The Missionary Review of the World — September 1925
HISTORIC "CAMBRIDGE SEVEN"AS THEY ARE
GOD'S QUESTION TO THOSE WITH KONEY "THEN WHOSE SHALL THESE THINGS BE"
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(Concluded on page 659) THE MISSIONARY Review 0 f the World DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor CONTENTS FOR SEPTEMBER, 1925 Page FRONTISPIEICE ••••••..•.••.•.• TEE CAMBll!IDGE SEVEN AS THEY ApPF.AR TODAY EDITORIALS •….•••••.•..••.•..•……..•..••………•…………..•.•. 661 FORW.A.Rl) MOVIDMENTS IN CHINA THE AFRJC'ANS AND TEE PORTUGUESE MODF.&N:rSM AMONG MOSLEMS TEE FUTURE POPULATION OF AMERICA THE S,TORY OF THE CAMBRIDGE SEVEN ……………. HENRY J. CoWELL 669 A 1'emarkable recora of earl'll British volunteers who have served the missionary cause successfully for forty years.
SOUTH AMERIOA AND MISSIONARY WORK •…………. ROBERT E. SPEER 673 A record of'some impressions by delegates to the recent missionary congl'ess at Montevideo, UrugiUly.
A WillTE-TURBANED LEJ.ADER IN INDIA ………… _……. H. A. POPLEY 679 The encouraging, inspiring story of Dr. K. T. Paul, onc of the outstanding Christian leaders of India.
SOME IMPRESSIONS ON A WORLD TOUR ………… WILFRED T. GRENFELL 688 The well-known pioneer of Labrador, who has recently returned fl'om a tour of the world, writes his views of foreign missionary work.
PEACE AND RELIGION IN THE PACIFIC ………………•. D. J. FLEMING 692 An account of the religiOUS aspects of the Institute on Pacific RelMions, recently held in Hawaii.
A KOREAN'S OWN STORy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . REPORTED BY ONE WHO KNEW HIM 695 A quaint and inspiring personal history of Mr. "Kim Evident Help"-his conversion and christian experience.
BEST METHODS ……… _…………………. EDITED BY MRS. E. U. CRONK 704 WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSION BULLETIN ….. EDITED BY ELLA D. McLAURIN 711 W1O'MAi{ 'S HOME MISSION BULLE,TIN …… EDITED BY FLORENCE E. QUINLAN 714 NEWS FROM MANY LANDS • _.. _.. .. • . . . .. .. . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . .. .. . . . . .. .. . . . 717 THE MISSIONARY lJIBRARY •…..•.•…..••………… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 733 TERMS: $2.50 & year. ($2.00 in clubs of five.) Foreign postage, 50 cent.. Single copi8l, 25 cantil. Publiabed monthly. Copyrigbted, 1925, by M[SSlONARY REVIEW P1!1lLISBlNe COlO'ANY, INO. AJI rights reserved.
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nfEMI_SSIONARY
EVIEW'
VOL. SEPTEMBER, 1925 NUMBER XLVlII NINE ]1~ORWARD MOVEMENTS IN CHINA nAS TIME passes without new and serious outbreaks between for- eigners and Chinese, hope grows that better counsels may prevail and peace may come in China. An important step in this direction is the ratification (August 5th) of two treaties between China and America, France, Japan, Italy, Great Britain, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands. Chinese Minister Alfred Sze at Washington declares that this inaugurates a new regime for the relations between China and other nations-substituting reason, justice and friendly understanding for oppression, intimidation and force. One treaty relates to customs tariff and the other to general principles and policies to be followed in matters relating to China. It is expected also that a mixed court, possibly presided over by a Chinese, will investigate the responsibility for the recent conflicts in Shanghai. The Chinese have many just grievances but they are amenable to reason and will respond to friendly and just treatment.
Among the causes of the present Anti-Christian Movement in China, Mr. T. Z. Koo includes the following: The growth of Nationalism, especially since the establishment of the Republic; the growth of national education; and the growth of the Christian religion in China. The development of nationalism has been a natural result of the awakening of the people by their contact with the West and with the ideals of liberty and national rights. This nationalism is manifested in the patriotic student movements for united action against foreign domination, in the revival of old Chinese religions and a restatement of their religious and ethical values; in the attempt to preserve the intellectual resources and heritage of China; and in the communistic movements which young Ohinese have fostered as an antidote against the aggression of the European nations. These communistic movements are generally anti-Christian and anti-religious.
661
The introduction of a modern national system of education, inaugurated in 1905, has involved many changes in Chinese ideas and methods especially in regard to international relationships, industries and government. The growth of Christianity in China (says Mr. Koo) has been so rapid, and the influence of Christians has been so great, that non-Christians have become alarmed. Tolerance and indifference are no longer possible.
The first expression of the Anti-Religious Movement in 'China (at Peking in 1922) was short lived. 'l'hen Rnssia's influence began to be felt and resulted in the organization of the Anti-Imperialistic Federation last year. About the same time the Anti-Christian Federation was revived in Shanghai by a student who had been expelled from Shanghai College. This Federation publishes a weekly paper called The .Awakened which is openly opposed to Christianity and has a wide circulation. The Federation opposes all religion as superstition, opposed to intellectual and social progress, a breeder of strife and destroying self-reliance. Against organized Christianity the opposition is based on the contention that Christianity lS an ally of imperialism and capitalism, is dogmatic and unscientific, meddles in politics, is split up into innumerable sects, is an agent of Western agg-ression and denationalizes its converts. The Awakened devotes much of its space to attacks on mission schools, Christian literature, Christians in general and the Church. This Anti-Christian Movement is a sign of the transition period through which China is passing and involves the whole question of the relation of the old to the new and the East to the West. European nations have exploited China and Christianity is misunderstood in consequence.
The general movement in China is forward but the leaders are still groping blindly for the light. The fault is largely that of those who have misrepresented Christ and Christianity. The first need is that professed followers of Jesus should be truly Christian and should stand squarely and fearlessly by His principles. Adherence to truth and justice, a manifestation of brotherly love and a life of unselfish service, the spirit of Jesus Christ, with dependence on the power of God-not on money, men or armaments-will do more than anything else to win the Chinese to Him Who lived, taught, died and rose again that they too might have life. As Mr. Koo truly says it is not the method of modern salesmanship that will "sell" our religion to the Chinese; the "power of God unto salvation" is the power to cut loose from selfishness, strife, sin, to stand for truth, righteousness and love at any cost and to live the Christ among men. This is a time to pray most earnestly for the missionaries and for the other Christians in China.
EDITORIAL COMMJjNTS
MODERNISM AMONG MOSLEMS CHANGE is inherent in Christianity for it is a religion of progress. The Founder himself predicted new light that the early disciples could not bear and greater works in the future than He had performed while on earth. The prediction has been amply fulfilled and every land where the Gospel of Christ has been freely proclaimed and truly accepted has progressed in knowledge, in liberty and in social betterment. Islam on the other hand is a religion of fixed ideas and methods. It has no place for further spiritual enlightenment or social progress beyond a limit set by the Koran. Islam modified by modern ideals ceases to be Islam. This is illustrated today in Egypt and Turkey and other Moslem lands where new ideas of liberty and education, new social customs relating to women, and new laws governing the relation of Church and State, are revolutionizing Islam as it is practiced. These changes have been largely brought about by contact with Occidental civilization and with Christian ideas and example.
Recently Moslems of Egypt, and especially the Superior Council of the conservative Moslem University, Al Azhar, have been aroused by the publication of a book on "The Principles of Government" by Sheikh Ali Abdul Razek Cadi of the Mansura Mekhama Sharia Court. This sheikh contends that Islam is only a religion to guide personal conduct and not for state statutes. This extreme view of the separation of Church and State has aroused intense opposition among orthodox Egyptian Moslems-particularly the ideas that the Caliphate is not an indispensible Islamic institution and that the practice of polygamy should be abandoned.
This is only one sign of the changes taking place in Mohammedan thinking. Still more radical ideas are finding expression in Turkey, in spite of much opposition. The Angora Government has not only undertaken to separate Church and State and has banished the Caliph and abolished the Caliphate but is now pursuing a more liberal policy in regard to mission schools. For example, St. Paul's College in Tarsus that was closed by government order in May 1924 was reopened in April of this year by order of the new Minister of Education, Hamdullah Soubhi Bey. His remarks at the Mission Meeting in Constantinople are significant of the changed attitude of more enlightened Turkish Mohammedans. ~ He said: "The Turkish Government is a friend of American schools. We want our children to go to American schools and to learn American culture. There are, however, certain restrictions-since the Turkish Government has secularized its schools we expect foreign schools to do the same.
t< Turkey is a nation being born today. She is not facing East as is Persia and Tunis. Rather has she faced in the opposite direction-to the West. It is from your books, your influences that we have gotten the ideas "Reported in a letter from Rev. Paul E. N!Ison of Tarsus.
that inspire our present effort to establish democracy. Our faces are toward the West.
"Ten years ago if a Turk wore a hat on his head instead of a 'fez' his head would have been cut off. But today the situation has changed. We llave not lightly entered on this road-we have fought for it, planned for it, died for it. And we are determined to go on.
"It is our desire that our children know America, and that they love America. Your schools are new schools-we want them. You have helped us in the past-your schools will help us in the future 1"
Turkey is endeavoring to establish a democracy. What her future will be no one can prophesy. There are difficulties in the way, for Islam is essentially autocratic and many of its ideas and customs are contrary to modern standards. But patience and the Power of God can accomplish wonders.
THE PORTUGUESE AND AFRICAN LABOR F OR some years severe criticisms have been passed by travelers, officials and missionaries on the Portuguese methods of enforced labor in Angola and the East African Oolony. In many cases t>nforced conscription has practically amounted to slavery. African chiefs have been obliged to supply a certain number of laborersmen and women-to work on roads and plantations. These natives are often sent away from home-sometimes long distances-and their wages are held back. The result is that laborers are not sent home after their contracts expire; many of those who return are broken in health and others die from ill-treatment.
There seems to be something in French and Portuguese colonial policy that makes their administration of primitive peoples very unsatisfactory. There was for a time much criticism of the French in Madagascar and there is still much to be desired in the improvement of the French administration of the New Hebrides. But the Portuguese Government is even more selfish and neglectful of the interests of the natives under their control. Officials favor the planters and Portuguese colonists and seem to consider the native Africans as so many cattle to be used as beasts of burden and slaves to develop the country for the white man. Protestant missionaries have found many of the Portuguese policies very detrimental to the education and Ohristian development of the natives.
Edward A. Ross, professor of sociology in the University of Wisconsin and the author of books on Mexico, Latin America, Ohina, and other lands that he has visited, has recently visited Angola and Portuguese East Africa to inquire into the methods of employing Jabor there. He has presented his very careful and comprehensive report to the "Temporary Slavery Oommission" of the League of Nations. The report has been forwarded to Portugal and the reply of that government will be taken up at the meeting of the Oommission next year.
E'DITORIAL COMMENTS
Angola is a dependency of Portugal in West Africa having an area of 484,800 square miles (eight times the size of New England or fourteen times the size of Portugal) with a population of 4,119,000 (one fourth less than Portugal). Professor Ross went to Africa at the request of Americans interested in Africans and gathered his evidence between July 19th and September 3d last year. With him was Dr. R. Melville, Cramer of New York, a physician. Neither of the men is connected with any religious or missionary or business enterprise so that their investigation was unbiased. They made their studies independently and interviewed many natives, Portuguese, other Europeans, native evangelists and missionaries in widely separated villages, reporting the experiences of from six to seven thousand natives in three different provinces.
These inquiries reveal the fact that women with babies on their backs or with child are obliged to work for the Government building roads for as much as five months at a time. They are paid little or nothing. Some planters claimed that they "bought" their native labor from .the Government and that they were practically slaves. Many men are deported to San Thome and never return to their homes. Some contractors flog their men and otherwise ill-treat them. Children are forced to leave school and to work at home because their fathers have been sent away to work on plantations. It is said to be a mistaken kindness for a mission school to train skilled workmen because these are taken by the Government and compelled to work without pay for a long time.
Professor Ross concludes that this form of native labor is practically state serfdom and in many cases is worse than slavery. Wages are withheld or embezzled, contracts are disregarded, skill is discouraged, much of the work done is unnecessary, the native police abuse their authority for purposes of lust, spite or extortion. There is now no channel through which the complaints of natives may be brought to the attention of officials so that wrongs may be righted. As a result many natives are emigrating to Rhodesia and the Belgian Congo, and some districts are becoming depopulated.
Further investigation should be made and pressure should be brought to bear on the Portuguese Government to remedy tllese abuses. The natives may be encouraged to thrift, to better methods in farming, to the development of industrial arts and to the pursuit of elementary knowledge in the mission schools. The brighter, more industrious youths may be taught carpentry, masonry, poultry raising, metal work, brick-making, spinning, weaving, sewing, housekeeping and gardening. This knowledge will not only greatly benefit the natives but will also enable them to give their products to the outside world.
The leading Protestant missions in Angola are American Board (Congregational) and Methodist Episcopal, the British Baptists and
Christian Missions in Many Lands (Plymouth Brethren) and the South Africa General Mission. A few missionaries are also maintained by the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Seventh Day Adventists, the Angola Mission and the Mission Philafrican (Swiss). Reports show a total of 186 missionaries in Angola in forty resident stations, 940 native paid workers, 120 churches and a Protestant Christian community of 35,015.
In Portuguese East Africa, the leading societies at work are the American Board, the Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, Church of the Nazarene, Church of Scotland, Holiness Mission, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, Universities Mission, Wesleyan Methodist, Suisse Romande, and South Africa General Mission. The total foreign staff numbers 109 in 25 stations, the native staff 627, churches 273 and native Christian community 30,755.
If these societies can work together through the International Missionary Council they should be able to accomplish much for the betterment of political conditions in Portuguese territory. Under the guidance and power of the Spirit of God they can achieve still greater things for the moral and spiritual benefit of the Africans, individually and collectively.
FUTURE POPULATIONS IN AMERICA W HAT will be the popUlation of the United States one hun- dred years from now? We cannot tell but it is interesting to note that from 1790, the date of our first census, to 1860, the rate of growth was steady, at about three per cent a year. Following the Civil War the rate fell and remained nearly constant nntil 1910, at two and two-tenths to two per cent a year. Between 1910 and 1920 it was about one and four-tenths per cent. Professor Whipple of Harvard, in his second edition of Vital Statistics, holds that this is not a temporary incident of war but is the beginning of a long period of slower growth. He believes that the annual increase will probably not again exceed one and a half per cent per year. Even one per cent, however, means a growth of 270 per cent in one hundred years. At the rate of one-half per cent increase per year the population of the United States would be 175 million in the year 2020.
Last summer at the international conference at Amherst, a Columbia professor prophesied that a century hence the population of the United States would be as large as the present population of China, approximately 400,000,000. On the other hand, Professor Pearl of Johns Hopkins University has worked out a mathematical formula based on the populations of the United States from 1790 to 1910, and has constructed a sigmoid curve which shows that the point of inflection was passed in 19H and that a population of 200,000,000 will not be reached until 2050.
If}25] EiDITORIAL COMMENTS
. TIle ~l!ssell Sage Foundation, in its studies of the future popula- tion of Greater New York, has concluded that by the year 2000 there will be a population of 28,000,000 in the Metropolitan area. The Foundation is now at work discovering how many prisons and houses of correction there will be in this area seventy-five years hence to care for those who are allowed to grow up in ignorance and vice.
How wisely and with what profit and anxiety are Ohristians studying the long future? What will be the situation seventy-five years from now when great groups of people have come here from all the world?
Will the dominant influence be Ohristian or non-Ohristian? How are Ohristian forces preparing for the future ¥ Whatever may be the increase in population, the responsibility of Ohristians will be multiplied by that increase. In the centuries to come, if things continue as now in the face of these growing populations, what dangers will be faced and escaped' What civil wars may threaten the land 1 What foreign complications may arise to embarrass us? What social upheavals may break forth like slumbering, volcanoes? What new and sudden tests may come to this democracy? What dangerous caste systems may be produced by pride and wealth? What heavy chastisements may be visited upon the land if the people forget or neglect God? What painful recon- structions may be necessary if men trample the Golden Rule under their feet1 What industrial revolutions may spread terror in the business world? What new and secret combinations between politics and religion may prove as dangerous as shells whose impact not only destroys but whose expansion spreads poisoning gases and fire over wide areas ~ These questions suggest a hundred others that arise to perplex American Ohristians, as they contemplate the spirit- nal work that must be done and gird themselves for their strenuous future tasks.
It is fortunate indeed that our home missionary societies are working in happy harmony for the spiritual conquest of the con- tinent and face the future bravely with leaders who are studying the future with meticulous care and shaping their course on the favorable winds of heaven. Whatever the changes may bring and whatever open doors God may present, these missionary groups will grow in strength, in wisdom, in grace and in holy vision as the decades pass, and their contribution to the Ohristianization of the people in Amer- iea and abroad will be traceable to the beginnings that have been brought to spiritual fruitage and that will eontinue to yield thirty, sixty and a hundred fold in the years to come. c. L. W.
" OAMBRIDGE SE,VEN" FORTY YEARS
0HAS. T. STUDD }rIONTAGUE Bl-~ AIfCI-IAMP STANLEY P. SMITH ARTHUR T. POLHILL-TuRNER W. W. CAS S:F:LLS D. E. HOSTE (~ECIL POLRILL-TuRNER
Story of the Cambridge
A Thrilling Record of Seven UniL'ersity l'IJen and Their Missirna'ry Service BY HENRY J. COWELL, LONDON, ENGLAND FOR encouragement and emulation, and for the praise of God, it is well for us to recall the great happenings of the past. What , the Lord hath done, He can do again. It is not in Him that we are straitened, but in ourselves. Twoscore years ago there took place an event which is a wonderful experience of, and testimony to, the marvelous power of the Spirit of God.
Forty years ago a band of seven young British missionary volunteers set sail for China. Five of them were graduates of Cambridge, while the other two were British Army officers. It was stated that "no previous band had ever set out in the midst of such extraordinary manifestations of interest and sympathy." After the lapse of full forty years, all the seven men are still alive, and what is more remarkable, they are all still active in Christian service.
The "Cambridge Seven" consisted of the fall owing: Charles T. Studd, B.A., a member of the well-known cricketing family. In 1879 he was captain of the Eton Cricket Eleven and in 1883 of the Cambridge University Eleven. He was also a prominent member of the All-England team. Stanley Smith, B.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge, was a firstrate oarsman, and was" stroke" of the Cambridge Eight in 1882. Rev. W. W. Cassels, B.A., of St. John's College, Cambridge, was curate of All Saints, South Lambeth. D. E. Haste was the second son of Major-General Haste, of Brighton. Montagu Beauchamp, B.A., was son of a sister of Lord Radstock. Cecil Henry Polhill and Arthur T. Polhill were sons of Captain F. C. Polhill, at one time member of Parliament for Bedford. Both were on the Eton Eleven and, later, on the Trinity Hall (Cambridge) Eleven. The story of "the Cambridge Seven" is bound up with a time of spiritual revival-such as we are longing for today. From November 5th to 12th, 1882, Messrs. Moody and Sankey conducted a mission at Cambridge that was wonderful in its results. This was only the beginning, for there followed two years of remarkable revival among undergraduates of the university. In November, 1884, the British world was astonished to learn that C. T. Studd and Stanley Smith, the one a first-class cricketer and the other an equally outstanding oarsman, had volunteered to go as missionaries to China. Before 661
sailing, the two young men undertook an evangelistic tour, and held meetings of thrilling interest at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Leeds, Rochdale, Liverpool, Man- chester and Bristol. The meetings at Edinburgh led to the great work among stUdents, carried on for so many years by Professor Henry Drummond.
Eventually the five other Cambridge volunteers decided to join Mr. Studd and Mr. Smith, and a series of farewell gatherings were held at Edinburgh, Cambridge, Oxford, and finally in Exeter Hall, London. All went to China under the China Inland Mission.
Dr. Eugene Stock, the historian of the Church Missionary Society, has recalled that the year 1885 was specially notable for three events in the foreign mission enterprise-the murder of General Gordon, the murder of Bishop Hannington, and the going forth to China of "the Cambridge Seven." "The influence of such a band of men going to China as missionaries," writes Dr. Stock, "was irresistible. No such event had occurred before, and no event of the last century has done so much to arouse the minds of Christian men to the tremendous claims of the field and the nobility of the missionary vocation. Deep spirituality marked most emphatically the densely crowded meetings in different places at which these seven men said farewell. No such missionary meeting had ever been known as the farewell gathering at Exeter Hall in February, 1885."
The dedication of Mr. Charles T. Studd to the mission field, and the conversion of Mr. Hoste were the direct results of D. L. Moody's evangelistic work; indeed, all the members of the band were directly or indirectly influenced by this great evangelist.
A marvelous work of grace went on for months in Scotland following the visit of Messrs. Studd and Smith, accompanied by Mr. Reginald Radcliffe. The university at Edinburgh, and the allied medical schools, with from 3,000 to 4,000 stUdents, were shaken to their depths. The work spread to all the other universities in Scotland; and then, as the students separated, it spread far and wide until the whole country was affected. Conversions were numbered by the thousand, and scores of men offered themselves for medical missionary work.
Even this is not the whole of this wonderful story, for a great worldwide missionary movement, which arose out of the action of •• the Cambridge Seven," is still exercising its beneficent and farspreading activities. One of the early leaders of the Student Volunteer Movement writes: "' The story of the Cambridge band, particularly the account of the visits of a deputation of these students to other British universities, made a profound impression on us. Here really was the germ-thought of the Student Volunteer Movement."
Shortly after the sailing of the Cambridge band, J. E. K. Studd
THE STORY OF THE CAMBRIDGE SEVEN
(now Sir J. E. Kynaston Studd), brother of C. T. Studd, was invited by Mr. Moody to visit Northfield. Dr. Arthur T. Pierson was also present at the Northfield Conference that year, and largely moved by J. E. K. Studd's story of what had happened in the universities of Great Britain, the Conference issued a stirring appeal for missionary workers. That "Letter to Believers in Jesus Christ the World Over," adopted at the suggestion of Dr. Pierson on August 14, 1885, stirs the heart strangely. It recalls that it was at Northampton, Massachusetts, that" Jonathan Edwards sent forth his trumpet peal call- ing upon disciples everywhere to unite in prayer for an effusion of the Spirit. That summons to prayer marked a new epoch in the Church of God. Mighty revivals of religion followed, and the spirit of missions was reawakened."
From the closing passage of this" Letter," I quote these words: Above all else, our immediate and imperative need is a new spirit of earnest and prevailing prayer. The first Pentecost covered ten days of united, continued supplication. Every subsequent advance may be divinely traced to believing prayer, and upon this must depend a new Pentecost. We there· fore earnestly appeal to all disciples to join us in importnnate and daily sup· plication for a new and mighty effusion of the Holy Spirit upon all ministers, missionaries, evangelists, pastors,' teachers, and Christiftn workers, and upon the whole earth, that God would impart t.o all Christ's witnesses the tongues of fire, and melt hard hearts before the burning message. It is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the I..ord, that all true success must be secured; let us call upon God till He answereth by fire.
In the following summer (1886) the Student Volunteer Movement was born at the Student Conference at Mount Hermon, Mr. Moody's school for young men. In the fall of that same year John N. Forman and Robert P. Wilder, both sons of missionaries and Princeton graduates, went forth on a visit to various colleges and theological seminaries in America. This mission lasted from October, 1886, to June, 1887. They visited forty-four institutions together, and then separating, Mr. Forman visited fifty-two and Mr. Wilder sixty-six, making 162 in all. These visits resulted in 2,267 students (about three fourths men and one fourth women) personally signing the declaration~ "I am willing and desirous, God permitting, to become a foreign missionary."
Four years later, Robert P. Wilder arrived in England and was taken by Dr. Eugene Stock to the Keswick Convention. As chairman of the Saturday missionary meeting, Dr. Stock called upon Mr. Wilder to speak of what had been taking place amongst the students of America. Eventually, as an outcome of Wilder's work, a Student Volunteer Missionary Union was formed in Great Britain.
The interlacing and interlocking of this remarkable story as between England and America is wonderfully interesting. It shows once more that cooperation between these two great Ohristian nations is not only desirable but happily almost inevitable. D. L. Moody went from America to England; "the Cambridge Seven" sailed for China;
J. E. K. Studd went from England to America; Hobert P. Wilder went from America to England; and as a result of the organization of the Student Volunteer Missionary Movement in both countries the whole world is encompassed with missionaries of Christ.
One of the original" Seven" wrote at the time of their departure for China, "The Lord gave Us souls both on board the steamers and at each place we stopped at. Landing at Shanghai, on March 18th, meetings were arranged for us there. Some said, 'Ve will give you a year, or at most two years, and then we shall see you aU backgoing home again.' " The croakers and the pessimists were wrong -not for the first time!
The Band landed at Shanghai on March 18, 1885, and before leaving for their fields all put on Chinese dress in accordance with the custom of the mission.
Here in brief is the subsequent record of these seven men who, with the joy of the Lord for their strength and His power for their stay, have been proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ for full forty years.
Charle's T. Studd worked with the China Inland Mission for ten years, then for ten years in India; finally he started the Heart of Africa Mission, which has since developed into the "Vorld Evangelization Crusade. He is still actively engaged in labors in the centre of Africa.
Stanley Smith, liaving put in forty years' continuous service, is still engaged in evangelistic work in China.
D. E. Hoste also has an unbroken record of work on the field and succeeded Hudson Taylor as General Director .of the China Inland Mission. He has recently undertaken a world tour in the interests of the work.
W. W. Cassels, after ten years, was consecrated the first Bishop in Western China by agreement between the C. I. M. and the C. M. S. He is still actively at work on the field.
Montagu Beauchamp (now Sir Montagu Beauchamp), after being engaged in pioneering work in China for thirty years, returned home on account of his wife's health. He served as naval chaplain in the Great War, and is now secretary of the Army Scripture Headers' Society.
Cecil Polhill studied the Tibetan language and worked on the borders of Tibet. He now resides in England, but visits China at short intervals to engage in evangelistic work. One of his daughters is married to a missionary. schoolmaster at Suiting, in the far west of China.
Arthur Polhill has done a good deal of pioneering work, and has llooperated extensively with Bishop Cassels. He is at present in England on furlough, but after forty years' service is as keen as ever, and he is hoping to return to China in September.
America and Missionary
Impressions Made on Delegates to the Congress at Montevideo BY ROBERT E. SPEER, NEW YORK D ELEGATES from the United States to the Congress on Chris- tian Work in South America (Montevideo, March 29th to April 8th), after leaving the Congress attended the meetings of Regional Conferences in Buellos Aires and Santiago and then sailed from Valparaiso on April 29th. Before reaching Montevideo they had attended the meeting of the Brazilian Conference of the evangelical churches and missions at Rio and had come overland to Sao Paulo, the second city in Brazil, to see Mackenzie College and the other work in this great center of the coffee trade. Accordingly the delegation had had opportunity to see something of conditions in four of the ~outh American countries, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina twd Chile. There were, moreover, six specialized groups in our delegation representing education, medicine and hygiene, literature and publication, women's work of all types, the Indians, and general evangelistic work and mission policy. Each of these groups was expected to study its special field for the benefit of all the delegation, and each one had unusual opportunities for doing so. Two days after leaving Valparaiso the deputation was to divide, part returning directly to the United States but the larger part to visit Bolivia and Peru, leaving the steamship Santa Elisa at Antofagasta and going- from there to La Paz and Cuzco and Arequipa by rail. It seemed desirable to crown the daily meetings held on the Southern Cross which the deputation had held on their way from New York to Brazil with a closing meeting on the Santa Elisa, to gather up the fresh impressions of the two months.
These impressions were stated very freely but those who spoke did so with the declaration that they had not had time to weigh their judgments and review all their experiences and would not wish their first impressions to be regarded as final. In seeking to give a summary of what was said, it will be fairer not to attach the names of the several speakers. Not all found time to speak but those who did speak from each group were the following: Education. Dr. Frank K. Sanders, formerly President of Washburn College and Dean of the Yale Divinity School and now Secretary of the Board of Missionary Preparation; Prof. D. J. Fleming of Union Theological Seminary; Prof. H. A. Holmes of the University of New York; Prof. W. W. Sweet of De Pauw University; Dr. Wade C. Barclay of the Sunday School Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Medicine and Hygiene. Mr. E. S. Gilmore, President of the American Hospital Association and Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Hospital 673 2
in Chicago, and Dr. Max J. Exner, Secretary of the American Association of Social Hygiene.
Literature and Puhlication. Dr. Orts Gonzale~, Editor of La Nueva Democracia.
Woman's Work and Y. W. C. A. Mrs. Francis J. McConnell, Mrs. Robert E. Speer, Mrs. James S. Cushman, Mrs. D. J. Fleming.
India.ns. Mrs. Walter H. Rowe and Miss Edith Dabb. General Problems. Bishop F. J. McConnell, Dr. S. G. Inman, Mr. R. A. Doan, the Rev. Albert E. Day of Canton, Ohio, and Mr. F. P. Turner, Secretary of the Conference of the Foreign Mission Boards of North America.
These were the friendly and sympathetic visitors whose first and unreviewed impressions it may he worth while to record.
"My first impression,H began one of the educational group, "is of the many good mon here in South America with whom we ought to work. Of course we met the best and the most friendly men in government education and public life and perhaps we had exceptional opportunities of access, but I wonder whether our missionary work might not draw closer to these men and help them and be helped by them. We were greatly impressed by their quality and their spirit and aims. For the most part they are already aloof from the Roman Catholic Church and their ideals of freedom and progress are in close accord with ours. We ought to be working together now more than we are."
"My interest," said the next speaker, "was primarily in the Indians and one sees at once the lack of integration in the whole problem. The character and status of the Indians differ in the different countries. Some of these countries have a true conception of the problem and are earnestly dealing with it and elsewhere it is conceived in a totally inadequate way. In some cases the distinctness of the problem is realized and elsewhere it is not. As you go home will you not turn attention to this problem of at least 10,000,000 Indians in South America 7"
"What we have seen," remarked the third speaker, "shows that in this work persons count. The personal touch means more than anything else. Impersonally our problems are much the same. The problem is one of persons. And the persons here are now accessible to the right persons from without or within. In each country there are some leaders awake to the social and religious problems. As we think and speak of South America at home we must keep in mind these men and women."
"It was a revelation to me," said one of the women, "to feel the touch of the women of Chile and a few other women with the human problem. They were thinking and feeling with the best women of all lands. But then there were few such women, and there was a great gulf between them and the mass of women. They feel keenly the smallness of their numbers and some of 'them are discouraged
SOUTH AMERICA AND MISSIONARY WORK
but there are able aud trusted leaders who will not lose heart, like Madam Mesquita of Brazil and Gabriela Mistral, the Chilean poetess, and Dona Eudalia of the Club de Senoras and Senora Elena Oliveira de Castro of the National Council of Women in Santiago. Also I was _distressed at our Protestant neglect of beauty in our bare worship and our poor barren churches. Protestantism at home has been very negligent of the right and use of beauty and it has been even more so here. :Most of the people of our evangelical churches are poor and their houses are bare and it is true that much of the Roman Catholic Church adornment is tawdry and ugly but nature is beautiful here and the Spanish tradition has so many elements of beauty in it that I wonder if we could not make more of it."
"I have the same feeling," replied another woman. "The government and Roman Catholic school buildings which we have seen were so much more beautiful than our mission schools. Why do we sacrifice color and beauty so for our Puritan barrenness 1 I want to get pictures and beautiful adornments for our schools. I don't believe we use beauty enough in the cultivation of the soul."
"Women have been gaining their rights st.eadily in South America," added the former speaker. "In Chile under the new laws women now control their own property and have equal control of the children. In Argentina, however, we were told that three quarters of a wife's earnings can be taken to pay her husband's debts."
"As to the hospitals," said one of the medical group, "I have seen some of the best and some of the worst I have ever seen; some that would compare with our best at home and some that are beyond all condemnation, with wretched sanitation and with shameless crowding. The doctors are good but the great weakness is a lack of nurses. In consequence there is no competent post-operative care. The great need is for the development of a trained nursing profession such as the Rockefeller l!'oundation is helping to develop in Rio. And poor nurses are due in fact to the attitude of South America to women. The doctors don't regard women as equal or efficient. There is no greater need in South America than for nurses and nursing schools. I can't conceive of a more powerful Ohristian agellCy than a company of nurses."
"We have had an enlarging experience," said the next speaker. "It is a good discipline to try to come into sympathetic understanding with a continent. As for me I go back with a far greater hope than ever before. The problems of social health are more even than I had supposed. The price which South America is paying in preventable sex diseases is colossal. But there are true leaders and real movements under way to deal with these evils. In Chile they have now a law requiring a certificate from a state examiner of good health on the part of both parties before ch-il marriage. These countries are looking for the best experience of other countries in dealing with these problems. We need to keep in friendly association with them with more freqnent interchange of thought. Thus we shall spread the processes of social evolution."
"As for me," one of the educationalists continued, "I have as yet not so much impressions as interrogations. I wonder why we can't provide more adequate educational plants. ~With two or three exceptions all the mission institutions we have seen were inadequately equipped. Can't the Boards unite and do together what they can't do alone 1 And how can we produce more leaders both in the Church and in society? And ought we not to send out to our institutions young people with more adequate equipment~ These are some of my questions. As yet I have questions but not answers."
"That is my position too," added one of the laymen. "I remember something that Dr. Ernesto Nelson of Argentina said at Montevideo on 'The Night of the Open Heart,' 'A believer who is a rascal is a thousand times more harmful than an atheist who lives a Christian life.' You remember he told us that Christianity is a discredited banner in South America. How can we overcome all this with a moore powerful leadership 1 Also I wonder if our methods which accept our denominational distinctions are right. I don't like the Findings at Montevideo on Cooperation and Union because they assume the continuance of our denominations. I think they should all be one and that we ought to begin at home."
"My impression," said one of the home pastors of the group, "is of the great amount of moral and spiritual idealism which is not being capitalized for the Kingdom of God. We need missionaries to reach idealists outside of any church. In the interest of general evangelization I would do more to reach these leaders."
"I ask myself," said a home teacher, "how we can help South America when we get home. "Ve owe South America a better understanding in the United States. There is so much that is good that we ought to appreciate and praise. I am going to try to make my students see this as well as the other side."
"I have seen nothing more beautiful," said one of the women, "than the affection and joy of the girls in the Y. W. C. A. in Santiago. Their interest and devotion were lovely. These girls of South America are eager for friendship and responsive to every effort to provide for them what our own girls have at home."
"What a treasure we shall always have now in our new friendships," added one of the men. "We should keep these alive. It has been a joy to meet these good men. At the same time I would qualify a little what is said about the leader class. As a matter of fact here, as in the United States, any men and women of intelligence and character can rise to leadership. Perhaps the most influential woman in Chile did not come from a family of social position or wealth.
1925J SOUTH AMERICA AND MISSIONARY WORK
We do well in our mission work to lay our emphasis on work for the great body of the people. As to our teachers I too would pre- pare them better for specialized teaching but it is easy for teachers to lose sight of the fact that persons, more than subjects to be taught, are the important thing."
"Well, I could make criticisms on what we have seen," said another, "but I would say only one thing, that it seems to me that what is needed in South America is some of the courage of Paul in these Nicodemus leaders. Many of them are in sympathy with our evangelical churches and their principles but are not ready to make the sacrifice of open avowal. How are we to get churches for this class until some of them boldly do what Paul did in identifying him- self with the church of the despised and the poor1"
"This trip has been a delight to me," said another member of . the group. "I have seen how mi.ssionary work begins and how necessary it is to begin right, even if it means slower growth. I realize the importance of this especially in the matter of self-support. To do for people what they can and ought to do for themselves is an injury and not a kindness."
"I come home loving the women and girls of South America," said another of the women, "especially of Chile. I have been dis- appointed in the churches of fo1ome of these countries but since I have seen the girls I have taken fresh eourage. I observe that the women leaders in the mission work and in many other aspects of life in some of these lands are the graduates of our mission schools."
"What the missions have done," said the last woman who spoke, "is the miracle of the loayes and the fishes. And the results are just now beginning. From so little that we have given, as yet, far greater things are already appearing. I think we should study the needs of Christian mystici:;;m in our Protestant worship and its forms. Also we should see that these girls so eager and friendly de- Rerve what they are reaching out for. In education they certainly deserve something better than goes under the name of 'university' in some of these countries."
"Of my impressions," said one of the group, "I would speak of three. First, I see more clearly than ever the value and necessity of the work of the Committee on Cooperation in Latin America and I appreciate what Dr. Inman and Dr. Orts have done. Second, I too wish we might reach influential leaders but I remember that the New Testament was written in the language of ordinary men and that the Gospel took hold of the mass of human society. Don't let U8 be afraid to go down to the peon and the roto. And third, we are asking too much of our missionaries in the way of sacrifice."
"Now," said the last speaker, "we are going home to be a company of advocates of South America. Ve have got a great deal of good andrpade many friends .. The great South A.merican papers
could not have been kinder to us than they were and we have helped the leaders of the national evangelical churches to realize the real purpose of our missionary work' and to see more clearly the ideal of it all which is to be realized in their absolute independence and authority. We have done our best to help them to see that the missions and the home churches are eager to have them take the leadership that we may follow them. The Congress at Montevideo and the regional conferences whieh preceded and followed it have made it clear how great is our duty at home to work together with one another and wi.th the South American Ohnrehes. They laid out a dozen more tasks whieh they wish us to undertake with them. If anyone thought that we are not wanted in South America or that our work is done, these congresses put au end to that misconception. They called for a quadrupling of our cooperative work. Let us go home to summon our churches to respond to the call which we have heard set forth with sueh urgency and friendship and good will."
These were first impressions. One may be sure that some of them, at least, will remain as permanent convietions.
FOURTEEN POINTS ON FOREIGN MISSIONS 1. Every book in the New Testament was written by a foreign missionary, 2. Every letter in the New Testament that was written to an indi- vidual was writen to a convert of a foreign missionary, 3, Every epistle in the New Testament that was written to a church was written to a foreign missionary church.
4. Every book in the New Testament that wa~ written to a com- munity of believers was written to a general group of foreign missionary churches.
5. The one book of prophecy in the New Testament was written to 'the seven foreign missionary churches in Asia.
6. The only authoritative history of the early Christian Church is a foreign missionary journal.
7. The disciples were called Christians first in a foreign missionary community.
8. The language of the books of the New Testament is the mission- ary language.
9. The map of the early Christian world is the tracing of the jour- neys of the first missionaries.
10. Of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, every apostle except one became a missionary.
11. The only man among the twelve apostles who did not become a missionary became a traitor.
12. The problems which arose in the early Church were largely questions of missionary procedure.
13. Only a foreign missionary could write an everlasting gospel.
14. According to the apostles, missionary service is the highest expression of Christian life. :-William Adams Brown.
A White-Turbaned Leader in
An Account of the Life and Personality of K. T. Paul, of the Y. M. C. A. in India BY REV. H. A. POPLEY, MADRAS, INDIA Religiou s Work Dfrpartment of the National Y. M. C. A.
I N ORDER to understand truly a man and his make-up it is neces- sary to go back to the influences which shaped his career. This is the more important in a land like India where group and family life play so large a part. With this in mind I attempt to give here some account of the personality and career of my friend, K. T. Paul. "K. T." as he is familiarly called, the white-turhaned chief of the Indian Y. M. C. A., is today an outstanding na tional leader in India, and an international personality who is known and respected throughout both Europe and America.
K. '1'. Paul was visit- ing Erode in connection with the w 0 l' k of the Nat io n a I Missionary Society wh011 I first met him.
Next I saw him in Trivan- drum in December, 1910, at the second meeting of the General Assembly of the South India Unit~d Church.
This occasion was a potent KANAKARAYAN T. PAUL factor in determining the Genera] Secretary, National Council of Young Men's course of my own life and Christian AssociatioDs of India and Ceylon. A uni- rerslty man. experienced in Civil Rervice. a.n acknowl- our mutual relationships. edged Jeader of Indian thought, and a 'Worker whose ability has been proved in great tasks.
'fhe United Church had then been recently organized by the union of a number of' Presbyterian and Congregational churches, and the problem of a common liturgy for our church services was before us. "K. T." sounded the note which has been distinctive of him all through, the note of a natural and national method of self-expression for the Indian Church, and urged that a liturgy should be prepared which should not be a mere copy of Western forms, but should have its roots in the ancient religious traditions of the land. At the next assembly, in 1912, 679
at the instance of Mr. Paul, a new committee was appointed to attempt to bring together the material for such a liturgy. As I was made covener of the committee, this brought me into close and intimate association with him. We also got together in connection with the new rural work inaugurated by the Y. M. O. A. At that time I was working with the London Missionary Society at Erode, and it had become clear to us that the economic betterment of the Christian community in the villages required the or- ganization of cooperative credit societies. The first Rural Y. M. C. A. Secretary was stationed at Erode.
In June, 1914, the South Iudia United Church appointed a small committee to cOllsider organizing an evangelistic campaign through- out the whole Church. Mr. Paul was a member of that committee, of which I was convener. Our first meeting was held at the old Paul farmhouse, two miles from Salem, a most charming spot, where I first made the acquaint- ance of Mr. Paul's family. This old farmhous~, which THE MOTHER OF K. T. PAUL had been for three generations the homestead of the Paul family, was a long, low, thatched building in a typical South Indian farm.
A small irrigation stream ran through the property and watered the rich rice lands. A big well on the land at that time was not in much use, as it needed a considerable expenditure of money to deepen and improve it. Magnificent mango trees yielded the luscious variety of this Indian fruit for which Salem is famous. To the west could be seen the well-wooded Shevaroy Hills. Around were other smaller ranges of hills. Salem ·with its 60,000 inhabitants lay two miles off, hidden away in the groves of mango, tamarind and cocoanut. .
To understand K. T. Paul the rural life in ·which he was born must be understood. He is a son of the soil, with a deep interest in aud an experimental knowledge of agriculture. He represents the best traditions of the South Indian rural middle class with its natural culture and dignity and its newborn aspirations for public life. He was reared in the class which has produced some of the greatest saints and poet-philosophers of the old bhakti school of Tamil Saivism and Vaishnavism, and which forms the backbone of South Indian philanthropy and commerce.
A WHITE-TURBANED LEADER IN INDIA
The ancestry of the Pauls contained elements that helped to form the warp of his charact.er. On the paternal side his grandfather was a Hindu, a Reddy by caste, an indigo merchant, and a native of Cuddaph in the Telugu districts. He was working as an agent for an European firm whose headquarters were at Chittoor. He was known as a very trustworthy man, and later he moved to Chittoor, where he became the head agent (or dubash) of the firm. There he joined the Roman Catholic Church. He had three sons and a daughter, whose name was KeturammaI. She became a nun and rose to be the first Indian lady superior of the convent at THE HOME OF K T. PAUL AT RALEM. INDIA Omalur. The youngest son, David, was the father of K. T. Paul. The grandfather married twice, and the children of the first wife were driven out by the stepmother. David became an attender on a salary of seven rupees a month at the Collector's cutchery in Chittoor. He worked his way up to the position of head clerk to the sub-collector and became Huzur Serishtadar' of the cutchery2 at Salem, a position he retained for eighteen years. He was an entirely self-educated man, with a remarkable personality, and had great influence throughout the district. His opinions are quoted frequently in the District Gazetteer and he took a prominent part. in the revenue settlement of the district He became a Protestant and died in 1878. K. T. 's grandfather was always held up to him as an outstanding man of unusual ability and a great benefactor.
1 Head accountant. 'CQllector's I)fllee.
People all over the district speak of his kindness, and the beggars :still sing folk songs which tell some incidents of his life.
K. T. Paul's ancestry was no less remarkable on the mother's . :side, in whom two interesting families came together. The first is that of Velayutha Tambiran, whose son, Satthianathan, became catechist in the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. His :son, Dr. S. B. Kanakarayan, was a graduate of the Madras Medical College, and was one of the earliest medical men sent out to pioneer "V-,restern medicine in the mofussil. He built the first government hospital in Pollachi and was very much respected. He married Hannah, the daughter of Gingee Thomas, an owner of surf boats, in which the cargo and passengers of ships used to be landed at Madras before the harbor was built. The father of Girigee Thomas was a Roman Catholic and a non-commissioned officer who died fight- ing under Lord Lake in 1801. It is probable that from this fact Gingee Thomas received his name, as Lord Lake had much to do with the capture of Gingee Fort. Gingee Thomas was a writer of Tamil verse and he put the Old Testament into verse after the model of the Rama Nataka·m (Drama of Rama).
Hannah Ammal, K. T. Paul's maternal grandmother, was a woman of remarkable personality, sound judgment and high ideal- ism. After the Salem riots in 1882, she was prominent in the effort to secure harmony between the Hindus and Moslems. After the death of David Paul in 1878, when K. T. was only two years of age, Hannah Ammal managed the whole of the family property and took charge of the family till K. T. came of age. She was a member of the Anglican Church and a great friend of Dr. Bower, t4e chief re- viser of the Tamil Bible. She was educated by Mrs. Anderson, the wife of the founder of the Christian College, Madras, and was one of the few Indian women at that time who knew English. In those days when journeys had to be made by road, she used to go fre- quently to Madras.
Kanakarayan Thomas Paul was born on March 24, 1876, and was named for his two grandfathers and his great-grandfather. He was the only child of the marriage; his mother was only seventeen years of age at the time of his birth, and his father died two years later. One of his earliest recollections is that of a visit to Dr. Bower at Madras, when the veteran Tamil scholar took bim on his knee and blessed him. Another memory of this period, when he was six years old, recalls the gruesome Salem riots in 1882, when the Hindus completely demolished a large Moslem mosque, and a number of people were killed.
One of the greatest influences in young Kanakarayan's life was that of his grandmother, who used to read with him the Tamil versions of Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, and other books. She was always warning him of the evil of scandal-mongering, which
A WHITE-TURBANED LEADER IN
was entirely taboo in their family. Davamoni Sastriar, one of the family of Vedanaiyayam Sastriar, the great Tanjore Christian singer and poet, was a great friend of his grandmother and a con- stant visitor to the house. The songs of the poet were often sung, so that Kanakarayan came to have his great love for and familiar- ity with Tamil poetry and song.
In 1886 at the age of ten he was taken to Madras and joined the school department of the Christian College, then under the prin- cipalship of Dr. Miller, another of the great influences that moulded his life. While he was in school in the year 1887, on account of the conversion of a Brahmin student, all the Hindu boys left the school and college. .
Sarasvati Sastriar, a Christian sadhu,· came and stayed at the Thottam in Salem, as the Pauls' house was called, for six months, and Kanakarayan became his disciple, acting as his serva.1t, as was the ancient custom of India. Sarasvati Sastriar was a great Telugu singer, and it was through him that Kanakarayan gained his knowledge of and love for Telugu literature. He was different from the ordinary sadhu, a Vigorous and active man who threw himself into all kinds of social service, as well as engaged in religious medita- tion. He also did a good deal of medical work wi.th Ayurvedic medicines, of which he had a fair knowledge.
In 1889 Kanakarayan went to the London Mission High School, Salem, where that fine teacher, P. Sundram," introduced him to the masterpieces of English literature. At this time, he came into intimate contact with Asirvatham David, the headmaster of the Lon- don Mission High School, Coimbatore, with whom he read Dickens, Chalmers, and Cardinal Newman. He passed matriculation at the age of fourteen, and then went to Salem College. Here he was drawn into the whirlpool of Indian politics in company with his classmates, B. V. Narasimham, C. Rajagopalachary, and B. Danaraja Rao. He and B. V. Narasimham, a Brahmin, started a Bible class which met regularly at the Thottam, and continued throughout their course in tbe Christian College, Madras. They also studied the teachings of the Brahmo Samaj and the beautiful Tamil songs of the old Saivite saints. One of the little group decided to join the Christian Church, and all of them have been profoundly influenced in their lives and characters by the personality of .Jesus Christ.
Kanakarayan went through his course in the Salem College with distinction, winning a government scholarship for the graduate course. He studied there the works of Herbert Spencer, Huxley, Romanes, Henry Drummond, John Morley, Benjamin Kidd, Dr. Carpenter, and other religious and philosophical writers.
He returned to the Christian College, Madras, for the graduate course. In his class, in addition to his Salem .classmates, were R.
8 Ascetic.
Narayana Iyer, who passed into the Indian Civil Service and became a judge, V. S. Azariah, who became the Bishop of Dornakal, A. P. Patro, now Minister of Education in the Madras Government and knighted, Venkata Reddi Naidu, late Development Minister of the Madras Government, and recently made a knight, and P. J. Devasagayam, now the principal of the London Mission High School, Coimbatore. Among the Salem group C. Rajagopalachary became an outstanding national leader and Mahatma Gandhi's principal lieutenant, a man of high idealism and unblemished character. B. V. Narasimha Iyer was a leading lawyer and a member of the old Madras Legislative Council. During his graduate course in Madras, Kanakarayan decided to join the College Church, Madras, connected with the Presbyterian Church. His grandmother, though a staunch Anglican, respected his decision and joined him at his first communion. He was brought into close contact with Rev. W. Kellett of the Wesleyan Mission, a man of deep spiritual insight and great influence with young men. Politics, social reform and Tamil litera- ture were tpe principal interests in his life. At that time Pandits Suryanarayana Sastri, Natesa Sastri, Kanakasababathi Pillay, Sundram Pillay and Swaminatha Tyer were doing great work for the Tamil classics and in current Tamil literature.
Kanakarayan went into the law college and at the same time took a position as clerk in the secretariat, and so got a thorough grounding in office work and method, which was to stand him in good stead in after years. At the close of his law course he resigned his work in the secretariat and went back to Salem, where he took up farming for a year. Then on an urgent request from his old friend, P. J. Devasagayam of Coimbatore, he went to the London Mission High School as a teacher, and in 1900 took his Licentiate of Teaching, passing first in the Presidency. After his normal course he accepted the position of headmaster of the Punganur High School of the American Arcot Mission. At this time he received an offer of an assistant inspector's position from the Government. On consulting Dr. Miller about this offer, he received the characteristic reply, "Surely you would not consider going down from Christian education to a government inspectorate." That settled the question.
In his eighteenth year he had been recognized as head of the family in Salem. The turban was placed on his head and his grandmother blessed him. Shortly after, his grandmother passed away, and his mother took her position in the family. In 1899 he was married to the daughter of Narasingha Rao, Sub-Registrar, Tiruppatur, after an engagement of two years.
In 1903 Dr. Miller offeretl him the position of tutor in the Christian College and he accepted. It was the beginning of a new era in student work in Madras. The influence of Larsen and Hogg was effecting great things and he worked with them. At this time
A WRITE-TURBANED LEAD.l!JR IN INDIA
also with Devadasen David, an old friend, he started the paper Christava N esan, which expired in two years, leaving them the poorer in pocket, but richer in experience.
In 1905 a conference of leaders of the Indian Church met at Serampore under the inspiration of G. S. Eddy, who said to him, "We had to come all the way to Serampore to know each other." At this conference the National Missionary Society of India was organized, and K. T. Paul was made Honorary Treasurer and later Organizing Secretary. During his holidays he went about all over India, organizing branches of the Society in the different churches. In 1907 he became the first full-time Secretary of the Society and K. T. PAUL. HIS WIFE. SON. DAUGHTERS AND A WOMAN RELATIVE returned to Salem to live. As Municipal Councillor and District Board Member he gained experience of the work of local self-government. For five years he worked strenuously for the National Missionary Society, placing that fine society on a stable foundation in the hearts of Christian young India and coming into intimate contact with the missionary and church leaders all over India. His life was a hard one, as he was frequently away from home on long journeys and had to endure the discomforts of third-class travel and lodgings in all sorts of places. This was the period when he gained his wide and intimate knowledge of the economic and spiritual condition of the Christian community from Peshawar to Cape Comorin and from Bombay to Barisal.
In 1912 he was chosen to accompany John R. Mott in his
all-India tour during which the United Missionary Councils were organized throughout India. At the Conference of the Y. M. C. A. Secretaries at Puri, on the East Coast, famous for the great temple of Jaganath, the first Y. M. C. A. Conference he attended, he was offered by E. C. Carter the position of Associate General Secretary of the Y. M. C. A., with especial reference to the development of rural work. For one year he travelled throughout India, coming into close contact with the Y. M. C. A. work in every part and in ]913 he took up the work of organizing the Rural Department of the Y. M. C. A.
The period of preparation and training in K. T. Paul's life had been a long and a full one and he had gained wide experience in many spheres of life. He had already won a position of leadership in the Indian Church and had shown himself to possess resource and judgment to a remarkable degree. In 1909 he took a prominent part in the negotiations which led to the formation of the South India United Church and was the first Indian to be elected President of the General Assembly of the church in the year 1912.
In the 'year 1913 he started the rural work of the Y. M. C. A. in the districts of Coimbatore and Cuddapah, in South India, and so began to work out his great idea of rooting the Y. M. C. A. in the rural communities of India, and of helping to solve some of the economic problems of the rural Christian community.
Then in the year 1914 the Great War broke out and E. C. Carter did one of the finest things in his career. He deliberately gave up his General Secretaryship of the Y. M. C. A. with the object of leaving K. T. Paul in a position of leadership and responsibility in the movement and so K. T. Paul became the General Secretary of the Indian National Council of the Y. M. C. A. From 1917 onwards, F. V. Slack was with him as Associate Secretary. The self-effacing and disinterested work of these two American leaders has meant a very great deal to the movement in India. It was under their leadership that the foundations of the Indian Y. M. C. A. were laid and by their inspiration that its Indian leadership was made secure.
Throughout the war years the work of the Y. M. C. A. went forward by leaps and bounds under K. T. Paul's guidance and the lessons of his earlier experiences in many different spheres now came to fruition. He showed himself a wise, capable and resourceful leader, never allowing the external developments of Y. M. C. A. work to get too far ahead of the steady internal development of the organization, even in the hectic years of 'the war. At his instance a number of fine Indian young men were enlisted in the service of the Y. M. C. A. and the Indian Y. M. C. A. took on more and more of an Indian character. During this period also he helped to start the Christian Central Bank to finance the cooperative societies started by the Y. M. C. A. among the poor Christian communities
A WlItTE-TURBANED LEADER iN
and the depressed classes. He also occupied prominent posltloiiS in the important councils of the Church throughout India.
As the war drew to its close and politics came to the forefront, the public life of the country drew his attention more and more. He came to be recognized as an outstanding leader by all the different communities throughout India and was one of the few Indian Christians to take his stand against communal representation for the Indian Christian community. He was an associate of Lionel Curtis in his work on the Reformed Constitution and in 1919 at the invitation of the English National Council and the International Committee of North America he made his first voyage to the West. During his stay in England he gave evidence before the Joint Committee on Indian Reforms, emphasizing again his point against communal representa:tion, a position to which many Indian Christian leaders are now rapidly coming. He returned to India at the close of 1919 to face a period of reduction and reconstruction in the work of the Y. M. C. A., and of unrest and disturbance in the political world. He was one of the first to foresee the necessity of a radical curtailment of the war-swollen work of the Indian Y. 1L C. A. and worked steadily to the end of retaining all that was valuable and f'ssential and to the lopping off of everything that was not vital.
Throughout all this he had many interests in the public life of the country and in the work of the Christian Church in India. During his visit to London in 1919 he was responsible for establishing the Indian Students' HosteJ in the old Shakespeare Hut, behind the British Museum, a piece of work that showed his farseeing vision and statesmanship. Since then he has made two other trips to the West and has become well-known to Y. M. C. A. leaders throughout the world.
There are criticisms made of his work, as of that of every great leader, but none can fail to rec,ognize that to him perhaps more than to any other single individual the Indian Y. M. C. A. owes its present position of national leadership in thought and service. His friends believe that his work is only just beginniug. It may be that this whole period has been the preparation for a national service of even greater usefulness. Whatever and wherever it may be, we feel confident that God has not yet finished with K. T_ Paul and that the future which lies before him is full of infinite possibilities of service.
Bishop Fred. B. Fisher, of the Methodist Episcopal Church in India, says that the kind of missionaries needed today are those with an absorb- ing love for God and for their fellow men; with absolute freedom from racial or national prejudice; freedom from religious conceit; those who have a true social vision; a confidence in the greatness of Christ and in His ability to supply every human need; those with humility and a will- ingness to give up personal control of the enterprise.
Impressions on a World Tour·
A Letter from Dr. Wilfred T. Grenfell of Labrador ON my way to Labrador, I had to pass through this harbor (Sydney) and found myoId friend, Capt. H. Donald Mac- . Millan, with his two boats here against the wharf on their way to the North Pole. He invited me to join him and he offered to land me at one of our hospitals (Battle Harbor, Labrador).
Of course, impressions grow cold in time. Our thinking machine is a machine-the most wonderful on earth–and in the bustle of these days it gets as clogged up as the Norwegian telegraph stations did with messages when Amundsen and his crew turned up safe again not long ago.
I must try and write you a line from the rail–who can say when I shall be near a post office again 1 By me is the Naval Flight Lieutenant in charge of the airplanes! We have been talking of ice landings from the air. In the paper today is a notice of the death of his flying chum, Lt. Com. Chase, godfather to his son, who crashed and was killed in Honolulu (an unusually expert flier). Who knows anything on earth7 Is the atom something or nothing moving round in a circle? Am I sitting on this raiH I believe I am-and that's all that any man can prove. This is an age of faith, and we know it.
The first great lesson ,ve picked up from "goiug round the world" was this-what a heap of people there are in it! Howextraordinarily alike they are at heart! When you get through the pachydermatous covering, all are human, all are capable of good and evil, of joy and sorrow. But, above all, all are able to help forward the Kingdom of God if once they grasp the meaning of our stay on earth. Egypt, Sudan, Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Iudia, China, Japan, Oanada and the United States of America-rioting, murders, suffering, sin, sorrow, joy and accomplishments or failures. We saw them all. Sometimes the world did seem to us upside down-what must it seem to God above f But I am a surgeon. My first job in life has been to do as good work as I can to prolong human existence on earth. I've been discouraged sometimes, especially when I had to try, at great expense, to send back again to his family the drunken and dangerous animal who has come under my care only because of his own viciousness. But as I was in hospitals all around from New York and London to the Rockefeller Hospital at Peking, I saw men-IDen like myself, patiently trying to tackle just such jobs, and that not for money- *Written from. on board the ship Bowdoin} Sydney, C. Po, June 26. 1925. Dr. a.nd Mrs. Grenfell have recently returned from a world tour and he here gives bis imvressions or the foreign missionary w(Jrk and some lessons he learned.-EnITOR.
688 but because they believed human life is 'North while. If they saw as God sees, would they think so ~ That's the second great secret-it is because they do see as Christ saw, that they stick to their work. They believe that God needs men-that in Egypt he needs Egyptians-though, just as we were going to be guests in Sir Lee Stack's home at Khartum, a lot of half-educated Egyptian boys murdered that noble man. They believe that in India He wants Indians-though we saw thousands of painted, panting, perspiring fanatics night after night at places like Conjeeveram, guilty of every kind of disgusting and imbecile superstition, defiling that exquisite God-made environment far into the hours of rest and darkness. The same is true in China. In spite of those who still believe that Emopeans and Americans gouge out children's eyes for medicine, and in spite of those who perpetuate the bestial cruelties of the Boxers or the little better negations of all human likeness to God in the shambles of Canton, the missionaries still believe that God wants Chinese. So in the loneliness, and amid the difficult and often hostile and dangerous surroundings, men are as full of fun as a sand hoppel', and as full of simple human emotions as, shall I say, men in ,Vall Street or in an "orthodox" congregation jiscussing creeds and church rituals in safety and comfort at home.
Men and women, young and old, rich and poor, some are at work out there, receiving enough to live on as they.have a right to do- but not growing rich on it-and always capable of doing more if only they were given more to do it with, for money gives freedom and relief from worry. But what a number are out on the mission fields simply because they have the true knight's vision, viz: that the best place from every point of view in which to pass our years on earth is where the job is hardest and where we are most needed by man and God. There is where the real challenge of Christ comes-not a challenge to "know" and "understand" all the philosophic or phys- ical problems about Jesus Christ which we cannot know till we have crossed over, but a challenge to understand what we may know by following Him. C That was a great. lesson. In a city away up from Nanking, I lived with a man who went there with three others after only one "foreigner" had been kno,vn to enter the eity and he had been promptly killed by the crowd. My friend and his three friends were only saved from the same fate by the fact that the governor had learned from the death of the other (whose life was not lost) that it meant less trouble to kick the neweomers out alive-which he did at once. These brave men went baek two years later-all four. Two are now gone to the last Home, but one-my host-still lives in that city-a lovely home–a hospital-orphanages-churehes-native pas- tors-sehools-and when the last bandit army attaeked the city, he received from the Chinese governor-though not a Christian-the 3
TItE MISSIONARY REVIEW 01<' 1'111<; wUHLu
offer of every soldier in the city to protect the mission station. He has lived to see that-and be is a volunteer missionary–a rich mem- ber of a banker's family from New York City!
I was walking in a city with another missionary-a young uni- versity man. We were hunting hand looms. For, like Gandhi, whom I met in India, we in Labrador are preaching our Gospel in one way by giving the people industries so that the message of love may come through enabling a mother to feed and clothe her babies rightly. We found in one home a Chinese actually making forty yards of home- spun by hand in a day! I bought that loom, at once, for Labrador. My missionary friend (away up the Yangtze River and right in the line of fire between the now fanatical and rampant Yunnanese and Oantonese) promised to see the matter through and send the loom prepaid to Labrador.
"How much will it cost~" I asked. "Nothing at all," he replied. "Booh. It will cost quite a lot."
"Not one milleme. I've always wanted a hand in your work in Labrador, ~, he said.
"But I can't allow a married man on a missionary salary to do it. " "Well, if you must have it," he said, "I do take a salary and live on it-to be like the rest. But that leaves me still my own income to put into the mission budget here. "
He won out. The loom won't cost Labrador one cent! And . . . well . . . I got a blessing, not because he told me that he believed in anything, fundamental or modern, but just because he showed me that he had the same spirit that kept Jesus Christ in Galilee till His enemies crucified Him. That is what is wanted and what exists in the "mission field." I rerkoll. that what my missionary friend believed was right, though he didn't tell me what it was. He believed a good deal more I am sure than Thomas or Judas-or even James and John-when the Master first called them to be His knights and chevaliers and to go out to preach the Gospel and heal the sick.
The only force in the world today capable of saving the world is the force of love. Anyone" going round the world" with his eyes open, and an observing mind can see that. I say anyone. Force has been proved a failure. Why worry with a demonstrated failure? r~ove-the greatest thing in the world-is the only force that can save the world. It not only can do it, but is doing it. It is under- .mining the middle wall-the wall of convention, of ignorance, of distrust, of superstition; that Vall cannot be knocked down. But as you go round the world, you can see that this wall is being under- mined, and you can see also who are doing it. It is the men and women who possess not intellectual infallibility but the loving spirit of the Christ and who possess it wlque ad mortem. They will have not only the Crown of Life, but theirs is the ~rown of this life.
SOME IMPRESSION8 ON A WORLD TOUR
I came away from some of these men and women of whom I had never heard before and I knew that I had been in real communion with the living Lord. They are men and women like you and me. That was the second great truth we learned. That is why God needs human life. That is why it is worth being a surgeon to repair the physical machines and so enable them to go on serving a little longer the man inside, whose service God needs.
Isn't there anti-religious feeling in Russia ~ Isn't there anti-religious propaganda in Ohina? Isn't there more anti-Ohristian fighting force being used today than for many years?
Thank God there is. The Devil is switching his tail around at last-some one is really treading on it. It is better to be killed while you are alive for doing things than to be dead 'while you talk about doing them.
Still quietly sitting by my side on the rail is the Flight Oommander, who, in spite of the death of his chum by crashing from the air, in spite of the news of the terrible dangers of landing on sea ice, as Amundsen found it-in spite of a wife and three lovely children at home-is as an officer in the navy of his homeland, in the front line of Uncle Sam's fighting forces, going to take his life in his hands over the polar sea and do his hazardous duty without even thinking of the danger or talking about the sacrifice. ,Von't he have a good time! What does Christ expect of you and me~ (To be concluded.) The Twenty-Third Psalm An American Indian's Version The Great Father above is a Shepherd Chief. I am His and with Him. I want not. He throws out to me a rope, and the name of the rope is love, and He draws me, and He draws me to where the grass is green and the water not .dangerous, and I eat and lie down satisfied.
Sometimes my heart is very weak, and falls down, but He lifts it up again and draws me into a good road. His name is Wonderful.
Some time, it may be very soon, it may be longer, it may be Ii long, long time, He will draw me into a place between mountains. It is dark there, but I'11 draw back not. I'll be afraid not, for it is in there between the mountains that the Shepherd Chief will meet me, and the hunger I have felt in my heart all through this life will be satisfied. Sometimes He makes the love rope into a whip, but afterwards He gives me a staff to lean on.
He spreads a table before me with all kinds of food. He puts His hands upon my head, and all the" tired" is gone.
My cup He tills till it runs over. "That I tell you is true, I lie not. These roads that are" away ahead" will stay with me through this life, and afterward I will go to live in the" Big Tepee, " and sit down with the Shepherd Chief forever.
and Religion in the
The Religi011s .Aspects of the InsWllte on Pacific Relations BY PRO}<'ESSOR F. D. }'LEMlt-;G, PH.D., NEW YORK adventure in friendship for the entire Pacific area was re- cently held in Honolulu, Ha"waii (June 30 to July 15, 1925), called the "Institute on Pacific Relations," when more than a hundred active and about fort.y associate members met together from nine Pacific countries. The groups numbered as follows: Australia, 6; Canada, 6; China, 13; Continental United States, 28; Hawaii, 16; Japan, H) j Korea, 6; New Zealand, 11; Philippines, 3; members at large, 3; total active mombers, 111. The American group included representatives of labor, business, the press, education, political science, religion, and other fields of activity.'" The Institute had its roots at least five years back in a proposal for an international Y. M. C. A. conference. But in time the conception was transformed to the broadest possible basis, unlimited by race, creed, color, or political position, and with the object of promoting an impartial, frank, and thorough research into vital and urgent Pacific questions. Although the Association thus obliterated itself, the Institute was made possible by its quiet, efficient, and international service, and the members were chosen by representative committees gathered through its influence. A wide range of political, economic, social, and cultural questions were considered. Snch topics as the following were discussed: immigration regulations and policies j the industrialization of the Far East; extraterritoriality, cnstoms control, tariff revision and foreign loans in China; treatment of resident aliens in the countries of t~e Pacific; standards of living in the Pacific; Il ational economic • c~ C. Batcheldor, expert on Pacific eommerc.e, former U. S. "'!'l'adf:: Commhvdoner and Com~ mercial Attache. India and ChJna, New York; Dr. George H. Blakeslee, professor of history and international relations, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts; F. S, Brockman, associate general secretary of International Committee. Y. M. C. Aq New York; Dr. N. li". Coleman, presi~ dent of Reed C011 ege. Portland, Oregon; F. M. Davenport, membf'r of Congress, professor of law and politics Hamilton College, Clinton, New York; Miss "Mary Dingman. industrial work secre~ tary, Y. W.' c. A. world committee, New YorIr; Charles H. Fahs, librarian, edltor, geographer, New York; Dr. D. J. Fleming, professor of Missions Union Theological Seminary, New York; George Gleason, secretary Y. M. C. A., Los Angeles; Dr. H. H, Gowen, professor Oriental languages and literature, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Alfrea Holman, editor, San Fran- C18CO Bulletin, San Francisco, CaJifornia ~ Stanley K. Hornbeck, DoltU(',al e(~onomlst and expert on foreign affairs, lecturer on Far East, Harvard; Dr. Paul HutChinson, editor, Chicago; Dr. Jeremiah W. Jenks, political economist, professor o~ government and pubH(' administration, director of Oriental commerce and politics, New York OniYersity, l'cw York Cit.y;' Dr, S. G. Lowrie, professor of political science, University of Cinc;innati. Ohio; H. N. Lynch, vice-president and manager San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, 8R.u Fran('Jisco; Mrs. Parker S. Maddux, political and social worker, San Francisco; Dr. Robert E. Park, .I?rofes~or of sociology, ~niversity. of: Chicago research director Race Relations surve,y on PaCIfIc Coast; Dr. F. Rawlmson, c(lltor Chinese'Recorder and "China Missi.on Year Book"; C. H. R()wel1, editor, writer ani] lecturer, Berkeley. California: Paul Scharrenberg, secretary-treasurer California. State Federation of Labor, San Francisco, California; Dr. Alva W. Taylor, secretary Board of Temperanc(! and Social Welfare, DiscipIes of Christ, Indianapolis, Indiana j Dl',". P. J, ~r('at, professor history, Stan!o:z:d University, Palo Alto, California; Dr. Ray Lymar; 'VIlb.ur, pre~ldent of Leland Stanford Jr. Umversity Palo Alto California; WilHam Allen WhIte, edItor. Emporia, Kansas Ga,'":'ctte; Dr. C. 0.. Wilson: publicist, 'professor of International Law, Harvard, C~mbr!dge, M~ssac~llsetts; Dr. W. W. Wil1oughby, professor of political science, Johns Hopkins TTnr~ersltYt n.dv~sor ChInese government, Baltimore j Dr. Mary E. WoollE'Y. president of Mount Holyoke college, Souto Hadley. Massachusetts.
692 and commercial policies; methods of international cooperation about the Pacific; facts and implications of the present situation in China. .11ost of these questions had their legal, financial, social, psychological, educational, and religious aspects.
Among tIle more specifically rpli~ious topics were: the application of the teachings of Buddha, Confucius, and .Jesus to the problems of interracial and international relations; the function of religion in bringing' about the solution of the problems of the Pacific; the political relations of foreign miRsions; and the foreign missionary as an interpreter between peoples.
The chairman, President Ray Lyman Vilbur, said in his closing address; "One thing that has impressed us all, I think, is that there is a great place for religioll in the study of problems such as we meet when we come together on a common ground to study nations and races."
This judgment very likely came not so much from any obvious and formal part that religion played in the Institute, as from the general temper and spirit which characterized the whole gathering. At the beginning brows were knit and inter-group suspicions were not unknown. Before the two weeks of unselfish effort in the spirit of friendship under a common roof had ended even faces showed that tensions had been relieved. Attitudes, points of view, and determinations had changed. Some came acknowledged pessimists with reference to certain situations and went away with hope. Some who r,ame thinking of millions en masse as "Japanese," or "Chinese," or "American," went away after such vivid and inspiring personal relationships that forever certain problems will be seen against a background of individual Japanese, Chinese, and Americans.
This Institute brought together mell and women of widely vary- . ing thought and experience who gained much from contact and exchange of views. Idealists and those more identified with religion learned better to take into consideration hard facts and the inertia of human nature, to realize that each situation has had a life history and cannot be suddenly changed without reference to this. It is a complex and difficult matter to work out human brotherhood 1Il treaties, laws, and actual practice.
On the other hand, realists may have discovered that they do not actually see the world until they see it in the context of its faiths and aspirations. In no place did this appear more plainly than in the illuminating survey of the history' of the development of cooperation between countries of the Pacific along scientific lines. Confidence in the ability of men to work together is an essential factor for the solution of human problems. Such confidence religion can supply. If practical men are looking for practical steps that may be taken in certain inter-racial problems, they should welcome an informed exposition of those religious forces which may be enlisted
in an effort to make divergent races recognize each other as brotherly members of one human family. All too often in the West there is a tendency to act as if economic forces were the only ones to be considered, when it can be shown that in many cases human emotions are the driving forces of conduct. The Chinese members of the conference explained that the good-will of the Chinese people is more important than the material advantage of the moment gained from retaining unjust treaty rights.
The Institute, for the most part, centered on specific living issues and situations about the Pacific rather than upon abstract or general principles. Those who had convictions about the place their religion can play in establishing human values sat about the conference table along with earnest men and women whose primary contributions would come from other aspects of life's experience and thought. Light on the question was what was wanted, be the contributor economist, publicist, editor, or religionist.
In spite of this free and open field for contribution from religion, it mus! be confessed that the Institute left much to be desired on this side. The inquiry with which the sessions began-as to what the teachings of Buddha, Confucius, and Christ can contribute to the solution of the problems of the Pacific-was dropped almost immediately. In part this was because of the general plan of concentrating on specific issues and situations. But in part, also, it was because most of the various religions about the Pacific did not have those present who were qualified by personal loyalty, depth of experience, and scholarly knowledge of the religion concerned to represent them. Some might say that their religion refuses to submit to this pragmatic test, that it has to do with the life beyond, and that it has little concern with affairs this side the grave. Some might assert that modern Buddhism is largely parochial, lacking international yision, and that it is not now working for international harmony. Prof. M. Anesaki, of the Imperial University, Tokyo, while admitting this, insists that "this does not mean that the Buddha religion has never had or never will have a claim or bearing upon international relationships."
One unusual feature of the Institute was a daily period of meditation held each morning out on a quiet and shaded hillside from which the waters of the Pacific could be seen. For fifteen minutes there was silence preceded only by the reading of some sacred or other inspiring writing. Leaders were chosen from the various religious faiths present, and the readings were from Buddhism, Oonfucianism, modern poets such as Browning, Wordsworth, and Emerson, as well as from the Christian Scriptures. In that fellowship was produced a temper and a spirit which, if they became general, would give an atmosphere in which the most irritating of international difficulties would find readier solution.
A Korean's Own
Mr. Ki1n Evident Help Writes of His Christian Experience TRANSLATED BY ONE WHO KNEW HIM H OW shall I, Kim Evident Help, ever repay the goodness and love of the teacher who has used unstinted effort for me these many years 1 You are our first father-preceptor. As one gently trains and nourishes children you have made disciples of us, receiving us as beginners in the faith and baptizing us. Year after year you have gathered us' into one school, leading us onward with many and m::),rvelous methods of instruction. Truly the hammer that beats out the fine gold of instruction is in the sentence you once gave us, "Do not drive sheep but lead them." For seven or eight years in this cave-on-Mt. Sinai-like retreat I have received from your lips the treasures that came forth after you had, in your own mind and heart, understood the deep spiritual truths of God's word. I am no longer Kim (metal), I am Keum (gold) and through God's tempering I desire to become fine gold.
How can I repay the grace I have received? I am still a child in the faith, what can I do? Though I desired to repay. it with a gift, how could I do so ~ I have nothing. Though I would repay it with mental effort, how could I ~ I forget so easily. With my bodily, strength what could I dof Nothing at all. But I can commit you to God and the Father of our Lord who can give all things abundantly and by prayer in the name of our Lord Jesus I can ensure to you all blessing and prosperity in this world and eternal blessing in the world to come.
You have asked for the story of my life. It is difficult to speak of my own affairs. There has been too much that is unworthy. Do not judge me harshly as you read, nor be all.xious in your heart because of doubts my words may raise. Only pray for me. I, also, desire to trust only the grace of our Lord and so I write, but I must close before I have written all. Time will not suffice. I write as God has given me light. I am now meditating on Matthew 5: 3-11.
BEFORE I WAS A CHRISTIAN My earthly home is in the district of Peaceful Valley. I am the unwcirthy son of Mr. Kim Established Peace, the illustrious scholar. In my early youth with no particular educational advantages I passed my time partly in study and partly in work in the fields. When I reached the age of twenty-four great disaster befell my house. My wife died of typhus, the water-spirit disease, leaving two little girls aged five and one respectively, and only seventeen days later my mother also departed this world leaving me with two little sisters, fi95
aged ten and one. Typhus is a contagious disease and others would llOt come near me. For three months I saw no one but these four gmall children. We lived in a lonely countryside. In those days there was no such thing as sugar milk in tins for motherless babes. In summer and winter, through sweltering nights and shivering days in my poverty-stricken house I cared for these children with my own hands. Nearly a year I spent with weeping infants beside me in indescribable filth. How could a man care for them properly7 In all this time there was not one who visited me with so much as a bowl of water to help me. Certain ones did come from time to time making pretense of assistance and having first well filled their own stomachs came with empty words of comfort, but what did that avail1 In less than a year all the children were dead. One after another they died and I buried them with my own hands in shallow graves upon the mountain side. And all the while the typhus in my own body made me ill. By our Korean custom a man may not marry within three years after one of his parents dies and so for three years I lived alone making my clothes and food with my own hands. So evil a life it was, I cannot tell about it all. And in that time I was beset with temptations and fell into deadly sin. Hut after the three years I married again and having secured an excellent wife I was comforted. Yet the seeds of disease remained in me and I had malaria for three years and moreover there were internal abscesses for four months from which I nearly died. Children were born to us but they died from time to time as soon as they were born until in bitterness of mind, because she was not a son, I called my one remaining daughter "Wretched Puppy," though in these days, since we became Christians, we have changed her name to "One IJove."
At loss what to do for a livelihood I thought for a time of being a doctor and studied the uses and meaning of drugs and roots and herbs for some months. But in Korea we think that all things are regulated by geomancy and so, fool that I was, for three years I studied the laws of the wind and the water spirits and indicated auspicious grave sites on the mountains for a price and in my avariciousness even caused ancestral graves to be moved and disturbed, representing to the families that the sites were not favorable and indicating others for large money. At that time a daughter of my first wife died. She was the wife of Elder Plum, and in great distress of mind I then heard the Gospel for the first time for the elder was a believer and my daughter was buried according to the Christian custom with Scripture readings and exhortation and the singing of hymns. For ten years I had served the seven stars, the spirits of heaven and earth, I had worshipped the Herdsman star in the constellation of Aquila on the 7th night of the 7th moon and kept the fifteenth day of the first month …
1925J A KORE,AN'S OWN STORY
I BECOME A CHRISTIAN These were the circumstances. Mr. White Harvest, the seller of Christian books, came to the house of Mr. Brilliant Jade where I was staying and explained the Gospel. I heard from him that Jesus believers had no traffic with spirits or idols, nor did they pay attention to the disposition of wind and water spirits (which the Chinese call feng-shui but we call poongsoo) nor do they use fortune-telling nor observe lucky and unlucky days. I heard the testimony from many other believers also and 1" said to myself, "If this is not a proper doctrine, can it ever prosper'" Yet we Koreans have a custom of repeating a spirit charm when we have an evil dream or are confronted with some untoward circumstance. We say, "Sa pool pum chung," which means, "Evil cannot harm the upright." This I repeated seven or eight times in the presence of these friends to avert the ill omen of this new doctrine, so foolish was I, and blind. They urged me to buy Christian books and read and when I would have replied to their exhortation with stubborn argument, they themselves bought and gave me the Christian books and I began to read and from that very time my father began to put obstacles in my way. I was ashamed and fearful because of my sins. I was afraid also lest I become a criminal in the eyes of the civil law by taking up a new religion. There were no pocket Testaments in those days so I must needs hide my large Testament in my bosom and read it betimes without my father's knowledge. I read it in moments of rest from my work about the farm. I read it when I was treading the rice huller with my foot on the lever-beam and my eyes on the Scripture. I read it when taking the ox out to graze on the hillside. So intently did I read, indeed, that only when I heard the warning shouts of other men did I look up to see that the ox had wandered into the standing grain and was eating it wastefully. So I lengthened his tether and tied it more firmly to the stake and … continued to read.
I SUFFER PERSECUTION My father attempted to prevent me from becoming a believer in many ways again and again. Upon a day he sharpened his sickle alid locking himself tightly in his room he said, II Be a Jesus believer if you will. I will starve myself to death!" Beg though we might, not for a moment would he open the door. vVas I not in an evil plight and dilemma ~ If I said I would not believe in Jesus it would be a sin against God. If I persisted in being a bBliever my father would surely die of self-starvation. And if he died how could I any longer live 1 What could I do ~ There was nothing else to do. I said, "Well, then, I will starve myself too for my father's sake." So I began to fast. On the next day I suddenly remembered the four idols which were worshipped in our house. I arose and burned them with fire and again lay down to die and my mind was at peace. But on
the morning of the third day of my fast the thought came into my mind that I ought not to allow my father to die so, that I ought frequently to go and remonstrate with him and urge him to take food again. So I went before his door and besought him to open it. "Will you go no more to the Jesus church 7" he asked and I answered equivocally, "Punish me if I do." He said, "If you will go no more to them, I will get up and eat," and forthwith he opened the door. Father and son, we called for food tables, together, and sat down to eat but our throats were tense with emotion and hot withal and we could not eat and our tears fell together and watered our food till it swam with tears. Then when we had wept together our throats were loosened and behold, we could eat. And so it was on the first following Lord's Day also. But my father missed his idols and he was white with rage and fear and again he persecuted me and beat me with the little wooden table from which we eat our food. Then my wife urged me to leave home for awhile until my father should grow calmer and less violent. So I left home, intending in a few days to return, and my wife made up a little bundle of things for me and came with me to the river side about two miles away and there we wept much together and parted. So I came over the mountains seventy-nve miles to the city of Great Hill to the house of Deacon Plum, he that once had been a leper but by the grace of God the disease was stayed. And I attended church in the schoolroom without walls which was then used as a church and I heard a missionary preach from the words, "If any man love father or mother more than me he is not worthy of me." They were the words of our Lord and the preacher said we might have to leave our pa,rents for Jesus' sake, but my Korean friends said, "You cannot do so. It is not Korean custom. " Yet after many days it came about as the missionary had said. At that time I first met you, and learned that you were called the pastor of our district and I was comforted by your sympathy.
Then I went back to my father but though I exhorted him and prayed for him he would not believe in Jesus. -Wherefore I thought within my mind, "Did I not really deceive my father that time when I imitated his fasting haIf-heartedly and made equivocal words to him T" So I made no words to anyone but I went to an empty house and for three days I fasted in secret again. And after a little my father's heart was touched and little by little in one way and another. he thought favorably of the Doctrine. Never would he admit that he accepted it but he spoke of it with favor to others, yea, even urging them to become believers and he showed love to the Christian brethren. I would not leave him alone but accompanied him wherever he went, to win his heart and once when he was at the home of my younger brother he said to me, "You ought to be with your family instead of remaining here with me. " So he sent me back to the city of Peaceful Valley where my family was but he himself remained
A KOREAN"S OWN STORY
with my younger brother because he had a concubine there and her son also. But though he would not be persuaded to be a Christian indeed and put away his secondary wife, my bosom swells and I cannot control my emotion when I recall his loving thought for us and the falling of his tears. When I visited him he would spread mats and say, "Have your worship here," encouraging me to pray also. He seemed to be fast becoming a Christian but, alas! for the things that were done on that day when you came to a neighboring village and, desiring to make it easy for my father to learn the doctrine and believe, sent a horse and groom for my father to bring him thither for a conference. He might have become a Christian but for the fact that there was an evil enemy among his cronies.
A malignant enemy he was, who followed along procuring barley wine for my father to drink by the wayside, and working subtly upon his mind in this way and in that prevented him from believing and took him away from us. Oh I an evil enemy indeed that old man of my kindred was, an evil enemy.
I BEGIN TO ·WORK I have passed lightly over the time in which I was away from home because of the early persecution. At that time a Christian brother whose name was Kim Holy Three, knowing of my persecution and distresses, took me to the village of Seven Valleys and every night I went to the church to pray. Many temptations I had in prayer; and in grief and sorrow for my sins and under conviction and compulsion I confessed them there publicly to my shame and disgrace.
r became a teacher of our language to a missionary newly come from America. Alas that I was away when he was stricken with the fever disease and departed from the world but when r returned and heard from his wife that among his last words he had said that he loved me, his teacher, r was touched and sorrowful beyond words. And afterwards r became teacher to another missionary newly come until such a time as he for some reason unknown to me, returned to America. Then there arose in my mind the tormenting thought that it was because of my unworthiness perhaps that one who had so loved me had died and one had left our land, and though I was thereafter called to take up the work of an evangelist in the years which followed, the thought would not leave me. I learned in after years that the wife of this missionary who had returned to his native land was ill with an evil disease of which she died in a hospital. As her last act she sent me a card with a picture of the hospital upon it and writing in her language and those who could read the Western writing said that she too said that she loved me. So I was grieved again by death but comforted with love.
It was my custom when starling out to visit the churches under
my care to bid him a respectful farewell and go. There came the day when for the last time I heard him say, "Return in peace of mind and body!"
I remained away for a month on that trip and I had planned on my returning way to stop at a church only nine miles from my home and spend three days there in pastoral work but the desire to see my father again pressed upon my mind like hot coals, so much did I love him, so I hastened on and I reached home long after the night had fallen. Then I learned that for eight days he had lain as one dead and only that day had he roused himself to say, "My boy comes home today." At that very moment I passed across the threshold to greet him but not even that one night did he linger for my ministration and exhortation. Before the dawn light.ened the East he had passed beyond and I heard from him no reassuring word that he was saved. For this have I not sorrow in my heart unceasingly until this very day~ DURING THE INDEPBNDENCE lfOVEMENT For s.everal years I continued as an evangelist in charge of churches and my interest grew with the progress of the work. In the meanwhile another evangelist had had the advantage of going through the Theological Seminary and because he had received ordination and become a pastor he superseded me in the work. And this thing too was a grief to me that another should take over my work but in my inmost heart I was glad and thankful that it could be so and that one more fitted for the work than I could take it up.
And then came the "Man-sey" year. "Man-sey" means "ten thousand ages." In your language you Ray" Hurrah" and we used this word to shout "Hurrah for independent Korea!" what time we heard that the independence of our country had been announced by those who had the matter in hand. There was no evil in our thought, only a'thrill brought by the word" independent" and with the others I, too, shouted" Man-sey." Therefore because of the shouting and of the tumult which followed I also became acquainted with prisons. This was the manner of it.
Many church workers and leaders had been imprisoned but I was yet at liberty and I thought to visit certain country churches which were bereft of leaders and spend a Lord's Day there. I had gone less than five miles when one overtook me, coming swiftly after me from the city and saying it would be better to remain at home. So I went back with him but I thought to myself that it would not be right to do nothing at all so I, too, shouted, "Man-sey."
Then the police and soldiers seized me and took me away for examination and they said, "Who told you to do thus and so~" thinking by my answers to fasten upon the missionaries the blame for the independence movement. But I answered truthfully, "No one." Then they said, ""Vith whom did you consult before you shouted
A KOREAN '8 OWN STORY
Man-sey~" And to this I answered, "With whom does a rooster consult when he wishes to crow ~"
Yet as it matter of fact there were three reasons why I shouted "Hurrah!" 1. The pastor and elders of my church had been imprisoned without cause. 2. I had a mind to go under arrest and have fellowship with their sufferings. 3. I wished that my country might be free if that were possible by the will of God. These answers were given to those who questioned me aud they were printed also in the papers following my examination.
When I was removed from the prison at — to the prison in the Capital, in response to questioning I made the following replies which were recorded in the prison books.
1. To the question, "What have you to say in regard to your sentence" Y I replied, "The sins which I have committed in the fifty-one years of my life could not nearly be atoned for by even fifty-one years of hard labor. Therefor my first thought is that only one year at hard labor is light punishment for such shameful sins especially when I earn a glorious name (of patriot.-Ed.) thereby."
2. They asked me what I thought of the majesty of the law and I replied that I had studied and pondered and learned the solemn words of the law of God but that now for the first time through many police examinations, through my shackles, in the midst of lamentations of fellow prisoners and by the anguish of sympathy with their suffering, I had learned the meaning of law experimentally in my own body.
3. They asked me why my people were doing such ungrateful things in spite of all the material improvements which Japan had made in the country and whether I had not been impressed by these improvements. I replied that I did not know all the inner meaning of the independence movement but that I was much impressed by the railways, the highways, the prison equipment (Italics ours.-Ed.) and the laws and rules of government.
4. They asked me what I thought about Korean independence. I replied that my idea was that if independence were sought in a selfish spirit it were an evil thing but not if it were desired in order that the business of the kingdom of heaven might prosper.
5. They asked me what, in my opinion, should be the relation between Koreans and Japanese. I replied, "In matters of education and agriculture and industry and commerce our relation should be that of parents and children and in any other matters one of brothers and sisters."
For a year in prison every day at a fixed hour we prayed, whereever we were and for this we were excessively abused and persecuted. Moreover at a time when it was exceedingly difficult to secure a copy of the Scripture, through the kindness of Pastor —, who secured permission to interview the prisoners and learn their wants, I obtained a large-print Bible which I could read without glasses and many of us read a little each evening but the time for reading was aggravatingly short. I had had no theological training and had long wished for an opportunity to study the Scriptures, especially the book of Romans, so every morning just before we were taken to our tasks I quickly read one verse and fastened it in my mind, reciting it
over and over again in the workroom all day long as I worked at weaving nets and paper hats. Thus I meditated over it and learned it little by little until after eight months I could recite fi'om the first through the fifteenth chapter and then at night when others were in distress because they could not sleep I could think through my fifteen chapters in one way and another and who can measure the boundless joy and glory it was to me1 Because I was so occupied with my Scriptures I seemed to become an especially hateful person in the eyes of those who were over me. Before I could recite through the sixteenth chapter of this lovely Epistle to the Romans we heard rumors of impending release and this was an anxiety to me because I was afraid that we might be released before I had time to learn it all! But as it turned out we remained two months longer and I did learn it all and I lived Romans day and night and finally when I went out from the prison I thought to myself, "This is my treasure. Daily I will recite it to myself and to my children also." But alas for our frailty! After my release it was not so because I am old and forget so readily. I could not recite it all and only the footprints of divine grace remained in my mind.
My BIBLE INSTITUTE EXPERIENCE The day of all my life which seemed to me most blessed was when at the age of forty-one my son was born. But when six years later I lost him, I did my church work sick at heart and each time on my return from making a circuit of the churches I visited his grave and wept. I did this until once God rebuked me there with thoughts which came into my mind for I said to myself, "Vile wretch! Your son died because of your sin, and disease inherited from you but God's own Son, Jesus, without sin or disease, endured for you on the cross infinite agony pouring out blood and sweat and crying out 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani.' He died there for your sin. What was the suffering of God Who saw His only Begotten Son dying there so¥" Immediately I prayed in confession and thanksgiving and from that time until now I have never visited the grave. I had learned the inner meaning of "God so loved the world tha.t He gave His only begotten Son."
Some of my temptations were ridiculous as I think of them now. Seven or eight years ago at a Bible Conference all the evangelists and elders had each one subject to teach and it was so announced on the hour-card pasted up on the notice board on the wall. But my! name was omitted and the people from my district noticed it and I was ashamed before them and that year I studied the Scriptures at the conference in much confusion of mind and I made confession to the pastor, saying, "This has been a grievous trial to me but I see that the principle is true that whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap." Again at the conference the next year when everyone
of the officers had one or two subjects to teach and were so posted on the hour-card, my name was not there. But I only praised God, for I had learned,my lesson of humility.
This year the district which I served as evangelist called its own pastor and I was chosen elder in my own church and served in that office. I desired to study again at the Bible Institute but I had no funds and my mind was disturbed. And it fell out that while I was so disturbed at that very time I received a request from the pastor to take charge of the Sunday service and preach. I preached, but because I preached from a mind that was not at peace I said things which I should not have said and I made the minds of my hearers heavy. This was a temptation and a sin. I have repented since, and I have studied at the Bible Institute with all my strength. I have received great blessing and by the grace of God have finished one course and become a graduate. One word of the instruction I received in this Institute I have not forgotten. It has stirred my zeal. In the first year of my studies here in reviewing the life of Duff, a missionary to India, you quoted his words, "Until now we have only been playing at missions. " It was a great incentive to me.
I have finished all my words. I have spoken at your request but I think that it is all a useless and profitless sound. Yet I see in my experience seven things as I have reviewed it here. I see the leading of the Spirit; the temptations of the devil. I see God looking after me in the wilderness. I see the valley of the shadow of my own anxieties. I see the all-sufficient grace of our Lord and the love of God in sending ministering angels. I see that the grace which I have received of Him has been mysterious and beyond all bounds.
Peace be unto you in the Lord, Kim Evident Help bows respectfully.
SOME QUESTIONS FROM: KOREAN STUDENTS Many will be interested in questions from Korean students that give insight into what some Christian students are thinking.
1. If God ereated us, then who created God' 2. What do you mean when you call J eaus the Son of God f 3. Do the ideas of Jesus agree with war' 4. What is Christian socialism' 5. Was not the lifting up of Moses' rod before the people idol worship' 6. Would Jesus have been crucified, if according to God's will, Judas had not betrayed Him 1 7. What proof is there for the virgin birth' 8. Is Christianity necessary if socialism be realized' 9. Is it necessary for one of true aetions and life to be a church-member, even though he does not attend a chureh 7 10. Please explain the real proofs for the truth of the Old Testament. 11. Who created the devil' 12. With Korea's conditions as they are now, is there not some other cause for divorce than adultery' 13. How can I explain heaven and hell distinctly so as to remove all doubt' 14. What are the best ways to explain the miracles of Jesus to an unbeliever'
t BBST
=e L ~"wu : _au aca aua aac EDITED BY MRS. E. C. CRONK, 721 ;fUHLENBURG BLDG., PHILADEI.PHIA, P..
MISSIONARY GUESTS IN OUR many stories that lend themselves to OHUROHES effective monologue presentation.
The people of various nations and Recently a Christian professor from races may be presented to congrega- a college in India came to America. tions, Sunday-schools, missionary so- His experience might be presented to cieties and 0 the r organizations a Sunday-school by a monologue on through a earefully planned Guest this order: Program. ,'All my life I had dreamed of Some churches are located where America. In my own life I had never they may haye gllllsts from various known the worship of idols. My falands. In cities in which there are ther was a Christian minister and my eolleges and universities, the Sunday- grandfather and my mother were school may invite a foreign student or Christians also. Tn my boyhood there a group of students on Sunday. Five came to me an offer of government or ten minutes of the assembly period service. Some of my friends counmay be given to introducing the stu- selled me to accept it. To them it dents and hearing a brief message seemed to hold promise of rapid adfrom them. Care must be taken in vancement to a brilliant future. I observing time limits. Members of counselled with my Master and I the school should be invited to meet heard Him speak to me and the voice the students after the service. Per- of my own soul spoke, that above all mission for a dinner invitation should else for me, was the call to preach the be arranged. Even in communities true ftospel. It was not easy to get whcre there is no college or univer- my education, but I had great joy in sity, representatives of other lands my work and at last my course was may be found in various callings, who finished and I was called to a profeswill be glad to speak for a few mo- sorship in a Christian college. Then ments of the land from which they I married a lovely Christian girl of come, and of their impressions of India. America. "About three months later an op- Monologues portunity came for me to come to America for further study. It was Another plan is to have a series of hard to leave my wife, my home, my short monologues given by members college, my friends, my own land, but of the school or society, in costqme, my wife agreed that such an oppor- one monologue being given at each tunity must not be cast aside. Amer- meeting. The literature headquarters ica .was the land of my dreams. By of the various denominational Boards way of America my Christ had come have monologues printed in leaflet to me. In India only a few among form. Additional material may be the millions were Christians. America prepared by each church for its own was a Christian land. I must study use. The careful study necessary for there. the preparation of a monologue that "With many heartaches but with is really accurate is a valuable factor eager joy in my heart I sailed for in missionary education. There are America. In ecstasy I gazed at the 704
1925'J BEST METHODS
glorious Statue of Liberty as we come to know the America which is neared the shore. My instructions the land of their dreams."
from the American Mission Board On another day the monologue of were to comc to Board Headquarters. a bride of India or a bride of Japan* A furloughed missionary of the Board may be given. From the textbooks met me and proposed that we should on South America and Mexico other first gct our lunch. I longed to talk monologues may be arranged. An with my friend, and looked around orphan of the Near East, a child from eagerly at the hurrying throng on the a Japanese kindergarten, a student streets. In some quiet place we would from Vellore Medical School or from sit down together to eat and to talk. some other Union Christian College He entered a door and I followed. of the Orient may be introduced into " 'Get out of here,' shouted one the series of monologues.
of the waiters at me. 'No "niggers" A missionary guest introduced in can eat here.' this way each Sunday for several "I drew back in astonishment. I months will make possible the effec- did not understand. My companion tive presentation of various phases tried to explain. llnd fields of work.
"'My friend is from India,' he Furloughed Missionaries said. 'He is a professor in a college.'
"The waiter shook his head as he "No missionaries ever come our continued to bar the door. way," complained one superintend- " , We will go elsewhere,' said my ent.
friend qruetly. "There is such a thing as arranging " At another eating place we had a to have missionaries and missionary similar experience, and again at a .leaders sent your way," suggested anthird. Then my friend stopped at other superintendent. "When we bea store and bought bread and fruit gin to make our plans for the year saying, 'We will go back to the Board we write to Board Headquarters and Rooms to lunch.' ask for as many missionary visitors as we can have during the year. Then "There we sat down together and I we trv to make their visit worth while. ate my first meal in America, the land We s~e that they are met and well of my dreams. cared for and give them a good chance to rest. When they speak to , 'I did not understand then. I do our Sunday-school and congregation not understand now, hut the loneli- we line up our people solidly behind ness is passing away. The long days them in their work. Usually there in a rooming housc were hard at first. are a number of large gifts from in- I longed to enter a Christian home, to dividuals as a result of such visits, in meet Christian people. Gradually I addition to a general increase of inhave learned to know a few. After terest and contributions. We are almany months I was invited to be a ways on the lookout for a chance to guest in one Christian home and then have as a guest a missionary, or any in another. I was asked to speak in one who has visited our mission some of the churches and there I found the real America of my dreams, fields. " and the real America .has been kind to me and now I feel at home with Pictures you. As I stand here in answer to In certain Sunday-schools and the invitation of you who are the real churches the plan of having a mis- America, there is in my heart a long- sionary guest for a day or a month is ing that you and I may understand carried out by having a picture frame the feelings of those newcomers who with a hinged back placed in a promarrive day by day, some of whom are inent position. 'rhe committee in not so fortunate as I, for, while they • Literature Headquarters. 723 Muhlenberg Building, Philadelphia, Pa. Price 3 cents each. live in this great land, they never 4
charge place a picture in the frame to send the books on to the next point each Sunday as someone introduces according to instructions. the guest by telling some of the interesting items about his work. Some- Each auxiliary was allowed to keep times different members take part in the books for three months, but as such an introduction, each telling an the number increased the library was incident. The picture may remain divided and sent out in sections. until a new gue~t is welcomed at some later meeting. The hinges on the back The report for the first year shows simplify the matter of changing pic- a total of 446 books read as follows: tures. J'apan on the Upward Trail ………. 20 'rhere are many other plans for The White Queen of Okoyong …….. 28 varying the presentation of guests. The Crusade of Compassion ……… 15 At one meeting a representative of The Alaskan Pathfinder _………… 17 the children's missionary society may Wayside Sowing … , …………. _.. 32 come with a message. At another Ann of Ava .. _…………….. _. .. 22 time a member of the young people's Uganda's White Man of Work…… 12 society may be a special guest at the Woman and the Leaven in Japan _… 13 meeting of some other organization The Moffats ………. _….. _. . . . . .. 25 to tell a missionary story. Bishop Hannington …………….. 13 Blackbearded Barbarian …………. 22 Be on the loo~out for interesting Livingstone the Pathfinder ………. 2,6 possibilities· in missionary guests. A Gentleman in Prison ………….. 2,5 Book of Missionary Heroes ……… 14 CIRCULATING MISSIONARY Missionary Readings ……………. 15 Chinese Diamonds ……………… 15 BOOKS How I Know God Answers Prayer… 31 Ancient Peoples At New Tasks . _… 3 The Library Committee of the World Friendship, Inc. …………. 5 Canada Branch of the Evangelical Frank Higgins, Trail Blazer ……… 7 Church has been especially successful China's Real Revolution …………. 6 not only in getting missionary books A Noble Army _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 51 into its library but also in getting Love Stories of Great Missionaries…. 29 them out of the library into the homes of its members. One year ago this 446 committee began its work with an appropriation of only $10.00. Individ- Comments received from various ual gifts of interested friends in- churches are an indication of the increased the fund to an amount suffi- terest aroused: cient to purchase twenty-four books_ 'fhe committee was instructed to se- RODNEY: "We would be pleased to get lect missionary books that were more books. They were liked by all who read them. Every ODe spoke of the 'Book 1. Interesting and readable. of Missionary Heroes' as being extra good. 2. Instructive and full of reliable 'Livingstone, the Pathfinder,' also was fine."
information. ELMWOOD: '" Ann of AYa,' and 'Mis- sionary Readings,' are wonderful.' " In each book purchased a pocket was pasted, containing a card on MILVER.TON: '" The Moffats,' 'Blackwhich the name of each reader was bearded Barbarian,' and 'How I Know God to be written. Answers Prayer,' were enjoyed by all who read them." A letter was sent to the borrowing auxiliary as the books were mailed; Er,MIRA: "The ladies seem to like 'The also a copy of the full list of books White Queen of Okoyong' best, and then available and the rules and instruc- , The Alaskan Pathfinder' and ' A Noble tions to be observed. A card for re- Army.' They seem to be just getting interport was included. ested. This was something new for them. When one reads a book she tells others There was no charge for the books, about it and they want to read it too." the only expense to the auxiliary being the amount of postage required After the second reading campaign Elmira reports: "The little book entitled 'How I Know God Answers Prayer' is a wonderful little book. I am sure onr ladies enj oyed reading the books yery much."
CREDITON: "Thank you very much for books loaned to us. I enjoyed them very mueb and read them all, and some twice."
CHESLEY: '" Love Stories of Great Mi.- sionaries,' . Chinese Diamonds' and 'Frank Higgins, Trail Blazer,' were marked with
19251J BEs'r METHODS
this notation, "rhess three books met with Classes and teachers may come for a the greatest favor.' " Sunday to study some particular THE SUNDAY SCHOOL EDITION phase or field of missions in this room One Sunday-school varied its mis- where special helps are available. By sionary program by presenting a spe- fitting up such a room and keeping it cial editiol! of its local newspaper. A up today some earnest worker may frame about 6×8 feet covered with a help to bring a real missionary messheet represented the page of the sage to an entire Sunday-schooL The paper. A boy or a girl stood in place plan is simple, inexpensive, workable. for each column and spoke the news 'l'ry it in your church.
of that column. WHEN YOU STUDY MEXICO On one day the first column told of Many of the churches will be havthe splendid experience of one church ing mission study classes on Mexico in stewardship j the second gave a during the year. You may increase short, pithy paragraph oil the mean- the interest by inviting the children ing of consecration; the third re- of the congregation to a pinata. lated a missionary story j the fourth and fifth represented cartoons in During the Blue Ridge Conference which one being dressed as a boy from of the Missionary Education Move- the coal mines told of his life under ment, the class in Missionary Educa- the earth, while, beside him stood an- tion of Boys and Girls gave a demon- other boy costumed as a protesting stration party to the boys and girls bag of missionary money which was on the conference grounds. Miss to be spent on a non-missionary pro- Norwood E. Wynn, missionary to ject. Mexico from the Methodist Episcopal Headlines may be printed and Church, South, a member of the class, placed above the heads of the col- was in charge. As many paper bags umns, and two frames may be used as there were guests were prepared.
instead of one, thus displaying four The bags were filled with sweetmeats, pages of a newspaper. nuts and fruit, and hung high on a rope above the children's heads. A MISSIONS ROOM FOR EVERY Clustered around them were tissue SUNDAY SCHOOL paper cut-outs and fringes of attrac- By EDWARD H. SMITH, Fooehow, China tive colors and designs. The eager Everyone knows how difficult and guests arrived, full of curiosity to often ineffective is the work of the know what a pinata was. They heard substitute teacher in the Sunday- some interesting stories about the school. boys and girls of Mexico. Then they were blindfolded and given a stick One way of meeting the absentee with which they tried to hit the paper bags. There were many happy shouts teacher situation is to have a Missions of laughter as one guest after the other had a try. Then the rope was Room, fitted up by missionary lead- lowered and as the paper bags were ers, with maps, pictures, charts, curios broken, the goodies flew out in all diand other objects of missionary edu- rections and there was a joyful cation and interest. You will likely scrambling for them. Shouts of be surprised when you begin to make laughter could be heard all over the your collection to find how many conference grounds and many interthings are available. A room made ested spectators gathered to enjoy the attractive by flags and pictures makes fun. Of course they too learned more boys and girls eager to see what is behind it all.
Each Sunday one or more classes about. Mexico incidentally. Such an may have a lesson in the Missions occasion furnishes an opportunity for Room. If a teacher is sick the class telling missionary stories, displaying may come for a number of Sundays. pictures of Mexico and of missionaries
and their work, with many other leaves of green. There was a small features that are educational as well Buddhist temple and a cherry tree as entertaining. In a real Mexican garden with mirror lakes. Cherry pinata the goodies are placed in an trees were made by cutting the earthenware crock which is to be branches of growing trees, stripping broken by the stick but paper bags them of leaves, and pasting paper make a very good substitute. blossoms on the bare branches. At each station pictures of the mission· Invitations for such an affair may aries working there and of various be written or printed on a cut-out de- features of the work were shown. sign of a Mexican sombrero. In addition to the goodies of the pinata AFTER SEVEN YEARS champurada may be served. It is made from ground corn and water, By MRS. JOHN BRATTON flavored with cinnamon and sugar and cocoa. President of Woman's Auxiliary of the Synod of Virginia A JAPANESE TEA PARTY A.bout seven years ago the leaders In past days if girls were in busi- of the Woman's Auxiliary in the ness they were not in the Missionary Presbyterian Church in the United Society. Now hundreds of societies States realized that some of the womhave their Business Women's Divi- en of the chu,rches were interested in sion. The active Business Girls' Cir- one cause and some in another but cle of the' First Christian Church of that only a small number were inter- Chattanooga, Tenn., recently gave a ested in all of the causes and intelli- .Japanese Tea Party which combined gent concerning them. After thought valuable educational features with and prayer and consultation, the delightful social opportunities. Auxiliary Circle Plan was inaugu- rated. It has now been i1~ operation In order that the members may about seven years. come directly to the meetings, supper is always served before the regular Mrs. John Bratton, President of the meetings of this circle. At the time Woman's Auxiliary of the Synod of set for a program on Japan, the usual Virginia, tells so'mething of the plan supper gave place to a special Japa- and the results following its adoption. nese tea. All the members of the circle wore Japanese costumes and wel- There is a common old saying to comed the guests. At an artistically the effect that" The proof of the puddecorated table ,Japanese tea was ding is in the eating." If this is true, served in Japanese cups. as all housekeepers are ready to tes- . tify, practically all of the churches The meeting was held in the large of our denomination have proved that Sunday-school room. At the end of the Auxiliary Circle Plan is the very the room appeared in large yellow best plan of all, for practically all of letters, "The Land of the Rising them have adopted it in their organi- Sun. " The lights were shaded in zation for women. yellow. For weeks in advance the girls made Japanese decorations, In the feminine phraseology of the which transformed the room. cook book it might be stated in this way: Each mission station of the denomination in Japan was represented. A INGREDIENTs.-Every woman and rice field was reproduced in minia- girl in the church. ]<~irst, break up all ture. Green crepe paper, cut and existing organizations into individual fringed, made the growing rice, with bits. To this add every other woman tiny Japanese dolls representing the and girl in the congregation. Mix workers. thoroughly and divide into groups. Use sufficient prayer and Bible study 'fhere were palm trees with trunks to permeate every individual. Season covered with brown crepe paper, and to taste with mission study and the study of the benevolent causes of the
BEST METHODS
church. Sweeten with a sauce of a hile who is willing to use her car for the social meeting now and then. Serve Lord'8 work. at least twice a month, first as a whole and then in groups. Whatever you 5. Someone who is especially interested in do, don't let it get cold. Keep hot nIissionary litel'ature and mission stUdy. with continued interest in order to get the best results. Satisfied users 6. A woman who has a home large enough are the bel;lt advertisement of this to entertain social meetings. recipe. This is literally what we have done and what we are doing in the 7. A woman who has domestic gifts and Auxiliary Circle Plan in the South- who WIll serve as chairnIan of a committee ern Presbyterian Church. for luncheons and social affairs.
THE AIM.-In formulating a plan At first there may not be enough the aim was "A II the women of the women of these types to go around, church studying, working, praying but as leadership develops, women of for all the causes of the church." varying gifts will be discovered.
METHOD OF PROCEDURE.-First: All The annual shifting or changing existing organizations are disbanded. the circle membership is one of the Every woman or girl in the church is best features of the plan, since it preenrolled as a member of the Auxiliary vents cliques, fosters more general by virtue of her church membership. acquaintance, and gives opportunity The second step is the division of a for the development of initiative. the membership into circles. All the circles are made as nearly equal as This change is usually made by possible in spiritual, financial, and committee of the outgoing and incomsocial gifts, and each circle has its own ing officers. chairman. In forming the circles the exceptional members are first selected OFFICERs.-The general officers conand placed in groups to which it is sist of a President, Vice-President, evident they belong-high school girls, Secretary and Treasurer, with the business women, 8hut-in members and secretaries of the benevolent causes others. The remaining names are di- of the church whose duty it is to provided into gronps such as: a. Aetive; mote interest in the causes they repreb. Medium; c. Indifferent. sent.
The names of these workers are MEETINGs.-One day of each week written on slips of paper. Each group is named as Church D~y. On Church being put into a separate basket, the Day of the first week there is an circle chairmen draw from each Executiye Board or Committee meetbasket in turn. This method assures ing. During the second week the full each chairman a circle of average Auxiliary holds a business meeting. a.bility. Usually after the first year The third week each circle holds a the ehairmen of circles give to the meeting of its own and on the fourth president a confidential list of the Church Day of the month the Auxilmembers of their circles with not only iary holds a program meeting and a, b, and c, written opposite the social hour. Many auxiliaries combine names, but if an~' member has shown the auxiliary business and program decided ability along any line a note meetings, since the business, having is made of that fact. We try as far been thoroughly discussed at the as possible to have in each circle thc meeting of the Executive Board, will take only a few minuteI'!. My own following: Auxiliary also changes the order of Church Day, having first, Executive 1. A spiritually minded woman who is a Board, then Circle and then Auxil- Bihle student. iary. In this way matters of great importance are first discussed at the 2. A tither. Board meeting. and then taken by the 3. A liberal giver who has means. chairmen of circles to their circle 4. A ,,"('mall with 3. consecrated automo· meetings, thoroughly discussed there, and finally voted on at the Auxiliary meeting. In this case that fourth Church Day may be used for mission
study, Bible study, some special sew- AllXilia~y member· 1918 1924 ing for the orphans, town nurses, ship . . . . . . . . . White Cross, or other work. 46,788 103,045 Total gifts ….. $433,601 $1,4]2,608 PROGRAMs.-There are always mis- Amount per capita $9 $14 sionary or allied programs at the 21,196 Auxiliary meetings. All the benevo- No tithers …… None reported 2,312 Bible Study lent causes are studied. Special Classes ……. None reported ~mphasis is placed on systematic Bible study and each Auxiliary is expected l"oreign Mission to have at least two mission study classes each year, one on home mis- Study Classes. . 622 2,345 sions and one on foreign missions. 2,274 Home Mission Each circle is a law unto itself in so far as programs are concerned. The Study Classes.. 567 General Auxiliary publishes a sug- Other results are as follows: gestive Year Book of Programs for 1. It is putting responsibility upon both auxiliary and circle meetings. the individual member instead of up- on the general officers. . FINANCEs.-The budget, after hav- 2. It is increasing our sense of ing been adopted by the Aux~liary, stewardship, not only of money, but is apportioned among the CIrcles. of all that we are and possess. Voluntary pledges are made by the 3. It is teaching us, not only the individual members to meet the importance and efficacy of prayer, amount called for. Three special of- but bow to pray. ferings are made during the ~e~r 4. It is teaching 11S to do less readthe thank-offering for Home MISSIOns ing and more studying of our Bibles. in November, the self-denial offering 5. It is proving to us the imporfor Foreign Missions in February, tance of being vitally interested in and the birthday offering in May Ollr church and its work, and informed which goes first to one benevolent as to its needs and achievements. cause and then to another. We be- 6. It is deyeloping leadership-exlieve that by educating our members in stewardship and in the needs of ecutive leaders, prayer leaders, Bible the church both their hearts and their and mission study leaders, program purse strings will be opened. leaders.
7. It is showing us that there is a place for every woman in the church in its service; that God is asking of each of us the same question He asked Moses, "What is that in thy hand 1" REsULTs.-The following table of -time, business ability, personality, comparisons give results that show onportunity for intercession, a home, far better than any words what the an automobile-all may be used in plan has done: His service.
THE MISSIONARY'S PLEA Will you not pray for us 1 Each day we need Your prayers, f€lr oft the way is rough and long, And our lips falter and forget their song, As we proclaim the Word men will not heed.
Pray for us! We are but vessels frail; The world's appalling need would crush us down, Save that in vision we behold the crown, Upon His brow who shall at length prevail!
Not yet the crowning! Fields must first be won, Lives freely yielded, martyr blood be spilt, Love east out fear, redemption blot out guilt, Ere we behold the Kingdom of God's Son.
We shall behold it! Lo, His Word stands sure, Our King shalI triumph in a world set free.
With joy His chosen ones His reigtl .shall see! -Authar Unknown.
Pray for UB, friends, that we may still endure!
Woman's Foreign Mission
EDITED BY MISS ELLA D. MAcLAURIN, 25 MADISON AvENUE, NEW YORK CITY "A CHAT WITH HOME BASE tives for supreme sacrifice, by furnish- HISTORY MAKERS" ing carefully outlined and well pre- By MARY LATHROP BISHOP sented programs, by aiding in an intelligent understanding of the mis- To those who attended the memor- sionary task. Our major problem able Washington Foreign Missions would be on the way to solution if we Conference in J"anuary, it will not resolved to recreate the impressions seem strange that we of the Home left upon us by the addresses in Base fellowship meet through the Washington, and to proceed to harmedium of the printed page for an monize plans with the magnitude of informal chat concerning the great our task. issues which we were asked to face at that time-issues so grave and of such Our Task significance that we said one to an- The work of the Home Base is not other, "Nothing can ever efface from limited geographically by any pre· our memories the challenge, nor from scribed area. The organizations in our consciousness the sense of personal each Board exist that the needs of responsibility." the foreign field may be presented to It is always helpful to define and the constituency., Whatever prob.
evaluate aims and to review the facts lems await solution overseas should which have contributed to our selec- be of concern to the Home Base.
tion of objectives. The purpose, as The present year is one of special given in the call of the great Conven- significance to all missionary organi- tion, was to "enlarge the interest and zations. The progress of events af.
deepen the conviction of the Christian fects all Christians everywhere, and people at the Home Base as to their nothing can be alien to our interest.
