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 — June 1888

THE RELATIVE PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY

MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.

VOL. XI. No. 6.-0Id Series.–]UNE.–VOL. I. No. 6.-New Seriea I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.

THE RELATIVE PROGRESS OF OHRISTIANITY. * BY J. T. GP..ACEY, D.D., BUFFALO, N. Y.

THE Ohristian public has been somewhat startled by statements recently made to the effect that in estimating the relative extension of Ohristianity through its aggressive agencies, there has been a singular oversight of a most important factor in the sum-that of the annual increase by birth of the non-Ohristian populations of the world. Mr. Johnston puts the case thus: " The heathen and Mohammedan population of the world is more by 200 millions than it was a hundred years ago; while the converts and their families do not amount to 3 millions. The numbers now generally accepted as accurate and quoted by the church missionary and other societies, are 173 millions of Mohammedans and 874 millions of heathen, 1047 in all. When Carey wrote his famous Enquiry in 1786 he estiqtated the Mohammedans at 130 and the Pagans at 420 millions, equal to 550 millions. This would give an increase of 493 millions. But as we have come to the knowledge of vast populations in Africa and the East, which could not be even guessed at in Carey's time, we must largely increase his estimate, but I am not prepared at present to say to what extent. Of this, however, I am sure, that the ACT- UAL INCREASE during the hundred years is much more than the 200 millions at which I have put it down. • . . We mourn over the sad fact that the increase of the heathen is numerically more than seventy times greater than that of the converts."

Mr. Johnston is recognized as a candid, careful and capable author and an earnest friend of missions, and he makes these statements the basis of an appeal to the Ohristian church to address itself more vigorously to the task of evangelizing the nations, which he says it is abundantly able to do. He informs us that he could easily give the details of his estimates, and will do so on another occasion, and also says that the members of almost all the missionary societies of Great * A Century of Protestant Missions and the Increase of the Heathen during the Hundred Years. Rev. James Johnston, F.B.S. 1886. James Nisbet & Co. 2d. Christianity, Islam, and the Negro Race. By Edward W. Blyden, LL.D. 1887.

Whittingham & Co. lOs. 6d. . Mohammed and Mohammedanism By R. Bosworth Smith, M.A. New York: Harpers. 1875. Canon Taylor's Wolverhampton Address. London Times. Britain have had ample means of testing his accuracy, and their secretaries have given him many kind marks of confidence. He does not of course say that they concur in this specific statement.

It seems that it would have been more desirable that the author should have furnished the details of the evidence before he announced his conclusions and made them the bases of an appeal, or at least set them forth as an incentive to Christian effort.

Instead of following the course he proposes, the reader will most probably hold the statement in suspense or decide from such data as may be at his command as to its credibility, while many will question if even such tolerable accuracy can ever be obtained in the estimate, as to bring it within the range of practical missionary thought. It is difficult to say what is the population of China even in our own day, and there is little hope of establishing any but questionable inferential proof of what it was a hundred years ago. Whoever has made a close study of the H Table of the Different Censuses of the Eighteen Prov-, inces," and other carefully made estimates as quoted by Dr. Williams, and his elaborate discussion of the entire subject of the past and present population of the Chinese Empire (" Middle Kingdom," vol. i. pp. 206-240), will readily understand that there is no credible statistical data on which to formulate anything approaching exact statements, such as we have become accustomed to for a comparatively few years past, in the Western world; and inferences, deductions and "guesses" have been always easily matched by counterinferences, deductions and" guesses."* One becomes curious to know what fresh sources for reliable statement or argument are to be brought to light, to prove what the popUlation of China was a century ago.

Dr. Williams estimated the population in 1876 to be less than it was in 1812, because the Taiping rebellion probably destroyed twenty millions of human beings during eighteen years of carnage in the fifteen provinces to which it reached. For twenty years prior to that the increase of the population was estimated at less than one per cent. per annum, and this renders Dr. Williams's statement probable. We put emphasis on China, because it popularly is supposed to contain about one-third of the population of the globe, and if no basis of calculation approaching accuracy can be had here, it would cause serious defect in the total result.

It may not be quite fair to allude to Africa, as that may be included in the two or three hundred millions which Mr. Johnston so generously deducts as peoples which have come to our knowledge within the century. But suppose these three hundred millions of newly discovered people have been numerically reduced within the century, what then? Whether the populations of these nations newly added to the world's census are more or less than they were a century ago, cannot be now * See International Department for discussion of the latest Returns. shown. The internecine strife of the tribes of A.frica, the devastationB of the slave-hunt and other causes may·have lessened the aggregate in the last hundred years, and that would affect the total sum. India comes more nearly within the range of statistical comparisons, specially within a few decades, but it lacks anything like exact figures for a century ago. Even within the latest decade covered by the British census, territory has been brought for the first time into the census tables, and the prejudice against the census-taking was so great even twenty years ago, as to limit accuracy. It is impossible to prove what part of the increase in the tables is due to greater accuracy in the returns. But as the people under the British raj are saved from much internecine strife, and measurably from infanticide, and subjected to hygienic and other regulations calculated to afford peace and to increase longevity,-notwithstanding two, and even four millions have been swept off within sixty days by famine in a single province,- it is probable there has been an actual increase in the popUlation, though it is variously estimated in the aggregate, all the way from three to ten per cent.

We have thus hastily sketched the probabilities as they will appear to the ordinary reader of establishing either increase or decrease by birth-rate among perhaps four-fifths of the total non-Ohristian population of the globe.

Of course we write all this merely as indicating the problem which Mr. Johnston promises to deal with and the difficulties surrounding its solution, and as justification of suspense of judgment in the premises till the promised evidence is furnished. But we must think it scarcely fair for Mr. Johnston to make bold assertions in the "text, while in the preface to the second edition he starts off at a tangent to say, "Even if the increase of the heathen were not so great as asserted, it would only prove that the death-rate from war, infanticide, pestilence and famine was greater than my estimate for these ~ad calamities, and would only furnish fresh arguments for sending the gospel," etc., which is very much like saying, If I cannot prove what I promise, I can prove something else. It is not with something else that he asks us to deal, but with this; and whatever allowance must be made because of the brevity of the treatise, it is long enough for us to understand the unvarnished statement which is offered to our faith, and which we are asked to take merely as the announcement of a fact. But as many will decline so to do, the influence of the alleged fact will be paralyzed till the evideuce is furnished.

The author would have broadened his discussion if not made it more fair, if instead of comparing the increase by birth-rate with increase by conversion, he had compared birth-rate with birth-rate among Ohristian and non-Ohristian peoples, in order to show what the probabilities are, of the total Ohristian population of the world gaining on that which is not Ohristian. But he gives promise of dealing with that too, in a separate treatise. In other words, he has given us only a fragment of the total argument, while the whole is essential io the reaching a conclusion about the reasonable probability that the world is to become Christian. Besides, if even the fact of comparatively greater increase by birth-rate were established in favor of heathen nations, that is certainly no more than the early church must have experienced, if not within the Roman Empire alone, then over the world at large. Mr. Johnston singularly enough, thinks there was no increase throughout the Roman Empire by birth-rate through the three hundred years in which the early church rose to supremacy therein. That in this his view will be challenged, is a matter of course.

While we doubt if any argument or compilation of facts can at all remove the question of the comparatIve world population of 1786 with that of 1886, out of the realm of pure speculation, and hence doubt if any practical value is to be got from its discussion, we beg that the Christian public will not overlook the masterly array of other statistics, facts and stirring appeals of this extraordinarily thoughtful pamphlet. And we caution them against ill-considered statements and influences which Mr. Johnston's pamphlet would not warrant, but may incite.

A. STUDY OF RATIOS.

The Bombay Gnardian some time since furnished an illustration of this heedless use of figures. It quoted the Independent as follows: "In round numbers the non-Christian population of the world is generally estimated as a thousand millions, leaving a Christian population of four hundred millions. Now the naturalincrease of a thousand millions, though it may not, because of the conditions of population in crowded countries like China and India and among uncivilized hordes like those of Africa, be quite as large in proportion as that of the four hundred millions of Christians living under the highest forms of civilization, it must be vastly larger in bulk. The rate of natural increase in India, in the last decade, jwas seven per cent. If that rate were applied to the whole of the thousand millions of pagans we should have a gain of 70,OOU,OOO every ten years. In Europe (exclusive of Turkey) and the United States, the increase in the decade was something undel' ten per cent. Apply that to the 400,000,000 Christian population and we have a gain of 40,000,000. In other words, the natural increase of the heathen world is thirty millions greater evel'y decade than that of the Christian world. Thirty millions in a decade is three millions a year, and this three millions a year must be overcome by propagandism among non- Ohristian peoples before it can be said that Christianity, by which we mean the whole Christian population, is increasing as I"apidly as Paganism. This is a fact which we need to look at steadily, in order to understand the vastness of the work before us."

Just why the Independent should assume that the increase by birthrate in India, which it puts at seven per cent., is the rate of natural increaseof the world for the last decade, is not very apparent. It singularly overlooks the emigration from Christian Europe to other places than the United States, though its colonies have overrun British America, Mexico, South America, and Australia. It places the heathen rate ridiculously high and that of Christian Europe fallaciously low. It would seem that such calculations might be relegated to the curious, but when a sober Christian paper like the Bombay Guardian is misled by it to make mischievous comment like the following, the time has come to call a halt on such indiscriminate ciphering. That paper complemented the above quotation thus: " A decennial augment of 7 per cent. on the population of India (250,000,- 000) would be 17,500,000, or 1,750,000 annually. But it would be thought a marvelous thing if our converts reached 100,000 in one year. If the addition of one to our converts implies the addition of 17 to the number of the unevangelized in this land, it certainly does not look as though we were subduing the world to Christ."

Both these quotations illustrate afresh the habit which has become common among too many well-intentioned writers on missionary progress, of singularly ignoring true ratios. Archdeacon Farrar is reported as stating that a century ago, in a procession of the inhabitants of the globe, only one in five would have been Christians; to-day, in a similar procession, the Christians would be nearly one in two, while the Christian population of the globe is increasing at the rate of 86 per cent. each decade. We do not know his basis of calculation, though the last remark comes within touch of modern statistics, and is susceptible of proof or refutation. But we do know that a preeminently important factor in all these comparisons is, that among Christian populations and notably among Christian converts from non-Christian populations, there is a remarkable increase of the ratio of increase. Christlieb says that in 1800 there were 170 Protestant missionaries in the whole heathen world, with 50,000 converts. George Smith, Esq., says there are now roundly three millions, of whom 802,028 are communicants, an increase of sixfold within the century. India furnishes a more definite illustration of our point. A writer (" R. H.") in the British and Foreign Evangelical Review, Oct. 1870, said the progress of Christianity in India was as great as that of early Christianity in the Roman Empire, it being popularly estimated that there were eight millions of Christians in that empire after 300 years; but if the rate of increase of the India native Ohristian community between 1852 and 1862 were maintained for 300 years, it would give 200,000,000 of converts. Making his calculations on that ratio, he anticipated that there would be in India in 1882, 273,000 Ohristians, but four years earlier than the date of his estimate (1878) Ohristlieb gave the numbers as 460,000! And Ohristlieb further says that the ratio of increase between 1852 and 1862 would give in A. D. 2002 a Christian popUlation to India alone of 138,000,000; or two hundred years after Oarey's first baptism, a victory seventeen times greater than that of the early church in the Roman Empire. If it be urged that such estimates are speculaative and untrustworthy, it is to be borne in mind that the above calulations are made on the rate of increase between 1852 and 1862, and that e::ch decade since has not only sustained that, but has shown an incI'B{!se of the rate of increase. The Christian population of India is now doubling itself e,very ten years, and every change of ratio is an increase of that ratio. And what is true of India may be reasonably anticipated for the future through- . out the missionary world as a whole, if we give due weight to the munificent equipment of agencies and preparatory occupancy of posts so ably summarized by Mr. Johnston.

COMPARATIVE INCREASE OF RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS.

We have glided into another phase of the question stated by Mr. Johnston in the caption of one of his chapters, thus: "The great heathen and Mohammedan systems of religion are not only increasing their adherents by the ordinary birth-rate, but are yearly making far more converts than our Christian missions." As Mr. Johnston does not promise further information on this specific topic, we are left to deal with the general statements of the chapter. A statement like this needs examination in detail, and from the title of the book it is fair to confine our examination to the century past. As to China, Buddhism, Oonfucianism, and Taoism have divided the population among them, and as no man is wholly of either in Ohina, it seems difficult to see what room there has been for converts. ~'hey had the whole, and except the Christian community represented by 31,000 Protestant communicants, the increase of Roman Oatholic Christians, and probably some accessions by Islam on their western borders, they have the whole yet. If the increase by birth-rate be not established, it seems difficult to establish .an increase at all within the bounds of the empire. Japan may be placed in the same category. Buddhism has been disestablished of late, and unless a birth-rate increase is proven, the case probably falls to the ground. Such is the influence of Western Christian civilization that it is possible that Ohristianity may any day be established as the national religion. In India proper there is no Buddhism except in name, and Oeylon's population is too inconsiderable to enter into these broad estimates.

Brahmanism-or rather Hinduism, a much broader term-has made encroachments on some of the aboriginal tribes by social absorption or by a sort of religious accretion. It is not a missionary religion, and its accessions are by marriage, or by the exchange of a popular fetish for some popular deity of thQ Hindu Pantheon. The total evangelistic task of the church is not increased by such social amalgamation, as these hold too loosely to Brahmanism to make it more difficult to convert them from Hindu idolatry than it was from Dravidian demonolatry. Then the aggregate accessions to Hinduism cannot be known, for if the total increase of the population be even 10 per cent. within the decade, it would be difficult to show what deduction must be made for increased longevity and other itcms, such as new territory now first included in the census, or the incompleteness of statistics ten years ago. There seems little room to construct an argument either way.

Not as a matter of logic, but as a curiously interesting item, we quote a Hindu. opinion on the relative progress of Ohristianity and Hinduism in India, published as Tract No.2, issued by the Hindu Tract Society of Madras, and sent to the Ohurch Gleaner by Rev. H. Schaffter of Tinnevelly Oollege: "How many hundreds of thousands have these padres turned to Christianity, and keep on turning! How many hundreds of thousands of dear children have they swallowed up! On how many more have they Gast their nets! How much evil is yet to come upon us by their means I If we sleep as heretofore, in a short time they will turn all to Christianity without exception, and our temples will be changed into churches. Do you suppose these padres to be mild and gentle? Do you think they are excellent teachers? Are you ignorant of the fact that Hinduism is daily decreasing and Christianity increasing? How long can a lake last that has an outlet and no inlet? So if, as we see, no converts are coming in to Hinduism, and every year multitudes on multitudes are going over to Christianity, there will not be a single Hindu left. Then what will become of caste, what of the Sivite and Vishnuvite faith I What of our temples and sacred tanks? We shall see no monastery or even footprint of a Hindu. When Christianity has laid waste the land, will a blade of Hinduism grow there?

" Now who cares or speaks about these things? When the flood rushes over our heads it will be too late. It is because of our carelessness that these strangers insult our gods in the open streets during our festivals, Is there no learned pundit to be secured for money who will crush the Christians?"

INCREASE OF ISLAM IN THE EAST INDIES.

Weare left to glance at the increase of Islam, and as it is convenient we begin with India. Oanon 'l'aylor's paper or address, read at the Ohurch Oongress at Wolverhampton last year, has been supplemented by so many fragmentary utterances of his in the London Times and el,sewhere that it is not easy to know for just what he is to be held responsible. His Ohurch Oongress 'Paper has been abundantly reviewed, quite beyond its deserts. Mr. Bosworth Smith in the Nineteenth Oentury charges him with lack of originality and wholesale plagiarism from his lectures on "Mohammed and Mohammedanism," published a dozen years ago, and alleges that even the opinions are" as nearly as possible identical" with those which thirteen years before he had promulgated, though " they were couched in an exaggerated form and without any modification or explanations," and were reproduced" without any adequate preparation or study of the subject at first hand," and that he "rushed at the task with headlong heedleslmess."

But the archbishop may be credited with originality in his statement in the Times when he says that the Moslem population of India increased in the decade 1871-1881 between nine and ten millions, of whom he estimates six millions to be converts, while the Ohristian missionaries had not made one-tenth as many converts in the same period. The recklessness of such a statement was equaled by the ludicrousness of the method of ciphering, when it became known that the canon had added to the later Moslem population the entire number in the Moslem feudatory states, which were not included in the census of 1871. If this is not" heedlessness" it is difficult to furnish a specimen of it. The London Spectator too, was so far misled in this general controversyas to place the annual conversions to Islam in India at 100,000. Sir William W. Hunter, the distinguished author of the Imperial Gazetteer of India, in a paper read recently before the Society of Arts, said, "The recent discussion in the Times was vitiated by a forgetfulness of the fact that the great Muhammadan pmvinces layoutside the influence of the famine of 1877, which fell with full force on Hinduism."

The Indian Evangelical.Review (Jan. 1888) said these statements were " so recklessly absurd that to many the very idea of formally contradicting them is itself absurd. And yet," it adds, "such dense ignorance abounds both here and at home that to many a formal contradiction becomes necessary. And that contradiction we unhesitatingly give as full and as formal as we can. After inquiries and investigations in various parts of the country, we emphatically assert that there is not a word of truth in Canon Taylor's sensational statement as regards India. He would be within the mark if he had said six hundred as the utmost figure for all India. Archdeacon Matthews has answered for the Punjab, and the Rev. J. J. Lucas for the Northwest Provinces and Oudh; Mr. De St. Dalmas and the Bombay G-uardian for Western India, and of Bengal we say that the Englishman regards the matter as simply fit to be made a joke of; the Statesman treats the statement as regards India as beneath notice, but grapples with it so far as it concerns Central Africa; and we ourselves, having inquired of not a few most qualified to inform as rega.rds Bengal, give the statement an emphatic denial. We do not believe six hundred Hindus, Christians and aborigines have become Mussulmans within the last ten years. The only cases thateame within our knowledge were all cases of seduction-Hindu wives or widows seduced by Muhammadans-and one or two Christian girls tempted into so-called Muhammadan marriages. We have also heard of Muhammadan men and women becoming Roman Catholics in the same way, so that possibly as many are lost to Muhammadanism in this way as are gained."

But the figures were shown to Maj.-Gen. Haig, an acknowledged authority in such matters for India, and he is reported as saying that "in Bengal, with a popUlation of 42 per cent. of the whole Muhammadan population of India, the Mussulmans are at a standstill, while in the Punjab and Northwest Provinces, with 36 per cent. of the total Mu- 'hammadan population, Islam is slightly advancing."

The Indian Witness was quoted in the April Review as follows: "Gen. Haig furnishes interesting facts and statistics concerning Muhammadan progress in India. Of the 50,000,000 of that faith in India, 21,000,000 are in Bengal. From the most careful census reports ever taken in India it appears that the followers of Islam increased during the nine years 1872- 1882, 2,145,472, or at the rate of 10.96 per cent., the whole population increasing at the rate of 10.89 per cent. The actual gains of Muhammadans were 15,000. This figure shows how much faster they increased than the whole population. A careful thinker would not concede all of this number to proselytism. A small increase in the health and longevity of the Muhammadans, which is not unlikely, would wipe out all the gains at one stroke. But we would think that a church of twenty millions of members, that only gathered 1,666 members a year more than another body, that made no converts and could make none, was not a model of progress. The case grows darker fo~ Muhammadan success when we remember that few have left Islam in Bengal, although several are far from being as orthodox as of yore."

The Bishop (designate) for Lahore is quoted as saying: "The movement in certain parts ;of India of low-caste or outcast Hindus toward Islam may be compared with the yet larger movement of the non- Aryan tribes toward Brahmanical Hinduism. In both cases the movement is far more social than religious. Impartial writers like Sir A. Lyall are forward to recognize the unfairness of comparing this wholesale melting into another religious system, which is the outcome not of individual persuasion, but of great social changes, with the results of Christian missionary enterprise, which represent personal conviction, and entail, not social advantage, but social loss."

Rev. W. J. Smith, also of Lahore, says: "My surprise is not that so many Hindus have turned Mohammedans, but that so few have done so. Had Mohammedanism in India possessed its old vitality we shouldindeed have been startled by the result."

The Methodist Recorder of London discriminates when it says: "The result of the discussion, therefore, as regards India, is to show that there is no cause for anything like panic at the advance of Islam as a missionary religion in India, while there is every reason for increasing our own efforts thoroughly to Christianize a population which amidst the decay of ancient religious. beliefs is naturally somewhat prone to adopt a form of religion which is close beside them in full force, which makes little demand upon them of a spiritual kind, and interferes so little either with their superstitions or their domestic habits."

The accomplished author of the Gazetteer oj India, already quoted, says the converts to Islam in India are attracted less by religious fervor and conviction than by considerations of social convenience. Islam offers to the" teeming low castes of Eastern Bengal, who had sat for ages abject on the outermost pale of the Hindu community, a free entrance into a new social organization." But he goes on to say that " Christianity holds out advantages of social organization not offered by Hinduism or Islam. It provides for the ~ducation and moral supervision of its people with a pastoral care, which Islam, destitute of a regular priesthood, does not pretend to. It receives the new members into its body with a cordiality and completeness to which H:induism is a stranger. . . . Christianity also raises the position of woman toa degree unknown to Hinduism or Islam."

He says "the new religious force of missionary Christianity is Protestant." He then shows the growth as represented by the statistical results of three periods, into which he divides the work from its initiationat Serampore down to 1881. He says that " a cordial recognition of the wide field for evangelical labors does not exempt Christianity in India from being judged by its present l'esults. Nor need the friends of missionary enterprise shrink from the test; for while the number of native Protestant Christians has increased by fivefold during the thirty years preceding the last census, the number of their communicants has multiplied by nearly tenfold. The progress has been a progress of conversion, concurrent with a progress of internal growth and of internal discipline. It .is the result, not alone of the zeal which compasseth the earth to make a proselyte, but also of the pastoral devotion which visits the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and labors to keep its Hock unspotted from the world."

Again we say, we are willing to hold all that we know of difficulty in the way of Mr. Johnston's establishing his statements, in suspense, until he presents the evidence which years of patient toil and assiduous study, with special adaptation and rich experience in dealing with statistical problems, might perhaps have justified us in taking on his mere announcement, if the immense interests involved warranted such acquiescence on the mere assertion of any authority whomsoever.

But we caution the Christian churches against construing anything we have said into ground for relaxation of effort, or miscalculation of the forces to be mastered. Whatever has been the absorption of the uncasted natives of India by any of the lettered religions in the past, Sir William Hunter utters a prophecy of startling import when he says that he believes that the dense and dark mass of jifty millions outside thepale of orthodox Hinduism and Islam will within jifty years be absorbed into these or into Ohristianity.

'fhat Islam is extending in the East India islands seems well established, for the German and Dutch missionaries laboring there seem to fear great difficulties from them. Journal des Missions Evangeliques says: "Nor have the missions alone reason for alarm. Some months since hundreds of Dutch merchants and others having direct relations with this part of the world sent a petition to the King of Holland urging him to take active measures for the protection of his subjects and their property in those regions. The Atchin war seems never ending and increases the peril of the situation. The Atchinese and the Malays are the tribes mostly moved by Islam to fanaticism, and the Battas, among whom the Rhenish missionaries are working so successfully, live between the two tribes."

At the Mildmay Conference some ten years ago Rev. Dr. Schreiber, secretary of the Rheim (Barmen) Missionary Society, speaking of the Netherlands mission in the East Indian Archipelago, said: "At present in Java almost all the whole population (twenty-one millions) is. Mohammedan, at least in name, a great deal of heathenism still being concealed under the surface. On Sumatra the fourth part is still heathen. On Borneo and in the Celebes, perhaps one – half; but wherever in Dutch Indies a heathen population is in contact with Mohammedism the latter is ad,vancing steadily." He says that " By far the greater part of the ground Mohammedanism holds at present in the Indian Archipelago, it has gained after the time the Dutch took possession of those regions. In the island of Sumatra it is true Atchin and Menangkabao had become Mohammedan before that time, and thence Islam had found its way to Java; but on both these islands the great majority of the people were still heathen whe!! the Dutch took possession of them, and to the island of Borneo and Celebes Mohammedanism has crept in the time of the Dutch Government."

He holds the Dutch Government to be responsible for this advance

AFRICA: A WONDERFUL OHAPTER IN MODERN HISTORY

of Islam,. The Bataks had been for centuries in contact with Islam • through Mohammedan Malays, but had kept their heathen creed firmly up to forty years ago, since when, under the patronage of the Dutch Government, it has extended all over the colony, "while almost no Mohammedan is to be found beyond the borders of the colony."

He says there are few proper Mohammedan missionaries there, but that there is personal Moslem zeal in propagandism, especially among the Hadjis, "whose number increases year by year on account of the· passage to Mecca by steamer being now so cheap and easy. In 1875 there were no less than 5,600 Hadjis (pilgrims) from Dutch India." (Mildmay Report, 1878, pp. 137-155.) [Ooncluded in our nex:.] AFRICA: A WONDERFUL CHAPTER IN MODERN HISTORY.

[EDITORIAL.-A. T. P.] THE organization of the International Association of the Congo and the Congo Free State are among the modern marvels in African history. T~e steps in this movement are marked by a peculiar touch of the divine finger.

Fifteen years ago, May 1, 1873, Livingstone, one of the great pio~ neers of African discovery, died upon his knees in his grass hut at Ilala, in the very heart of the Dark Continent. He was alone and utterly worn out by forty experiences in the furnace of African fever, and by every form of exposure and exhaustion. The awful death shade overhung the vast regions of Central Africa. Such depravity and degradation can be imagined only by those who have come into contact with it. Such cruel customs, such a cyclone of crime, such scenes of horror, such a carnival of lust prevailed, that Livingstone, moderate and temperate as he was in his habits of speech, could only write of them, "They give me the impression of being in hell! Oh, Lord, let thy kingdom come I"

The civilized world no sooner learned of the departure of this marvelous hero of African exploration and evangelization than there was a spontaneous and simultaneous movement in two directions: first, in the direction of scientific and geographical investigation, and secondly, in the direction of missionary effort. The latter we put second, not in the order of time but in the order of importance, for the Christian church was for once on the alert to follow Livingstone's labors in a true apostolic succession.

The next prominent step or stage in this remarkable history was the transcontinental tour of Henry M. Stanley. Strange indeed that such a man as James Gordon Bennett, and such a man as Stanley, the reporter of the New York Herald, should be chosen by God to open up the vast Congo basin! But so it was. In 1874 Stanley started at Zanzibar, and after a thousand days emerged at the mouth of the Congo in • 1877; the mysteries of the unknown interior were penetrated, and King Mtesa's appeal for Ohristian teachers echoed round the world and revealed Ethiopia stretching out her hands unto God. Of course Africa was during all these years more and more becoming the one point of attraction; like a constellation in the firmament which for some cause glows with supreme splendor, it became the cyn- osure of all eyes. The worldly man looked that way, for vast riches, vegetable and mineral, lay disclosed between the seas; the scientific man looked that way, for geology and geography, the fauna and flora invited and would reward a thorough research; the Ohristian man looked that way, for a hundred millions of people waited for the gospel, and a highway had been opened for the chariot of missions. A zone of light had taken the place of the deep darkness that so long lay like an impenetrable pall upon equatorial Africa. Robert Arthington of Leeds resolves to make new investments for Ohrist in planting the gospel along the shores of these lakes and rivers, and missionary societies appeal for fresh recruits to follow up the path of the explorer by the labors of the evangelist and teacher and conse- crated physician. Meanwhile from the little kingdom of Belgium there comes a new and very remarkable sign of the coming future for Africa. King Leo- pold II. has been watching the developments of African discovery and studying the signs ofthe times. God had taken his only son, and when he laid his dust in the sepulchre he turned away from the grave say- ing, "I have nothing to live for." But a voice from above seemed to say, "Live for Africa." He heard and heeded the celestial voice, and determined henceforth to adopt the sable sons of the Dark Oontinent as his own, and spend his life and his imperial treasure for the devel- opment and direction of this new empire lying along the Oongo. This Belgian king, while Stanley was yet in the heart of equatorial Africa, summons a conference at Brussels, Sept. 12 to 14, 1876, and the A.frican InternationaZ A.ssociation is the result. His Majesty the King of the Belgians invited to this conference a num- ber of the leading geographers of the chief nations of Europe. Represen- tatives gathered from Germany, Austro-Hungary, France, Great Brit- ain, Italy and Russia, as well as from Belgium, and the result of their deliberations was an agreement that an international commission, hav- ing its seat at the Belgian capital, should be founded for the purpose of exploring and ci vilizing Oentral Africa; each nation co-operating should establish a national committee to collect subscriptions to further the common end and send delegates to the commission. The first to form such national committee was Belgium, the mem- bers meeting under the presidency of Leopold II. himself, November 6, 1876. We cannot follow the history of this International Oommis- sion in detail. Those who are not already familiar With the minutire may find them fully preserved in Stanley's book on the Oongo. vol. i. chap. iv. But this was the foundation of the African International • Association. out of which have grown all the stupendous movements now fulfilling Victor Hugo's prediction that in the twentieth century the eyes of the world would be on Africa.

Into the treasury of this International Association in ten years this one man, Leopold II., sends gifts amounting in the aggregate to $2,500,000. The Oongo river is thus arouEled from its long sleep and is soon alive with steamers, and the surrounding forests resou:l.d with axes, and trees are felled and buildings are erected, and all the machinery of modern enterprise and civilization is put in motion. Mission bands advance westward from Zanzibar and occupy the shores of the great lakes, and other pioneers move eastward from the Oongo's estuary until the equator is reached and the cross is set up at Equatorville.

As to Stanley's connection with King Leopold it behooves us to add a few words. '

When Stanley, in January, 1878, reached Europe, slowly recuperating from the effects of famine, fever and fatigue endured in his great journey of three years, he was met at Marseilles by two commissioners of the King of Belgium, who communicated to him King Leopold's desire that he should undertake to assist him in accomplishing something practical and permanent for Africa, and asking Stanley to pay him a personal visit. Too exhausted to attempt any new enterprise, or even venture a visit, the explorer rested for a season and then went to Brussels and saw the king. Then a few weeks of pedestrian touring in Switzerland, a few months' lecture touring, and in November, 1878, Stanley was again summoned to the royal palace at Brussels, and found various persons of note in council as to what might be done to utilize previous discovery and make the Oongo river and basin of service to humanity. A new expedition was organized, with Leopold II. at its head, and on Nov. 25001. Strauch of the Belgian army was made president of the society, called" Oomite d'Etudes du Haut Congo;" and the expedition was put in charge of Stanley. The coincidences of history are often startling. He had emerged from the Oongo at Banana Point Aug. 12, 1877. On the 14th of August, just two years 'later almost to a day, Stanley arrived before the mouth of this river to ascend it, to sow along its banks the seeds of new settlements, to suppress the slave trade, and to prepare the way for a new and Ohristian civilization.

