The Chinamen watched us hearers might ask whether, seeing that but did not interfere. Then we said, European intercourse had had such 'Now open the temple; we must go results, they should not retire from inside.' They were horrified by our Africa dtogether. His answer was, presumption. But we went up to the " No, a thousand times no!" On all doorway and tried it, without effect.
sides he saw signs of the approach of a At last I saw a hole in the door. I better day, for the negro men's eyes put my hand in, and the alarm of the were being opened to what was doing Chinamen showed me I was on the in Africa. Governments were becom- track. I soon found a bolt and open- ing more and more alive to the evils ed the door. Then K–, in the most of the present system, and were striv- commanding tone, told them to open ing to check the liquor traffic which the windows, as we wanted light.
had been established. The sympa- Strange to say, when once we had thetic ear of the Houses of Parliament beaten them they yielded and did was open, the churches of all denomi- what they were told." The English- nations were lending their aid, and man and his companion triumphed merchants were becoming alive to the over all obstacles. They forced their fact that they were engaged in a traffic way by sheer audacity into a temple of which they should be ashamed. regarded by the Chinese with extreme The Royal Niger Company and the reverence, and an attempt to enter Imperial British African Company which on the part of foreigners was were working in the right direction, likely, they had been told, to be at- while the efforts of the missionaries at tended with trouble and riot. Detail- Lake Nyassa and other parts of Africa ing the story at this distance of time, were all tending, he hoped, to good it is only fair to the Englishman con- results in the future. cerned to say that he admits having China.-The Temple of Heaven, nothing to boast of. It may be lately destroyed by fire, was re- asked what would be thought of a garded by the followers of Confu- Hindu or a Buddhist who in a Chris- cius as a holy of holies, and no profane tian land forced his way into a special- foot was everallowed to enter it. Per- lysacred temple,and proceeded to take mission was never given to a European sketches for the edification or amuse..
to inspect the temple. And yet in the ment of his co-religionists at home.
year 1875 an adventurous Englishman Such' 'an insolent barbarian," to quote managed not only to obtain an entry, a phrase which Lord Palmerston made but to secure photographs of the in- famous, would probably get six months terior and exterior of this jealously- for sacrilege and church-breaking. If guarded edifice. The gentleman in a religious riot had followed the inva- question reveals how, in spite of the sion and profanation of the Temple of warnings of the British Minister, he Heaven, the audacious Britisher might contrived to defy and' outwit John have paid the penalty with his life, in Chinaman. The temple was sur- which case reparation would have rounded by three moats, the first of been dem:mded and war !night have which the Englishman and a friend ensued. But who would have been climbed without difficulty. At the really in the wrong? -Rev. Henry V. Noyes, writing demned by the British Parliament. from Canton, China, January 7th, Government official replies intimate says: "We arrIved safely in Canton that the Indian Government have been on the 19th of October, after an un- instructed to enforce the regnlations. usually pleasant voyage, and have been well since. I am at present en- -Wesleyan Students and the Mis-· gaged in building a lay schoolliouse sionary Cause. Following the exand a dwelling, both of which I trust ample of the Students of the Richwill be ready for occupancy before the mond, Headingley and Handsworth middle of the year. We will be able Wesleyan Training Colleges, those of the Manchester Didsbury Instito accommodate 100 scholars, and ex- tution have held their first anni-· versary gathering in the city. Oldpect tohavethatnumber."-Dr. J. T. time Methodist hymns were sung, Gracey. and the inaugural assembly bespoke greater consecration for work abroad. -The Chronicle of the London Mis- Some years ago, foreign mission stu-· sionary Society for January gives an dents were located in Richmond, but it, extended review of the case of Rev. was subsequently arranged to distri- John Jones, who, on December, 1887, bute this class among all the colleges. was forcibly expelled by the French The wisdom of that step was indicated authorities of New Caledonia from the by the dispatch of 17 Didsbury men island of Mare, which had been his into the' foreign field. In the able home and the scene of his labors for 33 speeches upon the various phases of years. The Government allowed him missionary labor, prominence was only one hour to pack his effects and given to recent assaults on missions, arrange for going on the French man- showing that confidence had not been of-war to Noumea. The French Gov- shaken in the ultimate triumph of the ernmenthaving refused,on application cause. of the British Government, to review the case, the Secretary of the London -Charges against Wesleyan Mis- Missionary Society succinctly reviews sionaries in India. Far and wide it for the judgment of the world. throughout Wesleyan nnsslOnary circles the letters in the Methodist· Notes on England. Times (London) in the spring of 1889, produced, and continue to excite keen. -English Wesleyan Foreign Mis- controversy. These were written sions – Social Purity in India. To the Marquis of Salisbury and Lord under the nom de plume, "A Friend Cross, Secretary of State for India, of Missions," upon such questions as· the Secretary of the Social Purity the cost of missionaries' accommoda-· Committee of the Wesleyan Con- tions and provisions, and also concernference has forwarded important ing modes of preaching and higher resolutions adopted by 3,437 "Vesleyan education. The missionary organiza- Methodist churches, representing 353 tion in India was exposed to a galling circuits, protestingagainst theinaction fire. This bold attack became the burnof the Indian authorities in giving ef- ing question at the Wesleyan Conferfect to the resolution of the House of ence in Sheffield last year. To the Indi- Commons of June 5,1888, forbidding an brethren a message of confidence the continuance of licensed prostitution was sent. At a later date, the Bangalore in counection with the military estab- Conference of Wesleyan missionaries lishments of India; further, that so was held, of which the official report far from a distinct recognition of the has been issued and sent to England. act bearing on the question being ap- The document contains fully reporteci plied in the Cantonments Bill (India), speeches, refutations of the accusant's there are signs that the way is still veracity, and a demand for a Commisleft open for the vice so loudly consion of Inquiry. Four of the English upon the opportunity presented in the year missionary secretaries discouraged the 1800 under the Additional Article of the Chere-opening of the subject, which is not foo Agreement (ratified May 6, 1886), to termishared by the body of the influential nate that Article, and to secure the execution missionary committee. As the Rev. of anew treaty repealing the Tientsin Treaty, Hugh Price Hughes, editor of The as far as it relates to opium, and also enacting Methodist Times,makes common cause the prohibition of the legalized importation of with his contributor, Dr. Lunn, who opium into China. is now a minister of the famous London West-End Mission, the case is The agitation of the subject of reaggravated. It is apparent that un- stricted importation of opium into less the fathers and brethren at home Australia is meeting with encouragmak~ a thorough investigation, the In- ing results. It is led by a Christian dian missionaries will insist on another Chinaman named Cheok Hong' form of c..onstitution with regard to Cheong.-Dr. J. T. Gracey. the home department. Many of the brethren in India would have occupied -There are 17 Presbyterian mishigh positions as scholars and preach- sionary societies, including the Reers in bTeat Britain, and for these ab- formed (Dutch) Church, laboring in sent workers both sympathy and jus- India. Of these 11 are American and tice are the least obligations. After a Canadian, and 6 are British. Ninebrief sojourn in India, in the capacity teen years ago a movement was beof a medical missionary, the failure of gun to brin~ the Presbyterians of In- Dr. Lunn's health necessitated his re- dia into closer relations. In 1872 a turn to England.-Our English Cor- conference was held in Allahabad in repsoodent. which 8 missions were represented, and it was resolved to hold thence- India. – The Opium Traffic.- forth general conventions of Presby- The Bombay Guardian is sending out terian ministers and elders for cousulthe following form of petition, with tation concerning the general inter· the hope, of course, that Christians ests of Presbyterianism in India. The everywhere, without regard to coun- first conference pursuant to this pur· try, or sect, or language, ~ sign pose was held the next year, nine and circulate the same, and send it to presbyteries being represented, and the Guardian at Bombay, to be sent the Presbyterian Alliance of India. to the proper authorities. We pre- and Ceylon was organized. A consti– sent it in the hope that it will help tution was submitted to the various;~ the several missionary societies and missions, and another conference of: others, who have lately been agitating the alliance was held in 1875. Th~ the subject in America. It reads : objects of the alliance, as then set forth, were these: To the Emperor and Supreme Executive Oouncil of China: 1. To promote mutual sympathy and the We, the undersigned ministers and mem- sense of unity among the Presbyterian Churches in India. bers of Christian Churches, desire to record our sorrow at the moral and physical havoc 2. To arrange for co-operation and mutual. which has been wrought among the people of help. China in consequence of the Opium policy of the British Government-a policy which has S. To promote the stability and self-support been totally at variance with the principles of of the native churches, and to encourage them the Christian religion. in direct labor for the evangelization of In- dia. We respectfully express our deep sympathy with the Supreme Authorities of China in 4. To prepare the way for an Organic Union. their desire to save their nation from the among the native Presbyterian churches in curse of the opium habit; and, in order to India. further so wise and laudable an object, we would emphasiee the importance of acting The Conference, or Council of the Alliance, meets every three years, the fifth Council having been held last December in Calcutta. This Council seems to have been the most import- ant of t·he whole series. Action W[lS taken on the subject of a united Pres- It was sadly felt that in Italy, called byteriln Church for India, by the " the Paradise of Europe," where su- adoption of bases for union in local perstition and error had reigned, a organization and in doctrine and pol- wide reaching infidelity was creeping ity. The way to this action was pre- over several of the provinces. With pared by the appointment by a num- the cessation of the excitement in ber of the presbyteries, of members Italy on behalf of the Gospel, which for a General Committee on the sub- was manifested when the nation ject of union, which submitted a re- achieved its freedom, the messengers port to the Council, which the Council of the truth were quietly sowing the adopted. The bases of union will be life-giving seed. Dr. R. H. Gunning 'submitted to thepresbyteries andto the promises£300for extending operations, Home Churches for approval. Our In- and, especially for the propagation of dia exchanges report the proceedings religious liberty whenever jeopanlized briefly, but do not give the articles of by Romish apostasy. He offei'S £100 .agreement. That the Home Churches yearly to continue the crusade, and a will cordially approve the effort to similar amount he contributes to the secure union is hardly to be questioned. The principle of co-operation Evangelical Publication Sooietr.-Our and union in the mission field has been settled by the concurrent deliv- English Oorrespondent. erances of General Synods and Gen- S~oOand.-Foreign Mission eral Assemblies on both sides of the Atlantic, and the action of the Pan- Work of the Church of Scotland. Dr. Presbyterian Council has been one of cordial approval. Marshall Lang lately remarked that there was no feature or development of Italy.-Italian Evangelization recent years of greater interest than Society. The deputies of the Scottish the organization of woman's work. churches who attended the recent bi- Apart from matrimonial requirecentenary celebrations of the"Glorious ments, the place and sphere of woman Return "of the W aldensians to their were being growingly recognized, as native cantons, have delivered graphic shown by the many ways in which narratives to their fellow-countrymen. woman was standing forth a true By the bravery, endurance, persever- help-meet for man, bearing life's burance and strong faith of the heroes, dens, doing life's work, and especially Dr. Andrew Thomson said it appeared in the channels of philanthropy, bethat their providential guidance and nevolence, and service. vindicating rescue was one of the most interesting the high ground and duty that belong chapters in all human history. Both towoman. This view wasemphasized health and piety would be invigorated by the recent gathering of that'newly by a visit to the Waldensian valleys. founded auxiliary, the Church of Scot- Happily, the inhabitants of the valleys land Fellow Workers' Union for Jewwere prosperous, which allowed the ish and Foreign Missions in Edinburgh. money sent from Scotland and other Centralized there, it had branches all countries to be devoted to mission over Scotland, and one each in London work exclusively. The Society was and Canada. It was now affiliated the only effective evangelistic agency with the Ladies' Association for Forin Italy. Its spiritual emancipation eignMissions, and the Ladies' Associwould-if ever realized-be accom- ation for the Christian Education of plished through the Waldensian Jewish Females. Present organizachurch. To it might be advantage- tions were strengthened by its existously committed the spread of a much ence, which confirmed the axiom that needed pure literature in that land. the opening up of a new vein of mis- sionary enterprise generally aids sister institutions. The Rev. Dr.Norman Mac- leod urged more consideration for the workers in the Jewish mission fields, as waters. If there is any hole in this these, in some cases, were as binding as edict through which the proverbial many parts of the heathen world. Up- " coach and four" can be driven, it is on the work in the Punjab, Mr. Welles- to be found in the exception of "black ley Bailey observed that a more hope- slaves going abroad as servants of ful territory has never fallen to the their masters or mistresses, or em- lot of a mission committee, to which ployed as sailors on board trading ves- the eyes of the friends of missions were sels." Such slaves cannot, like the being turned. The position was of others, obtain their freedom by claim- .supreme importance. Roman CathO- ing it, and securing certificates of lic encroachments troubled them. manumission from local authorities Houses for the priests and a nunnery and free passports to return home.
were in course of erection. The Pro- There are also in the edict provisions testants were attacked by Rome's emis- for the punishment of th!J masters ;Saries, who, instead of seeking to make and owners of vessels carrying slaves <converts from the heathen, made across the seas. In such cases the proselytes of young Hindu Protestant slaves are to be confiscated.
believers. They were required to keep But will this excellent edict be car- watch against this spiritual sheep- ried out? This question is especially :stealing. Miss H. R. Anderson spoke important, in view of the fact that {)f the Poona Mission. 'l;he Foreign the two main outlets for the slave Secretary said that Africa filled the trade of the Soudan-Tripoli and the })Ublic mind, where the missionary Arabian coast-are within the bounds {)utlook was one of mingled anxiety of the Turkish Empire. While there and hopefulness. By a communica- can be no guarantees that Turkish tion from Lord .Salisbury, assuring tribunals, if left to themselves, will "them of his regard to the situation and carry out the law with any more effi- "the just claims of the missions and ciency than they have other laws of a missionaries, the Church of Scotland similar character, there are some rea- had been much gratified. In alluding sons for hope that hereafter those to the East African Missions, Miss H. tribunals will not be left to do entirely C. Reid anticipated that it was a di- as they please. Undoubtedly the influ- vision of the Dark Continent destined ence of England and Germany was "to be the battle-field of civilization.- potential in securing this edict. These Our English Oorrespondent. and other European powers will MiscellaneoU8.-Turkey and hardly fail to see that its humane the Slave Trade. Apparently antici- provisions are enforced, by requiring pating the action of the Anti-Slavery their own consuls to keep a sharp eye Congress at Brussels, and perhaps de- on the Turkish authorities along the ~liring to place itself in a more favora- African coast. If this should result in ble position before the civilized world, pricking up these sluggish officials to the Ottoman Government has issued do their duty, it would be a big blow an edict, which, if it means anything to the slave trade. This may be the (which is always doubtful with Tur- first fruits of the Berlin Conference.- key), may lead to a restriction, and The Evangelist.
linally to the abolition of the slave -Startling Facts. Writers on mis- trade in quarters where it has hitherto sion work necessarily deal with thou- flourished. The new edict prohibits sands and millions. Who can realize "the commerce, entry, and passage what a million really means? We of black slaves in the Ottoman Em- . notice it is calculated that at least pire and its dependencies "-a prohi- 1,200,000,000 people in " Pagan, Papal, bition which applies to the markets of and Moslem communities" are with- Tripoli and Arabia and to all Turkish out a knowledge of the pure Gospel,
"MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
and that" the whole missionary force South in the great civil war, by Gerof the world, including native help- many to France yet more recently?- ers, falls considerably below 40,000 !" We have not yet realized the magni- Is this an adequate army for the con- tude of the enterprise. Our contribuquest of the world? It is often said tions of money and men are out of all that the churches giveas much money proportion small to the greatness of and as many men as they can afford. the war in which we are engaged.- Do they? The incomes of Great The Freeman (London). Britain, according to Income Tax returns, amount to £554,022,000. A -Sir Edward Arnold, author of very small proportion of this is de- "The Light of Asia," was a passenger voted to the greatest of all expedi- with Rev. Dr. Ashmore on the Belgic, tions. Each individual has only to from San Francisco to Yokohama, compare his contribution to his total and in conversation with him said income, and he will see that it is that "The Light of Asia" was to be not in proportion to the claims of regarded simply as a poem. In rethe Saviour and of the perishing gard to his supposed views, he said :- 1,200,000,000 of human beings. _Dr. Pierson-than whom there is not a " I have been criticised for an implied commore reliable missionary statistician- parison between Buddhism and Christianity in thinks that during the last 35 years regard to doctrines derived from them and_ 1,500,000 lives have been lost on the prinCiplescontained in them, respectively. No battle fields of the world. When such object was in mind. For me, Christianshall we ilend out armies equal in ity, rightly viewed, is the crown queen of re– number and costliness to the armies ligion, Immensely superior to every other; Bent out by the allied nations to the and, though I am so great an admirer of Crimea, by the Northern States to the much that is great in Hindu philosophy and religion, I would not give one verse of the Sermon on the Mount away for twenty epic poems like the Mahabharata, nor exchange the Golden Rule for twenty new Upanashads."- lII.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Burmah. widely separated places. .Some have never [Weare permitted to give extracts seen each other. from the following letter to Dr. W. C. "Let me sketch our course: Frfday, A.. M., Wilkinson.-EDs. ] 3 o'clock, we were up, and off before 4, from Wakema. We stopped for breakfast at 9 at a- "BASSEIN DISTRICT, July 1, 1890. Karen village that 1 once described in The "I wish you were on the other end of Examiner. At 2 P. M. we were at Tee-pa-Ieh, the board I am sitting on. I wish you had and went first to the farthest family, with only been with me on tlIis four days' trip; but I one Chrlstian in it. They sent and called a will tell you about it. There is one good Bur- man and his wife, both Christians, and with mese brother on the stern, and another on the these three we spent an hour or two, and I bow. If it rains they wear great hats. Inside prayed with them before we came away. Then sits my cook, and farther back I am writing, we stopped for the night with another family, sitting astride of a board that runs lengthwise man and wife Christians, and two men came through the boat, much as the boys sit on a in, who were also Christians. We talked, read, double runner. I have on rubber boots, and sang, and prayed. The brethren said they don't mind the water that is sure to be in the were not sleepy, but, as 1 was, I crawled under bottom of the boat this time of year-the rainy. my net and slept till morning, when we were When I straighten up my head hits the bam- off at 5. This is one of my most promising boos of the roof. centres. They meet and worship Sundays, "We are on our way home to Wakema. I and say that some neighbors come in with have asked my brethren to give a guess, without stopping to think, how many Burmese them. Christians we have met on this trip. The bow guessed 15 and the stern 20. Then I recalled "At 9 A. M., Saturday, we were at a single the names, and found there were 18. It has been a useful trip. These 18 live in four house where a Christian couple live, whom I baptized about a year ago. As elsewhere, we were warmly welcomed. We had breakfast- here, much converse, and worship. The man bailed out his little boat, and paddled along seem to be praying for her recovery earn- with us for some five hours to the next place, ,Six House Row, where we were to spend Snn- estly, and we are not discouraged in respect of day. After we were well housed, how the rain did pour and the wind blow I We were glad her recovery, only leaving the country seems not to be on the big river in our little boat. I wish I had space to tell you of the range of essential to it. Our very excellent doctor, ,subjects included in our conversation. One was Stanley's difficulties in getting through who has attended her two months, is decided the jungle to Emin Beyl Don't imagine that this indicates general information, for they in his advice on this point, but we hope to stay only knew of it from a note in our monthly paper. But I will rather tell you of Sunday. till1S90. " At 7 A. M. a class to study the Bible. We took " BASSEIN, July 6. Luke =iii, first part. Nine Christians, includ- "I received news'as to Mrs. Jameson's health, ing the two with me, formed a circle on the verandah fioor, and read around, a verse very discouraging. Came home to Bassein, apiece, wlille I asked questions and made explanations. I called on one brother to pray but took two places on my way, and have .at the beginning, and another at the close. seen, all told, about 45 of our people on this "At 10.30 I read the rest of the chapter, with ~xplanations, and then spoke for twenty min- trip. " "Your brother, utes from' Ye are bought with a price, therefore,' etc. Some were in besides the Chris- "M. JAMESON." tians. There was good attention, and it seemed an impressive service. At 2 P. M. one Ohina. <>f the brethren with me led a meeting, and ,spoke from the words, 'Ye are the salt of the THE NUMBER OF BUDDIDSTS. earth.' There are resident here and near-by 10 Christians, and the promise is good. I [We quite agree with our editorial ~ould tell you some encouraging things of them correspondent, Dr. Happer, in his es- timate of the strength of Buddhism. had I space. Sir. Edward Arnold's claim, in his "We were off at 5.30 this A. M. Have spent " Light of Asia," is most preposterous, ,an hour or more with a Christian family, and equally untrustworthy is the estiwhose home we reached at 8 o'clock. We ate mate made in " The Ten Religions of rice there and had worship. Now we are go- the World." Itis not wise that Chrising home, and shall be seven or eight hours tians should give currency to any such about it. If you were on the other end of this false representations.-J. M. S.] board I would let you entertain me ; but I am not at a loss in that respect, though I was dis- DEAR EDITORS: To those praying and laborappointed not to have the newspaper ac- ing for the conversion of the world, it is a subcounts of the May meetings for my reading on ject of great interest to inquire what is the ihis trip. number of inhabitants in the world. The best authorities give 1,400,000,000 as the present "It may interest you to know that I have population of the earth. This is a vast multi- ~ot seen a chair in any house since I left Wa- tude of people. The human mind labors to kema, but plenty of American kerosene oil grasp such a vast number. We talk of it boxes, which make good enough seats, or back- and write about it; but what an inadequate rests, while one is stretched out on a mat, conception do we have of it. This multitude, ~amp fashion. comprising the people of all lands, of aU tribes and nations, are members of the human fam- "I hope I need not tell you that nike this ily. The command of our Lord and Saviour is, lrind of work. It seems to be according to the " Go ye into all the world and preach the Gos- Great Commission, though this trip has been pel to every creature !,-to every one of this ratherfor edification of believers, as necessary number. as any kind of work, in my opinion. There seems to be more promise in my district in SOIDe writers on the classification of the manifold ways than ever before. While I population of the world, according to the rewould like to work uninteITllptedly, the pros- ligion they follow, have estimated the number pect is that on account of Mrs. Jameson's of Christians of all denominations-Protesbroken health we shall both be obliged to tants, Roman Catholics and Greeks-to be 420, leave the field. Whether I return to Bassein 000,000. This leaves nearly one billion-or, as immediately, or make another trip, will de- others would express it, nearly 1,000,000,000 to pend upon the news I find waiting for me at be followers of other religious systems. The Wakema. Nothing could be more grateful most widely diffused non-Christian religions than the loving inquiries as to her health at are the Mohammedan, the Braminical, the the places we have visited. They certainly Confucian, the Buddhistic religion and Fetish worshippers. These are again subdivided into the Monotheistic religion of Mohammed, and all the others which may be classed as idolatrous, in that they worship idols; or polytheists, in that they all worship many gods.
It h~s been, by some writers, made a subject of investigation, to determine how many per- sons may be classified as followers of these different systems of non·Christian religions. The populations of Ceylon, Siam, Burmah, and In the census taken in 1881, by the British Gov· Thibet are nearly all Buddhists. They are" ernment in India,the Populati<JP.s of the several found in large numbers in Mongolia, Man- provinces are classified in reference to their churia and Japan. religions under the following desjgna.tlons, viz.: "Hindus,·' " Sikhs," "Mohammedans," esti- We may give the following numbers as " Buddhists," "Christians," " others," and religions not known. A very common classi· mates of the number of Buddhists in these fication is to say, that 800,000,000 are pagans or several countries, as follows: Siam, 10,000,000; idolaters. The most populous countries in the Thibet, 6,000,000; Burmah, 4,000,000; Cevlon, world are China and India. The population of 2,000,000; India, 4,842,407; Mongolia, 3,000,000; India, as given in the census taken by the Eng· Manchuria, 10,000,000; China, 20,000,000, and lish Government, is 254,000,000. The estima.ted Japan, 19,000,000; and we have an estimated population of China va.ries from 280,000,000, to number of Buddhists in these various countries 400,000,000. In india, the great portion of the ofJlO,342,407. Professor Monier Williams, the population is classed as Hindus. It is stated distinguished Indian scholar, has published that in all the provinces of India the number his opinion that 100,000,000 would be a" large estimate of the number of Buddhists in the o.f Buddhists is 4,842,407. various countries where they are found. But Mr. Edwin Arnold, in the preface to his "Light , In the census taken in China by the Chinese of Asia," written to glorify Buddhism and to Government, there is no effort to classify the disparage Christianity, states the number of population according to the religion professed. Buddhists to be 470,000,000. He would claim. It is commonly said that there are three relig· for this system a greater following than that ions professed in China, viz.: Confucianism, of any other system. The above statements Buddhism, Taoism. Thefirst and second are in· of the number of .followers of the non·Chris· digenous to China. The second one was intro· tian systems show that Confucianism, with its duced into "China in the first century. A. D. say 250,000,000; Hinduism, wtth its 150,000,000, While all these are acknowledged, and toler· and Mohammedanism, with its 140,000,000, ated by, the Government, and their different have each a mOre numerous following than forms of worship and temples are found in all Buddhism. It is probable that the Il/ttive parts of the land, yet they are by no means idolatrous system of Africa has also a larger held in the same degree of respect. If a cen· following than Buddhism. It has been esti· sus could be"taken in the same way that the mated to be 130,000,000. In order to make out census was taken in India by the British Gov· the number of 470,000,000, Mr. Arnold had to ernment, classifying the people as they would accept the highest estimate of the population repol't themselves as adherents of one or other of China to be correct, and to count them an 0: these three religions, there is no doubt in as Buddhists; and also to count all the popu· the mind of anyone acquainted wtih the feel· lation of Japan to be Buddhists. In this classi- ings of the people of China, but that the vast fication he is not supported by any of the majority "of the people would declare them· authorities on these countries. selVeJ as Confucianists. Confucianism is the Stab religion of the empire. All the officers Notwithstanding that this estlmste of Mr. and the literatti are Confu!)ianists. Confucius Arnold is unsupported by reliable authorities, is exclusively worshipped in all the schools in many Christian writers, not considering the Chins. However tolerated, the other two reo reason why Mr. Arnold has placed the number ligions are practically denounced as heretical' 80 high, whicn is to disparage the Christian religion, and to hold up that Buddhism has a The best known writers on China confirm greater number of adherents than Christianity, this opinion in their writings. Dr. Williams, in follow his incorrect estimate, and repeat the "The Middle Kingdom, " says: "In China no statement that Buddhism has a greater num' one is called a Buddhist except the priests and ber of believers than any other system of be· nuns" (p. 250, Vol. II., 1st edition). Rev. Dr. lief. Whereas, according to the figures given Edkins, who has written so fully on Chinese above, Christianity has more than four times Buddhism, writes, in answer to inquiries by as many followers as Professor Monier Wi!· me: "Strictly speaking, no Chinese could be li8.I!lS assigns to Buddhism; and of the non· called Buddhists except those who have their Christian systems of faith, Confucianism has heads shaved, of both sexes, i. e., the priests nearly three times as many believers as Budd· and nuns of this faith. Chinese historians hism; Hinduism has nearly twice as many, only clas8 priests and nuns as Buddhists." If and Mohammedanism and Fetishism each has the statements of these two writers are ac- a much larger number of followers than Buddcepted as the basis of an estlmste of the num· hism. ber of professed Buddhists in Chins, it would make the number less than 20,000,000, and the In a sin mined world, it is not at all surprisvast population of China, whatever it may be, ing that the true religion should not have a8 must be classed as Confucianists. The estimate many believers"as the false systems. It was of Confucianists will vary with the estimate of when the men in the world had forgotten God, the population, from 240,000,000 to 880,000,000. .. and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like unto corruptible man, and to birds and four-footed beasts and one to every 500,000 people. Let us diverge a moment, and consider how it is in Japan. creeping things," that God sent his Son into Forty millions of people and 550 missionthe world to recover the world back to the aries, or one to less than every 75,000 people. Look at China, with its 800 or 400 Inillions of knowledge of the true God. The work of the people, and over 1,000 missionaries, 01' one to conversion of the world started from nothing about every 800,000 people. Korea certainly to overcome the opposition "of the world, the makes by far the poorest show in workers.
fIesh and the devil," and to overthrow and .And yet what are the resnltsf As I have written you before, the results are more supplantall false systems of faith and worship. marked than in the opening up of any other field. The Lord is not dependent upon num- The present number of adherents of Christi- bers. He is not dependent upon equipments. He, and He alone, can bring about the converanity shows the progress it has made in these sion of this people.
1,890 years of its existence, and the prepara.- Let us again tabulate results. In July, 1886, the first convert haptized. In September, tion God has made for its onward march. 1887, first church organized of ten members. At the en,d of 1887 the membership was over That it will go forward "conquering and to twenty. At the end of 1888 over fifty. At the end of 1889 it is over 100. This is of the Presconquer," until every laIJ,d-1tnd people has byteiian-Church alone. come under its most ben~cent influence, we What hath the Lord wrought in our most fully believe. "Not pne jot Or tittle" of midst!
all God's most gracious promises shall fail of Here is this land, and what does it need? It needs a body of men consecrated to their their fulfillment till the glad shout is raised, ::Ifaster, who will go out and preach the gos- pt'l to all. It needs men who shall be prepar- "the kingdoms of this world have become the ing to teach others, and raise up a native min· istry among this people. They must be men kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ." Let the of talent, men of education, men who know the Bible, but, above all, men of God, filled people of God gird up their loins and put on with the Spirit. It needs men who shall ac- quire the langnage, and shall then translate the whole armor of God, and go forth to this the Scriptures from the original into Korean. They must be men of learning, and well acgreat and blessed warfare not in any spirit of quainted with the Bible in the original; men of ability, well able to acquire a language, as fear or doubt. Let the enemy boast and mag- yet scarcely reduced to system; but, above all, close followers of the Master, so that they may nify their vantage ground-that the multitude know His will.
is with them; "greater are they that are with The Romanists are hard at work here; their followers now number thousands; their workus than they that are with the enemy." The ers are scattered all over the country, and it is for Protestantism to say whether she will God of grace shall give us the victory through give this land to Rome and her perve..-.-ed Christianity, or whether she will take it fol', our Lord Jesus Christ. The Dark Continent, Christ. Now is the time for Korea. Workers are needed now. They will first have to acwith its unnumbered millions now sunk in the quire the langnage, but if there were Po score more missionaries in this land to-day with a deepest ignorance and superstition, and the complete knowledge of the language, every one of them would have his hands more than multitudinous followers of Hinduism, Confu- full.
cianism and Buddhism, shall all come to ac- The talk about inability to do active work Is false. Active work is carried on, and has been knowledge Jesus of Nazareth as the "Light of steadily increasing for over three years. Whether we can work or not,we do not discuss; the world" and the only Teacher of the ages. all we do say is we do work, and the Lord in His mercy blesses our labors. The followers of the false Prophet shall come Let the church pray for us during this year, to have a new war-cry put in their mouth, and let many hear the Master's call, and go where he beckons. and rejoice to know that Jehovah, the God of " Come over and help us." Abraham is the true Lord, and Jesus is His H. G. UNDERWOOD.
Prophet and the Saviour of the world.
Yours in the faith and hope of the Gospel, CANTON, Jan. 8,1890. A. P. HAI'PER.
Korea.
FROM oUR EDIToRIAL CORRESPONDENT AT SEOUL.
It is a long while since a line has come from Korea, and now, as we have just passed the end of another year, it may be well to let all know what the Lord has been doing for this land. It is called the Land of the Morning Calm, and it almost seems as though the mOrning of the gospel were just now about to dawn. The people are as ready as ever, and the limit to the work and to the results Is only the number of worker8 on the field.
Here is a country of twelve millions of peo· pIe, fol' over five years open to the gospel, that has shown its willingness to receive the gospel, in the resnlts th8.t have already been obtained, to which, in His providence, God has been calling loudly to His Church to send workers, and yet to-day, in this whole land, to feed all these hungry souls, there are, counting in the four new.arrivals that have reached there withlIi the last few weeks, a paltry 24, or about Incidental Results of Foreign Mission- a missionary to the same country, and in 1844 ary Work. married Mary, the eldest child of Robert and Mary Moffat. She died April Zi', 1862, and, as [We gladly give place to the valua- we are told by her hUSband, "rests by the large baobab tree at Shnpanga, " not far from able thoughts sent us by that veteran the mouth of the Zambesi river. missionary, Rev. James Herrick, and Dr. Livingstone subsequently visited Engtake the liberty of introducing them land, and, at one period after his return to to our readers by his own private note Africa, disappeared in the wilds of that coun- try for so long a time that Henry 111. Stanley to us, because of the interesting facts was sent in search of him. On Oct. 28, 1871, it gives concerning himself and the he grasped the Doctor's hand at Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika, and spent several months founder of this REVIEW.-J. M. S.) with him in a manner pleasant and profitable to both, especially profitable to Stanley, as be- WEST BRATTLEBORO, VT., Jan. 20, 1890. came apparent later.
DEAR DR. SHERWOOD: You wiIl, perhaps, be We are told by Dr. BIaikie, in his "Personal Life of Livingstone," that "animated by the interested to know that I was a classmate, in memory of his four months' fellowship with Livingstone, Mr. Stanley undertook the ext·he theological seminary, of the late Rev. ploration of the Congo, or Livingstone river, because it was a work that Livingtone desired R. G. Wilder, and participated with him ill to be done." His wonderful discoveries led to the organization of the " Congo Free State," considering and deciding the question relating and to his being sent more recently for the re- lief of Emin Pasha, full reports of which exto ollr life work. pedition are yet to be published, and its re- sults to be known. After graduating, he and two others of our While the main, the real, object of mission. class went as missionaries to the Marathi peo· ary work is of infinitely greater importance, may it not be truly said, that the benefits incipie of India, while two other members of the dentally resulting from it are sufficient to war- rant its vigorous prosecution? same class and myself went to the Tamil peo· "TO THE CHURCHES OF ASIA." pIe. Having previollsly made one visit to this [The note and circular below will country with my wife to recruit our health explain themselves and prove suggestand make arrangements for the care and edu- ive to other pastors and churches.- cation of our children, I went back with her, EDS.] and embarked again for America in just LEXINGTON, 11a8s., Nov. 30, 1889.
thirty-seven years after our first arrival' in DIIAR EDrroRs: The enclosed circular letter was prepared and sent to "the Churches of India. It would have given me great satisfac- Asia," etc., by the committee of my church in response to the salutations which I brought tion to return and spend the rest of my life home with me from over one hundred mission churches and others in the East. among the Tamil people, bnt age and impaired It is probably the first time that an indihealth prevented. JAMES HERRICK. vidual church in America has sent out an epistle to so large a constituency. It is sug- It is a striking illustration of the value of gestive of that wider Christian fellowship the work missionaries are called to do, that, which a more intimate acquaintance among thongh done with special reference to the the nations is sure to bring about. present generation, it will be, so far as successful, of unspeakable benefit to futnre genera- I have seen your REVIEW, and read it with tions. And that their inJIuence, while seeking great interest, among the missionaries of the spiritual good of men, has a distinct and various Boallds working in the East. You sure tendency to promote their temporal good have an important function to fulfill in our also. It sometimes falls to their lot to form periodical literature, and I am sure your efan alphabet for the language of Ii people, to be forts will meet with increasing encouragefollowed by the printing press, grammars and ment. Yours very truly, dictionaries. the Bible, and other books, with the ability to read them. EDWARD G. PORTER.
Savages are taught to make honses to shel- CIRCULAR LETTER. ter them and garments to cover them; to use mechanical instruments and implements of The Hancock Church in Lexington, Mass., husbandry: to adopt proper methods of culti- to the – – Church of Christ in –, and vating the ground. Women are raised from others in Asia and Australasia, sendeth greetthe condition of beasts of burden or slaves to ing: that of honored and loved companions. The direct tendency of their work, as has been said by Dr. Storrs, is to "renew the moral life of mankind, abolish tyranny, and put a stop to oppression. "
These, and many other results beneficial to men in their present state, have followed the life and work of missionaries.
In January, 1817, the missionary, Robert Moffat, arrived in South Africa, and was joined three years later by Mary Smith, chosen to he U3 companion and helper.
Fa,':, in. 1841 Dr. David Livingstone went as
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
Our beloved pastor, Rev. Edward G. Porter, kingdom is at hand. The nations, in fulfillhas returned home to j1is accustomed work ment of ancient prophecy, are flowing unto it. among us, and we were very happy in giving and casting their idols to the moles and to the him a welcome. bats.
It is with great joy that we hear of your We rejoice with you that the light which is good estate, and of the readiness with which to lighten the Gentiles has arisen upon yon, the minds and hearts of the far distant peoples and has shined into your hearts, so that many of the East are opening to the light and truth have become new men in Christ Jesus, and of Christianity. enjoy that liberty wherewith Christ maketh His people free. Since our pastor's long sojourn among you, we almost feel that we are acquaintances, We can now hope that the nations of the and even friends; and not only so, but, by a far East will in due time take their places more endearing relationship, brethren of the among the Christian nations of the earth, and same household of faith, of which J eBUS is the thus unite with the grand army of the refirst born, the Elder Brother. And being deemed, to subdue the powers of darkness, and cleansed by the washing of regeneration and bring all people to the feet of Him whose renewing of the Holy Ghost, you are now re- right it is to reign King of Nations, as He now ceived, with us, into the fellowship of the reigns King of Saints. Church Militant and to the world-wide communion of saints. 'Wecommendyou to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and We rejoice that our pastor was enabled to to give you an inheritance among all them visit you, and to do so much for your cheer which are sanctified. And we pray, beloved and edification. And the good tidings which brethren, that you may be steadfast, immovhe brings greatly encourage us, inspiring our able, always abounding in the work of the hearts withfaith, hope and zeal in the work of Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor :making the glorious gospel of the blessed God is not in vain in the Lord. 1llliversally triumphant. And now, wishing you grace, mercy and We cannot fail to see the hand of the great peacefrom God our Father and the Lord Jesus Head of the Church in the spread of the Holy Christ, we remain ever your brethren in the .Scriptures, the increase of the heralds of the bonds of the gospel. Cross, and in the signal blessings attending the faithful presentation of Jesus Christ as the By vote of the Church. Saviour of lost men, Even now we hear of Pentecostal refreshings in some mission fields, W. W_ BAKER, } in which many trophies of divine grace are G. F. CHAPMAN, Deacon.!. 'won to the glory of His name. Verily, His F. O. VAILLE, G. E. MUZZEY, Clerk. Lexington, Nov. 1889.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Unexpected in Japan. fiefs, or clans, turned into provinces, with governors appointed by the Em- I. peror. (3.) In 1876 the Daimios and 'There .has been no time since the the Sumarai were deprived of their modern revolution of Japan began, swords and their hereditary income, thirty years ago, when the best stu- all by compulsory commutation,which ,dents of the history and the character- plunged the Government an additional istics of her people, have not borne in one hundred and seventy-five million mind that this people are sensitive, dollars in debt, and precipitated the proud, and, as compared with their Satsuma rebellion of 1877, to suppiess neighbors, the Chinese at least, fickle. which 60,000 troops were called into They have been frequently called the the field. (4.) The Supreme Council, French of Asia. We have seen them, Dai Jo Kuwan, with its thirteen memhowever, progress with marvellous bers, was formed in 1875, and the Senquickstep through the following ate, with forty members nominated stages: (1.) The abolition of the office by the Crown, also a Supreme Judicial ,of the Shogun, the charter oath of the Tribune, an assembly of Provincial Emperor, and a deliberative assembly Governors, and ten Ministers of Dein 1866. (2.) In 1869 the surrender by partments. (5.) The general reforms 'the feudal chiefs, or Daimios, of their in the social and civil life of the people ;hereditary fiefs; and in 1871 these after models from various countries : The proposed treaties look, however. from France she learned how to or- to the improved tariff on imports, and ganize her army and police; from Eng- the result will be the restoration of land the construction and manage- many industries now supposed to be· ment of her telegraphs, railways, and, dead. Another gain to Japan is the pre-eminently, her navy; from Amer- proposal to terminate, after five years, ica and England, educational and agri- the extra territorial jurisdiction over cultural development; and from these, foreigners. The assumption by for- with Germany, machinery and manu- eign nations of the right to exercise factures. Her postal system has jurisdiction over their own subjects, is· grown to importance and precision. grounded in the diverse standards, Two cables connect her with the rest civil and moral, of these Oriental of the 'world, and her own sons make countries and those of the West. But her telegraphic apparatus. The news- Japan has objected to the Consular paper has been rapidly and in1luen- Court, and it doubtless has yielded tially developed. To cap the climax, anything but justice to the Japanese the Emperor kept his contract in 1890, in cases past count. A cold-blooded and handed the country a Constitu- murder of a Japanese by an English- tion! man has been punished only by five· years' imprisonment. The proposal These are very rapid changes for any now is for a mixed court of Japanese country to make during one genera- and foreign judges, to whom cases of tion, and there have been frequent ex- conflict between Japanese and foreign- pressions of misgivings whether they ers shallbe referred. But the Consular were not all too rapid to be permanent. jurisdiction has rendered the Japan- But thus far Japan hasstood the strain. ese distrustful of foreign justice toward the Japanese,' and they an- There were, however, some existing tagonize the suggested provision. We treaties with foreign nations which are pleased to be able to present the certainly needed revision. Take the following about the situation, from an matter of the tariff, for instance, observant and thoughtful resident of which was cruelly against Japan's in- Japan, who is not out of sympathy terests and opposed to all justice. with the patriotic ambitions of the Now that the time for this revision Japanese, though probably not in symof treaties has arrived, the Japanese pathy with the Japanese politician of have become very excited in the dis- low grade and stubborn prejudices. cussion of it. They are sensitive, proud, and inexperienced in foreign II. diplomacy, a third of a century'prac- lt is with feelings of the deepest tically comprising all their experience sadness and regret that I must say the with other nations than the Chinese. condition of Japan to-day is more The most objectionable feature of the perilous that at any time since the proposed treaty provides that for- revolution of 1868. eigners may go anywhere, reside any- But a few months ago there was a where, own land, and engage in busi- prospect of the revision of the treaties ness anywhere. The larger part of and the opening of the country, s<> .the Empire is opposed to any such in- that foreigners could travel or reside· trusion, and the commercial part of in any place and conduct business the population doubt their ability to freely. This seemed at that time to ,hold their own against foreign busi- be the sincere desire of nearly all of ness combinations, if this be granted. the people of Japan, and the only Then there is the chance of Chinese question was as to the terms. The immigration, which has scared bigger foreigners were very reluctant to nations than Japan, and nations with place themselves under native jurismuch greater territorial extension. diction, unless there was an assurance The worst feature of all this is that of a just and equitable administration the men who have stood at the head of the laws. thus far, and to whom the credit of Japan's position to-day is due, have It was proposed that this should be resigned their places, and left matters arranged by employing a certain to drift. number of foreign judges, who should sit with the natives in cases where The state of things here now is well foreigners were involved. It was stated in a recent number of Japan thought that this arrangement would Mail, which is practically an organ of meet with general satisfaction, and, the Government, and of course is disas a temporary arrangement, would posed to treat all questions of this naprepare the way for Japan to take her ture in the most favorable light. It place on an equal footing with the en- says : We need scarcely dwell upon lightened nations of the earth. the magnitude of the loss that the Cabinet will suffer by the retirement But, to the surprise and regret of the of the two men (Count Ito and Inouye) true friends of the country, there has who have hitherto supplied such a. recently appeared a strong anti-for- large share of that body's talent and eign feeling that has put a check upon experience. It has come to be difficult all revision of the treaties and thrown to imagine a really efficient Japanese matters here into utter confusion. administration from which the names The cry now is Japan for the Japan- of the two brilliant Choshiu leaders. ese, and no foreigners whatever. The are absent; and the removal of their ground for this opposition is that for- guiding hands from the helm of State eigners are dishonest and overreach- at a time when the nation is about to. ing in business matters, and with their enter upon the novel routes of local more extensive experience and energy government, autonomy and constituwill leave no chance for competition. tional institutions, cannot be viewed But it is plain that at the bottom of without grave uneasiness. this there is still lingering in Japan some of that old feeling of hatred of To these two men more than any other nations that was almost uni- others does the country look for guidversal when Com. Perry came here. ance. No others have had so much It was not a matter of choice, but experience or shown the same abilithey were compelled then to make ties. Count Ito was the compiler of a treaty that was quite against their the Constitution, and is, therefore, eswill. pecially fitted to introduce and de- fend it. Count Inouye has filled both The leader in this anti-foreign cru- the foreign and domestic bureaus with sade is a General Torio, who is gath- credit to himself and advantage to the ering about him some of the' dis- country, and seems especially fitted to contented factions who are not in direct the future political affairs of sympathy with the past course of the the country into a stable and prosper- Government, and who are ready for ouS shape. anything that will bring a. change. He tried to get the sympathy and c0- In this crisis of affairs the Emperor operation of the Buddhist priests, on has summoned to his aid the old Prime the ground that in this way they Minister, Prince Sanjo, but it is apcould keep out the Christian mission- parently only a temporary expedient. aries, who have become such an active It seems hardly possible that the naforce in the land. But the priests tion will be content to go back to the have not been so foolish as to enter old and conservative leaders of the into any political affiliation thatwould past and inaugurate a new and antisurely bring them trouble and division progressive policy. Just at present the in their own ranks. country is like a ship at sea, with no one to take the helm or man the political party came along, and then ropes. rushed upon them with swords and clubs and nearly killed them. The Nothing more is attempted in the Government has ordered both of the way of treaty revision, and present parties to be dissolved. It will be indications are that efforts will be sad, indeed, if all these past years of made to discard all recent efforts in such marvellous progress are to be that direction, and instead of looking followed by a revolution, in which for concessions on the part of other the ruling spirit will be that of isola- nations, as heretofore, such terms will tion, and the old idea of barbarian be demanded as will make revision expulsion will have full sway. We entirely out of the question, and the have better hopes for Japan, and yet residence of foreigners here as uncom- time alone can tell where all this is fortable as possible. going to end.