Foreign Missionary responsibilities Helen Barrett Montgomery writes: and obligations." The question we "The present is a period of need, such ask ourselves is, How fully is this as the world has never known. Every purpose being realized through our ef- support on which man trusted has forts? Are we sharing with our con- broken down, civilization, law, order, stituency the knowledge of the magni- government, education. Unless there tude of the task of women who are is help in Christ, there is no help for seeking to interpret by love a living the world. The whole Gospel is needed Christ to women and children in for- for the whole world, and it must be eign lands through the lives of our given by the whole Church."
ambassadors for Christ 1 After those If space permitted, many startling days of fervent zeal and enthusiasm, facts from all lands might be mar- have we the deep settled conviction shaled, showing the awakening of that the "note of immediacy" has womanhood to new ideals of service.
struck T That a Program of Action is The spirit of nationalism is taking called, for by the very events which possession of India's women as well are daily passing in review? as of her men. In the vicinity of There are certain developments in Bombay and Poona, certain Hindu foreign fields that are affecting our women are working out a scheme of whole problem, and perhaps it may be education for girls starting with the just now the privilege of the Home primary and continuing through Base history-makers to awaken a new three years of college grade. .AB we interest by supplying adequate mo- think of India with only one woman 711
in a hundred literate we must needs create public opinion and to change lift our hearts in prayer and effort deplorable conditions, it is faced with for India. Turkish women are throw- the failure of America to protect its ing aside their veils and looking out children.
upon the world with new eyes. C.h::is- tian. Burmese women are orgamzmg Some Avenues of Service for service. Chinese women are tak- The source of strength at the Home ing leadership in all departments of Base lies in the fact that women, when activity, physical, social, religious, enlisted in a great cause, form a vast medical, economic. Japanese women working unit moving forward with the are receiving recognition in important urging force of a, great enthusiasm. It is woman's way to concrete her positions as leaders. task and to attack her problems with vigor. The Institute for a Christian In that great country which is in Basis of WorId Relations recognized the public mind so prominently to- this characteristic feature in woman's day, Chinese women are recognizing work and made very definite recomthat women are as important as the mendations, in June of 1924, dealing men to the future stability, improved with our specific work as a missionary society, and higher ideals of a nation, group. We do well at this time to and, with fervor, they are entering refresh our minds with the viewpoint into their heritage. A missionary of this conference :-" That all groups writes, "If we are to establish the launch a study along broad, con- Christian Church in China we must structive lines of international relatrain the women." One of China's tions, emphasizing the inherent congreat problems is its untaught chil- nection of missions to these reladren. Of 99,000,000 children of tions" : – " T hat the mISSIOnary school age only 4,218,695 are in groups study the economic factors afschools, and only 125,513 in Christian fecting the Christian basis of world schools. "Not one in a thousand of relations so that they shall clearly China's girls are in school or in Chris- understand the interrelation of ecotian homes." This is God's chal- nomics and missions" :-" That Chrislenge to American women. China is tian women study their general attistepping into the international arena. tudes and policies in relation to these We must give liberally. We must matters, realizing that they need to pray sympathetically. We must help develop right attitudes toward poli- sacrifically.
Chua Labor Child labor is a new problem in tics, to become informed, and to use human affairs, for ancient history has the vote as part of their Christian no such record. In" Milpstones, " service to help make the government which is being published by the Fed- Christian, to insure that those who eration of Women's Boards of Foreign represent them in the government ex- Missions, the Council of Women for press their ideals and spirit."
Home Missions, and the National It is encouraging to note that Wom- Board of the Young Women's Chris- en's Boards have given sympathetic tian Associations, we read: ' , There support to the great movements of is an immediacy about a child welfare. the day, such as the Women's National program that exists with reference to Committee of Law Enforcement, the no other." The following paragraph Cause and Cure of War, the child is of special interest: ' ,We come into labor question and to an intimate close contact with this problem study of the burning vital issues that through our foreign mission work-in are affecting the foreign field in this China, for· example, where the church crucial hour.
is taking a stand for the protection We are trustees of a great task with of children in industry. However, in a wonderful heritage and have an en- the e:ffQrtl$ of the Chinese Church to trusted opportunity. The supreme
WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSION BULLETIN
motive and compelling force is to en- be;ged by a prince in West China to throne Christ in politics, in commerce, take home to his little son. in industry, in social and civic life, and in p''''sonal, national and inter- lt is hoped that a Chinese edition national rdations. How may we of Mrs. Peabody's" Prayers for Little achieve our objectives? Children" may be undertaken soon after Mrs. MacGillivray's return to Agencies of Progress China, as she says that the prayer life of little children in China has al- There are agencies of the Federation of Women'8 Boards of Foreign most no help even in Christian homes. Missions which are striving to answer The notable achievements of Miss this question, "agencies of progress" dealing with the problem of program Laura White, that well-known pioneer making and presentation and of better in this branch of Christian service, far publicity, with deputation and sum- antedate any enterprise of this Commer conferences. There are local Fed- mittee, yet from time to time the erations and Committees charged with honor of aiding her in her splendid responsibility and there are Cooperat- efforts to enlighten the mothers of ing Committees. From the Cooperat- China through her widely known ing Committee for the Women's magazine Nu Tu Pao, the Woman's Union Christian Colleges in Foreign Messenger, has been in our budget. Fields comes a stirring message written by Miss Florence G. Tyler, Exec- Not long after Happy Childhood utive Secretary. became an accomplished fact, our at- "The great campaign for the Union tention was called to the needs of the Christian Colleges of the Orient has Japanese women and children. Japan, made possible splendid buildings on unlike China, is a literate nation, yet seven new campuses in India, China, the dearth of simple, practical Chrisand .Japan. The lists are full, the tian books and magazines, suited to waiting lists lengthen, opportunities the needs of Japanese mothers and come apace. Graduates are joining- their little ones and available for the the ranks of Christian leaders and poorer classes, is almost unbelievable. the futUre is full of hope. For a number of years the Com- "The women of America can hel p mittee has been aiding the Society for their sisters in the Orient. Budget Christian Literature in Japan in the needs are pressing. You Have Built publication of two monthly magazines, – Will You Maintain?" quite widely used by Christian teachers and colporteurs: Shokoshi The Committee on Christian Literature for women and children reports (Children of Light) issues 10,000 some achievement. Miss Alice M. copies each month, which are used in Kyle, Chairman, explains the objec- mission Sunday-schools and in homes tives in an article soon to appear. of varying degrees of prosperity and Miss Kyle tells us that Havpy Child- "Ai No Hikari" (Light of Love). hood, a monthly magazine for Chinese children, which celebrated its 10th In India has been made our latest birthday in March, has an edition and perhaps most adventurous exwhich now reaches each month abont periment. There are in India over a 10,000 homes, where at least 60,000 million boys and girls of school age. readers, old and young, welcome this Many thousands of these are taught to little visitor. It goes into almost read English. This youngest "enture every province in China. Marshal of the Committee The Treasure Chest, Feng has taken it for his soldiers, was launched in 1922 and met gratifyand a worn and tattered copy was ing success.
Who will pray for the abundant showers of interest and money which shall make this wilderness of poten- tialities and shut-in lives blossom as the rose? EDITED BY FLORENCE E. QUINLAN, 156 FIFTH AVENUE, NJi'W YORK CONFERENCE OF CONFERENCE Women. It was decided to limit the LEADERS discussion to these topics and to the By GILBERT Q. J:..:d30URD, general subject of conference method- ology. Secretary, Committee of Arrangements One evening was spent in group There were one hundred and one present at the conference of confer- discussion in which groups representence leaders held at Asbury Park, N.. J., May 6-11, 1925, the majority iynogunfgor.epiegonp~me 'isssiwoonrsk, , home mreilsisgioionus~ beIng there for the full time. Every- and one who was present for the entire conference felt that it was a meetinO" educatlOn dIscussed the four topics of unusual significance and impOl:: tance. At the closing session it was mentioned above, or such o·f them as voted unanimously to hold a similar conference in the same place next time perInitted. A definite attempt y.ear and at approximately the same time, the same Committee of Ar- was made to find out how these topics rangements being continued with power to make any necessary changes affected the respective groups. This in its membership. The same plan of w?rking through existing agencies was done by discussing concrete cases WIll be followed in promoting the conference as was followed this year. rather than mere theories.
To report the conference is diffi- The following morning the entire cult because it was the sort that needs conference began the discussion of to be attended to be appreciated. The race relations as an example of how meetings were all conducted on the a topic Inight be developed in a condiscussion method under the able leadership of Professor Harrison S. ference. Early in the session one of Elliott of Union Theological Semi- the delegates brought the discussion nary. A questionnaire was sent out to a definite issue by submitting his in advance to determine the general own personal problem. Living in a areas of discussion. The finest spirit New Y?rk suburb ~hich is rapidly was shown through all discussions developmg, he asked lf as a Christian and there was evident everywhere a very earnest desire to find out "how he had any right to join with others OUr conferences may help people to to keep the real estate men from sellfind a more Christian way for the ing to Jews. For the rest of that day and part of the next, the conference world." settled down to hard, thoughtful dis- The first sessions were devoted to cussion of this practical problem. It was not intended to settle the prob- lem, but the discussion brought out the principles involved in clear light and showed possible factors in the situation which might be used to work out a solution.
No attempt was made to discuss the other three major problems as time did not perInit.
finding out just what are the prob- The discussion of summer confer- lems of the present day that are so ence methodology consumed most of important that they must be brought ~he ,remaining time. It was surpris- before summer schools and confer- mg to find how much in common ences. These were boiled down to there ,~as between the various groups four: War and Peace; Standards of which m themselves are very differ- Success and Profit Motives; Race ent. Practically eve r y type of Relations; and. Problems of Men and conference was represented: Chau- 714 tauqua, Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., as typified by Kobe, Japan, where in Missionary, Religious Education, the slums a little band of Christians Young People, Fellowship, etc. strives for better things and has The chief things discussed were the looked to America as a land of Chrisuse of the "discussion method" and tian helpfulness, looked to America the extent to which the delegates as a land of justice and brotherhood, themselves should determine the pro- looked so once but looks so no longer, gram and direct the activities of the and now doubts and cannot underconference. Testimony was given to stand, and wonders if no land is the s u c c e s s of the "discussion really Christian. method" and to a very large cooperation between delegates and leaders in These gates were opened. Shall the determining the conference curricu- King of Glory come in 1 Can He lum and in directing its activities. come in until ChrisCs Church does more than in the past ¥ Can our con- The closing session of the confer- ferences help people to find the truly ence on Sunday night was a never-to- Christian way for the world? Such be-forgotten occasion. A deep sense thoughts as these were in the hearts of spiritual values had been running of each as Dr. Ralph E. Diffendorfer through the entire conference. From closed the conference with prayer. time to time there had been periods of silence in which to seek divine aid. What was accomplished? Not Face to face with some of the most much that can be reported. Much challenging questions of the day, the that will bear fruit in the future. As delegates had felt drawn together in one present has said, "It was not a a common desire to seek added spir- conference for passing resolutions itual power for tasks too great for but for making them." The great mere human strength. Then, too, responsibility of conferences became there had been times for the giving more clear than before. It seemed of thanks for many things. The last clear to most of those present that if hour of the conference was reserved the conferences of the churches are to for a devotional meeting nuder the leadership of Miss Rhoda McCul- continue to be places of real leaderlough. "Lift up your heads, 0 ye ship they must deal with the great gates, and be ye lift up, ye ever- problems of the day which were conlasting doors; and the King of glory sidered at Asbury Park. There was shall come in." This was the theme. frank admission of failure to accom- With the assistance of four of the plish all that needs to be done and a delegates, there were lifted up for the sincere desire to find new methods to group four gates, each giving the increase the efficiency of conference vision of a great field: the vast army procedure. The outstanding conclu- sion reached was that more conferof eager young people, chafing at restraint, yearning for things high ences among conference leaders were and noble and often impatient with absolutely essential; hence the dethe Church, yet willing to serve if cision to meet again next year. given the chance; the Negroes of our land, accomplishing much, yet failing MORMON STATrSTrCS-1924 in many things, living among the whites and yet apart, pressing up, From the Annual Report of the but often unjustly thrust down; the Utah Gospel Mission: women and girls in industry, bound 'round about by a great system, all MORMON ORGANIZATIONS too often un-Christian, handicapped by low wages and long hours, U. R. Total tempted on many hands yet striving for justice, and love, and Christian Alabama …………. 13 3 16 fellowship; the lands across the seas 23 Arizona …………. 23 6 Arkansas ………… 5 1 79 43 California ……….. 46 33 7 Colorado . . . . . . . . . . .. 24 19 o ,Connecticnt …..•…• 3 4 30 Delaware •……….. 0 0 21 Florida . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26 4 Georgia………….. 21
P. R. Total Name-HeadQ'uarters Idaho ………….. . 9 9 1B In United States, MiBaiort- Mem~ Value of Illinois …………. . 18 Property 45 63 Can. and Mexico arie,~ bers $289.114.04 Indiana ………… . 15 4 19 California – Los 23,021..17 66 75 Angeles 125 8.625 110.410.26 Canada-Toronto 71 716 232.818.55 Iowa, …………… . 9 26 40 Central States- 8.712 88.694.57 Kansas …………. . 14 4,689 82,535.76 Kentucky .•………. 30 2 32 Independence .. 158 5,141 64.066.14 5,599 102.385.44 1 12 Eastern States- 23.047 15.'184.12 4.977 Louisiana ……….. . 11 Brooklyn …… 142 2.683 Maine ………….. . 5 12 17 Northern States – Minnesota ……..•.. 3 8 11 Chicago 127 Maryland ……….. . 5 1 6 Northwest'n States -Portland .•.. 99 Massachusetts ……. . 7 9 16 Southern States – Michigan ……….. . 9 96 105 Atlanta •…… 197 M!ssissippi ……… . 13 MU3S0UTl ••••••••••••• 25 2 15 Western States – Montana ….•……. 18 11)5 130 Denver ……. 96 Mexican-EI paso, 9 27 Texa' …….. 76 Nebraska ,..•……… 8 20 28 Totals …….. 1.092 64.189 $1.008.230.35 Nevada ………… . 8 8 In }I~oreig11 Lanil8 New Hampshire ….. . o oo Armenian 2 164 $450.00 5 5.670 78,518.17 New Jersey …..•…. 3 2 British Mission .. 151 1.621 55,284.95 New Mexico ……..• 7 7 Danish Mission .. 24 468 1.242.95 3.189 57,229.02 New York ………. . 12 8 20 French Mission .. 30 1.621 52,774.43 17,823.30 North Carolina …… . 17 17 Netherl'nds Mission 61 485 Norw'g'n Mission. 17 51,497.79 North Dakota ……. . 1 3 4 S. Africa Mission. 18 11.102 53.350.17 Ohio …………… . 10 2,051 46 56 Swiss and German Oklahoma ……….. . 11 22 33 Mission …… . 226 Oregon ………….• 17 9 26 SwedIsh MIssion .. 30 Pennsylvania 15 19 34 Totals in Europe 559 26.371 $368.169.86 Rhode Island ……. . 1 2 3 The Ioland Missions 1.115 $40.911.18 13.083 195,830.00 South Carolina …… . 23 23 Australian Mission 41 Abandoned 164 150.575.66 South Dakota ……. . 2 2 Hawaiian Mission. 6o1 5,184 Japan ……•… 3.402 92.789.24 Tennessee ……….. . 9 1 10 1,721 13.4·03.70 New Zealand ..•. 45 1.051 24,853.52 Texas •………….. 28 8 36 Samoan Mission .. 44 Utah (only R. counted) 3 3 Tahitian Mission 11 Vermont ……… ·· .. 5 Virginia ………… . 18 5 Tongan Mission .. 19 1 19 Totals …… _. 220 26.780 $518.383.30 Washington ……… . 28 IS 46 Joseph Smith birthplace farm, 1 Sharon, Vt. ……………… Washington, D. C. . .. . 1 20.000.00 West Virginia ……. , 11 11 22 Joseph Smith home farm, PaI~ 20.000.00 myra. N. Y. …………•.. Wisconsin ………. . 8 20 28 Wyoming (not Western) 8 1 9 Hawaiian Islands 16 2 18 Total missIons property held .. $1,934.763.51 Canada (not colonies). 16 90 106 635 762 1,370 Program Suggestions GrB,nd total of both, 1,370; (125 more Program on Farm and Cannery than 1923 list). Migrants. Full text of hymns, Scrip- ture passages, prayer and recitation. leU "~Utah Mormonism; "Roo-Rear· Various topics for short talks, referganized or Josephite. ences being giten for developing the program. Two illustrations; 3 cents, And from figures given by Presi- $2.50 per 100. dent Heber J. Grant at the conference in Salt Lake City, April, 1925, Stereopticon Lecture, Farm and as reported by the Deseret News, the Cannery Migrants. Full text accomfollowing: panies 59 pictures. Rental: $2.00 for a meeting, plus transportation one MISSIONS way and cost of replacement of any slides broken. injured or missing. Total missionaries out from home regions, 1,871; of members in these The Kingdom of Love. Pageant on missions, 117,340; property held by Farm and Cannery Migrants by Ruth Mormonism in these missions, $1,934.- Mougey Worrell. Given at Northfield 763.51-nearly two millions of dol- Home Missions Conference, July, lars' there are 24 "missions," with 1924, and' Home Missions Institute, 654 '''branches,'' and figures as fol- Chautauqua, August, 1925.
lows:
FROM .MANY
JAPAN-KOREA support, it is utterly unable as yet to undertake the full responsibility of ATokyo and Santa Barbara self-extension. This is the opinion of N incident which occurred in ~v. W. H. M. Walton, who, writing Tokyo on JUly lst received but m . the Church Missionary Gleaner, ?are mention in the cable news, yet it pomts out three great groups in IS of very great significance says The Japan among whom evangelistic work Christian Advocate, "in its bearing IS greatly needed. First, is the alupon international relations and upon the whole question of world peace. most unreached rural population. July ls~ was the first anniversary of Again, in the city of Tokyo today the. Umted States immigration act whteh so outraged the national pride there are more students of higher of the Japanese by its discrimination grade than in the whole of the British against persons of their race. 'rhose Isles. They come from all over the a~it~tors who find their advantage in Empire and indeed the Far East. stlrrmg up hatred of America planned Take the four largest universities with to. hold public meetings in Tokyo on a student popUlation of 33000· with thIS ,unhappy anniversary, at which the exception of one definitely'ChrispaSsIOnate oratory should do its utmost to keep the old sore open and in- tian hostel, a few Bible classes and flamed. But something happened. a C. 11. S. Chinese Student Mission On the eve of the anniversary the without a missionary, nothing is being American dispatches brought the done to win these future leaders of news of the earthquake at Santa Bar- Japan for Jesus Christ. The third bara. The hearts of the Japanese group is the 46,000 men, women and were touched with sympathy for those children whom modern industrialism who were suffering from a disaster has brought into the factories which similar to that which devastated exist today. Tokyo and Yokohoma two years ago. One of the announced 'humiliation' Won Through Children meetings was called off because of popular sympathy with the earth- MEETINGS for mothers accomquake sufferers, and the others were pany the kindergarten which scantily attended and devoid of en- American Methodist women are conthusiasm. Too many people in Tokyo remembered the promptness with ducting in Hakodate, northern Japan. which America opened its heart when that city was in ashes and ruins. Miss Goodwin writes: "The mothers When America acts like a Christian toward a non-Christian nation she seem to be enjoying their meeting:> discovers that the Golden Rule is no dead letter." very much, and we have had splendid attendance. One of the women has begun to go to church since the meet- ings started. She is nWoteamCahyrnisotitabn~ but is eager to learn.
able to do as much real, definite evan- gelistic work among the mothers as we long to do, but we can act as the connecting link with the church. The Unreached Groups in Japan children are taught to pray in the , . kindergarten and many of them pray at home, some also asking a blessing THOU.GH the .Church III Japan to- before each meal. The prayers of the children will help in the evangelizad~y IS. practIcally. self-governing, and IS rapIdly advancmg towards self- 717
tion of the homes." Among the moth- attendance of 30 and there were also ers of the children in the main kinder- six night schools with an average at- garten Miss Goodwin has started a tendance of 27. He says: Bible study class. One woman has become a Christian and she has "It is evident that this rapid influx of brought in others. Koreans, and its wide distribution through. out all parts of Japan, create a missionary Children's Views on Religion situation which calls for something much mOre radical and extensive than the churches ASUNDAY-SCHOOL worker asked in Japan and Korea have yet realized." some questions about religion in the class rooms of the secondary Korean Out-Station Clinic!! schools in Osaka, now the fifth large~t city in the world. Some 9,064 boys D R. NORMAN FOUND, a Methodand, girls were questioned. It was ist medical missionary in Konglearned that the parents of 7,973 were ju, Korea, is planning to organize a Buddhists, 387 Shintoists, and 329 number of clinics at out-points beyond were Christian. The number that the city in which he has his headthought there was a supreme being quarters. There are six main roads were 6,694, but some 1,276 misguided leading into Kongju. The plan is to ones said that. there is no God. select a village with a church about About 1,044 were in doubt and did not five or ten miles out along each road answer. Again 7,522 felt that there and hold there clinics on regular was some need for religion. When schedules, so that the people of the asked as to their preference 3,157 countryside may depend upon the wanted to be Buddhists and 1,513 place to be served on a regular date like Christianity. The others were in by either Dr. Found or his Korean doubt. The Bible had been read some- assistant. This is an experiment in what by 1,371. medical out-stations which has prob- ably not been tried on any other mis- Koreans in Jap8.Jl sion field.
E IGHTEEN years ago when the In a recent itinerating trip of about Y. M. C. A. sent a secretary to two hundred miles in this territory, work among the Korean students in Dr. Found discovered many small Tokyo there were only a few hundred villages where his services were very Koreans in Japan; at present there welcome. Going from village to vilare about 150,00,0. Regularly organ- lage he performed many minor and ized church work was not begun until major operations, most of them hav- 1912 when the Methodist and Presby- ing to be done in the street, because terian Councils united in sending a there was no clinic to which the pastor to the Christian students in patient might be taken. He carried Tokyo. In 1918 the pastor reported along with him two large boxes of that the Korean congregation was the medicine and they were practically third largest in the city. In 1921 the empty when he returned to Kongju. direction of the work for Korean students in Tokyo was transferred to the A MissioJ1ary Educator Federal Council and its field extended to include all Koreans in Japan. R. TWENTY years ago a Korean coun- A. Hardie, who, at the request of the try preacher asked John Z. Moore, Council, has made a survey of the missionary, for $1.50 a month to pay situation, reports that under the care for sending his boy away to boarding of Pastor Pak, a Korean, there were school. But after thinking it over he 12 groups, having a total enrollment changed his mind and asked that the of 333 adults, of whom 62 were bap- money be used for a school in the viltized. Six of the groups had Sunday- lage, for his son and other lads. The schools for children with an average school was opened with five pupils and one teacher on wages of $2.50 monthly. Now that school has grown
NEWS FROM: MANY LANDS t19
to 160, with three or four buildings of the benefits the Samoans have derived and a kindergarten of seventy pupils. from their teachers-the missionaries from The boy for whom the school was England. started is now at the capital, himself a teacher in the famous Pai Chai High Indians in Fiji School. In Pyeng Yang, the large city of the north, there is a Methodist LARGE numbers of the Indian high school, with a Korean principal colonists in the Fiji Islands sufwho was graduated at Ohio Wesleyan fered greatly under an indenture and Columbia, and linked with it are system which has now been done awav lower schools with 4,000 pupils. Not with. Rev. A. W. McMillan, who was long ago on a Japanese national holi- for seventeen years a missionary in day the Governor General, Baron India, and is now representing the Saito, formally presented Mr. Moore New Zealand Y. M. C. A. in work for with a silver vase bearing the Em- these Indians, says: "Since the abolipel'or's crest, and an illuminated tion of indenture, the people have scroll, setting forth the reason for scattered far and wide as independent awarding the imperial honor, namely, settlers. The Rockefeller Foundation "For having rendered distinguished has recently treated scores of thouservice in educational work for many sands of hookworm cases free of years." Mr. Moore has met the finan- charge, producing a marked improvecial cut in the work of the schools ment in the health and the spirits of ordered by the Methodist Foreign the community_ In many ways things Board by pledging from his own sal- are changing for the better. There is, aryan amount for the schools equal however, only one government prito four fifths of the amount given by mary schooL The missions (especially the mission for this purpose last year. the Methodists) are doing good pio- neer work, and the people themselves ISLANDS OF THE SEA are making brave efforts to run 'panchayati' or committee-managed Tribute to Samoan Missions schools, some of which receive a grant- in-aid from Government. Hakim Din. THE following letter was recently a well-educated Christian Indian, who received at the office of the London has been headmaster of a large high Missionary Society from Major-Gen- school in Sialkot, in the Punjab, and eral G. 8. Richardson, Administrator his wife, have now gone to take charge of Western Samoa: of the school carried on by Austrailian Methodists at Lautoka, and another I would like to pay a tribute to the Indian, a graduate of the Allahabad great work that has been done in Samoa Agricultural Institute, is doing good by the L. M. IS. I see evidence everywhere work in agricultural training. of the influence of your early missionaries who have left a permanent mark on the NORTH AMERICA character of the Samoan people, who are today a God·fearing, law·abiding and lov- Radio and Family Prayers able people. The administration of these islands is facilitated by the past efforts of A NEW invention is helping to rethese missionaaries who sacrificed themselves vive an old custom. "The Mornto bring out the conditions which now exist ing Watch," a service broadcast daily in this Territory. I cannot pay too high a by the Boston Y. M. C. A., has been tribute to the far-sighted policy of the attracting increasing interest. Promipioneer missionaries. Their wisdom and nent ministers lead the services for organizing ability is seen today in the the thousands who listen in. Through Samoans gradually learning to control their letters from professional and business own affairs, with a desire to live as Samoans, people, farmers, shut-ins, and from and not aspire to become Europeans in their old and young, it has been discovered outlook, habits and customs, but to work that a great many New 'Englanders out their own destiny under conditions best welcome this reversion to the habits suited to their individuality_ Their desire and efforts to spread the Gospel to other islands in the Pacific is proof of their Christianity having become a real thing in their lives, and a remarkably convincing evidence
of their forefathers. One letter reads: MacMillan and the Moravians "The Morning Watch is inspiring to all of my family. I now feel that my I N THE radio messages announcing day is started correctly, and my the safe arrival of the MacMillan optimism is maintained at one hun- Arctic Expedition at Hopedale on the dred per cent." coast of Labrador Commander Mac- Millan paid the following tribute to Christian Endeavor Convention the Moravian missionaries there: "Had it not been for the Moravians, DENOlIINATIONAL leaders out- whose service with utterly inadequate lined plans at the Thirtieth In- funds is little short of marvelous, ternational Christian Endeavor Con- there would not be an Eskimo alive vention in session at Portland, Ore- on the Labrador Coast today. Our gon, July 4th to lOth, for a closer cor- men attended service here in a spotrelation of the Christian Endeavor less little church with sand on the program of service and the general fioor, women in combination of native plans of the denominational leaders. and foreign costume on the right and Conferences held at the convention men with their best red tapes tying in marked a decided advance in the co- the tops of their sealskin boots on the operative programs, according to re- left. One Eskimo word makes a line ports. Christian Endeavor topics of an ordinary hymn. Congregational have been arranged so as to dovetail singing by Eskimos is the chief feainto the programs of Bible Study, Mis- ture of the service. W. W. Perret. in sionary Education, Stewardship and charge of the mission has done im- Evangelism of denominational groups. portant work in botany, climatology The theme of the convention was and ornithology, and is of the utmost "Fidelity to Christian Endeavor assistance to Koelz, of our party." Principles. " Emphasis was placed upon the evangelistic, community and A Papal Mission Board missionary activities of churches and the part played in these programs by THB Roman Catholic Church in the the Christian Endeavor Society. The United States is organizing an event of greatest interest was the re- American Board of Catholic Missions. tirement from active service of Dr. The plan, authorized by the hier- Francis E. Clark, who forty-four archy, is a final step in putting Cathyears ago established the Christian olic affairs upon a sound administra- Endeavor Society at Portland, Maine. tive and business basis. Two or three Dr. Daniel A. Poling, co-minister of years ago a welfare conference was the Marble Collegiate Church, New formed, and later national councils of York, was elected President of the Catholic men, and the same of women. United Society. Dr. Clark was elected 'l'be new board will bring under one President Emeritus. In honor of his head the missionary efforts, together long service on a non-salaried basis, with the great federations of volunthe trustees have arranged to estab- teer organizations. In the main, the lish what is called the Dr. Francis E. Catholic system now is like those of Clark Recognition Fund of $100,000, other great religious bodies, even to whose income will be devoted to the the employment in some cases of idensupport of Dr. and Mrs. Clark so long tical names. Some years ago a Cathas both shall live. After they have olic extension society was founded in been called to higher service the fund Chicago. Its success has been marked, will be known as the Francis E. Clark and it is to be employed as the organi- Memorial Fund, the income of which zation through which the new board will then be devoted to the extension is to function. Following the Chicago of Christian Endeavor work through- venture came one for foreign missions, out the whole world. fostered largely from New York. That work also has grown rapidly. Part of the new work to be entered upon, it
j925] NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
is said, is in behalf of the thousands educational, civic, and welfare of Mexicans who come into the United agencies has been organized and un· Htates.-Missionary Herald. del' this body county committees have been established in sixty-three of the New York City Japanese counties of Kentucky. From the first I ~TEREST is being shown by the the Commission focused its attention Presbyterian and Reformed upon education as one of the strategic Churches in the 4,000 Japanese who points and the results of this work are in New York every year, many of have been gratifying. Through the them remaining for a long term as efforts of the Commission it is becomresidents or for study. It is estimated ing more common in Kentucky to call that at least 3,000 travelers from the Negro citizens to render service on sunrise kingdom pass through the city juries. Getting his cue from a State annually. Most of these are young interracial conference where this mat· men, very few being married, and of tel' was emphasized, a Negro lawyer the latter class 131 have families. demanded and obtained for his clieut 'fhat these people may be rightly in- a trial by a jury composed entirely of fluenced and have upon them the im- the Negro race. What the reaction press of Christian institutions it is of the lawyer was when the jury con~ proposed says The Continent, to form a center where they may come in con- victed his client in less than five tact with the people of the churches minutes and sentenced him to the who are concerned for their moral penitentiary for a term of three years may be easily imagined.
and spiritual uplift. To this end in 1909 a Japanese Christian Association ABlerican Conference on Airiea was formed, which carried on an in- T HE Africa Committee of the Comstitutional work for both men and mittee of Reference and Counsel women and was interdenominational has called an open conference on in character. Three years later a Africa to be held in the Kennedy School of Missions, Hartford, Ct., building on West 123d Street was October 30th to November 1st. Some leased. Now this work has so en- of the subjects to be considered at larged that it is contemplated taking this conference, which will be atover a larger building which, with its tended largely by representatives of equipment, will cost at least $200,000. mission boards having work on that A large number of persons have al- continent, will be "Present Situation ready enlisted to make possible this in Africa," "Educational Objectives new enterprise. The present Japa- in Africa," "The Education of Womnese membership is 200. This, it will en and Girls, " "Cooperation for be noted, is an institutional church, Africa and Africans," as well as and is not related to the Y. M. C. A., problems in hygiene and public the Y. W. C. A., or the Japanese Stu- health, languages and literature, and dent Christian Association, which has in the reaching of the people in large a national membership.
Interracial Work in Kentucky cities and mining centers of Africa.
Plans will also be made looking to- I NTERRACIAL work in Kentucky ward the "World Conference on was started under the auspices of Africa," to be held during 1926. the State Y. M. C. A. some five years Among the missionary and educa- ago with the avowed purpose of "cul- tional leaders who will address the tivating better relations between the conference are: Dr. Thomas Jesse races and improving the condition of Jones, educational director of the the Negro along lines agreed upon by Phelps-Stokes Fund, Dr. Homer L.
the Interracial Commission." Since Shantz, of the United States Depart- that time a strong State Interracial ment of Agriculture, Dr. J. H. Dil- Commission representing religious, lard, president of the Jeanes and 5
Slater Funds, Prof. Dr. Westermann, ket, but the bearer of glad tidings is of the University of Berlin, Rev. also there with his healing message."
Thomas S. Donohugh, associate secre- tary of the Methodist Episcopal Al….kan Gifts in Time of Need D Church, and Mr. J. H. Oldham, of R. GRAFTON BURKE, Protes- tant Episcopal missionary at London.
Among Philadelphia Jews Fort Yukon, Alaska, writing weeks afterward of the fire which destroyed ry1HE open-air meetings conducted in the mission house and left fourteen 1. Philadelphia during the summer persons homeless, says: and fall by the Jewish Evangelization But for a most generous and gratify- Society have been espeeially suecess- ing response by the people here and at ful, in the opinion of the Director. Circle and Beaver we should have been in Another test is the enmity they have a bad way. Johnny Fredson's father, old aroused. A Jewish newspaper in the Fred, whb tears in his eyes came early in city urges the opening of more re- the morning after the fire with a pair of moccasins for me and $5 for Mrs. Burke.
ligious schools and centers to offset He had been saving it for a long while, and nothing would go at all but that we "the unfair and offensive propaganda take it. Then Captain McCann and the of the missionaries." This item in steward, Mr. McIlvane, on the last boat The Bulletin, the quarterly of the So- out, left generously of their food supplies ciety reveals the fact that the work and blankets. You should have seen the Indians bringing moccasins to church the of the witnesses for Christ among the following Sunday. A clothes basket full Jews of that city is telling to some was given. Pillows they made from the extent on the Jews. That the methods feathers of Alaska geese, the pillows in- are "unfair" is merely the false itialed in red tbread. Our natives gave Mrs. Burke a piece of brilliant purple velvet for judgment of Jews who hate the Gos- a dress. And I now have several caps and pel. This is the cry whenever Chris- toques. An Indian woman meeting Grafton tians attempt to instruct Jews in the (age,1 sevell) recently said, "1 am making Gospel of Christ. " The offense of the you a parka." To which the little fellow jauntily replied, "All right. I have four cross," has not ceased. already, but you make it and I'll sell it for grub J "
AlIlong the Papago Indians SOUTHERN ARIZONA forms the LATIN AMERICA tribal headquarters of these In- The Mexican Separatists T dians, among whom the Presbyterian HE so-called "llexican Catholic Apostolic Church," which, aban- Board of National Missions is finding a fruitful field. In the seventeenth doning the authority of Rome and the century Spanish missionaries visited celibacy of the clergy, calls for re- and baptized them, and then departed, ligious services in Spanish, was re- leaving their crosses, beads and amu- ferred to in the June REVIEW. Dis- lets, with a pagan people. In 1903, turbances in various centers have been the Presbyterian Papago Mission was reported. The Roman Catholies at opened in an Indian camp adjacent to once organized a "National I,eague Tucson. Many of those Indians have for the Defense of Religion." The more permanent residence on the schismatics took eharge of their first desert south and west of that city. church by force in the city of Mexico, There are some fifty villages on the and there was blood shed in the aet of desert. The missionary has to travel doing it. The Roman Catholics say hundreds of miles in his ministry to they are ready to defend everyone of these people. Five ehurehes have their ehurch buildings by foree, and been established, one in the village of by the shedding of blood if it is neees- Tueson, and four on the desert. " The sary. The Government took the bootlegger, the gambler, the leader of church building away from both sides vice," says The Presbyterian, "is and is going to convert it into il pushing his wares in the desert mar- museum of fine arts, but it gave two
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
churches to the schismatics which it in jail, with nothing to eat. "Give up had taken from the Roman Catholics the Gospel or starve," was the ultisome years ago. The latest report is matum offered by the priest and other that the Romanists have adopted a persecutors. ' ,We will starve then," new attitude, and are planning an replied the Indians. The superinteneducational campaign among their dent of the mission, on hearing of the people in which the Catholic Bible arrest of these converts, followed on and Catechism are to have wide and after them, taking, food with him; free distribution. Nothing, according and this food which he brought them to Rev. P. R. Zavaleta, a Presbyterian was the first that they had eaten in minister, will delight Perez, the leader five days. By going from one official of the schismatics more, for he well to another, he succeeded in securing knows that the Roman Catholic policy their release. These Indians erected will not bear a measurement by Bibli- themselves an adobe church building, cal standards, and that the Mexican capable of seating 1,000 persons. populace enlightened by the Word, will pronounce against it. Political Enndty in Brazil Women in Cuban Church W R. SCHISLER, educational mis- • sionary of the M. 1<J. Church, THE Protestant Episcopal Convoca- South, in Uruguayana, Brazil, after tion of the District of Cuba, meet- writing of the practical difficulties ing in Havana in June, voted with which the recent revolutionary dispractically no opposition, to admit turbances in Brazil placed in the way women as delegates to the meetings of of the school work, continues: "The Convocation, and to permit them to enmity in these political disputes enbecome members of parish vestries ters everything. Even Church affiliaand mission committees. This step tions take a secondary place. Political has been proposed several times be- opponents are usually bitter personal fore, but has always been defeated, enemies. A family will not have a and is rather significant in view of doctor unless he is 'of the same politithe Latin-American background. As cal party. Even in commerce the lines yet woman suffrage has gained no are very tightly drawn. Almost all foothold whatever in Cuba. relations are determined by political beliefs. Naturally during these revo- Indian Converts Loyal lutions all this is much worse. The great loss in lives in this strife results REV. W. F. JORDAN writes of the not so much from actual combat on way in which the Indian peons the battlefield as from individual disin Bolivia have received the Scrip- putes among neighbors. We missiontures and built a church under the aries and most of the native pastors auspices of the Canadian Baptist Mis- keep ourselves entirely out of all these sion. They have also been persecuted disputes. In this way we are prepared for their faith. A group of men- to help either side whenever we can. landowners and others-entered a But how difficult it is to reach people town and severely beat the men who with the Christian message when their had invited the mission to Collana. hearts are full of hatred for their They then took four of the Indian neighbors. Practically all the men go converts to the town of Calamarca, armed with long knives or revolvers where they put them in jail, with and many times both. They seem alnothing to eat. The following day ways to be in fear of their enemies. the helpless Indians were started on 0, how this country needs the Christ! foot, in charge of some soldiers, to ~he It is only as they learn of Him in town of Sicasica, seventy-five mIles spirit and in truth that they will be away. They were given no food en led out of these conditions." route, and on arrival they were put
EUROPE tendom is to be the work of the near Britioh Boxer Indemnity future. The recent conference at WHEN the bill was before Parlia- Malines is of particular interest. The ment providing for the remission representatives of the English Estabto China of the balance of the British Boxer indemnity, amounting to over lished Church and of the Oatholic £11,000,000, to be spread over twenty- Church decided not to issue any statethree years, all the leading British ment until the official joint declaramissionary societies which have work tion shall be issued. Meanwhile, howin China passed resolutions stating ever, there is an optimistic ring to the remarks made by Cardinal Mercier."
their definite intention not to make THE application for any share of the re- Protestants in France mitted portion of the fund, which may American MeAll Association, be applied to educational purposes. appealing for further support of They also state that even if grants are its work, says: "The question of the offered them they will not accept them ability of the French Protestant except with the full approval of the Church to support the Mission Popu- Chinese. laire is frequently raised. There are Dr. Henry T. Hodgkin, one of the still too few people who realize the secretaries of the National Christian proportion of France's population or Council of China, has stated with 39,000,000 even nominally connected great clearness the principles which with any church. A recent authority should be borne in mind in the dis- gives the following figures: lWman posal of these large funds. He urges Catholics in good standing, 7,000,000; that absolutely everything depends Protestants, 500,000; unchurched, upon the way in which the money is 31,000,000. 'We are,' writes M. Con- used, and that not only will no good nier, 'a very small minority almost be done but positive harm will be done swamped by the great mass of the if any ground is given to the Chinese people, scattered all over the country, for thinking that the money is to be which makes both organization and used to further British interests in the gathering of statistics very diffi- China. cult. In France there are approxi- . mately 1,200 churches or mission cen- Church of England and Rome ters belonging to different church THAT the promoters of the meeting unions, sects and! home mission so- "to reaffirm the principles of cieties, where 900 pastors are at work Protestantism, " which was held in (nearly 100 churches are without pas- London March 31st and described in tors). In the Alsace-Lorraine, 190 the June RiE;,VIEW, had good reasons pastors have charge of 256 churches.' There is no question of the consecrafor their action is evident from the tion and generosity of the noble little following quotation from The Com- band of Protestant churches, which monweal, a Romanist paper in Amer- supports a missionary on the field for ica: "Recent books issued by the So- every twelve pastors at home and ciety for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (English) do homage to gives 16 1/8 per cent of all money the Virgin Mary in a way that would raised to missions, in contrast to the gratify Saint Bernard; and historical 8 1/3 per cent given to foreign mislearning, as it is carried on at Cam- sions in this country."
bridge and elsewhere, has so thoroughly altered views of the religioU'> Religions Future of Poland A revolution that the old-time animus POL,rSH author, K. W. Stezelec, writes in the Watchman-Examhas practically disappeared. These are all encouraging signs-even if iner of conditions in his native land: they do not, as yet, warrant the be- "Poland has many native radicals lief that a vast re-cementing of Chris- who are fighting for a division be-
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
tween the church and state, and more Russian Church Dilemma than one third of the population belongs to various non-Roman Catholic I N THE death of Patriarch Tikhon religions. When these forces unite in the already split and disunited politics against the Roman Catholic Russian Church is confronted with a national party a revision of the con- new and very serious crisis, in the stitution will occur, and most of the opinion of most Russian editors comarticles which deal with religion will menting on the new situation. Stanbe cancelled. The American friends ley High, also writing in The Chrisof Poland believe, according to the tian Register, says: evidence, that the Radicals will conquer, organize a strong government The "Living Church" leaders-Grasnitwhich will be able to give instructions sky, Vidnesky, and others-may be expected to the Roman Catholie Chureh as to to reassert themselves to gain control of the what publie morality, liberty of con- machinery of the Church. The Soviets, if science, and freedom of religion are. they believe such control would split the Everybody who knows Poland and its people will witness that the Polish Orthodox Church, win probably support farmer, just as the worker in the city, would cheerfully submit to the will of these leaders. But it is significant that the the Government against the will of the people of Russia-vast numbers of them- Roman Catholic Church in helping to have no less a loyalty to the (;nurch than assert the right of the civil authorities before the revolution. Persecution, ap· to maintain religious freedom. A parently, has served to make the religious fundamental law, whieh the church people even more religious. Their support eould not twist in favor of persecu- will not be forthcoming for a new set of tion, as the present religious para- leaders unless those leaders have at heart graphs of the constitution can be t.he real interests of the Church in Russia. twisted, is needed." And the Church, in Russia today, is keeping religion alive until that time when a less violent government will make it possible for the religious forces of the West to extend help to the Russian people.
AFRICA Africa's New Peril Greek Church Backs Y. H. C. A. SECRETARY LERRIGO of the American Baptist Foreign Mis- THE National Young Men's Chris- sion Society uses these words in an tian Association of Greece was or- article in Missions to describe present ganized early this summer when commercial conditions. He says: prominent citizens from Athens and "The world has discovered Africa and other cities met American Y. M. C. A. its riches. Foreign peoples of all naleaders at Kifissia and formulated the tionalities are entering in great numbasis of the movement. A former bers to exploit the new continent. mayor of Saloniki, leading merchants, The British Colonial Under-Secretary, bankers, ship operators, ex-royalists Major Ormsby-Gore, states that two and Venezelist ministers were among years ago Uganda produced ninety the delegates. The Metropolitan of bales of cotton, last year 137, and this Athens, titular head of the Greek Na- year the production will be 200,000. tional Church, who was present with Radium-bearing ore has been found his vicar, referred to the Y. M. C. A. by Belgium, the diamond and copper as an organization which, "through mines are being rapidly developed, its regular program, disseminates a while in certain colonies of West practical Christianity without empha- Africa exports are increasing at the sis on dogma or creed." He said that rate of sixty per cent a year. The the official church welcomes the Asso- work of our missionaries has been ciation and considers it a valuable made doubly, nay trebly, difficult by ally, because its spirit is the spirit of these new contracts with the outside Christ and it offers a practical means world. But the importance of tlteir of saving the nation's youth. work is emphasized by the urgency of the situation which is being created.
A race is taking place between the to a report made by Mrs. R. B. Kipp, godless forces of commercialism and missionary of the Methodist Episcopal industrialism now exploiting the land Church in that district, to the Board with such startling rapidity, and the of Foreign Missions. These African spiritual efforts of the representatives Christians have raised money to send of the churches of Christ who are try- one of their own pastors to a distant ing to capture the hearts, lives, vil- outpost in Angola. "People are comlages, social systems and tribal organ- ing to us from long distances asking ization of these primitive peoples for for teachers and pastors," says Mrs. God ere they go down into the pit of Kipp. "This last week two men destruction before tlJe invading ava- came forty miles with the news that rice-led hosts. " 130 of their fellows had given up their idols and want someone there to "Food for Souls" teach th"m. They say that if the present location of their village does r'f'HE book depots conducted by the not suit the missionaries, they will .l Egypt General Mission bear thes() indicate another to which they will move. At another point where there words on their signboards, and many is a cluster of small native villages questions have been asked as to the which have hitherto been considereci meaning of the phrase. The depot in heathen, twenty-one men have prom- Alexandria is located in the heart of ised to begin building at once a house an exclusively Moslem quarter. Dur- for clJapel and school, if we will send ing the last· few months, from this a teacher. The women and children center every shopping street in Alex- want to help also. At Quessua, after andria has been in process of being several days of prayer and preaching visited, and many hundreds of books, and instruction, one hundred persons mostly Genesis and gospels, have been were added to the roll of preparatory sold to Moslems. Douglas Porter, who membership in the Methodist Episcois in charge, writes of the daily vis- pal Church and twenty-seven were reitors to the depot, and continues: ceived into full membership re- "On Wednesday evenings we have a cently. " lecture, attended by numbers varying from fifteeJ;l to thirty, sometimes using Rift' Christian Converts the magic lantern, which is very popular. Occasionally the lecture is in THE military difficulties which both English interpreted, when we have France and Spain have recently had the very welcome help of Chris- been having in the Riff region of tian friends in Alexandria who have Morocco give special interest to the become interested in the students. report by Rev. Edwin F. Frease, mis- After the lecture, questions are asked sionary of the Methodist Episcopal which sometimes would puzzle a theo- Church in Algiers, of the annual meetlogical professor. Admission is by ing of the North Africa Conference ticket. This is really only a notice of held at Fort National, one hundred meeting, but it helps to make an im- miles east of Algiers City. Among the pression. Moreover, every boy is cases of conversion reported at the there not attending a public meeting, conference he mentions a stalwart, but by invitation. These students tall, Kabyle mountaineer, his wife and are really the key to Egypt's political only child, and two upstanding young problem. " men, who are very different now from their Riff kinsmen in Morocco still in African Home Mi••ions mediawal Moslem savagery. "'Of the same sturdy stock, but this time in AHOME MISSIONARY SOCIE- Algiers, were baptized five of the TY, to be known as the "Society older girls of the Kabyle Girls Home, to Aid in Evangelization," has been nine of the older boys from the AIorganized by the African Christians in Quessua, Angola, Africa, according
NEWS FROM MANY LtANDS
giers Boys' Home. All were baptized "Within the last few veal'S Turkish at their own request, after elear evi- students who received their education dence of conversion and careful teach- at Robert College have become ining. Could you but see the contrast fluential, " she said. "Before the between these girls and boys and their Young Turk Revolution of 1908 Abless fortunate brothers and sisters in dnl Hamid refused to allow Turks to the mountain villages!" study at the American colleges, but since then we have had Turkish stu- O;{ A.hanti Missionary Meeting dents and the oldest of them are now March 11th a gathcring was in a position to advance our educa- IJeld in Kumasi, the famous West tional ideals in Turkey. There is now African city, which may well mark an a Turkish university ,'vhich is training epoch in the history of Christian both men and women, while Robert .Missions there. It was but an old- College and the Constantinople Colfashioned missionary meeting, famil- lege for Women have a far larger iar to American Christians, but a proportion of Tnrks in their student nove':ty to the audience which filled bodies than ever before. " the spacious new church for this publice meeting on a week-day at which Aid for Assyrian Church the ideals of missionary enterprise were set forth by their own leaders. TWO representatives of the ProteR- With one exception all the speakerR tant Episcopal Church have gone were natives including NanaPrempeh, to Mosul, about two hundred miles ex-King of Ashanti, recently returned north of Baghdad, to render aid to from exile. Very modestly, yct with the Assyrian (Nestorian) Church, at real dignity, did he preside over the the earnest request of the authorities enthusiastic assembly, taking a keen of that Church. They are the Rev. interest in all that was said and done. John B. Panfil, who goes to direct edu- A Canadian missionary writes: cational work among Assyrian clergy, and }lr. Enoch R. Applegate, who is The more one comes into contact with to develop and supervise secular eduthe Ashanti people the more one is im· cation, and in other ways assist the pressed with the potentialities latent in them people and strenghten and restore the as a race. In spite of all that has been work of this very ancient Church. achieved they are not yet fnlly aronsed. During the World War the Assyrians There are signs of a great spiritnal awaken· took part with the allies, against the ing near at hand, at which those who live Turks. Since then they have been to see it will have reason to marvel. driven out of their mountain homes by boundary disputes between Turks, THE NEAR EAST French, and English. Since 1913 they have decreased from 200,000 to 50,000. Turks in ADlerican Schools "Unsettled conditions and oppres- sion," says The Living Ch1tr~h, "have MRS. GEORGE HUNTINGTON, interfered with education, and have oj' wife of the Vice President of course interrupted the preparation of Robert College and daughter of Cleve- men for Holy Orders. The leaders land Dodge, who returned from Con- of the people recognize the need. The stantinople in July, was quoted in the office of Patriarch, which is heredi- New York Times as saying that the tary, is now held by a lad of seventeen, educational situation in "Turkey is who is being educated in Canternow better than it ever has been as a bury." result of the willingness of the Mustapha Kemal Government to cooperate Arabia After Twenty Years with the American colleges. For the first time influential Turks are now MRS. E. E. OLOOTrr, treasurer of sending their sons and daughters to the American Christian Litera- American institutions and are en- ture Society for Moslems, has recently deavoring to develop Turkish schools and colleges on American models.
visited the missions in Arabia of the E. Dewey, Methodist Episcopal mis- Reformed Church in America. She sionaries, were assigned to fight the compares conditions now with what plague in a group of villages. For she found in a similar trip twenty two weeks the representatives of these years ago: three religions struggled together, do- ing all that they could for those who It was a joy to shake hands with a were ill and applying modern methods few converts and some inquirers and to of warding off the disease among those realize that there haye been some "sweet who had not been attacked. first-fruits" even in Arabia, where an open confession of Christ leads to certain persecu· , ,A hundred times since then, as we tion and sometimes even to death. . ….. have traveled through the district," says Mr. Dewey in reporting the in- Tvcnty years ago no missionaries were cident to the Board of Foreign Mis· allowed to locate in Kuweit, and thc col· sions, "we have been met by a judgporteur had been put to sea in an open boat ment of the work we have done. shortly before we were in Arabia. What Hindu and Moslem alike say to us a contrast now in the two good hospitals, 'That was the sort of work Jesus two excellent missionary homes and three taught men to do.' " This furnishes rented buildings, as well as in great friendli· further proof of what workers in ness of the sheikhs of recent vears. India say so often; namely, that Dr. and Mrs. Grenfell had be~n in Baghdad thoughtful Indians are making the just before us and Dr. Grenfell has quoted principles of Jesus the test of con- Bishop Gwynne as saying that "the stone duct. wall of Mohammedanism is being under· mined by loving deeds and Christ'. Spirit in "The Children's City" illuminative lives." ONE of the great problems of India INDIA lies in the people formerly called Eurasians, but now known as Anglo- Madl'a.. Governor on Missions Indians. A great contribution to the solution of this problem has been made H IS EXCELLENCY THE GOV- by Dr. Grahame, who is described as ERNOR OF MADRAS in a rc- "one of the most brilliant missioncent address at Coonoor, said: aries of the Free Church of Scot- land. " In 1889 he and his wife went I sometimes think that we who stand to Kalimpong in the eastern lIimaoutside are not sufficiently interested in mis· layas, and a strong Christian comsion work and do not pay sufficient gratitude munity has been built up there among to the workers. If we hear of any sudden the people of the mountains. He deed of heroism or if we hear of the story carried in his heart, however, the of saving a life in which courage is dis· memory of the waifs of mixed parentplayed, if we hear any story of a romantic age whom he had seen on the strcet" adventure of exploration under conditions of of Calcutta, and in 1900, with the great danger and difficulty, we are at once help of the Governor of Bengal, he thrilled and rightly thrilled, but do we opened at Kalimpong a home for six always recognize that side by side with us of them. Today the "St. Andrew's in our daily life are living a body of men Colonial I-ffimes, " generally known as and women who are daily leading lives of "the Children's City, " have a populaheroism, who are living far away from their tion of 625 boys and girls, with a homes—-and in homes not always such as community of seventy-house moththey would have chosen in the land of their ers, teachers, and others-who minisadoption-far away from their friends in ter to them. The Queen Mary School isolated posts and having none of the is one of the largest and most efficient amenities of lifet They are often called secondary schools in BengaL The upon to meet sudden epidemics, and all this twenty cottages are scattered up and they are doing quietly and unostentatiously, down the mountain-side, each a real year after year, giving the very best of their lives. We do not always pay to them the gratitude which we ought, and which on behalf of those outside the mission fiold I am so anxious to offer this evening.
Three Religions Fight Oholera DURING a recent outbreak of . cholera on the Birbhum district of Bengal, India, a Mohammedan, a Hindu and the Rev. and Mrs. Halsey
1925J NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
home under the care of a good mother. precaution was taken to screen the The children are taught the dignity royal traveler from public view. The of labor. The old boys and girl~ aeroplane was placed in the aeroscattered over the world, look back on drome so that the door was on the far Kalimpong with loving thoughts. side from the onlookers, and no men were allowed in the vicinity. The Indianizing Church Council" Maharani arrived in a closed motor- car with blinds drawn tightly, the car AT a recent meeting of the Bombay drew up close to the machine, and Council of the new United Church Her Highness, very heavily veiled, of India (North) the most important stepped out. The pilot stood with his discussion was on the relation of for- back turned so that he could not see eign missionaries to the Church Coun- his distinguished passenger j he had cils at present being formed. The de- previously instructed the Maharani's cision reached was as follows: "(1) English lady companion how to get Ordained foreign missionaries shall be into the aeroplane, and when he heard admitted to the roll of ministers only the cabin door close and was told that under Article XII (g) with regard to all was right, he climbed into his own the admission of ministers from other place and made the ascent. Thus communions. When so admitted they maintaining strict purdah, the Mahashall be full members of the Council, rani of Bhartpur and her attendants and be under its discipline, and shall made a flight over the old imperial cease to be members of any other city of Delhi. On landing, similar similar Church Court. (2) Whereas precautions were observed." under the above section it will be necessary for ordained foreign mis- The Late C. R. Das sionaries to sever their connection with their own Church and whereas AMEMORIAL service for the late it is realized that, on account of their C. R. Das of India was held in peculiar relation to their mission com- International House, New York City, mittees, there will be difficulty in the in July. The Dnyanodaya of Bombay case of some in severing their connec- gives this estimate of him: "Probtion with their own Church, the Coun- ably no man in recent Indian history cil may annually elect as correspond- has stirred so much animosity as did ing members, with the right of vote, the late Mr. C. R. Das whose sudden not more than three ordained foreign death took place at Darjeeling last missionaries, provided no rcpresenta- week. Criticized mercilessly by those tion is secured under the above sec- of his countrymen who swore by Nontion. " There was some discussion of cooperation, because he sought to a compromise measure which placed make use of the Councils in ac- Indian and foreign ordained minis- cordance with his own lights and his ters on exactly the same level, but only own conscience, Mr. Das was fired into three of the fifteen present voted for with equal severity by the Europeans it. and their sympathizers who were so often infuriated because he differed at Purdah in an Aeroplane least as much from them-probably a great deal more. One of his greatest THE presence of an English aero- achievements has been that he helped anut in India led the Maharaja of to bring home to Mr. Gandhi as prob- Bhartpur recently to take a short ex- ably no one else did, the utter imcursion in the air. His wife, the practicability of much of his policy Maharani, then wished to do the same. and compelled the iron will of the The Foreign Field says: "The diffi- :lHahatma to agree to the Swarajist culty was that Her Highness keeps course of action in recent months strict purdah and the trip had there- …… All impartial witnesses of the fore to be so arranged that her 'se- battle he has fought will agree that clusion' should not be violated. Every
there was a vein of noble idealism in idge on July 20, 1925 directed Secre. many of his public utterances, and tary Mellon to remit the balance of that his handing over all his property the Boxer indemnity fund, amounting for the beneiit of his countrymen, an to $6,137,552, to be used in the pro· act he performed several months ago, motion of scientific education in was one of the mo~t characteril'ltic China. The money will be turned things of his whole career." over to the trustees of the China Foundation for the Promotion of CHINA Education and Culture composed of nine Chinese and five Americans China Inland Mission Jubilee created by mandate of the President of China on Sept. 17, 1924, for the THE sixtieth anniversary of the custody and control of the remitted founding of the China Inland Mis· funds. The funds are to be used for sian has been wideIv celebrated. On the" development of scientific knowl. edge and the application of such June 25, 1865, Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, kno'ledge to the conditions in China through the promotion of technical following a call of God to reach in· training of scientific research, experi. land China with the Gospel, wrote in mentation and demonstration, and the margin of his Bible: "Prayed for training in science teaching, and to twenty·four willing, skillful laborers the advancement of cultural enter· at Brighton. " This number was prises of a permanent character, such asked for in order to supply two for as libraries and the like." each of eleven provinces still without a missionary, and two for Mongolia. Chinese Bible Pictures God's answer finds partial expres· REV. E. G. TEWKSBURY, secre· sion in the following record of that tary for China of the World's mission to the end of 1924 :-More Sunday School Association, writes: than 2,000 missionaries sent out in 60 "All Sunday·school work must in· years, of whom 1,134 are still on creasingly become indigenous, if it is active service in 15 provinces, besides to root and grow in the Orient. Not Chinese Turkestan and the borders of only in the Lesson Note preparation Mongolia and Tibet; $15,000,000 re· but also in pictures is the China Sun· ceived and used in the work; present day School Union seeking to make its stations 258; out·stations 1,764; material more indigenous. A Chinese chapels, 1,518; hospitals 13; dis· Christian artist has been employed on pensaries 91; schools 545; paid full time especially for this Bible il· Chinese workers 2,211; voluntary lustrative work. It will be interest· Chinese workers 2,150; churches ing to watch his work, as he attempts 1,165; communicant members 64,350 ; to make the Bible live for his coun· baptized in 1924, 5,779; baptizer! trymen. There is but little hope that since commencement of work 104,820. the majority of the present genera· tion of adult illiterates can ever learn Balance of Boxer Indemnity to read fluently with the old Chinese characters, nor, for that matter, with ONE of China's chief reasons for the Roman or any other phonetic considering America her friend alphabet. They must depend for their has been the well·known decision of knowledge of the Bible on the spokeu Congress in 1908 to reduce the share word or their memory, unless in some of the United States in the Boxer In· way we can tell them the Bible stories demnity by about $10,000,000, and to without words. The Sundav School request the Chinese Government to Union is making an attempt to do use the money for educational pur· this, at least with some of the Bible poses. In consequence, Tsing H ua stories, and in this attempt we are College, from which so many Chinese students have come to the Uniterl States, was established. Acting on a second Congressional joint resolution, passed May 21, 1924, President Cool·
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
following out a Chinese proverb which study tendencies and developments in says' A thousand words are not equal the Christian program throughout the to one look.' " world. The President, Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively Shanghai Opiu:m Raid a Y. M. C. A. man, a China Inland missionary and a Presbvterian mis- THE 1925 report of the China In- sionary, constitute the ex"ecutive com- land Mission contains the follow- mittee with the addition of one repreing significant statement: " Reports sentative from. each of the other misfrom many provinces tell of vast areas sions or churches. A recent subject given over again to the cultivation of for discussion was, "What can we the poppy, and evidence is constantly foreign Christians in Chefoo do to forthcoming to prove the existence of better conditions during the coming widespread organizations for the summer 1" The main issue considered smuggling of the drug. In one house was the control, limitation, or elimiwhich was raided in Shanghai an nation of bars and brothels opened for astonishing series of secret passages the patronage of American sailors. were discovered with cupboards containing opium valued at $1,250,000. Chinese Bible Study Methods Documents revealed an immense organization for the import of opium DAVID R. PIPER, in an interestfrom abroad. In one of the contracts ing article in the New Century seized the following words occurred: S. S. Teacher's Monthly, quotes a mis- 'The navy, army and police will gen- sionary from Siam, who said: "China erally assist in the protection of the is the coming Christian nation of the goods. ' The names of firms at Con- world; the Chinese Christians put the stantinople, in Switzerland and in teachings of Christ into practice in all Japan, as well as Chinese, were men- their daily relationships more perfecttioned. A telegraphic code for deal- ly and more sincerely than any othel' ing in opium, heroin, morphia and Christian people the world over." cocaine was found, as well as con- rfhe explanation of this and similar tracts made out in dollars, yen, sterl- statements Mr. Piper finds in the ing and Turkish currency amounting methods which have been followed for to millions of dollars. Such cases years by Chinese Sunday-school throw a glaring light on the scandal- classes, and which are described in an ous proceedings connected with this article in The China Sunday School baneful traffic. Even the present J mtrnal: The lesson period opens hostilities in China are being called it w"ith presentation of a problem based 'drug war,' since the various war on the lesson truth, but taken from lords, with the honorable exception real life, which the class immediately of Marshal Feng, are said to be re- begins to discuss. If the claRs is large sponsible for nine tenths of the com- it is divided into groups of five or six, pulsory cultivation of the drug in and since there is plenty of time, with that country. " no half-hour limit as in American Sunday-schools, the groups reassemble A Christian Fellowship Group and continue the discussion by means of group spokesmen giving to the AN organization bearing this name, whole class the best points brought composed of nearly one hundred out in the group discussion. This, the missionaries and foreign Christian leaders of the China Sunday School business people, has been formed in Union believe, accounts for the high Chefoo, China. Its purpose is to un- quality and thoroughgoing sincerity derstand the points of view of the displayed in the lives of Chinese various elements that compose it, to Christians. They study Bible truth discuss common problems, and to always in its actual relation to their real life problems.
Demands on Mis.ion Schools countries were present, and it was re- ported that there are one hundred SPEAKING especially of conditions Presbyterian denominations in the in the Island of Hainan, the world-twenty-nine on the continent Board of Foreign Missions of the of Europe, eleven in Great Britain Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. and Ireland, fourteen in Asia, sixteen says in its latest report: "China's in Africa, thirteen in North America. only hope is in the kind of men that The rest are in South America, the the Christian schools are producing. West Indies and Australasia. An in- Mere education will not produce the teresting development was the recomresults; in Hainan some of the worst mendation of the business committee grafters are graduates of government that the eastern and western sections schools; two of the leaders of bandit of the executive commission appoint armies in Hainan are graduates of committees to confer together and regovernment middle (high) schools. port their findings to the next con- A school without Christianity fails as ference on the subject of an Alliance a rule to prepare public-spirited, creed. There was by no means honest and efficient leaders. The unanimity in the Alliance favoring Chinese, people are now realizing this the forming of a creed, or a declarafact. Officials and gentry, prominent tory statement of faith. This was business and professional people, are favored largely by men from Amersending their children to the mission ica. schools as never before. The crowd of students which yearly gathers for Our Unfinished Task the entrance examinations in the middle schools of Kiungchow City il- AFRICA contains 42,000,000 Molustrates the Chinese determination hammedans. to get an education which will fit them for the modern world and pre- Of the 3,600,000 people of Madagaspare them to be leaders in the future car, 3,000,000 are heathen. Republic. The student class is changing :faster and absorbing more new Siam, "Kingdom of the Free," has ideas than any other class in China. 87,000 Buddhist priests and 13,000 Their school books and equipment are Buddhist temples. beginning to compare favorably with those found abroad. The demand Multitudes among the 340,000 Inupon the mission schools has been far dians of the United States still believe in excess of the accommodations and in the old pagan faiths of their anit has been very difficult to meet the cestors. arguments put forward by some of the parents, who have illBisted on the Of the people of India, 216,000,000 schools taking their boys. The prob- are Hindus, 69,000,000 are Mohammelem has been to sift out not only good dans, 11,000,000 are Buddhists, 10,- students, and worthy ones, but to try 000,000 are animists, and less than to admit those to whom the mission 5,000,000 are Christians. could look forward for the leadership in the churches in Hainan." In our Philippine Islands there are 300,000 heathen animists, 500,000 GENERAL Mohammedans, 1,500,000 independent Catholics and 8,000,000 Roman Catho- Pan.Presbyterian Oonference lics. The population as a whole totals about 11,000,000. AT the meeting of the Alliance of Reformed Churches Throughout China still has more than 300,000,- the World Holding the Presbyterian 000 adherents of heathen religions. System held in Cardiff, Wales, in J'une, 323 delegates from twenty-three More than 118,000 Shintoist temples and shrines are to be found in Japan. Buddhist temples total more than 70,000. These two religions number at least 72,000,000 of the 77,000,000 people.-The Continent.
MISSJ[ONARY
'Ihe Syrians in America. Philip K. Hitti. very few Protestants identify them- 12mo., 139 pages, 1 map, 7 illustrations. selves with any church. The Syrians $1.00. New York. 1924. in America are widely scattered; they were members of an Evangelical This volume of the Racial Studies church in Syria which was the only in the New American Series should one of its kind, and they are confused find a cordial welcome among all in- by the multiplicity of denomination8 terested in Christian work among the and do not know where they belong. immigrant peoples in the United There has been little systematic effort States, both because, it releases an- on the part of the Protestant churches other of the valuable manuscripts of America to win even those who originally prepared for the Inter- have come as Protestants. Thus the church World Movement, and because work of foreign missionaries is set at of the real contribution which the naught by the indifference of Ameribook makes to our knowledge con- can Christians to their immigrant cerning the subject. neighbors. Although the Syrians are great readers, the only religious liter- Although Syria was the birthplace ature available for Syrians in their of both Judaism and Christianity, and own tongue is that published by .the "has been of greater significance to Russellites. Dr. Hitti points out that mankind, spiritually and materially, "kindliness, free from condescension, than any other single country in the and readiness on the part of ~;merican world," most Americans know little congregations to extend the hand of about modern Syria or of the people fellowship" are proper agencies of who live there, and still less concern- missionary work among them. "After ing the thousands who have left that all is said and done, " he remarks, "it land to take up their abode in Amer- is not the pastor, the religious worker, ica. Dr. Hitti was born in Mt. or the official representative of the ~banon, was partly educated in church, but the ordinary man and Beirut, and is now serving his people woman with whom the immigrant there, but he spent much time in deals that is going to determine his America where he earned unusual attitude toward Christian America." scholastic recognition. His description of the life of his countrymen, K. D. M. both in Syria and in the United States, is vivid, interesting and true. Dia~nosing the Rural Church. C. Luther Those interested in foreign missionary work in Syria will read with Fry. 234 pp. $1.50. New York. 1924.
profit Dr. Hitti's account of the effect This painstakingly accurate study of Protestant missionary effort on the is of especial value to denominational religious situation in Syria as well as executives, field secretaries, and pas- on the lives of those who have emi- tors of country churches. As Profes- grated to America. sor Franklin H. Giddings says in the While most of the 200,000 Syrians foreword it is: "An outstanding ex- living in this country retain their ample of the best scientific workman- allegiance to their old world faiths, ship. These findings are significant- whether to the Greek Orthodox, l1ar- and in certain instances perhaps un- .
onite, or Greek Catholic Churches, or expected, and a bit startling. They to the non-Christian Mohammedan, add richly to our knowledge of this Druze or Nusayriyyah faiths, while field."
733
The main divisions of the subject mighty have rejected it. Many outare" Measuring the Church" j "Comparing Individual Churches"; and castes in India have become educated "Comparing Church Life Past and Present." In estimating the worth of and have risen to distinction. The the church in the rural field, which includes the open country and the wonderful story of the "untouchsmall town, the author rejects the money measure, and the number of ables," their down-trodden life and members, as the best criterion, advocating instead the test of attendance the effect orfeatdhiengG. ospWelitahmouotngunthdeemr~ as the most accurate gauge of the is worth effectiveness of the church. standing these submerged millions at J. F. R. the base of the Indian pyramid, one The Expectation of Siam. Arthur 3. Brown. 12mo. 204 pp. Illus. Paper, 50 cents; cannot understand the present or the Cloth, 75 cents. New York. 1925. future of India. Siam is unique as a mission field in that it is exclusively the field of the The Gospel Romance in the Huts of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. Punjab. Howard E. Anderson. Dlus. The American Bible Society does col- 12mo. 133 pp. $1.25. New York. 1925. portage w'ork j otherwise the Presbyterians have the field, north and south, These pen and ink sketches show to themselves; and they have done a the outlines, the lights and shadows, remarkable work, as Dr. Brown clear- of missionary life among North India ly shows. peasants. The chapters are readable pictures of what the missionary saw The book is a readable and reliable in five and one-half years-including history of Siam, its people, progress, a wedding and a funeral, but chiefly races, religions and missionary work. everyday scenes in the villages and The people are simple and childlike jungles. Buddhists and Animists. The royal family has been friendly to Christian Hero Tales from Mission Lands. W. P. missions and has helped financially Nairne and Arthur P. Shepherd. 8vo. the hospital and educational work. A 238 pp. $1.75 net. New York. 1925. remarkable line of American missionaries-such as Abeel, House, Taylor, We realize more fully the great MacGilliway, Dodd, Dunlap, Briggs number of true heroes in the mission and McLean- have done pioneer fields as we read these brief biographwork and have borne the burden and ical sketches written for. adolescent heat of the day. The story of their boys. The twenty-two heroes whose discoveries, their hardships and their stories of brave adventure and sacritriumphs are here briefly told to in- fice are told here are Columba of spire the reader. In this little volume, Iona, Eliot and Bompas among the many will find fascinating excursions American Indians; Morrison, Moule, into a little-known mission field. Taylor, Stott, Hill, Peill and Jackson of China; Schwartz, Edwardes and India's Outcastes. Rev. W. S. Hunt. 12mo. Pennell of India; Mrs. Judson of Paper. 112 pp. Is, 6d. London. 1925. Burma; Hannington and Stewart of Africa; Armstrong and Booker Wash- The great Christward mass move- ington among the American Negroes ments in India have been and are and the native Christian converts among the outcastes of the villages. Lomai of the New Hebrides, Han-Ue- The poor and ignorant, the despised Lan of China and Sundar Singh of and weak have been ready, as in for- India. mer days, to accept the Good News where the rich and learned and These area very few selected al- most at random f,rom the possible missionary Hall of Fame.. The sto- ries are well told, with historic intro- ductions and questions, but they serve better to give adult teachers the main facts of the heroes' lives than as inspiring thrillers for adolescent boys. There is not enough of the detailed dramatic incident to captivate story revolves about the taking of the attention of the average energetic moving pictures. Highways and youth of today. Ford cars, railways, the camera- these devices of civilization and the Little Children of Mission Lands. Mary changes implicit in them seem to have Entwl<tle. Illus. 12mo. 199 pp. $1.75 interested the young people to whom net. New York. 1925. I loaned the book-these, and the mis- sionary adventure. They expressed 'I'he life of babies in China, Africa, surprise at the roads and the auto- Persia, South Sea Islands, North mobiles in Africa, and one and an- America, Arabia, India, Japan, Green- other said that the book certainly did land, Syria, Jamaica and elsewhere is make a fellow think about being a described for children of primary age. missionary. This comment, I feel 'fhese interesting facts about homes, sure, would please the author more clothes, games, food and habits will than any other of the favorable comgive mothers and teachers excellent ments. I suppose this is the hidden material with which to help the chil- ivory of her own quest. J. K. M. dren of America and England become friends of the children of other lands.
Today'. Supreme Challenge to America. Yourself and Your Body. By Wilfred T. Rev. J. F. Love. 12mo. 101 pp. $1.25. Grenfell. Illustrated with drawings by New York. 1925. the Author. 12mo. 324 pp. $2.50. New York. The secretary of the Southern Baptist Board of Foreign Missions makes As a Christian thinker and worker, an earnest appeal for a g,reat forward a physieian and a father of boys, Dr. missionary movement. America has Grenfell tells, in a fascinating way, unusual resources, position and abil- the story of the organism and the ity for leadership. Striking facts are functions of the human body. His presented in an impressive way that purpose is to impress on youthful and will prove very helpful to pastors in ignorant minds the wonderful and inpresenting the challenge to their con- tricate body that the ego inhabits· gregations. he unfolds the laws that must be ob: served to keep it in health and ready The Quest of the Hidden Ivory. By for the highest service. His story is Josephine Hope Westervelt. 12mo. 226 simple, though many of the terms used pp. $1.75. New York. 1924. are so teehnical as to need explana- tion to young people; many of his 'I'his story about Africa East is a 190 pencil drawings are unique and juvenile and a good one. 'fhe ad- humorous, but they truly illumine the ventures, and these are many, proceed text. against a background of an authentic Africa. :Miss Westervelt has known First Dr. Grenfell des:)ribes the how to pack her fiction with fact, so marvelous living machinery of the that the reader is truly enriched in body and shows the difference between knowledge. the body and the spirit or ego that inhabits it. Next comes a m'ore de- The tale is about hidden treasure tailed account of the framework and and danger and heroic achievements. how it is built, the units that make up The heroes are boys of the high school the skeleton; the motors (or muscles) age; the properties are not skimped- are described, the wires of communicaeither of animals, savages, forests, tion (nerves), the life fluid (blood) saial'is, pigmies, or other desired and the pump, pipes and furnace African ingredients. There is a faith- that comprise the eirculating system ful dog. There is a witch doctor and and maintain health. The" building a black queen. But to these Miss department" relates to food and its Westervelt has wisely added the use; the "department of public fresh interest of these commercial ad- health and disposition of refuse " reventures which are so large a factor fers to the digestive system; the in the life of modern Africa. The "sentinels" are the ears, eyes, nose the China Inland Mission. On a and the senses of taste and touch. "faith" basis the income of the mis- The chapter on "overalls" relates to sion is now over $800,000 a year and the skin and its care. Then comes a the total number of Chinese baptized description of the talking machine and in these missions has grown to 105,- the reproductive system. The final 000. The number of converts has chapter deals with" Defenses and De- doubled in the last ten years.
fenders "-glands, diseases, vaccines, antitoxins and other preventions and Education in East Africa. Report prepareu remedies. by T. J esse Jones for the Second C()lnmis- sion of the Phelps·Stokes Fund. Maps There could scarcely be a more in- and IIlus. 8 VO. 4,16 pp. New York and teresting and practical book on the London. 1925.
subject for those who wish to teach The second Education Commission the youth to understand and to care sent to Africa under the auspices of for their bodies. Dr. Grenfell men- the Phelps-Stokes Fund in cooperation tions the theory of evolution as being with the International Education held by some people but he does not Board, traveled around the continent champion the theory or dwell on it. but spent most of its time studying Missionaries will find valuable sug- conditions in East Africa – Kenya gestions here for teaching physiology Colony, Uganda, Tanganyika, Nyasato those who are ignorant of it. The land, Zanzibar, Rhodesia, Basutoland, book will help many to make the most Portuguese East Africa and Abysof life here, though naturally it does sinia. The result is a very complete not refer to the importance of the life and careful report of present condihereafter. tions, the government school system, How to Live. By Irving Fisher anU. Eugene the mission schools, European in- Lyman Fisk. 8vo. 541 pp. $2.00 net. fluences and excellent summaries and New York. 1925. recommendations. It is full of in- formation and sage advice, worthy of The fact that in the past ten years the attention of every missionary, adthis book (now revised and enlarged) ministrator and government interhas passed through seventeen editions ested in Africa. is enough of a recommendation. It is a non-technical compendium of The Lost Treasure of Umdilla, Annie M. rules for healthful living and has Barnes. IIIus. 12 mo. 224 pp. $1.50.
been prepared in collaboration with New York. 1925.
the Board of the Life Extension In- Mollie and Billy Stewart, two stitute. The chapters deal with air, young people, who went to visit food, poisons, activity, individual and Africa with their father, had some public hygiene and other subjects. strange experiences and some exciting Among the new topics discnsRcd are adventures. The story is interestingly aviation, birth-control, bootleg-liquor, told for 'teen age boys and girls and and vitamines. Special chapters are carrje~ a stirring missionary message.
devoted to the effects of alcohol and without moralizing.
narcotics, tobacco, how to avoid coldH, exercises, infection of ton~ils and Nature's Mighty Wonders. Richard New- ton. Illn8. 12 mo. 184 pp. 18, 9d net. teeth, organic diseases and eugenicR. Glasgow. 1925. Missionaries and households will -find here very valuable and diversified in- This new edition of an old book of formation for themselves and thcir sermons for children by a famous neighbors. preaeher of the past is run of beau- tiful, helpful thoughts. The sun, Our Magnificat. Pamphlet. 6d. China In- moon, stars, light, air, clouds, trees land Mission. London. 1925. and flowers are all used to teach A jubilee peon of praise on the lessons applicable to all ages, times occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of and races.
The Missionary Review of the World — February 1918
ELEVATION Uun,," Sc. JI~,n
~s 'flJi",'n A'e~uf: J. (~. Ilartholomc New York Ci/)' 1917 AFRICA F.ach dor rcprcsenrs a Protcstanr mi!'oSion Mluion having in rcsi<lenct! at least one American, European. or whitt: Soulh Afrit:an Missionary.
NATURAl. VEG[TATION C==:l Vuodland. Grnssland. Under Cultivarion _ Fores!
J. G. Bartholom~w fu".",;c At/til nurto~ Sf. John IS Madiion A'fnuc AFRICA "c", York till In7 Each dot represents a Protestant mission station having in residence at leaS( one American, European. or white: South African Mis."ionary.
MISSIONARY
EVlEW'
VOL. February, 1918 NulOU Two XLI: SIGNS OF THE TIMES A STUDENT CONFERENCE IN WAR TIME C HRISTIAN leaders in America are convinced that war time- when men and women are making extreme sacrifices to secure future liberty and justice-is not the time to curtail our efforts to give the Gospel of Christ to the world. The time when all foundations are being shaken is not the time to give up strengthening the foundation on which aU truth and liberty rest. The time when men and women are sacrificing energy, money and life itself to establish peace on earth is not the time to call a halt on devoting all that we have to promote peace between men and God. Greater tasks than ever are before the present generation and these make earnest, united effort more than ever necessary.
It was for these reasons that the Student Volunteer Movement called a conference of selected student leaders to meet at Northfield, Massachusetts, January third to sixth, in place of the usual quadrennial convention. In response, some eight hundred students, professors and other leaders came together, from thirty-six States and from every province of Canada, to consider the present world situation and to face the responsibilities thrust upon the Christian forces in colleges and universities to help extend the Kingdom of Christ among all nations. Under Dr. John R. Mott's presiding genius, the program was particularly effective and the students were unusually responsive.
Dr. Mott's opening address called attention effectively to the fact we are living in a shaken world. "The pillars of civilization, on which we prided ourselves at the time of the Kansas City convention, are broken. Education has proved insufficient, for the most highly educated nation in the world has become the most dangerous. The world is struggling beneath an almost intolerable load of debt, physical suffering,
disease and moral failure. Europe and the West must now be moulded anew. While the world is responsive and teachable is the time to strike the hardest blow that Christian forces have ever struck to shape the world's life according to the unchallenged principles of Christ-changeless amid all the change that has been sweeping through the world."
One of the most picturesque and impressive sessions of the Con- ference W.lS on the closing evening, when sixteen students from foreign lands presented, in short, stirring talks in most creditable English, the needs of their countries for help from their Christian brethren in North America. These students come from Syria, Armenia, Liberia, the Philippine~, Japan, China, Argentina, Salvador, Brazil, Bolivia, Uru- guay, Porto Rico, Ceylon and India.
Other speakers, including Robert E. Speer and Robert P. Wilder, who helped to found the Student Volunteer Movement; Dr. James L.
Barton and Bishop McDowell, emphasized the great responsibility rest- ing upon our colleges in view of this world situation. A deep impression made was that hundreds of students would go from this conference back to their colleges, ready to lead their comrades into undertaking a task which cannot be discharged by simply gathering funds for foreign mis- sions, or even by sending some of their number as foreign missionaries.
As one of the speakers expressed it, "we must evangelize the unevan- gelized portions of life itself." Christian principles must be given wider application within the college communities themselves'. Only a task great enough and hard enough to challenge all the resourcefulness and energy of the students of North America should be set before them.
This conviction led to the drafting of the following program, which was enthusiastically adopted: I. To enlist 200,000 different students in study and discussion of Christian principles based on: (a) The life and teaching of Jesus Christ; (b) the need of these principles in the world today; (c) the need of these principles in North America today.
2. A call for decision on the part of students to live these prin- ciples, at whatever cost, on the campus in the nation and in the world.
3. A sufficient number of qualified men and women to evangelize the world in this generation.
4. At least one-half million dollars during the academic year, 1918-1919, for the evangelization of the world, and sufficient funds to meet our obligations to the War Wark.
The student leaders expect close co-operation between the colleges and the churches in carrying out these proposals. The funds raised are to be expended through the regular denominational agencies to which the colleges are related; through interdenominational agencies, such as union colleges on foreign fields, and through the work of the Student Christian Associations abroad.
SIGNS OF THE
The conference powerfully brought home the fact that, even in the midst of war, missions are of unprecedented importance and that the call for missionary expansion now, even while nations are under the weightiest of burdens, must be answered at all costs. It is for young men and young women to register their decisions for life work. Young men may be obliged to postpone special preparation and entry into the work of evangelizing the world because of obligations to their country in its time of need; but the determination of a great life purpose will make all the richer their experience in national service. It will mak.e their influence larger among their fellows, and amid the restlessness and confusion of the days of readjustment following the close of the war, they will have a clearer goal toward which they can immediately direct their steps. The spirit engendered and manifested at Northfield may be expected to produce a powerful effect throughout the United States and Canada by extending the spirit of devotion, sacrifice and loyalty to Christ, with a readiness to serve men of all nations and to lead them into the Kingdom of God.
CASTING OUT THE DEMON T HE effect of intoxicating drink is strikingly like the Biblical reports of demon possession. '{he loss of self-control and of self-respe~t, the tendency to yield to base passions and the evil consequences that follow, all show the kinship between the two forms of evil-spirit, and yet, in spite of all the disability, poverty, disease, murder, arson, cruelty, immorality and other forms of crime that have resulted from the use of intoxicants as a beverage, the governments have continued to license their manufacture and sale.
For many years temperance and total abstinence societies, prohibi- tion parties and anti-saloon leagues have fought to deliver men from the degrading habit of strong drink, and have battled to make the traffic illegal. Preliminary skirmishes have occasionally been won, but it has taken the great world-war, with all its suffering and horrors, to bring nations to their senses. Russia at one stroke abolished vodka, to the inestimable blessing of the people; France also banished absinthe. England, however, still fears to grapple with the evil, and crime, im- morality and inefficiency continue to be the products of the distillery, the brewery and the saloon in the Briti::.h Isles.
In America a great victory has been won. Following the action by the House of Representatives, the United States Senate has passed, by a large majority, a resolution embodying an Amendment to the Constitution which, if ratified by the separate States, will prohibit the manufacture, sale, transportation, importation or exportation of all alcoholic beverages. The Constitution itself provides that such, an , Amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the .states by legislative
action; the Congressional prohibitory Amendment gives them seven years to make this ratification, and states that the Amendment shall take effect one year after its ratification. Thus, if thirty-six States ratify tfle Amendment within the next seven years, the United States will be ''bone dry" in 1926. The Mississippi and the Virginia Legislatures have already ratified the Amendment.
Clergymen, women, business organizations, physicians and educators have all advocated temperance. Economy, morality, health, business efficiency and intellectual advancement, as well as Christian ideals, aU argue for the destruction of the drug habit and the drink traffic. It is earnestly to be hoped that a campaign of education will be launched in every citY and town of every State and territory to convince the people that their own welfare and that of the nation demands the adoption of the proposed Amendment to the Constitution.
Already patriotic citizens in every part of the nation are lining up on the side of national prohibition. Towns and cities are refusing to license saloons. Washington, the national capital, is "dry"; breweries are advertising the manufacture of non-alcoholic beverages, distilleries are being turned into commercial alcohol plants, ice-plants and bakeries, and saloons are going out of business.
Even before the States take their final action great benefit may be expected from the action of Congress. The drink traffic is discredited; during the war, millions of tons of grain are saved for food; much alcohol will be reserved for medical and commercial uses, temptation will be lessened or taken from multitudes of men and women, and immense sums of money that have been worse than wasted may now be set free for constructive work.
There is reason to hope that the demon of strong drink will be cast out, but after that-what? Will seven other worse demons come in his place? For any permanent good the Spirit of God must come to dwell in the individual American, and must control the ideals and the program and the forces of the nation. Driving out evil is not sufficient. The door must be opened to admit the good-the supreme good-God.
" TCONSTRUCTIVE STATESMANSHIP IN CHINA HE present situation in the world is unique in the history of the Christian religion; unique in opportunity, unique in danger, unique in responsibility, unique in duty. The Church is confronting a rapidly climaxing world-crisis; stupendous changes are constituting the greatest single opportunity which has ever confronted the Christian religion, and it is an opportunity that will not linger." This statement is as true in regard to China as it is in regard to the world as a whole.
Unique situations demand statesmanlike methods. For one hundred
I 5 ] SIGNS OF THE
and ten years Protestant missionary forces have been at work in China, and today over 140 societies, with 5,744 Protestant missionaries, are located in 9 I7 stations with 6,222 out-stations. For the most J)a'rt these workers have been laboring independently, often overlapping, whue luge regions were neglected. Many missions have had no large, Sarreaching policy, but have been content to work, each in its own field, without reference to the whole problem, and knowing little of what others were doing.
In the last five years a decided advance step has been taken in cooperation between Protestant organizations, and the good result5 are already evident. Without discrediting denominational beliefs and policies, the Protestant missions in China have for five years been working out a basis for co-operative effort. The China Continuation Committee was founded in Shanghai on March 15, 1913, at the time of the visit of Dr. John R. Mott, Chairman of the Edinburgh World Missionary Conference. The purpose of this committee is to survey the whole field of China, to study the main problems of Chinese evangelization, to take stock of the forces at work for the physical, moral, educational and spiritual uplift of the people, and to bring these foree5 into cooperation so far as is practicable, to bring the whole Message of Christ to the whole of China. Missionary leaders and Chinese Christians were convinced that there must be some such international and interdenominational body formed to unite and direct the forces now at work in China.
The reports of the general and sub-committees are printed in the China Church year book, and show the excellent results of the Continuation Committee work. The central offi.ce has been a clearing house for missionary information, and a center from which informatioo and inspiration have been scattered. Many of the results will appear only as the years go by, and will be indirect. The greatest effect has been the spirit of fellowship among missionaries and the increased readiness to co-operate. As in other countries, the functions of the Committee have not been legislative and executive, but consultative and advisory.
Some of the recent achievements of the China Continuation Committee should be duplicated in all mission fields. They mark a decided advance in missionary statesmanship: ( I) The Bureau of Information has served the missionary force, the native church and the secular press. Books on evangelism, prayer and other subjects have been listed; bulletins have been published describing evangelistic plans and methods in various parts of China and India. ( 2) The Committee has a}j() taken up many problems, such as needy fields, breaches of comity, the location of new missions, simplified writing of Chinese, etc. (3) Valuable statistics have been gathered and published, as have also charts and reports of various departments of work. (4) The Committee has been a decided force in promoting comity and co-operation; has helped
.direct the preparation of missionaries; has promoted the distribution of Christian literature, and has united forces in advance evangelistic effort. (5) The Committee has acted in behalf of all societies in giving r.elief to missionaries and institutions brought into distress through the war.
Probably the greatest benefit of this union Committee is the broad -vision it has given to the whole missionary force, and the impulse that has come to view the task as a whole and to lead all societies to unite .in making adequate plans for the future of the Church in China. Some of the items in the program for the present year are plans for the Eddy Evangelistic Campaign, a pronouncement on the attitude of the Church toward ancestor worship, the promotion of family worship, plans for better Bible study, etc.
Many influential missionaries believe that still greater benefits .would be realized if the members of the Continuation Committee were elected by their missions, and if their decisions were made legislative .and mandatory. The time may come when such a body will be created in each field, having executive powers. In the meantime, emphasis is laid on the need to cultivate the spirit of unity and on the prime necessity for dependence on spiritual methods and the power that comes only from God.
NATIONAL PROGRESS IN CHINA I F THE war in Europe had not so absorbed our attention during the past three years and a half, the events in China would have com- · manded more notice. The changes that have taken place are in part the result of silent forces long at work, and in part they are the effect of disturbances elsewhere. Their significance is such that in ordinary times the whole world would pause to attend. There has been the death struggle of a passing civilization-strife to regain autocratic '-control, renewed or intensified by the strife in Europe. The silent forces have been education and Christianity, the foundation of true civilization.
Seventeen years ago the Boxer outbreak brought about the downfall of the old order in China. Six years ago the monarchy was overthrown and the new order established. Few Westerners realize the full. significance of the change, or understand the value to civilization, if the ·struggle for Christian liberty is successful.
The new order has been full of uncertainty, with four presidents and two brief monarchical restorations in the six years. Local disturbances, sectional disorders and national suspense have followed. There have ·been discussion, fighting, pillage; but, on the whole, little bloodshed and a general progression toward security and order.
After the monarchical movement of Yuan Shih-kai ended with his ·sudden death the people hoped for order and progress. Then a conflict arose between the military and the republican parties that culminated in
OF THE
a seven-day restoration of the boy Emperor. While democracy suffered a temporary check, it is evident that the monarchy is gone forever. There is still conflict between republican and militarist, and it is expected that the issue of the struggle will still be constitutional liberty.
The movement to restore Confucianism as the State religion was one reactionary attempt of the year. This was opposed not only by Christians, but by Buddhists, Mohammedans and others. The failure of the attempt is considered an assurance that religious liberty will prevail.
The Christian missionaries, the Young Men's Christian Association and other quiet forces have been shaping the ideals of the Chinese of influence and of students for their part in local and national affairs. Schools, literature, lectures, educational conferences, athletic meets, health campaigns and evangelistic efforts have contributed much toward raising the ideals of the people. National Christian leaders have been trained and churches are growing in self-support.
Presidents and teachers of government schools have reiterated the testimony of former years that the old religions do not sustain the character of their students, that the new patriotism does not do it, for it flares and wanes and selfish interests ever recur. "What is needed," thev say, "is a force to stay the characters of men in a changing civi1izatio~, and to center their unselfish thought on their country's need." Christianty supplies this need.
China has now over half a million Protestant Christians, of whom 295,000 are communicants in 4,000 churches. There is an increasing number of national leaders in educational and public life who are coming out on the side of Christ.
A STAND AGAINST IDOLATRY IN INDIA O NE of the striking developments of the mass movements in India is the .way in which the missionaries are enlisting the influence of the Chaudhris, the natural village leaders. Rev. Rockwell Clancy, of Allahabad, tells a remarkable story of a group of Chaudhris who were asked to join together in a fight against idolatry, heathen festivals, feasts for the dead and the use of intoxicating liquors and drugs. After consultation the Christian preacher wrote down what they had promised, and they made their marks with their thumbs dipped in ink. Not long after, when some of these. men were at a wedding at which an offering was made at a heathen shrine, these Chaudhris refused to eat of the idolatrous feast. The same Chaudhris are now talking of building a small church or schoolhouse in their village where they can have worship on Sundays and school on week days.
In other parts of India, thousands of people whose names are recorded for baptism are not yet baptized because the missionaries cannot supply teachers as fast as the people want to come.
JBDXTOruAlL COMMENT ~
~"UG1JI law LKriI"er7; LHHJ I ~iRi,,' , 'Vj) FIRST-OUR COUNTRY OR OUR GOD O NE of the great lessons to be learned from the present war and the causes that led up to it, is the obvious one that the world is greater than anyone country, humanity is greater than any one race, and the Church of Christ is greater than anyone denomina- tion. It takes a world war to draw some of us out of our provincialism and out of sectarianism. .
It is unquestionably best for mankind that patriotism should be promoted so that each citizen may have the incentive to develop the resources of his own country, and take a pride in seeing his nation stand for the best. As men are constituted, it is also good that ev~ry Chris- tian should be loyal to his own particular creed and denomination, so far as that branch of the church is truly loyal to Christ. The time has come, however, when every intelligent man or woman must place the wel- fare of the world before the prosperity of his own country, when the needs of men of any land or race must have prior claim to the comforts and luxuries of family and nation. The same is true of the Church. One who thinks that his own denomination comprises the Church of Christ must be blind and deaf; one who fails to realize that all men have an equal right to the blessings of Christ's gospel has not yet comprehended that gospel.
The war must lead us to recognize the fact that "God hath made of one. blood all nations for to dwell on the face of all the earth," and that what affects one must affect all. One nation cannot be selfish or heathenish and other more enlightened nations not be contaminated.
The world to be safe must be safe for all. Mankind to be saved must all be saved-as individuals.
The war makes clear the other fact that men must unite on a program-not each section work on an individual scheme and theory.
There must be unity, if not union. The churches must face their com- . mon task together-recognizing individuality, but making sectarianism subject to the whole Christian program.
A paper has recently been sent out by the "Advisory Council on Americanization to the United States Bureau of Education" calling for united action of all forces to train into American citizens the 66,643 aliens who are subiect to draft. Many of these Italians, Poles, Hun- garians, Russians, Jews and others cannot speak Endish. There are T,500 foreign-language newspapers published in the United States and many of them are anti-American in spirit and ideals. The unnaturalized and undigested alien element is a menace to the best American ideals, and is often anti-Christian. The registration and drafting of these aliens and un-American residents furnish a great opportunity to educate them in the English language and in American institutions. Those of military age and others registered may well be required to attend classes in camps, cities and factory centers conducted by carefully selected teachers. The foreignlanguage press should be used to print a series of educational articles, and speakers should be sent out to lecture. At the same time the Christian churches should co-operate to train these same millions in a thorough understanding of Christian standards. The "America-First Campaign" may well be accompanied by a "Christianity First" campaign. These aims and ideals are not at all antagonistic or inharmonious. As a matter of fact, the best Christians are the finest patriots, and a man can serve his country best by seeking first the Kingdom of God.
A WAR PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE A N eminent English minister well expressed the Christian's supreme responsibility when he said: "Any religious effort which tends to build up the spiritual side of man's nature is doing as much 10 win the war and to make the war worth winning as all the armaments of the world. The great empires of the world fell because they became decadent, not in material strength, but in spiritual strength."
In a leaflet issued just before sailing for two months' service in England and France, Dr. Daniel A. Poling, associated President of the United Society of Christian Endeavor, has set forth the duties and opportunities of the present year in a spiritual enlistment pledge.
"Believing that the present war puts a peculiar responsibility for larger and better service upon the Christians of America, and that it is possible for all to serve in some capacity, I will as a religious duty, and for the sake of my country and my fellow men, pledge myself to some or all of the following methods of universal service: No. I.-As a soldier or sailor, or in the hospital service, I will strive always to act as a Christian, loyal to God and country.
No. 2.-1 will during the coming year seek to increase in some measure the world's food- 8l1pply.
No. 3.-By food-economy and by wise thrift 1 will strive to prevent needless waste, that others may have more.
No. 4.-1 will preserve, so far as 1 may, the fruits and produce of the soil for future use. No. 5.-1 will engage in some form of Red Cross relief work, contributin~ money or making needed articles for those who are fighting our battles at the front. No. 6-1 will endeavor by svmpathy, prayer, personal correspondence, and in other ways to help one or mor."e of the men with the colors. No. 7.-Realizing that there is ·especial need to keep the fires of religion burning brightly in· these serious and critical days of war, 1 promise renewed allegiance to my church and to the meetings and work of my Christian Endeavor society. No. 8.-1 will strive to keep free from rancor and personal hate, and when the war is over 1 will do my utmost to promote the spirit of Christian fellowship among the denominations and the races in our own country and among the nations of the world.
There are also suggestions for organized correspondence j work for soldiers' dependents j Christian Endeavor rallies in camps, assistance to chaplains and other methods of service.
MOHAMMEDAN SCHOOL BOYS GOING OUT FOR STREET
ON CHRISTMAS DAY-CHENGCHOW, HONAN THREE GENERATIONS OF CONVERTED MOSLEMS, KIANG-SI PROVINCE Practical Results of Work for Moslems III China
Moslems of Central
BY THE REV. S. M. ZWEMER, D.D., CAIRO, EGYPT Editor of The Moslem World; Author of "The Disintegration of Islam," etc.
China has a Moslem population estimated at between five and twenty millions. During the SlImmer of 1917 Dr. Zwemer visited China in the interest of Christian work among Moslems. He was unable to reach the distinctively Moslem provinces, Yunnan in the southwest or Kansu in the northwest, on account of the disturbed condition of the country. The uprisings between factions in Szechuan and Yunnan Provinces, and the difficulty of traveling so far by cart in the limited time at his disposal, made it impracticable to go there. He did, however, touch nine other provinces on a journey of over 4,000 miles by rail and saw Islam at close range in the provinces of Honan and Hupeh.- EDITOR.
H ONAN PROVINCE has a Moslem population of 250,000 and . Hupeh of only 15,000. On our recent visit through nine provinces we discovered that Moslems are found at all the great centers of traffic, as for centuries they have been engaged in the carrying trade. They are also prominent as butchers and restaurant keepers, while a considerable number are found in the armies, both of the monarchists and of those loyal to the republic.
Honan Province· is rich in coal and iron and the soil is fertile for .the most part. Three railways cross the province and make the centers of population easily accessible: the Peking-Hankow line from North to South, the Kaifeng-Hsuchowfu, and the Kaifeng-Shensi line via Honanfu and Tungkwan Pass. It is destined to pass on beyond Honanfu into Kansuh Province and will be the great future highway irito Central Asia. Honan was once notorious as one of the most anti- foreign provinces. Kaifeng, the last of the provincial capitals to open its gates to the missionary, was occupied in 1902. Until 1900 the province had only three Protestant missionary societies. After the Boxer uprising others followed until now 121 missionaries, representing nine societies, are located in forty stations.
Hupeh is the central province proper of all China, and Hankow, with its twin suburbs of Wu-chang and Hanyang, already has a popula- tion of 1,770,000. In the opinion of some of the residents, this Chinese Chicago and Pittsburgh, with railways, steel and iron works and arsenals, is destined to be not only the commercial metropolis of China but perhaps the largest city of the world.
Although, therefore, the number of Moslems in other provinces may be greater, those in Central China are most accessible and are sure to influence the others of their community out of all proportion to their numbers. The new mosque being built on so large a scale at Hankow, the schools for Arabic study at Kaifeng and Honanfu, and new indus- tries in the hands of Moslems at Chengchow seem to indicate the strategy of these cities for Moslem evangelization also.
Islam dies hard. While visiting the Tung-Ta-Sslll mosque at Kaifeng-and there are six others as well as seven mosques for lVomen-we were shown the ornamented wooden cases in which tqe Jewish scrolls were formerly kept when their synagogue was still· standing. The remnant of the Jews took refuge here and at last became Buddhists. Their old copies of the law found there went to Christian hands, but the empty case rests as a memorial in the mosque. How typical it seemed of Islam in China, with all its Jewish ritual and pharisaic punctiliousness in regard to diet and defilement, while the testimony to the Messiah is neglected!
We found the Moslems at Kaifeng generally friendly, and although it was the fast month one of the Ahungs promised to preside at a general meeting in a Chinese theatre, arranged by the missionaries of the Southern Baptist Society and the Canadian Church Mission. Another Ahung, the watchdog of the mosque, rather discouraged it and this ruling elder was apparently afraid that their broadminded Ahung who had been in Peking would be led into a trap. Our meeting in the theatre with lantern slides proved a great success as regards numbers. The place was packed and the police kept a crowd outside at bay while nearly a thousand people were inside, more than two-thirds of them Moslems.
Moslems here frequently attend the preachipg services at the missions. Many Moslem children are in the schools and the only question that seems to arise is that of providing specially cooked food for Moslem boys who are boarders. The most important question is that of abstaining from pork in every form, and when one sees the swine of Honan and their filthy habits one's sympathy is with the Moslems. Every restaurant or food shop kept by the Mohammedans has a special license from the Ahungand one can soon recognize the Moslem quarter by the "tea-kettle" signs with some Arabic words from the Koran concerning the lawfulness of pure food only. This sign board, cillled "paiza," has on it not only a crude representation of the ablution kettle used in the mosques but other symbols such as the cloud and the pomegranate, which show traces of Buddhist or Nestorian influence. According to Professor P. Y. Saeki, the Nestorian Christians about the ninth century suffered such persecution that many of them lapsed into Islam. Many Moslems of China are, therefore, in a real sense "prodigal sons."
At Chengchow the Rev. W. W. Lawton, of the Southern Baptist Mission, has for many years been in close touch with the Moslems. Many of them attend the church, and some have been baptised. Within the city walls there are 1,000 Moslem families, while some 600 families live outside. There are five mosques for men and two especiaUy for women. Arabic is taught to the boys and girls. This is an old Moslem center as it is at the cross-roads of busy traffic north, south, east and westwards.
We had two services for Moslems with about one hundred present
THE MOSLEMS OF CENTRAL CHINA
in each case. All of them belong here to the Hanifi sect and I was surprised at the number of books in their mosque library.
We visited Chinghua, but the Mohammedans live outside of the town in the western suburb and our time was too short to meet any of them. By taking a branch railway toward the coal mining district as far as the terminus and after that a tramp of fifty Ii through mud and rain storm we reached the important center of Hwaiching, a station of the Canadian Presbyterian Mission and a center of Moslem education. There is a large school for girls and another for boys. The Ahung read Arabic and Persian fluently and spoke the former fairly well. Their grammar is faultless but the standards of pronunciation are peculiar. At first it is difficult to understand them, although they seemed to have no difficulty in understanding me. The strong Arabic R becomes an L, the B a P, and all the final vowels are carefully pronounced in pedantic fashion. This is not only for the sake of grammatical correctness but in conformity to the open syllabic character of Chinese transliteration; e.g., haram becomes halamu, quran becomes kolanu, wajib wachippu, and strangest of all, one must recognize al Bukhari in the. form of al Bulakhali. The strong guttural 'ain is not pronounced, so that the Arabic '!sa becomes Ersa-Jesus.
A HOT ARGUMENT A meeting in the largest mosque had been arranged and I spoke on the "Five Pillars of the Faith." There was an argumentative Ahung named Chow, a petulant Pharisee, whose chief attraction was his ability to roll his eyes. After my address the Ahung waxed hot in argument and spoiled his own case. He afterwards said that the reason for his so doing was to save his face before the other Ahungs and also to keep the ignorant people from thinking that the two religions were the same.! He and other Ahungs, together with a large company of the faithful, called on us and I took occasion to say to Chow, in the presence of the gathering, that his statements of the morning that the Jesus Society was there to spoil Mohammedans was hardly substantiated by the facts -that the foreigners have built hospitals and schools, not to mention other phases of the work. He did not have much "face," especially when some of his followers shouted out, "No, no, no, you do not injure people." The Moslems are called by the Chinese "the people who fast."
The Ahungs were deeply interested in politics and wanted to know all about the war, but they had no knowledge, even at second-hand, of affairs in Mecca. No prayer is offered in this part of China for the Khalifa. The Imperial Tablet, in honor of the emperor, has been removed from its prominent position since the declaration of the Republic. In some mosques we found it in the back yard, in other places it was covered up. The use of incense, however, continues and is universal throughout China. '
The architecture of the mosques of Central China is thoroughly national and therefore the ornamentation is often Taoist, Buddhist, or Confucian in character, with dragons and other symbols of idolatry. When I called the attention of one of the priests to this, he remarked "Halamu, halamu I" It is forbidden but we cannot help it, we are in China I Another peculiarity of the mosques here is that the Mihrab is often built as a recess with very large dimensions. One was twenty feet in width and had tables and chairs, making it the seat of honor. Arabic inscriptions abound on the walls of the mosques, and often over the doors of the houses. Chinese Moslems have done the same things with the Arabic script that they have with the Arabs' religion: they have rounded the corners and tipped the characters over so as to incline to the Chinese angle and resemble Chinese characters. With a little practice, however, this sort of script becomes quite legible.
At Hsin Hsiang Hsin, another center in Honan, we met an Ahung named T'ang-who, who belonged to the Shathali sect of Dervish Orders. He had the Koran in thirty parts to be read in Ramadan. The inscription on the ornamental cover-case was in Arabic-"This box contains all the learning of the world." I secured a stick, in use for keeping the children at school, inscribed on one side in Chinese, "Noo Toim Mosque," and on the other in Arabic, "A blow from your teacher is worth all th~ kindness of your parents." There are said to be about 700 families here but there is only one mosque. In another mosque in this vicinity we found the scourge in use, which consisted of a rod about two feet in length with heavy oxhide thongs, a deadly weapon, and used to punish wine drinkers, adulterers, etc.
At Honanfu we met in the great Eastern Mosque an Ahung named Liu, rather self-important but better than his neighbor. He was suspicious and did not like my statement that we were Christian Moslems. He had several noted books on Mysticism, "The Perfect Man," "The Jewels" of Sha'urani; Persian books on Sufism, Persian sermons, Arabic grammar in manuscripts, and great volumes on jurisprudence. He did not want to speak about old and new sects. He said, "You Christians are divided, i.e., Catholic and Protestant, but Islam is it unit." When I pressed him a bit farther by mentioning points of difference, he reluctantly admitted that there were slight differences of belief. We saw the brass drum to be used during Ramadan to awaken the people before dawn to fast. In another mosque there was an Ahung named Ts'ai. He was from Szechwan and did not understand Arabic very well. We asked him why the Chinese did not circumcise their boys and veil their women. To save his face he said: "We do have these customs, but then you know," making a wry face, "Chinese find that the Arab customs are so bothersome," etc.
In Honanfu, within eight Ii of the city, there are twelve mosques and over 1,000 families. Three missionary societies work here: the
I 8] THE MOSLEMS OF CENTRAL CHINA 9S
China Inland Mission, the Lutherans, and the Roman Catholics. The Ahungs seems to have a large collection of Arabic and Persian literature. Many of the books dealt with Mysticism.
We met everywhere with friendliness and no signs of fanaticism, save in the matter of diet. Food was served us, but on no occasion do I remember that Moslems were willing to partake of Christian food in return, even a cup of tea was politely refused. One of the peculiarities of Islam in China is the emphasis laid everywhere on the question of diet and ablution. Moslem restaurants, butcher shops, bakeries, etc., have a special sign to direct the Faithful lest he be defiled by heathen food. Hogs are so common everywhere in China that Moslems make a special effort to defend themselves against this religious abomination. A special soap factory exists at Chengchow, in Honan Province, for the manufacture of soap that is ritually clean. One of the advertising circulars came to our hand bearing at the top the new flag of the Chinese Republic and the Turkish flag as well. The Arabic and Chinese text, recommending the soap, states that it is manufactured for the glory of God and the good of Islam, for fear that Moslem prayers may be abrogated by using soap for ablution which contains lard and other impurities. The circular closes with the pious wish that God may bles.; this effort for the good of the True Believers and is dated I335 A.H.-I9 1 7· I cannot better sum up the impressions of my visit than by giving our experience in the new mosque at Hankow. 'The old Ahung was a delightful host and explained the reason for prayer being held in an adjoining house. He allowed us to photograph the building operations and the pulpit. On the table we found a large collection of Arabic and Chinese literature, among others a little Arabic pamphlet, "Do You Pray?" published by the Nile Mission Press. and which had found its way here months ago through the efforts of Mr. Rhodes of Chefoo. He not only engaged in conversation on the Scriptures, but joined us with all who were present, in a Christian prayer in the mosque. It all seemed very different from the spirit of Arabia and Egypt.
Confucianism has not only torn the veil from Moslem womanhood in China. but has undermined the spirit of fanaticism, Chinese etiquette, their high regard for rules of civility toward strangers, their love of fair play in argument, all these have modified the spirit of Islam.
A great opportunity lies before the Church in China. but it is neglected. Not a single worker has been especially set apart or oualified by study of Arabic for the task. When the missionaries met in council at Chigunshan, Honan Province, in regard to the Moslem problem, they passed the following resolutions which I would press upon the attention of all the societies concerned: "We consider this province of Honan to he in a peculiar position of strategic importance touching the Moslem problem of Northwest China, for the following reasons:
"I. The province contains a large Mohammedan population, amongst whom are the leading and most progressive merchants; the type of Mohammedanism prevalent in the province is Sufism, which ought to make its adherents peculiarly susceptible to the spiritual claims of the Gospel, and very a.ccessible to the Christian messengers; many Mohammedan children are to be found as pupils in the mission schools in the province.
"2. That in view of the above we consider steps should at once be taken to inaugurate and develop systematic work amongst Honan Moslems and request the coming Honan Evangelistic Conference to endeavor to co-ordinate the mission!; . in some definite policy and organization, if necessary, for the attainment of this ~~ "3. That where possible, in strong Mohammedan centres, missions should be asked to set apart missionaries who would give whole or part time to the local work of reaching Moslems.
"4. That particular attention should be directed to the children of Mohammedans attending tnission schools and to the families from which these pupils come.
"5. That missionaries could greatly foster work among Mohammedans by constantly keeping before Chinese Christians and workers the desirability of reaching their Moslem brethren and should encourage and help them in every way possible to do this work.
. "6. That the exceptional Moslem situation in Honan lays upon every individual missionary in the province a heavy responsibility for the conversion of these people, and provides a challenge to every member of this conference to deeper consecration in earnest prayer and effort on behalf of the Moslems of Honan."
There are already signs of a harvest among Moslems in China. Shall we not pray for the school boys who went out on Christmas Day with their new flag and banner, and for all Moslem converts and their families? One of our illustrations shows a converted family, three generations of Moslems from Kwangsi Province, who have accepted Christ. This man was the first Chinese baptised in Kweilin, in 1902. Subsequently his wife and old mother were baptised and all the children. For many years he has been a Church Missionary Society catechist and is now preparing for ordination. The first Chinese clergyman in Bishop Cassel's diocese was a Mohammedan of high birth.
Christian literature for Moslem readers in Chinese or better in Arabic-Chinese is very meagre, but steps .are now being taken by the Christian Literature Society to supply this deficiency. Alas, there is not a single missionary in all China acquainted with Arabic who devotes him- self to this work, and William Borden's high ambition and great life- purpose still challenge a successor to volunteer for the task. Of all Moslem peoples the Chinese Moslems are most accessible. Confucian ethics has torn the veil from Moslem womanhood in China and pre- vented or restrained the spirit of intolerance so common elsewhere.
The mosques and schools are open to visitors; Christian literature and discussion are welcomed. Their long isolation from the West and its Pan-Islamic program and the loneliness of these monotheists in the midst of vast idolatrous masses incline them to be· friendly to the mes- sengers of Jesus the Christ. S. M. Z.
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A CHINESE PRAYER MOTTO A PAGE FROM THE CHINESE MANU· SCRIPT OF REV. DING LI·MEI Center: Pray for One Another; Top: Name of Prayer Group; Left: CO'operate, Eph. 4:3; Right: Love, Forbear, Eph. 4:2 Bottom: John 14:13 The Prayer-Life of Chinese Christians BY DING LI-MEI, SHANGHAI, CHINA Secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement for the Ministry in China I N the history of the Christian Church, beginning with her Lord Jesus Christ Himself and continuing through His apostles, all Chris- tians who have been filled with wisdom and good works have held prayer to be a sacred service of prime importance.
The Gospel has now been preached in China for over a century, in her twenty-two provinces, as well as in distant territory like Mongolia and Tibet. Christian believers and inquirers number more than half a million. God has opened very wide the door for preaching the Word and for winning men to Him. Western and Chinese Christians alike will unite in acknowledging that the chief explanation for this is to be found in the great volume of prayer for China's redemption which has gone up from Europe and America, as well as from China. The prayerlife of Chinese Christians has commanded my closest attention from my youth up. During the ten years and more which I devoted to preaching in my native province, and the eight years which have followed in which my work has called me to many other parts of China, my ears have heard and my eyes have seen many things in regard to prayer, a few of which I wish especially to bring to the attention of the readers of The Missionary Review of the Worid.
I. The first ,veek in every year is a time )Vhen practically every Church in China holds special meetings for prayer, somewhat after the manner of the churches of the West. In some places cottage prayermeetings are held in rotation, and in others, bands of Christians go from village to village preaching. Blessed results have followed.
2. The prayerful observance of Christmas, Thanksgiving and other special days of prayer is growing from year to year, and much good has come from such observance.
3. In these days family prayers is the habit in too few Christian homes. There are many hindrances, yet we cannot fail to see that the absence of this habit has much to do with the spiritual weakness of many Christians.