Another great step remained to be taken. Ten years pass away from the time when Stanley first began the transit of the continent, and a conference is held in Berlin which for its character and the possible magnitude of results probably has had no equal during the Ohristian era. The Berlin Oonference sprang from the African International Association. It met in the closing months of 1884, under the presidency of Prince Bismarck. There were representatives of fourteen European powers-Great Britain, Germany, Aus- tria- Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Norway and Turkey-with the United States of America. After full conference with leading explorers, philan- thropists and missionaries, they have created by solemn compact a Free State, embracing nearly all of equatorial Africa. They have covered by the protection of their covenant a territory equal to two and a half Europes, as large as all the United States except Alaska, peopled by nearly fifty millions of souls; and this is the covenant into which they )lave entered with reference to the land for which Livingstone prayed. It is to be read in the sixth article of their Convention: " All the powers exercising sovereign rights or influence in the aforesaid territories bind themselves to watch over the preservation of the native tribes, and to care fOl> the improvement of the conditions of their moral and mental well-being, and to help in suppressing slavery and especially the slave trade. They shall, without distinction of creed or nation, protect and favor all religious, scientific or charitable institutions and undertakings created and organized for the above ends, or which aim at instructing the natives and bringing horne to them the blessings of civilization. Christian missionaries, scientists and explorers, with their followers, property and collections, shall also be the objects of especial protection. Freedom of conscience and religious toleration are expressly guaranteed to the natives, no less than to the subjects (of the sovereign states) and to foreigners. The free and public exercise of all forms of divine worship, and the right to build churches, temples and chapels, and to organize religious missions belonging to all creeds, shall not be limited or fettered in any way whatsoever."

Every wQrd of this international covenant deserves to be written in gold. A more wonderful highway has not been cast up for Christian missions even in this wonderful century. A page more remarkable, both for the prophecies which it fulfills and the promise which it gives, has not been penned during the Christian era.

It is an appropriate recognition of his generous gifts and unselfish labors that the Kingof Belgium is appointed the sovereign of the Congo Free State. His sovereignty implies little else than the dedication of his energies and resources to the elevation of Africa, with the good-will and the powerful support of the whole civilized world.

The Berlin Conference, springing from the African International Association and under the presiding hand of Prince Bismarck, apparently conferred blessings upon Africa, during the few days of its session, surpassing all that had been secured for her during the present century. At this conference kings became "nursing fathers" for the church, and the basis was laid for the Congo Free State.

Fifteen great powers, thus embracing adherents of Protestant, no-· man Catholic and Greek churches, and even the Mohammedan faith, met in conference at the invitation of the German Imperial Government. One of our British exchanges says: "This conference of powers which sat at Berlin during the past few closing weeks of the year 1884 has dop,e more for AFRICA than all the political action of individual states, including our own government,· during a century. On the 2d of Decemb~r these high contractors adopted a declaration of free trade and oj free intercourse in the basin oj the Oongo, embracing religious, philanthropic and scientific enterprise and the protection in all respects of the native races. Geographically the basin of the Oongo includes 1,300,000 square miles, although a commercial area is reached of more than 3,000,000 square miles. It is understood that the boundaries covered by the Oonference embrace the whole country eastward to the Oentral Lakes, and the Pree Ohurch Monthly of Scotland considers the Lake Nyassa mission field as embraced in the scope of this convention. "

We have watched these signs of the times for twenty years with intent and interested eye. Here is one land alone, of all that at the opening of this missionary century lay in the impenetrable death-shade. Robert Moffatt went to the southern Oape and began his course upward; he was joined by Livingstone, who became his son-in-law. In 1873 Livingstone dies. In 1874 Stanley takes up the unfinished work of exploration. In 1876 Leopold II. calls a conference in Belgium, and the African International Association is born. Stanley emerges from the Oongo's mouth in 1877, and barely reaches Europe in 1878 when he is called to Brussels to meet the king. Before the year 1879 opens a new expedition is organized with Stanley to conduct it, and in August he begins to ascend the mighty river of Africa. Five years pass away and fifteen powers meet in Berlin and lay the foundation of the Oongo Free State. And yet there are some who see no God in history I or who, faintly recognizing a general Providence in human affairs, take but little interest in such mighty and momentous changes as these! For ourselves, we see the luminous pillar of cloud moving, and moving over Africa. If God ever called his people to "arise and possess the land" it is now. Here is a vast territory suddenly thrown open under the united protection of fifteen of the dominant powers of earth and waiting to be taken for God. This is but the latest of a series of developments, the like of which history may safely be challenged to produce, showing that the God of nations is constructing a highway for his people to encompass the world. To the mountain obstacle he says, "Be thou a plain!" and straightway it disappears and there is a level road for his mission band. The danger actually is that the doors have been opened too fast and too soon for the church to enter and take possession! Worldly enterprise, commerce, science, are moving so much more rapidly; even infidelity is outdoing us in propagandism! Rum is flowing into the Oongo basin and threatening to flood it, while one hundred millions of nominal Protestants lethargically delay vigorous efforts to follow God's moving pillar, and risk the loss of the greatest opportunity ever yet placed before the church of God! Have we not wronged Africa enough in the enslaving of her children to make some tardy recompense by giving to her myriads the redeeming gospel?

REV. GEORGE BOWEN

REV. GEORGE BOWEN.

By ROBERT AIKMAN, D.D., MADISON, N. J.

I DO not propose even to sketch the life of this saintly man and eminent missionary; but having been his classmate and familiar friend during his theological course in Union Seminary, I would like to speak of some of those early experiences which gave tone and color to his unique spiritual life and career.

Of the class which entered the seminary in 1844 Bowen was almost the oldest man, having been born April 13, 1816. There was nothing striking in his countenance or personal appearance-of slight frame, quiet demeanor, unimpassioned utterance, and no magnetism of manner -a man who could hardly ever be an orator, and indeed who never came to be one-a most unpretentious man, and courteous as was to be expected of one who had been much in the world of men.

Within the few months during which classmates learn to place each other, we all came to know that Bowen was different from most men, and better than most of us. He had never been to college, yet his Greek and Hebrew recitations were among the finest, and his thoughts at our missionary and prayer meetings, expressed with choice simplicity, were original and quickening beyond the common run. He looked at Bible truth in a novel way, which yet was evidently his natural way. He was not communicative of himself, but we learned that he was newly born into the ChristiaJ.!. life, and almost up to his entrance upon_ ministe:cial studies had been a skeptic, utterly unacquainted with religious truth, and as ignorant of the Bible as a man of his general intelligence and cultivation could well be. The remarkable and pathetic manner in which his mind was turned to the Bible and his striking conversion have been well told and will never lose their interest. Up to that period he was an infidel of the French school, and although never a mocker, he told me that he had always regarded the Bible very much as he had regarded Esop's Fables.

Out of this darkness Bowen came into sudden light, and the light was strange and wonderful and sweet. He probably never had a doubt of Bible truth, of the way of life through Christ, and of his own acceptance with God, from the beginning to the end of his Christian life; and it was at first matter of surprise to him that any believer should have doubts as to his spiritual estate. His expressions were the least hackneyed of any man I ever knew, which, no doubt, was because he had read almost nothing upon religious subjects and was so unacquainted with the views of other Christians. He drew water directly from the wells of salvation, and it is both interesting and profitable to know that he became an evangelical believer; without bigotry,caring little for denominational peculiarities, but evangelical through and through. About the middle of our junior year, Bowen passed into a spiritual experience which I find it difficult to describe, although I was somewhat familiar with the process and the results. He had been giving hlmself more and more to protracted and intense study of the Bible, and particularly of the Gospel of St. John, and more especially still, to those deep portions of it which comprise the Saviour's last discourses with his disciples in the passover room. He discovered that there was an experience to which he had not yet attained, and in which it was possible permanently to abide-a state of absolute certainty as to spiritual truths, of entire devotement to the glory of God, and of rest in God. This, of course,-was nothing else than the" abiding" of which our Lord speaks, and it was not different in its nature from that of Bowen's first experience; but it came to him as almost new, and so it came to his classmates. I shall never forget an evening prayer meeting in the seminary and the impression which his testimony made upon his classmates, although nothing could be less ostentatious than his words and manner. One of our most intelligent men arose and said, "Is this something new in the Ohristian life, or is it a deepening ot the cur- rents which flow in all our hearts?" No doubt it was the latter, but it made the impression almost of newness.

At that time Bowen began to come under the power of a mental habit, not peculiar to him indeed except as to its completeness and permanence. He made a distinct effort to realize the actual and personal presence of the Saviour with him, to become intimately and at all times conscious of the nearness of Jesus as one to be spoken to and walked with. This grew by cultivation to be a great life power with him. One day, Bowen, J. Edwards Ford (afterward of the Syrian Mission) and myself were together in the room of Thomas A. Weed. The last named was a genial and even jovial man, and a great favorite of us all. H.e led the conversation into the line of the nearness of Ohrist to his own, in order, I suppose, to draw remarks from Bowen, who, after a while, said in his quiet way, "I have at this moment a more vivid sense that Jesus is in the room here than I have that either of you three are."

Quite a singular illustration of the power of this mental habit occurred with him in Bombay. In the fall of 1848, when he had been less than a year on missionary ground, he was seized with what seemed to be a fatal attack of ulceration of the larynx. This was long before the days of telegraphs, and on the day when the India packet sailed Bowen was supposed to be dying. Obituaries appeared in the papers, and in one of our religious journals a tribute to his memory and a chastened lament over his" early sickness and death." 'rhe very night the ship sailed the ulceration was arrested and his recovery began. During this illness he began to be troubled with the not uncommon hallucination of groups of persons apparently visible in his room. He said to himself, "I will arrest this delusion by the realized presence of Jesus; of that l am sure>,' and as these forms be~an to appear he su~~ cooded in banishing them simply by the power of this fixed habit of his mind. I have always believed that this habit was almost the greatest force in his life, and it is certain that he endeavored to make it such.

In the ~omplete surrender of himself to Christ, George' Bowen has had many equals, but few I think who became at once and so utterly dead to all former things. Just as absolutely as Paul, did he say, "What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ; yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." All his literary ambitions and pursuits, all his linguistic attainments, all his social reputation, he not only laid upon the altar, but he seemed to forget that he had ever had such attainments or objects. I was often with him in his room and in the family circle, yet I never heard him speak of Italian or French art, although he was master of both languages and had looked with appreciative eye on most of the galleries of Europe, in this resembling the great apostle, who saw the temples, statuary, and altars of Athens, yet spake of one altar only, and made that the text for a sermon. I am not characterizing this, but simply making the statement. He had entered upon a literary career. From others I knew that the Putnams had published a graceful volume from his pen; he never alluded to it in my hearing, One of the family told me that he had nearly completed a much larger work, of which all I ever saw was some manuscript pages which he was putting to some common use; it never saw the light, except perhaps as kindling material. I think he underestimated the influence of his early literary habits and his study of the modern languages; they were of greater service to him all through his life than he seemed to recognize. His facility in acquiring languages was such that he commenced preachi,ng in the difficult Mahratta tongue before he had been nine months in Bombay. The ease with which he accomplished his varied literary and editorial work was due to the practice of those earlier years, when he was building better than he knew and preparing for future work divinely planned for him.

When he gave himself to foreign missions he made two resolvesnever to marry and never to return to his native land. So he lived alone, and died where he had labored. It may be questioned whether his choice to live so near the low plane of Hindu life in food and expenditure was a wise choice; it would not have been possible had he been a married man, as most missionaries will be and ought to be, but his course was prayerfully and deliberately taken, and he had the right to be his own judge. That most devoted Scotsman, William C. Burns, adopted the Chinese mode of living, and went so far as to adopt the Chinese dress. In later life he expressed doubts as to the wisdom of this course, and said that he would probably not do the same if his missionary life were to begin over again. When Bowen withdrew from the American Board and adopted his new mode of life, Dr. Rufus Anderson said it was well to have one man make such an experiment and to

MORMONISM MORmUND

mark the results. Christian Frederick Schwartz and George Bowen were men of great ability, entir'3 consecration, and of wide Christian influence; each was unselfish and generous to the l~st degree, and the work of each abides and will ever abide. That Schwartz hindered his influence because he lived in European modes, or Bowen helped his by living in the Hindu mode, who shall say?

A remarkable feature of Bowen's work has awakened thought among his friends. It is not known that many conversions can be traced to his personal efforts. That he himself ever mourned this or even regarded it as strange does not appear. The Head of the church gives to every man his own work, and Bowen's work seems to have been as nearly perfect as is often given to man to do. When Bishop Randolph Foster returned from India he said to me, "Bowen is called the Saint of India." To be thought .of as such by the many missionaries of the great peninsula is proof of an influence for good greater than is often given to men to exert. He said once to his classmates, "Our aim must be to bear the greatest possible amount of the best possible fruit." It is enough to say of him that for more than forty years he endeavored to fulfill the purpose thus tersely expressed.

The last time I saw him we were standing at the parting of Broadway and one of the avenues. He said, quietly, "It is as if you took this road and I took that, to meet soon where the streets join again."

The class that entered Union Theological Seminary in 1844 had this distinction, that eleven of those who were its members became foreign mISSIOnaries. Bowen was the last who remained in the foreign field, and was the latest of them all to be taken home.

MORMONISM MORIBUND.

By REV. AND PROF. DELAVAN L. LEONARD, OBERLIN, O.

NOT exactly in articulo mortis. Alas, no. The glad time for the setting forth of funeral baked meats is not yet, and most likely is still somewhat remote. But that the obnoxious and abominable system has seen its best. (that is, worst) days, is well advanced on the road that leads to death, and is even in the earlier throes of dissolution. No doubt abundance yet remains for Oongress and the courts, the churches and the whole people to do; but in the thick of the fight there can be no harm, there is much comfort and profit, in surveying the situation, steadily if slowly improving, and in reconnting some of the cheering facts in the case.

A review of thirty years, of twenty, or even of ten, will supply a multitude of indications that the theocracy, long so haughty and defiant, is playing a losing game. Think of it: time was when for an entirdecade Brigham was the despotic head, not only of ecclesiastical but also of civil affairs, and for as much longer governor de facto if not dll jure, since no other than church authority was in the least regarded. How changed from the day when such a one as he could proclaim martiallaw, forbid the Federal army to enter the territory, and send out the Nauvoo Legion to burn the trains and capture the stock! Even so late as 1862, so evil was his disposition and so great was his power for mischief, that even wise and cool Mr. Lincoln shrunk from provoking a conflict by executing the law against polygamy then just passed, removed a governor at the demand of the hierarchy, and promised, "I'll let Brigham Young alone if he will let me alone! " Never again can that so-called" Reformation" return, outbreak of fanaticithn, lust and every devilish passion, a veritable two-years' reign of terror, and whose legitimate culmination was reached in the massacre of Mountain Meadows, engineered altogether by Mormon elders.

Yes, the good work of bringing" the saints" to reason and to decency has made fine progress since Cannon the polygamist, and selected because he was a man possessed of divers wives, took his seat in Congress in 1874, and was able to hold it for eight years. And since about the same date a grand jury, composed of John Taylor and other apostles and high priests, was called to investigate the charge that Brigham had added to the already ample number of his "celestials" by marrying Amelia Folsom, and though the fact was as patent to their knowledge as the shining of the sun, after a two-days' inquisition had the truly sublime impudence to allege that they could find no evidence of his polygamy, and with faces solemn as owls!

Verily the world has moved; and not backward, since Norman Mc- Leod, the first Christian missionary, crossed the rim of the Great Basin in 1865 and opened the batteries of the gospel hard by the Tabernacle. Within two years his Sunday-school superintendent was murdered and he himself compelled to return lest the assassins take his life also. But now teachers and schools, ministers and churches, are found in every considerable settlement in the Territory, and have gained a solid foot. hold, have even conquered a place in the respect and affection of the people.

Through all the earlier years one great difficulty was found in the fact that Utah was so remote across the Great Plains, and the seat of disturbance was hidden behind the mountains. Interference of any kind was an effort at arm's length or a stroke in the dark. But isolation came suddenly and forever to an end when the railroad reached Salt Lake in 1869. Another perplexing feature was this, that the population was so homogeneous, or was Mormon almost to a man. The saints held all the land available for agriculture, and only from the soil could sustenance be gained. But 10 ! in 1863 it was found that the mountains round about the Latter-day Zion were full of the precious metals, and Gentile miners by the thousand began to pour in, and ever since have wrought mighty disturbance to the souls of the hierarchy. These rough delvers for gold, silver and lead regard the peculi/tr institutions of the region with intensest hatred, and never fail to speak their minds on all occasions with the utmost of freedom and force. And through the .impulse borrowed from the mines and from railroads now existing and soon to be built, it looks much as though ere long further additions to the anti-Mormon population by the ten thousand might be made.

And even the execution of Federal laws has been fairly successful of late, at least by comparison with former years. Wholesale disfranchisement of polygamists has been achieved, and in Idaho, wr.ere the elders had long carried things with a high hand, everyone is politically bound hand and foot and fiat upon his back. Whoever in that Territory belongs to the Mormon church is not only debarred from holding any office whatever, he may not even approach the polls! And the edifying spectacle, too long postponed, is continuous now of a procession of those high up in priesthoods, both Aaronic and Melchisedec, marching tramp, tramp, tramp to jail with none to deliver, and with no signs of relaxation in the severe stress of prosecutions. How the nation is minded was seen not long since in Washington, when Senator Ingalls .presented to the Senate a petition against statehood of the size of a nail keg, and signed 105,000 by persons, all from the thirteen original States! And numerous signs, of which these are specimens, unite to show that the theocrats themselves begin to catch glimpses of the handwriting upon the wall. They are willing, now at least, to pretend that polygamy is defunct, and to promise to prohibit it in the future State. Four years ago the Legislature (wholly Mormon) would rather lose a $40,000 appropriation for Deseret University by a gubernatorial veto than elect any but saints to the Board of Regents, but at the last session (with five Gentile members) three were appointed who refuse to bow the knee to Joseph Smith, one of them a Jew, and another a Congregational minister!! And it is even given out by one high in church station that some months since Wilford Woodruff, the present head, issued orders forbidding any more polygamous marriages. This statement, however, is not to be believed until well corroborated. A bold front is still maintained, but the strong probability is that the Mor- mon Church is in the same critical condition which marked the Con- federacy when Grant had reached Petersburg and Sherman had cap- tured Atlanta-just ready to collapse.

Certainly, however, it will not be at all wise to count the victory won. It is altogether too soon to trust any talk that wears the sound of contrition,' or of purpose to mend marital ways. The whole career of this most odious concern has been such as to breed grave suspicion that to date it is only the old case over again: " The devil was sick, the devil a monk would be : The devil was well, the devil a monk was he."

Only a protracted and most searching probation, with large and long bringing forth of fruits ,meet for repentance, will be wise and safe.

MIRACLES OF MISSIONS.'

[JUNE, For not the ancient Jews in their worst estate w~ a whit more stil!- necked and nncircumcised in heart and ears than these same Utah po- litico-religious leaders. Fifty years of successful resistance to law and defiance of public sentiment has made them exceeding bold and se1£- confident, and theirs is a pride to which yielding is an evil only less ter- rible than death itself. .

And so, though it be with trembling and with loius girded for further fight,. let us thank God that giveth the victory to righteousness, and rejoice to see the curse removed.

THE MIRAOLES OF MISSIONS.-No. IV. [EDITORIAL.~A.. T. p.] SIERRA LEONE.

SIERRA LEONE is a well-known British colony of Equatorial Africa, situated in the southern part of Senegambia. It has an area of 319 square miles, aud had twenty years ago a population of 60,000 to 80,000, nearly all blacks. This territory was in 1787, one hundred years ago, bought by a number of private indviduals for the purpose of establishing there a place of refuge for the negroes rescued from slavery and especially from the holds of slaveships, and it was hoped it might prove a convenient and open door to introduce into Wes~ern Africa the blessings of a Ohristian civilization. It early acquired the name of the White Man's Grave from its extreme unhealthiness. Freetown, the capital, contained in 1864 about 16,000 inhabitants, among whom were but a few whites besides the authorities, garrison and missionary agents. In the colony there were said to be, even as late as within a quarter 'of a century, members of seventeen chief and two hundred minor tribes, and from one hundred to one hundred and fifty different languages aud dialects were spoken in the streets of the capital.

If such are the conditions within'the last twenty years some conception may be formed of the state of things early in the present century, when this colony came under the governorship of a ruler appointed by the crown. Seventy years ago if you had gone to what was afterward known as Regent's Town you would have found about one thousand, people, taken at different times from the holds of slaveships, in the extreme of poverty and misery, destitution and degradation. They were as naked and as wild as beasts. They represented twenty-two hostile nations or tribes, strangers to each other's language and having no medium of communication save a little broken English. They had no conception of a pure home; they were crowded together in the rudest and filthiest huts, and in place of marriage lived in a promiscuous intercourse that was worse than concubinage. Lazy, bestial, strangers to God, they had not only defaced his image but well-nigh effaced even the image of humanity and combined all the worst conditions of the most brutal savage life, plundering and destroying one another. Here it pleased God to make a test of his grace in its uplifting and redeeming power. If out of materials so unpromising and in circumstances so unpropitious he could raise up a native church of true disciples and create a Ohristian community, surely men must be compelled to say this is God's husbandry; here is the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

'rhe oldest mission on the western coast of the Dark Oontinent is at Sierra Leone, and is that of the Church Missionary Society. It was about 1816 that William A. B. Johnson applied to this society asking to be sent as a schoolmaster to this colony. He was a plain German laborer, having but a very limited common-school education and no marked intellectual qualifications, but he was trained in the school of Christ and was a good man, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. It became obvious that he was called of God to preach the gospel, and he was ordained in Africa. His period of service was brief, but marvelousin interest and power, and he raised up a native church of great value. Into the midst of these indolent, vicious, violent savages he went. He found them devil worshipers, and was at first very much disheartened. But though William Johnson distrusted himself, he had faith in Christ and his gospel. Like Paul, he resolved to preach the simple gospel, holding up the cross, show them plainly what the Bible says of the guilt of sin, the need of holiness, and the awful account of the judgment day. He simply preached the gospel and left results with God, confident that his word would not return unto him void. For nearly a year he pursued this course. And he observed that over that apparently hopeless community a rapid and radical change was coming. Old and young began to show deep anxiety for their spiritual state and yearning for newness of life. If he went for a walk in the woods he stumbled on little groups of awakened men and women and children who had sought there a place to pour out their hearts to God in prayer; if he went abroad on moonlight evenings he found the hills round about the settlement echoing with the praises of those who had found salvation in Ohrist and were singing hymns of deliverance. His record of the simple experiences of these converts has preserved their own crude, broken, but pathetically expressive story of the Lord's dealings with them, and the very words in which they told {)f the work of grace within them. No reader could but be impressed with their deep sense of sin, their appreciation of grace, their distrust of themselves and their faith in God, their humble resolves, their tenderness of conscience, their love for the unsaved about them, and their insight into the vital truths of redemption. It was very plain that the Holy Spirit was once more working the miracle of Pentecost.

'1'he outward cha,nges were even more striking and marvelous. Those who had before been idlers or vicious busybodies in evil, now learned trades, became farmers and mechanics. About their dwellings gardens were to be found, with evidences of industrious tillage. Marriage took the place of that awful indifference to the family relation that had made the wreck of households imposRible only because there were none to be wrecked. Their night revels and orgies ceased; they stopped swearing, stealing, drinking and quarreling; they built a stone church with galleries, where about two thousand persons regularly gathered for worship, and a more decorous, decently attired, reverent body of worshipers the Church of England herself could not produce. They gathered a thousand of their children into schools; they built parsonage, storehouses, schoolhouses, bridges, all of stone, and in a word exhibited all the signs of a well-regulated, orderly, thriving community of Christians.

William A. B. Johnson died in 1823, having been engaged in his work only seven years. And yet all that we have here recorded he saw before his death-God's word had not indeed returned void. It had been as heavenly seed in earthly soil. Instead of the thorn had come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier the myrtle tree. There could be no doubt who was the Husbandman.

The work was not due to, nor dependent upon, Mr. Johnson. It was God's work and not man's, and therefore it survived the loss of its consecrated leader, although the effect of his sudden removal could not be otherwise than for the time disastrous. Twenty-five years after the mission had been begun one-fifth of the entire population of Sierra Leone was already gathered in Christian schools, and twelve thousand people were regular attendants at the places of worship! Twenty years later not only were native pastorates established, but ten parishes were supporting their own native pastors; and to evangelize the tribes yet beyond the colony's limits not less than six different missions were established and maintained by a people, less than forty-five years before so hopelessly lost in grossest sin and abandoned to the vilest and most shameless wickedness that few thought them worth the ~tJort to save them. In 1868, after a little more than a half century had elapsed since the inception of the mission, the number of nominal Christians in the colony was estimated by some as high as 80,000, and of communicants 20,000, and Sierra Leone was regarded as no longer a field for Christian missions. The rallying point had now become a radiating center. God's husbandry was already so complete that the harvest field was yielding not only bread for the eater but seed for the sower. To any who would fill out the outline of the wonderful work of God furnished in this sketch we commend the memoir of Mr. Johnson, published in London in 1852, also the r~ondon Missionary Register for 1819 and 1829, and the twentieth report of the Church Missionary Society.

Here is a chapter in the modern book of the Acts of the Apostles. The days of the supernatural have not passed, nor will they ever pass while the spirit of God continues to produce in the hearts of men results so amazing, superhuman, stupendous.

THE INSUFFICIENCY OF

THE INSUFFICIENCY OF BUDDHISM.

[We reproduce the following article from the Presbyterian College Journal, from the pen of its editor-in-chief, Prof. E. H. MacVicar, D.D., with his approval It is able and timely.-EDS.) To attempt to show the insufficiency of· Buddhism in an article necessarIly short as this must be, is an ambitious and difficult task. It may seelll even audacious in view of the fact that a choice community of Americans in Boston-ay, at the very "Hub of the Universe"- have openly avowed themselves as Buddhists. But fairness demands that we should recognize truth wherever it is found; and in every system of human thought, it seems to me, we may discover elements of truth as well as of error, so that it is really not surprising that those who persist in eliminating the divine from Christianity should become devotees of the next best system-that is, the next hest regarded from a purely ethical standpoint-that exists. For not only does Buddhism rank next to Christianity: it contains much that is directly parallel. The parallelism is indeed so striking that to some minds it affords not a little perplexity. The Church of Rome especially has found so many of its own doctrines and practices revealed in the" Light of Asia" that it boldly ascribes the whole system to the malignant agency of the prince of darkness transformed into an angel of light. And no wonder. The correspondence between the two is more than shadowy. Both have" a supreme and infallible head; the celibacy of the priesthood; monasteries and nunneries; prayers in an unknown tongue; prayers to saints and intercessors, and especially and principally to a virgin with a child; also prayers for the dead, with the use of a rosary; works of merit and supererogation; self-imposed austerities and bodily inflictions; a formal daily service, consisting of chants, burning of candles, sprinkling of holy water, bowings, prostrations, marchings and countermarchings. Both have also fast days, religious processions, images and pictures and fabulous legends, and revere and worship relics, real and pretended."

An equally striking correspondence is detected in the account of Shak-ya-Muni-Buddha's life, which is made to resemble in a remarkable degree that of Christ himself. Buddha is described as "coming from heaven, being born of a virgin, welcomed by angels, received by an old saint, presented in a temple, baptized with water and afterward with fire, astonishing the doctors with his understanding and answers; as led into the wilderness, and after being tempted of the devil, going about doing wonders and preaching. He was th) friend of the poor and wretched, was transfigured on a mount, descended into hell and ascended into heaven." These remarkable coincidences, skeptics of course have not been slow to seize upon. They at once pointed out that Guatama must have lived at least six centuries before the birth of Christ, and sought to explain the phenomena by alleging that during the eighteen years intervening between Ohrist's twelfth and thirtieth years-a period concerning which, it will be remembered, the inspired record'is quite silent-Jesus went to India, and after possessing himself of the particulars of Buddha's life, returned to Palestine to become the barefaced imitator of the Indian prince. The Ohurch of Rome surmounts the difficulty, as already stated, by declaring that Satan, six centuries in anticipation of Ohrist's coming, counterfeited his history and religion in order that men, being seduced by the false, might refuse to accept, when presented to them, the true.

Fortunately, we are not compened to resort to either of these theories. For reasons clearly stated by another writer in a former number of this magazine, we cannot, on the one hand, consider Ohrist a deceiver; and while, on the other hand, it may be admitted that Satan is the instigator of every system of error, it is unnecessary to attribute these particular resemblances to and perversions of the truth to occult influences, since it has been discovered that none of them are mentioned in the Buddhist writings earlier than the 5th or 6th century after Ohrist. So that in order to assert the paganism of Rome we are 1mrdly justified in pointing to this religion in the Middle Kingdom as if it had borrowed most of its errors from that source. There is rather more reason for believing that Buddhism borrowed from Romanism (since resemblances have been detected chiefly in the modem developments of each) and that "the so-called Light of Asia shines in a borrowed radiance from the Son of David," who is the true Light of Asia and of the world.

But quite independent of this, there is much in Bnddhism which, from the very nature of things, could not have been borrowed and which yet calls for our approval. This may be said more especially with reference to its code of morals. Shak-ya-Muni laid down four principles which he regarded as fundamental. In spite of the luxurious life he had led in an Indian palace-and possibly in consequence of it-he became convinced that the normal state of existence is a state of misery, of sorrow, of unhappiness, and in casting about for the ca~se of all this wretchedness he fixed upon desire as the real disturbing element. Desire, satiRfied and unsatisfied, brought misery into the world and kept it there. Desire was fraught with sorrow. Desire made life unhappy. Therefore, he concluded, if desire could but be quenched, life's misery would cease, for then man would attain to nirvana-a state of perpetual quiescence. But how to quench desire-that was the question. Ultimately he propounded a fourfold method of doing this. To quench it a man's life must be characterized, 1st, by proper wisdom or faith; 2d, by proper judgment or thoughts; 3d, by proper language; 4th, by proper actions. "Under these, the principles he laid down were five, in a negative form-not to kill, extending even to animal life; not to steal" (a good maxim for Boston Buddhists, by the way); "not to commit adultery; not to lie-this extending to the use of improper language; and not to use strong drink" (a good maxim for Christian lands as well); "and positively, he enjoined six virtues-charity, purity; patience, courage, contemplation, science. " Now, to none of the latter principles can we take exception. They are all sound and embraced in Christianity. They all go to show that the law is written on the heart of man; that the" invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." But, while there is much that is good in the system, there is more that is bad. Let us briefly consider the points that are most assailable.