It is only about two months before H. LOOMIS, Agent A. B. S. the proposed opening of the Japanese Yokohama, Japan, Dec. 14, 1889. Parliament. In this condition of things such an institution would be Missionary Tra,ining Schools. a most unfortunate addition to the present complications. With so many We are frequently applied to for in- wild schemes as are now being dis- formation about Missionary Training cussed, it would be impossible to effect Schools, and it is not easy always to any legislation that would be a benefit give satisfactory answers. We have to the country. Until there is some a special care that persons wishing to .change for the better in the political prepare for foreign mission service status, the whole project of a Parlia- shall not underrate the importance of ment had better be given up. It is the work. We do not care to encourplain now that the country is not age anything that implies that the ripe for a change in the administra- very best talent and the best trained tion; but two things are possible-a talent Christian lands can furnish are strong monarchy or hopele~s anarchy. not needed in the most degraded sav- Men full of all sorts of schemes are age community. We have been readcoming to the front, and forming par- ing of late remarks in the pu.blic ties to sustain their crude and imprac- prints that affirmed or implied that it ticable ideas. And they are not con- was a waste of force to send highly tent with simple suasion to carry out educated and talented men as mistheir policy either. The assassination sionaries among what scientists name of Count Okuma and others are indi- nature-peoples. A little thought will cations of what desperate measures show the fallacy of this: Given a 8()- may be resorted to in order to secure ciety absolutely uncivilized, and the success. task of developing a civilization-who cannot see that the profoundest ac- At a recent political meeting in Hi- quaintance with the principles of soroshima, the speakers were hooted cial science will be required to shape down by the mob, and given no chance that development. But that is only to speak at all. One of the speakers one item. Physical science also must was dragged from the stage and be fostered, and its elementary prinbeaten by his opponents, who, it is re- ciples must be mastered, to present to ported, hired a body of men to take a simple people, and the widest range possession of the building, and pre- of its application must be provided vent any hearing on the part of those for. Thus, too, with political and who came to listen and learn. commercial development. It requires cosmopolite knowledge and state-craft At Kumamoto also a band of men to create and mould a-Civilized comhid themselves by the roadside at night until some members of another munity, and no man can bring to it It now admits both men and women. brain force too great, nor culture too The curriculum is comprehensive. It· varied. Therefore, be it understood, seems that provision is made for inthat our colleges and seminaries .tLnd struction in Hindustani, Chinese and technical institutions must always be Japanese. It is closely related to drawn on to furnish the cultivated the "Pratt Institute," a large school guidance that mission work must se- in Brooklyn, where the students can cure among fetish worshippers, as it is learn cookery, hygiene, nursing, dressalready well known it must have making, carpentering and plumbing. among the peoples who profess the It also secures large reduction in fees lettered religions. But, while accen- of medical students in several institu– tuating afresh the need for the stu- tions. dent volunteer movement, and all that it represents, we recognize that 2. What is known as the Bostoa the time has come when more varied Missionary Training School has Rev. talent can be used in many foreign A. J. Gordon, D. D., for President of fields, and that not only professional its Board, and Drs. Pierson and Jos. men, preachers, scholars, or physi- Cook as Vice-Presidents. Its course cians, are needed, but when the indus- of instruction includes Biblical and trial teacher, too, must go forth; when Practical Theology, Special Biblical. skilled workmen, explorers, nurses, Studies, Principles, History and Meth– printers, engineers, and other mechan- ods o~ Missions, Methods and Pracics, are to take their place, as part of tice of Evangelistic Work, Medicine the great evangelistic force of the and Surgery. Its headquarters are world. A great number of such per- No.7 Ohardon St., near Bowdoin Sq., sons–some older, some younger-are Boston. It designs only to help those being impressed that it is their duty whose age and financial resources to enter upon such work. They rec- will not permit them to take a course ognize, however, as do the friends of of study covering a term of many missions, that they would be all the years. The tuition is free, missionary more powerful in that work if they service during the term being accould pause for a season to be trained cepted as its equivalent. Rooms vary in some special courses, which had in price from $1 to $3.50 per week. heretofore lain outside their privilege, Good board $3,50. Twenty-four youngor even necessity. men can be accommodated with rooms at the Chardon St. house. Rev. F. L. 1. Of the institutions projected to Chapell was announced in October meet this need; we have not been able last to deliver twenty-five lectures in to obtain full information. In Brook- the Practical and Biblical Theology lyn, MrS. Rev. Wm. B. Osborn has Department, and Dr. Pierson thirtyan institution for training of mission- eight – lectures of the same course. aries. It has had quite a struggle for Dr. Eames, Professor of Pathology five or six years, but has now quite and Therapeutics in the Boston Dental flattering prospects of becoming well College, was set down for twentyfurnished to do valuable work. This eight lectures on hygienic, medical was originated at Niagara Falls, then and simple surgical lay treatment. removed to Philadelphia to be near a medical institution, and has since been 3. The Springfield Union publishes transferred~ Brooklyn. It is housed an account of a Christian Industrial in a large building on Raymond and Technological School at that street, which has been placed at its place, which it was hoped would be service, rent free, by Mr. Freeboru ready to receive students the begin- Garretson Smith. It reports twelve ning of this year(1890). The prospecof its former students on the field. tus names its object as being to train teachers for manual training schools. to train skilled artisans for all trades, In 1888 the United States Congress ig- and to train mechanic missionarie8. nol'ei that treaty. In 1890the Supreme It holds that in Africa, for instance, Court of the United States declares much more success would be gained that the Act of Congress of 1888 is in if missionaries knew one or more distinct and deliberate violationof the trades, and could practically handle existing Treaty made in1868; but that machinists' or carpenters' tools. This the United States Congress is sover- ~nterprise is housed in a building 126 eign, and that the act, therefore, must feet by 52 feet, four stories high, on be obeyed! This is simply a monstrous the corner of State and Winchester anomaly. It presents the United Sts., and Mr. D. B. Wesson has sub- States as a big, lawless bully. But, scribed $10,000 toward the $100,000 could satire be more intense, than desired to give it a good start. that the heathen ambassador of a 4:. Of the estimable institution heathen nation, stupefied with aston- known as the Chicago Training School ishment at this standard of recog- for Women, of which Mrs. Lucy nized political morals, should admin- Rider Meyer, M. D., is the efficient ister the stinging rebuke contained in head, and whose now comfortable' the following, which we quote from quarters are at 114 Dearborn St. , quite the letter of Chang Yen Hoon, the a full account was given in TIm Mls- Chinese Minister at Washington, to SIONARY REVIEW for December, 1888, Secretary Blaine: pp. 940-944. It has its graduates in "You will pardon me If I express my amaze- Japan, Africa, China, Korea, South ment that such a doctrine Is held by a court .America and Indian Territory. It for whose members, by personal acquaintwas chartered in 1886. It has just re- 'ance, I entertain such profound respect. It cently added a department known as forces upon me the conviction that in the three years I have resided in this country I the Deaconess' Home, for training in have not been able fully and correctly to com· evangelistic work combined with pro- prehend the principles and systems of your fessional nursing. It has excellent fa- great Government. In my country we have cilities for hospital experience. acted upon the conviction that where two na· tions deliberately and solemnly entered upon 5. In that same number of the RE- treaty stipulations, they thereby formed a sa- VIEW, p. 944, will be found an outline cred compact, from which they could not be of the Correspondence Course of Study honorably discharged except through friendly in Christian Doctrine, arranged by the negotiations and a new agreement. I was, Baptist Women's Foreign Missionary therefore, not prepared to learn through the medium of that great tribunal that there was Society of the West, conducted by a way recognized in the iaw and practice of Mrs. H. W. Barber, Ph. D., of Fen- this country, whereby your Government could ton, Mich. release itself from treaty obligations without consultation with or the consent of the other 6. The Woman's Board of the Meth- party to what we had been accustomed to reo odist Episcopal Church, South, has gard as a sacred instrument. inaugurated a training school for its own candidates for foreign service. "When it is remembered that the treatyob- Its headquarters are at Kansas City. A tine site, with a frontage of 250 feet ligations between the two nations were estabon a principal street, has been secured, and a donation of $25,000 has been ac- lished at the express solicitation of your Gov· cepted, conditioned on the raising of a like sum by others. The ladies as- ernment, and that its every request for fur· sumed this responsibility. ther stipulation has been in the highest spirit of complaisance, I think you must sympathize W ANTED-A CONSCmNcE.-In 1868 with my astonishment that the body which itthe United StatesGovernment forced a self initiated this policy, and which represents Treaty upon the Chinese Government. the intelligence and justice of the great American people, should trample these treat· ties under foot, and grossly o1fe~d the nation which has always held these compacts in sa- cred esteem. I trust that some way will be found whereby the hasty and unprovoked ac· tion of Congress may be undone, this wrong and damage to thousands of my countrymen avoided, and the high affront to the Chinese Government and people removed." SEVEN YEARS OF PRAYER FOR Bu- stimulants, applied friction, poured DA I'EsTH;-It is an old story, but will hot wax on his breast, and continued bear repeating, how the Archduchess other means, until they discovered Maria Dorothea conquered by prayer: that as they held the lighted taper be- Forty years ago, in the palace over- fore his lips the flame wavered. The looking the beautiful Danube and the physician put his mouth near to the city of Buda Pesth, lived this godly ear of the apparently dead man, and woman. Grieved at heart over the asked: "Dr. Keith, are you dead?" moral degradation of the people, she The answer came, "Not dead." He longed to have the gospel in all its was unable to speak again for many simplicity and purity presented to days, but slowly gained, and in about them, but she had little hope. Still two weeks full consciousness returned, she believed in prayer, so at an open and it was all to him as a dream. window about midway in the palace, The Archduchess visited him" and the she prayed that God would send a object of their journeywas explained, missionary to the people. Her faith when she begged that the proposed was monumental; for during seven mission should be located in Buda long weary years she prayed before Pesth, in answer to herprayers. It was her prayers were answered. Seven begun, and in sight of the very win- years of unanswered prayers! While dow at which she had so long begged she was praying, hearts in Scotland that God would intercede in be- were moved, and proposed to start a half of her people, and send the gos- mission tp the Jews, The sainted pel in its simplicity and purity in McCheyne, Dr. Keith and Dr. Andrew their midst. She promised to help Bonar started on a tour of inspection, and protect it to the utmost of her in 'quest of the place for the carrying power, and as long as she lived gave out this purpose of prayer in Scotland. it her' full support. They went to Palestine, and on their 'l11us Christianity came into Buda return journey stopped, for some rea- Pesth to stay. The Austrian Govern- son, at Buda Pesth. On one of the ment did not like to be conquered by streets Dr. Keith swooned away, and a woman's prayers, and so a decree was carried unconscious into a hotel, was issued that no Protestant should where he sank so rapidly that all ever be united in marriage to the rul- hope was'abandoned of his recovery, ing house again! Of what avail was and the word was on the streets that such a decree? he was dead. The news of the dying This story was .recalled on opening condition of an English clergyman The Ohurch of Scotland Missionary reached the ears of the good Arch- Magazine for January, and beholding duchess, who had so long prayed for a beautiful picture of 450 children in the coming of a Protestant minister this same Buda Pesth Mission School. to Buda Pesth. She sent word to the All the participants in that early hotel, his room being in sight of the struggle – the Duchess, McCheyne, window at which she had almost Bonar-all are gone, but their work wearied heaven, that the physicians lives on. In November last this misshould leave nothing undone to save sion had a festive occasion in the his life. The message came after they double celebration of the twentieth had abandoned his case, and he was anniversary of the occupancy of their thought to be actually dead, and some fine school building, and the fiftieth preparation had been made for the of the organization 'of the' mission. grave. The word from the palace Large numbers of people were presstarted them into making what they ent, and the peculiar providences, believed were utterly vain efforts, only many and varied, of the beginnings to please the Duchess. They gave of the enterprise were recalled. The General Oonference at Shanghai. AgenCY-Dr. H. W. Boone and Dr. A. W. Douthwaite. We have kept the subject of the General Missionary Conference pro- (2.) Medical Missionary Work In China by posed to be held at Shanghai in 1890 Lady Physicians-D,. M. Niles. repeatedly before our hearers. As the time is now at hand for its hold- (3.) Orphanages, Asylums for the Blind. Deaf and Dumb, and other Charitable Institu·, ing, we present the programme of top- tions-Rev. F. Hartmann. ics and speakers, or essayists. This will serve to show the church at home what (4.) Value and Methods of Opium Refugees -Dr. H. T. Whitney. are considered practical questions by those on the field. (5.) Statistics and Resolutions on the Evils of the Use of Opium-Dr. J. Dudgeon. Sermon. PROGRAlIlIE. Sixth Day.-The Native Church. First Day. (1.) Method of Dealing with Inquirers, Con. ditions of 'Admissions to Church Fellowship, (2.) Organization of Conference. and Best Methods of Disciplin~Rev. R. Lech· (3.) The Changed Aspect of Chin_Rev. ler, D.D., and Rev. H. Corl)ett, D.D. Y. J . .Allen, D.D., LL.D. (2.) Deepening the Spiritual Life, and Stimu· Jatingthe Church to Aggressive Work-Rev. Second Day.-The Scriptures. (1.) Historical summary of the different R. H. Graves, D.D. versions, with their terminology, and the feasi- (3.) Best Methods of Developing Self-sup-, bility of securing a single standard version in Wen-li, with a corresponding version in the port and Voluntary Effort-Rev. G. L. Mason. Mandarin Colloquial-Rev. W. Muirhead. (4.) How far should Christians be required (2.) Review of the various colloquial versions and the comparative advantages of Ro- to abandon Native Customs 1 Rev. F. ,Oh· maL letters and Chinese characters-Rev. J. E. linger and Rev. H. V. Noyes. Gibson, Rev. S. F. Woodin and Rt. P.ev. Bishop Burdon. Seventh Day.-Education. (3.) The need of brief introductions, head.- (1.) History and Present Condition of Mis-, ings, maps, and philological, historical, geo- sion Schools, and what Further Plans are degraphical and ethnolOgical notes-Rev•.A. Wil- sirable f-Rev. N. J. Plumb. liamson, LL.D. (2.) How best to adapt Christian Education, (4.) Bible distribution in China: its methods to the present state of Chinese mind and lif~, and results-Rev. S. Dyer. Rev. D. Z. Sheffield and Rev. C. W. Mateer, D. D., LL.D. Third Day.-The Missionary. (3.) The best Method of selecting and train.. (1.) The Missionary: his qualifications, in. ing efficient Native Assistants (preachers. troduction to his work and mode of lif~Rev. school teachers, &c.)-Rev. M. Schaub and- J. Hudson Taylor. Rev. J. Lees. (2.) Lay Agency in Chinese Missions: To (4.) The place of the Chinese Classics in what extent desirable, and on what condi- Christian Schools and Colleges-Rev. A. P. tions1-Rev. D. Hill. Parker, D.D. (3.) Historical Review of Missionary Methods, past and present, in China, and how far Eighth Day.-Literature. satisfactory-Rev. J. L. Nevius, D.D. (1.) Report of School and Text Book Com-, (4.) Preaching to the Heathen in chapels, in mittee: What has been done and what is the open air, and during itineration-Rev. B. C. needed-Rev. A. Williamson, LL.D. Henry and Rev. H. H. Lowry. (2.) S8ientific Terminology: Present dis- crepancies and means of securing uniformity' Fourth Day.-Women'. Work. -J. Fryer, Esq. (1.) General Review of Women's Work in (3.) Christian Literature in China: Its Busi-, China, and its Results-Miss A. C. Safford. ness Management. A Discussion of Dr. J. (2.) Girls' Schools-Miss Hattie Noyes and Murdoch's Report (published at Shanghai, Miss Haygood. 1882)-Opened by Rev. E. Faber, D.D. (3.) Best Methods of reaching the Women- (4.) Christian Periodical Literature- Rev•. J. M. W. Farnham, D.D. Miss C. M. Cushman and Miss C. M. Ricketts. (5.) Current Chinese Literature: How far is, (4.) Feasibility of unmarried Ladies engag- it antagonistic to Christianity-Rev. J. Ed· ing in General Evangelistic Work in New kins, D.D. Fields-Miss M. Murray. Ninth Day.-Oomity in Mission Work and'
(5.) The Training and Work of Native Fe- Relation to Government. male Evangelists-Miss A. M. Fielde. (t.) Division of the Field-Rev. J. W. Steven· (6.) The Christian Training of the Women of son. the Church-Mrs. A. H. Smith. (2.) Co-operation-Rev. J. McCarthy. Fifth Day.-Medical Work and Charitable (3.) Relation of Christian Missions to the, Institutions. Chinese Government-Rev. T. Richard. (1.) Medical Work as an Evangelizing (4.) Ancestral Worship and Kindred Obsta-, des to the spread of Christianity-Rev. W. A. P. Martin, D. D., LL.D., and Rev. H. Blodget" D.D. THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MIS8IONS.
Tenth. Day. Subjects for Evening Lectures. (1.) Direct Results of Missionary Work in (1.) The Relation of Christian MIssions to the China and Statistics-Rev. J. W. Davis, D. D. Foreign Resident&-Ven. Archdeacon Moule. (2.) Indirect Results of MIssions-Rev. J. (2.) How Chinese view Christianity-Rev. lIIacIntyre. A. H. Smith. (3.) The Aboriginal Tribes of Formosa- -THE INTERNATIONAL MIssIONARY Rev. T. Barclay. UNION holds its next annual meeting (4.) The Chinese in Singapore-Rev. J. A. B. at Clifton Springs, N. Y., June·12-19. All persons who have served on for- Cook. eign missions are invited to be pres- (5) The Chinese In Bahmo-Rev. F. A. Ste- ent. For particulars, address Rev.
ven. W. H. Belden, Bridgeton, N. J. (6.) The Mlao·tsu and other Tribes of West- ern Chln3r-Rev. Goo. W. Clarke.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY REV. F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
India. under the British sceptre- is a centra WHY SHOULD AHERICANS PROSECUTE and source of influence for many sur- MISSIONS IN INDIA? rounding nations. This.point is illus- The fact that nearly all the great tratedabundantlyinthe fact that India religions of the world have found in hasinthe past extended her philosophy India the field of their successive con- and religion over almost every portion quests, and have there shown their of the Asiatic continent. And there comparative power, renders it one is reason to believe that Christian in- of the most interesting theatres of fiuence, once firmly established, might Christi~ effort. And the fact that, radiate along the same lines and to the although Hinduism, Buddhism, Mo- same extent.
hammedanism and Zoroastrianism In the second place, all nations, not have there enjoyed unlimited oppor- excepting our own, are alike indebt- tunities for influence through many ed to India for influences which have centuries, Christianity, in the com- greatly affected the world's civiIiza,.
paratively brief period of its occupa- tion. No other country has influenced tion, has done more for the regenera- all1ands and races so widely as Indiar tion of society than all these together, and that not by her conquests but by is a fact fuUof encouragement for ex- her vanquishments. From a very- tended and continued conquests. early period, the wealth of India. hast But the question naturally arises, been the lure of stronger races on the, why should America carry missionary north and west. Persians under Da-· effort into a part of the British Em- rius, :Macedonians under Alexander~ pire? Why not leave India to the mis- Mongols; Tartars, Afghans, Arabs" sionary societies of Great Britain? To Portuguese, Dutch, and Britains, have.
say in replythat the presentgeneration successively invaded India in pursuit of India's millions will pass away be- of wealth. Though passive for ages, fore British missionaries can reach she has stirred the currents of conany large fraction of their number quests and of all human enterprise&. would be conclusive, were it not that Even when not invaded, the rich intd& there are millions elsewhere whose of India has attracted the natiOJlS of' case is equally urgent. western Asia and eastern Europe, and.
But there are some considerations the late Dr. DUff said truly that what-· which give to India exceptional demands, and so long as the vast work ever nation possessed for the time th61 exceeds all that. Britain can possibly key to India's trade rose into ascendo, those considerations are in force dency and even supremacy. with Christians in America. The Phrenicians were made rich First, India-especially now that it is and powerful by that overland cara- van trade which supplied products ft,r'
THE MONTHLY CONCERT Oli'MISSIONS
the lading of their ships. Alexander osophy to a greater extent even than built a fleet for what he considered a the countries of Europe. brilliant commercial intercourse with India, and founded Alexandria as a A modern and altogether novel gatewayof commercialtransit by way phase of Indian speculation appears of the Red Sea. The rich and power- in the changes which have come over ful city of Ghazni, in Afgha.n.itttan, our American spiritualism. We now was virtually created by the spoils seldom hear of it under the old names. which Mamoud won by ten successive There is less said of spirit rappings invasions of India. Venice was made and table movings, but all the crude opulent by a maritime monopoly of superstitions of oocu1tism still survive the products which came over the among us under the 'name of Indian deserts from the far East, and her Theosophy and Esoteric Buddhism. :power declined when Portugal found If we do not convert India, India will a passage to India by the Cape of Good demoralize America. The grapple of Hope. truth with error has fully come, and old superstitions which breed new and The impulse which developed the strange progenies among us here, civilization of western Europe was must be met in the very sources of largely derived from this trade of the their power. It is said by English Orient; it quickened the spirit of dis- writers that the American temperacovery, perfected the art of naviga- ment is specially suited to these vagation, filled the minds of men with a ries, that the most favora.ble soil for broader enterprise, gave them in- those Orientalexotics is just here, and creased wealth and means of culture, that there is a sort of fitness in the fact stimulated invention and all mechanic that the high priest of Theosophy is artB. For successive generations the an American. While we dissent from -one great object of search was a theseallegations,it istruethat America nearer passage to India. It was this is no idle spectator in this great war -one great and all-absorbing quest of truth and error. The Christian .which stirred the ambition of Colum- Church of the· world should have a .bus and led him to the discovery of part in the religious conquest of India, our own continent. Indirectly, there- and all the more for the reason that fore, we are indebted to India for the that conquest is not an easy one. vast resources of this hemisphere, and for many of those quickening in- Let us consider some of the difficulfluences which raise our condition so ties: 1. As we have already intifar above that of medireval Europe. mated, the philosophico-religious sys- tems of India are the most subtle and India has also been productive of inveterate the world has ever known, widespread evil influences which have and they have existed from time imextended over modern Europe and memorial in one form or another. over America, and those influences The Hindu faith extends back of all seem not likely soon to cease. The ascertainable dates. Buddhism, origiextent to which modern German nating there 500 years before Christ, philosophy of various schools has was but an offshoot of the old cultus, drawn upon the ancient systems of and, though the system has disap- India, can only be known by those peared in India, it has left its influwho have traced the parallel between ence upon all Indian thought. the two. Christianity on the continent of Europe has suffered for more Mohammedanism has existed there than half a century from this source, at least 800 years, and now claims and no part of our own country has 40,000,000 of the population. been exempt. .In some ways we are feeling the influence of Indian phil- The religious literature of the coun- try is vast, varied, subtle, and full of the self-conscious wisdom of countless sages. Indian metaphysics are often in the estimate of all the more intelli- 'so subtle as to dissolve the clearest gent people. Purer morals, a more western conceptions into seeming va- humane sentiment, a better degree of por, and so comprehensive as appar- common sense, and with it a disgust ently to match e~ery truth of the for vile and puerile ceremonies, have Christian faith. Missionaries have appeared. Meanwhile, with the help found that nearly every doctrine of European scholarship, the old which they present is met by a plausi- Sanskrit literature has been revived. ble counterpart. If they teach the With its purer Aryanism of the early ,doctrine of the new birth, "Yes," say days it has risen up in condemnation the Brahmans, "we also are twice of the superimposed corruptions of born; first in the natural birth, and modem Hinduism, which all intelli- :second at our initiation into the full gent men now condemn. And now privileges of Brahmans." If we speak what is the last result? It is this : ,of sin, they too recognize sin, and The leaders of Indian thought have claim that noother people in the world borrowed without credit many of the undergo such self-mortifications as noble sentiments which, for a century they to break its power-the difference at least, Christianity has impressed being that their idea of sin has no ref- upon India, and have laid them as .erence to God; it is not an inward comely garments upon the jejune corruption of the heart; it is a fault figure of the old Aryanism, and they of ceremonial observance, a breach of are now shouting on every hand, custom, a violation of caste, an unfor- "Great is Diana of the Ephesians I" -tunate entanglement of mind with " Not unto the Christian Bible, but matter. If the missionary spOOks of unto the Vedas be all the praise I" It -the incarnate Saviour, their gods also is true that the simple nature-worship have become incarnate. If the future of the Aryan invaders of India was 1ife is mentioned, they answer, purer than that conglomerate of all "Yes, of course we look forward to superstitions known as modem Hin- -s succession of future lives by trans- duism, but it was powerless to effect migration." Worst of all obstacles is the marvellous change which has the dread of breaking away from kin- been wrought. It was dimly monothedred and friends, and encountering istic, and retained clear reminiscences bitter persecutions. The pride of of that knowledge which all men race also is touched, and the honor of once possessed of the true God; but that venerable antiquity in which In- that all vitality and regenerative dia glories, and whose prestige rises power had long since departed from like a wall of adamant against all it is clear from the increasing degenchange. eracy which the centuries have wit- nessed. In the recent years wonder- This pride of race and pride of an ful transformations have occurred. old and venerated faith has in late They are wholly due to Christianity years taken a very significant form. and Christian civilization. India wel- Christianity has achieved remarkable comes the change, but denies the true results even in the numbers gathered source, and claims all the credit for from heathen error. To this fact the Vedas! There is accordingly a many prominent' administrators and widespread Aryan revival. Infidel statisticians of the Anglo-Indian Gov- writers of the West have strengthened ernment have borne recent witness. the Brahmans in this claim by their But it has wrought a far more won- apologistic and fulsome laudations of derful influence as a general leaven the old Oriental system!'. They have in the native communities of India. refreshed their fading memories of The cruelties and the corruptions of their Aryan pedigree and the proud _heathenism have been put to shame history ofthatname, which they, amid though that order of things is at an, many branches of a common stock, end, so far as the influence of the. have longest retained. stillgove~ent may go, the same spirit, The following hymn, copied from lives in the lives and influence the doctrinal catechism of the Arya of thousands who ought to represent, Somaj, reveals the proud spirit which more truly the genius and spirit of a. has thus been fostered and which con- Christian nation. stitutes no slight obstacle to the influence of Christian missions : But, on the other hand, there are. great encouragements. God has, by We are the sons of brave Aryas of yore, some remarkable providences, rebuked Those sages in learning, those heroes in war; the sins of th~ who misrepresented the truth in the early days. We have· They were the lights of great nations before, not forgotten the terrible scenes of the And shone in that dlj,rkness like morning's Sepoy mutiny and the lessons then taught, and we have not ceased to be, bright star- thankful for the fact that such men as. A beacon of warning, a herald from far. Lord Lawrence and others heeded the· rebuke of Providence, put an end to. Have we forgotten our Rama.and Arjlm, yoadhlshtar. or Bisma., or Drona the wise f the wretched habit of catering to-.
Are not we sons of the mighty Duryadan f heathen error, and repressed the perse- Where did Shankar and great Dayananda cution of those who adopted the Chris- tian faith; thatsince that rebellion the· arise 1 full establishment of the British Gov- .. In India., in India., " the echo replies. ernmentinthe place of the East Indian- Company has given the missionary Ours the glory of giving the world work a nobler and more advantageous. Its science, religion, Its poetry and art; position, and that from that time to. this, scores of the greatest of India's. We were the tIrst of the men who unfurled administrators have recognized ita The banner of freildom on earth's every part, success.
Brought tidings of peace and of love to each There is a special encouragement for Americans to labor in India, in the, heart. fact that their efforts are warmly wel- comed by Government officials and Another difficulty which has been other Briti:;h residents. Men like Dr. and still is encountered, arises from Robert N. Cust, who have seen every the influence of Europeans and Ameri- phase of Indian life, and have been cans claiming to represent Christian keen observers of missionary work, nations, but belying the whole spirit have frequently paid generous tribute· of Christianity, and putting stumbling to the faithfulness, the intelligence and blocks of a mOf!t serious nature in the commdn sense, the practical methods. way of winning the people to Christ. and eminent success of American mis- The late Dr. Duff has said, "There is sionaries. By intelligent natives they a most striking contrast between the are known to be entirely disinterested" early representatives of the British as they have no connection with Gov-· East India Company and the Moham- ernment, cannot be .even suspected medan rulers and leading personages of being influenced by hopes of prewho preceded them. '!'he Moham- ferment, or of having a national sym- pathy with alleged Governmental medans never failed to put forward wrongs. They are understood to be boldly, and at all times; the peculiari- simply and purely ambassadors of' ties of their faith, and even their public documents were prefaced by the leg- Jesus Christ. end, 'There is no God but God, and Moreover, some of our American- Mahomet is His Prophet.' Whereas, those who represented Christian Eng- land studiously concealed from view their faith andall that belonged to it- nay, denied their faith, fostered heathenism, repressed and forbade missionary effort, persecuted missionaries, and, in a word, turned the whole tide of their influence against the truth and in favor of error." Almissionary boards and societies have history. Though with less tragic re- many sacred investments in the reli- sults, its mission8.ries bore for seveJ'Sl gious history and religious life of India. wee~ the awful strain. The churches The American Board W88 one of the at home were wrought up to a higher -noble pioneer agencies of the early consecration and a more earnest pur- part of this century, sending men like pose and effort, and few branches of ,Judson and Rice, when 88 yet there the church have reaped richer har- was no welcome for them, but only vests in India than the Methodists of Governmental rebuffs, and a bitter America. prejudice on the part4Pf British resi- ,dents. As men now view it, it is an The Baptist churches of America honor to any church to have had her have also a rich investment of expe- missionaries sent away; an honor- rience in Indian missions. The lesson -considering the tardiness of the Chris- of the "Lone Star" of Telagoo has I tian church in evangelizing heathen proved a legacy of great value to the lands-to have knocke<MI.t the barred entire Christian life of the denomina- ·doors, and by the very inhospitality of tion. There, where for a score of years their reception to have brought about almost, no fruit appeared; where mis- that reaction in the public sentiment sionaries still toiled on in faith, though of the British nation which rather many in the home churches, and, per- hastened the work of missions in the haps, even in the Board of Afunmis- end. The churches of Great Biitain tration, considered Telagoo a forlorn have reason to thank the American hope,-there the friends of missions .Board for those early and seemingly were destined at length to see a modern _futile efforts. Pentecost in which thousandsof native Christians were gathered to the church. The Presbyterian Board also has sacred investments in India. During The mission of the Reformed Church the Sepoy inv88ion eight of its mission- of America h88 also had abundant aries, with two little children-after reason to rejoice in the labors it has <lays and nights of horror-were put forth in the Arcot Mission and marched out to the parade ground of among the Santhals. It has been no Cawnpore and shot by order of the mistake that these American churches demon Nena Sahib. I have since have made in stretching forth the right visited the place, and could find no hand of sympathy and of help to India. headstone, no grave, no trace of these In spiritnal impulse, gathered from noble martyrs; but "their names are thrilling histories, from the lives of written ·in heaven," and their voices men like Judson and women like Har- <cry out from the very ground unto riet Newel, from the character of their countrymen to carry forward faithful laborers who have fallen that great work for which they gave asleep amid the scenes of their toil, and all that they had to give-their lives. martyrs who have poured out their The sacred spot on which they fell blood upon the harvest field,-from all ought to be regarded by the Presby- these, the Americap churches have reterian church 88 a sacred trysting ceived back double into their own place with Him who came to seek and bosoms, and have thus been brought to save that which was lost, and whose under renewed obligationto carry foroCovenant cannot be broken. We ought ward the work till He' shall reign to pray in earnestness and faith that whose right it is. the blood of that martyrdom may be , During this present year of 1890 a the seed of great spiritnal success. new summaryof results will doubtless be made. From decade to decade, the The Methodist Episcopal churches ratio of incre88e h88 constantly risen, of America shared something of the and we are prepo.red to find that ratio trials and sacrifices of that same sad higher still
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
As to divisions of the mission fields but have sent rePl'esentatives to all between the American churches and lands where the darkness and the need those of Great Britain, the example were greatest. They have virtually has been set before us of paying little challenged us to forget all other regard to the question of national bounds than those of Christ's universal boundaries. Themissionarysocietiesof kingdom, and to go forth, side by side Britain have not confined their efforts and hand in hand, with them till the to their own vast colonial possessions, world shall be won to His sceptre.
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Dr. Pierson's Work Abroa.d. world in this generation is taking hold of various persons, and various plans Our foreign exchanges make very are forming to carry out the project. Dr. Pentecost proposes to go out to favorable mention of the great inter- India with from 25 to 50 men and women, wll.o shall go at their own' est everywhere manifested in his mis- cost, and settle down for a time in certain districts, to give up their time sion. He is doing a great and success- to a united work of evangelization, in addition to existing agencies already ful work in stimulating interest in at work. This duty and privilege of reaChing the whole world with the missions among the Scotch and Eng- gospel during the present generation, and even century, has been often lish churches. He has been laboring urged on the readers of this REVIEW. We rejoice to see that thought workthus far chiefly in the west of Scot· ing in many other minds throughout the church, and cropping out in so land, and in London and vicinity. many directions. Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, in his paper in this REVIEW, During the months of February and February number, page 106, says ~ " In 1877 the Conference of Mission- March he was to devote himself aries, assembled in Shanghai, ap- pealed to the Christian Church to mainly to the middle and southern evangelize China in the present gen- eration, and many hoped it would be counties of Scotland. In a letter just accomplished within the present cen- tury. More than half the time bereceived, under date Feb. 22, 1890, he fore the close of the century has passed, and not one-hundreth part of says: "As far as now appears, I am the people have been reached, yet this generation is the last of sixty since likely to take a trip to France and our Saviour gave the command, which, as Dr. Pierson has well pointed Italy and Vaudois Valleys in April, out, has laid the responsibility on the church of each successive generation and to sail for New York June 1. The to give the Gospel to each individual living in its own period." A. T. P. work here rather grows than dimin- Apropos of the suggestion in the ishes in magnitude. I have now opening pages of this year's volume, of the direct support of missionaries made 116 addresses to an aggregate by individual congregations, we have audience of over 100,000 souls."
The Ohristian, of London, noticing the work already done, says: "Dr.
Pierson's addresses were everywhere characterized by most intimate knowl- edge of the missionary work of the world, heart-moving appeals for in- creased devotion to the service of the Lord, and remarkable spiritual fresh- ness and power. The attendance ex- ceeded the most sanguine anticipa- tions of the promoters. In several places, though the largest available churches and halls had been secured, hundreds were unable to get admit- tance. The cordiality of the co-opera- tion of the churches and missionary societies was a striking feature of the movement." J. Y. S.
The thought of evangelizing the 1890.] EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS. 311 a private letter from that venerable These facts are very noticeable, for and beloved pastor, Dr.Andrew Thom- son, one of the grandest men in Scot- they are in the exact line of literal ful- land: "I notice in the January mnn- ber of your MISSIONARY REVIEW some fillment of prophecy. Mr. Blackstone, approving remarks on the practice of some congregations adopting individ- of Oak: Park, in his recent visit, ob- ual missionaries for special support, not disturbing their relation with the served also that much building is go- general mission board of the church, but securing regular correspondence ing on outside of the wall; and he with them and benefit of intercession for each other at the throne of grace, took a map and carefully drew the as congregation and missionary. We, in Broughton Place Church, stand in line of the new wall as indicated in this relation to four foreign mission- aries. It has been our practice for Jeremiah, xxxi: 38-40, and elsewhere fifty-nine years, and I am not disposed in Prophecy, and he found the new to abandon it. buildings to fall just inside this line. " We had our annual missionary meeting last night, in the midst of an The increase of settlement of Jews angry sto):'IIl of sleet and snow, but there was no appearance of chill in is owing partly to the firman of the the meeting. We had two foreign missionaries among our speakers and Sultan allowing them to settle, ten at a pastor from the Waldensian Val- . leys. I reminded the meeting that a time; and partly to the persecution Christendom had entered on the last decade of the century, and suggested of them in Russia, and the anti-Semitio that this decade should not be allowed movement in other countries. Mean- to run out without some great work that would be if1t. jitting close. Shall while, a railway isbuilding from Joppa not slavery, before that time, be swept to Jerusalem, which means a highway entirely and forever from the face of the earth? Shall not the Gospel have from the sea to, and across the land, been preached to every nation and kindred and people on the face of the and to the East as of old. Mr. McInearth ? Would it not be well to ring changes in your REVIEW on the ques- tosh also calls attention to the protion: ' In what way shall we :fill up the closing decade of the nineteenth cen- phetic cycle of 1260, as about to reaeh tury?' Yours, eompletenessin 1897-1,260 years from " ANDREW THOMSON. the building of the Mosque of Omar in "EDINBURGH, Scot., Jan. 21, 1890." 637,A. D. The Jews and Jerusalem. It behooves students of Prophecy to In 1841 the number of Jews in Palestine was but 8,000, but in 1883, examine, in the light of modern de- 20,000, and in 1888, 70,000, about as many as returned from the Babylonian velopments, Ezekiel, xxxviii., revised captivity. The" latter rains" have been restored to the land, after cen- version. The battle of Armageddon~ turies of eomparative drought. the mountain of Megic;ldo, seems to be approaching. Signs appear in the hor- izon of marvellous movements, nigh even at the doors. A. T. P.
A Tribute to Woman. " Help those women which labored with us in the Gospel." The sixteenth coopterof Romans gives a glimpse of the already developing influence of Christian women. There are twenty- seven persons mentioned, and some third of them are women.
Phoobe is thought to have been a womanof quality and state, who, for Christ's sake, became a deaconness of the church at Cenchrea.· Priscilla was one who in her own home received the eloquent Apollos, and taught him more perfectly the way of God. Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, the beloved Persis, Julia, the mother of Rufus, the sister of Nereus-all these are men- EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
tioned with high encomium. And it to their neceBBities; and even our ne- is curious to note that these women cessities to their extremities."
represent all the various conditions India. -SodOlDB. Professor Lindsay and spheres of life. Some were doubt- saw from the railway, between Poona less given to a single life, others were and Wathar, at Jejuri, a huge tem- wives and mothers; some presided ple, frowning dark like a medireval over church work and some over the fortress; and forty miles below Satara, household; but all were active in labors in a secluded glen at Pal, another.
for Christ and for souls. What an Going on to Dhoud, then up to Visa- anticipation of these days, when the pur, and climbing the hills, there was Lord having given the word, "The another. They are the three great women who publish the tidings are temples of Khandoba, lord of Jejuri.
a great host." A curious reversal had To them the poor villagers all over the taken place already when Paul wrote. Maratha country look with religious At first woman was believed to be awe; and in ful1illment of vows, bring vIrtually a help for man, and was so their young daughters there to deliver treated for 4,000 years. But when them over to a life of nameless .degra- the Gospel redeemed her, socially, as dation. These girls, thus consecrated well as spiritually, Paul _could say . to a life of infamy in the name of to men, "Help those women," as religion, wander in bands over the though woman had now become the face of the country, and the places primeworker and leader in holy activ- where they mainly congregate are ity, and man was now to give her turned into SodOlDB.
help. London Missionary Society-From Woman in India.-When Mrs. May, 1888, to May, 1889.:-MiBBionaries ArlDBtrong, laboring among the Telu- in the field, 190; of whom 36 are gus, sought a winding sheetfor a dead women. Fields of labor, China, India, woman, she was asked: "Was she a Africa and Madagascar, South Seas saint or a sinner?" The question meant and New Guinea. Income for the was she married or a widow; if a support of the workers and expenses widow, she would not be buried in of home office, about $625,000 cloth of such quality as if living with (£125,000). Percentage of funds for a husband. And when she asked one . home administration, 8 to 9 per cent.
of the many sects of Hindus if there Bible Society.-The Britishand For- was anything on which they agreed eign Bible Society has, during the 81 he said: "Yes, we all believe in the years of its history, iBBuedfrom its Lon- sanctity of the cow, and the depraVIty don Depository alone, 29,000,000 com- of woman." plete copies of God's Word, 32,000,000 What vast SUlDB could be given to Testaments, nearly 12,000,000 portions missions if we only exercised self-de- . of the Bible, a total of 73,000,000, or nial-nay, if our self-denial reached nearly 1,000,000 a year, or enough to no further than our luxuriesl A furnish every twentieth inhabitant of woman in London was leading about the globe I Truly Englcmd's noblest a poodle which had on its neck a col- cathedral is her great Bible Society.
lar set with diamonds valued at $1200, The Missionary Work of .Amer1can and attached to it was a silver chain Baptists covers seventy-five years.
worth $35 more. In one day, in Lon- The first station commenced in 1814, don, $25,000 are often spent for flow- and the first baptism was in 1819, so ers alone. What if we should but that the first six years were those of follow John Howard's maxinI: "Our sowing seed only, and not of reaping.
luxuries should give way to the con- At the end of ten years there was one veniences of the poor; our conveni- -church, with 18 members, in the Asi- ences, to their comforts; our comforts, atic field. This first decade was one -of sore trial-self-denial, discourage- some' interesting facts from its Forty- .ment, delay, even imprisonment and third Annual Report : persecution, and little besides. But, Nearly 700 new members have been these ten years included, there has enrolled during the year by the British from the very beginning been one Council. The two secretaries have .church organized on the Baptist Mis- visited over fifty towns in Great .sion field, on the average, evfJrY three Britain, where meetings on behalf of 'weeks, or about 17 a year for this en- the Alliance have been held, as well as -tire period. The baptisms have been in many districts of the metropolis.
about 225,000 in all-over 3,000 every Several new local auxiliaries have been year for the seventy-five years, or one formed in the provinces, and these, .every three hours for the whole period. with some of the older branches, hold In 1819 there was but one baptism; in regular meetings for prayer and con- 1886, 9,342; in 1824, there were but 18 ference, which are much appreciated.
.living members; in 1886, 123,580. In The programme of subjects for the 1814, the treasury contained $1,230.26, Universal Week of Prayer, is- :and in 1887, $351,889.69. In 1814, the sued in the name of the British and ·whole Misaion force was Mr. and Mrs• foreign organizations of the Alliance, .Adoniram Judson; ,in 1887 it num- is now accepted by evangelical Chris- bered 1,986~ In 1814, the only Mis- tians generally and in all countries.
.sion field was Burmah; in 1886 there The document, published in immense were 16 fields: Burmah, India, As- numbers in English, is sent into all :sam, China, Japan, France, Spain, Ger- parts of the earth, and is translated many, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, into a great variety of languages and ,Finland, Turkey, Russia, Greece, and dialects. Inforeign lands, and especial- -the Congo. lyamong missionaries and native con- Roman Oatholics. – In England verts, the week of prayer is anticipated there are some 10,000 parishes, in 9,000 with great interest, and the observance '<>f which Roman Catholics are not rep- is often followed by revivals of religion.
.resented. Their total membership is Some remarkable instances are given• 1,353,514, with 2,252 priests and 1,252 There has been a comiderable devel- ~hurches. Even theSalvation Armyfar opment of the Evangelical Alliance ,{)utnumbersthem. And these statistics during the year in the United States, llrobably misler.d, for the Romanists Canada, and South America. Ener- ·are wont to include, in their estimated getic action has been taken by the membership, every baptized infant, United States branch against the ~wen though clandestinely brought Romish aggressions in regard to edu- by someservant in a Protestant family, cation, and special efforts are being in order to insure the child's salvation. made to reach the non-church-going Even with such basis of calculation, portion of the ,community, by the co- -this would give to every church an operation of ministers and laymen of average of nearly 1,100 members, and all denominations. The Dominion to every priest an average charge and Branch, too, has made special efforts • :curacy of about 600 souls. A. T. P . .to counteract the insidious advances Evangelical Alliance. of the Jesuits, especially in Quebec: and in this it has been heartily sup- ThIS Alliance was founded in 1841 ported by' Evangelical Christians to •'enable Christians of different de- throughout Canada. Great National nominations, and in all countries, to Conferences of the Alliance have been realize in themselves and to exhibit to held both in the United States and {)thers that living and essential union Canada during the ~3.'!t year. On the which binds all true believers together continent of Europe, too, progress has in the fellowship of Christ." Wegleau been made ill several countries, while a new branch has been formed in to a cross carried at a funeral. The Spain. publicity given to this case seems to The Alliance heartily andgenerously have prevented, thus far. the sentence c(H)perated with Dr. McAll, at the being carried out.
Paris Exposition, in the prosecution of In view of such results the Alliance- evangelistic work among the multi- deserves the hearty support of Chris- tudes who visited it. The efforts of the tians of every name and laUd.
Alliance to promote religious liberty J. M. S.
are continued, and the results of the A Oentury of Missions.
past year's labors have been very grati- fying. Many instances are given, but The Moravian Church has for its two or three will suffice here. missionary organ a quarterly, called In Turkey there is frequently more Periodical Accounts, relating to or less infringement of the religious Moravian Missions. The last num- liberty guaranteed to all subjects of the ber of this magazine, issued December, Porte. The Constantinople Committee 1889, completes one hundred years of the Alliance keep the Council in Lon- since it started. We believe this is the don duly informedof all that is passing. oldest existing missionary journal.
Representations are made by the Conn- The only one of earlier date, of which cil to H. M.'s Government, who then we have knowledge, was commenced instruct the British Amoassador at the at Halle in 1710, and its first editor Porte to investigate and use his influ- 'was August Hermann Franke, who ence in favor of religious liberty. The trained the youthful Count Zinzen- Turkish Government itself is also ap- dorf for his marvellous career. This, proached by the Constantinople Com- continued in German, under a variety mittee, who are supported" by the ac- of names until 1880. " Our own land and language," to quote from Periodition not orilyof the British but also of cal Accounts, "certainly possessed no the American Ambassador. Thus, Ni- missionary li~ature, when, in 1790, colaki Effendi-imprisoned' for many our Moravian forefathers at length months on account of his religion-was overcame their reluctance to go into released. A school teacher at Erz- print and sent forth a modest pamphroom (Siklemian}-after being imprisoned about twelve months and sen- let of sixteen pages, with the hope that it would be 'ro unwelcome present to their friends and well wishers.'
tenced to perpetual punishment-was That was two years before the found– ing of the first of those British misliberated and restored to his freedom. sionary organizations, which, by the In Russia the persecution of Lu- Divine blessing, have since had so theran Christians in the Baltic prov- many triumphs of the Cross to chron· inces continues, notwithstanding the icle in their respective magazines. " From the very first, our quartelies astounding statement of M. Paba- have been published by th,~ Society for donozeff, high procureur of the Holy the Furtherance of the Gospel. At a Synod of the Greek church, that Rus- committee meeting held .March 2, sia is the-only country where religious 1790, the Secretary, Christian Ignatius La Trobe, laid on the table the first liberty is fully understood. In Spain also, and in Portugal, ~h.~re have been number of 'Periodical Accounts, relat- ing to the Missions of the Church of several cases of petty persecution, and the United Brethren established among the Heathen.' Of this, 550 copies were some worse cases of religious intoler- sent forth, wi~h the prayer 'that our ance. A Protestant chapel at Criptana Saviour m'ty lay His blessing upon it. has been closed by the arbitrary con- and cause many to read it and to take duct of the Alcalde, who affirms that an effectual share in the support of the the Gospel services will lead to riot. A work of God In all parts.' poor man in Portugal has been sentenced to twelve months' imprison- "Already, in '1769, the Society hall entertained a proposal toprint a quar- terly, instead of the monthly manu- ment for refusing to tdke off his cap scripts .:lirculated within a limited circle of friends. But, 'there being a out, and, while retaining the individ- synodal rule that nothing should be printed without previous approbation uality of the well-known 'blue btohoeks~' of the Directory for the time ~.. we intend to move forward on the matter was deferred until le&Ye lines. May the Lord help us still to- could be obtained from a Synod. It was taken up again in 1787, by C. I. present true and interesting 'PERIODI- La Trobe, whose plan, altered and im- proved, was proposed to the General CAL ACCOUNTS' of a living and blessed Synodhe1d at Herrnhut just a hundred work, which is ministering to many years ago. In reply, BishopSpangen- the life that is life indeed." berg wrote: 'Your proposal to print a short account ~every quarter of the All honor to, this noble Church, with missionary labOrs among the heathen, for the benefit of the honorary mem- its glorious example of self-denial and bers..of your Society and others who feel interested therein, has the hearty sacrifice and heroic endurance; and all concurrence of the Synod.' And so it came to pass that the printed magazine honor to this venerable "Periodical" superseded the laborious preparation of manuscript matter for circulation which has lived to chronicle so many among those who loved the work of the Lord and longed to hear or read achievements of missionary enterprise of its progress among the heathen. The first number was introductory, and triumph. May its career in the and gave a concise account of the whole of our affairs relating to the coming centuries be like the path of missions. The second commenced that series of missionary letters, reports, the just, shining brighter and brighter items of intelligence, statistics and accounts of the sums received and ex- unto the perfect day I J. M. S. pended for the spread of our Lord's kingdom,' which has now continued China Inland Mission. I It is known to our readers that in fora century." the summer of 1888, Rev. J. Hudson But' even this venerable and modest Taylor, the founder of this Mission, bodvof Christians is in touch with the tim~ and announces a changeof policy. on his way to China, passed through " Our next number for March, 1890, the United States and Canada, and will (D. v.) commence a new century of the 'PERIODICAL ACCOUNTS relat- attended Mr. Moody's Summer School ing to Moravian Missions.' Surely that will be a good time to move for Students at Northfield. Such inforward in any direction that may be of real advantage to the cause, which terest was awakened in his China Miswe all-writers and readers-have at heart. sion at this Convention, and at subse- " A brief word first on behalf of the quent meetings, that fourteen mis- Editorial department. We hold it no small honor to edit the oldest mission- sionaries sailed with him in September ary magazine. The office has passed through few, but worthy, hands: for China, and others have since fol- Christian Ignatius La Trobe, Peter La Trobe, Thomas Leopold Badham, lowed. The support of many of these Henry Edwards Shawe. These have been the writers of more than thirty missionaries was' pledged. Many volumes of our missionary annals, each containing ten or twelve quar- others offered their services. A Proterly issues. ,And we trust we have inherited the purpose 'not to emblazon visional Council was also formed to our own (Church's) deeds or to exhibit to the world a picture of our achieve- carryon this work in behalf of the ments,' but' to glorify God and magnify His saving grace. We have China Inland Mission. ,. already endeavored to give our venerable magazine a brighter and more The arrangements have now been readable appearance within and with- put on a permanent basis, and a "Council for North America" duly organized, with J. Hudson Taylor, Director, and H. W. Frost, Secretary and Treasurer, located at Toronto, Onto All correspondence should be addressed to the Secretary, at the office of the Mission. The Council will meet quarterly, and on special occasions; but some of the members resident in Toronto will meet weekly for prayer and for the transaction of business. Several candidates have been accepted, and parties will be sent to China as the Lord may open the way. J. M. S.
~16 PROGRESS OF MISSION8-MONTHLY BULLl!:TIN
A Pentecost at Aintab, Turkey. of women, who were in the majority.