4. In times of national stress, or when the churches have confronted difficult problems, circulars have been issued calling on all Christians to pray. Notable illustrations of this occurred when the Republic was founded and later when a constitutional limitation of religious liberty was threatening.
5. Every Christian school, hospital or other institution places an emphasis on prayer by conducting a prayer service once or twice a day.
6. The custom is growing of holding a special retreat of one or more days immediately preceding the annual gatherings of the various denominational organizations, and the universal testimony is that such retreats bring untold benefits.
7. The hearty response given by the churches to the suggestions of the Special Committee on the Promotion of Intercession of the China Continuation Committee evidences the important place which the Chinese Christians give to prayer.
8. Many Chinese Christians live constant and sincere lives of prayer. I want at least to mention two or three.
In Gimeh County, Shantung, there lives a very poor woman, Mrs. Liang by name, over seventy years of age. She cannot be called bright; she is unlettered, and has no eloquence of speech. But in her prayers she is exceedingly zealous and sincere, and they are mighty in their working, as all who know her acknowledge. When she entered the Church she was the only Christian in her family or village. Now more than eighty in her family and over twenty others in her village are Christians. All of her own family but one or two are Christians. Not far from her home a church has recently been built, with schools in it for boys and girls. Another school for boys has been opened in the village. Although the prayers of many have entered into this fruitage, it is safe to say that Mrs. Liang's prayers occupy the chief place.
In the Methodist Church in Peking there is another Christian woman, Miss Pan Yuan Ying, who is much given to prayer. Every morning she prays for at least 135 people by name. She has a weekly cycle of prayer which she follows day by day. In evangelistic work she
PRAYER-LIFE OF CHINESE CHRISTIANS
has much power. Those who hear her preach, whether Christians or non-Christians, are greatly moved.
In Shanghai Miss Dora Yii has opened a place for Bible study and prayer, and formed a Bible class for women. For all the expenses of this work, for her own personal needs, and for her work outside Shanghai, whether for Bible teaching or evangelism, she looks to God in trustful prayer. She is truly one of the prayer-leaders of the Chinese Church.
A PERSONAL TESTIMONY This brings me to my own personal testimony. From boyhood I have taken delight in conversing with my friends on prayer and Bible study. Even when in school I joined two or three of my most intimate schoolmates in secret meetings for prayer and the study of Holy Scripture. I also knew what it was to retire alone to pray for fellow- Christians in school and church, whose zeal had become chilled, or for other important objects. Many times was I conscious of the Lord's favor in answering my most fervent supplications throughout these early years. After finishing school I spent three years in theological studies, giving myself wholly to a search for Truth. During these years the number of fellow-pray-ers grew, until by 1899 my prayer list included 105 names, of which nine-tenths were students. The list has continued to grow, until now, in 1917, it numbers 2,347, and is divided into three classes.
The first class is composed of eighteen smaller groups, numbering from six to forty-eight each, made up of those who have all promised to pray every day for all others in the same group. I keep a separate list of each group. The eighteen groups contain in all 342 names.
The second class has only the names of those who have made individual covenants with me to pray one for the other, and includes pastors, principals of schools, teachers, doctors, merchants, and military men; it contains the names of both men and women, of Chinese and foreigners, of children of seven or eight and youths in their teens, and also those who live in non-Christian families. We mutually remember one another and sympathize with one another. The strength of this bond exceeds that of any merely natural bond by a thousand times ten thousand. In this class I have 1,760 names.
The third class is made tip of those whom I have voluntarily selected and especially delight in remembering before the Lord and who for the most part are carrying large responsibilities in some phase or other of the Church's work in Asia, Europe or America, such as Dr. John R. Matt and Dr. Sherwood Eddy, of America, and Dr. F. B. Meyer and Dr. R. F. Horton, of England, a list of 245 names in all.
As I think back over twenty years of experience in intercessory prayer, the longer I practice it, the more its importance grows on me,
I do not know all the benefits which others may have received through these prayers, nor does it matter that I do not. I cannot refrain from enumerating ten out of the uncounted blessings which I myself have experienced in the practice of this habit: (I) I am so much with the Lord that He seems my closest Friend.
(2) My spiritual life is refreshed like the sprouting grain with ram.
(3) Justice, peace and joy constantly fill my soul as the light fills the heavens and I get uncommon strength.
(4) When I study the Bible I seem to see heaven opened, and realize that I am having communion of heart with Christ Himself.
(5) When I talk about the Gospel in private or in public I have an unshakable confidence that the hand of the Lord is supporting me.
( 6) My love has been steadily expanded until I now am conscious of no man in the universe whom I cannot love.
(7) When I fall into sin, whether secret or open, whether great or small, I experience an immediate rebuke of conscience, which drives me at once to confession and repentance.
(8) In all my work for the Lord, although the results are not ~like .evident or immediate, I do not know of any effort that has been 10 vam.
(9) Intercessory prayer has greatly enlarged my circle of friends among God's co-workers, and through the Lord's kind care these friendships will never cease, but will continue to grow, thus far excelling the friendships of the world.
(10) And best of all, I am not the only one who is trying to persevere in intercession. Others in my own and in other Christian organizations, both men and women, in church and school and ministry, have likewise been banded together in similar covenants of prayer these same twenty years. 1 am personally acquainted with not less than ten who have their individual lists for prayer besides the cycles prepared for the use of groups. They are unanimous in their testimonies to the blessings of this habit.
I know that the picture I have presented of the prayer-life of the Chinese Christian is not complete, but I earnestly hope that this brief statement of what I have seen, and heard, and experienced, may be of help to some who read this testimony.
Are we praying for our missionaries and for the work in which they and we are engaged? If a million people were on their knees night and morning asking God to thrust out the men and women needed, and to move upon the hearts of the churches so that they would provide the funds needed for their maintenance and equipment, we would see such results as we have never seen and shall not see until we avail ourselves of the infinite resources of our God. There is urgent need now of prayer that is fervent and effectual.
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1I)I:.;r….. . 1I,.~ …1·.. /f._1 If,"Y.rM.Cir$ 1917 Lightening the Dark Continent BY PROF. WILSON S. NAYLOR, APPLETON, WISCONSIN Professor of Biblical Literature in Lawrence College, Author of "Daybreak in the Dark: Continent"
T HE term "Dark Continent," as applied to Africa, is of manifold meaning. For centuries without number only very narrow strips on very short sections of the coast line were known to th~ peoples of other continents. Its aboriginal, and, as usually understood, native peoples are of dark color. It is a land whose people are devoted to dark customs and practices.. It is a land wher~ religion is a thing of darkness and blind superstition, where an Ezekiel might summon his hearers to witness "what they do· in the dark, each man in the chambers of his iptagery," and might promise a revelation of greater abominations dian his hearers had ever seen.
The lightening of the Dark Continent has been a slow process. We do not know when the first rays of light flickered over the midnight darkness of this continent. Beyond the tracings of history it has been-
"The land dark as midnight, The land of the shadow of death, without any order, And where thcr;~ight is as midnight."
Job IO:22.
In the sources of the light that now break upon the Dark Continent. modern exploration, commerce and foreign governments should be mentioned as supplementing, and co-ordinating with, the light brought by Christian missionaries.
1. Exploration. It fell to three missionaries to give tpe greatest stimuli to modern exploration in Africa. Krapf and Rebman, on the east coast, learned from the natives of great inland seas, and of mountains covered with perpetual snow. They visited the mountains-Kenia; Ruwenzori and Kilima Njaro (19,000 feet). Livingstone, coming from the south, crossed the continent from east to west, discovered the Victoria Falls, Lakes Nyassa and Bangwoe!o, and explored the upper waters of the Kongo in his search for the sources of the Nile. The l'eports of these men so fired the imagination of civilization that explorers entered the continent from every angle. Burton, Speke and Grant made extensive explorations north of Livingstone's travels, which culminated in the discovery that Lake Victoria Nyassa was the principal source of the Nile. Henry M. Stanley began his exploration in the search of Livingstone, and the work went on with multiplied momentum until Africa was well known, touching its contour, elevation, temperature, rainfall, vegetable, animal and mineral resources, and its various peoples, with their languages and customs.
II. Commerce. After the world adjacent to Africa had passed the stage of literal hand-to-mouth living, doubtless the first trade on the border between Arabia and Egypt, or on the coast lines where any of the primitive ships might row, sailor drift, was the simple barter and exchange of goods to meet immediate need. Long before the forerunners of modern commerce entered Africa a prophet had seen it as a land whose tents were in affiiction. It remained for the Arab, beginning in the seventh century, and for the Portuguese of the fifteenth century, to establish and develop the foreign slave trade which robbed the continent of its man-power. It would thus be easy to say much of the pernicious trade in slaves and strong drink, as well as of the degrading influence of many traders, and yet it remains a fact that commerce has accomplished rlmch in the way of lightening the Dark Continent.
I met a young man, fifteen hundred miles north of Capetown, whose aggressive spirit of optimism was contagious. Upon asking his business I learned that he was the advance agent of Heinz's pickles. Possibly a dyspeptic might imagine that the African would get on very well without pickles, but these and all other commodities of legitimate trade have their mission in spreading the light. Some "Christians" years ago were shocked when a prominent writer welcomed the civilizing influences
LIGHTENING THE DARK CONTINENT
of trade, that he hoped to see develop into tens of thousands of miles of cloth per annum. The typical African clothing for those slightly touched by the influences of commerce is a long strip of cloth, about eighteen inches wide, wound round and round the body, as far as it will go. Some- times it covers most of the body, sometimes a very little; sometimes it is ;" draped to give a touch of the Roman toga effect. Now when it is recalled A COMMUNITY HOUSE IN THE WESTERN SUDAN that clothing is always one of the first steps toward civilization, the ambition to see trade develop into tens of thousands of miles of cloth annually becomes not only a laudable, but a mos~ practical, if not a spiritual, Christian hope.
Thanks to Fowell Buxton, Wilberforce, and other champions of African freedom, the commerce in slaves and ivory that so long dominated Africa has given place to an ever-increasing trade in diamonds, gold, copper, wool, cotton, feathers, hides, grains, rare woods, oils, domestic animals, etc. All this is having its effect on spreading the light, because the African, through incentives growing out of legitimate trade, is being delivered from the bondage of the corruption of idleness. Long :ago Fowell Buxton pointed out "that the deliverance of Africa is to be
effected by calling out her own re- PAGAN ZULUS-MAN AND WOMAN sources. It is the Bible of the plow that must regenerate Africa." commerce was measured by the Livingstone was so convinced of hundreds of millions of dollars; this truth that he forsook tradi- today, by the billion. Forty years tional missionary work for explora- ago there were no railways in tion, that thereby he might open Africa; now, over the thousands of Africa to legitimate commerce, miles where Livingstone toiled which in turn would develop the in- afoot great trunk lines of railways dustry of the African. extend from north, south, east and west. Numerous connecting and It is a comment upcm what com- feeding lines radiate through intemerce and its co-ordinate activities rior and .coast, making a· grand are doing in the lightening of the total of many thousands of miles of Dark Continent, that Central railway in operation, and projected Africa is now following daily the for immediate construction. course of the world war. Fifty years ago the commerce of Africa III. The foreign governments, was such a negligible quantity that from time to time interested in the Statesman's Year Book scarcely Africa, have also had their mission mentioned it. Twenty years ago its in lightening the continent. They were first concerned in maintaining ZAMBEZI MISSION BOYS IN SOUTH trading postsorpromoting sporadic AFRICA colonization schemes. They have ended in partitioning the entire continent among themselves. When all is said against the foreign· dom- ination of Africa there are but few well-informed people who would
JIS] LIG llTE,I'G TI IE D1 RK CO)JTTNENT
deny that for the most part foreign governments ha ve increa~ed tht' liglJt in Africa. They have established stable rule j they restrain savagery j prevent inter-tribal wars j suppress witchcraft, infanticide, burial alive; promote education, industry and .hygenic conditions. Exploitation has given way to the development of the country, and of the native, both industrially and intellectually. For instance, "starvation month," a period of about two months annually preceding the new crop, is gradl'ally being eliminated through the foresight and frugality of adequate provision for the entire year.
Perhaps modern gOHrnments A WEST AFRICAN MOSLEM and Christian missions find their IIis gown is covered with sacred amulets most common point of meeting in Africa in their joint recognition of the value of medical science in redeeming the Dark Continent. "No man can grow intellectually as long as he believes the fetich doctor can exorcise the evil spirits that make him ill, or sell him charms that make him well or gi ve him victory." It is a real discovery, transforming in its effects, when the African sees that there is nothing supernatural or superstitious III healing.
IV. Christian miSSIOns. After all is said of all that science has done, through exploration, commerce and government, in giving light to Africa, it yet remains true that real civilization can not be developed in a people without vital Christianity. "Simon Van der Stell, Governor of Cape Colony, sent a Hottentot boy to school, clothed him in military dress, hat bordered with gold, wig, silk stockings and a sword. He learned Dutch, Portuguese and other languages, and, on returning from India, where he had spent seven years, he threw his fine clothes into a chest, donned his carosse (a native skin robe), and taking nothing but his sword and his cravat went back to his people in the bush." It takes more than fine clothes and foreign tongues to make a Christian, Rev. James Bryant, of South Africa, wrote in 1849: "Of fourteen young men who have left my employ within two years, one has since been converted at another station, and, of course, clothes
himself; the other thirteen have gone back to their heathen friends and go as naked as ever. Wash a pig, shut him up in a parlor, and you may keep him clean for a while, but as soon as he is free, he will return to his wallowing in the mire. Change him into a lamb and he will at once abandon his filthy habits."
It should be expected that it would require much time and effort to teach the savage African "the beaten tracks of respectability." The surprise is that he adapts himself so readily to what he at first looks upon as a white man's importation, totally foreign to the black man. In 1816 there were only thirty mission stations in all of Africa. Two-thirds of these were on the southern point of the continent, and the remainder were scattered along the west coast. Up to Livingstone's time there had been some growth in Christian missions, but mainly around the few centres just cited.
Today, while there are vast stretches, notably in Portuguese Africa, the Kongo basin, and the Sudan (a total in square miles of much more than half the continent), without missionary station or itinerant, yet vast progress has been made in spreading the light of the Sun of Righteousness in the Dark Continent. In 1900 there were 560,000 Christian adherents in Africa; in 1910, 1,707,741, an increase in ten years of 196 per cent., or more than twice as many in ten years' time as the cumulative result of the hundred years of Protestant missions just preceding. Mr. W. T. Stead said that the development of Africa was due to three causes: foreign trade, foreign government and Christian missions; and that of these, the first had contributed the least, and the last the most to the development of the continent and people.
ASSUIT COl.LEGE. EGYI'T The American United Presbyterian Mission. One of the cetlters for enlightening the Dark Continent
A Soldier's Religion at the
BY REV. THOMAS TIPLADY, C.F.
Author of "The Cross at the Front" ("The Kitten in the Crater") I N eighteen months at the front I never met an avowed atheist. He cannot exist there. There may be atheists at the base camps. I do not know.. There are atheists at home but they either stay there or when they reach the front they realize that there are more things in heaven and earth than were dreamed of in their philosophy. They lose the enthusiasm on the subject of atheism which characterized them in the parks and at the street corners at home. They realize that atheism does not help men in the trench or when they are going "over the top." They may still have their own doubts as to the truth of Christianity, but they see that it helps those who accept it j and, amid the flying bolts of death, they are not prepared to destroy a dug-out so reliable and strong. They at least wish it were true and they think that, judging by its results, it ought to be true. They therefore hold their peace.
Mr. Arnold Bennett, the novelist who says that the war witnesses to the downfall of Christianity, has never lived at the front and will find no one there to support his views. The soldiers are not satisfied with the churches but they are satisfied with Christ. They do not want less Christianity, but more. Their complaint is not that the churches are too Christian, but that they are not Christian enough.
It is true that Christians love money, place, power and pleasure too much and do not embrace hardship, sacrifice and humble service as they ought as professed followers of Jesus Christ. Those who do live out their Christianity the soldiers regard as "White Men"; and they not only love and admire them but are ready to risk their lives for them. The ideal of Christ is so deeply stamped on their hearts that they judge everyone by it. It is their standard of measurement. They do not care two pins to what church a man belongs nor what creed he professes ta believe. All they care about is to see him following Christ. They themselves are men of action. They express their love of the right, true and free, not by words but by deeds. Their creed is not one of words but of wounds, hardship and death. They expect therefore like proofs of faith from Christians. What does it matter, they say, to what church a man belongs, or what creed he recites, if he is not like Christ and does not follow the example of Christ? To every Christian the soldier applies the measuring rod of St. James-"Show me thy faith by thy works." He is impatient of words. He wants deeds.
A chaplain at the front will lose all influence unless he has the courage to face danger and death. He, above all men, they think, ought not to be afraid, for he believes in and preaches the providential care of God
and the immortality of the soul. If heaven be a fact and not fiction, why should he fear to die? This point of view forgets how largely fear and courage depend on temperament and a man's physical nature, but it shows that the soldiers expect a man's faith to prove itself. If he is naturally of a nervous temperament and yet, despite tremblings and twitchings, forces himself forward into danger to do his duty and help his comrades, they think all the more of him and of his religion.
During a service in a field a shell fell a few yards from the chaplain. As they heard the sound of its approach everyone, soldiers and chaplain alike, instinctively rushed for cover. It was a most sensible thing to do, but the chaplain lost prestige because he ran with the soldiers. They thought that his superior faith in God ought to have held him to his altar. The officer who told me of the incident summed up the soldiers' view of the incident in a sentence: "His surplice did not save him."
Men expect faith to save and religion to work. The Christian, they think, ought to be the bravest of the brave. They are living in the midst of danger and death and they want something that helps them to endure. They have no use for shams and fiction. They want something real, wmething with a bottom to it. Atheism has no bottom. It has no reality. It does not help a man in a trench and so they have no use for it. Christianity is real. It has a foundation. It helps. They see the wayside crucifix and know what Christ did, was, and is. They know the courage Christianity gave to the saints and martyrs. They see daily the help it gives to officers and men around them, and so they want it.
The one spiritual need of the soldiers is Christianity; and it must be brought to them by men wao believe in it and are shaped by it. The American churches must send their best Christians to France. They must send them as chaplains, as officers, and as private soldiers. Christian huts are good, but Christian men are better. Christian huts are not allowed within four or five miles of the firing line as they would be in danger of shell-fire and might be turned into shambles; but men wearing the national uniform, whether as chaplains or combatants, have no such limitations. They are among their fellovvs in trench and billet, and their lives and teaching speak amid the burstings of shells and the cries of wounded. The first need of soldiers at the front is therefore for Christianity in the flesh, ·the Gospel incarnate. Give us men!
When the war came there was in France hostility between the State and the Church. There were faults on both sides. The priests and ministers who belonged to classes called up before 1905 and who were still of military age were allowed chaplaincies or put in the Army Ambulance Corps; but those in the later classes were compelled to serve as combatants like other men. As a consequence there are ministers serving as soldiers in every trench and battery. Vhat has been tpe result? One that was not expected, yet might have been. French interpreters tell me that the presence of Christian ministers in the trenches as comrades in
18 ] A SOLDIER'S RELIGION AT THE FRONT
arms has led to a religious revival. It has bridged the gulf that yawned between the churches and the manhood of France. The men are being won back to Christianity. They have seen its power in the lives of the ministers and have found that it helps them in their bitter need. Neither Christian huts nor books can take the place of Christian men. These are living oracles read and known of all men. Let the churches give their best men for service in the firing line.
In the British Army the chaplain 'has the rank of captain and the senior chaplains have the ranks of Majors lwd Colonels. The Principal Chaplain is a General. It has been found necessary to give them this high rank in order to enable them to do their work effectively. As a captain a chaplain can insist on proper opportunities being given to the men for worship, He can stand up for the spiritual work of the Army against officers who think little of anything but the physical training of the men. Officers become absorbed in their own duties and want all the time they can get with the men for military training. The chaplain rep- resents the spiritual side of things and his rank makes his representation effective, As captains demanding opportunities for the spiritual train- ing of the soldiers chaplains are minding their own business; and have as much right to ask for a parade service as any other captain would have to ask for a kit inspection. Our rank enables us to insist on the service being put in the regimental orders and in the order being properly an- nounced to the men. Also if any man has a moral or spiritual grievance we are in a position to have it put right. Without a high rank our work would suffer in a thousand ways.
The English Army has grown wise through the years, rt under- stands human nature, and the abuses of power; and it is with good reason that it has given the chaplain the highest starting rank of any branch of the service. The chaplain has the widest liberty of anyone in the Army. His rank gives him freedom and, on the other hand, his rank gives the Army power over him if he should abuse his freedom; for he is subject to the Army Rules and Regulations like any other officer.
The idea that our rank creates a gulf between us and the men is almost entirely without basis, Tt is a theory formulated at a distance from actualities and not an experience. As we are not responsible for the discipline of the men, we are allowed a freedom· of association not granted to combatant officers. While we meet the officers as equals we stand among the men as their spiritual representatives. We have no difficulty in approaching them and they have no hesitation in entering into conversation. They salute us and we acknowledge the salute, but, at the Front, a salute has the same meaning as a handshake in civilian life. It is an acknowledgment of comradeship in arms. Ranks vary but we are all soldiers. rt is the 11ason' s sign. Often the salute, especially among our own regiments, is accompanied with a smile; and our acknowledgment is accompanied with a "good morning" or "good evening."
Rank gives increased pleasure to a conversation or visit, for rank counts greatly in the army. Anyone who understands human nature, especially .soldier nature, will realize the value of rank to a chaplain. vVords are weighed according to the prestige of the man who utters them, and prestige is partly moral and intellectual and partly social. A man who has to be treated with respect by the Colonel will be regarded with respect by the private; and respect is the foundation of influence.
As captains we have a right of way to the officers and men in the dressing stations, trenches and billets; and we have a right to use the Regimental Orders, time and buildings. If the American chaplains forego this advantage they will live to regret it; for all rights and privileges in the army rest upon rank. It is rank that enforces rules. vVith- out rank they fall into abeyance.
While in the trenches and the little villages along the line one of the great spiritual needs of the soldier is a plentiful supply of good literature. There are no shops or stalls where he may buy books and he is too burdened with his equipment to be able to carry books with him from behind the Front. To get books in the trenches, or in the villages from which he goes out digging, he must either get them by post, carry them in his pack, or have them given to him by the chaplain with the regiment. There is no other way possible. There is, therefore, a great shortage of books where they are most needed. Only cheap editions should be sent out because the regiments have not enough transport to carry books from place to place. Books must be given away outright and allowed to circulate from man to man until worn out. No book is ever wasted. The demand for them is too great and the supply too small for any to lie unused. There is no demand for "goody-goody books." Those needed are good, strong sensible books with red blood in them; books that are really potted men. Provided the books are vital and real they are wanted from all sections of literature; for there are all types of men in an army. Poetry, essays, fiction, theology, history, biography, romance and travel, all are welcome; and all minister, if morally sound, to the spiritual needs of the men. But they need to be reasonably short, for the men have not time to finish long works. They should be sent direct to the chaplain of the regiment. They are usually given out to men who are resting in villages beyond range of the guns, or in camps at the Base. Every regiment has a chaplain. It is not necessary to know his name. If books are addressed to "the Chaplain of the – – – Regiment" they will surely find him, and finding him they will find the men.
There is one department of literature in which I would like to see America give a lead and break new ground. The Bible is too bulky a volume for a soldier's pocket. Therefore few carry one. The New Testament is, however, a very convenient size, and consequently mil- lions of copies have been given to the army; and every Christian soldier
A SOLDIER'S RELIGION AT THE FRONT
carries one in his breast pocket. But no one seems to realize the value of the Old Testament as a war book. Cromwell did, and fed his army on It until his men became Irresistible warriors. But no one since seems to have appreciated Its immense value to men on active service. I have seen thousands of New Testaments in France but never a copy of an Old Testament printed by itself. If the Testaments were both printed separately men would carry the Old in one breast pocket and the New III the otner. As, however, the Old Testament is three times longer then the New Testament, it would perhaps be better to make a selection of about one-third of the Old Testament books and print them together. nvery soldier fond of reading would make room for a book of such inspired wisdom and sweetness.
In the villages and towns behind the Front, and in the camps at the Base, the great need is for Christian huts. We want all the Church huts and Y. M. C. A. huts we can get. There cannot be too many and the good done by them cannot be overestimated. They have given pleasure and comfort to millions and have saved hundreds of thousands from sin and misery. The Y. M. C. A. ought to be supported with both hands. It is doing a magnificent work and will have a warm place in the affections and memories of our soldiers for half a century to come. Church huts are also needed. The churches will miss a great opportunity of doing good and of endearing their name in the memories of the soldiers if they fail to build huts for them. It is not enough to help the Y. M. C. A. The Churches must take the responsibility for their own members. The duty of each Religious Communion is to provide for the needs of its own men and it cannot escape this duty by merely helping the Y. M. C. A. or some other organization to care for them. Mothers should rear their own children, not put them out to nurse, if they wish to win their affection and acquire a dominant influence over their lives. The Churches cannot depute others to look after their soldier-boys and still retain their allegiance.
But, wherever they come from, we want huts all along the back of the Front and at the Base where men are encamped for rest and training. Then the workers in the huts and the chaplains in the regiments will be able to provide adequately for both the social and spiritual needs of the soldiers. The war is a magnificent opportunity for the Church of Christ to win to itself and Christ the manhood of the nation.
I believe that America will surprise the world by her military achievement. And I believe, with all my heart, that the Churches of America will rise to the full height of their magnificent moral and spiritual opportunities. May God bless all who fight for freedom and justice beneath the folds of the Star Spangled Banner.
A CHINESE WOMAN WORSHIPPING AT AN IDOL SHRINE NEAR CANTON
CAKES, FOWL AND PORK SOME CHINESE PREACHERS UNDER CARE OF DR. A. A. FULTON OF CANTON They reach yearly more than 10,000 persons in hundreds of villages and ma rket towns Contrast of Idolatry and Christianity In China
Days in South
BY REV. A. A. FGLTON, D.D., CANTON, CHINA Missionary of the Preshyterian Church, U. S. A.
T HE Kwong Tung, or Broad East, province is one of the wealthiest and most populous of China's twenty provinces. The broad West River, and the North River, with many smaller affiuents, provide finest facilities for an immense water traffic, and the southern part of the province is a network of canals and small streams, making easy of access scores of large cities and thousands of towns and villages. The boat-life in Canton is one of the sights of a peculiar kind that cannot be equalled in any part of the world. Tens of thousands of people live in these boats, which are of every length, breadth, and height, from the small, fast clipper boat, fifteen feet long and four feet wide, the home of five persons, to the big salt and wood boat, the home of twenty or thirty persons. Not only at Canton, but on the innumerable streams, creeks and canals of the interior are found other tens of thousands of boats which are needed to carry produce to the different cities and markets on the banks of these streams. These rivers and canals provide the finest opportunities for carrying on the work of evangelization. The splendid facilities for reaching the vast multitudes in one of the most densely populated parts of the world have been very inadequately utilized; and the time has now come when every mission having work in these finely watered districts should have a boat, properly equipped and supplied with a band of workers, under the direction of a capable leader. Such a sailing boat could be had for $500, and would be one of the most economical and effective means of reaching thousands of villages, remote from chapels, and never visited by any evangelist. Twenty-five years ago I began work in a hired boat, taking with me a native doctor, a graduate of the Canton Hospital, and three evangelists. My work was confined to four districts in the southwestern part of the province. These four counties are the home of the vast majority of the Chinese now living in the United States. More than half of the Chinese in United States come from the San Ning District, which is one of the largest and most populous of these four counties. At that time it was next to impossible to secure even the meanest shop in any market or city for chapel uses. The prejudice was strong against our doctrines. For more than a year we used the boat, visiting hundreds of villages; and by dispensing medicine and by small surgical operations we gradually gained the favor of the people in certain localities. and were able to secure a shop in the outskirts of a market town. After more than two years of work in the hired boat, dispensing medicines and preaching in villages, we were able to gain entrance to half a dozen markets. For some years
we confined our efforts to securing openings in other markets; and with these chapels in our possession we could reach the villages adjacent. Today the old prejudice has vanished; we can go into any of these villages and people will listen as long as we have endurance to preach. Here is a magnificent outlook, with corresponding responsibility upon the Churches.
Idolatry is by no means dead, but the persistent attacks made daily in the seventy chapels and churches in these districts against the folly and cost of idolatrous worship are undermining the foundations of supersti- tions. Of this we have abundant proof. We had secured with great difficulty a small shop in a very undesirable locality outside of the wall of the city of San Ning. Prejudice was strong against us. At the end of two years we were able to obtain a piece of ground close to the west gate of the city, and in a much better locality. This ground was purchased by converts and a small building was erected. This building was attacked, and would have been destroyed but for the protection given by the magistrate, who affirmed that by treaty right we could not be dispossessed of the chapel. After a year's work better feeling prevailed, and with increased contributions from Chinese in United States we began the erection of a new Chapel. The Gentry strongly opposed us, and petitioned the magistrate to refuse protection. The magistrate gave protection, but refused permission to erect a building higher than the roof of the adjacent idol temple. W-e erected a building at a cost of $ 5,000, worth today $ IO,OOO, and have since added another story. The idol temple has been turned into a wood-shop, and four similar temples have been given over to business and government uses. The Church i~ now too small to seat the members, and already $IO,OOO has been subscribed towards a new building to seat 1,000 members. The present building will be used for school purposes.
At Chung Lau, another large market town, we began work in a small shop with half a dozen converts. After some years of steady hammering the shop was filled to overflowing with converts, and members opened subscription books towards a new building. The result was the purchase of a site at the cost of $3,000 and the erection of a building that cost $12,ooo-all by Chinese Christians.
When the work in these districts came under my care-about twenty-three years ago-we had six small shops for chapels and about forty converts. Prejudice was so strong against us that it was with great difficulty that we could retain our hold on the six shops. Nearly everyone of them was looted and the Christians persecuted. At Chik Hom, one of the largest markets, a shop was secured before I had charge of the work. The shop of one of the first converts was looted and the convert driven away; and for two years the shop was used by soldiers. Only after much litigation were we able to regain possession. A few weeks ago I was at Chik Hom. The old shop had long been given up and a
DAYS IN SOUTH CHINA
new building purchased for $2,500. This building is now inadequate to the needs of the work, and in less than half an hour $1,270 was subscribed towards a new building to scat 900 members. In the vicinity of this market, which is on the Yan Ping River, we have reached scores of villages, and there are still hundreds, that may be reached by boat, that have never been visited.
Today we confront the most unique and magnificent opportunities for wide-spread, unopposed, evangelistic work. Some years ago I took Robert Speer up one of the high hills which overlook the country near the city of Yan Ping. vVe counted 600 villages within a radius of about five miles, and in another part of the same district we counted 500 villages within a similar radius. These villages are nearly all new, built of brick, and are the homes of men who made their money in the United States. I reckon that more than ten millions of dollars have been spent in the past fifteen years in the erection of new villages, and new ones are being steadily built that show gradual improvement in lighting and ventilation.
These villages all lie wide open to evangelistic work, and we are planning to reach these villages as fast as we can command the sufficient number of workers. How are the villages of China to be most speedily and effectively reached? China may be compared to a vast forest, with millions of great trees, but with a dense growth of vines and creepers that make penetration almost impossible. Superst:tion and ignorance THE CHUNG LAU CHURCH IN SOUTH CHINA Tbis churc11 was begun in a small shop with ten or twelve converts. Now it Ius a large eongreg<'ltion that has purchased lallJ and built this !inl' rllt1rch at a cost of $1 ;") ,000
are the thorns and briars and jungle-grass that must be eradicated before we can get at the tall trees.
This we can do most effectively by putting a large force at work to remove obstructions. Today, with these great doors wide open and nearly off the hinges, and thousands of villages easily accessible, we find ourselves in a position like that which confronts our own land,. with a vast aggregation of merchandise and ships insufficient to meet the demand.
China will not be won by the reception of Christianity in the large cItIes. That they will have a large influence in support of our work is true, but we shall not win China until we have· the tens of thousands of villages in which by far the larger part of the people reside. The resident in the city may have left his village forty years ago, but he will speak of that village as his home, and the ancestral temple will be in the midst of the villages where his clan maintains and exercises complete control. The city of Canton is the largest and wealthiest in Asia, and tilere are thousands of villages within a few miles of the city, but they will not be evangelized because of the future sure predominance of Christianity in this city. They will require specific, persistent attention by opening schools and by continued and repeated visitation until a number of converts are found in each village, and then we may look for their final conversion.
"China's only hope-learning." So wrote one of her greatest Viceroys. Apart from Christianity, China had not advanced an inch in 1,000 years. China, with hundreds of millions of industrious men and women and with magnificent resources, is undefended, disorganized and practically at the mercy of Japan. How will China become strong? How did the British navy become strong? By eliminating obsolete ships and constructing new ones. By the expulsive power of Christianity the old superstitions that clog and hinder will be driven out, and the purified nation will start on a Christian basis, and all things become new. Thomas Reid once said to Congressmen: "To talk of doing something, by means of something, if you don't specify the thing to be done, or how to do it, is a waste of words."
HIS GIFT AND MIKE "Over against the treasury He sits who gave himself for me. He sees the coppers that I give Who gave his life that I might live. He sees the silver I withhold Who left for me his throne of gold. Who found a manger for his bed, Who had not where to lay his head. He sees the gold I clasp so tight, And I am debtor in his sight."
BUILDIlG OF THE LOS ANGELES BIBLE INSTITUTE
This fine building is splendidly equipped with all modern facilities for a "School of the Prophets,"
with aud1iorium, classrooms, dormitories, restal1rant, etc.
A Modern School of the Prophets The Bible Institute of Los Angeles and Its Work BY REV. J. H . SAMMIS, LOS ANGELES, CALlFORNIA A MONG the agencies for the speedier evangelization of the world, none is more significant, efficient and hopeful than the "Bible Institute and ~lissionary Training School" movement. Other agencies have proved inadequate to meet the conditions. The college and seminary process of making missionaries is slow. All men cannot spend seven years to fit themselves to tell "To sinners round vVhat a dear Saviour they have found." The Great Teacher Himself, did not ask more than three years to prepare men for that purpose; in fact, He sent out His first seventy in far less time than that, and ordained one man on the briefest acquaintance, bidding him go home to his friends and tell them how great things the Lord had done for him. Alarmed and ashamed at the meager achievements of eighteen or
twenty centuries of testimony, holy men of God, moved, we believe, by the Holy Ghost, resolved to prepare and scatter people who could not afford years of study· that they might, according to primitive methods, go "everywhere preaching the Word." Spurgeon, Guinness, Moody, Gordon, pioneers in this blessed work, were men of God-dear-eved, discerning the needs and opportunities of the time, and essaying t~ fill them; seers in the true sense, they foresaw the approaching apostasy, and prepared to meet it by training many men and women in the spirit· and letter of the VVord. They have sown the earth with a sound and godly seed-colporteurs, Bible women, church secretaries, pastors' assistants, teachers, evangelists, missionaries, founders and superintendents of Bible schools and colleges. The blessing of the Almighty rests upon their work, a fact which the China Inland, Africa Inland, and Christian Missionary Alliance Missions, as well as other efficient, independent groups attest; while the large contributions made for their support prove that they enjoy the confidence and commendation of the Church.
THE BIBLE INSTITUTES AND THE TRUTH While many professors and preachers everywhere are adrift, the Bible Institutes are holding fast to the old anchorage, the "Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture" and the age-long creed of the Church.
Popular faith in the Bible as a revelation of a righteous and gracious God is being undermined; the love of many has waxed cold; "doctrines of demons" are being multiplied and propagated, and gain adherents from the bosom of the Church. Many pulpits give an uncertain sound, preaching the renovation of the social order rather than the regeneration of the individual. Meanwhile, the great bulk of heathenism lies unevangelized, while men are being ordained and sent forth whose education has biased them against "the Gospel of the grace of God," and whose work will pull down what they should build up.
It is probable that many other Bible Institutes would subscribe to the following statement of doctrine which dedares the beliefs of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles: "We hold the historic faith of the Church as expressed in the common creed of Christendom, and including: The Trinity of the Godhead, The Deity of Christ, The Personality of the Holy Ghost, The Supernatural and Plenary Authority of the Holy Scriptures, The Unity in Diversity of the Church which is the Body and Bride of Christ, The Substitutionary Atonement, The Necessity of the New Birth, The Maintenance of Good Works, The Sec.ond Coming of Christ, The Immortality of the Spirit, The Resurrection of the Body, The Life Everlasting of Believers, The Endless Punishment of the Impenitent, The Reality and Personality of Satan."
Men who hold a creed like that believe they have something to
WOMA N'S LYCEU'J CLUB THE FISHERMAN'S
CONDUCTING A STREET MEETING A GROUP AT A SHOP MEETING THE J EWISH SUNDAY SC H OOL THE MEXICAN SUN DAY SCHOOL iVorkers of the Los Angeles Bible Institute and Theil' Work
preach and teach that proves the "power of God unto salvation" and unto evangelization, for their students are filled with interest and zeal to spread their faith and to sa-e some from the burning. Let all Chris- tians give thanks to God that there are still knightly champions of the Gospel, and give these men their countenance and their prayers; they need them in these perilous times.
The Bible Institute is not a rival of the theological schools. The Bible Institute of Los Angeles has upwards of twenty of her graduates now completing their studies in seminaries, and wishes them God-speed with all her heart, thankful that she has had the privilege of rooting and grounding them in the inspired Word; and she limits herself to un- folding that Scripture which is given by inspiration of God, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work.
The Bible Institute of Los Angeles is not of man; it is a foundation of God; not made, it grew. Altogether unpremeditated and inci- dental in origin, it developed logically from a simple, every day attempt to do what the hand found to do. The Rev. T. C. Horton, a consecrated servant of God, of strong and lovable personality, was called to labor as the Bible teacher of the congregation of Immanuel Presbyterian Church, in Los Angeles, California. Here he found a score or so of young men, whom he gathered together into a Bible class, inspired with his own enthusiasm, and pledged to meeting weeklv for' Bible study and working daily a,t the business of soul-saving. They named the organization "The Fishermen's Club," taking for their motto Matt. 4: I9: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Mr. Horton believed that the power of God was in His Word, and that it would interest and quicken young men if persistently expounded and pressed upon them. He did not hesitate to keep before them such fundamental doctrines of the Word as we have previously named, to show their manifest truth, their harmony with experience and their consistency with one another, while he kept the boys busy pressing these truths home on the consciences of their comrades. They became deeply interested and grew amazingly fond of fishing.
Shortly after the organization of the Fishermen's Club, Mrs. Horton began the "Lyceum Club," a similar work among voung women from the shops, offices and homes of the city. Many of these young people, when they saw the truth and discovered how the Lord could and would use them, became eager to consecrate their lives to specific Christian service. They felt the need of deeper study, and started daily classes in one of the city churches. This incioient Bible Institute was duly organized and incorporated as "The Bible Institute of Los Angeles," with Lyman Stewart as President, T. C. Horton, Superintendent, a sympathetic Board of Directors, and an able and spiritual company of teachers for its Faculty. This new born and rapidly growing institution soon felt the need of a permanent and well-appointed
A MODERN SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS
home, adequate to its present and approaching needs; the magnificent structure now standing at 536-558 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, is the result-a monument to the faith, self-sacrifice and sagacity of this group of servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have been thus explicit in the hope that some pastor-reader may be persuaded that the young people under his care have the same tastes and latent possibilities as those of the Immanuel congregation, and will respond if in prayerful effort he endeavors to waken in them an appetite for God's Word and a zeal for His service. A Bible In- stitute may not be the outcome, but candidates for Bible Institutes and for the world-wide propagation of the truth will be the result.
The location of the Institute has been described as follows: "Los Angeles is the logical center for such a work. California bids fair to double her population by the end of the first quarter of the 20th cen- tury. The sum of her census should reach 6,000,000 by that time, and of these Los Angeles may claim a sixth. Practically a million souls will live within the city's limits. This Californian population will flow in from the round world; already forty-three countries are with us. Add to this our unparalleled tourist and transient population-we are touching elbows with the whole world. Now take your map. You see that what New York is on the Eastern Coast, Los Angeles and San Francisco are destined to be on the Western. What that city is to the Atlantic and Europe, we are to the Pacific and Asia; a more populous continent, more numerous isles, and a more needy hemisphere. Japan is our next door neighbor;. China only a door beyond. Alaska and the Philippines are ours, and South America's coastline embraces 50,000,- 000 as needy of the Word of God as pagan Asia. Mexico is on our borders, and in the last decade, over 33,000 of her citizens crossed them. The great canal has linked the seas, and the commerce of the world passing to and fro from Occident to Orient, discharges its immigrants and merchandise at our commodious harbors. This city with its assured metropolitan prospects and cosmopolitan concourse;' affording opportunity for the most varied experience in practical ministry; its strong Christian community, more than three times that of San Francisco; its unsurpassed climate, advantageous to student life, and perennial out of door service-is the natural seat for a Bible School."
The course of study covers two years and includes: Biblical Introduction, Book Study, Chapter Summary, Personal Work, Bible Doctrine, Analvsis. Christian Evidences, Missions, Sermon Preparation, Practical vVork, Teacher Training, Methods, Music, and Special Lectures.
These studies are pursued under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty, including such names as Dr. R. A. Torrey, Dr. William Evans, Rev. John H. Hunter, and Rev. T. C. Horton.
All work must be conscientiously done. Examinations are rigid.
Each graduate must have acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the English Bible as a whole; have outlined every book; summarized every chapter, and scrutinized every verse. The doctrines are studied under the guidance of Dr. Torrey and formulated only after a direct and definite process of inductive study, comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Much stress is laid on the study and practice of personal work. Students are drilled in the use of the Word with inquirers of all sorts, and must be in continual and daily practice of the work so essential to evangelism anywhere.
The life of these candidates for Christian service in the Institute home is almost ideal. It is pervaded by an atmosphere of quiet, joyous, sane, every day Christianity, where the life of faith, prayer and service is sustained and quickened by fellowship with like-minded members of the Father's family. Though so many denominations and nations are represented, the unity of mind and spirit is as pleasant as it is surprising. Here is realized the apostle's exhortation, "Be of one mind." One mind is a mental state, impossible without a recognized standard. The students soon come to know the nature of the Bible as a veritable revelation from God, and therefore accept its authority as the mold of their opinions and the end of controversy among them. They take It not for what it might or should say, but for what it does say; and their lives are a demonstration of their wisdom. Nothing would secure the dissolution of denominational variance like letting the Book do the talking, while the Church does the work.
The foregoing seems practical enough,. but the Institute has what it calls its "Practical Departments," where the student is led to do the work to which he has consecrated his life; so that when he enters upon the actual discharge of those duties he may' do it as a veteran and not as a raw recruit. This practical work is a great boon to the city and its local Christian agencies. Here between three and four hundred young Christians, overflowing with intelligent zeal, are working soul savers, in one way or another, wherever they go-not only in religious meetings, Sunday-schools, etc., but by the wayside, in the city resorts, conveyances, and everywhere else.
Besides systematic house to house visitation, tract distribution, Sunday-school -work, preaching on the streets, in shops, factories, car barns, etc., students carryon a Jewish Mission, an itinerating evangelization of the vast oil fields of the state, a Rescue Mission in the city, and a Seaman's Mission at the harbor. The Spanish work among th(' constantly growing Spanish speaking population of many thousand, is diligently prosecuted with excellent results. A corps of truly remarkable Bible women give their whole time to canvassing the neighborhoods of the city, pressing upon housewives and mothers the claims of the Gospel, and' the consolations of its support and promise; and their reports which may be heard from time to time at monthly luncheons
given at the Institute building, arc of surpassing interest and encouragement.
While, of course, each student is not personally engaged in all this life and detail, yet all have some part in it, and are living, moving and having their being in an atmosphere of devout, aggressive service, acquiring a knowledge of the spirit and methods necessary to the missIOnary.
The Bible Institute's "Biola" Press and "Biola" Book Room, are important elements in its work, the latter being a depot of attested Christian literature for reading, study and distribution- the former being especially for the printing of Institute publications, of which it has turned out millions of pages, particularly illustrated tracts in Oriental languages. The Institute also publishes a monthly magazine, "The King's Business," which is edited by Dr. R. A. Torrey, and is one of the most helpful of evangelical and evangelistic periodicals.
The Institute has lately established itself in the Province of Hunan, China, and become sponsor for the work of Dr. Frank A. Kellar, so graphically described in THE MISSIONARY REVIEW two years ago. This work is done by means of houseboats in which the students travel and pursue their studies, propagating the Gospel as in houseboat and town. It is proposed to increase the fleet to twelve boats and to ereet also an Institute building, for which ground has already been purchased, where after two years' study and service on the boats, the graduates may receive an additional year of preparation, together with such students from other missions as may wish to take the regular Institute course.
This Hunan Work is unique in form and rich in possibilities. The work is diligently prosecuted and carefully watched, and results are permanently conserved.
IN CHINA-~A COLPORTAGI': BOAT AT f1o,m / TRAVELING PULPIT How the Institute vVorkers Travel
the War and
.BY PRI~CIPIL GANDlER, TORONTO, CANADA BEFORE the war Canada was a young country, whose people were free from the burdens of Lmpire, were full of their own plans, and had little more sense of responsibility for the older world of Europe than a healthy growing boy of fifteen has for his aunts and his cousms.
The earliest of her people (and one-third of her population still) were French Canadians, simple-minded and devout Roman Catholics. With but little education, unable to read or not given to reading, contented to obey and allow the priest to think for them-they were a childlike people, parochial in their interests and outlook. Though loyal to Britain, because of the freedom she gave them in language and religion, they were out of sympathy with modern France as an apostate from the Church. Living their own shielded life, quite apart from world changes and commotions, they had little knowledge of world problems and little interest in world politics. To send their sons, or have their sons taken from them, to die on the battle-fields of Europe was to them a wicked and unnatural thing to which they would not consent.
The early settlers in the Maritime Provinces and Ontario were chiefly of British stock and of Protestant faith. They brought with them a love for God's Book, God's House, and God's day. They could not live without the Church and the school, and these were planted in the days of their poverty and early struggles. The first colleges were for the training of a Christian ministry, and these widened out into universities.
As the West opened up all nationalities flocked in, but the youths who went West from Ontario and the Maritime Provinces dominated the West with the ideals of the East, until there grew up a citizenship in four provinces west of the great lakes who led the whole Dominion in progressive social legislation. A relatively small population had laid upon it the herculean task of developing the resources of half a continent, creating means of transportation, and working out political and social institutions adapted to her rapid growth and varied condition of life.
What saved Canada from taking a provincial attitude and refusing to take her part in the world conflict? It was largely the sense of a responsibility as wide as humanity, begotten in the Protestant people by the Foreign Mission policy of their churches. Even in pioneer days they were not allowed to think only of themselves and their own new country. Seventy-five years ago there was a little group of weak and struggling congregations composed of poor people in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Here John Geddie dared to stand up and advocate the establishment of a mission amongst the cannibals of the New Hebrides. He suggested that the backward state of things at home might be the result of not looking more to interests abroad, and that a wider beneficence, which looked to the welfare of those beyond, would be returned in larger blessing upon the church in all her labors at home.
A little church, poor, inadequately manned, undertook missionary effort amongst the heathen on the other side of the world and, as a result, there came a new stimulus and a new ability to do the work at home. Young men offered for the ministry, a college was equipped for their training, the needy home fields were occupied, and congregations suffused with the missionary spirit rapidly became self-sustaining. The foreign work developed along with the home work until the Canadian churches had missions in every part of the heathen world, and were the first to have a national missionary convention and adopt a national missionary policy.
With a world outlook of this kind, is it any wonder that the Protestant churches in Canada were quick to see the world significance of this war and to feel their responsibility to share in the sacrifice by which the family of nations drawn together in love and common service? Britain made no request to Canada for one man or one dollar, but spontaneously and without delay the Government of Canada said: "vVe are behind you in this world-service with all our men and all our wealth." The call was given for volunteers and four hundred thousand men responded. In one denomination, out of four hundred students and other young men employed in Home Mission effort of one kind or another, three hundred enlisted for overseas service; and every Protestant church can tell much the same story.
Now in the fourth year of war, when Canadians know what war means by bitter bereavement in thousands of homes, they have returned a non-party Government pledged to see this conflict through; and by use of the selective draft for National Service are seeking to secure more men for the front without lessening the production of food and war necessities. The man who, perhaps more than any other, has made a Union War Government possible in Canada is the Honorable N. W. Rowell, a member of the Continuation Committee of the World Missionary Conference and a leader in the Laymen's l1issionary lVIovement.
In the midst of this tremendous effort there has been some divertillg of thought and energy from the Foreign Mission work of the churches. A few missionaries from China and India have been drafted into special service for the Empire such as they only could render. Comparatively few new men are being sent to the mission fields, and no great forward movement is being pushed by the Boards; but with all the other demands the givings of the people have not decreased and there is no thought of withdrawal from any field or any phase of the work. On the contrary, in the lurid light of this war, Canadian Christians are seeing as never
before that the one need of the world and the only hope of the world is Jesus Christ, that no nation is safe until all nations are Christian. Herein we may find a new challenge to the Church, a new call for enlistment in Christ's world-wide campaign of love-the only campaign which can put an end to war and make the nations one family in Christ. Had there been in European Christianity a sympathy wider than national boundaries, a love for fellow-men broad as the love of God, a recognition of men everywhere as potential sons of God-not enemies to be destroyed, but brothers to be redeemed, this war in Europe had never come. It is the lack of the very things for which Foreign Missions stand that has put a nominally Christian Europe where it is today. Had Roman Catholic Greek and Protestant Christians put one-tenth of the blood and treasure, which they have lavished on this war, into an effort to carry out the Great Commission of Christ which sent Paul to Europe, had one-tenth the number of men gone forth with the love of Christ in their hearts to declare God's message of peace and good-will, there would be no need of war funds today and, instead of a Europe filled with racehatred and drenched in blood, we would have nations united in love and brotherhood spending and being spent in efforts for the common good..
For the future we must take our choice-pour out our blood and treasure freely in Christ's world-wide campaign of love, or have cumulative sin and hatred call again for blood and treasure in war still more terrible than the present conflict. And so today the churches of Canada are making special appeal to the Christian boys, not yet old enough for military service, to count all things which appeal to youthful ambitions but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, and for the privilege of devoting their whole lives to the importation of that knowledge to others. Our faith and hope is that, under the quickening influence of the sacrifices of this war, a whole army of young men and young women will rise up from the Christian congregations all over the land to follow Christ the King-ready for home service or overseas service, as the King may will-ready for life, or ready for death in that world-wide campaign by which alone the spirit of war can be cast out and the spirit of brotherhood prevail. There will be the same call which war makes for heroism, endurance and self-sacrifice, but the call will come at the bidding of Jove and not of hatred, and it will be to construct and not to destroy, to save and not to kill, The Key in Your Pocket Ministers laymen, yea, and women, too, often cry aloud in meetings for prayer, for God to open the windows of heaven and pour _out His promised blessings until there shall not be room enough to receive them," Yet all the while they have in their pockets the key that can open the windows-the tithe of their in- comes-and they refuse to use it (Malachi 3 :10).
Rev. John Newton Forman of
BY REV. J.·C. R. EWI:"JG, D.D., LL.D., LAlIORE, INDIA President of Forman Christian College O NE of the great missionaries of the Church to non-Christian lands, has just been called to rest. ~t!s no .exa.ggerat.ion to de- clare that, from amongst all the mlSSlOnanes 10 India, few, if any, could be found whose loss would have been so keenly felt by the Church in that country.
He belonged to a great missionary family. His grandfather, Rev.
John Newton, entered the Panjab in 1834, and his father, Rev. Chas.
"V. Forman, D.D., in 1848. Five of the children and eleven of the grand-children of Mr. N ewton in the course of years found a sphere for the work of their lives in India. One of lY1r. Newton's five chil- dren became the wife of Dr. For- man and was the mother of three missionary sons and two missionary daughters. Of these sons one is the subject of this sketch. The Newton and Forman families have given an aggregate of approx- imately five hundred years of ser- JOHN NEWTON FORMAN vice to India.
John Forman was born at Amritsar in the Panjab on July 1I, 1863. At the age of fourteen he was sent to America for purposes of education. He graduated from Princeton in the class of r884 and at once entered the Princeton Theological Seminary. Having spent two years there he entered the Union Seminary, but almost immediately suspended his studies in order to undertake active service in connection with the newly organized Student Volunteer lJovement. It was in this connec- tion that he became known to the great body of Christian students of the time, both in this country and in England, as he and his friend, Robert W"ilder, labored to place before the youth of these countries the privilege and duty of giving the Gospel to the nations.
Without returning to the Seminary he was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1887, the charge to the evangelist being delivered by the friend and pupil of his grandfather and father, Rev. Dr. K. C. Chat-
terjee, who was visiting America at the time. In January, 1888, he sailed for India, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis- sions, and with the exception of brief periods of furlough, spent all of the time that remained to him in the closest touch with the people of Hin- dustan.
In an attempt to summarize the qualities of the man, and the un- usual beauty and power of his life, the following points are worthy of notice. It is no part of our present purpose to describe the nature of the influence exerted by him upon the Church at home, in the months prl:- ceding his entry upon active service abroad and during his visits to this country. Of this service others are better qualified to speak.
John Forman was preeminently a preacher. To the public procla- mation of the Message of the Gospel he devoted his days, with a per- sistency, fidelity and diligence which none of us have seen surpassed. He was equipped with a most unusual facility in the use of the Urdu and Hindi languages. As a child he had used the former, and so he came to a careful study of the language at a later period, possessed of the enor- mous advantage of being able to speak India's languages with the tone and accent of the people themselves.
It was not unusual to hear Indians remark that they themselves could not hope to be able to rival "Jan Forman Sahib" in the use of their own tongue. His facility in the use of English was great, but his capac- ity for chaste and eloquent speech in Urdu was even more noteworthy.
2. He was a great Evangelist. He was constantly in demand as a leader in conventions for the deepening of spiritual life, and it is perhaps not too much to say that no missionary of his day exercised so widely-extended as well as helpful an influence upon the Christian Church of all denominations. When the General Assembly in 19 I 5 organized a great campaign movement, the thoughts of all turned to Mr. Forman, and in response to this call he visited practically all of the congregations allied to the Presbyterian Church in India. This unique and fruitful service was his final gift to the Church, for the spiritual growth of which he rejoiced to spend himself.
A great host of men and women who have attended conventions at Sialkote, Saharanpur, Lucknow, Jabalpur, Lahore, Mainpuri and other nlaces as well. are devoutly thanking God for his messages of tenderness and power which meant so much to them and are grieving that they will see here his face no more.
His sanity as a leader was conspicuous. At no time was he ever known to be swept away or even seriously moved by any of the more or less fanatical 'fads,' with which he was sometimes brou!!ht face to face. As a steadying influence, his presence in the midst of the warmth of a revival was invaluable.
Shortly after entering India, an impression came to him that possibly he was doing wrong to live as a European, and thus to fail in coming
TIl~ R~V. JOIl)! NEWTON FORMAN INDIA
into the closest touch with the masses. In his perplexity he sought the advice of the late Dr. Ellinwood, his father and one or two friends. 1 hey urged that he refrain from severing his relation with the Board. Accordingly, he determined to relinquish all allowances except $10.00 a month, and departed to a remote place, far removed from all western life and influence. Six months ot testing this method convinced him that this was not for him a plan of work conducive to the greatest results. rVith characteristic humility and frankness he announced the failure of the scheme, and forthyvith returned to his place in the Mission.
3. His personality ,vas one of unusual beauty and strength. He was preeminently a man of prayer. Careful and systematic study of God's Word was a part of the work of every day. His face often seemed to shine with a light which is never seen except on the face of one who is in conscious fellowship with God. Grace, gentleness and humility marked his attitude toward the lowliest. It was indeed amongst the very ignorant and lowly that the chief task of his life was accomplished, and yet how gladly he gave to them the best gifts that he had-all unconscious the while that they were such as might have won for a man of less consecration a place amongst the learned and the great.
Few men of his day have preached the Gospel to so many people as he. He found little interest or profit in argumentative discussions. He had a definite message, and it was the old Message of man's sin, God's love and the sufficiency of Jesus Christ, the Saviour.
The hearts of many go forth in deepest sympathy to his devoted wife and daughter who are temporarily in America, to his brothers and sisters on the field, two brothers and two sisters in the U. S. A., and to a multitude of Indian Christians whom he loved, and who will feel his absence from them with the keenest sense of personal loss.
Why he should have been called and others of us left is a question for which we have no answer, save that his Lord, whom he loved so . devotedly and served so assiduously, had need of him in a higher service. India is the poorer for his absence, but he awaits a reunion in the life beyond with thousands whom he helped while here, and whose lives are enriching the India that he has left.
Missionary Service Flags Several Mission Boards are publishing lists of their miSSIOnaries and miss:ollary sons who are in the service of their country as soldiers, chaplains, physicians. nurses and Y. M. C. A. workers. The Presbyterian Board has issued a long list and now the Congregationalist suggests that "the American Board might well devise a service flag, to be hung on those churches from which a son or daughter has gone forth to the service of Christ in the mission field. It would be interesting to learn what churches could display them. They would be comparatively few, for there are only 680 Congregational missionaries to be located among 6,089 churches; not that, indeed, for very many of the American Board's staff have come from other than Congregational churches. The smal1er and remoter churches would outshine in this particular the larger and more conspicuous ones."
Asia Thinks of
By TYLER DE""ET Condensed from an article from the January Humber of ASIA, a jourllal of the Amer- ican Asiatic Association, New York.
"THE missionaries are a bad lot." many tourists never get very far outside One can hardly set foot on trans- of rcutes marked out by these zealous Pacific steamer without hearing this and often self-appointed guides.
verdict. "They come out here to live in Introductions to consuls and other luxury and to make money; they never government officials and to European make a sincere convert." Such reports residents are valuable. It is regrettable come in freely from the tourist, who that tourists do not use them more. Not rapidly gathers convictions from what he only do these people lead an exiled life, hears on the steamer and in the hotels, which makes a visit from a countryman and also from highly respected people with the latest news from home very who have had long residence in the welcome, but they are also able to an- Orient. swer many questions and offer much ad- During the last few years I have spent vice of great value. . . . However, one nearly half my time, as tourist and may utilize to the limit the services of writer, traveling about in "foreign mis- both guide and the European and yet sionary countries" and on the steamers see very little of the real Orient. . . .
between them and home. These criti- Like some other places, Asia is chiefly a cisms have always interested me. When state of mind or a point of view. One I first heard them I had few positive will have to search else,,,here than in convictions on the subject, but I attempt- streets, shops or temples to find it.
ed wherever possible to make a personal Some years ago in Tokyo I met Carl investigation of every charge. I have Crow. I was about to take my first almost never failed, when talking with plunge into China, and was then carry- either a foreigner or a native, to come ing in my grip Crow's guide-book to the around to this question: Vhat do you country. "Vhat suggestions have you think of the missionaries? What follows for the trip?" I asked. "How can I see is merely a record of these investigations. China best?"
There are two ways for the tourist to "Go to the missionaries," replied see the Orient; one is to follow the Crow. Then he modestly added that his trail of the good hotels, carry a few guide-book was largely a compilation of consular introductions, as many cards as information which he had collected from possible to business men, and to supple- the missionaries. "They are the only ment these with the eagerly proffered people," he explained ,"who really knmv services of ricksha coolies, taxi drivers the country."
and hotel guides. The other way is to I have had frequent occasion to test go to the missionary for advice and in- this assertion and I feel impelled to formation. ]"('cord that it is profoundly true. . . .
The native guide, either professional If olle wishes to see the Orient that is, or volunteer, has one big idea and very on(' will have to make very generous use few small ones. As directlv, or adroitl· of the missionary. And yet very few as possible, he wishes to get his party t~ tourists sec him at all.
some place where the tourist will spend The missionary is often the one per- some money, upon which the guide can SOli available who understands both the return later to collect a commission…. language of the tourist and the language It is unfortunately true that a great of the country; but more important is the fact that often he alone understands of public sentiment, and equal in extent and thoroughness to the best there was vhy one asks the questions one does….. of the kind in the United States not many years ago. The English-speaking native may under- There has never been a time since the stand one's words but unless he belongs japanese Parliament was organized that there have not been more than a to the very limited class of those who dozen Christians in the membership. The Japanese are as sensitive as Amerihave been educated abroad he is practic- cans to detect insincerity among Chris- tians. The very fact that these people ally at a loss to understand why anyone whom I have mentioned are who they are and what they are, contributes an would ask such a fool question anv- important answer to the question, What does japan think of its Christians? how. . . . . The strength of Christianity in Japan is all the more remarkable when one re- In the back of my mind when I met members that there are still many people the missionary were the current criti- living who remember when this severe cisms. I have always found him willing edict was in force: "So long as the sun to meet them frankly when they were shall warm the earth let no Christian be stated. . . . so bold as to come to japan; and let them all know that the King of Spain Do they ever make sincere converts? himself, or the Christian God, or the The name "rice Christians" has spread Great God of All, if he violates this throughout Asia. It implies that the command, shall pay for it with his convert is held by the inducement of his head." daily rice and other economic, social, and even political advantages. I have been As one passes over to China one entold again and again very soberly and counters a similar list of imposing names. seriously by Europeans who have lived There are the Nieh Brothers,cotton manfor ten, twenty and thirty years in the ufacturers of Shanghai; Wong Kwong, Orient that missionaries never have president of the Yangtse Engineering made a sincere convert. Works at Hankow; many of the officers of the Hanyang Iron Works; Dr. P. One would indeed be very coura- W. Kuo, dean of the Government Norgeous, as well as something else, to sug- mal College at Nanking; Dr. W. W. gest in japan to Prof. Nitobe of the Yen, recently minister to Germany, and Imperial University, Senator Soroku his brother who is building the govern- Ebara of the House of Peers, Dr. Ukita, ment railway from Hankow to Canton j editor of the Taiyo " Takutaro Sakai of C. T. Vang, until the recent revoluthe Mitsui Bank, Mr. Kobayashi, the tion left him without office, Vice-Presitooth-powder man; Mr. Ohara, the dent of the Senate; C. C. Wong, who millionaire silk manufacturer of Kura- has served as Auditor General for the shiki; Mr. Hatano of the Ayabe Silk IVlinistry of Posts and Communications; Filatures,:Madame Yajima and Miss and Yung Tao, the millionaire philan- Tsuda, both of whom were recently thropist of Peking. I selected these decorated by the Emperor; ·Madame names from a much longer list repre- Hirooka, daughter of the Mitsui family sentative Chinese Christians who talked and one of the richest women in Japan, freely of their Christian convictions. that they were "rice Christians." lVladame Hirooka .told me that during The president of the recent Kwangthe last three years she has, under the tUllg Provincial Assembly was the Revdirection of the Union Evangelistic erend K. Y. Shia, who was called to that Camprugn, stumped the Empire from office from the pastorate of the Second Hokkaido to Shimonoseki, speaking in Congregational Chmch of Honolulu! practically every large town in church, hall or theater, wherever she could find shelter, for Christianity. Mr. Kobayashi, IHr. Ohara and Hatano, and I might mention many other Christian manufacturers, are setting standarrls in industrial betterment and in welfare work for th('ir employc('s far in advance
Over in India, where I was repeatedly to go out and do the same kind of assured that all Christians are "rice work.' " Christians," I met Sir Rajah Harnam Singh, a charming Hindu gentleman, The Times of India, published in whose adherence to his Christian views Bombay, is one of the two or three out- cost him a kingdom. He assured me that standing newspapers of the land. Sir he had no regrets. Two years ago he Stanley Reed, the editor, perhaps more served as moderator of the Presbyterian than any other European newspaper man in India, enjoys the confidence of General Assembly for India. • . . . the Indians themselves. I asked him, I have never been content to rest on "What do you think of the mission- aries ?" the missionary's estimate of his own York. I have been astonished to meet "One cannot estimate the influence of among his converts men and women of the missions," he replied, "by the num- such distinction, but I have gone even ber of converts or by the statistical re- further than that to find out what Asia ports. I am not an active member of thinks of missionaries. I took the ques- any church, but I will say this: If tion to Sir James J;leston, of Lucknow, missions could not show one single con- Lieutenant Governor of the United vert, they would still be justified ten Provinces, and recently member of the thousand fold by the moral influence first Imperial Council in London. He which they exert on the country. I have is an old Indian Civil Service man who fifty or sixty Indian friends here in Bomhas worked his way up through the bay, unusual men, leaders of exceptional ranks to his present position. . . . ability, reformers. One and all, they have been powerfully influenced by He said, "Of course, there is a great Christianity, although some of them will difference of opinion about mission work. not admit it, and others do not know Some scoff at it; some value it for its whence the influence has come." purpose to convert the native to Christianity; others appreciate it for its Perhaps the most significant statehumanitarian services. The government ment of any comes from Dr. G. E. takes a neutral attitude but it does enor- lVIorrison, formerly correspondent to the mously value the assistance rendered by London Times in Peking, and more rethe missionaries to good government. cently special foreign adviser to the The missions have helped in education President of China. He said to me, "It and have done a great deal for the de- is easy to criticize the missionaries, to pressed classes which the government say humorous things and to see the ridiccould not do and which the Indian is ulous, but their work is good. When- ever I hear anyone abusing missionaries unwilling to do. . • . . and saying that their work is valueless, I N ever shall I forget a frank conversa- set him down as a fool. He simply does not know what he is talking about. One tion which I had in his palace with His cannot travel a week in any direction Highness the Gaekwar of Baroda. He even in the remotest corners of the Retold me of some of the measures y;hich Pllblic and not run upon a mission. he has already introduced for the better- These places are sources of good and ment of his subjects, and of the difficul- only of good. They are the greatest ties which he had encountered. His ad- forces for the uplift of this country." miration for things American is so unqualified as to be almost naive, but I :Most tourists never see a missionary think I was most of all impressed when unless by chance they meet him on a he said, "I am thinking of calling to- steamer. The missionary does not fregether the missionaries and asking them quent the hotels. He is almost never at to tell me their views on how we can the dub. He does not attend the raceimprove the quality of the native priest- meeting. Usually he is off in the inhood. Then I want to call the priests terior where no tourist ever goes. together and say to them, 'Look at the There are few facilities fDr bringing the missionaries. See the sacrifices they are missionary and the tourist together. . • making to help our people. Yatl ought
", .'t ' • t~
III hr tl( ""' .11 T 1 U,. ')0 , -t'l ~ , '
", ONE OF THE INVITATION POSTERS MADE FROM JAPANESE NAPKINS Edited by MRS. E. C- CRONK, Columbia, South Carolina.
Chairman of the Committee on Melhuds of the Federation of Woman's Boards of Foreign Missions, EYE-GATE METHODS more than the gifts his mother's argu- ments failed to secure, WE have quoted glibly, "Psycholo- gists tell us that 85 per cent. of SEEING ACTUAL NEED all we know is learned through our eyes," yet we have continued to trust Delegates to the conferences held ill the magnificent grounds at BIue Ridge, ,,y largely to our tongues for methods of North Carolina, know what it is to make a dash from Robert E. Lee Hall missionary work, e talk and we argue to the dining hall on rainy days. One day a committee meeting of distinguished to win missionary converts and to in- citizens was held at Blue Ridge. Fortucrease missionary interest. Of course, nately for future conferences, that meetthat is one way, but there are other ways ing chanced to be on a rainy day. The that are often more fruitful. Deeper rain was not of the summer shower than the impression made by what we variety, but was a good steady, soaking hear is the impression made by what we downpour. Among the distinguished see. A child, who listened unmoved to gentlemen who sank in the mud at each the tale of suffering related by his step as that committee walked up the mother, when she appealed to him to do hill was William Jennings Bryan. without something himself in order to feed and clothe children who were poor No address was delivered on the need and needy, was taken to see these chil- for a walk. No "stirring appeal" was dren in their cold, bare home. Immediately he proposed to give IIp ml)ch
made, save that made by the mud which touch the mud in which some other clung tenaciously to the sales of Mr. folks constantly walk, check-books Bryan's shoes. No subscription paper would be drawn out without any frenwas circulated, no collection basket was zied appeals, and lives would be consepassed. That mud on the great common- crated to the service of God through er's shoes was worth more than appeal, service to mankind. One of the revelaand subscription paper, and collection tions of these terrible days has been the basket all put together. Because his feet power that has come with the purpose touched the mud, Mr. Bryan drew out put into lives that were being frittered his check book and wrote a check for away uselessly. Women and girls who $100.00 to start the fund which is to had been classed as mere butterflies, put a walk and pergola from Lee Hall have become heroic workers for relief agencies, yhen they have been brought to the dining hall. face to face with a suffering world. They If we could get some of the folks who are capable of greater achievements.
are not giving to missions to see and The Relation Between Seeing and Doing WHAT THEY SAW WHAT THEY DID Captain Allen Gardiner, an English He determined to return to South naval officer, saw the hopeless condition America as a messenger of the Cross. of the natives of Tierra del Fuego, There he gave his life in the effort to whom Darwin pronounced "lower than bring the Gospel to those destitute many animals and incapable of being people. ci vilized."
A party of tourists were "seeing She let her friends return to America China." One young girl was impressed without her, and Frederica Mead stayed with the need of Chinese girls for Chris- in China to teach in Ginling College, tian schools and teachers. Nanking.
A man of wealth was shown through He wrote a check which provided a an Orphan Home and saw the need and pair of shoes for the little bare feet of destitution of the children there. every orphan child in the Home.
Some girls in a southern city were These girls started a day nursery for taken to visit the negro quarters and saw negro children and secured funds to prothat the cooks going out to work either vide nurses, a kindergarten teacher for locked their small children in a room the younger children and industrial alone or turned them out on the streets. teachers for the older ones.
A girl, who went to the Blue Ridge She wrote back home for Bibles and mountains in North Carolina for her papers and spent her vacation teaching summer vacation, saw the ignorance and the children, who had never had any destitution of some of the children of other chance to learn. the mountains.
vVhen the Laymen's :Missionary Vhen they returned, their messages .l10vement began its work, a party of sixty-six laymen ,vent out to see for so stirred the first Laymen's Conventhemselves the mission fields of the world. tions that gifts still continue to come in to supply needs they saW in non-Chris- tian Jancls. .
METHObS
HOW SHALL THEY SEE? outside of "the faithful few" in ap- pointing these committees. Recently a 1. COKDCCT CO.I;IC:,,ITY SL'RVEYS. 'oman "'ho "-as olle of the regulars 011 Our missionarv societies should not do c~'erv committee appointed from her a "mail ord~r" business exclusively. chu~ch proposed that she should get Some of us live in profound and com- some one else to serve in her place on ,I fortable ignorance of the missionary committee on the orphanage work. She needs of our o,,'n communities. Every enlisted a woman who had never done church has members who would do good anything for the orphans, but who bemissionary work right at home if brought ca~le intensely interested when she visitface to face with the need. ed the institution and saw the needs, and has since given valuable service. 2. MAKE PROVISION FOR TORK AMONG FOREIGNERS. – Japan, India, 4. lVIAKE DEFINITE PLANS THAT China, Africa, Italy-all the lands of PEOPLE 'YHO ARE ABLE TO RELIEVE THE the earth are in our cities and even in ollr smaller towns. A Philadelphia N1'llD BY GIFTS OF llONEY OR TIME woman longed to go to the foreign field. Instead of having that great opportunity SHALL BE BROl-GHT FACE TO FACY she was only a pastor's wife in Phila- WITH THE NEED.-Often people are dodelphia. Even the opportunity she had ing what they are doing because no one there seemed to be endangered, for the has shown them anything better to do. good residence section in which her husband's church was located began to take S. ARRAC'{GE TOURS OF FOREIGN MISon a different complexion, as one by one SION FIELDS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE the prospcrous families moved out and ABLE TO RE;'DER LARGER SERVICE.-In dusky foreigners moved in. It seemed as many instances, a little urging will reif there was nothing to do but to follow- suit 'in a visit to mission stations being the plan of many other churches and included in the plans of a touring party. move out of the foreign quarters. Then that pastor's wife began to see. She saw 6. ENABLE PEOPLE AT HOME TO SEE the tired young mothers who seemed to TI-lF NEEDS OF THE WORLD BY PICTURES, be mere girls. She saw the children CHARTS, LA:,TERN SLIDES, PAGEANTS with bright eyes shining out from dirty AND LITERATURE. Jittle faces, as the little tots sat on the steps or swarmed over into the congest- LIVING SIGN BOARDS THAT ed streets. That church did not move. That pastor's wife did not have to in- POINT THE WAY vest any funds in an ocean voyag;e to reach her opportunity. She simply lifted Last winter a lady asked that great up her eyes and saw it, and Mr~. E. R. missionary leader, Pastor Stearns, Cassaday began the Italian Kindergarten 'I'hethcr he had always been a missionary ~md the Italian Mission which has done pastor. such splendid missionary service in a seclion of Philadelphia from which many "Oh, no," he answered. "There came ('hurches ran away. a man from Japan-." Then followed the story of the missionary from Japan, 3. ApPOINT COMMITTEES TO VISIT 'I'ho camc to the young pastor and gave IC'{STITUTIONS AND FAlIlLIES NEEDING him the thought that there was mission- AlD.-An investigation made by one ary opportunity above thc paying of an church revealed the fact that no reli~ apportionment. The support of the one ious services of any kind were held in Bible woman undertaken at that time some of the charitable institutions in h;ts grown until in 1917, Pastor that city. The' members of that church Ste;trns reported total cash privileges were greatly blessed and became a great (which is his ,ray of stating what most blessing in conducting such services. Go people call generous contributions) of $887,748.33 for foreign missions.
That same sentence, "There came a man," or "There came a woman," is the introduction to the missionary activit)' of most great workers. The sign boards
February
that point the way to eager young feet fied that their first missionary impulse are not the inanimate posts of abstract was received, as they looked at this misadvice which say: "This is the way to sionary hero, and scores of workers in missionary zeal," but are animate men the home-land dated the beginning of and women whose heroic examP.le points their interest to the day on which they the way, and compels following. met Dr. Scudder.
THREE STORIES PICTURE POSSIBILITIES I. A missionary mother was paying Not all of us can make world tours. her bill at the close of a slimmer con- Not all of us can visit the people we ference. That mother was not a woman long to meet. But all of us can bring of wealth, yet she had two sons and two the world and its peoples before our daughters with her at the conference. eyes by pictures. Never were pictures used as widely as IlO'. Often the con- "How do you manage to do it?" tents of a whole magazine or book fades asked her friend. from our minds while the striking, stir- ing message of some picture abides with "vVell, it is not easy," was the answer, us. Every book on missionary method~ "but you see I count that the strongest has something to say about pictures, yet missionary influence which I can bring we missionary folk are making scant use to bear on my boys and girls is to have of our marvelous picture opportunities. them see and come in contact with the people I want them to be like, so all dur- PICTURE METHODS THAT HAVE ing the year I save up all I can to make it possible to have my children at this BEEN TESTED conference, so that they may see and know the great leaders of the world." OF PICTURES AND ONE EMPTY One of those sons is now a missionary to FRAME.-One Sunday-school teacher China, and the indications are that the kept ever before her class the pictures of other children ,,,ill either be foreign mis- missionaries which her church supportsionaries or missionary leaders in the ed. There was always one empty frame. homeJand. The teacher and the scholars prayed con- stantly for more missionaries to be sent 2. The entertainment committee for a out. As each recruit sailed, a picture large missionary convention placed at the was put in the empty frame and another home of a woman of great wealth a frame was hung up. The prayer that plain, unassuming little missionary from the picture of some member of the class India. "Why didn't they send her some might some day fill the empty frame was of our rich delegates, who would know frequently offered. what to do in such a palace ?" wondered some of the delegates. But the little A FRAME WITH A HINGED BACK.- missionary did know what to do. For A teacher who had limited wall space the first time in her life the woman with and limited funds at her disposal put millions saw, with her own eyes, in her small hinges on the back of a picture own. home, a woman who made foreign frame which made it possible to quickly missions a reality to her. Suddenly In- insert different pictures. The boys and dia seemed to have crossed the ocean girls in her department watched with and to have come right to her very door. keen interest to see who would know . That her dollars should begin to cross the picture displayed each Sunday and . the ocean and go to India was only a welcomed eagerly the opportunity to teI! natural result. the story of each picture they knew, or to learn about new pictures. 3. When Dr. John Scudder, the pioneer medical missionary from America INSTEAD OF MATINEE AND J10VIIl to India, came home on furlough, thou- IDoLs.-Glimpses into the rooms of ouf sands of children went to his meetings to see the "missionary doctor." Years afterward, missionaries in many lands testi-
METHODS
young folks reveal the fact that the pressed by the first miSSiOnary picture companionship of the pictured folk who she saw unveiled, wrote this description constantly dwell with them is furnished of it: "On the platform stood an easel. largely by the theatrical or the sporting On the easel was a picture draped with page. A father who saw his son gazing the stars and stripes. Above was the with rapt adoration into the eyes of cnly flag that ever flies over Old Glory some of the stars circulated by cigarette -the Christian flag which bears a blood- companies, hung two pictures of great missionary heroes over the boy's desk. red cross. As we sat in the auditorium, Both of them had been star athletes as well as heroic missionaries and the boy eager to see what was underneath the heard of their work with keenest intcl:- folds of the flag, we were conscious of est. Day after day he sat in their pres- the atmosphere of waiting expectancy ence until they helped to make the at- which creates an appetite for the mis- mosphere of his room and to mold the sionary programs here so different from ideals of his life. the dead certainty we have about our cut-and-dried meetings at home. We At one of the Northfield Conferences, sang a hymn. Then a charming woman one of the leaders presented several hun- a;-,d a fine story-teller (1 don't mean t"o dred small pictures of great missionaries WOl11pn, she was both in one) stepped to the girls. The pictures were eagerly forward by the picture and told the received, and took the place of other story of an Iowa orphan girl, who faces less worthy in the rooms of many longed to go to school and to have pretty of the girls who were Northfield dele- clothes like the other girls. She told of gates that year. her letter to a college prpsident and her joy over his answer saying she might BACK TO ALBuIVIs.-There was a day come; of how she dug away at her when a photograph album, encased in college tasks; of the purpose that filled brilliant plush, wis a necessary adorn- her heart to become a medical missionment of the parlor table. In these latter ary. My throat began to choke up a bit days, we have relegated most of our when she told about the way this girl photograph albums to the garret, and lived in an attic in Chicago, cooked her there is a vacancy which needs to be own meals and almost starved hersel f to filled. Why not fill it with a mission- death doing it, so she could finish her ary album? When we have boys and medical training. Every one of us girls girls of the junior age in our homes, in in the audience felt like shouting our Sunday-school classes and mission- "Bravo," when we heard how she finalary societies, we do not have to glance ly die. win out and complete the course, into a psychology to grasp the signifi- and every one of us felt like we were cance of "Collecting Interests Strong." right there in China as we listened to They are going to collect something and the story of her splendid work. Vhen missionary album~' in our homes, in our the Boxer uprising was mentioned we Sunday-schools al d our missionary socie- shuddered. "Surely it couldn't be"- ties will give go d direction to these we thought, but it was, and the tears strong collecting interests. A Japan iust rolled down our cheeks when we album, an India album, a China album, heard of how she was put to death by an Africa album will make very real the very people she had gone to help. I 'to juniors, as well as to their elders, the had a queer feeling of exaltation as I conditions and the needs in these lands. listened to the story of how she bound An interesting "Guest Book" may be up a gash in the head of a Chinese boy, made from pictures of foreigners in the very last thing she did, after they America. had led her down under the tree to take her life. Some how I felt assured that UNVEILING MISSIONARY PICTURES. Christianity was going to conquer the world. I was not conscious of the fa.t -A young woman, who was deeply im- that the speaker had not told us the name
of the heroine, until she paused for a thought there were any other children Ir.oment. Then a boy and a girl stepped Jesus wanted to bless. She asked them forward and lifted the cords which held to bring pictures of other children. the flag. As its folds were drawn back, The next Sunday they came with picthe speaker said: "And so Eleanor tures of the little ones-black, red, yel- Chestnut's name was added to the ;!;reat low and brown. There were Indian band of martyrs who, like their Saviour, bClbies strapped in their cradles, and have given their lives to carry salvation little Eskimos in furs. There were the to those who put them to death," and all little brown children of India and of us rose to our feet. As the folds of Japanese tots in their long kimonos. that flag were drawn back, Eleanor The teacher pasted the pictures around Chestnut's eyes seemed to flash a chal- the central figure of the Christ. Then lenge to me. I have heard many elo- all of the children recited the verse, quent missionary addresses and appeals, "Suffer the little children to come unto but as she looked at me from the picture Me." Each Sunday additional pictures while we sang: were added, and the verse was recited, while the meaning to the children grew "The martyr first whose eagle eye ever larger and larger, as the teacher Could pierce beyond the grave told how the children of the world were Who saw her Master in the sky being brought to Jesus through the mis- And called on Him to save. sion Sunday-schools and kindergartens. Like Him, with pardon on His tongue Of course, some of the children brought In midst of mortal pain, pictures that were not usable. These She prayed for them tliat did the wrong: were graciously received by the teacher Who follows in her train?" aLd laid av,-ay to be used if net'ded some other time. My heart gave answer to the challenge with a stronger determination than STEREOPTICON LECTURES should have had ever been mine before to follow ill a place in the missionary educational that train. program of every church. One church, which has shown a marked increase in WHERE TO GET PI'CTURES missionary activity in recent years, plans at the beginning of the year, a series of 1. From the REVIEW and other mis- stereopticon lectures, so scheduled as to sionary magazines. It is often worth fit in with the Mission Study courses of while to subscribe for an extra copy, the various societies. from which to cut pictures. Most of the denominational Boards 2. From the denominational Mission have sets of slides on their mission fields, Boards, most of which issue picture for rent. *The Missionary Education sheets and pictures of missionaries. Movement has for rent splendid sets of slides accompanied by interesting lec- 3. The Missionary Education Move- tures on the following subjects: ment, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, publishes splendid half-tone pictures of 1. The Social Aspects of Foreign great missionaries, at prices ranging from Missions. 2. Child Life of the World. 50 cents to $3.50 according to size. 3. The American Indian. 4. Home Missions and Public WeHare. 5. 4. Some pictures from secular maga- The New Era in Asia. 6. The Immizines may be made very effective by the grant in America. 7. China Yesterday addition of a missionary application. and To-morrow. 8. By Canoe and Car- Often pictures may be built from many avan through the Heart of Africa. 9. sources. A primary superintendent Sowing and Reaping in Burma. 10. past!!d a picture of "Jesus Blessing Lit- Moslem Millions. 11. Women of the tle Children" in the center of a large sheet of cardboard. She called the atten- * These Jruly be rented for $2.00 plus extion of her scholars to the fact that only press. A written lecture goes with each set the little white children were in that of slide•. picture, and asked them whether they
BEST METHODS
Orient. 12. The Challenge of India. "America Wake Up," may be used in 13. Around the W orId in Forty Min- connection with striking facts about utes. 14. John Huss and His Country- home or foreign missions, together with men. 15. St. Paul the Missionary. 16. pictures making the application.
Japan Old and New. 17. South Amer- "If You Cannot Enlist, Invest" will make an attractive and appropriate mot- ica. 18. Negro Neighbors. 19. Among to with which to present a missionary the Southern Mountains. 20. Lights and enterprise, or several facts about what Shadows in Central America. 21. Cuba amounts invested in missions will ac- and Porto Rico. 22. The Monk Who complish. Moved the World. 23. From Cape to Cairo. 24. Tony's Adventures. Less dignified, but equally striking, is: "If You Cannot Go Across, Come AN ADDRESS WITHOUT VORDS.- Across."
The moving pictures have taught us The words that we see constantly how effectively a subject may be pre- before us have a wonderful influence on sented without a spoken word. our lives. Delegates at a student confer- Try having some subject presented in ence last summer heard Robert E. Speer your meetings by a series of pictures and charts held up one after another, or tell of a text which had made a propassed around from member to member. found impression on his life. It was not a text on which he had heard some great The four pictures on the last page of minister deliver an eloquent discourse, the MISSIONARY REVIEW for August, but the text which he had seen every Sunday on the walls of the church in 1917, have been effectively used in this which he worshipped as a boy.
way in presenting the passing opportu- A platform that may exert wide influnity to "work the works of Him that ence is furnished by the wall space of sent me while it is called day." the auditoriums in which meetings are held. One woman who exerted an in- MISSIONARY MOTTOES AND fluence, which can never be estimated, on a great convention, was not on the CHARTS platform at all. She spoke not a word that was heard by the audience, yet she Among other things of a former gen- spoke, in a way never to be forgotten, eration, which this generation has rele- from the charts and mottoes which she gated to the attic, are the mottoes, mar- had placed on the wall. Every bare wall velously wrought by the deft fingers of is a missionary opportunity. Societies our gradnmothers out of many colored would do well to appoint one member zephyrs. Yet the value of mottoes abid- who should have charge of the wall eth, and wise is the missionary worker space for their meetings. who makes it count as much as possible for missions. Business men have secured INEXPENSIVE CHART AND many hours of coveted privacy by simply hanging in plain view of the friendlv POSTER MATERIALS loafer, "If you will kill time, kill you~ own, not ours." The Government spent "That all looks very well," said the three million dollars in advertising the delegate who saw the splendid display recent Liberty Loans, a large part of of charts and posters at a convention, which was put in posters with striking "but I should like to know how a socimottoes. ety with no funds at hand is going to buy materials for aU these things." The A splendid missionary program may woman who had made the charts smiled. be arranged by adapting these mottoes: Years before she had entered that school of training which teaches women the Take the one, "Our Dad's at the gentle art 9f making many things with- Front Fighting Your Battles: Bade out buying materials, the entrance CeT~ Him Up." Cut out pictures of the children of your missionaries, and paste them on this poster.
tificate to which school is a marriage Two years later, at another conference, certificate to a preacher. She then re- a delegate spoke at the farewell meetvealed to the delegate the following ing. She said, "Two years ago I went economy secrets on the subject of mak- home from the conference utterly dising posters and charts. couraged. I wanted to go as a foreign missionary, but the door seemed abso- The letters which stood out effective- lutely closed before me. When I reached ly were cut from the Saturday Evening horne, I put up a motto some one had Post, which, in kind thoughtfulness to given me at the conference. As I looked makers of missionary charts, selected a at it again and again I knew that I had title which practically covers the alpha- reached the end of my geography and bet, if a few skilful combinations of that I would likely spend all of my life letters are worked out. Three or four right in the town in which I was living. letters may be cut at a time from differ- Then, day by day, the thought grew that ent colored paper by holding several lay- with me also the end of geography might ers together. Often there are "shut-ins" be the beginning of missionary enterwho are glad to cut out hundreds of prise. A deeper purpose to go into all letters from these or other patterns, so the world filled my heart. Since then I that a full supply may be always ready have really begun my missionary enterfor the chart makers. terprise, and already two volunteers for the foreij!n field have gone out from my The lettering done in colored crayons Mission Study Class. I trust that this called into use the children's box of is really the beginning." Reuben's Crayons. Vhen the charts are made on cloth, a hot iron pressed on PAGEANTS the crayon work will keep it from rubbing. "What made the deepest impression on you?" was the question asked at an Vhite oil cloth from the five and ten informal meeting at the close of a Sumcent store furnished the material for a mer School. In the bacK: of the audichart with painted letters and figures,in torium a man rose and said: which changes were to be made. "I have charge of a manufacturing The chart maker's "treasure chest" plant with men of many different nawas a familv joke at first, but soon the ti0nalities in my employ. Never in my whole familv· bacame interested in it, life has anything made me realize my and not the familv onlv. but also a wide responsibility to them and my missionary circle of friends· gathered up pictures opportunitv as did that pageant the girls of everv hue to be added to the store- gave of 'Christ in America.' I am going house. ·Soon there was such a collection back home with a new idea and a new on hand that it was an easv matter to ideal." make a chart on any land or ·any subject. This is not an unusual answer to such WHAT ONE MOTTO ACCOM- a nuestion. L~st summer at the Foreign Missions week at Northfield a very PLISHED simple presentation of Mrs. Peabody's and Mrs. :Montgomery's tour of the At a Summer Conference several mission fields was given. It was too unyears ago a woman, who is constantly on pretentious to be scheduled as a pageant, the lookout for opportunities to circulate yet it was such a forceful presentation missionary literature, gave a hundred of the way mission work is conducted in beautiful copies of a motto to delegates. various fields and of the need of the The motto selected was David Living- women of the world for the Gospel, that ston's famous saying: many delegates said it made a deeper im- pression on them than did any other part "The end of the geographical feat of the program. is the beginning of the missionary enterprise."
Woman's Foreign Mission
Edited by MRS. WILLIAM H. FARMER, Montclair, N. J.
The Editor's Message work. At other stations children were gathered in boarding schools for two or JANUARY has been, as usual, a three years and then sent back:. as teachers month of inspiration and information to their own towns. It became evident for all who could be in and near New several years ago that we must have bet- York City. Inportant committees have ter trained teachers and evangelists to been meeting, conferences have been hold the present generation, many of held to consider the medical, educational whom have been familiar with the Gosand evangelistic needs of women in pels from earliest childhood. The English Africa and the Orient, as well as in the Baptists, whose stations on the Lower homeland; the notable annual gathering River adjoin our own, found their need at Garden City has considered all phases for such trained leaders as great as ours, of home base and foreign field with a so the two societies joined together in solemn earnestness that is full of Chris- founding the Congo Evangelical Traintian optimism, and the Federation of ing Institution at Kimpese. Woman's Boards of Foreign Missions of N ortR America has convened (January Picked men from both societies are 18th) in New York City. sent here for three years' training. All married men are required to bring their OUf next issue of the BUU,ETIN will wives and children for whom training is bring a full account of noteworthy busi- also provided. The Faculty is drawn ness transacted and officers elected, as from both societies. Four years ago the well as a digest of the inspirational ad- tmstees of the Institution invited me to dresses. It is the hope of many that the join the Faculty for work among the coming year may see a wide-spread development of local missionary federa- students' wives. A resident physician is tions. Such a movement would further mission study, the sale of literature, en- very desirable at such an institution, both thusiasm for federated prayer and effort, for the care and instruction of the stuand cordial interdenominational fellow- dent bodv. 'Ve think that we have an ship. If plans are to be large, and suc- ideal ed~cational community. cess assured, there must be great advance in the Oneness for which Christ prays. The student families live in small in- dividual two-room brick cottages back of WORK IN CONGO BELGE which are small cook-houses and a con- siderable stretch of good gardrn land [Life in Congoland i. similar to that of the which they keep under cultivation. Camerun district in Jean Mackenzi~'s "African Sweet potatoes, peanuts, corn, native Trail." This personal letter from a misc;ionary peas and beans and manioc are the there win be of interest to all those who are staples, while down along the stream to studying the Bulu. Belgian Congo lies directly the west are magnificent plantain garsouth of Miss Mackenzie's field.-EDITOR.J drns. The houses are furnished with brick beds cemented over; the walls and There are no schools in Belgian Con- Aoors are also coated with cement and go save mission schools and the entire ca.n be thoroughly cleaned and disinfectburden of education falls on us. From ed when necessary. Native-made tables the beginning our missionaries have and a chair or two complete the simple sought to place native teachers in the fuurnishings. Twice a month I inspect little towns and villages. At Bam:a the houses and cook-houses and insist Manteke for many years we had a school on cleanliness. where men were given eight to ten months' training, preparatory to such The women are in school three hours a day and as practically all have young
children, we allow each woman to bring and, in fact, any good illustrations of with her a small boy or girl to serve as Bible subjects, very useful and would be a nurse for the little ones while she is in pleased to have you mail us those with school. These nurse children compose which your own Primary Department the larger part of the Practice School in has finished. Smaller Bible pictures we which the students receive instruction use to illustrate the women's and chil- and practice in teaching. Many of the dren's composition books. women can neither read nor write when they come to us, for while the men are One old white-haired chief came this picked fellows we have to make the best morning for the third time, much re- of the sort of wives they have chosen and lieved from the ailment from which he do what we can with them. A few prove sought relief. This morning I had a too old or too stupid ever to master the quiet talk with him about getting ac- fine art of reading well, but even such quainted with the good God who could are greatly helped by their three years of relieve his spirit's indispositions and residence here. In my Bible work, I troubles, while I could only relieve those place much emphasis upon story telling of his body, which before many years he and often those who read but haltingly, must lay in the grave. He listened somecan tell a story splendidly. If we can what perplexed, like a little child, and scatter throughout these lower Congo finally said, "I am old, too old to behill towns a goodly number of mothers lieve new things. Tell the children." I with stories to tell to their own and replied that God too was old, older than other children, stories from the dear old the world and would understand, men Book, who knows but that they may could never grow too old to forsake prove as potent forces for good and god- their sins and evil ways and love and liness as the village teacher or preacher? obev the Giver of Life, the God and The Congo mothers sitting on the Father of us all. There are many comground about their cooking pots, picking ing daily for medical attention who are open squash seeds,' have nothing better not Christians and so there are dailv than gossip to retail. They have no opportunities for sowing the good seed wholesome stories, no beautiful fairy of the Kingdom. Pray that we may be tales to waken high resolve and culti- faithful in season and out of season, ever vate imagination in the minds of the mirroring the likeness of the Man of little children. Galilee who went about doing good.
We try to send the women away CATHERINE L. MABIE. thoroughly familiar with the life of our Lord, also with a knowledge of the AN IMPORTANT MEETING IN more prominent Old Testament characters. This year I spent three hours a THE INTEREST OF CHRISTIAN week with the advanced women, all of whom read intelligently, in a study of LITERATURE the lives of Peter and Paul with the Acts as a text-book and their epistles as On Nov. 22, 1917, a mass meeting commentaries. They were immenselv in- was held in the Chapel of the Fifth terested. One woman in her final Avenue Presbyterian Church, New exam. received 98 per cent. on a stiff York. It was the second in a series of paper, because I didn't quite want to meetings in the interest of Christian give her a hundred. We expect them to literature for the women and children help their husbands in the day and Sun- of non-Christian lands, the first having day-schools in their towns when they re- been held in Chicago last year. turn. Mrs. Moon has been training them to teach the younger children in Miss O. H. Lawrence, of the Wom- Sunday-school here throughout the year. an's Board of Foreign Missions of We find the large primary Lesson rolls, the Reformed Church and Secretary of the Woman's Committee for Christian Literature, presided. The devotional service was led by Mrs. A. F. Schallf- fler, who read as a key-note for the
I8] WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSION BULLETIN
meeting "the longest verse in the Bible." subscription price is twenty-five cents a It was from the book of Esther and con- year, American stamps are accepted at tained the first Bible reference to the ;,hanghaJ, and a subscription here would translation and spreading of literature in place the "'Happy ChIldhood" in the other places by the people of God. She hands of some delighted Chinese boy or urged that in the face of the appalling girl.
need of to-day, owing to the absolute Miss Flora L. Robinson, of the Isa- lack of adequate literature among Chris- bella Thoburn College for women at tian converts in other lands, the Chris- Lucknow, India, gave an illuminating tian women of America might "be come address on the tragic need for literature to the kingdom for such a time as this." among Oriental women. She pointed Miss Alice M. Kyle, Chairman of out that the necessities of the war should the Voman's Committee, gave a brief not lead us to postpone definite action, outline of the beginning, growth and ac- but rather to press the work. She complishments of this branch of wom- showed how we ourselves, since the war an's missionary service. It had its first began, have needed rather more than great impulse at the Ecumenical Con- less of good reading to help us in these ference when Mrs. W. B. Capron, for overwhelming readjustments that have many years a missionary of the Ameri- come and are coming to us. She spoke can Board in southern India, urged that of the pathetic women in Indian towns a committee of women be formed im- and villages, whose husbands and brothmediately for literary work in mission ers had gone to a war they could not fields. The committee took definite understand, and from which it seemed form after the Edinburgh Conference, impossible for them to hear. She picwhen it became a department of the tured a little group she knew, where a Committee on Christian Literature of school child had been bribed to read the the Continuation Committee. It is inter- news to women who hoped they might denominational in character and six of get some word as to the whereabouts ot the Woman's Foreign Boards are rep- their own dear ones, and this incident resented on it. Its development has been she said could be multiplied many times. slow, but its accomplishments in the for- Miss Robinson also pleaded for the stueign field have been real, and already it dent class of India, "those who can read, has been able to meet real needs on the in whom has been created -a hunger, but foreign field. One of these needs was who have nothing with which to satisfy brought to the committee by Mrs. Pea- it." She said that it had been said by body and Mrs. Montgomery on their re- someone "that the longest bread-line in turn from their trip through the Orient the world was the line of hungry three years ago. They had found that hearts." She told of one of the last en- in China, while a small beginning had terprises of that wonderful woman, been made in the way of a magazine for Pandita Ramabai, who had issued a litwomen, there was no Christian chil- tle cookery book with simple recipes dren's magazine in the country. A lit- that Indian women could follow, with a tle magazine of sixteen pages, "Happy passage of Scripture on the back of every Childhood," was started and its popu- page. It is told that already three familarity and circulation have grown until lies at least of the Brahmins, that most now its subscription list is between three difficult caste to reach, have been won to and four thousand and it is estimated the Gospel through this simple book that at least ten thousand Chinese chil- with its heavenly message.
dren are reached, A devoted missionary, The next speaker was Mrs. Henry Mrs. MacGillivray of Shanghai, gives V. Peabody, a member of the Edinher services as editor, and the magazine burgh Continuation Committee, and is nearly self-supporting, the committee chairman of the Central Committee on in America subsidizing it to the amount United Study of Foreign Missions. – She of five hundred dollars a year. The said that she never passed a book: shop
in America that she did not break one of istic books. So eager are the Japanese to the ten commandments, for she found it read that it is the Christian's opportunso hard not to covet just a few books for ity. China is the great literary nation the hungry women and children of the of the world; the literati are the gov- East-" not books of sermons, not erning class, the most influential and tracts," but just the sweet wholesome most highly respected of any people of stories and the bright magazines, that the country. A Chinese coolie, if he had meant so much to our own child- sees a scrap of newspaper on the ground, hood, She told of some of the immedi- ,,-ill pick it up, smooth it out reverently ate crying needs; how the missionaries in allLl pin it to a wall that it may not be India were pleading for just five hun- deilled by the dust or mud of the road. dred dollars which would be enough to All oyer the world, one sees the same start a Christian magazine which would hunger and the same appalling need. help to support itself; of a Japan mis- Christian literature as a means of evansionary who is getting Ralph Connor's gelism, should have its place not at the "Sky Pilot" translated as a labor of love bottom, but very near to the top of our and hoping and praying for the hun- missionary program. dred dollars to issue it in book form; of how that same missionary longs to give INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP Mrs, Richards' "Golden Vindows" to ] apanese children, and how fifty dollars Christian workers are concerned with would finance it to its goal. The de- all phases of the program of the Church, mand for good reading is so great in and the problem of Christianizing in-. Japan that only the initial cost of trans- ternational relations should be an inlating and publishing the first edition of tegral part of the regular program for a book need be paid (from $50 to $100) every Inter-Church Federation and and then it becomes self-supporting, c,'en for every local church.
Dr. Cornelius H. Patton, secretary Christians are beginning to see that of the American Board and chairman of the Church is vitally concerned with the the American Section of Literature effective establishment of a Christian Committee of Edinburgh Continuation 'OTld-order; that international relations Committee, said that Dr. John R. Mott, ElU~t be Christianized, and that, therein answer to a question about the value fore, every church and eyery Christian of the Christian Literature Committee, must be educated in these matters and replied unhesitatingly that he considered must be organized for the accomplishit the most important movement that ment of this great, new and inspiring had come out of the Edinburgh Con- task. ference. Dr. Patton said that an entirely new situation was now before us. Vomen have a genius for teaching Through Christian education in mission and for organizing. They should wellands a great need had oeen created for come everywhere this cal! to do cona litei'ature, and it were better never to structive work at the Home Base; for have given an education than to leave permanent peace with justice is to be that need unsupplied. He told of the the heritage of the next generation, if Japanese, "a reading people," 97 per the children of to-day are trained in cent. of its entire population literate; of heart and mind to demand a Christian how even the taxicab and jinrikisha world-order. coolies could be seen with books in their hands while waiting for passengers; of Such questions as these should arrest the mile and a half of a Tokyo street the attention of everyone interested in solidly lined with book stalls, and of the the Kingdom: literature that was being sold in those stalls to the great reading public. ] apan is 1. Are you a member of the World literally flooded with immoral and athe- Alliance?
2. Is your church informed about International Friendship?
3. Is the study of the topic in the course of your Bible School?
look into the face of that man. I
no idea there were such Chinese." A Modern Missionary Efficiency similar impression was made upon all who heard this splendid product of F ROM Fenchow station as a center, missionary work in China. Dr. Wallace the American Board, with a staff Buttrick, the Secretary of the Rocke- of thirteen American missionarirs, and feller Foundation, upon returning from 120 Chinese evangelists, teachers, medi- a trip to China, compared Mr. Chang cal assistants and Bible women, is c-arry- to the great pagoda on the Yangtsze ing on a great work in YVest China, ill River, which dominates the landscape a territory practically untouchrd by any for many miles around. So towers this other evangelizing agency. Systematic man above his fellows. President Eliot, methods are being used, First comes a of Harvard, spoke of Chang Po-Ling careful investigation of the country; its as the most interesting person he mt"t agricultural, timber and mineral resources and the natural centers of popu- in China. Mr. Chang is a member of lation, so that permanent stations shall be wisely planted. In the past, points the independent Congregational Church selected for missionary occupation have of Tientsin. He conducts a Christian sometimes proved undesirable from a school of 800 boys, which many conpractical point of view. sider to be the best school in the land. His influence upon these boys is seen in With these surveys, the mission force their erect, soldierly bearing, their careis able wisely to locate its churches, hos- fu! attention to deanliness in person and pitals, dispensaries, and opium refuges, its network of schools ranging from a papaptrairoetli,smtheairndinttehleleicr tueaalrnkeesetnnCehs~sistthieainr theological and Bible training school down through the normal, high and character. Mr. Chang has come to the grammar grades to the kindergarten. In United States to place twelve of his the short space of ten years a splendid graduates in American Christian colequipment, strategically located, has leges, and on his own part to engage in come into being, the Gospel being ~tudy at the Teachers' College, Columpreached each week in seventy-seven dif- bia University, New York. – He is an ferent places and the printing press last impassioned advocate of Christianity as year sending forth nearly three hundred the only hope of China. No one should thousand pages designed to uplift the lose a chance to hear and see this man. people socially, economically and reJig– He wiII give one a new idea of the iousJy. The mission conducts a Bible rower of the missionary movement. Study circle among the gentry, officials and literati, with an enrollment of Chinese Memorizing the Bible 350 men. One church has grown in the decade from 37 mpmhers to 350 and I 'I spite of the conflict in which almost in the whole field 4,000 church mem- the entire world is engaged, the year hers have heen gathered. I 91 7 has been the greatest in the history of the Bible Success Band; and the num- An Arnold of Rugby for China ber of booklets issued for 1918 promises to be almost double that of the past year. A BOSTON business man, who In China alone over 25,000 of the 1917 heard Chang Po-Ling speak at booklets were called for; and it is exthe recent annual meeting of the pected that at least 50,000 of the 1918 booklets will be issued in Chinese. The American Board, said: "It was worth Chinese Christians realize fully the blessing that comes from memorizing a trip from Boston to Columbus just to
Scripture; and the missionaries are people and even with brigand chiefs, as keenly interested in promoting the during the past months. Again and movement throughout the Republic. again have they been called in to act as peace-makers or go-betweens. They It is probable that in China and have secured protection for ousted offi- Korea over 16,000,000 verses will be cials and for defenceless women and memorized next year. In Korea, one children i they have obtained from may see at any time a Bible propped up brigands more moderate terms for on the ironing board. the wash tub, or the cities they have captured; they the kitchen table and the earnest faces have even secured safe passage for show that the workers are "meditating Government troops through districts thereon day and night."-The Sunday held by powerful b rig and bands. School Times. . . . Speaking generally, and remem- bering that there are exceptions, the Changes in Tsinanfu progress of our work has not been much hindered by the great unrest. Where " N EVER has the country been more the missionaries have gained influence by open in every direction to out- the part they have been allowed to take, side influence," writes James B. Neal, it may be hoped that the upheaval wiII M.D. "We who have lived in Tsi- tllrn out rather unto the furtherance of nanfu for twenty-five years and more can the Gospel."-The Mission Field. scarcely believe that it is the same city which in former days was one of the Norwegian Missions in China most hostile in the countrv. anrI most opposed to anything in the wav of West- T HE union of the three leading Norern improvements. From being one of we/dan Lutheran Church bodies in the most backward cities, it h~, chang-pd the United States into the Norwef!:ian to be one of the most progre~sive of the Lutheran Church of America has been provincial capitals with its foreign set- fonowed by union on the mission field. tlement, the streets of which are well The first regular conference of the Chimacadamized, broad and electric light- nese Missions has Deen held and will be ed; with its numerous schools of every known as the Lutheran United Mission. grade from the lowest elementary to it~ The new mission carries on its work at large normal school of several hundred 15 stations and out-stations. According students, its law school, its ae-ricnltural. to 1915 statistics, the Chinese workers commercial and industrial schools. and totaled 282; the communicants, 2.618; with a new medical school being plannl'd the total Christian constituency, 5,628. on Western lines. Two evangelists in the employ of the Bible Institute.which is ,If. rHeal College in Manchuria a rather notable part of the Christian T HE first graduates from the Mukwork ;n T,inanfu and now incorporated with th~ Shantung Cl1ristian University den Medical College have comas its Department of University Exten- pleted their course of training under Dr. sion, have within the past few months Christie and his fellow missionaries. visited over two thonsand persons in Their diplomas have the official stamp various shops in the city in order to es- of the Governor of Manchuria-the tablish friend Iv rel ations with them and first time, so far as is known, that such draw their attention to the claims of a thing has been done in China, and a Christianity. proof of the confidence of the local gov- ernment in the completeness of the Missionary Inftuence in China training.
B l~HOP CASSELS, of Western The men who have graduated nun ber twentv. Six of thf"se have heel't , Chin~. writes: "Never in my ex- taken on by the Hospital and College nerience of thirty vears have missionaries as residents and demonstrators, and a had so much influence with officials,
FROM MANY LANDS
seventh is acting in the same capacity J ames, a teacher ill the Kumamoto Gov- without salary. Another is employed as ernment College. The students who itinerant medical evangelist, under the professed conversion to Jesus Christ, guidance. of the College staff. One has sealed their consecration at a meeting on gone to France with the China Labor the top of a nearby hill, and signed a tlattalion. Three have already gone to compact in their own blood to devote mission hospitals in Manchuria, and it themselves to the Christian ministry.
is hoped that two or three others may About one-third of the members of that also be arranged for. One has entered group actually became leaders in the Government military service, and two ministry of the Church in Japan.
others are likely to follow suit. All the About five years ago a second Kuma- students are said to be Christians.- moto Band was formed in the same col- Record of United Free Church of Scot- lege, under the leadership of a graduate land. who was serving as secretary of the Medical Problems in Tibet Kyoto Imperial University Association. This second band met upon the same hill I N Tibet, that country of the wild and signed a compact with their blood frontier, where the one who is strong- pledging themselves to the service of the est prevails, and where crime is pun- kingdom of God. Unlike the earlier ished with a ruthlessness parallel with compact, this later vow pledged them to savagery, the suffering endured by many devote their talents and life to the upof the patients who come to the medical building and extension of the kingdom missionary is beyond description. One of God in whatsoever place God might man, for example, had his right hand wish to use them. Many of this band and his left foot cut off because he was are planning to enter the ministry and caught stealing. The raw stumps of other forms of Christian leadership, but these wounded members were· plunged some are being led into business and proin boiling butter in order to stop the fessional life, where they may do their bleeding. After many weeks of intense best for the great cause.-The North suffering, this man was brought to Dr. A merican Student. Shelton, of the Christian Mission for medical attention. Trained Nurses in Japan Many people, because of the cold of A LMOST all nurses in Japan are the mountains and insufficient protection, from the servant class, ignorant have their feet or hands frozen off. and uneducated. They are constantly They come to Dr. Shelton after they have suffered for several months and ask exposed to the most immoral surroundfor medical help. Of course, in cases like ings and temptations, and something these, he can only give them temporary should be done to elevate the whole relief and show them the kindly spirit of standard of nursing in the country. Christianity in their great suffering. This could be done through a properly organized training school conducted on The custom of crucifixion is still in American lines, and a magnificent opvogue for grosser crimes, and beheading portunity is offered for constructive is a very common practice. In spite of Christian mission work. the ruthlessness of the authorities, the Tibetans are kindly disposed and re- Miss Tsuda, the principal of a Girls' spond very quickly to the tenderness and School in Tokyo, says that a weIlunselfish service of the Christian mis- equipped training school for nurses is sionary. one of the most urgently needed institu- tions in the Far East. The status of JAPAN-CHOSEN trained nurses in Japan, with the excep- tion of those from St. Luke's and the The New Kumamoto Band T HE famous Kumamoto Band was Red Cross Hospitals, is deplorable. formed nearly forty years ago, With a model training school under as a result of the influence of Captain Christian protection and influence, young
women of a much higher class will glad- striking changes. The following is his ly enter the profession. The work al- story of the development of a Korean ready done by St. Luke's, the Protestant church: Episcopal mission hospital, proves this true, and the experiment has command- "Twenty years ago, when I first went ed wide approval throughout Japan. to Korea, I stopped in the little town From such a school, educated girls from of Pyeng Yang and visited a church. good families who have completed their 1t had seven members; it met in a mud training should go out as leaders and hut about ten feet square; it could head nurses to other hospitals in Japan hardly be called a church. The last and Korea.-The Living Church. Sunday I was there (1915) I saw 1,500 members filling every seat on a rainy Opium Growing in Chosen Sunday. They were so busy that they had no time to hear a foreigner speak. REV. E. W. THWING, of the In- Eight hundred of them were out to prayer meeting every Wednesday night, ternational Reform Bureau in and all of them wished to pray. Al- Peking, went to Korea in the summer, ready they have sent out forty-two to investigate a rumor that opium was branch churches. They have the 1,500 being grown there, to be sold to the membership at the home church, and Chinese. He reports that he found it that membership increased from the true, and that he was told that Japanese original membership of seven until they officials had provided the seeds, and had have sent out 30,000." encouraged the Koreans to plant opium, saying that they could make much mon- INDIA, BURMA, CEY:LON ey. Mr. Thwing had an interview with the responsible Japanese officials Indian Christians Wish Representation in Seoul and tried to show them the ruin that would come from this new A T a meeting of influential Indian policy. They said that the Government Christians held in the Young was very strict in regard to the sale and 1Icn's Christian Association auditorium use of opium in Korea, and they gave at Madras, Mr. M. D. Devadoss, barhim copies of the anti-opium laws. They ristcr-at-law, demanded for his communclaimed, however, that opium was still ity separate representation in the legisneeded for medicine;' that in China it latures that are shortly to be constituted, was still planted; that the Chillese according to the recommendations of the wanted it, and opium was bringing high British mission, which is at present in prices. They seemed somewhat ashamed India on a rapid tour of investigation. when Mr. Thwing explained how hard His plea, as reproduced in New India, China had worked to suppress it, and, was: in spite of revolutions and a weak government, had accomplished wonders. "It is very necessary that the Chris- ] apan, with a strong central govern- tians have a representative in the legisment, could easily put down this eviL lative and other bodies. No doubt the Christians have many things in common A new anti-opium campaign is needed. with other people, but there are certain The public opinion of the world must things which are distinctly Christian, speak. Organizations that stand for in- ane! when the interests of Christians ternational justice arc asked to take ac- clash with the interests of other people, tion on this subject, and to bring it to those people will not be able to reprethe attention of the press. Sl'lit the Christians properly. Therefore, they should have their own representa- Growth of a Korean Church tives in all the great institutions of the country. To mark the progress of the SHERWOOD EDDY, in the course Christians, to show that they are a com- of his various trips to the Far munity by themselves, to justify the fact that they by their education and ad- East, has had opportunities to see soine
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vance are fit to take part in the councils besought the customer to excuse him of the state, they must be given a proper that day, as he was busy! On the deplace which should not be left to the parture of the customer, he said: 'My whim of the electorate, which might or good friend, we are engaged in business might not send proper representatives. much more serious than a sale. God They should have the right to send their knows my needs, and, should He think own representatives, who should be well, He will send that man to me elected, if possible, by the members of again.' Karim is a seeker after God, their own community." and this seeking is with him a matter of deep concern. He has never resented Evangelism in the Indian Church our talk about Christ; on the contrary, he expects it, and, so far as I know, not WITHIN the Church in India an once has any bitterness entered into his . unusual spirit of evangelism is speech as we have considered together the claims of the Saviour." spreading. At the last meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian India Inspired by China's Example Church in India, it was decided that the time had come for a special and I ND IAN Christians point to missiondefinite campaign to win men and ary work in China as an example of women to Christ in all the different Christian unity. An article in the sections. The plans originated at that Dnyanodaya of Bombay, after saying, time have met with a splendid response "Those who come out of the non-Chrison the part of the Indian Church. tian communities have no historical or Never before has this Church shown sentimental reason for wishing to introsuch universal readiness to take up the duce the unfortunate divisions of the challenge of the unconverted multi- Vest. For these reasons it is overtudes; never before such an uprising of whelmingly important that missons of its forces. Of those engaged in the many kinds should earnestly co-operate campaign, there were three volunteers and often should organically unite," to everyone employed. They went goes on to say: "In Canton a Union forth into city and village. Christian Theological College is being organized students in the colleges, high schools under the auspices of eight different and other educational institutions were American and English missionary oramong the most enthusiastic helpers. ganizations. The Church of England Three such in Forman Christian Col- bishop has given Dr. Fulton, the Preslege at Lahore, pledged themselves for byterian President, a most cordial letter life for definite Christian service. urging Episcopalians in America to con- tribute funds for this union theological A Moslem "Seeker" in Bengal college! (Praise God.) In such joint institutions students of every section of A N English missionary to Moslems the Church will receive from an in Bengal writes : "We meet not instructor of their own church a few who are growing dissatisfied both special instruction in its particular tenwith their prophet and their book. ets, while the students of all the denomi- They have a secret desire to know more nations will receive common instruction of Jesus Christ. One such Moslem in most branches. When can anything was Karim, the 'gracious,' an elderly like such a union theological institution man, of humble position, who keeps a be organized in India? tiny shop. "What God is doing in China He "One of our evangelists first found him, wishes to do and will do in India, if He not many months ago. During one of is not hindered by mistaken narrowness my visits he unwittingly taught me a on the part of foreign and Indian leadlesson of more humble reliance upon ers in India." God. When a customer intruded upon our talk, Karim, with singular politeness,
MOSLEM LANDS this year as I called on her in passing Christian Literature for Moslem Children through she has taken me by the hand and led me into her room and called A RECENT report on Moslem the other women of the house Lands, presented to the Executive and the boys to hear me read.