And we must attack it- I. First of all, on its ETHICAL SIDE. From this standpoint the most serious defect presented is 1. That it ignores Oonscience. The ethical system of Buddhism, so far as I am able to understand it, is not unlike the egoistic or selfish system which made Thomas Hobbes both famous and notorious, driving him to Paris in terror of his life. 'rhe Sage of Malmesbury started out on premises similar to those which Siddhartha adopted. He contended that in every performance, even the simplest, we are actuated by a specious motive of desire-desire to escape pain and enjoy pleasure; in short, the great mainspring of all activity, individual and collective, is selfishness, or as some people prefer to distinguish it, self-interest. And just as Buddha declared that misery, sorrow, sui!ering, is the normal condition of existence, the inevitable result of sentient being, so Hobbes declared that the state of nature (as distinguished from the artificial state brought about in society) is a state of warfare-warfare inevitable, continual and bitter-each man pitting his own interests against those of his fellows, and waiving them only when mutual concession to abstain from the exercise of certain common rights claimed by both at the same moment is established and observed. Far be it from us to deny the pa:T,',tial truth involved in both instances; life is far from being unalloyed enjoyment or unbroken peace; but the error lies, in the one case, in making this imperfect condition to depend entirely upon the presence of desire, and, in the other case, in making the performance of every act, the simplest, depend entirely upon the wish to escape pain and secure pleasure. The fact is that much, if not all, our misery arises through an entire or partial failure to obey the dictates of conscience. It is the peculiar function of conscience to make distinctions between right and wrong, and that all men make such distinctions is evidenced by the occurrence in all languages (including those spoken where Buddhism prevails) of ideas of moral excellence and moral evil, as well as by the prevalence in all civilized lands of systems of reward and punishment, indicating that there are some actions which ought to be done, and others which ought not to be done. This is the work of conscience. But Buddhism simply proceeds upon the supposition that all desire is undesirable. It takes no cognizance of the fact that desires are neither all alike right nor all alike wrong. It ignores the question of right and wrong altogether; and upon the broad assumption that all the misery in the world is caused by desire, often in itself perfectly innocent, seeks the ultimate extinction of desire of any and every kind. As a code of morals, therefore, it signally fails in that it ignores conscience and its function of declaring right and wrong.

2. This failure really arises from another. It has no true standard of right and wrong. This, simply because it ignores the existence of God. Buddhism originally came from India, but is now said to be more widespread in Ohina than in· the land of its birth. Originally, it was pure Atheism. Gautama used to say that he could not conceive of a Being who could create a world so full of misery as this is, and therefore he denied the existence of a Oreator altogether. In India the system developed into Pantheism, nirvana corresponding to ab- sorption in the Deity; while in Ohina it has come to assume the form of Polytheism. It will thus be seen that no immutable standard of right and wrong can be adduced. The true standarCi. is God's own nature; but in Atheism the existence of God is absolutely denied; in Pantheism God is regarded as devoid of personality, so that there can be no room for responsibility; in Polytheism a multiplication of standards IS obtained, so that the Buddhist is debarred from saying, "Right is right, since God is God,"

because with him" God" would stand for gods many, and one of these might be offended by obedience rendered tc q,nother; no two of his standards might agree. Buddhism, if it have a standard at all, must place it either in a series of antagonistic deities, or in human nature, and to do this is to make it mutable and gooJ for nothing. Such a law must be ever shifting with the moods, the dispositions, the envi- ronments of those from whom it emanates, and on that account can never have reliance placed upon it.

3. The insufficiency of Buddhism is further manifest in the practical outcome of it. In its favor it must be said that it has never deified vice nor sanctified prostitution (as has too often been the case in East- ern lands), nevertheless it is confirmed at the mouth of more than one or two witnesses that the statement of the fourteenth psalm de- scribes with vivid accuracy the system in its practical working out: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works." Under it the grossest immorality has been developed. But this I would not press too confidently as evidence of weakness in the system of ethics as such, since the failure may, and indeed must have arisen, not so much through imperfec- tion in the system itself (for this we know to be directly opposed to immorality), as through its inadequacy to change human nature defiled by sin. It is a matter of fact that abominable scandals have occurred, more especially in connection with its monasteries and nunneries, which have more than once been condemned and suppressed by the imperial authorities as hotbeds of immorality. It is true that at the time when Buddha appeared in India, his system was a revulsion from lower forms of heathenism, and elevation of thought and life was in a measure secured by it; but nowadays Buddhism is a mass of degrading formalities and inconsistent superstitions. Even the priests are densely ignorant, and the majority of its votaries are said to know really less of it than many Europeans who have made it a study.

So much then for Buddhism on its ethical side. II. Let us consider it now on ITS RELIGIOUS SIDE. For it is well to remember that Buddhism is received bS one-third of the human race, not as a philosophy, but as a religion. Buddha described himself as "the father and mother of his helpless children; their guide and leader along the precipitoHs path of life; shedding the light of his truth like the sun and moon in the vault of heaven; providing a ferry-boat for passengers over this vain sea of shadows; as a propitious rain-cloud, restoring all things to life; providing salvation and refuge, by directing men into the final path that leads to the' Eternal City.'" Let us then inquire, Did the path he pointed to, in very truth lead to the It Eternal City" or away from it? Most assuredly the latter, since it only led away from Him who is the Light of it. 1. For in the first place we may instance its materialism. It gives no proper recognition to the soul. Indeed it does not recognize spiritual existence at all. It denies that the.re is a soul in man, a permanent self separable from the body. And as a consequence of this it regards life as material, involving decay. Buddha's last words were, "Beloved, that which causes life causes also decay and death. Never forget this; let your minds be filled with this truth. I called you to make it known to you." But it may be asked, Does not the doctrine of transmigration, which in these days has come to occupy the most prominent place in Buddhism, involve the idea of a soul? One would think so; but such is not the case. Life is looked upon as something material, and therefore may change and dissolve like anything material. And this was the whole essence of the salvation Buddha had to proclaim. "Life involves death. Wherever there is life, decay must follow. In eVt;lry form of existence there are already the germs of dissolution. To get rid of decay and its accompanying misery we must get quit of life; of life not merely in this present world, but of life in every form. For in the Buddhist philosophy there is no such conception as a purely spiritual existence. He is a heretic who holds that a man has a soul or permanent self separable from the body. Whatever is material is subject to change and dissolution, and there is no life which is not material. These are postulates, the ultimate facts on which Buddhism proceeds. As long therefore as man is, he must be miserable. His only salvation is not to be. There is no cure. The only escape from evil is escape from existence. The great problem comes to be, how to commit suicide-suicide not of that pitiful and de- lusive kind which rids a man of life in one particular form, but which rids him of existence in every form. The ultimate good to which the individual looks forward is annihilation; the consummation of all things which is to be prayed for and striven after is absolute universal nothing." Now with materialism like this we must as Ohristians take issue. And apart altogether from revelation we know that though physicists have often given us analyses of matter, they have never dis- covered in matter the phenomena of thought. They have never, for instance, found in it hope, fear, joy, sorrow, volition, a sense of per- sonal identity or anything akin; and these being yet unaccounted for in their analyses we properly relegate them to spirit. And if with our modern medical science we can persuade the Buddhist that these frail bodies of ours Imdergo a complete change every seven years, while the sense of personal identity remains unaltered, he must (so be it that he is an intelligent Buddhist) admit that life has not been changing, though the physical frame, the material body has, and that conse- quently this life or spiritual entity must be quite a distinct factor from the body.

2. And then in the next place Buddhism as a religion fails to teach the trzte nature of sin. This was to be expected since it admits of no personal God against whom sin can be committed. While it profes- sedly seeks to purge the outward life, it does nothing to remove the pollution within, denying indee4 that there is any heart, any soul, Ifrom which evil can proceed within. As a consequence, missionaries assure us that their great difficulty lies in convincing the heathen of their guilt; a difficulty which we shall all have to encounter whether we stay at home or go abroad.

3. A third defect in Buddhism as a religion-and it is the most serious of all, being the very root of all-is that it presents false views oj God. Space forbids anything more than a mere comprehensive statement of this defect.

In a general way it may be said that Buddhism, and for that mat- ter all heathen systems, both of philosophy and religion, fail utterly to reveal a Saviour and sanctifying Spirit; and it is especially unsatis- fying in the dim, shadowy allusions which it makes to the future state. .

The task I have now tried to accomplish of showing the insuf- ficiency of Buddhism has been far from a self-imposed one. I was requested to undertake it by the Montreal Foreign Missionary Volun- teers, and hardly realized its magnitude till I began to consult the voluminous authorities upon the subject. It is told how a learned divine across the waters once waxed so eloquent over the excellences of Buddhism that some one passing out of the door was forced to exclaim, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a heathen!" This is matched by the story of the Unitarians sending a missionary to Ohina who actually was persuaded to be a Buddhist heathen. But until the defects just pointed out-namely, the denial of spirit, the belittling of sin, the dishonoring of God, silence as to the true way of salvation-have been remedied, we must still regard the "Light of Asia" as wofully insufficient.

I have then tried to suggest how we may refute the system theoretically; but after all, as our own Professor of Apologetics recently remarked in the class-room, there are not many infidels converted through Apologetics; often the most powerful argument with them is that of a consistent example, so that if anyone would prepare to meet Buddhism effectively the surest course of preparation will be by seeking spiritual life" more abundantly," in order that by Ohristlike lives we may convince the followers of Buddha that we follow a Greater than he.

Only the power of the Holy Spirit can really be depended upon for meeting Buddhism, and that power, in terms of the great commission is at our disposal. The Saviour still says, "Ask and ye shall receive." If we have been finding it our greatest difficulty in preaching, especially to the heathen at home in cushioned pews, to make them fuel their sinfulness, we may depend upon finding this difficulty as great and greater under the Buddhist system. Our true work whereever we go shall be to promulgate the great cardinal doctrines of Ohristianity–to preach the gospel to every creature-but in doing so we shall have to tear down as well as build up. To us, as to Jeremiah, the Master says, "See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull uown, and to destroy, and to throw down "-all eventually in order "to build and to plant." And the only question that arises is as to the manner of doing it. Shall we be destructive before we are constructive? Or shall we first and always sow the seed of positive truth, in the expectation that, like the single parasite that took root in the walls of a massive building and in the course of time brought the whole structure crashing to the ground, even so the word of God "shall not return unto him void . but shall prosper in the thing whereto he sent it," both to the down-pulling of every refuge of lies and to the upbuilding of the truth in Jesus. Whatever we may conclude regarding methods of warfare, the conviction must surely force itself upon our minds and hearts that we are called not so much to attack and refute every heathen system that prevails the wide world over as to preach in a positive and persevering manner Ohrist and him crucified, relying on the power of the Holy Ghost, whose it is "to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."

THE SPEECHLESS TESTIFYING FOR CHRIST

THE SPEEOHLESS TESTIFYING FOR CHRIST.

By REv. W. H. BELDEN~ BRIDGETON~ N. J.

IN a city sixty miles from Oanton, Ohina, Miss Whilldin of the South- ern Baptist Mission noticed once in meeting a few years ago a man evi- dently dumb, who was indicating by extraordinary attempts his delight at the Ohristian hymns. His incoherent mumblings as he attempted to sing from the printed page before him led to some inquiry. The man had the unusual faculty, to one dumb, of hearing; he could read and hear, but he could not speak. His home was in a village at some distance from the city, and his neighbors testified of him that since he had begun to learn our Saviour's gospel his devotion to it had known no bounds. He had somehow obtained a copy of the Scripture in Ohi- nese, and when he would encounter some of his neighbors quarreling, he would open his Testament to some pertinent word of admonition and hold it ont for the wicked ones to read and profit by. He had never been known to utter more than a single word, or rather sound like a word, such was the nature of his malady. But the villagers said that his zeal seemed to lead him even into supernatural utterance, for he would rush upon his neighbors, bringing their paper devotions to idols, and, tearing the papers to pieces, would manage to speak these three words with significant gestures: "Pai go wai !" "Worship that one! "

In the course of time this poor man was proposed for baptism. The pastor and brethren hesitated, feeling that it was impossible to gain from . his speechless mouth any adequate proof that he had the knowledge re- quisite for church membership, or that he was not acting with duplicity. He was brought before the church, however, and the minister asked him this question: "What is the ground of your belief that there is sal- vation for you in Jesus Ohrist? " The others looked at one another in dismay; this question seemed impossible of answer from a dumb man. But he, on hearing it, instantly arose and proceeded to answer by signifi- cant signs. First, he put his hands upon his breast with an expression of loathing, to indicate his own sense of sin; then he stepped forward and looked down as if beholding a deep and awful pit, from which again he shrank back with a look of terror ;' but presently drawing near again, he looked and seemed to see something just beyond; then he made the sign of the cross! Jesus was there! And now agfin he looked into the pit and smiled, as that he saw his own sins cast in there! At last he looked up and pointed to heaven with a smile of ecstasy. Jesus had died for his sins and was risen forever to make intercession for him !

Was not this speech? It brought vividly to the missionary's mind the words of Scripture (Isaiah xxxv. 6), "Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb s-ing, for in the wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the desert." " Behold! (Isa. xlix. 12) these shall come from far, and lo! these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim I ,.

TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES

TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.

By REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.

M. VERNIER, in a letter to Paris from Tahiti, says: "Weare profoundly rejoiced to learn how greatly the interest in missions has increased within a year among the Protestants of France. They assuredly will not halt in so happy a path, but will show more and more that the Saviour's injunction to make the gospel known to every creature is not for them a dead letter. Our Tahitian churches also begin to have a better understanding of their duty in this direction. The proceeds of the system of collections recently organized among them by our little Missionary Committee, in view of a work on the Marquesas, already amount to a very respectable sum, which now allows us to form plans of action. The Lord, we trust, will soon let us know which one of our Tahitians he would have set apart to open this work."

THE Journal des Missions Evangeliques for December, 1887, in comment- • ing on Canon Taylor's and Dr. Blyden's commendations of Islam, remarks that a religion which has taken twelve centuries to occupy Northern Africa, and which has left still surviving there tribe after tribe of pagans, while of those nominally Mussulman some do not even practice circumcision, must not be rated too high as a missionary force. The editors remark that when the followers of the Crescent are once setin motion by one of their periodical outbursts of fanaticism, idolatry has certainly a way of disappearing very rapidly, inasmuch as entire populations professing it disappear in one grand massacre. That, however, is not our usual conception of missionary effort, though it may suit the purposes of Canon Taylor and Dr. Blyden to give it this holy name. And it must be confessed that when a tribe chooses rather to be Moslemized than extinguished, it is allowed its election. In this case, however, the conquerors, according to the great traveller Barth, do not give themselves the trouble to communicate the slightest tincture of religious knowledge to their new subjects.

There is, however, the editors remark, one important exception to this easy willingness to take the name of Islam for the fact. The disciples of the Tripolitan saint Snoussi are innumerable, and bent on spreading far and wide the somber and taciturn type of their Puritan Mohammedanism. "They are making ready for one of those gigantic and sudden explosions of fanaticism of which it is impossible to calculate the effects." But, say the editors, it would be a strange hallucination to imagine that they would receive with any other feeling than that of furious scorn the knowledge of the fact that a Nazarene mollah complacently claims their system as "an incomplete Christianity," or to impute to them any other attitude toward civilization than that of uncompromising hostility. "What they are dreaming of is a return to the Islam of the early ages-a violent and definitive triumph by an irresistible conquest."

Among the benefits of Islam, according to Canon Taylor, is the spread of chastity. Upon this the Journal remarks: Islam and slavery are one. The news that slavery is the parent of chastity is news indeed. Well may Islam advance toward the heart of Africa, for the spread of Islam is one prolonged slave-hunt. "Almost always," says the Journal, here quoting from an eyewitness, the celebrated traveller Schweinfurth, "almost always the agents of this traffic in human beings are educated Mussulmans. This commerce is for them an ordinary accessory of their religious character; they traverse the country, the Koran in one hand, the knife destined to furnish guardians for the harem n the other; they associate with their religious practices infamies the most revolting, cruelties the most atrocious. . • • Brokers of human flesh, lustful and pitiless, they watch for their booty as vultures watch over a camel fallen in the desert; the shrill sound of their blasphemous prayers mingles with the imprecations with which they overwhelm their merchandise; nothing is to be seen but uncleansed wounds; cadaverous stenches spread themselves far and wide. The sum-total of these scenes forms a spectacle the most revolting, impossible to efface from the mind; it leaves behind an insurmountable disgust, an unutterable horror."

If the hordes of Brigham Young were turned loose in the middle of Africa, they surely could not do a completer devil's work than this. No wonder the Journal concludes with, "Behold, Canon Taylor, your missionaries, your apostles of humanity!"

LAST year, at the Moravian station of Gnadenthal, near the Cape of Good Hope, was held the 150th anniversary of the commencement of missionary work among the Hottentots by the Moravian Schmidt. He had previously served a term of three years at hard labor in Spielberg for having endeavored to carry a purer gospel to some remnants of the Brethren's Church still found in the Austrian territories. After gathering a community of forty-two converted Hottentots and revisiting Europe, he was refused permission to return by the Dutch East India Company, and died at home. At the anniversary services, the Lutheran minister who preached, instead of being furnished by the Moravian pastor with a well-bound Bible, was requested to take his text from a shabby New Testament, the sight of which, it is remarked, profoundly moved all who were present. It was the book which Schmidt had left to one of the first Hottentot women converted; "it was in this little book that she was to read during fifty years, waiting always for the return of her spiritual father, or of some other messenger of God; it is in this New Testament that she taught her children and grandchildren to read; it was, in fine, this New Testament which had been, at the end of the last century, rediscovered by the first missionaries who bad again come to the Cape; and it was in this volume, so full of remembrances, that Missionary Schmidt of Amalienstein was invited to take his text at the celebration. The seed may indeed be no' larger than a mustard seed, but sooner or later it has its harvest, that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." '

IN the Dans7c Missionsblad (Danish Missionary Magazine) for January, 1888, Missionary Lazarus of Madras says, in substance: "Our activity in street-preaching has lately aroused a new spirit among the Hindus. They are no longer listless as they were. They now show unmistakable signs of life and energy. They may be now regarded as coming forward in an effectively organized opposition, both to our preaching and to our faith. A new society has been organized in defense of Hinduism, with regular collections-' missionaries' and 'catechists,' who are sent out to preach Hinduism and attack ChristIanity and the Christian missionaries. They make it a point to preoccupy our preaching places, going to them an hour or two before the time. If they fail of this, they make it a point to annoy us by asking questions in the middle of the discourse. If we answel'~ which we never do till we have finished preaching-they badger us and hunt us from point to point, with the one thought of hunting us off the field. Of course we can claim no rights in the matter, as our Christian government observes a contemptuous neutrality. Often a Hindu preacher, taking his station close by us, begins his discourse at the same time with OUnl, which naturally carries over to him most of the hearers. If a.ny remain with us, a messenger comes over from him and asks upbraidingly hew children of lawful marriage between Hindu fathers and Hindu mothers can stand there encouraging a Christian to preach. This appeal commonly strips us of our few remaining hearers.

"They have also a Hindu tract society in operation, which issues all manner of pamphlets, including many which are so vile as to expose both author and printer to the law. But who is to bear the cost of prosecution?

"Meanwhile Madras resounds with preaching, especially every afternoon -Christian preaching, Hindu preaching, Mohammedan preaching, Brahmo preaching. The Tamil journals are full of announcements of sermons and debates: The Tamils have also a 'Punch,' which loses no opportunity to make merry at the expense of the' padres.' To meet such attacks a joint committee of various missions has determined to issue a popular journal in English and Tamil, of which I have been put in charge.

" However much the Hindus may have combined against us, I am glad to say that there are none the less a good many schisms in their camp. 'A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand,' and Hinduism is divided against itself. One preaches against the other's doctrines and moral!!. One will defend idolatry, and another will unsparingly condemn it. One will attack the Bible, especially the Old Testament, and another will take up arms in its defense. One party will issue tracts discussing Hindu questions, and another will rejoin with pamphlets, taking the opposite view of everything, and laying bare the vulnerable points of Hinduism. And so Hinduism divides itself and goes to buffets. Hinduism is so tolerant and elastic that every religious system, even to the worst atheism, can find a corner within its spacious domain. But under the disintegrating influences to which it is now exposed, these incongruous elements cannot long maintain an armistice. Some reformers, clearly conscious that Hinduism is in great danger of losing its hold upon the rising race, are trying if they can revive the old Veda religion, and so we have around us sooieties entitled Veda-Somaj, or Arya-Somaj, or Societies for the Propagation of the True Religion, and what not. All this stir and commotion may end in something good, may issue in the recognition of the crucifled Jesus as the Saviour of the world."

A DISCUSSION had lately been held in Madras before an audience of 2,500 persons, between the Hindus and Mohammedans on the one side, and the Christians on the other, concerning the Godhead of Christ. The principal spokesman of the former was a learned Moslem. He concluded his argument by saying: " Although we cannot acknowledge that the Bible represents Christ as the Supreme Being, we must all concede that he is the best and holiest man that has ever li ved, so good and holy that he can secure to all who put their trust in him the inheritance of eternal life." The force of this testimony, from such a man at such a time, must have been very great.

DR. W ARNECK remarks, in the Allgemeine Missionszeitschrijt, that a few years back at a synodical meeting in Berlin indifference to foreign missions was excused under the plea that" the shirt is nearer than the coat." He says, however, that even in Berlin they have since learned to be ashamed of this flimsy pretense, and to discern (1) that seemliness does not allow a man to go in nothing but a shirt; (2) that for the prosperity of the church the export of missionaries is as advantageous as for the mercantile world the export of goods. Dr. Warneck goes on to rem&rk that there has been a marvelous reversal of opinion in Germany generally as to the value of missions. Now that the German ambition is opening out toward colonization, the auxiliary value of missiona,ries as a~ents of culture cannot well be overlooked. The assistance rendered to science by missions is also coming to be more and more appreciated. Thus multitudes who care very little for the kingdom of God are nevertheless learnipg to set a higher estimate upon its ambassadors.

THE Zeitschrift recalls the time, some fifty years ago, when a missionary secretary in Scotland wrote to the young Duff, afte/'ward so famous, that things were going well; $6,000 had been raised for foreign missions. "No more?" wrote Duff in reply. "It ought to be ten times that." " Is the man mad?" wrote the secretary on the margin of the letter. " Has he had a sunstroke in India?" Perhaps Duff himself would have been staggered had some one told him that in fifty years Scotland would raise for foreign missions not ten times but a hundred times as much as the sum which had so encouraged the worthy secretary. ," Had anyone then," says Dr. Warneck, "ventured to prophesy that before 1890 Protestant Christendom would annually contribute $8,400,000 for foreign missions, and put in the field, ordained and unordained, much more than 3,000 missionaries, and have translated the Bible into some 400 languag'es, the question as to his wits would not have been raised. It would have been taken for granted that they had forsaken him. Yet for all that the impossibility has become reality.

THE Tidning, after remarking that two hundred years ago the heathen world was almost wholly shut out from the knowledge and activity of Protestantism, and in large measure of the whole Christian world, happily says: " At present the heathen world lies like a poor Lazarus at wealthy Christendom's door, so that this, as it were, can neither go out nor in without stumbling over its unhappy brother, whose case may well awaken to compassion all who have a heart to feel for the wretchedness and for the religious degradlJ,tion of their fellow-men."

THE Missionsblatt of the Leipsic Lutheran Mission, referring to the present disposition in Germany to yoke missions to the car of national ambition, says, in its January number: "Whence shall we draw new strength, in order, with the new year. to receive a fresh impulse toward making ready the way for the returning Lord? Shall we seek it in new plans, new missionary gatherings, and allmanner of means of stimulating interest? Or shall we, as some would have us do, enlarge our missionary programme, and write also civilization and colonization upon it? Far be it from us. Our work is, and is to be, to' bring the present Saviour. in the offer of the means of grace to the heathen, and so to prepare the way for the coming Lord. Therefore we know only one means to get new strength, namely, above all things, in simplicity and faithfulness, to do and pursue this one thing, first to win Christ for ourselves, and then to seek also to find an entrance for him into the hearts of others."

WE used to be taught at school that there were four castes in India. But the Leipsic Mis8ionsblatt says that among the Tamils of South India there are computed to be 8,000 castes and subcastes, and in all India perhaps more than twice as many. A subcaste appears to be for most purposes the same as a caste. We must not expect these 16,000 walls to fall at 13 blasts of the trumpet, though fall they will.

THE Bulletin Missionnaire of French Switzerland, the churches of which support a mission in the Transvaal Republic, remarks, in view of a possible war between the Boers and some savage tribes: "If war does break out, there is a prospect of scenes of sickening brutality. During the summer the people of Mpafouri have devoured their prisoners of war, and M. Beuster has been himself witness to all the prepa-

CONTAGIOUS SUPERSTITION

rations for a cannibal feast. Our neighbor Ndjabune of Tsofirn has also eaten one of his brothers who gave him some matter of offense fifteen years ago, and there is every reason to believe that he would have a very good appetite'for another such repast if a fair opportunity offered itself. Yet it would be wrong to put all this to the account of a depraved taste for the flesh of the hostile warriors. A good many only take part in such horrors when urged by the chiefs or the kindred of those who are called to face the enemy. The fact is that there exists among our Bavenda, and a good many other Africans, an inveterate opinion that whoever has tasted of' human flesh is invulnerable in battle. Of all medicines this, it is held, is the most efficacious for turning aside the stroke of an enemy and giving victory. This horrible practice among these wretched people, therefore, roots not so much in depraved appetite or cruelty as in superstition. The need of protection is a sentiment so natural to us poor human creatures that it seems as if nothing ought to be spared to assure us of it. Let us then pity these eaters of men; their wretchedness is extreme. 'Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.' The prophet, in writing these words, so profound and so simple, did not perhaps know that there could ever be occasion to attach to them a material and literal sense as true as the other. Ah! how many surprises for one who lives in a pagan worldl"

"CONTAGIOUS SUPERSTITION."

By Lucy E. GUINNESS OF LONDON. IT was 1700 years ago and more, in the early days of the church. Pliny, the Roman governor and historian, was writing to his master, the Emperor Trajan, of the progress of the province of Bithynia, and the questions that arose in the administration of justice there. Among other elements that he found most difficult to deal with was a certain small religious sect of simple and harmless tenets, but who absolutely refused to pay homage to the gods. As citizens these people were exemplary in'life and conduct, but they actually held their opinions as regards the worship of one God and the great evil of idolatry in defiance of all the laws of pagan Rome. The whole heaven of mythological deities was as nothing to them, and they refused, even under torture, to burn incense on the altar of Jove or before the statue of Trajan. Such conduct was incomprehensible to the Roman governor. But it was not the worst of their crimes. Not content with themselves forsaking the state religion, they were far from keeping silence on the subject of their guilt, but so published abroad the delusion under which they labored that Pliny exclaims in distress, "This contagious superstition is not confined to the cities only, but has spread its infection among the neighboring villages and country. Nevertheless," he adds, with a gleam of hope, "it still seems possible to restrain its progress." And so he went to work, and torture (that the old Romans knew well enough how to inflict!) measured its strength with the faith of Jesus Christ. Then it was that Pliny discovered what a marvelous unseen power lay in this" contagious superstition." Some few professors, he relates, gave way, but even flame and sword utterly failed in compelling the early Christians to offer incense to the statue of Trajan or to the gods. All his efforts were vain. They would die, but they would not deny Jesus! And the Roman governoc makes the striking statement that" There is no forcing those who are really Ohristians into any of these compliances! " The" contagious superstition" was more than a match for him! Seventeen centuries have rolled by, and could Pliny look around Ol,lr world to-day he might ask what had become of the "contagious superstition" that baffled his skill long ago. Had it been trampled out of existence by the iron heel of Rome? Or had it run a brief course, like so many other superstitions, and died a natural death, according to the law of such fungus growths? And he would be astonished in no little measure at the answer of Christendom. For the" contagious superstition" has spread overthe world, and still it is reaching forth its arms to the heathen, nor will it ever cease to spread till it has affected all nations.

Yes. The faith of Jesus Christ is verily contagious. This is one law of its being. It must be aggressive or it cannot live. "The Christian or church that does conquer will be conquered." The vital principle in Christianity requires that it should extend or die.. There is no middle course. We know this individually in our own experience. If we have" been with" Jesus we cannot help witnessing for him, "we cannot but speak." Freely we have received, freely we must give to others of the water of life. And thus watering we are watered ourselves. But very surely is the converse of this blessed fact also true. If we water not we shall be withered. "We do not find warrant in the Word of God for spirit-level experience. Count the dead and dying churches, all because they did not fight and conquer I"

From its earliest dawn to this nineteenth century of its existence the Christian faith has been essentially "contagious." To-day we see this contagion spreading to the heatben by means of missionary effort. The hundreds of missionary societies all over the Christian world; the thousands of workers at home and abroad; the millions who help by their gifts to forward missionary work; the stream:of missionary literature in the shape of reports, periodicals, accounts, letters, appeals, and countless other productions, that issues month by month, and even hour by hour, from the press; the earnest missionary addresses delivered from all sorts of platforms, from that of Exeter Hall down to that of the simple Sunday-school in the bush at the antipodes, and in all sorts of places, from the crowded metropolis to the quiet country lane, where the student confides to his fellow his purpose to enter the great harvest-field; the countless hearts that turn with love and longing to the regions beyond; the countless prayers that ascend to our Father for the dark places of the earth i-all these are so many agencies for that spread of the truth which so long ago attracted the marveling attention of Pliny.

And the soul that is out of touch with this missionary zeal and energy, this contagious spirit of tlie church, is out of touch with the Spirit of Jesus Christ, who was the First Great Missionary; who so loved us-the dwellers in darkness-that he gave, not money, nor time, not thought or interest or help, but himself, for us !

A NOTABLE CONVERT TO MISSIONS.

BEFORE the late M. Paul Bert was appointed as Resideht in Tonquin, he was most violent in his opposition to religion and in any crusade against clericalism. His hostility to missionaries was equally pronounced. In the report of his administration of Tonquin, just published, he dropped his hostility to missionaries altogether. and availed himself of their immense knowledge of the people, by which, if not by their advice also, he guided his actions. Without their assistance it was almost impossible for him to succeed, and he had to acknowledge the great value of their services. It would be difficult to find a more surprising example of a complete turning upside down of a public man as publicly avowed; and the fact is an important testimony to the value of missionary work.

SENT BEFORE THE MAJiTER

SENT BEFORE THE MASTER.-LuKE x. 1. By MRS. MERRILL E. GATES, NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J.

Air, .. From Greenland's Iell Mountains…

Isaiah 6. 8 "WHOM shall I send? He sayeth ; " What servant shall it be?" " " " " 'Tis Faith's strong voice that prayeth, " " "My Master, 0 send me !"

Gal. 1. 16 Send me to tell Thy story, Abroad, or here at home. Acts 22.21 Send me, 0 Lord, before Thee, Luke 10. 1 Where Thou Thyself wilt come.

Acts 10.89 Send me, for I have known Thee, I would Thy witness be ; Acts 22.15 To speak thy message only, Acts 5.20 My Master, 0 send me.

Romans 10. 15 Send me to speak of Jesus, Of what my Lord hath done- John 1. S His finished work most precious, Luke 8.89 Of this and this alone.

John 17. 4 Ps. 71. 16 Ez. 34. 4 To bring the lost and sinning, To Thee, the Sinless One, Reb. ~ 26 To speak sweet words and winning, Eph. 3. S Of Christ, the Father's Son.

John 17. 1 Send me to darkest places, To many a shadowed home, Isaiah 9. 2 Where with Thy shining gl'aces, 2 Peter 1. 19 Lord Jesus, Thou wilt come.