Dr. Graham, a colleague of Dr. Post Fifteen hundred would crowd the place to hear the Word; and then the in Beyrout, an eye witness of the late church would be em>tied, to be im- mediately filled agam for another remarkable work of grace in Aintab, service. Work was also begun in the gives this account of it: other churches. The work continued " There are. three native Protestant (longregations in Aintab, self-support- with increasing power among Armeing and prosperous, with a natural increase from the native membership. nians, Catholics and MosleDlS. The The immediate human instrument of -the revival was Mr. Jenanyau, a native city was never so moved. At the end of Tarsus. He had met Mr. Moody and caught his spirit. The ni&"htly services of four weeks upwards of 600 converts began in the church that 18 numerical- had been added to the churches. The ly the smallest of the three. Soon crowds came. On the first Sunday effect on the old Anjenian churches .night the place was filled to the door; the windows, the yard, and even the was beyond estimation. Armenian low roofs around were crowded. A women would take their Protestant .remarkable featnre was theattendance sisters with them to their own churches and call on them to testify, which they did with great effect. The fruit gath- ered was almost exclusively from others than Mohammedans. Prayer should be offered for like results among thema1so." A. T. P • VII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
A-f'rIca_Alarminc tidings JOr the rav- the most available measures for the suppres- -ages of the Arab slave traders and conquer- sion of the slave trade has rejected the Eng- ·ors in Africa reach us through Mr. James lish proposals for a maritime blockade of the Stevenson of Glasgow, chalrmlUl of the Afri- East AfricaD coast, and adopted those of the can Lakes Company, whose operations are in Belgian delegates. The latter l'Ok to the exthe Lake Nyanza country. From this source tirpatiOD of the evil in its places of origin by -we learn that those traders still pursue their the organization of African territory under -work of conquest, slaughter and extermina- European rule, the establishment of police tion, on lines extending from the Mozambique stations at strategic points, and the institucoast directly west to the countries once de- tion of steamboat service OD the lakes and rivpopulated by the old west coast slave trade, ers, the opening of railroads, and the prohinorth· to the Victoria Nyanza, and thence bition of the Import of arms aDd ammunition. north of the Equator from sea to sea, and to the Nile. West of the Great Lakes, an area -There are three Roman Catholic and 1,000 miles in length and 400 in breadth, has eight Protestant missions in the Congo terribeen made a desert, and for 90 mlles along tory. They support 28 stations and 95 mission- Lake Tanganyika, a once populous section has aries. The Protestant missions are supported been entirely depopulated. Reference to a by Americans, English, aDd Swedes.-Illus. map of Africa will show the extent of this trated Ohristian Weekly. cruel desolation of lands recently densely peopled by thrifty, peaceful and industrious -Thirty colored missionaries for the Sou. natives. All missionary work in this section dan mission were secured bv Dr. Grattan ~f Africa is endangered. Guiness during his receDt visit to the South.
-Mr. Stanley has brought a sult Into the -The work of the Baptist Missionaries Consular Court at Zanzibar against Tlppu-tlb, on the Upper Congo is greatly helped by medtor lossesconnected with his expedition, grow- ical practice among the natives, who suffer ing out of the Arab chieftlan's breach of con- from many diseases. tract and bad faith. It seems that Tlppu-tlb has funds at Zanzibar which can be attached, -The Gospel of Matthew has been puband the evidence of his bad faith Is said to be llshed in the Fiot tongue of the Lower Congo, of a startling character. Mr. Stanley knew by Mr. Westllnd. him well aDd had no falth in him person,ally; but believes that by employing him on a sal- Dra~II.-The Baptists of Bahia, Brazil, s;ry of $120 per ·month he prevented his enter- have recently purchased for church purposes ing lipon some marauding expeditions on the what was formerly an inqulsitioD building. Upper Congo, by which thousands of lives Parliament there has receDtly promised libwould probably have been destroyed. ertyof worship and civil marriage.
-The committee appointed by the Anti- Harmah.-An Assoclation of Baptist slavery Conference at Brussels to report upon Churches in Upper Burmah has been formed. It ls called the Qung-pin-Ieh Association, from the place where Dr. Adoniram Judson suf- fered his cruel imprisonment.
-The tranalation of the Old Testament into the Shan language, by J. N. Cushing, D. D., of funds. 1,915 men have availed themselves of Burmah, is ready for the press. the advanta.ge of our Home for Discharged Prisoners, a. larger number than ever before. Chlna.-The Chinese Coast, 2,000 miles 480 boys, taken from the courts at the request in extent, is lighted at night by as complete a of judges and maglstra.tes, have passed system of lighthouses as the shores of any through our Boys' Homes since opening in civilized country. September, 1887, of the Greville Street Branch. The present inma.tes number 45, of whom 39 -Although the Roman Catholic Church are in employment. has had its missions in China for about 300 years, it has never given the Bible to the Chi- The goods sold and given during the year- nese people. from the -clothing department of the mission comprised 2,025 coa.ts, 2,347 pairs of trousers, -Dr. Corbett writes to the Presbyterian 1,949 vests o.nd guernseys, 8,760 shirts, 1,876- Banner: "One thousand inquirers have en- hats, and 2,719 pairs of boots. rolled their names, and are earnestly desiring to know the way of salvation. Many of this Franee.-The French Governmentha& number are in the late famine districts where declined to reinstate Rev. John Jones, mis- 80 much was done with money sent from sionary of the London Society on the Island Christian lands to save life and alleyiate sulfer- of Mare, In the Pacific. He has been labor.. ing. The need of more laborers was never so iug there thirty-three years, and a large pro- _urgent, nor the outlook so hopeful, as now. portion of -the people have been converted, through his efforts. He wo.s removed from " Dr. and Mrs. Mateer have decided to defer the island o.t an hour's notice by the French their visit to America for the present, and re- otllcials at the instance of the Roman Catholic main at their post at Tungchow. Mr. G. S. priests. and Mrs. Hays will return to Chefoo. At the late meeting of presbytery, texts were as- HUulrary.-There are I,ISO Baptists in- signed to six licentiates with view to ordina- Hunga.ry, aU connected with one church in tion, and four young men were received under Buda-Pesth. There are only two Baptist min- the care of presbytery. No previous year wit- isters in the country; but they have baptisms nessed the establishment of so many Christian every Sunday. The prospect is very encourschools. Heathen parents are pleading to aging. have their children taugh~ in our schools. The presence of our secretary, Rev. Arthur Indla.-Dr. Mary Crawley, of Edin- Mitchell, D. D., and wife, gave much joy to all burgh, has been o.ppointed physician to the the missionaries and native members." family of the Maharajah of Patlala, and to have charge of the Femo.le Hospital there. DenIDark.-At the Jubilee of the Baptist Mission in Denmark, held in Copenhagen, – The Ohristian gives some interesting stait was reported that 6,000 in all have been bap- tistics showing the gradual diminution of' tized, and there are now 2,700 members in the Buddhist temples in the Kyoto Fu. In 1879churches. All the Protestant missions in Eu- there were 3,737, five years later there were rope lose many of their best members by emi- 3,506, a.nd this year the number Is given atgration to America. 3,270.
Enlrland.-St. Giles' Christian Mis- -A Hindu gentleman hascalled a congresg sion gave an annual supper to the criminal of Brahma.n priests and learned men for theclasses (London) Dec. 2, 1889. We give a syn- purpose of Incorpora.tlng the Bible among theopsis of its work during the year: sa.cred books of India, and otllcially recogniz- ing Christ 80S the last and spiritual Avatar, or- The number of prisoners discharged from incarno.tion of Brahm, the supreme deity. the four metropolitan prisons was about 19,300. Of these 15,978 accepted our invitation -The Baptist Church at Nursarava petta, to breakfast, and 4,850 signed the temperance of 4,000 members, was recently divided int~ pledge. Besides these 8,359 men and boys twelve, each with its own pastor. were assisted in other ways, as follows: Sent to sea……………. … ……… 118 -A paper printed in Tamil o.nd Telugu is Sent abroad (outfit, passage money, and published by the missionaries in Madras. It has a circulation of 10,000 copies. all other expenses being borne by the mission).. .. . …. … …………… …. 184 -At the Cum-bum station in the Ameri- Sent home to friends………. .. .. …… 289 can Baptist Telugu Mission, 528 converts were Relieved with gifts of money, clothes, baptized in eleven months of 1889. tools, stock, etc., and by employment being found……… .. ….. …… … … 7,768 -A few years ago the offerings at the tem- ple o.t Monghyur o.mounted to $50,000 during 8,359 the two days of the o.nnual festival; now they 461 convicts were sent to us at their own re- a.re only $20,000. The priests say to the millquest, and their gratuities, to the amount of sionaries : " You are the reason. Yourover £2,510, were expended lor them in the prea.ching and your books have taken the manner that seemed to the Society best for ilie fear of us and our gods from the hearts of our men. To a. large number of cases o.dditional people." monetary grants- were made from the mission .Japan.-The Universalists start a Mis- sion. Rev. Geo. L. Perin, pastor of the Shawmut Unive1'8&llst Church, Boston, has resigned, boldest, the most liberal, the purest, doctrines and goes out under the auspices of the Uni- of natural religion are preached by salaried ve1't!8lWt General Convention. He takes a Jewish ministers. Both Biblical and Rab- -corps of workers with him, and expectS to binlcal Judaism. leam to have had their da.Y. stay at leaat dve years .. to start with,.. he The cloak that could not be tom ott by the says. He will make his headquarters at To- tempest of Christianity and persecution bids kio, and $20,000 has been raised to back him fair to be thrown ott under the sunshine of up. The Episcopalians also have chosen one rationalism and tolerance. of their ministers, the Rev. Edward Abbott, brother of Dr. Lyman Abbott, to head their -Missionaries among the Jews in all the ~olumn of workers in Japan. The Sunrise countries of Continental Europe report an in- Kingdom 118 a mission deld is ta.king on new creasing interest in Christianity among 1Ibat importance in the thought of Boston. people. They are atrected by the movement inaugurated by Mr. Rabinowitz, of Ki%henetr, -Nine new missionaries have been ap- Russia. point!ld to Japan the present year by the American Baptist Missionary Union-an addi- -It is announced from Constantinople that tion of thirty-three per cent. to its working the Sultan has sanctioned the erection, at force in that country. Bethlehem, of a chapel for Protestant pil- grims. It is said that this decision is most -One-half of the population of Japan is in gratifying to the German Empress, who has the southern part, but most of the missionary had the scheme particularly at heart. work has been done in the northern-central portions. -All the best sites along the hill country of Judea, between Jerusalem westward and -Lieut. Murdock, of the U. S Navy, says the sea, have been bought by Russia, and covthat the Japanese are so eager to learn that ered with splendid Greek temples. The great while they care oniy for secular knowledge, pilgrimages of the day are from Rnssia to Palthey will tske religious instruction with it. estine. Every year about 30,000 or 40,000 Rus- This is the great opportunity for missionary sian pilgrims visit the Holy Land. work in Japan. The country must soon become Christian; but the Japanese are so inde- ..adasaBear.-The new hospital in pendent, they will modify the Christianity of Antananario is built by the Friends Foreign the 'west to snit Japanese ideas. He thinks Missionary Society, and not by the L. M. S., they will dispense with our denominational as we stated in our September issue. Thelatdistinctions. ter society, however, aids in the work.-.T. M. S.
-Translations of the Book of Jonah and Norway~Mis8ionary Skresfrud's an- Matthew's Gospel in Ainu, by the Rev. J. nual report of the Norwegian Lutheran Mis- Batchelor, the Society's missionary to the sion IU Santallstan, states that during the past Ainu, in the northern island of Yezo, in Japan, year 415 heathens and 82 children of Christian have been printed at Tokio for the British and parents received the sacrament of baptism. Foreign Bible Society. The membership is 5,Z72, and the number of stations, 14; these are suppUed by Norwegian -The death of Dr. Joseph Niishima, the missionaries and native teachers and catefounder and head of the doshisha, or college of the American Board at Kyoto, is greatly to chists. be lamented. He had visited America several Palestlne.-The Guardian of Novemtimes. Born in Yeddo in 1844, he ded to this country at 20, and was educated at Amherst ber 20 gives the following facts, as stated by and Andover by Mr. AJpheus Hardy, of Bos- Dr. Blyth, Bishop of the Anglican Church in ton, and was ordained to the ministry in 1874. Jerusalem, in an address at the Church of St. At the meeting of the American Board the Margaret, Lothbury: In 1841, when the bishsame year he made a powerful plea for opric was founded, there were 8,000 Jews in Japan, which led to the founding of the do- all Palestine. In 1883 there were 20,000, but so shisha at Kyoto. By means of this college or great has been the increase of late that in training school for young men, his iniiuence 1888 the number came up to 70,000, about the on the religious life of Japan WII8 very widely number that came up from Babylon. The felt. This was the institution in which so Bishop further stated that while the feeling powerful a work of grace under Secretary of these Palestinian Jews towards Christians Wishard's labors about a year ago we re- was losing its bitterness, and an agricultural corded, resulting'in the conversion of about aptitude developing, the fertillzing rains, 100 of the young men connected with it. Who known in Scripture as the "latter rains." had will take his place ! been granted for the last two years, although they had been withheld from, perhaps, the .JeWB.~Judaism breaking up. The Jew- time of the exile. ish Quarterly Review says that religion among the Jews is a dead thing. In Austria the Jewish Portusal.- Mr Herbert Cassels, of teachers have openly broken with Judaism; in Australia Judaism is an auremic invalid; in Oporto, in order to encourage the circulation America, even more than in Germany, the of the Holy Scriptures in the country, is pub- lishing an illustrated edition of the Bible in Portuguese. The work contains the common translation of the Vulgate, with the text of the Vulgate itself, and it is first of all being come in 1889 of $234,000, and ulne were In Can- ada, with an Income of $84,257. In the given to the world in penny serial parts. United States there were 39 01'g8Jlized socie- ties of women, with 25,000 auxiliaries and Messrs. Cassell, the famous London publish- 8,000 children's bands. There were half a mil- lion members of the auxiliaries and 200,000 ers, are supplying the engravings, and it is members of the bands. The total receipts of these societies in 1889 were 51,250,000;* from hoped that the attractiveness of the book will the beginning of work from the women's boards $10,000,000. These societies support, In mduce many to procure it, and enable them to the aggregate, 1,200 missionaries, 2,l5OO native Bible women, teachers, and other helpers, and 1Ind peace of soul In Christ. have under charge 2.500 schools of various grades, with 60,000 pupiis.-Christian Union. 8eonand.-The Church of Scotland -The Anti-Mormon Victory In Utah is a Missions have sustained a severe loss In the cause for national rejoiCing. At last there seems some prospect, even In the near future. death (Oct. 21. 1889,) of the Rev. W. Smith, of SU~y grappling with one of the great- est dangers to our western life. Th~ enOr- PrIncipal of their MissionarY Institution In mously wealthy and unscrupulous monopoly of the Mormon leaders had enabled them to Calcutta. Their Central African Mission is se- bid defiance to all law, so long as they could command a majority of the people of the Terriously affected by the recent Portuguese at- ritory. Now that they are In a minority, it is hoped their end is near. tack upon the lIlakololo. -Dr. John HaUls delivering the N. F. South ADierlca.-It seems to be a Graves course of lectures on Foreign Missions, at New Brunswick, N. J. favorable time for pushing out Into the South -Since our last number was issued; each American States, from several of which come of the three Northern New England States has enjoyed a week of .. simultaneous meetings" tidings of a decided though incipient move- In the Interests of foreign missions. Never before, within so short a period, have so many ment of the people toward Protestantism. In meetings been held In behalf of foreign mis- sions in these three States, and we hear cheer- :Brazil, for Instance, with a territory equal to ing reports In regard to the Interest awakened. Aside from the aid of pastors within these that of the United States combined, the Pres- States, Dr. Creegan has been assisted by Messrs. Gutterson, of India, Stimson, of byterians, Baptists and the Methodists have, China, Rev. Dr. Hamlin, the Rev. E. G. Porter, and others. A series of foreign missionary all told, but a bare handful of agents at work. meetings has also been held in OWo, In which District Secretary Daniels was assisted by Mr. The climate, with the exception of a few Chambers, of Eastern Turkey.-Miss'y Herald for March. places along the seaboard, is comparatively ~Receipts of some of our Missionary healthful, and Protestantism has a well-de- Boards: The American Board report for the first five months of the CUTrent 1Inancial year :tined legal status. A similar spirit of toler- "a gain from donations of about $20,500, and from legacies of nearly $53,000. Severnl ance on the part of the government prevails churches have recently reported a marked a~ vance In their contributions over previous in Chili, where thirteen Protestant churches years. Certainly the good tidings of the mani- fest tokens of the presence of the Holy Spirit :have already been established, and several In connection with the work abroad should encourage generous giving here at home. natives are just entering the ministry. In "Nineteen new missionaries and assistant Venezuela, with 2,000,000 population, no Pr0- missionaries have been appointed during the testant missionary societyhas ever yetplanted [* These figures are too low. Receipts in '89 were $1,731,083; and from the beginning of the the banner of the cross, but distributers of work of Woman's Societies some $14,000,000. See table in Jan. No., '90, of tWs REVIEW, page the Bible have made the ground fallow for 73, and Feb. No., '89, prepaTed by QUe of the most efficient secretaries of our Woman's evangelistic sowing. Bolivia and Ecuador are Boards.–J. M. S.] likewise almost totally unoccupied.
-The American Bible Society reports that Bible distribution was fifty per cent.
larger last year in South America than during any preceding year. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, or parts, disposed of by sale <lr gift (mainly the former) was 51,862. That this large increase was not the result of mere spasmodic e/l'ort, is evident when we learn that during the past ten years 264,542 copies have been circulated, of which 90,484 belong to the first half decade, and 174,038 to the last half. These figures are exclusive of the work of the Valparaiso (Chili) Bible Society, which sold during the past year 4,563 copies, and during its existence of twenty-eight years has distributed 54,417 copies In the Republic of Chlli. .
Swl~land has 1,162 Sunday-schools, with 5,459 teachers and 84,000 scholars.
Sweden has 3,340 Sunday-schools, with 15,000 teachers and 220,000 scholars. Austria has 140 Sunday-schools, with 312 teachers and 4,519 scholars.
United States.-Sixty-one women's foreign missionary societies are recorded by Ufe and Light (Boston, Mass.) as now at wOl'k on the "wide field." Thirteen of them were In Great Britain last year, with an inpast three months, eight men and eleven -The Board of Home Missions, of the·· same church, makes a good showtng. Rewomen. Several others, whose testimoniaJs ceipts tn January $94,191.76; last year for the , same month $47,509.58, almost twice as much_ are nearly ready, will probably be appotnted -The Reformed Church in America.- before this item falls under the eye of our Financial statement: RecelvedtnJanuary. __ … __ ._ ••• _. $9,955 15· readers." Previously acknowledged .. _•• _._ ••• 57,897 89'
-The Methodist Episcopal Missionary Total from May 1, 1889, ••••.•••• $67,853 04· Society.-The followtng table will show the The excess of January receipts overthose of' last year is about $500, and for ntne months, tncrease in the tncome of the Society stnce to Feb. 1, $23.527.59. There are still needed. to make good the pledge of General Synod, 1884: :s;::::; ::8 ,… ,… g~~ ~1iia5 <r: $33,147. But much more than this Is needed … !8 if the way is to be made clear for the reten- ! ~~~~ ~lfi '~" <- tion of all our work. The receipts from Feb. 1 t i i to May 1, 1889, were $48,817. There should be· .!:l 1 :~tfi :~ ~~l: z~.g..~.~.. no retreat from this potnt if the work is to be· matntained. .fIio…… :'1""1 ii~ ~ cO"- lli~ 1IIIscellaneoa.·-According to care-· ful calculations made by a British clergyman, a5!iS~Sa!i1ii ~ of note, just published, Protestants have tn- creased during the last hundred years from ! ~~~~ifl~ §i t 37,000,000 to 134,000,000, or nearlv fourfold. ~'~~g~ Roman Catholics during the same period have- lli tncreased from 80,000,000 to 163,000,000, or' twofold. The Greek Church durtng the cen- }) …… !i518!il8ll!l~ ,l.!.l. tury has increased from 40,000,000 to 83,000,000• ~8l~~§~ also twofold. ~g;i!€ggi .f ~ -Six missionaries of the Southern Baptist, ~ Board have voluntarily decided to accept as salary only $300 each person, with allowances giZ~i'!;:f.:;~ !;e for medical attendance and children when reo. quired. .~ ~§~~1§l~ ~ -In different parts of the world, under the· J ! …!i~!,…S:igf auspices of sixteen different societies,there are· twenty-seven vessels engaged in missionary $ 8l:Jil~S~S iIl work. Six of these are employed tn the Pai … II ~!~~~~ !@ cific Ocean, and sixteen of them along the· =0 ~ii~~~ ri coast or on the rivers of Africa.
0 ~ lli -Moravian MiBBions.- In answer to re- peated Inquiries respecttng this mission, we. ..: : are asked to state, once for all, that theAmeri- can agent for all Moravian Missions, no matter ::: ~'" in what part of the world they may be situ- ated, is the Rev. Robert de Schweinitz, Beth- ~ i~~~~~ E-i lehem, Pa.-J. M. S.
>t ?"" …………………… '1"'1 -Medical Missions at Home and Abroad publish a list of medical missionaries at work. The most encouraging feature of the above There are 125 tn !lll. The Free Church 0'- report is the steady increase in the confer- Scotland employs 22, C. M. S. 19, Presbyterian ence collections. Almost one thousand dolla1'8 Church of England 18, United Presbyterian Church of Scotland 10, London Missionary So-· per day bas been added to the annual tncomr ciety 10, Church of Scotland 5, Baptist Mis- sionary Society 3, China Inland Mission 6, inof the Missionary Society from collections dian Female Normal and Medical Missionary Society 5, Wesleyan Missionary Society 4, only since 1884. The exact sum is $861,893.10. Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society 8, S. P. G. 3, various other Societies 22. They This is the thermometer to watch. It marks are distributed thus: 42 in China, 38 in India,. 25 tn Africa, 6 in the Holy Land, 15 are scatthe ristng enthusiasm of the church for the tered over Europe, Asia Minor, New Hebrides. and Madagascar;' 12 of the number are qualigreat cause of missions. This is the first time fied ladies.
'we have crossed the Million Line by collec- tions only. .
-The Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions reports receipts from May ~ to January 31, 1888-9, to 1889-90 : 1888-8'. 1889-90. GAIN. LOSS Church••, 'UIO,981 43 '129.829 89 81,661 64 eabbatW..ebool., 14,341 90 n,Sl68 18 $2,926 28 Woaen'. Boardl, '1'1.'1'1'2 86 ~.443 26 4.6'7091 L e cac1• • , 3(,496 86 61 386 12 16 890 ~6 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1I1IceUaneoa.l, 34,12'1' 63 82.164 49 1,9fS 14 Tolalll, '29I,fI917 '8120681 9H24 48' 4! t3,624 68 8,624 68 Total gatD, 1889-90. $20862 7'r This gain is encouraging, but a much greater gain is needed in the three remaining months.
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1889
~ERVING OUR OWN GENERATION
IISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE- WORLD.
VOL. XI. No. 7.-Oid Series._-JULY.-_VOL. II. No. 7.-New Seriu. , I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. SERVING OUR OWN GENERATION.
LEDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] PAUL, in the Antiochan Synagogue, significantly said of David, "He served his own generation by the will of God." * If anything especially distinguishes those foremost missionary disciples of our day-the Moravians-it is the sublime purpose to reach their own generation with the gospel. Count Zinzendorf led in this unique consecration to present service, when he chose as his motto, "That land is henceforth my country, which most needs the gospel."
To this thought we would now give emphasis: the lifetime of our generation bounds at once our work and our opportunity. What we are to give we must impart while we are living; what they are to receive from us they must get while they are yet living, We owe to our Lord an infinite debt; we can never pay it ; all we can do is to acknowledge it by service to our generation according to His will and in His name. Obviously 80 far as that debt can be paid, it can be paid only during the period which limits the generation of which we form a part. This proposition seems so simple and obvious as to need no argument. Yet, practically, it has never been accepted and acted on by the church in modern times, nor at any time since the apostolic age.
There are two sorts of service we may render to humanity: one is immediate and transient, the other is remote and permanent.
For example: a confbgration sweeps over some great metropolis, consuming every conbustible dwelling and leaving thousands of families without clothing, food or shelter. Manifestly, every true fellow-citizen owes to the naked, starving, homeless, an immediate and imperative duty which can be done only now. The first necessity is to rally universally to put out the fire, save those now imperilled and perishing, and feed, clothe and house the destitute. After these present and pressing needs are met, it behooves us to make permanent provision against like calamities hereafter, preventing such catastrophies by securing a more adequate water supply, a better equipped fire department, and a fire-proof class of buildings. But only fools or monsters * Acts xiii : 36. would meet to consult about such permanent preventive measures while the fire was yet raging or the multitudes were yet starving or freezing! Humanity and philanthrophy instinctively impel us to re- lieve immediately the peril of the perishing. '
God has committed to the church a double work. Undoubtedly there are remote and permanent results at which we are to aim, even the laying of broad and firm foundations for the evangelization and edifi- cation of future generations. We are to erect Ohristian homes, churches, schools, colleges, seminaries; provide translations of the Word of God and a Ohristian literature, thus simplifying the work of each succeed- ing generation, lessening the labor, facilitating the process, accelera- ting the progress of the work, for all time to come. But, me:1nwhile, we must not overlook what is even a more pressing duty and'privilege, viz.: 1.oe must not permit this1!eneration to die unsaved, so far as our consecrated labor can prevent it. No activity in providing for future generations can atone for our inactivity in providing for our own generation, which first of all we are to serve, by the will of God, with the gospel.
We pray God that this one thought may press with mighty and resist- less weight upon the heart and conscience of every believer. When Ohrist said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," he must have meant that those to whom he spoke should go forth and reach those who were then living. That command is of perpetua.l force. It applies to every new generation of believers; and it means that, in every successive age, the church shall both undertake and overtake this great work. If it seem too great, he reminds us that omnipotence is His: "All power;" omnipresence is His: "Lo, I am with you;" eternity is His: "Alway, even unto the end of the age."
And, if the church will take up this work faithfully, He will supple- ment all her efforts with His omnipotent, omnipresent, perpetual co- operation.
How the church may serve its own generation has an example in Scripture history. The so-called Acts of the Apostles is a book, the very frame work of which has a strange meaning. It covers just about thirty-three years, the average lifetime of a generation. It reveals the infant church, receiving its" infant baptism," its anointing ofthe Holy Ghost for service; and then undertaking to reach every "nation" and "every creature" with the proclamation of the gospel. The book covers only the period of a single genemtion, as though to show us what was possible even then, with a few disciples who had no wealth, no learning, no social standing; no modern facilities for travel and transportation, for translation and publication and distribution of the word of God, for acquiring and utilizi"!1g foreign tongues; and, as though to demonstrate to each succeeding generation of believers what could be done and what should be attempted, as the progress of the ages should put at their disposal new and marvellous helps to the work.
How did .those primitive disciples undertake the work of serving their own generation by the will of God? As John Wesley said, they were" All at it and always at it." The first glimpse we get of the apostolic church reveals the disciples, men and women, meeting for ten days of continuous prayer, waiting before God for the gift of the Promised Spirit. They had from Christ a verbal commission; now they tarried for that enduement and endowment which were to become a new and actual and dynamic commission: they had the message; now they waited for the power. The only time that was "lost" for the direct work, was the time" saved" in getting the divine preparation for the work. Then, at once, on that very day of Pentecost, the actual business of bearing the message of life to every nation and every creature was systematically begun. Peter's unfolding of pruphecy and of the history that fulfilled it, was the means of bringing 3,000 hearers to the immediate acceptance of Christ as Messiah and Saviour.
That was' the first step. What was the second? Those converted souls became witnesses for God and the gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Read this explicit narrative. Why is the Inspiring Spirit so careful to leave on record the wide representation gathered in that Pentecostal assembly? Four verses in the second chapter are given to the brief delineation of the Pentecostal Descent of Power: the fulness of time, the one accord in one place, the sudden sound from heaven, the three symbolic expressions of the Holy Spirit-the wind or breath, the invisible secret of communicated life; the fire, that represents light, or knowledge, heat, or love-that purifies what 18 most precious and consumes what is worthless; and the cloven ton.tue, that represents the VOICE, that sign and signal and symbol of intelligence and affection, multiplied to meet the ears of all strange peoples.
The next eight verses are given to the delineation of the wide territory represented in that Pentecostal gathering. "There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." And subsequently minuter particulars are added: they are from the remote East, Parthia and Media; from the north, Pontus, and the shores of the Black Sea; from the south, Arabia and Egypt; from the west, Crete and even Rome. In other words, every quarter and almost every portion of the known world is represented in that audience and in that anointing. Ears accustomed to strange tongues hear in those foreign dialects the story of redemption, and tongues accustomed to foreign speech begin to tell the story to others. What is the Spirit doing? Not simply bringing the message to the ea.rs of all nations in one gathering, but raising up and equipping a great body of heralds to bear the good tidings back to their own peoples. Let lis not attach too narrow a meaning to that phrase, "dwellinJ! at Jerusalem." * These were probably not permanent inhabitants, otherwise they would not have been more familiar with foreign tongues than with their own Jewish language, or the current Hellenistic dialect; they were proba- bly either Jewish proselytes or foreign Jewish residents, who were tem- porarily residing at Jerusalem to keep the sacred feasts, and who would, sooner or later, return to their own homes, going to all points of the compass to carry the good news of salvation. The Eunuch of Ethiopia has generally been regarded as such a proselyte, who, on his return from the sacred city to Ethiopia, was reading Isaiah's prophecy, deeply absorbed in what he has heard at Jerusalem, and who, on be- ing taught by Pl:;tilip, and illumined by the Holy Spirit, went on his way rejoicing; and, as traditon states, together with the evangelist Mark, founded the church at Alexandria.
But we autictipate. The natural, conservative, concentrative ten- dency of the Hebrew converts would lead to their prolonged iltay at Jerusalem. On the one hand there was the old exclusive jealousy of Jerusalem as the capital city and only nucleus of the Jewish state and church; and on the other hand there was the exclusive spirit of Judaism that shut in all Jews, and shut out all Gen- tiles as common and unclean. God interposed to prevent the church from u tarrying at Jerusalem" after being "endued with power from on high." First, He dispersed those disciples by persecution and while the apostles were still at Jerusalem, the great body of be- lievers were scattered abroad, and went every where preaching the word. t And, secondly, He taught Peter, who was both a leader in evangelism and in exclusivism, a threefold lesson on the house-top, that what God had cleansed no man must call common. Here, then, were the three grand conditions of universal evangelism: a universal commission and endl1ement, a general scattering of disciples in all di- rections, and a rebuke of all exclusive Jewish prejudices.
The church of apostolic times heeded the voice and finger of God, and took up, straightway, the work of preaching the gospel to their generation. They all undertook to reach all men God gave suc- cessive Pentecosts, as He always will when the work is done in His own fashion. The outpouring in Jerusale~ was followed by another in Samaria nnder Philip, and another in Oornelius's palace under Peter, and another in Ephesus under Paul,-and so Jew, Samaritan, Ro- man and Greek-all had typical blessings.
Another step must be noted: the division ofthe world-field. So vast a terriiory could not be covered 'in one generation without system There wert several conspicuous" pillars" of the church, leaders of the Lord's host: Peter, James, John; and, later, Paul was added.
*KilTou'oiJV're~. tActs viii : 1-4; xi : 19-21. There were at least four classes of peoples to be looked after-converted Jews in Judea, dispersed Jews in the East, Greeks and Romans. A glance at the Acts of the Apostles and at Galatians 1 : 7-10, will show that there was a distinct und~rstanding entered into and acted upon that there should be a divisiou of labor. James seems to have become the guardian of converted Hebrews in Judea; Peter, to have gone eastward to the Dispersed Tribes about Babylon; John, to have nourished the church in Ephesus, the center of Greek civilization and Diana worship; and Paul to have set his face toward Rome and Gaul. There were doubtless minor subdivisioJ).s of labor, but these cardinal points in the compass of the work are conspicuous. In the book of Acts, after the first ten chapters, Peter disappears from view, because the book is mainly designed to tell us how the doors were opened to the Gentile world, entered by the apostle of the Gentiles. But we are not necessarily to suppose Peter to have been any less active or successful among the circumcision than Paul among the uncircumcision.
Now we have no record of Peter's activity in evangelism, but we may take Paul's as a specimen of how one believer in the early church served his own generation. We find this one man going within thirtythree xears over most of the known world west of the Golden Horn, from Antioch to Athens, from Jerusalem to Rome, and, as some think, to Spain and Britain. And the astounding result of such evangelistic activity on the part of th~ whole church is that Paul is able to write to the Oolossians, before his death, which must have been, of course, before Nero's death, which was in A. D. 68: "The gospel is come unto you as it is in all the world;" and again, "the gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every creature (or, in all creation, R. V.) under heaven." * Making all allowance for a legit- imate generality of I:'tatemen t, we find it difficult to get away from this fact that, within thirty-five years after our Lord ascended, the gospel had been carried throughout the known world. That generation of believers gave the gospel to that same generation of unbelievers as it has never been done since!
There has been a long, a criminal delay of the church in taking up the enterprise of a world's evangelization. While we have been" playing at missions," fifty generations have come and gone, without one generatiou of them all being overtaken with the gospel! It is believed that, since the days of our Lord, the average of a generation has been from about one-third to one-half of the present popUlation of the globe, say 600,000,000. If so, the aggregate of these fifty generations has been 30,000,000,000 or twenty times the entire present population of the globe! Of course we can form no conception of such a vast host. To march by us in procession, day and night, ten abreast • Colossians i : 6-23; 1 Thess. i: 6·7. passing each second, such a multitude would require nearly a centur,y! Each generation thus perishing without Christ has gone to accuse the church before God of the double crime of unfaithfulness to the Saviour and neglect of souls.
Meanwhile, during all these fifty generations, the church has been suffering injury in every vital interest. The connection between evangelistic activity and evangelical purity is natural and necessary. Dr. Duff rang out this as with a voice of thunder. Shaftesbury testified that the most potent remedy for current unl:>elief, skepticism and ungodliness, is to be perpetually busy in work for souls. And Dr. Hitchcock, almost with his last breath, declared that the church that has no missionaries will soon have no ministers. The primitive church still stands a model and a pattern of purity of faith and fidelity of work. Never was evangelism so universal, both as to those who undertook it and as to those who were reached by it. Ever since, and down to our day, the best churches in every respect have been those which are foremost as aggressive missionary bodies. In fact, the guage of church life has come to be, what we are doing for lost souls outside of ourselves.
But, most of all, this thought oppresses us, that for fifty generations Christ has been waiting to see of the travail of His soul and to be satisfied. Missions have an intensely vital relation to the person of our Lord. He left certain representative commands-commandswhich center about His own personality: "Follow thou ME 1" "Do this, in remembrance of ME"; "Go ye: and 10, I am with you." Weare identified with Him; we are to share His travail, His yearnings, His sorrows, His vicarious agonies;* yes, and His conquest, His satisfaction, His coronation, too. How can we be Christ's, and yet have none of His passion for souls? How escape travailing in birth for souls until Christ be formed in them ?t Upon the banners of the church let us emblazon, as in letters of light, our motto: THE WORLD FOR CHRIST IN OUR OWN GENERATION; and let us take up the work anew, with a firm purpose, by God's help, to overtake eveOry living soul with the message of the Gospel before this generation shall pass away 1 God is in haste to cut short this work in righteousness. In a reverent sense, Dr. Gordon has reversed the old adage, and says, "God's extremity is man's opportunity." We, who are His disciples, must come up on higher ground. Our platform must be one of abso- lute self-surrender to Him for service to our own generation. We must be willing, now and here, to say, "Lord, I am ready to do what- soever Thou shalt appoint." In simple obedience to that last command, without a secular spirit, a calcula:ting hyper-caution, a dependence on worldly patronage, a distrust of adequate support, without wait- *0010s8. i:24. tGal. Iv: 19. ing for the whole church to recognize her obligation or attempt to"
discharge it, those who do feel the mighty pressure of these great facts and truths must covenant with God and each other, that this generation shall not pass away till all this work be done I This conception of evangelism grows upon the writer until it is difficult to think of anything else. God has given to the church of our day a material equipment for this work which is as far in advauce of apostolic days as the speed of steam and lightning is ahead of camels and horses. Every resource is divinely at our disposal. We can go round the earth in ninety days, and girdle it with electricity in ninety seconds. Steam cars wait to carry us wherever engineering can construct a track, and steamboats are ready to float us wherever rivers run. The printing press will multiply the healing leaves of the tree of life as fast as we can scatter them, and the common school, now fast becoming universal, offers to fit every man to read the Scripture in his own tongue. God has flung all the doors open, and every land is now a Macedonia whose voice is, "Come over and help us/' Back of the missions of a century there stand results so amazing that even unbelievers confess the finger of God. In front of the mission band lie unoccupied territories, inviting the plowman and the sower, and white harvest fields demanding the reaper with his sickle. .AJ3 to money, if one-tenth of the treasure now in the coffers of Christians in England and America were put on the altar of sacrifice, it would suffice to multiply all that is now spent on the entire mission field~ two hundredfold. Do we realize what that means? It means twelve hundred thousand missionaries in the field, or one to every eight hundred of the unevangelized; it means churches, schools and colleges in every heathen, pagan, papal, and Moslem community; it means the blessing long since promised, when all the tithes are brought into the store-house,-a blessing poured out until there be none left to pour ouf; 1* Here is a magnificent material equipment, but it is a machine without an adequate motor. All the combined energy of the flesh will never set this huge mechanism in motion. There is bnt one Power equal to the emergency; it is the vital spark that flashes from above, and only prevailing prayer can bring that spark down. The whole church of Gou should be on her knees, pleading and waiting for the celestial fire. Let that descend, and every wheel will move and every lever play; money will be outpoured like water; life will offer its vitality and vigor, and, better than treasure or life, LOVE will count no cost dear, no toil hard, no load heavy, when Jesus leads and souls are dying! We write these words with the conviction taking hold like a taproot upon the depths of our being, that it is both practicable and *lIIalachI3: 10. See Hebrew.
MUSTARD SEEDS OF MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
possible to preach the Gospel to every human being before this generation passes away!
THE MUSTARD SEED OF MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
BY REV. LEWIS GROUT, WEST BRATTLEBOROUGH, VT.
IT was a little more than 150 years ago, or in 1737, that George Schmidt began to tell the story of the cross to a little company of darkminded Hottentots at Bavian's Kloof, 130 miles out from Cape Town. This little nook at length took on the more beautiful and appropriate name Genadendal. or "Vale of Grace." Having built a house, planted a garden, set out a few fruit trees, taught some of the people to read the Scriptures, and gathered a few of them into the fold of Christ, the Dutch settlers began to put such hindrances in the way of his work that, at the end of seven years, he was obliged to give up and leave the field. And yet, the seed he sowed, though much of it laY" buried long, was neither lost nor forgotten. After a lapse of 50 years the way was opened for others to come in and renew the work. Reaching the same field, "the Vale of Grace," to their great joy, in a few remains of the old mission walls, a few fruit trees still in bearing, and, most of all, in a few praying souls, they found glad mementoes and proof of the good work there begun in the years of long ago, and among the rest an aged Hottentot woman, whom SchmIdt had baptized, who still remembered her beloved teacher, had, indeed, a Bible he had given her, and rejoiced exceedingly when she was told that the new missionaries were his brethren. This new mission, though for a time greatly opposed by the Dutch, was greatly blessed of God. The enterprise, there and thus begun, has continued to grow until that" Vale of Grace" is now able to show a large and prosperous settlement, and a congregation of more than three thousand members, and from this blessed center the good work of theMoravians has gone on to prosper and extend till it now includes two South African provinces with 16 stations, 60 missionaries, and more than 12,000 converts to the Christian faith.
It was not long after Schmidt's immediate successors revived his work, that the London Missionary Society was formed (1795) and began to seek some one who should be suited to the same pioneer work of carrying the light of the Gospel to the benighted tribes of Africa. Nor was it long before they found such a man in the person of John Theodosius Vanderkemp, of Holland. Having pursued a five years' course of training at the University of Leyden, distinguished himself as captain of horse and lieutenant of dragoon guards in the army, taken a course of study in the classics, both ancient and modem, in the natural sciences, and in philosophy, at Edinburgh, and then risen to great repute in the practice of medicine, and been subject, meantime, to much severe discipline at the hands of the Lord, at the age of fifty he responded to the call to be a leader in raising the standard of t116 cross in one of the darkest parts of the earth, and entered upon his work in 1799 at the Cape of Good Hope. Having labored for a time among the slaves, Mohammedans and Hottentots here at the Cape, and awakened a deep interest in his mission on the part of the colonists, he set forward for the regions beyond; and then to the northeast, among Hottentots, Kafirs, and other tribes, shrinking from no labor or peril, however great, he did a marvellous work for Christ and his poor. Often opposed, often persecuted, yet never yielding, he devoted himself with great diligence and fidelity, for 13 years, to the cause he loved; and then, with a few farewell words, went suddenly to the rest his Lord ~ad prepared for him in "the better country." The station which Vanderkemp founded at Bethelsdorf continued to prosper, and the work he began under the auspices of the London Society went on to develop and extend until it has already raised up more than a hundred native preachers, brought about 6,000 souls into the church, and won to its instruction about 30,000 adherents.
'1'he Wesleyan Missionary Society began work in South Africa in 1814. Extending its operations by degrees from the Oape Colonyinto, Kaffraria, Natal, and the Bechuanaregions, it now numbers 40 stations, 60 missionaries, and more than 6,000 church members. The Rhenish Society, which commenced operations in this field in 1829, now numbers more than 10,000 members. The Berlin began in 1833 and has 8,000 members. The American Board, which entered the field in 1834, has grown into three missions, the Zulu, the East African, and the West African, and now numbers 30 stations, 48 laborers from America, more than 40 native assistants, about 2,000 under instruction and 7,000 adherents. Besides these, the French Protestant Missionary Society is doing a large and blessed work among the Bechuana and other tribes. The Norwegians are laboring among the Zulus, the Scotch among the Kafirs, the Hanoverians and the Ohurch of England in Natal and Zululand.
These, with a few other organizations, make more than a dozen societies at work in South Afri~a, occupying more than 200 stations, and employing about 500 foreign laborers, besides a much larger force of native helpers. Of the success and value of these labors we get some idea when we find it estimated that not less than 40,000 souls have been brought in this way into the Redeemer's fold, 50,000 children gathered into Ohristian schools, and 100,000 men and women blessed with the direct teaching of the gospel of Ohrist.
Similar labors have been bestowed upon other parts of the continent, and similar results achieved. Well nigh every Christian nation is coming to have a mission, one or more, in some part of that long-neglected land. The mustard seed which the Lord used George Schmidt to plant 150 years ago, in the Southern angle of the continent, though it lay, in
HE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE WORLD'S EVANGELIZATION
a measure, hid for half a century, has taken deep root, sent up a vigorous stem, and sent out many a strong and fruitful branch. The successes of the past, the openings of the present, and the demand for the future should awaken a redoubled devotion to the blessed work. In no age of the world, in no history of continents, can anything be found so surprising as the discoveries and developments made in Africa since the days of those pioneer missionaries, Schnirlt and Vanderkemp. It would take long to tell how her bays have been sounded since their time, how her plains have been spanncd, her mountains scaled, her rivers threaded, lakes discovered, diamonds found, and a goodly number ' of grand highways projected into even "';he remotest parts of that, till of late little known, yet most marvellous land of the sun; and all under the gracious ordering of the Lord, that men freighted with the blessings of the gospel of God's own dear Son might enter and occupy. EthIopia, all Africa, is on tiptoe of expectancy, only waiting to know who God is, that she may stretch out her hands unto Him, and be lifted into His truth and grace.
THE BOOK OF AOTS AND THE WORLD'S EVANGELIZA- TION.
BY PROF. A. W. PITZER, WASHINGTON, D. C.
THE Book of Acts was written by a Gentile physician, who was the intimate associate of the special Apostle to the Gentiles and his companion in the work of evangelization. It is not a record of disconnected facts and incidents in the lives of the Apostles, but an accurate and scientific history of what Jesus continued to do after His ascension, through His spirit, His word and His servants. The principles and patterns of all missionary work, in all lands, among all peoples, until time shall be no more, are contained in this precious book; and as the church addresses herself more and more eagerly to the great and blessed work of preaching the gospel to every creature, she will also turn with ever-increasing delight to this noblest of all missionary records for guidance, for strength and for comfort.
Until our Lord shall return in bodily presence from the heavens, the elements of the missionary problem will never be essentially different from what they were when Luke prepared this record: A risen Lord on his Father's throne in glory; an omniscient and omnipresent Spirit; a living Word, written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; living men and women, filled with the Spirit and thus endued with power to be witnesses for Ohrist; a lost race, without God and without hope either for this world or the next; the command of the King, H Go ye"; and the limit of labor-Ci into all the world."
In this Apostolic constitution and by-laws of the First Missionary Society there is a conspicuous absence of elaborate and intricate machinery, of minute rules and regulations for the guidance of the missionaries, ot endowed colleges and seminaries for training ministers, of multiplied scholastic requirements before anyone should preach the gospel-in fact, many things now thought to be indispensable, were not, at that time, even so much as thought of.
And yet the old Roman Empire extended from north to south more than 1,500 miles, and from east to west more than 2,000 miles, and included Medes, Parthians, Syrians, Ethiopians, Egyptians, Cretes, Arabs, Greeks, and many other tribes and tongues of Europe. ChrIst was the Captain, the Word was the instrument, believers were the agents, power was to come from the Holy Ghost; the only waiting to be done by the missionaries was for Him: He would endue them for their work, then they must start, and never stop until the gospel had been preached among all nations as God's witness.
Not the apostles only, but all disciples, were to go everywhere preaching the gospel. The duty of evangelizing the world was not laid upon a chosen few, with superb scholastic attainments, who could discuss gnosticism and polytheism with the scientists of that era; but every disciple who felt in his own soul the power of the Holy Ghost, was to go forth, and as the one supreme business of his life tell his fellow-men what he personally knew of Jesus of Nazareth; they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and went everywhere evangelizing.
We hear much in these days of new and difficult problems, and of new and special difficulties in the missionary work. But there are no new problems, and no special difficulties. The problems and difficulties that confront the missionary of to-day confronted the missionary of the Apostolic age. Heathenism, polytheism, philosophical speculations, sacramentarianism, polygamy, drunkenness, licentiousness, prize-fights, theatres, party spirit, persecutions, unknown languages, different tribes, tongues, races, slavery-these were in the world then, they are in the world now. The Book of Acts is a perfect Manual of Missions for all Christians, in all lands, among all peoples, through all ages, until the gospel has been preached to all nations as God's witness and the end shall come, and the Lord shall return.
The gospel proclaimed by apostolic Christians came in contact and conflict with every phase and form of human existence; in contact and conflict with Jewish bigotry, with Grecian idolatry, with Roman cruelty, with Cyprian licentiousness, with Ephesian magic, with Corinthian luxury, with Lystrian barbarism, with Sadducean skepticism, with Epicurian agnosticism-in contact with race prejudice, caste, polygamy, slavery, the drink traffic and the social evil; and the testimony oJ the humble witnesses, under the power of the Holy Ghost, was indeed the power of God unto salvation; and the men and women of all classes and conditions, of al~ races and tongues, turned from idolatry and vice to serve the living God and to wait for his son, Jesus Christ, from heaven. What problem or difficulty can meet the evan-
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
gelists of to-day that did not meet the evangelists of the first Christian century? Within the pale of the church, then, there were mistakes of jndgment, and sins in conduct; there were legalism and Antinomianism; excesses and excitements; false teachers and bad doctrine; dissentions and factions; backsliders and apostates; but in spite of all these evils, the work went on, believers were multiplied on every hand, churches were organized and Christ was honored.
After eighteen centuries, the church of this age finds itself engaged in the evangelization of the world; and we call this the era of univerversal missions, when many questions of urgent interest cry aloud for answer; the sphere and functions of Missionary Boards, the powers of the evangelist, the relation between the home and foreign churches, the status of heathen converts, churches and ministers, the erection and support of schools and colleges, female missionaries, medical missions, the uses of cI,"eeds, denominational comity, increase of heathen populations, Mohammedanism and Buddhism. Whatever answers may be given to these questions, the fact remains that all the essential elements of the missionary problem are precisely the same to-day that they were in the apostolic age of the church. As regards evangelization, there is no new thing under the sun. In every perplexity and difficulty the disciple of Ohrist may turn with confident hope to this Missionary Manual for light and guidance; he will not here search in vain for either principle or practice, for example or illustration.
THE MIRAOLES OF MISSIONS.
. WORK AMONG THE WY'NDS IN IJLASGOW.* [EDITORIAL-A. T. P.] LOVE is omnipotent. Wherever passion for souls burns there we may find a new mount of transfiguration, where the earthly takes on the complexion of the heavenly. Let us find an example of the power of such love and holy passion in one of the citief: of Scotland.
It is now a little more than forty years ago since a young man of 23 undertook work as an agent in the Glasgow Oity Mission. Even before he was fully accepted as a missionary by the directors of the work, he began his apprenticeship by visits at every house in one of the lowest districts, and by conversing with every person there encountered, as to eternal things. The whole salary he was to receive for a year's work was less than two hundred dollars; and the section of the city appointed to him was especially needy and destitute, and particularly difficult as a field of labor. It had never yet been occupied and was in the worst respect pioneer ground. It has been well said that he who is not ready to preach the gospel everywhere and anywhere is fit to preach nowhere; and we are more and more persuaded that if every candidate for the office of the ministry were first tried in some such field it would prove a training in its way more profitable than any • John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides. London: Hodder& Stoughton. discipline in the classroom, and would "shake the napkin at the four corners," and disclose whether or not there were in it even "one talent" for winning souls. What a preparation for practical dealing with men and women and children; with people of every variety of temper and temperament, of thought and opinion, of character and life, would such an experience be !