Committee of the World's Sunday The daughter-in-law of the caravan- School Association by Bishop Hartzell serai man in Sahnah, who used to shows how the Foundations in character quarrel with the other women of the building among Moslem children are be- household for coming to meetings, has ing laid by giving the Gospel and Chris- made a dinner for me in the garden tian literature to the childhood of North and invited me to her house, listened Africa, Persia, Arabia, Egypt and the most attentively to the Word and in- Sudan. Under the leadership of Rev. vited others to hear also. One of the Stephen V. Trowbridge, the World's maids of the Khan's house at Jabrabad Sunday School Secretary for Moslem learned the Lord's Prayer in two days Lands, notable work has already been and was so happy at the thought of hav- done and is increasingly appreciated by ing a Father in Heaven, that when she Egyptian Christians as well as by the spoke of coming to Kermanshah and I missionaries. About 350 Moslem boys asked her if she had any people there, are under efficient Christian teaching in she said-'I have my Father in Heaven the day and Sunday-schools of the wherever I go, so what do I need of American Mission in Egypt. There are other people?' "
655 boys and girls, of whom 293 are Moslems in mission schools in the Needs of Teheran College, Persia Sudan where Dr. Zwemer estimates NEW buildings are greatly needed by there are 1,500,000 Moslem children Teheran College, which is located under fourteen years of age. Doors are opening also for Christian literature in the capital city of Persia. This is one among the 35,000,000 Malay Moslems, of the most promising of missionary edu- and among the throngs in Sierra Leone, cational institutions.
West Africa. Sixteen years ago, the number of pu- To furnish wholesome Christian liter- pils was sixty-six, and only twenty-two were Mohammedans. In recent years, ature for Moslem boys, Mr. Trow- the over-crowded enrollment has been – bridge has translated into Arabic the ?40, and 350 of them belong to the rul- life of Dr. Hogg, "A Master Builder lllg race. of the Nile." If the world is to be "made safe for democracy," democracy Among these have been an even dozen must be made safe for the world by the of the sons or grandsons of prime min- supreme leadership of Christ. One great isters, sons of other cabinet ministers, or factor in this campaign must be whole- royal princes, of members of Majless some Christian literature for childhood (Congress), and of the other noblest and and youth. most influential families of the whole empire-boys who by their birth are Winning Persian Women destined· to be the rulers of Persia. Many MRS. F. W. STEAD, of the Pres- of these boys come twenty, thirty, forty byterian Mission in Kermanshah, days' journey by caravan, and remain in the school for years, without returning Persia, writes of some of her encourag- home. ing experiences among the women: "Among the most interesting cases I The spirit of the school is democratic.
have had is the old mother of the The sons of princes and high officials Ghazi in Bisitu who, when we first mingle on terms of perfect equality with began going there, was so bigoted that the children of the poor of every race and she would not enter my room nor allow creed.
me to sit on her dirty rug, but twice The earnest enthusiasm for education,
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the remarkable success of the day school, Dr. Watson's imagination has been and of the self-supporting boarding de- captivated by the prospect for Egypt partment, the present over-crowded and the entire Near East after the war, quarters, and the college site already se- assuming, of course, that the pernicious cured, constitute a mi~hty call to the influence of the Turk:.' is to be brok:.en. home Church. "Imagine," he says, "the Near East freed, including Turkey, Arabia, Per- AFRICA sia and Egypt, with a vast area of al- most 3,000,000 square miles-more than TArmenian Refugees at Port Said twice that of India-with a population HE little congregation of Protest- of almost 50,000,000, freed from the ant Armenian refu~ees at Port blighting influences which have limited Said were, before their terrible experi- its population, retarded its industrial deence, inhabitants of six villages in Asia velopment and degraded its moral and :Minor and most of them belonged to spiritual ideals. Imagine Egypt at the the old Armenian or Gregorian Church. center, geographically, of this liberated Their religious cen:monies were recited world of the Near East. Think of the in a dead language-old Armenian, not start it has by virtue of the political libunderstood by the present generation. erties and industrial development which So these members of the "Illuminator's the British occupation has secured for it Church," as they called it (after St. in the past thirty-five years. Consider Gregory the "Illuminator"), were in its strategic location along the highway dark: ignorance of the Gospel. About of the nations, the Suez Canal. From fifty years ago, the efforts of American Egypt may be exerted influences making missionaries brought them the Evangel- for enlightenment, for moral uplift, for ical Movement, and introduced a Turk:.- spiritual regeneration, such as the New ish translation of the Scriptures. About Day in the Near East demands."-The eighty families from these six villages Christian Express. were converted, but it has been very difficult to maintain a Christian atmos- The Basel Mission on the Gold Coast phere among a people who have had no mental preparation for it; no back:.- T HERE will doubtless be many misground with which to apprehend spirit- sionary readjustments after the ual things. Since their arrival on Egyp- war. For example: the Basel Mission tian soil, Rev. Dikran Andreassian, a has been at work in the Gold> Coast for native pastor, has cared for the spiritual seventy years. While it is a Swiss socineeds of a congregation of about seven- ety, it has drawn the greater part of its ty families. He writes that "The sow- financial support and a large number of ing has not been without its crops, the its missionaries from South Germany. most prominent part of which is diffused The work it has accomplished has won in the hearts and lives of men and wom- the highest praise from government ofen-something which numerical stati~ tics cannot comprise." ficials and other impartial observers. A A Great Future for Egypt Christian community numbering 25,000 baptized persons has been built up and DR. CHARLES R. WATSON, of 8,330 pupils attend the schools. Cairo, is well qualified to speak: of The British Government recognizes things as they are and as they are likely the value of the work and is anxious to be in Egypt. He says, "Comparing that everything possible should be done Egypt of two years ago with Egypt of to save it from injury, but has conclud- 1917, certain marked changes are dis- ed that it is necessary that all German cernible. Then, business conditions were influence be eliminated from the Misgreatly depressed. To-day Egypt seems sion. This means that a new society to be prospering, Cairo especially so; must be formed to take over the Ge~ there is great activity in many lina" man work on the Gold Coast. An ap- peal has been made to the U nited ~ree
Church of Scotland to co-operate in the stupid old error in English of thinkconserving the results already gained ing that this means Ethiopia coming to and the Foreign Mission Committee feel beg a boon from God. .No, the very that the call is not one which can be same Psalm that says that Ethopia shall set aside, in spite of the difficulties due soon stretch out her hands to God, exto the claims of the war on the young plains this as not begging but bestowing manhood of the nation. A Christian in the words. 'Becau.se of thy temple at community of 25,000 Africans cannot Jerusalem shall kings bring presents be left without provision for their spirit- unto Thee. . . . Ethiopia shall etc.' ual and educational needs. "It is of the land of the slaves that it The only other large mission in the Gold Coast is that of the Wesleyan is written. 'Princes shall come out of Methodist Society, which faces such . . . Ethiopia,' and we are trying to great demands for expansion that they build up a church of no-begging but cannot accept further responsibility. ever-bestowing Africans who will freely The deputies of the United Free Church give because they freely received. Perof Scotland who have studied the situa- haps we did wrong, but. these natives tion say: "The difficulties are great j have lived with me for a quarter of a they must be frankly recognized, but century and with their own eyes they with the will to serve, they are not in- saw us turn away costly gifts of ivory superable." They, therefore, plan to and rubber worth thousands of pounds; take up the work. saw us refuse to develop great economic resources, lest by so doing our own Training Evangelists for the 'Congo souls and the souls of these young Lu- bans would suffer thereby."
"NEVS comes from our African Church Union in South Africa mission," says a writer in The T HE Christian Express, published in ~lissionarjJ 1ntelligencer, of the Foreign Lovedale, South Africa, comments Christian Missonary Society, "that all editorially as follows on church condi- the stations are delighted with the tions in that part of the world: Bolenge school for evangelists, which has recently been started. This is the "Historically the Independents and beginning of a strong school for the Presbyterians have been very closely astraining of all our younger native evan- sociated. The Scotch Covenanters for gelists in the work. It is believed by the Presbyterians, Cromwell and his the mission that courses laid out in this Ironsides and the Pilgrim Fathers for school will be of great help to the young the Independents, these are a historical preachers coming on. The Congo peo- and spiritual ancestry of which no man ple did not have any school until our and no church need be ashamed. The missionaries went to them. They did coming together of their descendants is not even have a written language, and a natural thing. We are glad to see our workers have had to start the edu- that the South African Presbyterian cational service from the ground." Assemblywelcomed the proposal and has appointed a committee 'to consult and Promise for Ethiopia Fulfilled report.' It is an unhappy fact that a further union with the great Dutch A FTER describing a very effective Presbyterian Church of this country has and picturesque sermon by a Con- not yet even been suggested." go preacher, Dan Crawford says: CGerman East Africa "Well done, Ethiopia! Surely this is ANON ROGERS has been trying a true stretching out of your hands unto to resuscitate the work of the God. It is curious that all through Church Missionary Society in the ter- Africa this idiom for 'stretching out the ritory formerly German East Africa, hands' exactly agrees with all the usages which has now been entirely occupied in Hebrew, and therefore disagrees with
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.by the British. He paid a visit in May Sunday the Alum congregation pledged 3,465 days of work for the Lord. to Buigiri and M vumi. He heard re- Efulen's pledge is 5,995 days. That means souls." ports from most of the agents, and they were generally very encouraging. With scarcely an exception these agents had been making efforts to carr~ on ~he NORTH AMERICA wofoarkn~ although they were not 111 receIpt A New Idea in Community Service salary. They kept on in spite of lack of supervision and, in some cases, in I N many small towns in t~e United States, there is an awakemng to the the face of the opposition of the head- men. Everywhere Canon Rogers heard importance of saving the boys and girls of keenness to learn to read, and of men by providing positive helpfulness in and women being under instruction with place of merely negative commands.
a view to baptism. One town-Marysville-a little village In May last the Rev. R. H. Leakey of 3,000 out in Kansas,. is like most spent three weeks in Bukoba in Ger- other country places, wIth no great man East Africa to the west of the temptations but also without much en- Victoria Nyanza, and he has since pro- tertainment for the young folks. They ceeded thither with Mrs. Leakey to make their own entertainment, and it is take over the work of the Lutheran not always of the best. The men and Mission in that region. He speaks of women who wanted to remedy this con- the mission as having apparently existed dition organized a Community I:I0~se more for the purpose of trading than Association. They secured a bUlldmg anything else. There is a "good house and equipped it as a neighborhood for the European in charge, an excellent club with a reception room, with stthoerre~ and a fine carpenter's shop, but cmahgaai;~sindeasv.enApormtsaatrnodntaisbliens loaded with is no church, and a wretched charge. At class-room does duty as a school." All one side are the office of the county the teachers had been baptized and Y. M. C. A. and a room for boys, with trained in Uganda, and in May there games, books and papers.
was a baptismal roll with forty-four On the other side is a club room nchaimlders~nf.ourWohf ewnhitchhe were of European where the girls' and women's clubs may German mission- meet. It has a library, with 2,000 volaries left there were nine out-stations, umes. In the large room the town's and since then the Baganda tt'acher left meetings are held; musical entertainin charge has opened ten others. On ments are given weekly; Bible classes Trinity Sunday Mr. Leakey baptized meet gt hroewr ei'~gcosmpmi r iitttoeef shaerlepffurleneestso use it. thirty-eight men and six women, who A is per- were catechumens at the outbreal: of meating the smaller cities and is getting war. into the lives of people. Churches are Alrican Thristians at Work being rebuilt; school houses are use~ A PRESBYTERIAN missionary in evenings as well as by day; the women s West Africa writes: "The rather new departure at Efulen of the ~eop~e clubs are discussing social hygiene, betgoing out without pay and gathenng 111 the harvest of souls, which is so ripe, is ter babies, playgrounds, medical inspecyielding a splendid fruitage. At E!ulc:n alone there have been 229 converts In SIX tion of schools and similar topics inweeks. . . . There is a spirit of work and zeal that has never been there before stead of reading erudite papers on except in the early days whefl the Christians were doing the work themselves Shakespeare and Browning. and not paying evangelists. On a recent A Chinese Finds Pagans in America A LETTER written to a friend in China by a Chinese Christian who has come to the United States to study, is suggestive of some of the things that
need remedying in America. This Chi- of Commerce, the Board of Education, nese says: and a Committee of which Chancellor "What a nation is America! Full of 11cCormick, of Pittsburg" University, good and full of vices. What a tempting was chairman.
place for the young men of China who come to study! It is my sincere hope Armenians in America that they will get the best out of ONE aspect of the sufferings of the America and put themselves in the Armenian people, perhaps little way of Christian influence. Before I came to America, I thought thought of, is the anxiety and sorrow of the church members knew more the thousands of Armenians in America, about Christianity than the Chinese. who have had no word of their loved N ow I know that most of them ones, nor learned of their tragic do not know what Christianity is. A fate. A rug merchant in N ew York told Christian nation, yet full of pagans! to a sympathetic inquirer how thirteen You may think that I make too bold a years ago he had brought his Armenian statement, yet the fact is there."-The bride to America. Business prospered and Livin!1 Church. in 1914, to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversay,he sent his wife and little ones An Educational Commission from Japan home for a visit to their parents. "Then," he said, "came the war! They A MONG the more or less official had just arrived at their destination, and bodies from other lands which have I acted promptly, you may believe. The been in the United States in recent authorities at Washington were most months was a group of twelve Japanese kind. Through the Embassy at Conschool principals, selected by the Edu- stantinople they located my wife and the cational Department of the Japanese children, and forwarded money I Government from the middle schools, placed in their hands. I learned that my but financed by a Japanese magazine, dear ones were well, but alas ! – I could who visited New York, Philadelphia and not hear from them. 110re than two Pittsburg. Mr. K. Sasaki, principal of years have passed, and still there is no one of the high schools in Tokyo, was personal letter, though I am assured that chairman of the party. These school- they are still preserved. vVhile they are masters received a special welcome not not permitted to return, I have not lost simply by educational and civic organi- hope that I shall see them again. But zations, but by Sunday-school leaders. you can imagine my feelings in view of They expressed the deep impression made what I know is taking place all around upon them by the fact that America them, that practically all the Armenians while busy commercially, and in vast of the town where they are have been war preparations, was equally busy 0 in killed or driven away, and that any day social service lines and was emphasizing I may learn that they are no moretremendously the spiritual. In Brook- o or worse!"
lyn, Philadelphia and Pittsburg, they had opportunity for a study of some Mormon Doctrine in War Time representative Sunday-schools so that they could observe at close range the in- MORMONS have not given up timate and necessary relationship be- polygamy! Americans who have tween the public school and the Sunday- believed that agitation for a constitu- school in the development of a rounded tional amendment on the subject is un- character. necessary will he surprised to learn that In Pittsburg, through arrangements the Mormons not only have been advo- made by Mr. H. J. Heinz, Chairman cating in Europe that, in view of the of the Executive Committee of the destruction of the male population in World's Sunday School Association, the war, more than one woman should be visitors were entertained by the Chamber married to each surviving man, but
I 8J NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
also that propaganda to promote polyg- two little Japanese girls. After that the meeting was turned over to the amy is being conducted in America as chairmanship of a Los Angeles citizen, -a former 'Christian.' The speakers weIl. The Continent presents the facts as follows: "By an arrangement which must have were a city councilman; a citizen whose been made through some newspaper svn- theme was that 'all great teachers like dicate agency, a considerable number' of Buddha and Christ 'v~re climbing a daily papers in this country have been mountain, each from a different side of persuaded to publish four successive the hill, all hound for the same top, and articles in favor of polygamy from the in his opinion what they should do was pen of Susan Youn!!; Gates of Utah. the to Quit quarreling and do more climb- daughter of Brigham Young. Mrs. ing.'
Gates makes boast of the fact that she "Then there spoke a woman from was born into a family of nineteen India, a prophet from Persia, and the wives, and cites the experience of her British consul. The last speaker was the childhood as the basis on which she .Tapanese consul who said that 'Chris- recommends poly,e-amy as the ideal mar- tianitv should make a better study of riage relation. Everv word that she Buddhism before pronouncing it super- writes is an insult to the domestic ideals stition, that it had the same love and of Christendom, but nothing else that compassion that Jesus taught.'
she says quite equals the effrontery of "Such speakers do not know Bud- her declaration that polygamy can only dhism in its practical effects nor do they be a blessing where it is consecrated b~ know Jesus Christ and His Gospel." rrli!dous motives under divine sanctio~.
This, of course, is a direct chaIIenge LATIN AMERICA from the heart of Mormonism to the The Earthquake in Guatemala evangelical churches of America." IN the last weeIc of December a great :Buddhism in America earthquake shook Guatemala City 'XTE have often been warned that if and leveled all buildings to the ground. Over one hundred thousand people were V V American Christians do not rendered homeless, but few were killed. The Presbyterian Mission houses, in- Christianize the Orient, then the Orient cluding the new Hospital and Training wiII de-Christianize America. I t is a School for Nurses, and the Girls' School, contest to prove which is the vital and were destroyed. The other mission stavitalizing religion. It is rather startling tion at Quezaltenango was not injured. to learn that in Los Angeles 1,200 Tap- The American Red Cross has sent 5,000 anese were 'recently converterl to Bud- tents and other relief to the stricken city. dhism. There are over 4,000 Japanese An earthquake also recently devastated Buddhists in Seattle and thev have con- portions of San Salvador. tributed lavishly toward the building and support of a magnificent Buddhist A temple. In all, there are seventy-four Fresh Trouble in Mexico temples in the United States devoted .to the worship of Buddha, most of these LL friends of Mexico hope that being on the Paciflc Coast, from which the country is not to slip back into the propaganda is being carried on civil strife and disorder just as it seemed among the white races. A California that the land was to have a stable gov- missionary describes in Men and Mis- ernment once more and a chance for sions a Buddhist meeting, packed with . peaceful development. Report comes an immense audience and lasting from that Villa has broken out again with a 2 :00 until 5 :30 P. M.: much larger number of men in his train "First there was an ovation to Bud- than it was supposed he could get to- dha, made by a priest; then a presenta- gether and that he is terrorizing north- tion made to an image of the God by ern Mexico. He succeeded in taking
Ojunago, three hundred miles from rescue destitute children and train them Chihuahua, where the American Board to become honest and useful citizens. has one of its stations, compelling most 7,149 boys and girls were under the ca~e of the Carrancistas to flee across the bor- of the Homes at the end of last year, der into the United States. Conditions in Chihuahua are regarded critical as and they have admitted 4,744 children the withdrawal of General Murguia to the south has left the city with a reduced since war broke out. garrison and a less efficient commander. Wild reports are in circulation as to The Soldier and His Testament Villa's plans and there is much anxiety as to what will happen next. R EV.NORMAN MacLEAN, D.D., of Edinburgh, who has spent In view of Villa's boasted antagon- several months in the army camps in ism to all Americans, it will be neces- France, writes in the Record of the sary for missionaries, as well as others National Bible Society of Scotland: from the United States, to be on their "There is one thing the soldier greatly guard. It is not a question of antipathy prizes, and that is his New Testament. to missions or even to individuals, but of In the huts there is a constant request general hatred of everything American for Testaments, and these requests are on the part of this ignorant and lawless never refused. No soldier need go up rebel chief. It remains to be seen to the front without the words of eterwhether the government in the South nal life in his knapsack. One of my will be strong enough and resolute cherished memories is a soldier coming enough to counteract this new danger. up after a service and showing me his Testament, and the way in which the Opening a Mission in Costa Rica bulIet had pierced it, and half way through had been deflected, and saved D R. GEORGE A. MILLER, Su- his life. Such a Testament was too perintendent of the Methodist precious to be risked any further, and Mission in Panama, recently visited the he asked me to take it home to his Republic of Costa Rica with a view to mother. exploring the missionary possibilities, the Methodist Episcopal Church having "While it would be foolish to expect been requested by the Inter-denomina- regeneration from high explosives and tional Committee on Latin American l'renches, yet, when the great army FIelds to survey and occupy this field. They found the door wide open. From comes home, the men will welcome the the President to the man on the street, scores of people heartily welcomed the warmer breath of love and brotherhood missionary representatives and urged such as the Church will give them. It them to inaugurate work at once. Both is that more fervent atmosphere of love that the Church needs most to provide the capital, San Jase, and Cartago, the for the returning soldiers."
second city, are especially inviting. Evangelizing British Hop-Pickers Costa Rica has the most energetic people and the best organized industry of AEO UT the time when the noble any Central American country, and is and wealthy magnates of the West at present without Protestant work, ex- End of London leave for the country, a cept for a weak independent mission. As soon as funds are available strong kind Providence sends about 90,000 evangelical work should be established. dwellers of the East End also to the EUROPE country, to the fields and meadows of Kent, Sussex and other home coun- Barnardo's Homes ties, where you find them by the end of August and aU September, with M ANY Englishmen are now seeing their children, engaged in the lightest of a patriotic significance in the all employments, gathering the fragrant worlc of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, which fruit of the hop plant. Very few of them ever enter a house of worship. Here, however, the church which they care not to attend in town is brought to them in
18 ] NEWS FROM MANY LANDS .157
the country. The several missions to missionary, who hoped to settle there in the hop-pickers send earnest, godly men, October and to open a regular "Foyer." who visit the camps of the hop-pickers, In the meantime the Protestant church and are usually beset, and nearly upset, was placed at the disposal of the Mala- by the rush for hymn-books. gasy for a Sunday afternoon service. A committee of lIalagasy arranges for It is a weird sight on a moonless night native preachers"dlen a European misaround a blazing fire to watch the inner sionary is not present. At iIarseiIIes, ring of little children seated on the grass Toulouse, Bordeaux, and other places, and the crowd of men and women stand- similar work is being done by local pasing behind them, and going back into tors and other Christians. the darkness, all listening eagerly and with the stillness of a cathedral service, Missions in the Trenches to the Gospel of salvation, or singing together the hymns of gladness and life. T HAT there is considerable religion in the trenches of Europe is a fact Who can compute how much the which we are coming to realize, but "Mission to the Hop-Pickers" means· to that this trench religion at times takes nearly a hundred thousand people, re- on a missionary aspect will surprise leased from the slums and other low many. A missionary meeting in the haunts of congested cities, and given trenches! Speakers from the missionary three to five weeks' sojourn in the open front in Africa, China, India holding country? These people are given light hardened soldiers spell-bound by their employment, and receive in wages the tales of spiritual victories among the means to enable them to face the rigors non-Christian races of the world I-such of the approaching winter, to pay their things we had hardly thought possible. rent and carry with them many Scripture portions and booklets, the circula- A missionary from Papua, British tion of which among them now numbers New Guinea, has been giving lectures at several millions.-Life of Faith. the front on such topics as "Racial Problems in Relation to Christianity," Work Among Colonials in France "Our Duty to the Veaker Races," "The Ultimate Aim." These lectures T HE Journal des ~lissions publishes are followed by discussions often con- interesting details of the efforts tinuing far into the night. put forth by French Protestants for the help of their fellow Protestants amongst The Gospel in Spain the ever-growing number of natives of the French colonies arriving in France. T HE Spanish Branch of the Vorld's N early the whole of the Tahitians, the Evangelical Alliance has determajority of the New Caledonians, and mined to celebrate. the fiftieth anniverat least half the Malagasy are said to be sary of the permission to preach the Protestants. To these must be added a Gospel in Spain. It has framed an atlarge number of Basutos, who come tractive program for the meetings in from what is now a British colony, 1918, and it is hoped that the Congress which was originally evangelized by to be held in Madrid, in October, will French Protestant missionaries, and in mark a new starting point in Spanish which the great majority of professing evangelization. Until 1868 it was a Christians look to the Paris Missionary crime for Spaniards to possess a copy of Society as their spiritual parents. the Bible in their own tongue and the practice of the Inquisition was contin- At the great naval port of Toulon ued after the abolition of that instituthere were, at the beginning of July, tion. In 1868 Queen Isabella was drivabout 1,500 Malagasy, about 1,000 of en from Spain and the exiles for conwhom were Protestants. For a year science were permitted to return to their past, those who can do so have attended native land. The late Bishop Cabrera a small gospel hall situated far from the barracks. They have been visited by a
was told by General Prim that he could plan. Not many years since, the colony go wherever he wished with "his Bible embraced nearly 1,300 lepers, while tounder his arm." Since that time the day there are but 600. The Mormons story of evangelical work has been also have a church in l1olokai." marked by years of persecution and times of tolerance. Much has been ac- MISCELLANEOUS NOTES complished in the presence of very great obstacles. Much more requires to be Unexplored Mindanao done before Spain knows the Gospel, and it is to be hoped that the condition of W HEN a part of the Micronesia Europe next year will permit foreign :Mission was transferred from the delegates to join their Spanish brethren American Board to the London :Missionin celebrating the Jubilee.-Evangelical ary Society, Rev. and .Mrs. Frank J. Christendom. Voodward, formerly at work in the Gilbert Islands, joined the Philippine ISLANDS OF THE SEA Mission, with station at Cagayan, Min- danao. Writing from Zamboanga, the The Lepers in Hawaii very westernmost point of Mindanao, Mr. Voodward says: FLEMING H. REVELL, of New York, during a trip to Hawaii vis- "A few weeks ago Captain Fort dis- covered a new tribe of people living some ited the leper settlement on the Island hundreds of miles north of Davao. The of Molokai. He says: people of this tribe had never been vis- ited by a white man, neither had they "I found a scattered settlement. seen a horse. Buildings were mostly in groups at widely separated points-boys' homes, "Captain Fort told us of the discovgirls' homes, cottage homes for families, ery, some months previously, of a tribe and others for male or female adults, numbering about five thousand that had school buildings, recreation hall, hospi- not been known to exist. From what I tal and a goodly number of detached can learn, it appears that most of the homes where families containing one or interior peoples are more open to the more lepers were allowed certain sec- teaching of the Gospel than those along tions of land to cultivate and upon the coast, making an exception of the which to build. In common with my ~loros and Manobos. Captain Fort esexperience in other leper settlements vis- timates the population of Mindanao to ited, in Cuba, Jamaica, Central Amer- be at least 800,000." ica, I found here no indication that patients were either despondent or morose. OBITUARY They were the reverse-patient, if suffering keenly: otherwise entering heart- William Y. King of Toronto. ily into recreations and entertainments. O N November 30, 1917, Mr. Will- "The moral and religious work and iam Y. King, the American Secinfluence are mostly in the hands of the retary-Treasurer of the China Inland Roman Catholics. A priest and four Mission, died suddenly in Toronto, Can- 'brothers' appear devoted to their work ada, as the result of a stroke. Mr. in connection with the boys' homes. King was born at Ingersol, Ontario, on The grave of Father Damien is to be September 5, 1869, and after some exseen in the little churchyard. The Girls' perience in his father's flour mill, en- Home is presided over by a Mother Su- tered into business in Montreal. He perior and with three 'sisters' who de- was a zealous Christian, prayerful, tactvote themselves to this department. ful and humble. He became deeply interested in missions when his sister "A strict segregation of lepers is insti- went as a missionary to China in 1896. tuted under American laws. A notable Later he visited China with his wife and decrease in numbers attests the impor- on his return in 1910 was invited to tance and the beneficial effect of this become treasurer of the China Inland Mission. China From Within: Impressions and ers. The plain country folk: and their Experiences. By Charles Ernest Scott, plainer homes; their fairs and their M.A., D.D. Illustrated. 327 pp. $1.75 theatres; floods and famines and plagues net. Fleming H. Revell Co., New which so often decimate them; the spe- York. 1917. cial political unrest of recent years and its effect 1.pon the people and the infant F EW theological seminaries have ever Church; the itinerant's d1.sty, windy, listened to a course of lectures like muddy trials leading to churches in the these delivered before Princeton Semi- house where all sorts of pathetic and trinary men in 1914-1915. In form and umphant scenes are witnessed :-these material they are better adapted for are the substance of nearly t"FO hundred popular reading than for anything like a pages of the volume. Perhaps the most critical student audience. Seven chapters striking pictures are those describing of missionary material are prefaced by communion services held under all two more general in character dealing sorts of incongruouus circumstances. with "The Land and the People" ani The constant refrain of victory through "Racial Traits." The latter chapters prayer and faithful witnessing is a joy are more oratorical and less valuable of the book, as readers of The Sunday than the missionary sections, being large- School Times, where some of the best ly quotations of varying degrees of auth- sections have previously been published, ority with no attempt to verify refer- will recall. ences, as Princeton students are supposed to do or to have done for them. .Much as we approve of this volume, we must point out some features that The other chapters are uniquely de- are open to criticism. Vhy should the tailed and make the reader see the Holy author almost invariably speak of things Land of China, the Province of Shan- Chinese in depreciatory terms-always tung, in its dire need and its great hope- muddy, squalid, filthy, disgusting; and fulness. ·Missionaries doing deputation of the unevangelized people as unworthy work will find here the sort of in- and evil in all their works and ways, exformation most welcome among the cept in his rhetorical preface? The churches, and with certain desirable writer has seen the work in Shantung variations mentioned below, they may and knows the truth of much that is well follow Dr. Scott's plan. In the chap- here said; yet there is a brighter side, ter on the work in cities, a valuable even when the people are not converts, scheme is set forth, practicable in some that ought also be presented. If 1.-1r. sections of China and well illustrated in Scott were to meet Christian Chinese what the Presbyterians are attempting educated in America, the very class who in Shantung, known as the City Evan- if won are so helpful to missions, he gelization Enterprise. In a Chines('- ,,'o1l1d see resentment on their faces as manned Jesus Doctrine Preaching Hall, costing $5,000 each and to be planted in he presented to the future ministers of a all the strategic cities, will be found the great denomination-and to the reading varied ministrations of an institutional public-this revolting picture of the and indigenous church, when the plan homes and deeds of their non-Christian is fully developed. The author's own countrymen. They would as Christians center ·at the German-built Tsingtao on query some of his proofs of answered Kiaochou Bay is made to be the key of prayer, such as the featured one of pages the entire situation-a wonderfully de- 269-273, though they would add that veloped occidental city. the volume contains abundant proof of the power of prayer that is not question- But it is rural evangelization which most interests O1.r a1.thor and his read- able. They would also deplore his fre-
quent introduction of the Chinese lan- interest; but alas, it was later declared to guage romanized after a system that is be a literary fraud. A man who could applicable only to a local patois pain- manufacture such a book must have refully "wild and woolly." markable gifts even though veracity is not one of them. The present volume Directory of Protestant Missions in by :Mr. Bland may, however, be re- China. 1917. Edited by Charles L. garded as authoritative. The author Boynton. 12mo. 313 pp. Christian has had ample opportunities to know Literature Society, Shanghai. 1917. China in general and Li Hung-Chang in particular. He has written an admir- T HIS directory is prepared for the able biography, one which should be in China Continuation Committee every public library and in the hands and contains very valuable and up-to- of all students of China and of interdate information. In addition to the national affairs. regular features of other volumes it contains an alphabetical index of abbrevi- The Soul of France. By Rev. Ruben ations of names of societies, dates of the Saillens, D.D. 8vo. 274 pp. (55 net). opening of stations, statistics as to each Morgan and Scott, London. 1917. station and explanatory footnotes. M ANY books have been written This volume contains the names and about France but none with such addresses of over 4,000 missionaries and fine appreciation and discrimination as facts about their stations and society, but not thf'ir length of service. This latter this. Dr. Saillens is a Frenchmanwould be a useful addition. born in Lyons i-he is a Protestant and "Li Hung-Chang." By]. O. P. Bland. an earnest Christian worker, but he sees 327 pp. $2.00 net. Henry Holt and the good in Roman Catholics and others Company, New York. 1017. from whom he differs. The picture of France and Frenchmen that he gives us I I HUNG-CHANG was one of is not a passing, superficial glimpse, but ~ the greatest statesmen of the nine- a historical survey and an intimate inteenth century and one of the extraor- ~ight into the true soul life of the nadinary men of history. The late Hon- tion and of individuals. orable John V. Foster, who was thoroughly familiar. with the public men of The book is well written and worth his generation, declared that "Li Hung- reading. It reveals the poverty and Chang was not only the greatest man wealth of French religious life from the the Chinese race has produced in mod- beginning. Dr. Saillens describes the ern times, but, in a combination of early days of the nation, the reformation, qualities, the most unique personality the religious peculiarities of various sects of the past century among all the na- and classes, the spirit of some great tions of the world. The last one hun- writers and leaders; the revolution, the dred years have produced many men of nineteenth century revival, the Second scholarship, several great generals, a Empire and the present war. There are number of statesmen of distinguished strong characters studies of such men as ability and success, and a few diplomats Robert Haldane, Merle d'Aubigne, of high rank; but no one of these can Oberlin, Monod, and others. There are be singled out as having combined in some very striking incidents, especially his person all these attainments in such those relating to soldiers in the present an eminent degree as Li Hung-Chang." war. Intelligent men and women everY'vhere are interested in information about such There are still comparatively few a man. he world was stirred in 1913 Protestants in France-about 600,000by the publication of a volume entitled but they can exert a tremendous influ- "Memoirs of the Viceroy Li Hung- ence on the life of the nation. The work Chang." It was a fascinating volume of spiritual regeneration must come first which we read and re-read with keen after the war. The only hope for France is in Jesus Christ and His Gospel. France needs spiritual resurrection.
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A MISSIONARY APPEAL THROUGH
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MISSIONARY
EVIEW~ VOL January, 1918 NUMBER XLI ON.
SIGNS OF TIm TIME S "~,,u::uuu" QOU VUUiIi u :0.0 I Ib.UY ~.
THINKING IN CONTINENTS SOME of the early missionary pioneers had visions of world cam- paigns to win the world for Jesus Christ. The promise to Abra- ham was that in his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed. The commission of Christ to His disciples was world-wide in scope and the early missionary apostles started out to go with the Gospel into all known lands. When Church and State became united, plans for political conquest were linked with those for spiritual victories and the spiritual end was defeated. Then came the Reformation and the division of Christendom into independent and non-eo-operating sects. The result has. been the multiplication of missionary agencies with the division of missionary effort. I The Church of Christ has failed to unite on any general program for world evangelization and much time, money. and labor have been wasted.
Today missionary statesmen are making a heroic effort to correct the mistakes of the past. They are meeting in conference, are planning campaigns to occupy continents, are promoting union work and are dividing territory to prevent overlapping. The Edinburgh Conference and the interdenominational Missionary Conferericesin America and England have made long strides toward the desired goal of united missionary effort to evangelize the whole world.
The latest special conference to study missionary strategy and cooperative effort met in New York last November to consider the Continent of Africa. It met under the auspices of the African Committee of the Foreign Missions Conference and studied in statesman-like manner the problems presented by the whole continent. One of the most able and striking papers-by the chairman, Dr. Cornelius H. Patton-' appears in this number of the REVIEW. It views Africa as a whole-the
progress of evangelization, the menace of Islam and of commercialism, the most successful methods of evangelization, the need for co-operative effort and the demand for an adequate missiona'ry strategy.
Other paper,s took up the unevangelized regions, the advance of Mohammedanism, the value of medical work, the progress of educational missions, and typical missions and successful methods. Some of c. the ablest missionaries participated, including Bishop Joseph Hart- zell, of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Bishop Hamilton, of the Moravian Board; Bishop Lambuth, of the Southern Methodists; Dr. Charles R. Watson, President of Cairo University; Dr. Karl Kumm, of the Sudan United Mission; Dr. Catherine Mabie, of Banza Manteke; Dr. J. H. Taylor, of Zululand; Mrs. W. H. Johnston, of the Kamerun Mission, and others conne'cted with Protestant Episcopal, Christian, and Africa Inland missions.
The time is ripe for greater advance in Africa. The races are awakening; the railroads are highways for advance; the commercial progress involves both dangers and opportunities. Ruin or redemption confronts the African. In view of these and other facts, the conference adopted, unanimously, the following resolutions (here abbreviated) : 1. That at the next Foreign Missions Conference the need be presented 'for arousing the churches to the Moslem peril and the present opportunity for dealing with the problem. 2. That the Cummittee of Reference and Cou~cil be asked to present to the French Government the reasons for allowing Protestapt missions unhampered opportunity for work in French territory.
:1-. That the evangelization of Africa calls for the quadrupling of the missionary forces within the next five years. These should be distributed so as to occupy the strategic lines of trade, the chief centers of Mohammedan influence and the unoccupied areas.
4. That the Standing Committee seek for a basis for co-operation with other bodies to secure the fullest consideration to the rights of the native races in the peace settlement.
5. That attention of Protestant churches be called to the need for making sure that the Christianity of Africa shall be dominantly evangelical. , 6. That, in view of the disastrous effect of the importation of alcoholic liquors into Africa, the executive officers of the Mission Boards be requested to petition the House of Representatives in favor of the proposed Constitutional AmendlI!ent prohibiting the manu- facture and sale of intoxicating liquors.
7. That large emphasis be placed on the selection and training of native evangelists in Africa; that special Bible courses be prepared; that more adequate provision be made for industrial training; and that there be prepared and translated, in the chief language of Africa, a small book describing the pentecostal work in such fields as the Camerouns, the Nile Valley, Uganda, Nyasaland and the Lower Congo.
8. That, in view of the necessity of the fullest co-operation on the part of the several branches of the Church, the conference recommends well equipped Union Schools for training a native ministry, and a scientific survey of the South African field with a view to greater unification of missionary effort.
9. That the conference urge on all- African missions the importance of the production of religious literature in the vernacular adopted to native needs.
10. That, in view of the great need for and effectiveness of medical missions in Africa, the -medical force and equipment should be greatly increased.
It is expected that a permanent committee will be appointed by the Foreign Missions Conference to study the needs and plan for missionary advancement in Africa. The report of this conference is to be print~d and will form a valuable basis for the study of Africa as a whole and the
OF THE TIMES
program needed for its speedy evangelization. The period following the war must be a period of readjustment and should be active for the crystallization of plans and for united effort. But, after all, only the power of God can convert the African and only Christ can redeem Africa.
THE RESULT OF MISSIONARY STRATEGY I N one week in November the Young Men's Christian Association workers in the United States secured pledges for over $50,000,000 to be expended for soldiers and sailors betore June first. Thus they obtained in seven days, nearly twice as much as all the Protestant missionary forces of America have hitherto been able to secure for foreign work in twelve months. And this was on top of the hundred million dollar Red Cross drive, two Liberty Loan campaigns, Belgian Relief, Armenian Relief and other appeals.
How did they do it? First, they presented a great cause with an . unusual appeal; second, they had a thorough organization for every State, city, town and village; third, they secured the co-operation of men of large affairs; and fourth, they used effective methods in the presentation of facts and to create enthusiasm among the solicitors and the givers.
But this is not all. There are greater lessons that may be learned from the Y. M. C. A. work for the soldiers in this World War. The greatest is the value of co-operation and unity in a sacrificial effort to carry forward a great campaign to save men.
The associations in America and Great Britain-in fact, throughout the Allied world-are conducting a united campaign. National and denominational and personal differences are forgotten. The whole field is mapped out as by a general staff; each point is viewed with reference to its need, positive and comparative; the best men available are selected and placed with a view to the work to be done and their fitness for the task; there is no overlapping and the least possible waste. Money is spent freely to help soldiers wherever they are in need-in the training camps, in the base camps, in the trenches, on furlough or in the prison camps.
Wonders have been accomplished. In two weeks after war was declared the British Y. M. C. A. was mobilized and was represented in 250 centers. In two years there were 1,500 centers occupied by over 3,000 workers. Today, with America in line, there are some 5,000 workers in nearly 2,000 centers. America alone has 2,200 men in American camps and 400 men in armies abroad. A thousand buildings have been put up in camps and at the front.
The whole field has been served from the home office and personally inspected. So far as funds permit, centers are established wherever there is a need-in America, in the British Isles, in France, Belgium, Russia, Greece, Egypt, Malta, East Africa,· South Africa, Palestine,
Mesopotamia, India and Australia. Everywhere the armies go, there goes the Y. M. C. A.
In an incredibly short space of time these thousands of workers have been called, specially trained and equipped. All evangelical Chris- tians are included in the staff – Presbyterians, Baptists, Reformed, Methodists, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Disciples, Brethren, Friends. There is no question about non-essentials of creed, only as to Christian character, and readiness and ability to serve in the name of Christ. There is little or no sectarian rivalry-seeking to lead men into particular branches of the Church. Soldiers know little and care less what denomination a Y. M. C. A. worker represents. Help is given in the name and spirit of Christ and the glory goes to Him.
The buildings and privileges are open to all and· meetings are attended by Protestants, Jews, Catholics, Atheists and those of other faiths and no faith. The "huts" are not expensive cathedrals or churches used one day a week, but are built with one idea-service. The workers have responded to a great need-leaving family, business and comforts of home to go into the place of danger and sacrifice.
What are the results? Forgetting self in the service of men, the Y. M. C. A. has gained a world-wide fame. The Red Triangle is known and welcomed everywhere and its initials have come to mean You Make Christianity Attractive. The political and military leaders give it unqualified endorsement. All classes of men are attracted. Money has poured into the treasury. Men press forward with applications for service. Hundreds of thousands of men have been saved from vice and ruin, have been enlisted in educational classes, and thousands have been quietly but effectively l~d to Christ. _ What then? What would happen if the whole Christian Church should take such a comprehensive view of its task? Surely no greater cause could be presented than that of saving men for time and eternity. What might not be done if the forces of Christiandom should unite to study the needs of the world; should readjust their organizations, their home expenses, their workers in the field, their plans of campaign-not with a narrow view but from the standpoint of the whole? What would happen if China and Africa and India and South America were studied and occupied in this way? Would not this Christian statesmanship appeal to multitudes, so that there would be an unprecedented response in workers and money? Overlapping and rivalry would cease. Money and men would be saved and Christianity would make an impression on the world such as has never been possible with a divided Church. Past excuses for failure would be forgotten. The united prayer that would follow would mean new power-for no amount of men, money or organization would avail for bringing new life to men without the direction and power of the Spirit of God.
OF THE TIMES
A PROGRAM FOR EIGHTY MILLIONS I N connection with the celebration of the one.hundredth anniversary of Methodist Home and Foreign Missions, the Church has outlined a large program of advance in service and giving. The celebration begins on January first and is expected to inaugurate a new era. The aim is to bring Methodist Christians to realize the greatness and importance of their task, just as the Allies are beginning to realize the necessity for unlimited devotion to the work of establishing peace on the earth.
Christian people must visualize the needs of the world and the inspiring possibilities of a redeemed and regenerated humanity. Every evil rampant today is the result of a disregard of God's laws and the failure to appropriate Christ's offer of life.power. The service of Christ calls for sacrifice even greater than is demanded in the interests of the nation and humanity; for Christian service includes all forms of service.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is endeavoring to bring its memo bers to see the vision and to accept the responsibility-none claiming exemption. They aim to mobilize the entire prayer life and all the resources of the Church. They see not only the congregations at home needing shepherding, with the unenlightened millions of negroes, Indians, mountaineers, miners, lumbermen and foreigners in America, but they also see the 800,000,000 of the unevangelized in Latin America, Africa, India, China, Japan and Moslem lands. Methodism's share in this responsibility includes over 100,000,000 souls.
The Boards of Home and Foreign Missions therefore call their churches in the next five years to quadruple their gifts-an $80,000,000 program. The Foreign Mission Board last year reported an $143,000 increase and now ask for eight millions a year for the next five years. The gifts to 'all Methodist foreign work reported for 19 I 7 amounted to $3,146,062, including amoQnts received from the women and Sunday· schools. Men are just beginning to learn how to give. Every land presents new openings for Christian i.nfluence, and after the war there will be unparalleled need and unprecedented opportunity. The disintegration of Islam, the Mass Movements in India, the intellectual awakening in China and the new friendliness in Japan and Latin America point to new possibilities for Christian advance-if the Church at home is'not selfish or asleep. The program outlined for the Metho~ dists will be more fully described in our next number. It is one that shows a daring faith and one that inspires to heroic sacrifice and service.
PALESTINE AND THE JEWS W HEN Baron Rothschild was approached some years ago with a proposal that his family help to purchase Palestine from the .' " Turks and re·establish the Jews in their homeland, it is said that lr~ '~eplied : "No I We will never seek to buy the land which God
Almighty gave to our fathers. The day will come when He will bring us back into our inheritance."
The time seems to be approaching when this fine faith is to be re- warded and when more prophecies of the Scriptures are to be fulfilled. On December loth it was announced that the British forces under Gen- eral Allenby had captured Jerusalem from the Turks and Germans. For two thousand years Palestine has been under gentile dominion and for _ twelve centuries the Mohammedan Powers have been in possession of the Holy City. Only twice during that period have Christian forces occupied Jerusalem for a brief period, the last Christian ruler being Frederick II. of Germany (1229-1244).
Last lJecember, after Beersheba, Hebron, Gaza and Jaffa had been captured, Jerusalem itself was surrounded, and surrendered without be- ing bombarded. Both Turkish and British forces wished to preserve the sacred shrines from injury. A Mohammedan representadve entered the city with the British and French commanders, so that the Temple Area, the Holy Sepulchre and other sacred places and relics, revered by Christians, Jews and Moslems, might not be pro1aned. Christians again possess the city, but the Moslems still hold the Temple Area.
What will be the future of Israel and of the Holy Land? Political prophecy is difficult, but God has wondrous ways of carrying out His program. The British have signified their approval of the Zionist move- ment and restoration of the Jews to Palestine and of Palestine to the Jews-perhaps with an international government. On November 2nd, Arthur James Balfour, of the British Foreign Office, wro~e to Lord Rothschild an official letter in which he said.
"His Majesty's government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this obj~ct."
Some students of history and prophecy see in this declaration an event as important to the Jews today as was the Decree of Cyrus in 536 B. c., which permitted the Jews to return to Palestine from Babylon.
This declaration has raised high the hopes of the Zionists and has been enthusiastically received by millions of Jews. It may be that at the con- clusion of the war hundreds of thousands of the "Peculiar People" will return to the land given to Abraham and will there await the further fulfilment of prophecy. (Luke 21 :24.) All this is in spite of the Moslem program. Djamal Pasha, commander of the Turkish army in Syria, declared that the Jews must be exterminated or deported from Palestine. But God has said that they should return (Is. II :II-16). To carry out His will the gentile nations are advocating the restoration of Israel to their homeland. It is the Turk who must go.
When this fulfilment of prophecy takes place we may expect that the land that once flowed with milk and honey, but that has been devastated l:.y Turkish mismanagement, will again be fruitful and fair.
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The soil is wondr~usly fertile, and when trees, grass, vineyards and grains are restored, the land will be one of the most beautiful on earth.
It is estimated that it could support at least 3,000,000 people in place of the present 400,000. The land holds the key position at the juncture of Asia, Africa and Europe-a strategic position enhanced by the recent railway building. Even before the war, Palestine was becoming increasingly Jewish-in commerce and industries, in agricultural settlements, in schools, hospitals, asylums and even in language. What may we expect if the Allies re-establish the Hebrews in their God-given home? Is their time of chastisement drawing to a close, in preparation for the return of their reiected Messiah? When that event takes place we may expect the Hebrews to become a great Christian missionary force to complete the evangelization of the world.
AMERICA'S OPPORTUNITY IN CHINA E VENTS are moving rapidly in the diplomatic relations of the Far· East. The war has not caused European nations to relax their interest in the greatest coming Power of Asia. In due time the Republic of China seems destined to far outweigh India's British-governed three hundred and fifteen millions and Japan's phenomenal assumption of indigenous hegemony in Asia. During these years of war the diplomacy of the Russian, French, Italian and Japanese chancellories has threatened China's autonomy,. or self-respect. Two nations, indeed, have shown themselves her friends in this cataclysmic time, Great Britain and the United States. All the Entente Powers (except Russiaowing to her financial straits) have manifested their good-will by postponing until a later period the burdensome Boxer indemnity payments. China has followed the United States in declaring war against the Central Powers, and already has sent a large number of Chinese laborers to France.
The Ishii-Lansing agreement is doubtless intended to safeguard China's best good, as well as to unite Japan and the United States on a basis of mutual interests and the highest welfare of the Far East. That agreement, however, being made without referring to China the matters under discussion, has naturally led Dr. 'Vellington Ku, China's Minister at Washington, to send a solemn protest against such a settlement of his country's affairs.
How, then, will this cloud affect the missionary work of American churches? We believe that the conditions enumerated emphasize, rather than destroy, the possibilities of missionary influence in China. Diplomats and promoters of foreign financial and mining interests, always distrusted in that country, are now more than ever open to suspicion. But the men representating the financial and political interests of alien nations are rarely seen outside of the treaty port" and capitals of the Republic, while in nearly a thousand other cities and towns Christian
missionaries are living their self-sacrificing lives in close touch with the Chinese, and are ministering to the people through 4,082 organized churches, 5, 136 educational institutions, and 651 hospitals and dispensa- ries. Half of the 5,750 men and women engaged in this ministry are from- America. These living arguments .are admitted by the Chinese to offset the unchristian acts of many representatives of Occidental governments and mercantile and financial firms. Even if Christian Powers usually appear to be selfish, these Christian men and women, who seek not their own, show that they desire the highest good of the Chinese.
The Government of the United States realizes the importance of missionaries in China, as was evidenced by General Crowder's interest in the address of a Committee of the Board Secretaries of the United States and Canada who argued for the exemption of students, not theological, of military age, preparing to go to China as missionaries. He recognized that they are part of a body of men who can do more than diplomats or business representatives to maintain international peace and promote harmonious relations between the United States and the Far East.
America must bear a larger responsibility, for the war has sadly crippled China's missions and all European societies are .weakened financially and in the number of their missionaries. The recent enormous depreciation of gold in that silver standard country has also handicapped the work. The Presbyterian Board (North) states that this depreciation in the buying power of gold will cost an additional $200,000 or $300,000 for salaries and work of their Board in China alone. Never was the Republic more clamant, never· more ready for the Gospel. _It is in the "fulness of time" that Mr. Sherwood Eddy is going to China for a wide educational and evangelistic campaign. Truly this is America's day of opportunity in China. "Who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
A JAPANESE-AMERICAN UNDERSTANDING E VERYTHING that brings about a better understanding and better conditions among nations helps to advance Christianity. Misun- derstandings between America and Japan have fostered suspicion and caused unfriendliness toward Americans in the Island Empire, and so have hindered Christian work. For this reason the recent visit of fifteen Japanese educators to America and their cordial reception, the Economic Mission of nine men and a Parliamentary Mission as well as the mission of Viscount Ishii and the successful result of his conference with the State Department at Washington, have a distinct influence on the progress of Christianity. They show the Japanese desire for the best that America can give and supplement America's mission to Japan to give them the best in the Christian religion and practical ideals of life.
MISSIONARY ON
O NE of the overworked and often unappreciated forces of the Christian Church is the missionary on furlough. Returning from a foreign land, where he has been a Christian soldier at the front, expecting to be welcomed among appreciative friends, he often meets ignorance, coldness and indifference. His appeals for the great work to which he has devoted his life fail to awaken the sympathy and do not meet the response expected. If he is in demand as a speaker, he has little time for study, for needed rest and refreshment with friends and family. Nights are spent on trains; days are devoted to meetings, large and small; the financial allowance is inadequate to meet high prices and he too often is relieved when the time comes to return to the fronta wiser but a disappointed man. Not all of these heroes and heroines from the front have such an experience, but many have, especially if they have not large personal magnetism and a repertoire of thrilling narratives. An excellent list of suggestions is given in All the World, by Rev.
Wm. P. Schell and others, to those who invite missionaries to visit their churches and societies.
1. Rejoice at the prospect of his coming. Expect great things and prepare for them. .
2. Advertise his coming widely and enthusiastically. Be sure to have the ll1eeting place cheerful and the program well planned.
3. Pray-individually and collectively-for large and definite results, and work for them.
4. Meet him at the station on time and provide for his comfort, but do not entertain him too strenu;usly.
5. Invite the missionary committee, or leading members of the church, to meet him. Ask him to meet missionary volunteers.
6. Introduce him to those who are not interested but should be, and tell them definite facts about him in a way to help him make a good impression.
7. Give the missionary plenty of time to speak. If he uses a stereopticon, do not expect him to bring it or operate it.
8. Introduce him to the Sunday-school and young people, and if he can talk interestingly to them, give him an- opportunity.
9. Ask him for suggestions and follow them as far as possible. Be ready to receive as much help as you can.
10. Before he leaves, look after his traveling expenses, tactfully give him some additional financial acknowledgment of his services and, if possible, help the work to which he is devoting his life. Do not embarrass him by taking up an offering for his expenses in his presence.
When the missionary leaves, do not let the matter drop. Follow up the impressions of the visit. These are things you would do for a
speaker of note, or for a soldier of the State from the battle front. Why not be as interested and intelligent in regard to the campaign of the King of kings and as courteous toward a Christian soldier of the Kingdom of God?
THE VALUE OF MISSIONARY INFLUENCE T HERE was a time when missionaries were looked upon by diplo- mats and statesmen as trouble-makers or as visionaries. Young Men's Christian Association workers were often considered weak and a negligible influence in large undertakings. Today the Christian forces are recognized more than ever before as a power in national and international affairs. Some have indeed objected to the exemption of mis- sionaries and Y. M. C. A. men from the draft, but those best informed see that the work these men are doing is as important as that of those in the army, the navy or the munition factories. The missionaries in Turkey, Persia and Egypt have been an incalculable force for the preservation of life and for maintaining the principles of Christian democracy for which America is fighting. In China they continue to be, as in the past, true soldiers of a better order of things, interpreting American ideals to the Chinese multitudes and helping to enlist the nation on the side of justice and humanity. In Japan the missionaries are perhaps the greatest factor in cementing international friendship, and in India and Africa they have been an incalculable blessing to Great Britain.
In all of these lands the missionaries have not only taught people of many races the truth but they have also been the trainers of leaders of the present generation. Who can estimate the extent of the influence of such missionaries as William Carey or Bishop Valpy French in India in the past or of Bishop Azariah and Dr. Bannerji today? Such men as Sherwood Eddy and C. T. Wang in China are worth more than diplo- mats and a regiment of soldiers. William Shedd and Dr. Packard in Persia saved numberless lives and have had more influence with the authorities than many professional diplomats. W. W. Peet has probably been the largest human factor in the preservation of the remnant of the Armenian nation.
So it has been in every land-the missionaries have been the greatest asset in the creation of a better understanding among different races and governments, the greatest trainers of coming leaders of the right sort among plastic peoples; the most diligent students and interpreters of divers languages and thought; the ones who have developed industries and the demand for the best things offered by civilization. They have also taught the Christian principles of righteousness, peace and good-will among men and of man's responsibility to God and dependence on Him. It is time that we recognized the prime importance of spiritual forces.
Through the War
BY ROBERT E. SPEER, NEW YORK F OUR great mission fields have been included in the actual area of the war. The tides of battle rolled to and fro over each of the three great African Colonies of Germany-German Southwest Africa, German East Africa and German West Africa or Cameroun. Some years before the war, a British writer in a striking article pictured the possibility of a future battle between European powers on the great African lakes, watched in confused alarm by the African people. Sooner than he knew his imagining came true. In mission station after mission statiqn appalled African Christians heard the tumult of war and saw the African tribes armed against one another in a conflict whose causes lay thousands of miles away.
The second field included in the actual war area was the Province of Shantung in China, where, in order to make the Pacific safe for the ships of the Allies, Japan wrested from Germany the harbor of Kiao Chou Bay and the city of Tsing Tau and the claims which Germany had extended into the Province of Shantung.
The third mission field affected was the Turkish Empire, where the British armies now moving northwest from Bagdad and northward through Palestine are traversing the scenes of the Old and the New Testaments, the machine guns pattering today in those very fields "over whose acres walked those blessed feet which 1900 years ago were nailed for our advantage to the cruel tree."
The fourth mission field harassed by the war is Persia. The armies of Russia or Turkey, or both, have held every mission station in Western Persia, and some of these stations have changed hands three or four times during the war. In each one of these four fields the mission work has gone on without the p~anent abandonment of a single mission station and in most of these stations missionaries are at their work today as though there had been no war. In some of the African stations the largest Christian congregations assemble that can be found anywhere in the world. In the midst of upheaval and change one force which has held steadily on its way has been the force of Christian mISSIOns.
The mor~ important question, however, is as to the influence of the war during the year that has gone by on the mind of the non-Christian people. Has the war sealed the thought of Asia and Africa against Christianity as a Western religion, destroyed by the breakdown of Western industrial civilization? Not so. The men of Asia and Africa are able to make distinctions as well as we. As Prince Damrong said to us in Siam, "Do not fear that we think Christianity is responsible for
the war. We understand perfectly well that it is not Christianity which has failed, but the Western nations, and that if only peoples of the West had practiced the precepts of Christ there would have been no such awful struggle." What Christ came to do, what spirit and message the missionaries bear from Him to the world, is clearer to the minds of the non-Christian peoples today than it was a year ago.
The year has seen an appalling financial burden laid upon missions as a result of the increase in the price of silver. This increase is due to many causes-to a diminution in the output of silver from the mines, to the immense increase of other forms of currency, increasing thereby the proportionate value of silver j to the hoarding of silver in India and China and the great demand for silver for currency in these lands and for the Chinese and Indians involved in the war; to the decrease of trade. diminishing the demand for exchange on the West. The result has been the advance in the price of the silver currency of lands like China where the Mexican dollar has nearly doubled in value, and in Persia where the Toman has more than doubled. Now the Rupee in India and the Yen in Japan have also advanced. Some mission boards have had to appeaL to their constituencies for additional contributions of over half a million dollars merely to provide for the depreciation in the silver purchasing power of American money. If the price of silver continues to increase, this situation will become yet more difficult.
But there are deeper aspects than these in which the year that has gone by has brought to light the significance of the missionary enterprise as affected by the great war.
In a day, and against the background, of disorder and destruction, we see Christian missions as a great, peaceable and constructive agency of equalization, transformation and freedom. The American people believe that the war in which they have become involved is a righteous and necessary war. But war can never be anything else than destruction, the wiping out of wrong and the tearing down of false power, and never in human history was there such a titanic work of destruction going on as now. If the billions of dollars a.the millions of men engulfed in the war could only have been devoted to the great processes of human progress, we could have lifted humanity forward in this decade by the sheer leap of a century. This may not now be. But it is against all this inevitable shadow that we see more clearly than ever the honor and glory of the missionary ideal and its work of unselfish and creative love. "I confess," said Sir James Meston, the Lieutenant Governor of the United Provinces, at the opening of some new buildings of the Department of Agriculture in the Ewing Christian College at Alla~abad, India, "that after I have been here and spent an hour on the farm, I always go away seeing visions. I see a vision of a very different India from what we have now-of an India in which the whole countryside has been metamorphosed by agricultural skill and science; in which its rustic people are comfortable, in which the land is immune from the
ravages of famine, in which the ground is producing three, four, five, six times what it produces now j and as.a correlative to that I see a vision of the great towns, busy with the hum of looms and a purr of electric machinery, which I hope means smokeless chimneys, turning out the comforts and luxuries which a prosperous countryside will require. It is a vision of the future of a great and prosperous country striding forward to higher things."
War can not work a transformation like this. It can be wrought only by the constructive ministries of good-will. In the very darkest hours of this war and the most cruel places of the earth we have seen the missionaries accomplishing these ministries. At the meeting of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, on October 22nd, the Board looked upon the vivid symbol of them when a faded and frayed American flag was presented to it with the following letter: Gentlemen: American missionaries in the foreign field love the American flag; no less has the American flag cause for gratitude- to American missionaries in distant fields.
The-American flag is honored in the Orient-an honor due in no small degree to the missionary's influence; and, on the other hand, many American missionaries owe to the American flag their lives and the lives of many natives who have clung to • them in times of trouble.
I have the honor, on behalf of the members of Urumia Station, to present to you If well-worn flag which was graciously used of God in defending the rights of the weak and defenseless in Urumia, Persia, during a time of great turmoil.
This flag was hoisted over the gateway leading to the main compound of your Mission Station in the City of Urumia (West Persia Mission) soon after the evacuation of the city by the Russian Army on January 2, 1915, and before the entrance into the city of the Kurdish vanguards of the Turkish Army on January 4, 1915. It thereafter flew uninterruptedly until after the Russian Army had re~ entered the city, May 24th, 1915, and again taken up the reins of govemment-a period of about five months. During those months it was an instrument under God's grace in saving the lives of 15,000 defenseless Christians, who had taken refuge under its shadow, and indirectly it was a strong influence for quiet and order in a much wider circle.
Could this flag speak, it would tell you heart-rending tales of sorrow and suffering, of injustice and extortion, of cruelty and death; it would preach powerful sermons on faith, love, sympathy; it would make you feel the gratitude which it read in the 15,000 pairs of eyes that were daily upturned during these sad months-a gratitude which is alive today, toward God and toward Christian Amer- ica, and which will live on through generations.
Fraternally yours in the great Cause, (Signed) HUGO A. MULLER.
The flag would not have been there if missionaries had not raised it, and after all it was the missionaries and the ideas which they represent which gave the multitudes safe shelter under its folds, for the armies of its government were 6000 miles away.
In a day, and against ~ background of strife and division, the year has shown us Christian missions as a great agency of friendship and unification. The war has opened awful chasms in humanity, and its
breaches have not left unaffected the international missionary fellow- ship, but they have not destroyed it and in the midst of all the inevitable divisions of the year something of the principle of super-nationalism has been maintained by the missionary enterprise alone. The American Lutherans have cared for the German missionary work in India, the American Presbyteria'ns have helped to provide for the French mis- sionary work in Africa, and for months at the beginning of the war the discontinued salaries of German missionaries in India were met in part by the British missionaries from their own scanty allowances. And how can the hurt of the world ever be healed, the chasms which have been cleft closed again, except by the balm and the bond of a great forgiving and unifying religious faith save by the acceptance of the Christian principle of the unity of the body of humanity with Jesus Christ as its one Head? "Yes," said a Japanese banker in New York, not yet a member of the Christian Church, who had just been to hear a Christian sermon, "I believe that what the preacher said is true, that if mankind ever is to be made one it can only be in Christ."
Amid the great; influences which thunder through the world today, but which after all can only do their work upon the surface of human life, we see the missionary enterprise with a new vividness as a great force, cutting into life's heart and penetrating to the central character of mankind. There are days in human history when war is the lesser evil and when its necessary work must be done. But its influence can only be structural and not organic. It is surgery cutting away diseased and vicious tissues, but it is not, and never can be, one of the deep and organic processes of life. New ideals, new motives, a new spirit and a new and living power are needed to change the world, not a reconstitution of political relationships but a regeneration of the soul of humanity. Mr. Morgenthau discerned this and spoke of it in his tribute to the missionaries in Turkey on his return from this two years' service as American Ambassador in Constantinople. "A residence of over two years in Turkey has given me the best possible opportunity to see the work of the American missionaries and to know the workers intimately. Without hesitation I declare my high opinion of their keen insight into the real needs of the people of Turkey. The missionaries have the right idea. They go straight to the foundations and provide those intellectual, physical, moral and religious benefits upon which alone any true civilization can be built." How deeply this influence has penetrated into the world's life no one can adequately tell. In the years gone by, those most competent to judge have declared it to be the most powerful and penetrating of all influences.
, The following is the statement by Sir W. Mackworth Young, K.C.S.I., Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab, upon his return to Eng- land: "As a business man speaking to business men, I am prepared to say that the work which has been done by missionary agency in India exceeds in importance all
I9 I8] LOOKING THROUGH THE WAR
that has been done (and much has been done) by the British Government in India since its commencement. Let me take the Province which I know best. I ask myself what has been the most potent influence which has been working among the people since annexation fifty-four years ago, and to that question I feel there is but one answer-Christianity, as set forth in the lives and teaching of Christian missionaries. I do not underestimate the forces which have been brought to bear on the races in the Punjab by our beneficent rule, by British justice and enlightenment; but I am convinced that the effect on native character produced by the self-denying labors of missionaries is far greater. The Punjab bears on its historical roll the names of many Christian statesmen who have honored God by their lives, and endeared themselves to the people by their faithful work; but I venture to say that if they could speak to us from the great unseen, there is not one of them who would not proclaim that the work done by men like French, Clark, Newton and Forman, who went in and out among the people for a whole generation or more, and who preached by their lives the nobility of self-sacrifice, and the lesson of love to God and man, is a higher and nobler work, and more far-reaching in its consequences."
The influence that has wrought thus in India is changing the moral ideals of one-half of humanity. In a recent article in a Japanese magazine the writer pointed out the transformation that had taken place in the meaning of Japanese words in the last twenty-five years, beginning with the Japanese word for God, into which the influence of Christianity had poured an absolutely new meaning. What subtler influence can work upon a nation than this? And it is working not only through the resistless evangelization of a changed national speech, but it is striking home ever more and more to the individual heart.
The one great lesson of the year which is to be carried up into the coming day is the lesson that now, not less but more, must all those forces be intensified and flung forth which can build creatively the new order which must come upon the earth. If, as we believe, we have entered the great conflict to check wrong, to make the world a safe place for freedom, to forward the cause of brotherhood and equality, to secure justice for the weak and to establish the law that strength is given for service, then, the forces which were best fitted to produce these results before the war, and on which alone we can rely to produce them afterwards, must not be abated or diminished now. Every worthy end that the nation believes that it has in view now in the war is an end for which the Christian spirit has wrought and must still work. No matter what sacrifice must be made, the missionary enterprise must not be sacrificed. Even though its maintenance during the coming year will cut into the capital of the Christian Church that price must be paid. The men who are giving their lives on the battlefield are not serving the nation out of their income, they are pouring out the last and utmost measure. Christ has a right to ask, in the service which alone can establish righteousness upon the earth, that his people shall give him not a fraction of their income only, nor all of their income alone, but that they shalJ lay down at his feet their very last and all. This is the word of the old year to the new, of the new year to the old.
War Responsibility
BY REV. FLOYD W. TOMPKINS, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
A MERICANS are measuring up finely and generously in our coun- try to financial demands made by the war. Red Cross funds, Lib- erty Loans, war taxes and relief work have found most people ready to do their duty without complaint. Thank God for it I But are the high ideals of religion holding us with equal strength? Are we keeping pace with patriotism in our personal Christianity? It is a serious question, and must be answered. For what will patriotism avail if we have lost our obedience to the Commandments? What will love of country do for us if we fail in our love for God? This love Christ measures by obedience: "If ye love Me, keep My Commandments."
Honestly we must confess that Americans are not observing Sunday as a day of rest, worship and service, as we should. Witness the automobile pleasure rides, the golfing clubs, the "house parties," and the "once a day"-if at all-Church attendance by the majority of Christians. In these anxious days when our brothers are dying for the world's freedom, men are not banning intoxicants -as they should for the sake of physical strength and food conservation. We are not observing God's laws of personal purity so as to safeguard our training camps. Divorces are terribly common, followed generally by so-called "re-marriages," and vice stalks unconcealed in our cities. Still gambling, betting and dishonesty are entrenched in sports, in business and in politics.
At such a crisis there is a special demand for the faithful observance of high ideals. The man of careless life and a disregard for responsibilities is always a pitiable object: today he is a traitor to his country and a rebel against his God.
What are we to do? In the first place our pulpits should speak with no uncertain sound concerning our need for higher living and thinking in private and public. People are tired of sermons which deal only with the war and its problems. Men want religion, they want God, they hunger for the words of Christ, for comfort and clear directions as to personal living. Lovingly, but firmly, let ministers appeal to men and women to show their patriotism by sacrificial lives, by high morality, by temperance and purity and honesty, for God's sake, for the sake of our soldiers and sailors, for their own sake. When our men come home from the conflict and the world is preparing for a readjustment of things, they must not find us living at home in <;arelessness, forge#ul of moral laws and of God, Who calls for noble living.
In the second place, we must make immorality and disregard of God's Day a social offense. If we can shame the man who spends Sunday, or a part of Sunday, in playing games, or "joy-riding," while his countrymen are shedding their blood for the supremacy of world-righteousness; if we can make such men feel the look of scorn and a bit of social ostracism, we shall be serving God and man; we shall be contributing to national prosperity and the world's welfare. If we can frown upon the drinking man as a selfish trifler with that which impoverishes men, we will do well. If we refuse recognition to those who deal lightly with social impurity and the marriage vow, and let them feel the sting of ostracism, we shall lift the moral banner proudly to the mast-head and help to bring righteousness. And if we shut the door against the man who makes money dishonestly, or profits inordinately out of his country's need, who raises secretly the price of needed commodities, or who is guilty of political chicanery, we win a victory in our home trenches.
Thirdly, any world-crisis demands not only manly denial but a high ideal-the highest ideal-for all. A drunkard is a poor specimen, but a man who is drunk while his wife or child lies dead in his home is a beast. The world is on fire. He is a modern Nero who trifles with purity and fidelity now. Our moving pictures, our stage, our common life, must be cleansed, and our political world must be freed from traitors today if we are to hold up our heads before God and the world. It is no time to trifle. A day of Judgment is upon us. The men who have died for the great cause of righteousness are looking upon us from the other world and wondering if they have died in vain. Christ is speaking: "Could ye not watch one hour?" Let us be strong, let us be Puritan, if you please to call it so, in our living, in our religion, in our laws; for responsibility is upon us. While the world is agonizing, we dare not sleep in carelessness, else a defeat may rest at our doors. God help us to be true to Christ and to America's highest interests in this hour of need.
Our.Gospel_Message The world is aching for a gospel, and it is the labor of the Church to present a gospel that can reach the world's most awful need, that can get dO,wn to its deepest depravity, and bring cordials and balms to its most appalling sorrow. And the old Gospel can do it! Yes, the old Gospel, in working attire, proclaimed by a Church which believes it, is gloriously efficient to meet the most tremendous needs of this most tremendous day. "God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoso- ever believeth on Him should .not perish, but have everlasting life." That Gospel, preached by a Church that believes in it, a Church that is redeemed by it, a Church that will give its blood for it, is the sure and certain secret of a comforted, purified, unified, regenerated and transfigured world. In her preaching of an atoning Saviour, the Church must on her part fill up that which is lacking of the sufferings of Christ.-J. H. Jowett.
OF THE AUDIENCES AT A GOOD HEALTH LECTURE IN CHINA-UNDER Y. M. C. A. AV'SP!CES
APpARATUS USED EY DR. PETER TO TEACH THE NECESS]TY OF HEALTH TO BODY, HIND ANn SPIRIT IN ORIJRR THAT CHINA MAY BECOME A STRONG NATION TEACHING GOOD HEALTH IN CHINA THROUGH EYEGATE
and the Gospel in
A DCJCI-iption ofthe Worl of Dr. W. W. Peter and His Associates in the Public Health Campaigns t~ Reach Chinese Souh Through Thei,· Bodies BY MRS. DELAVAN L. PIERSON SOME day we hope to see China healthy-politically, socially, indi- vidually, sound. We hope to see the great land without its putre- fying, unburied bodies, deadly ill-smelling open sewers; without the shrunken-chested, round-shouldered, unkempt type of scholar; without women of misshapen bound feet, prevailing famines and devastating plagues. That day is being brought appreciably nearer by the successful .
campaigns in the interest of public health which Dr. W. W. Peter and his associates have conducted during the past three years in strategic centers under the joint auspices of the National Medical Association, the China Medical Missionary Association and the Young Men's Christian Association.
At first few Chinese seemed to catch the vision of a physically redeemed China. Only here and there public officials, outstanding men, came forward to supl"ort these campaigns. Today, however, the people themselves say, as of old in Sychar, "now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we have heard ourselves and know" at least in part.
Dr. Peter's methods of presentation of the cause and cure for China's ills follow the most approved principles of psychology and pedagogy. So naturally does he establish his point of contact, so com- pletely does he win his hearers' assent to each proposition in succession, and so cleverly does he use natural curiosity as a bait to catch the interest at the psychic moment, there is no escape from his conclusions, and yet his hearers have that happy feeling of having arrived by way of their own logic.
The health question in China is but one of the many sides to the problem of China's redemption. But this question affects not China alone, for the close contact between the peoples of the world makes the health of one-fourth of the human race of vital importance to the other three-fourths. Commerce may carry communicable diseases, as well as marketable produce, and preventive measures at the source are twice as effective as quarantines at ports of distribution.
So· en rapport with his hearers is Dr. Peter that the Chinese say that he is an American with a Chinese heart. He understands his hearers and reaches their minds and hearts not with abstract arguments, but with concrete facts made more clear through eyegate.
Hundreds of meetings are held in many Chinese centers and during
THE WORKERS-USHERS-ETC., AT THE HEALTH MEETINGS IN HONAN the whole campaign at the back of the platform hangs a big sign, printed in English and in Chinese: I HEALTH PAYS DIVIDENDS.I Dividends! That is what poverty-stricken China wants! The Chinese characters on this sign are printed to read from left to right, as the English, and this reversal of the usual order excites curiosity. Not only do the words themselves convey an idea new to most of the audience but there is soon a hum of earnest discussion over the pros and cons of the new method of writing. Some one is sure to discover the advantage, since the hand will not so readily blot the letters in writing. Often a general spirit of assent is given to what seemed at first the foreigner's blunder. This prepares the way for new conquests. On the stage, curtains half conceal mysterious boxes and charts, for Dr. Peter's exhibit weighs two and one-half tons and its arrival in a city in 38 packages carried by 8 I coolies arouses tl;1e interest of all classes.
The Chinese have never been greatly interested in vital statistics, although they do not go quite to the extreme of the Mohammedan colonial official, who filled out a statistical paper for his French government as follows: N umber of inhabitants in your district? Ans.-Don't know. No one has ever seen them all together at anyone time. N umber of children? Ans.-Allah only knows. I was not present at their birth and should not like to inquire. Condition of the water supply? Ans.-From time immemorial none has ever been known to die of thirst in my district.
AND THE GOSPEL IN CHINA
Dr. Peter found the tabulated information in China altogether too meagre for convincing deductions. The Chinese, however, put such faith in the judgment of public men whom they revere that the consensus of opinion of these men will carry the weight of accredited statistics. Knowing this, Dr. Peter usually begins by speaking of these men whom they honor and trust. They themselves suggest names, and as he lingers over their titles, their offices, and their varied services to China, he shows their wide knowledge of the situation until all are of one mind. Then he says, "The figures I shall give you are not my own-far be it from me to presume to offer an opinion-they are the best judgment of many of your honorable citizens like Dr. Wu Lien Teh, President of the National Medical Association; Dr. F. C. Yen, Dean of the Yale-Hunan Medical School; Dr. S. M. Woo, Associate Secretary of the Joint Committee for the Promotion of Higher Education; Mr. G. P. Wang, Health Commissioner of Nanking; Mr. C. T. Wang, Vice-Speaker of the Senate, and Mr. D. Z. T. Yui, General Secretary of the National Committee of the Y. M. C. A. of China. These are men whose words we all accept." China's great boast has always been her educational system and Dr. Peter calls attention to the fact that education makes a nation strong. The larger the number of educated people in a country, the more that nation will be able to produce things that other nations want, the more resourceful they will be in inventions, the steadier they will be in national DR. PETER AND HIS AUDIENCE AT THE OPENING MEETING IN PEKING . The military and police were present ill force
crises. Many in the audience think he is describing China. "Now," he continues as he uncovers a white board marked off in several columns "would you like to know the proportion of America's people who are in schools? I have the exact statistics." He touches a button and up one column climbs a red ribbon almost to the top, showing that ninety per cent or more are educated. When men in the audience call for the facts concerning Germany, France and England, up other columns climb other red ribbons. China recognizes these as strong nations and sees that the percentage is large. "Now," continues Dr. Peter, "would you like to know the proportion of the Chinese who are in schools? These are not my figures, but the figures of your honorable educational expert, Dr. David Z. Yui." Here he touches the button which releases the ribbon which represents China and la-it climbs up only a little way and then stops! Someone ill the audience calls out: "The machinery is broken." Dr. Peter sadly shakes his head and someone in the audience speaks out: "It is too true; we are wrong. Our boys and girls are not in schools. We must make our nation strong with schools."
In a similar way the reverse is shown. Lengths of ribbon unreel themselves to indicate the percentage of illiteracy in different lands,-five inches for one per cent-and poor China's length of ribbon is 40 feet long. It unrolls and unrolls, carrying conviction and consternation to every heart. This has been a real surgeon's cut, and a few sentences of prophetic balm follow-a word picture to show what a power China will be when her millions have really become educated.
Then comes the question of public health-one to which China has seemed especially indifferent. They have entrenched themselves behind a line of reasoning which has made them complacent, even in the face of acknowledged facts. "We have four hundred millions of people," they argue; "if our public health were improved, we might increase to six hundred millions and then there would not be land enough to grow rice for such a multitude. It is better that many should die rather t.han that the rest be crowded to death." The subject must be presented in such a way as not only to challenge attention and to compel assent, but to enlist the co-operation of all, from the officials down to the humblest housekeeper.
The lecturer asks the audience to mention the nations they consider strong-England, America and France ate called out. He describes how exactly the statistics of births and deaths are kept in these countries and then uncovers a long bar on which hang boxes of various colors. He says that he may be able to demonstrate that there is a real relation between the strength of a country and its death rate per thousand. 1f all these countries which they have pronounced strong have a low death rate, and those which they know to be weak have a high rate', will not that fact speak loudly to them? One little box on the right is lowered and out drop one, two, three-fourteen little skulls. This is strong
AND THE GOSPEL IN
A TUBERCULOSIS MODEL AT THE HEALTH EXHIBIT IN SHANGHAI Tuberculosis claims its 852,348 victims a year in China, and by a method which is truly spectacular Dr. Peter brings home to the thoughtless this awful waste of the nation's strength. Out of a miniature Chinese home a constant procession of little men, women and children walk-one every eight seconds, and fall into an -open grave, as a bell tolls a funeral knell. Is it any wonder the people are stirred to ask, "What can we do to arrest this procession'!"
America's death rate-fourteen out of everyone thousand die peryear. 17pey call for England's death rate, and a chain of fifteen skulls come trom England's box. From Germany come eighteen and from France nineteen skulls. * They name a weak nation-India, and from another , boX' on the left tumble 35 skulls! In the center hangs a big, yellow box which contains China's yearly death toll per thousand. "China," the lecturer continues, "is not on the right with the strong nations, nor on the left with the weak, but in the center." He reminds them that the figures are not his own, but he has obtained them by writing to men who know the country from end to end-the leading members of the China Medical Missionary Associa- tion and the National Medical Association. Then he lowers the yellow box and behold it drops out forty skulls-five more than the number accredited to the weakest nation in the series! The audience is solemn- ized, and Dr. Peter then tells them that this condition need not con- tinue. 'his in their power to shorten that string of skulls and to take their place among the strong nations. Their babies are as perfect as any in America or England; their boys are as strong and their girls. are as able to withstand smallpox, if rightly safe-guarded, as any in England or France. They assent, but with little enthusiasm, for they are think- ing "these men are paid to come here by some official who wants to intro- duce compulsory vaccination and quarantine laws. They want to pass health laws that will multiply government jobs. Ve know their game. China can afford to lose that extra number and still be strong. Little England, of course, must conserve all her numerical strength, but China" -someone voices the thought-"China is overpopulated, therefore this high death rate. No country has so many inhabitants to share their rice fields as has China." This has been anticipated and the lecturer's assist- ant immediately brings forward two large, mysteriously contrived tables, each top representing a square Ii (one-ninth English square mile) of land. Very solemnly he says: "If it is true that China must sustain more people to the square Ii than any other country, then I will pack up my bag and go back to America, and say no more to you about public health. Then, indeed, it is well that forty per thousand should die every year in China that the rest may have their three bowls of rice per day; but if it is not true–!"
Dr. Peter tells them that he is prepared with the statistics of practically all countries, European and Asiatic, and encourages them to call for several. They ask for England. He pulls a string and up through forty trap doors in the table top spring forty little wooden men representing forty people to the square Ii in England. They call for Japan, and twenty-eight puppets come up. Germany shows thirty-six; India, twenty; little Holland, fifty-three; last of all, the pre-war population of Belgium shows seventy-three persons per square Ii. While these .. All ligures in this article are pre-war figures.
AND THE GOSPEL IN
TABLES SHOWING POPULATION PER SQUARE Ll IN EUROPE (RIGHT) AND ASIA (LEFT) seventy-three puppets remain in view, the lecturer turns to the table which represents China. His audience is saying that the whole table top will not be sufficient to show China's dense population. Once more they are reminded that the figures given for China are from their own governmental census of 19 10, from the maritime customs and Ming Djen Bu, whose accuracy of judgment is undisputed. There is wide difference in the provinces, but as they call for the average for all China, eleven little wooden Chinese pop up. The thickly p'opulated eighteen provinces show twenty-three. "Ah, but how about Shantung, with its many millions?" says one. There come out only fifty-nine puppets through the little trap doors, and the audience knows that Dr. Peter has won his case. Then their least populated provinces, Tibet and Mongolia, are shown to have only five inhabitants per Ii. As a closing tableau, eleven little men, representing China's average population, stand face to face with Belgium's seventy-three-a challenge which makes the audience rub their eyes and wipe their spectacles and think as perhaps they have never thought before.
But upon what rests this national health that is both the evidence of strength and the promise of the future? How may it he obtained? A cubical, translucent block is taken up, marked National Health, which is described as a cap-stone, and must rest on other foundation stone' "What is necessary to promote national health?" Money? A bloc on which the word money is printed is put under the Health block as
the lecturer speaks of the need of money to carry out health programs. But good health laws are as important as money and are represented by another block. In order that these laws may be understood and interpreted there must be specialized education-another block. But most important of all is the lowest and largest foundation stone, which everyone must help to lay, namely, public opinion. This large block contains a little electric battery and when it is put into place and joined with the other stones the cap-stone of the pyramid completes the circuit and an electric light shines from the National Health Stone to the delight of the audience.
Money given freely, health laws enacted by the government, the enlistment of the educated classes, will not suffice in a country where the common people defeat all by tenaciously clinging to superstitions that make public health impossible. Public opinion that hides a smallpox patient in the underground recesses of an unventilated house; that casts a dying plague victim out on to the public roadway, and that waits upon the whim of a sorcerer for an auspicious day to in,ter a decaying corpse, cannot be a foundation for radiant health.
It is difficult work to set aside prejudice against vaccination and against soap and water and to win co-operation in home ventilation and sanitary food preparation. Fifty students from a government school, . who were helping in this campaign by explaining medical charts to the curious crowds, went back to their mess to eat from a common bowl. "This is not sanitary," one of them said. "We are exchanging saliva; we are breaking the good health laws." As a result they demanded separate chop sticks for serving, and a great uproar ensued in the school, which brought the campaign to the notice of hundreds more, and started questions which required scores of leaflets to answer.
By this time the lecturer has so won his audience that he can be very frank with them. A typical beggar is never hard to find in China, and one is led on to the platform, scarred with pock marks, disfigured with boils, ragged and stooped and blind. On his back Dr. Peter places a big bag containing blocks. It is heavy and the old fellow staggers under its weight. This represents poor, overburdened China, losing in the race of the nations. What can we do to help him? First, let us see what is in the burden on his back. The bewildered beggar, relieved of the weight, straightens up somewhat, and from the pack are taken out blocks labelled plague, cholera, typhus, smallpox, syphilis, tuberculosis, hook-worm I No wonder China cannot advance far under such a weight. While Dr. Peter discourses on the fine physique, the broad shoulders, the full chest, the clear eye, the strong muscles of the China that shall be when these unnecessary diseases are under their feet, the blocks are being spirited behind the curtain and built up into a platform. On top of this mounts a splendid type oJ a modern Chinese athlete-perhaps the .physical director of the local Y. M. C. A. As the curtain is drawn
HEALTH AND THE GOSPEL IN CHINA 2'1
aside for this tableau, the poor, old THE FLAT HEADED, STOOP SHOULDERED, beggar, stupidly wondering what it UNDEVELOPED CHINESE all means, and clasping his newly earned cash, is already beginning to pass off the scene. Here is a visible allegory and a pledge of China's future.
On the platform a huge lantern in the colors of China's flag, hangs by a chain of black links. The lantern represents the new China-the China which has a place in the eye of all the world. The links, so strong and fine , represent her natural assets-her favorable location on the globe; her natural resources; the frugality of her people; their untiring industry; their filial piety. Each of these links is helping her to hold her position among the nations, but in the midst of a weak, unworthy link, en- dangering the safety and beauty of the lantern. It is marked "PUBLIC HEALTH," . and the lecturer de- scribes the close relationship of good health to the advantages they enjoy, and the impossibility of safety to the nation without this lirik. While two prominent citizens on the platform hold the great lan- tern, another Chinese takes out the unworthy link and substitutes a strong one. Immediately an elec- tric light shines out through the national colors of the lantern to signify the happiness which China will enjoy when her people obey the laws of health. .
Thus, with line upon line, the impact of argument reduces the THE CHINESE FIGURE REPRESENTI NG A audi'Cnce to the point of asking, MAN TRAINED IN HUDY, MIND AND SPHUT "What would you have us to do?"
Helpers bring to the front a large, circular chart, with a revolving rim, on which appear the words: "Personal Health; Family Security; City Prosperity; National Progress"-things which China desires in' company with all other nations o.f the earth.
On this, four figures represent the scholar, the farmer, the tradesman and the government official. Each firmly grasps a crank, and stands. before his own little hopper. At a signal, the figures begin to moveeach working at his own job, but the rim, containing the great motto, remains stationary. Where is the trouble? Another chart is rolled to the front. It is similar to the first, except that the tasks of the four workers are no longer solitary and unrelated, Each puts the same amount of energy into his work as before, but that energy is now linked up with his neighbor's, for the wheels touch, and 10, the great advance has begun. All the good things named on the circle come in turn to each man, a consummation devoutly desired.
These health campaigns in China are only three years old, but in the localities where they have been held they have already brought about house-cleanings and street-cleanings innumerable. They have produced a willingness to report deaths and there is a crusader's attitude toward hook-worm, plague, typhoid, smallpox and syphilis. After the campaign in Changsha, Hunan, Mr. Wang, Commissioner of the Police, and others, raised $20,000 ($ ro,ooo gold) for a tuberculosis sanitarium and turned it over to the Yale Medical School Board.
But missionaries like Dr. Peter do not feel satisfied with bringing a message of salvation for China's body and mind, while China's soul is left shrunken and misshapen through sin. The' campaign is a sevenday wonder, and on Sunday, the seventh day, comes the climax. A lifesized manikin represents shrunken-chested, stooping, sloping-shouldered, infirm-footed Chinese with an unshapely head. The lecturer describes the three parts of a man's nature. As he speaks of obedience to the laws of health for the body, the manikin, as if by magic, straightens up and broadens out. As the better principles and methods of modern education are described, the skull cap of the manikin is inflated and his forehead becomes broad while his head is lifted up. "Now,'" say the audience, "he is equal to any task; he is ready to go forth and do a man's full work in the world."
But not so. The audience learns that there is still another paFt to every man's nature-the part beyond brain and muscle; the part that responds to purity, righteousness, truth, justice, love-the soul. All the week they have heard about the less important part of man and have rejoiced at the good news of better things for China. There is good news that is still bett~r. As the lecturer brings the message of a loving God, the Heavenly Father, and of Christ, a Saviour, brother and friend, the light of the Spirit shines out from the eyes of the manikin; man's soul is enlightened and h~ represents the full regenerated man.
A Continental Program for Africa*
BY REV. CORNELIUS H. PATTON, D.D., BOSTON, MASS.
Corresponding Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions W HEN the American Board sent its first missionaries to Africa, in 1833, John Leighton Wilson, the leader of the party, selected Cape Palmas on the Guinea coast as a base of operation, with the idea of advancing into the interior to the country of the Ashantis, thence to the Niger. basin, and ultimately pressing on into the highlands of Central Africa, a region at that time known only through the hearsay of ivory merchants and slave traders. The vision of the founders was expressed in these words: "A chain of missions, planted by both American and English societies, with such wise cooperation that at length from the east to the west, from the north to the south, their representatives should meet upon some central mountain to celebrate in lofty praise Africa's redemption." If in our day these words sound somewhat grandiloquent, we will not withhold our admiration for the breadth of view and the genuine statesmanship of the first American Christians to offer their lives for the Dark Continent. They regarded the continent as a whole and, it should be noted, from the beginning they recognized the necessity of cooperation between England and America, if Africa was to be won for Christ.t In this connection it is interesting to find that Capt. A. F. Gardner, who made an extensive journey through Natal in 1835, and who first disclosed to the world that fairest portion of the sub-continent, in ap- . pealing for the establishment of a British Colony in that section, whic.h he desired to have named for their youthful QlI:een Victoria, urged with much force that the Church Missionary SocietY should at once undertake missionary work among the natives of the region, and that this attempt should be the precursor of a continent-wide scheme of evangelization. He pleaded for a movement which, to use his own words, "should extend the Redeemer's Kingdom from the shores of Victoria (Natal) to ·the very confines of Abyssinia."t Had these ambitious plans been carried out, the east and west line of the American missionaries and the north and south line of Capt. Gardner would have crossed in the Uganda country, which today is the center of the most promising work to be found in the continent.
One other historical reference. In 1 859, David Livingstone wrote to friends in England of his scheme of Christian colonization, radiating * A paper presented at The Missionary Conference on Africa, in New York, November 22, 1917. t"The Story of the American Board," by W. E. Strong, p. 124. Pilgrim Press. :: "Narration of a Journey to the Zoolu Country," by Capt. A. F. Gardner, underfaken in 1835.'
from the Nyasa Highlands. He stated that "visions of Christian colonies, of the spread of arts and civilization, of the progress of Christianity and the Christian graces, of the cultivation of cotton, and the dis- appearance of the slave trade floated before him." t In the cooperative movements which have grown up in our day it would seem that we are but reverting to the ideals of the African pioneers.
Two main problems confront us as we discuss a CONSTRUCTIVE CON- TINENTAL PROGRAM FOR AFRICA: the Mohammedan advance and the rapid spread of a materialistic civilization. In Livingstone's time the problems were war and slavery; to-day they are Islam and a godless commercialism. Each situation calls for a painstaking and scientific study before final conclusions are reached. What is here said is to be regarded as suggestive and introductory.
I. THE ADVANCE OF ISLAM The serious situation arising from Islam's rapid advance through the Sudan and southward down the two coasts and along the caravan routes of the interior has been set forth so fully in recent literature that I assume the main facts to be known. The facts are not challenged in any quarter. The question everyone is asking is, What will the Church do about it? In some missionary circles we meet with a pessimistic attitude. There are those who say it is useless to attempt rescuing the Sudan from the embrace of Islam. "Twenty years ago it might have been done. To-day it is hopeless." It should he noted, however, that more recent explorers and investigators by no means take this view. They do not consider the Sudan as lost to Christianity. A book just off the press by DuPlessis, the well-known missionary traveler and writer of South Africa, entitled "Thrice Through the Dark Continent," speaks in an encouraging way of what can be done to improve, if not retrieve the situation. So, also, with the articles by Mr. Roome in the Interna.tiontll Review of Missions, and the publications of Dr. Karl Kumm. These travelers speak of pagan tribes in the Southern Sudan, which for years have been fighting off Mohammedanism and which might be won to Christianity if only missionaries could be sent them. They admit that the situation grows more critical, as. the resistance of the pagan chiefs diminishes under the insinuating processes of Moslem trade and propaganda; but in no sense is it hopeless. Dr. Kumm lists over forty tribes which are open to Christian approach. These at least can be saved.
The missionary occupation of the Sudan would seem to be first of all a problem of co-operation. The distances from the centers of commerce are so vast, the difficulties of transportation so insistent and the pressure of Islam so constant that no one denomination may hope to meet the situation by itself. It is doubtful if a group of denominations t Blaikie's "Life of Livingstone," page 282.
A CONTINENTAL PROGRAM FOR AFRICA
working separately could hold back the Mohammedan tide. What is needed is a Board of African Strategy which should layout a comprehensive plan and then allocate the districts to the appropriate Christian bodies. But, without waiting for such an ideal solution, should we not look to the denominations already at work in this region for the extension of their lines as rapidly as circumstances allow? Already we have the United Presbyterians of the United States well established in the region where the Sobat River joins the White Nile. In recent years this Christian body has experienced a remarkable missionary awakening: May it not be that God is urging them to attempt even greater things than they have planned? Certainly if other branches of the Presbyterian family should join in the endeavor, we would begin to see the way out. What nobler challenge could come to any branch of the Christian Church?
At the other end of the line, in Northern Nigeria, we have the work of the Church Missionary Society, perhaps the greatest of all missionary organizations. The Sudan United Mission seeks to enlist all willing souls and churches to meet the crisis, and to this end has established stations on the frontiers of Nigeria and also in the Nile country. Between these outposts stretch 1,500 miles of unoccupied territory. It would seem to be desirable for these three bodies to get together in a common policy, looking to a delimiting of territory along the Sobat-Yola line and a utilization, so far as geographical and linguistic considerations allow, of common training schools. The Presbyterians naturally would push westward from the Nile and the Anglicans eastward from the Niger, with the Sudan United Mission workers filling the gaps.
It would be a happy circumstance if the American Episcopalians, now at work in Liberia and desiring a broader field, could join with their Anglican brethren in attempting the evangelization of Northern Nigeria and the French portion of the Sudan. The alliance between England, France and America in the present war should lead to friendly governmental relations in a region where diplomacy is bound to play an important part. The General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church conteI.llplates sending a deputation to study its Liberian work and also to consider the possibility of an advance eastward. May that deputation be speeded on its way! The eyes of the Church at large will be upon them. Many prayers will be offered in their behalf. – This proposal, together with the suggestion of the United Presbyterian Church taking a larger share in the eastern Sudan work, is the one hopeful sign upon an otherwise gloomy horizon.
Whoever undertakes this task in behalf of Christendom should bear in mind the need of establishing the work upon a solid foundation, both as to method and equipment. We must offer the pagan tribes of -the Sudan something obviously superior to Islam. Mackay, die Scottish civil engineer, was led to offer himself for mission work in Uganda by
the consideration that Islam was winning the African tribes through the practical benefits of its civilization. Christianity, argued he, has a better civilization than Islam. Why, then, do we not have the advantage in the race? Perhaps Africa needs engineers, mechanics, farmers, physicians, as well as preachers and teachers. It was upon this theory that the Uganda work was instituted. From the first, in that field, industrialism, education and evangelism have walked hand in hand. And Uganda, be it noted, is the 'one section of Africa where Islam has been beaten back and where it is in retreat to-day.
If Christianity is to win in the Sudan it must enter in such force as to furnish a compelling demonstration of its value. In my opinion, a few centers well occupied will count for more than a string of feeble stations stretched over the vast territory from the Niger to the Nile. It is particularly important that well-equipped medical stations should be located at strategic points at -the earliest possible date. The Christian hospital can do more to make an immediate impression in favor of Christianity than any other missionary agency.
It perhaps is not necessary to add that wise Christian strategy demands that the pagan tribes should be occupied before we attempt the Mohammedan areas. The Hausas, the Fulas, the Mandingoes and tribes more recently won to Islam should, if necessary, wait until we can rescue what remains of the pagan population. Indeed, the present unfriendly attitude of the British and French Governments, liable to be accentuated by the present war, prohibits any other program being followed.
STRATEGY FOR NORTH AFRICA It might be argued that similarly we should defer any extensive operations among the Moslems of North Africa until the outreach of Islam in the Sudan and Central Africa has been checked. This, however, I am unwilling to concede. North Africa is to-day one of the neediest sections of the globe. By every local consideration it should be a mission field of supreme importance. When the right moment comes, possibly directly after the war, we should attempt this problem in a definite way. There should be four strongly equipped union universities in North Africa, one at Cairo (as now proposed), one at Tunis, one at Algiers, one at Tangier. Is it too much to expect that the spirit of co-operation will some day reach the point where the Boards of Europe and America will combine in a constructive and comprehensive educational program for all the North African States? Tangier, as located in an international territory, would seem to offer one of the best opportunities in the world for inter-church effort. Algiers and Tunis would naturally appeal to the French and Swiss societies as their special re~ponsibility. Already the American Methodists are occupying these great centers, and undoubtedly they will be developing far-reaching plans.
A CONTINENTAL PROGRAM FOR AFRICA
If a program of this kind should be carried out, the world would have the satisfaction of knowing that the leading coast cities of the Medi- terranean region, so far as it may be regarded as mission territory, were equipped as centers for the propagation of the Christian religion. Tan- gier, Algiers, Tunis, Cairo, Beirut, Smyrna, Constantinople-what a "chain of schools we would have! What possible influence arising from Islam could withstand the impact of these institutions upon the sur- rounding populations?
II. DEMORALIZING COMMERCIALISM As serious as is the situation caused by the advancing Moslem hosts from the north, we must consider that even more serious is the situation created by the destructive effects of the type of commercialism which is "spreading over Africa from the centers of trade and government. Tn this tidal wave of selfishness the very existence of the African race is ' involved. For many a tribe it is a question of redemption or extinction. Are we to see repeated in the Dark Continent what already has fallen upon the aborigines of Australia? Are the tribes of Central and Western Africa to go the way of the Hottentots and Kaffirs of the South? In Mozambique, the natives have invented the expression. "Chizungu cha kupungaja," meaning "Civilization has spoiled you." That is one of the saddest phrases in human speech. The ignorant savage of the forest, looking upon his fellow who has come under the influence of the white man of the city, says of him in scorn, "He is a spoiled creature." And the worst of the accusation is that it is true. It is an acknowledged fact that the white man's boasted civilization, miscalled Christian, is forcing the savage to lower levels of vice and degradation than paganism ever knew.
This is a problem which pertains mainly to the commercial and mining centers, where the natives congregate in order to e"ng-age in "remunerative work. It is a problem bristling with difficulties and' one .should speak with caution as to its ultimate solution. The Africans need the stimulus of work. The commercial enterprises, without which the continent can not be op~ned or its resources developed, de'mand the labor of many hands. It is with the evils of the system that we are concerned. not with the system itself. How can commercial enterprises be advanced and the native not be detnoralizedin' the process? Here again I assume a general knowledge of the facts.
Three suggestions would appear to be in order: First, the missionaries and the government officials should work out the problem together. The R:overnment wishes to conserve the native workman and to raise him to the highest possible point of efficiency. What hooe have the European colonies in Africa if the native races become extinct, or even if they lose their stamina by means of the vices and diseases of
civilization? On the other hand, the missionary seeks the spiritual and moral, as well as the social, welfare of the native. What then? Let the two interested parties get together and frame a program for mutual benefit. A policy of frank understanding and friendly co-operation should be the order of the day. Why should not the representatives of government and the representatives of the mission boards hold stated conferences for the study of the native question? We have missionary conferences a-plenty, and political assemblies not a few. Let me suggest that occasionally there should be a merger of the two.
The second suggestion looks to closer co-operation between the mission boards, working in those sections where the pressure of the economic and moral problem is especially severe. This practically means the subcontinent, or the region below the Zambesi. If Islam is the problem of the North, commercialism is the problem of the South. An obviously desirable thing is a better distribution of missionary forces. The old tribal conditions, which led to mission work being conducted exclusively in country districts, are now materially altered. The men of the villages and kraals are seeking the trade centers in rapidly increasing numbers. South Africa no less than Europe and America has her city problem. The boards should clearly recognize this fact and adjust their work accordingly. Durban, Kimberley, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Beira, Delagoa Bay……..these are the inviting fields of the sub-continent to-day.
Effective strategy would appear to demand that a certain city, or district in a city, should be allotted to a certain board and that board held responsible for its cultivation. Since there is room for all, no serious objection should be raised to such a plan. If they can do this in China, why not in Africa? .
The Edinburgh Conference called attention in some very frank statements to the lack of cooperation in the South Africa field, where societies actually stand in one another's way. The results are as might be expected: confusion in the mind of the native, the building up of Ilarrow sectarian views and the actual holding back of the work. In no part of the mission field are the conditions in the matter of Christian comity and cooperation in such an unfortunate state as in certain sections of the South Africa Union.
This state of affairs is attracting the attention of government officials. Mr. C. F. Loran, the Inspector of Education in Natal, in his recent book on "The Education of the South African Native," has this to say: "The overlapping of mission stations also betrays the jealousy of the denominations. The writer kno~ of a place where one Protestant denomination stepped over a hundred miles of untouched country in order to establish a station at a place where another Protestant denomination had been conducting a flourishing station for many years. When remonstrated with by the writer, the missionary replied, 'Yes, but some of our people have gone to live up there.' The question has been brought up at Missionary Conferences, but the evil still continues. In connection
A CONTINENTAL PROGRAM FOR AFRICA
with school work the same evil exists. Complaints of poaching and even of touting are often made to the Education Department in Natal." .
Surely until these conditions are bettered we can not look for farreaching and effective plans for evangelizing the native quarters and mining compounds of the commercial centers.
The third suggestion corresponds with what was proposed for the Sudan-the adoption of a type of mission work which seeks to regenerate the whole man. Since a commercial civilization is spoiling the native-body, mind and spirit-the remedy must cover as wide a field. Evangelism in the restricted sense is not enough. The native of the city, withdrawn from his natural environment and put to strange tasks in the midst of unwonted temptations, must be occupied in his spare time. He must be taught how to adjust himself to. the revolutionary change in his life, as well as provided with the Christian motive for right thinking and living. In a word, he must receive a true Christian civilization as an offset to the false Christian civilization into which he has been thrust. The most promising efforts for the city natives are being conducted in accordance with this theory. Let us hope that their number and their resources in men and money may increase.
At the same time it is highly important that the missionary incentive should be imparted to the city converts in such a degree that when they return to their distant villages or kraals, as most of them do, they will go with the definite purpose of disseminating the truth which they have received at the hands of the missionaries. It can not be made too emphatic that the convocation of natives in centers like Kimberley and Johannesburg offers the best possible opportunity for the evangelization of the country districts.
III. THE PROBLEMS OF CENTRAL AFRICA Certain other sections of the continent, not so directly involved in the problems discussed above, demand special reference. In these the problem is not so much that of occupation and adjustment of interests as of securing an aggressive and well-planned program of advance. The lake country may safely be left to the Church Missionary Society and the Scottish Presbyterian societies now occupying the field in such a splendid way. These organizations, with the help of the smaller societies working in the same field, should be able to carry the work through to completion. .
In the Congo basin we have, possibly, a sufficient number of societies at work, but they have done little more than occupy the fringe along the rivers. What is needed is an immense expansion of the work. More- over, there should be agreement upon the French language as the me- dium of education in the higher schools and the establishment of training institutions after the manner of Lovedale in South Africa and Hampton in America. The higher schools of the American societies in the Congo
country, as indeed throughout West Africa, do not compare favorably with similar institutions planted by the societies of Great Britain. Sev- eral training institutes might with advantage be conducted on the union basis in the vast region drained by the Congo and its affiuents. So far as geographical considerations go, Leopoldville on Stanley Pool and Ma- tade, near the mouth of the river, would appear to be ideal centers for such institutions. In case -union is undesirable or impracticable, is there any sufficient reason why there should not be a confederation of work on the Congo, akin to that in British East Africa and which is associated with the now historic conference at Kikuyu?
Angola has two American societies at work, the Methodist and Congregational, both well located. A healthy expansion of their opera- tions would go far towards meeting the needs of this vast territory, espe- cially if the proposed United Church of Canada should take over and develop the Canadian Congregational section.
The highly successful mission of the American Presbyterians in Cameroun should continue its development until the region as a whole has been evangelized. Without other help Cameroun bids fair to be- come the Uganda of the West.
The problems of. the Guinea Coast and of the colonies northward on the Atlant~c littoral are many and complex. The spirit of cooperation would do much to improve the situation. An earnest missionary spirit in the native churches would do even more. Certainly the evangelization of the wild tribes of the interior should not wait long in view of the number of societies, European and American, occupying this portion of the continent. If the missionary forces on the West Coast were organ- ized to act together, with sole reference to the highest possible efficiency of their work and for the good of the continent, can anyone question that there would be a combination of missions in regions like Liberia and Sierra Leone, in order that work might be taken up in the Sudan? Is it too much to hope that steps may be taken in that direction?
In the consideration -of all these fields I have avoided discussing the outcome of the war in its bearings upon African mission work and strategy. Obviously important geographical changes will follow the .peace conference, changes which are bound to affect any program which is drawn up at the present time. I have this, however, to say:- Africa cannot afford to lose the help of the German societies which were established in various parts of the continent before the war. The German missions in Togoland, in the northern part of Cameroun, in German Southwest Africa, and in German East Africa, were being blessed of God in signal ways. They were making a unique contribution to Africa's evangelization and civilization. Their missionaries were second to none in self-sacrifice and zeal. Whatever geographical and governmental changes may occur, it will be nothing less than a calamity to the Kingdom if the Christian people of Germany are to have no further part in Africa's redemption.
New Opportunity in South
BY THE REV. SAMUEL GUY INMAN, NEW YORK Secretary 'of the Committee on Cooperation in Latin America I N the present world war, South America is the only continent that has neither seen fighting nor sent soldiers to the front. At the same time she has been more peculiarly dependent on the principal bel- ligerent nations than any other continent. Her reaction in view of this crisis is an illuminating comment on her character. Her attitude toward North America is a very important matter in connection with Christian missionary work among her people. Those who have studied the his- toric reasons for this attitude will appreciate what a University professor said to me in Buenos Aires: "By instinct we hate you North Americans; by reason we love you." Instinct and reason are struggling in the South Americans today as never before.
My first visit to South America was made in the first six months of 1914. It covered only the coast and capital cities: My recent visit in- cluded eleven countries in Latin America with trips to Bolivia and Paraguay, the two interior republics that have no coast line, and the traversing of six countries, practically from one end to the other. Impressions on this second trip have not been contradictory to the first, but supplementary.
On the first trip I felt the unity of all Latin America and the similarity of the problems of each country j on the second I noted the individuality of each nation. On the first I was impressed by the irreligion ofthe educated classes, and the need for sending the best-prepared missionaries to work for them; on the second I realized the hunger of the educated classes for spiritual life, and the need of sending men capable of training a native Christian leadership to supply this hunger. Then there was a . lack of fellowship and cooperation among the Protestant forces, now there is intense interest in cooperation j then there seemed to be an indifference toward the social message of the Gospel, now we find the realization of the imperative need fQr a program of service; then there was the ever-present prejudice against North America, now we discover a better understanding and growing regard for North Americans.
THE SPIRIT OF INQUIRY I. The people of Latin America are more open-minded and are doirig more fundamental thinking than ever before. They have hitherto been ruled more by sentiment than reason. They have relied on the glorious past of the Latin race and have been dominated by the traditions of Roman Catholicism. They have magnified the differences be-
tween themselves and Anglo-Saxon Protestants and minimized the great economic and moral facts that point to American solidarity. They had ceased to regard religion as a force that has anything to do with modern life, such as they were developing. But this world war, with its rude shock to their economic progress and to much of their philosophic the- ories, is compelling them to re-think their theories, to re-examine their individual and national relationships. This spirit of inquiry, this willing~ ness to learn, this seeking after God, impresses one profoundly as he talks with men all the way from University professors to street laborers. .
In Buenos Aires a professor' in the University was giving a series of lectures on Emerson and the significance of Unitarian and Puritan 'movements in New England. These were making a pronounced im- pression. Many things that Protestant missionaries would like to have said, this University professor was telling the young men of Argentina. He told me that he had been contemplating a congress on religions that should face the facts concerning the necessity of injecting standards of morality and service into Argentine life.
He had been wanting to get in touch with some of the Protestant forces in Buenos Aires. They were so little known in educational circles, however, that he had not found a way to approach them. He had been contemplating writing to the Unitarians in Boston, inviting them to organize a church in Buenos Aires, which would appeal to the intelligent classes. He asked to talk with missionaries about work among the intellectual classes and off,;:red to guide them in avoiding mistakes by which Anglo-Saxons could easily prejudice these classes against the work.
I was impressed with the large number ~f individuals and organizations that are endeavoring in some way to serve the people. The Temperance Society of Peru, which is composed of some of the leading men of the country, is doing a remarkable work. Some of our missionaries have been elected members and are thus able to foster a program of service with the backing of these influential men.
In Chile and Uruguay I was particularly impressed with the large number of societies engaged in promoting educational and charitable work, independent of that done by the government. In Argentina are large groups, ranging in their activities from discussions in University halls to socialistic meetings among workmen on the street corners, re- vealing a deep spiritual hunger.
CHANGING ATTITUDE TOWARD NORTH AMERICA 2. In the past, Latin America has been ruled largely by Latin sentiment; her people have considered themselves separate from the Anglo- Saxons and opposed to their philosophy of life. They have held it to be unpatriotic to adopt the religion, or other features of North American life. Propagandists, like Ugarts and Calderon, have continualfy urged the necessity of closer relationship between the Latin American
18] THE NEW OPPORTUNITY IN SOUTH AMERICA
countries and the European Latin countries to oppose what they consid- ered the materialistic influence and political program of the North. The war, however, has driven the Latin American countries to squarely face the question as to where their real interests lie.
All the way down through the Latin American countries, beginning in Mexico, I felt the change in sentiment until, in Chile, it came over me with such force as to make me feel that the greatest obstacle to our work was being removed. Three years ago all I could hear there was the expression of feeling against the United States. The students of the Universities were particularly hostile. But how different this time I On calling upon a professor in the National University I was asked to speak~ to one of his English classes, and afterward to another, until I found myself giving a whole morning to the work. This was not enough, how- ever, and the invitation was accepted to give a conference at one of the big theatres, which the students secured for the occasion. The theme they wanted discussed was "How to Develop Closer Relations Between the United States and Chile." After the lecture an additional hour was occupied in asking and answering questions. .
In Pernambuco, at a. Sunday-school Convention, I accidentally met the director of the Law School that has trained the leaders of Northern Brazil for half a century. He insisted on my giving an address to his students on "Closer Intellectual Relationships Between the Two Amer- icas," whiC;h turned out to be quite a demonstration of international friendliness, with the official life of the city represented.
In Paraguay our deputation of four missionaries, who went up to this far-distant land to investigate the beginnings of mission work, were taken in hand by the National Director of Public Instruction, and our entertainment was directed by the government. This was their way of showing how deep was their hunger for fellowship with the United States.
The following editorial, published on the 4th of July in a leading Buenos Aires daily, gives one of the reasons for this change of attitude: "The circumstances in which we find oursdves today, this anniversary of the North American nation, serves to define a double edict of Americani~m and democ-' racy. This celebration in other years was occasion for rejoicing only for the United States. She could with patriotic joy stop in her march and contemplate with satisfaction the road traveled since the days of that memorable declaration. . . .
"Today all is different. The United States, by the power of that great republican virtue which is the supporter of the right, is for the whole world, not only a nation engaged in a knightly war, hut an apostle in action. Some four years ago the Latin author, Ruben Dario, was able to say, led astray by superficial observations, that the United States, which had everything, lacked but one thing-God.
"Today this cannot be said, for the crusade of the United States, and the serene and eloquent wor·ds of Wilson have a religious character, now that they intimate the abandonment and disregard of material interests in the face of the defense of an ideal.
"Quietly, without the sound of trumpet or noise, the United States has entered the contest, and thus it returns to noble France the generous contribution of that
great Frenchman, Lafayette, the American national hero. If the American stands for anything in the world and in history, it is liberty. Other peoples have been formed on account of conquest, on account of religion, but the Americans were born out of the idea of liberty.
"In this sentiment is found the unity of San Martin, Bolivar and Washington.
,It 'matters little that history registers this or that dil'turbance and this or that variation. That is the sentiment and that is the thing, that after conquering all cruel tyrannies and retrogressive seditions, has overcome all else.
"So in the awful conflict which today is shaking the world, the United States'
is voicing the word of all America, because she is on the side of liberty, She is the big sister in years and in power among the American nations. This place belongs to her and worthily has she ta~en it." , For the first time in the history of a South American nation, Brazil has openly declared that the prime reason for her taking a serious politi- cal step was to follow the United States.
In the same way, Panama, in its recent declaration of war, says that "Neutrality is impossible in a conflict where the vital interests of the United States are involved," and Cuba, Bolivia, Paraguay and other countries have given voice to similar sentiments.
The recent visit of the American fleet, under the command of Ad- miral Caperton, to South American waters, has promoted these friendly relations in a remarkable way. In order that the fleet might visit Monte- video, when Uruguay had not yet broken relations with the Central Powers, the government promulgated a special decree, which will no doubt be of great interest in future international relationships in Amer- ica: "It is hereby declared that no American nation will be considered as a belligerent which is in a state of war in defense of its rights against countries outside of this continent." , It was my privilege to be in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina during 'the American fleet's visit and witness one of the most remarkable recep- tions that it ever received in any waters. In Montevideo the whole city was given up to its entertainment. A remarkable meeting was held at the Young Men's Christian Association Headquarters, lasting nearly 'four hours. The Dean of the Literati of Uruguay, Dr. Juan 'Zorilla de San Martin, said in speaking to our boys: "We love the United States as a great collectivity; we love you as citizens of the United States, but we want you to understand that we love you as individuals. We talk of our common mother-Democracy; there is some one else still dearer to us-our common Father." Then, leaving the interpreter, he repeated the Lord's Prayer in charming broken English. Dr. Zorilla is one of the leaders of the Catholic party in Uruguay, and such a man, speaking such sentiments on the platform of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, is significant of a new day in South America. The work of the Association in receiving the men was so greatly appreciated that in a building campaign, launched a few weeks later, they raised more than $roo,ooo, four individuals giving $10,000 apiece.