2 Cor. 4. 4 2 Cor. 4. 6 Heb. 3. 2 Send me to work appointed, But, Master, let me be Micah 3. S By Thine own power anointed, Acts 2.4,17 Then, Master, 0 send me !

Acts 1. S Not unto us the glory, When lost ones find their home; Ps. 115. 1 We only go before Thee, Luke 15.24 Where Thou Thyself wilt come!

Luke 10. t " "

BRIEF NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER

BRIEF NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.

])ictionary and Grammar of the Kongo Language. By Rev. W. Holman Bentley. Bapt. Miss. Society, Holborn, London; also Trilbner & Co.

This book is one of the landmarks of the age. Here is a volume of over 700 pages, both English-Kongo and Kongo-English, and all printed in Roman characters! The Congo Free State became such only in 1884–85, and here in 1887-88 we have a complete grammar and lexicon of the language, pre- pared by a scholarly missionary, and printed in beautiful typography by English publishers. This will put all students of the language in the way of easy conquest of the Kongo tongue. Not only are words given with their equivalents, but sentences and phrases and idioms are placed at the disposal of the student. The wide and warm interest felt on iJoth sides of the water in Africa's unveiling and revealing will insure in many hearts a deep interest in this new and largely pioneer work toward mastery of the Kongo dialect. -A. T. P.

Brazilian Missions. A Monthly Bulletin of Missionary Intelligence. Edited In Sao Paulo, Brazil, aud published in Brooklyn, N. Y., at 25 cents per annum. Subscriptions may be sent to Donald McLaren, D.D., 372 Lewis avenue, Brooklyn. Outside of the United States and Canada, 12 cents for postage.

We are glad to see this monthly of eight pages. It aims to keep before the church the details of the work in Brazil more fully than hitherto has been possible. Thebulk of Christians know very little of the work of God in papal lands, and especially in South America, where the Romish system may be seen in its most corrupt, idolatrous and immoral form. Those who, in their desire to be charitable, talk of the Romish Church as simply a branch of the church catholic but in error in some particulars, should become familial' with papal customs, manners and morals in Brazil. Dr. Howard Crosby in- cisively says of those W!:l0 call the Papal Church a church of Christ, "Yes, an apple may be an apple, even if it be rotten to the core!" This little peri- odical will be found both interesting and instructive if the numbers we have seen may give indication. We shall present extracts from it from time to time, particularly in months when papal lands are under review.-A. T. P.

Our ])ay. A Record and Review of Cnrrent Reform. Joseph Cook, editor. Boston: Onr Day Publishing Co., 28 Beacon st. $11.00 a year.

This new magazine of eighty pages starts with flying colors. With Mr. Cook as the editor-in-chief, it unites six prominent specialists-Miss Willard, Anthony Comstock, Profs. James and Townsend and Revs. Eby and Pente- cost. Its contents are what its name and prospectus would indicate, and we predict for it a foremost place in the periodical literature of the world. It is epigrammatic, comprehensive and glowing. It deals with living questions in a living style.-A. T. P.

Autobiography of William G. SchauJfter. Edited by his sons. Randolph & Co., New York. 12~o, pp. 258.

The introduction by Prof. E. A. Park is admirable and sets forth the liter- ary and moral characteristics of Dr. S. clearly and effectively. He was an . extraordinary man-scholar, Christian and preacher, as well as missionary. He is said to have understood twenty-six languages and was able to preach extempore in six of them. His gifts were varied as well as eminent. But they were all singularly consecrated to Christ in the mission work, spending forty-nine years as a missionary in the Orient. His own account of his life, from the time he left Odessa (he was born at Stuttgart in 1798), whither the family had removed, embracing the period of his conversion while in Russia, and. his visit to America, his life at Andover, his consecration to mission work among the Jews, and his long and eminently useful service in connection with the American Board, is modestly and succinctly told in these pages. And no reader can follow him without being impressed with the sincerity and single-headedness of the man and thanking God for raising him up to do the work he did.-J. M. S.

Life ofRev. Justin Perki1!8, D.D. Oloth, 30 cents.

This is the fourth in the "Missionary Annals" series, published by the Woman's Presbyterian Board of Missions, Chicago. The son, Rev. Henry Martyn, gives in this brief space a clear and interesting account of his father, a pioneer missionary to Persia, where thirty-seven years of an earnest life were consecrated to the Master's service.

P1'Otestant Missions in Pagan Lands. By Rev. Edward Storrow. London: Snow & 00.

12mo, pp. 191. Price 3s. 6d. .

The author has written other missionary books, particularly" India and Its Missions," and the" History of Protestant Missions in India." The present volume purports to be "A Manual of Missionary Facts and Principles relating to Foreign Missions throughout the World." It gives a bird's-eye view of the religious condition of the world, the missionary effort in the three pre- vious centuries, the rise and development of modern missions, and the work and the results of missions on various fields. It is an instructive manual, giving definite information on a multitude of points. Its tables of missionary societies are taken from our own MISSIONARY REVIEW.-J. M. S.

The M"usionary Problem. By James Oroil. Toronto, Canada: Wm. Briggs. 12mo. pp. 224.

This work is similar to the one noticed above, although not covering so broad a field nor quite so recent in its survey. Still it gives a condensed his- tory of Protestant missions in several of the principal fields of missionary enterprise. Brown's" History of Missions" is the author's chief authority for the earlier times.-J. 1:1. S.

The Inspired. Word. A Series of Papers and Addresses delivered at the Bible Inapiration Conference in Philadelphia. Edited by Arthur T. Pierson. Randolph & 00. 12mo, pp. 359. Price $1.50.

This is a work of solid merit. There are no less than eighteen distinct papers on the various phases of the subject by as many writers of acknowl- edged ability, each fitted for his special theme. Most of .them are" special- ists" in their departments and represent all forms of evangelical faith. They came together and gave their united testimony, and the reader of these pages has the result. And it is not too much to say, there is scarce a chord shuck in which there is not the fullest harmony. The editor well says: "It is not strange that upon the Word of God all the forces of the foes of Chris- tianity should be massed. If confidence in that word can be undermined; if, by subtlety and sophistry, its infallible inspiration may be made to appear like an old wives' fable or groundless tradition; if in any way men may feel at liberty, like Jehudi, to use a penknife on the sacred scrolls and cut out of it whatever is offensive to the proud reason or the wayward will of the natural man, the devil will have achieved his greatest triumph." The work is as timely as it is able, and deserves extensive circulation, both for the sub- ject's sake and the character and ability of the treatment.-J. M. S.

NfYr'ard of the Dor;ger; or, Deep Sea Trials and Gospel Trinmphs. Being the Story of the Initiation, Struggles and Successes of the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. By E. J. Mather, fonnder and director. with illustrations. London: Nisbet & 00. New York: James Pott & Co. 12mo, pp. 376. Price $1.50. Fourth thonsand.

Few among us, I fear, are well informed respecting the "Deep Sea Mis- sion." And yet it is doing a much-needed and highly useful work, as Mr.

Mather's enthusiastic and charming narrative makes clear. Fishermen in deep waters-fishermen on board of thousands of "smacks," fishermen in the North Sea-are the special objects of this mission'fI care. The miBsion on their behalf began in 1880. By means of mission ships, which are really hospitals, churches, schools, etc., going to sea with the fleets of fishing vessels, and staying with them, and by every other possible agency and influence of a social, moral and sanitary kind, this mission strives for the temporal and spiritual welfare of this class, so exposed to perils and hardships and enjoying so few privileges of any kind. It is a blessed work, and the mission has been greatly blessed. The reading of this book cannot fail to awaken an interest in it in the United States and Canada, especially in the maritime provinces, where so many fishermen follow the sea fOl' a living.-J. M. S.

Pale8tiM in the Time Qf Ghrist. By Edmond Staprer, D.D. Translated by Annie Harwood Holmden. !'p. 527. New York: A. C. Armstrong &; Son.

This volume has reaahed its third edition, and now appears in a beautiful form, accompanied by very valuable maps and plans. It is open to every believer's observation that the Land is at this present' time greatly aiding the Book. While the two international societies for exploration, the Egypt and the Palestine, are doing admirable work in bringing forth corroboration and elucidation of the Scriptures from the ruins discovered in the countries around the Mediterranean and up the Nile, any book treating of the Holy Land is sure to be welcomed by Christian students. The author of this one is a professor in the theological faculty of Paris. He writes fiuently and well, and his general orthodoxy as well as his devout spirit is evidenced by his own declaration: "Jesus Christ was not the natural product of his eBvironment ; his appearance was a miracle; he came from God." Science has at last become a foreign missionary and is preaching with a spade. It would be an interesting theme for study, if one at his leisure would search out and com- pare for use how much missionaries have done for scientists within the last few years, and how much now scientists are doing in an attempt to return the favors.-J. lL S.

The Dawn of the Modern Mission. By Rev. Wm. Fleming Stevenson. D.D. Edinburgh: McNiven & Wallace. 1887.

This charming book of 188 pp. contains the foul' lectures delivered in con- nection with the Duff Missionary Lectureship, in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen during the years 1884-86. They possess peculiar and pathetic interest as a posthumous pUblication of the last utterances of that gifted , and consecrated author of "Praying and Worh.'ing."

It may be doubted whether any man of his generation has, from a pulpit and parish in a Christian land, done as much as Dr. Stevenson to kindle the fiame of holy enthusiasm and intelligent consecration in the direction of the' ch)lrch's mission to the unsaved millions. He was a missionary pastor. His tongue and pen were both aflame. Though he was a Dublin clergyman, his field was the world and his church only his working force,. nay, he was him- self the centre and spring of all his church force. He sought to spread the knowledge of missionary trials and triumphs, to bring those who heard and read his words into sympathetic contact with the degradation and destitution of a dying world at its remotest corners and deepest needs. " Hans Egede's Story," illustrated by his pen, stirred many a home pastor to yearnings over those who were far off; his beautiful picture of "Pastor Harms and Her- mannsburg" quickened many a listless minister and church to organize the home force into a base of supplies for the foreign field. He made a world tour of missions, his pulpit being meanwhile supplied by the members of his Presbytery, without cost; and being elected the second lecturer under this Duff Lectureship he delivered these four grand lectures, which come to us scarcely complete, w1).en his pen dropped from. his dying hand, and his de- voted wife took it up to prepare the manuscript for the press.-A. T. P.

ORGANIZED MISSIONARY

n.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK.

National Bible Sooiety of Scotland. number 335, and represent more than 700 parishes. Annual report for 1887, being the seventyeighth report of the Edinburgh, twenty-eighth The purely missionary side of the work is of the National, seventy·fifth of the Glasgow, growing year by year. The grants at reduced sixty-sixth of the Glasgow Auxiliary to the ·rates to charitable and evangelistic agencies British and Foreign Bible Society, and twenty- at home amounted isst year to 38,921 copies, beseventh since the Union was formed. ing more than one-third of the whole issues in 1861; and of the 384,703 copies issued in foreign FOR the first time since 1877 the in- lands, only 71,130 went to nominally Protestant come of the year has sufficed to meet countries, while 71,652 were circulated in Roman expenditure, the receIpts having been Catholic countries and 241,921 among heathen £33,432, and the outlay £30,988. nations. Thus, in a period of great commercial depression and without any spe- The China issues for the year reached the cial effort, the income has almost large number of 183,559 copies, and the publicareached that of the semi-jubilee year; tion of its new Wen-Ii version places the &0and 1887, which came in under the ciety in the front rank of agencies at work for cloud of a. deficit, passes away in the the evangelization of China. Iu Japan the year sunshine of a surplus. is notable for the issue of the complete Scrip- tures in the tongue of the people-a work in The issues, though they do not which the society has taken its full share. quite reach the exceptional figures of Since 1861 it has issued in Spain 531,561, in the two preceding years, are far France 750,346, in Germany 1,247,542 copies. above the record of any former year. It touches .. the dark coutinent" at more than They are in all 632,073 copies, of one point-last year in Calabar, Kaffraria and which 411,319 have been circulated Natal. In South America it aids Protestant abroad and 220,754 at home; and aggressive work in Brazil, where a congregation they include 164,729 Bibles, 180,662 in Pernambuco, itself the fmits of colportage, Testaments, and 286,682 portions. supplies several successful distributors or the The total issues since the union of Word. In Asia it has begun work among the the Bible societies in 1861 are now wandering Bedouins of the Syrian Desert; it 10,110,975 copies. has distributed the Scriptures in thousands among the Tartar tribes of Mon~olia ; it is sow- The auxiliary societies – whose ing the good seed of the Word in four great co-operation not only supplies well- provinces of India; it was among the first to nigh half the free income, but establish regular colportage in Corea, Into whose keeps the board in touch with the tongue it was also the first to translate the goscountry and gives the society its pe1.story; in the great Chinese Empire, where it right to the name it bears – now has since 1864 circulated 1,024,280 Scriptures, it employs four European agents and forty native colporteurs, and has the aid of missionaries be- longing to eleven different societies; aud in the island·empire of Japan, under two European agents, forty·one colporteurs sold last year 46,687 Scriptures, making a total of 321,458 since 1875.

TREASURER'S REPORT FOR 1887.

Receipts for Scriptures during year, viz.: INOOHE.

Home, including grants, etc ……………………………….. £9,392 15 9 Colonies, do. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. 2,028 12 4 British and Foreign Bible Society for Scriptures supplied to them in China, 1886 ………………………………………… .. 417 17 5 do., 1887………………………………………… .. 544 2 3 Foreign agencies, per contra…………………………….. .. 4,055 13 1 £16,489 010 t~Nf~r;~~~~~~f!!~.~~·.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: : 1,174 10 0 Donations, viz. ~ . 8,123 9 9 Ordinary………………………………………………… £2,956 14 5 For semi-jubilee fund…………………………………….. 213 19 10 £2,95614 II Total received …..•………. £3,187 14 3 2,780 1 9 582 II 8 Legacies available in 1887………………………………………………… . 2lIII111 9 Net rents……………………………………………………………. .. Iuterest on investments and bank accounts ………………………………… . Semi-jubilee fund, viz.: Amount received in 1885 and 1886 ………………………….. £4,875 13 4 Whereof available for curreut year-twenty·five per cent….. £1,218 18 "' .£1,276 13 3 And twenty-five per cent. on £230 19s. "1Od., amount received 14 Ii 8 in 1881, as above .•…………………. :………………. 57 14 11 £33,576 3 Chinese Blind Mission amouut paid in excess on 31st Dec. last, repaid………•…• .£10,582 8 4 EXPENDITURE. 1,252 14 1 385 1911 Scriptnres for home and colonies…………………………………………. . Home circulation, viz.: 15,920 1 6 2,135 13 7 Scotlaud… . . . . . . . .•• • .. .. .. . . .. . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . .£974 8 4 Ireland . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 5 9 538 910 21514 9 Colonial circulation. ………. ………….•……….. . …………………… . Foreign circulation- 990 Applied to circulation Remitted to 2,58712 1 as recelved. Agents. Total. £33,576 3 Africa . .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . •. . . . . . . .£7 0 0 .£12 13 3 .£19 13 3 Austria.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . 268 1 2 96412 5 1,23213 7 Belgium. …. . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . 46 10 0 221 15 0 268 5 0 125 0 0 Brazil……………………… 0 0 0 125 0 0 3,009 13 I) Ohina……………………… 176 8 2 2,833 1) 3 France… . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . 147 9 2 1,192 18 1 1,340 7 3 Germany…. .. .. .. . . . . . .. . .. . . . . 2,196 8 4 2,825 18 3 5,~~ ~ ~ Holland. .. . . . … ………….. 142 1 0 104 0 0 95 9 8 123 9 8 Iudia………. ………….. …. 28 0 0 737 1 3 Italy……………….. ……. 10817 0 628 4 3 Japan….. …. .. .. …. .. .. … … . 805 8 1 2,060 10 2 2,865 18 3 Norway……………… …… 0 0 0 66 12 5 66 12 I) Spain……………………… 90 0 0 424 9 8 514 9 8 Swedeu……………………. 0 0 0 178 17 7 178 17 7 t30 2 5 169 12 7 Tnrkey and Syl"ia.. .. . . . . . . . .. . . 39 10 2 £4 055 13 1 '£11,864 8 5 Salaries and wages, viz.: General managemeut (including visitation of auxiliaries) …•…… '£1,277 I) 7 Bible department……………. : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . . . . . . . . . 858 8 0 Office expenses (including freights, traveliug, etc.) ………………………….. .

~:?l.~;;~~~:t~~i:~,: ~~~: : : :: :: ::: :: : :: :: ::: :: :: ::: :: : :: :: : ; :: : :: : ::: : :: :: :: :: :: :: Ameri,can Mission, Egypt. from the natives for congregational and school purposes, the expense THIS mission was begun in 1854, in 1887 was £7,600. New places are and carries on its work in three de- calling, some for schools, others for partments-the evangelistic, book preachers. The mission gratefully and educational. The work of the acknowledges the generous aid of mission extends from Alexandria to .the A. B. Society and the B. and F. Assouan, and entails a large expendi- B. Society in Bible distribution. ture. After deducting all receipts STATISTICS OJ!' THE EGYPTIAN MISSIO!{-GROWTH 1!'ROM 1865 TO 1887.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – -186-5. -1-870.- -1-875.- -18-80. – -188-7. Ordained missionaries……………………… . 7 7 8 8 11 Unmarried female missionaries……………… . 3 Native pastors…………………………….. . 3 7 8 10 1 3 Native licentiates………………………….. . 6 10 3 8 I) 7 Organized con~regations…………………… .. 1 3 6 12 24 Stations occupIed………………………….. . 5 Communicants……………………………. . 79 10 21 48 85 Average Sabbath attendance……. . ………… . 125 237 676 1,036 2,307 513 1,133 1,837 4,747 Pupils in Sabbath schools……………………. . 1,494 4,~ Number of schools…………………………. . '5 236 658 49 Pupils in schools…………………………… . 315 8 23 520 1,040 2,219 . Tuition fees ……………………………….. . 5,601 ; $655 i4,863 $13,083 Books distributed (vols.) …………………… . 5,506 $797 24,534 33609 11,890 Proceeds from sales of books………………… . r $1,037 $2,975 $5,541 $1;815 Total paid by natives for preaching, schools and books………………………………….. . $2,788 $4,840 $14,986 $27,173 Tuition" fees for 1870 and 1875 do not include amount paid in congregational schools. That sum was not large, as the demand had not arisen for such schools. It wili be noticed that in the most important items the work has nearly doubled, in some cases trebled itself each five years.

ASYOOT. March 7. 1888. JOlIN GI1!'lI'EN. The Syrian Mission. 1850. The Sultan, Abdul Mejid, issued an imperial firman, called [The following historical sketch was prepared the Imperial Protestant Charter of by Dr. Jessup of Beirut, Syria, at the request of Rights, guaranteeing to the Protest- the edltorR, as this Syrian Mission is one of the ants all the rights and privileges of pivotal enterprises of the East.-EDs.] other Christian sects in the empire.

THIS outline history may be divided 1846. The first boys' boarding into three periods: school was opened in Abieh, Mt• Lebanon. Also the first girls' board- FIRST PERIOD, 1820-1840. ing school in Beirut under Dr. and Mrs. De Forest (see" Women of the .A Period of Exploration and Prep- Arabs," by Jessup). aration.-Its features: intolerance, persecution, banishment, wars, and 1848. First Syrian evangelical pestilenc.e. church organized, with eighteen members. 1822. The American Arabic press was founded in Ma1ta. 1848. New translation of the Bible into the Arabic language begun by 1833. The press was removed to Rev. Eli Smith, D.D. Beirut. The first girls' school ever opened in the Turkish Empire was 1853-1855. Crimean war. British commenced by American ladies in influence predominant. Beirut and Mt. Lebanon. The first Protestant martyr, Asaadesh Shi- 1857. Death of Dr. Eli Smith. diak, was starved to death in the Translation continued by Rev. Cor- Maronite monastery of Kannobin by nelius Van Dyck, M.D., D.D. order of the Maronite patriarch. When the missionaries returned from October, 1858. Female Seminary Malta to Beirut, in 1833, one small opened in Suk el Ghurb, Mt. Lebanon. rowboat came out to meet them, containing the entire Protestant com- 1860. Translation and printing of munityof the Turkish Empire-viz., Arabic New Testament completed by five persons! The number of Prot- Dr. Van Dyck. estant adherents in 1887 is not far from 50,000 in the empire. The THIRD PERIOD, 1860-1888. Greek war, the plague, the invasion Light Out of Darkness.-New imof Ibrahim Pasha, son of Mohammed pulse to Christian education and Ali of Egypt, and the disturbed state great advance in civilization. of the country rendered continuous 1860. Ci viI war between Druzes missionary labor impossible. and Maronites in Lebanon, followed by bloody massacres in Lebanon, SECOND PERIOD, 1840-1860. Hasheiya, and, Damascus. Occupa tion of Syria for nine months by From the Expulsion of lbrahim 6,000 French troops on behalf of the Pasha by the European Powers to European powers and with the conthe Oivil War and Massacres of sent of the Sultan. New govern- 1860.-Protestantism was recognized ment instituted in Lebanon under a by the Turkish Sultan as one of the Latin Christian Pasha appointed religions of the empire. with the approval of the European powers. Increase of European and March, 184.4. The Sultan issued a Christian interest in Syria. New firman that Christians of all sects are educational and benevolent institunot to be insulted, nor be persecuted tions founded. for their religion. 1862. American Female Seminary reopened in Beirut with native Syri- 1840. Boys' boarding school estab- an teachers. lished in Beirut under Mr. Hebard. October, 1862. Suk Female Semi- nary transferrE'd to Sidon. 1847. The Protestant Charter of 1860. British Syrian schools, found- Rights was issued by the Grand Vizier ed by Mrs. Bowen Thompson, now in Constantinople (see "Goodell's Forty Years in the TU1'kish Empire" -appendix). have 3,000 children in their schools Majesty the Sultan the Caliph of Mo- hammed, place the seal of authorizain Syria. – tion upon 33 different editions of the Arabic Scriptures and parts of Scrip- 1860. Prussian deaconesses' orphan- tures. The local board in Damas- cus also approve 330 different Arabic age founded. in Beirut, with 130 or- publications of the American press in Beirut. phans. Up to this time they have [See statistics of the World's Missions near the trained about 800 orphan girls. close of this nnmber for tabnlar statement ofthe Presbyterian Mission in Syria.-EDs.] 1863. Syrian Protestant College in- corporated by Legislature of New York.

1865. The college formally opened in Beirut (see catalogue, which can be obtained of Rev. D. Stuart Dodge, 11 Cliff street, New York. See also General Ohristian Missionary Society.

"Missions and Science," "The Ely THIRTY-EIGHTH anniversary held at Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 20, 21, Volume," for account of the college 1587. The work of the society is chiefly evangelistic in its character and other work in Syria, especially and is spread over most of the States and Territories of the Union. the press). Number of students Jan- RECEIPTS DURING TH1I YEAR. uary 1, 1888, 175. Girls school of the Missionary Fund ……… $20,019 37 Society for Promoting Female Edu- Regnlar Extension Fund. . 937 00 Special Extension Fund cation in the East, at Shemlan, Mt. (Boston House)…….. . 2,23621 Lebanon; Free Church of Scotland Ministerial Relief Fund.. . 17205 Tract Fund…………. .. 27093 schools at Shweir, Mt. Lebanon, Kirk Interest on Extension of Scotland; Jewish Mission schools Fund loans…………. 54 00 Repaid loans…………. 300 00 in Beirut; Miss Taylor'sSt. George's Borrowed.. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 800 00-$24,789 54 Moslem girls' school in Beirut. I 1873. American Female Seminary opened in Tripoli, Syria.

I append the last statistical sum- mary of the missionary and educa- tional work in Syria up to January, Total from all sources …..•…….. $25,772 31 1887. This will give you a compara- DISBURSElIENTS.

tive view of the progress in the ten To missionaries, cash.. . .. $8,228 12 To missionaries, collecyears 1876-86. tions on field…. …… 9,68722–$17,915 M 1877. Mohammedans open schools For all incidental expenses 81848 To cor. sec'y, salary….. . 1,800 00- 2,61348 for girls in Beirut, Damascus, and For Boston house deht .. . 2,09685 For ministerial relief…. . 24500 Tripoli; Greeks, Maronites, Jews, For tract distribution…. . 340 00 To other miss. boards …• 9110 and other sects open schools for boys Loans from Extension Fd. 1,100 00- 8,87fl 45 Leaving bal. in Miss. Fund 21622 and girls. The whole number of chil- " Extension Fund….. 980 57 dren in Protestant schools in Syria " Ministerial ReliefF'd 158 80 .. Tract Fund ……… 20 45- 1,37077 and Palestine is probably about Total…………………………. $25,772 81 15,000, of whom at least 7,000 are girls. The number of nominal Prot- estants is not less (in Syria and Palestine) than 6,000. There has been a steady growth in the work of The Foreign Christian Missionary Society held its twelfth annual sesthe press in Syria. There are 11 Ara- sion October 19 and 20 at the same place as the General Society. bic journals in Beirut, 1 Turkish offi- cia.l, 3 Protestant, 2 Papal, 2 Greek, 2 Moslem, llitera.ry. Three hospitals SUMlIlAllT.

have been founded !!ince 1860-St. Number of missions.. .. …. . . .. .. .. • 6 John'!!, Protestant; St. Joseph's, Pa- stations.. .. .. …. .. .. .. .. 2S pal, and the RUl!Isian Greek HOl!lpital. missionaries (male). . . •. • 22 lM7. The Mejlis el Maarif, or Board (female)…. II natin assistants……… 13 « of Public In!!truction of his Impel'ial Whole number of workers ………. Whole number of converts under were $317.36, making the total ineome $11,102.02. Total receipts, including the $487.50 for the pereare of Society. . •. •. . . . ••. ••••. • l,85G mauent tund, $11,588.52. Expenditures direct1;y out of our treasury were $10,536.31. Addition31. (This does not include 348 at expenditures reported from China, out of tunds received on that fteld, $317.36, making the total Chester aud 120 at Southport.) expenditures $10,853.67, viz. : Home missions………………….. $5,330 83 Number added during the year…… 592 China .. .. .. .. ….. .. .. .. .. …. 2,559 36 Holland" .. . .. .. .. .. … .. •.. .. .. 490 00 Net gain…. …….. ………… …• Ii02 Salary and expenses of the corre- Whole number added from the 1Irst.. 3,518 sponding secretary, printing min- utes, interest on loans, and inci- Receipts for year ……………….. $40,559 35 dental expenses……………….. 972 98 Pa;yments for money loaned . ••••. •. •• 1,500 00 Total receipts [rom first…………. 259,201 60 The receipts canceled the debt, met It has a mission among the Scandinavians of all expenses, and left a balance of the United States, the Turkish Mission, India, $247.35. China and Japan missions, and the Perslau Mis- sion.

T,tal receipts of the year..•……..•. $48,489 27 .. disbursemeuts.. .. .. .. .. .. ….. 47,597 75 TABLlI JlXUmITING TUB LABOR OP llISSIONARIlIS POR THB YEAR ENDING OOTOBER 1,1887.

Baptisms… .. ….. ….. .. . . . .. . .. . •.. 762 Other accessions.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • 792 Churches visited and assisted… . . . . •• 143 New places visited………………. 96 The Baptist Oonvention of the Karitime Nnmber churches organized… . . . . . •• 25 Pronnces. – Amount collected on field for remu- ORGANIZED in 1846. Forty-second annual meeting held in Charlotteneration… . . . .. .. .. .. . . . .. . .. .. .. .. $9,687 21 town August 20, 1887.

Amount received from treasury G. C. Strength of the denomination, 375 churches, 1,768 baptisms during the M. C… .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. ……… 8,228 12 year; total membership, 43,553.

Amount received in cash and pledges for local work ………………… 26,200 00 TABLlI EXHmITING THE MISSIONARY WORK OJ'

TUB STATE ORGANIZATIONS. 200 Receipts of the' Foreign Missionary Board 8,970 (comprising Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Number of missionaries. . . . •. . . . . . . . • 5,134 Prince Edward Island) amounted to $9,325.65, Baptisms.. . . •. •. . . •. . . •. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,878 the expenditures to $10,269.06, leaving a balance Other accessions………………… of $442.58 due the treasurer. Churches visited and assisted. . . •. . .. 326 Unorganized places visited………..

Churches organized…………….. 123 Places assisted in building……….. 63 Raised by State Board…………….$83,422 58 The Baptist Foreign Missionary Oon- Raised by County and District Boards 29,327 49 vention of the U. S. Raised by evangelists for church build. ORGANIZED in 1880. Eighth annual ing and other local worlt ……….. 89,571 44 meeting held at Little Rock, Ark., Kembers in State.. .. …. .. • . .. .. .. .. • 625,000 Sept. 21-25,1887. Receipts reported, $4,069.22, and expenditures, $4,018, Adding work of G. C. M. C., we have, mis· leaving a balance to the new year of sionaries, 231; baptisms, 9,932; other acces- $51.22. We are not able to give an Sions, 5,926; new organizations, 140; collec- account of the results of the year. tions, $137,539.63. Ten States were represented. It resolved to devote the fourth Sunday Seventh.day Baptist General Oonference. in July of each year to the work in THE seventy-third annual session Africa. was held at Shiloh, N. J., September 21, 1887. The forty-fifth annual ses- Baptist Foreign Mission Society of Onsion of the Seventh-day Baptist Missionary Society was held during the tario and Quebec. sessions of the conference. The annual report gives the following FROM the twenty-first annual refacts: port, made in October, 1887, the Tbe amount oCthe permanent tund is $7,486.91, being an increase during the year of $487.50, board expressed its "fervent t;ra.tiwhich is for missionary purposes. The receipts tude for another ye&r of hard work or the treasurer from all sources from Septem- and marked prosperity in the Socieber 9, 1888, to I!!eptember 12, 1887, for the «eneral fund were $10,71!3.66; the receipts on the ty's operations. Four ap- China deld b;y our missionaries from contrlbutiOllS, etc., for the year ending June 30, 1887, pointments, the largest ever madein one year to our missionary staff, viz.,

CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE

the Rev. J. E. Davis, B.A., Rev. H. The Southem Baptist Oonvention. F. Laflamme, Rev. H. Garside, B.A., THIS society was organized in 1845. and Miss Bella Alexander. Numer- The forty-second anniversary was held in Louisville, Ky., May 6-10, ous converts have been baptized dur- 1887. The Board of Foreign Missions reported 116 laborers in the field, dising the year, making the member- tributed in Africa, Italy, China, Bra- zil and Mexico. ship of our Telugu churches on June 30 last something over 2,000. New churches have been organized. Ad- ditional native helpers have been put SUllI)[ARY. into the field, and important buildings Missionaries ………………….. .. 116 in course of erection last year have Baptisms for the year …………. .. 228 been completed." Total members…………………. 1,551 RECEIPTS. Churches and stations………….. . 65 Total from churches ………………. 88,424 98 Schools ………………………. . 25 Sunday-schools. . . .. .. . . . . . . … 1,260 11 Pnpils ……………………….. . 587 Woman's For. Mis. Soc. (West) 3,100 00 Contributions from the native . (East) 1,095 00 churches… .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . .. . $3,012.61 Fyfe Missionary Soc., Toronto.. 50 00 Receipts from all sources. . . . . . . . . . . 154,559.04 J udsou Missionary Society. . . . • 13 00 Expended on mission fields. . . . . . . . .. 62,584.81 Association collections …….• 88 41 In agency work………………… 8,264.44 legacies.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 250 00 The debt of the board had been canceled dur- individuals…… …………… 684 70 ing the year and a balance left in the treasury.