But we anticipate. The young man, who took up that work in that most degraded district in the great Scotch Manchester, was John G. Paton; afterwards the devoted missionary to the New Hebrides, a man whose biography, just issued from the press of Hodder & Stoughton, is uusurpassed for stimulating and inspiring narrative by any existing story of heroism. Mr. Paton found that many families around the Green street of Oalton had never been visited by any TYbinister; and there were lapsed church members who, for ten and even twenty years, had never been in a church building, and had been called on not even by a Ohristian visitor. Of course, in such classes and courts the worst conditions of society were to be found. Drunkenness, infidelity, licentiousness, blasphemy, ran riot; and there was no religion to set up any barrier against them save Romanism in it~most ignorant and superstitious form. Sin and vice walked about openly, naked and not ashamed.
Four hours a day were spent in house-to-house visits. Little prayer circles, or larger evening meetings, with personal sympathetic contact, were the means mostly used to reach and relieve all this misery of soul and body. A Sabbath evening evangelistic service was very needful; but the only available place for it was a hay-loft, with cowstalls below and a rickety wooden staircase as an outside approach. After a year's hard work Mr. Paton could show only six or seven nonchurch goers whom he had persuaded to come regularly to this rude assembly room, besides about as many more who on a week night met in a humble room of a house of the poor. That very house was a scene of gospel triumphs. The hardworking Irishwoman who lived there had a husband whob the demon of drink turned into a monster, and who cruelly beat her and pawned for accursed rum everything of value. Through the influence of these night meetings this man became a total abstainer, abandoned his evil doing, and not only attended Sabbath worship regularly, but urged others both to become abstainers from drink and attendants at worship. '.rhis man and thi!:! woman became the first real helpers of Mr. Paton in his self-denying work in the wynds of Glasgow.
Still the results of twelve months' work were so small that the directors inclined to abandon Green street as a hopeless and fruitless field and try some other section of t.he great city. But Mr. Paton's heart had become enlisted, and he who afterward at hourly risk of life persisted in abiding among the cannibals of Tanna, pleaded for another six months among Green street heathen. He obtained permission; and at the next meeting told his little congregation that if he could not induce more non-church-goers to attend he would be sent to work elsewhere. Few as they were, they had already learned to believe in Mr. Paton and to love him, and they remembered that first lesson in arithmetic, "two times one is two; " and so each one present agreed to come to the next meeting and bring one more. Of course that simple and easy method at once doubl~d the attendance. When people learn this practical multiplication table, it is surprising what wonders are wrought. From this time forth no house that could be had in that whole district was big enough for the meeting. A Bible class, singing class, communicants' class, Total Abstinence Society, Mutual Improvement Society, etc., were instituted. Beside the usual services, two prayer-meetings were opened for the policemen, one for those who were on day duty, and one for those on night duty. Mr. Paton now found every evening in the week occupied with his work, and every Sabbath brought two public services.
And now the hay-10ft had to be abandoned, for the owner required it, and the poor people were at a loss for any other place of assembly. The hostlers and other servants of a certain coach-hirer, lIfenzies by name, got permission to clear out another unused hay-loft, and at their own cost built an outside stairs for approach, to the great relief of the little congregation. Mr. Paton shared the general joy, but felt that if the work were to prosper, a permanent building of some sort must be had which they could control; and with the help of Thomas Binnie, Esq., secured not only a good site, but a Mission Hall was projected at Mr. Binnie's own expense. Just then a block of buildings being offered for sale, singularly adapted for the purpose, this generous benefactor persuaded Dr. Symington's congregation, in connection with which this mission work was carried on, to buy the whole block; and so, at the crisis of the work, God's providence put at the disposal of Mr. Paton and his mission buildings suitable both for evangelistic and educational work.
Of course the time had now come for reorganizing aud enlarging this work. At 7 A. M. on the Lord's Day. Mr. Paton held a class for BIble study, where from seventy to one hundred of the poorest young men and women of the vicinity were gathered. They came in their workclothes, for they had but one suit, all without coverings for their heads, and some without shoes for their feet. Mr. Paton remarked with joy how contact with the gospel brought improvement even in dress and manners. Gradually the attendants began to come in better and more complete attire, fitter for such assemblies; then they were emboldened to "go to church; " and then to bring others with them. Their teacher's joy in his work was ecstatic, but it was not reached by any dainty and delicate steps. At six o'clock every Sunday morning this indefatigable worker might have been seen running from stl'eet to sheet and from door to door for an hour, drumming up his recruits. He kuocked and called, till he roused the careless and the sleepy; and by dint of such perseverance he got together and kept together that early morning Bible class. At a later stage in its history, a band of voluntary visitors from the class itself undertook to relieve him and loolf after the irregular, indifferent and tardy members.
On Monday nights this devoted city missionary held a sort of Bible ;reading for all who chose to come; on Wednesday evenings a combined Bible lecture and prayer service that half filled the church; and on Thursdays an Intending Oommunicants' class for the instruction of those who wished to confess Ohrist and join anyone of the Protestant churches in the city. Friday evening brought a singing class for church music, and Saturday, a total abstinence meeting, in which the members themselves conducted the varied exercises. Mr. ,Paton testifies to the great influence and power of Temperance as the handmaid of the gospel. He himself being a total abstainer both from liquor and tobacco, he found himself the more able to influence others to forego these injurious indulgences.
Thus this mission, which began with so little promise, became a feeder to all the churches, training active and useful members for neighboring congregations; not only so but it became a kinll of theological seminary in which eight lads got their first lessons in Latin and Greek from Mr. Paton's little stock, and their training for the work of preaching the gospel and winning souls.
And now this Oalton Mission grew rapidly to unrivalled dimensions. From 500 to 600 were in weekly attendance, exclusively poor wageworkers and very largely mill-workers. The results were wide-reaching and far-reaching. Habits improved, personal appearance and the whole environment; many removed to better localities. But Mr. Paton kept watch and hold npon them nntil he saw them safely housed in some church. Often his four hours of daily labor which were "nominated in the bond," expanded to double that time. He trained eight or ten devoted young men and twice as many young women as visitors and tract distributors, and twice a month they went on their rounds of visits. At monthly meetings of workers, reports were made and matters of importance brought to notice. Mr. Paton fou.ud himself the head of a sort of Bureau of Tract Distribution, Relief and Employment.
All this work for God and His poor could not be carried on without antagonism. The keepers of the public houses saw the Total Abstinence Society making fearful inroads on their destructive business, and they were ready for any act of undcrhanded or openhanded violence. Mx:. Paton held, on summer nights and Saturday afternoons, Evangelistic and Total Abstinence meetings in Thomson's Lane. The top of an outside staircase furnished a ready pulpit, and the audiences were large, though the gospel had no meretricious charms of art and resthetics by which to "draw." Oomplaints were made by these tavern keepers to the captain of the police that these meetings were hurting their trade. l!'ortunately the complamt was true, though in another sense frpm that intended by the complainants. The captain happened to be himself a pious Wesleyan, and he informed Mr. Paton of the complaints and of the attendance of his police force, but bade him go on and conduct the meeting as usual. A large crowd gathered, and among them many of the dram-sellers and their minions, expecting to see the police break up the meeting and humiliate the missionary and his helpers. The police appeared in force, headed by Oaptain Baker, and the foes of the mission were jubila.nt in anticipation of a row. But the meeting proceeded in so orderly a fashion that Oaptain Baker himself surprised both friends and foes by mounting the platform and devoutly listening till the close. Thus the whiskey ring had to "wait out" the service and hear the gospel-which was not a frequent experience. And at the end of the service Oaptain Baker, instead of breaking up the meeting, or prohibiting others like it, spoke warmly in favor of the work and wished it God speed.
So the enraged dram-sellers planned another assault. The next Saturday evening, a spirit-dealer ran his van in front of the iron gateway of the church which was the only place of egress for the assembled multitude. Two young men were sent by Mr. Paton to drag away the wagon; they were seized and marched off to the police office for "injuring the whiskey-dealer'S property!" and when Mr. Paton ran after them to ask their offense, he was threatened with similar arrest if he did not cease his interference. He went with them to the station. The rumor flew that the missionary and his young men were being" taken up" by the police, and a crowd ran to the rescue; but Mr. Paton begged them to refrain from all disturbance. The lieutenant on duty was manifestly in league with the conspirators and no justice would have been done but for the interference of some gentleman who threatened to expose the whole outrage, and the accused parties were suddenly set at liberty.
Romanism and skepticism likewise opposed the work; and Mr. Paton at first tried to offset their influence by lectures with free discussion at the close, but he became satisfied that he was only advertising the devil's wares, and he abandoned all defensive methods for the simple preaching of the gospel.
We cannot close this remarkable chapter of city missions without an example or two of the wondrous power of the gospel in these Wynds. An infidel lecturer in that district was very sick and Mr. Paton was called to see him. He found him in the midst of a library of infidel publications which he eagerly circulated to poison the minds of the linwary. Whatever little he knew of the Word of God, was only sufficient to feather the arrows of his ridicule. But now he felt himself to Qe taking that awful" leap into the dark," and his mind was full of terror at the "unknown." Mr. Paton's visits were so blessed even to .that hardened sinner, that another wonder, like that of Ephesus, occurred. With cries and tears for pardon and peace, he became a penitent believer and called in all the infidel works he had set in circulation, piled them together after his wife and daughter had torn them in pieces, and he himself struck the light that turned the pile to ashes. * That man was so completely transformed by that simple gospel message that he not only abandoned his infidelity and ceased to be a panderer and procurer for the devil, but till the close of life continued to wit- ness to souls and thereby to win souls.
The district where Mr. Paton labored was so degraded and depraved that he not unfrequently came upon those who seemed to be possessed of a demon. He met an infidel whose blasphemies made even his vile neighbors shudder; and who even as death approached would not hear a word of gospel comfort, but foamed with rage and even spat at Mr. Paton when he mentioned the name of Jesus. His hatred to God seemed to drive him mad. He yelled like a demoniac, and tore to pieces his very bedclothes, till he had to be bound to his iron bed, still foammg out curses and blasphemies. When the humble missionary asked if he might pray for him, he shouted with all his remaining strength, "Pray for me to the DEVIL!" And when Mr. Paton re- minded him that he had declared that he did not believe in either God or devil, he shouted again in terrific rage, "Yes, I do believe in a devil and a God, and a just God, too; but I have hated Him in life and I hate Him in dea.th I "
Yet, even into such a "mouth of hell" went this fearless young mis- sionary, even there to rescue souls; and he did it I He was called to see a doctor who was both an unbeliever and a drunkard. In hi.s at- tacks of delirium tremens he had tried one and another method of suicide. At one time the watchers barely succeeded in dashing from his lips, after a fierce struggle, a fatal draught of prussic acid; again they caught a glimpse of a shining lancet hid in the :folds of his shirt with which he would have bled himself to death. In one of these fits of suicidal madness Mr. Paton, at his request, took his seat beside him, alone, he having first promised that he would do anything the mis- sionary would ask if everyone else might be put out of the room. After a long conversation Mr. Paton took down a dusty Bible that had long lain neglected in the closet, and after reading said: "Now, shall we pray?" "Yes," said the doctor; and kneeling beside him, the missionary whispered: "You pray first."
*Oompare Acts xix: 17-20.
NOTES FROM OUR ENGLISH CORRESPONDENT
"I curse. I cannot pray; would you have me curse God to His face? "
"You promised to do all that I asked. You must pray or try to . pray, and let me at least hear that you cannot."
"I cannot curse God on my knees; let me stand, and I will curse him; I cannot pray."
Mr. Patou gently but firmly held him on his knees, saying: "Just try to pray, and let me hear you cannot." Instantly he cried out: "0 Lord, thou knowest I cannot pray," and strove to rise up as though Satan were struggling within him to turn that beginning of prayer into a curse. But the noble winner of souls took up that unfinished prayer and continued it as though it were his own, till the old blasphemer was subdued and quiet at the feet of the Master. Then inducing him to lie down and sitting beside him till he fell asleep, Mr. Paton commended him to the care of the Lord, and slipped away to other duties. Returning later in the day, the poor victim of delirium was found in his right mind; nay, running to meet the missionary, he hugged him in his arms, crying, "Thank God, I can pray now! I rose refreshed from sleep, and for the first time in my life prayed with my wife and children; and now I shall do so every day and serve God while I live, who hath dealt" in so great mercy with me !" And so he did, joining Dr. Symington's church, and giving his medical skill to a holy ministry to God's destitute little ones, as anxious for their souls as their bodies, until he, who once could not pray, but only curse, fell sweetly asleep in Jesus, to wake where there is "no more curse."
What wonder that even anonymous letters threatening his life, and the public curses from the altar by Romish priests, and the advice of directors of the mission could not induce this brave city missionary to leave a work attended by such supernatural power of God. For ten years he struggled patiently on, though he was at one time felled to the g.round by a stone hurled.at him by a malignant Papist, and mar- vellously escaped assault after assault upon his life. While we sit quietly at home, in our easy chair, or making rousing addresses or write with burning pens on city evangelization, or the estrangement of the masses from the church, here is one man who dives into the depths of all this depravity and degradation, and demonstrates what love and the gospel can do to rescue drowning souls!
NOTES FROM OUR ENGLISH CORRESPONDENT, REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, A. S. A.
I. RELEASE OF EAST AFRICAN MISSIONARIES.
AFTER months of suspense there is rejoicing among the frIends of the English Church Missionary Society over the telegram from Zanzibar of May 5: "Mr. D. A. L. Hooper, the last of the missionaries detained by Bushiri, has arrived here safely." In conne"ction with the release of the entire band of missionaries, special acknowledgment is due to the British Consul- General, Col. Euan Smith, at Zanzibar. His energy and tact in effecting the safe arrival of the missionaries recalls the generous aid tendered to Dr. Livingstone by Sir John Kirk some 25 years ago. Since the outbreakofhos- tilities between. the Arabs and German traders, the missionaries have been imprisoned at the mission stations of Mamboia and Mpwapwa, about 160 miles from Bagamoyo. Early in February the British Consul deputed the Arab Commissioner to re-open the negotiations for the safe conduct of the missionaries to the coast. Meanwhile, March 11, a gleam of consolation was given by the French missjonaries securing the ransom of the German missionaries, numbet"ing six men and one lady, on payment of 6,000 rupees and the sunender of 12 slaves captured by the German war vessel, the Leip- sic. Subsequently rumors reached Zanzibar that the missionaries belong- ing to England were in daily apprehension of a catastrophe at the mission station. A letter from Mrs. Roscoe, a missionary's wife, dated Mamboia, March 11, and received in England April 28, showed the danger to which the brave band was exposed. The raids of the hostile natives compelled them twice to retire to the hills. In vain they tried to obtain a travelling escort. From this neighborhood Mr. Brooks, at his own risk and against the wishes of his friends, attempted at the cost of his life, to make a pas- sage. The lady correspondent had slight faith in Bushiri, which was speed- ily vedfied by his demand for a ransom as soon as he had the missionaries in his power.
Late in March the French missionaries, by request of the British authori- ties, prevailed upon Bushiri to grant the English missionaries protection from Mamboia and guaranteed arrival into Bagamoyo. Thh. port and mis- sionary station is COining in to rapid prominence. From Bagamoyo, which lies to the southwest of Zanzibar, runs the main trade route inland to Lake Tanganyika. A telegram was dispatched to England April 24, fromZanzi- bar, stating that Mr. Roscoe, of the Church Missionary Society, and his . wife, who were on their way from Mamboia to the coast, had been released by Bushiri and were then receiving the hospitality of the French mission station at Bagamoyo. This good news was darkened with the intelligence of the retention in Bushiri's camp of the Rev. W. E. Taylor, Dr. C. S. Ed- wards and MI'. D. A. L. Hooper, three of the society's missionaries, as hos- tages, for whose redemption 10,000 rupees were demanded. With commenda- ble decision the acting British Consul, Mr. Hawes, authorized the Ft"ench missionaries to pay the entire required amount.
A message dated Zanzibar, April 28, intimated that Bushiri had allowed the Rev. W. E. Taylor and Dr. Edwards to leave his quarters. Without de- lay, the missionaries, in the company of Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe, proceeded from Bagamoyo to Zanzibar, en route for Mombasa. Bushiri still detained 111'. Hooper, on the plea that he was not a missionary and did not hail either from Mpwapwa or Mamboia. Fresh negotiations resulted in his release as announced in the first telegram. Happily, the reported death of Mr. Stokes is untrue. Despite his very critical situation, he has passed through the country safely, and is now on the Victoria Nyanza, arranging for commu- nication by water with Uganda.
The unwearied efforts of Col. Euan Smith throughout the negotiations }Iave made him popular on the East African coast and in England. His de- parture from Zanzibar on a short visitto London was a signalfor an ovation at Zanzibar. In this the fOI"eign representatives, the native community, and even influential Arabs participated. Captain Wissmann cordially bade the Consul a temporary farewell, expressing his intention to encourage British Indian commerce on the German seaboard, and forthwith to open and . protect the caravan routes into the interior !rom Bagamoyo, and Bwam- bara.
Since Col. Euan Smith's arrival in England he has paid visits to the For- eign Office. He has freely communicated his views to the Church Mission- ary Society with regard to the outlook in East AfrIca. With Great Britain the Sultan remains friendly. In suppressing slavery the combined blockade of Germany, England and the other powers had been most effective. The conveyance of slaves by sea had been almost entirely checked. A less fa- vorable statement is made respecting the stoppage of the importation of arms and ammunition. These were landed among general cargoes in large dhows. The Colonel denies the truth of the charge made in the English House of Commons, that slave dhows carried the French flag, or that let- ters of marque were given to such craft by French Cousuls. With reference to German colonization, the Colonel spoke of an interview with Captain Wissmann at Zanzibar. He believed him to be a man of great power and I knowledge, whose experience would undoubtedly help him in hi,; mission.
The latest telegram, May 5, states that the hostilities between Captain Wissmann and Bushiri are imminent neal' Bagan-lOYo. The German force numbers about 400 men, composed of Europeans, Soudanese, Tomalis and Zulus. His purposed by the Germans to restore law at Lundi, Kilwa, Dar- as-Salaam, Pangani and Tonga, and to make a re-conquest of the stations Usagara, Usegua, Ukami and Nguro, belonging to the German East African Company. Along the coast-line from Wanga to Rovuma Bay a pax Ger- manica will, if possible, be impol'ed. Gl'ave apprehensions are felt regard- ing the issues of the ensuing conflid on the mission centres situated in East Central Africa.
P.S.-We append the following telegrams, which are creating much ex- citement in English missionary and colonial circles: " ZANZIBAR, May 9. .. There was a decided engagement yesterday between Captain Wissmann and Bushiri, the former being assisted by a detachment of 200 German sailors. Bushiri's camp was captured and destroyed, and his followers dispersed. His loss was 70 killed and 20 prison- srs. One German naval officer was killed and several of Captain Wissmann's officers were wounded. Forty black soidiers were killed. Bushiri has escaped."
"BERLIN, May 10. "Captain Wissmann's victory over the Arab insurgent leader, Bushiri-a victory though achieved with considerable superior forces-bodes well, think people here, for the future tranquility of German East Africa. . The Imperial Commissary's forces numbered about 900 men, iucluding 200 marilles from the blockading squadron, while Bushiri's in- trenched camp was defended by only 600 of his followers. The fight was short and sharp. Bushiri. himself, managed to escape, according to one account, even before the stormers advanced on his position, his loss being 80 killed and 20 prisoners. while Captain Wissmann had 40 of his black troops killed and one German sergeant of the naval contingent,one offi- cer-Lieutenant Schella of the Schwalbe-and a marine, of the Leipsic, were killed. What effect this defeat of the Arabs will have on the future of the missionaries and other Euro- peans in the interior, remains to b~ seen, but the opinion here is that the insurrection on the East coast will now collapse."
The London Times' comment on the conJecture is as follows: "The escape of Bushiri renders the issue uncertain, nor is it possible to avoid apprehen- sions for the safety of Europeans in the interior. There is a solidarity among the so-called Arab traders of Easters and Central Africa, arising from the con~iction that the advance of Europeans into the country is fatal to their interests."
II. THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY· SOCIETY.
Rev. C. H. Spurgeon has recently spoken in tones of strong encouragement on missionary matters. He remarked that it was wonderful how much was being done for the conversion of the world by Christian people of all sorts, in aU sorts of ways. He believed their missions would yield a glorious harvest tor Christ one day, whether they lived to see it or not. Sometimes it took a. good while to prepare for a great work, and a vast amount of material had to be expended in order to make the foundation solid and good. He had no doubt that by and by they would be well repaid for all their labor and sowing of seed. In a similat' vein of congratulation his brother, the Rev. J. A. Spurgeon, urged all Christian toilers to remember that love was the secret of success in foreign missions.
It is noteworthy that notwithstanding the criticisms which Mr. Caine made upon the methods pursued by the Baptist Society in India, and also the severe strictures to which Canon Taylor subjects the Church Mi5sionary Society, both societies are in receipt of unprecedented incomes for 1888. Secretary Baynes, of the former society, announced at the annual meeting thatthe receipts for the yeal' just closed amounted to £80,818, as compared with £66,- 209 for the previous year, an increase of £14,609. A special sum of £3,800 had likewise been contributed for the relief of sufferers in the Chinese famine. Still thet'e was at the close of the year a deficit of £2,800, caused by increased expense in connection with the Congo Mission. Part of this deficit had been made up. The river Congo rates for transportation were excessively large. Mr. Baynes stated that the contract for the new Congo railway had been signed. On its anticipated completion four years hence the cost of mission freights would be much reduced. This railway will have a length of 265 miles, at a cost of 25,000,000 francs. It will start from the Underhill Baptist Station on the Lower Congo and terminate at Kinshasha, Stanley Pool. By this communication Central African commerce, civilization and Christianity will be enormously benefited.
From the report of the society (ninety-seventh) we learn that six missionaries have died and eleven new ones gone forth during the past year. On the society's staff are now 125 English missionaries and 334 native preachers. The numbers of unpaid native agents and self-supporting native churches formed a promising outlook. In 1888 the converts baptized represented 317 in India, 113 in the Bahamas (and upwards of 240 awaiting baptism in the out-stations), 70 in the Shantung province of China, 40 in Japan and 22 at San Salvador. Marked progress was noted III the Congo Mission. In China there were 21 Baptist missionaries who for some months had been mainly engaged in ministering to the famine-stricken Chinese in Eastern China. Two of them were credited with keeping ~live 2,000 at a station in the city where they resided and over 10,000 others in the neighborhood.
Educational and literary agencies had been vigorously maintained. The sale of bibles, religious books and tracts during 188£ in India by the Baptists had never been exceeded. Issnes of portions and complete copies of the Scriptures from the Calcutta Mission numbered 34,535. Testimonies of missionaries and civilians demonstrate that the preaching of the gospel and the translations of the Bible are working a revolution in that empire, and inevitably, is gradually undermining the degraded superstitions of the Hindoos.
'1'he Baptist Zenana Missionary Society drew as usual a crowded assembly. Financially the year has been exceedingly stimulating. Receipts were £9,- 641, which leaves in the treasury a balance of £1,100. Miss Angus, of the Ladies' Home, Delhi, delivet'ed a notable address, from which we quote a single passage: "The map of India is now dotted over with mission stations. Butit must be remembered that these are, for the most part, situated in the large cities, and even there the work to be done far exceeds the strength of the workers. There are literally thousands of smaller towns and villages as yet unoccnpied, hundreds of thousands who have never heard the name of Christ. Day by day the cry goes up to God from many a heart, 'Refuge bath failed me, no man careth for my soul.' For' the millions of India still lie untouched.' Dr. Pierson's words in THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THill WORLD snould ring in our ears: • We are not responsible for conversion, but we are for contact.' When will the church of Christ rouse herself to the duty of contact with these millions?"
III. MISSIONARIES FOR CENTRAL AFRICA.
Toward the last of March a splendid ovation was given in'Exeter Hall to the eight pioneer missionaries departing for Central Africa in connection with the new Balolo Mission. This mission has been formed for the evangelization of the Balolo people dwelling in the Upper Congo, and is a continuation and extension of the Livingstone Inland Mission, begun in 1878. The chairman of the meeting, Mr. J. E. Mathieson, held that it was obligatOL'y upon England to let Africa occupy a large place in the affection and intecests of the church. In deprecating the sever-ely critical attitude taken by so many toward missions, the speaker endorsed the action of five or six of the great missionary societies in London whose methods were being revised in orner to open their doors to young men who had not gone through the regul.ar college curriculum. In sending forth this class of missionaries the directors would command the sympathies and gratitude of the churches. Dr. Grattan Guinness followed with a panegyric upon thL'ee men by whom Central Africa had been opened up to Christianity and commerce, viz.: Livingstone, Stanley and Leopold, King of the Belgians. On the banks of the Upper Congo, where the mission was to do its work, one tribe alone nuPlbered over ten millions, among whom only two missionaries labored. The mission was originally started by a gift of £800, and in a very short time more than £1,500 had been subscribed by friends interested in the enterprise. A rousing speech was delivered by that gifted and eminent representative of young Wesleyanism, the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes. He maintained that the antidote for drunkenness, gllombling and all forms of crime and infidelity in these days was foreign missions. England ought to be active in this branch of service, as there was probably no nation now existing that had done so much mischief as Great Britain by the liquor traffic, and in many other ways, and also by shedding innocent blood in almost every corner of the globe. He held that at the present time there were too few evangelists abroad and too many English ministers at home, a state of things which ought certainly and speedily to be reversed. The devoted leader of the mission, Mr. J. McKittrick, and some of his fellow-workers subsequently addressed the large gathering of friends.
IV. PROTESTANTISM IN HAMBURG.
In Hamburg, one of the gayest and most licentious cities In Europe, a bazaar liberally supported in aid of the maintenance of the Church Fund and, if possible, the early erection of a new English church in the city, realized £1,700. .This amount, raised by the combined efforts of English, American, German and other nationalities, chiefly of the Protestant faith, far exceeded the expectations of the small colony of British and American SUbjects. The l:iympathy which this worthy undertaking has elicited has been confirmed by the unanimous praise accorded to it in the local press, which describes it as the most tasteful and brilliant enterprise of the kind ever attempted in Hamburg.
At the opening ceremony, April 4, the reigning BUrgomaster Dr. Petersen, expressed the genuine sympathy in which Hamburgers held the English people. As the head of the Hamburg Government, he remarked that between England and Hamburg an unbroken friendship had continued for upwards of 600 years, commencing as early as 1266, when the King of England bestowed valuable land and commercial rights upon Hamburg subjects in London. These rights the Hanse factory in the metropoHs was privileged – to enjoy undiminished until the beginning of the nineteenth century. On the other hand, the company of British merchant adventurers received a grant of land, the permission of living under English law with inulluUlty from taxation, and religious freedom in the shape of an English church a.t lIam- burg as early as 1567. Notwithstanding hard times of fot"eign religious in- tolerance, Hamburg alone, perhaps, of all states, can point with pride to the fact that the English church of evangelical profession had been allowed un- mterrupted toleration for three centuries.
V. ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN INDIA.
In the voluminous replies which Mr. Caine's attack on Indian missions has provoked, there will be some advantage in recording the results oC the mission work in India, with which the Roman Catholics credit themselves. The editor of Illustrated Catholic Missions in England has published various statistics bearing upon Roman Catholic missions in India, chiefly based on the figures published in the new edition of the Imperial Gazateer of India, compiled by Sir W. W. Hunter. An English correspondent who has spent 20 years in the Indian Civil Service recently asserted that Catholic and Protestant missions were equally failures in that Empire. He held that in an especial deg-ree this was true of Catholic missions since the beginning of the eighteenth century, while in view of the increase of population Catholicity had been declining for many years. Challenging Mr. Caine.'s implied assertion that Roman Catholics were more successtul than Protesta.nts, he quoted in his proof the official returns of 1881. These show in round numbers as follows: Catholics, 936,000; Protestants, 435,000; Nestorians and others, 456,000; total, 1,827,000. From the number of Pl'otestants 100,000 might be deducted for Bt'itish-born and foreign Christians, though they are not all Protestants. This would leave 335,000 Protestants, a far more satisfactory number in less than 100 years than 936,000 in the 350 years since Xavier began the gt'eat work in India.
It is admitted by Roman Catholic wt"iters that the census of 1881 returned the total number of Catholics as 963,058 (excluding French and Portuguese territories, which contain 285,703 more). The census returns they regard as erroneous to the extent of 100,000 Christians, quoting from Sir W. W. Hunter to the same effect. He writes (vol. vi., p. 265) : "The Roman Caiholies were under-estimated in the census returns by the exclusion of about 100,000 Syrian Christians who acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Vicars- Apostolic of Verapoli and Quilon, andby their inclusion among the Jacobites, who are unconnected with the Roman Catholic Church." Adding, it is said, these extra 100,000, and also the Catholics of Portuguese and French India, which practically all form one mission field, there will be a grand total of Catholics in India numbering 1,349,441. According to the" Madras Catholic Directory" for 1885, the returns at"e estimated at 1,356,037 for British, native and foreign India, some four or five years before the inauguration of the Indian hiet"archy. Mulhall supposed the Catholics in India to number 1,318,000, and another estimate, which appeared in the Deutsche Reich8 Zeitung, gives 1,600,600 as the probable total.
In reply to the charge that the Catholics are steadily diminishing, the advocates of Catholic missions quote the following passage from Sir W.W. Hunter: "The Roman Catholics in India steadily increase, and, as in former times, the increase is chielly in the south, especia.lly in the missions of Pondicherry and Medura. The number
A FmST YEAR'S IMPRESSIONS .oF JAPAN
of Catholics in British and French India and the native states, but exclusive of the Portu guese possessions, rose from 732.887 in 1851 to 93~,400 'n 1871, and to 1,103,560 in 1881. The Pondicherry Mission lately performed over 50,01 ) adult baptisms in three years. In British India. and the native states the children in Catholic schools increased from 28,249 in 1871 to 44,699 in 1881" (p.259).
The Catholics contend that they do not possess a tithe of the funds which the Protestant missionary societies have at their disposal. In verification of this the evidence of Sir W. W. Hunter (in the Imperi:J,l Gazetteer, vol. vi. p. 260) is again adduced: "The Roman Catholics work in India," he writes, .. with slender pecuniary resources. Theyderive their main support from the two great Catholic organizations, the Associa- tion for the Propagation of the Faith, and the Society of the goly Childhood. The former contributes £24,4M yearly to Indian missions, and the latter £12,300, making a total of £-36,- 764. This is exclusive of the expenditure within the Archbishopric of Goa; but it repre- sents the European contributions to the whole vicariates under the Pope. In 1880 they maintained 16 bishops and 1,118 priests, teaching 1,288 schools, 40,907 pnpils, and giving instruction to 1,002,379 native Christians. Tbe Roman Catbolic priests deny tbemselves the comforts consid- ered necessaries for Enropeans in India. In many districts tbey live the frngal and abstemious life olthe natives, and their inlluence reaches deeply into the social life of tbe communities among whom they dryeU."
This Important chain of testimony relating to metbods of operation and principles of teaching, so distinct from the great Protestant sections in the Indian mission field, will nevertheless receive re- spectfulattentlon when associated witb the authoritative imprimatur of tbe foremost living Indian statistician.
A FIRST YEAR'S IMPRESSIONS OF JAPAN.
: BY REV. FRED. S. CURTIS, HIROSHIMA.
As a mission field Japan is doubtless second to nonein regard toits present results and promise for the future: but, judging from a purely human stand- point, the coming of the kingdom of God in Japan is yet in the dim future. The eighty million;; of gods in the" Flowery Kingdom" cannot receive their . deathblow in a day. In the houses of all who are not.either Christian 01' agnostic you may stilI see the little shrine with its offering of flowers. Every- where-not only" on every high hill and under every green tree;" but in the shops and boats, by the wayside, at every turn in the road, these symbols of idolatry meet the eye.
Hiroshima is a stronghold of Buddha. The street on which we live has a continuous row of temples for an eighth to a quarter of a mile. And though the worshippers at these tern pIes seem very scarce the strong Buddhistic prejudice of the people renders them unreceptive to Christianity. The Hiroshima people are looked down upon throughout the Empil'e as being hard, indifferent and unreliable. On arriving we were much disappointed to find tbat, aside from the regular attendants at the Presbyterian and Methodist churches established here-some two or three hundred people- there were but few who manifested any particular interest in Christianity, or who would even come to the preaching places from curiosity. We had expected to see iarge crowds flocking to hear the word of God, and inquirers coming from all parts of the interior, and that anywhere and at any time a large audience could be gathered. This last is true when a large hall or theater is thrown open for a popular lecture on Christianity and prominent speakers are advertised.
I find that the people differ greatly in different localities. For instance, in Koohi the people are exceedingly impressible and embrace the Christian re- ligion readily, while in Nagasaki the old prejudice against the Christian and the" Christian's God" still lives, making it perhaps a more difficult field than Hiroshima. Here it is very difficult to induce the people to enter a otlurch building j they seem to think that in so doing they would commit themselves to Christianity. Since this feeling exists, I am strongly in favor of establishing out-statiorls or preaching.places which at present shall not themselves become churches, but act as feeders to the churches already established till the prejudice is overcome.
As to the government, while it t~lerates Christianity, it clings to idolatry. A recent report shows $150,000 as given in one year to Shinto temples, and year before last $50,000 was given to one single temple. The Mikado himself is an idolater and worships his ancestors.
What the government wants is not so much Christianity as Western science and institutions, and just now, perhaps, more than anything else, treaty revision; and to bring about the last is doubtlebs their motive for keeping foreigners out of the interior. If it permits freedom here, there is no privilege left which it can grant to foreign nations in the future. The various fOl'eign powers have certainly taken advantage of Japan, obliging her to admit aU their products at a duty of five per cent. or less, while she has to pay enormously on her exports. Then, too, no foreigner is amenable to Japanese law, all cases being tried before the consuls.
Some time since I saw quite a melee in front of the hotel at Kobe. A Japanese boatman was being very roughly and to all appearance unjustly treated by a crowd of Chinamen, while not ten feet distant stood a Japanese policeman, his sword hanging by his side, for the treaty laws do not permit any interference with foreigners. Now the time has come when it would seem that the Japanese government does not propose to remain longer in leading strings; but the other nations cannot seem to agree upon any satisfactory revision of the treaties regarding "exterritoriality." What can Japan do to bring about the desired change? If it absolutely forbids foreigners to travel, reside and teach in the interior, "the people would probably become disaffected, so to go outside the treaty ports is being made as difficult as possible. Heretofore the government has permitted foreigners to go to different parts of the interior on passports for" travel, health and scientific observation," also when employed by the Japanese. These purposes have been regarded as mere technicalities by the officials, and many missionaries have lived on such passports.
Having tried every other expedient, the government, while continuing to issne, enforces the strict letter of the law, thus making them very difficult to obtain. One of our missionaries waited at Kobe fOI" his passport from Thanksgiving time till the middle of January. Then, too, after a passport has been once obtained the trouble is not over, for it must be renewed, with greater or less frequency. When the time for which it has been granted is about to expire, the passport must be brought to a treaty port and surrendered and an application made for the renewal. The passport is then sent to Tokio, and after a longer or shorter time the renewal is granted.
There is a missionary who has waited three months, and is still waiting, in Kobe, for her passport to be renewed. This lady is a teacher in a mission school, which may account, at least in part, for the delay, for the government having taken such pains to establish its own schools throughout the empire, naturally wishes them to be well patronized: hence, all private schools are discouraged. Recently it was desired to start a Christian school in Kochi. The Japanese engaged by a missionary was obliged to write "almost a volume to the authorities in regard to the matter," after which, says a missionary, in writing home of the action of the authorities, "they sent this communication back as not correct, wanted to know the number of feet in the school-house and around, the name of the school, etc. All this was written out at full length, when again the paper was returned, asking , what books would be taught, who were the publishers, when and where were they published, how far in each book the pupil must get in a term and at what age a pupil could enter the school.' " .
These questions were duly answered, but sometime after came the query: "If you get two hundred pupils at 35 cents each pel' month, how will you use all that money? If you do not get that number of pupils, where will the money come from? "
Viewed in the light of a determined purpose to secure treaty revision, such seemingly puerile actions are significant. I trust the time is not far distant when propel' treaties will be made, giving Japan her ri~hts and a footing more nearly equal to the otb.er great nations of the earth. For sev- eral months there have been rumors afloat to the effect that Japan had made a new treaty with America, which will give us liberty to go anywhere in Ja_ pan, but whether this is true or not remains to be seen. That some sort ola treaty has been concluded with a certain foreign power, is all that we can now be sure of.
Let mesay a word in regard to my personal work so far. Although I cannot yet preach in the vernacular, I have established a temporary preaching place at the girls' school. My teacher has done the preaching while I have read the Scriptures and led the singing. This tl'acher is a young Japanese student, who is working to obtain funds that he may resume his studies for the ministry in the Congregational College at Kyoto. Though but twenty- two years old, he has already, we think, shown a gift for preaching, but he lacks power, and seems to have very little realization of the meaning and responsibility of the sacred office to which he aspires. I am very glad, how- ever, that he does not think it necessary (as many of the native preachers do) to use the classical Chinese words, which are unintelligible to the unedu- cated. The services which we have carried on together have had an aver- age of about twenty-five attendants, half of these being heathen. Were the preaching place on some large thoroughfare, instead of being near the outskirts of the city, no doubt many more would come in and heal' the gospel.
By the time I am ready to preach, it is my hope that the Lord will open the way for the establishment of a preaching hall on some main thorough- fare, where large numbers may readIly be reached. The people are so ex- ceedingly curious to see foreigners that I am sure they would listen, could some prominent spot be secured. When any of the missionaries enter a store on one of the principal streets, a large crowd invariably collects to watch their every movement and catch their every word. 0, that this same spirit of investigation might be transfel'l'ed to the Gospel of the one true God! For there are in this city a hundred thousand souls who know Him not. Of equal urgency is the need of the handful of Christians here who must be" instructed in the way of God more perfectly." Were I asked what I consider to be the most vital needs of the church of Hiroshima, I should say.
a deepel' heart experience and life, and a realization of the lost condition of the souls of their countrymen, prompting to earnest effort for their speedy evangelization. With many their Christianity seems largely a matter of intellectual belief, and in this section of the country I have failed to see any marked spirit of evangelism.
As to ihe people of Japan, as a race, it may indeed be said to be favorable towar(1 Christianity, but it is, like its rulers, much more favorable towal'd western civil~ation and its accompaniments. .Witb the multitude it mat-
FATHER DAMmN THE LEPER PRmST OF MOLOXAI
tel'S little what it is, if it be but American or European, whether to wear foreign clothes, to eat foreign food, to drink fpreign liquors, or to learn the English language. All these things are done to a most remarkable extent; for our language there is a perfect "craze." The highest ambition of the Jap1.nese youth is to go to America, and next to this to speak Engbsh.
Many Christian teachers would lack for pupils, were the teaching of English done away with.
The superficiality, fickleness and" happy-go-Iuckiness" of this .people, with an impressibleness that is only" skin deep," :O,re the greatest trials of the missionary who seeks to labor among them.
But there is another side to this picture which is so well presented in the recently published report of" The Council of Missions co-operating with the United Church of Christ in Japan," that I send you a brief extract from it• * .. The United Church of Christ in Japan has enjoyed a year of constant growth. * In no previous year have the additions been so many. The adult members of the Church number 7.551. The infant members number 1.139. The total membership is 8.690. The increase during the year is 1.831. The churches are sixty-one. The ministers number thirty-six. The contributions for churCh purposes were yen 20.315.82. A comparison with longer periods is instructive. The United Church of Christ was formed in 1877 by the union of eight churches and 623 Christians. including the children. In 1882 there were twenty- five chnrches. with 1.728 members. Three years later. in 1885. the churches were fifty and the members were 3.922. In the past the church has doubled 10 membership in each three years. and in eleven years the incrl'ase has been from six hundred to nine thousand. A like progression for the remaining twelve years of the ceMtury will make the· membership in the year 1900. one hundred and forty-four thousand.
"Such a hope should notbe too great for our faith. The future may well be richer in blessing than the past."
And there are some of us who are hoping and praying for still greater things-the evangelization of this Empire before 'l,e present century closes.
FATHER DAMIEN THE LEPER PRIEST OF MOLOKAI.
BY REV. EDWIN M. BLISS, NEW YORK.
ON the little peninsula of Kolowao, on the island of Molokai, Sandwich Islands, is the famous leper community established by the Hawaiian Government in 1864, after the ierrible scourge of leprosy that committed such fearful ravages among every class of the people. It is not an ideal place of residence, cold in winter, hot in summer, absolutely isolated from the rest of the island by high mountams. Here the unfortunates were placed. So terrible was their fate deemed that many families sought to hide their afflicted members from the officials, preferring to l"Un every risk themselves rather than condemn loved ones to such hardships and privations. Suitable dwellings were not provided, fo.od was insufficient, there was no medical attendance or nursing; the outcasts were practically condemned to death, with no hope of even the last sad offices or sympathy of friends. It was little wonder that every evil passion rose triumphant. A root growing in quantities at the foot of the mountains furnished a highly intoxicating liquor and drunkenness became almost universal. With this came'licentiousness, until prostitution was the only resort of women who sought a living fOl' themselves and their children. The hula dances were seen on every hand and the whole community became a mass of corruption of every kind.
Into this community, in 1873, went Father Damien, a Roman Catholic Priest, of Honolulu, a native of Belgium, of great talents, wealthy, and with every prospect of success in life. It was no rash act, but a carefully considered purpose, with full recognition of all that it mean~complete isolation from all associations such as he had held deal', fellowship with those who were lower and more degraded than the brutes, and the certainty of the most horrible dise;tse and death known to the human race. • The Government, unable to understand his purpose, thought he would soon seek to return, and gave strict orders for his immediate imprisonment should he stir from the community. They refused him counselor assistance of any kind, and he was compelled to rely upon the lepers themselves for support. He found the dead and dying on every hand, and was so absorbed in his care for them that he could find no time to build him even a plain hut, but slept under the trees. His kindly words and efficient aid won him the confidence of the whole community, and little by little his influence became unbounded. Recognizing that in their condition, spiritual counsel was of little avail without temporal help, he was not only priest but" magistrate, school-teacher, gardener, carpenter, joiner, painter, housekeeper, cook, and often grave-digger and undertaker." He lived with the people, shared their experiences in every way; he persuaded them to care more for cleanliness, comfortable houses, good food, so far as practicable. Soon thE' Government, recognizing his real spirit, changed their attitude, gave him greater privi.
leges, allowed him counsel and assistance, at his suggestion provided bettel'
dwellings, and more suitable food; sent medical officers and nurses, fur.
nished medicine, and sought to alleviate, instead of increasing, the suffer· ing of the poor unfortunates.
The natural result has followed. The hula dances are no more heard of.
Licentiousness has almost disappeared. Intoxication has given place to sobriety, and the company that seemed given over to everything evil has become peaceful and happy, so far as there can be happinE'ss with so much suffering. Even much of the virulence of the disease has disappeared.
Better dwellings, good ventilation. healthy food, sobel' lives, and quiet minds and Christian faith have had their effect to lessen suffering, to pro- long life, and make death itself less dreadful. When, nine years after Da- mien's voluntary exile, the queen visited the settlement, and saw the neat houses, the fields and gardens, the well-dressed, orderly people, her officers, pointing to Damien, who stood humbly at a dtstance, said, "He is the father of it all."
Already the dread digease had taken its hold. A few months later the fatal tubercles appeared, and the devoted priest knew that he was to pay the penalty of his self-sacrifice. In 1886 he was joined by Father Conrardy, a young priest from Oregon, and after initiating him into the work, Da- mien himself yielded to the progress of the leprosy. April 10, 1889, he died, leaving a record of as noble work as that achieved by any martyr of the early church.
There are not a few who claim that the heroic age of the church has passed. The lives of Henry Martyn, David Livingstone, James Hannington, Adoniram Judson, Father Damien, are eloquent witnesses to the fact that this is not true. Yet, while they are conspicuous by reason of their position and public office, they are no whit more heroic than many a faithful laborer among the slums of our great cities, in the dugouts of the Western prairies, or the out-stations of China, Africa and Abyssinia.
One healthy sign of the church's life is the universal recognition of Damien's service as a Christian service. To the great body of Christian believers his creed is lost sight of in admiration for his work. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
EVANGELIZATION OF THE CHINESE IN AMERICA. I
EVANGELIZATION OF THE CHINESE IN AMERICA.
BY J. STEWART RAPPER, NEW YORK, EDITOR "CHINESE EVANGELIST."
THE marvellous way in which God ans weI'S prayer is contin uaUy shown to His children in a manner which humbles their pride and rebukes th('i1'
unbelief. There is no more wonderful instance in modern times than the way in which prayer for the work in China has been ans wered. The barriers of. supel'stition, bigotry, political seclusion and national conceit have been broken down, and now the gospel can be preached in every province. But the answer IS ovedlowing in its abunda,nce of opportunity; and not alone in China is the privilege given to the faithful preacher of the word, but in this la.nd also the Chinaman is found, and those who are unable, for any reason, to go toa foreign land, have the opportunity offered them in their own city, nay, at their own street corner or in their near vicinity.
Thb large number of Chinese who came to California, early attracted the attention of the church, and efforts were made to reach them by the establishment of Missions. Of the work on the Pacific slope I do not in- tend to write at this time, but shall confine myself to the work which is being carried on throughout the Eastel'll and Middle States.
Twenty years have now elapsed since the work among the Chinese in the east was started by the efforts of the Rev. Lycurgus Railsback, at tne New York" FIve Points House of Industry." Since then the Chinese Sun- day-school is found inevel'Y large city, and in almost evel'y place where ~he industrious Chinaman is found, there are also found those who look at the boul in the uncouth mati and try to save it.
So peculiar is the work of evangelizing these heathen in our midst, that it may be of interest to many to speak of the methods and the character of the work in general.
The Methods.-Af> will be readily seen, the work is necessarily at first of teaching the alphabet and the rudiments of our language. Given a China- man who understands little or no English, and a teacher who understands no Chinese, and the conditions of solving the problem of educating the for- mer will at once be undel'stood to be difficult in the extreme. The methods of instruction must necessarily be those which are employed in the primary schools,and picture and pencil are used to express what words fail to convey.
In its first stages a Chinese Sunday-school differs little from a primary school for teaching English. .
The arl'angement of classes is different from the usual manner, for each teacher has but one pupil. This seems at first an unnecessary waste of ma- terial; it would be so, were all the godly people who take this field of labor skilled in teaching languages, for then more than one pupil might be taught; practical experiment, however, has proved that it is hard for the avel'age teacher to manage more than one at a time, until the pupil is far enough advanced to read the Bible. The writer is endeavoring to secure a reform in this matter wherever it is feasible, and urges that the ol'dinary manner of arranging classes of three or four be adopted wherever the pupils.al'e suf- ficiently advanced to make it possible.
Anothel' feature of this work is the fact that the teachel's are (01' the most part ladies, and much trash and scornful comment has appeared in the secu- lal' newspapers in l'egard to the fondness of the Chinese for the pretty Sun- day-school teachers. I would like to express my deliberate opinion that the reason why the Chinese pl'efer lady teachers is because the ladies are more willing to teach the Chinese, and, in fact, are often the only ones who will teach them. If you find a young man who has the patience, the dogged determination, the persistency and tact which are displayed in such a mal'ked manner by lady teachers, you will find that the Chinese will accept him as a teacher just as readily, and treat him with the same consideration. The fact is, that as the work resembles the work of the primary school, so the teachers must possess the same qualifications; and we find most of the teachers of the yonng to be ladies.
Difficulties of the W07'k.-The greatest difficulty often arises from the op- position of supposed Christian people. Some have been known to say that the Chinese never could be converted. As though the grace of God, which can reclaim a South Sea Islander, could be baffled by the Chinaman! Others say the Chinese are such low, degraded creatUl'es that we ought not to ass<>1(iate with them even as teachers! Did not Christ die to save sinners? Others seem to be infiuenced by sentimentality in their religion, and will give freely fOt' the cause of foreign missions, and weep tears over the thought of .. the heathen in his blindness, bowing down to wood and stone;" but fail to see a fit object for their benevolence or effort in the heathen on the avenue, bending all the day over the wash-tub or the ironing-board! Then the charge is made that the workers are actuated by sentimentalism in taking up the work. If sentimentalism consists in coming Sabbath after Sabbath, rain or shine, t!,spend an hour in the hardest kind of teaching, then we must admit the truth of the charge, though I should call that the hardest kind of prosaic work. The most plausible, yet illogical objection, is the one which is made against teaching the primer and against the school, because the Chinese come merely to learn English and not to learn anything about Oul' religion. No one who has been in the Chinese work will attempt to deny that at first the impelling motive, perhaps the only motive, which leads a Chinese into the Sunday-schoolis the desire to learn Eng'lish. We know that, we recognize that desire, but it does not prevent us from using that motive to the good of the man. Soon after he comes he begins to understand that the teaching is done from a spirit of kindness; he begins to look for our motive, and when he has at la!>t comprehended that it is Christian unselfishness, he realizes that here is something he knows nothing of, and he wishes to learn of Christ and His doctrine. Even if he should be so bigoted as to care nothing for these things, he receives a lesson of practical Christianity which does more good than many hours of preaching and theoretical instruction.