Growing commercial relationships form another reason for closer
NEW OPPORTUNITY IN SOUTH
friendship between North and South America. Before the war, South America received the capital for developing her railroads, mines and other industries from Europe. She received also a large part of her manufactured articles from the same source. The Pan American Finan- cial Congress, held in 1915 in Washington, provided for North Amer- ica's doing largely what Europe had been doing before. The establish- ment of North American banks and agencies for our large manufactur- ing concerns in the principal cities of South America has had more influ- ence in promoting friendly relations than would be supposed by super- ficial observation.
The re~ent disposition of the United States to change its attitude . from jingoism to a real sympathy and appreciation of the Latin Ameri- can people is another influence that is promoting international friendship. The utterances of President Wilson in his Mobile speech, and on other occasions, have gone far to assure the Latin Americans that we have no designs upon their territory. Our staying out of Mexico when all recognized that, according to international custom, we had a right to go in has had a remarkable influence in clearing us from the suspicions long held by Latin Americans.
The exchange of visits between University professors of North and South America during these recent years, as well as the large number of students, has made one of the most important contributions to this development of friendship. Chilean students, recently returned from the United States, have given glowing reports of the way they were treated.
The outstanding thing about my whole trip, aside from the work I went to accomplish with the missionaries, was my reception in University circles. Aside from carrying a few letters of introduction and dependence on friendships already formed, I made no preparation for this. Yet in practically every country I received unusual courtesies from both professors and students and was invited to address some of the oldest and most exclusive institutions.
The constant friendly influence· of the missionaries through the years must be set down here, though I am only mentioning the things that s~em to me to have speciatly contributed to this friendship since my last visit. No man that has an open mind can fail to realize that the work of such men as H. C. Tucker, W. A. Waddell, John W. Butler, W. E. Browning, and many others like them, has an influence for international good will, impossible to calculate. Volumes could easily be written on what the evangelical schools are doing toward interpreting Latin and North America to one another. The Young Men's Christian Association is particularly adapted to this work, inasmuch as it reaches many of the influential classes who are not yet willing to have relationship with a work directly evangelistic.
THE PAUCITY OF RELIGIOUS WORK Every observing traveler visiting Latin America notices the geileraI lack of interest in religion. A book could be filled with quotations from Latin Americans referring to the same matter. The educated classes of Latin America have abandoned the only form of Christianity that they have ever known and are fast becoming a people without religion. My recent investigations have been startling in their revelations as to the way the working classes also are abandoning the church and drifting into extreme socialism and antagonism toward all forms of religion.
All through Latin America the laboring men are awakening to their. rights, and as they realize that the Roman Catholic Church ha~ been in a combine with the land barons to hold them in subjection, they are developing an intense hatred for Christianity as they understand it. Recently there were posters on the street corners in Asuncion reading "ABAJO CON RELIGION" ("Down with Religion"). A young student in the University of Cordova, Argentina, a city especially noted for its.faithfulness in the past, said to contain more pictures of the Pope than any other city of its size in the world, told me that he was the only young man in the University who would acknowledge Christ as his Saviour. The Association of Liberal Propaganda of Monteyideo published a pamphlet giving a list of duties to show that no good Liberal should be baptized, married, educated or buried by representatives of the Church, and that they should keep far from the home and the family those who are called "Ministers of tne Lord."
ROMAN CATHOLICISM Even if the Roman Catholic Church were preaching a pure and un- defiled religion its forces are not in any way sufficient to minister to the religious needs of Latin America. In Paraguay, with a population of one million people, there are only eighty-eight parish priests, forty of whom are in Asuncion. This leaves an average of one priest for over twenty thousand people outside of the capital.
In Buenos Aires, with one million seven hundred thousand people, there are about fifty Roman Catholic churches. These forces are now I increasing by additions from Europe, and since the Panama Congress the Roman Church has greatly enlarged its activity.
In Chile, where the church is better organized than in the other countries, the· Archbishop reports 700 parish priests, with probably 450 of these working among the ptople. This would give each one a parish of neatly 10,000 people. There are soo churches and 619 chapels, services being held very seldom in the latter. If there are 700 places where regular services are held, that would mean one for every 5,000 people. Their forces are not adequate, even in the countries mentioned,
NEW OPPORTUNITY IN SOUTH AMERICA
to say nothing of Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, etc., where the church is not so well organized.
Sr. F. Garcia Calderon, who is known to many Anglo-Saxon readers through his book "Latin America, Its Rise and Progress," in a later and mbre balanced study of Latin American life says, in a chapter on religion: "We do not find in Latin America either an elegant skepticism, a Puritan religion, or even a mysticism like the Spanish. And her Catholicism is a limited and official religion. Weare witn,essing the decadence of a traditional religion. The church is being converted into a bureaucratic institution. Its convents attract only those of inferior classes. The robustness of creative convictions, which is the strength of the Biblical men of North America, the deep interest in human destiny, the stern sense of duty, the realization of the seriousness of life, do not disturb Latin American Catholicism, sensual and linfatic.
"In the political and economic order our religious indifference is the cause of indecision in opinions, of hatred of ideas and of immorality. . . . These different repu'blics lack a creed. Their ancient life was linked to a severe religion. The abandonment of Catholicism in democracies without moral culture means retrogression to barbarism. • . . In the United States Puritanism is the perpetual defense against the plutocratic immorality. In the Latin South only a renovated and profound faith can give to accumulated riches a national sentiment."* THE PROTESTANT MISSIONS In the capital and port cities of Latin America one is impressed with the smallness of evangelical work, but when we visit the smaller cities and towns one is simply appalled at its lack. In Mexico there are states with as many as a million population, where no evangelical missionary works. There are only 200 ordained Christian ministers, both for- eign and native, to preach the Gospel to fifteen million people-a parish for each of 75,000 souls. To help Mexico teach the 80 per cent. il- literate in her population, there are altogether 177 mission schools.
American capital has invested a billion dollars in Mexico. For mission- ary purposes we have invested little more than a thousandth part of that amount. ,"
In three of the five republics of Ct:iitral America there is no or- ganized Protestant mission board doing any work. Protestant missions support only two schools and one hospital in all of Central America. In Panama, which owes its very existence to the United States, there is only one missionary preaching the simple Gospel of Jesus to those three hun- dred and fifty thousand Spanish-speaking Panamanians.
Four ordained missionaries in the republic of Venezuela are trying to serve a population of nearly three million. To educate the 85 per cent.
of her population, or two and a quarter million people, who cannot read or write, we are supporting two little pri!llary schools with an enrollment of eighty-eight. In the whole history of this republic there has never • La Crtaci6n dt un Contintntt, F. Garcia Calderon, P. Ollendorff, Paris. Pp. 146-7.
been but orl~ building erected for school purposes either by church or state, and that was a military academy.
In Colombia, which is larger than Germany, France, Spain and Italy, there is only one ordained missionary to every million. of the population.
In Ecuador there is practically no established mission and no Protestant church building has ever been erected there.
In the northern half of Peru, a stretch of territory larger than our thirteen original states, there is not one evangelical missionary. There are ten provinces in this historic republic, all larger than Holland, where there is absolutely no evangelical work.
In Bolivia, so far, scarcely one hundred members have been won to the evangelical Church.
.Great areas in Chile and Argentina are still untouched by evangelical missionaries and only the fringes along the ocean and river fronts of Uruguay and Brazil have been occupied. There is not one American missionary society at work in the republic of Paraguay.
The greatest stretch of unevangelized territory in the world is the center of South America, including the interior of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay. An irregular figure, two thousand miles long and from 1,500 and to 500 miles in width, would only include two missionaries. In northern Brazil there are seven states with p·opulations ranging from that of Maine to New Jersey, with no foreign missionary.
. As to our educational work one is simply appalled at the lack of equipment and provision for faculties. It is a wonderful tribute to the power of Christian education, and the sacrifice of the teachers, that our schools have been able to do what they have with such very meager equipment. At Panama and other missionary conferences recently we have been talking about universities and great colleges for Latin America. When one sees what we have now and compares ·it with what is ordinarily considered indispensable in the home land to educational enterprises, it seems ridiculous to talk of developing there great institutions, unless our people are willing to undertake this educational program in an entirely different way. Some of the school quarters are likely to be closed at any time by the public authorities. Some of the teachers have been thrust into their positions with no preparation whatever. But what wrings one's heart most is to find teachers, not only whose clothes are shabby, but who are living on such scanty allowances that they show they are constantly below par.
WORK AMONG THE INDIANS There are 3,500,000 Indians~ on the plateaus of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, including the former Inca empire, with practically nothing being done for them. Going down into the valley of the Amazon with its trib-
THE NEW OPPORTUNITY IN SOUTH AMERICA
utaries, through the lowlands of Bolivia and Paraguay, there are many more millions of Indians-no one knows how many-who still live in their savage state, with no efforts being made for them except those of the spl~ndid little band of missionaries of the South American Missionary Society of Great Britain. The people of South America would gladly welcome our help-in fact, they wonder why we do not undertake work for the Indians. It is a blot on the missionary z~al of the North Ameri- can Church that we are undertaking nothing for these poor, needy creatures.
THE KIND OF WORK NEEDED There is a holy unrest among the missionaries in Latin America.. They are not satisfied ~ith the progress of the work and are convinced of the need of a change of emphasis as to method. One question that I discussed with groups of Christians everywhere was: Given the fact that Latin Americans are largely rejecting the Roman Catholic form and that tliey have not yet in large numbers accepted the Protestant interpretation of the Gospel,what kind of religion would appeal to them?
The consensus of opinion was that Latin Americans would be m,ost attracted by a religion which placed the emphasis where Christ seemed to place it-on service, vivified through direct contact with God. All realized that the hurt of these people is too deep to· be healed by any mere soap and water, a bread line or lectures on hygiene. Service rendered must lead men to realize that missionaries are prophets of God, able to give them the Living Water which, if they drink, will quench their thirst.
Without more than a preaching program, we may be in cities like Buenos Aires, Havana, Lima and Santiago for the rest of the age, and still the masses of the people will be ignorant of or indifferent to our presence. Educated Latin Americans, friendly to the evangelical movement, pointed out the necessity of a more practical program, if their people are to be won. As a gentleman in Asuncion said: ."If you come here to found a new sect we have no interest in you, but if you· come to help us solve our educational and social problems we will bid you a hearty welcome."
Recently a young Chilean of the better classes became interested in the Gospel. He wanted to join the church and become a minister. But denominationalism kept him from a decision. "I will do anything for Christ, but nothing for controversy," is the way he expressed it to a friend.
Latin America needs a religion that will heJp solve her national problems as well as those of individuals. In discussing with a thoughtful Chilean the question of a probable uprising of the common people against the privileged classes in his country, he said the only hope he saw of preventing it was that the Protestant Church might develop sufficient
strength to bring about the reforms necessary by educational methods. It is the only hope for the solution of a large number of industrial, eco- nomic, social, moral and political problems that are multiplying so rapidly in these countries.
The Mexican revolution is going to teach our Latin American churches a good many things. Already it has driven the churches there together, forcing them into a cooperative program of service that, before the war, seemed impossible of -ealization. The last National Conven- tion bristled with suggestions ffu service to the people. The many new problems of education, social betterment and physical improvement fac- ing Mexico are making the church realize that it will not appeal to the Mexican people unless it proves itself capable of providing practical help in this time of reconstruction. The leaders of the different denomina- tions at the recent National Convention laid the map of Mexico down before them and asked what was necessary to reach every part of Mexico with a Gospel that would save in the present world as well as in the future. Readjustment of denominational territory was considered of no more importance than readjustment of the Church's program in order to serve the whole people. A united Protestantism is the only kind capable of entering these doors. It was under this pressure that a committee was appointed to study ways and means of forming one united evangelical church for Mexico.
The same need is shown elsewhere in Latin America. What the appeal to avoid denominational overlapping has failed to do, the facing , of great need, clearly demonstrated by indisputable facts, is beginning to accomplish. Division of territory, as the only means of extending our work into great, needy fields, has been the appeal that has brought the forces in recent months to such delimitation in Mexico, Cuba, Panama, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay. Whenever the ser"vice side of Christianity is strong, cooperation is felt to be imperative. The fields where our cooperative program has had the least backing are the fields where the emphasis is on the dogmatic, rather than on the spiritual and sacrificial.
NATIVE LEADERS-THE CLAMORING NEED There is no doubt that practically all of our missionary problems revolve around the one of proper training of adequate native leadership. This is the one clamoring need, without which all our other endeavors are as sounding brass and clanging cymbals. In Brazil the strength of the Church is a constant illustration of the results of good training for ministers. The Presbyterians entered Colombia a little while before they entered Brazil, but the difference in result is tremendous. Many things account for this, but who can doubt that if the same emphasis had been put on a trained native ministry in Colombia (where today they have not one ordained native) as was the case in Brazil, that the results would have been far different?
Peru and Bolivia are difficult fields, but if the Methodist and Evan- gelical Union missionaries had carefully trained a number of native preachers, would they not be able to count today more than 500 church members in these two countries? They have been working in turn for a quarter of a century and have altogether only six ordained Peruvian ministers, none of whom has ever received any training except that ob- tained by contact with a busy missionary for a year or two.
The first thing to do is to change this program into one that pro- vides training for a national ministry. If this should cost the complete reorganization of the entire work, we should pay the price. In some missions it would cost this, if they had to bear the whole burden. But by cooperation of all concerned, it can be done without putting too great a burden on anyone church.
The program for South America, outlined by the deputation hold- ing the Regional Conferences, consists of Union Seminaries in Lima, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo. The latter was proposed as a graduate seminary, the Faculty of Theology and Social Sciences, where the best graduates of other schools and ministers already in the work could get advanced courses that would fit them as the Church's leaders.
The Union Seminary in Chile has been organized for several years and only needs strengthening. The one for Lima should receive immediate attention. The one in Brazil is well along the road to organization. As the only one in Portuguese, and. destined for the use of all Brazil, where the Evangelical Church is larger than in any other field, it should have a specially strong course. The Graduate Seminary should be begun immediately. There is no single thing that. could be done in all South America that will so advance the work as will the beginning of a first-grade, international, union seminary, that will hold up for the ministers of all the continent a high ideal of scholarship. A committee has been working on the project, and several Boards have already approved it. The following have expressed their interest: The Methodist Episcopal; the Presbyterian, U. S. A.; the Young Men's Christian Association; the Disciples of Christ; the Congregationalists, and the Southern Methodists. * Visitors to Latin America, who have seen many government officials and others of the intellectual classes in the evangelical churches of Japan, China, India and other fields, often speak of the lack of such in our Latin American churches. One reason, no doubt, is found in the fact that seldom in those lands is there such opposition to our work as there is in Latin America. All recognize, however, that this is not sufficient explanation. These leaders can be won, if the evangelical ministers of their own blood are trained sufficiently to present the Gospel in an at- tractive and convincing way.
'" The Union Seminary for Mexico was opened in Mexico City, May lst, with three professors giving their whole time, and the following churches cooperating: Presbyterian, U. S. A.; Methodist Episcopal; Congregational; M. E. South; Disciples and Friends.
the Negroes and
Dr. Frissell's Twenty-Five Years at Hampton Institute BY WM. ANTHONY AERY, HAMPTON INSTITUTE, VIRGINIA Dr. Hoilis B. Frissell, 'Who died at Whitefield, New Hampshire, on August 5, 1917, 'Was born at Amenia, N. Y., on July 14, 1851. He was graduated from Phil- lips Andover in 1869 and five years later from Yale College. After studying Theology at Union Theological Seminary he 'was ordained in the Presbyterian Ministry in 1880. He immediately accepted the post of Chaplain of Hampton Institute and after the death of General Armstrong, thirteen years later, Mr. Fissel! 'Was elected Principal of the Institute and held that office from 1893 until his death. In all, he 'Was connected 'With Hampton for thirty-seven years.
W HEN General Samuel C. Armstrong, the founder of Hampton Institute, ?ied in 1893, the tr~st~es immediately elected Ho~lis Burke Fnssell as the new prmc1pal. There was no questlOn about the fitness of the "Chaplain-Vice-Principal-Assistant Treasurer," (all of which offices Mr. Frissell held at the same time). With loyal devotion and efficient service had "Chaplain" Frissell long carried a large share of General Armstrong's load.
At that time Hampton had to raise annually for current expenses by public subscription $75,000 above the amount received from students and student labor. In 1917 the amount needed "annually above regular income" was $135,000.
In 1893 Hampton was asking for "an Endowment Fund of at least a million dollars" j in 1917 the trustees expressed the need of a four million endowment.
When Dr. Frissell became principal, the Hampton enrollment included 647 boarders and 370 in the Whittier Training School-a total of 1017 boys and girls in training. Today the enrollment includes 934 boarders; 446 in .the Whittier Training School; and 458 in the Summer School-a total of 1838, a gain of 80 per cent over the enrollment in 18 93.
In 1893 Hampton graduates numbered 825; while in I917 there were over :2000 graduates and 7500 former students.
In one of his annual reports to the trustees, Dr. Frissell said that in order to carry out the educational plan which General Armstrong had in mind, adequate equipment was necessary. The school started with only an old, worn-out plantation, with its "Big House" and grist mill, and the few hospital barracks left by the Union soldiers after the Civil War. Now the Institute grounds have become an attractive industrial village with one hundred forty buildings. Land has been reclaimed, and numerous trees and shrubs have been planted. The development of the school grounds has had an important part in the education of the students. They have made the roads and the concrete walks. They have planted and trimmed the trees and shrubs. They have constructed the buildings and have felt pride and pleasure and found education and profit in their work.
In 1896 the Armstrong-Slater Memorial Trade School was opened.
Here four-year courses are offered in Blacksmithing, Bricklaying and Plastering, Cabinetmaking, Carpentry, Machine Work, Painting, Print- ing, Shoemaking, Steamfitting and Plumbing, Tailoring, Tinsmithing, and Upholstery.
In 1898 there was opened a building which houses the Agricultural Department, as well as classes in Domestic Science and Domestic Arts.
In 190 I Cleveland Hall was dedicated. The first floor is used as a chapel and the floors above are used as dormitories. The cost of this building was defrayed by the I former pupils of Charles Dexter Cleveland of Philadelphia.
In 1903 the Collis P. Hunt- ington Memorial Library, the gift of Mrs. Huntington, was dedi, cated. Today" this library contains 45,000 volumes and co-operates with all the school departments.
In 1903 George Foster Pea- body of New York gave Hampton enough money for a large barn at Shellbanks, the Hampton dairy farm six miles from' the Institute, where some 45 boys are getting practical experience in handling "about 100 cows, 300 hogs, 1,200 hens, and about 450 acres."
In 1913 Clarke Hall, the gift of Mrs. Delia S. Clarke of New HOLLfS B. FRISSELL York, in memory of her husband (Charles Spears Clarke), was dedicated. This building is used for Y.
M. C. A. activities. It is also a Hampton Trade School product.
In 1914 James Hall, the gift of Mrs. D. Willis James, in memory of her husband, was started. This modern, fireproof dormitory is now occupied by 175 boys. It was built entirely by Hampton student labor.
The Administration Building is now nearing completion.
The Robert C. Ogden Auditorium, which will accommodate 2500 persons and will cost some $200,000, is promised for next spring.
Dr. Frissell, through his nearly twenty-five years of work as Prin- cipal, made Hampton Institute "an educational demonstration center where three races (red, white and black) work out daily with a min- imum of friction, the problems of every-day life."
by MRS. E. C CRONK, Columbia, South
Chairman of the Committee on Methods of the vVomen's Federation of Foreign Mission Societies PRAYER AS A MISSIONARY METHOD DID SHE GO? Ohio, the youngest one having to drop out because of poor health. I N the heart of Martha Campbell, a young teacher in a country school, Would it be possible today to hold in lay the commission of her Saviour, "Go any other home on earth a family re- into all the world and preach the union which would gather together a Gospel." circle of wider missionary influence than the sons and daughters, the sons- Since that day when Martha Camp- in-law and daughters-in-law, through bell went back and forth to her little whom this consecrated mother has gone school the years have come and the to the uttermost part of the earth? years have gone until the young school teacher of a generation ago is the grand- The eldest son is Wilbert W. White mother of today, with whitened hair. of N ew York, whose influence as a mis- All of her life has been lived in America, sionary and as the founder of the Bible yet there is no land into which she has Teachers' Training School, is felt not gone. throughout the mission stations of every When, as a young mother, most of land. the days of her life were shut in by the The eldest daughter is Mrs. Compton. walls of her home, and most of her time was claimed by the six children, who She and her husband, Rev. Charles R. came to that home, "the uttermost part Compton, spent years in frontier Home of the earth" seemed far beyond the Mission service in Nebraska and Monreach of her life. Little dreamed she, tana, and are now working in the U nias she went about the endless round of versity of Vooster, preparing young daily duties that that home of hers was men for Christian service. a center of a circle of influence which would reach round the world. Mrs. John R. Mott is the second daughter. Through her wide mission- As each new life was given to her ary influence and through the missioncare, she consecrated that life to God. ary statesmanship of Dr. Mott, the stu- Caring for six active, vigorous girls and dents and the Christian leaders of the boys and providing for each of them the entire world have felt the touch of that education upon which her heart was set, little home in Ohio. was not a task for idle moments. Yet, notwithstanding the poverty which In China, the other daughter, Mrs. makes many mothers yield to the temp- W. R. Stewart, is proclaiming tidings of tation to take their children from school salvation, working with her husband, this mother, with quiet determination: Mr. W. R. Stewart, of the Y. M. C. A. kept her ideals for a Christian education force in China. for each one of her children ever before her, and was rewarded by seeing This quiet mother never addressed an five of them complete the course at the audience in her life, but perhaps no University of Wooster, at Wooster, other one man in America has ever stir- red as many thousands of the men of America to a recognition of their world obligation as has her second son, J.
METHODS
Campbell White, formerly a missionary most people are willing to pay. "I in India and later the first General would rather teach one man how to Secretary of the Laymen's Missionary pray than teach ten men how to Movement of the United States and preach," said a great teacher of theol- Canada. His experience as a foreign ogy. Preaching reaches the heart of missionary convinced him that the great- men, but prayer reaches the heart of est need of foreign missions was an God also. Sometimes it would seem adequate support from the home base. that we regard prayer merely as a So he returned to America to set a new precautionary measure to insure safety.
standard for missionary support. He Deeper than the outward seeming was changed dimes to dollars, dollars to the estimate of prayer of the little boy hundreds, hundreds to thousands and whose mother reminded him one night thousands to millions. Now Dr. White that he had gone to bed without saying is devoting his life to the other great his prayers. "Yes, I know it," said the need which his experience made evident lad. "I didn't say them night before -the need for trained missionary leader- last and. nothing got me, and I didn't ship. As president of the University of say them last night and nothing got Wooster he is exerting an untold in- me, and now I'm not going to say fluence in training missionary leadership. them tonight and, jf nothing gets me Five grandsons are in missionary and then, I'm never going to say them any national servic~; John L. Matt with more." Deep down in many hearts is the Y. M. C. A. in France; Wilbert W. a childish impression that prayer is a White, Jr., with the Aviation Corps; sort of "rabbit's foot"-a fetish for William Compton with the artillery, night wear to keep away the dangers Ralph White in the Officers' Training that hover in the darkness. When Camp and Hubert White with the day is done, the weary mother says with Marine Corps. mechanical repetition, "Now children, As one by one her children gave don't forget to brush your teeth and two their lives to missionary service the say your prayers" and the little ones.
mother said to each one, "Long before through constant association of the you knew anything about it, I gave you duties, get an impression that both are to God for His service." sanitary measures necessary to produce So Mrs. Martha Campbell White, healthful sleep.
while remaining all of her life in the The Apostle Paul regarded prayer as United States of America, has gone into a method of work, a great avenue of all of the world. service. To him it was no half-hearted spiritual form, but a real missionary THE BEST METHOD OF WORK service and labor. He used the phrase First in best methods for missionary "Laboring fervently for you in prayer" works stands prayer. In counting our and classed those who prayed as his methods of work we do not count real co-laborers. "Ye also helping toenough on this first and best method gether by prayer for us" and "Strive to- "If you cannot do anything else," we gether with me in your prayers to God say comfortingly to the inefficient for me," besought this great pioneer worker, who pleads lack of time and missionary, of the early Christians. He lack: of every other qualification, "you recognized that his victories came can pray," as if prayer required neither through the prayers of those who intime nor any other qualification, and terceded for him, for he wrote as if prayer were a sort of last ex- "Through your prayers I shall be given tremity to be resorted to "if you can- unto you." In today's acts of the not do anything else." Prayer is not apostles, prayer has the, same primal place. Pastor Ding Li l1ei, China's a last extremity, but a first necessity. great man of prayer, who has influ- It requires time, and costs more than enced more men to go into the ministry
and other forms of Christian service to a man like John Wesley there must than any other man of modern time~ in have come subtle temptations to neglect Asia, was asked by some one who his prayer life, as we read his firm re- an marvelled at the· results of his work, solution with which he met such temp- what his method was. Pastor Ding tations: "I resolve to devote hour answered simply, "I have no method morning and evening to private prayer, except prayer." no pretense, no excuse whatsoever." As In these days of ours, when there is we go out to prayerless days of work so much demand for new methods and we can hut doubt the sincerity of our catchy devices for our missionary work, protestations of our insufficiency for the let us make sure that deep down as the tasks to he done, when we claim we underlying foundation of every other have so much to do we have no time for method we place prayer as our first and prayer. The great hero of Protestanchiefest method of work. tism, Martin Luther, as he faced the tremendous volume of work before him METHODS FOR PRAYER IN OUR said, "I am so busy now that if I did not spend two or three hours each day INDIVIDUAL LIVES in prayer I could not get through the A boy who went to carry an im- day."
portant message for his father, was late A missionary who has lived a life of and hurried off to the task as fast as power in Africa was asked the secret he could. Breathless and exhausted he of that power. As h~ stood in the reached his destination; then he gasp- midst of the little prayer group at a ed "Oh, I was in such a hurry I for- Summer Conference, those around him got to get the message I came to bring." almost saw a halo on his head. They In the busy whirl of our lives many of fancied he lived far above the petty anus are rushing out to the task to which noyances of their daily lives. They we have consecrated ourselves-the car- were brought down to an every day rying of His messages-without tarrying earth when he told them that his secret awhile to get the message ere we go, was an alarm clock. Said he "When without interceding for the work ere I first went to Africa the great rush of we face it. If our missionary workers duties and opportunities fairly overwould determine upon prayer as their whelmed me. Early and late calls chief method of work what could we came and knocks sounded at my door. not accomplish? Many of us who have Every night I went to bed utterly exan impulse to give prayer a definite time hausted. In the morning when I woke and place in our lives "fall away" be- I thought, 'Surely the Lord would cause we are amazed to find the pathway· rather I turned over and took another to intercession beset with difficulties. nap to fit me for the many duties I When we discover that we do not drift must face this day, than that I should easily into a period of daily prayer and get up to pray.' Then I began to that it is really a difficult task to pray, realize that my work was lacking in we have a feeling that something must power, so I resolved to get up an hour be wrong with us and that unless prayer earlier each day and to spend that hour is spontaneous, and irrepressible, we in prayer. Through that hour of should not pray. We forget Paul's prayer God has wrought great things terms "strive" and labor," which in- and now there are thousands of Chrisdicate that prayer may require some ef- tians in our mission station, who do not know that Christians anywhere ever atfort. tempt to face the duties and op- A DEFINITE TIME FOR PRAYER portunities of a day without prayer." Equally commonplace and practical It heartens those of us who are weak is the method adopted by three of the to catch the veiled suggestion that even great missionaries in China, who agreed
BEST METHODS
together that they would never go to shelf and so I am used to a god in my breakfast until they had spent at least home." That great missionary to· the a half hour in prayer. They may miss New Hebrides, John G. Paton, was an occasional breakfast, but never have used to a God in his home, and because they missed that half hour of prayer. there was a method of prayer in the old Paton home, and because of the earnest CONSERVING TIME FOR PRAYER petitions offered at that family altar, the great hero of the New Hebrides re– Conservation is on every lip, yet our ceived his first missionary impulse, as days are full of wasted moments many he testified in later life. . of which might be conserved for. prayer. On the women of Arne·rica re~ts, to a Said Sir Thomas Browne the great large extent, the responsibility for our physician, "I have resolved to pray prayerless homes. Ours is a life of more and to pray always; to pray in hurry and whiding confusion. If we all places where quietness inviteth, in the could only know the peace, the poise and house, on the highway, and on the the power of the homes in which fervent street; and to know no street or passage prayer is wont to be made we would in this city that may not witness that I have an altar in our homes at all cost. have not forgotten God." Another We can do it if we will. "But," says godly man, who many times each day a busy mother, "my children go out had to walk up and down the street of to their work at different hours in the the little town in which be lived, said morning and come in at different hours "I have made that street a pathway of at night. What chance do I have for prayer. As I have gone by each house prayer with them?" From China I have prayed for the members of the comes the inspiration of a mother who, family who live there." A busy •as an idol worshipper, had been ac- woman, who has literally prayed up the customed to commend her children to walls of missionary institutions and the protection of her gods. When she prayed the money needed for their sup- became a Christian she made it her rule port into empty treasuries, said re- to go with each child to the place in cently, "I have learned to use for her house which she set apart for prayer, moments I used to waste. I prayer, and pray, so that each one went used to get impatient waiting at the out to the day's work with his mother's telephone. Now I always spend those prayers. waiting moments in prayer, first of all for the tired girl at the other end of SPECIAL MEETINGS FOR PRAYER the line and then for others. When I get on a street car now I always pray The best method of meeting special for the motorman and conductor and needs is by special prayer, yet we seldom then for my fellow passengers." call a missionary meeting specifically for prayer. A young pastor was desperately METHODS FOR PRAYER IN OUR ill. The physicians said there was little hope for his recovery. On Wednesday HOMES night the nurse and the physicians Said an Oriental student who spent thought' he could not live through the her Christmas holiday in a· Christian night. One of the deacons called at the home in America, "There's one thing parsonage and whispered sympathetical- that seems very queer to me about your ly to the pastor's young wife "Of homes in America. I have gone to your course we called off the prayer-meeting churches and seen you worship the God for tonight."
in your churches, and I have seen the "Called off the prayer-meeting for students worship the God in your col- tonight?" said she. "If there was ever leges, but I miss the Good in your home. a night when the prayer-meeting should In my country; every house has its god- be held it is tonight." So instead of
calling off the prayer-meeting an earnest throne, pious King Frederick IV becomes group gathered together for specific in- greatly concerned for the salvation of tercession to the God who promised that the great non-christian world. He the prayers of faith shall save the sick. searches all over his kingdom for mis- All of the other pastors of the little sionaries. Earnestly he prays that God town came to pray with the congrega- will send forth laborers, and even as he tion. Almost immediately the sick prays two German university students, pastor began to rally and the physicians Bartholomew Ziegenbalg and Henry decided they had been mistaken in their Plutschau, pledge their lives to misdiagnosis. sionary service and afterward go out as his representatives,-the first Protestant PRAYER IN OUR REGULAR missionaries to India.
MEETINGS On the rocky cost of northern Africa a mother spends an entire night in We do not take enough time for prayer that God will call her wordly prayer in our regular meetings. Even son into His service. In answer to that in the periods of intercession at our prayer the world has its St. Augustine. conventions and conferences, we spend a Another mother, as she lies on her death large part of the time in talking about bed, calls her husband and her pastor to the importance of prayer instead of in her side and begs that they will take up praying__ then, just before the bell rings, the training and the prayers for her son or the bugle blows, we say hurriedly and which she must lay down. The world in conclusion "Let us pray." looks at that wild, dissipated son and fancies the mother's prayers are un- Our programs of study are, planned answered, but in later years Christian carefully for each year., Our programs' Frederick: Schwartz gives his great life of prayer should be just as carefully in princely service to India, in answer planned. A good Committee on In- to those prayers. tercession can do much to develop the prayer life of the members. Let this A babe is carried by his mother to committee study carefully the needs, her secret place of prayer and consecramake prayer for these needs an im- ted to God for missionary service. portant part of every meetiHg,giving to Years afterward, Jacob Chamberlain every member at the close of each meet- sets sail for India in answer to that ing a card on which are noted things prayer. for which especial prayer is to be offered during the month, and arrange We have heard more about a for prayer circles.· mother's prayers than about a father's prayers, but there have been many WILL PRAYER MEET OUR NEEDS? fathers who have prevailed in prayer, and there have been mothers and lIlore lI-1issionaries. One of the fathers who have agreed as touching greatest needs of the missionary work is this thing they should ask. Dr. and more missionaries. Does prayer furnish Mrs. John Scudder consecrated each a method of securing them? It is the one of their fourteen children to God one authoritative Scriptural method for for .missionary servic~. One by one missionary supply. "Pray ye the Lord their eight sons who lived to maturity of the harvest that he send forth la- were sent to America to be educated borers into his harvest."-(Matt. and one by one they were prayed back 9 :3R) The history of missionaries is a into India. All birthday anniversaries record, of prayer. On Denmark's were set apart as seasons of fasting and prayer by these devoted parents. The , . +NQte. ,Many suggestio.ns for pray~r lists eldest son was a reck:Itss youth, who have been prepared. A sample blank with en- gave little promise of re~llfning to India couragements to intercession may be secured by sending a three cent stamp to the editor of this as a missionary, but while he was in departmellt.
METHODS
school in America a great volume of young messenger of the Cross on the prayer was ascending to God from India way with some great gift. She bought for him, and he finally consecrated his seven copies of "The Ministry of Inlife to God. He discovered later that, tercession" and presented one to the misat the very time he had made this con- sionary and the other six to six friends secration in America, his father and who formed a prayer circle to intercede mother had spent a week in fasting and for the worker in Japan. We quote prayer for him in India. With the ex- frequently: ception of one who died at Princeton, after having decided to become a mis; "In foreign lands they wondered how sionary, the eight sons came back to Their words that day had power; India to preach Christ, while the two At home the workers two or three daughters also rendered valiant mission- Had met to pray an hour." ary service in answer to the intercession of the parents who agreed to- But might they not mor~ frequently gether to pray that all of their children wonder why their words lack power, as should be not Christians only, but mis- day after day passes with no worken, sionaries. Before our workers in the at home met to pray? On the prayer homeland there should be always a list list of our church members should be of the missionaries needed. The Com- the names of our missionaries in the mittee on Intercession should keep this home and foreign fields, and groups list constantly before the members and should pray together for special needs daily each of "Us should pray for the as they arise. Here is the opportunity laborers needed. which comes to us to be citizens of the world, to obey the commission to "Go Fifteen years ago a speaker made a into all the world." Most of us will missionary address at a convention in spend our lives in the land of our birt, Georgia. Among the men and women and priceless, beyond all words to exwho thronged the church there was a press, is this opportunity for obedience boy, a bright faced lad who sat on the to obey. that commission. There are front seat and listened eagerly. During workers who literally encircle the globe the years that followed, that speaker with their prayers. Prayer makes a prayed that that promising boy might world-life possible to each one of us. consecrate his life to the Gospel Mary Lyon stayed in America. Fidelia ministry and the missionary service. Fiske went to Persia, yet, by her prayers The years passed by. The boy entered and by the linking of the colleges in college. Then carne the announcement America to the college in Persia, by that although he had considered enter- prayer, Mary Lyon went into Persia ing the ministry he had finally decided also. "Each day" said an earnest to study medicine. Then one day a worker. "I think of the Lord's comletter came to a Theological Seminary ~and 'Go ye' and I ask myself 'How from a young medical student, who, for far did I go tod~y.' My heart oversome reason found himself under a flows with thanksgiving that I am not divine compulsion to change his course limited to a one-country life, but that I and prepare himself for the Gospel can go to China, to Japan, to Africa, ministry. 'into all the world' each day in prayer."
Blessing on Missions and Mission- Paul says something about working aries. We need not only more mis- together with him through prayer. sion stations and more missionaries, but Here is an opportunity to link- our lives we need also that those we have shall to some of the great ones of earth and be 'more greatly blessed in their work. to have part in their work. In an Prayer can secure additional strength audience in a missionary conference in and power for them: A young mis- Pennsylvania a speaker noted especially sionary was ready to sail for Japan. A a woman with a radiant face and snowfriend in America longed to speed this white hair. At the close of the service this saint with the shining face said to
the speaker, who had sought her out in Make it possible for all of those who the throng. "'Tis not the first time are shut out from the meetings for any we have met, my dear. Many times, cause, to become intercessors, by furnish- in the middle of the night when I can- ing them with a list of things to be not sleep, I have prayed for you, in your prayed for, and by keeping them III work, as I noted ,from the papers, the touch with the work.
different meetings you were addresSing."
The same speaker was to make at) ad- A LARGER ENLISTMENT dress at Benedict College, a school for Not half of the members of our churches are enlisted in the missionary negroes at Columbia, S. C. Just be- work. Each of our missionary societies fore the meeting began, a girl stepped should have a double roll. On the one should be recorded the names of those up to her and asked if she would come 'who are members, and on the other the out into the vestibule a moment, with names of those who should he enlisted. the committee. Thinking that perhaps Copies of these rolls should be furnished there wasta be a final word of caution each member and prayer should be made about the length of the address, or some for those who are not interested. Indetail to be arranged, she went out. In stead of careless, indifferent canvasses a little room were gathered the girls for new members, each canvass should who formed the devotional committee. begin in prayer. DiHerent circles may Their dusky faces were intens~ in their work: and pray especially for the earnestness as the chairman said, "We always pray with our speakers before members assigned their circle. Some of they speak. May we pray with you?" the most gifted workers in missionary service today are there because some one, Perhaps there would be fewer disappointed audiences if there were more perhaps some one of lesser gifts, prayed "prayed with" speakers. As we are for them, then sought them with the searching for best methods let us not message "The Master is come and caloverlook: some method which will lift' leth for thee."
each of us out of the little, narrow confines of her own life, into fellowship with those who labor for Christ's King- MEETING THE NEED FOR MORE dom throughout the world. MONEY "SHUT IN" WITH GOD At every conference on methods there are eager queries "Can you give us any There are always those who are "shut new methods of raising money? That in," who cannot be present for the meet- is what we need most of all." The ings. For one reason or another they Bible has very little to sayan the submust be shut out from attendance. ject of raising money. It has much to Why should they not be "shut in" with say on the subject of giving money and God in intercession? A consecrated using money. What we need is not young worker said, "I never try to hold cleyer devices for extracting gifts, but a meeting any more without an interces- abiding principles for training givers. sor-some one who is praying while God's people have in their pockets, in I am trying to lead the meeting." their vaults and in their business all the Here opens a wide door of active par- money God needs for missionary enticipatioIY in the work to many who terprise. When we stoop to devices have felt that being "shut in" must, of which we condone by saying "Of necessity, mean being "shut out" also. course it is not the best way, but we A Pennsylvania pastor testifies that one needed the money so much we thought of his most helpful listeners is a woman it would be all right," we belittle the who is so totally deaf that she has not power and the riches of God. We have heard a word he has said for years, but who spends the hour of service in- bent our backs in freezing ice cream and terceding for him. stewing oysters instead of bending our
METHODS
knees in prayer. We can pray more definite statement of financial needs and money into the mission treasury than we opportunities should be placed in the can either freeze or stew into it. . hands of each member as an aid to prayer. A home mission church in Georgia had for twelve years tried every new device that was suggested for securing WE HOLD THE MEASURE funds. At the end of twelve years a handful of members still worshipped in There was once a great spring to a rented hall. The Church Council which the people came for water. Some met together and resolved to make the brought tiny cups, others, brought financing of the church a matter of buckets, others came with barrels.
special prayer. They decided to put Each went away with his vessel full.
their finances on a Scriptural basis and Each decided the measure of his supply to ask for free-will offerings only. A by the size of the vessel with which he splendid lot was purchased and the came, while the never-failing supply of erection of a church begun. There was the great spring continued to flow on.
never a week during the building of We get an impression that God pours that church that the treasurer had on out great measure to some and small hand enough money for the pay roll for measure to others. God indeed pours more than that one week, yet there was out, but we hold the measure. He never a week at the end of which he placed that measure in human hands failed to have enough. Now a hand- when He said "According unto thy some stone church stands on that lot faith be it unto thee." That was the and a large congregation of people, who measure placed in the hands of George are faithful stewards and firm believers Muller. God poured out the blessing.
in prayer, worships there. George Muller held the measure until Every canvass for funds should be be- his faith measured over eight million gun in pray"er. All special needs may dollars for the care of his orphans.
be met by prayer. A Mission Board That was the measure placed in the Secretary had arranged to go to a hands of Hudson Taylor. God poured woman of great wealth to ask for a out the blessing. Hudson Taylor held contribution for missions. Time and the measure until his faith measured again she had been asked for gifts to out the China Island Mission. That missions, but she had never made a large was the measure placed in t~e hands gift. Before this secretary made his of Piistor Gassner. God poured out visit, a group of earnest men and women the blessing. Pastor Gassner held the agreed as touching this thing they measure until his faith measured one would intercede to God. They were hundred and forty-four missionaries rejoiced to hear that, in answer to their sent out, mission stations opened, and prayers, a gift of ten thousand dol1ars mission hospitals erected. That was the was made. Let us be done forever with measure placed in the hands of the deprecatory introduction to a presen- Theodore Fliedner. God poured out tation of a great financial opportunity; the blessing. Pastor Fliedner with an "We have now come to the unpleasant empty pocket went out and bought the part of our program." Let us banish best house ill Kaiserwerth and his faith forever our "begging committees." Let measured out to the world its Christian us decide once for all that we will never deaconesses. That was the measure lower our standards to raise money. placed in the hands of Dwight L.
Then let us pray earnestly for the Moody. God poured out the blessing.
money that is needed and, as ambas- MoolY held the measure until it sadors with the profound consciousness measured multiplied thousands led to of carrying a message from the King, Calvary's Cross; until it measured out let us present to God's stewards the Northfield sending its workers to the needs and claims of His Kingdom. A ends of the earth.
Benjamin La Trobe of
BY BISHOP J. TAYLOR HAMILTON, BETHLEHEM, PA.
T HE Moravian Church and its Mis- with the Rev. Wetton Cox, the devoted sions suffered a great loss on the Secretary of the London Association in 4th of October through the death at Aid of Moravian Missions and he be- Herrnhut, Saxony, of one who had been came intimate with friends of missions for many years among its foremost mis- and with missionary workers all over sionary leaders. He was a Bishop of the British Isles. He contributed his the Moravian Church, the British mem- part to the success of the Centenary ber of its International Mission Board, Conference in London in 1888 and and from 1903 to 1914 was President twenty-two years later participated in of its General Executive Board. the Edinburgh Conference.
Benjamin La Trobe came of mission- In the year of the Centenary Con- ary stock and was the' descendant of an ference, he made his first visit to the old Huguenot family. His grandfather, mission field, having been commissioned James La Trobe, was a missionary of by the Society for the Furtherance of the Moravian Church in India before the Gospel (the Moravian auxiliary the days of William Carey, and later society) to the Labrador Missions. became a clergyman of that Church in Vhat he learned by personal observa- Britain. His father, Bishop James La tion enabled him to contribute in a most Trobe, is still held in grateful memory valuable way to the work of the Genby many in Britain and Ireland. Ben- eral Synod of his church. jamin La Trobe was born on June 29, 1847, in the city of Bath, England, and Previous to paying a visit of inspecwas educated in the schools, college and tion to the Mission among the Himatheological seminary of the Moravian layan mountains in 1910, he was conse- Church in England. His first service- crated bishop at Herrnhut. A serious after a brief mastership in the School illness through which he passed at Kyefor Boys at Koenigsfeld in the Black lang and the strain of travel over the Forest-was to become in 1876 Assistant fearful passes, some of them more than Secretary: of Moravian Missions in twelve thousand feet above sea level, London ~nd this first service gave an in- and along narrow ledges overlooking dication of the sphere in which his fu- precipitous gorges, told on a frame that ture usefulness should lie. After seven had been stalwart. His powers of enyears in the pastorate, he was appointed durance were sapped, yet he worked on, Secretary of Missions and for the fol- until the infirmities of age led him to lowing twelve years edited Periodical reluctantly resign his office at the Gen- A ccounts of Moravian Missions, one of eral Synod in May, 1914. the oldest missionary publications that has been published consecutively in the He continued at his post until death English language. This was the maga- relieved him and brought a peculiarly zine that furnished Carey encourage- heavy loss to the Moravian Church. ment to undertake his great venture. He visited America in 1891 and knew the entire Moravian Church. His lov- Benjamin La Trobe was an ideal able and transparently sincere and pure home-secretary of missions. His facile character, his devotedness and sterling pen pictured most vividly the work of faith served as a living bond between those whose cause he advocated. His its Provinces in this time of special trial. wide information, unfailing tact and in- His was the Barnabas nature; he was a stinctive kindliness rendered him most "son of consolation" to many, and eswelcome in connection with his work of pecially to lonely workers, with whom deputation, in which he co-operated he corresponded and whom he sought to cheer.
Woman's Home Mission
Edited by MISS E. B. VERMILYE AND MRS. PHILIP M. ROSSMAN AMERICA, AMERICA! running from the great, dusty book in the library at Erfurt, before which an By Right Rev. Cameron Mann, eager yout,Jg student is kneeling to read, Bishop of Southern Florida. running down the centuries and crown- ing with its rays the head of Ziegenbalg, With purest snow thy mountains shine, translating the Bible into Tamil; ot America, America! Carey, putting it into Bengali; of :Martyn, "burning out for God" while Thy prairies teem with grain and kine, he translated the word into Persian; ot America, America! Morrison in his hiding place, turning the sacred message into Chinese at the risk Land of the oak and palm and pine, of his life; of John Eliot, with "prayer Of orchard, gold and iron mine, and pains" translating it for the Amer- Be ever ours as we are thine, ican Indians; of Moffat, in Africa; Ged- die, in the New Hebrides; Bingham, in America, America! Hawaii, and all the other missionary Land bought by our forefathers' blooel, pioneers who have found the pure word of God the one sure means of making America, America! men out of brutal savages. Vhere ever since free men have stooel, The picture of Martin Luther dis- America, America! covering for the first time what things Sworn to maintain the common good; were written in the Bible-the whol~ Our faith and hope each day renewed. Bible, not the portions read in church by Respond unto thy noblest mood, the priests-might well have a new title. Instead of calling it "Luther Finding the America, America! Bible," we might justly name it "The Forever may thy banner· wave, Modern Era Finding its Charter of Liberty." Whatever we have to~day America, America! that is better than men possessed in the Though all around thy foemen rave, Middle Ages, whatever we enjoy which is worth while passing on to others, all America, America! has come to us out of that divine book. We will be vigilant and brave. We will give all our fathers gave, We look too much on the merely Thy glory and thy life to save, negative side of Luther's work. We think of him as the giant breaker of America, America! tyranny, the overthrower of old tradi- tions and abuses. It is true that much To be sung to the tune of "Maryland, my of this work had to be done before he could make way for the light of truth Maryland!' ! I'!rl to shine out. But even in the midst of it, he never forgot the one real one- "MISSIONARY MILESTONES" the power of the gospel and the need of it in the hearts and lives of men. W HAT has 'Missionary Milestones' to do with Missions," is some- In the hour of his great defiance, times asked by study classes and a clear when he stood before the Diet and answer has been given by the author, spoke the words that tossed down from Mrs. Seeback, in a recent article. their throne the hoary traditions Rome had set up for men to worship, what "A great many people can't see that the Reformation, had anything to do with Missions. They say the leaders had nothing definite to say about missions and that the modern missionary impulse is quite apart from the reformation period and the manner of thought.
The connecting link is found in the "Open Bible." Suppose Luther had not reopened the gospel to the souls of men -had not restored to them the open Bible! What would we have to give the world if we didn't have the Book?
It requires no impossible stretch of the imagination to see a golden line of light
was the word upon his lips? "Unless The Congress was called by the Com- I am convinced out of the Saiptures, I mission on Inter-Church Federations; it cannot and will not recant!" was the third held at the invitation of this Commission. The first was at Nor was his work chiefly destructive. Atlantic City in June, 1915; the second That was only the necessary prelude to at St. Louis, Dec., 1916; the third in the great labor of his life. Perhaps he Pittsburg-to each of those Women's hardly knew it himself; we know that organizations, such as the Council of he chafed at his imprisonment in the Women for Home Missions, and the Wartburg. He might have gone on, in Young Women's Christian Association glorious disregard of personal safety were invited to send delegates and given striving in the open field of controversy, a place on the programs. and yet might have failed in the real purpose of his life. But God's hand- The basis of· representation in the we cannot doubt it-led him aside for a "Congress on the Purpose and Methods time, and shut him into that hilltop of Inter-Church Federations" is signififortress (the "Castle of Waiting," as cant of its scope. its name implies), and there, in enforced quiet, laid upon him the task which That so many organizations vitally means most of all to humanity. concerned in the coming of the Lord's Kingdom should meet to confer on The Bible in the language of the ways of hastening that coming conpeople! of all people! of every land on stitutes the first "meaning" of the earth! This is the real meaning of the Congress. "In unity is strength." Reformation. This is why you and I United, the forces of the Christ can have something to-day to offer to the stand against any foe within or withneedy world. This is the one real dis- out; divided, they wiII surely fall in tinction between Catholic and Protes- such a time as this. Perhaps never has tant-between the lands where Rome the real progress toward lI1terdenOIll,- has ruled and the lands where the Bible national harmony and Protestant unity is free. The Roman Church teaches as been more marked or appar~nt than III she taught in Luther's day, that the the discussion and reports at Pittsburg. Bible is too good to give to everybody. With probably two hundred addresses, We believe, and act on the principle long or short, during the three days ot that the Bible is too good to keep fro~ continued sessions, not excepting lunches anybody. That is the Reformation in a and dinners, which were fully utilized nutshell; and that is the essence of mis- for discussion and preparation of re- ports-~carcely a jarring or dissentant SIOn. note was heard. The daily papers pronounced it "the most notable Con- (Adapted from Lutheran Church ference ever held, on this Continent"; Work and Observer.) certainly in the interest of religious unity it deserves the title. THE MEANING OF THE PITTS- The character of the delegates gave BURGH CONGRESS the conclusions reached peculiar weight. Some one remarked that "nearly every ELIZABETH B. VERMILYE. body in the Congress was somebody." Certain it is that leaders of every sort ON October first 506 delegates-in- of Christian enterprise, and prominent cluding 25 women-from. 134 workers of all types were present and active in that gathering. "Bishops, cities and towns in 35 states, and re- secretaries of great denominational presenting 31 religiomi bodies, met at bodies, editors of religious periodicals, Pittsburg for Conference on Inter- representatives of undenominational and Church Work; on the message of the j"terdenominational agencies such as the Church at this time in the world's history; and on the other activities III Y. M. C. A., the Salvation Army and ,harge of the different Commissions of the Federal Council of Churches.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSION BULLETIN
the Sunday School Association; together could not be all masculine to the exclu- with leaders in city federations, made up sion of the perhaps larger part. of the the greater part of the membership. church's membership. Mrs. F. S. Ben- While the Congress was not large it re- nett, President of the Council f<;>r Home presented millions of Christian people." Missions of Women-tried to throw It was not really a Convention, hut some light on this vexed question of the a continuous business session. It was place for Women's Federations, in, or pre-eminently a season of new vision on with Church Federations.
the great issues, and the methods of at- The whole matter, by advice of the tainment. A Pittsburg pastor says: Committee on Inter-Church Federations "Some men have caught a vision of the in its report, was referred back for Greater Things that can be done, and further consideration by that Com- therefore must be done for Jesus." mISSIOn.
A second "meaning" of the Congress A third meaning of the Congress was was that it marked the new era of men that the church at last has a message and women consulting and then work- for this age, and desires to take an ing together in the affairs of the church. active, and, if possible, guiding For two or three years women have share in world events. All the served on the Commissions of the Commissions of the Federal Council Federal Council of Churches, but they presented carefully prepared reports have had no part in its general or ex- dealing with past efforts but stilI more ecutive meetings or discussions. At the with constrllctive plans and purposes.
meeting in Washington last Spring, cal- The Inter-Church Federations Com- led to formulate a message from the mission submitted the first report and a Church at large to a world in strife, the revised and extended issue of it at the women members of the different Com- last session. It gave most encouraging missions, and also delegates from the and promising statistics as to the forma- Council of Women for Home Missions tion ofIocal and community Federations and the Federation for Foreign Mis- throughout the land, many of which sions were invited to attend and par- now have paid executive secretaries. At ticipate-in all but voting-as duly rec- the last session the question of the com- ognized members. At Pittsburg one munity church and its value was widely of the problems of the brethren was how discussed, while the "Independent" and to link up the missionary and Com- "Union" churches were not so heartily munity Federations of Vomen to the endorsed; their distinction from the Church Federations of the men. If you "Community Church" was emphasized could have seen the corrugated brows of and the latter warmly commended.
the men who were trying to steer a wom- It was confidently affirmed that this en's luncheon into practical and ac- form of interdenominational union was ceptable channels of co-operation you rapidly gaining support and favor, as an would realize the gravity and danger of effective solution of the overlapping the problem! Even yet the danger of a problem which has weakened and sapped "feminized church" is blocking many the religions effectiveness in so many avenues of cordial recognition and co- small communities. This movement is operation. Feminized church worship in its infancy, but, in God's plans, it does not seem to have been such a men- may be the entering wedge for true deace for many years; or feminine money nominational amalgamation. The reraising, Sunday-school teaching or port of the Commission on Social Serother such lines of service, but as yet, vice was of intense interest as making to have women given place and voice the great change and advance in Chrisin church deliberations! Well, the tian opinion on this subject in twentybrethren at Pittsburg found it a bit dif- five years. Mr. Fred Smith, the efficient ficult to adjust. But it was frankly and inspiring leader of the sessions, acknowledged that it must be worked frankly admitted that when he first out, for obviously "church federations" heard Dr. Graham Taylor present and
.advocate plans for social service through magnificent work in all lines of tp.e the churches, he believed he was either Y. M. C. A. was fully recognized and insane or was threatening the overthrow emphasized, it was strongly felt that the of evangelism, and the very foundations Christian Church was in no way re- of orthodox Christianity. At Pitts- leased or exempt from an unmeasured responsibility and duty. burgh in 1917 a great body of ministers The Young Women's Christian of every denomination repeatedly de- Association made a real contribution to clared that "evangelism and social ser- the program through a paper by its vice are one and indivisible." There was delegate, Miss Rice, in which the needs no difference of opinion that the duty of and questionings of college girls at this the Church of Christ to the community, time were strongly presented. She and the social order is as certain and as spoke in connection with the report on vital to the life and continuance of the Religious Education. The insistent church itself as any relation or duty to questions of the young womanhood of the individual soul. The small company our land to-day are: "What Kind of of men of vision who first proclaimed a God Have We?" "The Meaning of this doctrine a quarter of a century Life," "The Relation to Suffering" and ago were denounced as "visionaries" or "The Fact of Death." To these ques- worse. Truly the "heretics of yesterday tions there is as yet insufficient answer. became the prophets of to-day." The results of the Congress can only The report of the Commission on be predicated and hoped for, but it cer- International Justice and Good Will, tainly gives promise of a Protestantism Dr. Sydney L. Gulick, chairman, excited united as never before for effective effort much earnest discussion as to how the in bringing the Kingdom of Christ to church can best stimulate international earth, and the religion of Christ into friendship hereafter, and even now in closer and more vital relation with all an age of hate. In close connection was the activities and interests of modern the report on World Evangelism, which life. In these days of suffering, of dark- brought the Conference to "think in ness and of uncertainty, there is no hope world terms," under the leadership of except in the faith that God still lives Dr. John R. Mott. No other attitude and will eventually rule over all the is possible to-day politically, commer- earth. cially and religiously; only a world vision, a world perspective, can help to CO-WORKERS WITH GOD. establish a world friendship and a righteous World Peace. By Susan Coolidge.
The report and discussions on. war The day is long, and the day is hard, occupied an entire day, including lunch We are tired of the march and of keeping and dinner hours. In these discussions, the real anxiety of the churches' repre- guard; sentatives to give a message helpful to Tired of the sense of a fight to be won, this age; to contribute to the solving of Of days to live through, and of work to the tremendous problems of the canton- ments and the religious and moral be done; guarding of the nation's sons, both here Tired of ourselves, and of being alo.ne; and abroad, was almost pitifully evi- Yet all the while, did we only see, dent. The discussions covered every We walk in the Lord's own company. phase of decent amusements and social We fight, but 'tis He who nerves our safeguards, the need of Christian influ- ences and local church efforts, the rela- arm' tion of Christian women in home life He turns' the arrows that else might to the soldiers and sailors in their neigh- borhood and how the hospitalities of the harm, homes can be safely and wisely extend- And out of the storm He brings a calm; ed to the dwellers in camps. While the And the work that we count so hard to do, He makes it easy, for he works, too; And the days that seem long to live arc His, A bit of His bright eternities; And close to our need His helping is.
fROM MANY
GENERAL ITEMS Britain may well note that in one yeal British agencies spent over $500,000 on A "Poor Heathen" Jewish missions, and American ones only $50,000. A CERTAIN rich man did not ap- prove of foreign missions. One Sun- A Man's Greatest Life Work day at church, when the offering was being taken up, the collector approached R EV. R. F. HORTON, of London", the millionaire and held out the bag. whose whole ministry was trans- The millionaire shook his head. "I formed by his reading THE MISSIONARY never give to missions," he whispered. REVIEW OF THE WORLD, says in his re- "Then take something out of the bag, sir," whispered the collector. "The cently published autobiography: "I ask: money is for the heathen." myself the question, 'If you might have"
Results of Missions to Jews another life on earth following this, what would you do, what would you be?' I A s an answer to the question, "Can cannot help answering: I should cer- Jewish mission work be success- tainly choose to be a missionary to folful ?" Watchword and Truth gives the low in the footprints of Henry Martyn, following statistics: or Alexander Mackay, or James Gil- mour. For 1 see now, what 1 did not "During the nineteenth century, as see at the beginning," that to be a pioone result of the Protestant agencies at neer of the Gospel, and to preach Christ work, 72,740 Jews were baptized in where He has not been known is the connection with the various Reformed greatest thing that a man can do upon Churches. These Hebrews, with their earth. This ministry at home has its children, number 120,000 souls ad?ed opportunities, its joys, its rew~rds, as from Jewry to the ranks of EvangelIcal well as its toils and abundant trIals; but Christendom. In the same period, 57,- in the ordered hierarchy of God, in the 300 Jews were received into the Romish circling ranks which Dante saw in Par- Communion and 74,500 into that of the adise, the Apostles come first." Greek Church. The total of baptisms from among Israelites during the past In Need of a Doctor century amounts to 204,540. D R. S. EARL TAYLOR describes "There is one Protestant Hebrew con- the terrible suffering in Africa," vert to every 156 of the Jewish popula- Latin America and India, where there tion, while the proportion from all other has been no doctor within reach and non-Christian religions together is only sums up his impressions as follows: "I one to every 525. The Protestant He- have traveled" among people who reprebrew converts who enter the Christian sent half of the human race, who are ministry are three times more numerous living and dying without any adequate than those from the ranks of converts knowledge of hygiene, sanitation, or from all other non-Christian faiths. At medical relief, and 1 have prayed God least 750 Protestant Jewish converts are that in some way the Church might be daily engaged in preaching the Gospel of aroused to some sense of its responsibil- Christ Jesus as their one business in life, ity for the people, and especially the 300 of whom are in the Anglican children, who are dying from pre- Church alone." ventable causes in greater numbers than are being slain on the battlefields of Those who commeot on the meager Europe. The Christian church that results of missions to Jews in the United places a hospital in a strategic center in States as compared with those in Great
the mISSIOn field is not only preparing Secretary of the World's Sunday School the way for an appreciation on the part Association, Bishop John L. Nuelsen, of of the people of a heaven which is to Zurich, said "I often think of you and come, but it is actually ushering in a of the great task that is ahead of the new heaven upon earth." Sunday-schools. It is my expectation that among the great forces, which Christmas Gifts for Missionaries make for reconstruction of the world M ORE than 1,200 missionaries re- and for bringing the Christian forces in ceived gifts this Christmas for the different countries into a new and their work through the Surplus Material strong alignment, the Sunday-school Department of the World's Sunday movement will be especially important. School Association. Each year, long be- The tasks of tomorrow are staggering in fore Christmas, a "Merry Christmas their magnitude, but we must face them and a Happy New Year" letter leaves under the guidance and strength of the the office of the World's Association in Master."
New York, for each missionary with Lutheran Statistics for 1917 whom the Surplus Material Department is in active relationship. With T HE Lutheran Church Herald gives each letter a number of helpful things =- the following table of statistics of are sent. This year the packet contained the Lutheran Church in all lands, which thirteen enclosures. First were two daily was prepared by J. N. Lenker for the Bible reading Sunday-school calendars. 400th anniversary of the birth of Many missionaries say that they have Protestantism: no other way of knowing where the Pastors Churches Souls Schools Deacon· uniform lessons are found. Our lessons esses for 1917 will be studied in the Philip- GERMANy ………. 18.400 pines and Korea in 1918. Two publishers SCANDINAVIA …… 5,957 /31,029 42,657,000 42.600 26,460 gave a Christmas musical service tor RUSSIA ………….. 1,815 each of the 1,200 missionaries. The EUROPE O,l!).} 11,402,000 27.013 1,377 total weight of each packet was about a (exclusiyeofabo1'el.. 27,960 half pound. ASIA ………… , .•.••• 73'1 3,371 7,846,000 8.281 505 AFRICA ..•.••…•.•. " 747 Letters from the missionaries indicate OCEANiCA •.••..•••.•. 301 43,000 64,573,500 81,939 28,763 special things that they greatly need in SOUTH AMERICA …. 167 3,028 185 UNITED STATES .•• 11,408 2,73;1 417,994 2,170 135 WORLD, 1917 ••••••• 41,609 1,01.5 38 522 376,689 ~.5U~ 19 17,204 23 283.~42 902 68.3<1 29,37 510,800 507 14,700,000 5,201 81,400,225 93,505 their work, and Sunday-schools and More Abroad than at Home T Classes help to honor these requests. HE Moravians were the first Protestants to declare that the Those who write .to the World's Sunday School Association, Surplus Mate- evangelization of the heathen was obrial Department, 216 Metropolitan . ligatory upon the Church. Missions have Tower, New York, are introduced to missionaries of their own denomination. been the life of the Moravian Church About 26,000 have thus been related to a and it has saved its life by losing it. missionary abroad. It had, before the war, 47,000 members in its home churches and more in its The Sunday-school After the War foreign missions, the communicants be- ing 32,000 and 36,000 respectively-an FAR – REACHING responsibilities unparalleled record. I t has had one are forcing themselves upon the American or European missionary to religious organizations of the world be- every 87 of its home communicants.
cause of the war. No one organization is broader in its outreach than is the NORTH AMERICA Sunday-school, which has a membership An Association of Foreign Missions of over 35,000,000, is found in every land and is made up of all the evangel- O N September 29th, in response to ical denominations. In a recent letter special invitations, representatives to Frank L. Brown, Joint General of a number of societies met at Prince-
NEWS FROM MANY
ton, N. J., and formed the Interdenomi- one on Foreign Missions. The latter includes a study of comparative relignational Foreign Mission Association of ions, the history and science of mis- North America. The purpose was to sions, phonetics, music, the principles of secure spiritual fellowship and interces- religious instruction, the history, cussory prayer; to open the way for mutual toms, etc., of the different mission fields, conference concerning missionary princi- and various types of practical training. ples and methods; and to make possible the bearing of united testimony to the These special courses are being taken need of a complete and speedy evangel- advantage of by some returned missionization of the world. The doctrinal aries and advanced students, but they basis of the Association includes all the are intended chiefly for accredited apfundamental truths embraced in the plicants who can meet the requirements term "evangelical," and after very care- for entrance to the Institute and who ful consideration it was decided to incor- expect to offer for home or foreign misporate in this a simple statement of faith sion service, and for college graduates in the personal, pre-millennial coming who expect to go as foreign missionof the Lord Jesus. The conference was aries and who wish to spend two marked throughout by a remarkable years in special Bible study and missionspirit of unanimity, a warm fellowship ary preparation. and assurance of helpfulness through the Association formed. A very large proportion of the Bible Institute students enter the foreign field. An Anti-Sectarian Education Most of the others are in some form of home mission work. T HE question of the use of tax money to help sectarian schools, Gifts to the American Board hospitals and other institutions has been long under debate. In Massachusetts it T HE Prudential Committee of the has been settled by the paSsage of the so- American Board for the year 1916called "anti-aid" constitutional amend- 17 speaks of the year as one of "enlarged ment by the large majority of 70,000 giving." It says: "We record the sevvotes. It provides that money raised by enth consecutive year in which the retaxation for the support of public schools ceipts have passed beyond the million shall be spent in public schools only, dollar mark. Our 107th year gives us that is, in schools under the supervision the largest total of all, namely, $1,247,- of state or town authorities. In addition, 715.99. The gain over the former year, no public money shall be used for any $40,589.45, is not as large as the gain college, infirmary, hospital, institution, we reported one year ago, but it is sufor any educational, charitable or relig- ficient to indicate that the Board has an ious undertaking which is not publicly increasing hold upon the interests and owned and under the exclusive control, affections of its supporters. order and superintendence of public officers. The committee ot twenty-five Especially do we find encouragement in the Constitutional Convention, in- when we examine the various sources of cluding men of many creeds, voted income. In three of the items we excel unanimously for this amendment, and aU previous records. For the first time in the convention itself the measure re- since the centennial period have the ceived 90 per cent. of the vote of both churches passed the high-water mark in Catholics and Protestants. giving registered at that time, namely, $278,185.48. This year we record in the Training for Missionaries column of donations from the churches to the general Board $290,598.27. In T HE Moody Bible Institute in Chi- the matter of individual gifts, this is the cago offers, in addition to its regu- third best year in the history of he lar courses, two special courses in mis- Board." Few of the Boards can report sionary preparation, one on Home and such gratifying figures. The American Board has been especially active in Ar- menian Relief.
Pocket Testaments in the Camps N ow is the time to strike for national prohibition. T HE Committee on the Pocket Tes- . tament League of the National A Negro Physician's Gift Service Commission of the Presbyterian T HE erection of the Anderson Ana- tomical Hall of Meharry Medical Church, has for its duty the supplying College, Nashville, Tenn., was made possible by a gift of $10,000 from a of camps with copies of the Word of graduate of the school, J. W. Ander- son, 'M.D., of Dallas, Tex. Meharry God, and co-operating with the Pocket College, which is under the direction of the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Testament League in equipping the en- Methodist Episcopal Church, has trained more than 2,200 persons, of listed men with copies of the New Tes- whom 1,546 were physicians, 346 den- tists, 258 pharmacists and 663 nurses. tament. It now has over five· hundred students. About forty of its recent graduates have The following items of interest are received commissions in the medical re- serve corps of the United States army gleaned from campaigns among the for service with the Icolored troops.
camps, conducted by Charles M. Alex- Negro Women in Conference ander, from October 1st to November T HE second annual Conference of Negro Women at Tuscaloosa, 20th. Ala., brought together 133 delegates, who represented eight states and five Testaments different denominations. The daily morn- Camp Visited Meetings Given Decisions ing sessions of the conference, which lasted for a week, were held in the Mills •••..•………..•. 2 612 195 buildings of Stillman Institute and the evening meetings in the Presbyterian Yaphank ……………. 6 920 85 Church at Tuscaloosa. Among the sub- jects treated at the morning sessions Dix ……………….. 8 1,000 116 were Bible Study, Home Making, Newport, R. r. ………. 4 Training of Children, Conservation of 2,600 395 Food, Amusements, Plans for Com- munity Work and other kindred and Custer (Battle Creek)…. 4 2.000 286 practical subjects. There were also a series of studies on various achievements Fort Sheridan (I1l.) …… 2 683 118 of negroes, on the theory that a whole- some and sane pride is the necessary Great Lakes (Ill.) ……. 5 1,800 253 basis for any permanent race advance- ment. Grant (Rockford. Ill.) …. 7 3,200 445 LATIN AMERICA Ft. Harrison (Indianapolis) 4 1,500 154 Conventions in Mexico Extra meetings ……… . 413 94 A very significant convention held its Jails for Rent in Georgia sessions in Mexico City during three weeks in the summer, namely, the T HE Atlanta Constitution states that First National Merchants' Congress. "Judge Ben Hill's division of the The object was given as "the moraliza- Superior Court of Georgia closed for a tion of business." The most prominent week: and a day in the middle of the usually busy fall term because there were 110 criminals to try." The court officials and attaches had only one explanation to offer, and that was the enforcement of the bone-dry liquor law. Down in south Georgia, where the sheriffs are posting "For Rent" signs on the county jails, the local newspaper blames "the slump in business" to the same law.
The Constitution points out that where the courts are still doing business, a large proportion of the calendar consists of "Blind Tiger cases," originating in illicit traffic in liquor; and it makes this trenchant comment: "It stands to reason that once the blind tiger menace is thoroughly rooted out of Georgia, crime in this State will be reduced to an inconsequential minimum.
"And when federal, State, county, and municipal law-enforcement authorities all work: together for the enforcement of the liquor prohibition laws- State and federal·-the tiger parasite will soon be eradicated." .
FROM MANY LANDS
business men from all the leading cities in spite of a railway strike which tied of Mexico, even from far-away Yucatan up the railways of Argentina for twen- and Chiapas, discussed day by day the ty-four days.
great economic and industrial problems of the country. Two organizations of A Religion of Service for Chile the city were privileged to give receptions to this body, and the Young A T meetings of the missionaries in Men's' Christian Association was one of Valparaiso and Santiago the questhem. These business men were invited tion, "What kind of religion will appeal to the building to see the various de- to the Chileans?" was discussed. The partments of the Association at work. missionaries were unanimous in their re- The man who is perhaps the most ply that it must be a religion of service prominent attorney in Puebla, speaking -a religion which would teach and for the delegates, stated that he was practice Christianity rather than preach amazed at the magnitude of the work it-presented in love. They were agreed of the Association, and that he would that it must take a new form-that this not only pledge his personal support in form should not be North American, establishing the movement in Puebla, but one better adapted to the nc;eds of but would guarantee the enthusiastic the people and, if possible, provided by support of business men generally. Soon them. Several of the missionaries said afterwards there met in Mexico City a that the Young Men's Christian Asso- National Educational Association to ciation and the mission schools were the discuss the all-important matter of re- most important feeders for the new form organizing Mexico's educational system. of religion. The spirit of service is gen- eral among the Chileans. It is not un- usual for the young men who are study- Training Leaders in Argentina ing in the Association night school to R EV. GEORGE P. HOWARD, add a peso for the "Escuela para Sunday-school Secretary for South Mujeres" when they pay their monthly America, of the World's Sunday School class fees. This is a free school for worlc- Association, writes from Buenos Aires: ing women which is supported by the "Twice a week I meet the students of members of the Association. Students our Theological Seminary to give these in the government schools also organize future pastors the Sunday-school vision. themselves for the conduct and support The mission church is not as rich in of schools for the working people, doing lay leadership as the church at home all the supervising and teaching.
frequently is. EUROPE "The biggest thing I have had on The World's Students and the War hand is a course of lectures to English S speaking Sunday-school workers in this TUDENTS of no other country have suffered so much as France city. It was with a little fear and trembling that I launched out on this during the war. Universities are empty course of lectures. The English speak- of men except those who are yet too ing community in this city is noted for young to serve or who are disabled. All its indifference to religious matters and the work of the Student Christian Move- the conception that it has of the Sunday- ment is for men in the trenches. The school is that no serious person or fully women students remain in universities matured man could ever find anything in about as large numbers as before.
in it to interest him. I am glad to say There are a good many foreigners that the attendance has been gradually among them – Russians, Poles and growing and the interest is keen." others.
The success of the S.unday-school The universities of Belgium have~ spirit was shown recently when 230 out been closed since the war. Where are of 600 officers and teachers came to- the students? A large proportion are gether for a conference in Buenos Aires, serving in the army, but the Belgian
universities were cosmopolitan, like the says: "Now, unless there is the most Swiss, and there were great numbers of straightforward teaching, the people will Russians, Poles, women from the Bal- continue to think that adultery which kan States, Greeks, Italians, South the State legalizes is no adultery at all." Americans, and even Chinese students, all of whom, as well as many Belgian Indians in France students, were driven out of the country by the war. The majority of the Flem- T HE needs created by the war have ish speaking students, naturally went to brought to France thousands of Holland, and the French speaking and coolies from India. Rev. A. W. Mac- foreign students, to England. For such millan, formerly a missionary in Gopin- refugees the Student Christian Move- ganj, writes of them: "We have nearly ment has established two foyers or club a dozen different races, ranging from rooms "for foreign students in London, the restless Afridis of the N.W. frontier one for men and one for women. to the long-haired Burmese, the noisy Hindu and Moslem of historic plains, About two-thirds of the university the aborigines of the Indian jungles, the men in Great Britain have joined the Bengali from the steamy swamps, Chrisarmy-in some universities the propor- tianized tribes from Shillong, and the tion is even greater. 'head-hunters' or weird-looking N agas, from the higher mountains of Assam. Cheap Divorce in England "Excluding the Burmese and Assam- SOME Christian peol?le in England ese, all the remainder are acquainted are much concerned over conditions with Hindustani, and I was able to in the "Poor Persons' Department of the address hundreds, night after night. At British High Court of Justice." In an one place, I spoke to a crowd of nearly interview recently, the Secretary said 2,000 for an hour. It was in a large that the Department had received dur- brewer's yard, my magic-lantern being ing the first six months of the year upon a huge beer-barrel." 14,000 applications for help to obtain cheap divorces, and the number is daily Protestant Work in Spain increasing. The applicants are, in a large majority of cases, soldiers or sail- T HIS year is the fiftieth anniversary ors who charge their wives with infidel- of the beginnings of religious tolity during their absence from home on eration in Spain. Rev. Wayne H. service. Magistrates are now directing Bowers, a representative of the Amerithe attention of the people who call can Board in Bilbao, Spain, writes: themselves poor to the existence of this "We have begun preparations to hold a medium of cheap divorce, and it is easy congress in Madrid in October, 1918, to perceive how great will be the in- large enough to attract attention gencrease in the number of legally dissolved erally. We have little to show in nummarriages when it becomes known that bers for these fifty years of effort. But the High Court will charge no fees, and the Protestant work, even aside from that the whole wretched business can be its strictly religious bearing, has yielded transacted for a few dollars paid to the 'by-product' of a deeper longing for lawyers. When the men return from true liberty, not only religious, but the war, England will be brought face political and industrial as well. Thouto face with a terrible number of di- sands and thousands of persons sympathvorce proceedings and adulterous so- ize ·with us, although ·they fear to join called re-marriages, with all the confu- us openly. God grant they may come, sion involved in questions of parental if not now, in the future, after these rights and with the denials of the chil- terrible times are past!" dren's claims as members of families. Commenting on this extraordinary and Is it not increasingly evident, as has lamentable outlook the Church Times been said, that "this work of missions is the most far-reaching, most divine task that confronts the 20th century man."
NEWS FROM MA:NY
MOSLEM LANDS "To the Persian people of U rumia : "The new Russian Government gave The Crucial Time for Armenia notice some time ago that henceforth there was to be no interference in Per- I N Turkey and the regions round- sian affairs. That notice seems to have about are 2,140,000 people-Armeni- been misinterpreted or misunderstood ans, Syrians, and Greeks-one-third of as conferring upon Persians liberty to whom are orphans, and all of whom are commit murders and atrocities upon homeless and near to starving. , It costs, Christians. Russia, however, has not on the average, five dollars a month to declared that she will not interfere in keep one of them alive. That means Christian affairs. The murder of fifteen $10,700,000 a month if all are to sur- Christians without provocation cannot vive. The American Red Cross grants be tolerated. Persians seem to have ac- $300,000 a month to the' American quired boldness from our first notice. I Committee for Armenian and Syrian declare that hereafter any Persian, of Relief for this work. That cares for whatever position or rank, who dares 1135 of this multitude, and shows what to insult or murder a Christian, or to the Red Cross thinks of this relief work. cause even a single nose to bleed, will But how about the other 34/35ths? be punished by the Russians in their own Funds are coming in to the Committee, Persian manner." 1 Madison Avenue, New York, in a steady stream, but not at all sufficient Dr. Harrison in Interior Arabia to meet the emergency. I N the original plan of the Arabian "Having saved these remnants of sub- Mission of the Reformed Church in ject races till now, it is unthinkable that America, occurs these words, "Our ulwe should let them die out by slow .timate object is to occupy the interior starvation. For their own sakes, for of Arabia." After a quarter of a centhe sake of the lands yet to be rehabili- tury of struggle and sacrifice, God tated, for the sake of the world and its seems to have opened the way for the need of these virile races, for the sake accomplishment of that purpose. A letof the Christian name and what they ter from a fellow-missionary in Bahrein have endured because they bore it, it is says: "You will rejoice with us over the plain duty of America, which has the fact that Dr. Harrison finally reo become in a special sense the protector of ceived a call from Riadh, and that he these peoples, to tide them over this arrived there safely after a ten-day epoch of destitution.-Missionary H er- trip. Being a guest of the Sheikh, Ibn ald. Saoud, his position is unique, and he will have all possible opportunity to Russian Influence in Persia find out the lay of the land religiously. It is the Vahbi stronghold, and we D URING the first days of liberty in need not expect too optimistic a report. Russia, the new Government in- The nearby Hassa may be better suited formed their diplomatic and consular to our purposes, and this trip may give officers in Persia by a circular notice us a permanent entrance into this nearby that for the future they were not to province, for that also is under the jurisinterfere or meddle in Persia's purely diction of Ibn Saoud. We shall feel domestic affairs. The Persian inhabit- that we have not been in Bahrein in ants of the province of Azerbaijan were vain all these years if now it proves to duly informed, and their joy was ex- be the gateway to inland Arabia, and treme. They were satisfied that now they the port of entry, not only of bags of had real liberty, but unfortunately they rice as heretofore, but also of bundles mistook liberty for license. of gospels."
In consequence, the Russian consul in Riadh, Ibn Saoud's capital, is in the U rumia soon found it necessary to issue heart of Arabia, and not more than 450 the following notice. It appeared in four languages-Russian, Persian, Armenian, and Syrian-as follows:
miles from Mecca. Ibn Saoud is said A more fluid, systemless religion, one to be the strongest man in Arabia, to- less fitted to call out heroic virtues and day, a man of outstanding personality intense devotion, could hardly be con- and of true kingly bearing, and one of ceived. Its essence may be summed up the chief supporters of the new King in two short phrases—'Think and beof Hejaz, formerly the Grand Sherif of lieve what you please; do what you Mecca, in his declaration of independ- please.' It has no great person to be its ence of Turkey. In view of these facts, hero, its ideal, its authority, its inspiring the importance of this visit of Dr. Har- leader; no inspiring book; no brief creed rison to this interior capital of this to crystallize and express its principles; strong Sheik:h can scarcely be exagger- no ethical standard or requirements; no ated. quickening of conscience; no discipline; no judgment bar; no program for hope- Were the Afghans Jews? fulness to its followers or to the world; no gospel of love; no summons to self- A FGHANISTAN is one of the sacrifice; no bugle call to devotion; no most interesting of the unoccupied organization to train and to inspire its mission fields. The theory is now' members; no promise of temporal or brought forward that its Mos~em. people eternal reward." were originally Jews. In dlggmg for the foundations of a railway station near In Fifty Indian Villages Hazro in the district of Rawalpindi, tablets written in Aramaic characters I T will be remembered that last year were unearthed. They were similar to the American Board instituted the those previously found in this district so-called Fifty-fifty PIal} in India, by Sir John Marshall and pronouced to through the gift of $10,000 by a New have come from Philistia. A Jewish England business man. The plan looked rabbi in Rangoon stated that the. Jew's to placing teacher-evangelists in 50 vilin India had been in quiet possession of lages, where no Christian work had this knowledge for some time. A depu- been attempted. The money was divtation of Jewish rabbis had visited Af- ided equally between the Marathi and ghanistan, he declared, and had reported Madura Missions. In the case of each that there was unmistakable evidence village a survey of religious and social that the ancestors of the Afghans had conditions was required. Already this been deported by the Assyrians from donor is hearing from his investment. Palestine and had found a home in Af- The 50 villages have been entered and ghanistan, a country wonderfully like the evangelists are hard at work. In the one they. had left; they were some places there is opposition, but for Jews and should be recognized as such the 'most part the people are eagerly coby all Jews everywhere. operating. In several villages they are building a house for their new religious INDIA, BURMA AND CErLON leader. In others, chapels are being erected. Two villages in the Marathi An Indian's View of Hinduism field report two hundred conversions, yet only a beginning has been made. A SOCIETY which has recently One of the preachers used in this ef- . been organized in India for the fort, Rambhau Dharmadhikari, a Brahpropagation of Hinduism is thus com- min convert, has gotten hold of a commented upon by an Indian Christian munity whicn has long been out of journal, the Dnyanodaya: reach. Under this man's leadership they are coming two or three nights a week "This movement is a typical illustra- for instruction in Christianity, their tion of a steady disintegration of Hin- "Holy M.an" acting as leader in their duism, under the environment of the new search. Ten of this community age spirit which cares little for any ex- have just been baptized. ternal authority and which .is permeated with the spirit of social unity.
FROM MANY
A Christmas Pageant in India hundr~d years of A~erican missionary A N American Presbyterian mission- work In Burma. It IS an exact replica ary in the Punjab, impressed by the reminders of Palestine life in the in design of the tower of the old colo- villages, made an interesting attempt to have the people themselves depict the nial church in Salem, Mass., itself a Christmas story. She says: "The train- ing was very simple. The Christian C?py of a church tower in London deschool boys of two villages learned Christmas hymns. Men, women and slgne.d by Sir Christopher Wren. It cllildren learned the Christmas story by heart. Nothing else was talked of. was m the Salem church that Adoniram I had my largest tent pitched and a quite real looking manger put up in Judson and his four companions the back. The rehearsals went very Newell, Nott, Hall and Rice, were or~ well. No special costumes were required as the people's own clothes were dained, February 6, 1812. just perfect for the parts. The day arrived and long before the appointed The artistic beauty of the tower is hour the tent was crammed, and crowds standing outside, -among them many, enhanced by the precision of its clock non-Christians. and the musical tones of its four bells "Several calves and donkeys had been brought into the back of the tent and constituting aan.Wd edsitfmfeirnesnttertuchniems e~twehaicchh the cowherds, with their long staves, plays short stood by. Nothing was lacking but the camels, and they c0tild have been sup- quarter hour, and striking the hours plied had the tent been big enough. with a heavy hammer on the largest "The Wise Men, of course, had their gifts and one of them carried a bell. There are no other bells so fine in tone in Rangoon. All the Baptist College class and general exercises are controlled by these chiming bells.
When the missionaries first learned of th~ proposed tower, it was supposed that It would be located in Moulmein and mark the site of Dr. Judson's long- est home and service in Burma. But with the broadening of the purpose of the Memorial, word was sent to the Mission Treasurer to secure a public site, if possible in Rangoon.
potsherd with live coals in it, which had_ Neighborhood Work in Ceylon never appeared in the rehearsals. As A YOUNG Singhalese came to the they knelt in front of the manger and Secretary of the Young Men's held out their gifts toward the babe, the man with the potsherd passed his Christian Association in Colombo and hand over the coals and suddenly the whole tent was filled with the heavy urged the opening of a branch Associa- tion for the young men of Slave Island. odor of incense. The children then After a study of the situation, it was gave their Christmas concert and after decided that what was needed was not a treat of nuts and fruit, the whole a branch of the Association, but a social company strode off in groups across the settlement on a small scale. The pastor of the nearest church was urged to make fields, singing as they went, happy in the this a part of the work of his church. A small house was secured, funds were first Christmas celebration of their lives." '
The Memorial Tower in Rangoon subscribed by the church members and the work started. A free night school T HE finest, most pleasing bit of now has an enrollment of sixty men and architecture in the city of Ran- boys. Bible classes and gospel meetings goon, Burma, is the Centennial Memo- in English, Singhalese and Portuguese rial Tower now standing in the campus are conducted weekly. A small reading- of the Baptist Collegiate Schools, the room is supplied with old magazines gift of J. Ackerman Coles, M.D., LL. from the Colombo Association. A sew- D., of N ew York City, and erected to ing class for women and another for commemorate the completion of one girls have been organized.
CHINA set on fire by the troops. For some time Great Floods in China the city has been in the hands of two antagonistic armed forces, the Szechwan L AST October northeastern China troops under Tai Kan, the governor of was devastated by a great flood. the province, and the Yunnan and rl'ientsin suffered most, perhaps, for the Kweichow troops under General Liu Yellow river changed its course and Tsen-heo. Jealousy between these troops covered a large part of the city. Har- resulted in a terrible conflict as long vests were destroyed and over 50,000 ago as April, when, apart from two people are homeless. There is fear that a hundred soldiers who were killed, some large part of Tientsin must be aban- three thousand civilians met their doned. A district 150 miles long and death, and no less than five hundred 100 miles broad, or its equivalent was houses were burnt down. A temporary completely submerged under from two armistice was arranged through the to twelve feet of water. Hardly a house heroic efforts of the British and other was left standing and the people homeless consuls, but in July fierce fighting was or dead; families separated, starving. resumed. Big guns as well as small The Y. M. C. A., the missions, the arms have been emploved in the fight- churches and the local and national gov- ing, and· as this has taken place chiefly ernments have combined a relief organi- at night the horrors experienced by the zation. The American Board Mission people have been intensified.
was under eight feet of water and the The Kweichow troops are accused ot school was disbanded. . having set fire to the city, and large The American Red Cross has appro- areas, some say as much as one-quarter priated $50,000 to be used for the im- of the city, have been burnt to the mediate relief of the sufferers and has ground; man~r thollsands of people are sent an additional appropriation of $75,- homeless, and the Mission compounds 000 to be used in paying 10,000 men to are filled with refugees. At the U niver- do work on roads and public improve-. sity the dormitories, finished or unfin- ments–the men and their families repre- ished, are inhabited by these destitute senting at least 50,000 souls. people.
A conservative estimat~ of the flooded The West China Missionary News district says that 12,000 square miles comments: "Brushing aside second have been flooded. Over a million peo- causes, and probing beneath the surface ple are homeless in the district and the of things, is it not true that we are crops and properties lost are estimated at now witnessing the re-birth of a nation $100,000,000 (Mex.). A refugee camp which has learned the use of modern has been established to house 4,000 per- military implements far better and sons, the expense of which will be borne quicker than she has learned the princi- almost entirely. by the Chinese them- ples and teachings of Jesus Christ?"
selves. Some of the Chinese attribute this disaster to the revolution and the The Gift of a Buddhist Temple U failure of the Government to resent Jap- P in the mountains from Hinghwa, anese invasion of China's rights. China, in a village called "Stone Revolutionary Days in China Ladder," a teacher, several years ago, belonging to the Deng clan, heard that "CHINA'S MILLIONS" is re- he might find employment in some of sponsible for the statement that at the mission schooois. The orphanage present in China brigandage and high- was in need of a teacher of Chinese, so way robbery are common, while martial after the prescribed preliminaries Mr.
law prevails in several of the provinces. Deng was duly installed. At this time Szechwan appears to be suffering most he had not come in contact with Chris- severely. The wealthy capital, Chengtu, – tianity, but this new position soon gave one of the finest cities in China, has been him the opportunity of hearing the Gos-
1918J NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
pel. This resulted in his being won. In loss of everyone of its three hundred his home town the Deng clan owned a inhabitants. In Tokyo, the death list Buddhist temple. Teacher Deng car- reached one thousand and more than ried his Christianity back to his home twice that number were made homeless and being an important personage, great- by a tidal wave. On the islands facing ly influenced the other members. By St. Luke's Hospital, of the Protestant his efforts he persuaded them to give Episcopal I1ission, between two and their temple to the Methodist Mission three hundred lives were lost and prac- for a church. The idols have been de- tically the whole population, amounting stroyed and the temple repaired. Now, to about fifteen thousand people, were instead of idolatrous rites, the Gospel of left homeless. Mission property suf- Christ is proclaimed there. fered severely, St. Paul's School and St.
Luke's Hospital being in the center of IA Chinese Rescue Home for Girls the storm-swept district. Roofs were N a Rescue Home for Chinese girls, torn off and one of the operating rooms conducted by the municipal authori- in the hospital was entirely destroyed. ties in Nantungchow, China, every day Much other damage was done.
except Sunday, their rest day, the girls The Japanese people have met the sit- all have their work and daily classes. uation in a fine spirit and have worked The money made from sewing and knit- unceasingly to relieve the suffering.
ting is divided, one half going to the Thousands of pounds of hot cooked rice home for running expenses, the other were distributed from great iron cal- half going to the credit of the girl who drons, which were kept boiling on the did the work. This is given her when street corners. Never before has there she leaves. Six months after the girls been such suffering in Tokyo and it enter the home their pictures are taken will take many months to repair the ma- and hung inside the doorway. Anyone terial damage.
seeing the picture and wishing the girl in marriage goes to the chief of police. A Christian Survey of Osaka The police thoroughly investigate the man, his home and his reputation. If it T HE Church Missionary Society is good and they approve of him, word is sent to the home, and a day is set for . Review is authority for the statea visit, so that the girl may meet the ment that a' new map of Osaka has man. If after this visit the girl con- just been published, showing the "Chrissents, the marriage contract is sealed tian Survey" of the city, and giving by the chief of police. No girl is com- various statistics as to missions, etc. pelled to marry anyone whom she does From these latter it appears that the not want. After her marriage, if she is number of missionaries (excluding annoyed or persecuted by anyone from wives) is forty-six (Protestants thirtythe old life, the whole police force is eight, Roman Catholics eight), and of hack of her husband for help and pro- Japanese workers ninety-eight (Protestection. Any child born in the home tants ninety-five, Russian Orthodox goes with its mother. This is under- three). There are the names of to,134 stood in the marriage contract. persons (1,200 of them Roman Catho- lics and 635 Russian Orthodox) on the membership rolls of the churches, but JAPAN-CHOSEN only 7,007 are resident. Since the popu- Destructive Typhoon in Japan lation is 1,460,218, there are more than 10,000 non-Christians to each Christian E ARLY in October Tokyo was visit- worker, and only one in every 267 of ed with the most destructive storm the Japanese is a Protestant Christian.
in its entire history and the loss of The registered Buddhist and Shinto life and property was appalling. One priests number 790. Of the 309,037 tragic result of the storm was the sink- houses, one in 165 is licensed for pros- ing of a whole island into the sea and the titution.
The Future of Religion in Japan Chinese and Japanese people themselves A JAPANESE paper, the Kirisuto would not admit it for a minute. How- Kyo Hoko, has lately discussed in ever, it is quite probable that God has its editorial columns the subject of relig- raised up the Korean Church for this ion after the war. Dealing with the purpose and in the writer's opinion it is question whether Buddhism can un- for this we should work and pray. One dergo a change sufficient to enable it to of the greatest opportunities of the lead the new Japan which will emerge Korean Church is in Manchuria, where from the conflict, the writer expressed hundreds of thousands of Koreans, and his opinion that a revival of Buddhism ten thousand of them already Christians, was hardly within the range, of possibil- are living side by side with the Chinese."
ity. He wrote: "Whatever efforts the AFRICA Buddhists may put forth to meet the needs of the new times, their most im- From Miss Mackenzie's Station .M portant scriptural teachings contradict ANY readers of "Black Sheep"
such efforts by their antagonism to the . and Miss Mackenzie's other present life. On the other hand, if some slight changes be made in the policy of books, and who have known of her rethe churches, and if we cast off the turn to West Africa because of the teachings that smack of Europe and needs arising out of the war, will find America, and give expression to a purer special interest in the following letter teaching concerning Christ and God, from Rev. Gayle C. Beanland: "The then Christianity will be in a position to days are all full and there is not much exert a living leadership capable of sat- time to play. Miss Mackenzie is here with us and seems to enjoy her work isfying the needs of the nation." very much. There is plenty to do, as Missionary Power of Korean Church there are so many women and girls who A MISSIONARY from Korea, are indifferent to the Gospel, but when Rev. Harry A. Rhodes, who has the women of the station get out and addressed many audiences on conditions visit them in their homes, you can see in that country, writes in The Korea the effect of it very markedly. Soon Mission Field: "The Church at home the girls' school will be opening and the is especially responsive when the mis- crowd of little pawned girls and child sionary work of the Korean Church is wives takes somebody's entire time to mentioned, and when it is suggested keep them at work and attending to that the Koreans may be largely used their duties as they ought. We have to in the evangelization of both the J apafl- take in many of these little tots who ese and the Chinese. This is the thing are given in marriage before they are above all others that enlists the closest seven years, old, and many of the old attention on the part of every audience. men hate us for it, but the Government If this one thing can be demonstrated is on our side and they can't make any conclusively, both the future of the palaver."
Korean Church, and the support ot Slavery in German East Africa mission work in Korea on the part of the Church at home is assured and yet, ON December 3rd it was reported although the missionaries in Korea and that the British had driven the last the Korean Church leaders may think of the German forces out of German so, and although the Church at home East Africa into Portuguese territory.
likes especially to hear such remarks, Thus Germany has lost its last colonial the fact remains that the mission- possessions.
aries to the Chinese and Japanese The Sudan Times reports that 185,000 probably do not think the Koreans can slaves were found by the British in the be so used, the Chinese and Japanese German East African Protectorate. The Christians do not think so, and the "Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection
FROM MANY LANDS
Society" of England has issued an appeal not to carry water, and not to cook food, to the British Secretary of State for the but all to come and worship the idol.' Colonies to proclaim their freedom. The The evangelist and his wife were appeal states that a resolution was sub- scolded, threatened and argued with mitted to the German Reichstag on when they refused to follow the chief's March 19, 1914, asking for the emanci- instructions, but no harm was done to pation of these slaves on January 1, them. To-day that evangelist is still 1920. The system of enforced labor was there and the work is growing. The admitted, but the resolution for their chief later drove the medicine man from freedom was resisted on account of the the village, lost his faith in his idols, cost of compensating owners. and so anxious was he for a second evan- gelist in his village that he stopped one I t is time that all systems of contract who was passing through his village on labor, enforced labor and other forms of his way to another place and forced compulsory service, which involve prac- this evangelist to remain with him. tical slavery, should be abolished throughout the earth. ISLANDS OF THE SEA Intemoerance in Egypt Native Preachers Needed A LETTER from Rev' Stephen A PRESBYTERIAN missionary in Trowbridge in Cairo presents an the Philippines writes: "At Aliimportant and neglected field among modian of the Iloilo district, there are the young men of Egypt. He says: six adult members of the little church "Thus far the Nile Press and Beirut there, all belonging to two houses in the Press have published only a few tracts outskirts of the town. Only one of on temperance and one or two stories them reads and that poorly, but I found showing. the peril and wrong of drink, that they meet regularly every Sunday but I believe we could do a great ser- for prayer and praise and reading of vice by publishing and circulating the Scriptures and that they have inthrough the men's and older boys' class- duced several others to join them in es a book in Arabic based on modern their service. experiments. One of the rapidly increasing habits in Egypt is that of "But in spite of these encouragements strong drink. Everywhere on walls and our greatest problem is the lack of suitfences and billboards and in every news- able preachers and evangelists. We have paper, English, French and Arabic, are scarcely enough to care for the membervery conspicuous advertisements of Eng- ship we have, let alone the new fields. lish whiskey, French cognac, beer and To fill the need in a village in the south Greek wines and spirits." of Guimaras, we have to take the pa~ tor from another congregation. If we Evangelists Instead of Medicine Man had the preachers, we could double our membership in two years, for there are T HE chief of the village of Moua openings everywhere." Mutumba, in Central Africa, allowed a medicine man to enter his vil- Hawaii Links East and West lage and carve for him a large wooden ido1. Like King Darius of old, the H AWAll is the stepping-stone bechief set aside a certain day on which tween the Orient and the OccialI his people should come to worship dent; it is the door which is opening the image. On that day the chief or- the East to the West and the West to dered that all domestic animals, sheep, the East. Through the medium of the goats, hogs, and chickens should be kept Islands, .where Oriental boys and girls and not allowed to run about over the have taken on our manner of life and village. The women were ordered to entered into the spirit of our social, abstain· from work of all kinds, not to political and religious institutions, the go to the fields as was their custom, way is being prepared for a closer asso- ciation between the United States and
the Orient. Out Df a population of pathy and clearness. I am only seven- 191,909 in the Islands, the Orientals- Chinese, Japanese and Koreans-num- teen years old and I have finished first ber 105,881. In the Episcopal cathedral year high school so I believe I can do it."
in Honolulu, both white people and OBITUARY Hawaiians worship. The Chinese and ] apanese have churches with clergymen TJohn N. Forman of India in charge of their own nationality, the HE news of the death of Rev.
latter sharing its building with a Rus- John N. Forman, on November sian congregation. There are many 24th, touches. deeply a wide circle in and mission stations scattered throughout the out of the Presbyterian Church, both in Islands where the people are so diversi- America ana in India. He was widely fied in race that to minister to them in known, not only as the son of the distheir own tongues would require a staff tinguished pioneer missionary to the of half a dozen interpreters. Fortu- Punjab, whose name is perpetuated in nately, the children are required to at- the Forman College, but as the assotend the English speaking schools, either ciate of Robert Wilder in laying broad public or private, and so through them, and deep in the colleges in 1886-8 the by story, song and drama, missionaries foundations of the Student Volunteer are able. to make known the good news Movement. Mr. Forman, before re- of Jesus Christ. turning to America on his furlough, which was his first since 1908, had been A Filipino's Plan for His Life active in the evangelistic campaign in India, and last winter he traveled over R EV. FRANK C. LAMBACH, of the entire country in stirring up the the American Board Mission at work. He is said to have been possibly Cagayan, on the northern shore of the the most eloquent preacher in the ver- island of Mindanao, writes of one young nacular of all the five thousand mission- fellow who, he says, was six months ago aries in India, and his deep spirituality one of the worst young men on the made him much sought after for conferisland, and who is now one of the most ences and revivals in all parts of India.
useful in evangelistic work, because of TJohn P. Williamson of Dakota the change which Christ has wrought in HIS aged missionary to the Indians him. He quotes the young man as fol- died at Yankton Indian Agency, lows: South Dakota, on October 4th, at the "My idea of what I would like to do age of eighty-two. Dr. Williamson grew for the future is growing clearer and big- up in a missionary home in Minnesota, ger all the time. First I thought I where his parents, Dr. and Mrs. F. S. ought to become a medical missionary. Williamson labored long among the Then I thought the work in Mindanao Dakota Sioux Indians. After completing needed me so quickly that I would go his seminary course, at the age of twentyinto evangelistic work at once and study six, he returned at once to Minnesota. till I am ready for ordination. But now When the Indian massacre of 1862 I see that the Philippines need more than broke out, he ministered to the needs of the evangelists they have been having. I fifteen hundred women and children want to get all there is. to be learned families of the warriors under arrest. here in the Philippines, and then go to When Dr. Alfred Riggs went to found America and get more perfectly prepared the Indian Normal School at the San- than any Filipino ever has been for every tee Reservation, Dr. Williamson moved phase of the ministry. Such a large num- to Dakota, where his forty-seven years of ber of people have left the Catholic devoted service have resulted in thirty- Church in Mindanao and have lost faith six Indian churches, with a membership in all religion, that they need men who of over ten thousand red men. His son, can answer all their questions with sym- Rev. Jesse Williamson, is a missionary.
II_mE MISSIONARY LllIBlJRARY~ . ••
~uu; ~ DU'U' "'iAiti' ~ =- ~-, – – W'V'U • vuu 'VUU'
Studies in Japanese Buddhism. By Aug- velopmcnt of the pnll1ltlve faith into ust Karl Reischauer. xviii, 361 pp. $2. the more hopeful, less atheistic doc- Macmillan Co., New York. 1917. trines of the Mahayana, or Great Ve- hicle, which carries those who mount it T HIS is probably the best full ex- through the dreary round of rebirths to position of japanese Buddhism in the great goal of mankind, "the town English. It is also true that the subject of Nirvana, the island of Nirvana"- has never before been adequately dis- a much disputed word which may have cussed by English and American stu- meant annihilation or cessation of being dents. The volume does not realize in Southern Buddhism of the Small the promise of its opening paragraph in Vehicle, but which in japan is far difany picturesque way: ferent. Chapters III-V, VII, contain the distinctively japanese elements in "Not many years ago there was on ex- Buddhism, of which the chapter on the hibition in an art gallery of Tokyo a main doctrines of Japanese Buddhism remarkable picture. The picture was not and that on the place of Buddhism in exactly a masterpiece, but its subject Japanese life are the most rewarding matter was exceedingly suggestive. In from the theoretical and practical sides the center stood a child, and grouped respectively. Pages 283-294 give excelaround it were four men, each beckon- lent samples of Buddhist teachings in a ing it to follow. On the face of the section entitled, "Buddhist Gold Nugchild was an expression of bewilder- gets," which the author previously conment, of apparent perplexity as to what it tributed to the Transactions of the should do. The child was meant to Asiatic Society of japan. The section represent J'flpan, and the four men on Salvation, pages 240-264, is, from the represented a Shinto priest, Confucius, Christian viewpoint, very interesting, as Gautama Buddha and Jesus. The aver- is the missionary character of the Shin age visitor to the gallery gave this pic- Sect which has its representatives in ture little more than a passing glance, China and the United States. but to the student of modern Japan, it was of deep interest." The author, as a professor in a lead- ing Christian institution in Tokyo, con- I t is this last half sentence that has tends that while Japanese Buddhism dominated the author in his choice of cannot lay hold on the living God withmaterials. For centuries, the Japanese out undergoing. a radical change in its have allowed the three first named re- fundamentals, it can nevertheless cast ligions to enlist their attention, so that asided its pessimism and by accepting 110 one could say to which he gave his God, find satisfaction for its hopes and paramount allegiance. Yet after all Bud- aspirations. The volume proves this condhism is the matrix which holds them all tention and makes the Buddhism of the together and may be said to represent all Empire accessible ill a manner acceptthree in one. Chapter I of the volume able to Occidental scholars, even though gives' the old st~ry underlying all phases it is by no means a popular work, nor of Buddhism-the story of Gautama's was it so intended. environment and life until under the Bo Tree he became the Buddha, the Trade, Politics and Christianity in Africa Enlightened One, the uninteresting ac- and the East. By A. J. Macdonald. count of his teachings and the success xxi, 296 pp. $2.00. Longmans, Green of the new religion after Buddha, in the Deer Park of Benares, had set the T& Co., New York. 1!}16. Vheel of the Law rolling throughout HIS book was awarded the Maitthe world. land Prize at Cambridge in 1915 on the thesis, "Problems raised by the Subsequent chapters describe the de-
contact of the -Vest with Africa African shores almost exclusively, just and the East and the part that as he practically excludes the Eurasian Christianity can play in their solu- strains of the Far East. His basic argu- tion." With the trained mind of a ments are biological and Mandelian, Cambridge M.A. and aided by authori- and among his conclusions are these: tative British Blue Books and other "To prevent the connections between equally trustworthy publications-unless ,,·hite men and black women in Africa Leong and Tao's "Village and Town will make moral demands upon the Life in China" is excepted from such a white community, which can only be list-the author presents to the thought- fulfilled by the aid of religion. Here is ful, studious reader a book worthy of the opportunity of Christianity…. The careful study and food for profitable Eurasian, so long as he exAsts and is not reflection. It even wins the most hearty absorbed by one race or the other, must approval of so distinguished and ex- be treated, if not as a social equal by the perienced an authority as Sir Harry members of either dominant race, at Johnston, whose "Introduction" of thir- least as a man and a brother in the great teen pages is a most interesting dis- Christian community." . avowal of certain aspects of Christianity and disgust for some features of Chris- The "q. e. d." of his "Problem of tian Missions along with a panegyric Religions" will not be universally ac- upon other fundamentals of both. cepted, but it is worth noting. "Let the declaration of the religious message of It i~ a work appealing to a variety of Christianity be positive. Its universality interests. The social reformer, the will make itself apparent. On the other economist, the student of colonization hand, let the attitude to non-Christian and of government, the inter-racial prob- philosophy-where such exists-and to social customs, avoid all appearance of lem specialist, the Christian anxious to negation, save where the religious in- know what Christianity can offer to the tegrity of Christianity is at stake. By world in its undeveloped and non-Chris- this means much .that is good in non- tian sections-all will find here facts Christian thought will be comprehended and arguments that are stimulating and in the new intellectual system which will forceful. grow up under the influence of Christian teaching; and sympathy will be revealed The lands most in evidence are where it will produce the most effiect– Africa, with its labor and liquor prob- in the social and domestic life of the lems especially; India, with liquor, hung people." albatross-like about its neck, as it is in Ceylon also; with difficulties arising Observations on the Mussulmans of In- from its expansion into Africa and its dia. By Mrs. Meer Hassan Ali. Second educational wants and satisfactions edition, edited with notes and an introthrough various sorts of schools, largely dutcion by W. Crooke. xxviii, 442 pp. supported by British grants-in-aid; and Six shillings net. Oxford University China, where the opium traffic has been; Press. 1917. where that. in morphia still is vitally important to' the physical life of un- T HAT this work is of especial value numbered myriads, and where education is evidenced by the fact that it and Christianity are advancing side by is reprinted by the Oxtord University side, in willing or unwilling depend- Press nearly a century after its publicaence. tion, and with the valuable cooperation of the well-known Indian authority, W. The inter-racial problems considered Crooke, whose notes and elucidations have to do with the "colored people" of add greatly to its clarity and interest. Africa and the Eurasians of India for the most part, though he fails to use The author is an English lady who their official name there, Anglo-Indian. married a young Lucknow nobleman of Vhile Sir Harry Johnston finds his the Moslem faith who was in England "colored" problem best illustrated in the Americas, our author views it from assisting .Tohn Shakspear, Hindustani professor in the Military College, and
MISSIONARY LIBRARY
who received from the East India Com- honor of the martyred H usein and pany £50 as a reward for his transla- Hasein, sons of Ali and Fatima, a pastion of the Gospel of St. Matthew. In sion play sometimes likened to the Chrishis father's Lucknow home she lived tian Ober-Ammergau. Stories and folkduring eleven of the years, 1816 to lore also abound, adding to its interest. 1828, though it is said that she did not Her account- of Meer Hadjee Shah's adallow her husband to exercise a Mos- ventures and of the elevating effect of lem's privilege of a plurality of wives. his religion upon him, suggested in her She understood well the truth of the sketch in Letter XXVII, makes the M ussulman proverbs: "A rival, even if reader wish that he might read the full she be made of dough, is intolerable; the account of him which the author hoped malice of a rival is known to everybody; later to write. wife upon wife and heartburnings." Possibly her subsequent separation from Yet Mrs. Ali did not go over to her her husband and return to England was husband's faith. She writes on pages due to failure to abide by his agreement; though the statement on page 182 shows 424-425: "It may be regretted, with all that she realized the reasonableness of polygamy. my influence, that I have not been the humble intsrument of conversion. None The general scope of the book is can lament more than myself that I was suggested by its long sub-title, in which not deemed worthy to convince them of it is stated that these observations of the necessity, or of the efficacy of that Indian 11ussulmans are "descriptive of great Atonement on which my own their customs, habits and religious opin- hopes are founded. . .. I must for many ions, made during a twelve years' resi- reasons be supposed to entertain a lively dence in their immediate society." In interest in their welfare, and an earnest twenty-seven long and minutely circum- desire for their safety, although at the stantial letters, Mrs. Ali wrote to home present moment I can distinguish but friends of what she saw and experienced one advantage accruing from our intiand they quite rightly urged their pub- macy, namely, that they no longer view lication. If there is any Moslem matter the professors of Christianity as idolaof importance left out in the book, the tors . . . . Should the view I have conreader who can mention it must be more scientiously given of their character be observant than the thousands of India the humble means of removing prejudice missionaries who have been neighbors to from the ~{ussulmans of Hindoostan, North India Moslems. While her style so that they may be sought and won by is not finished, her simple and lively let- brotherly kindness, my humble heart ters allure one on through an altogether will rejoice." too long account of her foreign environment on its Moslem side. Of most With Our Soldiers in France. By Sherinterest, in view of the well-known atti- wood Eddy. Illustrated. 12mo. 193 tude of l10hammedans toward women, pp. $1.00. Association Press, New are the constant references to the wom- York. anhood of Islam and to the secluded and little known life of the zenana. She has T HIS is one of the best of the "war said the best that can be written on this books." Mr. Eddy speaks from aspect of Mohammedanism, thus supple- first hand knowledge of conditions at menting what nearly all missionary the front. Not only does he give a very writers have proclaimed to the world vivid picture of the life of American upon this point. Of even more general soldiers in France, with its physical and il nd 'scholarlv interest is the account of moral dangers, but he writes of the Y. their religio~s life in mosque and home. M. C. A. work and the religious prob- Pilgrimages and superstitions are fully lems involved, so as to impress the reader described also, and especially the great with the great responsibility for closer mourning festival of Muharram in co-operation among Christians after the war. – The incidents in Mr. Eddy's narra- tive are striking and well told. His de-
scription of the training and fighting in new hope for the Russian people and for France is graphic and of absorbing in- Europe. Many feared Russian autoc- terest. His facts are impressive and sug- racy even more than German militar- gest many lessons in morals and in ism. N ow the danger is anarchy- Christian strategy. The chapter on when, as in the time of the Judges, each "The Camp of the Prodigals" is appall- man does what is "right in his own ing in its revelations and shows the need, eyes," but not what is right in the eyes not only for physical and mental recrea- of God. tion for the soldiers, but for spiritual regeneration, if the aftermath of war is This story of Russia's transition days not to be as deadly as the conflict itself. is brief and well told. It is an intro- Read Mr. Eddy's book; it is worth duction to a more thorough study. while-for soldiers going to France and for those who give and work and pray The People Who Run. By Violetta at home. Thurstan. 12mo. 175 pp. $1.00. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1917. Russia in Transformation. By Arthur ]. Brown, LL.D. 12mo. 190 pp. $1.00 net. T HE Russian word for refugees means Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. "the people who run," an appropri- ate title for these sketches or five and a 1917. half million dazed and terrified people who fled before the great German drive A LL eyes are turned on Russia- into Russia. The author made a visit to that land of 180,000,000 people that country and from a vast amount of in the throes of a new birth. From op- material gathered-reports, statistics and pression under autocratic government in incidents-has selected stories of individ- Church and State, they have suddenly ual tragedy to portray what has been come into uncontrolled freedom. They done, and what still needs to be done for are like youth suddenly coming into these people of despair. The greatest wealth, without proper education and difficulty experienced is in building up experience, and with scheming enemies their shattered hope, for it is a strange on every side. They are people with fact that the worse their condition be- ideals and latent power and worthy of comes the less is their desire to improve study. The nation cannot be remade in it. One realizes the enormity of the task a day. when told that Russia is caring for more refugees than the number of inhabitants Dr. Brown has given us a clear and in the whole continent of Australia. – concise study of Russia from secondhand Russia in 1916. By Stephen Graham. sources. It is a book for the general 8vo. The Macmillan Co., New York, reader and gives the)acts without long 1917. dissertations or quotations. While the book does not throw new light on Rus- T HE reading public learned long ago sia, it does give light to those multitudes that anything that Stephen Graham who have had only a hazy idea of a cold writes about Russia is well worth read- and distant czardom, of serfs, autocrats, ing. He has traveled widely throughout Nihilists, Tolstoi, Jews, pogroms, the Russian Empire. He knows the peo- ikons, Doukhobors, Stundists, the Greek ple and their language and he has prob- Churches, political exiles, passports, ably gotten into a closer sympathy and a censors, spies and prisons. more vital understanding of them than any other living man outside of Russia. In this book, prepared since the revo- ex~ept George Kennan. It must be con- lution, Dr. Brown describes autocratic fessed that this little book consists of a Russia and the "Holy Orthodox" few impressionist's sketches and traveling church; the revolution and the new- experiences. and that it bears marks of found but unconfined liberty; the re- hasty writing, but the general pictures of forms and the war; Russian aims in recent conditions in Russia are so vivid Asia and her relation to other nations. that one shoul~ not miss them. Dr. Brown sees in the dethronement of the czar and his autocrats in Russia, a
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The Missionary Review of the World — April 1897
THE BPlBITUAL KOVElUilliTB' 011' THE CENTURY
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
xx. Vot.. No. 4.-0ld Se'I'ies.- APRIL. -VOL. X. No. 4.-New 8eJri68.
THE SPIRITUAL MOVEMENTS OF THE CENTURY-"THE FAITH-WORK."
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
Johannes Evangelista Gossner, born at Hausen, near Augsburg, in 1773, and dying in Berlin in 1858, at the age of 85, has been called "the father of faith-missions." This is a very imperfect term to describe a movement which needs some descriptive, definitive title, as one of the conspicuous developments of the century. With the name of Gossner we must associate the names of August Hermann Franke, of Halle, George Miiller, of Bristol, J. Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, and many others who have, in a peculiar sense, gone into 'York with God under the inspiration of their faith and prayer and with peculiar dependence upon Him.