Miscellaneous.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 253 02 The Home Mission Board sum- marized the labors of the year as fol- Total received during the year…… $15,219 22 lows: Balance on hand,at last audit… ….• 364 78 Balance due treasurer…………… 142 32 Missionaries …………………. .. 251 Churches and out-stations……… . 822 TotaL …………………………$15,726 32 Baptisms …………………….. 3,923 EXPENDITURliiS. Total additions. . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 6,242 Sunday-schools reported. . . . . .. . . . . . 318 Paid to missionary ……………….. $14,642 87 Teachers and pupils……………. 13,031 " for printing .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. 254 68 Churches constituted…………… 119 " for interest…………….. …… 136 95 " other disbursements……. , .. . .. • 549 50 Houses of worship built. . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Balance due treasurer.. ……… …… 142 32 Total receipts from all sources …… $122,097.20 The year began with an indebted- ness of…………………….. .. 8,500 815,726 32 This has been reduced to ………. . 2,500 III.-CORRESPONDENCE and GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

Netherlands India: An Appeal With- heathen. In Borneo and in the Celebes per- out a Response. haps about one-half; but wherever in Dutch India a heathen population is in contact with [THE following letter from our cor- Mohammedanism the latter is advancing steadrespondent in Singapore we are sure lIy." In fact, wherever the Dutch Government will be read with deep interest.- extends, Mohammedanism is spreading. Dr. S. does not charge this government with" know- EDS.] ingly and willfully propagating Mohammedan- ism," but, as he says, "here Mohammedanism About ten years ago the Rev. Dr. Schreiber, steps in to do that which Christianity ought but secretary of the Rhenish (Barmen) Missionary neglects to do." Society, gave an account of his society's efforts in Neth. India, at Mildmay.* He said that Mo- Dr. S. speaks of the workers already on the hammedanism was spreading with astonishing field and of their ntter insufficiency to occupy rapidity, especially in Java. "At present in Java the whole field. This field in some parts has almost the whole population (21,000,000) is Mo- been wonderfuily productive. In Ninnahassa, hammedan, at least in name; a great deal of or Celebes, in 1886, out of a population of 138,- heathenism still being concealed under the sur- 026 there was a nominal Christian population face. In Sumatra about the fourth part is still of 115,361. But" there is only one Ninnahass8 !nthe whole archipelago." In many parts • MIldmay Conference of )l'oreijpl Missions where there is a large nominal Christian popula- Report, 1878. tion " the poor Christians are quite neglected and forsaken," and are now fast falling before Mo- 19, in Lias 5, Borneo 7,' Celebes 11, Sumba 1, "hammedan influences. Ten years ago Dr. S. said Timor 1, Rotti 1, Wetter 1, Buru 1, Ceram 2, N. his society could not increase its staff of work, Guinea 5, Jilolo 2, Saugi 3, Talau 2, Saparina. 2, Amboina 4, Ternate 1, Letti 1, Harnku 1. ers, and it has not increased them. He made a strong appeal for other workers, assuring all According to censns (1885-1886) there were na- that the government would allow other nation- tive Christians, Malayan races, 235,070 ; Chinese, 939 (but not one missionary able to speak Chi- . alities to work freely, as the Germans do in nese), and natives of India, 121. In Dutch Timor there are 33,015 nominal Christians, with only Neth. India. one gove~nment helper. Truly the harvest is The part of his ,address I wish to emphasize plenteons, but the laborers few.

is this: " Will no otMr missionary society step (REV.) J. A. B. COOK, in, in order to at'ert suck a reproack to tke Presbyterian Missionary in Singapore. Okristian name? I want to make an earnest Oxford University and Missions, appeal to all the missionary societies in Englaud, America and Australia." Tkis appeal as yet kas LETTER from our correspondent in kad no response. Surely before long there will Oxford, J. F. Reyes, F.e.S" F.R.G.S. be a willingness to consider the claims of Malay- sia, especially the claims of the 27,000,000 of A MODERN ROBERT BRUCE. Neth. India. All that the Christians of England are doing for the 35,000,000 of Malaysia is being In Oxford the other day we had a remarkable done by the Sarawak (S. P. G.) Mission in illustration of the way in which the world will Borneo, and by a few scattered workers in continue to miss its greatest heroes. A great Singapore and Penang, with occasional visits to crowd had assembled to hear a notorious states- the peninsnla. There is only one solitary man speak on the Irish question. A few gradu- American missionary to represent the Chris- ates in a small room met without advertisement tianity of America in this wide region. two days later to hear from Dr. Robert Bruce an account of his work in Persia. He strongly re- Let me give a few facts as to the present state minds ns of Livingstone in his appearance and of missions in Netherlands India, with a few directness, and there is the further analogy that other facts, to be well pondered by thoughtful he has heen working alone in Jl1ifa,near Ispahan, Christians. these twenty years. Any ordinary person be- coming a Christian would be sure to disappear The Dutch possessions extend from Atcheeu", in a few days, probably by poison, but it would in Sumatra to New Guinea, and contain 612,520 be impossible to trace it. On the other hand, he square miles, with a population of 27,000,000 instanced a woman who became Moslem, and , under the Dutch flag. Among all this vast mul- speedily acquired property from Christian or titude of souls there are only 69 Dutch and Jewish relations in the law courts. German missionaries and 24 government mis- sion "helpers." These" helpers" are in govern- Dr. Bruce in fact gave incidentally many illus· ment pay. Their sphere and all their move-' trations of some of the misleading criticisms of ments are regulated by the officials, and thongh the now famous paper read by Canon Isaac Tay· they speak Malay are only allowed to work lor at the Wolverhampton Church Congress. In among the nominal Christians, The mission- Persia there was a "complete divorce of morals aries alone are free to go to the heathen and from religion," and his observation was that Mohammedans with the gospel. Mohammedanism " made every country a Wilderness." It is only fair to state that Canon Of the 93 missionaries on the field (always in- Taylor referred more especially to the civiliza- cluding the 24 government "helpers") fully 70 tion of the negro. He has since excluded the have arrived since 1870, the result no doubt of stations of the nniversity's missions to Central the reaction in university and college life in Africa from his criticisms. favor of evangelical doctrine and many forms of aggressive Christian efforts in the Nether- Before passing from this subject let me call lands and Germany. The 69 missionaries are attention to the remarkable phenomenon of the as follows: Times admitting correspondence on this question in extenso, writing leaders on it, and finally 6 from Neth. Miss. Society (Rotterdam). printing Sir W. W. Hunter's lecture on the re- 6 from Neth. Miss. Association (Rotterdam). ligions of India in full, with a leading article. 8 from Utrecht Miss. Association (Utrecht). Missions both in Africa and China have similarly 1 from Neth. Ref. Miss. Ass. (Amsterdam). been dealt with in the jubilee year. No facts 3 from Ermelo Miss. Association (Ermelo). could testify more emphatically that the time is 4 from Mennonite Miss. Ass. (Amsterdam). now ripe for the existence of a really great and 4 from Hague Home and For. Miss. Soc. impartial Review devoted j 0 missions and abso- (Hague). lutely independent of all missionary societies. On the whole I am inclined to think that the 3 from Christian Reformed Church (Leyden). best place for such a Review is America. Its 1 self-supporting Dutch missionary. language is available for one bundred millions of There are besides these Dntchmen 34 Ger· that party, the human race, which seems called man missionaries, of whom 28 are from the by God to an extraordinary future and an ex.- Barmen Mission, supported by the sub·society at Amsterdam; the rest are of the Berlin Mission These missionaries do not live together in large centers, but scatter themselves in families among the natives. In Java there are 24, in Snmatra ceedingly great present responsibility with re- MUKTSAB, PuNJAB, Jan. 31, 1888. spect to the actual condition of and openings in To the Princeton College .Men: the non-Christian world. The name of this town means" The Fountain Dr. Bruce's remarks on Mohammed and the of Salvation." The town Is not yet this, but I Koran were often at variance with the apologies trust the name is prophetic. It is one oCthe holy we sometimes hear. Even in the matter of places of the Sikhs, who are a reformed sect of temperance it was clear that the Shiite was the Hindus. There is said to be already a spirit always glad to get the drink which the base of earnest Inquiry among some few, and we hope Christian trader supplied him with. If they there will be II church established before long. are kind to their slaves, they are grossly cruel to their animals. The state of the women needs I have come here with Mr. FrankNewton, my no notes here. But the Doctor confessed his ad- uncIe. He and his few native helpers have II miration for Mohammed np to his 50th year and parish of about one million people, Ferozepore the death of his wife Khadisha. being the center. It is one of the finest districts of the Punjab, and the men are an exceptionably Here I must stop. The Oxford Graduates' strong, independent, manly lot. Missionary Association was privileged to hear a great and good man. There are others like him Last week we spent a couple of days at Jaito, in the misSion field. My thoughts for the mo- a village of somewhat over three thousand peoment turn to Burmah and the American Judson. ple. It had Once before been visited by a native In their single-handed translation work the par- catechist, but never by a missionary; so far as allel is very close. But Dr. Bruce has a parish we know. In doing village work, missionaries of half a million of square miles, covering three often carry tents with them, but this Involves great ancient empires. much trouble and expense. We are depending on getting quarters in each place. At J aito we The type of Christian hero changes in each had a very comfortable little house of two rooms ceutury. We cannot stop the progress of the lent us by a railway official. Here we are putage, nor get nineteenth-century people to like ting up in a sarae or native hotel. There are what was admired in a different epoch. Let us three native preachers with us, and we five ocnot make any insidious comparisons, but thauk cupy one long room. The hotel charges for all God for all, and not least for that great gift of five are nine cents a day. adaptability to environment which is evinced iu the work of our best missionaries from either While here we expect to visit a number of the side of the water, a gift which seems akin to that surrounding villag~s, sometimes all four of the which made the great apostle" all things to all preachers going together, and sometimes two by men," and yet ever loyal to the great Head of all, two. Mr. Newton has a small organ, and this who, however imperfectly. show the apostolic with singing attracts a great many. Last evenspirit and the divine power. J. F. HEYES. Ing the audience of a1}out one hundred and fifty listened closely for nearly two hoors. OXFORD, :March 5, 1888. It seems to bc the general opinion that the Mr. Porman Heard Prom. most hopeful feature of the work in India is the villages. Many missionaries give II large part of :MR. JNO. N. FORMAN, after arrJving in England toward the close of September, spent two their time to school work in -the large Cities. months in working and speaking throughout the universities and larger cities of Great Britain, This work is important, but many of those who much of the time in company with :Mr. Taylor have been engaged in it now think that what Is of the China Inland Mission. In the universities needed most is men who will gi"l°e their whole he frequently found it difficult to gather an audi- time to evangelistic work, chiefly touring among ence of the students. At Cambridge the largest the villages. Mr. Newton is considered very number of stUdents he succeeded in assembling good in this line, so I was advised to go with was but thirty. At Edinburgh some thirty-five him for a while before starting for my own field. men pledged themselves to the foreign mission- The truth of the matter is that we need men in ary work. Meetings were held at Oxford and every department of work. In our mission in Wales, and in London an inter-hospital meet- school at Lahore we have over a thousand boys. ing of medical stndents. In Belfast thirty-three And the college which was started less than two men signed fo~ miSSionaries, and Mr. Taylor years ago has already some seventy students, coming after found that these were but the first and is growing fast. One feels often inclined to fruits. At Wakefield, Leeds, Duudee, Aberdeen. be discouraged at the size of the work and the Glasgow and other cities, meetings of the citizens and especially of the Young Men's Christian fewness of workers. But I believe firmly 2 Cor. Associations were held. ix. 8, and this Is a "staying power." I am now Mr. Forman left England early in December engaged in a study of the Holy Spirit, searching and landed in Bombay January 2. He has been through the Bible to find just how mnch is promstationed by the mission at Allahabad for the ised to us, to me. May God grant, each of us first year, during which he will devote most of may claim alt. his time to the study of the language. He writes to the stUdents at Princeton: I am praying daily for a great blessing upon you in Princeton, and expect to hear of a good work. Eph. iii. 14-19. And may God add the .. exceeding abundantly" of verse 20. When yoo pray for me, please pray by name.

Yours in Christ's service and in Christ, JOHN N. FOBJu.N. A Boat Journey in Ohina. [OUR editorial correspondent, Prof.

[EXTRACT from a private letter from W. C. Wilkinson, D.D., is making the Mrs. Edward P. Thwing of Brooklyn.] tour of Palestine. The following in- Just now I am living on a boat. To-night we teresting note from him shows that are auchored near Chung Wan. We leftCautou Dec. 27, and have had lovely weather since. We he is on the lookout for missionary are about 115 miles from that city. There are twelve of us-Rev. Charles R. Hager, missionary information. The observation and of the American Board from Hong Kong, my son, myself and a Chinese woman Bible reader, testimony of so close an observer and six boatmen, a captain and a cook. We have already stopped at several towns and villages On critical a mind are worth noting.- the river. At Hong Moon we found A. S. [a Christian pupil taught a year before in Brook- EDS.] lyn], and I rode about ten miles in a sedan chair PORT SAID, EGYPT, March 24, 1888. . to his home. He and Edward walked behind the bearers. I never before realized the expres- I have just been visiting the Egyptian missiou sion, .. The whole city came out to meet him. ,,- stations of the United Presbyterians of America, There was a general turn-out to see us, strange both at .Alexandria and at Cairo. At the latter beings from a foreign land. When we went into place I saw also something of the work in progthe house it was at once crowded full, probably ress. In both places I was favorably impressed much as when Jesus found" no room, no, Dot so with what I saw. Excellent men and women much as about the door." The open space in the the missionaries seemed to me to be, and sinroof reminded me of the opening through which it is said the sick of the palsy was let down. cerely devoted to their work, which is prosecuted The women and children felt of my clothes and nnder the disadvantage of resources in money hat and hair and shoes. They were grently amused. We took supper and remained over seriously inadequate to the demand. Cairo is a night. When we left town crowds preceded and followed us. Suuday we were at anchor at San Bwarming Oriental capital of perhaps 450,000 Ui, where there is a mission chapel. Mr. White of Macao admiuistered commuuion and Mr. H. people, with a reputed supply of 400 Mohammepreached. The room opened into a little sunny inner court. Thirty-one gathered, and fifteen in dan mosques, to feed these hnngry human souls all partook of the sacrament. After dinner on the boat I took my Bible woman and went to a with the dnst of death instead of the bread of village close by. As we entered a crowd of women and children swarmed out of every open life. I was irreSistibly incited both in .Alexaudoor. They were more interested in me than in anything she said, examining my clothes and dria and in Cairo to pray for poor groveling person. God only knows whether any good was accomplished. Work was going on just as on Egypt. Can these dry bones live' Let our any day all about us. United Presbyterian brethren redouble their We observed the week of prayer. and have had good meetings on our boat. Mr. H. is a spiritual prayers and their toils and their gifts for this man and it is a blessing to have his society. He has evening prayers in Chinese, and calls the perishing people. W. C. WILKINSON. boatmen into the cabin. Some come in and he talks very earnestly to them, and one asks mauy From a Student Volunteer. questions, apparently much interested. May God bless this" bread cast upon the waters." Pass- NEW BRUNSWICK THEO. SElIl., April, 1888. ing from place to place by water we have time DEAR EDITORS: One of the most iuteresting for the study of the language and reading. My features in THE MISSIONARY REVIEW to me is Bible woman has small feet and cannot walk far the letters from the Student Volunteers. lhave at a time. Many of the villagers never saw a read with pleasure the circnlar addressed to foreigner and very few ever saw a foreign woman them, and am heartily in favor of the plan that till they saw me. When they saw me from afar, each college or seminary send out a letter sketch- the news spread rapidly from lip to lip, and ing the history of its own foreign missionary countless swarms poured out through every alley movements and plans. Some of our colleges to meet us. We visited many places. as the and seminaries, however, are perhaps too weak whole district is intersected by many streams to print and send out circular letters, but all of and canals. I cannot tell how -many hundred them can tell their brethren what the Lord has mUes our sixteen days' trip will aggregate, bnt done for them and what they are trying to do for it is a most instructive aud profitable journey to him, through the columus of THE REVIEW. us. and. we trust, to the thousands we·have seen. The volunteers in the three educational insti- tutions at New Brunswick have not been idle this year. The District Miss. Alliance held here in February, of all the seminaries in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,was the outgrowth of missionary interest at oor mission circle, and the alliance has been a great blessing to us all. The students of the seminary, college and gram- mar school, with their respective faculties, have pledged more than $800 yearly for the support of a missionary in the field, and at a meeting held March 21, the following resolution was unanimously carried: .. Resolved, that in view of the especial qualifications of L. R. Scudder, M.D., who has offered himself to our mission board, and in view of the special needs of the mission field in India and our Board of Foreign Missions, the entire subscription of the Stu- painted and oiled snch parts of our steamer and dents' Missionary Association for the first year sawmill stnff as were liable to rust. lirother be given to the board for the equipment and Rasmussen has given us a plan for a cheap passage out of L. R. Scudder, if the board shall bnoyant raft for the discharge of our traction appoint him and start him out before Octoher 1, engine when she shall be bronght up by the 1888." • steamer. The materials for said raft are being Oor mission circle meets weekly, and we dis- prepared, so that we hope we shall within a fe,!!, cuss every part of the world-field during the weeks see our road engineers, Brothers Clamn, course of a year. Our prayer is that every vol- Rasmussen, White and Briggs, moving inward unteer may read aud ponder the article in the with our steam wagon and traction engine.

April number of THE REVIEW, entitled" What Brother Wm. H. Arringdale, our architect and Oue Did." What one did all can do, "(hrough man of all mechanical work, has been busy and Christ which strengtheneth us." I heartily join effective in house-building and repairs.

in the cry, " 0)) that the volunteers would pull "Our dear sisters have done the cooking for together" ; but let each of us be sure that his all our working force-a heavy task that is never hand is on the rope. Let us link Matt. xxviii. 20 finished. Meantime, though I have wrought in to 1 Cor. xv. 58. ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS. our varied work at Vivi three months out of the five of our sojourn here, I have explored the line What Bishop Taylor is Deing in Africa. to Isangala, and report the opening of five sta- tions-1. Vivi, the site of" the former capital of THE second annual meeting of the District the state. For a little over seven acres ofground Conference of the Upper Congo District assem- here and the buildings remaining we paid £160. sembled at Vivi mission station Dec. 3, 1887, at 2. At Vumtomba Vivi, four miles distant, in 2 o'clock p. M., with Bishop Taylor in the chair. sight of the mountain, we have built an abode honse and opened a station. 3. Sadl Kabanza, Fifteen members were present, including the about twenty miles from Vivi. 4. l:Iatamba, bishop, and sixteen were unavoidably absent. about twenty-nine miles from here, all on the The bishop reported briefly as follows: caravan trail. 5. Isangala, where our freights have to be taken by boats up the river to Manyan- " Our disappointment in not being able to get ga.. We have not bnilt, but our missionarY,E. A. direct and prompt tral)sport of our steamer and Shoreland, occupies rent free the station-honse other stuff to Stanley Pool, and detention in Vivi, of the government. 6. Natumba, near Banana, tllough trying to our faith and patience here, we have just received permission from the govand hard on the bopes of our patrons at home, ernor-general to select a Site, and I hope to be is working fOl' our good and for the enlargement able to send in duly a sketch of the land selected, of our field of operations on the Congo: and to settle on the premises in a tent till we can get a small iron house ordered from Liverpool." "1. In the nnexpected depletion of our transit funds. lIad the government of the State of Reports from varions stations were then pre- Congo been able to transport onr freight to Stan- senled. John A. Newth stated what had been ley Pool at a pound ($,;) per man-load, according done at Sadi Cabanzi. He said that the natives, to agreement, we could not have paid their trans- though willing to be taught English, declined port bills. Here, in Vivi, onr expenses are but having anything to do with the worship of God, light and our transport by steam will he much believing that all joining in it will die. Yet Mr. cheaper than by carriers alone. Newth helieves there is ground for hope. The witch-doctor, having been warned ,!gainst his ,. 2. It has been the means of a government barbarous practice, now brings all sick patients authorization to open a line of mission stations to the mission to receive medical treatment. from Vivi to Isangala, 55 miles, and thence to This is certainly a step in the right direction, for Manyanga, 88 miles, thence on the south side of it will give tbe natives confidence in the misthe Congo 100 miles to Stanley Pool. sionary. Mr. Newth thinks that when he is able ,to speak the langnage of thl' natives he will be "3. We are finding out as our acqnaintance able to {eason away tbeir prejudices. extends that north of said base line of stations there is a densely populated belt of conntry belonging to the Congo Btate, extending back to the Loango River, and that parallel east a belt of about 100 miles or more.

"Since our arrival here, about the first of The report from Vumtomba, back of Vivi, de- July of this year of grace-five months-we have, tailed the building operations, and stated that under the mechanical generalship of Brother the natives are very friendly, and there is a daily Critchlow, extemporized the construction of a class of from eight to eleven to learn English.

new steam wagon of 'Va.t pulling power, for the Miss Mary Kildare reported the result of her transport of our heavy freights np the steep hills, teaching in two villages near Vivi. She first got by means of this wonderful wagon and a little good classes of children, taught them to sing man force. All our cargoes have been bronghtup Christian songs; and to repeat the Command- the crooked, steep, rocky hills, from the beach ments and the Lord's Prayer. The interest and to Vivi top, a distance of about a mile and a attendance increased, and the parents began to half, since which our preacher and storekeeper, come, and one man has given up idol worship.

J. C. Teter, has taken stock of all our stores and The report from Matamba, by Charles Lamn, pat them under roof, lock and key. pur chief stated that that station was opened in September.

engineer, Silas W. Field, has rubbed up and The natives are eager to be taught. Letter from Our Oorrespondent at long as he could. My dear little son (12 years Tangier, Morocco. old) was so impressed by the sight that he also I JIAVE just returned .from Fez (the great nortbern capital of Morocco). I Was absent desired baptism, to my great joy. Muley four montbs; nearly" fortnigbt was consumed in getting tberp. We "dwelt in onr own hired Hasham'S conversion oC~llrred onlyabont tour house, and received all that came unto us, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching weeks after my arrival in Fez. Therefore I those things which cOncern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding bad bis help in the work all the rest of my us." A beloved young Scotch brother, wbo volunteered to accompany me and look after sojourn. He boldly and publicly confessed material matters, and my little son Frank, were my only companions. We were in great dis- Christ, abandouing the false faith of Moham- comfort for a time after our arrival, but after- ward secured a little bouse in a garden through med. He daily instructed tbose who came to which the river of Fez flowed. Here we spent some happy months, though with scarcely any the house. He has gifts that make it desirable of the ordinary appliances and comforts of civil· ized life. The people came freely about us. that he should give himself wholly to the work Many heard the word of life. The great op– portunities and large promise of work in this of the ministry, which is his great desire. I have land were more than ever impressed upon us. Not a few were at least intellectually convinced brought him with me to Tangier, where he has of the truth of Christianity. Some professed conversion. I will speak confidently of but one, eudeared bimself to us all, and hope to retain whose experience was most remarkable, and – who abides faitbfnl. His name is Hasham, and bim for help in the gospel. He supplies my im- he has the title of Muley, being a lineal de- ·scendant of Mohammed, and is looked upon perfect knowledge of Arabic. He is withont with peculiar veneration by his fellow-country- meu. His father's grandfather was the Sultan means, and I should be glad if some rich friend of Morocco. He is of middle age, of great iu- telligence, and well educated for a Moor. He should covet the exceeding honor of supplying had been greatly devoted to the faith of Moham- med and held an hereditary position in connection his temporal needs; $250 a year would amply with one of the many mosques (some fifty) of Fez, which he relinquished ou his conversion. meet this dear man's humble needs, and enable The details of bis being brought to believe in aud confess Cbrist arc of thrilling interest, and me to keep bim wholly occupied in gospel ef- some of them I would fear to tell lest they migbt be doubted. His awakeniug illustrates fort. Who will do it? My stay in Fez was of how feeble a word may be blessed. He had a child at the point of death, and I simply told great help to me in increasing my knowledge of him it was useless to pray to God for the child save in the name of Jesus. This word ent.ered Arabic. At our out-station (Arzeela) ten or eleven at once into his soul, and he spent that night praying for his child in the name, the thriee- souls have evidently received Christ, of whom blessed name, of Jesus. The next day but one he professed himself a believer in Christ, tell- two have fallen asleep. In tbis work God has ing me of a vision of the Lord Jesus he had had, that sounded like a leaf from the Acts of the honored the faith and toil of two devoted sisters, Apostles. It filled me with amazement and joy, aud I could do little but stand still and see tbe who fearlessly took np their abode in tbat little salvation of God. I bad but to point out what God said about a thing, and he received it Witll city where were no otbers than natives save rejOicing, and daily waxed strong, and he has already become a stalwart believer whose faith themselves. I cannot express how deeply I feel and patience would put many at home to shame Two or three days after his conversion I pointed that there are hundreds of Christian young out what the Lord Jesus said as to baptism, and he was eager to at once obey. I baptized him women in America who could give themselves that noon in the river in onr own garden. He did not wish me to raise him up at once, saying to such like work here. What an unfading as Christ remained in the grave three days be should like to lie upon the bottom of the river as crown would be theirs! I will gladly be the belper of sucb, or of young brethren, either.

Who will come? Who bas faith and courage for it? Snch as can trust the Lord for support shall lack no good thing, though among the good things they will find as part of them plenty of trials, as do we. But noue of these things move us. We count not our life dear to us. if we may; but finish our course with joy. I am about starting on another trip, or series of trips, into the interior to occupy these spriug months.

My wife and daugbter Carrie and Muley Hasham will be with me. We hope to a~ain go to Fez and perbaps other towns of southern Morocco after the summer heat has passed. Traveling is expensive, and we must have at least five mules.

To hire them consumes too much, so they must be purchased. Brother Eugene Levering, No.2 Commerce street, Baltimore, continues to re- ceive and -forward the bounty of tbe friends of our work. E. F. BALDWIN.

The McAll Mission.

[THE following letter, lately re- ceived from Mr~ MeAll, will be of in- terest to our readers.-EDs.} PARIS, January 14, 1888. At the close of the year 1887 and the opening of the new one our work in Paris and through- out France 'presents very many features which I am sure will not fail to rejoice the hearts of our dear friends of the American auxiliaries, who, with us, are so earnestly desirous for the Bayroux, the French pastor of St. Germain, will spread of thE> gospel in this land. I will attempt take the direction of the station, we supplying no more than a faint sketch of what we have him weekly with speakers from Paris. On the been enabled to accomplish within the last two opening evening we were cheered to ~ee the little or three months in the way of extending the hall filled, and though all was new and strange work, planting new stations in hitherto neg- to the majority of those present, there was re- lected districts of Paris and throughout France. spectful and serions attention thronghout. The Yon are aware that deficiency of funds had pro- speakers remarked that, while during long cen- hibited, during some years, our responding to turies the town had witnessed all manner of the many and urgent calls to break new ground. events and revolutions, never had a place been It is only quite recently that, having somewhat opened in its streets for the preaching of the recovered, through the efforts of our French pure gospel (the Protestant church is on the out- friends, in connection with the sale they held for skirts) until that night. We all felt that it was us last May in Paris, and from other sources, we our privllege to make thus a direct assault on have had the great joy of once again" lengthen- the strongholds of ignorance and incredulity, Ing our cords." This we have been enabled to and returned home with the glad conviction that do at a comparatively small additional outlay, as .. the Lord was there."

the entire work of many of the new stations is Time and space fail me to detail the openings undertaken gratuitously by the French pastors which increased our stations from 99 at the and others in the respective localities, so that close of 1EE7 to 114 as it now stands. In all we we have only to provide the little mission halls have increased our number of sittings by about and their incidental expenses, which, In many 1,600, raising the number with which we start cases, the very small means of these frieuds on the year tu about 17,000.

the spot would not enable them to meet. Will you not, dear American friends, join I will begin with last evening, January 12. with us in fervent prayer that, through the Holy We had the privilege of opening at 8 o'clock P.lI[. Spirit's influence, each of these sittings may, our 114th station. It is situated in a quarter during the year, witness the drawing of at least of Paris peopled by very poor and religiously ig- one heart to the Saviour? R. W. McALL.

norant people, In a district called Monceau.