Another difficulty, and a most serious one, confronts the teacher of the Chinese when at last they know enough of our language to read and understand the blessed truths of the gospel. In a so-called Christian land, among a professedly Christian people, the observant Chinese is immediatelyoverwhelmed by the difficulty of reconciling the practical Christianity (as he imagines it to be) which he sees around him six days in the week, with the blessed maxims and truths he is taught on the Sabbath. If you tell him that the people who break everyone of the commandments almost every day of their lives are not true Christians, it does not make the matter much better, for, thinks he, why do they not accept such blessed truths? Will a man offer good gold to a stranger when his own kindred l,ave it not? There must be a false ring a bout the gold! It is for this reason that those who have labored both in the foreign field and in this land, unanimously concur in saying that the work is much harder, more discouraging in this land on account of there being" too many weekdays for one Sunday."
Results.-The direct results of the work have been such as greatly to encourage the workers. Nearly everyone of the different denominations working in New York City among the Chinese have several Chinese connected with the chUl"ches, who have proved themselves to be worthy of their profession and excellent examples to their heathen brethren. In many respects they put other Christians to the blush. They are characteristically slow in professing their faith, but that slowness arises often from their deep sense of the responsibility involved. 1 have often been told by an inquirer that he wished to profess faith in Christ, but he did not know enough to lead in pI'ayer, or to give a few minutes' talk in prayer-meeting, The first Chinaman who was converted under my instruction was quite perplexed over the question whether it was right for him to shave his head and plait his queue on Sunday I A Chinese Christian asked me recently whether I did not think that having a fair in the Sunday-school rooms of a church did not resemble the sin committed by those who sat at the tables ot the moneychangers in the temple. Another Chinese, who is soon to be baptized, was very much troubled because the writer did not ask a blessing at an evening gathei·ing where a few Chinese were entertained by their teacher, and icecream and cake were passed al'ound. It was a difficult matter for his teacher to explain to him the reason for the omission, but finally he looked satisfied and said, "0 I I see, ice-cream no count with God."
Space fails to speak of the many notable examples which have proved that the saving grace of God is not confined to any ('ace or people, but wherever sin abounds grace doth much more abound.
The results of this work are wider and reach further than we would at first suppose. Not only do those who are converted in this country return to be messengers of good to their brethren, but on account of the friendly feeling engendered in them toward the Christian people, they are made the means of introducing a minister 01· an evangelist to their neighbors or friends, who would not gain a hearing were it not for their friendly intervention. Even if a man has not been converted, he respects Christians after he has been an ob- ject of their kindness, and he is able to assure the villagers in China that the "Jesus man" has no ill designs on them, but is a harmless person who does good, even though he preaches a lot of nonsense, and thus the reflex in- fluence of the Sunday-school here opens the door for the preacher in China. So no one can estimate the results of this work, except Him who hath said, "My word shall not return unto me void," and in the day when He maketh up His jewels we shall be amazed at the harvest. We sow blindly, but we shall reap abundantly, for it is God that giveth the increase.
I have not attempted to give any statistics as to the number of schools and of those attendant thereon. The simple reason for this omission is that it is hard to get such statistics. As editor of The Chinese Evangelist I have made great efforts to get a complete list of the schools for the Chinese, but every day we hear of some new one, and new ones are continually being started. Since the establishment of The Chinese Evangelist we have en- deavored to systematize and tabulate the work, but such is the difficulty of getting accurate information that so far we cannot indicate the extent of the work except in this general way. The Chinese Evangelist is now being taken in schools all over the land from Maine to Oregon, and from Canada to Florida, and even in the Sandwich Islands and China. From the letters which come to the editors, it seems that the work is being carried on with increased vigor, and the Christian church is awakening to the responsibility resting upon it, and is improving the opportunity now presented. There are still 100,000 Chinese in America, and in spite of the Exclusion Bill more are
TRANSLATIONS }!'ROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES"
coming, and hardly any are returning. The opportunity now is great, the need is pressing, and no one can overestimate its importance, when we consider that the best way to reach China is through the Chinese themselves. In our land we can infuse American pluck and energy into the slow-moving, phlegmatic Chinaman; and these, united with the love of God and his fellow-man, will enable the Americanized Christian Chinaman to be a power in his own land, and he will be able to do a work which none other can do. H anyone cannot go and work directly for China, here is a field, hard, stony, comparatively uninviting, but one which will yield a rich reward in God's own time.
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
THE Rhenish Missionary Society, as is known, has a very important mission in Sumatra. We give some extracts, which make this great island seem more like a real country to us than it has seemed before. From the station of Bungabondar: "In the last yea.r ninety have been led to the Saviour and received into the church by baptism." It is known that in Sumatra Mohammedanism is very strong. Yet, as remarkable exception to the general fact, almost half the converts are from Mohammedanism. On the other hand, a good many unstable Christians flo.at over to it. The following narative from the Berichte for January, 1889, casts a new light on the mental attitude of Moslems in the face of death. We often heal' of their contempt of death. But this appears to be only in the fierce fanaticism of a religious war.
.. Here I must make mention of the faithful Asenath, whom on the last day of the old year we committed to the bosom of the earth. After an illness patiently endured for two years "he felt her end approaching. As the last provision for her way she wished yet once more to enjoy the Holy Supper. I administered it to her in her roomy house before a large assemblage. As Iwas about to give her the bread she said, • Let me first pray.' And now the woman, who for weeks had not been able to sit upright, straightened herself up, and prayed for full ten minutes, as if she would fain pray away every earthly care out of her heart. I have seldom heard a woman pray in snch wise. Thereupon she recei ved the sacred elements. The next day I found witlit her a Mohammedan chieftain, who at taking leave wished her health and long life. •What say you?' she replied, •after that I have no further longing. My wish is now to go to heaven, to my Lord. Death has no longer any terrors for me.' Astonished, the Mussulman replied: 'Such language is strange to us. We shrink and cower before death, and therefore use every means possible to recover and live long.'
.. Even so I think of our James, whose only son had died. When at the funeral I pressed his band, with some words of comfort, he Said: • Only do not suppose that r murmur and complain. All that God does to me, is good and wholesome for me. I shall hereafter find my son again in life eternal.' So vanish little bylittle the comfortless wailings of heathenism; the beams of a living hope penetrate the pangs and the terrors of death, as the. beams of the sun the clouds of the night. And, as the hopelessness of heathenism is disappearing, so is also its implacability. When Christians contend, and at the communionl say to them: 'Give each other your hands,' they often say: 'Natureisagainstit; but how can I withstand the graciou~ness of mv Sa.viour ?' Such words are not seldom heard. And am Inot well entitled to hope, that they, as a grea.tgift of my God, warrant a confident hope in the final and glorious victory ot the Prince of Life, and of his great and righteous cause? "
On Palm Sunday, at this station, Missionary Schutz Qaptized 18 fOl'mer Mohammedans, confirmed 18 Christian children, and restoi'ed one apostate.
THE Rhenish Missionary Society has in all over 150 native trained helpers, of whom only foul' are ordained. The Society has also in all, in Sumatra, China and Africa,250 native elders, and remarks that it might easily be that these" signify as much, perhaps, indeed, even more, than the salaried assistants, for the development and healthy growth of the general cause." The government of the Transvaal Republic, in .South Africa, has suddenly put in force atainst the mission stations a law which forbids more· than five native families to live together on anyone estate. This harsh statute, harshly applied, has already broken up five Hermannsburg stations, and at least one Berlin station.
The MonatsbUitter remarks that in Africa it is not the Mohammedans who have introduced slavery, though it is they who. are fast depopulating lal'ge regions of the unhappy continent by their ruthlessness in conducting the hunting of slaves. Slavery itself is aboriginal in Africa. As no one in Africa has any hope of protection unless he belongs to some one of the few great men, the poorer freemen have gradually reduced themselves to servi- tude, until now, in some n~gro tribes, out of evel'y 100 persons, 80 or 90 al'e slaves. In Igonda the traveller, Paul Reichard, out of 500 or 600 inhabi- tants, found only six free persons. Of his own caravan of 650 there were only five freemen. An institution so deeply rooted cannot, of course, be otherwise than gradually done away, remarks the MonatsbUitter. But the horrors of the Arab slave trade are to be at once attacked. And it is to be remarked that Christian Europe was the first great offender, and not Mohammedan Arabia. Christianity, however, is against the iniquity; Islam fully sanctions it. Christendom, therefore, could be moved from within to abandon it; Arabia will have to be coerced from without.
The MonatsbUitter remarks that the best known emporium of the Arab slave trade is Ujiji, on Lake Tanganyika, and quotes the following descrip- tion of it from a Catholic missionary: .. This is the meeting point of all the caravans of slaves who, captured in the interior, are to be brought to the coast. There are gathered all the Waguana and Mohammedan reprobates to con- cert in what direction and against what tribe the next foray shall be nndertaken-a veritable Sodom, a theatre of all sorts of crimes, excesses, shamelessness of vi~. What a day of calamity for Africa. on which the Arabs first set their foot in its interior I For with them they have brought into the land also their immoral religion. their Vices, as well as the foul contagions dis- eases, which previously were wholly unkuown among the negroes. Towards the end of 1887, when I was in the city, it waS regulu!y flooded with slaves. You saw in hideous medley men, womeu and children, some bound together with cords, some with chains. Some had their ears pierced to admit a small cord, for the sake of fastening them together. At every step which one took along the streets, he encountered living skeletons, painfully dragging th"mselves along by the help of a stick: they had been released from chains, as being too weak to flee. It was not Sickness, but hunger, which had thus reduced tbem, aud the great scars which appeared on tlieir backs su1llciently dis- closed that their masters had not spared blows to urge them along. Others you might see lying in the street before their masters' doors or elsewhere, awaiting the end of their comfortless existence. The heart bled to reflect that these unhappy ones had uot eveu the hope which helps a Christian to bear his misery.
•• An uncultivated plain, growu up with grass, which separates the marketplace from the lake, Is the graveyard of Ujiji, or more accurately the trench, into which are thrown all the bodies of the deceased slayss, and even of those who are still in the last agonies. The wild beasts are their only sextons. A young Christian who did uot set know Ujiji set out to go from the town to the lake shore,but came back in dismay at the view of the numerous corpses, which, gnawed by hyenas and birds of prey, lay along the footpath. Then I asked au Arab why the corpses here were so numerous, and why they were left so near the town, at the risk of a geueral pestilence. He replied with the utmost composure and nonchalance: • From of old we have been used to throw the bodies of our slaves iu this place, and the hyenas would come every night and carry them away; but this year there are so many dyiug that the wild beasts can't get through with them; they have come to have a loathing for human flesh.' It is plain then that blockading the coast is but a small part of the work."
The Evangelisch Lutherisches Missionsblatt says; "We read here and there, e€pecially in English missionary magazines, that the Indian temples are falling into decay. 'rhis may be here and there the case, indeed it is some- times so In the Tamil land; bnt in general our Tamils, especially those who live in the Cauvery deta, are still thoroughly zealous in the temple-service, standing, as they do, wholly under the influence of a. numerous priesthood, for which the maintenance of the temples is a matter of life and death. Here, as in all reports from Ind'ia, we must remind our readers how needful it is to abstain from unadvised generalizati07l/l. For India is a mighty land. Conditions differ enormously from region to region within it, so that It Is only seldom that what may be said of Olle place or district applies to another. What traveler could pronounce a trustworthy judgment respecting the religions condition of all Europe? And if he could it is still more difticult in India. The visible decay of the temples will be in India, as It was in Greece the last 8taqe of heathenism."
.. Here In Shiall the modern schooling has not yet undermined belief in the ancient gods. Here there still prevail" the same zeal in their worship which the Apostle Paul recognized among the Athenians. New temples are still built and the old ones repaired. Wealthy merchants give hundreds of thousands of rupees for this end, and the people work themselves weary for half-wages. The festivals are celebrated regularly, and on their account the most important labors are interrnpted. Even the State must still recognize the heathen holidays, at least as respects its heathen officials. The Brahmans not only claim divine titles for themselves, bnt are also in fact addressed by the people as gods. They, are not only the intellectual and spiritnallea.ders of the people, but as wealthy landholders, are in various ways their secula.r lor:ds.'· .
"Yet worse "-in Shiall, in South India-"the heathens force the Christians into the idol festivals In order to drag through the streets the great car on which the idol. with his tram of attendants, is placed. One would think that for such a work of honor to the god the heathen themselves would gladly offer and be proud of the toil. But this is not so. The wealthy do their part bV deputing their servants and dependents. And almost all our Christians here are depeudE'nts of theirs. At alate festival they came in great numbers to me, showing me their masters' orders. I dissuaded them from obedience. Some followed my counsel and hid themselves in the church or the garden. Others followed their orders and went to take their place at the ropes. What the consequences are likely to be for the disobedient I have not yet learned. One who had refused from the first showed me the marks of a seVere beating."
We have all'eady given a description, from the Mi88ionablatt, of the great temple of Trlchinopoli. We here give a description of the city itself: .
.. Trichinopoli, or, in Tamil, Tirisiril.palli, that Is,' City of the Three-headed Giant,' formerly the capital of a mighty Nabob, with 76,000 inhabitants, among whom are many skillful and industrious Hindus, fanatical Mohammedans, and some 15,000 Catholics, is also a garrison town for a regiment of Sepoys, that Is, nativetroops in English pay. It lies near the ri ver Canvery, which here diVides into two grea.t a.rms, forming the long and fruitful island of Soi-r..ngam, that is, ' Holy River isle.' This island, the paradise of the Vishnuites, is renowned for the magnificent temple of Vishnu, whose external inclosure is some four miles and a half ronnd, and comprises 21 gopurams, that is, p..godas, in fact, a whole city of tcmples. No wonder that the smothering atmosphere of idolatry prevailing here weighs depressingly upon our missionaries, even more tha.n the solar heat augmented by the rockY soil. Yet even as early as 1762 Protestant missions gained a firm footing here. The simple church built by 'Father Schwarz' in the next neighborhood of the' Prichi-rock,' and his modest dwelling-house, keep up even here the memory of this blessed missionary. Southward from this rock the slender spire of our Zion Church, built upon the' Elephant hill,' nea.r the market, points the heathen to a better heaven than the stone god Ganesa, enthroned upon the rock, has power to give."
Herr Kahis then speaks of their girl's school: .. Twenty years ago no heathen girl was yet to be seen in our school. Now many are coming. There is no more grateful task than the instruction of little ~L'ami1 girls. Quiet and yet joyous, easy to guide and of responsive intellects, they make the work of their teachers light. What joy it affords us to scatter the seeds of life in their childlike hearts, and through them to see it borne into families which are otherwise inaccessible to our preaching."
The Caho MonatsbUUter, quoting the text Proverbs xxiv: 11, Which, in the German, reads, "Delivel' them, whom one will kill, and withdraw not thyself fl·om them whom one will strangle," refers to the dangers in East Africa, which since then have been terribly realized: .. This word applies to E..st Africa in a two-fold way. First, to the poor natives who live yet under the curse of superstition, discord and the slave-trade, and whom we may not withdraw ourselves from the duty of delivering out of the hand of him who is a murderer from the beginniug. Secondly, to the missionaries themselves who are laboring there, and who would have cast their lives into the breach in vain unless we send the requisite force of men to support them. Some of them are absolutely in danger of being put to dea.th. TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZnmS. M5 Missionary Gordon at Uganda lies there, as it were, in a den of lions; the Scotch mission- aries live every moment in expectation of an assault from,their Mohammedan foes, and the Neukirchen brethren on Toka river have no assurance of their lives."
"The Anglican and High Church Universities' Mission," says the MonatsbUitter, "has passed through grevious years. Once, or rather more than once, it was a fire, then a hurri- cane, then a plundering irruption of savage heathen, and more than all, a succession of sud- den deaths which appeared to imperII the continuance of the work. But the undaunted sol- diers of the cross, all of them unmarried brethren and sisters, have yielded tono discourage_ ment. They go on unweariedly with teaching, with preiLching, with building, with jour- neying, with care of the sick, with singing and praying; and now they are able to show a.s visible results, not only handsome churches, schools, workshops, gardens and fields, but alsu Christian flocks, amounting in all to about 1,000 souls. All their ways, it is true, are not after our taste. They lay more stress than is easily reconcilable with the New Testa- ment on outward forms. genuflections and vestments, on liturgies and sacraments, on churches and tapers, on eucharistic functions and altars. And when Bishop Smythies went out he took with him, uot only a costly crosier in an oaken futteral, but a set of vest- ments as highly tinseled as you need look for in Rome. • A droll bishop I ' we thoull'ht then. But for all that the mnn has shown himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Worthy of all honor in these years past have been his achievements in journey_ ing and visiting, in care spent on all his stations, in sacrifices of bis own strength and com- fort. It is true while he has been about this the poor crosier has fallen a prey to the flames. But though the shepherd's crook has perished we do not learn that the sheep are any worse cared for."
The Monatsbliitter, as well as the Allgemeine Jlfissions Zeitschrijt, thinks , that the present craze in Germany for colonial possession is of veryambig- uous benefit to missions. "Bishop Smythies complains that since the terri- tory in which most of his stations lie has become German, he enjoys neither the protection of the Sultan of Zanzibar nor of the English Consul, but has to endure passively the plunderipg attacks upon the missions. This then is the shady side of the' colonial policy.' And who forgets the sad end which befell good Bishop Hannington under Mwanga's fears of the' land- eaters.' " Those people who imagine that men go out as missionaries in order to have an easy time of it among a simple people who half worship them, will be profited by reading these words of Mi.3sionary Posselt, among the Caffres: .. After having worked myself weary through the week, when there, on Sunday, I saw these wild men of the wilderness sitting before me, absolute obtuseness towards everything divine, together with mockery and brut2,1 lusts written on their faces, I sometimes lost all disposition to preach. Those fluent young preachers who not only like to be heard, but to hp.a.r themselves, ought to be sometimes required to ascend the pulpit before such an assemblage. There is not the least thing there to lift np the preacher of the Divine Word or to come to the help of his weakness. As when a green, fresh branch laid before the door of a glowing ovp.n shrivels up at once, such has sometimes been myex- perience when I had come full of warm devotion, before the Caffres, and undertaken to . preach. I have sometimes wished that I had never become a missionary. Once the hour of Sunday services again approached. The sun was fearfully hot, and I felt weary in body and soul. My unbelieving heart said: • Your preaching is for nothing,' and Beelzebub added a lusty amen. The Caffres were sitting in the hut, waiting for me. • I will not preach to-day,' said I to my wife; but she looked at me with her angelic eyes,lifted her finger, and said gravely: • William, you will do your duty. You will go and preach.' I seized Bible and hymn·book, and loitered to church like an idle boy creeping unwillingly to school. I began, preluding on the violin, the Caffres grunting consentaneously. I prayed read my text, and began to preach with about as much fluency as stuttering Moses. Yet soon the Lord loosened the band of my tongue, and the fire of the Holy Ghost awakened me out of my sluggishness. I spoke with such fervor concerning the Lamb of God, that t&keth away the sin of the world, that if that sermon has quickened no heart of a hearer yet my own was profoundly moved."
Yet Herr Posselt lived to baptize 1,000 Caffres.
Rev. Victor Holm, Director of the Daillsh Evangelical Missionary Society.
STUDENT VOLUNTEER NOTES
in announcing the appointment of a young parish clergyman, the Rev. Nils Peter Hansen, as a missionary for India, remark!!: .. This will undoubtedly be received with general delight. We have so often complained that no clergyman already proved and found to be a faithful servant of the Lord and possessed of the requisite culture offered himself to serve the Lord as a missionary among the heathen. It has also been the them" of many prayers, that the Lord would provide and send out such a man. That this has now come to pass, that our prayers are heard and fulfilled, is, we are sure, no matter of doubt to all who kuow Pastor Hansen, whose circle of acquaintance is far from being a narrow one."
A German nobleman, quoted in the Missionstidning for Finland, Count Limburg-Stirum, writing from the Dutch East Indies, avows that he had been greatly prejudiced against missionaries, but adds: "But God brought a missionary in my way. And now I could not say, like Cresar, veni, vidi, vw~. True, I came and saw, but instead of conquering I was conquered. I can no longer deny the good fruits and blessed influence of missions."
The Finnish Society first sent out missionaries 20 years ago to King William's Land in South Africa. For more than 12 years they baptized no one, then they baptized 6. At the end of the fourth year there were 80. During the fifth year there were baptized on Whitsunday, 51; ten days later, 23; and subsequently 11. So durlllg the fifth year the number of the baptized was just doubled.
In Germany, hitherto, it is known, the leading classes have been, for the most part, very disdainful towards Missions, and the journals, largely conducted by Jews who had ceased to believe in their own religIOn, and were bent on the destruction of ours, have exhibited towards them a virulent hatI'ed. But in a recent debate on the colonies, held in the Reichstag, a great change was noticeable.
.. We must note as a great matter of satisfaction," says the Allgemeine Missions Zeitschrijt, .. that this time missions have been discussed without being attacked, indeed, withont even the jocularity commonly thought to be due to such a subject. On the contrary, one had only honorable recognition for them ou all sides of the house. 'Missiouary testimonies' were designated as the 'most uuimpeachable,' the aims of the missiouaries as 'undeniably ideal,' their' work of Christian beneficence as rich in blessings,' 'the mission·stations as the true points d'appui of Christianity and civilization,' and all this by men, from whom, hitherto, we have been wont to hear a very dif- ferent language."
Especially significant, in the German Parliament, was the testimony of a social democrat, Sabor, who, of course, occupies a position of incompatibility with Christianity. He says: "We acknowl- edge that there has been a healthful activity developed by the missionaries in Africa. They have shown how much everywhere in the world is to be accomplished by patience and love; they have pi'oved that even with uncivilized tribes hearts which have a fund of goodness, can accomplish mnch without the lash of compulsion."
Spain and France both, from a regard to the political value of the Catholic missions in their colonies, contribute large sums from the public treas- ury for the support of these, doubtless to the great detriment of their spiritual character. But, as the Zeitschrift remarks with just satisfaction, Herr Windthorst, the leader of the Ultramontanes in the Reichstag, has distinctly disclaimed for his party all expectation of such subventions from the imperial treasury. There is no reason, as the Zeitschrift remarks,. why the government should not afford aid to the schools and presses of the mis- sions, Catholic and Protestant, but every reason why it should not inter- fere with their properly spiritual work, even by affording aid, since aid soon establishes a claiI!l. of supervis-ion-. – – – – STUDENT VOLUNTEER NOTES.
THE volunteers who were at the Northfield Summer School in '87 will remember the In- spiring words of Mr. H. F. La. Flamme, who but six months before, when Mr. Forman was in Toronto, had decided for the foreign work and was thAn on his way to his field in India. During the summer of '87, Mr. La. Flamme and Mr. Davis made a tour of Canada and secured about $3.000 for India. Then they saIled together.
After sixteen months spent in the study of the language they set out in February last on their first tour" to breathe out the new words in an old, old storv." Mr. Davis was given permanent charge of 500,000 souls. Mr. La. Flamme will work with him until joined byaB- other man from America, when be will push up north and open a new station. The people rush together in crowds to hear them preach, at times literally mobbing- them by pressing around tbem for the tracts they distribute. A strong appeal is made by the missionaries of the district for 52 men at once, and the third of April Was observed as a day of special prayer for tllis end. The same need is felt all over India, as IS indicated by Dr. Chamber- lain's trumpet-call in THE MISSIONARY REVIll:W OF THE WoaLD for 5,000 men. In the central provinces a work is being originated similar to the China Inland Mission to get out young men on a salary of $300 a year to evangelize Central India. Until they learn the language they will all live in a central horne, BaJaghat, with food and cloth..s only provided. Then they are to go out two and two throughout the land proclaiming Christ.
It gives us pleasure to present a letter from Mr. La. Flamme to the volunteers: My Dear Fellow Volunteer.: CORANADA, INDU., April 8,1889.
As one of you I wish to give testimony that Jesus Christ fully satisfies. That promise, .. Lo I am with you a.lway," is a living- promise, and is fully wrought mto life only when we leave all to follow Jesus. One of our number said at Northfield in IM87: .. Perhaps you think we men who are about to start for the foreign field are sorry men. I tell you we are the happiest men here;" and he spoke the truth. We prove a problem by working it back- wards. The problem of "'peace on earth and good will toward men" was worked out from God to us by the death on the cross of the Son of Man. The proof of It is found in Luke ix: 23 : .. If any man will come after me, let bim deny himself and take up his cross dally and follow me." .. Whither, Lord?" ., To crucifixion," he a.nswers. Self-crucifixion, na.iling the old man to the cross, leaving all to follow Christ, that only brings to the soul the" peace of God that passeth knowledge." Self-devotemen~ to God, and that only, works the prob- lem back from us, in our peace with God, to the full peace of God in us, which proves" the good and acceptable and perfect 1"ill of God."
And now we have proved the problem, we hav.e given ourselves. not our belongings only, not a portion of our time only, but ourselves to God himself-not to God's service merely, but to God himself. We are ready to go anywhere for Jesus, and we have peace in our souls. Bu t let us not rest there. Let us apply the problem. 1 Tim. ii : 3-4: .. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: who wllleth that all men should be saved and corne to a knowledge of the truth." And how shall they be saved? .. Whosoever call- eth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." .. How, then, shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shaH they beheve m Him whom they have not heard ?
and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be &ent?" The voice of God cries. "Whom shall I send 1" "Who will go for us?" The WIlling response comes, U Here am I, send met"and with it the question, "'Whither, Lord? "-many volunteers stand just there-willing to go, but wanting to be sent, and asking… Whither, Lord?" And as they wait, expecting a special call, the great need of the foreign field is lost sight of. God's proTidences are the indications of His will.
And what are these indications? (1) Christ means each generation of Christians to give the gospel to each generation of unbelievers. Marl< xvi: 15. And the special providence for all the essentials of this vast enterprise Is found in Acts i: 8 : .. Ye sh..l1 receive roWER, after that the Holy Ghost is COrne upon you • • . to witness unto the uttermost parts."
(2) Though in some generations the carrying out of such an enterprise might have seemed like a march up to the Red Sea with the command to cross. it is not so in this. Every door is wide open. all peoples can be reached, all mission boards are calling for more men.
(3) God has established a law which makes It .. more blessed to give than to receive." If you would see the home church largely blessed,let her send you out to the foreign ser- vice according to that unfailmg promise, .. There is that scattereth and yet increaseth."
(4) One other striking indication of God's will in thIS matter is that be has informed you of the need of these destitute parts. Is that not significant? See John iii : 17. Of India's immense population, 288,000,000, fully 8,000,000 die every year, 24,000 every day. To reach these millions with the gospel the present staff of missionaries is 'Utterly inadequate. A call for 5,000 men (there are now some 600) has gone ringmg through tbe home land without contradiction or response.
But why no response? It Is because the great and perishinll:" need of India's millions Is l!Iot realized. To impress this need upon thIS home church Is the duty and the hIgh privilege of you volunteers. Urge the young men and women by the love and death of Christ, by the worth of souls and by the awful condition of the heathen world to devote their lives to the work and cry in an agony of love, .. Here am I, send me."
Mr. Wm. M. La.ngdon, another volunteer, writes from Pekin, Qhma. :
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER
"The needs here are oTerwhelming, and yet are not to be compared with those inland. With more than 200 foreigners in this city, we still sometimes attract curious, gaping crowds; and If the preacher is so strange, how unknown must be his gospel of salvation I Eleven months ago I learned of my appointment to North China, and was a little less pleased than if it had been to Japan. To-day I am glad it was China. Japan seems attractive to young America (and may the volunteers crowd that country), but tell them _ they will not regret giving their lives for Christ's work in old China."
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
Garenganze,. or, Seven Years' Pioneer Missionary Work tn Central Africa. By Fred S. Arnot: Fleming H. Revell, 12 Bible House, New York. Victor Hugo predicted that m the twentieth century, Africa would be the cynosure of all eyes. In this story of seven years in the Dark Continent, Mr. Arnot has given us a son's letters to his mother and the home group; a story of strictly pioneer work, fer he undertook to cross the contment on foot. The journey was marked by supernatnral savor so sweet to a believer; as when, for example, . In a terrible thunder storm, an electric ball rell crasbing at his feet hke a cannon's shot, yetlefthim unharmed; or as, when III reptlated Illstances food and water were found to reo lieve extreme hunger and thirst, just whell the crisis came and behevlng prayer had made appeal to God. The book reveals a passion for souls.
With his whole heart Mr. Arnot loved those poor Africans and yearned for their salva- tion. He was divinely restless so long as his tongue was forced to be mute amid such spiritual destitution; and love quickened his mental powers and well nigh became to him a. gift of tongues, so that after but four months he began to use the Sechuana dialect in reading, conversation and prayer. The gospel still proves its power. The converted chief Kama not only forbids the traffic in stron!" drink, but the right of way for it throngh his dominions; he puts down revolting heathen customs, and sets an example of self. denial; yet while warring against their pagan practices, he wins the hearts of his people so that, almost to a man, they would die for him. One might see more shameless vice and immorality in Glasgow 111 one day than in Shoshong during a twelvemonth. It will take more than an English canon or M. P. to shake our confidence in Christian missions while such resnltsare wrought in the very homeso! thedeathshade and the habitations of cruelty.
Mr. Arnot's secrets are open secrets. A faith that made God's promises verities, real- ities, certainties to go by; a felJowship with God that would not be satisfied Without the holy llltimacy which reveals the secrets of God to the meek; a fidelity to the lower law bf duty and.higher law oflove, that turns our groveling into pimons that bear these secrets of this apostolic traveler's success-any disciple may learn and follow… There are eudless fresh beginnings in Christ." We have not yet begun to sound the possibilities of missions, because we have not yet proved the full power of prayer and faith and obedience. When believers trust the promises, learn of Christ and fully accept the great truth that the whole world is thejield and the whole church is the foree, many more will go forth with seed and with sickle, ready both to sow and to reap; and no part of the wide field shall re- main destitute of laborers, and given over to the Harvest of Death I-A. T. P.
F. H. Revell has also published a new Imperial AUas of the TVorld in convenient folio form at the amazingly low price of one dollar. We recommend all students, and espeCIally stu- a. dents of geography, history and missions, to procure copy to place on their tables for constant reference. We have found it invaluable. It has some thirty-three maps repre- senting every continent and country in colors, with a copious index by which easily and rapidly to find any city or town or distrIct; and one great excellence of this atlas is that the maps are not encumbered With too much matter, which sometImes makes an otherwise first-rate map obscure by multipliCIty of details and lessen its utiiity.-A. T. P.
The Missicmary Library. Chicago and New York. Eight charming volumt's, of moder- ate compass, ha.ve thus far appeared in this series, viz.: the lives of Robert Morrison, Rob- ert Moffat, Jas. Chalmers, Thos. Comber, Wm. Carey, Griffith John, Bishop Crowther and Bishop Patteson. Mr. Revell's aim is to put into brief form the most interesting and a.rousing narrative" of missionary heroism. These are not pans of milk, but little pitchers of cream. compact a.nd condensed from bulkier volumes. They can be read in few hours, and easily borne ill memory. because they do not burden the reader with details. If some benevolent person would put a set of these books into every college library or within reach of students in our theological seminaries and Y. M. C. ASSOCIations. not to say the children m ourSunday-schoels. they would become the seeds of many a devoted form of service on fields both at home and abroad. We rejoice to see cheap and available mis- sIOnary biography multiplying, and have seen none that more fully suits the growing de- mand.-A. T. P.
Missionary Enterprises, South Sea 181ands. By John Williams, Presbyteria.n Board, Phil. adelphia. The name of John Williams, the martyr of Erromanga, is a sort of talismllol1 of mlSSlOns. He who knows nothing of Williams has yet to learn the alphabet and primer of missionary literature. He went to the most hopeless field in the South Seas, and found tile isles waiting for God's law. He dared all perils for the sake of Christ aud souls. His career became a triumphal one. Before he died he had the satisfaction of sowing Polynesia wiGh the gospel, and of seeing in most of the islands the seed coming to ripeness in the harvest. 'this Is another chapter in .. The Acts of the Apostles." Williams burned with it Pauline fire and God granted him a Pauline success. This book is one of the" Evidences of Christianity," an unanswerable argument and appeal for the truth and power of the Gospel.-A. T. P.
Ohri8tian Womanhood. W. C. Black, Nashville, Tennessee. There has been need for a. longtime of some monograph upon woman's position in the ancient and modern civihza.. tions. Without endorsing eVt'ry statement or opinion of Dr. Black we consider his book a. very valuable contribution to the literature of the subject, and calculated to throw much light upon some of the most important questions of the day. HIs disc~ssion of the female Diakonate is especially thorough and helpful. He shows woman's position in the ages bafore Christ, ber domestic thraldom, her social status, her systematic ignorance.alld degradation, and the wonderful reversal of all these condItions after Christ came. No ·'coman, especially, should be WIthout the stimulus this work imparts. The place woman holds and is to hold in modern evangelizatlOn is emphatically brought to the front. The book wlll prove a great help in stimulatingmissions.-A. T. P.
The Romance 01 Mis8ions. By Maria A. West. Boston: Ara Kelyan. This book is well named. It is from the pen of a most accomplished woman, Whose imaginative pen invests the work of missions with a romantiC, but not illusive or deceptive coloring. Her experi_ ence in the La.nd of Ararat we have not only read in tilese pages, but hear4 from her own lips with not only interest but fascination. She sees and hears with singular acuteness ot observation,and then with graphic power paints what she observes. We should think our misslon~ry library very deficient without Miss West's delightful and instructi ve book. Missions would not be barren of mterest if such volumes were more read. Few novels compare with this narrative of bcts.-A. T. P.
Bits about India. By Mrs. Helen H. Holcomb. Presbyterian Board of Publication. The writer of this beautifnl book has long been a missionary resident in India, and is thoroughly familiar with the things of which she writes so pleasantly. The title of the book indicates its character. It is fuJI of interesting facts about India, its people, Its customs, its wor. ship, its prlva.te and social life-the very things that really tell most concerning a. country, and yet the very things which most writers are apt to overlook.-J. M. S.
Twenty Years of the Woma.n's Foreign. M"Ul8ionary Society of the Methodist Episcopa.l Church. By Mrs. J. T. Gracey.
Sketch 01 Mr8. J. C. Doremus, by the same author. The first of these brochures is an Intel. lIgent, compact and comprehensive outline sketch of the history, the work and the results of twenty years-from 1869 to 1889-of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the M. E. Church, published bV the Heathen Woman'8 Friend, Boston. It is a sketch of remarka.- ble Interest and full of information and of inspiration.
The other Is a graceful and most touching tribute to the memory of one whose name Is like preclOus ointment ponred forth-a name lJIustrious in the annals of philanthropy and ChristIan work. She Was the first President of the first Woman's Missionary Society- "Woman's Union Missiona.ry Society "-and made her blessed infiuence felt at home IIilId abroad through a thousand channels. We wish this sketch, which costs but three cents, and is published at the same place as the one above, could be read by every woman in the land.-J. M.S.
Memoirs of Mrs. Augusta Tullis Kelley, late missionary to East Central Africa. By her husband. "In these memoirs the reader will find nothing fictitious, exaggerated or highly colored, but a plain, faithful record of the work and sacrifice of a woman of God of more than ordinary ability, wholly consecrated to his service It is a deeply interesting volume. It is charming for its simpilcity. It is the record of a holy symmetrical lire. Her own writings contribute an attraFtive pa.rtof the book. It will encourage all who pernse It to holy living. It will, we trust, awaken new zeal in the missionary cause." rhe book is deeply spiritual, bntisnot narrow or sectarian. $1 sent to Rev. W. W. Kelley, Paxton,Ill., wllIse- cure a copy.-J. M. S.
The M"l8IJionary Year Book for 1889, containing historical and statistical accounts of the principal Protestant Missionary SOCIeties in Great Britain, the continent of Europe, and America. London: The Religious Tract Society. New York: F. H. Revell. 12 mo, 428 pp. Prlce,1.25. We barely announced this work in our June issue,anda.reglad to saythat it is now upon the ma.rkilt. A similar volume was published last year, but we note a decided
GENERAL MISSI,ONARY INTELLIGENCE
improvement in the present, especially in the American department, which last year was very meagre and imperfect. Fortunately Dr. J. T . Gracey, who conducts the International Department of this R&VlEW, collated and edited the matter in the American section -<lver one-fourth of the book-which is a guarantee that this part of the work has been intelligently and thoroughly done.
The design of the Annual is to give a bird's-eye view of all the important missionary operations of Protestant Christendom. Each society in turn is briefly sketched, its field and work described, and the latest statIstics presented. So tbat within the space of a moderate volume the reader can learn just what each missionary society or agency in the wide world is doing, ",here it is laboring, and with what success. The statistics given-often tabulated-are official and invaluable. It is justsuch a work as thousands of those engaged in missionary work need for information, and it ought to have, and we believe will have, a large circulatiou. And If the success of this volume warrants it, a similar one will be issued each year hereafter.-J. M. S.
H.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Afrlca.-Prof. Calderwood, in an able -Diffusion of the English language. The article in the Unzted Presbyterian Magazine, fact that at the recent National Congress shows conclusively that concentrated effort in India all the speeches and the entire prohas proved far more effective than desultory ceedings were in English, is a striking illusenterprises. He contrasts for example what tration of the wide diffusion of that tongne. has been done by the China Inland Mission, There were gathered at Madras seven huna.lId by the Presbyterian Church of England. dred dele::a.tes from all parts of India, Af- "Wilham Burns went to China," he says, ghanistan, Nepaul, Bnrmah and Scinde. .. in 1847: Hudson Taylor in 1>l55; Burns had They spoke nine different languages, and thus the advantageo! eight years m ad- the English was the only medium throu&'h vance. The Presbyterian church has con- which the proceedings could be satisfactocentrated in Amoy, Swatow, and in the rily conducted. Great Britain's colonial island of Formosa. This mission has now 16 enterprises ha ve been probably the largest missionaries, 7 medica.l missionaries, 13 wo- factor in spreading a knowledge of English. men wboare zena.namissionaries-36agents It is found also that in countries like Java, m all ; whereas the China Inland Mission where Great Britain has no control, the has 339 agents. How then do resnlts stand? knowledge of English IS steadily growing. The Presbyterian Church of England Mis- Not long ago the French language was the sIOn reports at the end of 1887, 3,528 commu- medium invariably employed in all internanicants. The China Inland Mission, with its tional conferences. At the last Berlin connoble examples of seJr-consecration, cannot ference, however, English and German as show results to compare with them."-Free weIl as French were employed. The other Church 01 Scotland Monthly. leading languages of Europe have graduaIly been insisting on recognitiou on an equal -We must be aggressive. We neglect the footing with French in their proper domain. work of missions at our peril. Look abroad. It was Mr. Canning who led the way when The multitudes of India and China are fast at the foreign office he ordered that certain becoming possessed of the instrnments and correspondence, hi thertowritten in French, appilances of Illodern civilization, while should be sent in English. .. The time will vice and Infldelity from the West keep pace come:' said Bismarck in 1863," when I inwith the advance of art and commerce. If tend to have all my dispatches written in Christianity fails to s~bdne these people, If German, and when I shall find means to the Christian church fails in her duty to make them understood even ill FranCe." He them, and selfishly Ignores the splendid op- kept his word, and both the English and portunities before her, she Is preparinl';' German tongues have profited by the cona.:vengers of her guilty negligence and sel- siderable decline of French as the interns.- fish apathy more cruel than the harbarlan tionallanguage of diplomacy and polite soscour&,es that deva~tated Imperial Rome. ciety. Look at h"me. Infldeilty, socialism, anarchy, the outcome of the neglect, oppression -The Scriptures are now accessible, as to and unfaithfulness ofChristendom,are rally- languages, to nine-tenths of the world's ining their forces, and preparing certain judg- habitants, while in the early part of this ment for a worldly and apathetic church. century they could be stndied only byabout Whatcanavertlt? Communism must come one-flfth. Shall it be the commnnism of the devil, or the communism of Christ? Under God, our _. Are our foreign missions a success? salvation as a church, and as a. people, de- Though the direct results of the propa- ·pends npon revived faithfulness to that ganda of the various Christian missions great aggressive work Which Christ has which have long been at work in Africa may not show an extraordmary num- Iiven us to do. ber of baptized and professing Christians in their pnblished statistics, yet their vastated." At the close of 1887 the Arab Indirect inlluence has had really remarka- traders attacked Karonga, one of the com..
ble effect in educating and humanizing can- pany's stations at the North end of Lake nibals and fetish worshipers, and the mere Nyassa, but a body of native allies came to fact that numbers of savages have been their help, and after five days the siege was taught to read, write and speak good Eng. raised. The company are appealing for lish or French, is alone one result of mis- funds to enable them to send a force of ex- sionary enterprise which should secure the perienced and equipped men to undertake sympathy and support of European Goveru- the work of repelling these Arab aggressors.
ments for these painstaking societies. In- -ReVIved HindUIsm. TheBharatDharma deed, though the converted barbarians may Maha·mandal (Iiterally"theGreat Assembly afterward grow slack in observing theprac- of the India Religion"), Hindooreligiou8 con..
tices of our religion, no one can deny that ference, concluded its second annual meet- they have been very much benefited by ing at Brindabun on the 29th ultimo. About their studies at the mission. No doubt if 200 delegates from various parts of the Pun- the great missionary propaganda of Britain jab, the northwestern provinces, Oudh and confined itself to being a kind of School Behar, including Dewan Ramjas, C.I.E., and Board for savages, it would save time and Dewan Mathuradas Bahadnr of Kapurthala, money spent in installing into low-grade were present. The conference upheld im- minds dog-mas and doctrines which these age worship, the incarnations, sbl'addha barbarians are scarcely capable of turning and pilgrimage. It was resolved that to the practical purposes of life, but inas. branches of the Maha·mandal (Great As· much as that is the original motive-power sembly) be established in places where they of Christian missions, and one must utilize do not already exist, also to promote all forces as one finds them, political ec·ono- over the country religious education, and mists should be content to let the missiona- that Hindoo boys sl,ould be taught :rI:indi, ries dogmatize and indoctrinate without let Sanskrit and the principles of the Hindu or hindrance, on account of the education religion before they begin to learn a foreign and civilization which they laterally intro- language; that no boy be married below 16, duce. The trader civilizes, but he does not and no girl belOW 10 or above 12. The con· go to savage countries for that purpose; he ference closed with prayers for the Queen- goes to trade. In like manner the bait Empress under whose benign rule, as the which draws these good men and women of Secretary remarked, they enjoyed that Ro~an Catholic and Protestant missions to mo.t invaluable boon, namely religious free- Africa, Polynesia, North America, India, dom. Prayers were also offered for Lord China aud Persia, is the desire to instUl into Lansdowne, Sir Auckland Colvin and Sir the minds of the backward races of these James Lyall; but to which of the 330,000,000 'savages of semi-civilized lands their own Hindu divinities the prayers were offered, views of Christian faith and hope, but they our authority does not say. We take it to accompany their care for the spiritual well- be to Krishna and his mistress Radha, the being of the pagan or Mohammedan with a local divinities, who, we suppose, presided very practical intention to improve his over the "Great Assembly."-Indian Evan· bodily life and to educate his mind, and in gelical Review, April.
this they do, and have done in the past, an -Results of a Christless Civilization. Grat- amount of good that has never as yet been tan Guinness lately said: .. All along that sufficientlyappreciated.-H. H. Johnston in West coast of Africll. we have built great Fortnightly Review for Aprtl. warehouses stocked with guns, gunpowder -" The African Lakes Company was form- and murderous drinks. We have built them ed in 1878 to assist the various missions at every river's mouth, and far up every then established and to work out Living- navigable rlver in the interior of the coun- stone b schemes." James Stevenson, of try, wherever European capital and power Scotland, is chairman of the company, and could reach. Where the Senegal, the Gam.
the road known as the Stevenson Road, con- bia, the Niger and the Congo roll their be- necting lakes Nyassa and Tanganyika, was neficent waters to the sea, there we have b'lilt at his expense. This is said to be one set up the man-murdering fa.,tories, and of the most important roads in Central there we land our cargoes of deadly poison.