To some people it seems invidious to talk of "Faith Missions," as though other missions were not carried on upon the principle of faith. Yet, if we are to learn God's lessons from history, we must not be jealous concerning words and names, nor must we be too proud, selfwilled, or sensitive, to admit our errors or our deficiencies. Obviously there are two classes of activities which we find among disciples. In one class the so-called "business" methods and principles lie at the basis. The church, local or general, takes up an enterprise, calls to its aid its strongest and wisest counselors, and forms a Board; then goes about its proposed work on the basis of worldly prudence-it will cost so much to carry it on, and so much must be raised by contribution. Accordingly, the most vigorous appeals are mad(:l for money and for men-the main dependence is upon thorough organization and wise administration. If the funds fail, there must be new appeal. No forward step must be taken without a sufficient guaranty, better * This periodical adopts the Orthography of the following Rnle, recommended by the joint action * of the American Philological Association and the Philological Society of England :–Cbange d or ed 1lnal to when so pronounced, except when the e affects a preceding sound.-l'uBLIsBBll8. still, without the supply of material in advance to assure success. God's blessing is sought, of course, by all true disciples, and no fault can be found with those who carry into the Lord's work the principles that are practically found to assure to worldly enterprises the greatest prosperity and progress. Why, then, it is askt, are not all such church activities scriptural and apostolic? And is it not Pharisaic and pre- tentious to describe other enterprises of disciples as Faith Work, as tho nobody else had any faith.
Let us be humble, and let us be candid. It is possible to do work for God, and yet give undue emphasis to its human side; or rather , give too little emp7tasis to the divine side. We may do really Christian work in the energy of the flesh rather than in the energy of the Spirit; we may practically trust more to human wisdom than to divine direction; we may put prayer behind our activity rather than before it, thus reversing the true order which puts prayer always first, and may depend more on appeals to men than on appeals to God. And if we read God's lesson rightly, here is precisely the providential meaning of these faith movements. They are designed by God to make more vivid and prominent to our faith the Presence and PO?oer of a Prayer-Hearing God-to make more real the actual providential administration of the Lord Jesus in the affairs of His Kingdom, and the actual gracious administration of the Holy Spirit in applying the truth to human souls and enlisting believers in a true cooperation with God and each other. It is a great help to us to get a view of missions, for example, as The Enterprise of God, for which He is supremely responsible; to feel that He alone can select and separate and send forth His chosen laborers; that He alone can open wide and ,effectual doors, and meet and drive back the many adversaries; that :He alone can move the people to give themselves, their sons and daughters, or their money; that He alone can lift them to the high level of prevailing prayer, and stir them to loving, passionate sympathy with lost souls; and that consequently it is of first consequence to keep in living, loving contact with God, that our prayers be not hindered; to nse only scriptural and spiritual methods in appealing to men, or in raising funds; and that there are times and matters in which we may safely, trusting in His leadership, take bold steps in advance, where, at the time, no human guaranty is furnisht for success; as when, at Jesus' command, twelve disciples undertook to feed with five loaves and two fishes five thousand men, beside women and children. Faith counts on God as the Invisible Administrator, who can do things impossible with men, can open doors with a word or a will, thrust forth laborers, put the right man in the right field, supply all the money needful at the moment of need, and, in a word, do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think. Faith sees that God is honored by being trusted, that believing is not presuming, that the audacity of faith is sometimes really the humility of dependence and the courage of obedience. , We thank God for the Faith Work, which is one of the great inspi.
rations of our day in service to God and man. We thank Him even for the rebuke it has often administered to our hesitating unbelief, our secular methods, our unscriptural appeals, our dependence on man, our resorts to worldly methods for raising money, our despair in great straits. We thank Him for showing us, by so many examples, that He is more jealous and zealous for His work than any of His work- men; that He holds the keys of the situation, and that the govern- ment is upon His shoulder.
The actual character of the Faith movements of our day can best be understood by examining the men and the methods themselves, and again letting philosophy teach us by examples. No miracles in apos- tolic days were more real as manifestations of the power of a present God than some of these modern triumphs of faith which furnish a supplement to the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
The name and form of George Muller always come to the front whenever we refer to faith work. The fifty-seventh report of the New Orphan Houses and his kindred enterprises is now before us, reaching to May 26th, 1896. And it is still a record of blessing received in answer to prayer. Mr. Muller started over sixty years ago, to demon- strate how much might be accomplisht by believing prayer, that the weak faith of disciples might be strengthened. This, as he constantly reiterates~ was his own great desire and design. And what is the result? The various schools, from the beginning, have had over 121,000 pupils, with constant conversions, sometimes over 100 in one school in one year. But only believers are allowed to teach, and only believers who are known as having power in prayer. It is computed that at least 10,000 of these pupils have been led to Christ. During this same period there have been circulated in various parts of the world nearly 2,000,000 copies of the Bible, or portions thereof, and over 108,000,000 of books, pamphlets, and tracts. Missionary oper- ations have been carried on or aided in twenty-five different lands and countries, and hundreds of missionaries aided in their work, through whom tens of thousands of souls have been brought to Christ, and from the one church organized by Mr. Muller in Bristol, sixty brethren and sisters, forty of whom are yet engaged in labor, have gone forth.
All this is beside the orphan work, of which it is recorded that during the thirty years past over 3,000 orphans have been converted while in the institution, beside hundreds who have found Christ after they had left its walls. And the total amount of money disburst for all purposes during these sixty-three years is now upwards of seven millions of dollars. Here is an annual present expenditure for the [April orphan houses alone of £22,000, or about $110,000. And all this money comes, with all other supplies, directly in answer to believing prayer. Beyond the annual report, no statement of the financial con- dition of the institutions is ever made to the public, and even the Report never appeals directly for any aid. For sixty-three years Mr. Muller has never, even in the greatest straits, askt one penny of any human donor, or resorted to any method whatever of obtaining money or other supplies, except believing prayer. Even the helpers, who meet daily for united supplication, are cautioned not to mention, outside, the wants of the orphans, lest it should even seem that they were looking to other aid than the Divine. And yet supplies have never once failed in over sixty years. The first donation Mr. Muller ever received for the orphan work was a shilling. Last year 23,500 pounds! and yet he says he can ask God as confidently for twenty thousand pounds as when he began, for a shilling.
If anyone would like to find the principles of faith work expounded by Mr. MUller himself, let him read those remarkable volumes known as "The Lord's Dealings with George MUller." There he gives six reasons why a new institution was founded by himself and Mr. Craik, instead of working through institutions already founded. Let this faith-worker define his own position. These are briefly his grounds, as he states them, only that we condense them for economy of space.
1. The end which these religious societies propose to themselves, and which is constantly put before their members, is that the whole world will gradually become better, and at last be converted; whereas Scripture teaching is that in the present dispensation, things will not become spiritually better, but rather worse, and that it is not the whole world that will be converted, but only a people gathered out from among the Gentiles for the Lord. As it is unscriptural to expect the conversion of the whole world, we could not propose to ourselves such an end in the service of our Lord.
2. That which is worse, is the connection of those religious societies with the world, which is completely contrary to the Word of God. In temporal things, the children of God need, whilst they remain on earth, to make use of this world; but when the work to be done requires that those who attend to it should be possest of spiritual life, the children of God are bound, by their loyalty to their Lord, entirely to refrain from association with the unregenerate.
3. The means made use of in these religious societies to obtain money for the work of the Lord are also, in other respects, unscriptural; for it is a most common case to ask the unconverted for money, which even Abraham would not have done.
4. It is not a rare thing for even committee members (the individuals who manage the affairs of the societies) to be manifestly unconverted persons, if not open enemies, of the truth; and this is suffered because they are rich or have influence.
5. It is a common thing to endeavor to obtain for patrons or presidents of these societies, and for chairmen at public meetings, persons of rank and wealth to attract the. public. Never once have I known a case of a poor, but very devoted, wise, and experienced servant of Christ being invited to fill the chair at such public meetings.
6. Almost all of these societies contract debts, so that it is a com,. paratively rare case to read a report of any of them without finding that they have expended more than they have received, which is contrary both to the spirit and letter of the New Testament.
7. Mr. Muller, in expounding the principles on which his own work is carried on, emphasizes more fully another law which is not expressly stated hitherto, that God only is acknowledged as the patron of the work, and all appeals for help are to be addrest to Him in believing prayer-that success is to be guaged, not by the amount of money given, etc., but by the Lord's blessing; and that while desirous to avoid needless singularity, the one aim will be to go on simply according to Scripture, without compromising truth.* To one who would study these faith movements, we can safely commend Mr. MUller's own story, which is presented with a minuteness of detail which leaves no particular feature wanting to give insight into both method and motive.
Gossner, the humble pastor of the little Bethlehem church in Berlin, had no thought of being a leader in a new movement, or, above all, a "missionary founder." He simply'walkt, a step at a time, after the Divine leader, venturing to put faith in the words of God, and not discount his promises by unbelief, or by limiting them to the apostolic period, or some remoter time. The story is fascinating in its successive steps, showing how marvelously God leads a willing soul who is courageous enough to follow. Three or four artizans sought him for advice, when they felt the burning fire shut up in their bones, and were weary with forbearing; they felt that they must preach the Gospel in the regions beyond. But when he would not give them aid or approval, they begged, at least, what he could not withhold-a partnership in prayer that God would guide them. He consented, but it was perilous for unbelief, for he found himself praying sympathetically and, at last, fervently, until the symphony of prayer became a sympathy of service. Then he went another step, and began to give them positive help. They came to him when their day's work was over, and Gossner became to them an educator, training them in such. knowledge of the Word of God, and the truth according to godliness, as he found lacking. He had suddenly and unconsciously establisht a training-school.
The Lord's Dealings with George Milller. I. 107-112. Now comes the next step. To encourage men to go forth to the world-field without first running the round' of the regular curriculum of classical and theological.training, was an ecclesiastical heresy which subjected Gossner to a fire of criticism. Yet he was so sure that he had followed, tho at first reluctantly, the leading of God, that the assaults of his accusers only confirmed him in his course. He shut himself in with God for prolonged prayer, and he found the shield of faith still able to quench the fiery darts hurled at him as an innovator, iutroducing customs not lawful for his brethren to receive neither to observe-being Germans. But he could not act independently of the approval of his brethren, without also cutting loose from their pecumary aid. And so Gossner thrust his self-trained workmen forth in sole and simple dependence on God for aU needful 8upplies. We emphasize this, for it was the distinctive characteristic of the Gossner Mission, and it was this which God ordained should be an example to others who should afterward dare to trust God after the. same sort. Gossner remembered our Lord'lI solitary injunction when he showed his disciples the fields that were white for the sickle: "PRAY YE, therefore, the LORD of the Harvest that HE will thrust forth laborers into His harvest," and he remembered the singular illustration of the working of this principle in the Antiochan Church, when the Holy Ghost called by name and sent forth Barnabas and Saul.* This pre- cept and practise were to him sufficient warrant for both looking directly to the Lord for such laborers and for asking for such money, as were needed.
Gossner was already sixty-three years old when he broke off connection with the Berlin Missionary Society, and began to work on independent lines. At that age, when the ninth heptade is complete, few men ever think of becoming pioneers, and rather begin to withdraw from active labors. Yet Gossner was permitted to put into the fold two hundred men and women, and for the outfit and support of this mission band he was simply in partnership with God. And so sacred did he consider this divine partnership, that he regarded it an act of unbelief to ask of men any longer, since he was permitted and authorized to ask of God in faith nothing wavering. Faith made him bold, and as he quaintly phrased it, he counted it his business to be employed in "ringing the prayer-bell rather than the beggar's door-bell." Did God honor the partnership of faith? Let the sufficient witness be the words spoken over Gossner's open grave: "he prayed mission stations into being, and missionaries into faith; he prayed open the hearts of the rich, and gold from the most distant lands"
As Dr. A. J. Gordon says, " Gossner believed in the Holy Ghost, whom he regarded as the administrator of missions. Therefore he .. Acts xiii, 1-5. relied on prayer more than on organization." Having done all in his power, he would sit in his little room and commit the distant work to this Divine Executor, and" beg Him to direct it all and order it after His own will." Instead of an elaborate manual of instructions, this was the simple and stirring commission which he put into the hands of his missionaries: "Believe, hope, love, pray, burn, waken the dead I Hold fast by prayer,. wrestle like JacobI Up, up, my brethrenl Tlte Lord is coming, and to everyone he will say, 'where hast thou left the souls of these heathens'! With the devil.'i" 0, swiftly seek these souls, and enter not w£thout them into the presence of the Lord." * It would be a long chapter that should trace the apostolic succession from this missionary founder and trainer. Louis Harms is one example-in Hermansburgh, daring to undertake missions on a scale unparalleled in history, Think of this pastor, who now almost fifty years ago (1849), inaugurated in his own church-a church of poor farmers, artizans, peasants, and mechanics-a missionary society, which came to have shortly not only its missions and missionaries, but its own ship, its own magazine, its own training college, its own complete equipment'. At the end of thirty one years, Louis Harms had put into the field and kept there, over 350 missionaries, and in ten years more, could praise God for 13,000 converts in the mission churches, while the church at home had grown to unprecedented proportions, and was the largest in the world. Let us look into his simple diary. "I prayed to the Lord Jesus that He would provide the needed sum of –." " Last year, 1857, I needed 1,500 crowns, and the Lord gave me sixty over. This year I needed double, and He has given me double, and one hundred and forty over."
There are other, and more recent enterprises, founded and conducted on the same essential basis as Franke's, Muller's, Gossner's, Harms'-but they must have, if at all, separate treatment. Their one essential principle is that they treat the work as God's, and Him as the responsible founder and administrator, and they lay great stress on two subordinate laws of conduct: First that, as the Scriptures are the express revelation of His will, no methods or measures should be admitted or permitted in His work that are not according to His word; and secondly, that as the throne of grace is the eternal storehouse of supplies, all appeal for help is to be primarily to God; and that all dependence on man for aid, and especially on direct appeal to man, is practically a departure from the simple divinely ordained channel of supplies. Such principles as these, vindicated by such marvellous practical illustrations, demand, and will receive, further expansion in these pages, hereafter.
* " The Holy Spirit in Missions," by Dr. A. J. Gordon, 68, 69.
IDNDUISM AS IT IS
HINDUISM AS IT IS.
BY REV. JACOB CHAMBERLAIN, M. D., D.D., MADANAPALLE, UrDU.
Modern Hinduism, the Hinduism held and practised by the people of India for the last two thousand years, is not at all the religion of the Vedas. That was essentially a pure monotheism.
The Vedas, dating back from near the time of Moses, before all Noachian tradition had vanisht from among men, contain in the main true ideas of God and man, and sin, and sacrifice. They teach of one Supreme Being, the creator, preserver, and governor of all; that he is pure and holy; that man is in a state of sin, not at peace with holy God; that sinful man can have no union with sinless God until and unless sin is in some way expiated. But they fail to show how this expiation is to be accomplisht, and leave the devotee groping in uncertainty and dread.
The Aryans brought these monotheistic Vedas with them when they migrated into North India. But there soon arose another series of religious books, the Upanishads, commentaries on the Vedas, ritu- als, all these books known to the Hindus as "The Shastras." These are theoretically held to be of only secondary authority to the Vedas; but, in reality, it is they, with the still later books, "The Puranas," that teach the religion, and control the lives of the Hindus of the present age. With them first came in the idea of the Hindu Triad, and the host of minor gods; of Nirvana, or final absorption; of caste distinctions and caste observances. Modern polytheism and idolatry; pilgrimages to holy places; desert wanderings and asceticism; phys- ical tortures; infant marriages; virgin widowhood; suttee, or the burning of a widow on the funeral pyre of her departed lord, all crept in under the shadow of these sM,stras and puranas.
Hinduism, since before the time of Christ, holds to the T'l'imu'l'ti, that is, the Hindu Triad-Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva.' Brahma being the creator; Vishnu, the preserver, and Siva, the destroyer. Brahmli, their book tells us, committed incest; was guilty of such lustful con- duct that he was curst to the effect that no temple should ever be built in his honor, and no knee should ever bow to him in worship, and to this day, altho India is filled with Hindu temples, there is nowhere one erected to Brahmli, and he has no worshipers.
The Hindus are nearly equally divided between the worshipers of Vishnu, or Vaishnavites, and the worshipers of Siva, or Saivites. One , party, with the trident on their foreheads, painted in two nearly per- pendicular lines of white, converging toward the bridge of the nose, wiph a perpendicular line of red between them, range themselves under Vishnu as the Supreme God. The others, with three horizontal lines of sandal-wood ashes smeared on their foreheads, worship Siva as the Supreme. There is a cordial animosity between these two sects, break~ ing out often into abuse and quarrels.
The wife of Vishnu is Lakshmi, the goddess of beauty and fortune, and their son is Kama, the India Oupid, the god of love. The monkey is sacred to Vishnu. His temples swarm with them, and they are cared for, and bountifully fed as the descendants and present 'representatives of Hanuman, the monkey-god, who assisted Rama, one of Vishnu's incarnations, in recovering his captured wife, Siti, from Ravana, giant king of Oeylon, who had stolen her. All these are devoutly worshipt by theVaishnuvites, or followers of Vishnu.
The wife of Siva is Parvati, and their two sons are Vighneswara or Ganesa, the remover of obstacles, or the god of all new undertakings, and Subhramania, the god of war.
The son Ganesa, is, practically, far more worshipt than the father and mother. He is represented with the head and trunk of an elephant, and pot-bellied. He must be worshipt on the beginuing of any and every new undertaking, and for the removal of all obstacles. His hideous image, chiseled in stone, carved in wood and in ivory, cast in copper or brass, is found everywhere; granite ones by the roadside for convenience, and in temples; wood and metal ones in every Saivite's house.
Inferior to these are multitudes .of deities who are supposed to attend to specific affairs of family life and business undertakings of every kind, as birth, betrothal, marriage, sickness, death, and hosts more of still inferior gods and goddesses, which must be worshipt and propitiated, if the worshiper is to have a quiet and happy life. Indeed, their books teach that there are three hundred and thirty millions of gods, male and female, named and unnamed. Of these the Hindus stand in continual fear, and they must be continually propitiated, by libations, offerings, and sacrifices. The temples, the roadside shrines, the groves, the highways and byways, the market places and bazaars, and the houses, family rooms, bedrooms and kitchens, swarm with idols representing these gods, great and small, reminding them of the acts of worship they must perform.
The character of these multitudinous gods of the Hindus, from Brahml1 down, will not bear inspection. The morals of a people are never higher than those of the gods they worship. This accounts for the lax morality so sadly in evidence among the people of India.
Polygamy is recognized in their system, and practist more or less among all classes of the Hindus. There are no "old bachelors" among them. They believe that their after condition depends somewhat on their having male offspring to perform their Obsequies and subsequent ceremonies. They have a proverb which says, "Get a good wife if you can; if not, get a bad one; marry you must."
If after marriage they have no children, or if they have only girls, it is, according to their teachings, incumbent on them to marry another wife. I have known a Hindu who, with four wives, had only daughters. He married a fifth in hope of having sons.
Hindus often look upon plurality of wives, however, in a somewhat different light. A Hindu gentleman of high position, who had been a patient of mine, came in from his distant home to express his thanks to me for his restored health, and to make me ~ friendly visit. After talking on various matters of interest, he askt me how many wives I had. " Only one, most assuredly," was my reply.
"What, sir," said he, "can a benevolent gentleman like yourself, so continually doing good to all around you, rest satisfied with throw- ing your protecting mantle over only one poor unprotected female?
How can you regard that as doing your full duty towards the weaker sex? "
Boys are regarded by them as a blessing, and girls as a curse.
If a. boy is born they think the deity is pleased and confers ~ favor; if a girl, it is a sign of the divine displeasure. If a birth is announced in a friend's house, ere they send any messages, they must ascertain whether it is a case calling for congratulations, a boy, or for condol- ence, a girl. When our sixth son was born, and we had no daughter, a Hindu Rajah, whose dominions lay not far from my station, an old patient of mine, came in to congratulate me over the birth of "six sons, without a daughter to spoil it all." .
I told him that both his mother and myself were much disap- pointed that it was not a daughter He lookt and spoke as though he considered me daft for having such a wish.
"But, your highness," said I, "where would you and I be were it not for our mothers?"
" Ah, sir," said he, "there are sinners enough in the world so that there will be no lack of women. There is no necessity for the right- eous to have daughters."
The Hindu caste system is nowhere indicated in the Vedas. It arose after the migration of the Aryans into India. Yet there is not a part of their religion which, for these past twenty centuries, has held such an iron grip upon the people. For it is a religious, not a social, distinction. The progenitors of each caste they hold to have been a separate creation on the part of BrahmA; the Brahmans being created from his head; the Kshatriyas, warriors, from his shoulders; the Vai- syas, merchants and artizans, from his loins; the Sudras, farmers, from his thighs, and laborers from his feet. There are subdivisions of these castes covering every trade and profession.
A man is born into a caste; he never can ascend. A merchant's son must be a merchant. The son of one of the blacksmith caste, a blacksmith. It stunts progress. It prevents true brotherly feeling.
Under it a Brahman may rightly say, "stand by thyself, I am holier than thou." Its provisions are cast-iron, and on observing them one's future depends. I have known of a Brahman who died in sight of food placed there for his sustenance, because, forsooth, that food had been cookt by one of lower caste. "Better die," said he, "and gain heaven, than eat that food and live, and lose caste, and lose heaven."
It is one of our greatest obstacles in missionary work. The Brah- mans would rather see a son die than become a Ohristian and disgrace their caste. .
Transmigration of souls is also a doctrine of modern Hinduism nowhere indicated in the Vedas. It teaches that when one dies, his soul will simply enter another body, superior or inferior to his former condition according as to whether merit or demerit has preponderated in this life. Each one hopes that his soul may, in the next birth, be born a Brahman. Each one fears that it may be born in one of lower caste, or as an animal or reptile. They hold that this transmigration will go on until finally they shall, in some way, have acquired so much merit that the soul may be absorbed into that of the Deity, and their individual existence cease. This is the Nirvana, or final absorption, which is the highest state of future bliss to which Hindu- ism points its most zealous devotees.
The stolid indifference with which most Hindus meet death, is explained by this belief, that at death they a!e simply passing one milestone in their almost endless series of existences, and that there is as good a chance in the next birth as in that which they are leaving.
Those who posed as representatives of Hinduism at the "Parlia- ment of Religions," portrayed a kind of ancient Vedic Hinduism, revised to suit their own ideas, and make it palatable to persons of Western culture. Oulling its choicest, and giving a Ohristian coloring to many of its conceptions, they evolved and held up to the admira- tion of their credulous auditors as Hinduism a system as different, nay, far more different from the real Hinduism of India's people since the days of Malachi, than Ohristianity is from Mormonism.
The native newspapers of India sneer at the ntterances of the Ohicago representatives of Hinduism, as ntterly nntrue pictures of Hinduism as it exists. Indeed The Hindu Nation, an orthodox lead- ing Hindu newspaper says: "The pure and undefiled Hinduism which Swami Vivekanana.
preacht has no existence to-day; has had no existence for centuries,'
and The Reis and Rayyet, another representative Hindu paper adds, "In fact abomination worship is the main ingredient of modern Hinduism."
And yet the mass of the Hindus suppose that the Hinduism of to-day has come down to them from the Vedas, for not one man in ten thousand in India really knows what the Vedas teach; most of
'252 ROW THE GOSPEL SPREADS IN BURMA
them are simply satisfied to take their religion as it comes to them from their immediate fathers.
In spite, however, of the trammels of their superstition and the blind teachings of their shastras, many Hindus do have a sense of the burden of sin, and a desire for its expiation, and a longing for conformity to, and communion with, a personal God and Father, and do have an undefined hope of a future world of bliss. This we see indi- -cated in the writings of their sages and poets of all the ages. This we find now and then in the thoughtful Hindus of the present day. This gives us an invaluable leverage in gaining access to their hearts and presenting Jesus Christ as the all-sufficient Savior from sin, its pollution, its penalty; as the one who can lift us up to become Sons of God.
HOW THE GOSPEL SPREADS IN BURMA.
BY REV. DAVID GILMORE, RANGOON, BURMA.
How does the Gospel 'effect its entrance into a heathen community ? How does a Ohristian church come to be establisht in a heathen -village, where, from the foundation of the world, there has been no Christian church? By suggesting to me the subject which stands at the head of this article, the editor has led me to suppose that an answer to the above questions will not be devoid of interest to all of ihis readers•.
The first step is generally the visitation of the village by a missionary or a native evangelist. Missionaries spend a great part of their time traveling about in their districts, proclaiming the Gospel from village to village. When the missionary with his native helpers enters a village, he is soon surrounded by a little group of villagers, eager to know whence he comes, and on what errand. The satisfaction of their curiosity on this latter point leads naturally to talk about the 'Christian religion; talk provokes discussion; and as the discussion ,grows more animated, the missionary's congregation increases. It -often happens that the missionary and his native companions spend iSeveral hours continuously in preaching and argument about Ohristianity. After spending as much time as seems profitable, the mis- >sionary passes on to the next village. The apparent result of his visit .is, very probably, n£l. But he has left behiud him a few well selected tracts, to deepen and render more enduring any impressions which may have been made by his words; and if he has been heard with 'any attention and interest, his visit is likely to be repeated next year.
After this has gone on for several years, word may reach the missionary that there are those in the village who have decided to embrace Christianity. He is not likely to lose any time in visiting such a village. Inquirers are pointed to Christ; and candidates for church membership are examined and (if the missionary is satisfied of their conversion) baptized. If the number of converts is sufficiently great, they may be organized into a church at once. If not, the organization of a church, and the settlement of a pastor, will follow as soon'as practicable. When the church is once establisht, the responsibility for the further spread of the Gospel in that vicinity is understood to devolve mainly upon it; tho the missionary still stands ready to visit it whenever it needs counselor encouragement.
This is one way in which the Gospel spreads in Burma-perhaps the way in which it oftenest spreads. But there is infinite variety. Inquirers may appear in a village which has never been visited by a. missionary, or even by a native evangelist, but where some native layman has gone to reside, and has been faithful in witnessing for Christ. Or some heathen man who has heard the Gospel elsewhere may have been so interested as to induce some of his friends to go with him to seek the way to Zion's gate.
In working among the Karens, we find events taking a course somewhat different from that outlined above. When the people of a. Karen village have heard of Christianity, and been favorably imprest by what they have heard, they do not at first ask to be received into the Church, as a rule. They generally ask the missionary to send them a school-teacher. The reason why the Karens do this, and the Burmans do not, is because the heathen Burmans have schools 9f a. sort already, the heathen Karens have none.
When a Karen village asks for a school-teacher, the missionary aims to send a consecrated young man there as soon as he can. The people of the village provide a place to hold school in, and do what ' they can toward the support of the teacher. The mission does the rest. The teacher teaches the four R's-reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic,. and religion-to his pupils. But this is not all he does. As he has opportunity, he makes known the truths of the Gospel to the people of the village, and tries to bring them to Christ. In due time it becomes necessary for an ordained minister to visit that village and administer baptism. Scores of Karen churches have had their origin in just such a way as this. The establishment of a Christian school in a heatheu Karen village means the organization of a church later on. In many places, the school is the only way in which a Christian worker could secure a foothold.
An illustration of the usefulness of the school as an evangelistic agency is found in the work of a young Karen man in the Maulmain district. The young man had no unusual ability or education; but he had a. desire to lead souls to Christ. With this end in view, he entered a heathen village and set up a primary school. With this as a. base of operations he labored pn, patiently and quietly, until the vil- lage came over to Christianity. He then left it, to repeat the same work in a second, and subsequently ill a third village.
Besides these small village schools, the large schools of more advanced grade, such as are found in most mission stations, have no small share in the work of spreading the Gospel. All of these schools contain heathen pupils, and every year many of these pupils are led to Christ through the influences brought to bear upon them in the school. The efficiency of the mission-school as a means of evangelization may be seen from the opinion exprest in a letter from a young Karen man. This young man, who had himself been converted in a mission school, was spending a vacation preaching in heathen villages. ,He wrote me that wherever he went he was making great efforts to induce heathen parents to send their children down to the missionschool in his tOWIl. He exprest an opinion that "the best way was to get the children to come down to the school to be converted." This is another method by which the Gospel makes its way into heathen communities. , The work of the medical missionary is second to none as a means of preparing the way of the Gospel. Lovers of missions generally understand how the Gospel is proclaimed in the dispensary and during the professional visit. But at Maulmain there has recently been an interesting development of medical missionary work, under the care of Miss E. E. Mitchell, M.D. Dr. Mitchell secures the houses of grate:(ul heathen patients for the holding of Sunday-schools. Then the young people from the church and school, under the lead of their teachers, go out to these houses on Sunday, gather together the heathen children, and teach them about Jesus and the Bible.
Of late years, much has been done in Burma in the line of holding Sunday-schools for heathen children in private houses, or even in the open air. There have been Sunday-schools in Burma for many years, and there have been heathen children in the Sunday-schools; but during the past three years much more attention has been paid to Sunday-schools for heathen children as distinguisht from those held in connection with churches and mission-schools. This is largely due to the visits which the late Dr. J. L. Phillips paid to Burma as secretary of the India Sunday-school Union.
The distribution of tracts and Scripture portions has always been, in Burma, a favorite way of spreading the Gospel, and a way whose usefulness has been demonstrated again aud again. A fragment of a tract, pickt up by the wayside, was the beginning of a considerable ingathering in one of the snburbs of Rangoon. The man who pickt it up had his curiosity excited by its very incompleteness, and went to the nearest mission-school to learn more about it. Man as he was, he ,sat as an humble disciple at the feet of· Ma Mee, the Burmese head mistress, to learn more of the religion taught by that tract. He was converted himself, and was the means of-leading several of his neigh- bors to Christ. Cases have occurred where men have been baptized whose conversion was due under God to tracts received years before.
One way of spreading the Gospel, which I suppose to be peculiar to Burma, is at what are known as funeral meetings. The Burmese Christians have a custom, borrowed from the Buddhists, of holding meetings for religious discussion at any of their houses where there has recently been a funeral. Heathen neighbors are generally willing to attend such meetings, and can not take umbrage if (in a Christian . house) Christianity comes to the front in the discussion. Through these funeral meetings it is often possible to reach people who would not be willing to attend the services at the meeting-house.
There is one way in which the Gospel has of late years been spread- ing more than was formerly .the case, and in which many of us expect to see great developments in the near future. I refer to the evangeli- zation of heathen Burmans by Christian Karens. The Karen Chris- tians have always shown a praiseworthy zeal in laboring for the uncon- verted of their own race; but until recently they have not felt that they could do much for the Burmans, by whom they were once bitterly· persecuted, and by whom they are sti1llooked down upon. But as the Karens, increasing in education and wealth, are coming to command the respect of the Burmans, they begin to feel a responsibility for the evangelization of the Burmans. This sense of responsibility shows a tendency to grow. Not long ago a Burmese church was organized in a village near Henzada, as a result of the labors of the Karen church in a contiguous village. One by one the Burmans were led to Christ, and baptized into the fellowship of the Karen church, tho they could not understand a word that was said in the meetings of that church. When they were sufficiently numerous, they were dismist to organize a church where they could worship in their own language. Truly not in vain is it written: "By men of strange lips and with another tongue will He speak to this people."
Of course, some of the ways by which the Gospel spreads in Burma are more or less like the ways by which it spreads in America. There, as here, Christian parents try to bring their children up "in the nur- ture and admonition of the Lord," and generally see them come into the membership of the church in due time. In this connection, the influence of the Sunday-school is very powerful. And it will readily be understood that a church once planted in any community consti- tutes a center from which the Gospel spreads. Methods of church- work there are not, and can not be, the same as here. For instance, it is only to a limited extent that the regular church services can be made an evangelistic agency, since the heathen are more averse than the unconverted in America tOllntering a church edifice. Still, in their
PROGRESS IN OEYLON
own way, the churches do grow. Hundreds of converts, some from the heathen, and some from the families of Christians,· are every year received by the native churches, without the intervention of any missionary or of anyone in mission employ.
Mention ought to be made of the large number of native evangelists commissioned and supported by organizations of native Christians. Our native Christians in Burma have societies for the prosecution of both home and foreign missions, and through these societies many native preachers are kept at work. And in the last analysis, the converted native is the best means for spreading the Gospel; and the efficiency of any missionary society will depend largely on the use it makes of this instrumentality. Our American Baptist mission in Burma has always made great use of the native laborer. But we are not content with employing as many native helpers as our meaRS will allow. ' We consider it more important to induce the native churches to support as many native workers as their means will allow, and most important of all, to induce the membership of our churches to do what they can, personally and individually, to make known the Gospel to those that have it not.
PROGRESS IN CEYLON.
BY MARY AND MARGARET W. LEITCH.
Ceylon, the "Pearl on the brow of India," occupies a strategic position both from a political and a missionary point of view. The first missionaries to Ceylon chose it as a point from which to evangelize India. They realized that, if the people on this island could be won, they in turn wonld take a share in the work of winning India for Christ. Their expectations are beginning to be realized, for already scores of the brightest Christian young men of Ceylon can be found in many parts of India, as well as in Burma, Singapore, Penang, the Straits Settlement, and Borneo, doing noble work for Christ. They are employed as helpers by twelve leading missionary societies. Not a few have turned away from government service with its offer of a large salary, prospect of promotion, and retiring pension, and have chosen Christian work with barely a living salary. They have learned that tthere is something better worth living for than merely ma.king money.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.-Ceylon is a unique educational center. When the first missionaries went to Ceylon, early in this century, they found the great mass of the people sunk in ignorance and superstition. The Buddhist and Hindu priests and a few others could read, but the majority of the people were entirely uneducated. It is probable that there was not then one educated native woman on the island.
When the missionaries began to open schools, the people willingly allowed the boys to attend, but they ridiculed the idea of giving an education to girls, saying, "What would be the use of sending a girl to school? A girl could never learn to read any more than a sheep." On one occasion a missiouary was urging a native gentleman to allow his daughter to attend school. The native pointing at a horse by the roadside, said, "Sir, could that horse learn to read?" The missionary replied in the negative " Well," rejoined the native, "if an intelligent animal like a horse could not learn to read, how do you think a woman could learn?"
This was the low ideal which Hinduism had given of the capacity of women. In a Hindu home a woman is never, as a rule, allowed to eat with her husband. He and the sons eat first, the mother and daughters eat afterwards. The term which even a small boy uses in addressing his mother is a term used for an inferior.
The missionaries labored earnestly for two years before they were able to induce ~ven one girl to attend school. The first who came committed to memory the 240 letters of the Tamil alphabet and began to read. When the people saw that a girl could learn, they were surprised, even pleased. At present, in connection with the five Protestant Missionary Societies at work on the island, there are nearly 50,000 children in mission schools, about one-third of whom are girls. There are not only primary and middle schools in the villages, but Girls' Boarding Schools at the Mission Stations, also Normal Training and Industrial Schools, Colleges, and Theological Schools, for young men. Fully 5,000 young men and women are receiving a higher education under mission auspices. Many of the brightest of these are becoming teachers, evangelists, and Christian workers in Ceylon and India.
SELF-SUPPORT.-The expense of the educational work to the Mission Board is very slight. For example, in the American Board's Mission, only 4 per cent. comes from the home Board, 96 per cent. being secured through fees from pupils, the income from various endowments, and liberal grants from the government, Ceylon being a British Crown Colony.
There are nearly 12,000 Christian communicants in the Protestant churches in Ceylon, and more than twice that number of inquirers and adherents. The majority of the churches are self-supporting, and have native pastors ordained over them; the others are aiming at selfsupport. In the American Board's Mission, only 10 per cent. of the whole expense for church work is met by the home Board, 90 per cent. being raised in Ceylon.
PROPORTIONATE GIVING.-The native Christians also contribute very liberally to the native Bible and Tract Societies, and to their own native missionary societies, in connection with which they are supporting a considerable number of native workers.
In Ceylon~ as in most heathen lands, the majority of the people are poor. The ordinary day-wage of a workingma.n is equal to eight American cents. On this sum a man must support his wife and children, and sometimes one or two aged relatives. The average income of the working people per man, woman, and child, is not more than a cent a day I The majority of these do not have more than one meal of solid food a day, and their expense for luxuries does not exceed per individual more than three-quarters of a cent a month.
Nevertheless the poverty of these poor people abounds to the riches of their liberality. It is a rule among the native Ohristians to give a tenth of their income to Ohrist's work. Those who are in receipt of salaries, give a tenth of their salaries, those who are farmers, give a tenth of their crops, and those who have fruit trees, give the fruit of each tenth tree. 'l'hey have found by experience that nine-tenths with God's blessing goes as far as ten-tenths used to go. The Ohristians are not impoverisht by this giving. The Ohristian commmunity is the most prosperous, the most educated, the most respected community on the island, and presElnts a striking contrast to the heathen com· munity. Altho the native Ohristians begin by giving a tenth, they do not always stop there. That is a standard below which they do not intend to fall. Many of them, especially those who are prosperous, give more than the tenth.
SELF-SACRIFICE.-The principal food of the country is rice and curry. Each morning when a Ohristian woman measures out the rice for the family for the day, so many handfuls for her husband, for each child, and for herself, she takes one handful or more and puts it into a box marked" The Lord's Box," thus diminishing by a little the amount the family would have eaten. This custom is almost universal among the Ohristians. :From time to time, the church treasurer of each church visits all the Ohristian homes, collects the rice from these boxes, sells it, and sends the money to the native missionary society.
A WORTHY EXAMPLE.-The native Ohristians in Oeylon can not enjoy many luxuries. They have no stained-glass windows in their churches, no paid choirs, and no church debts, but they enjoy one magnificent luxury. Many churches, numbering not more than a hundred members, not only support their own native pastor, but support as well, each their own native missionary in some outlying district in which there is no resident foreign missionary. If the weak struggling churches in Oeylon can do this, could not the strong wealthy churches in America each enjoy the luxury of supporting its own foreign missionary, through the channels of its own denominational Board? WORK FOR THE MASsEs.-Not only do the Ohristians of Oeylon give money, they give themselves to Ohrist's work. In connection with most of the churches large Sunday-schools are held on Sunday morn- • ing, when the children of the outlying village-schools are brought together. Nearly all of the church members may be found teaching in these Sunday-schools, after which comes the morning service, when the native pastor gives to his people good plain Gospel food. Then, instead of attending a second service, and getting spiritual dyspepsia by eating too much Gospel food and doing too little Christian work, the native Christians are accustomed to go out into the villages in groups for work among their heathen neighbors.
Early in the afternoon one may see bands of Christian women and girls starting out in different directions, to hold cottage meetings among the women, and Christian men and boys going to villages one or two miles distant to hold village Sunday-schools, or open air preach- ing services. In this way the Gospel is being widely disseminated.
If Christians in America would pursue a similar plan, giving up their Sabbath afternoons or evenings to work among the uuevangelized, one would not much longer hear the old cry, " There are so many heathen at home."
AN EFFECTIVE AGENCY.-A hopeful feature of the work in Ceylon is the medical work. Two medical missions have recently been estab- lisht in the Northern Province,oue for men, the other for women and children. The general medical mission for men is under the care of two fully qualified doctors, Rev. T. B. Scott, M.D., and Mrs. Scott, M.D.
Last year they treated in their hospital and dispensary over 4,800 patients, and the people so fully appreciated this work, that $850 were secnred locally toward its support.
While other missionaries are obliged to seek an audience the medi- cal missionary has this advantage, that his audience comes to him morning by morning. An Evangelistic service is held daily with the dispensary patients and their friends, and in the quiet of the hospital the doctors and their attendants have an unequaled opportunity for personal work.
Eye diseases are common in the country, and as Dr. Scott is a skilled oculist, and has by operations for cataract been successful in restoring sight to persons who had been blind for years, his fame has spread far and wide, and patients have come 200 miles to him for treatment.
Mrs. Scott through her knowledge of medicine, has been able to .
secure an entrance among the Mohammedan women who up to this time have been inaccessible to missionary ladies.
Two medical ladies (Mary H. Irwin, M.D., C.M., and Isabella H.
Curr; L.R.C.S., & P.), have recently gone to Ceylon to take charge of the medical mission for women. The new buildings-a hospital with 40 beds. dispensary, nurse's training home, and mission house, are completed and ready for use. The medical missionaries by their skill- ful and sympathetic treatment will present a striking contrast to the
•• OASTE" IN lNDU
devil dancers and ignorant heathen doctors, of whom there are more than 700 in this province. Another woman's hospital has recently been establisht in Colombo, the capital of the island. The valne of European medical treatment, and the advantage to the native women of the services of a lady doctor, are now so much appreciated by the natives that the entire amount required for the erection of the buildings in Colombo ($15,000) was subscribed in the island; the larger part being given by natives.
A GENERAL Y. M. O. A. SECRETARY.-A new feature of the work in Oeylon is the arrival of a general Y. M. C. A. secretary, Louis Rieb, B.A., (with Mrs. Hieb), under appointment by the International Com- mittee, for the developing of Y. M. C. A. work, and for aggressive evangelistic, temperance, anti-opium, and purity work. Ris first series of meetings was held in the Northern Province, and the following very encouraging letter to the home secretary has just been received.
JAFFNA, Ceylon, Dec. 9, 1896.
My DEAR MR. MORSE:-While awaiting the steamer to take us to Colombo, I thought you would like to learn the result of my visit among the J affna associa- tions. Visited in all nine associations. Establisht two Bible Training Classes and prepared the way for others where they did not exist. At J affna College pre- pared for an organization of a Volunteer Band for Home Missions. The most signal approval of God upon our work was at the Tillipally Training School, where after our general student's meeting, the leader of the Hindu opposition among the students, regarded by the missionary, Rev. T. S. Smith, as an almost hopeless case, came out clearly for Christ. At a special meeting the same evening nine other students took a similar stand. All but one of these came from Sivite homes.
Mr. Smith told me later that four others have also decided for Christ. At Jaffna Col- lege I took the Saturday and Sunday services closing a week of prayer, postponed from November. Saturday morning the very remarkable conversion of a Hindu student occurred, through the efforts made earlier in the week by the students.
On Sunday four other students accepted Christ as their Savior.
Remember me kindly to the brethren at the office, and urge their continuing in prayer for the work here. With very kindest regards, Very sincerely yours, (Signed) LOUIS HIED.
" OASTE" IN INDIA.
:BY W. J. WANLESS, M. D., MIRAJ, INDIA.
Originally caste in India was a social and trades-protection society, to-day it is a synonym for religion (Hinduism) among the vast millions of the Hindu population. Adherence to caste principles is inseparably connected with idolatry. The caste rules are as absurd as the idolatry is revolting; yet these rules form the religion of the vast masses of India. A Hindu may commit the vilest sin, the most atrocious crime, and still retain his caste (or social) position, but let him deign to accept a cup of water from a man of lower caste than himself, and immediately he is ostracized and excommunicated for thus daring to pollute himself. One of the Hindu Pundits who spoke so glibly of Hinduism,- its liberality, etc.,- at "The World's Parliament of Religions," was, on returning to India, made to submit to the disgusting ceremony of swallowing the five products of the cow, and to pay the priest a large sum of money in order that he might be reinstated into caste.
The vast majority of India's millions know next to nothing of philosophical or Vedantic Hinduism. The~r religion is caste. Oaste is their master, and it has bound them in fetters of iron. It is the hideous monster that still holds them within its awful coil. This is "the god of this world" that has blinded their eyes with a desperate and indiscernible blindness. So faithfully do the people accept its teaching and obey its laws, that millions of them would rather lose a hand, an eye, or even life than to break caste and suffer the consequences. It is "the most inexorable system of social tyranny ever inflicted upon the human race," and the Brahmin priesthood are the mainstay of everything that is wicked and tyrannical in it. With its thirty thousand caste sects and intersects its ramifications extend into every phase of Hindu life, and even Mohammedanism is largely contaminated and trammeled by it. There are even castes of scavengers who would not eat each others' food, or reeeive water from each other, lest they be polluted.
Oaste in India is "a huge monster born of the dusk, darkening and polluting every life upon which it falls. It is a gross caricature of the spiritual brotherhood of those who are Ohrist's." Pernicious in principle, and malicious in practise, not only does it prevent the spread of the Gospel, and obstruct every form of educational progress, but it hinders even the exhibition of true charity. Oaste beggars repeatedly refuse cookt food from Ohristians, or castes lower than themselves. Sick people refuse our liquid medicines because of the water added by Ohristian hands, and caste lepers in the government asylums, with sores and rotting limbs, are constantly fearful lest their food and water be inadvertently polluted by the touch of other castes than their own. Food pollution is religious pollution, since it is only by uncontaminated food and external cleansing that the soul is freed from sin. How different the teaching of Jesus! I once sat down upon a large covered box containing the lunches of a number of my workmen. Subsequently the foreman came running after me, and declared that my contact with the box in which their lunches had been placed had polluted them, and that day they cast their food to the dogs, and went without their midday meal.
Caste is the factor that missionaries in India must reckon with more than any other social or religious influences. To be baptized is to break caste. There are thousands who would openly confess Christ, were it not for the fear of the persecution which such an act would bring upon them. Among the educated classes there are hundreds who have lost faith in their own systems, who have forsaken idolatry, and who believe Jesus to be the only Savior of the world, but who fear to confess Him openly. Thank God the fetters are breaking. Many have already suffered the loss of all things for Christ, and bear about on their body the marks of the Lord Jesus; they rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer for His sake. Over all the land we see indioations of the falling fetters. In the large cities and railway towns, the railways, public drinking-fountains, hospitals, schools, and scores of other agencies are being used of God to break down caste prejudice and to open wide the door for the witness for Christ. Multitudes throng the street-cars, railways, hospitals, and schools, where a few years ago l;igid adherence to caste rules made this change in public sentiments'seeming impossibility. Now among all classes we see those, once manacled by caste and enslaved by ignorance and superstition, now professing their freedom in Christ Jesus and pressing their way out of religious bondage, tho their change of faith often involves the bitterest persecution and the severest ostracism from' all that on earth they hold dear. Hundreds more would doubtless confess Christ if they could be sufficiently taught, but where are the workers to teach them? While we withhold the truth which alone can free them, satan, through the 24,000 post-offices and letter-boxes of the land is pouring into the country all manner of literary filth. The writings of Voltaire, Paine, and other infidels, cheap French novels and other vile literature, are not only freely scattered abroad in the great cities, but are translated into the vernaculars of the country to poison the mind and enslave the souls of thousands of those who have heard only enough of Christian truth to create a thirst for the freedom which that truth alone can give them. They have only heard of the truth that will make them free, they do not yet" know" it, and that because we do not send workers to impart the knowledge. Young and aggressive India is cutting loose from her ancient moorings only to drift out into an unknown sea of agnosticism, infidelity, scepticism, and theosophy. Modern science is displacing caste, modern unbelief is replacing it. Oh for ten thousand Christian ministers in our wealthy towns and cities over all this continent, who realized that they were ministers not merely for the living their profession secures, and for the other social emoluments of their office, but, "men whose hearts God had toucht with the prayer passion." Men who believed that " The field is the world, and the world the field," just as much for themselves as for the missionary who goes to the ends of the earth, men who made" their flock their force, not their field," and who realized that the supreme business of the church is the evangelization of
POLYGAMOUS APPLICANTS
the world; then the history of the Church would be changed; these manacled millions would hear fully the preaching of the Gospel and soon shake off their fetters of caste, superstition, and ignorance, and, coming forth into the full light of the Gospel, would believe the truth and the truth would make them free.
POLYGAMOUS APPLICANTS.-III.
WHAT MISSIONARIES THINK SHOULD BE DONE WITH THEM.
BY REV. DANIEL L. GIFFOR!>, SEOUL, KOREA.
REPLIES RECOMMENDING ADMISSION OR FAVORING LENIENCY.
China.-Rev. S. F. Woodin (American Board), Foochow, thus expresses himself in regard to the reception to the church of those who give good evidence of conversion in all other things: (1.) My idea is that he ought not to always be kept outside the church as only a catechumen. (2.) I think that some of those with plural.wives may be admitted to the church. I should think it best to have a longer time of probation as inquirer than required of others who were like them in other religious experiences and evidences. but who had only one wife. (3.) It seems to me that it may be allowed to receive to church membership, after a sufficient probation, those having more than one wife, where the wives were married with the regular marriage rites of full wives, and where they wish to continue as his wives. If those be8ides the first· ife are entirely willing to leave the man, and it is a lawful thing by the laws of the land to so leave the husband, then that would seem a right thing to do. Unless the first wife of her own free will should determine and insist upon leaving the husband, 8he should always be kept as his wife. Where both wives have children, or where the first wife has none and the second wife has children, I do not think that the man should be required to put the second wife away before he can be received to the church. In regard to the man who has a wife, and also has C()nc'UlJi1U8 not taken with the ceremonies of full marriage, I think the wife should always be kept, and the question should be considered whether he should also keep the concubines or not. If they are young and have no children, often they could be put away without difficulty, and the question is whether such should not always be put away. If they have children or are ad'vanced in life it may be best that the husband retain them and still be received to the church. It would need to be decided whether or not he should then take the concubine and with appropriate ceremonies acknowledge her as a wife.
n any wives or concubines are put away by the husband, whether divorced or not, I think he is bound to support them until they remarry, as far as they are not able to support themselves. The children of such would naturally remain with the father, certainly also be supported by him. (4.) In regard to the female applicant for admission to the church who is a second wife or concubine, but whose husband is not willing to put her away, if otherwise worthy of church membership, I think she may well be received to the church. She is in China, and probably in Korea, under the law and control of her husband almost as much 8B a slave is under hiS master. It seems to lme that no fixt rule should be establisht 8B unalterable, but each case should be decided on its own merits according to its own peculiar conditions, and the law and custom of the place and country must always be taken into account.
Rev. H. (J. DeBose (S. Presbyterian), Soochow.
I wish the circular had come to one who knew more about it. That a line must be drawn somewhere is clear, or else the baptism of an African chief with his house (i. e., a dozen wives and their children). would be doing business by the wholesale. . . . The only case in our mission was of a teacher in Hangchow. The brethren put the very easy cross before him of putting away one of his wives. The second one was sold to a widower for $136; the deed was written in the S. P. M. chapel, and the minister was middleman, and received a fee (i. e., it was supposed so). I suppose the candidate for baptism thought the other man was able to pay and he might as well get the money.* . . . I recently baptized a man with theoretically two wives, but thirteen years ago, when he took the second, the first left him, and she has lived in another city with her mother. It can hardly be conceived that in a country where were the descendants of Abraham, Jacob, and David, that there were not polygamists among the 3,000 at Pente· cost. t . . . My own view is that wives with children should not be divorced.
A parental relation has been formed by both parties. But most old Chinese women without children would be willing to be retired on a comfortable pension.
• There are many practical ,ways in each individual case that may be opened. It is well to wait for one, two, or three years, and see how the case turns out. The Lord often gives special light in special cases, It is well to wait on him. . • . The O. T. saints were polygamists. It can hardly be put down as a maZum per 8e as long II.'! we Presbyterians put so much stress on O. T. teachings." In regard to I. Tim. 3 :2, I hardly agree with Dr_ Hodge.t There were covetous, high-tempered men, and moderate drinkers in the early church; but they were not to be preachers; i. e., examples to the flock. If there were no polygamists in the church, why use the words?
Rev. D. E. Hosle (Ohina Inland), Hungtung.
Let me say, first, that, so far as I understand, there are in the Bible two different standards of practise as to marriage, the Old Testament and the New Testament standards. In Exodus 21: 10 we find bigamy recognized (not approved), and regulations are given about it. The wives of Abraham, Jacob, David, and others were lawful, and their children were legitimate; nor do we ever find any reference to them in the New Testament as being otherwise. Now if a plurality of wives was permitted under the Mosaic law, then much more is it lawful in the case of heathen, who have far less light than the people of Israel in Old Testament times. Hence marriages made when the parties were without Gospel light, are legal and binding, and the fact of the parties (one or both) subsequently becoming Christians, does not alter this legality. Of course, in tMfuture, their practise in marrying must be regulated by Christian standards. In Matt. 5 : 31, 32, our Lord quotes from Deut. 24 : 1, and then proceeds to give a different standard; but surely He does not by this mean that all who had before acted *Rev. J. L. Stuart, referring to the same case, says, that the woman had previously been an applicant for baptism; but after her remarriage, "gave U,? all interest in the Gospel." t For the existence of polygamy among the Jews, in the days of the apostles, see Josephus' "Antiquities," p. 524, where in alluding to Herod's plurality of wives, he declares that such was the existing custom.
Vol. III, p. 388. according to Deut. 24 :1, were adulterers and their marriages void? Hence. I reply that a convert must understand, of course, that in future he can not marry again during the life·time of any of his present wives; nor can he hold office as long as he has more than one wife. Receive her, the wife. . . . My opinion on this subject is confined to China and countries where marriage is a bona fide social relation. In Africa, where, practically, the sexual relation is promiscuous, I should think the whole question must be handled differently.
Rev. Stanley P. Smith (Ohina Inland), Lu An.
I am not aware that the C. I. M. has any authoritative rule or practise with reference to plurality of wives. I therefore can only give my opinion. • . . (1.) I do not think a man with plural wives should be kept outside the church as a ,. perpetual catechumen." (2.) I think he should be permitted to put away or divorce no 8ingle one of his wives. (8.) Putting away any wives to my mind is equivalent to adultery, and I would expel a member from my church for so doing; for in doing so he makes the woman (or tantamount to it) commit adultery. (4.) With the female applicant, if fully satisfied with her conversion, I should not hesitate to receive her into church fellowship. These unavoidable evils would only last a generation, for after e.terin~ the Church there could henceforth be no more.
Rev. Wm. Ashmore, Jr., also presenting the views of Rev. Wm. Ashmore, D.D. (American Baptist), Swatow: Such cases as you speak of have not been common with us, and yet they have occurred. I remember hearing my father say of the first one that occurred in connection with this mission, that they compelled the man to put away his second wife, but that he had since felt that it was a mistake. The rejected woman afterwards came to the missionaries saying piteously "What am I to do? He is my husband and the father of my children. What right have you to take him away from me ?" It was a very difficult question to answer. When I came to Swatow, fifteen years ago, there were in the church a man and his wife (second wife, the first wife being still alive). Both man and wife were faithful members, the former till his death, and the woman still. I believe that their case fairly represents the present attitude of this mission on this subject. When the relation has existed before the parties had heard the Gospel, we have not thought that the teaching of the Scripture would require that it be sundered. In fact, it has seemed to us that I Tim. 8: 20 and Tit. 1: 6 strongly indicate that there were such cases in the early church, and that while Paul recognizes such persons as eligible to churchmembership, and already in the church, in some cases, he intends to teach that they are not eligible to the offices of the church. It goos without saying that if a man who is already a member of the church takes a second wife. he thereby subjects himself to church discipline and exclusion.
Rev. H. D. Porter, M.D., D.D. (also stating the view of the late Rev. J. L. Nevius, D.D.) (American Board), P'ang Ohuang.
In our own station we have had one case which settled itself, and another case now on hand which we are dealing with. . . . Let me give first the experience of good Dr. Nevius, whom we all loved and venerated so much. In 1887, Mr. Smith and I visited his field with him. One Saturday we spent part of the day with an old man, who had been a member for some years. He had two wives, both of whom Dr. Nevius had received to the church some years before. Each wife had one or two sons, and these also were church members. It was the judgment of Dr. Nevius that it was wise and best thus to receive them and develop, if possible, a true Christian life in the families. We had communion together. While my mind had been tending in that direction, I was glad to find that so experienced a worker saw the conditions so clearly, and had no hesitancy in receiving the man and his wives. The case in our church was received before we knew that he had two wives. We did not think fit to do other than allow the old status to remain. In the spring of this year a man of considerable means was received on probation. We found that he had two wives, and three sons by each of them, all likely lads under twelve. We shall, no doubt, receive him to membership when the right period of probation has passed. (1.) It does not appear to us best that such a candidate should be kept upon perpetual probation. (2.) There appears to be no just reason why such a candidate, if his faith and knowledge of Christian truth are such as to warrant it, should not be received. The conditions assigned might be made to vary. But I should prefer not to add conditions, considering that the marriages were entered upon without a knowledge of Christian morality. (3.) In case a man had but two wives, our practise would be not to have either put away; were there more than two wives, the problem would take another form. (a) It would seem reasonable and most desirable that the mother of the children should not be put away. (b) In case of putting away one or more, it would be in accord with the same line of reasoning that the man should support the wife or wives sent away. The problem of the children would not come into account if dealt with as our practise illustrates. The father should, under all circumstances, be responsible for all his children. (4.) In the case of a woman, whose husband did not wish to part with her, although I have not known such a case, our practise would be to interfere as little as possible. An attempt to relieve the woman from her claims would be misinterpreted. There would seem to be a natural human law, guiding to a definite practise in such an instance. . . . I understand that the experience of missionaries in India and elsewhere is that it is much the wisest to accept each man and woman, as the Apostle says, " In the calling wherein he was called." If married then, let him abide, even if married to two or more. Death will solve the question more readily than we can. The church, of course, will readily correct any tendency to the repetition of such moral mistakes. The quarrels, which so often arise in families so constituted, show the wisdom, even to the natives, of the single marriage relation.
The position of the late Rev. A. P. Happer, D.D., al~o of Rev. B.
O. Henry, D.D. (N. Presbyterian), Canton, is expressed in a letter from Rev. H. Y. Noyes. "I recollect one case where Dr. Happer received a man with two wives. Dr. Happer advocated strongly the view that these cases might be received. He was the only one of our Mission who did so, since I came to China, till recently, I believe, Dr.
Henry has, to some extent, advocated the same."
Rev. Art1tur H. Smith (American Board), Tientsin, writes that their missiori has never had a definite policy. At a recent mission meeting a committee was appointed, who reported, and their report was adopted and entered on the minutes. The report is, in part, as follows; The marriage relation was contracted while the parties were ignorant of the Gospel and its requirements. In many cases children have been born, and these must be cared for. To require the wives to be put away would cause more or less distress, and frequently be the direct cause of sin, as wen as suffering-remedying the one evil would be productive of greater evils. Your committee believes the ideal course would be for the man to live with the first wife and support the
RESULTS OF mSSION WORK IN INDIA
others in separate quarters. But difficulties will arise in requiring this as the invariable rule, in cases where the first wife has no children, and the other wife or wives have, especially if it be the favorite wife. While, therefore, this appears to be the desirable course to take whenever practicable or possible, and is the one which your committee recommend, we feel that the conditions and circumstances controlling each case must receive careful considerati'ln, and somewhat modify :final action. Your committe therefore recommend that the principle above stated be adhered to as far as possible, and that in special cases, candidates-husbands or wives-may receive baptism in accordance with the spirit of Christian love and wisdom.
Committee-Messrs. Stanley, Renent. and Chapin.
RESULTS OF MISSION WORK IN INDIA.* BY REV. J. H. WYCKOFF.
In estimating the results of mission work in India, it is only fair to take into account other forces than the missionary which are working for good among the people. Chief among these is the British Government, which, in the Providence of God, is establisht in this land. Much as we may regret the apathy and indifference of individual officials to mission work, it is a pleasure to be able to testify that the general influence of the Government of India is on the side of righteousness. My experience among natives of all classes leads me unhesitatingly to affirm that the rulers of India stand, in the eyes of the people, as the embodiment of integrity, justice, and truth. Nor could it be otherwise, when we remember that the Government of India is, to a large extent, the expression and the reflection of the people of England.
Now, here is an essential factor to be noted in measuring the progress of Christianity in India. The higher moral standard that has been adopted by many Hindus, their greater regard for the truth, the increast spirit of manliness and self-respect, their kindlier treatment of women-are not necessarily the result of mission work, but are largely due to the influence, unconscious tho it may be, of the Englishman in India, in whom these characteristics are peculiarly exhibited.
But, important and valuable as these manly virtues are, they do not, by any means, constitute all of our religion, which, along with righteousness, justice, and truth, inculcates love, mercy, and self-sacrifice; and it is of these virtues that the missionary is the chief exponent. As Christ came to help the poor, the unfortunate, and the opprest, SQ the missionary, moved by the example of his Master, comes .. An address delivered at the Kodaikanal Missionary Conference, May 21st,1896. CoudellSt trolll the revort in Tile Cllrutian Pa~rwt (India). . to bring comfort, joy, and hope to the weak and the distrest. No one who contemplates the social syetem of the Hindus, with its awful effects on the people, will deny that there is a crying need for snch philanthropy in India. A system that brands one-fifth of the popula- tion as social outcasts, with all the degradation that the term implies; that condemns thousands of innocent widows to a life of desolation and despair; that practically forbids education to women; that marries children in infancy-surely, the man must be either biast or blind who contends that the Christian missionary has no place in India. Hard, indeed, must be the heart that can see these millions of helpless victims suffer without coming to their relief.
The first result of mission work in India that I shall mention is the amelioration of the condition of these unfortunate classes. Who can witness the splendid educational work done by the missionary, especially for Hindu and Mohammedan women, the large number of orphanages and schools establisht for the poor, the increasing number of women taught in their homes, the medical, industrial, and other work done among the deprest classes, without acknowledging that a new social system is being introduced among the Hindus which is gradually emancipating them from the cruel customs that have so long bound them? One could preseut a long array of statistics to prove this, but instead of dry facts, I wish to give two testimonies from native sources. The first is from the Commissioner of the Census of 1891 for the State of Travancore, Mr. Nagam lyeI', a Brahman gentleman, who, in his report, says: .
"By the unceasing efforts and self-denying labors of the learned body of the Christian missionaries in the country, the large community of native Christians are rapidly advancing in their moral, intellectual, and material condition. They have nearly doubled the number of their literates since 1875. But for them, these humble orders of society will for ever remain unraised. Their material condition, I dare say, will have improved from the increast wages, improved labor market and better laws, but to the Christian miSSIOnary belongs the credit of having gone to their humble dwellings and awakened them to the sense of a better earthly existence. This action of the missionaries was not a mere improvement upon ancient history, a kind of refining and polishing of an existing model, but an entirely origiu!!l idea, conceived and carried out with commendable zeal, and ofttimes in the teeth of opposition and persecution. The heroism of raising the low from the slough of degradation and debasement is an element of civilization unknown to ancient India. The Brahman community of Southern India is not doing to the lower cla!'lles what the casteless Britisher is doing for them. The credit of this philanthropy, of going to the homes of the low, the distrest, and the dirty-putting the shoulder to the wheel of depraved humanity, belongs to the Englishman. I do not think the Brahmans, or even the high-caste non-Brahmans can claim the credit. It is a glory reserved to this century of human pro- gress-the epoch of the happy commingling of the civilization of the West with that of the East." This is from a Brllhman, in a State paper, not submitted, please note, to the English Government, but to a native prince.
The other testimony is with regard to educational work for women, from the correspondent of Hindu, Madura. He says:- "It is now becoming the fashion among our educated people to cry down the work of Christian missionaries, and even to vilify them. But an ounce of solid work is worth a pound of windy oratory. Judged by this principle the Christian missionary must be esteemed to be one of the greatest benefactors of our country. While the educated Indian has not yet got beyond the talking stage in the matter of female education, the Christian missionary has honey-combed the country with girls' schools. He has also recently begun to establish institutions to train women teachers to man-'woman,' should we not say?-these girls' schools. In Madura, for instance, there are half a dozen mission girls' schools, with a training school for school mistresses. But what has the Hindu community to show in return? There is not even a single Hindu girls' school in the whole towu I Would you believe it? Some years ago there was a Hindu girls' school here. But the managers of the institution went up to Government with an abject confession of their inability to keep the school going, and an humiliating prayer to take it under their own management. And what was once the Hindu girls' school is now known as the Government girls' school. What a commentary, this, on our vociferous demands for greater political privileges! "
But, humanitarian and philanthropic efforts are not the chief work of the missionary. We believe that the evils under which India is groaning have their root in wrong belief, and that, if any thorough reform is to be effected, the religious thought of the people must be changed. For not only are Hinduism and Christianity separated as widely as the poles, but Hinduism contradicts the very fundamental laws of natural religion, such as the personality of God, the existence of God separate from his creatures, the freedom of the human will, the trustworthiness of consciousness as to our own personality and the reality of the external world. And the result of such false think- ing is seen in the sad moral and religious condition of the people.
The licentious character of the Hindu gods; the gross idolatry and superstition of the masses; the perverted moral sense of the average Hindu; these are simply the natural outcome of the 'pantheistic thought that lies at the basis of the Hindu religion. God forbid that we should abuse the Hindus, whom we love as our own brothers.
Many of them are better than their religion. Their love for their homes and their friends; their patience and meekness under trial; their courtesy and respect to superiors and strangers; their high intellectual endowments ;-these are in them qualities to be admired; but their religion is their destruction, and until this is changed, there is no hope for the Hindu. Hence we missionaries are here to propa- gate a higher and holier religion, which, as it has done so much for our own land, can do the same for India. And what has been the result of the Rteady preaching of the truth? (Why, a moral and religious revolution is taking place in the thought of the people; the Hindus are awakening from the sleep of ages; caste is relaxing; superstitious customs that have been more powerful than law are disappearing. Ohristian ideas on all subjects are spreading, the native mind is being formed on a new model. Compare the Hinduism that was preacht at the Parliament of Religions and that is being confidently paraded in India to-day, with the Hinduism of one hundred years ago, and note the difference between the two. The fact is, that most of the educated Hindus to-day are not pantheists but theists, believing both in a personal God and in the moral responsibility of the soul to God. This change, "from the mazes of pantheism and polytheism to the love and worship of God as a personal Being, and from the crushing out of the moral instinct to the recognition of it as a sacred faculty to be developt," is an immense step, but it has been taken by many a Hindu. To a superficial observer this may mean little, but to those, who look for Christianity to change the religious thought of the people, it means much. Why, it makes all the difference in the world whether I believe in God as a being with no attributes, and my soul as absolutely helpless in the power of the deeds of a former life; or whether I believe in a personal living Being, with whom my soul can have communion, and to whom I am responsible for all my acts, for this belief must sooner or later tell on my life. No phrases are more in the mouths of Hindus to-day than the "Fatherhood of God" and the "Brotherhood of Man," but where did these conceptions come from but Christianity?
Indeed, the efforts of the Hindu revivalists are more an attempt to read Christ into their sacred books than to gi,e an exposition of the teaching of those books themselves. Even the doctrine of Karma, which the Hindu finds it the hardest to give up, is very different as taught to-day from the fatalistic doctrine of the Puranas.
Aud then see how Christ is extollea. It is true, his Divinity may not be acknowleged, but there has been a wonderful change in the sentiment of the Hindus regarding Him. Listen to two statements from Hindus, the first from a distinguisht professor in Bengal. He says: " Since the time of Chundersen, the feeling towards Christ has entirely changed in Bengal. Formerly people would curse His name, but now tlwre was scarcely a high-class family in Bengal that had not a picture of Christ in their homes. Hindus could not but receive Christ and His Spirit, and that spirit is changing Hinduism. Christian ideas and sentiments pervading the thought of the country."
The other is from an orthodox Hindu paper, and would not have been allowed a few years ago in an organ conducted by Hindus:- " As a Hindu and a Brahman who is deeply imprest with the extraordinary spiritual progress made by the ancient Hindus, I would pay my humble tribute to the helpful, simple, and deeply touching nature of the teaching of the loving and ever lovable Jesus, beautifully illustrated in His crucified life. His short existence on the earth looks like the most condenst epitome of universal love, purity and sacri- fice. To an unbigotted and pious Hindu, the picture of Jesus on the Cross, His drooping head, His parcht lips, His gaping wounds, His uplifted eyes, His serene expression of complete resignation, forgive- ness and love, presents thesublimest and most thrilling object lesson ever o1fered to sinful and su1fering humanity."
But I must pass on to notice the result of mission work in the mat- ter of actual conversions. Fortunately we have a Government Oensus Report, and need not accept the testimony of missionaries on this point. Although the progress of Christianity can not be measured by numbers, yet we have no cause to shrink from comparison of actual results in India with that of any other age. What does the census of If)91 reveal? I give the figures for South India only. The census shows that 865,528 persons were returned as Ohristians, against 699,680 in 1881. (Of these, 565,159 are entered as Roman Oatholics, 300,369 as Protestants.) While the total popUlation increast by 15.28 per cent., the Ohristian popUlation increast by 23.70 per cent. If we take the Protestant community alone, the increase was 34.86 per cent. There was an actual addition of 165,840 Christians during the decade, and if the rate of increase had been the same as that of the total population, we would have had only 109,010. There was, therefore, an increase of 56,838 over and above the normal increase of popUlation. Whence this 56,838? There can be only one reply, viz.: that it is due to con- / versions, and I may remark that it under-states rather than over-states the truth. The past decade was singularly free from any great fam- ines, so that we are not justified in inferring that the larger addition to the Ohristian population consists of famine or rice Ohristians. We may safely take it for granted, therefore, that the Ohristian community is having an addition of 50,000 souls by conversions each ten years. We believe the present decade will show a larger· number. There are more Ohristians to-day in South India alone, than there were in the v Roman Empire at the end of the first century. Two hundred and seventy years after the death of Christ, heathenism was so strong in the Roman Empire as to carryon a bitter persecution under the Em- peror Diocletian. If it took 300 years for the Ohristianity of the early Church to overcome the waning paganism of Europe, are we to be dis- couraged because, in a much less time, a greater paganism than Greece and Rome ever saw, has not been entirely overthrown?
And now I know what will be said to ell this, viz., that most of these converts are from the lowest strata of Hindu society, and their adop- tion of Ohristianity does not count for much. This would be true did they continue the same after conversion as before, but the manner in which low-caste communities in India are being raised by the power of the Gospel is one of the marvels of the times. Glance for a. moment at a few figures from the census. Of the whole popUlation of Hindus, 1 in 57 only are under instruction; of Mohammedans, 1 in 26; but of native Christians, 1 in 15. This applies to all Christians, Catholics as well as Protestants. Did we take the figures for Protestants only, the result would be even more favorable, but we prefer not to separate the two. Out of a total of 2,169 graduates on the rolls of the university, 180 are native Christians. This gives a proportion of 1 to 12, while the proportion of Christians to the whole population is 1 to 40. Out of 49 Masters of Arts, 7 are native Christians. Of 351 Bachelors of Laws, 14 are native Christians,l in 25, and of 79 who have taken the medical degree, 10 are native Christians, 1 in 8. Remarking on the progress of the community in higher education, the late Director of Public Instruction, the lamented Mr. Grigg, said:- "The rapid advance of the native Christians in higher education e., is evidenced by the fact that in four years the proportion under instruction in colleges has risen from 1 in 351 to 1 in 215, i. by 61 per cent."
In his report to Government in 1890, the same officer said: " I have frequently drawn attention to the educational progress of the native Christian community. There can be no question, if this community pursues with steadiness the present policy of its teachers, that, with the immense advan'tages it possesses in the way of educational institutions, in the course of a generation it will have secured a preponderating position in all the great professions, and possibly, too, in the industrial enterprise of the country; in the latter, because no section of the community has entered on the new departure in education with greater earnestness than the native Christians."
The community of native Christians, then, in the matter of educa- tion, is surpast by only one class-the Brahmans-who, as the here- ditary literary class, will naturally retain the lead for some time yet.
But, if we take the subject of female education only, here we find the Christians not only far ahead of the Brahmans, but of every other class, and, if it be true, as is so often stated, that no nation has risen higher than the position it has accorded its women, then the native Christian community has a bright future before it. It will be interesting to hear what the Hind~t, the leading native organ of the Madras Presidency, has to say on this very point. Some time ago the editor said: "The community of n!l,tive Christians has not only secured a conspicuous place in the field of higher education, but in the education of their women, and in availing themselves of the existing means for practical education, they are far ahead of the Brahmans. The native Christians are a very poor community, and it does great credit to them that they so largely take to industrial education. The p,rogress of education among the girls of the native Christian commumty, and the absence of caste restrictions among them, will eventually give them an advantage which no amount of intellectual precocity can compensate the Brahmans for. We recently approved of the statement of a Bombay writer that the social eminence that the Parsees so eminently enjoy at the present moment was due to these two causes, viz.: their women are well educated, and they are bound by no restrictions of caste. These two advantages slowly make themselves felt among our native Ohristian brethren, and it is possible they will soon be the Parsees of Southern India, and that they will furnish the most distinguisht public servants, barristers, merchants, and citizens among the various classes of the native community."
It is worth something in showing the growing iufluence of the com- munity that there is now an Indian Ohristian Association, organized in London and Edinburgh, with vigorous branches in British Guiana and the Island of Trinidad.
But, after all, the great hope of the native Ohristian community is in its spiritual progress. The Ohurch of the Living God has been establisht among its people, and His Spirit is moving in their hearts.
Who can witness the growing membership of this Ohurch, with a native ministry, now numbering 900 in Southern India alone, its advance in Ohristian unity and spiritual power, without feeling that here lie the best and most fruitful results of missionary effort? And as the same Spirit, who has been with the Ohurch down the ages, has promist to be with us in the future, we go on our way full of joy and strength, not doubting that in His own time India shall be given to Ohrist.
FEMALE MISSIONS IN INDIA.
BY REV. EDWARD STORROW, BRIGHTON, ENGLAND.
In the closing decade of last century we find native Hinduism in its normal condition; society was hardly toucht by the influence of Western civilization, British rule, or missionary proselytism. Female infanticide was very common. Here and there were schools for boys, and for them education was highly valued, but nowhere in native society was there a school for girls. Ohild marriage was customary. Perpetual widowhood was enforced, and all widows were regarded as accurst by destiny, a dishonor to their family, and therefore liable to be treated with lifelong insult and repression.*' In some parts, especially in Bengal, the immolation of widows was encouraged as honorable and meritorious, conferring on the widow great honor in this life, and in a future state bliss for thousands of years. t Women everywhere were * Of the 140,500,000 femaJes of India, 22,600,000 were widows, according to the Government Census Report of 1890. Of these widows, 13,878 were under four years of age. The girls between the ages of ten and fourteen were upward of 12,000,000, and of these more than 6,000,000 were married, and 174,500 were widows.
t Suttee seems to have been common in some parts of India from remote times, but It was not until the early part of this century that reliable Information of its extent was collected. It seems to have been more practised in the great districts around Calcutta than anywhere else. In 1815 there were 253 sutteei, in 1816 there were 289, in 1817, 442, i~ 1818, 544, giving an average of more than one a day for these four years. held to be inferior and subordinate to men, intellectually and morally. They were considered to be too weak to be left to themselves. " A woman," declares the great law-giver Menu, "is never fit for indepen- dence." Freedom of action and thought were never willingly accorded to them. To walk abroad or to be seen and converse with men, even in her own house, was considered neither respectable or decorous; and education, even in reading and writing, was considered not only unnecessary, but dangerous, liable to make them vain, and increasing their power for intrigue and acquaintance with bad books.
Such was the status of women all over India when missionaries entered upon their arduous enterprise. The difficulties were enhanced by reason of the fact that the most naturally devout and interesting part of the population was placed beyond their reach. When the missionaries preacht, the men resented the presence of women. If a school was establisht, it was a wonder if half-a-dozen girls, always young and of inferior rank, could be induced to attend; if they prepared books, probably not one woman in 20,000 could read them. Those who could read were mostly courtezans, for public sentiment held that education was only suitable for such.
To overthrow Hinduism, and to change the social customs relating to women, has been the uniform aim of all missionary endeavors. Some forms of effort, now most popular and effective, were not then practicable. Native suspicion of women, and distrust of European motivee, the inveteracy of custom, and the assumed inviolability of Zenana life, were an effectual barrier against all forms of zenana work. There were not even missionary ladies specially sent out, for there were no spheres for their activity. But the missionaries were active in the spheres open to them; they were doing pioneer work, protesting against the evils they could not eradicate,' and ever prepared to ad vance. All that then could be done the missionories' wives and daughters did. They stand first, if not highest, as the benefactors of Indian women, and the pioneers of their emancipation. They sowed in tears the seed, the fruitage of which their sisters now reap the joy.
The first missionaries in South India and in Bengal saw at once the importance of education as a missionary agency, and so they establisht schools. These at first were very elementary and differed from purely native schools, especially in being open to girls and in teaching Christian truth. These early schools labored under great disadvantages. They were attended only by children of the lowest castes, very few girls came, and these attended very irregularly, and left altogether at a very early age.
Subsequently schools for girls only were formed, but it is difficult for persons familiar only with western sentiments and usages, to understand the difficulties confronting the workers, even beyond the middle of this century. The prejudice against female education was intense, tho strongest in the higher castes, who ruled opinion. Schools for boys were everywhere welcomed. Even if they were only vernacular and elementary. Provided they were efficient, an attendance of 50 or 100 scholars was easily obtained, even tho they were on an avowedly Christian basis. On the other hand it was difficult anywhere to establish and maintain a girls' school. To secure an attendance of 25 girls was a great thing; these were usually of low caste, and a woman had to be paid to bring them to school and to take them home; the scholars were usually paid small sums; the merest trifles prevented their attendance, or caused it to cease altogether; and at the age of ten or eleven the child was supposed to be too big to go to school, or was taken away to be married; possibly it was feared that a life of infamy might begin, for which education was supposed to be a preparation.
The crude and imperfect nature of these early schools could lead only to inadequate results, and to bring girls more entirely under Christian and educational influences, boarding schools were establisht for orphans and the children of native Christian parents, as resident, or day scholars.* These schools or asylums offered a wide field for exercise of benevolence, and opportunities for the Christian training of children rescued from heathen surroundings. Christian girls attended as day scholars, or if their parents lived at a distance, as boarders. Formerly in South India, Orissa, and the North West Provinces, large schools were chiefly filled with children of the former class, but gradually, as the number of Christians has greatly increast, the supply of scholars is far more from the latter class. The influence of such schools has not been as great as was anticipated. They have, indeed. aided in making native Christian women the best educated of all the women of India, excepting those of the very small Parsee community; but on the other hand, it is a slow and expensive way of propagating the Gospel; it is apt to encourage native Christians in the idea that everything is to be done for them, and in not a few instances the style of education and of living was too high for the classes to which the children generally belonged, and failed therefore to fit them for future life. Independence of character, energy of will, high moral principle, and capacity for usefulness, have not generally been markt features in the men and women thus brought up.
In the course of time the schools grew in number and influence, and, before the middle of the century, great interest in all the vital questions affecting the position of women began to be freely discust. In the literary and debating societies, in pamphlets, essays, and newspapers, these were questions most considered, and tho the practical … The terrible famines which swept over va.rious parts of India. during the latter half of Ja.st century and the first of this, gave ample opportunity for gathering orphan children under the care of the missionaries with government aid. results were disappointing, they prepared native society to allow if not to welcome practical effort.* The first school for upper-class girls was founded by the zeal and liberality of the Hon. Drinkwater Bethune, in 1849. His high position in the government of India, and his popularity with natives of rank, enabled him to overcome many difficulties, but even he, at much expense, and with every desire to consult native prejudice relating to caste, privacy, and the exclusion of all Christian teaching, could never obtain a large school, or make it really efficient. Nevertheless it gave instruction to about 80 young ladies belonging to some of the most influential families in Calcutta, and prepared the way for analogous movements elsewhere. The best known of these, and the most avowedly Christian, was the High Caste School for girls, establisht in Calcutta by Dr. Duff, about 1857.
The question of family, or zenana, instr1~ction had engaged the attention of a small number of advanced natives and Europeans, but the first definite presentation of the question was made by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Smith, now of Edinburgh, in the Calcutta Missionary Observer for March, 1840. He suggested a practicable and reasonable method of procedure, and sustained it by so many facts and arguments, that a powerful impression was made on all interested in the question. Nevertheless, no well concerted, united action followed for some years. Here and there a native gentleman privately, almost secretly, had his wife instructed, but the great mass of the people were timid, indifferent, or hostile. Missionaries, however zealous, were powerless to act. For them to enter zenanas was out of the question. Nor could their wives without the permission of the elders of the family, who, always being the most ignorant and prejudiced, dreaded Christianity, disliked innovation, and thought female education both unnecessary and dangerous. It was in 1855 that the idea of zenana visitation took practical and permanent form. Rev. John Fordyce adopted the idea of Dr. Smith, and with his aid and that of others, obtained the necessary funds, the services of two or three lady visitors, and access to the families of a small number of native gentlemen. The idea, when once realized, seemed so reasonable that it was soon after adopted by others, firstly, Mrs. Mullens, of the L. M. S., and Mrs. Sale of the B. M. S.; then on a larger and more systematic scale by Miss Briton, from America.
But custom, prejudice, and distrust are so inveterate, that only slowly and cautiously were zenanas opened. But during the past quarter of a century there has been a greater advance' in this direction than in any other, great and varied as moral, social, and religious • Mrs. Wilson, who did more to further education in Bengal than any other person, stated in 1840 that she knew of only about 500 girls under instruction. The popUlation of the Pro-' vince at that time was more than 40,000,000. progress has been in the chief centers of Indian life. For instance, the Protestant Missionary Statistical Tables for all India, first prepared in 1851, make no mention of Zenana visiting. If there was any, it was too restricted to be tabulated. It appears for the first time in the Tables for 1871, when 1,300 houses are stated to be visited, in which were 1,997 pupils, whilst in 1890 the houses had risen to 40,513. This, among a people intensely conservative, and especially distrustful of all change in family life, is clear evidence of the new spirit that has begun to live and move in India.
Zenana visitation has broadened out in many ways. Formerly there was no class of zenana visitors. The missionary's wife, who desired to enter a zenana, was a suppliant, usually an unsuccessful one, or was only allowed to enter under conditions that were often humiliating. Payment for instruction was seldom given. Whatever material was required had to be supplied by the visitor. Ohristian instruction was objected to or reluctantly allowed, and not a few women refused to learn to read, influenced by the widespread superstition that the husband of a wife so taught was likely to die. Now these conditions are reverst. Zenana ladies are in great request. Men wish their families to be instructed. Women are eager to learn. Ohristianity is taught; fees are often paid. And since usually in respectable families there are several ladies, tho monogamy is the rule, there is more than one to be taught, and often many to listen, There has also been a wide extension of work among women outside this most interesting and important field. This will be seen from the following tables, which include all Protestant missionary spheres: 1871 1881 1896 Foreign and European Female Teachers_ _____ 390 479 711 Native Teachers ___ " ___ – ____________ ____ ____ 837 1924 3661 Day Schools___ _____ ____ ____ __ ______ ___ _ ___ 664 1120 1507 Scholars ____________________________________ 24,078 40,897 62,414 It is to the honor of Protestant missionaries that from the beginning they have been the ardent advocates of female education, and their influence in recent years has begun slowly to awaken others to efforts in the same direction. The desire of the government to spread education has not been confined to one sect, tho native prejudice and custom for a long time practically limited it to one; but in 1850 it issued a statement of great importance, requesting the Oouncil of Edncation "henceforward to consider its functions as comprising the superintendence of native female education, and that wherever any disposition was shown by the natives to establish female schools, it was its duty to give them every possible encouragement." This not only gave a great impetus to purely native effort, but was the beginning of much official practical effort; and gradually it has come to have girl's schools of its own under official supervision; to subsidize schools under missionary and purely native control, and to open the highest university degrees to native female students. Its influence has also stirred into activity some who have been slow to move, and, indeed, never moved before in this direction. Not a few native gentlemen now not only have the ladies of their families educated, but are zealous in encour- aging female education in many directions, and among those may be numbered some of the great feudatories of the Empire.
Allusion must here be made to medical uork among women. The conditions under which they live, are reported to be the cause of more delicacy of constitution, ill health, and a higher death-rate than prevails among any Western people. This has given rise to the training of nurses, midwives, and doctors, and to the employment of lady medical missionaries. Their skill is greatly needed and much appreciated. Those who itinerate, are visited by great numbers of the afflicted, and gain an entrance into many zenanas shut against all other foreigners. The great lack of medical skill in native society, led the Oountess of Dufl'erin to inaugurate in 1886 the important fund, which bears her name, "For supplying female medical aid to the women of India." It was greatly needed, has been productive of .great good, and has in its constitution and aims the elements of permanent and widespread usefulness. Intrinsically her design was worthy of all the aid it obtained at once from natives of the highest rank and greatest wealth, which candor compels us to add it would not have obtained, had not the patroness been the wife of the Governor-General.
A development of work of much importance has recently taken place, which is evangelistic rather than educational. India is an empire of villages, not of towns. In the last census returns, 717,549 places are included, but only 2,035 of these are clast as towns, and only 227 of these have a popUlation of 20,000 and upwards. In England, 53 per cent. of the whole population live in towns, but in India, only 4.34 per cent. The missionaries reside generally in the large towns, and tho some of them take preaching journeys thru extensive districts, they come little into contact with the women of the country. Those having any claim to respectability are debarred from hearing a missionary whose services are usually held in the open air. Others are kept at a distance by diffidence or fear, for if any venture near the outside of a crowd, or listen half concealed behind a house, they may be told that being only women, their presence is not welcome. Until recently women have had but the rarest opportunities to become acquainted with Christian truth, and probably not one in ten of all outside the Ohristian fold, have ever had the Gospel adequately put before them. To reach these women, rural missions have been formed both in the north and south, and have met with encouragement and success. The usual plan is for two or more ladies, assisted by native Christian helpers, to reside where the rural population is dense and accessible. Schools are establisht, medical aid is freely given to all comers; intercourse with native women is encouraged, and an object lesson illustrative of Christian life is daily seen. Visits are paid to all the villages around, where in the open space or the native house, by singing hymns, reading, addresses, and conversation, the grand purposes of Christianity are made known.
No work is more Christlike. It requires good health, zeal, courage, tact, patience, love. But with these, it is far more promising than at first might be supposed. Hindus are seldom lacking in courtesy, and to ladies of Western race they are invariably respectful. Usually they accept as a distinction the visits of such to the ladies of their families. To the latter such visits are welcome for diverse reasons. They gratify their curiosity; relieve the monotony of their terribly dull uninteresting lives; gives them some idea of the wonderful, mysterious people of whom they hear so much and know so little. They hear expressions of love, sympathy, and respect, and it may be, gain relief from pain, and hope in sickness. They hear of a God of love and a Savior from sin, and a glorious life after death; and from innate disposition and unfavorable surroundings, probably no women in the world are so prepared to welcome the 'glad tidings of great joy as they.
Thus woman's work for woman has grown. On account of European influence and example, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras have been foremost alike in receiving Western ideas as to the position of woman, and in their willingness to give them practical effect. But there is no important mission station in India that is not an active center for work in behalf of women, as far as circumstances will allow.
But varied and interesting as is the work being done, and remarkable as its extension has been in recent years, it is important to bear in mind that but the mere fringe of this vast sphere has yet been toucht. The popUlation of India, coming under the government census returns for 1891, gives the following result: Total. Males. Females. Learning___________________ 3,191,220 2,997,558 197,662 Literate ____________________ 12,097,530 11,554,035 543,495 IlIiterate ___________________ 246,546,176 118,819,408 127,726,768 TotaL ___ . ____________ 261,838,926 133,371,001 128,467,925 Thus of the whole population dealt with, only 58 persons in every thousand can read and write, or are learning to do so; and of these 58, 53 are males and 5 females; whilst of the latter sex, only 1 in 173 is able to read, or learning to do so. Of the 197,662 females under instruction, 104,157, or more than half, are taught by the missionary societies.
MEDICAL SCHOOL FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN INDIA
MEDICAL SCHOOL FOR CHRISTIA.N WOMEN IN INDIA.
BY M. ROSE GREENFIELD, LUDHIANA, PUNJAB, INDIA.
The institution of which we write seems to be an instance of God's gracious forethought and provision. Its sphere is North India, embracing a vast territory, including the Punjab, North West Provinces, Bengal, Sind, Rajputana, and many native States. Without any concerted plan on the part of the various missionary societies working in North India, there has been during the last ten or fifteen years a marvellous and rapid development of Zenana Medical Missions, resulting in the opening of a large number of hospitals and dispensaries.
The admission of women to university degrees, the growth of medical schools for women in America, Great Britain, and Europe, together with the remarkable stirring up of students to volunteer for Christ's cause, both in America and Great Britain, have resulted in the sending forth of many fully trained and fully consecrated women to work for the Master among the suffering women of India, China, and Japan. These have found in many places a beginning already made by those, less favored, indeed, in the matter of medical education, but stirred by the terrible suffering around them, to do their best to meet the need, and only too glad to welcome more skilful hands to take up the ministry of healing.
Among other medical stations, we have under the auspices of the C. E. Z. M. Guetta and-Peshawur, on the northern frontier, both occupied by graduates from the London School of Medicine; Batala, Ajnalii, and Deia Ismail Khiin, for all of which the Society is asking for fully qualified women; Narowal, Taran Taran, Sutkin, Hyderabad, and several other places with dispensaries. to some of which small hospitals are attacht. The S. P. F. E. has a doctor in Multan, besides the work in connection with its Zenana mission in Ludhiana. The 1. F. N. S., with its fine hospitals in Benares and Lucknow, and the B. G. M., with its work in Bluivani under Dr. Farrar, and dispensaries in Delhi and Palwal; the S. P. G. with work in DeIhl and Kamal; the American Presbyterian Board, with new hospitals in Allahabad and Ferozepur (the latter built and presented to the Board by Mrs. F. T. Newton) and preparations for building immediately at Amb8.la and Taxrawan ; the Ladies' Board of the Church of Scotland (tho they have but recently broken ground in the Panjab), already with two doctors in the neld ; the American Presbyterians just opening the Good Samaritan Hospital, at Ghelmor, under Dr. Johnson, in addition to the one at Sialkot, under Dr. Platter; the Scotch U. P. Mission to the fore with a doctor at Ajinere. and another lent for a year to help forward the North India Medical School-all these societies, and others that mi~ht be mentioned, pressing forward on similar lines to reach the women of India WIth timely aid in their hour of need, and so bring home to them in a practical way the sympathy of the loving Savior.
When lL is remembered that everyone of these new dispensaries and hospitals needs a staff of from two to a dozen helpers of all grades, nurses, compounders, house-surgeons, etc., it needs no great degree of sagacity or extraordinary forethought to perceive that an institution where such helpers might be trained after a godly manner was an almost imperative necessity; a necessity felt first and most strongly by those on whom fell heavily the responsibilIty of the entire charge of the patients who thronged them.
When, in December, 1893, the first meeting was called by Dr. Edith Brown, of the B. Z. M., to consider the scheme, the members of the Initiatory Committee included, as far as possible, the lady doctors of all the societies working in the Punjab and Northwest Provinces, seven societies being represented; and the committee then appointed to carry the plan into execution comprised members of no less than six differ- ent societies, with power to add to their number. The controlling body, therefore, is essentially catholic and unsectarian, and composed of those who know just the kind of help they need. The constitution provides that any society contributing £50 a year to the general fund of the school shall have a right to a representative on the committee, and becomes, as a matter of fact, a partner in the concern, sharing in the control. Two societies, the Baptist Zenana Mission and the Scotch U. P. Mission, have contributed and have representatives on the committee, and all societies who have any considerable amount of medical work in hand should secure similar representation. The scope of the school is another peculiar feature. The classes are so graded as to cover as far as possible all the varied kinds of helps needed in mission hospitals and dispensaries. The trained mid- wife, the surgical nurse, the compounder, hospital assistant, and we trust, ere long, the assistant surgeon, will all be provided for in the curriculum; and go out at the end of a course of instruction of from two to five years, ready to take up their respective posts. Let it be remembered that thIS is preeminently a missionary insti- tution-that theji1'st aim of its founders is to train those who desire to do Ohristian work, and that the teaching of the word of God occu- pies a place in the front rank of all that is taught within its walls.
This is also a Ohristian Institution, where the children of Ohristian parents, or converts from heathenism, may prepare themselves for – future service unexposed to the contaminating influences of heathen professors, or the corrupting society of heathen fellow-students; free, too, from the subtle skepticism, too often fostered by the religious neu- trality of government institutions, casting a slur on the most precious and vital truths of the Gospel. It is an aggressive Ohristianity that is here represented, and which it is our aim to foster in all the students, so that they may become in truth healers in Ohrist's name of both body and soul. .
Progress has been made during the first eighteen months of the school's existence, which warrants high hopes for the future. The rapidly increasing number of students makes the committee urgently appeal for another permanent member of the staff, besides asking some societies to lend their doctors, for the first year of their residence in the country, so that while learning the language themselves they may give some of the English lectures.
Out of the nineteen or twenty students, five are of European parentage, and six or seven are the daughters of men occupying responsible positions in civil or mission employ. Out of these four are supported by their own parents or friends, and six are on scholarships given either by missions who pledge the holders to serve in the missions after their training, or by the school pledging them to work in some Protestant mission when their training is complete. Four who are in training as nurses are earning their own living by working in the hospital while getting their lectures in the school.
Progress for the future is hoped for on the follwing lines: 1. A large staff of permanent teachers, so that the instruction given both in English and Hindi may be very thorough, that our students may be able to hold their own in competition with those of any existing school.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF INDIA
2. Increased hospital accommodation. A.lready there are about 70 beds available in the mission and civil hospitals, but the University of Lahore, required that that number should be increast to 100 before the school can be affiliated to the university. and its students admitted to the government examinations. There is plenty of room to build at once another wing to the present school building. to be occupied temporarily as a hospital and eventually ~o be used as additional students' quarters.
S. Higher standards of preliminary education. The standard of the education of Ohristian girls is being rapidly raised Many take the entrance examination of the Lahore or Calcutta Universities, and some have gone on to the F. A..- This last mentioned degree will hereafter be insisted upon for those taking the five years course for assistant surgeon; and the broader the basis of general education that can be secured the firmer, we are assured, will be the super·structure of that special scientific training that the medical school proposes to give.
Above all, both for teachers and taught, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that one and all may iucrease with the increase of God, and that this institution may be fruitful to His praise.* FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF INDIA.
BY REV. H. GRAlTON ~UINESS.
1. The nearness of Indir;. From Lond?n to. Bombay, by Brindisi, seems a marvelously short Journey, occupymg lIttle more than a fortnight, broken up into four sections. London to Brindisi, Brindisi to the Suez Oanal, thence to Aden, and thence to Bombay. There is something fresh to be seen every day as far as Aden, and on reaching Bombay you wonder that you have arrived so easily and speedily.
2. Its strangeness. In Asia you seem to enter a new world. The tropical strength of the sun, the dark skins and foreign dress of the people, their languages, shops, trades, houses, and ways, all impress you as utterly different from anything in Europe or America.
3. Its vastness. India is 1900 miles in length, and also in its greatest breadth. It is itself a continent. England, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, put together, would scarce make so large a country.
4. Its populousness. There is an overwhelming impression of almost countless multitudes, with needs and destinies as important as our own. One is stirred to compassion, for they are still as sheep without a shepherd. India contains one-fifth of humanity, and the bulk are still utterly unevangelized.
5. Similarity of race. Unlike many others, the people of India belong to the same race as those of England, America, and Europe. Their languages and featnres prove them to belong to the Aryan race. This fact gives a feeling of kinship with the people.
6. Intelligence. 'rhis is true of the people generally, and the Brahmans, who form, the upper class, and the Parsees, are particularly so. No audiences of stndfmts in England and America seem to me brighter or quicker in apprehension than the Hindus I have spoken to here.
7. Gentleness. Hindus exhibit an amount of suavity, docility, and submissiveness never seen in the natives of England and America, with a remarkable absence of strong, self-reliant assertiveness. Their gentleness attracts and awakens sympathy, for it is largely due to pro- longed oppression.
* An American Auxilliary Committee Is much need~d to help in this very useful branch of the Master's work. There are already committees in London and Edinburgh. U anydeelreto ,communicate with Dr. Greenfield we shall be pleased to hear from them. 8. Affection jo'l' children. This is certainly manifest in fathers, and especially mothers, and parental affection is returned. Deep and touching exhibitions of filial love are met with.
9. Oppression of women. They are treated as. beasts of burden. They pass by thousands carrying fuel, fruits. manure, and loads of grass, or other vegetable produce, on their heads. They are mostly short, thin, worn looking, lightly clothed, with bare arms and legs, brown as a berry, walking with short, quick steps, and upright car- riage. In the home the wife is a servant, and little better often than a slave. The treatment of widows is infamous. Woman is crusht here, and knows not how to raise herself out 0f ignorance, oppression, and degradation.
10• .Absence of home l~fe. For the bulk of people the houses and shops are all open to the street. The rooms are rude in construction, often of unpainted boards, without ornament, with scarce any furni- ture, mere eating and sleeping places. The people sit in the streets. Privacy can hardly be said to exist, except in the dwellings of the rich. The effect of this on family life must be tremendous. The inmates swarm like bees in a hive, or ants in an ant-hill. Virtue and morality are thus loosened at their foundations, and independence and self-respect must suffer in proportion.
11. Defective drainage. The sanitation of the towns seems deplorable. The plague, at present desolating Bombay, has its cause in this. It is no easy thing to get three hundred millions of people. who have lived without proper drains, to mend their ways. The country is hot and dry, or the results would be much worse. Still, under Enghsh rule, a better state of things is being brought about.
12. Signs of progress. Magnificent buildings. good shops, railways, post-offices, telegraph-stations, hospitals, libraries, schools, col- leges, abound as evidences of immense progress. English rule in India is rapidly transforming social habits and civilization. The people breathe a free air, live under just laws, are protected from civil wars and cruel massacres, education is spreading, and a new nation is being born. 13. Presence of idolatry. This vast people is wholly given to idol- atry. Temples, small, dark, dirty, ugly, and repulsive stand open everywhere. Vile images of men, monkeys, bulls, and elephants are adored. The mind and conscience of the people are in abject slavery to the vilest superstitions. The darkness of India can be felt. It is a world of moral night. Religion has become animalism. The immoral priest washes his senseless idol, and worships it before your face. The Brahman stands there to argue in his defense. The fakir sits naked in the sun, smeared with ashes, with wild, uncombed locks, like a beast from the woods, and deems himself the most religious of mankind. India worships three hundred millions of divinities. To her,God is everything, and everything is God, and, therefore, everything may be adored.
Snakes and monsters are her special divinities. Her pan-deism is a r pandemonium. The things she sacrifices to idols she sacrifices to devils. 0 for light! light Millions grope at noon, and stumble into perdition without a warning voice. They know not the true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. And we in England and America are content to preach and press the Gospel, time after time, with measureless labor and expense on our home thousands, and leave these mil- lions untaught, unwarned, unshepherded! How is this? Our mis- sionary societies send them a few missionaries, but what are our
TBE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN MADAGASCAR
churches doing? What right have the churches to delegate this tremendous work: of raising up the entire heathen world to a few overburdened societies? Let every church arise and do its share directly for the salvation of mankind, and the problem of the world's evangeli- zation will soon be solved. Let every pastor, every elder, every deacon, every church member, every Sunday-school teacher, every individual Ohristian be taught to feel this 1(Jol'k is mine. I am personally responsible to give the Gospel to some part of this unevangelized world. I have my share to attend to in this sacred business. No other can do my work, or answer for me before the judgment seat of God. Let me do my personal part in the work of saving mankind, or renounce the name of Ohristian.
14. Wide open doors. No door is shut in India. The cities are open, the towns, the villages, the streets, the shops, the zenanas, the halls, the market-places, the whole country and population. You may go where you will, and say what you will, none daring to make you afraid. '1'he people sit by the wayside waiting for you. They wait, with their meek eyes looking out for the advent of the messenger of saving truth. A change has come over their thoughts. They have begun to scorn their priests and suspect their idols. They are willing to hear God's word when it is brought to them. But there are few to bring it. Scarce one Ohristian in a thousand has the heart to help them. Mammon is too mighty for our pity and piety. Our small home interests hide from us the immeasurable interests of a perishing world. The millions of the heathen to most of us are as tho they had no existence whatever. Who shall roll away the dark reproach? Let each one roll it from his own door. Our responsibility is individual. As individuals, let us meet it in all its magnitude.
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN MADAGASOAR.
BY THE REV. H. E. COUSINS, W. A. ANTANANARIVO.
The last Sunday in September, 1895, was memorable in the annals of Madagascar, as the day on which General Duchesne was gradually closing in on the capital. On the following day his victory was complete. The last Sunday in September, 1896, has also been markt by an event of vast importance, influencing the status and prospects of thousands of the inhabitants-viz., the abolition of slavery throughout the land. If September, 1895, heard the death knell of the independence of the Hova government, September, 1896, has heard the JOYous peal of the bells of freedom from the odious system of slavery.
The proclamation was not altogether unexpected. The Resident General, M. Laroche, was known to be strongly in favor of immediate abolition, and the proclamation bears his signature. An instruction from Queen Ranavalomanjaka III. is appended to it, calling upon the people to obey the law.
All sale of slaves and attempts to remove them to a distance with a view to future sales into unsettled parts of the country, are forbidden under severe penalties. Slaves may remain with their present owners, if they choose to do so, but there must be no compulsion. They may retain property acquired by purchase or inheritance, but anything given by their owners will revert to the latter. In cases where the Government shall consider it well to do so, compensation, in the shape. of concessions of land, will be made to owners who have been dispossest of their slaves.
Thus by a stroke of the pen have tens of thousands of Malagasy been at once raised from slavery to the status of free citizens. As a slave woman said to the writer, " All are alike now." France has thus shown how unfair certain suspicions have been. Many said that slav- ery would be allowed to drag on a miserable existence for years under the French flag, and that the Government of the Republic took but a languid interest in the question. It has now been conclusively shown that slavery is intolerable to a liberty-loving people, and that under French laws the distinction between slave and freeman cannot exist.
The British government has not acted in as thorough-going a fashion in the smaller island of Zanzibar, as France has done in this great African island. It was, however, through an Englishman, Sir Robert Farquhar, Governor of Mauritius, that the horrible slave-trade was brought to an end in the reign of King Radama 1. (1820), and the representations of the British government, in 1877, also induced Queen Ranavalomanjaka II. to emancipate all imported African slaves. According to recent official estimates of the population of Antana- narivo, about thirty thousand out of a population of less than forty- five thousand, were slaves. The proportion, however, gradually decreases as we get away from this center of population, and the bulk of the people in the more remote country districts are free. The entire slave population of the island can not be much less than a million.
Slavery is an old institution in Madagascar, reduction to slavery having been in ancient times a common punishment for certain offenses; but the slave popUlation was greatly increast during the long reign of Queen Ranavalona I. (1828-1861), as military expeditions were sent out almost every dry season, and thousands of captives were brought back as booty. On the whole the slaves have not been harshly treated; many of them, indeed, have been almost regarded as members of the family. But cases of cruel treatment were occasion- ally heard of, and even the lives of slaves were at times taken with impunity by their owners.
The acceptance of Christianity has done much in later years to prepare the ways for abolition. The Church recognized no distinction between slaves, and free children and slave children being taught in the same schools. A slave might even become a pastor, or preacher, or deacon, in the church of which his owner was a member. There have been, however, no signs on the part of the Christians of any willingness, or even to consider any method by which slavery mi~ht be gradually extinguisht. Only three or four years ago a miSSIOnary belonging to the Society of Friends was hist in a public meeting of representatives of the churches, because he suggested that Christian people should carefully study the Scriptures and try to ascertain what was taught therein about slavery. Not through any action of the Church of Ohrist then, but from the new political rulers of Madagascar has this decree of emancipation come; and Ohristian people everywhere, and all lovers of freedom, will doubtless hail with gladness this important action on the part of the French Government, and will hope that it may be an indication of the righteous spirit in which France intends to govern her new acquisi- tion in the Indian Ocean.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
n.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GBACEY, D.D.
The Famine in India. population, 50 per cent. greater than that of the United States, which is al- A good deal of criticism is exprest in ways in a state of semi-starvation, hav- Great Britain against the Viceroy of ing but one meal a day, and forty India for giving out that the. govern- millions of whom always go to bed ment was able to cope with the famine hungry. Dearth under these conditions in that country, at the same time when means death. The viceroy of India missionaries were writing home appeals telegrapht to London that seventy-two for thousands on thousands of starving millions must die, because the price of people, absolutely unrelieved from any maintenance had gone up from one source. And the government of In- cent to three cents a day per capita, dia meanwhile even refused to open a unless gigantic relief measures could fund for contributions for their relief speedily be organized. from outside of India. These criticisms came with better grace from British Ninety per cent. of the people of subjects than if they had originated India are connected with agriculture, elsewhere. It is charged that there has and any limitation there means starvabeen a cruel dereliction of duty some- tion and death. The India government where, and great indignation is exprest instituted measures for artificial water that the cries of distress from India supply that are simply gigantic. It were mufiled by optimistic telegraphic spent fifteen million dollars to condispatches in the daily papers; and this, struct irrigating canals from the Ganges when the death-rate in one district had to distribute water over twelve millions risen for 30 per thousand to 109 per of acres, or one-third of the Northwest thousand, and 90,000 died of starva- provinces and Oudh. It provided watertion in one year. When the pangs of ways for artificial irrigation of more hunger drive people in silent procession, than one-fourth of the twenty millions living skeletons, to find food, dying by cultivated acres of the Punjab. On the way the stronger getting a few other waterways it has spent twenty grains, the feebler perishing, and chil- million dollars to convey water to dren, an intolerable burden, are sold at twenty million other acres in Central from ten to thirty cents a piece, and India and Bengal. A hundred thouwhen at best a heritage of orphaned sand tanks in Southern India, one forty children of tens of thousands must miles in circumference, witness to the remain to the country-this is not" im- precautions against failure of rainfall, pending" famine, – it is grim, gaunt, and the distribution of the precipitaawful famine itself. tion to agriculturists. When the famine was "imminent" and actual, an enor- That the India government has done mous system of public works was proa vast deal is conceded; and it must be jected, and a million people set to work, borne in mind that the viceroy has to at diminisht wages, possibly enough to govern one·fifth of the human family keep most of them alive, but leaving now on the globe, and find time for their families unprovided for, and the breakfast; this, too, in a paternal gov- weaker men to starve. ernment, where the responsibility is unshared and far heavier than in a fully The world can scarcely furnish civilizoo land. another example of such magnificent plans for feeding so many millions of It is the very vastness of the problem people by any despotic government. that paralyzes. At best India has a Besides, it constructeEl a great network of railroads, to carry relief to these dis- The Territory of Magellan.
tricts in the event of famine. REV. J. 111. ALLIS, D.D., SANTIAGO, And yet-and yet, this mighty human CillLE.
providence has been unequal to an emergency covering a far more exten- Some time ago the Chilean govern- sive area than haa ever before been ment erected the Territory of Magellan, blasted with want. The government and put it under territorial jurisdiction.
felt its inadequacy to add to existing A commission was sent several months efforts the organization of a national ago to study the condition of the abo- scheme of benevolent distribution of rigines of that far away region, to ex- help, which would give any promise of amine into the charges that the Indians security from waste and robbery, and were enslaved, and were badly treated.
ultimate pauperization of millions of This commission has lately made its people. report, and the following items have There was but one agency that could been selected by the writer as of general come to its aid, and that but partially- interest: the missionaries. They have proved The Territory of Magellan extends themselves great organizers of relief from Cape "Three Mountains," on the corps, in all past famines, where they peninsula of Taitao, to Cape Horn.
were in any considerable force. They This is the west line. The north line might have saved tens of thousands of reaches the limits of the Argentine Re- lives, had the Lord Mayor's Mansion public, or western Patagonia. The House Fund been opened earlier, and eastern line extends south, and takes in they called to the government aid. a greater part of Terra del Fuego, the Voluntary effort has been a necessity. archipelago of Madre de Dios and of Missionaries have felt the pressure of Cape Horn. This territory covers about famine prices on their own limited 80,000,000 acres. Of this region, one- stipends and appropriations for their fifth is suitable for sheep raising, and regular work. But they have every· . two-fifths for cattle grazing. The reo where courageously wrought to relieve mainder is either mountainous or desert.
those about them. The presence of In this vast region there are only about these gaunt skeletons, the pitiful wail 8,000 civilized inhabitants, and from for bread, the moans of the dying, the 8,000 to 4,000 Indians. These latter helpless children tendered them whom are nomads, having no nxt home.
they dared not accept-all this makes They are divided into four families or a terribly depressing atmosphere in tribes, differing in physical aspect, lan- which to keep life in themselves, and guage, customs, and in grade of civili- yet they have askt-not to be relieved zation.
-but for a few extra dollars to allow These four tribes are called the Pata- them to take a few hundred more gonians, or Tehuelches, Yahagans, orphans by famine. American Chris- Alikulufs, and the Onas. The Pata- tians can not organize relief on a gonians roam over the region called large. scale for the general mass of Chilean Patagonia. There is in this starving people, but they. can send region a reservation of some extent, contributions directly to American mis- designed to induce the Indians [to give sionaries, who will wisely administer up their wandering life, and come to their contributions. There is an open understand and love the idea of owner- road. Any missionary society's treas- ship of property.
urer will forward the money. A draft The Tehuelches live on the shores of on London got at any bank, a postal the many canals to the south of the money order got at our own post- Straits of Magellan, and in their light offices on India, will be available in canoes look for nsh and mollusks, which India.-J. T. G. form their principal food. The Alakalufes are really nomads of qUalities which facilitate their educa- the sea, and pass their life on the straits tion. They seem to be of gentle and and canals, in the region of Smyth's teachable character, and certainly they Chouol and the western part of the have well developt powers of sight Straits of Magellan. and hearing, as is natural to a race which lives by hunting. The Ouas occupy the northern and western coasts of the Island of Terra This is plainly seen at Punta Arenas del Fuego. (Sandy Point), where children of the Onas, from eight to fourteen years of Although the origin of these peoples age, have been placed in families, and is not known, it is supposed that they they have quickly learned the language came from Northern Patagonia, from of the family. They also became very which region they were driven out in soon attacht to the people, and serve as remote times by stronger and more nu- children in the household. merous peoples. Mr. Darwin visited this region with the famous navigator, The same thing has been found true Fitz Roy, in 1830-34. His observations in the Island of Dawson, where the led him to consider these Indians as the " Fathers" of the Order of Saliciauas very lowest in the scale of humanity. have founded and maintain an exten- These Indians seem not to have any sive mission for the instruction of the community ideas, and have made no children of the various tribes mentioned. IWvancement in any knowledge other Among these pupils are many youths than that needed to supply the first ne- from the Oua tribe. l!essity of existence, their food. They bave nothing they ('.an call property Such, in brief, is something of the beyond the skins of the guanaco, with ethnological characteristics of these which they half cover their bodies. tribes, whose very existence has been They do not cultivate the soil. They threatened by the events which have have no interest in the possession of given occasion for the governmental land. They roam over the island hunt- commission of investigation. ing food, and leave no trace of their momentary residence other than the These events have to do with the ocslight excavations in the earth, which cupation of the island of Terra del they made when overtaken by night or Fuego by civilized peoples. A few by some storm. In these places they words on the history of this Island Inay remain a few days looking for food, be in order. and then hastening to other points, according to trails of the guanaco, or di- Since the discovery of the Straits of rected by the mere caprice of the chief Magellan, Terra del Fuego has been left of the tribe. outside of any project for colonization. It was supposed to be a desert, and Naturally their customs are very sim- wholly unfit for any kind of agriculturple; nothing is yet known as to whether allabor. It was wholly unknown that thvy have religious ideas or traditions along its shores, and in the beds of its or not, for their unknown language, not rivers, was to be found that coveted yet mastered by missionaries who have metal which led to the journeys of the attempted to civilize them, presents first conquerors of South America. Beserious difficulties to any investigation. sides, this ignorance of gold deposits, Notwithstanding this hindrance, there and this supposed desert condition, its has lately appeared a basis of hope that climate is harsh and repellant, and its this country-Chilc-InaY do something far away location, at the very ends of fOl' this despised race, and transform the earth, resisted settlement, and inthem into useful citizens. spired a profound aversion of its inhos- pitable interior to those who past its It has been noticed that the children forbidding shores. of the Onas have fair abilities, and have For 300 years the region has been totally untoucht, unless we except the attempt at t:tploration, in 1767, which the evangelization of the Indians. They wholly failed. were provided with abundant material to carryon the work. Nothing has been known of this land during these centuries, except the suf- Unhappily, when they flattered themfering and misery it has contributed to selves that the work was going on well, those brave and hardy navigators, who, there came a new and painful experiduring this period, for various motives, ence to dissipate these illusions. In past through the straits, and have made 1859, when one of the missionaries this remarkable channel a safe and visited the small port of W oollyn, for short passage between the Atlantic and the purpose of holding religious se:– the Pacific Oceans. vices, the missionary, his companions, and the sailors were all killed by the The first attempt to -enter this region natives, without even a hint as to the was made by the distinguisht English reason of the attack. The assassinaphilanthropist, Mr. Allen Gardener, tion only became known by questionwho, taking pity on the miserable con- ing the Indians who came from that dition of the inhabitants, proposed to region. bring to them the benefits of civilization, and teach them the knowledge of This tragic experience was very dis- God, and of Jesus Christ, the Savior cOUl'aging to the remaining missionaries, of all men. He secured, by great effort, and for many years nothing further was the cooperation of Christian people in attempted for the civilization of the in- England, and obtained the means need- habitants of Terra del Fuego. ed to establish an evangelical mission on the Island of Picton, which is on the Finally, in 1872, the Bishop of the east side of Beagle Channel, by which Falkland Islands, whose real diocese is it is separated from Terra del Fuego. all South America, Rev. Dr. Sterling, resolved to renew the work of the la- The plan of Mr. Gardener was to mented Gardener. He establisht a establish missions, in order to evangel- small mission-station on the Island of ize the natives, and also to show them Novarino. Some of the Yahlgan tribe the advantages of civilization. But he responded to the efforts of the missionwas compelled to give up the attempt on aries. that island because of the hostile attitude of the natives. The Indians op- There was establisht another station posed his plans in a thousand ways, on the north shore of Beagle Channel, until he abandoned the place and past at Ushua, where now there is an Arover the channel to the Island of Terra gentine village. del Fuego. There he wandered about several months, until all his supplies The faithfulness and perseverance of were exhausted, and until, by disease the missionaries, particularly of Mr. and hunger, the entire company perisht, Bridges, who was the head of the Ushua as was afterwards made known by the mission, together with eM abundant discovery of the diary of Mr. Gardener supply of needed material granted by by sailors of a ship sent from Monte- the London Missionary Society, made video to assist him. some progress in modifying the charac- ter, and in civilizing the natives living This sad experience made a profound on the shore of Beagle Channel. impression in England, and moved the Evangelical Societies to renew the noble These influences have not, as yet, efforts of Mr. Allen Gardener, who had reacht the Dna tribe, which persistently left in his diary a most fervent prayer holds itself aloof from contact with for the conversion of the Terra del civilization. Fuegans. Apart from all these efforts. civiliza- Missionaries were sent to the Island tion has lately made an entrance from of Malvinas, charged to attempt anew the north, by way of the Straits of Ma- gellan.