Several of our valued helpers live near the spot, and have long much desired to attempt some- GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

thing for their less favored neighbors. During Results of Missions. At the end the visit of M. Guillamne van der Beken, Secre- of 1884 there were at least 2,400,000 tary of the Paris Young Men's Christian Associ- adherents and 650,000 full church ation, some friends at Cincinnati felt so much interested in his statements respecting our members; 2,283,000 evangelized hea- work that they resolved to aid its extension. then-that is a significant number. They assured an extra fund to M. van der Beken for this pm·pose. He and his wife and It may not be that each of these is a her cousin and two ladies, all living close by, mature believer. Certainly;the ma- sought out this new mission hall, and last night jority have much weakness, and we set it apart for an effort to reach the poorest their Christianity is still in its juveand most neglected around. It is in the Rue de nile stage. Yet how many striking Tocqueville, close by a benevolent institution in instances of wonderful divine guidwhich houseless men get a meal and a night's ance, of the power of the gospel, of lodging. From this proximity we doubt not that many will turn into the room and hear the real conversion, of childlike faith, of gospel for the first time in their lives. The devout prayer, of love for the Word, opening meeting was very encouraging. With of willing self-sacrifice, of heroic enthe exception of a few friends, it consisted en- durance for the confession of Christ, tirely of the neighbors, working people, etc. The place looked exceedingly neat and attractive and are included in these 2,283,000 I How was well filled. It was delightful to hear the widely spread in different lands are people try to sing the hymns, and their attention these 2,283,000 I If we may take a. was reverent while we commended them to our journey around the globe, almost Father's blessing. These Christian ladies (men- tioned above) of the neighborhood propose to everywhere do we meet more or less organize in the hall, in addition to the public of them. In Labrador and Greenland, meeting, children'S religious services, mothers' among the Indians and negroes of meetings, etc. British America and the United On Wednesday of last week we opened our llath station, at St. Germain-en·Saye, an ancient States, in the West Indies, off the town of 18,000 inhabitants, a few miles from coasts of Central and Southem Ame- Paris. Mr. Elliott J. Shepherd of New York rica, and even in the wilds of Terra. has generously supplied the fands for this new del Fuego, 688,000 of heathen have movemeut, in memory of the birth of a little daughter during his sojourn in the town. M. Zealand and Australia, missionary been gathered into Christian commu- supply of two factories only. Mr. nities. If we leave San Francisco to go across the Pacific Ocean, we find in the Bently says" he has heard of 50,000 Sandwich Islands, in Micronesia and Melanesia and Polynesia, in New or 60,000 cases of gin as the annual converts numbering 240,000 souls. If we turn to the Indian Archipelago sale of certain factories of the Dutch and from there go to the Japanese islands, and then to the Asiatic con- House." / tinent, India, China, Persia, and Asia Minor, we find 754,000 heathen who Says Dr. Cuyler, in the New York have become Christians. Coming at last to Africa, we meet the converts Evangelist: in Madagascar, among the Caffres, Bechuanas and Hottentots, South .. I went to Washington to present a memorial Africa, the negroes of the interior, from the National Temperance Society to the and the west coast from Congo to Senegambia, amounting to 577,000. Committee on Foreign Affairs of the United -The Prospect in Asia. Dr. Abel States Senate, in behalf of rum-cursed Africa. Stevens, writing to the Central Chris- Wheu the Berlin Conference shaped the future tian Advocate from Yokohama, Japan, says: of the vast Free State of the Congo, three "I have been inspecting the great Asiatic years ago, they prohibited the slave trade. But battle-fields, and I report the general conviction of both foreigners and intelligent natives here, they left a worse scourge uncheCked. The Hon. that the epoch of a grand social and religious revolutiou has Bet in in India, Burmah, China. Mr. Kasson, who represented the United States, and Japan; that this old 'Asiatic heathendom is generally gIving way before the continually in- Sir Edward Malet, who l·epresented Great creasing power of Western thought and Chris_ tian civilization. The present is the most pro- Britain, with Count de Launey of Italy and pitious hour that ever dawned on Asia since the advent of Christ. Let us hail it, and march into Count; vau der Straten of Belgium, strove hard these great open battle-fields with all our fiags uplifted. I am not carried away by the enthu_ to have a clause prohibiting the sale of intoxisiasm of the heroic meu I have met in these tlelds: I know well the diftlculties that still cants to the native tribes. The German and remain, and can criticise as well as anybody grave defects iu the campaign. But I feel sure Dutch commissioners fought it out, and Gerthat the hoary paganism of this Asiatic world is tottering to its fall; that the tlnal Christian battle many has sent over BeVen millions of gallons of is at hand." • fire water' into that doomed region in a single Wendell Phillips says: year I Holland has sent over one million lAud .. The answer to the Shaster is India; the answer to Confncianism is China; the answer to out of the port of Boston, between J une,1885, and the Koran is Tnrkey; the answer to the Bible is the Christian civilization of Protestant Europe June, 1886, there was shipped 733,000 gallons and America." of death-dealing New Englaud rum into the -Africa and Rum. The exports of spirits to Africa from Great Britain, Congo country I The negroes are becoming Germany, Portugal and the United crazed not only with the drink, but for it. Many States in a single year amounted to nearly 9,000,000 gallons! And these of them refuse to take in exchange for palm-oil, gallons are multiplied many times before they are dealt out to the na- Ivory and other prodncts, any manufactured tives. One of the National African Company's steamers recently carried fabrics, and clamor for strong drink I Two re- 25,000 cases of gin and mm for the sults follow: the natives are being bestialized with alcohol, and all hope of opening a valuable market for our goods is being destroyed. The chief ' Christian' powers of the world are be- coming the colossal grogsellers to poor imbrut- ed Africa, and are destroying one hnndred times as many as Christiau missions are saving. A powerful influence is being brought to bear on the English Government to prohibit the liquor trallic iu Africa by British SUbjects. The memo- rial I took to Washingtou besought our gov- ernment to adopt effective measures to suppress this destructive trallic by American citizens. A vigorous push should be made by every constit- uency upon its representative, by petition and by correspondence. No time is to be lost. One year now iu the history of Africa is worth a century in its degraded past. If Christendom is going to supplant Paganismwith whiskey-barrels, then Africa had better been left in heathenish se- clnsion. At any rate, let our republic wash its hands of any further participation in this whole- sale crime against a whole race of immortal beings."

" What is being done out there in the name of conscience," says the New York Tribune, edito- rially, "is a world of crime of a character so colossal, of an immorality so shameless and pro· found, that if it could be regarded as a type and !1lustration of nineteenth century civilization, it would be necessary to denounce that civilization as a horrible sham and a conspicuous failure." Says Canon Farrar in the Contem- They are said to be a very musical . porary Review: people. Music enters largely into all "The old rapacity of the slave-trade has been matters of social importance, and followed by the greedier and more ruinous ra- the love of it finds expression in the pacity of the drink-seller. Our fathers tore from manufacture and employment of a the neck of Africa a yoke of whips; we have variety of instruments. The Bursubjected the native races to a yoke of scorpi- mese gong, when deeply struck by· ons. We have opened the rivers of Africa to the accustomed hand and thereafter commerce, only to ponr down them the' 1'aging gently waved in air, is by no means Phlegethon of alcohol,' than which no river of unpleasant to hear. And when, as the Inferno is more blood-red or more accursed. is often the case, it is employed to ls the conscience of the nation dead? If not. will no voice be raised of snfficient power to awaken it from a heavy sleep?" summon a passing neighbor on his Bosnia.-Pastor Kolatschek, who way with an offering to some distant spent the years 1884-1886 in gospel temple, in order that he may become work among the Bosnians, gives the agent in transmitting a similar some interesting reports concerning gift from a worshiper whom cir- the evangelization in that county.r cumstances detain at home, it con- The political authorities do not op- veys a lesson which we do well to pose this work in any way, which is lay to heart.

conducted under the auspices and China.-Ex-Secr«!tary Holcomb of with the financial aid of the Gusta- the American Legation at Peking vus Adolphus Society of Germany. says that out of the 400,000,000 in- habitants of the Chinese Empire fully Burmah.-All of Burmah belongs 300,000,000 spend less than $1.50 a to Great Britain and forms a part of month for food. the East India Empire. Lower Burmah consists of the· provinces of Ar- France.-Rev. Dr. Muchmore of rakan, Pegu, Irrawaddy and Tenas- the Presbyterian, Philadelphia, who serim, with an area of 87,220 square recently returned from a two-years' miles, and a population in 1881 of travel abroad, and whose admirable 2,736,771. Upper Burmah, known etters during that time have received previously to 1886 as Independent wide attention, gives in one of his Burmah, is estimated to have 190,- latest his views touching the MeAll 500 square miles and a population :Mission, which will be read with inof 3,500,000. It is probable that in terest by many of our readers who all Burmah there is now a popUlation are interested in this great religious of near 8,000,000. In Lower Burmah movement of our day. He says: the census of 1881 divided the people religiously into 88,171 Hindus, 168,- ., The McAJI work has never been independent 881 Mohammedans, 3,251,584 Buddh- of the churches and pastors of Paris. The selfists, 84,219 Christians. The people negation of this wonderfnl Christian man. who of Upper Burmah are almost en- is the founder and head, is monumental. It tirely Buddhists. wonld have been the easiest thing in the world to have started a church bearing his name or The Burmese make jokes freely, any other name. But instead. he has wrought but are not so ready to take them, in the greatest harmony with the French pasand have a. bitter dislike to being tors. Re has advised with them, has had their teased. Their manners are courteous, constant help. Some of the most eminent preaching in these stations- two, three and some- but quite free. They are not an in- times four times a week, is by men of worlddustrious race, yet we ought not to wide repntation, such as Dr., nOw Senator de call them lazy. A moderate amount Pressense, Pasteurs Bersier, Monod, Recolin, of work for two days supplies them Dhombres, Rollard and others. There is but with ample provision for both, and one opinion about this work in Paris, nay in all for a third, which they spend in medi- France, which is enthnsiastic and profOlmdly tation, boat-racing, football, or other trustful. It is the auxiliary ofthe French Protestrecreations according to taste. ant churches, and at this moment we are told that there are a hundred applications for these helpers for the churches throughout France by the pastors and consistories.. The work, by its of the people by a common religious own momentum. of grace, widens and deepens, bond. Hinduism is a social organizaand the cry, not only in France but far beyond tion an!i religious confederacy. As it, is to them, ' Come over and help us.' One of a social organization it rests on caste. its most blessed fruits is in imparting a knowl- As a religious confederacy it repreedge to the pastors of France of better methods sents the coalition of the cultured of work. In the long inactivity of the church, faith of the Brahmans with the ruder when it was practically fettered, the tendency rights and materialistic beliefs of the was to take the life and aggressive activity out more backward races. In both asof it and its pastors. Many had fallen into a pects Hinduism is a deliberate system humdrum conservatism, little less lively than of compromise. It accepts the posithe dead march. Then courage, which now tion that the spiritual needs of races works throngh their marvelous aggressiveuess, differ in each stage of their developwas all repressed by the terror which through ment, and that man most naturally ages becomes the law of being. The pastors worships what, for the time being, he come up from all over France. aud catch the . most reverences or most fears. On spirtt and learn its methods, and carry them this foundation Hinduism has built home, not in vain, as the wonderful revivals up the enduring but ever-changing' throughout France during the last two years st.ructure of Indian ritual and belief. have shown. To the ministry of France it has No conversions to Islam on a considbeen betterin its teaching how to work than a half erable scale have taken place since dozen ordinary seminaries. The French clergy 1872. Even a solitary case might be appreciate it, pray for it, French Protestants sought for in vain of such a change contributed to it over five thousand francs, a of religiOUS belief from conscientious great snm consideri~ their condition and the conviction. But a small amount of demands upon their poverty. They commend converRions is going steadily on. It it, as they well might, and God forbid that they proceeds from social and economical shonld ever become so blind as not to feel that reasons, and is confined to the lower it is the pnlsation of their own church heart. orders, and occurs oftener among For they mnst never be separated. It would females than males. Hindus who imperil, to our judgment, the hopes of the sal- have lost caste, women who have vation of France. But it may be asked, What fallen into an immoral life, men who are the results, not general, but organized? The have abandoned their family faith French Protestant churches are receiving con- for the sake of a woman of the other verted sonls that they could never have reached. creed-these, and such as these, re- All the pastors, who have wrought in this work, lease themselves from the restraints have had accessions from it, pastors Bersier, of caste rules by adopting Islam. In Monod, de Pressense, etc., and so has it been such conversions religious feeling has with the Methodist, Congregational and Baptist no place. churches" Into this ancient and powerfulor- -India's Religions. "The first idea ganization a new religious force has of our missio.aaries was to make con- thrust itself, a force animated by a verts from the established religions profoundly different spirit. Christianof India. During the last fifty years ityis not a new rpligion in India. Its this idea has been modified. In such a history dates from a period 700 years country a religion must stand or fall before the rise of media'lVal Hinduism by what it does for the well-being of and 1,000 years before any wideits own people. This principle ap- spread Indian settlement of Islam. plies to the three great religions of The new religious force now at work modern India – Mohammedanism, amid Hinduism is neither the Nesto- Hinduism and Christianitv. There rianism of the patriarchs nor the Cais a dense and dark mass;f $50,000,- tholicism of the popes. The Catholic 000 of human beings in India lying and Syrian churches still go on calmon the outskirts or beyond the pale ly with their great task and claim of orthodox Hinduism and Islam. Within fifty years these 50,000,000 will be absorbed into one or other of the higher faiths. Islam represents in British India a compact and coherent mass of 45,000,000, who in spite of internal divisions are more closely united than any equally large section over 1;600,000 of the 2,148,227 Chris- dition of one faith."'-Sir William tians in India. The new disruptive NelsvnHunter, in the London Times. force is Protestant and Anglican Christianity. English mlssIOnary Hindu Astrology in Trouble. The work began in the last year of the Bombay Guardian gives a singular last century. 'fhe results achieved story of the trials which some emiby three missionary periods in India nent Hindu pundits are undergoing -the period of private effort, the on account of the interference of period of great organized societies, Western science with their system of and the period of societies side by astrology, which is closely connected side with ascetic brotherhoods-may with their religion. A meeting of be thus summarized. In 1851 the learned Brahmans from Benares and Protestant missions in India and Bur- other places had been held to conmah had 222 stations; in 1881 their sider this conflict between science stations had increased nearly three- and their religion. It seems that the fold, to 601. The number of churches date of a certain holy festival, the or congregations had during the thir- Durga Puja, which ought to be fixed ty years multiplied from 267 to 4,180, by the study of the stellar influences, or over fifteen-fold. There is not has of late years been fixed by an only a vast increase in the number of examination of the Englishman's stations, but a still greater increase Sheet Almanac. The Guardian says: in the work done by each station, while the number of native Protes- .. This impious conduct, subversive of the tant Christians increased from 91,092 very principles on which Hindu festivals were in 1851 to 492,882 in 1881, and the instituted, has been reported by an enemy to the communicants increased from 14,661 orthodox Brahmans, and great has been the agito 138,254. During the same thirty tation produced by the disclosure. Not only years the pupils in mission schools according to this discovery:have past feasts been multiplied from 64,043 to 196,360. observed in violation of planetary conjunctions These enormous increments have and stellar influences, rendering acts of merit been obtained by making a larger nugatory, neceSSitating the repetition of vows, use of native agency. A native Prot- upsetting marriages, confusing births, and in· estant church has, in truth, grown ducing blight, pestilence, and disaster of every up in India capable of supplying in a kind; but the holidays this month, for which large measure its own staff. In 1851 many of us have made all arrangements, will be there were twenty-one ordained min- useless and need not be observed. Such were isters, and in 1881 they had increased the asseverations of the Brahmans, and as the to 575. The number of native lay great question when to hold the forthcoming preachers had risen from 493 to the pujahs must be settled immediately, the meetvast total of 2,586. The wonderful ings we have mentioned were convened." growth of the native clergy in recent years has brought Christianity closer There was a heated discussion at to native institutions. The appoint- this meeting. Many were not prement of native bishops, for which the pared to admit that all their rites time is at hand, will do more. Indi- and ceremonies were wholly without an Christianity, organized on the merit on account of the failure to hit Indian communal basis and in part upon the right day. But there was directed by native spiritual leaders, agreement upon the doctrine that would reproduce, as far as the diver- the stars must fix the day, while it gent creeds of modern times permit, was gravely disputed whether their Tertullian's picture of the early positions should be determined by churches united by 'the communion the use of modern astronomical inof peace, the title of brotherhood, struments or by the study of the the token of hospitality, and the tra- shastras.

Japan.-Joseph Cook, in Our Day, says as to the prospects of Unitarian missions in Japan: ":Mr. Knapp, who was lately sent to Japan on a Unitarian' embassy,' said in his farewell ad- dress in Boston, November 6, 'My errand 1ft not a mission to heathen. • • • It is conference, not conversion, at which I aim.' A son of Fu- i[ your committee think fit to elect knzawa, the eminent Japanese educator, readan me an honorary member of your soaddress following :Mr. Knapp, and closing with ciety. I have often said that the this extraordinary benediction: 'May God, progress of Japan was the greatest Buddha, and the eight million deities of Japau wonder in the world, but I declare bless him.' (Okristian Register, Nov. 17, 1887.) that the progress of Fuegiais almost The gross irreverence of tbis reference in its equally wonderful.' After commendconjunction of the divine name with pagan dei- ing the success of the London Misties shocked many hearers, but met with no re- sionary Society in the South Seas, buke, although Dr. Hale and President Eliot the late Professor Rolleston, at the were on the platform. Eveu tbe Unitarian Re- meeting of the British Association in view <Dec. 1887, p. 592) says only tbat no mis- 1875, quoted Dr. Gerland: 'The desionary was ever before sent abroad with' so crease of the Polynesian popUlation oomprebensive a benediction' as that pro- is not now going on as fast as it was nounced ou lIIr. Kuapp by young FUkuzawa. It in the first half of this century. is painfully evident that Unitariau missions COn- Whilst in this matter the English ducted in the spirit of this keynote wonld be ex- Government deserves great praise, ceedingly injurious to Japan, and that their suc- and whilst Sir George Grey has done cess wonld give to her population ouly a plenti- more for the Polynesians than almost ful feast of east wind. A Unitarian journal of any other man, the missionaries, nevleading authority lately said that the most noto- ertheless, stand in the very front rious inlidellecturer in the United States might rank among the benefactors of these be admitted to membership in a liberal Unitarian races, with their unwearied, selfchurch. Japan should remember the bright sacrificing activity.' Russell, in his saying of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of work upon 'Polynesia, 1840,' said: Charles Darwin: 'Unitarianism is a feather-bed 'The progress which the Polynesians to catch a falling Christian' (Life of Darwin, Am. have made was really set on foot by ed., vol. i. p. 513). The Land of the Rising Sun the missionaries. They have had the should keep in mind Coleridge's remark (Table greatest influence ~upon the civiliza- Talk), •A Unitarian may be a Christian, but tion of the natives; they have taken Unitarianism is not Christianity.' .. their part and protected them when they could; they have further given Polynesia. – Much has been said them the fast foothold, the new fresh against the introducion of Christian- object, motive, and meaning for their ity and civilization among the peo- whole existence, of which they stood ple of the South Sea Islands, as tend- so much in need.' Whatever ridicule ing to the destruction of the native 'The Earl and the Doctor' and simiraces. It has been affirmed that to lar books may have cast upon miscarry the gospel to them was the sure sions in the Pacific, this has been way to exterminate them. An arti- conclusively refuted by the unbiased cle in The LondonMissionary Ohron- testimony of Admiral Wilkes and icle brings some testimony on this Captain Erskine, to the effect that matter and shows what missions have the moral reformation of the islanddone for the" elevation and preserva- ers is pre-eminently due to the exertion of the islanders in the Pacific. It tions of the agents of the London SlJ,ys: "For the sake of the preserva- Missionary Society. So again, in retion and raising of the aboriginal na- sisting the coolie traffic of Polynesia, tives, whatc1ass of men have equaled the natives have not had more steadthemissionariesin promoting asancti- fast champions than the missionaries. fied manhood and womanhood among How much has also been accomsavages and heathen? It will not be plished for the redemption of the out of place to give Darwin's opinion slave in the West Indies, and in the upon the civilization of degraded alleviation of the brutish and servile tribes through the agency of mis- condition of the natives of India I If, sions. Writing to the secretary of the South American Missionary Society in 1870, he says: 'The success of the Terra del Fuego Mission is most wonderful, and charms me, as I always prophesied utter failure. It is a grand success. I shall feel proud

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT. '

further, we c6nsider the superhuman Arabic-speaking peoples, Pl'. Geo. E. self-abnegation of Livingstone for Post, in the New York Evangelist, the suppression of African slavery, or the labors and endurance of worthily says: Vanderkemp, Phillip, Ebner, KitcheneI', and Moffatt for the welfare " It would take a long'list to exhaust the ~ of the Bushman, KaffiI', Bechuana, !igious, literary aud scientific contributions to and Hottentot, there can be no the Arabic language from the missionaries in stronger exposure of the calumnies Syria. They include the translation of the which Sir Samuel Baker has raised SCriptures and the stereotyping of the same in against the missionary and his mes- numerous styles; the preparation of a Scripture sage." goide, commentaries, a concordance, and a complete hymn and tune book; textbooks in Syria.-Contributions of Mission- history, algebra, geometry, trignometry, logaaries to Science and Education. In rithms, astronomy, meteorology, botany, zoiilonoticing the completion of another gy, physics, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, hygreat work by Dr. Dennis of Beirut, giene, materia medica, practice of physic, snrone of a series prepared by him, in- gery, and a periodical literature which has cluding the Canon and Interpretation proved the stimulus to a very extensive native of Scripture and Evidences of Re- journalism. The Protestant converts of the ligion, which have become the stand- mission, educated by the missionaries, have ards of theological instruction for the written elaborate works On history, poetry, grammar, arithmetic, uatural science, and the standard dictionary of the lauguage, and a cy- clopoodia which will make a library by itself, consisting of about twenty volumes of from six hundred to eight hundred pages each."

IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., OF THE" INTERNATIONAL MIS- SIONARY UNION."

The English Language on Indian Res- the red races must, be taught the English language in order to their ervations. nationalization, and pressure, stead- THE relation of languagfls to the ily augmented, has been brought to civilization and nationalization of pagan peoples is no new topic. The bear on all having to do with these governments of Europe have given tribes, to secure compliance with large attention to the subject. Mis- this policy. The cousensus .of pubsionary organizations during the last lic opinion supports this aim of century have studied it more pro- the government, though there is di- foundly and with wider experience versity of view as to its relative im- than anyone government, if not portance among the several means more than all governments. contributing to the same result. The The United States Government moral and religious training of these has experience limited to its own ter- races is fundamentally essential to ritory and to the one aboriginal race their civilization and nationalization, found therein. It has, within a com- and the philological influences and paratively few years past, given a lit- facilities, stoutly helpful and impor- tle consideration to the relations of tant, are yet imperatively subordi- the languages of these people to the nate. All parties, therefore, outside question of their preparation for citi- of the Indians themselves, may be zenship, and their ultimate absorp- said to have favored the acquisition tion into the national commonwealth; of the Englis"h language by these a view of their possible future which tribes, and all have sought, at least in is itself of recent date. During these some degree, to attain this object. few years, those charged with the It appears that the Indian Bureau conduct of Indian affairs have had a or the Indian Commissioner, or a steadily deepening conviction, that subordinate of the Commissioner whose instrument he became, thought 2. Rev. Dr. Strieby has partially this object was to be secured more summarized the objections to the new rapidly by means of fOi'ce, and an regulation as, first of all, judged of edict was issued which forbade in- from only a secular and government struction, by anybody, to any Indians, standpoint. It is said that this in any of the Indian vernaculars. sacrifices the present generation of This was afterward modified in a adults, and is impracticable; it is imhomeopathic degree to read: possible at once to educate the chil- dren of school age among the Indians, .. No other person than a native teacher will as there are only 13,000 pupils now in be ~ermitted to teach in any Indian vernacular, the schools of a total population of and these native teachers will only be allowed 46,000 .of school age; that it would iu schools not supported in whole or in part by cost the government a half million the government, at remote points where there dollars to furnish school-houses for is no government or contract school where the these, and another half million for English language is taught." books and teachers, and thus require a million dollars for the first year; President Cleveland says, in his re- that it is simply impossible to secure ply to criticisms against this order, the teachers if the government werewhich were formulated in resolution otherwise ready-it would require one by the Philadelphia Methodist Epis- thousand teachers; that there must be copal Annual Conference, that it ap- increasing expenditure for the schools plies to text-books also. He says of the character desired, as the ap- propriations of the government show .. That uo text-books in the vernacular will be the expense of these schools to haye allowed iu any school where children are placed increased forty-fold in ten years, under contract, or where the government con- while the average attendance has tributes, in any manner Whatever, to the sup- scarcely trebled. At the ratio of inport of the schools; no oral instruction in the crease of attendance of these children, vernacular will be allowed in such schools. The in school during the past ten years, entire curriculum must be in the English lau- it will require sixty years to get these guage. The vernacular may be used in mission- children in schools. It will therefore ary schools ouly for oral instruction in morals probably, even following out the govand religion, where it is deemed to be an auxiliary ernment policy, require half a cento the English langnage in conveying such in- tury before the English language can struction, and only native Indian teachers will be be made the language of communicapermitted to otherwise teach in any Indian tion with the Indians; and thus while vernacular; and these native teachers will only the permanent use of these Indian be allowed so to teach in schools not supported languages is not necessarily to be dein whole or iu part by the government and at sired, their temporary use is of great remote points, where there are no government consequence. But it is essential that or contract schools where the English language the Indian be Christianized in order to is taught, and such instruction must give way to his nationalization. When the Indian the English-teaching schools as soon as they are becomes a Christian, his eyes are established where the Indians can have access opened for the first time to the idea to them." of a right qivilization, and he begins then to know the value of the Eng- It appears that even interlinear lish industries and of the Englishlantext-books are prohibited. guage.

Several objections have been raised 3. Rev. Charles W. Shelton, .at the to these regulations of the govern- same Mohonk Conference at which Dr. Strieby spoke as we have shown, ment. illustrated the process of Christiani- t. While the Board of Indian Com- zation as the short cut both to civil- missioners are on record over and again as favoring and strengthening the influences which would bring the Indians to a knowledge of English, they yet say in their last annual report that .. The school 'facilities being now snfficient for only abont one-third of the Indian children of school age, every effort for their education should be encouraged. A little teaching even in the vernacular is better than no instruction." ization and to the use of the English right to say whether they may have language, by reference to the 75,000 a theological seminary? How can it Indians of the Indian Territory, for be "satisfactol'lY" to missionaries to whom Congress has no need to legis- accept as a concession from the govlate, no bills coming before Congress ernment the right to have a " theoon their account. He says it is be- logical class," the number of which is cause three-quarters of a century to be "limited" at the discretion of ago the missionaries commenced to the Indian Bureau? This is a funda- Christianize them. He affirms that mental interference with fundagovernment cannot Americanize the mental and recognized rights which Indian from their standpoint, and if it were the sweetest charity to it were possible it is not the goal, as excuse as merely an impertinence. education in English is not a pre- And when again the President exventive of crime. plains that "these rules are not in- tended to prevent the possession: or 4. Serious exception is taken to this use by any Indian of the Bible, pubgovernment order, as invading nat- lished in the vernacular, but such ural and moral rights. Rev. Dr. possession or use shall not interfere Gilman asks if the government has with the teaching of the English any right to prohibit the Indian to language to the extent and manner teach his child in the only language hereinbefore directed," can he expect he knows. And if one may, may it will be "satisfactory," inasmuch "Ilot a half dozen employ the same as it involves the moral right of every means to teach them? Is it not man on American soil to own his proper to inquire what rights parents Bible and read it in Greek or Chochave over their children? taw without asking or receiving the concession as a privilege from the 5. Still graver objection is made to government? The very explanation the invasion of the rights of Ameri- is unfortunate. The government is can citizens in their personal and simply dealing with that which, out- private capacity. It is contrary to the side of its own schools, is none of its genius of the nation itself that the business, even if the matter at issue moral right to conduct benevolent, were vastly more essential to the charitable or Christianizing agencies nationalization of the Indians than it by such means as are esteemed nec- is or possibly can be. essary thereto by the parties in the case, shall be interfered with by an The brief expression of opinions of officer of the government. President eminent gentlemen, who have stud- Cleveland, in the letter already re- ied this subject for years, which will ferred to, says : be found below, was solicited by us with the privilege of their publica- "A limited theological class of Indian young tion in the REVIEW, and they will be men may be trained in the vernacular at any read with great interest. purely missionary school, snpported exclusively by misSionary societies, the object being to pre- OPINIONS OF EMINENT MEN ON LATE pare them for the ministry whose snbsequent ACTION OF THE INDIAN BUREAU. work shall be confined to preaching, nnless they are employed as teachers in remote settle- GENERAL CLI"TON B. FISK, CHAIRMAN BOARD 011' ments, where Ellglish schools are inaccessible." INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. And then, singularly enough, adds: • NEW YORK, March 26,1888. "The mIes referred to have been modified and changed in their phraseology to meet the I am in favor of using the English language views of good men who seek to aid the govern- ment In its benevolent intention, nntil it was only, in the schools conducted for the edncation snpposed their meaning was quite plain and their purpose satisfactory." of the Indians, as speedily as that can be done, How can the President suppose it I believe the Indian Bnrean erred in attempting to be "satisfactory" to American citizens or American Indians either, to prohibit the use of the Indian language in that the government shall claim the schools snpported by missionary societies. It was a wrong I Wish might be corrected withont delay. CLINTON B. FISK. THE BIGHT REV. BISHOP HAllE OF TIm lIIIS- gnu among the DakotaS' more than half a cen; SIONARY DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN DAKOTA. tury ago, and the result has been the conversion SIOUX FALLS, DAKOTA, March 31,1888. of hundreds from savage and heathen practices to Before answering your question and giving the white man's faith and civilization and the knowledge of the Saviour of men. Must this my opinion of the order of the Indian Burean good work cease at the nnchristian demand of prohibiting the teaching of the vernacular lan- an officer ofthe government of the United States , guage On the Indian reservations by missionary Why should the Bible in their own tongue be or other agents not supported by the govern- taken away from the Dakota people f And why ment, I must say by way of introduction, lest I should official edict prevent a poor Indian from reading and being taught of things divine in his should be misnnderstood, that I think some ac- Own vernacular? "Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe In me, It Is better tion in the'premises on the part of the govern- for him that a millstone were hanged about hill ment was called for. There is a tendency in neck and he were cast into the sea" (Mark many:of those who live on Indian reservations, ix. 42). The Washington order and not the Dahoth the Indian and the white missionaries, to kota Bible should be put under the ban. shut themselves in from the commOn life of onr people. This seems to me a capital mistake. E. L. FANCHER. Safety for 250,000 Indians, divided np unto several hundred trihes, speaking as many different HERBERT WELSH, ESQ., SECRETARY OJ!' THE languages, scattered on about seventy different reservations among 50,000,000 of English-speak- INDIAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION. ing people, can he found ouly if the smaller people fiow in with the current of life and ways of PHILADELPHIA, March 31, 1888. the larger. The Indians are not an insulated people, like some of the islanders of the South I believe that while it is of great importance Sea. Our work is not that of building np a national Indian chnrch with a national liturgy in or Indians to have a practical knowledge of the the Indian tongue. It is rather that of resolving the Indian structnre and preparing its parts for English language, so that they may know what being taken up into the great whole in church and state. things to take and what to reject in our civil- I think that decisive measures were needed in ization, a knowledge of Christian principles Is order to give emphasiS to these principles and to stir teachers and missionaries np to more intel- still more necessary to their welfare, as it is esligent and strenuous efforts to teach the Indians the EngliHh language. sential to the development of high strong per- I think, however, that the government has sonal character. Hence to oppose instruction shown, in the shape in which they have pnt the order referred to in your letter, great want of for Indians in the essentials of Christian trnth consideration for Christian teachers and missionaries who have been its best helpers in the throngh the medium of their own tongue, where work it wishes to do, and has trampled upon sa· cred rights which I had supposed would never circnmstances forbid the nse of English, I bebe made light of in this free land. lieve is nnsound policy. Yours respectfully, W. H. HARE, Bishop. "Forthe government to forbid or to restrict the HON. E. L. FANCHER, PRESIDENT AMERICAN use of the native tongue on the part of those who BIBLE SOCIETY. NEW YORK, March 30,1888. are laboring for the civilization of the Indians, I have no hesitation in saying that the edict independently of government financial aid, is, ofthe Commissioner of Indian Affairs is a blot on the page of Christian civilization. To command in my jndgment, for it to transcend the moral as it does that "no person other than a native Indian teacher will be permitted to teach in any limits of its authority. Such an act is oppressive Indian vernacnlar" is to close the door oCmission schools among the Indians and deny Christian in its nature, out of harmony with American missionaries the right of teaching the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and anyessen- ideas, and will only succeed in irritating and tial doctrine of the Bible. For there are thonsands of Indians who do not understand the alienating Protestant missionaries and In ham- English langnage, and before they can learn it their earthly existence, as to many, will ter- pering their valuable work for the welfare of the minate. Indians. HERBERT WELSH. The Dakota Bible is read in Indian schools by BEY. DR. GILlIlAN. SECRETARY OF THE AMERICAN many who cannot understand English, and what right has an officer of this free government to BIBLE SOCIETY. forbid its further nse f Mission work was be- BIBLE HOUSE, NEW YORK, April 4, 1888.