Africa, commercially considered; but the Look at the green boxes in those factories, Arabs have begun to appropriate it to their packed with gin-infamously bad gin, too, own use, and to block the way with their scarcely lIt to make paint with; gin boxes caravans. Mr. Stevenson has just issued a by the l'Illllion I Look at the demijohns of pamphlet containing a slave-trade map of rum, great glass jars enclosed iu wicker Africa, and bringing together facts to show work, filled up to the brim with burning, that "within the last five years the ravages maddening liquor; rum jars by the million I of the Arabs have increased in area and in- Look at them in every African village and te,sity, so that a territory West of the town all along the coast, positively for thou- G~t Lakes,l,OOO miles by (O(), llle been de- sands of miles, and far away in the interior. See how the deadly trade eats like a cancer that it was fun of interest, a.nd that the into the very vitals of tbe dark continent." road is perfectly open; but being a white man, I had to pay' right of way' to the .. In wandering through some native vil- principal chiefs, who, by the way, are anxla.ges on the Kru coast," says Thomson, ious for white men ~o live with them. We "one feels as if in a kind of hades, peopled a.ri ved here in a. hundred marches, the by brutalized human beings, whose punish- marches averaging six hours. Here my ment it is to be possessed by a never-ending head was overwhelmed at the reception I thirst for drink. On all sides you, are fol- everywhere got from the BashiJange. Every lowed by eager cries for gin, gin, always hUJ dotted with large and beautiful vilgin. I had travelled and sulfered in Africa, lages; the couutry teeming with people who inspired by the idea that I was doing some ha,ve abandoned fetishism and are waitillg good in the world in opening up new lands for what the white men can bring them; all to commerce and civilization, but all my a.nxious to'learn, intelligent, have now some satisfaction was blighted as I felt that what idea of God, want to know about everything. httle work I had done had better have been faces all smiling, and everyone polite. Go undone, and Africa still remained the dark anywhere over the country, and great vilcontinen t, if such was to be the end of it all I lages enconnter tbe eye. The population is For me, as things stand in many places, I enormous and is marvellously thick. Trnly, am inclined to translate this cry of the • the harvest is great, but the laborers are opening up of Africa to civilization as really few.' Few I one only, and that one worth being the opening of itupto European vices, almost nothing."-Baptist Mis.ionary. old clothes, gin, rnm, gunpowder and guns." Ch i na.-A good book. A Chinese mer- -An Italian traveller, Signor Cechi, has lately published, in his work on East Africa, chant came into the American Baptist Misa.n interesting account of the degenerate sion Chapel in Shanghai, and, after talking representatives of ancient Christianity with him for a short time, Dr. Yates sold whom he found among the peoples inhabit- him a copy of the New Testament. He took ing the region South of Abyssinia. The Mo- it home, ;;00 miles awa.y,aud, after about hammedan invasion has driven these de- three months, appeared again in the chapel. scendants of the primitive African Chris. tians to the more mountainous parts of the He came back to say that he was uuder the country, where, .in sequestered vales, scat;.· impression that the book was not complete, tered communities of them have churches that surely it must have other parts, and so adorned with double crosses, and dedicated he came to get the Old Testament as he tosnch names as the" HolyEmanuel." They read and studied the New. What had he profess the old heresy that our Lord had only one nature, the divine. But Signor done with the New Testament r He had Cechi found them so staeped in ignorance that their doctrine can be little more to taken it to his home and shown it to the tbem tban a traditional formula. schoolmaster and the readiug people. They said: .. This is a good book. Confucius him- -Dr. Robert N. Cust, in a recent number self must have had something to do with it." of Ohurch Work, says: .. After a careful As there was only one copy, they unstitched consideration of the subject for many years I have come to the firm conviction that a this one and took it leaf by leaf, and all missionary in Equatorial Africa, East or those who could write took a leaf home. West, at a distance of, say fifty miles from Tbey made twelve or fifteen complete copies the coast, .hould not be encumbered with a of the New Testament, and introduced it family. He is like the captain of a ship, the into their schools without any" conscience soldier on a campaign, the explorer of un- clause." It was introduced as a class- known countries, and should not be weak- book throughout that district for heathen ened in the hour of peril by personal and schools.-Selected. home considerations calculated to unnerve him. It should be a rule absolute that as England.-A missionary exhibition. regards Equatorial Africa no woman should The Kensington Town Hall, London, has be allowed to be sent to a station in the in- been the scene of a very interesting exhibi- terior. I have seen a procession, as it were, tion and bazaar. A perfect museum of arti- of young women pass from the committee- cleg, illustrative of native life in India, room into African graves, with no possible China, Japan, Africa, North America and advantage as rega.rds mission work to com- Palestine, has been brought together under pensate for the frightful sacrifice of life." the auspices of the Church of England Mis- sionary Society; whilst lectures, with dis- Central Africa:-Dr. Wm. R. Sum_ solvIDg views, au the society's various fields mers, who died ,at Luluaburg, in the Congo of foreign labor have helped to render the Free State, wrote as follows to Dr. Sims re- exhibition still more instructive. Manyob- garding the people among whom he found jects of great interest, including idols, himself in that remote station: models of temples, weapons of sa.vage war- fare, and numerous specimens of native .. Of the journey I will sa.y notbing but mauufactures have been lent, and in each division of the exhibition a missionary well acquainted with the country from which the articles came was generally to be found have asked for a re-enforcement of Ii2 missiona- ready to alford all needed infotmation. ries. By the same proportion our own force Qught Relicsofa personal character, too, attracted to be enlarged by more than 100. Bnt they do much attention. Among the latter the most pathetic was the diary of the late Bishop not ask that. They ask this year for sW: new Hannington, with the last entry on the men. Let the young ministry see that the men day he was murdered, October 29, 1885: .. I can hear no news, but was held up by the are found, and the chnrches be sure that tho 30th Psalm, which came with great power. means are provided to respond fnlly to this A hyena howled near me last night, smelling modest request.-Baptist Mis8ionary. a sick man, hnt I hope it is not to have me yet." -The Pandita Rambai has met with a kind reception from all parties in Bombay, and her -The income of the Church Missionary So- experiment of opening a training school lor ciety is larger this year than it has ever high caste widows will have a fair trial. Dur- been before, and the Kensington exhibition ing her prolonged visit to America the Pandlta must materially increase it. Mightnotother met with great favor, and received more liber· missionary societies imitate with advantage al assistance than, we think, had ever before such a good example? been given to any person for missionary pur- poses. We have not been sanguine by any I ndia.-The American Baptist Telugu means in hopes for her success, knowing as we Mission. The Telugn Mission presents a cu- do the character of some of the barriers wb;~h rions 'anomaly in the missions of American Bap- rise in her way, but every such experiment Is tists. It was the most hopeless at the first, worth a trial, and every elfort, whether suc- and is now the most prosperons. From the cessful or not, which aims to ameliorate the least illteresting and encouraging, it has ad- hard lot of Indian widows, deserves the sympa- vanced, in less than twenty-five years, to the thy of all good people. The Pandlta has en- most marvellonsly successfnl mission on the thusiasm and persistence of pnrpose, and we face of the earth. The history of Christianity trnst that her success will be snch as to silence all donbters. As to opposers, she has none.- in all ages and countries shows nothing which Indian W,tnes8. snrpasses the later years of the American Bap- tist Telngn Mission in spontaneous extension, .Japan.-A College Revival. In the Chi- in rapidity of progress, in genuineness of con- cago Watchman, Mr. L. D. Wishard tells a very ver.ions. in stability of results, or in promise for the fnture. The missionary marvels of the interesting story of work in connection with his Sonth Sea Islands cannot parallel it. Only in visit to'the leading Christian college in Japan: the tragic and romantic annals of Madagascar can we find anything to compare with it; and " The Doshisha, as it is called, contains 700 , in the missions of to-day, when the amonnt of students, about one-half of whom are members elforts pnt forth, and the reality of personal ex- of the college church. The institution Is not perience is taken into consideration, not even only the largest Christian college in Japan, bnt the wonderfnl progress of Christianity.ln Japan is one of the very largest Christian institutions can he placed beside it. . . . And yet the Tel- In Asia. It has done more for the spread of ugn Mission occnpies no such place in the af- Christianity in Japan than any other agency, fections and aspirations of American Baptists, and has a national reputation for its literary as as Its wonderfnl history and success would well as its religions standing. We pursued ex- warrant. Here is one man who has under his actly the same course wbich we had followed care more than half as many native Christians so often In American colleges, and the work as there are In all Burma, ann we haven't sent from the beginning to the end of the visit was so similar to an American college revival that any even one man from Am~rica to reinforce the special description Is scarcely necessary. One Telugu Mi8sion jor near,v three veal's. .•. subject which especially interested the stndents was the place which Christianity holds in the Bnt the crisis has come. The mission cannot colleges and among the highly educated of the and must not go longer in the way it has been West_ Many of them had been led to think going. These thousands of converts, most of that Christianity was losing its hold upon onr whom are less than ten years in the Christian intellectnal classes. This outrageous falsehood life, must be trained for Christian manhood has been circulated in Japan by skeptical pro- and womanhood. The appeals of these hun- fessors from England, Germany and America. dreds, and even thousands, who are asking for the missionary to visit their villa~es, and bap- "One of the most interesting and the most dif- tise taem, must be responded to. The over- ficnlt features of the work consisted in the in- worked and overburdened brethren mnst be qniry meetings. It was an imposing sight to see relieved and enconraged by seeing re-enforce- a score of gronps of from three to six students ments coming to their help. We have other gathered about a professor or experienced great and pressing works which must be done, Christian student eagerly discussing the plan of but the re-enforcement of the Telnga Mission salvation. The meetings for personal work presents claims npon our young men, and upon were generally held In onr private rooms. Dr. the gifts of the people, which cannot be longer Davis gladly tnrned his parlor and dining-room into an inquiry-room, and sometimes forty or Ignored. The Canadian Baptist TeluguMission more stUdents would crowd in and spend from ODe to two hours. It was a joy indescribable to answer their eager questions, and lead them we left. The same evening fifty men in a meetstep by step into the light. One of those meet- ing for the unconverted announced their deterings I shall never Corget. The company was mination to begin praying for themselves, and pretty evenly divided-about half of them skep- to seek Christ, as it was expressed, untll they tical concerning the inspiration of the Bible, the found Him." Divinity of Christ, the immortality of the soul, &c.; while the balance were settled upon these Iu this connection we add the words of a mispoints, and were willing to accept Christ as sionary who writes to the ilfiBsionary Herald their Savionr. I di vided the crowd, leaving- the that on March 24 103 students from this instituskeptics with Mr. Bartlett of Dartmonth, '87, tion, 98 young men and 5 young women, received who was one of the first of the pledged mission- Christian baptism and were welcomed to church ary volunteers to reach the foreign field, and fellowship. Last year 141 of the students wbo has a special knack for meeting skeptical made public profession of Christ. And still objections. I took the others into an adjoining further: room. There were abont twenty-two of them. After talking for some time about the plan of .. It is with great pleasure, " says the Mis8ionsalvation, I asked those who had already ac- ary Herald, "that we are able to announce that cepted Christ, or were willing te accept Him a Christian gentleman of New England, who there and then, to aunounce it. Fnlly seventeen desires that his name should be uUknown, has did so, and the reasons which theygayefortheir been so impressed by the value of the work hope in Cbrist were as satisfactory as you will done by the Doshisha Institution at Kyoto, and ordinarily hear iu an American college. by the caU which Mr. Neesima has made for its enIargementasa university,that he has contribut- .. Four or five fellows listened earnestly and ed the noble sum of $100,000, of which $.5,00 are iadly to the testimonies of their companions, to be for an endowment, and $25,000 for the but were unable to grasp the fact of his gift of erection aud furnishing of a science haU. " eternal life. So I said to them, 'Fellows, what will convince you beyond a doubt that the gift PerSia.-Mission Movements. A recent is yours?' They did not answer at once, so I letterfrom Persia speaks of the rapid move tosaid, 'If I should come to you and teU that you wards religious liberty to Moslems, which has had fallen heir to a maguiflcent estate, what been taking place in the capitol, Teheran, and iu would convince you beyond all question of the the part of the field where our American truthfuluess of my word?' , We may be satis- brethren are at work. A few facts will illustrate fied if we could see it,' one. of them replied. this: (1) At Tabreez, an American medical mis- • Would that really satisfy you f' I asked. They siouary was asked by the Vali Ahad, or heir-apdidn't grasp my meauing, so I continued, ' Sup- parent to the throne of Persia, who is also Govposing you saw the legal document-the re- ernor of the Province of wbich Tabreez is the cord? ' , Oh, yes, that would settle the ques- capital, to give up his connection with the mistion,' they exclaimed. 'Well,' I continued, • we Sion, and become his private physcian on a large are 80 fortunate as to have the record. Turn salary. The doctor had no wish to accept it, but to John v: 11, aud let us read, .. And this is the was urged by· his brother missionaries aud the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and Mission Board to doso. He told the prince that he this life is His Son." , could do so on the condition only that he should bequite free to teach and preach his own religion, " I bhall never outlive the memory of the and to this the prince agreed. The appointment scene of that room. They fairly snatched their was considered so important that it was dis- New Testaments from their pockets, and eag- cussed by all the Legations, and oppo,ed by erly searched for the record. And bending low Russia only. The strangest thing was that tho over the pages they seemed to drink in the Mullahs approved of it, and said they could trust words like thirsty men. It was a pathetiC a man to attend to their women who was not sight, those boys beuding anxiously over the ashamed to stand up for his own religion. (2) record, which probably none of them had ever A convert from Islam in another city has not seen before. I could see their faces brighten, only made a public profession of Christ, but has althougb my eyes were becoming somewhat also acted as a mission agent under the American dimmed. Presently one of the boys looked up. missionaries there, and was lately married tothe His face glowed. He reached out his hand. daughter of the native pastor. Great opposition • Is the qnestIOn settled f' I asked. 'Yes, it is was raised to the marriage by the native Chrissettled,' he replied; and they all said the same. tian community (Armeniaus), but none whatever There was joy in that room. The iuterpreter by the Moslems. (3) Not many years since an said, 'L.t us pray'; alid while he prayed I order was given by the Shah, through H. B. M. thought of the joy with which heaven was ring- Minister, that the missionaries should not allow ingas any Moslem to enter their church, or attend any kind of service. Iu December, when Dr. Bruce The angels echoed around the throne, was returning to Julfa, he preached in Persia in .' Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own I ' Teheran to a crowded congregation of Chris- tians, Jews, Parses., and Moslems. After the "So the work continued day after day. As service the whole congregation stayed for Sunsome indication of the progress of the work, I day-school, and one of the missionaries had a wi11 say that fully one hundred men attended a class of some 25 lloslems, Jews, and Parsees. meeting for new converts, held a week before
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL
chiefly Moslems, whom he taught the word of Sabbath, with a total attendance of about one God, just as in any Sunday-school clas~·. (4) thonsand. In the qnarters ot Haskeuy and Scu. After service one of the missionaries went out tari and in the rear of the Bible Honse, there are with, a catechist to two Moslem villages, and commodions chapels, bot for more than torty preached quite publicly to attentive congrega- years the evangelical Armenian chnrches in the tions in the street. (5) There are now several great quarters of Pera and Stamboul have converts from Islam In Ooroomiah who make 8 snffered severely in their growth and influence public profession of their faith. These five facts for the lack of church homes of their Own. The are significant signs of progress, and give ground brethren of the Pera and Stamboul churches are, for belief that God's time to favor Persia, of now about to make fresh efforts to secnre hOllses which Dr. Bruce has so often spoke, is at hand. of worship, and we bespeak for them tbe sym- -Christian at Work. pathy and aid of American Christians. The preachers of the gospel have never been so nn- T hi bet.-Mr. Andrew Wilson says that the merous and strong as at present, and the spirit of love and union among the brethren has sensi- Thibetans are the most pre-eminently praying bly increased. By means of our station conferpeople on the face of the earth. .. They have ence, genuine co-operati~n in carrying forward praying stones, praying pyramids, praying flags the evangelical work has been secured, and the flying over every bouse, praying wheels, praying differences of former years have quite disap· miJJs, and the univereal prayer, 'Ommani padme peared.- M!88ionary Herald. haun,' is never ont of their mouth," A German writer on Lamaism says of this sentence, which United States.-A fearless Missionary. literally means" 0 God 1 the jewel in the lotus," Dr. Otis Gibson, who died recently in SanFran. that these six syllables are, of all the prayers of cisco, was a noted missiona.ry among the Chinese earth, that which is most frequently repeated, in that city from 1868 to 1886. Dr. S. L. Baldwin written, printed, and conveniently offered up by in the Chinese Evangelist gives a thrilling acmechanical means. .. They constitute the only count of hisebaracter and work. We give,an exprayer which the common Mongols and Thihetans tract. "He soon gained the entire respect and know; they are the first words which the stam- confidence of the Chinese residents; and when mering child learns, and are the last sighs of the the hoodlum spirit became rampant and truckdying. The traveller murmurs them upon his ling politiCians catered to it for personal advantjourney, the herdsman by his flock, the wife in age, so tbat a public sentiment was engendered her daily work, the monk in all stages of con- very inimical to the Chinese residents, Dr. Gibtemplation-that is to say, of nihilism; and they son with that lofty courage cbaracteristic of him, are the cries of conflict and triumph. One meets stood firmly and resolutely in defence of the opwith them everywhere, whereever the Lama pressed Chinese. He was once burned in effigy church has established itself-on flags, rocks, in front of the City Hall, while the mayor of the trees, walls, stone monnments, utensils, strips City was making an anti-Chinese speech within, of paper, human skulls, skeletons, etc. They and conniving at the doings of the godless mob are, according to the meaning of the believer, without. On appearing once in the Legislative the essence of all religion, of all wisdom and RaHat Sacramento, a motion was promp~y revelation; they are the way of SIllvation and made by one of the hoodlum members that Otis entrance to holiness." Gibson he expelled from the hall; but there was a majority of rational and dece&! men in the Turkey.-Constanti~ople. Arnerlean Chris- body large enongh to prevent the passage or the tianity has three grand institutions in Constanti- resolution. Sometimes it was necessary to senople, namely, the Bihle House in Stamholll, cure police protectiou for the mission house, which is the centre of literary work for the Em- and on many occasions Mrs. Gihson was in seripire; the Female College, called the .. Home," ous donbt when he left the building whether she on tbe heights of Scutari, on the Asiatic shore, wonld ever see him again alive. In the midst and Robert College, on the bluff of the Bo~pho of such conflicts and trials he pressed on unrus, six miles above the city. There are thrEe daunted in his work until three years ago, when native evangelical churches, namely, two Arme- he was stricken with paralYSiS, undoubtly the niau and one Greek, with a total membership result of the long nervous strain to which he of over two hundred, and eleven religious ser- had been subjected." services in eight different quarters of the city and in three different langnages lire held every I1I.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Africa. of a year now accessions have been constant E. F_ Baldwin's Work in Southern and everyone haptized has renounced Moham- Morocco. medanism. For a time the work was seemingly much hindered by severe persecntion. Impris- MOGADOR, MOROCCO, March 21, 1889. onment, be3ting, disowning, banishment-these DEAR BROTHER: Some of your readers know are all too familiar to the converts here in somewhat of the precious work of grace in pro- Southern Morocco. But when it was impossible gress here among Mohammedans. For upwards to longer work here in Mogador we travelled and preached, going literally on the methods gospel brings them. May not all thia encourage laid down in Matthew x, which we hold with, the zeal and faith of scattered workers toiling we find, increasing numbers of God's children in these bard Moslem fields? to be of perpetnal obligation. We have found them to contain the deep and matchless wisdom Some new workers, all committed to Mat- thew x lives, have just jOined us. Tbere are of God for missionary etrort.* Several others now six of us bere, all mrn of course, with onr lives given up to toil for Lurist nnder bis primbesides myself, inclllding recently converted itive instructions. A band is forming in Ayernatives. are so travelling. The natives knowing shire, Scotland, of others. who will come to us no other methods, have gone glad)y forth, with- soon, we trust. Others in different places are ont purse or scrip. on foot, taking uothing and greatly interested. We hope to have many namarvellous blessiug in the way of conversion tives together here in the summer months for has followed the steps of their simple faith. trainiug in the Word, that they may afterwards They go with no thought of payor salary. The go forth two by two, without purse or scrip. Father makes their simple needs His care. lily own position as an unattached missionary, de- E. F. BALDWIN. pendent only on God for temporal supplies (which, blessed be Hie name, He ceaselessly Brazil. supplies), enables one to consistently instrnct these native Christians in the principles and THE MISSIONARY BUREAU,LoNDON, methods of .Matthew x, and encourage them to go forth npon them. April 8, 1889. DEAR DR. PIERSON:- I enclose It is to this retnrn to these first principles of mission work I attribute the constant :!low of copy Qf a letter received from Brazil, blessing we are having. and which is so except- 10~1 in Mohammedan fields. I earnestly rec- on the subject of "Self-Supporting ommend them to others who may have the faith and are so circumstanced as to practice them. Missionaries." As it is the phase of I say this without any reflection upon the more ordinary and accepted lines of mission endeavor. the subject <in which we are most The field is vast and the need great, and by all and every means let the gospel be.preached. deeply interested, and one in which Jnst now the vigilance of our persecutors and very much more can be done than adversaries has somewhat relaxed, and our fre- has yet been ~ttempted•. I thought quent meet:!Igs (sil<teen in Arabic and eight in English per week, are well attended, and we you might find room for it in your are cheered by more conversions. Several are jnst presenting themselves for baptism. Last excellent REVIEW. night one of the most intelligent and best educated Moors I have ever met,:pnblicly confessed JOHN M. PAMMANT, Secretary. Christ for the first time-both speaking and praying (as all the native Christians do from the Self-Supporting Missionaries: honr of their conversion) in onr meeting before "GREAT BRITAIN, tbrough her vast commercial many witnesses. He is one of the few" honor- and colonial relations, sends men to all parts of able" ones who have been won. We trnst he the habitable globe. These men are natnrally may become a veritable Paul. He was··some energetic and enterprising or they would not months since arrested and thrown into prison on offer for foreign service. the suspicion of being a Christian, which at that ,. Is it not possible to transform this splendid time he was not. His feet, like Joseph's, .. they army of yonng men into repres~ntatives of hurt with fetters," the scars of which he will Christ? I sincerely believe it is. The church never cease to carry. Poor fellow' He was of Christ in England has within its fold the very then withont the comfort that comes to a child flower of manhood, ready for service In any part of God in a1Hiction, and yet enduring reproach of the world. What then is necessary? That for Christ. But God blessed his dreary sojourn for every foreign post a Christian man should in prison to his soul, and it contribnted to his be forthcoming, a man with every qualification conversion. Pray for him. necessary, and equal to any that may be fur- nished from the world's ranks. But how are Some from among the few resident Europeans these men to be brought into contact with the and from among the Jews also have turned to companies who are to employ them? Anassoclthe Lord and confessed Him in baptism. ation might he formed of Christian merchants and others, who would, by their infiuence and Tidings from different places in the interior, known integrity,be nble to select men ofguaranwhere tbe word of life has been carried from teed ability antI general suitableness. But what here, tell us of many turning from Mohammed's wonld be the ~ractical gain to the church by all cold, hard. false faith, to the love and light the this? The gain would be sim ply incalculable. In the first place a great stumbling block wonld –*A series ofpapers dealing witb the qnestion be removed, fornothing impedes the spread of the gospel abroad more than the lives of godless of mission methods and entitled The Question Englishmen. All missionaries will attest this. 01 the Hour-Foreign Mis8ions, is appearing But the greatest advantage of all will be that now in The Christian of London, and are at- thousands of seU-supporting missionaries will tracting wide attention. be located all over the world, for every living Christian is a missionary, whatever his private , calling may be. The opportunities of spreading I hear Miss Pilditch is this moment bnsy giv- the gospel which lie within the reach oC every ing a singing lesson to our school children.
Englishman abroad are very great, and this Santhals are hill people and good singers.
without in any way interfering with his private Thank God for liberty to praise the Lord in the dntles. While laboring abroad I have had the midst of heathendom.
constant fellowship an 1 help of several young Last Sunday about 150 were at the Lord's Englishmen. One who ,vas ever ready to help table to remember His death; it was the won- was the manager of a foundry; another was the der of the RItes, the Son oC God dying for sinful director of one of the largest companies in this men. Eleven men and women were baptized city; and in the same way every Englishman in November, and one man l'lst month, on who fills an engagement abroad may do good proCession of faith in Christ. There is hope oC work for Christ, providing he be a living Chris- many more to Collow. Pray for them.
tian. Famine is tormenting thousands of people i I ask, should all this power for good be left daily heads of families, men and women, come to unapplied f Surely heroic young Christians will me, saying we have nothing to eat; give us some be forthcoming to fill any post that others work, rice or money; the children are crying.
would accept for the salary. The love of Christ The Santhals are a brave and hard-working.
should be stronger than the love' of enterpri.e people, but this famine is a great trouble, and or lucre, and as to fitness, who shall say that the Government does not Ceellncllned to help.
the man of God is inferior to the worldling f " Come ye blessed.-For 1 was hungry and ye Joseph and Daniel proved themselves not one gave me food. Inasmuch as ye did it unto one whit behind their godlesR compeers in worldly of these, my brethren, even the least, ye did It knowledge, tact and business capacity. unto me." Matt. 25 : 14-40. How can we see All that is wanting to put this scheme into these people starving before Our eyes f This is practice is the formation of an association of a time of need. Pray lor them, and afterwards Christian merchants and philanthropists, and see how mnch you can deny yourself to help its results will be universal. them. If friends knew their need, they would " JAMES F ANSTONE." cheerfully send a few pounds to help them.
India. A Ohristian Baba. Interesting letter from Secretary From Rev. J. A. B. Cook, Singa- Haegert, of the Bethel Santhal Mission. pore, Feb. 21, 1889.
BETHEL. 21st March. 1889. MR. TAlIl KONG WEE was born In Singapore, DEAR EDITORS: of Christian parents, in 1842 i he was thus a Baba. To explain this word, I cannot do better We left England in October, '88, with six new than quote the following from Vaughan's" Chi- missionaries for onr mission, and arrived here nese of the Straits Settlements": "The term safely on the 2d December. Our services on Baba Is used by the natives oC Bengal to board were a joy to os and a blessing to others. designate the children oC Europeans. and it Is Oor missionaries learned 500 Santhal words, probable that the word was applied by the and attended 24 lectures on diseases, their Indian convicts at Renang to Chinese children, cause, their course and treatment on board. No and so came Into !(enerai use. The word is time was lost; since their arrival they have given in Donglas's Hokien Dictionary as mean- continued their study. and made good progress Ing a half·caste Chinese from the Straits. In in medicine and the Santhallanguage. Mess1·s. the Straits, however, the term Is applied to all ,Panes and Hearn are at Bethlehem, 20 miles Chinese born there, half-caste, or otherwise." east; the others are here. We trust Mr. The term, moreover, is applied to adults as Rowat will go 20 miles north by and by. well as to children.
D,n:ing the last four months, patients from Mr. Kong Wee's father was a gambler 25 villages were attended at Bethel. Our and pepper trader. who sent him to school at the ulne dispensaries are busy at this time, as Rame's Institution, where he was taoght Eng- the prevailing heatlays many aside. (It is 8 P. lIl. lish. Like all Babas he knew Malsy better just now. and we have 95 degrees on our veran- than Chinese, though he also knew Chinese, dah, in the shade.) Oor nine dispensaries re- which some Babas do not. He left school when move moch misery and woe from many a home, sixteen to enter a lawyer's omce, where he and this they do all the year rouud. As a rule, remained until about three years ago, when he patients from more than 150 vill"ages receive removed to Madras for the education of his two treatment every year. sons. He had saved sumcient to enable him to. retire and do this. The reason why he went Since January, '89, we visited four melas there I will give further on. (heathen feasts) and disposed of 1,850 gospels. May the bleSSing of the Almighty rest on His His parents, brothers, sisters, and indeed all word, printed and preached, and may He guide his relatives were heathen. He also remained a the people to the feet of Christ. heathen Cor some years after leaving school, un- til he came into contact with a Chinese Chris- Last week our preachers, two and two, visit- tian, one of the earliest converts oC the London ed ftfty villages. M18si(!nary Socie.ty, which nnfortunately aban- children the best training they could under ~ most fayorable conditions. Their hope was that doned the Straits altogether, so long ago as both the lads might not ouly become earnest Christians, but also like the f:tther, preachers of 1847. By this Chinese Baba he was induced to the gospel, to the Babas of Malayrla. I am thankful to add that both the BOns are now cast in his lot with the Christians. He after- members of the church, and we hope to. see them more than filling their father's place in wards married one of his daughters, and she the coming years. May God grant it.
had much to do with the after life and usefulne.s PerSia.-The American Presby;'
ot her husband. She still survives, and intends tcrrian Mission.- From one of the missionaries: to return to Madras, until her sons complete The missionary work of Oroomiah Station is their education there. . in some respects unique, and iu many ways it is di1llcult, but full of promise. We area band The whole of Mr. Kong Wee's relatives stood of missionaries set down among a remnant of ancient Christendom in the midst oC Moslem out against his becoming a Christian. He was conquerors. It is a journey of nearly two months' travel to our field-so Car inland and so afterwards on visiting terms with them, and Car isolated that very few Americans other than missionaries have eyer yi"ited tbe region. The supported his mother nntil the last, but he was band of missionaries are four Presbyterian min- isters and their wives; one physician, his wife never forgiven by them for leaving the" cus- and mother; one secular missionary, and tbree single ladies. toms of his fathers," i. e., idolatry. While in The location and extent ofthe field.-To the India he often wrote, urging Mrs. Cook to visit north is Monnt Ararat, at the corner of Persia, Russia, and Tnrkey. The eastern boundary hi… de",rest mother" and sis ters. This we for nearly a hundred miles is the inland Ses of Oroomlah in ancient Media. Then the field extried to do, but apparently with little good tends westward to the Tigris, over the rugged region of the mountains and valleys in Kurdi.. result. Yet snrely God will hear his prayers on tan to the Tigris, as it passes the site of ancient Nineveh. The territory to be evangelized by their behaIr. When he first became a Christian, our station is nearly as large as the State of OhiO, partly in Persia, partly in Turkey, and is he once told me, thongh he had made a clean one of the oldest abodes of man.
break with idolatry, he knew very litt:e of the The Population and Nstionalities.-The first people Cor special efl'ort are the Syrians, or steps he had taken. Bnt by the teaching o~ his Nestorians, a remnant of the once great church of the Far East, that had its missions even in wife and others, by prayer, and the constant China a thousand years ago. This remnant nnm- bers about 150,000. There are probably 30,000 stndy of his Malay New Testament, he came to Jews on the site where they were carried cap- tive twenty-five centnries ago; there are as see "trnth as it is in J esns." He became a many more Armenian Christians; nearly a mil- lion and a quarter oCKurds, Moslems and Devil trne disciple, and was ever found ready to worshipers, aud over half a million of Persian Moslems; a total of near two million souls. speak for the Master, in his own house, at tbe There are many reasons why we should expect the Nestorians to be won over rapidly, as a cbapels, tbe prison, and elsewhere. He was people, to pnre Christianity, and the other peo- ples more slowly. certainly tbe most hearty and enthusiastic Chi- History of the Miasion.- The Nestorian naman I ever came across. So frank and out- remnant were first fully made known to the Protestant world in 1830, by exploring missionspoken. It was qnite refreshing to meet with aries. The mission was begun in 11l35, and called the Mission to the Nestorians. The him. first missionaries were Rev. Justin Perkins and Dr. Asahel Grant, very noble and euthnsiastic He preached freely at his own charges, and pioneers. Others, of a like spirit, ,followed them, of whom the Messrs. Stoddard and Rhea, gave regularly of his means to the cause of the and Miss Fidelia Fiske (as well as the two piO- neers) furnished subjects of bioll:raphy. In 1870 gospel, and even when away in Madras, where he also gave, he always had his monthly sub- scription paid in Singapore, and when he heard of the new chapel at Bukit Timah he sent twen- ty-five dollars towards the building fund. For years he and a few others went regularly once a quarter to communion services, and thus helped to keep things going tbere, after the founder of this station, Mr. Keasberry, had passed away; and it was largely owing to him and two or three others that services were maintained at tbe Malay chapel from the time Mr. Keasberry died, until our mission took over this station also, with its much reduced congre- gation. We shall continue to miss him in many ways. I shall always be thankful I knew him, and learned to love him as a brother. I shall remember his pleasant, hearty manner, his readiness to take a service or help in any way he could.!
A severe liver complaint brought him back with his wire to Singapore, but it was too late to save his life; he died in February of last year in great sufl'ering, but" in peace."
The reason why the parents took their sons- their ouly surviving children-to Madras was· that they might be witb them tbere, away from the debasing influences of Chinese idolatry, and the example and practic~s of heathen rela- tives. He knew too well what heathenism was.
So these loving parents wished to give their the name of the mission was changed to The Church has four Presbyteries -and a Synod; MiSsion to Persia. Since then it has enlarged also a native Board of Evangelization that meeta its sphere to embrace half Persia, or near 5OO,()(,0 monthly. By combining funds and counsels square mUes, in its efforts. Stations have been with the miSSionaries, a system of pastoral care established in Tabreez, Teheran, Hamadan and and itinerant labors is in operation which aims, a8 fast as possible, to reach all the Christian Salmas. population, and to carry the gospel to all other 1835, the work was hegun, and the mission- population. about us.
aries warmly welcomed by the Nestorians; The people are very poor in worldly goods, 1836, the Shah of Persia gave a firman to the but are able to do much for their own support, missionaries, and severely punished ruffians and for the spread of the gospel. The average that tried to kill them; 1838, the Roman Catho- amount given is about a dollar to a communilic mission was begun in the same field; 1841, cant-$2,000 per annum. This sum stands for the first printing-press ever seen in Persia began much real devotion and self-denial. Tne wages its work at Oroomiah in printing the Bible; of a laboring man is ten to fifteen cents a day, 1844, the training-school was removed to Seir, and of a skilled laborer, suob as a carpenter, and the Female Seminary was fairly opened; never more than thirty cents a day. Money is 1845, was the massacre of thousands of Chris- very scarce, and the sum that passes the hands tians by the Kurds, and follo wing this was a se- of our Christiaus is very small and very bard to vere persecution; the Patriarch and the Persian Governor beat and imprisioned many of the earn; but all give, and some conSCientiously missionaries' converts; 1846 to 1849, remarkable revivals; 1852, Persia was at war with Enl(land, give their tithes. and the missionaries were under Russian .pro- The Special Needs.-These are numerous; tection; 1855, the Reformed Church began; 1862, the Presbytery formed; 1862 and 1866, the one most pressing at this time is to provide years of cholera, and many thousands of people larger accommodations for our college. The swept away; 1870 to 1871, years of famine iu present building (two stories and basement, 110 many parts of Persia; 1871, the missiou trans- by 45 feet) gives ns chapel, library and recitation ferred from the American Board to the Presby- rooms, aud accommodations for sixty students, terian Board; 1877, extensive revivals; 1878, This building cost about $5,000. The demand is the Reformed Church more fully organized; very great to double the number of students, 187~, the new college built, and hospital begun; and give to half of them industrial educatiou. 1880, terrible famine, also insurrection of the It is an opportunity we must avail of, and thus Kurds; 1885, prevailinl!: revivals in the congre- bring the active and leading young men into the gations; 1886, High Church ritualists sent out evangelical Influence. In a few years these by the Archbishop of Canterbnry and began a young men will be the pillars of the church. If miasion; 1888, new Female Seminary built; we fail, these young men whom we reject will 1889. a new station nndertaken in the Kurdish fall Into the hands of Roman Catholics and Mountains. other errorists. While we sleep the enemy will sow tares. Three thousand dollars will bnild The first yearl, from 1835 to 1845, were years the needed accommodations for seventy addiof preparation in teaching, preaching and trans- tional students and provide shops. lating the Scriptures. From 1845 to 1855 there were many blessed revivals in the boarding- DEAR DR. SHERWOOD:-I have just schools, and the young men and women con- received particulars of the murder of verted carried the love of Christ with them to the villages, and many souls were spirituaJly of one of our converts in the Reformed renewed. From 1855 onward the Reformed Church was gradually formed, necessitated by Presbyterian Church, Antioch. persecution and other causes. The converts Yours faithfully, were first invited to meet with the missionaries R. M. SOMMERVILLE. in the Lord's Supper. As the members increased. separate congregations were formed in The following extractfl'oma private the villages, and native pastors placed over letter, recently received at Mersine, them. As pious young men were trained, they from Mrs. James Martin, of Antioch, were sent outaa teachers and evangelists. Thus should drive the churches to more the work has grown, and several thousaud souls are annuaJly reached. There is the stated importunate prayer in behalf of the preaching of the gospel in 120 places. The devoted brethren who are laboring largest congregation numbers 600 ; the smallest there in the face of such violent only ten or fifteen souls. opposition: The communicants in 1S:>7 were 216; in 1867, 697; in 1877, 1.087; and in 1887, 2,003. The .. We are now in deep grief and aftliction. whole number from the first is over 3,000. The Two weeks ago yesterday Abd EI Maseeh Telroll of ministers shows 40 fully ordained, and fort, one of our members, a yonng man of about 30 others, licentiates; also 87 elders and 91 dea- twenty, who joined our church in company with conesses of the congregations. The Reformed his mother three years ago last October, was set on by the Greeks in the shop where he was learning dyeing. Being at leisure, he was reading in the Bible, when a man standing on the other But the Persian Consul brought to court lve side of the narrow street said to another, 'See men, Greeks, who Baid they were in the street that fellow I He is still reading the gospel.' all day, and no assault occurred. We had Fast- Then the man attacked Abd Et Maseeh, striking day yesterday. The Greeks say, •That is the him on the head and kicking him, and cursing first of you only; we will settle you all.' Yeshim, his religion, and hook. A brother of the terday our cook was out in the evening, when young man roshed on him too, aod they dragged one of several men cursed his religion and made him oat of the shop, beating and kicking him. to strike him. Another caught the man, and He appealed to his master for help, but the mas- Yusef got away. The Lord is on our side, and ter took up a stick and made to strike him, and we shall not be moved." others coming np, Abd Et Maseeh got off. This is what the witnesses iestify. The father of Tahiti.-We gladly give place to the yoong man says that his son came home with blood flowing from his ears and nose. The this communication. father, a Greek, wanted to complain to the Government at once, but Abd Et Maseeh replied, In the midst of this dark financial 'No, my father, leave it to Christ, the Judge.' crisis of the London Missionary Society, Tile Ioung man ate a little supper, and went out we have been favored with the sight of a recent to an evening meeting where he and some others letter from Tahiti, well known and remembered were discussing Bible truth. He Boon returned by some of us as Otaheite, as the earliest part home, and after vomiting lay down, and falling of the field of the labors and of the signal sucinto coma, never spoke again. It was near noon cess of this mission. next day before they came for the doctor. When the doctor saw him and heard his story, he got the The remarkable importance of this intelligence futher to call in the Greek doctor and Immanuel, at the present moment is that it shows in a well the Bon of the Turkish Protestant pastor here, authenticated and most interesting detail the who had just returned from Stamboul with a fresh fruit that still remains on the old field of diploma, having .todied in Beirnt. The Greek Pomare, even after the French aggression. and Protestant doctors quarreled at once, the Greek saying it was meningitis, and the other We think we are noW warrented to print and saying it was impossible-it was from violence. to circulate privately some sentences of this let- The family dismissed the Greek, and the doctor ter, which is addressed to a lady in Edinburgh got there just as he was leaving. The doctor who was once herself a foreign missionary, and and Immanuel examined Abd EI Meseeh, and who presided at the Edinburgh Ladies' Associthey came together here, and in this room Im- ation of the London Missionary Society the manuel declared it could be nothing but violence. The young man died Friday evenin!(, and the other day: doctor asked the family to get a paper from the "I have always been hopiug to have a great Government for a post-mortem. Dr. Garabet Hagopian, of Aleppo, who studied in New York deal of missionary news to give you, but, though under Dr. Post's father, is here, and the doctor it is now nearly seven months since we left Sanasked the family to call him, and with Immanuel Francisco, I have not seeu a single European and his brother Yakoub, who studied in Aintab, Protestant missionary. All the IslandS that we and Is the agent of the city, made a post-mortem have visited are in the hands of the French, and examination and declared all the signs were of the English missionaries have been gradually violence to th~ head. That was On Saturday, driven out. Both in the Marquesas and the and on Tuesday they met to arrange their re- Panmutos we saw a great deal of the Roman port, and the sons of the Protestant pastor, Catholics, and I am glad to say that they seemed though not daring to deny that death was caused much less bigoted than they are with us. They by violence, said that there were many enemies, read the Bible in churcb, aad preach sermons, and they dare not say in the report to the Govern- and where there was only a catechist to conment that it was so, and they, too, actually drew duct the service, it seemed quite like our own, up a report in the Interest of the murderers_ as, of course, he could not celebrate Mass. At Dr. Garabet was besieged and offered bribe~ and Tahiti, though I found no missionaries, I am intimidated to compel him to pui his signature to very·glad to tell you that I found that the work their report, but he refused. The assault oc- had been so thoroughly founded that it is going curred In open day, in the street, and the wit- on quietly in the hands of native missionaries, nesses are numerous; but Greek and Turk have and very few have joined the church of Rome. united to kill the case. Three Moslems and two • . • After leaving Papeete we were detained Fellaheen gave testimony, but the Government by broken masts for two months at a very beausaid it would be wrong to write down that they tiful village in the southern part of Tahiti, called cursed his religion aud his book. The murder- Tantira, and it was there that I saw most of the ers are hidden in the house of the Persian Con- people, and loarned to love them. They are so sul. He is a Mason, as also are the pastor's loving and hospitable, and so cheerful and sons. The do«tor telegraphed home and lI:ot au happy. The fir~t Sunday, when I went ashore answer, and the pressure on the Turks is strong. to church, I found the table spread for the communion, and all covered with a white cloth. I asked leave to jOin, and was welcomed by the officiating minister, who was dressed in a dark blue and whIte narin (a cottou kilt), white shirt, and black paletot coat. All the ministers and deacons 'll'ere dressed in this fashion, and
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
had bare feet. In fact, my shoes were the only ship on Wednesday. On the appointed day ones in the chnrch I thirty women and three children came dn .. When the covering-cloth was removed, I fonnd that the wine was in black beer bottles, board, and not satisfied with what they had the cups were of very coarse earthenware, and the bread was baked bread-fruit cut in very already given me, they brought twenty-five small pieces. It was very touching to me to keep the feast with the Mi.sion congregation cocoanuts, fowls, and six pillows stuffed with so recently rescued from heathenism,-touching, too, to realize how the simple rite is silk cotton from the cotton-tree. I asked them snited to all climes and peoples, and may be nnderstood and partaken of although you do to sing a hymn before we went downstairs, not nnderstand a word of the language. When the service was over, I fonnd that I had put my_ which they did; and then, to my great surprise self in a much more conspicuous position than I had any idea of. First, all the ministers and they proceeded of their own accord to make deacons shook hands with me, aud ~hen all my fellow-communicants, of whom there must have speeches and prayers. An old sailor on board, been more than 280. who speaks the language, told me that one wo- .. That afternoon the chief called on me, and begged me to come ashore early on Monday man, who prayed fervently, prayed much for the morning, to receive a gift which the people wished to give to their new member. I went, captain, that he might be guided to do all that and here is a list of what I call •the gains of godliness' in Tahiti :-six fowls, one hundred was necessary for our safety. I was strnck with cocoanuts, bananas, ripe and green, breadfruits, sweet potatoes, taro, pine-apples, eggs, that when I heard it, and still more when the capand a lobster. These were all carried by men on poles over their shoulders, and laid on the tain discovered the very next day that the mast ground in front of our house. ,The chief preseuted them in the name of •Tws/ell religieus.. ' was in a bad state, and must be repaired before of the village. I returned thauks through the chief, and invited the givers to come and see the we could continue our voyage. Was it not a wonderful anSwer to prayer? and don't yon think the Christian kindness of these people might be a lesson to many professing Christians at home? I was a little vexed with the very common look of the vessels of the sanctuary, and have promised to send them Communion cups from Scotland, much to their delight."
Being personally acquainted with the writer.
I can confidently commend this unexpected testi- mony to encourage and stimulate all friends and supporters of Foreign Missions to contribnte to the funds of the London Missionary Society, ihat commenced in Otaheite at the close of last century. G. D. CULLEN.
EDINBURGH, 16th March, 1889.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY J. T. GRACEY, D. D.
Mr. Oust's" Notes." country, as a member of the Indian Civil Service, has been supplemented A CLERGYMAN who was a very by extensive travel in Turkey, Transbrilliant writer but not equally at- Caucasia, Syria~ Egypt, Tunisia, AItractive speaker, said to a brothel' gel'ia and Morocco. He has been for minister whose qualities were direct- many years associated with the conly the reverse of his own: "When trol of the British and Foreign Bible you write people go to sleep, and Society's interests and operations, when you speak they keep awake; as well as with those of the Church but when I speak they go to sleep, of England Missionary Society and and when I write they keep awake." other prominent and important evangelistic a~d learned associations. But if Mr. Robert N. Cust, of Lon- The Royal Asiatic Society designadon, speaks he is sure of a hearing, ted him as an Honorary Secretary. and if he writes he is sure of a He has contributed most valuable reading. He is entitled both to speak stores of knowledge on the languages and write on missionary topics. He of the East Indies, Africa, the Cauhas had to do with missionaries and casus and Oceanica, being the author missionary societies for> almost half of separate works on each of these, a century, and for over thirty years besides linguinistie and Ol'lental has made a close and careful study essays and other more popular topof missions and collateral subjects. ics. He has, besides, taken promi- A large personal acquaintance with nent part in the missionary discusthe people of India, gained during a quarter of a century's residence in the sions of the last quarter of a century, In his annual tours, made volun.- and is well and widely known as a tarily at his own charges, inconnea.
man of strong opinions, which he tion with the Bible Society's work, holds independently and champions he has visited many parts of Europe, fearlessly, according to others the Western Asia, and North Africa, right to exercise the same pdvi- except Tl'ipolitana. One year he lege!3. was in Norway discussing the Lapp We are favored with the second translation; the next year on the and enlarged edition of his valuable cataracts of the Nile, listening to contribution to missio)lary literature, men speaking in the language of which he has modestly entitled Nubians; then on the shores of the Notes on Missional'Y Subjects. The Caspian Sea, or the Sea of Galilee, volume consists of four parts, which or down III the Sahara of Algeria, or though published and procurable at Cape Spartel in Morocco.
separately, are here gathered in one Such a writer, were he far less large and comprehensive book. Part learned than our many-sided scholer I contains (1) Obsel'vations and Re- and literateur, would challenge at- flections on Missionary Societies,and tention; but when there is super- (2) Language Illustrated by. Bible' added a devout sympathy with the Translation. Part II treats of The progress of Christ's Kingdom in the GreatProblems Outside the Orbit of world, he commands it. He told the Pure Evangelistic Work, but which under-g-raduates of BaIliol College, the missionary has to face. Part III Oxford, in an address on "The Duty is devoted to the Relation of Mission- of the Youth of Great Britain," that aries to the Outer World. Part IV when, in 1838, he went to that col- is composed of missionary addresses lege, they knew as little about mis- delivered by the author under vari- sions as they did about Chinese mu- OilS circumstances, and what he sic. On repairing to Calcutta, styles " Pictures" and," Notices," through conversation with Bishop composed in omnibus and railway Wilson, he became interested in mis- trains or elsewhere, as reading, con- sions, and found "a new world"
versation ot' observation have sug- open to him, and missions have since gested the train of thought. They are been the" leading object of his very a layman's utterances on these great existence."
themes. Part V is to follow on " The But Mr. Cust pre-eminently de- ,Missions of the Romish Church." serves attention as one of the com- Mr. Cust's wide experience and ex- paratively few laymen of large abil- tended acquaintance in the depart- ity who have not only lent an ab- ments of geography, philology and sorbing attention to the subject, and ethnology, together with his promi- aided intelligently in missionary nent relation with practi'!al politics, counsels, but who have devoted have been all laid under contribution their enel'gies and literary skill to in the production of the several parts produce a literature on the subject.
of this volume; and the relation of It is surprising what stores of all these to missions has been con- knowledge and thought are gathered stantly present in' his thought dur- in this large and importantcontribu- ing all his life in the saddle, on the tion to curl'ent evangelistic litera- judge's bench, and in the student's ture. We are enthusiastic and ap- retreat; so that the consideration preciative to a degree which will of these themes is not something he scarcely be accredited to be sober, in has taken up, as he says, as the our estimation of this volume; and: "craze" of his "old age," but has yet, there al"e some whole chapters, been almost a life-long study. and plenty of paragraphs and sentences, which do not command our where after the festival is over, one judgment;' and there are manystate- might purchase hundreds ofcarcasses ments of facts from which we would of little pigs at a pice apiece. But dissent, and of opinions which we we do not wish to distract attention judgemustbe greatly modified before from the estimable qualities of this they can be accepted as the last or book by the correction of incidental even the best analysis of the subject statements, norby giving expression in hand. Some of the statements to any diversity of view on the subare, to om· personal knowledge, too jects treated which we, or others, to sweeping, both as to facts in India our knowledge, hold. and in Africa, while the ex cathedra This volume, as a contribution to manner in the utterances of opinions missionary criticism from one of the is not indicative of the essential mod- stoutestfriends and ablest champions estyand broad charity which really ofall evangelisticlabor,has a peculiar pervade the volume. The wisest value. It is a sad fact that the gencounsels are divided upon subjects eral church has not been until of late, on which Mr. Cust does not hesitate intelligently acquainted with the isto write, in the rhetoric at least, of sues and problems of practical workan ultimatum; and though large lib- ers enough to either pass judgment erty be conceded him as a "Christian upon their merits or become intereststatesman." there are other eminent ed in their presentation; and it has Christian statesmen, with long ex- only been when some secular or ecperience and careful judgment, who clesiastical adversary antagonized will differ from him as much as he them in press or on platform, that will from a multitude of missiona- they came to know of the existence ries, who he thinks take a less sym- of some of the most vital problems. pathetic view of human affairs than Friends and administrators of mis- the secular student does. But Mr. sions have discussed thf'se questions Cust does not expect uniform concur- too esoterically. But we hail the rence with his views; he distinctly day when friends and advocates are says so about some chapters of the to assnme the role of frank and book; and though he says all per- friendly critics; and, taken all in all, sons acquainted with the subject we do know not where we will find will agree with his views as express- a warmer friend and abler aU-round ed in "Islam," it is more than proba- critic of missionary matters than the ble that he overestimates the gen- honorable gentleman, the product eral unanimity even there. We do of whose pen has afforded us such not know, for instance, if we appre- great delight, and yet, from whom we hend him aright as meaning to say and so many others; we repeat, will that after li·ing with Mohammedans on so many points widely differ. in India for a quarter of a century, But there is so much that is valua- he never heard of their offering ani- ble in the book that .we must have mal sacrifices; but if so, it seems in- done with our dissertations about it, explicable to us. The "anachron- and regale our readers with some ism" to which he refers may be wit- extracts, though should we even se_ nessed at the Devi Pathan Mela, at lect the samples that tempt us, we Tulsipur, near Gondah, any year, would quote enough to fill a whole where the Hindoos sacrifice sheep and number of the REVIEW. goats; and close by a long line of Few persons appreciate the au- Mohammedans can be seen, each thor's reference to the variety of reo with a squealing, suckling pig under sponsibilities devolving on Mission his arm, waiting their turn to pre- Boards, which have to sent their animal sacrifice; and .. Discharge the duty of a Quarter-master General, the head of a great ~ommission, a. * * .. The last two decades have been ex- Boa.rd of Architects, Shipbuilders and Engineers, a Board of Finance, a Council of ceedingly propitious to the extension ofmis- Education. a Committee on Geographical sions ; the expansion has been marvellous, Exploration, a Superintendent of a Trans- but mnch of it imprudent. The next two IMing and Publishing firm, as well as other decades may prove periods of trial and peril secular duties." by the close of that period the Europea~ octopus will have closed over the continent He adds: of Africa as it has already over Oceanica. and America." .. I have been for more than forty years a witness and a studier of the conduct of hu- :Mr. Cust invites" dowlll'ight critiman affairs, bnt I never realized such puri- cism," he says, a.nd he will surely get tyof motive, such'simplicity of conduct, it sooner or later, though the high and on the whole, such practICal wisdom as respect in which he is held may deis found in such a body." ter some, and others will forbear lest the friends of missions be thus Mr. Cust thinks-and with the hIgh- apparently set over against each est esteem for the missionary force other, in the estimation of the of Great Britain and the eminent thoughtless and indifferent members qualities and immense labors of of the societies themselves, or be many of them, we yet, on the whole, flaunted as sectarians and dessenticoncur with his statement-that the ents by those downrightly antago- 'American churches send out their nistic to the cause. But like Calbest men" to foreign fields, while' vin's Institutes, Mr. Cust's "Notes" might take as their symbol a flaming "Great Britain keeps her best at sword. Missionaries may, themhome." But this must be taken in its selves, not concede the justness of broadest sense or we shall be asked the criticisms on their personal conto show who Great Britain's" best" duct toward the heathen, but they men are, with the record of Pat- will find no public test to exceed the teson, Hannington, Griffith John, high standard to which they hold Dr. Duff and othe1's before us. Still themselves as a class, to be amenawe appreciate Mr. Cust's compliment ble; and our autho1"S beautiful imi- -not to the missionaries, but to the tative extension of the XIth chapter of Hebrews will be as oil to the estimate put by American churches wounds made by Mr. Cust's free on foreign mission service, as de- lance. "By faith the United Mora- vian Brethren at Herrnbut, in Germanding the richest contribution of many, more than a century and a talent they can command. Mr. Cust half ago," &c. "By faith the London thinks missionary operations legiti- and Wesleyan Societies," &c. "By mate subjects of criticism. He says: faith Moffat's son-in-law Livingstone abandoned his home, his chapel ano '" We can no longer treat missionaryop- his school/' &c. " By faith Krapf and erations as above or below candid criticism Rebman sat year after year at the when t4ey are forced up<¥> tbe public notice watch tower of Mombasa, waiting till in the public papers, in Parliament,on plat- the day should dawn, calling to each forms and ,an abundant literature. Mis- other: Watchman, what of the sions like those of tbe Moravian Missionary night?" and thusonandon through a Society,or of the Americau Societies to their galaxy of heroes of whom time would indigenous wild tribes, might be conducted fail us even to mention the names for centuries without public notice: but selected by our author. It was with the evangelizing warfare all round Africa much sadness we read the almost pa- all over Oceanica, into the heart of India; thetic closing paragraph of the vol- China and Japan, by at least two thousand ume in which the author concludes: agents, at a cost exceeding two millions [pounds] annually, cannot escape notice." .' I have said my say. This is probably my '" '" It must needs be that mistskes-are made, but tl:ey need not be perpetuated.