In 1883, the Chilian Government, convinced of the advantages of civiliz· adults, thus sent, willingly or unwilling the vast Territory of Magellan, and ingly, to t.heir island, and whose vagain view of the excellent results produced bond habits and previous life make the in Chillan Patagonia, in cattle raising, task of reclaiming them exceedingly invited citizens of Punta Arenas to try difficult. the same experiment in Terra del Fuego. The government conceded to This Roman Catholic establishment the firm of Wehrhahn & Co. the right on Dawson Island was inaugurated for of a vast extension of land, for a long the purpose of instructing the children period, on the condition that they of various tribes of the Territory of should establish stock farms and other 1l'Iagellan. Its founders are willing to improvements, which, after the contract extend its advantages to any Indians should expire, should become the prop- who may be sent to them by the stockerty of the State. men, or by the government.
The government made three other These" Fathers" have erected suitconcessions to other parties. The ex- able buildings for schools, and small tensive nature of the enterprise will ap- cottages for the homes of the children. pear, when it is known that to one com- The cottage homes are under the care pany the government gave 320,000 of the sisters of the order called "Maria acres; to another, 720,000, and to a Auxilladora," or "Mary the Helper." third, 5,000,000 acres. These firms Dawson Island is admirably situated have already begun stock-raising on a for this humanitarian work, and will large scale, and the signs indicate speedy serve to unite and protect what is left and extensive returns for the invest- of the large tribe, which in times long ment. Conditions have been found to gone by occupied this part of South be very favorable to the various depart- America. The situation is midway bements of the business. tween the two great oceans, and just opposite Punta Arenas, the most south- The Indians find that mutton is bet- erly city of the globe. ter than clams, and that sheep skins, with the wool on, make better covering The island contains about 50,000 than they had before, so they are be- acres, and has plains and wooded land, ginning to make reprisals on the flocks. and is suited to the various industries those who live there can carryon. This has bef,'11n a series of conflicts between the stockmen and the Indians. The island has many indentations, or The condition of affairs gave the new- bays, among which is Port Harris, on comers much trouble and expense in whose shores the Roman Catholic miswire fences, and in an increast service sion buildings have been erected. The for protection. climate is quite as favorable as that of Punta Arenas. There have been various accusations against tIle stock·men, as to the way The commission had the opportunity they treated the Indians who have fallen to hear various opinions as to the best into their power, even to the extent of methods of solving the Indian question killing some with refined cruelty. It of this Southern Territory, and how to is to be hoped that the Chilean Govern- save these primitive tribes from the ment will find out the facts. total annihilation which threatens them from contact with civilized people. To The stock-men have seized several handle this matter did not fall within groups of Indians, and have deported the duties of this commission, which them from Terra del Fuego to Dawson was sent merely to make inquiries. It Island, and have put them in charge of falls to the province of the Chilean the SalicCRna "Fathers," who have a Government to adopt, as soon as posmission-station on that Island. sible, methods for the protection and improvement of the native populations The "Fathers" have accepted, with of this new Chilean Territory. pleasure, the serious task of ruling these The Duty and Privilege of Self-support. * ceived; it is necessary for us to show the world that we are capable of doing BY REV. J. M. EUROZA. something for ourselves; that we can sanctify our work with the poverty and The question implied in the subject misery of our brothers and fellow- which has been assigned to me for countrymen, and this is the object that treatment before you, hardly requires is fulfilled by self-support. any prolonged study; but it is always desirable to speak a few words on so This being the object of self· support, important a matter. we can not hesitate to recognize its im- portance. The importance of self-sup- I. Self-support. port can not be too highly appreciated, This term is applied to the provision as it involves the importance of our which our respective churches make, church, whatever it may be. The imof the necessary resources for the pre- portance of self-support will weigh in servation and encouragement of the the Protestant communion in proportion work of evangelization. to the love that it bears to its church. Amongst the resources I refer to, we If we love our church there is no doubt should not only count the cash supplied, that we will desire it to live and to but also everything that directly con- march at the head of every forward tributes to keep the work in full vigor. movement and of every thing meritori- Amongst these we must give first place ous. and we can never satisfy these to a building for the holding of worship, legitimate and holy aspirations of our for the dwelling of pastors, means for hearts, except to the benign influence covering traveling expenses of the of our own work. With very rare exworkers, and also the many different ceptions, everything great and praiseservices that directly favor the evangel- worthy that has been done up to the ical cause. present, is due to the support given to 1. This being self-support, we at once us by our brothers, who constitute the come to the question of its object. different missionary societies. I do not Up to the present day we have been say that what has been done by these receiving the resources necessary for the noble spirits is all that could have been foundation, support, and development done; but I say that it is everything of our respective churches, from those that they could do to assist us in the missionary societies that display such a evangelization of Mexico. The increas- Christian love for the people of all na- ing growth of our churches demands tions, of all races, and of all languages. larger sums for the support of the work This love has not only been shown by as it ought to be carried on; but when the forwarding of funds, but also by the the societies I have mentioned can not valuable help of their lives, activity and do any more it is then that we discover faith as found in their representatives, the importance of self-support. whom we receive as Christian teachers, and who are generally called" Mission- 2. The necessity of establishing it in aries." our churches on a good foundation But it is also necessary for us to show demands our thoughts. a proper understanding of the supreme object of the zeal and sacrifices of our We Mexicans have certain traits that brothers from the United States; it is distinguish us from other men almost necessary that we should demonstrate entirely. Amongst them is that apathy our ability to utililize the object-lesson, with which we view the most important which for so many years we have re- subjects, whether of a moral, social, political, or religious character. Hence * Paper read at the General.Assembly of it is that things which we ought to do with zeal and at once, are done in a Christian Workers, Mexico City, January 28, slow way, and with the least trouble, 1897. Translated from the Spanish for this without abandoning our customary REVIEW. apathy even for the most interesting the desired end; I refer to the provision questions, those things which we ought of the resources necessary for the.mainto do with the greatest solicitude, are tenance and progress of the Bame exactly those which we leave for the churches, with a strictly national charcoming generation, and we thus shut acter. But it is necessary that this ourselves up within a small space, not should be done in a thorough and for want of a horizon, or for want of in- lasting manner, and that when it is telligence, but for want of will and of commenced, it should be carried forinterest. ward, even tho the initiators should die, and until the end of all time. Unfortunately our apathy is not our only defect, and we have another char- Weare agreed as to the necessity of acteristic which is peculiar to ourselves. supporting our churches by indigenous A question arisespf some undertaking; resources, and without appealing to the it does not matter if it is beyond our missionary societies; we are agreed that strength, difficulties never deter us, and we must stimulate our people, so that we commence the undertaking with a together we may freely exercise our zeal that can only be equaled to that will and give everything in our power of giants, but, how Boon does our en- for the support of the church; and thusiasm die out! How quickly does from this moment we express our united that enthusiasm with which we com- opinion, and our individual and colmence to work disappear! How soon lective experience with respect to are we discouraged, and abandon the the absolute absence of any coertion greatest interests to fall into ruin and over ourselves, either direct or indirect. shameful neglect. How many men On the contrary, we enjoy the most have gone down into the Valley of perfect liberty to follow the ideal which Death, without having done anything we may have formed in the fulfillment more than start an enterprise which of our duties, either as members of the they afterwards abandoned! church, school-masters, ministers, or pastors. Hence it is necessary for us to Let us put on one side our IDany dif- reach this conclusion:- ferent characteristics. We :find ourselves face to face with the mistaken II. Our churches are in duty bound impressions that have been formed to provide for their own self-support. throughout the country with respect to the wealth of the evangelical churches, 1. For the sake of their own existand however painful itmay appear, we ence. must, for the sake of truth and justice, con£ess that, even amongst our own God has blest ns in furnishing us the workers (only a few) certain counsels means that our missionary societies are whispered with respect to the fabu- have diSinterestedly supplied with the lous riches of the Protestant missions, object of initiating our countrymen and the result of which must inevitably be ourselves in the knowledge of the lifethe same as that obtained up to the giving doctrine of the Savior; but present, the indifference of the people everything that has been done up to to self-support. The time has arrived, the present, consists in teaching us what not only to raise our voices with the ob- can be realized by the exercise of the ject of putting things where they be- will in the evangelization of the world; long, of reaching a better understand- that which has been effected by the ing, of giving due tribute to the piety poor Christians who are inspired with and devotion of the Christian peoplewho the pure flame of charity and Christian support and help us in implanting true faith and that which we ourselves may Christianity in our country; it is now commence to do on the day when we time for our churches to adopt the feel It love for our church, for >ur methods that will certainly lead us to neighbor, and for our country.
If we can get to love our church as we ought, we will then furnish the means necessary for its existence with- of labor, for that purpose collecting its out any further dependence on the resources which are forwarded to us by own funds; and not only this, but also Christians of all the world. This is far from being pride or a distrust of the power to administer its own matters the well-proved goodness of those Christians, but rather is a proof of the re- without the intervention of any other spect and consideration that we have for our church, for its missionary corporation whatever. The church societies, and for the consideration that we deserve from all honorable people. will then know the state of her assets 2., Besides this, self-support is not and liabilities when treating subjects only necessary for the existence of the church, but also for its better develop- of great interest, and it will come to a ment. decision, not as required by the circum- The area covered by the work of evangelization is growing day by day. stances, but as permitted by the funds. One hundred years ago the missionary movement was hardly commenced, its 4. When we have got this far, when interesting labors were reduced to an almost imperceptible area, but to.day the Mexican church is free and indethere are not sufficient resources to give it the attention it deserves. pendent, 1.t will then receive another Day by day the work has been divine blesb;ng. Being self-sustained, spreading at such a. rate that it will be it will contribute to its own dignity. difficult for our friends from abroad to do more than that which has already At present we have to suffer through been commenced, and hence we have certain errors of our co·workers, the to face the natural logical consequence, representatives of our missionary socithat what we have up to this day reo eties, as regards the selection of the ceived, will probably be the maximum candidates to the ministry; some of of the grants to be received from foreign them, altho late, will find themselves sources, obliged to confess that their trust was abused by men who never ought to If the missionary funds are insuffi- have stept on the honorable platform cient to effect the development of our of the evangelical ministry; but when field of action, it is only fair that we the Mexican church. properly 110 called, should supply from our poverty what· becomes mistress of its own destiny, it ever we can, for the purpose of advanc- will have a pastoral body which would ing the Protestant cause in Mexico. be an' honor to it.self-which will give We should give our assistance to the it grandeur and place it high above all cause of diminishing the ignorance, human affairs. Then the nonentities superstition, and fanaticism which have will continue in their proper places, been and will continue to be the ruin and will have to give way to the men and disgrace of our countrymen and of whose piety, sincerity. learning. talent, our nation. and virtue will constitute the glory of their own church. 3. But in forming our ideas of selfsupport, we must not only look to the III. In treating of this question,I have development of the church, we must spoken of self.support as a "DUTY" also look towards a more elevated end, for the church, but we will now conwhich is the obtaining of its independ- sider it from the point .of view of a ence. privilege, or an opportunity which is furnisht for doing an act, which will be This means to say, giving our church an honor to the church and raise its a life of its own ; an increase in its field standard of piety; and for this we say, that our church has the privilege of contributing to self-support, and hence we can say with certainty that: 1. It contributes to a sacred cause on its own territory.
For a Christian church it is a great and divine privilege to be allowed to do f'omething for the salvation of souls. This salvation is not in the hands of the church to give to anybody it wishes, but the church announces it to men and encourages them to accept it. This is the most sacred cause that can be found in this world. How joyful will that day be when we can carry the news of salvation to our countrymen with our own resources, with a life of our own and with forces that shall be essentially Mexican. 2. Besides this, in those new horizons answer is, yes, they certainly have; that we can see at a distance, we find both the science and the art of music this other privilege: have had a fair share of attention, and commendable progress has been made The Mexican church, being self-sup- in the study from the earlier ages of porting, it will, directly or indirectly, Hindu civilization on down to the contribute to the progress of the mis- present time; treatises on the subject sionary cause throughout the world. have been written, and much time and attention have been given to the study The reason for this is clear. It would and practise of both vocal and instrunaturally receive no more funds from mental music. its prescnt sources. because it already woulll have a life of its own It would And it may be well to state that this is require nothing more from the mission- the one accomplishment upon which the ary funds, and those sums would, there- Hindu prides himself as surpassing his fore, be diverted to carry the blessed seed of the Gospel to other lands, where Western brothers, viz., his knowledge the lIame of God or of Christ has never and practice of music. Of course, we of even yet been pronounced. the Occident are at liberty to have our 3. I see still another privilege that own opinion on the subject, and we would be enjoyed by the church of know very well what the decision of an God in Mexico in the following fact: American, English, French, German, or Italian jury would be, if the music of It would contribute to the elevation the East were put upon its trial with of our country. that of the West. And yet it is not In doing so it would never enter into many years since an orthodox Bindu, any politieal combination, as this is not Sir Mohendeo Tagore, was given the the /!round occupied by the Christian church; the character of politicians degree of Doctor of Music by the Unihas never been one of those assumed versity of London, in recognition of his by the regenerating principles of Chris- great attainments in Hindu music, its tianity. Anybody who has tried to study and practise. More than a censcale the ramparts of power by means tury ago that wonderful scholar, Sir of political intrigues, and by party Tom Jones, took much interest in the combinations in the name of religion, is subject and wrote extensively and apnot a Christian; he is a murper and a preciatively concerning it. calumniator of the Divine Martyr of Calvary. I believe in a free church The system of musical notation in nse within a free State. I believe that both among the Bindus. is claimed to be are, and ought to be, perfectly inde- very old, in fact one of their writers penpent, however that may go against the opinions of others. Nevertheless, I gives its date as "anterior to the combelieve that both ought to contribute to mencement of authentic history," and the elevation of the nation; the govern- produces in proof of its antiquity a facment by means of wise laws and liberal simile of a printed form of notation institutions; the church by instructing originally written in the oldest Sanskrit the popular masses in the knowledge of character, probably antedating the science, and forming the national char- Christian era. A printed copy of this acter in accordance with the purest fac-simile is in possession of the present principles of Christianity. writer.
When the church is self-sustaining it In the original Sanskrit notation Inwill look for its pastors and school- dian music was represented by means of masters amongst the Mexican people; one line, with certain signs and , ymboIs, it will then select those who comply and the initials of the seven notes. with its ideals and satisfy its aspira- Now three lines are used, an innovation tions; then, and only then, will it contri- on the older system, that the three ocbute to the aggrandizement of Mexico. taves may be better represented. It will be remembered that the Greeks Musio and Musioians of India. represented their three octaves by three different letters. While Western na- BY REV. J. W. WAUGH, D.D., tions use a staff of five lines and four spaces, with numerous leger lines, when LUCKNOW, INDIA. needed, the Hindu insists that the The question is often askt, "Have Indian notation, so far as it goes, is all the Hindus-the people of India-lny that is required, pleases its advocates, scientific or practical knowledge of music? Have they made a study of "is simple, convenient, and sufficient music vocal or instrumental?" The for all practical purposes." Their notes, seven in number, answering to our do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, and to our letters c, d, e, f, g, a, b, are the Sanskrit, Devanagri, or Brujali letters ma, la, ga, attackt and sustained with remarkable ya, ra, sa, ni, and these are repeated accuracy and distinctness. I have for the different octaves. The Hindus never heard purely native musicians understand and use the diatonic Bcale, play or sing part-songs, or pieces in and also the chromatic, in fact, their ga- harmony, only the melody was given, mut is very chromatic, they use not half tho singing in unison is sometimes tones only, but quarter tones/ these are by heard. Both Hindus and Moham- Bome authorities called srooties,' others medans of certain castes or classes pay do not accept this as a proper definition, attention to music, sing, play, etc., tho and we will leave the doctors and pro- an orthodox lIlussulman is supposed to fessors to wrangle over their srooties despise music, as a weak, low, and and 1'ayas, unlese some reader wishes to unworthy accomplishment, just as take a hand in the discus"ion, and set painting and sculpture are deemed; all these Orientals right. Certainly in sing- these vanities fall under the ban of the ing and instrumentation they take these iconoclastic teaching of the Koran.
half tones and quarter tones with what Nevertheless many followers of Moham- always seemed to me marvelous exact- med run the risk, and both practise ness. In playing upon the st'far (an and enjoy the delights of music.
instrument answering to our guitar, but The songs of India's millions are not larger and having the strings all wire), of a high order, or have not been, until I have seen the performer hastily move the recent introduction of Christian the frets forward or backward, up or hymns and songs, which are of a more down, in order to get the exact tone- elevated character. Many of the Hindu half-tone or quarter-tone – desired. songs are sung in honor of, or in wor- (These frets are made movable by hav- shiping, their gods. :Many of these ing a belt of catgut or wire run quite gods are of doubtful character, morally, round the stem of the instrument). The and the songs partake of the same sitar was originally made with three nature. Other songs are sung to mark strings or wires, as the name implies, the seasons, the coming of the rains, and is the most popular and widely-used the presence of bird and butterfly, the stringed instrument in India. Unlike sowing of crops, and gathering of har- our guitar, only one of the strings is fin- vest; but as in other lando. Eastern and gered upon the frets, the others are used Western, love songs get the largest as sounders, being swept by the mizrab share of attention, occupy the thoughts or music thimble, as is done in playing and tune the voice to melody. One of the mandolin. Teachers of the sitar the most popular throughout all north- may be found in all the cities aud large ern India is an importation from poetic towns of India, who give lessons at Persia, and known as "Tiiza ba Tiiza, very cheap rates, say from 8 to 10cents now ba now," being the clo.~ing words a lesson of one or two hours each, or 30 of the refrain, "Ever and ever fresh to 40 cents a week. Many play well on and gay," fresh and sweet (speaking of this instrument, and the music. of In- love, of friends, and, I am sorry to say, dian or Persian origin, is interesting, of wine). Here is a translation of a few tho not so emotional or elevating as our lines.
own. The sitar is played either alone Singer, begin your sweetest lay, for instrumental music, or as an ac- Ever and ever fresh and gay companiment to the voice ; it is rather Bring me the joy inspiring wine brassy, or metallic for the ear of one Ever and ever fresh and fine. accustomed to the softer tones of the guitar. Lost in my heart, oh lady fair, Indian singers usually pitch their Lost in your jet black locks of hair, tunes very high, both men and women Heavy with perfume, as is meet, singing almost wholly from the head register, rarely from the lower throat, Ever and ever new and sweet.
and never in my hearing from the Listen, oh breezes! as you move chest regisfer. The singing is often Close by the dwelling of my love, quite artistic from a native standpoint, Softly my words and song repeat, tho the tones are rarely soft and sweet, but shrill, rather than full, round, and Ever and ever new and sweet.
mellow. The highest notes I have The air is a flowing melody, and ever heard taken were by a Hindu when well sung, in the East or in the dancing girl at a religious fair, and her West, accompanied by the sitar or the notes were full and well sustained, the guitar, or mandolin, is not to be de- half-tones and quarter-tones being spised for its Oriental origin.
FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY
III.-FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY.
India,* Burma,t Oeylon,t IDnduism,§ Woman's Work for Woman. 'If BY DELAVAN L. PIERSON.
FAMINE AND PLAGUE IN INDIA. the Christians at home can not afford to support these laborers I " All eyes, and many hearts have been turned toward India by the horror of the India comprises a territory equal to the spectacle presented by hundreds dying whole of Europe, Russia excepted, or daily from famine and pestilence. And about half the era of the United States. yet, what but this has been going on The inhabitants, including Hindus, for thousands of years, and but a hand- Moslems, Parsees, and Christians, numful of Christian people have heard and ber nearly 300,000,000 ; joining hands, heeded their cry. Two thousand die they would stretch three times round daily, inIndia, stricken with the deadly the globe, and are equal in number to plague of sin, which kills the soul as the letters of seventy of our English well as the body, and famishing for Bibles. Christians number about a want of the Bread of Life, which alone million, or the number of letters in the can bring satisfaction and length of single Book of Isaiah. The masses of days. Forty millions lie down hungry people are poor and degraded. The for want of material food every night, average wage of a laborer is not over but two hundred and eighty millions are seven cents a day, and they are impoverhungering for the Heavenly Manna, and isht still more by the demands of their thirsting for the Water of Life. We religious customs and leaders. Twenty have bread enough and to spare, while million widows and forty million zethey perish wi~h hunger, and only a nana prisoners live in India. Few men, handful of weakly.supported mission- and almost no women, are educated. aries are there to distribute to their ne- Only one man in 42 can read and write, cessity; and still we hear the cry" Re- and only one woman in 858. All the trench, close up the schools, send back hospitals and dispensaries do not touch to their heathen homes the Hindu chil- five per cent. of the people, and there is dren, decrease the number of mission- only one physician to three million inaries, and cut down their means of habitants. Their religious system prowork and livelihood-because, forsooth, fessedly teaches salvation by good works, but practically it is damnation • See also pp. 44, 45 (JanUllryl; 143 (Febru- by evil works. They sacrifice to devils, ary); 212 (March); 267, 278, 282, 286, 294 (present. not to God, and sacrifice, too, after the issue). NewBooks: "In the Tiger Jungle," manner of devils. Their gods are Jacob Chamberlain; "Life and Work in monsters of iniquity; their priests teach- India," Robert Stewart; "In India," Wm. ers of licentiousness, and their temples Marchant; "Daily Life in Bengal," Z. F, hot-beds of vice. Many portions of Grlftin. their sacred books are so vile as to be absolutely untranslatable, and their Recent Articles: "The Indian Famine." sacred images and pictures put to shame Miuiona,ry Herald (Jan.); "The Plague in the worst relics of Pompeii and Rome. Indla," Nineteenth Oentury (Feb.) "The devils worshipt by the peo- t See also pp. 46 (JanUllry); 252 (present ple in their heathen state, unlike the indolent deities of Brahminical mytho- *Issue). logy, are supposed to be ever ' g~ing to See p. 256 (present issue). and fro in the earth, and wandermg up I See p. 248, 260 (present issue). and down in it,' seeking for opporturu- Recent Articles: "Reformed Hinduism," ties of inflicting evil. In every under- Homiletic Review (January). taking, in all the changes of life, and "[ See p. 278, 280 (present issue). . New Books: "Women in Missions," E. M. Wherry; "Heroines of the Mission Field," in every season and place, the anger of for this and other crimes. Guilty devils is believed to be impending. castes have been watched and reasoned Every bodily ailment which does not with and punisht, but with little avail. immediately yield to medicine is sup- A change of marriage customs and of posed to be a possession of the devil. caste laws as to intermarriage will alone The fever produced by the bite of a rat effectually prevent female infanticide in is found difficult to cure, and the native the highest castes of Hindus. The doctor tells the names of the five devils Hindus must themselves be the effectthat resist the force of his art. An in- ual reformers. fant cries all night, and a devil is said to be in it. An ill-built house falls Already the influence of Christianity down, and the devil receives the blame. Bullocks take fright at night, and a is being strongly felt. Multitudes are devil is said to have scared them. These instances, which are only a specimen of thronging to God and millions are what constantly occurs, will serve to show how the people are all their life seeking eagerly for escape from the subject to the bondage of superstitious fear. In one hamlet containing only penalty and powers of the sin of which nine houses, thirteen devils are wor- they are fully conscious, and yet they shipt." know of no better way than by fasting, Among other evils which cry out for penance, and bodily torture. What are reform in India are the two great vices -opium traffic and child marriage. Christians in America and England The first evil fostered by a Christian nation, and forced upon a heathen doing to teach them the only Way of nation, is now girdling the world with a band of sorrow. The British govern- Life and Peace? ment provides the land, lends the money to the cultivator, receives and stores In India there is one ordained mis· the whole amount, auctions it off at periodical sales, and puts the profits in sionary for every 300,000 inhabitants; its own treasury. The cultivation of the poppy is so profitable that not suffi- in America there are 500 to the sallle cient cereals are planted to supply food when drought or flood damage the number. But in spite of the paucity of crops. The opium traffic is therefore very largely responsible for the present men and means to carryon this great and awful state of famine in India. growing work, much has been accom- There is no bright side to the picture of the child marriage. The child is plisht. There are now about 300,000 named when about twelve days old, and after the ceremony comes the be- Protestant Christian communicants, trothal. If a child is not betrotht before she is eight, the family is con- and over 1,000,000 adherents. The sidered disgraced. A husband's legal right begins at the time of betrothal, number is increasing daily, but, besides and should he die a few hours after, she is one of the child widows, and this, numerous reforms have been insti· _ belongs to the husband's family. She is a slave, without hope of freedom or tuted, education has been advanced, protection from cruelty. Imagine a child of ten married to a man of sixty and that masterly device of satan to or seventy, whose very presence is loathsome to herI This husband may prevent the spread of Christianity-the be a madman, a leper, or an idiot. caste system-shows signs of decay.
Whenever he chooses to claim the There is a tide in the affairs of India, child-wife there is no eye to pity or law to protect. Is there any form of slavery and the indications are that now is the on the earth equal to it? time to take it at its flood. Either Infanticide is one of the unnatural crimes sanctioned by the Hindu social Christianity or infidelity seems bound system, and against which the British government lias ineffectually waged to win the day. Satan and his emmiscontinual war. The caste and marriage saries never sleep, but Christians often customs of the Hindus are responsible do. Floods of infidel literature are pouring in on the land. The so-called Reformed Sects of Hinduism teach nothing higher than ethical culture- not always ethical,-agnosticism, or in- fidelity. The trumpets of the Lord have been blown seven times around these walls of heathenism-they are tot· tering-if the hosts of the Lord are not there to possess the land, the hosts of satan will be. What an awakening there would be if Christians were only as susceptible to the crying, spiritual needs of their fellow men as they are to their appeals for physical relief.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.
The March of Events. pened to have just got control of some llew method of wholesale murder, brave The most colossal event deserving a armies might be annihilated before a foe chronicle is the signing of the treaty pro- not only smaller in numerical force, but viding for general arbitration between mean and contemptible. And about the' United States and Great Britain, the only advantage we can see in much The two men most closely connected of the modern inventions in the way of with this triumph of diplomacy are their annihilating fatality is that they Secretary of State, Olney, and British are making war too perilous for nations Ambassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote. to undertake it. The further consideration of this sub- ject we naturally postpone until it is A new method of arousing and culti- ratified with or without amendments, vating missionary enthusiasm has been by the 'Congress of the United States. undertaken by Rev. Wm. H. Waggoner, But, in advance, we candidly and con- a recent graduate of Yale. Since Jan. 1, fidently put on record our judgment 1896, he has been lecturing on missions. that no event of the century will, While in Yale he studied carefully this if it shall thus emerge from the pre- great world-wide theme, with the help sent controversy concerning its for- of that splendid library of 3,000 vol- 'mal acceptance, with the cordial and umes, which Dr. Geo. E. Day is col- unanimous action of the ratifying lecting on the subject of missions. Mr. bodies, stand out more conspicuously Waggoner is a map-maker, and uses his as a sign' of the ethical and religious art in getting access by eyegate as well advance of the race. No one can esti- as eargate. One of his maps is of mate the possible blessings and benefits India, and covers a surface of 144 of such a compact of peace between the square feet, and is in fifteen colors, two leading Protestant nations of the showing the work of 65 societies in world. Such a step is a stride toward uni- seven departments. The map of China versal peace, and its effect on missions is in 25 colors, and shows the work of may be incalculable. We can not but 2,000 foreign missionaries, The map think that the United States Senate will of the world is 12 feet by 20, and is in not disappoint the expectations of the 15 colors. It shows population, relig- Christian public by failing to give such ious condition, and the location of a treaty its solemn sanction. And when 11,000 missionary workers, and the this is done, it will be next to impossible number of native converts, etc. We for other nations to stand outside of the can safely commend this brother-per- embrace of a compact so eminently wise sonally known to us-to the confidence and philanthropic. War is, in fact, of the churches. He is an enthusiast becoming well-nigh impracticable, if on the great theme of world-wide mis- not impossible, by the very destructive- sions. He may be addrest at Eureka, ness of the new machinery made avail- Ill. able. It is no longer a question of numbers, wealth, valor, or endurance, Others, besides the editor of this as to what party shall win in martial REVIEW, seem to regard the present strife; but a matter of the possession of crisis in missions as quite alarming. A the latest, most effective, and most de- paper lies before us on the "Waterloo structive weapons. To·day, if the fore- in mission work," in which the :Misses most people of the world-foremost Leitch, of Ceylon, plead for the marshal- from every moral and intellectual point ling of every available force into the of view-were to engage with a power field. These earnest workers urge that otherwise insignificant, but which hap- each missionary write to dearest per- Bonal friends at home, moving them to condition of the Hindus. He has occuaccept some definite act or sacrifice, pied a room 14 by 8 feet, with a veranda whereby, a~ least, one hundred others on which his cooking was done. In may be led to feel new interest and food and dress he also sought to get as pledge new gifts. For example, sup- near the people as possible. He meant pose that 500 missionaries of the Amer- the self-abasement to be a means to the ican Board should thus, out of their end of the more successful winning of total groups of home friends, enlist one- the people to Christ. He tried the extenth of them in a new and vigorous periment in three different places, fairly effort in favor of missions, it would be and fully. He now abandons it, assertpractically increasing the number of ing that the ordinary way of missionary active cooperators and givers, and so living is far more successful in winning not only lift present financial burdens, men to Christ. At present many who but prove a permanent increase of both are willing that the missionaries should intelligent interest and self-sacrificing make sacrifices rather than themselves, gifts. The Misses Leitch also press tlle are demanding that they live as the writing of a quarterly letter home, to natives do. Over and over again has keep the home clientele in touch with this been attempted, and owing to the the work, and advocate larger use of inability of Westerners to live in Orienthe printed page Another suggestion tal style, health has given way, or it made is the division of the field, sothat has resulted, as with Mr. Forman, in a each section may be linkt with a group downright failure to achieve the end of of contributors, thus assurin~ with that missions. field a special bond of intellIgent sympathy. The paper is too long for insertion here, but it contains so many practical suggestions that it will undoubtedly be put into a permanent and widely distributed form.
A very manly and cordial letter from M. Pobiedonoszefl' on the Jewish a minister in the South repels the inti- Question. mation that the "caste and race spirit " in the South was adequately exprest by In the Neue Freie Presse, Herr Friedthe "Sheats law," referred to in a recent editorial article. He claims that rich Schiltz publishes an account of ail the feeling generally prevailing toward the colored r~ce is far more generous interview he had with the famous Presand magnanimous and forbearing than Bome have· conceded; and deprecates ident of the Holy Synod in Russia. any intimation to the contrary as calculated to fan the fires of sectional feeling. During the interview, lL Pobiedonos- Weare glad to have so encouraging an estimate of the prevailing sentiment of zeff made the following remarks rethe South tuward the once enslaved blacks and pray for its continuance and specting the Jewish Question :- increase. "When the Jewish Question came to Rev. S. :rtf. Zwemer, of the Arabian the fore among us, I received letters Mission, writes from the Persian gulf, from all parts of the world-from Ger- Island of Bahrein, that the first printed many, France, England, America, and Arabic tract on Arabian soil has been even Australia. l'Iy correspondents issued from their own little hand press, threatened and insulted me. One man, the pioneer Christian press of the pen- giving his name and address, wrote that insula. I should be killed if I did not put a stop to my lust for persecution. I de- The Rev. J. N. Forman, of. the Amer- clare to you now I am not responsible ican Presbyterian Mission in India, has for what has taken place against the been trying to live down to the social Jews in Russia. I have friends among the Jews, and there are many among them who know me intimately, and who are aware of what I tell you. It does not enter my mind to persecute the followers of any religion. What religi- ous and truly believing man could do this? The Jewish Question in Russia is one of the most complicated in the world. It has no religious, but a social and political character. We have taken over the Jewish Question from the Poles as a bad inheritance, as a species of inventory. The Poles not being in of Rev. A. W. Halsey, of the Spring a position to create a civic body, allowed Street Presbyterian Church, New York, the Jews to take their place, but the and Rev. Halsey B. Stevenson, of Wol- aristocracy and the Jews exercised "an cott, N. Y., spoke upon the "Problem unfavorable influence, with tile result of the Country Church." Rev. John that a type of Jews arose which can not R. Davies, D D., of the Fourth Avenue be compared with the Jews in other Presbyterian Church, New York, spoke progressive lands. This led to regret- on "The Biblical Basis of Foreign Mis- able abuses in the country, and in the sions." And the last address, by Rev. towns, to the participation of Jewish George B. Stewart, D.D., of Market students in most disgraceful revolution- Square Presbyterian Church, of Harrisary movements. 1'he State was com- burg, Pa., was on "The Need of Men pelled to take action. What it wisht to in the Home Field." do, namely, to ensure the observance of the law-was similar to that which was During the conference opportunity put into force in free America against was given for questions and discussion, the Chinese. No more. Indeed, still and thus many interesting and importless. A war against a race was far from ant matters were brought out into our wishes. The most respectable and clearer light. The aim of the confer- ence was to touch upon as many as posthe most cultured Jews do well among sible of the great problems in the us, and will always prosper. When the world's evangelization, all of which measures already referred to were taken must be of vital interest to those preagainst the Jews, the late Baron Hirsch paring for the ministry. The results wrote to me: 'I offer Russia fifty mil- were so abundantly satisfactory t.hat it lions for the construction of railways if is hoped similar conferences will be it will abandon its plan for the persecu- held elsewhere. tion of the Jews.' I referred him to the Government, and laid before him Perhaps the Lord will use the followmy idea of the question. I could not have shaken him off, for he continued ing letters to stir up some of his servants the correspondence for a considerable time. One day he declared that he to take up this work. A student in the wisht to give a million for a philanthropic object. I advised him to place University of Maryland addrest a letter that amount at the disposal of the Holy Synod, so that this body might establish to the Foreign Missionary Board of his own church, in behalf of a people in whom he had become much intereeted, schools with the money. This he did. and received the enclosed reply from You see Hirsch was a Jew, who in the one of the secretaries, !ltating that the course of time learnt to know me straitened financial condition of their better, and he certainly did not share exchequer precludes the possibility of the universal prejudice against me in their taking up any new work; and he which there are embodied so many lies now desires to know if there is not and calumnies, so many conscious and some other missionary society with unconscious errors."
A missionary conference was held which he may communicate, with the January 27, 28, by the students of the Theological Seminary at Auburn, N.Y. prospect of succeeding in having some The attendance was large, including many alumni and visiting pastors and one sent to supply this destitution. The friends from the vicinity; and the spirit of thoughtful interest, rising often to circumstances are set forth in the folenthusiasm, will long influence the life lowing personal letter, received by the of the seminary. The keynote was sounded in the Editor: opening address by Dr. Wilton 11erle "Being deeply interested in mission Smith, of New York, who spoke on work in the neglected continent-a field in which I hope some day to labor, I "A Surrendered Life." Rev. William wrote to Dr. Horace M. Lane, at Sao R. Taylor, D.D., of the Brick Church, Paulo, Brazil, last November, and in Rochester, followed upon the "Biblical his reply Dr. Lane mentions that on the Conception of the Christian Church," very day on which he received my letand Rev. C. S. Richardson, D.D" of ter he had been visited by an Indian the First Presbyterian Church, Little chief from the tribe of the Cherentes, who had come to ask for missionaries, Falls, N. Y.,spokeupon "TheMission- teachers, and agricultural implements. ary Pastor." Dr. Lane exprest a wish that I might see my way clear to come and labor .. City Evangelization" was the theme among these people. This I can no~ do, as I have three more years of study America on his heart, and who would (I am attending the University of Mary- go if he were sent. I heard him speak land, Medical Department) before I can once or twice very effectively at misgraduate; but my interest being aroused, sionary meetings, and Rev. Addison Smith, D.D., of the Aisquith Street I lookt up the map and found that this Presbyterian Church, tells me that he Indian chief, in order to get to Sao frequently fills the pulpits of various Paulo, must have traveled a little over churches, and is well spoken of every- one thousand miles, and I rightly con- where. strued that as an evidence of intense earnestness on the part of these people. "My pwn acquaintance with the In order to learn something about their young doctor is but slight, but I am tribal relationship, la.ngua~e, etc., I deeply imprest with the needs of this consulted the Johns Hopkms Univer- people, and hope that you may be able to lIity Library, and finally succeeded in suggest a way by which someone might finding some interesting facts about the be sent to them. people in a report by a British engineer, named Wells, found in the records of " , Shall we who know the blessed truth the Royal Geographical Society for 1876 To them the Bread of Life deny? (Vol. 46). Mr. Wells had a Cherentes And knowing of their piteous state, Indian as a guide, and states that in Still turn a deaf ear to their cry?' 1848 an Italian Jesuit (Fre Rafael) went to live among these people, and "Yours very truly, GEO. R. WITTE, succeeded in getting them to settle down 611 Aisquith Street, Baltimore." at a place now known as Pedro Affon- 80, on the Tocatius River, where they The case being made known to the formed a fiourishing settlement. The Portuguese, hearing of this village, Foreign MiSSionary Board by Mr. Witte, made a descent on them, killed as many as they could, enslaved those who were the following answer was received: unable to fiee, and took possession of the cultivated lands, houses, and cattle. "My Dear Mr. Witte:-Correspond- The Indians, enraged Ilt this conduct of ence with candidates belongs to my the so-called Christian people, mur· department. This is really scarcely dered their priest, and went back into a question of a candidate, but rather their woods and a savage state. the opening of a new mission. I thank you for the pains you have taken to " So far Wells' report, which is all I ascertain the facts, and place them so have been able to find about the people. clearly before us. Were our Board in position to enter new territory, or to "Now, nearly fifty years after, these enlarge its present mission in Brazil, people once more turn towards the light, my judgment is that the claims of the and having found Catholicism wanting, people to whom you refer ought to be send their chief 1,000 miles to a Pro- most carefully considered. As this is testant missionary center. This may not the case, however, I regret to say seem incredible, but in my researches that it will be impossible for the Board about the Indian nations in South to act on your suggestion and carry the America I have found a similar in- Bread of Life to those poor, perishing stance,recorded by no less eminent a per- multitudes. Weare in great straits sonage than the oft'mentioned Sir Robert financially, being unable to carry the Schomburgh (of Venezuelan boundary work in hand because of the great fallfame) who cites an instance of his com· ing off in our receipts. Weare aping to an Indian settlement, where they proaching the close of the present fiscal had erected a school house and dwell- year with the prospect of a very heavy ing for a missionary, in anticipation, debt, which must mean serious curtailand on a rather vague promise that the ment of present work during the next fiscal year: While s:ympathizing with London Missionary Society would send you deeply in your mterest in the in- viting field in Brazil, and regretting them a teacher. that I can not write you more encoura- " Surely God then workt among those gingly, I am, yours sincerely, savages of the primeval forests, as He "JOHN GILLESPIE."
evidently does now among the Che· No one who knows this deToted scc· rentes. retary will doubt the pangs it cost him "Can WE afford to let their request go to write such a letter. And this is but unheeded? As already stated, I am personally not yet able to respond to one example of the critical state of the the call, but I know of a very spiritualminded young Scotch-Presbyterian at foreign missionary work, when such another Baltimore college, who will an opening can not be entered simply graduate next April, and who has South for lack of funds; and when not only of the Methodist Episcopal Mission, a promising field must be left uncared forcibly interpreted the addresses of the for, but from the same lack of funds two last-named speakers. the present work, already in operation, must be curtailed and narrowed down. On Friday morning the Rev. P. R. How must God look upon the position Zavaleta, Presbyterian, presiding, the of His church in these days, stauding "Character of Publications Needed" before a world-wide field, and actually was discust by the Rev. Arcadio surrendering vantage ground already Morales. The chief address of the secured because His people are not suf- morning was by John W. Butler, D.D., ficiently self-sacrificing and loyal to Him to occupy the openings He sets on "Denominational Comity." * before them. To our minds the present crisis is the most alarming that the cen- This paper, which met with general tury has shown. Who will venture to assent, was one of great power, and undertake this new work in the Master's specially adapted to the need of the name? hour. Another paper, on the same subject, by the Rev. Luis G. Prieto, of In the Independent of Feb. 18, is a the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, record of the second general assembly followed; and an animated discussion, of Evangelical workers in !Iexico, was continuing an hour and a half, ensued. held in Trinity M. E. Church, Mexico Two of the most able speeches were City, Jan. 27-31, 1897; 55 missionaries made by the Rev. Pablo Rodriguez, and 150 native workers being present Baptist, and the Rev. Mr. Sein, Friend. and representing 12 missionary societies This eloquent speaker is a grand-nephew and 5 Bible colporteurs. of the Bishop of San Luis Potosi, and, altho a Quaker, is one of the best and Dr_ S. L. Baldwin conveyed the salu- happiest singers in the assembly. tations of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, congratu- There can be no question as to the lating the Assembly that such a gather- earnestness of these workers on this subing was possible in a building which ject. They evidently do not mean to had been occupied by the friars of the get into each others way, but do intend Roman Catholic Church, and that it to recognize each other as workers for was in the hearts of evangelical workers the one Master, and so to plan as to of so many denominations to come to- secure the greatest possible progress for gether, and unitedly plan for the pro- the common cause. gress of Christ's kingdom. He emphasized self-support, and adduced A resolution was adopted unaniexamples from the work in China to mously, on the recommendation of a encourage the workers in this field. committee, consisting of a Congrega- tionalist, a Presbyterian, and a Baptist, Bishop Fitzgerald delivered an able that the missions on the field and the address, expressing his intense satisfac- Boards in the United States be urged tion with this harmonious assembly of to adopt the suggestions contained in Christian workers, declaring his belief Dr. Butler's paper.t in denominationalism, and saying that if he could make this whole body The excellent article on " Taking Methodists by turning his hand, he Strongholds," which appeared in our would not turn it. True unity was March number, should, of course, have best exemplified, in his view, by just been credited to Rev. H. A. Schauffer, such a gathering as this, in which the Superintendent of the work for Slavonic different divisions of the army of Christ popUlations under the Congregational come together for consultation and Home Missionary Society. This was active cooperation. Dr. J. W. Butler, properly accredited in the table of con- tents, but at the head of the article credit was given to Dr. A. F. Schauffer.
*We print this in our next Issue.
t We print in this issse also a paper read on Self-support. See page 286. We have before referred to "My The necrology of the past few months Life and Times." by Cyrus Hamlin. pUblisht by the Congregational Sunday- has important additions. school and Publishing House, Boston and Chicago. We intend in due time Dr. Wm. Kincaid, Secretary of the to give it ample space in these columns. Home Missions (Cong.), died February It bristles with interest. Dr. Hamlin 12th. He was English by birth, but was born in 1811, and went to Constan- American by training, and after a numtinople in 1839. Consequently his life- ber of well-filled pastorates, was Secretime synchronizes with almost the en- taryof the A. B. C. F. M., and aftertire period of organized missions, and ward held the position of Secretary of his sojourn abroad began when the the Home Work. In all positions he world-field was just opening to the acquitted himself as one of God's noblemessenger of the cross. It is not too men. much to say that Dr. Hamlin has been one of the most conspicuous of the Dr. John N. Murdock was well workmen, not only in the Turkish known as Secretary of the A B. M. Empire, but in the world-field. He U., and died the same month at Clifton who reads this book will find in it a Springs. He was 7'7 years old, and for partial history of the whole times in about 30 years was secretarial head of which this man of such positive per- the Baptist Union's foreign work. He sonality and striking peculiarity has was a man of a judicial turn of mind, figured. It is a book of fascinating singularly wise, and prudent. He "reinterest and of foremost importance signed his office six years ago on ac- count of advancing years. He had too, as well. Scotch blood in his veins, and was Methodist by training. He studied law, E. Marlborough & Co., 51 Old Bail- but soon after entering the bar, exey. E. C., London, publish the little changed it for the pUlpit. He became book " Victory "-Reminiscences of a baptist in 1842, and after pastorates Monan M. Apperson (Phillips) of the in Waterville and Albion, N. Y., and Hartford, Conn.. and Boston, Mass., Church of England Zenana Society, in 1863 became Foreign Secretary. His who sailed for China Oct. 16, 1889, and positions on vext and difficult questions, died Nov. 17, 1894, but whose five tho not always approved at the time, years in that field left a lasting impres- commonly found acceptance after the sion on all who knew her. This memoir heat of debate or the crisis of affairs is a sweet, refreshing book-a sort of was past. He was very tenacious of glass revealing her beautiful, medita- his opinions, but calm and deliberate in tive, and holy habits of mind. Aside forming them. Dr. A. J Gordon, long from its miSSionary interest, it is worth associated with him, thought him a its price as a book of suggestions on man of uncommon sagacity and capaholy living. It is seldom one gets hold city for his office, the round peg in the of any volume so full of original, bright round hole. We hope that a fuller flashes of spiritual knowledge and com- memorial of him may appear in these munion with the Lord. We add one pages hereafter. example (p. 149): "A fourth revelation of God in the Bible. A Spirit (John A.cross the sea, the leading Welsh iv 24). Light (1 John i. 5). Love (1 preacher, Dr. Evan Herber Evans, has John iv. 8), and a consuming FIRE lately died. Born in 1836, he was only (Heb. xii. 29). And we dwell with 61 years old. Before he was fairly everlasting burnings (Isa. xxxiii. 14, through with preparatory studies, he 15). If we let the fire consume, that was called to the Tabernacle, Morriston, fire can and will consume. Fire ie the one of the largest fields in Wales. He only means of getting rid of anything, was called to Caruarvonshire in 1865, and here we glory in it, and pitch into and for 28 years was pastor of ~alem of the fire our rubbish, and it is no more Church. Carnarvon; then Principal of seen, but wherever else we put it, it is N. Wales College. Bangor. At the sure to turn up again at the wrong great Cymanfa gatherings, he preacht time. So we can cast the sin, habits, or to the gathered thousands with thrilling encumbrances into the FIRE. and halle- effect. His last great speech in London lujah! 'He shall thoroughly purge.' was at the anniversary of the Colonial burn with unquenchable fire (Matt. iii. J't'lissionary Society. He was in all 12) all thus committed." The short things a mighty man. His large frame narrative delineates a beautiful char- was the fitting tabernacle of a great acter, and shows how courageous a true mind and a great heart. His name wall child of God is among even persecuting a synonym for missionary zeal, and all good teaching and work. and riotous Chinese mobs.
G:mnRAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
EDITED BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, D.D.
Extracts and Translations from Foreign leader of men. He was essentially a Periodicals. devout man, whose humility was un- questioned and recognized by all. His BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, self-effacement was such that little was known of him beyond the circle· in MASS. which he moved. The Indian Specta- tor, a non-Christian paper, says of INDIA. him: -It is remarkt in the Harvest Field " Mr. Goreh was very little talkt of that while the lower castes are more during the past decade; nor did he easily won than the higher, they, on care that his good works should be the other hand, " revert to type" known to man. Brahman or Christian, more easily, while in the higher castes he seems to have realized the value of these apostacies are largely barred by self-surrender at a time when the asser- the severe penalties of breaking caste, tion and aggrandizement of self so and the greater difficulty of reinstate- largely occupy the world."-Harvest ment. FWld.
-The learned clergyman, Nehemiah -Rev. Dr. Hooper, in the O. M. In· Wilakantha Sastri Goreh, has lately telligencer, speaking of the late Rev. died, aged 70. He was a Brahman of Nehemiah Goreh, who was formerly the Brahmans, and deeply learned in connected with the C. M. S., but after- the Vedantic philosophy. Having, wards joined an A.nglican Brotherhood, Inllny years ago, begun to study the remarks: "I need not dwell on that Bible, with a view of refuting it, he feature in our departed brother's char- found himself '" apprehended of J eaus acter which endeared him most, and for Christ," and profest his faith at a time which he was most celebrated among . when this, for a Brahman, meant much his Indian fellow-Christians throughout more o! dishonor and loss than it does (at least) North and West India, name- now, tho even yet it is by no means easy. ly, his lwly, 8elf-denYing pie.!y. He was Having thereupon been appointed as essentially a Christian bhakta. What- companion to the Maharajah of Lahore, ever unworthy suspicions and sad re- who was then a Christian, Wilakantha criminations our native brethren may Sastri accompanied him to England, have, from time to time, indulged in and was presented to the Queen and her towards each other, Nehemiah was husband. On his return, in 1864, being never, I believe, the object of any of then over forty, he was ordained by the them. By common cons~nthe stood so Bishop of Calcutta. He subsequently high above the rest of them that, as if joined the Cowley Fathers, and workt he were a visitant from some celestial in various cities. At all these places sphere, no one ever dreamed of attack- his life and work have borne continual ing, or insinuating anything against testimony of his unswerving loyalty to him. Whether he were High or Low his Master. At one time it. was antici- Church, what his particular views were pated that Nehemiah Goreh would on particular points-all this counted have been a leader in the Christian for nothing with his Christian brethren Church in India, but his bent of of his own kith and kin. They saw thought did not qualify him to be a
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS
plainly enough CHRIST was in him, and recognized, even here in India, as the with that they were content." one perfect Man. The educated gener- ally claim that they have no contention -The educated young Hindus of with Christ, but only with Christian- Madras have been passing resolutions ity as a system of religion, and with against the lUxury and idleness of the professing Christians. The following, religious houses of that Presidency. from a professedly orthodox paper, They seem to be very much like the would not· have been allowed a few wealthy Benedictine abbeys of the de- years ago in any organ conducted by clining Middle Ages. Their resources Hindus. It provokt but little discusare noticed by the Hindu as enormous, sion, and that only because Christians but this journal thinks they greatly need took notice of it, c.:.i welcomed the diversion into some more beneficent statement:- channel. This complaint is akin to the still more grievous complaints of misap· '" As a Hindu and a Brahman, who propriated temple-funds in South India. is deeply imprest with the extraor- dinary spiritual progress made by the -Sir Charles Elliott, the retiring ancient Hindus and the almost super- Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, has natural wisdom and foresight of our received an address from the mission- Rishis, I would pay my humble tribute aries, testifying to the unequivocally to the helpful, simple, and deeply touch- Christian attitude which he has always ing nature of the loving and ever humble assumed towards Christian interests in Jesus, beautifully illustrated in his India, in which, they signify, he has crucified life. His short existence on been amply sustained by Lady Elliott. the earth looks like a condenst epitome of universal love, purity, and sacrifice. -The report of the American Mara- To us, unbigoted and pious Hindu, the thi Mission (A. B. C. F. M.) gives some picture of Jesus on the cross-his droopdeeply interesting glimpses into the ing head, His parcht lips, His gaping workings of the Gospel in India. Mr. wounds, His up-lifted eyes, His severe E. S. Humewrites: "Forthreemonths expression of complete resignation, for· in the monsoon, during the absence of giveness, and love-presents the sub- Mr. Abbott, the editing of our mission limest and most thrilling object lesson paper, the Dnyananaya, fell to me. At ever offered to sinful and suffering that time I took pains to read the native humanity.''' papers, in order to understand as well as possible the present attitude of the -Mr. Harding says: "I was struck Hindus towards Christianity. I was by the confession of an intelligent Hindu pleased to note the improved tone of who came, with others, one day to our these papers, and the general inter- tent for conversation. I was speaking est in religious matters which the edu- of the great God, whose power and cated men of this country are taking. wisdom and goodness were seen in all They are feeling the influence of our His works about us, and the folly of aggressive and foreign religion on all worshiping the lifeless idols, which sides. The majority still prefers to de- their own hands had made, and he respise Christianity. At the same time plied with much solemnity: 'Sir, we they find it necessary to frequently know these things as well as you do. prove its weaknesses. Each case of But what can we do? Our families are baptism of a prominent person leads to against us, village life is against us, and much discussion, and warnings against our hands are tied I ' " parents allowing their children to fall uJ,lder the influence of the missionaries -Mr. E. Fairbank says: "While at are found in all the papers. Jesus Mahableswar some conversations there Christ is more and more comi~g to be were full of interest to me. One, especially, I should like to report. I
GENEl!.AL mSSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
askt a Brahman, who seemed to be the heathen. And how significant the fact most sincere Hindu I had ever seen, that the heathen Hindus themselves are 'Do you have any real satisfaction in making a new translation of the Bible your religion, i. e., any true peace that with Hindu notes appended, and St. possesses your life ? ' The frankness of Matthew is already publisht 1"-0. M. his reply surprised me. He said: 'No, S. Letter". there is never any such a thing as peace in our religion. I think,' he said, 'that AFRICA. your religion has this excellence above ours that you do have peace, and it's a Mr. H. DIETERLEN, of the Basuto wonderful thing, but we have not got Mission, intimates in the Journal des it.' 'But,' I replied, 'the fact that there Missions, that one of his brethren has is no peace in your religion, and that counted somewhat too low the part there is in Christianity, throws doubt on which conscience, and. somewhat too your religion, does it not? Why don't high the part which dreams have in you become a Christian?' , No,' he Basuto conversions. Says he: "It is answered, 'I long for that peace, but undoubtedly very often dreams which how can I get it? I was born in my are the occasion of these conversions j religion. My religion is for me. You but these dreams, themselves. are were born in your religion. Your reli· neither more nor less than the offspring gion is for you. My ancestors gave me of a conscience troubled by the sense this religion,and how can I change?' of sin. They turn in general on these He was a well educated Brahman." subjects: the view of the sins which one has committed; the gate of heaven -The rapid increase of the Christian shut against man on account of his population of South India, remarks the guilt; the reproaches addrest by God IJanslc Mi8sions B&ad, has compelled a to the impenitent or unforgiven sinner; somewhat forced increase in the number the last judgment, and the condemnaof native pastors. From 50, in 1855, it tion of the wicked. This is enough to has risen to 900 in 1895. The native indicate that a certain feeling of sin has pastors largely feel as if their equality preceded and engendered these dreams, of office was not cordially recognized and is the cause of the conversion of by the missionaries. Others think that which the dream is but the accidental this feeling is by no means so strong as occasion. In fact, without the sense of is sometimes represented. With the sin is there any possibility of a real con· gradual growth of the native church in version, of repentance, of the desire of character, intelligence, and means, these pardon, and of the acceptance of salva.- frictions, of course, will gradually sub· tion by Jesus Christ." side. Danes, Germans, and Americans are less open to such complaints than In mentioning the Trappist establish- Englishmen, whose good qualities, as ment in South Africa, these Trappists none allow more frankly than them- are sometimes described as an "Orde~ selves, are a good deal alloyed with un· of Jesuits." This is impossible. There graciousness of manner. is but one order of Jesuits. There are, indeed, one or two orders, such as the -" Two Brahmans were in a railway Redemptorists, that are greatly infiucarriage, and one of them refused a enced by the Jesuits. But even in this gospel offered by a native preacher. vague sense we do not understand that He 'could not think of buying a Chris· the Trappists can be called "a sort of tian book.' The other exclaimed, 'It's Jesuits." On the other hand, they are a very good book; it's the life of Jesus a reformation, in the direction of rigor, Christ: it is to me as my daily food. of the ancient Benedictine Order. When I miss a day in reading it I count Therefore, they alone (with Bome casual that day as lost.' And that man was a exceptions in other orders), of all the orders founded since 1200, give to the but they are bearable, or surmountable superiors of their houses the ancient in time, or may be mitigated in pasname of Abbot, altho, in their hu· sage. There are those who suffer very mility, we believe that they have no little, and one may hope to fall within mitred abbots. Being, as we under- that category." stand, entirely separate in administration from the Benedictines proper, we Fiendishness, 1. e. active enmity to do not know whether or not they have God, is as yet an exception in mankind. derived from these a tacit opposition to :Most men are carried along by their dethe Jesuits, but they certainly have no sires, of various kinds, without having special connection with the Jesuits. as yet distinctly opposed themselves to God. There are some fearful excep- It appears from what is said in Med- tions, however, such as the Black Mass, ical Mi88ion8 by A. SIMS, M.B., C.M., in Paris, and the Mass of the Red Lamp, that fever on the Kongo, rightly treated, in Geneva, lately described in t.he REis not so much to be dreaded as is com- VIEW. There is a similar direct wormonly supposed. Mr. Sims says: ship of evil, in antagonism to missions, ., Simple intermittent fever is the com- in Kamerun. Guinea, described in the monest on the Kongo, the easiest to Oalwer Monaisbliitter. This consists in treat, and the least harmful in after-ef- the worship of Gin. The worshipers fects. One may have, perhaps, a hun- form an actual church. Candidates are dred in three years and yet do one's obliged to prove that they are of notowork, or fiuish a definite term of ser- riously evil life, and are gin drinkers. vice. No one is exempt from it, and Thereupon they are baptized by immermost new residents have one a month sion. As soon as the neophyte comes on their first residence on the Kongo. out of the water, he receives a glass of It need not in any way be feared, of it- gin, and thenceforward gin is his god. self it is rarely or never fatal, it is dis- He must pledge himself to the drinking agreeable to have, and distresses the of gin, and to a scandalous life. On system, but in a day or two all effects the Sundays they hold meetings, at are gone and work is resumed, some- which they mutually recount their vile times even on day of cure; it must, deeds, and concert new. This associahowever, be carefully treated, in order tion owes its origin on the one hand to to get rid of it immediately, and to the bad example of so many Europeans, avoid its changing its character and and on the other to the circumstance passing into a worse form of fever, and, that some heathens in Edie once took above all, to avoid 8. reduced system part in a Catholic procession, when and shattered health, necessitating a they were afterwards regaled with gin. voyage home. Many have to return These two occasions suggested to some from the tropics merely from neglect- negroes the thought: There are in Euing their fevers, from badly treating rope many and manifold churches; they them, and particularly from bad habits already knew the " Baslers," the" Bapin manner of dressing, sleeping, eating, tists," the" Catholics;" moreover they working, and living. There is not the saw the evil walk of so many Euroshadow of a doubt that with prudence, peans, and therefore said to themselves, knowledge, and the frank acceptance that in Europe there seemed to be a of good advice one may escape much church, whose members, more or less, fever, be encouraged by a fairly pleas- have their belly for their god. Such a· ant first residence in Africa, and look church, they thought, they must have forward to comparative immunity from ill Kamerun also, and accordingly esthis form of fever during a second term. tablisht this diabolical association, to Inconvenience and some suffering are which they give the euphonious name incident and unavoidable on the Kongo, of the" Almeler."
ENGLISH NOTES
English NOWS. tp.e welcome news tbat the Directors have decided to reopen the Kachhwa BY REY. JAMES DOUGLAS, M.A. Miaaion, and to send back Dr. R. J. Ashton as its missionary. This will be THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. another effort to rouse the people of the district from their indifference. News from the Lower Kongo River.- The work at Mbanza Makuta has suf- China.-The mission at Tienstinis fered lately through the death of the flourishing under the administration of chief of the town. This man, during Dr. G. Smith. "One after another," bis last illness, urged the people not to writes the doctor, "seem to really betolerate the Gospel any longer, declar- lieve in Jesus as their Savior, and to ing that he was bewitcht by one of the make up their mind to follow Him." Christians. Villages under water.-The floods in Accordingly, the people, to a large North China are causing great distress, degree, took fright, and would have no having totally destroyed one of the service in their town. The new chief- finest harvests ever known, and covered tain told the Christians they must either many villages with thick mud up to the give up Christ, or leave the village. eaves of the houses. Many families have campt on the roofs of their dwel- Help came, in answer to prayer, from lings. Where they will find refuge in a quarter where it was not expected. the winter it is impossible to say. Dire The state officer took the matter up, distress reigns thruout the entire Yungand extended protection to the mission, ting-ho district, and the missionary and it is hoped that matters will, before working in this district, Rev. J. Stonelong, be righted. house, will be very glad to receive con- tributions in aid of the poor sufferers. Tidingsfromlndia.-Four girls from the boarding-school at Barisal, have South Sea I8lands.-The Island of lately put on the Lord Jesus Christ in Tauhunu, of the Hervey group, has baptism. One of them only ten years sustained a sad loss in the death of old. Abela, the native teacher. Just before he died, he was heard singing .. Safe in The Annual Bengali Conference, held the arms of Jesue," in his own lanthis year at Kathirn, was more evident- guage. His death is a great loss to the ly filled with the Spirit of God than mission, and his place a hard one to fill. ever has been the case before. The program was made up of prayer- The LoniWn Young Women's Mi88ionmeetings, addresses for Sunday-school art! Band celebrated its first anniversary teachers and workers, Christian fellow- on November 20th, 1896. The meeting ship and revival meetings, and Chris- was markt by enthusiasm throughout. tian Endeavor meetings. All the meetings were well attended, and all who PRESBYTERIAN MISSION IN BWATOW• were present must feel the better for such a season of inspiration. "By means of the work in the hos- pital and otherwise, a public opinion is. .Agra.-The Rev. J. G. Potter has slowly, almost imperceptibly, spreading recently had the pleasure of baptizing among the people that the religion we twelve lepers from the leper asylum, teach is a good and true religion. each giving a confession of faith in Jesus before baptism. Three of the "In one of our congregations, Noi candidates who thus faithfully followed hue ti, a rather serious defection to the their Master had to be conveyed to the Roman Catholics has taken place. One spot, the disease having wrought such or two of the brethren there lookt for ravages, that it was impossible for them a 'backing' from the preacher in a disto walk. pute with a heathen neighbor; a belp which the pastpr very properly refused THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
The Foreign Secretary sends hoine
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
to give. The Roman Catholics are, in mission was born of prayer, nourisht such cases, ready to interfere. Probably by prayer, and still supported, from some six families have joined the Ro- month to month, on:y in answer to man Catholics." earnest prayer."
Dr. Cousland writes concerning the " In some way or other large congregations and small buildings The Lord does provide." in which they assemble. In many places the churches and halls are densely WU1i Ohau: .A prosperOU8 corner of packt, and in two or three towns new the 'lJineyard. – Miss K. B. Stayner has enlarged buildings are being erected. much to encourage her in her work in Many more buildings are needed, for this corner. She writes: "We had nine there are many to hear the glad tidings. baptisms here yesterday, Sept. 14th, five being from Yung.ko·azie, the dis- THE NORTH AFRICAN MISSION. trict for which there was special prayer. Three of the number had only hesrd Since this mission was started in 1881 the Gospel within the last year, and by Mr. George Pearse, it has grown two of these had been opium smokers, and spread through all the States and but were so very clear about the doc- Egypt. It has over eighty workers in trine, and their behavior, by all acthe field, and an income of over £7,000 counts, had been so good since they a year. Several other missions have believed, that we could not but accept also started, and agents and colporteurs them, altho the probation for memberof the Bible Society are actively em- ship is usually longer. ployed. Scriptures have been widely distributed, and some fresh translations " Another of the candidates was an made. Prejudices are, in a measure, giv- old man of seventy-seven, and yet aning way through medical missions and other, an old blind woman, who evinced the general kindness of missionaries, wonderful clearness in her answers. and Moslems have been, in several We thank God for these, and pray that places, soundly converted. Many diffi- they may be much used of Him for His culties are still experienced, but there glory." is an increasing readiness to hear the message of salvation. Over seventy countie,~, south of the Hoang-Ho River, have, as yet, no resi- FREE CHURCH MISSION. dent native or foreign evangelist. An earnest appeal is made for help in this "The largest of F. C. Mission entar- quarter. prlses is that of Madras, to which Dr. William Miller has given 34 years of Great blessing is resting on the work his life. College and school occupy a in Olleh-Kiang. "The number of bapmagnificent range of buildings, forming tisms," says Mr. Rudland, "bids fair three sides of a square. On the fourth to go beyond anything we have yet side, separated by a street, is the board- seen." As many as 365 persons were ing-house for Christian students,and be- baptized during last spring in the T'aihind it, also separated by a street, is the Chau district of Cheh-Kiang, and from boarding-house for Brahmin students. present reports it seems likely that there will be a very large number again in Towards the construction of these autumn. buildings, which form the Christian center of Madras and South India, Dr. Only lately T'ai Chau's first convert :&liller has, himself, contributed no less past away at a ripe age. Mr. Rudland, than £20,000. who misses him sorely, tells that" dur- ing his last illness some of his uncon- Ohina'8 Millions.-The Rev. J. Hud- verted relatives came to condole with son Taylor writes: "The very existence him. This he felt too much for him, of the C. I. M. is a standing testimony, and raising himself up in bed, said to more forcible than words, to God's them: faithfulness in answer to prayer. The " •You came to condole and try and sent, because it has been proved in precomfort me; what have you to give me vious famines they would not touch it, that will comfort me now? The Lord so great would be, their fear of losing Jesus died for me, and I'm now going caste through eating what has been to be for ever with Him. But you are tainted by unholy fingers. left in a wicked world still in your sins, and unless you repent, and believe in -The world is growing smaller. the Lord Jesus, you will die in your With the completion of the Trans Sisins. I have no fear of death; it will berian Railway in 1900, the tour of the only relieve me from pain, and take me world in 30 days will become an accomto eternal happiness.'" Such a testi- plisht fact. The entire fare is calcumony as this they had never seen or lated to be from $250 to $400. Yes, met with, and to some of them he and a recent cable dispatch came from seemed to be wandering, but his sons Burma to the Foreign Secretary of the knew better. Not a doubt seemed to Missionary Union in two hour8. This trouble his last hours. His end was is the quickest service on record bepeace. tween Rangoon and Boston, Less than fifty years ago the quickest communi- THE KINGDOM. cation between missionaries in Burma and their friends in America required -Asia accused Him, Africa bore His four months, &nd often when missioncross, Europe crucified Him, while the aries sailed, it was more than a year Isles of the Sea lookt in awe upon His before news came of their safe arrival. dying agonies.-Rev. J. R. lJavies. Then are our eyes deceiving us when we read that in Kusaie, one of the far- -Count Zinzendorf chose as his mot- off islands of Micronesia, the stations to II That land is henceforth my coun- are connected by telephone '! try which most needs the Gospel." And ever since the Moravian Church, in the -Time was when French was the same spirit, has deliberately chosen the diplomatic language. Now the Chinesemost discouraging fields, the tribes Japanese treaty is in 3 texts, and the whose case was most forlorn and hope- English copy is the official one. less. -In the wars of the present century -It is both interesting and full of alone 30,000,000 of men have been encouragement to notice at how many killed. How small, by comparison, is points the non·Christian religions are in the number of those who fall in the direct opposition to some of the might- ranks of the Great Captain of Salvaiest secular forces at work in the mod- tion, fighting in the noblest of noble ern world. Thus the demand is be- causes 1-Regions Beyond. coming more and more imperative each year that the Moslem pilgrimages to -Did you ever notice how, in that Mecca be prohibited since they so spread wonderful ninety-ninth Psalm, David, contagious diseases and become thus a in the midst of a torrent of praise, menace to Europe. Then in Bombay makes the practical suggestion that they an attempt was made to isolate the bring an offering as they come into His known cases of plague in a hospital, courts? How can we come into His but caste prejudices and the senseless presence, knowing the need of His suspicions of the more ignorant natives world, and withhold what we might prevented this. Still further, in the give 1-Helping Hand. famine districts of India cows are to be had almost for the asking, yet thous- -The Standard has actually heard of ands are starving to death rather than a Chicago Baptist, the head of a great eat this forbidden food. Corn, so mercantile establishment, who began a abundant in this country, can not be month beforehand to plan his business 80 as to be able to attend a conference on systematic beneficence. / or a daughter to Africa, India, China, or Japan. If, in addition, the support of -All things considered, this must be its child can be guaranteed by the considered the most notable benefaction church, it has put itself in the most ever -made. Let other millionaires give vital and helpful relations to foreign good heed. Alfred Nobel, of Stock· mISSIOns. We believe such a connecholm, has willed to the world $10,000,- tion of many individual churches with 000, which vast sum is to be converted individual foreign missionaries would into safe securities and the interest used do much toward imparting concretefor prizes to be annually given to those ness and enthusiasm to the work of who have done most during the yearto discipling the nations.-The Oongregaadvance science or promote the welfare tionalist. of the race, as follows: "One·fifth for the most important discovery in the -It appears that at least in some natural sciences. One-fifth for the cases retrenchment may be a blessing most important discovery or improve- in disguise. For the Baptist Missionary ment in chemistry. One-fifth for the Magazine has this to say: "A number of most important discovery in physiology the missionaries have written, expressor medicine. One-fifth for the most ing their thankfulness that their approexcellent work in literature, and the priations for work have been cut down, remaining fifth part to that person who and that they have been compelled to has labored most effectively for the tell the native Christians that they had uniting of humanity, the disarmament, no funds from America to provide for partial or complete, of standing armies, the support of their churches. There and for the organization and promotion has been brought to light in this most of peace congresses." The prizes are unexpected way a reserve of manliness, to be awarded by the Swedish aca- self-reliance and ability of self-support demies and the Norwegian legislatures, which has surprised the missionaries and are to be given without regard to themselves. In response to appeals to nationality. Every man and woman in provide for that which could not longer the human race may strive for a prize. be supported by American funds, the native Ohristians have in many cases -President Finney tells of a man, a risen nobly to the emergencies of the professing Christian, who on being askt situation. Scores of native churches if he felt that his property and business have voluntarily assumed the supbelonged to God, he being only the port of their pastors and all their manager, replied: "Oh, no, I haven't religious worship, and have developt got so far as that yet." It seemed to unexpected strength in the midst of him almost absurd that such a question the poverty in which most of them should be askt. His thought was that live. The ideal in the establishment of a recognition of the Divine ownership Christianity in any land is self-support – of oneself and one's estate was an ex- and self-reliance; and through the trials perience belonging to a far-advanced which have come upon the Ohristians religious experience to which in the by the financial distress of the Missiondistant future it might or might not be ary Union, this grace of liberality and given him to attain. self-dependence has been developt in many places like shafts of sunlight -What better way of promoting an piercing the heavy clouds of financial interest in foreign missions can be distress." found by an individual church than to contribute one of its members to the -In the annual list of appropriations foreign field? In these days, when so from every mission may be found such many nearer causes side-track the items as these: "Boat-house and boats, foreign missionary movement, there is Ratburee, 120 ticala " (about $43); "Jinnothing so sure to bring it back to its rightful prominence as the gift of a son "kiaM for Bible women's work, Alla- -The Methodists have 51 deaconess habad, 180 rupees" ($54); "Oxen, Main- homes, with nearly 600 deaconesses, of purie, 120 rupees" ($36); "Mule·part whom 100 are trained nurses. During and two horses, Guatemala, 750 pes08" the last four years, over $600,000 have (about $350); "Horses and saddles, been raised for this purpose. These Guerrero, 600 Mexican" (about $360); women serve without salary, and made "Running the Nassau, Africa, $500." over 250, 000 calls, held several thousand – Woman', Workfor Woman. meetings, and cared for over 6,000 sick people. WOMAN'S WORK. -The Methodist Woman'liI Foreign -A remarkable missionary collector, Missionary Society raised $285,770 last Mrs. Mary Amos, died recently in Eng- year. Among the women sustained are land. Of her the London Methodist Re- 22 medical missionaries, who in 14 hos- C()rdi!'1' says: "For nearly forty years pitals and dispensaries ministered to she devoted herself to this wor1,>:, with more than 60,000 of their sex. the result that no less a sum than .£10,- 000 reacht the Wesleyan Missionary -The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society's exchequer. It was made up Society of the Methodist Episcopal very largely of small sums; in fact, it Church, South, received last year $121,- is said that half-a-crown was about the 157. Appropriations were made at the height of her ambition, and she never last annual meeting of $37,960 for refused a copper, were it only a half- China, $14,225 for Brazil, $37,965 for penny. She solicited aid from anyone, Mexico, and $6,150 for the Indian Terirrespective of creed or position, if she ritory. Including the contingent and considered they were able to give a con- other miscellaneous appropriations, the tribution, either large or small. She total amonnt was $93,300. became quite a character in the villages and towns of the North, regularly mak- -Mary Pierson Eddy, who is in Syria ing her appearance for the gifts, and as an American: Presbyterian missionnot only collected from, but dieted ary, has written to friends denying that with. the numerous kind friends whose the Sultan has forbidden women physiinterest she aroused, and whose good cians to attend his subjects. Miss Eddy will she secured in her extensive field is a physician, and says that since she of labor." received from the Imperial Council of Medicine in Constantinople a diploma -Accounts of the present work of authorizing her to practise in all parts Miss Jessie Ackerman, read like a stray of the Turkish Empire she has met no leaf from the history of the Woman's interference. She has 2 Syrian assist- Crusade. Accepting the assistant pas- ants, and says that she has treated many torate of the Fourth Baptist church in cases among the Bedouins. CWcago, she has entered upon her work as an evangelist with that zeal and re- -A woman who knows byexperisolution wWch characterized her labors ence sets forth this in the February sa round the world missionary of the Woman'8 Work for Woman about itiner- W. C. T. U. She has adopted as her ating in Mexico: "We often think that plan of work Saturday night visitation all the Christian graces mentioned by of saloons and dives, and the conduct- Paul, and more too, are needed; but ing of a short service largely of a gospel patience is of special importance. Patemperance nature· in each place were tience, when one gets lost the first day not refused, after which she invites each on the road and instead of 11 A.M. ar- . listener to a service in the church. She rives at 6 P.M., having pickt Ws way is accompanied in these visits by one or down a slippery, rocky hill at a burro's more assistants. snail pace, in a drenching rain storm. Patience to stop first for one thing and then another on the road-to give inllk charge that great corporations are soul- to baby, to re·saddle horses, to rest ani- less is furnisht by the fact that Amer- mals, to re-arrange packs. Patience, can railroad corporations contribute when after traveling all the hot ~orning every year $181,000 to the work of the one inquires at noon for dinner, only to Railroad Young Men's Christian Asso- hear the refrain, No hay nada, NQ hay ciation along the lines of their roads. conque (there is nothing, nothing but tortillas). Patience-when after nu- -The (JlJiri8tian Enrka'1JO'l' New8 re· merous failures, one succeeds in per- ports that the pledges of business men suading a·woman to cook a dinner and in San Francisco toward the expenses then waits one, two, three hours for the of the International Convention to be chicken to be run down, killed, pickt, held there this year exceed anything the COrn ground for tortillas, the wood known in the annals of such convenhunted to make the fire, and finally, for tions, amounting to $17,500, while the dinner to be cookt. Patience – after Golden Gate Union and the Alameda an early start and an all day's travel, to County Union have increast the hold service in the evening when it is amount to $25,000. almost impossible not to fall asleep in the middle of the sermon and then to -The King's Daughters held their •• please play another hymn" after we 11th anniversary not long since, and are done. Endurance must not be lack- were able to report a membership of ing; on rough roads, hard climbs and 400,000 in all parts of the world. as difficult decents, hot dusty roads, muddy and slippery roads, and bridle -The Congregational Chinese Enpaths half closed by overhanging deavorers, of San Francisco, have conthickets. One must be able to put up tributed $17.00 toward the International with any thing: with hard beds or no Convention fund, $80.00 to the Ameribeds; fieas and-worse; sometimes to can Board, and support 6 missionaries sleep out of doors, again in a vacant in China. house, which is quite agreeable if it i8 really vacant; to occupy the same room -The present foreign tour of the with pigs and feel them scratching their president of the United Society of backs on the underside of one's bed in Christian Endeavor will bear fruit in the night, without alarm. many ways at the San Francisco con- vention. Dr. Clark writes that he has YOUNG PEOPLE. secured for use as a gavel at the con- vention the shoemaker's hammer that -The International Committee of the was used by William Carey before he Y. M. C. A. has celebrated its 80th an- went as a missionary to India. Another niversary, and gives this survey of the convention gavel is now being made work accomplisht. The number of as- for him by a Hindu society. sociations has grown to 1,448, and the membership to 268,298. The Associa- -The" tenth legion" was famous in tion owns 815 buildings, valued at $16,- history, but now it is the name of those 759,800, and the annual expenses for Endeavorers who propose to give onelocal work reacht last year $2,296,441. tenth of their income for Christ and the The religious work is well to the front, church. It is a happy title. It will and in 1,070 of the associations there lead young pepple to keep accounts are religious meetings, while in 762 and to set apart a certain portion of there are Bible training classes; 4S their means for beneficence. We may associations are for the Indians, 61 for not believe that a tenth is the only or colored men, 108 for railroad men, and the best rule of giving. but it is vastly 480 for college students. better than impulsive and intermittent generosity. One union in New York -An illustration of the falsity of the has 1,000 members. The only thing required is to be .. willing to avow yourself one whose rule is to give God was taken for the suffering Armenians, the tithe." and great enthusiasm was manifested.
-A well informed writer in Australia -A society in Cleveland, 0., of 83 counts the progress of the Christian members, all having small incomes. Endeavor movement in that Island- fulfilled a pledge to raise by free wlll Continent .. one of the most remark- offerings $500 for foreign missions last able developments in current religious year, without lessening gifts to their life," and believes that ,. there is no own church. They also made more part of the world where it has taken a than 700 visits to the sick and needy, stronger hold, stands on a firmer basis, distributing more than 5,000 pieces of or has better prospects of success." literature, and started a missionary alid The Endeavorers of Australia number reference library of 100 volumes. Two between 50,000 and 60,000, tho the first of the number have gone as missionsociety was formed only seven years aries to Africa. ago, and Australia, tho territorially about as large as the United States. -According to the Hodd, there are does not contain many more people than now in Japan 197 kindergartens, with New York. 390 lady teachers. In the city of Osaka alone there are 41 of these schools. -The Junior socIety in Chihuahua celebrated Christmas by bringing gifts UNITED STATES. to be given to other children poorer than themselves. As all the members -Mr. Pierpont Morgan's gift of of the society are poor, it was touching $1,000,000 to the New York Lying-in. to see the eagerness with which they Hospital, taken together with the nubrought apples, nuts, candies, and even merous gifts to other charities in recent clothing, to be given away. Two very years, amounting altogether to about as poor children brought, untouched, the much more, entitles him to rank among bags of candy that had been given to the most generous of modern philan· them at the Christmas tree. The next thropists. This is another of the bene· morning a number of poor children ficent deeds by which men of wealth were brought to the church, and there prove that the faculties devoted to great received the gifts, and at the same time acquisitions do not necessarily fail to an invitation to the services. serve also the needs of humanity.
-One of the chief obstacles to Chris· -T. J. Morgan, once Indian Comtian Endeavor in India is the separation missioner, and now active in home mis· of the two sexes. There are very, very sions, is of the opinion that the divorce few of even mission schools where boys between religion and morality. tho so and girls study together. Nowhere do painfully common, is no more prevalent they play together, sit together, or among the freedmen than among white walk together. It is most difficult to people of a similar grade of culture. have a society in which males and females cooperate. -One of the newest of American missionary societies is the African In- -At the annual convention of the land MIssion, which. within two years, Endeavor societies connected with the have dispatcht 16 men and women to Foochow Mission, a membership was East Africa, and opened 4 stations, sev· reported of 1,377, as compared, with eral hundred miles towards the interior 7 societies and 291 members, reported from Mombas. The income, so far, at the first annual convention in Shang. has been about $6,000. hai, less than two and a half years ago. At the consecration service 122 persons -Who will not join heartily in con· took part by prayer and testimony in gratulations to our Baptist brethren who have for months been facing the M minutee. A generous collection possibility of being compelled to abandon one or more of their misssions-the lodgings received over $190,000 from Kongo region had been named-but those sheltered; the City Colony, with are now rejoicing in the offer of Mr. its many branches, returned $470,000 Rockefeller to pay $250,000 towards re- toward an expense of $493,000, and the moving the huge debt from both the Farm Colony, in spite of very many home and foreign boards, provided only difficulties, came within $25,000 of that before July 1 the churches contri- meeting its expenditures of $250,000.
bute $230,000. -Dr. Bamado cabled from London -In 1896 it cost the Presbyterian to the British ambassador at Constanti· Missionary Board five per cent. to ad- nople, offering to receive gratuitously minister $777,063. and at once into his houses 1,000 desti- -The Missionary (presbyterian, tute Armenian orphans, and represented South), for February, whether for value to the foreign office his ability to care or variety of contents, illustrations, or for more than that number, if necestypographical excellence. is one of the sary. Some who have been accepted very best that has come to hand. previously were on their way to rural homes in England. -Jan. 14, a council met at Bethany Church, San Francisco, and ordained -The English Church Missionary Mr. Joe Jet, who has been connected Society, whose income is nearly as large with the Chinese work for about 20 as that of all the other Church societies years.' He goes to take charge of the combined, publishes 4 magazines, whose mission work in Southern China, carried combined circulation in 1895, had on by the Christian Chinese of Califor- reacht 2,208,350. The receipts from nia. He is the second Chinese ordained these exceed the cost by nearly $1,000.
by a Congregational council, and Rev. The Friend says: "English Friends Jee Gam, the first, gave the right hand have now active missions in Syria and of fellowship in excellent English. China, as well as in India and Mada- -At the recent twenty-fourth anni- gascar, also in Constantinople, Bulgaversary of the Jerry McAuley Mission, ria, France, Ceylon, and South Africa. in New York, it was reported that the American Friends have missions in attendance during the year was about Palestine, Japan, Alaska, Jamaica, 40,000, and that over 2,000 have been China, and India. A beginning has converted. R. Fulton Cutting present- been made, but the field is the world…
ed the treasurer's report. showing that The Continent.-The position of the the expenses for the year were $5,087, Paris Missionary Society is a very (liffiand that the receipts, mainly gifts and cult one. They recognize very clearly collections, were $5,996. the duty incumbent upon them to do EUROPE. all in their power to conserve and to strengthen mission work in Madagas- Great Britain.-The report of the car. Under the influence of this feel- "Darkest England" scheme for the ing they are sending out French Pro- Salvation Army for the last year shows testant teachers to labor in our Normal that 3,231,917 meals were supplied and School and in the Friends' High 1,339,246 nights' lodging; 2,501 men Schools. They will also send out before were received into the factories, 411 10,ng other educational workers, whose into the first prison home, 11.899 pro- qualifications will enable them to take vided with employment, temporary or a leading placc in the development of the permanent, and 1,535 women and girls educational work. They are, however, received into rescue homes. Altho there a very small body, and the mission'
is no pretense of making the work self- work they already have in hand in Ba- supporting, the shelters for food and sutoland, the Kongo, Senegal, and Tahiti makes very heavy demands upon in which he had appoi~tments to detheir limited means. Consequently they liver his lectures on .. Comparative regard with dismay the responsibilities Religion." In Calcutta, Bombay, and which seem to await them in Madagas- Madras he will deliver 6 lectures on the car.-R. Wardlaw Thompson. following themes: "The World-wide Aspects of Christianity;" .. The.World- -The friends of foreign missions wide Effects of Christianity;" " The among the 80,000 Lutherans in France, Christian Doctrine of God as the Basis who, heretofore, have sent in their con- of a Universal Religion;" "The Un!' tributions to the Paris Missionary So- versal Book;" "The Universal Man ciety, have resolved henceforth to ren- and Savior;" "The Historical Characder pecuniary aid to the missionaries of ter of Christianity as Confirming its the Norwegian Church in Madagascar. Claims to World-wide Authority." In other cities he will give from 1 to 3 -Rev. R. Bahnsen, inspector (direct- lectures. Those who thought of his or) of the Schleswig-Holstein Mission- coming with deep solicitude lest he ary Society, left Brecklum in October should speak too flatteringly of Hindufor India Dn a tour of inspection of his ism, are wholly satisfied with his treat-' fields of labor. The 10 Brecklum mis- ment of the themes he has selected. sionaries are working among the Telugu and Jeypore people on II chief-sta- -Taken all in all, the Lutheran tions, and 11 out-stations, assisted by Church in India embraces 8 to 11 mis- 25 native helpers. sion fields, cultivated by 170 American and European missionaries, 50 native -The Danish Lutheran Missionary pastors, and nearly 1,200 native help- Society, which has its fields of labor in ers and teachers. The fruit of their India and China, has recently had 4 faithful labor consists in more than new missionaries ordained in the 100,000 confirmed members of the cathedral at Ripen, by the venerable Church and more than 7,000 children bishop Dr. Goettsche. The bishop's in the mission schools. own son, who had been an officer in the army before he studied for the ministIy, -It is almost impossible to make was one of the 4. He is going to India, Hindu converts understand that money the other 3 are on their way to China. they receive from the missionaries as a loan must be repaid. For example, a -Fifteen German missionaries soci- large number of native farmers recently eties are taking active part in the work abandoned their village for a place of spreading the Gospel among the some miles distant, and said that they heathen They are supporting about were doing it because the mission- 700 thoroughly trained men, who, as aries had taken their lands away ordained ministers, are preaching the from them. The fact of the case was Word to 300,000 native Christians. that in a time of great distress the The annual expenses amount to $1,250,- missionaries had advanced money to 000. Of these 15 societies, 6 are these farmers, receiving their land as strictly Lutheran, viz., the Leipsic security; and when the farmers became Society, the Berlin, the Gossner, the able to repay the loan they had refused Hermannsberg, the Brecklum, and the to do it, whereupon the missionaries Neudettelsau Society. had simply asserted their rights in a court of law. ASIA. -Rev. J. N. Forman says: You India.-Rev. J. H. Barrows, who is must take the people just as you find now villiting India for the purpose of them, and you will certainly never find delivering lectures on the Haskell Foun- them alike two days in succession! dation, reacht Bombay December 15, One day there are crowds, and the next and we have before u.s a list of 21 cities day you may have "two boys and a 15,467,752, or six per cent. of the caste dog;" one day there is close attention population; second, Kshatriyas, 29,- to the preaching, and the next day 984,282, or twelve per cent.; third, Vasome man has come carrying a new isyas, 12,270,973, or five per cent.; pair of shoes, or a couple of cauliflow· fourth, Sudras, 121,550,368, or fifty per ers, and to the preacher's dismay he cent.; and, fifth, Out-castes, 65,700,758, finds a discussion started as to whether or twenty-seven per cent. So strong the shoes were cheap at eleven annas, or has the caste feeling become amongst the cauliflowers dear at two for a pice; the out-castes of Madras, that they reor perhaps one day the people are quiet sent the opprobrious name of Pariah. but hopelessly stupid, and the next day Out of respect to that feeling, the Masome young upstart persists in asking dras Government has recently past an foolish questions, just when you think order that in all State documents they you have at last made some impressio. be referred to as Panchama, which liton your audience. erally means the fifth caste.-H. F. La- flamme. -During conference a very unique and significant reception was given to China.-There are now upwards of Bishop Thoburn and the members of 1,000 schools of various descriptions for the conference. A. rich and well-known natives in China under foreign instruc- Hindu merchant, Mr. Venkatatchellum, tion or direction. They range from the having become deeply interested in the village day-school up to high-schools work carried on by Methodists among and colleges. Many of these schools the deprest classes in India, has not have been in operation from ten to only helpt the work very liberally in twenty years, so that the number of Madras during the year, but also very youthful Chinese who have been generously gave a banquet in honor brought up under foreign educational of Bishop Thoburn as a token of appre- influence of a Christian character Inay ciation of the work in which he has safely be estimated at considerably over been pre-eminently a leader. A. large 250,000. number of guests were present by invitation, and some excellent addresses -In the day-schools at Chefoo the delivered.-Indian Witne88. number of scholars suddenly increast at the Chinese New Year from 30 to -By a process of degradation, the 4 120, all due to the growing friendliness original castes have been subdivided of the Chinese to the missionary instiand multiplied, so that now, in all In- tutions, and the increasing desire for dia, there must be about 100,000 caste prhnary education. This larger attenddivisions. Revolts against Brahmanic ance is the more remarkable, as aid authority are frequent, and attract dif- hitherto given in books and stationery ferent castes. If they involve nothing has been discontinued. A. prominent but dogma or academic principles, caste Chinese official at Chefoo, secretary to is not affected; if, however, social or- the local governor for over twenty thodoxy is impugned, the adherents years, has recently proposed to furnish have to retire from the fold and form a a house and school-room at $1,000 a new 'community. By a process of (Mexican), to provide for the teaching filtration, the caste feeling has permeat- of 4 pupils. ed even the despised outcaste classes and hill tribes, and a large section of -The increasing demands on the the Mussulman community, until at Presbyterian Mission Press at Shanghai least· 245,000,000 of the 290,000,000 of are one index of an awakening interest India have fallen into caste thraldom. among the Chinese in western litcrature This large number may be roughly di- of a high order. Here is a single invided as follows :-First, Brahmins, stance: One man from the anti-foreIgn and exclusive province of Hunan visited Shanghai during the past year, and as a visible monument of the establish. subscribed for 120 copies of the Re- ment of Christianity. A Presbytery, view of the Times in Chinese. The whose proceedings are conducted in issues from this great press establish- Chinese, whose members are native ment are given in the report just re- elders elected by the congregations ceived as 500,000 copies, and over 46,- composed of groups of members 000,000 of pages for the year under throughout the provinces, and where review. Nearly 30 different Bible the missionaries sit only provisionally as societies and missionary organizations assessoI'f, stands as a formal witness to look to this press for assistance in fur- a living native Church, with a memthering their far-reaching operations. bership already reckoned by thousands. Such are the constantly growing de- A theological class of well-nigh 100 mands upon it as to the quality and members, carrying on studies alongside quantity of its work, that it is under the of evangelistic work in their several necessity of frequently adding the latest districts, and assembling at stated peand best of press appliances from Eu- riods for a short course of lectures and rope, and of increasing its working spiritual conference, stands as the proforce.-Ohurch at Home and Abroad. phecy of an early native pastorate.- Missionary Record. -It is reported, and it is believed by our missionaries in the Province of AFRICA. Shansi, that an American has secured a contract for a railrlJad from the coast -The Kongo railway, which is soon to Tai-yuen-fu, the provincial capital. to sp!.n, with its iron limbs, the cata- The isolation of our missionaries in that ract region of 230 miles, has involved province will be understood by the fact not only an enormous outlay in money, stated by Mr. Atwater, that neither he but a hetacomb of human livgs. No nor Dr. Atwood, tho it is fifteen years one will ever know how many graves years since the latter went to Shansi, has have been necessitated by that stuseen a foreigner at their homes since pendous work, and yet these obstacles they left Tientsin, except their fellow- have never for a moment been deemed missionaries.-Misswnary Herald. insurmountable in face of the end in view. The rocks must be blasted; the -Last summer, when Mrs. lap, the mountains scaled, the valleys exalted, wife of our most highly esteemed Amoy and the ravines bridged over, to make pastor, died, so genuine and widespread the way of civilization plain. Whatwas the appreciation of that exception- ever was involved in the way of sufferally noble woman's character, that sev- ing or of death was not to be taken into eral articles of a most discriminating C()nsideration ; and even if the sum excharacter appeared in the Amoy Church pended were more than a million ster- Montllly, and on the day of her burial ling, this, too, should be gladly subin the lone cemetery on the hillside in scribed for the work in hand. Gigantic the Sio·khe Valley, 30 women, many of outlay is considered advisable for the them with bound feet, and upwards of facilitation of trade and civilization. 200 men, many of whom had walkt Shall it not be equally reasonable when from neighboring villages 8 and 12 expended on the spiritual elevation and miles away, followed in quiet, mourn- eternal salvation of nations which sit ful procession to the place where they in darkness? Are not the souls of men laid her away.–J. G. Fag!]. worth more than the rubber of the forest, or the ivory of the elephant? -In Mukden, the capital of Manchu- Belgian, French, English, and Porturia, a handsome church, with its pagoda- guese traders do not flinch from enlike steeple, the center of a congregation countering the dangers of the Kongo of 800 communicants, with a native climate for the sake of worldly ad· pastor supported by themselves, stands vancement. It w.ere a thousand shames Zambesi did not prove a barrier, and were we to lag behind."-Regions Be- only 15,000 cattle were left out of 200,- yond. 000 in Rhodesia. In Khama's country -J. S. Mills writes from the West 800,000 were destroyed. "So terrible Coast: The number of missionary so- a visitation, extending over so wide an cieties operating in this part of Africa area, is almost unknown in the annals makes it necessary in the near future to of Africa. The grievous murrain that agree upon what places each shall oc- smote the herds of Pharaoh was but B cupy. Itis possible that a meeting for parochial epidemic compared with this this purpose will be held at Freetown. continental disaster." This necessity is so apparent that all our missionaries deem it very desirable that -The 4 principal diamond mines of the gropnd be more extensively ex- Kimberley employ 8,000 persons, of plored, 'so that we might act to the best whom6,5oo are black. From2,000,000 to advantage in the proposed division of 8,000,000 carats of diamonds are turned territory. For this work it was agreed out of the De Beers mines in a single to start from Rotufunk, and travel year, even under restriction to prevent eastward. That the trip might also be overstocking the market. Stones evangelistic, an organ and a magic weighing over an ounce (151.5 carats) lantern, with pictures of the life of are not infrequent in Kimberley. The Christ, were taken along. We started largest found so far in that mine promptly, and marcht beyond Pan- weighed 428~ carats in the rough, and guma, and returned by another route, 228~ after being cut. The largest making a journey of over 400 miles in known diamond, weighing 970 carats, 24 days. This would not be far on a found in the Jagersfontein mine, is now being cut at Amsterdam.
railway, but when measured by foot- -Not long ago the chief Lerotholi, steps it is a long distance. in the Lessouto mission, exprest the -The Presbyterian Church has ac- wish that his tribe should possess ancepted the offer of Miss Margaret Mac- other industrial school, the one which lean, of Glasgow to support a mission to our mission founded at Leloaleng being tpe dwarf peoples of Africa. With Ga- too far from the center of the country boon and Corsico as centers, the Ameri- to supply all needs. It was impossible canPresbyterian missionaries have taken for our society to establish this new the Gospel to the dwarfs among the school; and the time had come when Mabeya tribes. They are planning an the progress of the tribe and its growadvance, and for that purpose have ing appreciation of the benefits of civili- askt for additional workers. This zation demanded that it should make curious fragment of humanity, whom • sacrmces which would not have been Stanley met in his travels, have for askt of it formerly. The chief Lerasome years been laid upon Miss Mac- tholi understood this. He levied a tax lean's heart; she has now given £1,500 on the whole country. In the middle to establish a mission among them, and of last June its produce amounted to promises £500 a year in support of the 75,000 francs. After this he sought work. advice both from the administration -The Review of Reviews mentions and the missionaries, and askt their the rinderpest as one of the strange interest in his enterprise. The final results of Italy's attempt to conquer result, in which we greatly rejoice, Abyssinia. Introduced by plague- was that the direction of the school was stricken cattle, sent to supply the offered to our society, without any Italian army with food, it has steadily share in the expense.-Journal del moved southward, destroying nine- Missions &angeliques.
tenths of the herds of Africa.. The -The circular houses of the Bakwina
April
(Beckuana), built of mud and thatched hand for their churcheB.~he childl'en with grass, are crowded together, each are now taught in Malagasy in tens of one surrounded with a low mud wall thousands by Christian men and women.
or fence. No privacy is possible, and To close these schools and to lay these so the "mahoko," or news of the family, teachers idle is to inaugurate confusion.
easily becomes the property of the com- Besides this, arrangements have been munity. Outside is unspeakable filth, made to send French Protestant teach- squalor, and wretchedness. The" dith- ers as far as the services of such work- otobodu," or dust heaps (sic), represent ers can be obtained. The haste to the accumulated refuse of thirty years make a change seems to be more owing or more. When I go up to church I to Roman Catholic intrigue than to have to climb over two of these "moun- political considerations.
tainous" heaps, and if to the chief's, -The "French Society f9r the three. This last one overtops the sur- Propagation of the French Langiiage in rounding huts. Let the reader imagine the French Colonies," has given $30,000 what this means after a steady rain, to the Jesuits in Madagascar, altho the followed by the heat of a tropical sun. English and Norwegian Protestant No wonder that the mortality among Missionaries had made known their the people to-day, combined as it is willingness to teach French in their with other causes, is so appalling.- schools. The French Lutheran Aid Rev. H01JJard Williams. Society for the Norwegian missions in -The Leipsic Missionary Society is Madagascar,has sent Monsieur Pochard, making an appeal to its friends and of Paris, to Stavanger, to teach French supporters for a special contribution of to the students in the mission college, $7,500 for the establishment of a new and to accompany them later on to mission station on the Meri mountains, Madagascar.
three days' journey west of the KiIi- -A missionary letter describes the manjaro mountains, among the Wara wedding of a native pastor in Ne, tribe, where 6 missionaries are occupy- Guinea. A wreath of artificial flowers ing the stations Mamba, Moshi, and adorned the head of the bride, which Madjame, and are doing pioneer work was further wrapt ardund with yards full of promise for a rich harvest in the upon yards of ribbon of all colors. future. She and her friends were greatly dis- ISLANDS OF THE SEA. turbed because they could not get a piece of mosquito netting for a veil.
-The new policy of "thorough" in Their presents were in cloth, no pres- Madagascar, is being more and more . ent under 8 yards, and for purposes of insisted on. One great reform has, display the cloth was all tied together however, been proclaimed in the abo- at the corners. It amounted to more lition of slavery. Heavy fines and im- than 100 yards and seizing this, the prisonment are to be inflicted on those friends of the couple danced around who violate this law. Freed slaves are the village. Then the bride and groom to keep all the goods they have bought were seated in a garden, wrapt around out of their savings. No war tax is to with these hundred yards of print, and be levied. On the other hand, Mada- six shirts placed on the knees of the gascar has been proclaimed French soil, bridegroom. A hat was placed on the the French language made the obli- ground, and money gifts were next in gatory basis of all school instruction, order. The separate gifts rose as high and the" Romish cult" is especially to as $10, and, as each gift was thrown be insisted on. Protestant missionaries into the hat, a man standing near gave will be more than ever hampered in an unearthly yell and shouted out twice their work, and a time of trial seems I!ot its value.
The Missionary Review of the World — November 1890
THE DUTY OF CHRISTENDOM TO THE JEWS
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No. ll.-Old Series.– NOVEMBER. –VOL. ill. No. 11.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE DUTY OF CHRISTENDOM TO 'I'HE .JEWS.
BY REV. F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK.
That most intelligent and devoted friend of missions, Robert N. Cust, LL. D., of London, has published recently in the Church Missionary Intelligencer, an able article on the changing phases of the non-Christian religions, in which occurs an interesting monograph on "Neo Judaism." Dr. Cust is a member, not only of the Administrative Committee of the Church Missionary Society, but also of the London Missionary Society to the Jews, and he is equally qualified to speak of the operations and the successes of both. More than this, he is a man who thoroughly acquaints himself with the character of those systems which he hopes to see displaced by the Gospel of Christ. He confesses that great success has not as yet crowned the efforts of Christian missionaries among the Jews, either in London or in the cities of the Continent and of northern Africa. But he is none the less certain as to the duty of the Christian Church. He states that the Jews now number not less than 7,000,000, and are, therefore, a much more numerous people than were ruled over by David or Solomon-more numerous, in fact, than Palestine could possibly have supported.
If Dr. Custis correct in this estimate-and he seldom errs in matters of fact-the return to the Holy Land must be hastened, or it can only be re-occupied by representation. For what race, unless it be the American Negro, increases so rapidly as the Hebrew? Wherever the environment is favorable, and he has an equal chance with others, the Jew is the most thrifty of men, not only in money-getting but in the number and healthfulness of his children. Where the native American imagines that he cannot afford to marry, and must be satisfied with the" club" instead of a home, the Jew rears a prosperous family, and in the end endows them with wealth.
That the Hebrew race have suffered great persecution during the past centuries, must be confessed to the shame of the Christian Church. They have found in Europe as well as Africa and western Asia, another and much longer Babylonish captivity. But that this has been wholly due to religious prejudice cannot be affirmed. The tone and implication of Shakespeare's" Merchant of Venice" must rest on a basis which, even in his time, was historic. Probably the prejudice and contempt entertained toward the race by their Roman conquerors was fully as strong as has ever been exercised by the most bigoted of Christian nations. Nay, the latter .prejudice may have been in part an heirloom of the former.
The strangest prejudice and the greatest injustice and oppression now visited upon the Jews, so far as the Christian powers are concerned, are found in eastern Europe, where the doctrines of Christianity have the slightest hold, and where governmental policy and the bitterness of industrial competition must be held responsible for the entire crusade. One million of Jews are now being banished from Russian territory, not because of their faith but because the Government does not regard them as desirable subjects.
One thing is certain, whatever prejudice exists against the Hebrew population in the United States, does not arise from differences of .faith. Their best friends, both in this country and in Great Britain, are found in the Christian Church-certainly in the Protestant Church.
Some months since, the question was sent out to different men of prominent positions among us, "What is the occasion of the prevailing prejudice against the Hebrews ?" , Generally the re.sponse given was, "We are not aware of any prejudice." . Several clergymen disavowed any feeling of the kind. But Rev. Edward Everett Hale was cre~ited with charging the hostile feeling to a difference of religious faith.
As the implication was that of a prejudice now existing on the part of the American churches, we must earnestly protest against it. Mr. Hale cannot be aware-possibly he has forgotten-that four or five years ago, U. S. Minister Strauss was chosen to represent our Government at Constantinople on the recommendation of the missionary boards, and that petitions from the missionaries in the Turkish Empire were sent to Washington asking that he might be appointed for a second term.
The hostile feeling against the Jews in this country grows out of business relations. It is not cherished by Christians as such, but by those who have had to do with them in trade, or by those who have been employed by them in manufacturing. The trades unions, largely composed of infidels and Nihilists, would probably be found to represent the most bitter of all the animosities that they encounter. Whether it be just or not, there exists a feeling that the chief oppressors of poor needle-women are Jews. The industries in which unfortunate and starving females engage, as a last resort, are mostly in the hands of this class of men, and when the ruinous rates at which manufactured garments are produced in the attics and tenement houses of desperate poverty corne to be known, it must not be thought strange if popular sympathy and indignation are aroused. Some Americans join in the same extortion, but their miserable plea is that .competition compels them to do what others do. As a rule, women do not "strike." They suffer on and die, and their employers prosper .and live on Fifth Avenue.
There are among our Hebrew citizens thousands of worthy and honorable business men who suffer unjustly from the prejudice which .other thousands of their race have brought upon them, and it is to be hoped, that on the one hand, public opinion will become more discrimjnating, while on the other, the example of the nobler Hebrew tradesmen will raise the standard of honor and humanity among all their race.
Another thing which creates prejudice against the Jews may be regarded as a mere accident of their phenomenal thrift. At the summer resorts they are deemed undesirable guests on account of rough and disagreeable manners. This is no proof that the average of the race is more clownish or swinish than other races. Quite as disagree- ,able companionship might be found among the Irish, or some classes of native-bom Americans, but the difference is, that these are not found at first-class hotels; with them, there is a different relation between manners and money. Financial competency reaches a lower stratum in Jewish society than in any other. It extends to classes among whom the gentle amenities of life are unknown, and even good grammar is wanting. And the same habit of overreaching, which has made the money, is carried into all the contacts and experiences of hotel life.
Now, it is quite time that the common notion that Jews are suffering from any narrow religious prejudice of the Christian Church were laid aside.
How is it in Mohammedan countries where a common rejection of Christianity might be supposed to draw both classes of rigid Monothists together in full sympathy? In no Christian country-not even in Russia-is there so bitter a hatred, so degrading a bondage for the ~ews as in northern Africa-particularly in Morocco. They are thrifty in money matters, even there. It is impossible to impoverish them by any ordinary measures of oppression. On some accounts it is for the interest of impecunious Moors, and even of the officials, to have such a class from whom to borrow money, and by whose energy business shall be kept from stagnation, but as to indignitIes of every kind, the treatment meted out to them is almost incredible. They must wear a prescribed attire, and dwell in a certain quarter, and submit to many special police regulations; while in taxation, the only question is how far the life blood can be drawn with safety.
It seems strange that in their wide range among the nations, these people who are not a nation, cling to the Mohammedans and the Christians. Though the world is open before them, and they do not seem bound by local attachments, they are never found among the heathen. Opportunities for money-getting have been great in the East; almost every other race of Europe and western Asia-ancient and modern-has been lured by the wealth of India or China or the southern Archipelago, but never the Jew. His financial counterpart, the Parsee, is everywhere found in the East, driving bargains with Jewish sagacity, in opium or in spices and coffee, but the Hebrew has never crossed their track. Even in those centuries where he has suffered the greatest disabilities in the proscribed "Jew quarters" of European or Levantine cities, it seems never to have occurred to him to join the rush of Persians, Pathans, Macedonians, Portuguese, Dutch, and English, after the wealth of the heathen Orient. He preferred to be snubbed and crushed by Christian and Moslem nations, and to find solace in that money-getting passion which, in the course of centuries, has become a nature.
Hertzog alludes to the fact that the Jew confines himself mostly to temperate latitudes; he is not found in the tropics of either hemisphere. And our readers hardly need to be reminded that he is always found in the cities. Who ever heard of a Hebrew farmer ?-at least this side of Bible times. The Nomadic character has forsaken him. He is no longer a keeper of sheep. Yet, no other race except the Hindu or the Mongolian has shown such tenacity of life and such unimpaired vigor. The Romans who crushed the national life of Israel, on the one hand, and t].}e Assyrians who enslaved and scattered the chosen tribes, on the other, have alike perished, while the seed of Abraham, driven everywhither, have survived and are more numerous and a hundredfold more thrifty than in the days of Solomon and his glory.
The financial power of Jewish bankers on the Continent of Europe has become proverbial. The author of La France Juive claims that French politics, as well as finance, are largely controlled by the same race. We have, in our day, seen a D'Israeli climb to the heights of power in England, and wield a magician's wand over Queen and Parliament, and finally win for himself a statue in the consecrated shrine of national heroes and statesmen.
On this side of the Atlantic, the main business thoroughfare of our great metropolis is exchanging the names of its old American firms for the names of German Jews. 'l'hey are sure to become not only a great financial power but a strong social and political element in this country. The logic of their twofold increase-by natural generation and by immigration-renders certain a great future development.
Meanwhile, there is reason to believe that a better state of feeling is springing up. If the Jew has been rather Ishmaelitish than Israelitish it is not wholly his fault, though it is in part. On both sides, there should be confidence, and among business men of the highest grade there is already a clasping of hands over the old "wall of partition.'" Dr. Cust quotes from an address, delivered this very year, by Dr. Adler (not Felix), in the great synagogue in Aldgate, in the presence -of the Lord-Mayor, himself a Jew, in which the Rabbi alluded to the influence exerted by that synagogue. "Many a soul-stirring service," said the speaker, "has been witnessed within its venerable walls. Whatever the event that moved the hearts of England's sons-when a great victory evoked national rejoicing; when a sovereign had been _stricken down by illness, and when it pleased the Lord to send him healing; when a joyous jubilee was kept, and when death had entered -the palace-every event was commemorated in the great synagogue with the voice of prayer and supplication, of praise and thanksgiving, proving that the Israelite then, as always, was steeped to the very lips with loyalty. Nor were the administrators of the synagogue unmindful of the needs of their fellow-men-though of other lands and -creeds. Whether the appeal came to relieve a famine in Sweden, or to diminish the sufferings of English prisoners in France, or a plaint reached these shores from the hunger-stricken children of Ireland- the authorities of the great synagogue were ever ready to aid and to succor."
The benefactions as well as the exalted character of a Moses Montifiore are fresh in the mind of every reader. And that love of fair play which is so strong in the character of Englishmen, is welcoming :such men as he to their confidence, and is appreciating the philanthropic efforts of the great synagogue.
Instead of clinging to an old religious grudge against the race, Christian London is the focal centre of interest ih their welfare. Mis- -sions to the Jews at home and abroad are multiplied, and the strong :prayer of faith is offered up by thousands of devout Christians that God 'Will redeem His own chosen people by the blood of an accepted Christ!
It must be confessed that the Christian Church at large has seemed to be apathetic in regard to Jewish missions, but it has been rather the apathy of despair than of indifference. There has been too great .a readiness to "turn unto the Gentiles" and to consider the engrafted "wild olive" the real tree. At the London Missionary Conference of 1888, Mr. James E. Mathieson quoted the late Dr. Schwartz as saying, '''You Gentile Christians take all the sweet promises to yourselves, out you leave all the curses to the poor Jews." And in continuing, Mr. MathieRon alluded to a custom of the Scotch ecclesiastical bodies .()f rising at the close of their sessions (though they usually sit in prayer), and singing with marked solemnity: "Pray for the 'peace .()f Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee," etc. "But they do not mean Jerusalem," he added, "and they do not mean the Jews: they mean the Established Church and the Free Church of Scotland." 18 Dot this something like "robbery for burnt offering ?"
But, however, the Church, a8 a whole, may have negleeted her duty, there have always been those who have God's chosen people in their hearts. Count Zinzendoof, the founder of the Moravian Mis- sions, took a warm interest in the Jews, and he had the great joy, in 1735, of seeing a prominent Jewish rabbi become a member of the' Moravian Church, and a successful missionary among his people. "Everywhere," says Dr. Fleming, Secretary of the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, "he won the esteem of the Jews, and not long since, a gift was sent to the Moravian Church at Herrnhut by a Jewish family who cherished the traditions of bless- ing through Rabbi Lieberkiihn."
The London Society, above named, has been at work for over eighty years. Nor is it alone. There are altogether eight Jewish missionary societies in England, five in Scotland, and one in Ireland. Together, these employ 312 agents. On the Continent of Europe, the societies number 27. America has seven, with 34 agents. Thus 48 societies with 377 agents are striving to win God's ancient people to· tlileir own Messiah. That their labors have not been wholly in vain is shown by the estimated fact that 100,000 Jews have been baptized in the last seventy-five years, and that with their children the number' of believers may be set down at 250,000. Among these have been many distinguished men.
Though these numbers are not relatively great, yet it is believed that the breaking down on both sides of an unrelenting prejudice, has been a far greater result and one which opens the way for blessed in-gatherings in the time to come.
There are certainly some valid grounds of hope for the Jews, even aside from the Divine promises. They are less tenacious of their old faith than they were formerly. Though still more or less clannish, yet they are more than ever disposed to break down barriers and be like other people. They are getting tired of the real or imagined stigma and reproach attached to their name. Each successive generation cares less for the old shibboleths and more for the privileges of social life without distinction of race.
It is seen that the prophetic situation is awkward. If the Messiah has come, who, and what was He? If He has not come, when will He appear? If sacrifice symbolized a promised Redeemer why is it not 'kept up? Why is the Moslem permitted to hold century after century, the only place of sacrifice, unless to show that its meaning is done away and its necessity gone? Perhaps it is in despair over such questions as these that multitudes of Jews are driven to Agnosticism., More and more Jews observe our Sabbath as a day of rest, and their Sabbath-schools inevitably tend toward Christian ways. It is well-nigh impossible to prevent their children from coming intosympathy with the Christian institutions and customs which prevaiL around them. Two or three years ago a liberal-minded and philanthropio Jew in Italy offered an immense sum of money to be devoted to the edu- oation of children in Russia, and recommended that Jews and Chris- tians be educated together. His idea was that the race distinction should be ignored, and that the young of his people should be allowed to become absorbed in the national life wherever they might be, and that gradually the distinction between Jew and Gentile should dis- appear. It may be, that social abs!)rption, intermarriage, the assimi- lating influence of the common school, the fading out of the Jewish pride and prejudice of race are to be factots in God's plan of recovery. Doubtless, they will have a part to act, but God's express will is that the Gospel shall be ,faithfully preached meanwhile, and that prayer be .offered for His people. '
Surely the Christian Church owes it to itself to present no higher consideration to promote the spiritual enlightenment of the Jews. We ourselves need this effort, if only tt> remind us continually how much we owe to the race that ga,ve us the Saviour of mankind-if only to keep fresh in memory the great missionary whom the Jewish race gave as the Apostle to us Gentiles. Our indebtedness for the Chief of the apostles will never be paid. The Gentile world, with its Christian institutions, is a monument of the great fact that it is possible to overcome the most inveterate Jewish prejudice, and to win the stoutest Pharasaic heart to Christ. If Paul could be converted and could convert thousands of others of his own faith, the Christian Church has no right to despair. Jew:ish synagogues were the first cradles of the nascent church in all lands. They opened their doors to the apostles for the planting of the first germs of truth, and Jewish converts everywhere gave character and steadiness to the ignorant Gentile church.
But, how shall the Jews of our time be reached? The London Society, as the result of eighty years of experience, answers this question under the following heads: (1.) By striving to win their confidence by removing prejudice: (a.) Never speak sneeringly or disparagingly of them; overcome the habit in ourselves and others. (b.) Manifest sympathy with them as a nation and as individuals. (c.) Win confidence by medical missions.
(2.) By preaching the Gospel as the apostles preached it-proving from their own Scriptures that Christ is the promised Messiah.
(3.) By encouraging a diligent, oandid, and prayerful study of the whole Bible-the Old and the New Testament in their connection.
(4.) By educating Jewish children. In a school supported by the Society, in Palestine Place, London, where 595 Jewish boys have been educated, the master, after 28 years of service, does not know of one pupil, who, after pursuing a full course, has relapsed into Judaism.
(5.) By assisting poor Jewish youth to obtain positions and Imcouraging them in seeking a subsistence.
(6.) By training promising young men as missionaries. tt should not be forgotten, as an encouragement, that the Jews are worshippers of our God, have a large portion of our Bible, are sharers of our civilization, speak our language, and are-or ought to be-our friends as well as neighbors, and are even before us, heirs of the covenant of promise !
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS.