The rulings of the Commissionerof IndlanAl- fairS seem to have been determined, first by his personal opinion, repeatedlyannonnced, that any instrnction of the Ind4lns in their native tongne is nseless and detrimental to them; and sec- ondly, by his conviction that fidelity to his oath of 01lice requires him to prohibit instruction altogether. 1 In hoth these respects I think he Is wrong.

The missionaries are not dOing a nseleHs and harmful thing in teaching Indian boys and girl"

to read the Scriptnres in their own tongue, and even if they were it Is a high-minded measure for a government officer in Washington to set up his personal jndgment'on such a matter as a rule with which they must comply or be debarred from carrying on their philanthropic edncatlonal work. He goes out of his province when he dictates the methods of instruction for them to pursue, aud attempts to suppress a language by lows: In Philadelphia Yearly Mee~ ing, 1882; Iowa, Hl83; Indiana, 1883; an official edict. By his own confession "the New England, 1884; Ohio, 1884; Can- ada, 1885; North Carolina, 1885; Kaneffect of this policy upon any missionary body sas, 1885; New York, 1887. College societies are also formed at Earlham, was not considered," and that, when self-deny- Ind., and Wilmington, O. The mem- bership of these societies in 1886 was ing missionaries for all these years have been 3,892, and they had at that time raised $27,840. They have done much interested in giving the Indians a literature in valuable service in stimnlating the raising of money, and have rendered their OWn tongue. This is the gravamen of my much aid in establishing and sup- porting missions in Syria, China, Jacomplaint. EDWARD W. G,LMAN. pan, lVlexico, Jamaica, and among the American Indians. This work REV. LYMAN ABBOTT, D.D., EDITOR THE CIlRJB- has led to the establishment of a mis- sionary paper, the Friends' Mission- TIANU~ION. ary Advocate, edited and published at Chicago by Esther Tuttle Pritch- NEW YORK, March 31, 1888. ard. I can only say in answer to yours of March 28, in the briefest possible words: These several societies, ten in all, 1. That I think it very desirable to cease all were entirely separate, each from all nse of the vernacular in the Indian schools at the others, and have had no bond of earliest possible moment. union except that of their being 2. That I think the government has an entire of the same denomination, but they right to prohibit the use of the vernacular in any judged the time had a1'l'ived to seschools dependent in whole or in part upon gov- cure, if not some general organizaernment aid. tion, at least some unity of plan in 3. But it clearly has no right morally, what- the conduct both of their work at ever its technical legal right may be, to prohibit home and abroad. religious or philanthropic organizations from carrying on their work in any way and by any Representatives of these societies instrumentality they think best. were appointed to meet for this pur- pose, and some seventy of them met LYMAN ABBOTT. in Indianapolis, March 31, 1888, and organized" The First National Mis- Fifth Annual Meeting of the Interna- sionary Conference of the Woman's tional Missionary Union. Foreign Missionary Societies of Friends." 'fhe opening session it- THE fifth annual meeting of the In- self was marked by what is a "new ternational Missionary Union will be departure" among Quakers: it was held at Bridgeton, New Jersey, July inaugurated with singing. 5-1.2, 1888, inclusive. Ministers and others interested in foreign mission- This was an interesting moment, ary work are invited to be present. for in the veins of some of these All foreign missionaries, ladies or women flowed the blood of a Quaker gentlemen, temporarily or perma- ancestry of many generations, the nently in this country, are eligible to temporary president herself being in membership in the Union and will re- a line of Quaker preachers as far ceive free entertainment during the back as it can be traced; and to her meeting. For information address these associations were almost as the president of the Union, Rev. J. family ties; yet in this meeting, T. Gracey, D.D., 202 Eagle street, which was to set the precedent for Buffalo, N. Y.; the secretary, Rev. C. the future, the keynote was st.ruck W. Park, Birmingham, Conn.; the by singing treasurer, Rev. William H. Belden, Bridgeton, New Jersey; J. L. Phillips, M.D., Howard, R. I.; or Rev. E. R. Young, Brampton, Canada.

First National Conferenoe of the Wom- an's Foreign Missionary Sooieties of Friends. THE work of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Societies of Friends began in Western Yearly Meeting, the first s?ciety being formed at Plainfield in 1881. Since that, similar so- cieties have been organized, as fol- "All hail the power of Jesus' naDie." relative to future punishment, or other doctrine, in conflict with. the The season of devotion which fol- standards of other orthodox churches. lowed was oneof deep, quiet spiritual There are women of ability in this power. The address of welcome was church of whom this could not be made by Eliza C. Armstrong, who said, but the.y are not among these was among the first to suggest the delegates. This is attributed to the organization for women's societies revival of experimental holiness among the Friends. The Indianapo- which has swept largely over the lis Friends had spared no pains to denomination. give the delegates a fitting reception. An easel supported the pictures of The special aim of the conference their missionaries, with a life-size was to adopt, if possible, some basis engraving of Elizabeth Fry for a cen- of co-operation among the ten indetral figure, and an excellent portrait pendent missionary organizations of of Sybil Jones, one of the founders Quaker women. This was accomof Friends' Syrian Mission. On the plished in the establishment of a sort wall back of the pulpit were groups of confederation, by resolving that of pictures of pupils in the schools the independent boards of the several of Syria, and two idols that had yearly meetings have, each, three dejust been given to their Tokyo Mis- partments of work, as follows: (1) sion by a family that had embraced Junior and juvenile work; (2) gen- Christianity. as the result of the eralliterature; (3) systematic Chrishealing of a son who had been deaf tian giving; with a general superinand .dumb from his birth, but who, tendent over each department, to be it is said, received hearing and com- elected annually. These board sumenced to articulate sounds in an- perintendents, representing their sevswer to prayer in a meeting of the eral departments, shall elect their mission. A pleasant incident of the general secretary of that work anopening session was a telegram of nually, a two-thirds vote being necesgreeting from Mr. H. W. Fry, son of sary to elect. These general secrethe youngest son of Elizabeth Fry, a taries shall be a medium of communispiritually-minded business man, sec- cation through which the propositions retary of the London Bureau of of one board shall be conveyed to the Registration of Self-Supporting Mis- others. It is proposed that the name sions. It was, Col. i. 9, 10. under which these general secretaries shan act, shall be "Woman's For- The company of women was in eign Missionary Union of Friends." strong contrast with what a company These recommendations are to be reof Quaker women composing a simi- ferred for the consideration of the lar gathering would have been thirty various independent boards, to adopt years ago. There was but one "plain or defer, according to their several bonnet" among them, and that was needs, until the next General Conferworn by the veteran delegate of the Conference, a woman of striking ence. presence, sister to the late Dr. J. T. Another topic of interest was the Updegraff, M.C., and of the Quaker evangelist, David B. Updegraff. One relation they should sustain to the who has intimate personal acquaint- established missionary boards of the ance with the entire personnel of the Yearly Meetings: Should they be- company says they were a company come auxiliary to them, and turn of women fully consecrated to God their collections over to them, or up to their measure of comprehen- maintain their organic individuality sion of what that means, and, though and, self-government as women's so- the remark was not solicited, she cieties? The following action was adds, "not one of them holds views had: "Re8Ol'/J6d, That as a confereuce of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of Friends in and pleaded that the Friends do all America, we deslr~ to record our conviction they can to save these lost souls. that tlie separate form of organization represented by the societies is the providential chan- The committee suggested that all nel of women's work in mission fields; and Christian colleges should encourage further, that we cherish the organic individ- missionary societies among their stuuality of our boards and regard their self-govern- dents, to promote general intelligence, ment as essential to the best results; at the to secure a symmetrical development same time we earnestly hope the most cordial of mind, and a proper appreciation of relations of sisterly sympathy may ever be main_ personal responsibility in the dissemtained by our boards toward the other foreign ination of gospel truth among the msssionary agencies of our church." heathen. It also recommended that the different boards encourage the The Conference was addressed by promotion of junior and juvenile so- Dr. George E. Post of Beirut, Syria; cieties whose object shall be, the edu- Rev. V. C. Hart of China, and Rev. cation of their members concerning J. M. Thoburn, D.D., and his sister the needs of the heathe.n world and of India. Several papers were read their responsibility thereto. It was on methods of raising money, mis- further urged that the principles of sionary literature, and other practi- peace and arbitration be taught in cal topics, and the enthusiasm of the these organizations. ladies rose to a high point. The Committee on Resolutions re- Emeline Tuttle spoke of her Indian ported that it was the imperative experiences. She spent many years duty and exalted privilege of every as a missionary among the Indians, human being who believes himself mostly with the Modocs. Her work the purchase of the Redeemer's blood, . was firlilt among the Ottawas, in a to use all his natural and acquired log-schoolhouse; soon they had two ability to proclaim, either in person other schoolhouses. Then the Mo- or by proxy, the glorious possibility doc war came. She prayed much of salvation through Christ, "to the and longed for the deliverance of the uttermost parts of the earth," It also women and children. Soon word submitted a resolution "expressing came that the government would earnest sympathy with all efforts for bring the Modocs to the Indian Terri- the enlightenment of the North Amertory. She was full of joy at this. ican Indians, and for the securing of She visited them in their homes, their just rights under the governprayed for them, and soon got posses- ment, and recommending that the sion of twenty-five of their children boards do as much'as practicable for in the school, and within a year the promotion of the interests of the they all could speak English. The aborigines of the country." mistakes of Friends at first were that they did not bring the Indians to A resolution indorsing the policy Christ, so that little ones and igno- of the Friends' Missionm'y Advocate, rant ones might know about Jesus and and expressing appreciation of the be sweetly saved. In three years she labors of its editor, pledging the sohad twenty happy Christians among cieties to earnest and persistent them. She told of the conversion of efforts for its support and ex- .. Steamboat Frank," his union with tended circulation, was also adopted. the church, his ministry, his godly Anotherresolution commits the socie- Hfe,the death of his wife and five chil- ties to efforts in promoting systematic dren one after another, and his own giving, and to preventing the introtriumphant death. She then told of duction of any methods of raising the Ponca tribe, who had been driven money for the work upon which the from theil' home and were very de- Friends as Christians could not conjected. She spoke of the terdble sistently invoke the divine blessing. evils to this tribe, and to the Sioux, as perpetrated upon it by white people, The reports of the societies connected with the several Yearly Meet- the well-known De Guignes, give the ings gave the following results: population at that time, the one at 143,125,225, and the other at 203,916,- Indiana has as anxiliaries 59 and members 477-a slight difference of over sixty 911. Of the anxiliaries, 38 nS" nniform lessons millions. We also know that the and 21 do not; libraries, 14; women in Indiana "census" of 1711 gave the popula- Yearly Meeting, estimated, 5,857. We"tern : tion as 28,695,716, and that of 1753 at Auxiliaries, 41 ; members, 41 ; use uniform les- 103,050,060, and that an increase of sons, 32; do not, 9; libraries, 16; meetings three and one-half times in forty years without auxiliaries, 19. New England: Auxilia- cannot be accounted for as natural or ries, 28; monthly meetings, 29; Advocates birth-rate increase. As the object of takeu, 187; membership, 646. Ohio: Anxilia- taking the census was for enrollment ries, 19 ; members, 306; life members, 21 ; nse iJl, the army and to levy a capitation uniform lessons, 10; do not, 9; meetings with- tax on males between the ages of sixout, 13; Advocates taken, 233. Iowa: Anx- teen and sixty, it may have been very iliaries, 20; members, 650; meeting's without, unreliable. When we comparethe re- 24; using nniform lessons, 12. Canada: Aux- turns of the census of 1753 and 1812, ilianes, 15; members, 203; withont auxiliaries, we find that the increase is more 8; use uniform lessons, 4 or 5. North Caroliua : than 300 per cent. for the fifty-nine Auxiliaries, 5; members, 65 reported, proba- years, which also must be accounted bly 200; nse nniform lessons, 2. Kansas: Aux- for in some other way than by birthiliaries, 13' members, 246. New York: Aux- rate. If"authorities" are to be aciliaries.5; members, 86. cepted, then between 1790 and 1792- two years-the popUlation doubled, It is probable that a similar Na- and that could not be accounted for tional Conference will be held in 1890. by birth-rate. Dr. Williams says if We congratulate not only these so- the methods of taking the census in cieties, but the Society of Friends at the early dates are to be accredited large, who have been disturbed for as equally trustworthy, then there two years past almost to the point of was a period of 150 years in which schism, over the toleration of the there was no increase, while from ordinances of baptism and the Lord's 1711 to 1753 the population doubled it- Supper, that these ladies represent- self, as wehave shown, in each twenty ing both sides of ,that controversy years. A comparison of the figures of were able to meet in Christian con- the Anglo-Chinese College report for vention and that they realized a deep 1792 and the Chinese census of 1812, spiritual unity among themselves on would give over two millions, or an the platform of practical missionary annual increase of not quite one per work. cent. per annum for twenty years; but Dr. Williams says no one sup- Population of Ohina. poses there has been any such rate THE North Ohina Herald reports of· increase down to the present.• "Nor," he adds, "are there any data the last year's official tables of the from which to make even the least Chinese Government as giving a total guess of the present population of population of392,000,000,which is per- the whole empire." (Edition-of haps about what the general con- "Middle Kingdom," 1876.) J. Hudsensus of the most modern opinion son Taylor, after large itineraries would place itat. But so far as "cen- over the country, says some people sus" goes,it means the numeration for think the population not to exceed poll-tax of the Board of Revenue, and 250,000,000, and that in some provthe estimate of five persons for one inces the population is not one-fifth thereof. But the Herald goes on to of what it formerly was. compare the calculation made on the revenue returns of 1760 with those of It was as late as September, 1887, 1848, and concludes that the popUlation has increased at the rate of two and a half millions a year. We do not know wh<J,t the revenue returns-were in 1760, but two "authorities," astatistical work of Yih Tung Chi and

THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS

that Mr. Rockhill of the American Mr. Rockhill was confident this was Legation at Peking; writing to the considerably above the true figure; American Oriental Society, enclosed which goes to confirm the doubt a clipping from the North China about the possibility of reaching. Daily News of Shanghai, giving the very definite results. It is a matter results of a recent census, translated of reasoning, not of statistical accufrom a document emanating from racy. Yet the statistics are not the Board of Revenue, which gave without their value. They help us, the total of population in fifteen though sometimes it seems as if it provinces in 1885, as 319,383,500, with were after the order of the clock, the five provinces to hear from, whose owner of which said, when the ~ig population could not be much short hand was at ten and the little hahd of 60,000,000, which would make an at three and it struck twelve, ~e aggregate of about 380,000,000, and knew it was about sundown.

V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.

THE DARK CONTINENT. literature in their own" tongue, and WITH strange rapidity God has to preach the gospel, gather converts, opened the doors oC Africa. When, organize churches and educate a nathirty or forty years ago, boys were tive ministry. studying geography the vast district in the interior was marked on It was indeed a stupendous work to the maps "unexplored." Little was undertake. Prof. Drummond, W;ho known of the Dark Continent ex- had confessed his doubts as to the cept its six thousand miles of sea- results of such a scheme amid such a coast, its great desert, and those nar- people, himself sat down at Dr.. row strips of country which border Law's station with the seven men the ocean or the Nile. When the and two women who were first fruits heroic Livingstone, who had entered of that mission, with them partook from the south, seeking to know of the Lord's Supper, and in them besomething of the unknown and open held the promIse and prophecy of a path for the missionary, died on Africa's regeneration. his knees amid the swamps near Lake Bangweolo in 1873, his death Among the many wheels which sounded the new signal for the evan- Livingstone's death set in motion for gelization of Africa. The churches the evangelization of the Dark Conof Scotland, united, founded the sta- tinent, no one agency is more contion Livingstonia as the first fruits spicuous than Henry M. Stanley.. of that dying prayer. In May, 1875, Let us read Stanley's own testimony the party of missionaries left Scot- as to the influence exerted on him: land and, reaching the mouth of the Zambesi, put together their mission "Livingstone tanght me, during those {pur vessel, the steam-launch which had months that I was with him. In 1871 I went to been transported in parts, and in him as prejudiced as the biggest atheist in Lon- October the flala steamed into Lake don. To a reporter and correspondent, snch as Nyassa. With headquarters at Ban- I, who had only to deal with wars, mass-meetdawe, the missionary band began to ings and political gatherings, sentimental matsurvey the lake, erect buildings, ters were entirely out of my province. But make roads a.nd till the soil; to es- there came for me a long time for reflection. I tablish medical dispensaries with was ont there away from a worldly world. I competent physicians; to gather saw this solitary old man there, and asked mychildren into schools; to give the self, 'How on earth does he stop here? Is he people the Scriptures and a Christian cracked, or what? What l! it that inspires him 1 ' For months after we met I simply found myself listening to him, wondering at the old man carrying ont all that was said in the Bihle : 'Leave all things and follow me.' Bnt little by little his sympathy for others' became contagions; my sympathy wae aroused; see- Ing his piety, his gentlene~s, his zeal, his ear- lation of fifty million people; with nestness, and how he went quietly about his marvelous variety of scenery,climate, busines.,I was converted by him, although he product, fauna and flora. When in had not tried to do it. How sad that the good old 1877 Stanley completed his tour of man should have died so soon. How joyful he Central Africa, it was nine hundred would have been if he could have seen what has and ninety-nine days since he left since happened there… Zanzibar. He could now, " in forty- three days after leaving Glasgow, be Events move fast in these days. housed in his own station at Stanley Livingstone's death being known, Falls, and instead of running a this intrepid explorer determined to gauntlet for his life from the day he become his successor in opening up reached Vivi, his ascent of the river Africa, and when he reached the would be one continued ovation." mouth of the Congo the greatest step in-the exploration of Equatorial Afri- Well may all eyes turn to Africa. ca had been taken. England at once God is disclosing by his providence sent her missionaries to plant stu.- the great animal, mineral and vegetions from the Congo's mouth to the table resources of the interior; os- Equator, as well as about the great trich breeding is more profitable than lakes of the East, and now all Chris- that of South Down mutton; the tian denominations seem about to elephant tusks will supply the deconcentrate upon the Congo basin, to mand for ivory; and so through the carryon vigorously the work of evan- very avarice of men and the higher gelization and fulfill the prophecy love of science, the great unknown of Krapf, that a chain of missions contiuent is to be crossed with a netwould yet be stretched between the work of railways, penetrated in every eastern and the western shores. direction by travelers and explorers, settled by adventurers and far- The explorations of a quarter of a sighted traders, and planted with century have now unveiled Africa; Christian missions. Already steamso rapidly is the work of discovery boats sail the rivers and great lakes; going on that the maps of yesterday roads are being built and railways are imperfect to-day and will be ob- constructed, and a submarine cable solete to-morrow; nothing but the laid. Before this number of THE outline of the continent is as it was REVIEW can be issued changes will a quarter of a century ago. Victoria have taken place which will make Nyanza, Albert Nyanza, Tanganyika, this record out of date. Nyassa and Bangweolo, the five great lakes, have been surveyed, We have in another article traced which remind us Of our five great the remarkable history of modern American lakes; and as many great African civilization and evangelizarivers are discovered running to the tion. If God thus opens such a wide four points of the compass-the door of opportunity, what shaH be Zambesi, Nile, Congo, Niger and said of our obligation! Orange-furnishing with their great tributaries ten thousand miles of Early in the year 1565 a strange river roadway. ship was descried on the southp,rnho- rizon, slowly making her way toward The Congo Free State, thus sud- the continent of the New World. denly constituted a new empire The name of that ship was The Jesus, o~ freedom, is a rich area of one her"commander was Sir John Hawkaid a half million square miles, one ins; in her hold was a cargo of four of the richest countries of the globe, hundred wretched negro captives, with the noble Congo and its many who had been seized on the coast of -navigable affiuents for its water high- Africa and were now, for a round way, connecting with great lakes sum of Spanish dollars, to be sold whose, shore lines would measure into hopeless, servitude. Notwiththree thousand miles; with a popustanding perilous storms and dis- 1852, the Yoruba country was unheartening calms, the officers of this touched till 1842, and the Niger disship were able to recount a prosper- trict ri3ceived its first missionaries ous voyage, and piously to record in only in 1857, when no one dreamed their journal that their safety and that the youth helping Mr. Kissling success were due to the preserving in Fourah Bay College would be care of Almighty God, "who never known all over the Christian world suffers his elect to perish." Was in 1887 as one who, for a quarter of a there ever such a desecration of sa- century, has well filled tile position cred names and subjects – a slave- of the first native African bishop since ship inscribed with that holiest name, the days of the early church. and a company of men-stealers calling themselves by that intimate title In studying Africa as a mission of the chosen of God? fi~ld we ought to remember Dr. Bush- nell, in some sense the father and in The first missionary to Southern every sense the hero of Presbyterian Africa was George Schmidt, who missions in Africa, and who died in planted the gospel among the Hot- the service of the Gaboon Mission. tentots fifty years ago. We remember him bringing wants of that mission before the churches It is impossible in a few lines even and seminaries; supervising printing to mention the many changes in the by the American Bible Society of a aspect of missions in Africa, since part of the Scriptures in Thfpongwe David Livingstone gave his parting dialect, and smaller books in the charge to the students of Cambridge, same; providing for a grammar of in 1857, "I go back to make an open this language, and a vocabulary of path for Christianity and commerce. the Benga soon to be printed. He Do you carry out the work I have should ever be thought of side by begun." The Universities Mission side with Dr. Lindley, the hero of the sprang into existence at this call. Zulu mission, on the southeastern Two years or more ago, as a proof of coast. God's blessing upon its labors, it could show the old slave market at There are many who have fol- Zanzibar, where annually 30,000 lowed the fOl'tunes of Bishop Taylor's slaves were sold, transformed into a missionary enterprises, have watched Christian church, in the center of a as his advance guard reached the native Christian colony. Thirty-five goal in the depths of Africa toward missionary societies are now zealous- which he has so long been strugly at work in Africa, and in sixty gling. Before nis pioneer band of years 600,000 native Afl'icans have missionaries left this country, the been added to Christendom. The bishop declared his ambition to plant whole interior of the country is now his stations among the remarkable open to Christian effort. tribes that WiSSIl1ann had described. Toward this region, along the Upper Missionary work in West Africa Kassai and its tributaries, his chain has been wonderfully successful. of stations from the sea has been Speaking only of that part of it steadily lengthening. His new steel which is connected with the Church steamer was sent from England for Missionary Society, there are seven the Congo to take the newly-discov- European missionaries and forty na- ered water route to the populous tive clergy (one of them a bishop and street villages of which Wissmann two archdeacons), with 9,000 com- and Kund have informed us., Mean- municants, and 7,000 scholars in while Dr. Harrison, one of the party ninety schools and seminaries; there that Bishop Taylor led up the Congo, were 1,228 baptisms in the last re- reached Luluaberg, the new station ported year. Yet the Bishopric of of the Congo State. He. is one of the Sierra Leone was not founded till two physicians who followed the was the wren which aided Prometheus bishop to Africa, and he is now es- in stealing the sacred fire of knowl- tablished among natives who fully edge from beneath Jove's throne in justify Wissmann's enthusiastic de- heaven. Accordingly, he who kills a scription. wren will have his home destroyed.

If you have money in your pocket THE FREEDMEN. when you hear the cuckoo for the THE negroes of the South are mak- first time it is a good omen, and you ing material gains. Late statistics of will have your pockets well lined the States of Georgia, South Carolina during the year; if, on the contrary, and Louisiana indicate that since the you have no money, cultivate your war they pay taxes on $48,000,000. friends, for you will be in need of their Since the colored people have become assistance before long. The black- citizens, a decided force in the poli- bird which crosses your road brings tics of the country, it is of the utmost you good luck. No physician should importance tha,t they have a property fail to procure a bed of partridge interest in, the communities where feathers. A patient laid upon such a they are; and to good citizenship, bed, no matter what his disease, will thrift and economy and saving are never die of it, although he will not needful; as they acquire land and necessarily get well.

houses, they will be able to support schools and churches. Intelligence SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS.

and religion with homes and real es- Saving others by sacrifice of self.

tate will elevate and fit them for ad- John Maynard was well known on vancing duties and responsibilities. our northern lakes as a God-fear- Ignorance is inseparable from su- mg, honest, intelligent pilot. On a perstition, and while ignorance re- steamer from Detroit to Buffalo, mains this will be one great hindrance 8moke was seen from below. The to the Christian manhood of the captain ordered a hand below to see negro. Among the negroes of the whence it came. He returned with Southern States the moaning dove the word, "The ship on fire!" and moans to save a man's soul; to kill there was no lifeboat, and large one of these doves is a sign of death, quantities of rosin and tar were but more frequently the death of a on board. It was seven miles to Buf- child. A buzzard or a crow upon the falo; they had perhaps three-quar- housetop is believed by these same tet·s of an hour to reach it. May- people to be an invariable sign of nard sent all passengers forward and death or disaster; a visit at the door stood firm at the wheel, enveloped from a rooster, the approaching visit in flame. The captain spoke through of a friend; the notes of the screech- his trumpet, "John Maynard!"

ing owl or "shivering" owl are a "Ay, ay, sir!" "Head boat south- bad omen of many interpretations, east and run her ashore. Can you while if the common owl hoots on hold five minutes more?" "By your right good luck will follow, but God's help I will." He lifted one bad luck should he take np his posi- hand, burned to a crisp, from the tion on your left side and hoot there- wheel, and put the other there to be from. The reputation of all night burned. All the passengers were birds, great or small, is no better; saved, but John Maynard's soul had but Southern imagination has discov- fled.

ered a remedy for all their spells. It -IT is said that the mirrors in the consists of throwing a pinch of salt temples of Smyrna represented the into the fire as soon as the sound is fairest and most symmetrical objects heard. If a chaffinch perches on your with distorted and deformed ima- window-sill, beware of treachery. It ges. Is it not so of t,he unregenerate

PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN

'72 or even unsanctified heart? How gospel to every creature. Always aboandin& in much of the distortion of truth has to the work of the Lord. Gen. i. 28; Josh i. 6, 3; do with the imperfection of the re- Gen. xxvi. 13, 12; Neh. iv. t>-21; vi. 15; Mark flecting surface I He who reflects as xvi. 15; 1 Cor. xv. 58. in a mirror the glory of the Lord must be in close spiritual fellowship THURSDAY, JUNE 28. with the Lord in order to be true to When ye blow an alarm, then the camps shalt go the glory he reflects. Francis Bacon said there are three rays-the 7'adiu8 forward. directu8, radiu8 rejlectu8, and radiu8 HINDlUNCES TO PROGREss.-I. In Walk. He refractu8. How many rays are bent lingered. His wife looked back. He saw that out of their true direction by the me- rest was good. At ease from his youth-settled dium through which they are trans- on his lees. A little sleep. A little slumber. A mitted! lion in the way. His heart was not perfect. He pitched his tent before the city. Is there any TEXTS AND THEMES. secret thing with thee? Thou restrainest prayer. Gen. xix. It>-26; xlix. 15; Jer. xlviii. THE following is the programme 11; Prov. xxiv. 33; xxvi. 13; 1 Kings xi. 4; Gen. xxxiii. 18 ; Job x''. 11. 4. for the Grand Mildmay Conference, n. In Work. Strength decayed. Much rub- June 27-29. We print it as a model bish. Hands hang down. Feeble knees. The programme for a missionary meet- wind was contrary unto them. We sailed slowly, the wind not suffering us. Being armed, they ing: turned back. He went not with th~m to the work. Slack to possess the laud. Cannot see WEDNESDAY, JUNE '%I. afar off. Neh. iv. 10; Heb. xii. 12; Mark vi. 48; Acts xxvii. 7; Ps. lxxviii. 9; Acts xv. 38 ; Speak unto the children Qf I8rael that they go Josh. xviii. 3; 2 Pet. i. 9. forward. FRIDAY, JUNE 29. PROGRESS THE LAW OF THE KINGDOM.-I. In They went every o-ne straightforward. HELPS TO PROGRESS.-I. In Sanctification. Life. Grow in grace. Be no more children. Laying aside every weight. They lightened the Grow up into him in all things. They shall ship. Be filled with the Spirit. Looking unto Jesus. Beholding. as in a glass, the glory of the mount up. Still upward-still upward-still up- Lord. The sincere milk of the Word. Holding the head. By joints and bands having nourishward. From strength to strength. From glory ment ministered. Let us go on. Let us cleanse ourselves. Heb. xii. 1; Acts xxvii. 18; Eph. v. to glory. More and more unto the perfect day. 18; Heb. xii. 2; 2 Cor. iii. 18; 1 Pet. ii. 2; Col. ii. 19; Heb. vi. 1 ; 2 Cor. vii. 1. Like him. Conformed to the image of his son. n. In Service. Zeal as a cloke. Loins girt 2 Pet. iii. 18; Eph. i v. 14, 15; Is. xl. 81 ; Ez. about with truth. Feet shod with the preparaxll. 7; Ps. lxxxiv. 7 ; 2 Cor. iii. 18; Provo iv. 18; tion of the gospel of peace. The love of,Christ constraineth U9. Moved with compassion. The 1 John iii. 2; Rom. viii. 29. voice of his word. Exceeding great and pre- cious promises. That blessed hope. Is. lix. 17 ; n. In Labor. Replenish the earth, and sub- Eph. vi. 14, 15; 2 Cor. V. 14; Matt. ix. 36'; Pa. clii. 20; 2 Pet. i. 4; Tit. ii. 13. due it. Divide for au inheritance the land. Ev- ery place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you. And the man waxed great, and went forward. And received in the same year an hundred-fold. And the Lord blessed him. So built we the wall. So we labored. So the wall wa~ finished. Preach the VI.-PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS- MONTHLY BULLETIN.