'" * Hard words are often spoken against missions, and whole classes of the commu- nity, from deep prejudICe, hold back from their support. It is in their interest, their positive advantage, that the tendencies should be exposed, that the blots should be hit, and the dangers pointed out." ast contribution to missionary literature. self of the former, and the latter could be If I have written what is not true, let this of no use to him in the social circles of the paper be consigned to the fire. If there is leper colony. a scintilla of truth, think over it. It cannot now be said that we must travel onward, as "Father Damien had resided among tbe if in mist, and that, as nobody criticized lepers for sixteen years when death came to there wa.s no error." his relief, and be had seen the population of Molokai renew itself three times, as the Missions to Lepers. average duratiou of a leper's life is about se ..en years. Years ago he became affiictep THE death of the Roman Catholic with leprosy himself, and for a long time bepriest, Father Damien, popularly fore his death Was a painful sufferer from styled" The Apostle of the Lepers" the scourage. The latest letters from the and now" The Martyr of Molokai," leper colony stated that his health was so which occurred on April 10 last, at broken that h;s death was likely to occur at Kalawa, Hawaii, has called popular any time. Father Damien had for assisattention to a form of Christian tants two men as beroic as himself. One of heroism which may well be exalted these was an Irishman natned Walsh.· He in the public mind in an age quite was a mason by trade, and had been a soldier too justly characterized as supremely in the English army. Walsh reached Honoselfish. lulu III broken health and reduced circum- stances just at the time a supermtendent As the daily papers of the country was needed to keep the colony in order. He generally gave large space to the accepted the position with the result that facts of the self-surrender and self- he is a leper himself to-day and pining for immolation of this Romish priest, relief in death. Father Damien's other we will only give so much of the nar- helper was the Rev. M. COJlrardy, a Catholic rative as is essential to our general priest formerly connected with the Archditreatment of the theme in hand. The ocese of Oregon, who volUntarily went to account before us says Father Da- Molokai about two years ago to become mien was a native of BQlgium and Father Damien's assista.nt." was born in 1840. Mr. Ed ward Clifford, of England, .. He was ordained to the priesthood in writing of " Father" Da.mien during 186~, and SOOB. after went to the Sandwich a visit to this leper island, said: Islands as a missionary. About sixteen years ago the Catholic bishop of the islands "He is just what you would expect him to wanted a priest for duty at the leper set- be-a simple. sturdy. hard-working, devout tlement at Molokai, and Father Damien man. No job was too memal for him-bnildpromptly volunteered for the work. Both ing, carpentering, tending the sick, washing he and his bishop knew what the end would the dead, and manr other such things form be, but these heroic men did not hesitate- part of his daily work. He is always cheerthe one to give the order and the other to ful, often playful, and one of the most truly obey. Father Damien was landed at the humble men I ever saw. The leprosy has leper settlement on the ,eland of Molokai disfigured him a good deal, but I never feel and allowed to provide for himself as best he it anything but a pleasure to look at him." could. There appear to be a thousand or .. From the time of his taking up his resi- more lepers on the part of the island, dence among the lepers Father Damien had occupied by the leper settlement, so much to do in simplyatte.nding to the shut in from the other parts of the wants of dying people that he was unable to island by enormous cliffs, which renprovide shelter for himself for .. long time. Once placed on the island, he had to resign der it almost inaccessible from the his liberty. The sheriff had orders to arrest land side. This touching story and him if he crossed to any of the neighboring the pitiable condition of this portion island.. He became physician and teacher as well as priest, the children born of lepers of the human race, deserves more depending on him for all the education they than a passing glance of the curious could expect to receive. Kiug Kalakaua or sigh from the sympathetic. When soon learned to admire the martyr priest, we learn that there are 40,000 idiots and a rew years ago bestowed on him the in the United States, the first quesprivileges of the medical inspector at!d the tion that occurs is why they should decoration of Knight Commander of the not all be chloroformed out of exist- Order of Kalakaua I. He did not avail bim- ence. What is it that makes that sort of life and life of every sort sacred, when it.cannot be seen to be valuable to it!! possessor or to man- they congregate oCten in latoge numkind? When we learn that in India bers. alone there are half a million of our fellows who are lepers, with no hope The disease may begin anywhere of recovery, deformed and decaying on the body, or at more than one before they are in the grave, suffer- place at the same time, and then, ing a living death, the first thought loathsome, painful and offensive, it again is, why is it any mercy or duty progresses till it reaches some vital to prolong their existence? As Chris- part, and the wretched subject is retianity throws the halo of sacredness lieved. When it commences at the over this wretched and ghastly mock- extremities the first joints of the eryof life, it is not far to see why it fingers, or toes as it may be, fall off should be held responsible for the and then the next joints part, and so amelioration of the condition of on till you see them in all shapes those who carry about this body of from this horrible disease. It is too death. revolting-this rotting alive-to jus- tify more minute description. Leprosy as a disease is in all its varieties in all lands and in all ages, We turn rather to note what the the most repulsive, protracted and kindliness of Christian charity has painful of human maladies. It is attempted in the way of relief to this scrofulous in its character and is helpless, hopeless and suffering portransmitted from parents to children, tion of the human family-vexed and though the offspring of lep~rs with the unsolved problem, Who may be apparently free from the did sin? they or their parents, that taint for many years after birth, the they were born thus? which presses disease is sure to develop sooner or npon them and upon othel·s. We later. Whether leprosy is contagious, cannot attempt any comprehensive and if so, whether alone by contact, summary of the ope:"ations of the are questions about which there is Christian chul"ch to afford relief to considerable diversity of opinion, yet these sufferers. We take from what in all countries contact with lepers is is at hand a few facts sufficient to avoided. After the disease is devel- show that Protestants have been oped so as to render its character active in this department of eleemosmanifest, the subject of it is removed ynary labor in several quarters of from social life and obliged to dwell the globe, as Father Damien and his apart from the community. Though associates were in Hawaii. In 1823, at all stages of the disease they are owing to a request of the Governnot unable to work, yet, except as ment, Hemel-en-Aarde, a leper hoscared for by Christian charity, all pital in South Africa, became a mislepers, so far as the writer knows, sion station of the Moravians. i'his lead a pauper life. They become in was removed to Robben Island in various parts of India quite a commu- 1846 and placed in the charge of the nity and beg in groups. They resort church of England in 1867. Rev. Dr. Augustus Thompson, writing of to places most frequented that they this mission, says: "A less inviting may appeal to the benevolence of the field can hardly be imagined than this refuge of wasting sufferers, and mere passers-by by the exposure of their relics of humanity-deformed, cripdisgusting sores or helpless deform- pled and loathsome beyond expresity. They build for themselves some sion. For simple garden operations flimsy shelter by the roadside in In- one patient would supplement andia, whence they make their exit to other. A man who had no hands petition for the inevitable "bak- might be seen carrying on his back sheesh." Along the trunk roads, another who had lost his feet, but at the ferries, near holy places, who could drop seeds into the ground wOl'k among the lepers at qmb~l)a, with the member which was want- in the Punjab, where their last ing to his fellow, sufferer. report mentions the bapti5m of fif- The institution has a large space of tt-en of this class of pE'rsons. The gl'Ound enclosed with a high wall, and only one entrance, which was accomplished Dr. John Newton, .Tt-., strictly guarded. The leper who entered that gate might never return." labored among these poor sufferers Mr. Thompson says the mistake has for years and wrote a work on leprosy gone abroad that the missionaries which was published in England. who went into this leper enclosure His estimable wife, Mrs. Sarah Wigwere never allowed egress; that he fall Newton, conducted this work for went in there, as Father Damien did a season after her husband.'s death. to the island of Molokai, but this he contradicts positively. But there was At the time when the Moravians still quite sufficient self-denial re- handed over their leper work at Cape quired in the service rendered to these Town, South Africa, in 1867, the poor sufferers. Lord opened to them a' similar work The London Missionary Society has long conducted a leper asylum in in the Leper Home at JerusaJem. the Himalaya Mountains at Almora. which was founded by a Christian which we believe has usually about baroness. Froln its commencement 150, though at times we think as the missionaries for the hospital many as 300 inmates. These are not have been supplied by the Moravian necessarily restrained within the en- Church, and in 1880 they assumed its closure. They also marry and are directiol'l. In 1887 they erected a new gi"en in marriage among themselves. building, which accommodates about A little farther east, at Pithoragarh, twenty-five patients. is another asylum for lepers in charge of Methodist Episcopal missionaries In 1875 an independent societ.y was from the United States. Here an es- organizcd in England, styled "Mistimable Methodist brother, Rev. M. sions to Lepers in India," which B. Kirk, of Ohio, who was educated seeks to alleviate their sufferings by in Mount Union College, for some medical aid. It is at pl'esent carrying months before his death waited on on work at eighteen different centers these wretched sufferers. However and in connection with eight differloathsome their condition, that de- ent missionary societies. It seeks to voted servant of the Lord never utilize asylums already established shrank from ministering often per- and aid them with mean!:' to carryon sonally to their wants. It was while their work. It makes grants of money , collecting funds for a chapel for these for new asylums, and in some cases lepers that he was suddenly called to provldes entirely for the support of his reward. The chapel has since lepers. Mr. W. C. Bailey, a misbeen completed as a memorial of this sionary of the Church of Scotland, devoted servant of God, and on the was the founder of this organization. opening day, after the service, twelve It is at present carrying on work at lepers were baptized, thus raising the Kashmir, Rawal Pindee, Chamba, number of Christians in this institu- Sabathu, Dehra, Rurki, Almorah, tion to slxteen; and a new building Pithora, A~lahabad, Calcutta, and was ordered to accommodate twenty- other places and aids the American five more inmates. Presbyterian and Methodistmissiona- ries, and three of the principal mis- The American PresbytE'rmn Mis- sional'y sociE'ties of Great Britain, as sion has for many years QQl,lducted well as Gossner's Independent Mis- sion.
It must be gratifying to friends supporting this work that it is not only l!eIeVQ!ent, but evangelistic. The record of the Christian experi- with nine evangelic"l churches: Presbyterians, ence of many of these sufferers is two branches of Methodists, and Baptists. most affecting. Not all, but many of these who seem ." baptized unto Denominational lines bad been drawn rather death," enter bto most gracious closely about these churches.. They met one Christian life. One man in India, anothsr at union meetings once a year, on the being pitied on account of the loss of afternoons of the" Week of Prayer," but be- his eyes, said; "I have lost my eyes, yond that hardly knew one another in any way. but with the eye of faIth I have seen Probably it was noc realized that Christian the Lord Jesus, and shall soon go to union was really under discussion in the minis- Him." The testimony from South ter's meeting in the form of a proposal to invite Africa is similar; "Amongst the a pandenominational body of missionaries to poor suffp.rers in that lazar-house," work their will upon the city for a week. But writes one of the missionaries, they determined to invite the International Mis- "there are many dear souls who re- sionary Union to their city. A representative joice in the Lord their God and the meeting of the churches-a remarkable novelty assurance of a better world, and re- -was called, and proved of the same mind with lyingon their Saviour's merits watch the ministers; and in the preparations which their diseased tabernacles falling to all the churches shared together, there began to pieces in the hope of soon being with be the dawn ofa better day. Him in glory. It makes one Hhudder to visit the patients in their dwell- Contemporaneously with this undertaking, ings, such pitiable objects do they the pastors asked all the churches to unite in a present, and so offensi ve is the efflu- complete visitation Of the city for evangelizing via j yet when you enter into con- purposes, and obtained from them all a body of versation with them on the concern visitors, four to each hundred of each church. of their souls and find these poor As might be supposed, the public interest in cripples full of faith and joyful COI1- missions had not been on a much higher plane fidence in the Saviour's merits, it than that in Christian union. The invitation to makes you feel ashamed of your the missionaries was favored, perhaps as much . fastidiousness, for they exhibit only yom other considerations as from love for ' too often in their helplessness and Foreign Missions. And when the International .hopelessness the fun measure of that Union arrived, forty-five strong, the city was at other more dire leprosy of sin. They first disposed to feed them and sleep them cour- are often as repulsive morally as teously, and leave them to carryon their own physically. They need cleansing in meetings by themselves. the blood of Christ." But gradually the spiritthat animates mission- That this is a direct work of grace aries of thc Uross bAgan to make its impression. and of change of heart is abundantly People who dropped in at their meetings were proven by the testimony as to the greatly surprised at their earnestness. It so selfish sordidness and innate deprav- happened that the Union came at the hottest ity which so manifest themselves in time of the summer, and when the native mos- those not the subjects of these gra- quitoes were masters of the town; but people cious influence. who looked in found the missionaries so busy at their conferences, that they sounded their The International Missionary Union praises abroad. "These men and women," they said, "have not come here for a holiday; and the Revival at Bridgeton, N. J. they are doing good hard work studying the questions which concern them." The Upion be- REV. WILLIAM H. BELDElif, A. M. gan its sessions on Thursday, July 5; by Monday evening they began to be crowded, and from that BRIDGETON, New Jersey, was the first place time until adjournment on the 12th missions be- not a summer resort, which invited and enter- came the theme of the town. Tuesday evening tained the International Missionary Union. Re- was occupied by J. Hudsou Taylor, founder of snits can be traced from that meeting, among the Chiua Inland Mission, and Wednesday by the most recent of which has be~n a revival of Cyrus Hamlin, founder of Robert College of religion affecting the whole community. Bridge- Constantinople. The impression made by these ton is a mauufacturing cit;v 9f 12?OO(lj~h!lbitants, two mighty men of God, exceedingly different, but one in testimony to the power of God as dis- played in the missionary work, will never be forgotten in Bridgeton. They lifted Foreign Missions from being a H cause" to receive un- willing pennies or dollars, to a living and boly reality endeared to the hearts of awakeuing Christians. Not, of course, that all needed this advance, but as a change of the general public mind on this great theme, the International Mis-
1889.] THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
sionary Union bad its way witb tbe town. A affections and convictions, that when a8 Presinumber of young persons consecrated tbeir dent of onr Ministers' Association I' had to lives to tbe missionary work. New missionary make the parting address to Mr. Mills, my felsocieties began to be formed; and in tbe old low-pastors, with remarkable agreement, reones the subJect took thence forward a 'real quired me to include in my acknowledgement aspect nnknown before. of the divine work among us some careful refer- ence to the infiuence of the visit here In 1~88 of So spiritual an effect did not, naturally, stop the International Missionary Union. witb the revival of missions. The cburcbes bad enjoyed their work in commo)! of entertaining THE SIXTH AN,mAL SESSION OF THE INTERthe Union. The Ministers' Association had become a recognized and trusted organization. NATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION, as we have al- Plans for furtber work in common were ready announced. will be held in Binghampton, broacbed. The "Week of Prayer" found tbe N. Y.. July 5-12. The prosPect is ofa meeting of cburches in new sympathy with one another; great interest_ Important papers have already never before was there such a "Week" in been received from the outlook Committee in Bridgeton. At last the suggestionstook.hape; foreign parts. to invite Rev_B. Fay Mills, the evangelist. His first demand, of absolute fellowship of all the On the last day of the meeting special attenevangelical churches of the city, could not have tion will be given to aiding missionary candibeen complied with before those blessed days dates appointees and others inquiring as to of the Missionary Union; but now tbey could their duty regarding personal service abroad. and they were, and be came. Mr. Wilder, wbo has so successfuliy with others stirred the students of the country in this mat- We have just risen from bis two weeks visit. ter, will be present, and veteran missionaries of Six hundred persons bave signed his cards, say- almost all fields and churches will be there, with ing: .. I desire bencefortb to lead It Christian whom these persons can take council. Nothing life." The cburcbes bave called themselves for could be better for persons seeking light on this many weeks" The united cburches of Bridge- line of personal duty, than to spend the week ton;" and are studying now how to perpetuate with this noble band of returned missionaries, their harmony. Some of tbem bad been t""ns- and listen to their discussions of practical matformed from a conservatism wbich was threat- ters. ening their spiritual existence into a practical piety which is the wonder of tbe town. The Railroad certificates can be bought of any whole city has been shaken with· the power of ticket agent at point of starting on paying full the Holy Ghost, as it never was befor~. fare, and when countersigned by· secretary of the meeting the return ticket will be one·third It is a significant testimony to its place in our the usual mre. Tickets procurable on the 3d, and good tilIthe 14th of July.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D. D.
SUBJECTS for July: Islands of ea, in the Hawaiian group. This the Sea, Java, Greenland, Utah, crater is three miles in diameter, a Alaska, North American Indians level bottom with three cones rising and the Chinese and Japanese in from its center hundreds of feet high, America. and onl) of which, hom its ceaseless Java, which we select for this activity, is called Brahrna.
number, is the third island in area Though a Dutch colony, two native and first in importance of the Malay kingdoms were suffered to retain a archipelago, 666 miles long and from nominal existence under Dutch offi- 36 to 126 miles broad, with 50,000 cials, namely the dominions of the square miles of surface and a coast Senaan or Emperor of Surakarta and line of 1,400. It is shaped like Cuba the Sultan of Jokjokarta. The rest and about as large. The geological of the island is split up into twenty formation is highly volcanic, a range residences or provinces, ruled by of mountains traversing the central Dutch residents, six of which belong line from end to end with peaks to the country of the Sundese and reaching from 4,000 to 12,000 feet. the rest to that of the Javanese, the The most remarkable of these is Mt. two distinct nations comprised in the Yenger, whose crater is 1,000 feet be- native population. The Sundese hold low its summit and the most remark- the west end, are inferior both in able in the globe, except only Kilau- numbel' and civilization to the J avanese and speak a distinct language, ninth or tenth centul"y when the but both nations are Malayan. , They are docile and peaceable, so- J ains had ascendancy in Guzerat ·and ber and industrious. Crawfurd pronounced them the most straightfor- westel'll parts of India. ., ward and truthful of all Asiatic people. Java is densely populated, hav- In some respects Javanese civilizaing about 18,000,000 of people, and Buddhism still sways multitudes of tion is an advance upon that of Brit- Javanese. In the central district this story is told on stone: The famous ish Ind~a. The Dutch rule here dates ruins of Borobodo, or Bol'o Buddor, are among the most imposing re- from 1623, with five years interrupmains of religious structures. A pile of masonry, pyramidal in form, 525 tion. Batavia,on the northwest coast, feet squat'e, nine stories h;gh in the center, is covered with figures of is the capital and commercial depot, Buddha. To descdbe this extraordinary group of buildings, the temples with over 100;000 inhabitants. Moof Bramb~nam, mO'e exactly: the great temple is a square building 45 hammedanism is mixed up with feet square, 75 feet high, terminating upwards in an octagonal, straight- Buddhism and heathenism as the relined pyramid. On each face of this is a smaller temple of similar dimen- ligion of the island. Annually the sions, joined to it by corridors. The whole five thus constitute a cruci- natives go in crowds with priests up form building raised on a square base very elaborately ornamented. One the Bromok volcano to propitiate of the minor temples serves as a pOI'ch. Two hundred and thirty-nine with offerings the Fire Spirit. Cocoasmaller tempIes surround this central shrine. Twenty-eight of these stand nn ts, pineapples, rice, cakes, fruit, just beyond the square terrace of the central fane, eight of course standing coins, are cast into the crater. This on each side of the square, and each corner one counting for two sides; ceremony has probably been sugbeyond these 35 feet off comes a second square or court with 44, 12 on gested by the ten"Hic and fatal vola side; then comes a space 80 feet wide, with 6 more temples; then two canic outbreaks that have abounded. more rows o( temples, standing close, Java has near Batour a VaUey of back to back, 160 in numbel', forming another square, each face of which Death, of an oval shape and half a measures 525 feet. All thes~ 239 temples are similar, the lesser ones mile in circuit, in which the exhala- 12 feet square at base and 22 feet high, all richly sculptured and each tions of carbonic acid gas make imhaving a small square cell, within which originally was a cross-legged possible plant or animal life. It also figure of a Jaina saint or Buddhist image. The date assigned to these has its Poison Tree (antiaris macro- most remarkable monuments is the phylla), an ornament to the woods, but from the bark of which flow poison juices.
The Evangelical Mission in Java is in a very destitute condition. There are at most only about 4,GOO Chris- tians, a fact whIch reflects no glory on the Dutch rule and the Christi- anityof the Netherlands. The few luminous points in the meagre mis- sion history of Java, says Dr. 'War- neck, are the Watchmaker Emde in Surabaya, the Missionary J.ellesma, the newly-founded and nationally- aided institute at Depok, an " Oasis in the Desert," and the work of the Nethedands Missionary Society of Rotterdam among the Soudanese.
NEW GUINEA.
S. McFarlane, LL.D., has recently published a story of missionary labol's " Among the Canm'bals of New Gui- nea." It is published by the London Missionary Society. We advise any one who wishes to know what are both the difficulties and the triumphs
1889·1 THE lloN'lHLY OOlWER'l' Oli'1.USSIONS
— ofmissIDn,ary life among the worst eluding the immediate~y adjoining savages to read this book. We give islands, of 311,958 square miles. Con~ space to a brief resume of its· con- sequently its at'ea is about the same tents: as the united area of the Britisn Mr. MacFarlane first had experi- Islands with France, or the British ence of savage life on Lifa, a charm- Islands, Italy, Turkey in Europe and ing South Sea island. Greece. And this vast region has to Three months after his arrival, in be won to Christ and to humanity.
1859, he could preach to the people in What an object of holy ambition I their own tongue. The first years' of If the Christians of the nin~teenth danger, toil and loneliness were also century rose to a perception of .their years of great blessing, useful expe- duty they would follow the example rience and encouragement. Before of the Christians of the first, and he left, at the end of twelve years, count nothing that they possess their "a marvellous change had taken own if only they might acquire the place Il'om idolatry, cannibalism and glory of gathering the outcasts of constant wars to the worship of the New Guinea into the church of the true God, peaceful industry and a living God.
growing education. Schools and In their mission in New Guinea.
churches established throughout the they had to contend with difficulties island, and the New Testament and quite peculiar to the place; to sail in Psalms translated; the teachers' unknown and dangerous waters in seminary in good working order, order to reach the natives; to con- supplying native teachers and pas- tend with savages and cannibals, tors and pioneer evangelists; Euro- who regard strangers generally as pean stores established in different enemies to be killed, cooked and parts of the island, and the people eaten; to pass through sickly swamps not only paying for their books and and be exposed to deadly fevers in providing for their pastors, but also planting and superintending mission making a very handsome contribu- stations; to reduce the languages to tion to the London Missionary Soci- writing and translate portions of the ety to help to send the gospel to the Scl'iptures, school-books and hymn- heathen beyond." books into them; to battle with the In 1870 Mr. MacFarlane began a evil influences of abandoned sailors; mission in New Guinea, "largest, to guide the natives in making and darkest and most neglected island in administering laws, in developing the world." He laid the matter be- the resources of their country, in fore the students, native pastors and building houses, making roads, and, churches of Lira, and asked for vol- in fact, in everything connected with· unteers, giving them to understand their material as well as their spirit- the dangerous character of the ual progress. They opened up about climate and the savages. Every na- six hundred miles of coast line, tive pastor in the island and student gained the confidence of the natives in the seminary offered himself for and established sixty mission stations the' work! Four pastors and four along the coast. They formed six students were selected, and in July, churches, which contain an aggl'e- 1871, the party started for that great gate of between six and seven hun- land of cannibals. dred members, I'educed six of the New Guinea is larger than any languages or dialects to writing, and country III Europe except Russia. It translated portions of the New Tes- is 1,500 miles long and from 30 to tament, a school-book, catechism nearly 500 miles wide, containing an and hymn-book into each. They area of 303,241 square miles, or, in- have two institutions at work for the training of native pioneer evangelists ture's children the comforts and the and pastors: the Papuan Institute at decencies of humanized life, ex- Murray Island, in Papuan Gulf, con- claimed: "Oh, ye orators and phi- taining over fifty students; and the losophers who make the civilization institute at Port Moresby, containing of the species your dream, look to ten or twelve. Twenty-five have been Christian missionaries if you want to sent out from the former and eight see the men who will realize it! You from the latter as native pioneer may deck the theme with the praises teachers, and are located at stations of your unsubstantial eloquence; but in the interior, on the coast and on these are the men who are to accom- islands off the coast, and are doing plish the business! They are now excellent Christian work amongst risking every earthly comfort of ex- the people with whom, in many in- istence in the cause, while you sit in stances, their fathers used to fight, silken security and pour upon their As an illustra,tion of the change holy undertaking the cruelty of your from cannibalism to Christianity, scorn." These words were spoken in compare father and son in the fol- what seems a past age, the age when lowing passage: "The old chief the highest organs of literature Mamo was our friend all along, al- treated missionaries and their work though he had a weakn{'ss for cutting with contempt. The more than seven off the heads of his enemies, and de- decades that have passed since then clined to embrace Christianity' be- should satisfy the most rigid experI- cause its pr{'cepts forbade him this mental philosopher that the words of pleasure. The last time I saw him the preacher were words of tru th and (he died two or three years ago) he sobemess, and that the only power was sitting, as usual, cross-legged on that will redeem degraded nations is a mat in front of his house waiting the power of the gospel of Jesus to receive us, and looking as dirty Christ.
and as ugly, and as great a'savage, "There is a change seen even in as when I first saw him thirteen the appearance of all the natives of years before. He was getting too old New Guinea. They were a wild can- to pursue his favorite sport, skull- niballot a few years ago. One of the hunting. His son and successor is a natives spokea little English. Peat'se fine, tall, powerful man, who at- asked them if they eat man, and was tached himself to the teachers from answered, 'No. No eat man now; the first, and by whom he was edu- all follow missionary now.' In the cated. He has been for many years evening, at seven, a bell rang, and an earnest Christian and indefatiga. soon hymn-singing was heard; they ble local preacher." May we not say, were having evening prayers. You look on that picture and on this-the cannot realize it-savages, cannibals, savage cannibal skull-hunter, and the murderers-now seeking to worship loving, kind-hearted Christian, who God. It was strangely pleasing to is indefatigable in his labors to save hear an old hymn tune in such a both body and soul. Hear this, ye place," A New Guinean, preaching, who prate about the service of man 'I said: "The time has come for us to Where are Yl1ur missionaries ? Where be up and doing. Foreigners have are the savages converted into men brought us the gospel, many have and brothers of whom you can say, died of fever, several have been " These are our epistles"? Echo an- speared and tomahawked; now let swers, Where? us carry the gospel to other districts, Dr. Thomas Chalmers in 1812, after and if we die 'tiS well, for we die in describing the missionaries as ex- yhrist ; if we are murdered, 'tis well- tending among the wildest of na- 'ms carrying His name and love, and 'twill be for Him. Motu, let us do and sacl'ificed thousands of lives, it I" "He knows only a 'little, so Canada, with a larger proportion of vel'y little; yet he loves, and he is Indian population, has not spent a , willing to endure for Chl'ist. I saved dollar on such wars nor suffered that lad a few years ago from being from one such massac!'':l.
attacked, perhaps murdered, by his It is commonly supposed that the own people. Did I LeU you at Vab- Indians are rapidly disappeal'lng and ukori, neal' here, there are forty- almost extinct. This is a. great mis- three catechumens, and at Tuyuselei take. The total number was estimated fifty-six? The prayer of faith is be- by Schoolcraft in 1855 at 350,000. In ing answered. The greatest power Mexico there are at least 4.000,000, in of the mission-house is that monthly Central America 1,5@0,000, and in prayer-meeting. " South America 7,000,000.
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. The Puget Sound Indians have no THE question of the N. A. Indians literature. Hieroglyphic emblems and is too big to discuss in this limited signs and pictures take the place of space. Our Indian record is not an books. But, the exigencies of kade honor to us as a nation. Our gov- have created a sort of commercial ernment has made hundreds of trea- dialect, which, after a century, has ties with the redman, and seldom if largely displaced the many Indian eve~ kept them. Bishop Whipple dialects aB a vehicle of communica- asked scores of brave officel's if they tion. With only about 450 words in knew of one instance in which Indi- its vocabulary, it is capable, by into- ans were the first to break these nation and vocal inflection, of a wide treaties, and they Il.nswered, in every range of expression, and can be used case, "No." to impart gospel truth.
In 1828 we solemnly guaranteed to No more remarkable work has ever the Cherokees their lands forever. been done among any people than by Ten year later, at the request of Wm. Duncan in his Metlakhatla, Georgia, 18,000 of them were dl'iven the story of which has been so well from their homes and tilled lands told by Mr. Wellcome.
into an unknown wilderness. In Who in the United States shall an- 1876,700 Poncas were similarly robbed swer before God for the sad fact, that and exiled. In 1878 a remnant of in this second century of the life of the Cheyennes, driven to a new this mighty Republic there are still home, were compelled to attempt to 200,000 Indians unchristianized with- return, to avoid starvation, and were in its borders I It is stated that there pursued, captured, and imprisoned, are only eighty-one missionaries at until the chief and his wife escaped work among 184,000 Indians, or one tortnre by snicide. Foul' times in a miSSionary to 2,000 Indians; "17,000 century the Stockbridges and Dela- Navajoes whom Christianity has not wares have suffered the horrors of touched; 5,000 Apaches in Arizona "removaL" absolutely destitute' of Christian The manner in which we have, as light; 17,000 Indians in Washington a nation, paid our Indian debts, the Tel'ritory still heathen." In our In- violation of our express pledges, the dian Territory murder and crime 'are provocation of Indian wars, the mas- rampant, anditis impossible to obtain sacres to which our unfaithfulness justice, owing not only to wickedness a,nd injustice and cruelty have been of government officials, but to the the incitements, all these have come drunkenness and lawlessness of the up for a memorial before 9-od to call Indians. Driven from home by land- down His wrath. While 'Ye have grabbers, they are the victims of the spent $500,000,000 upon Indian wal'S, very officials to whom they look: tor protection, whose character is so vi- says Mr. Egerton Young, missionary orthe Cancious that the Indians say: "If this ada Methodist Church there, .. a number· of Inis civilization and Christianity we do dians came into my room, noiselessly, aCter their not want them." In the southwest- fashion, so that the room was filled with them before I knew it. When I became aware of ern part of Indian Territory is a their presence I asked whence they were.
much more neglected tribe, number- • From a journey of fourteen nights,' they reing about 1900, living in teepees and plied; for they reckon distance by the number tents. They have had the worst of of nights they are delayed to sleep. • We have got the Kessenaychen (the Great Book), but we agents since the administrations of don't understand it, although we can read it.' I Grant and Hayes, whose bad exam- thought they were joking, for the Indians canple has done much to debauch and not read unless some one has taught them, and discourage them. One of these a- I knew from their accoont they must live far away from any missionary, but I asked them: gents is said to have stolen $14,000 'From what missionary did you learn f' • We from these Kiowas and Comanches. never saw a missionary nor a teacher.' I took There is a government school, to down from my shelf our Bible, printed in the beautiful syllabic character for the Cree lanwhich only about fifty Kiowa chil- guage, and opened to Genesis; they read it with dren are admitted, when there· are ease and corr~ctness. I turned the pages and nearly 400 anxious to be educated. they read in many places. I was amazed, and asked them again where they lived. They de· '·The Kiowa,s are eager to lea.rn agricul- scribed it to me; it was far away, north of tural arts aud housekeeping. aud some have Hodson's Bay, hundreds of miles from any mis· taken up land and are trying to improve sionary. Their honting-gronnds, it seems, adtheir methods of tilling it. One woman join those ofsome Christian Indians-they cover about fifty years of age. visited a returned great distances in huuting-and, continued my student of the Carlisle school and saw the visitors, •We vislte~ your Indians and found famliy hving in a house with land and us- that they had the K688enaychen. We got them ing agrICultural implements and living a to read it and then to teach it to us ; and we CIvilized life. She returned home. sold two were so pleased with it that we all learned to horses and a mule. bought a set of harness. read it during the Winter.' Every soul in a a plow. hoes. several thousand feet of wire village of three hundred population had thus fence, and went to work with her two actually learned to read the Bible without ever daughters. They went into the woods, cut having seen auy white teacher; and having rails, and fenced in fifteen acres, not know- providentially come into possession of some ing the use of the wire which they had pur- copies that happened to be in the hands of the chased; neither did they know the use of Hudsou'~ Bay Company's agent, these heathen the tools after obtaining them, but they put Indians had journeyed through the snows fourup a log cabin and raised a fine crop of po- teen nights' distance that to them might be tatoes and melons. While the woman was given instruction in the Book they had thus a.t work a rough man from the Texas border learned to love." was riding by and sa.w her, He dismounted and asked her what she was doiug, and Ohinese in America. hearing of her ambitions, showed her the use of the harness and plough, and from The new Chinese temple, the second Chinese that time she has steadily improved in cir- place of worship in America, was dedicated in cumstances and surroundings." Mr. Her- New York, January 7, and Joss duly installed bert Welch says: .. The two wants of the in his new quarters. The unique dedicatory Indians are tools alld schools.•, services were conducted by the Chairman of the Among the Indians, as among the Chinese Mnnicipal CounCil, acting High Priest ·Africans, the rum traffic has intro- of Joss. Woug Siu Nam and Ah Hi, both being duced evils that actually more than well·to-do merchants of Mott street, and acting as assistant priests. and the Chinese Council, in overbalance aU that thus far Chris- full Mandarin costume, attended. Among the tianity has accomplished for their curious proceedings were the carrying of a big good. The New York TribuniJ, re- roasted pig, painted and decorated, and many ferring to the illegally licensed liquor chickens, pigeons. cakes, etc., to Joss.
A Chinese gambling room was lately raided shops of Alaska, says: by the police. The Chinese when brought be- "The result of the immunity to these grog fore the poliee eourt contended that they were shops is s great spread of immorality among but imitators of the best American society in the natives who will sell their offspring or the National Capital. The keeper of the room, wives for whiskey." Kwong Chong Lee, said he had heard of the "At Norway House, on a certain occasion," clubs incorporated by " the Mellcan man," who
1889·1 ];:i)I'f'OIUAL
can play poker and not be molested, and, ac- the children. The preachllr on the Sahllath cording to his statement, the "Celestials' Pleas- afternoon will often consecrate the elements- . ure Club" meets at .the house raided. He they administer the sacrament every Sabbathshowed Policeman Costello a book in which then preach a sermon, retiring immediately were written the names of the officers of the afterwllrd to bet on a horse race that takes club. The incorporation purported to have place the same afternoon. Last :week I heard been sworn to before Justice Clark. The Chi- one of the elders say in the pulpit, at one of their nese on their arrival at the police station were conferences, that he would as soon have his taken into the sitting room to the rear of the children read Dickens's works as the Bible. office, where there was a pack of cards on the table. Some of them evidently thought they The missionaries sent into" the world" to ' had struck another Chinese joint, fOt' one ofthem preach" the gospel" are often renegades ofthe picked npthe cards and started a game of poker, wildest nature and lowest character, who are but the police interfered before much progress sent ont to see the world. I know of several was made iu the game. A curious commentary young fellows of the higher classes, however, is all this on morals among certain Americans. who were sent" on missions" to Europe sim- ply to procure better edncations. One of them, Morman Morality. The term morality as the son of an nnderground apostle, did the Holy known among the Christians of the world, is an Land in that way; while another, the son of a nnknown term among the Latter Day Saints- German professor, simply went as a guide Mormons. Upon becoming a Mormon no one is through Switzerland for a party of Salt Lake required to lay aside his cupidity, evil heart, young blood. From a town to Southern Utah foul month or beer bottle. A Latter Day Saint there w,ent in 1886 a young man to Nebraska on is not known from other men by the testimony a missiou. He is one of the most notorious of a spotless life. Many a father sits down to gamblers in the whole country, and the night the dtnner table, asks a blessing, and before the before he left lie won a team of horses and a meal Is over is cursing and sweartng at one of wagon at the gambling table. Of such is the kingdom of the Mormons.
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Strange Doctrine. judged fairly in isolation from their surroundings. The text is often ex- .. Da. PIERSON is reported as saying' I be- plained by the context. but above all lieve that, all the time. men and women are by the drift and tenor of a man's going up to heaven from heathen lands, who whole book of life and testimony. never heard of Christ.' Such a hope would Whatevertruth lies back of the above afford as grateful exhilaration to old mis- professed" quotation" is connected sionaries, whose work is almost done, as to with the teaching of a class in the Y. Dr. pierson-if it can be shown to rest upon M. C. A. Hall of Philadelphia, where a solid foundation. •Take the case of Cor- on Saturday at 4 P. M. from 500 to nelius,' says Dr. Pierson. 'He was a, 1,200 of the most earnest and evanheathen; he had not heard of Christ; and gelical Sunday-school teachers and yet his prayers and his alms came up before adult disciples of the city gather. God. Do you believe that Cornelius would And it may be sufficient to say that have been lost if he had died before he saw whatever was said by the writer, Peter?' I have been face to face with the who has the honorto lead the studies races of Bui-ma for thirty-five years, and of that great class, it awakened no have not yet fonnd a Cornelius, nor have I murmur of disapprobation. So met or heard of a missionary who has found much for the orthodoxy of the a Cornelius among any af the heathen races teacher and of the class. of Asia. It is true that I have found some,· to my great joy, who somewhat resembled But as to the sentiment itself. We Cornelius; but it was soon found in every were studying Matthew xxv. and case that the person had read and pondered the last judgment. The question a ChristIan tract, or a portion of God's arose as to the grounds of final conword." demnation. And one of the princi- ples affirmed from Scripture was that Such paragraphs as this have been no man is held accountable except flying about in the newspapers. We for the light he has. And again, do not often consider it worth while that if the measure of knowledge to chase up our" good name," be- lieving that a reputation which needs much looking after is. not worth looking after-no man's utterances, whether of tongue 01' pen, can be
NOTES
given him is improved, he will not found in the depths of the jungle be condemned. ,Those principles we who had fur years been living in a regard as self-convincing, like axi- state of discontent with his own oms. There is no question in our ancestral faIth, and had been led in mind as to the condemnation of the a strange way to trust to some other heathen world. The first chapter of plan of salvation, of which till then Romans settles that. But it settles he had never had distinct informa- also the grounds of their being tion. Dr. Nevius of Chefoo has just "without excuse." "They held written of Yang-yin-shin, whom he down the truth in unrighteousness," met in a market town of China, and "they did not like to retain God in who, as soon as he heard the gospel their knowledge," " when they said, "This is the very truth Iwant, knew God they glorified Him not as this is what I have been waiting for God." for twenty years. I have been earn- estly seeking for light and guidance, Now it follows from the same inex- but without success. This is the orable Logicthatif a heathen man does very truth that meets and supplies use thelightandknowledgegiven him my want." And his embrace of the hewillnotbejudgedguilty. Weven- tru1tl was immediate. He proved tured to say to those teachers, that If himself one of God's elect by the God saw any man in a pagan land avidity with which he immediately . honestly endea..voring to live up to welcomed redemptive truth. the light he had, he would if neces- sary send to that man an angel as he Now, we have no sympathy with did to Cornelius. We did affirm that universalism, restorationism, second it was not conceivable that if Cor- probation, post-mortem opportunity, nelius had died before Peter reached preaching to spirits in prison, or any him, he whose "prayers and alms other of the hundred modern extra- came up before God" with accept- scriptural expedients to get men ance, "for a memol"ial," would have saved without compliance with the been driven into outer and eternal terms of the gospel within the limits darkness. And we did also venture of the life-time. But no man is com- to say that there may be those who petent to affirm that it is impossible out of every nation go up from time for any heathen man to be saved to time to a saved state, exceptions without the knowledge of the historic to the great mass of the heathen, as Christ. The grace of God is wider proofs that there is no fatality about than our creeds or our philosophy. this wholesale perdition, and alil jus- The love of God is broader than our tifying the condemnation of the rest. narrow theology, Arminius did not This is scarcely an article of faith, know everything, nor Calvin either. for it is not revealed. Yet we cannot And if O'u:f; of every nation some shall but feel that "in every nation he join the redeemed, who, never having that feareth God and worketh right- heard of Christ as a historic person, eousness is accepted with Him," and have been led and taught of God's that in some mysterious way, un- Spirit to rest upon a method of sal- known to us, God may lead a. poor vation only dimly revealed to their pagan who is feeling after Him if yearning souls, not only will God's haply he may find him, to rest upon justice and grace be vindicated and the merit of a mediator, of whom as glorified, but the condemnation of a historic personage he has never aU other lost heathen will be maqe heard. to appear consistent with human freedom and responsibility. While A most beloved missionary in the we suggest this relief to the dark Orient has told us of a white-haired picture of the wOl'ld's condition and and venerable patriarch whom he
EDITORIAL
prospects, it must be remembered paper; I beg leave to quote one par- that, as a practical question of duty, agraph giving my views: this hope does not affect the respon- .. Evangelization-the proclaiming of the good sibilityof the church. It still re- news of salvation to all who are ignorant oC a mains true that without the gospel Saviour's love and intereession-'-is our part in proclaimed among them by believers. the Divine economy of redemption, on whieh is conditioned the conversion of men by the Holy the vast multitude of the heathen Spirit. The work includes the Christian colwill actually perish. This we cannot lege and seminary for the education of a native but believe. While some may be agency, since every country must be evangelized speculating as to the future of those by its own sons, duly prepared by divine grace, through miSSionary instruction and example; who die unsaved, we prefer to give and it includes a Christian literature for the demen the gospel here and now, assured velopment and nurture of Christian life and on the authority of God that "it is eharacter in new-born souls; but more than all else, it includes the preaching of' the word.
the power of God unto salvation to • How shall they believe in Him of whom they – everyone that believeth." have not heard, and how shall they hear with- A.T.P. out a preacher, and how shall they preach THE editors are more and more except they be sentf' No miraculous power is to print the Scriptures and scatter them broad- cast among the tribes of men. No voice from satisfied that the views presented in heaven is to proclaim the message of Ufe in the the leading article of the May num- ear of assembled mnltitudes. This work has ber, on the "Mission and Commis- been committed to the church. The final glory sion of the Church," are not only is not promised till the gospel has been preached for a witness to all nations. The way must be unassailable, but fundamen tal to a prepared for the coming of the Lord, for those right conception of our work and its grander workings of the Spirit, which have success. We venture to print a let- been the hope and the joy of the people of God ter from one of the greatest of the in all the ages, when Christian institutions shall cover the earth, and Ch"istiau homes shall be leaders of the missionary host. the common heritage of all the children of DEAR DR. PIERSON :-1n the May men." number of the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, 1 read with much Grateful for your valuable services interest your editorial on the matter in your present field of labor as conof "evangelization" as distinguished nected with the progress of the kingfrom "conversion" in the foreign dom of God. field. 1 was very glad to see the article, as 1 hope it will correct a good Very sincerely yours. N. G. CLARK.
BOSTON, May 10,1889.
deal of improper lan~uage, which THE HELL GA'fE EXPLOSION of Oc- we hear in the pulpit and through tober 10, 1884, caused the most in- the press. 1 have for years been tense excitement in New York City.
very careful never to speak of the The Brooklyn Bridge was crowded, conversion of men as in any sense a every available space on the house- human work. That is the preroga- tops, the horse cars, the river banks; tive of the Holy Spirit. Evangeliza- all the world was on the streets. The tion is our work; when that work is explosion took place at 11.13 o'clock well done we may hope and pray for A.M., and the progress of the vibra- the conversion of men. Of that the tion was found to be' 1,700 feet per Holy Spirit will have all the honor. second. There was great fear that As long ago as at the annual meet- the shock might cause disaster to the ing of the American Board, in 1877, foundations of buildings, and even I presented a paper entitled" Claims the towers of the East River Bridge.
of the Un-evangelized," in which I Just before 11 o'clock a small band endeavored to set forth the truth on of engineers stood about a small bat- this subject. I should be glad to terynear the Astoria Ferry slip, with call your attention to the entire General Newton, theil'chief, who frequently looked at his watch. At revolutionary. He would have m'i~ 11.12 precisely, a baby's hand was laid upon the little key of the bat- sionaries go out without purse ,Ii# tery and instantly 13,286 dynamite scrip, without human patronltgeQl" cartridges, protruding from as many dependence, without stated salary,Ol' holes in the mine, exploded, and a settled habitation, precisely as did second later the 240,000 pounds of those primitive disciples. With l'ackarock, packed bacl~ of the car- many of Mr. Baldwin's principles and tridges. Flood Rock was blasted sentiments we confess ourselves in away. The report was not loud, but very hearty accord, while we feel a second before it was heard a great confident that he has carried those mass of foam white as snow shot principles to the extreme of applicainto the air 200 feet, and fell back in tion. wild confusion to meet new upheavals. Great masses of rock were We believe that there are some flung upwards in a giant shower, but truths which belong to the realm only seen here and there through a not of obligation, but of privilege• mountain of shining foam. The elec- .. He that is able to receivli}t, let him tric current moved over a single wire receive it." And to all Mr. Baldwin's beneath the river to a heavy bichro- papers we have one answer-a scripmate battery on the rock, which dif- tural one; it is found in 1Corinthians fused the current through twenty- ix.,3 to 19. Paul, to those who critfour independent circuits, the ends ically examine His course, insists of those wires being bridged and upon certain rights, while at the joined by a fine platinum wire. Big same time he waives them. To rewaves were driven shoreward, and duce all the self-denials of a devoted vessels rocked wildly to and fro. The life to the level of cold duty and newater settled slowly, yellowish in cessity robs them of theil' beauty. hue, and emitting an odor of car- But when a life is lived in peculiar bonic acid gas. The crowd on land closeness of faith and fellowship, and river cheered lustily and waved leaning absolutely on God, and votheir hats and handkerchiefs, while luntarily choosing to have no interthe steamers whistled their salute. mediate dependence on man, we con- The channel was deepened from five fess there is about it a sublimity and feet to five fathoms. What an illus- beauty that are without a rival. tration of the work of God in mis- SIOns, long undermining great sys- A.T.P. tems which some day shall suddenly upheave and disappear.-A. T. P. REV. GEORGE STOTT, of the China Island Mission, fell asleep at Cannes, OUR friend and correspondent, Rev. April 21, 1889, aged 54. He and his E. F. Baldwin, of Mogador, Morocco, beloved wife were the companions has been furnishing a series of letters of Drs. Gordon and Pierson on their to The Christian (London) on "The tour of missions in Scotland in 1888, Question of the Hour-Foreign Mis· and Mr. Stott was one of the lovelisions." These remarkable papers est disciples we ever knew. He had take Matthew x., etc., as the basis of for years had but one leg, but he did all foreign mission work. Mr. Bald- as much work as most !pen with two. For some time he had been troubled with his lungs and a complication of diseases.-A. T. P.
win regards our Lord's instructions THERE was recently held the great to the twelve and the seventy as per- centennial of Wasl~ington's Inaugumanent and authoritative guides in ral Oath. No such celebration has the work of evangelization. His po- eyer been seen on American soil, but sition,is of course both radical and it may be doubted whether any spec-
1889.J ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND
tacle equally disgrltceful with the utterly inadequate; but ample means are EaIl at the Academy of Mu~ic ever at the disposal of our 75,000 Baptist breth disgraced and dishonored such a fes- ren iu the Dominion of Canada; tive occasion. What a contrast between the morning service of wor- That to every 50.000 of the population of ship at St; Paul's and the evening this land one missionary and fifty native worship of the world, the flesh, the Christian helpers are the least possible devil and the drink demon I number of evangelizing a.gents necessary; The Speedy Eva.ngeliza.tion of the Te- That nntil the country is thoroughly lugu People. evangelized, the home churches must pro- vide the support of missionaries and the AT the Thirteenth Annual Cana- higher traiuing of native agents, leaving to dian Baptist Missionary Conference, the Christians of this land the support of in Bimlipatam, India, January, their own pastors and teachers. 1889, the following resolutions were adopted: Therefore we now urge upon the home churches the pressing necessity of at once That the commission of our Lord Jesus grappling with this work by sending out Christ means that this generation or Chris- immediately fifty-two men. and additional tians in the world is commanded to give the lady·missionaries as the work demands' gospel to this generation of heathen; and providing for the consequent extension of the evangelizing agencies; That the one thousand million who are in spiritual darkness. the three millions of We will impress more fully upon the Telugus dependent on us for the Bread of native churches their responsibility in this life. are a share proportionate to the num- work; ber of our brethren in the Canadian Baptist churches; We request both the hotne and native churches to unite with us in steadfast and That for the evangelization of these continued prayer to the God of Missions, for people, the means at present employed are a large output of laborers into this His har- vest field; for an abundant out-pouring of His Holy Spirit, that the workers be filled with power, and their hearers bowed with conviction; and for the speedy triumph of the cause of Christ throughout the world.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
Wesleyan Methodist Mission (English) of a native minister, who seized the oppor- in the Mysore District, Madras, India. tunity to dwell upon the spiritual life of Christianity. Another most important and STATISTICS FOR 1888. useful work is that accomplished by the temperance societies• ., .,riJ cO …;. .; ';' …;. '" ., " ''".""", """ . " ." ~".'" t"": . :5 " " '" 6 ss ::iiij '-·'5§Io~;"w:si ~~''E;§"0~;::'· oZ.,~~…"..,;..~£,<,:.:;~rQ.t~";I.t0.'!,-'Ij'l.a<,.=8l~3.0!:.,lI. ~ "~ ~ .; ",!l .0 The North India Oonferenoe of the Meth- .; c III 0 odist Episoopal Ohuroh. S 'i:l THIS conference met at Bareilly on the 9th .; ~z January under the presidency of Bishop ~ Thoburn. General delight was expressed " .s 'r::-" " '" <J at the bishop'S presence, because his ea.rli- 'a 0 .; .; ~ '0 est field of labor was North of India. The ~ .<:I 0 following table indicates the position of the 0 " ~ rIl '0 Q) rIl work: ~ 0 0 " :g ai S '0 S -" -oj rIl ai .cI rIl '" Q) rIl Eo< E-I u1i – – – – – – – —- – – 84042 912 109 28 1,068 136 8,621 24 1.030 THE field covered by this mission is larger DEPARTMENT. Increa.se than Scotland, and has a populatiou of over Total. on 4,000,000. Except Mysore and Bengalore, there are no large cities. the headquarters Year. of the different districts being towns of about 10,000 inhabitants. Among the most Church Members………… 7,944 1,924 important phases of the work is that among Nat. Christian Community. 10.828 1,602 the Kolar gold fields. The most effectual Baptisms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,952* evangelistic work is accomplished at the Sunday-schools…………. ' 703 520 time of the idol festivals, which are univer- Sunday-school Scholars,… 26,585 109 sal holidays. One special instance is noted 2,672 where a quarrel between two rival idols resulted in marked attentIon to the preaching *Of these 1,201 are adults.