Africa.-Trouble with the Arabs at the northwest Ride of Lake Nyassa at the North End of Lake Nyassa. The daily papers have informed us of has been besieged for five days, and this, notably the Manchester Guard- with difficulty held by a small band ian of Feb. 25, which had several of Scotchmen, Englishmen, and nacolumns of detailed narrative and a tives, the Arabs erecting platforms leader on it. Finding themselves menaced with the competition of upon neighboring trees, and attack- European commerce, and seeing the ing with great persistence and dedanger of a collapse of their nefarious termination. The arrival of a strong body of friendly natives, who came to traffic in human flesh, the Arabs in the rescue of the beleaguered party, East Central Africa are growing insolent and aggressive. For the past caused the Arabs to beat a hasty re- treat, but probably only to gather retwo or three years symptoms of com- enforcements and return to the ing difficulties have been noted. Now charge. Our alternative route to Tanganyika, via Quillimane, the , the storm-cloud has burst. A station Shire River and Lake Nyassa, is thus threatened. Dr. Tomory, who was declaim against idolatry. One reaon his way home in broken health, son is that in some of the temples was detained by this attack of the the Confucianists lecture, on the Arabs, and was one of the party be-, sieged. He has since left, ltnd .will 'Sacred Edict.' Another, that the soon, it is hoped, be in England. cupidity of the priests has led them to rent the temple precincts for petty Alaska.-Methodism has neglected merchandise, so that the ground is Alaska. It is comforting to find that no longer considered sacred. There the Presbyterians have a prosperous is no land so free for the gospel preacher as China." mission there. Here are the figures: -The progress of Christianity in SUMMARY. China is increasing rapidly. In 1t:>53 1886. 1887. there were 350 native converts; in Ministers………… , ….. 30 31 1863, 2,000; 1873,8,000; 1883, 22,000; 17–48 1888, 30,000 The Rev. J. L. Nevi- Native,; …………. : …. 8-38 us, D.D., in closing a series of article Churches… …………… 48 59 2,306 on Methods of Mission Work, says: Church members…. ….. 2,001 Teachers.. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 63 95 " I believe a great de"l has been accomplished Schools …. '" 00 .. .. .. .. .. • 20 26 in every department of missionary work in Chi- Scholars………………. 1,134 1,607 n". The literary outcome of the paRt forty years is alone and by itself a rich legacy to the mis- Is it necessary to remind our bish- sionaries and native Christians of the present, and gives them a vantage ground in undertakops that Alaska is a part of the ing future labor which it is difficult to overesti- 'mate. The ratio of increase in the number of United States '(-Gospel in All Lands. converts and the evidence of growth and de- velopment in native churches are also full of en- Brazil.-Ten more adults have couragement. While we must record many made profession in Conceigao, and cases or coldness and defection, we remember nine children have been baptized. that such cases have characterized the history aud progress of the church to a greater or less -A letter from one of our mission- extent in every age. On the other hand, we rearies in Brazil says: "Weare look- jOice in being able to point to many who give ing forward WIth deep interest to the undouhted evidence of being God'8 chosen ones, formation in August, when the Pres- while there are others whose names are already byterians meet, of a united synod enrolled among the noble army of martyrs. It and Brazilian church." It will be has been my privilege to know many Christian remembered that the last General men and Christian women in China whose godly Assembly of our church gave "its lives and peaceful deaths have been an inspiraapproval of the formation of a Bra- tion to me, and made me, I trust, a better man zilIan synod, formed of presbyteries and a more earnest worker. I count among my which shall be separated from both nearest and most honored Christian friends not the assemblies in this country, and a few who are now bearing faithful testimony constituting in Brazil a distinct and to the truth in the midst of opposition and mauiindependent church, free from for- fold trials, such as Christians in Western lands eign control."-The Missionary. can only imperfectly appreciate."

Burmah. – Christian Karens of England.-Canon Maclear's annual Burmah. In an address to the Edin- "Combined Report of Missionary burgh University Missionary Asso- Studentship Al'!sociations" for 1887 ciation, Sir Charles Bernard, late shows that £2,186 has been raised in Chief Commissioner in Burmah, who 23 English dioceses toward the suphas two sisters working as mission- port of 91 studentships. Oxford leads aries of the Church of Scotland in the dioceses with a contribution far India, gave some interesting details in excess of any other, giving £496, regarding Christian Karens. They number about 200,000, being a third while the second on the list, Worcesof the Karen people, and there are ter, gives £200. Since the foundation from 500 to 600 congregations, prac- of the college upward of 400 students tically if not entirely self-support- have been sent forth from it for the ing. It is their practice to set apart work abroad. The report gives in- formation about the mission houses so much of the produce of their land at Warminster, Burgh-Ie-Marsh and as will suffice for the support of their Wallingford. Burgh shows a roll of native pastors, and this they do be- 110 students admitted, of whom 56 have proceeded in due course to St. fore they appropriate any of their Augustine's, 14 have gone direct to harvest to themselves. Nor are they missionary work, and 18 are now in residence.-The Mission Field. content with self-support. They send missionaries into Siam and regions India.-N0 less than 5,067 of India's, beyond, where hardships and priva- sons and daughters were baptized by tions of no ordinary character have the agents of the Church Missionary to be endured. Society in 1886. To this number must China.-Rev. H. C. DuBose writes be added the baptisms by all the diffrom Suchow, China: "It is a sur- ferent branches of the Church of prising fact that we may almost daily Christ., Taking into consideration have large congregations in the tem- ple arenas, and without molestation these hundreds of thousands of con- was finished Feb. 3. It is largely verts t<;> Christianity in India it is ob- the result of the Rev. John C. Hepvious that a spiritual development of burn, M.D., LL.D., assisted by six an uncommon type has so advanced other scholars. It has received high itself as to arrest attention.-Madras commendation from the Japanese Weekly as well as from missionaries Oh,'istian Oollege Magazine. -The Indian Witness, noting the capable of appreciating its excelretirement of a noted infidel educa- lence. It is dedicated to God's honor and service "in the name of the tionist from India, says: "The ancient god Nemesis seldom worked a whole body of Protestant missionmore striking revenge than he has done on Prin- aries in Japan." cipal Wordsworth, who has jnst left the shores of India, after abont a quarter of a century spent -Not long since Tokio and the there. Instead of a crowd of native friends on rest of Japan were thoroughly pagan. the pier to bid him farewell, such as gathered to Now we hear of a great Christian revival in that city, with five hunsee Sir Richard Temple away, two of the gentle- dred conversions in a single month. The whole city seems stirred, and men for whom he spent his life came to show their good will. The learned professor might well exclaim, •If I had served my God with half the zeal I have served my friend, he would not.' etc. Opposition to the gospel of Jesus missionaries, native pastors and Christ has been the most conspicuous feature of Mr. Wordsworth's efforts among the natives theological students are busy gather- _ing in the harvest. Everybody is in- throughout his Indian career." terested in Christianity, and nobody Principal Wordsworth is a disciple speaks against it. This is a revolu- of Herbert Spencer, and he com- tion of itself.-.New York Indepen- mended to the Hindus the gospel of dent.

Agnosticism. -The last report of the various Prot- -Bishop Sargent of Madras, who estant missions in Japan is a signifi- last year celebrated the jubilee of his cant index of the growth of Chris- missionary career in India, has out- tianity in that land. The total mem- lived all the original missionaries of bership of the 221 organized churches his society in that diocese. When he is 19,827, the 5,000 added during the went to Tinnevelly in 1835 the Church year representing a gain of thirty- Missionary Society had only three or three per cent. in the Congregational four missionaries, one native preacher and Presbyterian forces. Twenty- and 114 communicants. There are four societies have 253 missionaries now 81 missionaries, of whom 64 are on the ground, and the large part connected with his own society. In that America is deRtined to play in 1,618 villages there are now 98,184 the evangelization of Japan is Christians and catechumens, of whom shown by the fact that five-sixths of 18,460 are communicants. There are the workers are connected with so- 22,170 pupils in schools, and the con- cieties in the United States. There tributions last reported were 47,761 is a great demand for the new trans- rupees, or about $22,000. lation of the Bible, orders pouring in -Dr. Chamberlain's scheme for a by mail and telegraph for a consider- united Presbvterian Church in India, able time after its pUblication. It is the thirteen Presbyterian and Re- cause for deep gratitude that the formed bodies represented in the em- 37,000,000 inhabitants of the country pire uniting in one general assembly, can now read the entire Scriptures has been favorably received in Scot- in their own language. A sentence land.-ScottishFree Ohurch Monthly. in a recent communication to our -There is a great movement in the office from a correspondent in Yoko- Punjab mission of the Church of hama deserves pondering. He says: Scotland. New villages are receiving "It is felt here by all Christian work- the gospel and new churches being ers that the length of time required formed. The strength of the mis- to make this a Christian nation de- sionaries is taxed to the utmost by pends simply upon the number of the demands of the work. competent men which the churches -Christianity in British India has at home are ready and willing to fur"

advanced 30 per cent. during the last nish. Would that many would fol- decade. Mohammedanism during the low the example of Dr. Scudder, and same period only advanced 10 per others, who have come here with no cent. From these figures the general expense to the missionary boards."

increase of the population, which is Madagascar.-Two or three years now 201,000,000, must be deducted; ago 900 barrels of whiskey were this amounts to 7~ per cent.-Punjab landed on the shores of Madagascar Mission News. with a brand which indicated that Japan.-Japan has now an ex- they had come from a proffssedly cellent translation of the entire Christian nation. The authorities of Bible. After sixteen years the work that once heathen nation actually purchased this cargo of whiskey and India was a huge Anglo-Indian deknocked the barrels in the head, that moralization society, and that it was their vile contents might be swal- their duty to send out no uncertain lowed up by the sand rather than by sound regarding facts which had the people. come to their knowledge, and which had not been .contradicted, because -The London Missionary Society they could not be. continues to push its work in Madagascar with increasing success, notwith- Siam.-When Admiral Foote in the standing the political changes and harbor of Bangkok received the Kingthe aggressive attitude of the church of Siam on board his flagship,' the of Rome. With its 30 English mis- ChristIan commander asked a blesssionaries, it reports the astounding ing at dinner. "Why," said the number of 838 native ordained min- king, "you do just like the missionisters and 4,395 native preachers, aries." "1 too anl a nlissionary," 61,000 church members and 230,000 was the reply. adherents. But, as yet, scarcely onehalf of the population have been SwitzerIand.-The Basle Missionreached by the gospel. ary Society reports its variolls mis- sions communicants as follows: -Friends' Mission. Besides a large China, 1,808; India, 4,694; Africa, amount of work in connection with 2,995-total, 9,497. The income was schools, training of teachers, hospi- $198,847.60. tal, printing, etc., in the capital (Antananarivo), the district of Madagas- Turkey. – Euphrates College at car under the care of the Friends' Harpoot (formerly Armenia College), Foreign Mission Association covers is doing a noble work under its presiabout 2,000 square miles, and contains dent, that veteran missionary of the 133 congregations, with nearly as American Board, Rev. C. H. Wheeler, D.D., who is now in this country, many schools. Mr. H. E. Clark writes but means to be at his post on the that there is a pressing need that Euphrates by September 1. The more workers should be sent out this college has an attendance in all desummer. In Antananarivo there are partments of 500 students, about 100 only five Friends' missionaries (not being in the college proper. The Jiield including ladies), two of whom will over which its influence is especially shortly be leaving to take up work felt is about 100×200 miles. Here are in the country districts of Arivoni- twenty-four churches, ten of which are independent of the .American mamo and Manddurano, while the Board. The college has twenty in. health of one of the ladies is so shat- structors, of whom nine are ladies. tered that she will be compelled to Up to the junior year the students come home on furlough at once. study the Bible every day. Ten years ago a strong effort was made -I also tell you that I place my to raise funds for the college, and kingdom under the protection of $71,000 was secured. Now Dr. Wheeler is anxious to raise $30,000 God, for I know that it is the kingdom that is governed by dependence more for endowment, $5,000 for a upon God, that it is true and has new building (wfiich is about comstrength and progress. Go forward in wisdom that the glory of this king- pleted), and $2,500 for scholarships dom may increase. Remember that for need v students. it is righteousness that exalteth a nation, and that the fear of God is the United States.-Amf'rican Bible beginning of wisdom. – Queen of Society. At its recent meeting a Madagascar at her coronation. specimen copy was presented of the complete Bible in Japanese, just ScotIand.-The Anglo-Indian Evan- pl'inted at Yokohama, with a letter gelical Society. A most encouraging report of this society was presented from Mr. Loomis saying that there at the annual meeting in Edinburgh is a large demand, especially for the last week. Rev. J. Fordyce, secre- Old Testament, 1,600 copies of which tary, stated that larger contributions were called for within one month had been made in India than in any after its publication. Grants of books former year, and that they balanced were made for benevolent dish·ibu. tion, at home and in foreign lands, a slight decrease in the contributions from this country. Rev. G. G. Gil- of the aggregate value of about $10,- lan of Bengal appealed for increased 000. Appropriations of funds were. funds, and Mr. Duncan McLaren also made for publishing and dismoved a resolution embodying the tributing the Scriptures in foreign claims of our countrymen in India, countries, to the amount of $17.450, provision being thns made for Bible who were destitute of Christian or- work during the ensuing year in dinances. Rev. John McNeill said India, Italy and Siberia, and in the he believed that the English army in society's agencies in Persia and family. She also pursued the full Brazil. Numerous letters from three years' course in the Woman's foreign lands were laid before the Medical College of New York, and board, containing in some cases the was then invited to the position of summary reports of the distribution intern in the Presbyterian Hospital of the Scriptures during 1887. Dr. of Chicago, where she served two Gulick reported the distribution of years. She has also enjoyed valu- 252,915 copies in China and Siam. able advantages in the medical The Levant agency reported a circu- schools and hospitals of Zurich and lation of 51,000, the Japan agency Vienna. 72,926, and the La Plata agency 17,- 314, while the distribution in Russia -Student Volunteers. There has and Siberia was 39,771 copies. Cash been a great increase of missionary receipts in March were $69,131.66. spint among the students of Union The total cash receipts in the year Seminary, Va., largely ascribed to ending March 31 were $61B,373.B3. the recent visit of Dr. Houston. Sev- The whole number of volumes issued en of the young men have decided to during the year, not'including those go as missionaries, and others are inforeign lands, was 1,.032,672. considering the subject. An effort is being made to raise enough money to -Home Missions. The Presbyterian support a minister in the foreign field. Board, for the year just closed, re- The faculty have given $100, the stuport $783,527.30, and $130,000 more dents of Hampden Sidney College than any previous year. $100, and the young men of the sem-. inary are to give the rest. -The American Home Missionary Society is in an equally prosperous -The United Presbyterian Seminary condition. The close of the society's at Allegheny has resolved to send sixty-second year brought special out a missionary to India in October occasion for thanksgiving to God. The 31st of March found every note next; the choice has fallen on the at the banks paid, and not a dollar Rev. J. H. Martin, just graduated. His salary ($1,200) has been pledged due to any missionary who had reported labor. The debt at one time for ten years by the seminary and contiguous colleges of the denominawithin the year was over $75,000. tion. Besides paying this the society was -Xenia Theological Seminary has able to replace $30,000 of the $50,000 also started a similar movement, and borrowed from the Swett Exigency the students and faculty have pledged Fund. $330 annually for ten years toward the support of a missionary. They -The. Woman's Board of Foreign hope to get the balance needed from Missions of New York report for the certain colleges in the connection. year just closed, $62,244.35, an advance of more than $11,000 over the Wales. – The Nonconforming previous year. The receipts have churches are multiplying rapidly in largely gone into the treasury of the Wales. TheynumberedllOinl716; in Board of Foreign Missions. 1775 they had increased to 471; forty- one years later to 993, and in the next – The receipts of the Woman's 45 years to 2,927. In 1887 they had Board of the Southwest, which are grown to nearly 4,500. All these divided between Home and Foreign churches depend for their support Missions, amounted in the year just upon the voluntary contributions of closed to $15,226.11, an advance of the people. This shows not only a $2,700 over last year. marvelous development, but a hold upon the heart and conscience that -The first National Conference of no State religion can evoke. the various woman's missionary organizations of the Society of Friends Zulus.-Dr. Elmslie, an American in the United States was held at missionary, who has been stationed Indianapolis during the first part of for some time among the Zulus west of Lake Nyassa, has sent home the April. This is an important movement among the Friends, designed to first book printed in Nbungoni lanstimulate every department of mis- guage. The book was issued from sionary work among the young and the press of a neighboring mission the old. station called Blantyre. It contains the Decalogue. passages from the -Miss Alice Mitchell, daughter of Psalms, Proverbs and the Gospels, Secretary Mitchell of the Presbyterian with fourteen hymns. Much is ex- Board of Foreign Missions, is under pected from the book, as the Nbun. appointment to the Woman's Pavil- goni language is intelligible to a ion of the board's hospital in Peking, China. She began her medical large number of the tribes, studies with her grandfather, Dr.

Post of New York, living in his

STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS

Vn.-STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS.

General View of the Condition of Prot. MissiQns in East Africa-Approximate.

[From the Neukirchen Kis8i0r!8- und HeidenOote.] ;. Europeans. Africans. ,,; 1:l ~ tbw -',,00 2,; ~ a> 0 I'<~ I'<~ "" '"."" " ,; "a> Expend!- ,",.S< p. tures in one oi .! .e s .>l a> ",a> ",,01 year. a> §~ " ~" i "'" " ,., ~u2~ ,,~ 0 :'""a0>' .; I'l "8 'tl 00 . ,,"a2> 'OJ p. S " a> ~ ~o S 'tl … " d – – – -"" — -,..- – – – – ~~ ~ ~S -is::- ~a> S"0 0 ..c: 00. 0 Eo< 0 0 00.

I. Church Miss. Soc.- (a) Mombasa. Tiata and – Chagga ……………

' (b) Usagard and Uganda. II. Universities' Mission- 6 5 I) 1 2 21 34 565 231 1126 3 378 } $64,800 6 9 – 16 250 50' 150 5 150 7- (a) Zanzibar Island ….. 3 6 24 – 1 8 40 2 174 26.400 (b) Rovnmd district ….. -1 9 1 45 8,640 (e) Usambara ………… 36 2 14 18 421 4 43 17,280 46 3 1 -2 6 26 } 993 – – 529 13,200 m.(d) Lake Nyassa …….. 14 5 Free Meth. Miss.- – – 15 6,000 (a) Mombasa district …. — 23.040 (c) Jana River ………. 4 -1 — – .8 – 1491 1491 50 4 181 } 17.200 IV. London M. S ………. 1 5 V. Free Ch. Scotland ….. 34 8 1 – – 6 311 – 3l! 17 1 31 ~ – 9 – -2 58 2- 20 9 2 2 6 600 VI. Bavarian East African 8 — — — 1 f 4.800 – – – – Mission …………….. 2 3 10 1 f 7,200 – VII. Berlin E. A. M .• ….. 2 2 6 — VIII. Neukirchen Mission – – – – — – — – – — – (Pastor Doll)…………. – 1 3 -1 Total. …………….. 41 52 65 78 – – 3 – ca. 1,140 4,-71- — 200 1757 812 1766 30 1552 ca. $192.000 +1801 +1801 +f Approximate Estimate .of Oertain Missions in Heathen and Mohammedan Oountries for Five Years Past.

——————- . I .. . ~.~ Years.:::I .~ .'=6 2i Expenditures in …. ",,~ 0 00 a> "

'" '" " .~~",' "".~ . !;,'" '" ~ ,s"" .;~ll§" — —- – – —- —– —— 00. <D~11 .'2" S ~ heathen and .~ ~:a Mohammedan ,",,~ ~Q)tJ "0 countries. "", – – 0 ..:! iZi 'll 00.

1883…………………… 540 818 966 6,224 205,056 261,812 $2,947,000.00 1884 …………………… 574 882 1,003 6.026 216,829 271,852 3,145,000.00 1885 ……… ………….. 636 867 1,005 6.888 225,919 303,074 3,412,000.00 1886…………………… 648 927 1,044 8,646 230,819 307,739 3,160,000.00 1887…………………… 677 911 1.086 7,876 286.322 311,485 3,130,000.00 SOCIeties Included: American Board; Presbyterian Board; Baptist Union; MoraVIan Chureh' Church Missionary SOCiety; London Missionary Society; Protestant Episcopal Board; Methodist -Episcopal Board. The estim..te excludes the missions of these societies iu the West Indies, but inclndes Polynesia and the nomadic tribes of British America.

The Lntheran Synod of Missouri, which which $32.589.62 was for Home Missions.-The Christian Cynosure. thoroughly excludes members of secret lodges United States.-The new census gives the and represents Lutheranism of the strictest type, number of Protestant churches In the United States at 92.653; Protestaut ministers at 71,662, has 931 ministers and 620 parochial school teach- and members at 9,003.030. Taking the Catholic ers. who respectively have the care of 459,376 and Mormon population from the total population baptized membe!'!! and teach 71 •.504 children. it leaves 43,864,381. This gives one church for There is a total of 1,424 churches and 544 preach- every 473 persons, including infants and chiling places, with 266,000 communicant members. dren. one minister for every 612 of the people, Only 678 of these churches are officially con- and nearly one professing Christian for every nected with the synod. though served by pastors five of the popnlation outside of the two classes of the synod. Last year there were m,391 bap- named. We distrust these figures. Abont threetisms. and 13.724 were confirmed. The twelve fifths of all the population are children nnder 16. districts of the synod contributed offerings for education, orphans and widows. synodical treas- This would make everv other adult a professing ury and mi!!eions amounting to ,$107,346 71, of Christian ! !

of the American Presbyterian Mission in Syria. ~

00 I. EVANGELISTIC AND GENERAL MISSIONARY WORK.

1876. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886.

– – – — – – – — – – — – – — – – – — – – – — – 2123 }35 2103 }33 2113 }34 ~}37 2144 }38 ~}a7 i American Men ……………………………….. 1~}191 1~}203 1~}179 3~}189 — Mis810naries Women…………………•…••…..•… 1153 }28 Native {Ordained pastors ………..•…………….. S LYb.lGn Llcensed preachers……….•……………. 136310} 204 School teachers•…..•…•…….•••.•…•…. 1969}12O 1a48g}l94 142 rJl 12 >i a orer8 Other helpers……………•……..•…….. 8 10 14 10 9 ~ 5 Stations ……………………………….•……….. 5 5 5 5 5 5 86 .>…i Out-stations ………………….•………………….. 60 99 98 99 89 90 19 Churches …………………………………………. 10 12 19 19 19 19 31 rJl Church buildings …………………•………..•……. 24 21 28 30 30 30 Added on profession during the year.. . . . . . . . . . . .. . …… 75 131 109 120 130 153 .>…i Male church members ……………………………. 653}68 320694 } 573 579 } 1008 549798 } 1,00"7 652332 } 1,155 750938 } 1,301 677655 } 1,440 Q Female church members ……………… ·.·.··········· 429 ' 554 1,207 rJl Regular preaching places …. , ……..••……………… 61 74 89 84 87 92 Average congregations ……………………………. , 2,642 3,693 3,755 3,900 84 3,891 4,293 ~ Sabbath schools …………………………………… 84 3,961 40 3,094 80 79 73 68 >i Sabbath scholars ……………… ··· .. ·········· ……. 1,540 2,915 3,348 76 3,804 3,746 3,584 =l;;I Syrian Protestant Community (within the field of the 3,594 3,816 3,652 3,847' 3,977 4,165 ~ American Pres. Mission)………………………….. 2,982 $1,653 $2,022 $6,381 $6,302 $6,451 $6,980 ~ Contributions of native churches…………………….. 1 $1,252 t< t1~ II. EDUCATIONAL WORK. rJl College (Syrian Prot.) ………………. , ……………. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I..i.:. 1 1 1 1 1 106 152 170 175 185 1 1 rJl 1 1 1 1 1 165 rJl Medical School. …………………………….•……. 7 7 7 9 4 ~ PupilS in college (including Med. Dep't) ., ..•..•…..••… 1 1 2 2 2 1 165 Theological Seminary …………………….•…..•…. 42 37 67 75 68 4 1 3 3 3 3 3 7 !'" PupilS in do ………………•………..•…. 89 92 97 118 97 2 3 .2 9 14 20 18 72 Boys' boarding schools.., …………………………… 209 235 414 447 347 3 151 Pupils in do. . ……………………………. 71 113 119 123 118 110 8 20 Female seminaries ………………………………… 2,031 }2 840 2,925}4187 81,,;4)3992 } 4,831 31;648824 } 5,166 3,775 } 5 1801 443 119 819 ' 1,262 ' 1,405 ' 108 15 Pupils in do. . ..•…..•……………………….. 80 141 151 379 ~~~~:~~odo~~ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::: :::: 128 5,590 5,990 144 ~;~}4,871 Common schools ………………..•……………….. 3,509 4,710 5,881 97 ………… ………… 99 62 136 Boys in do……………………………..•..•… 111 5,665 3,178}4505 ~ 1,327 ' Girls in do. 134 121 Total schools …. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 5,344 j Total pupils. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . ……………….. 230 – – – Women in Bible Classes …………………… ········ ..

PRESS WORK, PRmTmG AND DIBTRmU'l'ION OF BmLE8, T1U.CTB, &0

1876. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. ~ ~ 1886.

Bible House and Press Establishment:- …………….. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 W::d'J~~~~~s::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::: 4 3 3 3 8 3 8 Lithographic press ….. . ……………………… 2 5 5 5 6 6 6 ~ iilpe foundry………………………………….. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ~ ectrotype apparatus…………………………… 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Press employees ……………………………….. 44 45 42 35 41 44 PUblications On Press Catalogne. . . . . . .. .. . . .. … . … 2{)7 240 244 253 258 268 50 ~ Volumes printed during the year ……………………. 57,500 55,400 50,490 47,500 87,900 836 38,450 72,050 W ?of Page9 " H H ,. • ……………………. 13,786,900 18,041,600 20,190,600 19,579,480 19,235,547 27,981,600 83,284,675 <Jl 4,277,500 8,923,000 8,245,600 8,651,000 9,465,000 17,378,600 19,331,750 w~!ch pales Scriptures……………………….. 1,045,500 1,702,500 ~ 232,000 8S9,000 946,320 851,500 451,600 311,742,044 845,026,719 *ToStcarlipptaugreess from thterabcetsg:m..n.m..g……………………………………………….. 159,810,300 224,754,817 244,945,417 264,524,897 283,760,444 ~ distributed duriug tbe year………………. 23,576 15,571 t Other books and tracts sold and distributed. . . . .. . ….. 5,641 15,718 11,600 15,€67 15,953 68,311 Copies Of publications of all kinds issned during year ….. …….3.6.,7.5.2. 372,710 …….2.5.,7.2.1. …….2.9.,8.5..4 …….8.0.,0.0.0. …….2.8.,0.0.0. …….2.8.,2.3.2.

IV. MEDICAL WORK AT ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL. <JlI ~ The pbysicians of the Medical Department of the Syrian Protestant College have been appointed by the Order of St. J obn in Berlin as the medical attendants of the "Johanniter-Hospital" in Beirut. This most interesting charity, supported by the above mentioned Order, and served also by the Deaconesses of Kaiserswerth, has received ~ during the past years :' 'l'

"I Indoor patients ………………………………….. 537 539 642 577 571 595 465 Patients treated in the Polycliniqne………………….. I 9,162 9,874 9,213 11,172 7,489 6,009 7,126 Total of days of treatment …………………………. 17,879 19,015 18,248 16,489 16,348 18,146 17,500 * These figures represent the copies of Scriptures sold and send out from our Mission Press to private purchasers, and to our own and other missions, and to Bible Society agencies, for further distribution.

t The distribUtion bas been by the various missions among Arabic-speaking peoples, and the American and British Bible and Tract Societies. ~- ~

EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS

VIII.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.

THE INDIAN SCHOOL QUESTION. young Dakota Indians, who are attending school, on the question' Which has done the more good THE Fifth Annual Report of the for us, the Catholic or the Protestant church Y' Executive Committee of the Indian Rights Association, from the pen of The Protestants, it is said, beat their opponents. Mr. James B. Harrison, is a vigorous One of them was asked bow thlly won. He and outspoken contribution to the said, •I showed them the Bible in Dakota and literature of the subject and should read to them in their own tongue. I sh<;lwed be widely circulated and duly con- them a letter from an absent young man written sidered. It justly characterizes the in Dakota, which all could understand wtien I recent orders of the Indian Bureau as read it, and I said, hOur reljgion -gave ;us a written language and the Bible. 'Vhat has 'your " uuiutelligeut, arbitrary, despotic and unstates.' religion given to onr people?'" Is not this manlike, merely a blow at missionary work. pretty fair reasoning for a mau who, according There is no reason to suppose that a single to Commissioner Atkius, has no lauguage; only Indian anywhere will ever learn ten words a barbarous dialect? 'rhe promised concesmore of English by reason of these orders. There is, indeed, no provision made by tho sions of the Iuterior Department have' just government for any increase of facilities in the reached the missionaries among the Dakotas, study of English. The damage to the missionary two months after they were i.,sued. Under date work produced by these orders is their sole re- of Feb. 11 Commissioner Atkins added another sult. The orders should be distinctly and concession to those of Jan. 18, allowing Indians wholly revoked and withdrawn. It is not neces- to possess and use the Bible in the vernacular, sary that the missionaries and churches should and allowing a •limited theological clas" , of submit. If they will publish the facts fully, these Indian young men to be trained in the vernacuorders will be revoked. The facts must come lar iu any purely missionary school supported to light. Then the people of the country will exclusively by miSSionary societies, provided have something to say." they are to devote themselves exclusively to preaching. These conceosions, be it remem· No one can read this report with- bered, are from the InteriM Department of the out having his heart stirred with in- Republic Of the United Slates, wt from the Indignation at the condition of Indian teriM Department of the (lrnerument of tM affairs, through the unfitness of the Czar, and they apply to our Indians, and wt Indian Bureau. The Nation says: to the Poles Of Buss,a."

" The Indian Bureau appears to have made a The President's long reply to the serious blunder. Government has no moral right to order peremptorily that miSSionary Philadelphia Conference, while kind societies which maintain schools in many places without assistance from the Federal treasury in spirit, gives evidence that he has shall cease using the Indian language." not studied the matter with his The religious and missionary press, with almost entire unanimity, has wonted care and clearness and does condemned the policy and arbitrary edict of government, and the Phila- not comprehend the problem iI,l all delphia Annual Conference of the its aspects. . M. E. Church adopted very strong resolutions on the subject. All our We commend to our readers the ecclesiastical and missionary societies should follow suit and cease not to letters from distinguished civilians, protest till their demand shall be heeded. The President has not re- lawyers and divines, given in our Invoked the obnoxious orders; the slight modification conceded does not touch ternational Department (pp. 462–3), the essential iniquity. And his recommendation of a Commission, one-half in relation to this subject.-J. M. S. to be army officers, to manage the Indians, gives no promise of relief, A WORD to our subscribers. We but the contrary. The Interior well puts the case: are glad to be able to say that in the "There are two objectious to thi!l–One of future there will be no occasion for principle, and one of policy. The principle involved is that it is a violation of a fundamental delay in receiving THE REVIEW when right of civil and religious liberty. The policy involved is that the scrambling politiCians who ordered. The demand for it so climb into such positions are not, as a rule, tbe kind of meu to be intrusted with educational greatly exceeded the faith of our and moral interests. We never would have believed that this piece of utterly indefensible publishers at the start, and even tyranny would have been permitted to remain so long in force. Some one who has the ear of the down to a recent date, that they President ought to suggest to him that his fia/l:- ship is about to go into action, and that it is failed to make due provision for the high time for him to clear his decks." supply. Already four editions of the The Independent says: January number, three of the Febru- ary and two of the March have been "There was a discussion recently IJ.llOD~ sQ!IIe printed, and the demand does not abate. But this experience sufficed to show them the necessity of a much larger edition of succeeding numbers, so that in the future they will be able promptly to supply the work to all who apply. Every num- ber is stereotyped, so that THE RE- VIEW can be had from January. Our thanks are due to the press and to our many friends in all parts of the field fo~ their heal'ty commendation . and words of cheer.-J. M. S.