That is a grand record for a year's work.
In the day schools there are 16,000 pupils, 5,000 of whom are girls, and over 3,000 Chris- tians. Deaconesses' Homes are to be openeO at Mathra and Lucknow. Bengal Mission of the Methodist special lecturers, one American on physi_ Episoopal Ohuroh. ology and sanitation, and two native on methods of theory and practice of mission REpORT for 1888. See Statistics Page 314 work. In the theological department there MISSIONARY REVIEW for April. are 37 students, and in the normal depart- ment 30 students. The course of training The reports of the presiding elders of the includes specially Bible study, togetherwlth four districts, Ajmere, Burmsh, Calcntta and practical instructions in evangelistic work. Mussoorle, bring very forcibly before the reader The classics are those of the country, though the need of the great work. In some places, occasionally Greek and Hebrew are taught where there was urgent need of advance and increased elfort, the word came to retrench, and General Synod Evangelical Lutheran the problem became a serious one how to hold the ground already occupied. The laying of Mission in India. Baptized in 1888 by: the corner stone of the J abulpore Mission buildings brought some grateful words from Rev. E. Unangst { Adults, 311 the chief commissioner, Mr. A. Mackenzie, Chtlctre:1, 318 C. S. The times have greatly changed in India 629 since the day when the first American mission- { Adults, 11 aries were peremptorily ordered out of the Rev. L. B. Wolf, Children, 14 country. At pr.esent there are no warmer sup- 25 porters of their work than mallY of the oftlcials { Adults, 140 of the Indian Government. Rev. B. John, Children, 271 411 Bareilly Theologioal Seminary of the Adults, 9} Methodist Episcopal Mission, N ol'th { Rev. M. Nathaniel, Children, 117 India. 216 REPORT for 1888 shows two missionary professors, with six native assistants and three Total, 1,281 These statistics show that our work here is a graud success. Who will come to help to carry it on ?
Malayalam Mission, Travancore, India..
LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, COMMENCED 1805. STATISTICS FOR 1888• .; ..",; ..",; ….,.;. .; ….;, .; M …., . """…. ~ ….;, "tS.~ ",.c:I ~ .c:I "o· """".c:I -;; .; .; oj't:l ..;.0.:.,:, .,0 0 "oj A ., …. ~ oj ~ 't:I oj "'>< "0 ~" – "'"0 " o";o;f!j oj ~ "oj ..c."".:,I "E-o M 'a0 0 .c:I o0.j..", "",Il< ~Il) .c:I ".o~ j o "0 "…. "ee ",.c:I 0 r:0n .~…, o~ …. 00 't:I.~ 0 bo 0 "..q, ' " "g..q zoj 0 .c:I 0 ;;: o,-.;!";l: 0 "0 00 0 — —- ———————- —- — 6 6 19 213 1163 266 44.633 5,356 g56 295 13.229 27.657 Trevandrum station, including the city those sold by the colporteur Bible women and with a population of 57,611, and the district, at the depot. covering 632 square miles, with a population of 253,280, has 48 congregations with 1,200 The Medical work Includes 1 MiSSionary, 9 church members, 7,719 adherents, 59 schools Medical Evangelists in charge of Dispensaries, and 1,712 scholars, new adherents 584. 2 Dispensers, 1 Evangelist, 1 Catechist, 1 Bible woman, 1 Colperteur. The patients included Among the chief features of the work are 10,503 Protestants, 2,694 Roman Catholics, 13,- Gospel lectnres to caste Hindoos and 930 Heathens, 530 Mohammedans. others; open.air preaching and private conversation with enquirers; dissemina.- Zenana Work in India.-The Zenana Mistion of Scriptnres, religious books and sionarv Society of the Church of England tracts. reports that in 1888 it had 106 missionaries in the home connection, 189 Bible-women, The chief hindrance is from the high caste and 349 native teachers. Under this mis- Hindoos, alarmed for the safety of their sionaryforce 3,118 houses have been visited traditional religious usages, and hostile to in which there are 2,797 pupils. This method the low cast people who are glad to come of reaching the women of India is proving to the preaching, so that care has to be taken successful, and those who could not possinot to open more places of worship than can be bly be brought together in any public aseared for. 1,439 Scripture portions, chiefly sembly are glad to welcome Ilo Christia.n Gospels, were sold by the preachers, besides teacher in the home, United Ohuroh of Ohrist in Japan.
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT, 1888.
~..".,.. STATISTICS.
9o · MISSIONA.RIES, ! . .n..; as 0"""0i''."-" FOREIGN. " I '" '""§ Sil .n (!)~t ~al .. Sl" ,!.-~ "CIS000"O-, "M D.S ~ ~" .; 6 ;;" z"'''….. f ~.~~,!:,g..= '" – <S»l § o§o.Jd3'fi ,.,~"Qg-.".:a2'e0dgen-j ~ .; .; rJ2 ~~() – – ''"" – – 0 0 Po< ,; ."8o"s' o Po< zg ".d – – – – .S :c ~ ,; PPo< " !l ~ :~:;: ~ I: ~ 44 ~ rJ2 0 8 rJ2 411 : ~ ~ "~ —— 0 -rJ2- 1$:,;;00 8,690 1,831 80 24 2,260 4,000 39 38 36 THE whole report is one of encouragement Missionary Society are calling for men and and hope. An increase for the remaining twelve money to enter the doors open on every side. years of the century similar to that of the past The great desire i8 to increase the power of the year would give for 1900 a membership of 144,- union by the addition of the Congregational 000, a token of the evangelization of this great churches, which will nearly double the effectempire. ive force of the union, adding to it 45 churches with 7,093 members. With such a compact Several more churches have become self-sup- body of Christian workers, animated by such a porting, and it is a question whether many of those still receiving aid are not hurt more than spirit of self-consecration and earnest purpose they are helped. The principle laid down is to work for Christ; there is no obstacle too tbat any church of a hundred members should great. In union is strength. We earnestly be entirely self·reliant. The chief growth is in hope that there will be nothing done to kamper the chnrches, but the fields on every hand are or hinder that union. white to the harvest, aud the native Home -~– Statistios of the Egyptian Mission. (Frbm 1865 to 1887.) ESTABLISHED IN 1854. 1865. 1870. 1875. 1880. 1887.
—-.——-_._-.—————- Ordained Missionaries…………………………. . 8 7 8 8 11 Unmarried Female Missionaries……………….. . 3 3 7 8 10 Native Pastors…………………… , …………. .. 1 3 6 10 Native Licentiates…………………………….. . 5 Organized Congre:oations……………………… . 1 3 8 12 7 3 24 Stations Occupied ……………………………. .. 5 10 6 48 21 85 Communicants …………………………. , …… .. 79 237 676 1,036 2,307 Average Sabbath Attendance ………………….. . 125 513 1,133 1,837 4,747 Pupils in Sabbath-schools…………………….. .. 236 658 1,494 4,438 Number of Schools…………………………….. . 5 49 82 8 23 Pupils in Schools ………………………………. . 815 520 1,040 2,219 5,601 Books Distributed (volumes) …………………… . ? 5,506 1l,8PO 25,534 33,609 $655 $797 $4,863 $13,083 Tuition Fees…. :………………………………. . 1,037 2,795 5,541 7,815 Proceeds from Sale of Books……………………. . Totals paid by Nat's for Prc'h'g., Schools and Books 2,788 4,840 14,986 27,173 Baptist Foreign Missionary Society of The Woman's Baptist ForeIgn Mis.ionary Ontario and Quebec. Societies of Ontario and of East Ontario and Quebec report for their Zenana work MISSION FIELD, TELUGUS, MADRAS, INDIA. expenses additional to the sums paid to the General Society of $2,315.32. STATISTICS.-TwENTY-SECOND ANNUAL RE- The work of the Societies has been ham· PORT, 1888. pered by changes necessitated throughsick- ness and retirement of some from the field. …. " . ".- " " … ;1ui't:! .u..i .n .u.,i Yet they go on their way with good cour- age, "300,000 sonls with a single missionary, :s .-" . " " <II"d~~.~~~c.'g..",.:. 't:!.n ..e- .n .; ::l ::l and he 35 miles distant," calls for help• .':~-t:l:Q."!c~) '0 " " A::l'~" ~~ "'~ Ci~ ~… ."c ~ ~ The Leper House at Jerusalem, 1888. "~ 0 't~::!:ol 80 :te:l'Ow :J .d ~ ';":; The Seventeenth Annual Report of this Insti- Ci'~ E-< tution, under the care of the 1I0ravian Society, ",.- S.:!i 0 "rJ2 ".O..r "S shows an e'lCpenditnre of £435-3-0, $2,176. The Sil new asylum, built at a total cost of about ~dl ~, S $21,C-00, and unencumbered by any debt, has 19 inmates, 13 males and 6 females, 8 Christians Sil ~::. <= 0 and 11 Moslems.· Three died during the year, _. — — — — — — — – 0 aU haviug the Christian hope. 0 0 4 5 4 4 5 46 40 40 13 1.947 Increase from collections, legacies, etc ………………………….$14,67648 Received from Woman's Societies (less $325 returned).. .. .. .. .. .. .. • 4,605 Do 'l,'ota.l income …………… $19,281 48
Missions in the Dutch East-Indian
From the latest reports received during the year 1888, prepared jor THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD by Rev. N. D. Schuurmans, Haarlem, HoUand.
Name of the So- Stations. Receipts European Native As- Adherents. Schools. Scholars. during the ciety. Missionaries -s-i s t-a n-t s . – -l-as-t y-ea-r.- Notes. 8.- 74.- — – – – – – The Netherland ModjowarnQ-Java. 5,me, (on Ja- 135 8,472 on Java $37,706 In the Minahassa (Celebes) are a great . .(founded in the Kendal-pajak, llilissional'Y Unlun Kediri, h The number va) 221 (be. and Celebes; many native churches (communions) for- year 1797 at Rot- ~~:~b~~~Cele~~s. teachers and longing to of Savoo the merly founded by the missionaries of the lterdam). catechists the resort of N. M. S., now under the pastorshlp of Euro- Tanawan~ko .. in the lIiina- Seba (Savoo) number is pean associate preachers, who in connec- hasia prov- not known. tion with the Dutch Protestant Church in Seba-8avoo. inee is 115. Neth. India and under pay of the Dutch Government, yet greatly act asmissionaries for the propagation of the gospel,. Thenum- ber of native Christians is reported abont 120.000 souls. Notwithstanding two mission- aries. properly so-called, are at work in the niinahassa, the one is placed at the head of a training school for native assistan ts, the other occupied witha printing press for the sake of the missions on this Island. – —– .. Missionary Socie- Cheribou, The Netherland nieester-Cornelis-Ja va 7 24 874 11 146 $17,846 Of the 874 adherents 251 may partake of .. ty II. (founded in Indramaju, .. ,he year 1858 at niadjalengka, the Holy Communion.
. Rotterdam). . Sukabumi. Sumedang, .. 1'jiandjoor, .. Pangharepan, . Buitenzorg, —– —- ———- –~~— This year (1889) one Missionary more will Foreign Mission Batavia-Java. 3 6 200 4 224 $8,000 c f the Christian Surbaga, U be sent to Sumba.
Reformed Church Melolo and Cabernero, in the Netherlan<ls Sumba. (founded tn the ear 1860 at Leyen.) – – – – – – 125 Missions Church Salatiga-Java.. 6 8 500 5 $1,892 Only one missionary is sent by tbe Erme a t Ermeloo (found- 'Vonoredjo. ,. (during 1887.) 100 Mission; the other by the Neukinchan Mission. which are united on Java. under .. e d in the year Klampok, the name of h Salati;;a Mis8ion."
1856 at Ermeloo.) Kali<lJeret, ..
.. Tjem~h,
Un- Mergoredjo-Java. 3 16 491 5 200 I $8,479 The three old missionaries, thonlth
ion, for the propa- Pakanteu-Sumatra. (during 1887). directly on the mission field, are yet occugation of the gos- pied wi th working for the missionar~ cause; pel in the Dutch the first by translating the Bible lDto the colonies (founded Javanese language, the second by means of in the year 1847 at writmg, the third by preaching (Reise- Amsterdam). 1——— —– —— —- – – – – – '- – – -…- – $2,127 prediger.) Dutch Lutheran Pulo Tel;o. 2 This mission but just begun.
Society for Home Batuv Islands.
and Foreign Mis- sions (founded in the year 1882 at Amsterdam).
Java Comi te Batavia-Java. (2 on Java. 13 on Java. 115 3 ..t200 $11,911 Missionary I. Esser, of Bondawosso. is at 5 80, present in Holland for the translation (branch of the So- Bondowossa" 1 all Sum",-.J 011 Suma- 450 of the Bible (New 'l'estament) into the Maciety for Home Uta Rimbaru-Suma- tra). tl'a.) durese language. and Foreign Mis– tra.
sions at Batavia, Java) founded in the year 1856 at Amsterdam. —— —– Utrecht Mission Mansinam-N.Guinea. 8 total. 7 180 6 U38 $21,940 Union, founded in Andai, •• the year 1859 at Doreh, Utrecht. Rhoon, Duma, Almaheira. Soa, Konora, •• – – – – – – – – -Ka-w-ir-i. B-u-ru-. —- ——-, —– —– Rhenish Mission Bandjarmassin-Borneo 8 {on Borneo)i26 {on Bor- 1,120 {on Bor- 136 (on Su- $83,362.56 An auxiliary society tor the Rhenish Mis- Society, founded Kwala Kapuas, .. 15 (on Suma- neo). neo). matra). for year end- sian was founded at Amsterdam in the year in the year 1828 at llIandomal, tra). 220 (on Suma-12,702 (on Su- – – – 373 (all Bor- ing Easter 1869. Barm en (Ger- Pangkoh, 5 (on Nias), tra). matra). many). Telang, 9 (')n Nias). 616 (on Nias). neal. 1888. * We have valued thejlorin at 50 cents, Amer- 48 (on Nias). Tameanlajang, U ican money, in these jigures. The Dutch guild- , er is equivalent to 40 cents our money-EDS. Sipirok-Sumatra. Bungabonder, U Pangaloon, U Sigumpu]an.
Pantjarnapitu-Sum. Stations (Continued). Simorongkir, " Pearadja, Sipokalon, Sibtoga, Sum. Lobusircgar, Gunougsitoli-Nlas. Lagubati, Dahana.," Balije, Ombalata, I Sipahutar, Padang, I
ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. On the Sangi and Talauuer Islands are 6 As already mentioned in the a.bove Tables, several native churches, founded in stations and 6 missionaries (under pay of former times, are now under the care of European association preachers, not only in government) with about 20,000 native Christhe Minahassa (Celebes), but also on the other islands of the Dutch East Indian tians. One of these missionaries, Rev. Kel- Archipelago, as on Java, Timor, Amboina, Ternate, etc. Their number (i. e. of the ling, on the Sangi Islands, preaches at preachers) amounts to 26. Likewise there are a.bout 80 native teachers. All these are 21 different places (villages), while 15 schools paid by the Dutch Government. At Depok (Batavia) is a seminary or are entrusted to his care. trainiug school for native assistants of missionaries. Dnring the year 1888, 10 pupils, The Netherland Reformed Mission Union, being well taught and examined, have left this institution in order to begin their founded in the year 1860 at Amsterdam, has work among their fellow-countrymen. At Madjowarno (Surabaya) Missionary Kruyt 2 stations on Java, with 3 missionaries. has also founded a training-school with about 14 pupils. The number of native The number of native Christians is about Christians at D6pok is about 600 souls. The Netherland Bible Society. founded at 6,000 distrtibuted in 47 churches or lo- Amsterdam in the year 1814, has 122 branches in the Netherlands and also in the calities. Dutch East Indian Archipelago at Batavia, Depok, Samarang, Surabayo, Padang, Aug… For the evangelizatiou in Atjeh (North kola, l'Iakassar, Tondano, Bandjarmassin, and in the Dutch West Indian colonies Sumatra) a comita last year was founded (South America) at Paramaribo. With the aid of this society the Bible has at Zeist. Probably this year (1889) a misbeen translated into ten different languages of the Dutch East Indian Archipelago, viz.: sionary will be sent out to that country. the Dajak, the Javanese, the low Malay of Surabaya, the low Malay of Samarang, the The Union for the Propagation ofthe Gos- Sundanese, the Alfurese, the Batta (Toba), the Buginese and the Macassar languages. pel in Egypt was founded in 1886, at the Two new translations of the Bible have been made, namely, one into the Sun- Hague (Holland). Its missions-field is at Caldanese langnage by Rev. S. Coolsma at Bl1ndung (Java), and another into the Madurese iub, which is i:lhabited by Mohammedansand language by Rev. J. Esser at the Hague. During the last year 57,405 copies of the Hoptish Christians. According to the report, Bible, or parts of it, have been sold or distributed. The receipts of the society dur- 1887-'88, there are seven adherents and a school ing this year (1888) amounted to 53,267florins. Likewise the" Society for Home and For- with sixty pupils. The miSSionary working eign Missions" and the uUnionforspreading Christian literature,"both at Batavia (Java) there will be joinml by a European schoollargely contribute for the propagation of the gospel into the Dutch East Indian Arch- teacher, in May. Receipts, 5,052 florins. ipelago. Total receipts in Holland for the Prot. Mis- Mission of the Christian Reformed Church sion in the Dutch E. I. Archipelago, about $150,000; total native Christians, 240,000 among Israel, began in 1875. Report, August souls.-Two mis~ionaries of the Neth. Miss. Society had arrived on Java for the Missions 1, 1885-Julv 15, 1888: Missionary HORter held on Savoo and Soemba. The Java-Comit" intends to enlarge its mission-field, namely: meetings in several towns and villages that to found five stations more in East Java and Madura; also the Dutch Ref. Union were frequented by the Jews; at many intends to send as soon as possible missionaries to Tegal and Rembang and Madiun, places he visited Jewish families in their houses. Java.-To the mission on the Sanggi Islands, Rev. P. Helling departed Feb. 2. At present this missionary has been honorably discharged, and several members of the Board occasionally hold meetings. Many religiOUS writings or tracts were spread among the Jews.
Receipts, 5,7€2 florins. '
The Netherland Union, for the propagation of the gospel among the Jews, in connec- tion with the English Episcopal Church, began in 1£84, Leist (Holland). Report, 1887: The missionary has his mission-field at Amsterdam, and another at Rotterdam, who visited also sev- eral provinces of the Netherlands. The evan- gelization met with mnch opposition from the Jews; the iOlOrance of this people with regard to the Bible, was very breat. Notwithstanding this opposition, many of them accepted' and read the religious tracts, that were spread among them. Though the resnits of the preach- ing of the gospel are not clearly visible, the labors of the missionaries can be considered as pr<)paring the way for the children of Israel to receive their King. During the last year thirteen Jews asked religious teaching, and fonr of them were baptized. Receipts, 2,724 florins.
Dutch, East Ind.an Arch.pelago.-In the Bottom-lands (North Snmatra) the progress of Christianity is stated to be very hopeful. The missionaries of the Rhenish Missionary Society have their station near to the lake of Toba, at Lagubati, and Balige. In their efforts to spread the gospel into this eDnntry they receive much help of the native Christian churches, and of tbeir assistants. SociE)tyfor the Propagation ofthe Gospel 5, Druze 1. .. All Lhese, evening a.fter even- in Foreign Parts. ing, have heard the Word of God read and very simply and earnestlv explained, many EsTABLISHED 1701. Report of the year 1888. of them joining, with every appearance ~f THE SOCIETY'S INCOME FOR 1888. reverence in' Christian prayer." In this as ,in so many other cases the most interesting I. GENERAL FUND- £ 8. d. features of the work can be known only to Subscriptions, Dividends the workers themselves and to God. The supporters must be content to await the and Contributions…… . 105,910 1 1 open answers to their prayers and dona- Legacies ……………… . 8,552 11 5 tions, until there is more perfect liberty granted to searchers after truth. Reuts, Divideuds, etc ….• 3,222 2 6 Totalreceiptsgeneralfund 117,684 15 0 II. SPECIAL 1<'uNDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21',982 2 6 Total income …………. £]38,666 17 6 American Seaman's Friend Society. The sixty – first annual meeting was held in the In addition to the above, the society's chapel of the Sailor's Home, 190 Cherry street, . treasurers had received for invested funds, New York, on the afternoon of the 6th inst. held by the society as a corporation for The annual report shows that 27 chaplains or specific trusts by request, the sum of £1,- missionaries have endeavored to promote the 429 Os. 8d. spiritnal and temporrl welfare of seamen in ports extending around the world. During the In this sum of £105,610 Is. Id. are included year 501 loan libraries have been sent out, contwo gifts of securities, worth £25,296 and sistine: of 18,036 books, 7,524 being new, and £2,263 respectively. The former was U a supplying crews of 7,781 seamen. On U. S. thankoffering to almighty God for the ex- Naval vessels and in U. S. Hospitals, 993 libratension of the church in the colonies and ries, of 35,742 books, )lave been maintained dependencies of the British empire and be- within reach of 114,267 men. The heroic U. S. yond it." The latter w..s a memorial of one Life Saving Service has been remembered by 117 who had long been a munificent supporter libraries of 4,220 volumes. The Sailors' Home, of the society. on Cherry street, N. Y., accommodated 1,351 sailors during the twelve months, and took Oentral Ohina Missions of the Methodist good care of more than $10,000 deposited tem- Episcopal Ohurch. porarily with the lessee. Shipwrecked and destitute seamen were relieved by gifts amount- REPORT for 1888. See Statistics Page 314, ing to $653.70. The income of the year MISSIONARY REVIEW for April. amounted to $27,832.89, and the outgo to $34,- 971.05. One of the most important minor reports presented is that in regard to Land Tenure. It American Bible SOCiety. The sixty-first should be followed up in every mission of every annual meeting was held Thursday aftersociety. The necessity of owning and develop- noon at the Bible House. The annual reing real estate in connection with mi.sionary port shows that the total cash receipts for genwork makes it of the highest importance that eral purposes were $499,823.56. The disbnrsethe laws of Land Tenure should be well under- ments for general purposes amounted to $555,- stood. The Brother who makes the report 979.78, leaving a deficiency of $56,166.22, which seems to feel as if the time spent upon it was of was provided for j'l part by aloan and in part by little value. We would reply in the words of the sale of certain securities. The following the venerable Father Goodell of Constantinople were elected to the Board of Managers for four to one who made a similar complaint: "The years: John H. Earle, S. V. R. Cruger, Elbert disciples were serving the master just as much A. Brinkerhoff, James G. Levett, Charles H. wheu they went to get the ass as when they Trask, William Hoyt, Robert W. De Forest, J. preached at Pentecost." D. Kurtz Crook and T. G. Sellew_ The Philander Smith Memorial Hospital at The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Nanking reports in all 10,100 patients treated, a American Baptist Missionary Union began grand record of good work done. at Boston, May 15. The following statistics were given: Missionaries appointed dnr- The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society has ing the year, 30; missionaries sailed to the b~en very successful in its medical work among field, 31; missionaries retnrned, 9; total the Tartar women of Chiukiang and good re- appropriations for the year, $423,318; total sults are already evident. receipts, $415,144; balance against the treasury, $8,174. The Foreign Secretary's. Jaffa Medioal Mission and Hospital. report shows that in all the missions there are 279 missionaries,l,316 churches, 134,413 The annual report for 1888 shows expen- members-an increase of 17 missionaries, ditures of £1,209, $6,046. The number of out- 20 churches, and 7,205 members. In misdoor cases has heen 13,217; 138 on a single sions to the heathen are 62 stations and day. 511 patients have been received to 1,179 out-stations, the hospital; 307 men and 204 women and children. The various religIOns represented have been, Mo~lem 414. Greek 44, Je~ish 23, 11aronite 13, Protestant 10, Roman Catholic
~~ . r r
556 [JULY, PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN.
l"
VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY' "
BULLETIN.
What a stimulating Btudy follows the lower Rownma, three in Zanzibar and three footsteps of Jehovah through these forma- in the Portuguese interior. Besides there tiveyea.rsofmissionaryenterprise I Mighty are the East Africa. station. of the London obstacles removed; a missionary spirit de- and Scottish societies.-In~pendent.' veloped; over 200 general missionary societies and boards organized; woman's work ·-Rev. E. F. Baldwin, writing from Mogafor women inaugurated and already a phe- dor, Morocco, in April, says: The, work nomllnal success; many of the sons and goes on well, now. There is a. lull In persedaughte~s of ~he church in our educational cution: hence many meetings-five on Suninstitutions pledged to service In the foreign days, fonr on Wednesdays a.ud Sa.turdays, field; medical missions securing gratefulre- a.nd three on other days. We are trying to cognition; the .Bible printed in 300 tongues; make the most of our opportunities. On our a vernacular literature created, and schools last trip Mr. Nairn and I were reported for the lowest grade to the well-equipped killed, and the statemeut was believed by college and theological seminary estab- all except my family. True.wewere roughly lished. handled, but not a. bail' of our heads per- ished. Rosine Is back. and Abraham is on -The most effective reply to pessimists his way. They were separated by Abraham like Canon Taylor and Mr. Caine will be being in prison and put in irons nine days. found in the MISSIONARY REVIEW oJ!' TliE his outer clothes heing also stolen. For WORLD. and more especially in such a paper about six months they were away on a jouras Dr. Pierson's in the April number on ney. on the lines of Matt. x.; many believed. .. Further Testimonies to Missions." Itsets and many were baptized. The work grows forth an array of well attested facts, so in other ;>laces. We hope to devote the weighty that all the accusations and in- summer months to systematically training sinuations of professed friend. or open foe, in the Word the most promising converts. will be but a feather's weight in comparison. in order to their doing service as native No Pl'Stor who desires to keep his congrega- evangelists. Blessing has begun among the tion up to the mark In missionary fervor Jews. I have recently baptizcd three Jewa should fail to procure this hest of all the and lour Moslems. One of the Jew8 Is just missionary magazines.-OhriBtian Leader out of irons for his faith; one or two others (Scot/and). await baptism. The last steamer brought Mr. Sheehan. s. non-commissioned olHcer Africa.-The Missions ofthe German and from Gibraltar, to join us on Matt. x. lines. English societies cover a considerable part Thank God. there are six Matt. x. missionof the countries around the back of the ter- aries (men) here in actual work; one is Mr. ritories of the Sultan of Zanzibar, on the Martin and two natives. I am just olf …. east coast of Africa. The Nenkirchen So- another trip, going first to Cass. Blanca. ciety has had since 1887 a station at Ngao wearing Moorish clothes. which we all (men) on theTana. in the Suabalicountry with two now wear, finding it much better tor the missionaries; a third missionary died short- work, and more comfortable every way. lyafter his arrival. On the other side of Blessing and trial continue intermingled. I the Tana is the station Soldanti. of the hope in tbe coast towns to visit and os- United Jllethodist Free Churches, who also tablish several ~roups of believers who have two stations, Joursee and Ribe, in the have never seen the face of a foreign mis- Mombasa. district. The Evangelical Lu- sionary. therau Missionary Society for East Africa of Jla,varia. has stations at Jimba and at -The Romish Church is pushing for the Mbungu among the Wakamba, six hours in- open regions of the upper Congo. Two Porland, with three missionaries; a fourth mis- tuguese steamers recently carried from sionary died at his home, whither he had twenty to thirty Jesuit priests and nuns to retUrned for his health. One bour from labor in Africa for the propagation of their Jimho is the station at Kisulutini, or Rabai, faith. foun!ied by Krapf and Rebmann in 1876, which with Mombasa, Freretown and Kam- -Rev. George Grenfell, Ia.tely returned likene. torms the Mombasa district of the from the Congo, reports .. Cbristianity English Church Missionary Society. The spreading even where missionaries had not Evangelical Missionary Society for German labored. As he approached one town in East Africa. has a station at Dar-es-Salaam, which no Baptist missiona.ry had ever lawith one projected in Kisserawa, on which bored. he saw a band of native eva.ngelists are two European missionaries, one Abys- coming out of it to preach the gospel to sinian teacher and a deacon. The English their native brethren, and that town. a few Universities Mission has five stations In years a.go, wa.s sunk in hea.thenism." Usambara, oPpol'ite the island of Pemba, four farther south, in the !iistrict of the -Inspector Harms, in his tour among the Rerma.nnsburg missions in South Africa. last year, also visited the Norwegian mis-
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY
sion at Umpupulo, Natal. The stationed celve all who apply; 70 applicants have "missioo!lory had seven 'preaching places, a.t been declined. A Training Cla.ss from the which his helpers preached, ha.ving heen school visits female patients in the Hospispecially prepared for the service on the tal, There are six native teachers at work. Saturday. .. This is a matter of which we do not take thought enough," the Inspector -The Baptist Mission in the' Sbantung remarks; .. yet the Norwegians are lacking Province, have, in the districtofTsing-cheu in emcient evangelists, while we are much Fo, 55 chUrches, all self-supporting, minisbetter provided through our Seminary at tered to by five native pastors maintaining Ehlanzeni, with its 16 pupils." themselves and not drawing any of their support from the society. Belglum.-The Missionary Church of Belgium (EvangelicalSociety) reports a rich -Tho Chinese Inland Mission has been enspiritual growth within the past year. A abled to send $20,000 for the reliet of the letter from Pastor Brocher says that this sufferers from the famino in China. missionary church is composed largely of -The ratio of the gain in converts In all the poor miners who have come out from Ro- Protestant missions In China during the manism. There are 22 ordained minIsters, decade is about 140 percent. ; and In Japan four evaugelists, eight Bible readers, and It is over 300 per cent. four colporteurs, but a large portion of the work Is rendered by the workingmen who, Central Amerlca.-In the latter from the mining and manufacturing dis- part oflast year tbe Prt'sbyterian Bo~rd of tricts, return to the village. There are now Foreign Missions made a liberal appropria- 27 churches, with sixty-one preaching sta- tion of funds to help the mission in Guatetions and 84 other localities where ihe gos- mala, Central America. in purcha.sing proppel has been preached occasionally, besides erty and huildlng for mission purposes in 000 placas visited by colpoteurs. Nearly the city of Guatamala. Ground was imme- 8,000 religious services have been held dur- diately bought and building begun, and ing the year, with a regular attendance of now a house is almost completed and a from four to five thousand hearers. Of the church well under way. 00 Sunday-schools 18 are called .. Missionary Sunday-schools "; that is, composed -City of Mexico, May S.-News has heen reexclusively of children of Roman Catholic ceived here of a discovery of great archfamiliee. This certainly is a cheering re- reological importance in the State of Chia.· port, and the appeal for financial aid which pas, near the ruins of Palanque, being no- Is made by this Missionary Church of Bel- thing less than a large city hidden in the gium should have a generous respoDse. depths of the forests. Some buildings are five stories high and in a good state of pres- Chlna.-In Canton, with its 1,500,000 in- ervation. There is a well-paved road sevhabitsnts, are fifteen Christian chapels, wbere eral miles in length still perceivable in the missionaries and the native ministers preacb midst of a tropical fOl"est. Very few partie. the gospel, not on Sunday only, but daily, and ulars bave reached kere, but the report from two to four honrs each day, to audiences comes from good sources. Palanque is said varying from fifty to several bundred. After to be S, mere village in comparison with tbls the sermon, Chinese Evangelists continue the lost city of prehistoric times. services. Free conversations and discussions tollow; rooms are at band for private confer- Egypt.-Miss Whately's work in Cairo. ences, and Cbristian books and tracts are kept The schools and mission established in in readiness, and disposed olin large numbers. Cario by the late Miss M. L. Whately will The preaching halls are tbronged during the hot- be carried on by her sister, Miss E. Jane test montbs–July. August and September-and Whately, who is well known as the biografrom noon till tbree o'clock-tbe hottest part of pher of. her father, the late Arcbbishop the day. Tens of tbousands of visitors to the Whately, and as a frequent contributor "to city bave beard tbe gospel in tbese cbapels and various periodicals. She will have the valhalls, and have carried It hundreds of miles uabie aid of Mrs. Shakoor, the widow of a. into the interior. The missionary encounters Syrian gentleman. who voluntarily assisted tbese in the most remote places on bis inland Miss Mary Whately in her work until his tours, and sometimes listens with surprise death some years ago. Mrs. Shakoor had while tbey repeat the substance nfthedlscourse for many years been tbe devoted friend and which tbey have beard. The dialect used by companion of the late Miss Whately. most of the miSSionaries, in preacbing, 1s the Punti, or pure Cantonese. by wbicb tbey have England.-English Presbyterians now access to twenty millions of people. number 64,000. according to reports submit- ted to the annual meeting of synod held in -Letters just received from Dr. Happer at Regent Square Church at the beginning of May. This shows a gain of 1,500 communi- Canton, speak of the encouraging Increase cants for 287 congregations in the past year' of students In the Anglo-Chinese College. -a small total and a small average. We The number at the beginning of May was had hoped for better things after the meettrT. The Girls' Boarding School cannot reo ing of the Presbyterian Alliance in London last year. -Dr. Dale, ofEnglan4, thinks that India is to be Christia.nized by her own sons, and cumbent of the Established Church, in the therefore he believes in sending out edu- enjoyment of a remarkably good living, with cated Christian men, capable of training a very small charge, who dwells at ease in Indian converts for the work of teaching England during its pleasant snmmer, and the gospel. There can be no question that enjoys himself in Southern lands during its the native element in missionary work has winter, and who does not even subscribe not been utilized as it should be, not in the con ventional guinea a year to the C.M.S., India only, bnt in other regions, as not- is hardly the man to·hold up a. high standably in Armenia. ard to his fellows I"
-The Wesleyan Missionary Society, with France.-Interference With Missions.- headquarters in London, has missions At a missionary breakfast at Birmingham established in Europe, India, China, West recently, at which Rev. J. Jones, who was Africa, the Transvaal, British Honduras expelled from the Island of Maro, iu the and the Bahamas. It reports ::36 central South Seas, was present, Dr. Dale uttered a stations or circuits and 1,338 chapels and timely protest agaiust what has the appear_ preaching-places. It has a staff of 833 mis- ance of French vindictiveness against Britsionaries and assistants, with 2,000 other ish missions in heathen J~nds. .. It is all paid acents, such as c",tcchists, interpre- the same," said Dr. Dale, .. whether the Emters, etc. It enumerates::;,::::J unpaid agents, pire, the Monarchy, or the Republic obtain such as local preo.chers and 3abbath-school iu Frauce, her officials, goaded on by priests. teachers, and a el:urch membership of 32,- repress Protestantism, wherever possible." 325, with 4,674 persons on trial for admission And he added: "When M. Paul Bert. the to the· church. The method pursued by the bitter opponent of Cleric",lism at home, society is to send to the field English mis- went as Governor of Tonquin, he remarked sionaries for the purpose of organization that their free thinking aud liberty of conand supervision or to gIve instruction in science views were not for exportation. training institntions. All subordinate po- In Tahiti and several other South Sea sitions are occupied by a trained native Islauds, in Madagascar, and wherever our agency, While it is understood that every missionarie~ have been signally successfuh convert, according to his ability, should be the French have. if opportunity offered, a voluntary worker for Christ. The total tried to damage them." income for the past year was nearly £132.- 000. The report for the year expresses -The Paris Missionary Society has a wongreat discouragement because of a debt of derful missionary work in South Africa. In almost £17,000 which has been accumulat- connection with its mission amoug the ing for the past three years. In addition to Basutos it has 176 native workers and 6,000 the above is the work done by the Ladies' church-members. The Zambesi Mission, of Auxiliary connected with the society. and which M. Coillard is in charge, is an offreporting an income for the year of almost spring of the Basuto Mission. The society £8,000. also has missions on the Congo, in Senegam- bia, and in Kabylia. -Rev. James Johnston, F. S. S., in a recent letter to us, speaks of the attacks which India.-Rev. J. E. Scott writes from have been made by Canon . Taylor and Muttra: others on the missionary societies of Great Britain, and says: .. These recent attacks .. There are 90,000 people just around me, on our missions in this country are encaur· and more than 700,000 iu the district. The aqing ! ! They are made by men whose sound of the hammer and trowel has comtrade is sensation and can only gain it by menced. A mission house half finished, a attacking what is great and popular. Not training-school (Woman's Foreign Missionone society has suffered. The Church Mis_ ary Society) just commenced, a schoolsionary Society never had such an income house and a hall and chapel in prospect. as this year. The London Mission Society The fincst temple in North India is here. A have in a few weeks made up their chronic temple covering 10 acres and costing $2,000.- deficit of £15,000; and the number of new 000 is here. 'l'here are 8,000 widows, all bad, schemes started by independent societies is at Brindabon, in the vicinity. They are the another sig.. of life. though it takes erratic so-called' Brides of Krishna.· .. forms and tends to weaken old societies."- The Missionary. -From Dr. Fry's report of the Travancore Medical Mission for the past year, we learn -Canon Isaac Taylor's attack on the mis- that at Neyoor. and in the eight branch dissions is the subject of a brief but powerful pensaries now opened throughout the provarticle in the January issue of Regions Be- ince, 27,657 patients were treated during yond, by Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness. Agree- 1888. Of these 1,255 were received into the ing with the Canon that" the work would Neyoor Hospital as in-door patients… The be better doue if the missionaries were year 1888," writes Dr. Fry, .. is one of faultless, unselfish. devoted, heroic saints," special interest, as being the jubilee year Mrs. Guinness tersely says: .. But au iu- of the South Travancore Medical Mission. Fifty years have' now gone by since Dr. Ramsay, the first medical missiona.ry, began his work in Nagercoil. Drs. Leitch, whole Waldensian church of Italy, of which Lowe and Thomson have successively sus- the present statistics are 42 churches, 38 tained the burden and increased the influ- preachini' stations, 124 pastors and other ence of the enterprise, and it is gi ven us to workers, is the outcome of that return of .. reap where others have sown, and to wit- few hundred, Who were all that were left of ness in the present developments of this the 3,000 to 4,000 that had been expelled by branch of service the results of half a cen- Victor Amadeus II. of Savoy. Without that tury of faithful toil. We have every reason return the Waldensian Church would have to bless God and go forward in firm depend- been wiped outof existe'lce in Italy. In the ence on His power who has so markedly minds and hearts of this people it is the most supported His servants in past days."-Ed- glorious event in their eventful history {nburgh Medical Missionary So~iety. which they are this year celebrating. Dr. Emil Comba, probably their best known -Arcot American Mission. At Katpadi a itterateur, compares it with the return of new chapel wasopcned January 10, on which the ten thousand Greeks, and draws special occasion twelve children and two adults attention to the fact thltt the skill of were baptized. The mission was established leadership had called forth the warm adat Katpadi 1.1 Rev. W. W. Scudder, D.D., miration of Napoleon Bonaparte.-The ["'- who occupied the station for five years and dependent. baptized fifty person~. At the close of his pastorate there were fifteen commnnicauts. -Count Campello, who was a canon in the There are now 164 communicants and a con- Church of Rome tiil1881, when he placed his gregation of 485 Teluga and Tamil ChriA- resignation in the hands of Pope Leo XIII., tians. A native minister, the Rev. A. Wil- has lately been addressing immense meetliams, is assisted by two deacons and two ings in various parts of Italv. He does not elders. call himself a Protestant, but a Catholic Reformer. His latest meetings were at -In the Northwest of India and of Qude San Remo, where, a correspondent of the missionary physiciaus are coming promi- Christian says, .. the Italians turned out in neutly into nutlce. Nearly 75,000 cases were thousands to hear liim. He told them plainly treated at eleveu dispensaries, and 11,000 that he left the Vatican because he was women sought relief at Mrs. Wilson's dispen- wearied of hypocrisy and of slavery. He sary at Agra; 18,850 women and children were left itobecause he wished to profess himself treated at the Thomas Dispensary at Agra. a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. He The women doctors in charge. successfully called upon the Italians to drive the papacy performed some very important surgical from their consciences aud minds, and operations. hearts, and homes, and, if one day an oppor- tunitv came to do so, out of their country. -The Moslems of Delhi have opened a And then, in most earnest and impressive seminary in which preachers are taught all words, he urged them to put Christ in the the objections of Western infidels against place of the pope, and the gospel in place of Christianity that they may go forth to op- the Syllabus. In all he -said he was suppose the Christian preachers in town and ported by the applause of his audience. count.rv. Even when preaching Christ there was not raised one cry of opposition. The local press -The Waldensians are eagerly preparing is strongly supporting Count Campello and for the celebration of the second centennial his movement, and some of the young Italof the" glorious return" of 16~9, when after ians waited upon him before he left the Umuntold sufferings aud banishment from the bria to beg his return." historic valleys as one of the results of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, they, Japan.-Opposition to the proposed unwith sword in hand, and led by their war- ion between the united church of Japan, like pastors, Janavel and Arnaud, forced which is composed of all Presbyterian bodtheir way back to their ancestral homes. ies in that empire, aud the Congregational- The contest was against fearful odds. On ist missionaries, comes from a new quarter. the mountain fltstness of Lit BalsiJIe, Where, Theaid of the Southern Presbyterian church of the 900 Waldensians that returned, about has been invoked to hinder consummation 400 held at bay more than twenty thousand of the union. The Presbytery of Greenbier, Savoyan soldiers, a school is being erected. in the Western part of Virginia, has OVer- In Sibltourd, where, when surrounded on all tured the General Assembly of that church Sides by the hosts of the enemy, the Walden- to take measures to protect the infant sian Christians took a solemn oath either to churches formed by its missionaries from conquer or to die, a pyramid bnilt of blocks the dangers which it believes to be involved of stone is being erected, the number of in this union. These dangers the Presbytery blocks corresponding to the number of Wal- declares to be both doctrinal and ecclesiasdensian congregations existing at present. tical-that is, a danger that fundamental At Torre Pellice, the centel' of the literary truths of the Christian faith may be ignored, and educational work of this people, a new and a danger that principles of church order theological hall is to be dedicated. All these memorials are now abo;]t completed. The which are manifestly scriptural may be moa of the invasion of that troubled king- dom by a band of Mormon missionaries. Six abandoned. ' of them have appeared and six more are on the way from Utah, and they say they are -The number ofconverts in the Japan Mis- going to carryon a vigorous campaign in every viJIage in the group. They appear to sion of the American Board has increased have plenty of financial support., The na- tives receive them coldly, but they have in fifteen months from 4.226 to 7,098, a gain made an impression on European traders.
of 2,867. This is the most remarkable record Thlbet.-Thibet is the only known coun_ tryon earth not open to missions. It has an in any mission connected with the board, area of 750,000 square miles, about as large as the United States East of the MiSSisSippi with the exception of tbe great gathering River. The greatest length from East to West is 1,500 miles, and the population is esin the Sandwich Islands. timated at 8,000,000. It is the stronghold of Buddhism. Lhassa, the capital, is the -At the service in the Doshisha church, .. Rome" of the Buddhists, and the Dalai Lama is the Buddhist pope. He is supreme Kobe, Japan, March 24, there were 100 of in both temporal and spiritual things. One monastery has about 5,000 Buddhist priests, the pupils who united with the church. Five and there are about 60,000 in the country. Thibet is virgin soil for missions. The counwere from the girls' school, 62 from the pre- try is tributary to China.-Illmtrated Chris- tion Weekly. paratory department, 20 from the first year -Mr. and Mrs. Turner, of the China Inland collegiate, and 16 from the second and third Mission, have begun work in Thibet from the Chinese side. They travel in Chinese clothes. years. This fact is a most important one. Thibft is inaccessible to Christian missionaries -The Japan" Mail," of Yokohama, in a from the Indian side, the natives supposing that the British Government have designs series of ILrticles on thc rising generation in to annex the country whenever a missionary in European costume enters their State Japan, says that the young reformers agree from the South. If the China Inland Mission .. keeps low, keeps believing and keeps going that there must be a new moral system for forward," it has a still mightier future be- fore it than in the past. The society that Japan, and that it must harmonize with the opens up Thibet to the gospel deserves the hearty thanks of the whole Christian church spirit and aim of modern ciyilizatior: ; but throughont the world.
they are divided on the question whether it United States.-Dr. Talmage, ofBrook- lyn,says: "The church, if it would do its shall be the Christian system of moraJity or duty, could convert the world in ten years. Ithas the men and money." On which The Inthat which is based on science and philoso- dependent makes this cutting and deserved criticism: "Perhaps so, but it must turn phy. The MaU goes on to say: over a new leaf of generosity very soon if it is going to undertake so great and speedy a "That in recent years a wonderful change task. The Brooklyn Tabernacle last year, with 4.126 members reported, gave $151 to has taken place in our attitude toward home missions and $138 to foreil:'n missions."
Christianity is now a well-known fact, and -Romanism. Father O'Connor, the con. verted priest, is said to have led 800 Romanneed not be dwelt upon here. Only, how- ists into light in five years in New York City ever. within the last two or three years, or, -Gift to United Presbyterian Board. An- other l,OOOcopies of the" Crisis of Missions" in other words, since the awakening of the has been given to the United Presbyterian Board, the author and publishers uniting rising generation, has the new creed become with Rev. J. B. Dales, D. D., in the gift.
a vital element of the nation's civilized life. -Woman's work. The Woman'& Execu- Its inlluence is now felt through the rising tive Committee of Home Missions ot the generation, not only by reason of the fast Presbyterian church announces that its re- ceipts for the year just closed amount to increasing number of young converts, but S320,OOO, an advance over last year of $94,000. Well done. also, and perhaps to a greater extent, by means of the creation of a powerful litera- ture thoroughly imbued with Christian spirit."
-"The Twelfth Report of the Council of Missions co-operating with the united church of Christ In Japan," publislled at Tokio, January, 1889, says: .. The united church of Christ iu Japan has enjoyed a year of constant growth. There has been no excitement and no extraordinary efforts have been put forth." Yet it says in no previous year have 'the additions been 80 many. The adult members of the church number 7,551. The" infant members" num- ber 1,139, the total being 8,690, an increase of 1,831 during the vear. The churches num- ber 61, three having been added during the year. This church was formed in 1877 by the union of eight churches and 623 Christiaus, including the children. In the pa.st three years the church has doubled its member- ship, and in eleven years has progressed from 600 to 9,000. A like progress for the remaining twelve years of the century will make the membership in the year 1,900, the nuinber of John's vision, 144,000.
Samoa.-Monnon InvaSIon. The Lon- don Missionary Society has news from Sa-