THE WONDERFUL STORY OF MADAGASCAR. [EDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] To an English boy, Robert Drury, wrecked near Port Dauphine, the Southeastern cape of Madagascar, we owe the first full account of the savages on this great island. He saw the captain and crew, who escaped with him from the angry sea, pierced with the lances of the inhospitable natives, till out of over a hundred only a dozen survived, and he himself was saved only to be enslaved. This was early in this century. He found the country divided among many warring tribes; might the only right, women and children carried off like cattle and made slaves; woman, so degraded that even the King's daughter, wife or mother, cringed before him and licked his feet. Heathen ceremonies of the most absurd and degrading kind were matters of daily occurrence. A wooden charm called an owZey, borne up by forked sticks, was worshiped with incense. Fortune tellers, or umossees, held the people in the bondage of superstition, and lived upon their ignorance and credulity. The Malagasy were the victims of magicians, and constantly fought and plundered one another, The arrival of a European vessel was the signal for wholesale crimes of lust and trading in human bodies and: souls. All who had slaves drove them to the seaside.
Half a century ago the Hovas held the interior portion of the island, and their King or chief, who was called Radama, had come to the throne in 1808. With these Hovas and their sovereigns the modern history of Madagascar is mainly concerned, Morally and spiritually the picture is very dark. From three to four thousand natives were sold, it is said, every year, and the spot where they caught the last glimpse of home, and the first glimpse of the sea that was to bear them into hopeless exile, is even now called the''weeping pZace ofthe Hovas." Though they had courts of law, bribery was so common that trial was a form and a farce. Honesty was scarce known, and children were trained to falsehood and deception as a virtue. Punishments were savagely cruel, devised to give long, lingering pain-burning by slow fires, drowning in boiiing water, poisoning by tangena, beating, starving, hurling over precipices, crucifying. 'fhe tangena was a substitute for trial, and thousands died every year from this poison, while those who proved their innocence by outliving the dose were wrecked in health.
The people were a nation of thieves as well as liars. Madame Pfeiffer's property was stolen while at the house of the Chief Justice, but }'ecovery was impossible, where even high officers stole. Even graves were robbed, bodies stripped, and every article of value buried with the dead was an object of ruthless plunder. The nation was so wedded to lying and thieving that Christianity was objected to because it taught people to be true and honest. They were so far lost to all virtue that they resisted any influence that promised moral improvement. .As to the homes of Madagascar, there were none. A native never I:lpoke ,of family or family ties. Madame Pfeiffer's travels had brought t.o her knowledge no people so immoral, and her pen refused to chronicle what her eyes and ears were compelled to see and hear. The worst vices were so universal as to seem natural. A man might put away his wife for no cause and take a fresh one as often as his caprice or passion led him; female virtue was of so little account that it did not ·even affect the legitimacy of offspring. Children born on unlucky days it was no crime to strangle, drown or expose to the trampling feet of cattle.
The Hovas were not an irreligious people-idols filled the land. ·Gods were so plenty that anything new, which they did not compre- hend, though it were a machine or a photograph, they deified. Their idols were conceived as having all power, but neither knowledge nor .goodness, virtue nor love; they were simply human greed, cruelty,mean- ness and malice, invested with almightiness! monsters of lies and lusts.
Among such a people-of whom the French governor of the Isle of Bourbon said, "You might as well attempt to convert sheep, oxen or -asses, as to make the Malagasy Christians "-among such a people the gospel has gone to win some of its mightiest triumphs.
The first obvious step that God took was one of preparation. He -gave Madagascar political unity. King Radama in his reign of twenty years"proved himself the Cresar or Napoleon" of his realm, making him- self master of the whole island except two districts in the South,and this rendered easier the spread of a new faith, as the unification of the Roman Empire had done eighteen centuries before. Radama was at ·once a general, a ruler and a reformer. He had with all his faults and vices a patriotic spirit. Contact with European civilization had becn sufficient to satisfy him of its superior type, and he first opened the -door to civilization and Christianity that he might secure the progress .and prosperity of his people. He made a treaty with Britain, abolishing the slave trade, though domestic slavery still prevailed in his own ,dominions; and seeing t~e benefits accruing to even heathen lands from the gospel of Ohrist, he welcomed the pioneer English mission- -ary, in 1820, to his capital Antananarivo, and kept his word, which pledged to him and others who might join him royal protection.
The missionaries reduced the language of the people to writing, and in teaching and preaching had all their time and strength employed. -God gave them the king's patronage; an adult sch,ool was opened in the palace court yard, and by his favor a central model school was -opened for training native teachers for the villages round about; and when murmurs arose against the missionaries, because their teachings lessened respect for the native religion, Radama had the independence ;and the indifference to go on with the work of education, at heart -caring nothing for the idols that the Hovas worshipped. In 1826 the first printing press was set up in the i.sland, and a new literature began to be created. The people were slowly waking from the sleep of ages. But at the death of Radama, in June, 1828, not'om~' convert had yet made a confession of Christ. The king himself was a progressive sovereign, but he was led simply by worldly wisdom. It was civilization and not Christianity, as such, that he encouraged. He was too intelligent to have faith in priestcraft and witchcraft, but too carnally minded to embrace Christianity or even attend preaching services.
And now opens the era of a most bloody and cruel persecution. One of Radama's wives, Ranavalona, took forcible possession of the throne, mounting it by murdering all rivals. If Radama was the Cresar, she was the" Bloody Mary," of Madagascar. From twenty to thirty thousand victims fell annually a prey to her cruelty. She was as reckless as Nero, as treacherous as Judas, and as selfish as Cleopatra. Her chief amusement was a bull-fight, her imperial journeys were·· destructive raids that left famine in their track, and her whole rule was that of a despot that cared neither for the liberty nor life of her subjects. She would waste tears over the death of a favorite bull, and lavish honors on its burial, such as not even the decease of her whole· family would have drawn forth. Had her reign been long, the island would have been a depopulated desert; and as it was, it has been calculated that half of the population perished under her. bloody sceptre. We purposely draw her hideous portrait that it may be seen what wasthe natural flower of the Madagascar society, and under what a deadly influence the infant church of Christ there struck down its tender' roots and unfolded its stalk.
There was everything, humanly speaking, to prevent the gospel from getting any hold in Madagascar. The soil was thick with the awful growths of a paganism of the lowest type; and a queen who had neither justice nor mercy was ready to pluck up the first plant of godliness, 01' burn over any field where the seed of the gospel might spring up. Among her first acts was the prohibition of all preaching and the breaking up o~ the schools. 4fterward, probably from motives of policy, she permitted the missionaries not only to make converts, but to organize native Christian churches, and, in 1831, twenty were baptized, among them "Paul," who had been a famous heathen diviner, but who had become a humble learner in the school of Christ.
As soon as the work of conversion thus began in earnest, the queen Bet herself resolutely against it. Her hatred and cruelty were so satanic' that a pall seemed to have fallen upon the whole people. The preaching went forward, and the queen was besought not to persecute the· new disciples. But it was all in vain. In March, 1834, a royal proc– lamation was made in the ears of a hundred thousand people drawn. up on the plain, Imahamasina, declaring war against the new faith•.. Converts were branded as criminals, and required to accuse themselves within one week on pain of death. Astonishing as it may seem, the, great body of these native disciples stood firm. Praying for help, trusting in God, they appeared before the judges and confessed their faith in Jesus. In these days of peril these Malagasy Christians spent whole nights in prayer, by their fidelity to an unseen Saviour exciting the astonishment of their very enemies. The queen contented herself in this case with degrading four hundred officers and fining two thou~ sand others. A week httor she demanded all books to be delivered up. As all literature on the island was the creation of the mission press, this edict was aimed against the Bible. But the brave Malagasy would not give up the Scriptures, which some of them had walked a hundred miles to procure.
The strong hold of the gospel upon the native J,J:ovas could be ac- counted for on no philosophy that excludps the power of God. Al~ ready twenty~four hundred of the queen's officers were among the con~ verts, and in the army the best and bravest soldiers were also soldiers of Christ. In vain were they placed in the most exposed positions in the battle: they still routed the foe. Thirty~thousand Hovas could read the Scriptures. Many cast away idols and superstitious charms.
Large congregations met at the capital and the influence reached hundreds of miles in every direction. No fault could be found in the Chi-istians of Madagascar, except that founl! with Daniel in Baby~ lon-they believed in their God. Wheu compelled to cease public labor, the missionaries worked privately, and besides teaching the people, published the complete Old Testament and" Pilgrim'S Progress." Then, driven from the island, they left the young church of Christ without a foreign mi~sionary among them, in July, 1836; and for twenty-five long years, persecution which had bared her red right arm continued to make it a crime to confess Jesus as Saviour aud Lord. .
Ranavalona 1., ather coronation in June, 1829, took two of the na- tional idols in her hands and said, "From my ancestors I received you; in you I put my trust, therefore support me.. " And, robed in scarlet.
and gold, those idols were held at the front of the platform to overawe the multitude while the ceremonies went forward. Here was a throne literally pillared on idols, as her reign abundantly proved.
There .were four eras of persecution, lasting respectively for fourr seven, three and. two years, together reaching from 1835 to 1860, with intervals of comparative quiet. The third was the most severe.
Christians met secretly in each other's houses, and traveled sometimes twenty miles to mountain tops, to praise and pray and read the word of God.
A woman of high family, Rafaravavy, became a sincere disciple and opened one of the largest houses in the capital for Christian worship. Despite the queen's hostile attitude, she continued to hold Sunday .evening meetings. She refused to reveal the names of her fellowworshipers, and the queen in a rage ordered her put to death. While -expecting cruel tortures, she retained her serene composure; the peacc {)f God filled her soul. Her life was spared, but her property in part ~onfiscated. She continued to meet believers, however, and the number of converts constantly increased. These persecuted disciples, bereft of human teachers, looked only to the Holy Spirit as teacher, and became themselves instructors of others who could not read. Their .quick sensibilities made them weep at the bare mention of Jesus. Rafaravavy's house was assaulted by a mob, and she was led away, as ~he snpposed, to execution, and put in irons; but a terrible conflagration that same night was snpposed to have alarmed the queen and .aroused her supe;stitious fears, and the penalty was delayed. At last .sentence of perpetual slavery was inflicted on all who had been seized in Rafaravavy's house, and Rasalama, another of the women, was speared while kneeling in prayer. Thus, on August 14, 1837, the first Mada- .gascar martyr died witnessing for Jesus. Two hundred converts were .enslaved for Jesus' sake at this time. Some of those thus enslaved to traders, afterwards escaped, but astonished their masters by returning to them accounts of their goods, with money obtained from sales. Fugitives hid three months at a time in forests. Wanderers often 'came into contact with lonely dwellings, where little congregations hitherto unknown gathered for Christian worship.
These are fragments of this remarkable story of Madagascar which read like the highest romance of Christian chivalry.
In 1839 some fugitives, on their way to England, stopping at Port Elizabeth, in South Africa, met with fellow-converts. Unable to communicate freely with these converted Hottentots, their Bibles be- -l'ame actually vehicles of converse. The Malagasy and Hottentots turning to the same passages in their respective translations of the Word, in this way made known to each other their sentiments. For .example, the Hottentot disciples pointed to Ephesians ii : 2 : "Among whom we all had our cop,versation in time past," etc. The Malagasy disciples responded by Eph. ii : 14, 15: "For He is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition." Also Gal. iii: 28: "Ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Again, the Hottentots pointed to John xvi: 33: "In the world ye .shall have tribnlation." The Hovas replied by Rom. viii: 35: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation?" etc. When was e'Ver the Bible put to a more beautiful use even by the most mature Christians? Then they sang the same hymns to the Bame tunes in different languages. Verily, "Multm terricolis lin~um; celestibus una." Then the Hottentots made them a voluntary contribution to help pay costs of their voyage, and knelt on the beach commending them to God. And these were Hottentot" dogs" and Malagasy "asses!" How soon and strangely they had developed into Christian men!
When these fugitives reached England, in May, 1839, they wrote a letter to their suffering fellow-disciples at home, which for beauty and purity of Christian sentiment might have graced the fame of Paul, theapostle and writer of epistles. For three years they stayed on British shores, winning universal esteem and love, and furnishing an unanswerable proof of the reality of the gospel. When, in 1842, they returned to Mauritius, their mission station at Moka became the asylum for other fugitives from persecutions at Madagascar. The queen was only enraged by the escape of her victims. She became the more bloodthirsty. She ordered her soldiers, when they found any Christians, 4J;0 dig a pit, cast them into it, pour boiling water on them and then fill up the pit, and go in search of others on whom to wreak similar vengeance.
Meanwhile, the patience and fidelity of these poor disciples confounded their very enemies, and constrained them to admire and wonder at a power so mysterious that could take away the fear of death, even in forms so horrible. In July, 1840, nine perilons, recaptured out of sixteen who had fied, were put to death by the spear of the executioner, and among them PauZ the Aged, the converted conjurer and preacher. And still the Gospel made conquests in these, the darkest days.
Two years of respite from persecution passed by, and a second era of cruelty began about June 19, 1842. Two converts were seized while returning from a missionary tour among the Salaklava tribes, and tortured to induce them to reveal the names of their fellow-disciples, but in vain. These lambs went to the slaughter without opening their mouths to betray other believers.
A few months later the queen was wrought to fury by the act of some imprudent person who affixed to the wall of a house in the capital a leaf of the New Testament, underlining Matthew xxiii, 13, "Woe unto you," etc. Construing this as a personal insult, she required the unknown offender to confess in four days, under penalty of being cut into pieces as small as musket balls. As no confession followed, the queen arrested several Christians and selected two, whose bodies wereliterally chopped as fine as mincemeat, and then burned to ashes! And the only ground for attaching to these disciples the guilt of this offence was that they knew enough to read and write!
Strange to say, it pleased God that the only son and heir of this atrocious Jezebel should, at the age of sixteen, become interested in the very Christians who were the,objects of his mother's persecuting rage! Rakatond.-Radama was one ofthat illustrations of that paradox of heredity, that a lamb should be born of a hyena. His gentle spirit was the exact reverse of his mother's ferocity. Where she delighted in cruelty, he delighted in kindness; he hated blood-shedding even as she thirsted for it. Of course, the people soon found out where to go for sympathy and succor. He cut the cords of those who were bound, and released those appointed to death; and yet the natural affection existing between the son and mother prevented a rupture between them.
About tliis time, 1847, Ramaka, called Rasalasala, or the BoZd One, arose, a mighty preacher, the first in the Madagascar church. Prince Rakatond was drawn to hear him, and was so impressed that he had Christian teachers come to the palace to instruct him in the Scriptures and pray with him. So far as he could he prevented all executions, .or, at least, modified and mollified the severity of the sentence against accused disciples. Though he never seems to have become a convert himself, he often attended OhrIstian worship and befriended the converts in every possible way. His cousin, Prince Ramonja, older than he, yet singularly like him, and also a favorite of the queen, joined him in the chivalrous defence of the persecuted followers of Jesus. The nephew of the prime minister went further than these two royal princes, and openly declared himself a disciple, and so the gospel once more invaded "Ooosar's household." His uncle threatened him with the loss of his head, but he calmly answered, I l( am a Ohristian, and if you will, you may put me to death, but I must and will pray." He might be assassinated, but could not be in- timidated, as Ourran said of himself when conducting the defense of Bond.
To recount all the fascinating story of the Malagasy's sufferings would require a volume. But we seek rather to portray in outline the main features of this romance of missions. One of the most affecting memorials of this persecution may be found in the fragments of Holy Scripture afterwards brought home by Mr. Ellis. During this famine .of the written word, the more educated converts copiAd out portions .of the blessed book, and these were found, worn, soiled and rent, with the toru edges carefully drawn together and sewed with fibres of bark, .or repaired with pieces of stronger paper; and giving evidence that they had been buried in the earth or hidden in smoky thatches, to conceal them from the eyes of the malignant persecutors.
In 1849 a third era of persecution began with the a~sault upon Prince Ramonja. A kabar or business meeting was summoned at Andahalo. rrhe queen addressed a message to her subjects, asking «why it was that they did not give up praying," in view of the :severe penalties affixed to the crime of apostasy from the gods of Madagascar.
The Ohristians made mild but firm answer, refusing to recognize idols. Rainitraho, a noble of royal blood, was among Ohrist's conlessors, and his heroism was so contagious that the officers stopped the -examinations lest the whole people should be carried away with his example. Four nobles were burned alive, and f.ourteen others hurled from a precipice 150 feet high, and their families sold as slaves; 117 were publicly flogged and compelled to labor for life in chains; 1,700 were fined, and Prince Ramonja was degraded from his rank. The -prince royal was accused of being a Christian, but the queen was too indulgent to her only son to take notice of the charge.
No acts of violence could sway these simple Malagasy converts from Jesus. They calmly replied, "None of these things move me." They sang a hymn of "going home to God," as they were borne to ~,x:ecution, and prayers and praises ascended in the very flames that wrapped the stakes. Once, indeed, the flames were extinguished by a sudden rain, and a bow appeared, one end of which seemed to rest on the very posts to which the martyrs were tied. The spectators were overwhelmed with awe, but the fires were relit, and the martyrs gave up the ghost.
To the precipice near the palace, .JI.mpamarinana, fourteen prisoners were then led and hurled over its awful edge, bounding from ledge to ledge until they were broken on the granite rocks below, and one of them was heard singing as he fell. One timid woman, Ranivo, who was kept to the last, compelled to look over the edge of the cliff upon the mangled bodies below, in answer to the '6ntreaties of friends that she would save her life by apostasy from Dhrist, only begged to be hurled from the precipice too. And yet the word of the Lord had free course and was glorified. Converts was still gathered. Believers numbered thousands. In at least seven places in the capital secret meetings were held.
Rainiharo, one of the ministers who had placed Ranavalona on the throne and propped her persecuting policy by his influence, died, and this period of relentless persecution came to a close. The prince royal, Rakatond, now became associated with his mother in the government: The time now seemed to have come for the return of the expelled mIsSIOnaries. The London Missionary Society, to whose planting the gospel owed Its harvest in Madagascar, sent a deputation, composed of the veteran missionary, Rev. William Ellis, and the Rev. Mr. Cameron, to prepare the way for re-establishing the mission which for about eighteen years had been broken np.
Mr. Ellis found two parties on the island, led respectively by Prince Rakatond and by his cousin, Ramboasalama, the former favoring Christ~anity and all its noble institutions; the latterin league with idolatry and all its vicious associations. But Mr. Ellis found the church of Christ in the island stronger than before persecution began, and the knowledge of the gospel spread to the remote parts of the island. Not until his third visit, in 1856, did he reach the capital. But when he did, he found that just the fruits which the blessed gospel had produced in the most enlightened communities, it had borne in Madagascar. Disciples had there fought the same fight of faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, and burning with zeal for God and passion for souls. Closet and la:mily prayer were more common than among disciples in London; the word of God was daily searched as for hid treasure, and the meetings for worship were attended at all risk. . The fourth and last persecution may be traced to a plot to depose the wicked queen. June, 1857, was fixed as the time for carrying out the design. Mr. Lambert, a Frenchman, first sought aid from Louis Napoleon and the English prime minister, Lord Clarendon, in relieving the misery of the Malagasy. When the hope of foreign interference failed, he is said to have enlisted the co-operation of Prince Rakatond with some of the nobles and soldiers, in' the plan of revolutionizing the government by native aid alone. No violence was to be done to the queen's person; she was simply to be removed from the throne, and her son to be proclaimed king. But ou the eve of accomplishment the plot failed, and when the knowledge of the conspiracy came to Queen Ranavalona's ears, she refused to allow anyone to hint a suspicion against her son, and like Nero when Rome burned, fixed the guilt of the whole plot upon the poor innocent disciples of Christ. A traitor who had professed conversion gave the queen a list of seventy whom he charged with a share in the conspiracy. Prince Rakatond got hold of this list and tore it in pieces. But the bloody queen must have some victims for her new fever of rage, and so another kabar was called. Not more than three hundred Christians were found, as they had fled in bands so numerous as to put to flight the detachments of soldiers sent to capture them. The infuriated queen declared that her search should extend to the bowels of the earth and the very beds of lakes and rivers; but the more she raved the more calm and cautious were the followers of Jesus; only Prince Rakatond's energy and interposition prevented the destruction not only of hundreds of natives bUl of the six Europeans who were on the island, including Madame Pfeiffer, the traveler. They were, however, banished and barely escaped from the island with their lives.
Christians were pierced and tortured with spears and then beheaded. More than two hundred suffered punishment, most of them men of mark, and stoning was now for the first time employed as a new and cruel mode of execution. Iron necklaces were attached to the necks of others and they were thus linked together and compelled to constant companionship until death ended their sufferings; if one died the rest had to drag about this body of death-a revival of the hideous forms of ancient torture. Fifty-seven Christians were thus chained together and banished to a distant province. This was the last triumph of persecuting hatred against the little church in Madagascar. For thirty-two years Ranavalona had held her red sceptre. She had sought to trample upon and stamp out with iron heel the humble plant of renown that was growIng in the soil of this great island. But God used all this rage of this modern Jezebel to test and develop the faith and love of disciples. The tan.gena draught, the boiling caldron, the rice-pit, the awful precipice, the chain, the spear, the stone, the stake-all united in vain to compel these poor~ ignorant, persecuted disciples to disown their newly-found Saviour. For the first time iu the history of modern missions God permitted a. feeble church, just planted and scarcely rooted on pagan soil, to undergo It quarter of a century of persecution, having scarcely a parallel in violence and cruelty. That church was literally anu emphatically isolated; not only on an island, but cut off from sympathetic contact and communication with the Ohristian church in otber lands, and yet it more than survived; for a,t the end of that twenty-five years, when, if not plucked up by the roots, it might have been expected to be found feeble and half dead, it was strong and firmly rooted, and among its precious fruits were many of the soldiers, the nobles and even the royal household. Many thousand persons had been sentenced to various punishments by the" Bloody Mary" of Madagascar, for theirfaith; and yet when, in 1861, persecution ceased, the Christian popUlation was fivefold greater than before she began to exterminate them; and more than this-this Plant of Renown had spread its roots through the very soil of society, and its branches reached afar; the perfume of its golden blooms pervaded the very atmosphere; its fruits were to be found in every home. The whole community was undergoing transformation. The name of Christian had become the sign and synonym, the pledge and promise of truth, purity, fidelity, integrity-new virtues were growing, where vice had sprung up rank as weeds. A miracle had been wrought. A Supernatural Power had been at work. The Spirit of God had breathed new life into Malagasy hearts.
July, 1861, came and the queen died~ and Rakatond, as Radama II., became king. His first act was to proclaim his policy of toleration. The era of religious liberty had dawned for Madagascar. He proclaimed deliverance to the captives and the opening of prison doors to them that were bound. Exiles returned home, slaves were set free; it was a year of jubilee. Idols were banished from the palace, and to show his contempt he sent some Christians to burn the very shrine of one of the national gods, while he looked on to witness the impotency of the so-called" deity." Radama was a reformer, but not a Christian. He was tolerant of the gospel, and so he was of rum, and 60,000 gallons flooded the island in a week and debauched whole villages.
It was now safe for Mr. Ellis to come again and resume missionary work, and in November. 1861, he sailed for Madagascar. On his arrival, with Radama's permission, he secured the sites made sacred by the blood and ashes of the martyrs, for the building of churches; and so the houses of worship in Madagascar to-day are monmilents and memorials of the faith and faithfulness of those who there s~ered for Jesus.
!;Ir. Ellis's arrival was the signal for a triumphal march through the island. Delegations of disciples met him, and processions went ont to welcome the veteran missionary. Throngs of worshippers assembled. at early dawn. .A second service would begin by 8 o'clock in the morning. Every encouragement was now given to the devoted missionary from the hut of the poor to the palace of the king.
Radama II. fell a victim to a conspiracy within a twelvemonth. :ge who had never shed blood was strangled by assassins, in May, 1863, and his widow, under the title of Queen Rasoherina, ascended the vacant throne, the first constitutional ruler of the Malagasy. She reigned five years, and her subjects enjoyed full liberty of conscience. 'rhe work of evangelization went rapidly forward. Nevertheless the government was not Christian, and at her coronation, which was on Sunday, the priests and idols were conspicuously in the foreground.
Congregations multiplied and converts increased, and a native ministry was trained up, and a native Christian literature created. The thirst of the native Christians for the word of God was insatiable, and every mark of a Christian home was to be found in their domestic life. Marriage was honored and divorce discouraged. Contributions were liberal, aud the missionary spirit led to abundant labors to spread the gospel by both home and foreign missions.
The queen's health was failing, and before she died, it is believed, her mind turned from her old idols, which she had placed in her court and carried on her journeys. She died in April, 1868. Her youngest sister took the throne as Ranavalona II. And now, for the first time, Madagascar had a Christian as well as a constitutional ruler.
He who would see the marvelous change in Madagascar, need only contrast the coronation of the two queens-Ranavalona I. and Ranavalona II. One took place June 12, 1829. Then the Bloody Mary of Madagascar took two of the national idols in her hands, and declared: " I received you from my ancestors. I put my trust in you, therefore support me." And then the scarlet-clad images were held at the front corners of the platform to awe the superstitious multitude. On September 3, 1868, a Christian queen was crowned, and the ceremony befitted such a monarch. 'I'he symbols of pagan faith were nowhere to be seen. In their place lay a beautiful copy of the Bible, side by side with the laws of Madagascar. A canopy was stretched above the queen, and on its four sides were four Scripture mottoes: "Glory to God"; "Peace on earth"; "Good-will to man"; "God with us." Her inaugural address was interwoven with Scripture dialect, and instead of Ohristianity it was now idolatry which became a suppliant for toleration. And all this took place seven years after Ranavalona I. expired! Astrologers and diviners were no longer to be found at court; Rasoherina's idol was cast out of the palace. Government work ceased on Sunday, and the Sunday markets were closed. In the palace court services of divine worship were instituted, which are kept up to this date. Ohurches now grow rapidly, sometimes fivefold in a year. The Madagascar New Year, formerly an idolatrous festival, now became a Ohristian holy day; and the queen's address declared, "I have brought my kingdom to lean upon God, and I expect you, one and all, to be wise and just, and to walk in His ways." Just one month later Ranavalona II. and her prime minister were publicly baptized by one of the native preachers, in the very courtyard where, a few years before, the bloodiest edicts had been issued.
In the queen's examination by the native ministers, it transpired that her first serious impressions were traceable to a native Ohristian who, when she was a mere child, sought to impress her with the truth as it is in Jesus. It was Andriantoiamba, one of the four noblemen who were afterward burned as martyrs, who thus sowed the seed in that young heart that afterward ripened into the first Ohristian queen of the island. Two days before their baptism the queen and the prime minister, were wedded, and shortly after both publicly joined in the Lord's Supper, thus magnifying the Ohristian family and the Sacraments of the church of God.
Such an example was likely to be followed. Almost all the government·officers of high rank, and among them the chief idol-keeper, the astrologer of Rasoherina, came forward to receive baptism. Oongregations multiplied beyond all means of accommodation. One hundred new buildings were in demand; 37,000 persons attended worship, an increase of 16,000 in a year! On July 20 the cornerstone of a chapel, designed for the use of the queen and court, was laid in the very courtyard of the palace.
To-day in that palace courtyard the traveler may see a beautiful house of prayer. In gilded letters upon two large stone tablets forming part of the surbase of the structure, appears engraven the following royal statement, read at the laying of the corner-stone in 1869 : "By the power of God and grace of our Lord Jesus, I, Ranavalomanjaka, Queen of Madagascar, founded the House of Prayer, on the thirteenth Adimizana, in the year of our Lord Jesus Ohrist, 1869, as a house of prayer for the service of God, King of kings and Lord of lords, according to the word in the Sacred Scriptures, by Jesus Ohrist the Lord, who died for the sons of all men. and rose
THE INHERITANCES OF NATIONS ALLOTTED BY GOD
again for the justification and salvation of all who believe in and love- Him. ":For these reasons this stone house, founded by me as a house of prayer, cannot be destroyed by any one, whoever may be king of this my land, forever and forever; but if he shall destroy this house of prayer to God which I have founded, then is he not king of my land, Madagascar. Wherefore I have signed my name with my hand and the· seal of the kingdom.
" RANAVALOMANJAKA, "Queen of Madagascar.
" This word is genuine, and the signature by the hand of Rana- valomanjaka is genuine.
"RAINILAIARIVONY, "Prime Minister and Commander-in-Ohief of Madagascar."
If you should visit this island to-day, you would find four sacred sites occupied by memorial ehurches. .I1.mpamannana, the summit of the martyrs' precipice; .I1.mhohipotsy, where Rasalama, the first martyr, w~s speared; .I1.mhatonakan,ta, where so many were kept in prison; and Faravohitra, where the rainbow rested over the burning pile, and where the first stone of the church was laid exactly beneath the spot where the remains of the martyrs were found.
Is it possible to account for changes such as these, wrought within the space of sixty years by the simple preaChing and teaching of the gospel, unless the power of God is indeed behind the Bible? If there ever was a wonder that compelled even the sceptical and the unbelieving to exclaim, "What hath God wrought I" it is to be found in the story of Madagascar.
THE INHERITANOES OF NATIONS ALLOTTED BY GOD.
BY REV. A. W. PITZER, D.D., WASHINGTON, D. c.
"God's works of Providence are His most holy, wise and powerful, preserving and governing all His creatures, ordering them and all their actions to His own glory."
Individual life cannot be detached from God and His overruling Providence; and nations rise, flourish, decay and die in accordance not merely with natural law and second causes, but also, in accordance with His eternal purposes and plans. Before man was created, or human history had begun, God had a fixed place for every nation and a definite phm for every man's life. Nor has this Divine decree· and Providence ever impaired the freedom and responsibility of the individual or the nation, nor is God the author of man~s sin, nor is the efficiency of second causes diminished.
The nations of the earth come to their separate places of inheritance on the globe, moved by various motives and impelled by different forces. Restless for change, greedy for gain, envious of their neighbors, ambitious for fame, filled with cruelty and thirsting for blood, the nations of the past and the present have freely worked ()ut the problem of national destiny. And yet, it was the Most High God, whose Providence divided to these nations their inheritance, and who decreed and settled the bounds of all kindreds, tribes and peoples; and to each and to all He said, "Thus far shalt thou go and no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." There is a philosophJt of history, but the Godless historian has never seen it-a philosophy of history human, yet divine-that m"akes full estimate of all human forces at work in the world, but fails not at the same time to see the mighty Providence of God in the onward march of all earthly things.
The Most High God located the nations of the old world and the new. He planted the Egyptian by the waters of the Nile, ,flowing from the ever-living lakes of equatorial Africa; He gave to the sons ()f Ham the "dark continent" teeming with life and filled with food; from central Asia His hand led out the people after the confusion of tongues at Babel to the Euphrates and Tigris; to India, to China, and to the islands of the great seas that wash the coasts of the Asiatic -continent. To the sons of J apheth, the Cimbri, the Tartars, the Medes, the Greeks, the Muscovites, He gave northern Asia, Asia Minor and Europe.
The ethnology of the lOth chapter of Genesis remains an unchallenged chart of the nations to this day. Fifteen hundred years after Moses incorporated in his writings this chart, and after he had sung this song, another descendant from the family of Shem, stood in the midst of Mars Hill and declared to the wisdom-seeking sons of Javan that God had made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath deterniined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him and find Him.
God, then, has a purpose concerning this race and world of ours, and His overruling providence is silently, but irresistibly, conducting the races and nations along the great highway of human history. He plants and He plucks up dynasties, kingdoms, nations and empires, and orders, controls and governs all things according to the counsels ()f His own will.
What, then, is that supreme purpose of God, to the development and accomplishment of which, all agents and agencies, all forces and events, all kings and empires are made subservient and tributary? Surely it must be an object worthy of God Himself, and commensurate with His all-embracing and resistless providence. It is nothingless than the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth, in visible sovereignty and glory. Devout worshippers of the true and living God in all ages and lands have cried in prayer to -Him, "Thy Kingdom Come." In his last song, Moses tells the children of Israel encamped on the plains of Moab and in sight of the promised land, why it was that God had divided to the nations their inheritance and fixed the bound- aries of the peoples. He had taken Israel, the seed of His friend Abraham, as his possession and portion, and, in relation to their number and location on the globe, He had arranged all other nations and peoples.
The Kingdom of God is to come on earth through Israel; for sal- vation is of the Jews; and David's greater soil' is yet to sit on David's throne, and hence God's people, His portion must be the centre around which and for the sake of which, all national movements, great and small, shall revolve.
The little strip of land on the western border of the continent of Asia, not 200 miles from north to south, by less than 100 miles from east to west, washed by the Mediterranean Sea, almost in sight of the life-giving waters of Africa's great river, and touching to the west- ward, the isles and lands of the Gentiles, is the divinely ordained home of the chosen people, and the geographical centre of all human history until the Kingdom of God shall come in power and glory.
Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, Rome, all the nations of modern Europe have gazed with greedy eyes on this historic spot of earth.
Canon Farrar, in deAcribing this land, as it spread out in beauty before the eyes of Jesus of Nazareth, says, "Pharaohs and Ptolemies, Emins and Arsacids, judges and consuls, have all contended for the mastery of this smiling tract. It had glittered with the lances of the Amalekites; it had trembled under the chariot wheels of Serostris; it had echoed the twanging bow strings of Sennacharib; it had clashed with the broadswords of Rome; it was destined to ring with the battle-cry of the Crusaders, and thunder with the artillery of England and France. Here, Europe and 'Asia, Judaism and Heathenism, Barbarism and civilization had met and struggled for supremacy."
The careful student of history cannot fail to see that the destinies of the empires of the Old World were determined by their relations to this land and its wondrous people whom the living God had chosen for portion and possession.
If he in<iuired why this land and people were so important in the history of the race, the answer is easily given. From Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Malachi, by words and acts, God made Himself known to this people. He came into this earthly realm, and became a factor in human history. Israel received from God the truth unto salvation in trust for all the nations of the earth. They are the divinely appointed trustees of this sacred deposit-to hold this in trust and preserve it pure, for all the families of man, is their high calling and providential mission to all tribes and races and nations. The history of Israel, therefore, will have relations that reach out and embrace all lands and all peoples.
To the Egyptians, God gave the fertile valley of the Nile, that, here in the midst of this ancient civilization, the !!Qns of .Jacob, His chosen, might be developed from a clan into a nation, and be taught and trained in all the wisdoms and arts of this mighty and marvelous people.
To the Assyrians he gave the lands along the Euphrates and the Tigris, t.hat here might be founded an empire that should, as His minister of justice and judgment, at the appointed time, sweep the kingdom of the ten tribes from the land of their fathers.
He, too, ordained that Assyria should be wasted by Babylon, and that Babylon should become the hammer of the whole earth, and should carry His people, Judah, captives to that far-off land, that in the horrors of the seventy years' captivity they might forsake idolatry forever. And when God has accomplished His purposes concerning Israel with Babylon, then He raised up the Medes, who broke down her broad walls, and burned her high gates with fire, and Babylon became heaps of ruins, a dwelling-place for dragons, an astonishment and an hissing without inhabitant_ The Hebrew pi'ophets depict with the utmost minuteness and clearness the relations of the nations to Israel, their providential places in history, and how God used them to extend on the earth the knowledge of that truth given to His chosen and covenanted people. Isaiah foretells the fate of Moab, of Damascus, of Egypt, of Tyre, of Assyria, and of Babylon. Daniel in vision, and under the symbol of a beast, beholds in succession, the empires of Babylonia, the Medo- Persian, the Greek and the Roman, and even the destruction of the old Roman empire, and the ten kingdoms of modern Europe, that continue until the return of Jesus our Lord, from the heavens.
God divided to all these nations their inheritance; He fixed their boundaries; He appointed their providential mission; He determined the days of their dominion, and the day of their destruction; their highest use and chief end were what service they rendered in the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. Egypt furnishad the tempOl'ary home of the Israelites; the Babylonish captivity cured them of idolatry; the Persians restored them to their own land; the Grecians prepared the language to contain the Gospel of the son of David; and Rome builded the great highways whereon the apostles of our Lord carried the glad tidings to the ends of the earth.
Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, the son of God, was the climax and culmination of the revelations of God to the Hebrew people; and when He died upon the Cross, the inscription over His head, testifying to His kingship, was written in the world's historic language!;l, the Hebrew, tIle Greek and the Roman. Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel, did whatsoever God's hand and counsel had determined before to be done. To this great central and germinal event all the ages had looked, and all nations had oontributed. The wise men from the east spake not for themselves merely, but for others, when they said: " Where is He that is born King of the Jews, for we have seen His 'star in the east, and have come to worship Him." God's kingdom must come on earth through Him, who is both David's son and David's Lord.
The Risen Christ, from His father's throne in heaven, exercises now an invisible, but resistless, dominion over all nations, kingdoms and empires, and the nations still come to their inheritance according to the divine appointment, and as they serve to make known on earth the sacred truth given in trust to the Jews, they prepare the way for the coming. Lord, by proclaiming the glad tidings of that kingdom that shall never end.
God still determines the appointed times of the nations and the bounds of their habitations, with reference to their relations to His son, Jesus Christ, and the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. Many nations shall yet say: "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths;' for the law shall go forth out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
So far as nations have had any history, since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that history has been connected with and tributary to the extension and establishment of the Gospel of that Risen Lord among all the peoples of the earth: for that Gospel must be preached to all nations, as God's witness, before the Kingdom of Heaven can come in power and glory on this earth.
The movements of men and nations through eighteen Christian centuries have been guided by the divine eye, and controlled by the divine hand. 'fhe dismemberment of the old Roman empire, the rise of the kingdoms of modern l£urope, the growth of the Papacy, the career 'of Mohammed, the wars of the Crusaders, the darkness of the Middle Ages, the 'revival of learning, the persecutions of the Church by Rome-Pagan and Papal-the invention of printing, the translations of the Scriptures, the reformation of the sixteenth century, the exile of Christians for conscience sake, the use of the mariner's compass, and the opening up of new and unknown lands, were not less directed by the Almighty God of heaven, than Israel's march from Egypt to Canaan, and the times and bounds of the nations of the Old World.
Nowhere is the overruling providence of God more clearly seen than in this our land, and in the history of the people of these United States. Israel's God and our father's God divided to us this rich inheritance; and He has appointed our time and fixed our bounds, that we might not only seek the Lord ourselves, but should give His -Gospel, committed in trust to our custody, to all the nations. Morde- ~ai's question to Queen Esther comes with fearful emphasis to the rulers and people of this republic: "If thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whe'ther thou art come to the king- ·dom for such a time as this?"
Our forefathers brought with them to this new world that fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom, that liberty of conscience to worship God that could not be enjoyed at home. With them came, too, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, the inspired and infallible Word of God; the family as the basis and unit of all true life in both Church and State; the sanctity of the oath unto God as the hope of a pure administration of justice in our courts; the divinely .ordained rest of the Lord's Day, not for a holiday but for a holy day -in short, they brought with them, not monarchy, nor anarchy, not .communism, nor atheism, not infidelity, nor materialism, nor papacy, but God-fearing piety and customs founded on the Word of God.
We have come to the Kingdom at such a time as this-a time when there are no longer any hermit nations, nor Chinese walls of ·exclusion; in a wider and deeper sense than ever before, every man may now say, "The world is my parish." Steamships supersede sail vessels, the engine does the work of a thousand men and horses, the :Bun paints our pictures, electricity illumines our cities and sends our words with lightning speed around the globe. All the ends of the .-earth are brought face to face in the great struggle for existence; .and all races and nations jostle each other on the broad highway .of life. Surely the Anglo-Saxon Christianity of America must have .a mission from the God of Heaven to all the races and nations of the .-earth. "The wheels of history are the chariot wheels of the Almighty, .a.nd with every revolution there is an onward movement toward the goal of His eternal purposes," to establish here on earth the Kingdom .of God in supernal splendor. .
The providential mission of this nation is to give the blessed Gos- ]>el of the Son of God to all peoples of the earth. The weary and :sin-stricken children of Adam, of every continent and island, of every tribe and tongue, in their darkness and degradation, look, with long- ing eyes to us for light and help and healing. "Come over into Mace- .donia and help us," is the despairing cry borne on every breeze and from every land beneath the skies-from China and Korea, from In- .dia and Japan, from Persia and Papal Europe, from the South Ameri- .can Republic and Mexico, from the islands of the oceans and the "'dark continent" of Livingstone and Stanley.
We hold the Gospel, not merely for ourselves but in trust for a
THE CONGO MISSIONS
lost world. We have the men and the money, the missionaries and the agencies, methods of transit and transportation, in more than abundance, to give the Gospel in ten years, as God's witness, to every nation under heaven. The supreme duty of this nation is to realize her sublime providential mission, and bear the blessed light of the Gospel to all the dark places of the earth, to the habitations of men now filled with cruelty. There is no second C~lumbus to be born~ noi' any new continent to be discovered. This is the "last days," and this "the ends of the earth," the light that shines across the' Pacific from San Francisco and Portland reaches to the very lands where first that light was kindled "Now or never," is the world to be eV2..ngelized by us.
THE CONGO :MISSIONS.
BY MISS HELEN F. CLARK, NEW YORK.
[Mr. C. J. Laffin went out to Africa llilder Bishop Taylor, but when his Congo Mission failed, he worked independently, though unofficially associated with the A. B. M. U. He sent us various notes from the Congo. He has just returned to take a medical course, then goes back to Central Africa. He has furnished Miss Clark with the facts and experiences of his three years' mission tour, which she here puts into form, under his supervision. The paper, being reliable and fresh from the Congo, cannot fail to be of special interest at the- present juncture.-J. M. S.] The question of evangelizing Central Africa is one that now en- grosses the attention of aggressive Christianity in both England and America. The best plan of work, and the character of the workers, is largely discussed among the various boards and missionary com- mittees; consequently any light that can be thrown upon these topics by missionaries who have been upon the field, and are, therefore, best qualified to give an opinion, is gratefully received.
Mr. Laffin spent his iiz-st few months in Africa in the vicinity of Vivi and Isangila, but afterwards pushed on up the Congo river 800' miles to the equator, stopping at Equatol'ville station, forming theacquaintance of various tribes along the banks of the Congo and lesser streams.
From the first he was keenly interested in the methods of work followed in the various mission stations which he visited, and carefully studied their every detail. Then followed much practical work Qn his o,*n part among the natives as he traveled throngh the country and mingled with them.
As an independent missionary, Mr. Laffin founded no station, nor reported his work to any superior, but to the great Master Himself, but wisely spent his time in examining the country and the conditions under which he must work, and in forming his own opinion as to the wisest and most effective way to prosecute that work.
The Africans he came in contact with are a peculiar people, and must· be dealt with in the utmost candor and with straightforward simplicity. With them no half-hearted work is possible; no clouded testimony in word or life will receive the 81ightest regard from them.
Nothing but sterling Christianity in word or deed will convince them that the Gospel you preach is true; but the testimony clearly borne, and the life that will bear the sharpest scrutiny, will bring a multitude of hungry hearts to God. Perhaps the work done is more satisfactory in Africa than in any other country, for the man or woman who is converted is converted in deed and in truth, and becomes at once as aggressive for the truth as the missionary himself. Mr. Laffin has vouchsafed the following interesting facts under the heads of "What has been done in Africa;" "What is being done," and" What can be done," which we give, as nearly as possible, in his own words.
FIRST-WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
There are, at the present time, four societies prosecuting active work in Central Africa: the American Baptists, the English Baptists. the Swedish Society, and the Congo Balolo Society, who have a combined working force of about 80 missionaries in all, occupying 20 mission stations. Of these stations 13 are situated on the lower Congo and Cataract region, below Stanley Pool, and the remaining 'l are on the upper Congo and in the Balolo district. Thus far 'l churches have been organized-all among the Bakongo people-which aggregate about 1,500 communicants, with half as many more who profess conversion, but whom the missionaries are keeping on probation for a short time. Besides these regular stations, there are in this vicinity from 15 to 20 out-stations and preaching-posts, all manned by able native evangelists. It is but thirteen years since the first missionaries penetrated the Congo districts, and but ten of these have been spent in actually publishing the Gospel, for the first three were spent by the little band of sturdy English Christians in fighting fevers, and in trying to conciliate the hostile natives. Since that time, one tribe only has been, to a large extent, evangelized-that is to say, the Gospel has been preached the length of the land upon which this numerous and powerful tribe of Bakongo people live. The difficulties experienced by these indomitable pioneers seem almost beyond belief. During those first three perilous years the missionaries were driven from place to place and were not able to settle anywhere. They found it difficult to establish any communication with the natives~ since the black men regarded them with the utmost suspicion and distrust, and gave them almost no opportunity to acquire the native language. In the course of time, seeing that the strange whites were neither slave traders nor state officials, the suspicion of the natives finally gave way to confidence, and their would-be friends were allowed to found their station in peace, and to begin the publication of those good tidings which afterwards brought peace to so many troubled souls among them.
The greatest difficulty in reaching the interior has ever been in getting above the falls in the great river, about 100 miles above its mouth. To navigate the stream at this point is impossible. Therefore, all stores and baggage for the interior must be conveyed a distance ·of 250 miles around in sixty-pound packages, which the lithe and .agile natives bear upon their heads. The steamboats for the upper .congo were taken apart and packed in this manner, and rebuilded upon the upper side.
There are thirty-one steamers now running upon the upper Congo, three of which are missionary boats, the others belonging either to the Government or to the traders. Two more mission steamers are now in process of construction for the lower Congo, and one for the upper.
Stations have been established among three other tribes, but as yet only one convert has crowned their labors. Here the difficulty <>f acquiring the language hinders the missionaries. There is no written language, and the tongue must be acquired slowly and unsatisfactorily by mingling with the people as often as they will permit, and there is no missionary upon the field to-day who has mastered it sufficiently to talk intelligently, without having frequent recourse to an interpreter: In these distant stations on the upper river, isolated from @ne another, it has required a long time to gain the confidence of the natives, but the past few years have sufficed at last to convince these distrustful people that the white man really came to them from an unselfish motive, and he has now won their hearts, so that to-day these perse:vering workers have a firm footing in the three tribes, and are ready to branch out into large work as soon as their numbers are re-inforced by the arrival of new missionaries.
WHAT IS BEING DONE.
As to what is being done, perhaps the most successful of all the ~fforts put forth, is that of the native evangelists. This, of course, brings us back to the Bakongo people along the Lower Congo.
Of the members of these churches, a very large percentage-considerably more than half-are persevering, energetic, aggressive Christian workers-such workers as put to shame the feeble and childish efforts of many Christians in our own land.
To them, black man or white man, State official, of however high degree, or slave, of ever so mean a degradation, is either a "son of God" or a "son of the Devil." They know but two classes, and if you are not avowedly of the first, they immediately pronounce you in the second, and proceed to give you the Gospel on the spot. They fear no man, soldier or government-official, trader or traveler, brother African' or slave, and one of the first questions asked, upon formingone's acquaintance, will be, "Kanzi, ngeye mUJana' nzambi?" (are you a son of God?) If the -answer is in the negative, they very frequently respond, "B08i mUJana' mbungi /" (Then you are a child of the Devil.) After which they present the Gospel to you with all the eloquence and clearness of which their incomparable language is capable.
These workers are continually organizing themselves into bands of twenty or thirty, and with neither scrip nor staves, they go from village to village, preaching the Gospel, and often remaining away for weeks at a time.
The missionaries freely acknowledge that one native is worth threeor four white men as an evangelist. They speak with marvellous oratorical effect; indeed, they are said to be born orators. "A sermon that I heard from one of them," says Mr. Laffin, "waf> as fi,ne as ever I heard in either Europe or America, not only in point of delivery, but in its clearness of reasoning, and in its profound perception of spiritual truth."
These bands of workers go out invariably at their own expense. Besides these unpaid volunteers there are some 25 native evangelists who go individually to out-posts and preaching-stations, and who are nearly all self-supporting or are maintained by the native churches. The natives believe the Gospel at the mouths of their own people far more readily than they do from the missionary himself; consequently their work is of vastly more value in the general evangelization of a tribe than is that of the white man.
But the simplicity of the native evangelist is, as a rule, altogether spoiled by transportation to America or England.. A taste of European life robs him of his unconsciousness of self, and, thereafter, he looks down upon his kindred and will no longer associate with them, but must live as we live, and wants more luxuries than any missionary would allow himself. These people frequently travel half a day's journey, bringing their food with them, in order to attend divine service.
The loyalty of the native Christian to God's Word is marvellous. While the people are perfectly obedient to the Supreme Being, they will bear no dictation from us whatever. If we insist upon their conforming their lives to any precept or principle which we may lay down, they immediately begin to reason the matter with us. If therule be a scriptural one, they insist upon our finding the text, when we must read it to them and translate it into their own language. But if the scripture bears out our words, that is an end of all controversy; thereafter, it becomes a law to them, or as they style it in their own beautiful native tongue, "The Lord hath said it, and we must obey." On this account we are obliged to discriminate accurately in our teaching against what is purely a matter of custom with us, since they will learn nothing from us save that which is scriptural. But when they are told not to lie, or cheat in business, or to steal, seeing it in Scripture, they immediately desist.
As an illustration of this, I will give you· an incident in my own experience. Traveling through strange villages one day, I saw a woman by the roadside with a pawpaw beside her. I asked what she would sell it for, and she named a price; I bade the boy who was with me take it away for our noon-day meal. "No, no," she cried, "the pawpaw will not be ripe enough until to-morrow; go on down the road, sir, and you will find plenty more that are ripe enough to eat now." I then learned that she was a Christian. She had heard the Gospel from a native evangelist who had ollce come to her village to preach, and she had received the truth, and, although untaught in the principles of Christian living, yet by the Holy Spirit's help, had instinctively perceived the right.
When the surveyors for the Congo railroad, which is now being built, were laying out the road through a certain tract, one of them approached the chief of the neighboring tribe, and, as is customary, offered him a glass of rum. The chief thanked him for the courtesy, but declined the rum with these words: "That is what destroys the bodies alld souls of my people. As a Christian I cannot take it."
I come now to our last proposition:.
WHAT CAN BE DONE }N CENTRAL AFRICA.
The whole of the Congo Free State is now open to mIssIonaries. This district contains about 1,680,000 square miles of country, all of which is accessible through the Congo and ,its tributaries. This immense system of rivers affords at least, according to explorations up to date, 10,000 miles of navigable waterway above Stanley Pool. This district contains from fifteen to twenty different tribes, speaking as many different languages, and numbering in the aggregate, as near as may be estimated, from thirty to eighty millions of souls. The best known of these tribes, the Balolo, is calculated to number ten millions of itself. Many parts of the interior are said to be particularly healthy and free from malaria and fevers. Dr. Summers, in speaking of Luluaburg, calls it a very healthy place, and states that at night the thermometer will sometimes fall to the freezing point.
There is not known to be a single town in the interior, or Central Africa, that will refuse to receive a missionary, if once satisfied that he is a missionary. To them the yoke of a foreign government is so galling that the very sight of the men in its employ, as a rule, arouses all their enmity.
The Congo Free State obliges all vessels to fly its flag, and wherever the missionary goes he is marked as a State man, and only undeniable proof will suffice to convince them that the missionary is lIot an enemy in disguise. To them, words prove nothing, and deeds purporting to flow from an unselfish motive are an unsolvable .enigma; hence, it is only the" heroes," who can persevere without the slightest show of fear or alarm, and endure the suspicion and the consequent tribulations until their identity is established. This some- times takes a long time. In the case of the first missionaries on the lower Congo it required three years, and it has required almost as long a time for the faithful pioneers on the upper river to gain an .entrance and a footing.
In Africa, the women missionaries are the happier. Nothing is feared from them, and they are allowed to go in and out at their pleasure without molestation. Their presence in a party has more than once spared valuable lives to the Congo work. At one time a small party, including two ladies, sailed up an unexplored river, and at night-time they attempted to land and camp for the night. The natives immediately assembled, and ordered them off. They expostu- lated in vain, insisting that they were not foes, but missionaries de- siring to be their friends, but they refused to believe them, and they were forced to take refuge on a sand-bar for the night. In the morn- ing their men came out, and examining their boat carefully, and find- ing no arms or weapons such as the State men carried, finally permitted them to land and make friends with them, but averred that it was only the presence of the ladies that had kept them from killing them immediately on their approach.
At one time, in company with two blacks from a village where I had been working, I rowed up another river a distance of probably .eigM or ten miles, when, coming within sight of a strange village, We were surprised to hear a hasty alarm sounded, and instantly a multitude of the brown-skinned fellows rushed to the banks of the creek, armed with bows and arrows. Then, with a peculiar beating of drums, a message was telegraphed down the creek to the adjoining village, and from there the alarm was sounded on to the next, and the next, till at last the hoarse din died away to a faint sound, and finally hushed to our ears altogether, while up and down the river-bank were gathered the wild people eager to wreak their vengeance on our defenceless heads.
I surely thought it was all over with me, and the blacks by my side had settled themselves stoically to meet their fate, when far off came the hurried tang-tang-tang of a message swiftly sent back. The word had gone even to the village I had left, and instantly came the response: "Let him alone! He is a missionary!" Then the assembled blacks apologized, and treated us with the utmost cordiality and friendliness, saying: "We have no complaint againt the ambassadors of God." Weare always called by them "ambassadors of God," and native Christians are called" witnesses of Jesus Christ." The mIssIonaries in Africa, as a rule, count the work of onEl' woman worth that of twelve men, since they can go anywhere, even among the fiercest tribes. Their motives are never qnestioned, and they are invariably listened to with the greatest respect. Miss Silvey went about among the Bayansi tribe with perfect freedom, althongh they are by far the most formidable of all the tribes yet known. They are also the most inveterate of the cannibals, since they buy slave- children and slaughter them for the markets, as we do cattle. Miss Silvey spoke to them only through interpreters, since their speech. has not yet been reduced to language. Miss de Hailes and Mra. McKittrick work quite as freely among the Balolo people.
These inland tribes are, as a rule, a fine, powerful people. They are not Negroes but Bantus, and are of a choclate brown color, with thin, well-curved lips and fine features. They are wonderfully energetic, pushing and business-like, and, if converted, will make princely evangelists, since they fear nothing, and will make long journeys from home, remaining away many mouths at a time. While they are suspicious of the white men, they have no hatred for them unless they have done them an injury. Government representatives they count their mortal enemies, but the missionaries, when they are once known to be such, are invariably welcomed.
The missionary's first step is to gain the confidence of the people,. and then it is easy to win their affections, and his opportunity to preach the Gospel is unlimited. When they believe in you they believe your gospel, and are quickly won to God and to abide by His. Word.
At first they will give you two motives for not believing yC!u: 1st, The improbability of people doing anything from a purely unselfish motive. 2d, The impossibility of it. Therefore, they are not willing in the beginning to believe that Jesus could possibly have loved and died for them. But the life of a missionary among them, self-sacrificing and exhibiting unfeigned love for their souls, becomes at last incontrovertible proof of the truth of the Gospel, and they accept it gladly and fully.
But one· great question troubles them, that has troubled many Christians before, "If it is all true and Christ's unselfish love begets a, like love in your souls, why is it that you never came to us before, why do not more come now?" Christian reader, can you answer it ?'
One of these men said to me one day, "White man, my heart is hungry for something, and I don't know what it is." After he was converted I said to him, "Well, have you found out now what it was that your heart was hungering for?" "Yes," he answered, quickly; " It was hungry for salvation !"
, My advice to every missionary coming here, would be, not to try to educate the people, not even to make the civilization of these tribes
THE RO~IANCE OF GOEDVERWACHT
their initiatory effort, but to make their one effort, first and last and all the time, to PREACH THE GOSPEL !
Any child or adult will refuse to come to school after the novelty wears off unless paid for it, but when converted, they Clamor at once to be taught to read, that they may search the Scriptures for themselves.
It is most unwise to attempt to Europeanize them. It is far better to leave them Africans still, since the Word teaches them all that is required for purity and wholesomeness of life and morals, and customs are only galling and useless to a people so differently situated from us.
It would require, probably from twenty to thirty missionaries per tribe to equip Central Africa; after which, the work of the native evangelist becomes the main factor in the gospelizingof this darkened land.
The Jesuits, backed by the government of the Congo Free State, are coming into this region like a flood, from the west, and the Mo- hammedans are coming in almost equal numbers, from the east. Hence, whatever is done for the spreading of the Gospel here must be done quickly.
THE ROMANCE OF GOEDVERWACHT. BY REV. PAUL DE SCHWEINITZ, NAZARETH, PA. Goedverwacht is a Moravian mission station among the Hottentots in South Africa, almost a huudred miles due north from Cape Town. The Moravians began missionary operations, both in Guinea and in the Cape Colony, in 1737, but this particular station was not founded until 1858. Like many tales of fiction, so, too, the veritable romance of Goedverwacht is founded upon a most peculiar and very complicated testament, which became intricately involved with the history of the mission, and upon which for a time its very existence depended. In 1810, a certain wealthy Dutch farmer, by the name of Buergers, purchased a beautiful, well-watered, fertile valley, of some 900 acres, in the Piquet mouutains, and, by means of his Hottentot slaves, transformed it into a prosperous little colony, which now bears the name of Goedverwacht. Here Mr. Buergers lived most contentedly uutil the year 1838, when the emancipation of all slaves should take place. To his great displeasure he noticed that his slaves had become filled with spiritual desires, and, as soon as they became free, would forsake him and move to a mission station. In order to prevent this, Mr. Buergers chose six of his slaves whom he valued most highly, and told them, that if they would remain with him and care for him up to his death, he would will them his entire estate. He drew up his will accordingly, decreeing that these six slaves should hold the estate in common, but that it could not be sold until the last of the six slaves died, and then it must be sold and the proceeds divided equally among the living children of these six slaves.
This will was considered an insult to his white neighbors and relatives, but it was drawn up so skillfully, that all attempts to upset it proved utterly futile.
Thus, in 1843, six poor, despised Hottentot men and women, having faitlfully fulfilled all the conditions of the will, suddenly became wealthy real-estate owners. The property did not fall into unworthy hands. These six gathered to- gether their friends and relatives, and soon had a colony of over 500 souls, and they at once _proceeded to take measures to have their spiritual wants sup- plied. For this purpose, they applied to the Moravians for missionaries.
The Moravians in their work among these peoples, have always found it best to gather their converts into little villages around the mission-houses, which, for this purpose must, of course, stand upon ground owned by the Church. Owing to the peculiar conditions of the will, they could purchase no land there, and so had to serve these Hottentots as best they could from a neighboring station. However, a flourishing congregation of Christian con- verts was gradually gathered. – In the meantime, the six owners began to die off. It became apparent that the time when the estate must be sold, was fast approaching. If the Moravian Church could not purchase the estate, the flourishing mission-work would be destroyed. The surrounding white farmers could scarcely await the time when tJtey could avenge the imagined insult of making Hottentots equal landowners with themselves. They openly boasted of the sums they would pay, and de- clared they would resell the land to the highest bidders. The Mora-vians, with their scanty means, could not compete with the fat purses of these hostile farmers. The future looked very dark. The survivors of the six would gladly have secured the possession to the Church, but the courts had decided that, under the will they were powerless.
In this extremity, the good brethren put in motion the mightiest force of which the Kingdom of God knows. They and their converts prayed-prayed unceasingly, prayed in Africa and prayed at home, prayed constantly-for the roofs over their heads, and the ground under their feet seemed to totter and tremble. It was an invisible power, but it was silently at work.
In the meantime, the courts had decided that, according to the letter of the will, only the actually living children of the original six, and not their grandchildren, would be thp heirs of the estate. Further, that unless all the heirs were of age the estate must be sold at auction to the highest bidder.
Further, that even if all were of age, if there was a single one who refused to agree upon a price, it would again have to be sold at auction to the highest bidder. In either of those two cases the estate would be lost to the Moravians, and their faithfulla bor of years scattered to the winds, and the scene of their prayers, and tears and triumphs for Christ become the abode and property of godless men. On the other hand, the courts had decided that, if all the heirs were of age, and if all were unanimously agreed, then they could sell the estate at private sale for any price they chose, no matter how low, and to whomsoever they chose.
:::'inally the fate -of the entire mission depended upon the life of one old womaa, the last survivor of the original six slaves. At length, on December 28, 1J) j, old Christine, who for thirty-eight years had lived the life of a true Chri~tian, died in her ninety-third year.
At once the hostile-minded neighbors began to tempt the poor Hottentot heirs with fancy prices. What would be the fate of the mission? After thorough investigation, the court decided that there were thirteen heirs ac- cording to the letter of Buerger's will, and as one of these thirteen died after Christine, the three children of that one were also heirs. By the merciful overruling of Providence the life of old Christine had been preserved just long enough to permit the youngest of these heirs to become of age. The power of prayer began to be evident. But were these all willing to sell their valuable estate to the 'Moravian mission, and not only to sell it to the mission, but also
HIDDEN SPRINGS-oR HOW MISSIONARIES ARE MADE
for a price the church could afford to pay-which must be one far below its value? Upon this now hung the fate of this flourishing mission. The count- less prayers of the believers had not been in vain. The numberless difficulties and delicate negotiations cannot be detailed here. Suffice it, therefore, to say that a prayer-hearing God so ruled the hearts of these fifteen heirs that they voluntarily adopted the unanimous resolution to sell their estate to the Mora- vian Church for the moderate sum of £750 on Jme 30, 1889. Each heir re- ·ceived £51 and 15 shillings, of which nearly everyone at once returned £1 as a gift towards a church building, and some more. However, there is still a need for much more before all the expenses of the transactions can be paid ;;'nd th!" necessary church buildings erected. But the Lord, who won the hearts of the self-sacrificing heirs, will also move the hearts of Christians to give of their' means to upbuild this noble mission.
What is the" moral" of this tale? A prayer-hearing God can overrule the testament of one who cared not for the Church, can guide the decisions of {)ourts, can defeat the machinations of malicious men, can guide the hearts of poor Hottentots.
And further, when Christians at home are earnestly, and non-Christians are sneeringly, seeking for permanent results of missionary work among debased people, here is again a shining example of the precepts of Christ entering into and controling the practical life of converts. Imagine fifteen Ameri- {)an nominal Christians of all ages and conditions, not rich, but really poor, deliberately refusing a fancy price for real estate, when it could be honestly gained, and being satisfied with a very moderate figure, out of love for the Lord Jesus and pure loyalty to the Church. It would have been so easy to have simply put the estate up at auction and taken the highest bid, and no one could have acpused them of the slightest crime, as the world goes. But higher, more Christlike principles controlled these poor South Africans. See how Christ has transformed these poor, degraded, down-trodden, despised Hottentots! God bless their self-sacrifice to them and their children!
HIDDEN SPRINGS-OR HOW MISSIONARIES ARE MADE.
BY MARIA A. WEST, SARATOGA, N. Y.
In the deep recesses of the forest and mountain solitudes, far away from human sight and pen, God prepares the hidden fountains which send their pure, perennial streams down to.the valleys below, causing life and beauty, verdure and fruitfulness, to spring up on every side, and filling the rivers which flow onward to the great sea, to carry its blessings to the distant places of the earth, till the desert shall revive and blossom as the garden of the Lord.
And, as in the economy of nature, so, also, in the Kingdom of Grace, the most powerful and· permeating forces are often those that are secretly, silently working, nnheralded and often unknown, but set in motion by the Divine Hand which keeps the heavenly record, and marks the onward flow and fruitage, through time and through eternity!
A remarkable instance of this hidden spring of far-reaching influence, l}as recently been brought to light, and is especially worthy of mention at this time, when its power is strikingly illustrated.
In the year 1837, Mrs. Francis G. Clewe-born in the year 1801-and living at Genville, a village four miles from Schenectady, listened to the preaching of a missionary sermon, at Hudson, which, as she said, "Converted her tQ missions, as much as she was ever converted to Christ!" Her first query was, "What can I do? " The result was the formation by her, of a Woman's For-
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS
eign Missionary Aid Society. Perhaps the first one of the kind in these United States of America.
At the first meeting of this new-born society. she pledged one dollar, as her free-will offering to the cause. To obtain that sum, she walked four miles to Schenectady, secured some vests to make at one of the shops, and then walked home again with her work. And, at every meeting of the society, she never failed to bring an offering for herself and for each of her children, while they were still ~mall. One of her daughters died, but the gift in her name was still continued, with the words, "And this is for Ann." Her yearly offering sometimes amounted to $20,00, and was sent, now to the American Board, and then to another foreign missionary society, in which she was also interested. For this sacred purpose, Mrs. Clewesometimes reared "missionary chickens,'
sometimes planted a piece of land, or set apart a portion of her butter and eggs. And, during all those fifty or more years of her consecrated life, this "mother in Israel" continued to hold the missionary meeting of the society she had originated in her own home; even if none were present but herself and one of her children, a chapter was read, a hymn sung, and prayer offered-and this, not monthly, but every week! One of the original members of that little society is still living and testified that when Mrs. Clewe was too ill to rise from her bed, the same order was observed; and that she would "turn herself," and offer a fervent prayer for missions and missionaries throughout the world, and pleading that some of her descendants might thus be used of God.
September 9, 1889, she was called from the earth to the heavenly Kingdom, being 88 years of age, and, like a shock of corn, fully ripe. Her last earthly home was with a daughter in Schenectady. And now, a grandson of this noble Christian woman, of whom the world never heard, is appointed as a missionary of the American Board for West Central Africa; soon to depart with his young wife and little child for that "dark continent." To some in that city, where this young physician, in the opening of his career with all of earth's allurements before him, had every prospect of success, this decision seems the height of folly-like the throwing away of a life and all that makes life worth the living. They have not seen the silent working of the sacred leaven in divine preparation for this culmination. They little think that it will have its fullest manifestation and justificationon theday when' 'all the kingdoms of this world shall have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and when Christ shall reign over all, for ever and ever."
The consecration of any life, in fellowship with Christ, receives added dignity and grandeur from partnership with Him, "who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, that He might bring many sons unto glory," and "see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied," When they shall come from the east and the west, the north and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God-"A great multitude, whom no man could number-of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues." The glorious harvest-time of souls, when the "new song" shall arise: "Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood-to HIM be glory and dominion, for ever and ever, Amen !"
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
M. Alfred Casalis, speaking of the Basutos, to whom he, like his father be- fore him, has now become a missionary, says: -''How can we fail to experience a closesense of unity with this little nation, so desirous of maintaining its unity and independence? It is undoubtedly, the influence of the Gospel which has alone protected it from partition and complete annexation to the invading neighbors who covet its land so greedily. .Are we sure that God may not have a great destiny in store for this pettv people? Whence shall come the missionaries capable of resisting the terrible climate of the Zambesi, ifnot from Lessuto-from that school oftheology modestly founded at Morija, and which, perhaps, in the near future, will give us a chosen band ()f native pastors? On the day when these 200,000 Basutos shall be Christians, we shall have at our disposal an incalculable force, a veritable Christian army, ready to carry afar into the interior of this Africa, still buried undera darkness so deep-the blazing light of the Gospel."
Pastor Schneller, of Bethlehem, writing, in the Allgemeine Mission3chrijt, says: "Talking lately with a priest of the Greek Church, I quoted something from the Acts. He retorted, 'You Protestants always make so much of the Old Testament and its Acts of the Apostles. Only quote some books of the New Testament, I know all of them.' The same priest, wishing to convince the people of the unsoundness of our doctrine of Jesus Christ as the only Redeemer, proved his point as follows: 'These poor Protestants! Why, they are for be- mg saved through Jesus Christ alone. DQYou believe that Jesus is able to save anybody whatever, without the help of saints? If He could, why must Judas Iscariot perish by the very side of the Lord? Why did He not save him? Why must the impenitent thief be lost by the very side of the much-praised atoning Cross? Why? Because they had not the saints! And the poor Protestants have not a single saint to help them, they have only Jesus and cqnsequently they are bound for hell.' "
Before our Anglican Church, to strengthen hersel'f against Rome, becomes too earnest for union with the Greek Church, she had better counsel her to re- vise her teachings of her clergy a little. Profe~sor Mahaffy says, that he can understand proposals to unite with the Roman Catholics, on one hand, or with the Protestant Dissenters, on the other, but, after traveling in the East, proposals to unite with the Greek Church, are, to him, an inexplicable marvel, uuleas, of course, as some parts of the Greek Church are said to have shown a disposition to do, she maintaining her own distinctiveness, welcomes the vivifying stream ()f Protestant warmth and enlightenment. At least she is not pre-committcd by an assumption of infallibility.
-"When, often, on the spot where Jesus did his greatest works, one sees how the Lord, together with his .Gospel, has become a stranger here; how, in the home of Christ, faith in Christ has been distorted into an unrecognizable caricature, it must come into the consciousness of every evangelical Christian, that, if anywhere in the world, our evangelical church has a great and momentous task to accomplish in the home of the Gospel, however great the difnculties may be."
"Almost every one in these lands," says Herr Schmeller, 'lknows only himself and his own interests, without regard to others, were they even members of his own family. His cold indifference represses the development of men that might have a benevolent interest in promoting the common weal, whether in village, city, or province of their native country. Where here are friends of the people, friends of the fatherland? The people have not even the idea of such a thing. The inhabitants of one quarter of a village or town only too often regard those of another quarter not only as utterly foreign to them but as hostile, which gives rise to perpetual feuds. To bring about unity or to carry through any unanimous purpose, is no more possible in a city or village than in the country at large. Yet, it is in just this state of disintegration that the Turkish government finds a strengthening of its own security, and it favors this accordingly."
-January 1,1888, the following were the missionary statistics of the Nor- wegian Miasionary Society.
Ordained missionaries, 41, (1 being a physician); 6 unmarried ladies, 1 layman, 16,555 church members, 87,500 school children, 44,000 adherents, 16 native pastors, 900 native teachers and evangelists, $81,050 contributions from Norway, and $12,000 from America. The fields of labor are Natal and Madagascar. The Schruder Mission in Natal, has 2 missionaries, 1 single lady, 352 bapt,ized members, 130 communicants, and 124 school children. Income, $1,505. The Santal mission h India, has 3 or4 Norwegian missionaries, and a revenue of $8,918. It now works independently of the Gossner Mission.
The sum totAll of Norwegian missionary contributions for 1887 (omitting the $12,000 from America), amounted to $91,841.76. The population being 1,913,000, this average, about 20 cents ahead.
-Herr Nather, of the Leipsic Society in South India, speaking of some famous- of bathing festivals on the banks the southern Ganges, the Kaweri remarks; "They avail for the cleansing away of ceremonial sins; for other than cere- monial sins the heathen do not really know."
-M. Teisseres and M. Allegret, missionaries of the Paris Society, after a stay of about a year with the American Presbyterian missionaries, on the Gaboon, were. in April, about leaving for the Congo, under a convoy furnished by the French government.
'-The Allgemeine Missions-Zeitschrift for June, 1890, in a detailed article treating of the present condition of Protestant missions in South Africa, says, that the Cape Colony is growing poorer. Much of it is incapable of sustaining ths growing population. Moreover, the almost entil'e withdrawal of imperial control has given the colonists opportunity to repel the laws restricting the manufacture and sale of brandy. This is one of the many ways in which England has done immense harm by being too eager to throw responsibility off her shoulders before the tid. She staggers "Under the too vast orb of her fate." The latest statistics of the Cape Colony, (1888-9), give: Christians of European descent,. belonging to established congregations, 267,817. Colored Christians, 234,329. Chureh sittings, 287,825. Average church attendance,172,428. Sunday scholars, 57,678. Nearlya quarter of thecolored people are baptized. Twenty different Protestant denominations are laboring in the country with 547 clergymen. The different churches receive from the colonial government, £190,432, yearly. Of this, about $150,000 may be counted for proper missionary work. The Boer (pronounced Boor) party, however, now in the ascendant, is unfriendly to these grants. Cape Town has 41,704 inhabitants, of whom 8,000 or 10,000 are Mohammedan Malays. Among the half-breeds of the west of Cape Colony, the Rhenish, the Berlin SOCieties, and the Unitas Fratrum are the principal laborers. The Berlin Society has 11 stations, 13 ordained European missionaries; 87 native helpers, 11,138 baptized adherents,' 3,918 communicants, 2,378 scholars. Contributions, $9,300. The Berlin Society (in the west), has 7 stations, 8 missionaries, 74 helpers, 4,335 baptized adherents, 1,843 communicants, 614 scholars. Contributions, $4,688. The Moravians have (in the west) 11 stations, 20 brethren, 2 native ordained missionaries, 239 helpers, 9,145 adherents, 2,218 communicants, 2,154 scholars.
The Brethren's Church, on July 9, 1887, celebrated the 150th anniversary of its first arrival in South Africa, 'Its work is still important and fruitful, but suffers under a growing difficulty. Not laboring in colonial villages, but in distinct stations, it finds its people sinking more and more into poverty, because of the scarcity of arable land. Their people are therefore widely scattered, many being in the diamond fields, whither they are followed by colored 'Diaspora laborers.' "
The Dutch Reformed Church of Cape Colony, which has 175,555 baptized white members, is coming, under Scottish and English stimulus, to show a much more animated missionary zeal. "Stellenbosch, with its theological institute, is very especially a focus of missionary zeal."
Among the others, the Wesleyan Missionary Society is most prominent. It has (in the west): 9 stations, 6 missionariE'S, 96 native helpers, 1,476 communicants, 1,467 scholars The South African Wesleyans are quite indepepdent of the British Conference. In the whole Colony, they have 71 stations, 156 churches and chapels, 55 clergymen, 1,198 native helpers, 16,840 communicants, 88,000 baptized adherents, 218 schOQls, 310 teachers, 13,803 scholars.
"But no other British society laboring in South Africa compares with the Scottish societies as respects capability, sobriety and diligence, combined with true evangelical piety."
The Free Church of Scotland haa9 stations, 10 ordained Europeans, 2 ordained natives,23 native helpers, 4,214 commnnicants, 12,113 baptized adherents, 3,510 scholars. Their institute of Lovedale (largely assisted by the colonial government) is a great force for education and indus· trial training.
The United Presbyterians have 11 stations, 12 missionaries, 60 native helpers, 2,307 communicants, 8,080 baptized adherents, 43 schools, 1,735 scholars.
-Of the 500,000 or more of Protestant Christians in India, 7,000 live in the city of Madras ~tself. South India is still the great seat of Christianity, its in- habitants being not Aryans but Dravidians, and, therefore, being related to Hinduism somewhat as the Turks are to Mohammedanism, which they have accepted, but which is not native to them, as it is to the Arabs.
-Missionary Lazarus says of the moral condition of the people of Madras an admirable example of south India at large), that, like Greece in Paul's day, the things that they do "are a shame even to speak of." But whereas Paul's admonitions show plainly that his converts had but imperfectly extricated themselves from "the moral chaos surrounding them," "it may be confidently said," declares Mr. Lazarus, himself a native of India, "that the native church of Madras has raised itself above the abominations of the encompassing hea- thenism. Devil-dances, drinking-bouts, quarrels and tumults, unchastity, prac- tised under the cloak of religion, and similar abominations, are absolutely foreign to the native Christians. Such exhibitions of godlessness as are common among the lower classes in Europe, are unknown to them. The Hindus have an immeasurable vocabulary of vituperation, but I do not remember to have ever met with a native Christian that made any use of it. No native Christian has been sent to the gallows, or convicted of crime before the courts." Mr. Laza- rus, it should be remembered, is here speaking only for the Protestants; cases of crime, among the native Christiahs, it would seem, are mostly of Roman Catholics, though among these also, it is rare. The Mohammedans in M&dras, though vastly less disposed to crime than the Hindus, make but a poor show compared with the Christians generally, and seem to sink out of sight, com- pared with the Protestants.
This great superiority of the Protestants, is, however, rather an inference of my own than a distinct statement of Mr. Lazarus, and may bean exaggeration.
"The native Christians, moreover, are as good as wholly emancipated from faith in astrology and palmistry, from child-marriages and compulsory widowhood, from neglect of the education of their children, from the foolish marriage-system involved in caste, from polyandry and polygamy, from perjury and prostitution, and other violations of the moral law, which are so general among the Hindus, from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin. Even if no wider results had been reached, this alone would have been a great achievement, which must be ascribed to the steadfastness and faithfulness with which the missionary pioneers have administered their difficult trust.
"The more positive virtues are less satisfactorily developed, yet, I may venture to say, that for family virtue the Christians have established a solid reputation. Hypocrisy, however, suspiciousness, mutual detraction and backbiting, hardness toward the poor, prodigality, fickleness, pride of birth, are faults only too common among them. . . . If 'cleanliness is next to godliness,' our people have not yet discovered it, or at Ip,ast have not yet applied their discovery. In this respect they are inferior to the Hindus of the same social level. As to the English standard of moral obligation, there is much of it to which their apprehensions are not yet at all awakened." It should be remembered, however, that the English are by nature, a much higher development of mankind. "As respects the higher, active virtues, which our Lord pronounces blessed, poverty of spirit, sorrow for sin, forbearance, hunger and thirst after righteousness, compassion, purity of heart, willingness to suffer for righteousness sake, the whole moral scale, the highest that humanity can attain, of these we find in the native Christians only the first feeble shoots. There are, of course, honorable exceptions, which, in reference to deve~opment of character and Christian virtues, may easily stand comparison with European Christians, hut they are not man:r." "But when we consider the infection which lies in the air of India, together with the dullness and inertness of the people, and all the various forces, which join to work against the development of the moral sense, and also consider that the mass of the native Christians comefrom the most deeply sunken social stratum of the Hindus, there is certainly occasion for surprise and thankfulness, that the moral standing of the native church is so much higher than that of the Hindus. Thus, the last are higher than the first, as compared with the most of those who stand outside of Christianity."
"Docility, tractability, respectfulness, sobriety and meekness, trust in Providence, and careful discharge of religious duties, are, indeed, traits of our converts; but they are not peculiar to them. They were traits of the Indian character long before Christianity came hither. And it seems surprising that so eminent and learned a man as Bishop Caldwell should have described them as distinguishing traits of our Christians. They are genuine Indian traits, just as courage and capacity, sincerity and manliness, vehemence and violence and energy are genuine European, or, if you will, specific Anglo-Saxon qualities."
Mr. Lazarus thinks, that until pains are taken to secure a higher grade of catechists, we must make up our minds to a comparatively low grade of native Christians. He tells his fellow-missionaries some plain truths: "If the missionaries are to raise the native standard, they must take pains to learn how to speak elegant and accurate Tamil, a thing which, I am sorry to say, receives less attention here in Madras than in old days. Clergymen must not be content with their Sunday services. They ought to establish Bible classes for youth and grown people, as well as for children, and make these entertaining, so that they can mspire native Christians with a taste for an intelligent and thorough study of the Holy Scriptures, and in particular, of the life and work of our Lord. By these, and like means, there will !3pring up a clearer, purer and more thorough conception of what Christianity is, and this will thus exercise a growing influence upon the moral condition of the native church."
• Mr. Lazarus severely criticises the mission1l.ry schools of south India: "These schools are often Christian in name, but heathen in effect. Their main element is made up of heathen boys, and there is only a little fraction of Christian children. Most of the teachers are heathen, the rector is often a Brahmin. The director of the mission prefers heathen to Christian teachers; the former are 'wiser towards their generation than the children of light.' They are more creeping and busy; this is taken by the easily-believing director as humility and zeal; Oll the other hand, he cannot bear with the faults of 'the own children of the family.' What makes matters worse is, that the instruction in br Christianity is committed to the 'Bible teacher,' who is often a poor native Christian of the catechist class, who is nothing accounted of either his pupils or his fellow-teachers. Thus, the whole is under strong heathen mfluence; the Christian element is as a drop in the bucket. Think what it means to be eight hours daily, year out and year in, in contact with a hundred heathen lads and teachers, whose mouths overflow with abominations, and whose hearts are leavened with heathen rottenness. Such a contact cannot otherwise than strikingly infect and corrupt the young Christian's soul before he comes under the missionary's immediate influence. I speak from sad experi- ence.."
Mr. Lazarus is utterly opposed to the appointment of heathen teachers in Christian schools, in any case whatever. He also uses some plain speaking toward the English missionaries in South India: "The fault lies with the native Christians as well as with the whites, that there is so little mutual affection between them. Yet, the latter, as belonging to an older and more developed church, which is renowned not less for piety and philanthropy than for zeal and learning might be expected to be first to lay plans of love toward their weaker brethren. . . Impelled by the Saviour's self-sacrificing love, a messenger of God ought to be able to lay aside his pride of race, to overcome his prejudices, to condescend to the native level, and by free and familiar intercourse, to endeavor to lift the native Christians up to l1imself, and thus, with his Lord, to strive to develop the native church into a glorious church, not havin~ spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.' Only by the exercise of love can the mISSIOnary lead the church on and up. He ought, at least, to show himself as often in the homes oofort he native Christian s as at the dinner-tables of his c~untrymen. It is bettoc !"-:m to exercise his influence
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER
in modest native civility, than by a presence at games of ball or on croquetgrounds. It is pleasanterto see him befriending the poor, than doing homage. to the rich. In brief, all his works, all his walk, ought to be such as to call back into living remembrance the days when the Lord of heaven lived and walked in intimate converse with His own disciples."
Mr. Lazarus bears emphatic testimony to the inestimable good wrought by missionary labors in South India. But he desires, speaking the truth in love, to lay home to the hearts of some of the missionaries, considerations which they have great occasion to weigh, if they would see established in India a stable and richly developed native church.
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
Tke New World of Central Africa; With a History of the First Christian Mission on the Congo. By Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness. London: Hodder & Stoughton. New York and Chicago: Fleming H. Revell. $2.00. Central Africa, by means of God's wonder·working Providence, is in- deed, become a "new world," to us. And the great Powers of Europe have hastened to improve their opportunity to extend "the spheres of their ir:tluence" and establish their "protectorates" over its vast areas. This is well. This is a part of God's wise and comprehensive plan for Africa's enlightenment and regeneration. This secures the rapid introduction of civilizing agencies, the development of its immense resources, the protection of life, the extinction of slavery and civil and religious liberty to all its teeming millions. The Church of Christ, also, is astir to enter this new world with the missionary, the Bible and the school, and conquer it for One greater than Cresar. And this book is just what the exigency calls for. It tells just what we want to know. It shows, briefly and intelligently, what has been done and attempted for the evangel- ization of Africa. It is well written-written with a purpose; written by one whose whole heart, as well as that of her husband and family, is given to the missionary cause. It is pro- fusely illustrated. It gives us vivid pictures of the "dark continent." It gives facts of momen· 100us interest. Take this: "The Congo and its tributaries have been already explored to a length of 11,000 miles, giving 22,000 miles of river bank, peopled with native villages. In his journey across Africa, Stanley gazed on the representatives of tribes numbering at least 50,000,000, and to none of them has the message of mercy ever been proclaimed." And this: "From the last mission station on the Upper Congo, a journey of 1,000 miles would be needed to reach the near- .est stations on the east-those on the great lakes. Seventeen hundred miles to the northeast, lies the Red Sea, and there is no mission station between. Two thousand, two hundred miles due north is the Mediterranean, and no mission station between; while 2,500 miles to the northwest are the .stations of the North African nUssion, but no single centre of light between I Seven hundred miles to the west is the Cameroons Station, but the whole intervening country is unvisited; and in the south-west, the American Mission at Bihe, is fully a thousand miles distant. "-J. M. S.
Daybreak in North Africa. By Mrs. F. T. Haig. London: Partridge & Company. This is An account of missionary work in Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripoli. Our readers have heard from time to time from this region, from one of our correspondents, Rev.E. F. Baldwin, of Tangiers, Morocco. The mission here is but a few years old, and is but little known and feebly supported. 'The North African Mission had no child's play before it when it sought to carry the 'Gospel to Mohammedans in that part of the world where Mohammedanism had most completely triumphed over Christianity, and had, for more than a thousand years, held undisputed sway over Berbers and Arabs alike. The success of the Gospel even against such fearful odds is proof that Islam is not invincible. Here, as elsewhere, the testimony is that Mohammedan power is passing away. But eight years have passed since the effort began, and what hath God wrought I Mrs. Haig says, "At the present time there are 51 missionaries occupying 12 dilferent statious, in connection with the North Americar: Mission. beside a nnmber of in- .dependent workers [Mr. Baldwin, for one, who has been quite successful], several of whom be· gan work with the help of the Society, but afterwards preferred working on separate lines." The book is modestly and pleasantly written and well illustrated. It encourages hope and labor for Africa.-J. M. S.
A Friend of Missions in India. The journal of Rev. Henry S. Lunn. London: James Clarke & Company. Our readers will remember that a flerce and prolonged controversy has agitated the missionaries and friends of the London Missionary Society (Wesleyan,) for a year or two past,growing out of serions criticisms,which appeared in the Methodist Times (London), respecting the administration of the Society and the habits of living on the part of it. missionaries in India, etc. The anthor of this work, and the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, editor of the Methodist Times, were chiefly responsible for stirring up this severe controversy. In the last number of the REVIEW we gave the report of the Special Committee appointed by the Society to investigate :this whole matter.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
The chief interest which attaches to this book is the fact that It consists of "The Cyclo- • styled Indian Journal," in the form of twelve letters, which Mr. Lunn wrote while in India as a. missionary, "thirty copies of which he sent to thirty circles of friends in England." These letters of course, laid the foundation for the discussion and warfare which followed. And when, after his return to London, he wrote a series of anonymous articles to the Methodist Times on "A New Missionary Policy," which the editor strongly 'endorsed, the writer's identity with the letters sent home from India was seen by all who had read the Journal. Bitterness of feeling, at home and abroad, and angry discussion was the result. The missionaries demanded a thorough investigation and persisted in their demand, and, at length got it, and got a vindication. Hap- pily the war Is now ended, and, apparently, all parties are snbstantially satisfied. The lesson from It all isobvions, and should be laid to heart-Young missionaries are too apt to criticise those of age and long experience.-J. M. S.
A ThousandMiles on an Elephant. By Holt S. Hallett. Dedicated by the author to the Ameri- can missionaries in Burmah and Siam. Blackwood & Sons: Edinburgh and London. This book is the record of a tour of exploration by Messrs. Colquhoun and Hallett for a railway from Bur- mah to China, through the Shan States of Northern Siam. Dr. J. N. Cushing, whom the author designated as the most learned Shan scholar, accompanied the exploring party as interpreter. They met a cordial welcome and much helpful information from Dr. McGilvary and associates of the Preshyterian Mission to the Laos of Chiang-Mal. They there enjoyed a refreshing rest after their tedious jungle-travel from Burmah. Thence onward through unexplored regions of unwasted resources of commercial wealth, and opening an easy access to the hoards of superstitious spirit-worshippers of the Shan tribes in northern Slam, and leading to the unharvested fields of commerce in China, and giving to the disciples of Christ an open door to the uncounted myriads of her inhabitants when these explorations shall result in a living railway from India to, the middle kingdom.
The book is Wllitten in an attractive style, presenting a clear picture of the dwellings, character and customs of the people, the forests of teak timber and other wood that shelter herds of elephants and buffaloes, poniesand cattle, tigers and monkeys, chickens and peacocks,with rich fiE-Ids of rice, sugar, tobacco and tropical fruits. which include pineapple, pumelo, plantin, orange, lemon, mango, mangosteen, durean, custard-apple, and in great variety and rich fiavor the fruits generally found in the tropics. Extensive plains of fertile soil still remain uncultivated for want of facilities for the transportation of the productions. It has been intimated that the Burmah·Siam-China railway, for the extension of British trade and the civilization of" south-eastern Asia, may be classed with the Slez canal and tbe American Pacific railway as one of the grand works of tbe century. We think it in harmony with the call for a thousand missionaries for China, and the Christ-command to preach the Gospel to every creature.-W. D.
Personal Life of David Lit,lngstone. By William G. Biackie, D.D. London: John Murray. This is one of the hest worth reading of all missionary hooks. I am now reading it a second time aloud to my family. For fullness of detail, intense interest, graphic portraiture of character and freedom from exaggeration, it stands very high. And I would recommend all readers· ol the REVIEW to get it.-A. T. P.
Life of John Hunt: Missionary to Fiji. By G. Stringer Rowe, London. This Is one of the most kindling books I ever read. Mr. Hunt was a pioneer, and hurned .out his life's fiame in his holy zeal for God. He died October 4, 1848, at the age of 36, but he had lived a century, judged by the standard of effective work. This hook is full of the rarest inspirlition. It is one of the finest evidences of Christianity it has fallen to my lot to examine. He, who has any doubt of the Divine Power unto salvation, should read this book; and yet. valuahle, as it is, we have seldom seen a copy of It in any missionary library.-A. T. P..
H.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions.
A leaflet lies before me setting forth with personal and peculiar interest· the Students' Foreign MissionaryUnion because of its origin. of Great Britain, not yet one year old. Some facts concerning this organi- "It began in one Howard Taylor's zation will be of interest to the read- study, on his return from Northfield, ers of this REVIEW, because of the Massachusetts, and in the hearts and tremendous significance of a new prayers of a group of missionary men student movement abroad, and vol- at the hospital, shortly before he sailed unteers will regard the movement for China." A London correspondent goes on to say "Two large and influential meetings were lished volume of letters edited by her held in connection with its foundation: one at sister, under the title "In the Far' Spurgeon's Tabernacle, when he (Spurgeon) East." Miss Wilder's name is familiar delivered a grand missionary sermon on Mark to readers of THE REVIEW by reason xvi: 15, to as many London students as could of her occasional letters to that peribe gotten together (and the great building was odical, and to young women in our full to doors and roof), and one at Exeter colleges and connected with Y. W. C. Hall." A. She is known through her mes- sage to them, entitled, "Shall I Go?" The Union numbers 165 members, which has already reached its Fifth all men. London has 74 members, edition. Miss Wilder's pamphlet, "An Cambridge 6, Oxford 5, Edinburgh 32, Appeal from India," should be read Aberdeen 3, Bangor 1. Besides these with very great care in order to be there are some scattered members and understood rightly, and not' read merely, but pondered on-not because some fu. Ireland, making the total of of any obscurity on the writer's part, but rather by reason of the meaning 165 men. of statements-which meaning does The membership consists of all not lie readily on the surface.
students who accept and sign the fol- "The fact that our Saviour is using us in the lowing declaration: salvation of souls, and for hastening the day of His coming-that is certainly the reason "It is my earnest hope, if God per- for our staying in India. So we who are here mit, to engage in Foreign mission would say to you in America and Canada, this work." is the strongest appeal we can send you for coming to India. The presence of the moving The objects of the Union shall be: cloud was sufficient reason for the Israelites 1. To band together students who to follow. Does not the presence of God's feel called to Foreign missionary work. Spirit, as now felt in India, convince us that 2. To urge the claims of the Foreign He is calling a large portion of our volunteer Mission field upon Christian students band to work for Him here I" everywhere, and to advocate the formation of missionary associations in In refutation of the popular notion connection with the various universi- that Africa presents the greatest need ties and colleges where they do not al- for missionary workers, the writer ready exist. says, "Do you say there are large 3. For the furtherance of its objects tracts in Africa unoccupied? True. the Union shall use the following Yet, relative to its population, India agencies: Meetings of members, meet- must have some 119 more missionaries ings in universities and colleges, de- to equal the missionary force of putations, correspondence and indi- Africa." vidual effort, and the pUblication of an occasional paper. Miss Wilder has corresponded with On the ground of respect for and ap- missionary agencies of the Protestant preciation of the work of the authors denominations in India, and in brief of these appeals from different coun- extracts which she gives from letters tties, the appeals, though without any from various districts, a very adequate pretence to literary merit, should be. and true picture of India's needs is read with undivided attention, and in a receptive and prayerful spirit. presented~ Mr. Forman's views on Foreign missions are familiar to us through his From the Central Provinces one addresses delivered in our colleges, in 1886-87. Miss Geraldine Guinness, writes: author of "An Appeal from China," "I am persuaded in my own mind noticed in the last number of THE RE- VIEW, has already shown herenthusi- that the most eventful period in the asm for, and consideration to her history of missionary effort in this work in China, as disclosed in the pub- country is rapi~ly approa?hing. Th.e Lord is preparmg for a time of gI01:1- ous in-gathering. These souls will need the care of his children." Arcot Mission of the Reformed the answer to every difficulty, hin- drance or disappointment." Church: "Never, in my somewhat long ex- Unoccupied fields: "The Nizam's dominions are now perience, were the claims of India ap- open; population 10,000,000. Only a parently so urgent as now. A restless, beginning has been made in the Conaalmost feverish spirit of inquiry per- rese portion on the west. Much of vades the community." India is but nominally occupied. The region about Jhonsi and Bhopal is Madura Mission, American Board: said to have 10,000,000 unprovided for, "To-day, one brother has four sta- except for the mission at Jhonsi, and tions, another three, and two others a native worker of the American two each. How can they do justice . Board at Lalitpun. to the work? They are all driven to "In closing: To you who have finthe verge of desperation and ill-health. ished your course of study, and waver We thank God that we have recently not at the question of ultimate comreceived into our mission-circle one of ing, but of coming this year, I would· that large band of consecrated stu- say, Satan is taking advantage of our dents. How we long, and pray, and delays. Our aboriginal tribes, numwrite, and implore, that more be bered at some 50,000,000, now very acsent !" cessible, are said to be getting rapidly absorbed into Hinduism. In large Marathi Mission, American Pres- cities, where for years there has been much undermining of old faiths, inbyterian Board: fidelity, materialism, and theosophy "An earnest request has been sent are being pressed u1>0n the attention of the people, and there is danger of for sixteen new workers. In Kolha- seven unclean spirits coming in place pur State alone there are 1,097 vil- of one. lages; it would take a missionary a "We need you now. We pray God whole year to preach once around to to send you to us, filled with the Holy the village population of that single Spirit. It is useless to preach Christ State." to minds steeped in ignorance and idolatry, in any other way than in the From the Akola Field, Mrs. Fuller power of the Spirit."
writes: "The greater need is the quality of the men. We need anointed menmen who know Christ, who find in God Africa.-Progress. Letters from gether for the good of the country. the missionaries in Uganda say that There is still considerable bad feeling King Mwanga has been almost wholly and jealousy, but there seems to be no stripped of the despotic power which prospect now of the open rupture that he and his fathers for centuries have recently threatened. The parties have exercised. He is now of little import- taken an oath, signed by their leaderll. ance in his own country-white influ- agreeing that whatever their disputes ences are in ascendancy. The King may be they will not spill one another's can get nothing that he does not ask blood, but will depend upon sober for from his chiefs, who are under the arguments and arbitration to settle all control of the Protestant or Catholic their quarrels. religion. This is a great change for the young King, who awhile ago killed The Mohammedan party seems to a bishop, imprisoned white mission- be entirely defeated. Thus a remarkaries, and slaughtered native Chris- able change has been wrought in tians by the score. No heathen are Uganda, where a while ago the allowed to hold any office in the new Mohammedans ruled everything, and Government. Many of them are per- by their influence upon Mwanga and mitted to remain in the land, but there his successor, Karema, drove the is not a chief among them. The great whites out of the country and threatoffices, of which there are about six ened to retard the progress of white very important ones, have been enterprises and of all civilization in equally divided between the two Central Africa for half a century to Christian parties. come. Now the Mohammedans have been driven from power in a series of There has been great danger of bloody battles, their influence is enserious clashing between the Protestant tirely gone and the Arabs are fugitives, and Catholic sects. By the advice of Uganda is a British J?rotectorate, and both Catholic and Protestant mission- the white missionarIes, recently peraries they have, however, decided to secuted, are the power in the country. bury their differences and work to- Never before was the prospect so bright for the rapid extension of European of the most valuable concessions' influence and commercial enterprise granted her by Germany. The history in the African lake region.-N. Y. of English rule in India shows how Sun. adroit she is in turning the office of protector to her own advantage. [Uganda is the field where Bishop Hanning- The situation of Zanzibar was not ton was murdered by Mwanga, and where the likely to escape the attention of the- slave-stealers. Their interest lay in lamented Mackay spent his brief but heroic making the road from the villages which they depopulated to the coast as life. Stanley speaks in warmest terms of this short as possible. On the journey, however short it may be, many of mission, declaring it "a most remarkable suc- their victims died from fatigue and exposure to the sun. Zanzibar was cess." Of Mackay, in whose house at the near, and it was also convenient. There the dealers came from Europe sonthern end of Victoria Nyanza, he took who had commissions from the Turks and Egyptians to supply them with grateful rest, "sipping real coffee and eating slaves. There, too, vessels might be chartered to carry away the living home-made bread and butter for the first time booty to other ports. So Zanzibar early became a mart of commerce in the in thirty months," he says: "He has no awful traffic. The efforts of Germany and England have largely suppressed time' to fret and groan and weep, and God this trade in Zanzibar, and under the protectorate of England we may be knows, if ever man had reason to think of sure it will not be revived. The mar- kets will now be better occupied by 'graves and worms and oblivion,' and to be the trade in ivory.-African News.
dolefuland lonely and sad, Mackay had, when, Chi n a. – A great evan~elizing after murdering his Bishop, and burning his agency. – The Chinese, especially pupils, and strangling his converts, and those in the southern part of the em- clubbing to death his dark friends, Mwanga pire, are going out from China in all turned his eye of death on him. And yet the directions. They are not only going little man met it with calm, blue eyes that to many adjacent islands and those never winked. To see one man of this kind, more remote in the Pacific, but they working day after day for twelve years, are settling upon all the coasts of bravely, and without a syllable of complaint south-eastern Asia, pushing up an the or a moan, among the 'wilderness,' and to rivers, and in every place holding hear him lead his little flock to show forth tenaciously the ground on which they God's loving kindness in the morning and His settle. They are a great colonizing faithfnlness every night, is worth going a people, and, if only the Gospel is long journey for the moral courage and con- given to them, they will assist greatly tentment that one derives from it."-J. M. S.] in the redemption of the lands to Zanzibar.-The importance of which they go from sin and darkness. Zanzibar, as a key to Central Africa, was recognized early in the era of ex- They seem to be destined, in the good ploration. What New York is to the United States, what Liverpool is to providence of God, to become a pow- Great Britain, Zanzibar is to Equatorial Africa. In his first expedition erful evangelizing agency, and a great Stanley made it the base of operations, and he went there again, in 1879, to blessing to humanity. . organize his second expedition. It lies on the east coast of Africa, seven Bishop Thoburn, writing from Sindegrees south of the equator. Its chief markets and the seat of the govern- gapore, says of these Chinese colonment are on the island of Zanzibar, but the adjacent country on the main- ists: land is also under the Sultan's domin- "'fhe more I see of our mission work ion, and is also called Zanzibar. It is at this point that the caravans from the in this part of the world, the more do interior strike the coast, and from I bQcome confirmed in the conviction there the explorers, Burton, Grant, which I received the first time I Stanley, Cameron and others, hired visited Rangoon and saw the Chinese their carriers and set out on their ex- there; mingling as they were with the peditions, and to that place they re- Burmese, that God would use them as turned, and came once more into com- a great evangelizing agency all up and munication with civilization. It was Stanley's first business, in organizing the Congo Free State, to establish a chain of stations extending from Zanzibar to Nyangwe and the lakes. Under the new arrangement with Germany and England, the latter country has acquired the right of "protecting" the Sultan of Zanzibar, which is one down these coasts. They are not only converts are mostly gathered from the most energetic people to be found in this region, but, strangely enough, the poor, he argued that it was better they seem more accessible to the Gos- pel than any others; and those of them so. When a house is to be lifted, jackwho are born in Malaysia will be able to speak the vernacular of the coun- screws are put in at the bottom. If try in which they live, and this, added to their knowledge of English and the roof was grappled it would be only Chinese, will qualify them for usefulness on the widest jossible scale. the top that would be lifted. Strange are the ways 0 Providence!" -Spirit of Missions. Hawaii.-Rev. W. A. Essery, in a recent address in London, said: England.-There is much in the "The gospel has won the victory English papers of the increasing flow over heathenism in the Sandwich Islands. It was a peculiar joy to me of converts from the ritualistic section when I found myself in Honolulu. On a certain sunny Easter Sunday of the Anglican Church to the Church morning I wended my way to the old stone church, a large square sanctuof Rome. The activity of the priests of ary, built of blocks of reef coral that had been cut out of the sea for. this Rome is very great, and their boastful- purpose by the early converts. I ness is greater. But the Pall Mall Ga- stood in the pulpit and spoke to an zette concedes that the tide sets rapidly eager audience of the purpose of {lne way. In a recent issue it says: Christ's gospel, the many triumphs thereof I had seen in all parts of the " The conversion to Catholicity is recorded world, and exhorted them to cleave of Rev. Dr. Townsend, superior of a mission to the Lord. Where are the idols the house of Oxford University at Calcutta, and people worshipped a hundred years this so soon after a similar step taken by Dr. ago? More of them are preserved in Rivington, principal of a similar institution at the museum cases of the London Mis- Bombay. Itis also given upon good authority sionary Society than I could hear of that Drs. Tatlock, Beasley and Clarke, sta- in the islands to-day. All around me tioned respectively at Christ Church, Clap- were proofs of how the gospel had ham, Helmsley, Yorkshire and St. James', raised and civilized the community. Liverpool, will shortly enter the Catholic The entire money cost of converting Church. Since the beginning of the Lenten these islanders, which was done by season no less than 100 Anglicans have em- American missionaries, was less than braced Catholicity, and this in one parish the cost of one first-class British ironalone. At Brighton, a centre of ritualistic clad. Christ's gospel has been wafted activity, the number of converts is reckoned to New Zealand. Last Good Friday at 500 persons." twelve months I landed at Gisborne, in Poverty Bay; it was about three India.-Bishop Thoburn's picture o'clock in the afternoon. Going up over the same beach where Captain of the poverty of the people of Asia, Cook had landed a hundred years before I heard the music of a churchespecially of India, where families going bell; turning in its direction I came upon a wooden, weather-boarded live on five cents a day, and thousands church; stepping inside I saw a con- gregation of Maoris, the natives of of growing children go to bed hungry New Zealand. The clergyman had just started the service, men and every night, drew forth a chorus of women had their Bibles and prayer- books, and all were taking part in the groans and sighs as well as generous worship of Him whose sorrows are remembered on Good Friday. It was gifts. He mentioned, as a sample: a a simple sight but it gladdened the heart to find Christ's name honored in man who was paid $2.50 per month, the ends of the world. And so from these illustrations we learn that the whose wife, by hard work, added 28 missionary spirit is once more a power of life in the earth, and that the work cents per month to it. This had to of Christianizing the nations has actually commenced, and is making be divided among a family of five, real progress."
none of whom could have enough even Japan.-The new Constitutional of their own coarse food (rice mixed Government assumes control of affairs with weeds). "Five hundred millions of the people of this world," said the Bishop, "will go to bed hungry to- night. The tramps of this country would be 'swell' in any part of India." Speaking of the fact that missionary in November. The Parliament will a considerable interval, iinds the <Jontain many liberal-minded men. changes that have recently occurred There will be manifest in it four dis- so marked and suggestive that he is tinct parties: the Conservatives, the induced to indicate some of the most Conservative-Radicals, the Moderates, prominent. He writes as follows: and the Radicals. All of them, " On approaching the city from the west, in former years, there were however, have more or less ad- scarcely any buildings except the Russian convent and the Monteiiore vanced notions, and have no desire to Almshouses to intercept the ·…iew of the city walls; now the whole plain is go back exclusively to the old order covered with private residences and colonies of Jews, whilst near to the ()f things. The Moderate party is Jaffa Gate· are large numbers of shops called Kaishinto. It took its rise in already tenanted and numerous others in course of construction. This ex- 1882, and has been very active in the tension beyond the walls has become necessary on account of the rapid agitation for and adoption of the increase of the population. I am in- formed by Mr. Moore, British consul present Constitution. It is very pro- here, that within the last three or four years about 20,000 Jews have come to gressive in its aims, and favors "gov- Jerusalem for permanent residence in and around the city, and that of the €rnment by party, treaty-revision and entire population of about 70,000 it is estimated that nearly 40,000 are Jews. the reform of almost all departments of He also stated that the influx of Jews into other parts of Palestine during the government." The Conservative- recent years has been entirely without precedent. The principal streets,which Radicals came into recognition in 1888 but a few years since were almost impassable in rainy weather, have and have adopted as their motto, been paved with stone, a new wide street has been opened up through a "United in great things-differing in densely-populated quarter, and five hotels are now open for the reception small." They are, as yet,few in num- 6f the annually-increasing number of visitors and traders from all lands. bers, and not very influential. The " Public works of importance have Jihu-to is the real Radical Party. been executed, and others are in pro- gress. The road from Jaffa to Jerusa- I lem, at one time all but impracticable, has been reconstructed by an eminent -Appeal from Baptist missionaries. engineer-over it our own and other "At a conference of the missionaries carriage services are in full operation ()f the American Baptist Missionary -a good road has been formed from Union, held at Yokohama, June 11, Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and another 1890, it was resolved, in view of the from Jerusalem to Hebron; several great needs of this iield and the en- others are rapidly approaching comlarged opportunities for work in this pletion-from Jaffa to Nablous (She- <Jountry, to beseech God, and, under chern), 40 miles; Jerusalem to Jericho, Him, the missionary union and the 20 miles; Caipha to Nazareth, 20 Baptists of the north, for a speedy re- miles, and Nazareth to Tiberias, 18 inforcement of twenty-three men. miles. Jerusalem has hitherto been almost wholly dependent for its water "That there has been a crisis in Ja- supply upon its large underground pan is admitted by all, and this crisis cisterns for the reception of rain water, has not passed away in the late revul- which, after a summer's drouth, often sion of feeling against foreigners, al- proves insufficient in quantity and though, we believe, it has changed in almost unfit for use. The Governsome of its phases. The situation is ment is now about to introduce an more urgent and pressing than ever. unfailing supply from a spring of pure There remain as many souls to be water beyond Solomon's Pools-about reached; the work has been increased nine miles distant. A large flour mill, in difficulty, and our time for its ac- established by the Messrs. Bergheim, complishmentis diminishing.
[This appeal is urged by many "very startling and solemn facts."-Ens.] Palestine. – Anything indicative of an awakening and a revival of energy in the Holy Land, especially at Jerusalem, must prove of especial interest to every Christian who is watching "the signs of the times."
A correspondent of the London Christian World, now on a visit to the Holy City for the seventh time, after having proved both a great benefit try to commerce, are without preceand a financial success, others, with dent in modern times. Viewed in large steam power, are in progress of connection with the numerous and erection; soap factories have com- active efforts being made by various· menced operations, and at Jaffa steam religious agencies throughout the saw-mills have been established. conntry for the evangelization of the Colonies of Jews following agricul- people, and the conversion of the' tural pursuits, stated to be successful, Jews, these facts must encourage are located, one about five miles from every lover of God's ancient people to Jaffa, and a larger one at Limerin, hope that His set time to favor Zion is near Cresarea, originated and assisted fast approaching."-Exchange. by the Rothschild family. The beforenamed rmid to Jericho is being con- The Silver Law's effect on misstructed by the Government, who sions.-Strange as it may seem, the have taken up all the land available in Silver law seriously affects Christian the best parts of the valley for the de- missions. Weallknowwhatithasdone velopment of an extensive scheme of for the silver barons. It has made a agricultural operations, which, with fine market for their ore, and lined such a temperature, so fertile a soil, their pockets, not with their own coin, and well watered by the copious but with good, merchantable money. stream from Elisha's fountain, should stamped with the seal of the United promise abundant and remunerative States Treasury. It has raised the crops. Grapes, bananas, sugar-cane, price of silver, and therefore accomcotton, and various fruits and vege- plished the purpose for which it was tables have for some time past been forced through the two Houses at cultivated here with much success. Washington, It has enriched mine- The increased amount of rain which owners; has it blessed anybody else? has fallen the last few years in Pales- We will wait to see. Meantime, it is tine has had a most marked effect in having a disastrous effect on the mislarger and more abundant harvests sionary societies which make largeexthan hitherto known. penditures in foreign lands. By rais- lUg the price of silver it has so ad- "The most important results, how- vanced the rates of exchange for all ever, of all may be anticipated from those countries which have a silver the railway about to be constructed standard that a large percentage of between Jaffa and Jerusalem. As every dollar transmitted to the various rumors in former years have pre- fields is lost in discount. vailed which have never been realized, I called upon Mr. Frutiger, the banker, The dealings of the societies, it to whom the concession has been should be explained, with Mexico, granted by the Turkish Government, Brazil and other American countries, and was assured by him that the with India, China, Japan, Syria, Pernecessary capital had been subscribed, sia, and other Asiatic fields, are all and that the works would commence conducted on the silver basis. In makimmediately npon the close of the ing appropriations for the year, the sorainy season in the early spring, and cieties make them on the basis of an pushed on urgently to completion. exchange rate, averaged on the rates of The influence such a line of communi- the previous years. -While this rate difcation between Jerusalem and the' fers in different countries, it has avercoast may be expected to exert is in- aged less, the treasurer of the Presbycalculable, for as a natural sequence terian Board, Mr. Dulles, informs us, the harbor, which is now inaccessible "than 80 cents to the dollar for all to Mediterranean steamers, must be countries. " deepened and enlarged, and the rocky barrier which prevents ingress re- Now for the effect of the Silver Bill moved. on exchange. Mr. Dulles writes us: " It is contemplated to snbsequently "I find, by reference to my records, that on extend this line via Gaza and EI-Arish over the Short desert to Port Said and April 9th, our bills sold in Chiua at 77~ (this Ismalia on the Maritime Canal, thus connecting with the railway system is discount on the Mexican silver dollar); on of Lower Egypt for Cairo, Alexandria April 21st it had risen to 79~; May 28 to 82li; and Suez, and to the Fayoum and Upper Egypt. Such important action July 15th to 86jf; July 28th to 88.03, which is for the improvement of the Holy City and the development of the resources thelast date at which I had advices of actual of Palestine, and opening up the coun- sales; or a rise of 15 per cent. This will serve as an example. In fact, our estimates were made below 77, the first price above given; but assuming the variation as above, it means that when we contract to pay a native helper or incur any other form of expense for a given number of Mexican silver dollars, we must now, in order to meet our accounts, add 15 per the Church's history has recorded' a cent. to our disbursements of American gold. similar advance, although that ad- This is not a simple illustration, but the state- vance is relativelv small in the light ment of an actual fact." of the unexampled growth of popu- lation, even in non-Christian lands. The rise in India is somewhat less. The ten missionary organizations of On April 15th £500 yielded 6,832 the United Kingdom have become 65; rupees; on May 14th, 6,357: on July the 27 of all evangelical Christendom 21st, 6,140. The last· advices, says have increased to 185. The sum of Mr. Dulles, show that the rate is still half a million sterling raised to evanrising. Withal, the market is so gelize the world has grown fivefold uncertain, that 60-day bills cannot be -to two millions and a half. The sold at all. The rates in Mexico are living converts, then under 400,000, higher, even, than in China and India, now form native Christian communivarying from 15 to 20 per cent. ties three millions strong. The mis- sionary band, ordained and unor- What is true of the Presbyterian dained, was then 760 strong, and Board is also true of the American not 12 of these were women or Board and other societies. A note natives; now it is a host of nearly to us from one of the 'secretaries of 40,000, of whom 2,000 are women, bethe American Board says its expen- sides missionaries' wives: 33,000 are ditures are affected, "not only in India natives, and of these, 3,000 are orand China, but in Japan and Mexico dained. Besides all that Carey and as well-fields in which fully one-half his imitators had done to translate the of our total expenditures are made." Word of God, we see now in other 41 The Western Christian Advocate says languages the Old Testament, and in a "special appropriation of about other 64 languages the New Testa- $20,000 to meet the increased cost of ment. Our empire has grown till we exchange" in India will have to be have become responsible for a fourth made by the Methodist Missionary So- of mankind. The English speaking ciety at its meeting in November. race were only 22 millions when Carey The cost of the Silver Bill to the So- made his survey; we have increased ciety will be, the Advocate estimates, at the rate of nearly a million a year, fully $40,000. till in and outside of Christendom we are 113 millions. Our wealth has The outlook is a serious one for all swollen even more rapidly. Our the societies. A large increase in the mother-tongue, the Queen's English, incomes of the societies will be neces- has become the Christianizing and saryto pay the same bills as informer civilizing speech of earth, carrying to years. Says Mr. Dulles, speaking for the thousand millions who are still barthe Presbyterian Board: barians in the Hellenic sense, even as Greek influenced the hundred millions "It is early to calculate the etl'ects of a of the Roman Empire, that Divine revelation which, to all who believe it, change of 15 to 20 per cent. upon appropri- is the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation. Save in the ations of $900,000. Without entering into the very heart of Asia-Mohammedan, Buddhist and Russian-The Spirit of merits of the silver-question or venturing God has opened every door, as our fathers prayed.-Free Church (Scotprophecies as to the results, it certainly is un- land) Annual Report.
likely that silver will fall much below its pres· Farewell Meeting in Boston under ent value, and those who are considering the the direction of the secretaries of the American Board, in view of the early obligations of the Church to foreign work departure of missionaries for the several fields under the care of the must bear in mind the unavoidable demand Board. The missionaries were intro- duced by Dr. Clark and Dr. Smith, acupon them this year, and indeed in subsequent cording to the fields to which they were destined, and addresses were years, on account of the special change in the made by Dr. Herrick and Mr. Bartlett, for the Western Turkey Mission; by rise of silver. " Messrs. Hill and White for the Japan Mission; by Messrs. Lay and Jeffery Upon the churches the burden must for the missions in India, and by Mr. fall. It will not do to cut down former Ransom for the Zulu Mission. When appropriations by 15 or 20 per cent.; therefore, it will be necessary for them to increase their contributions by that amount. If last year a society appropriated $500,000, it must appropriate this year, to keep up its work, $575,000 or $600,000.
What a pity the extra percentage cannot be assessed on the silver barons! -The Independent.
The Missionary Age. The Victorian has been emphatically the missionary era. Since the immediately post-apostolic days, no half century of
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
the name of Mrs. Ransom was read, Dr. sent to the field since the last annual Alden stated that she was a daughter report is now 54, a greater number of Rev. Simeon H. Calhoun, formerly than has been sent out by the of the Mission to Svria. The Rev. Board during anyone year for the past James D.Tracy, of theMadura Mission, 50 years. The number of missiontemporarily in tIns country, extended aries appointed since the last annual the right hand of welcome to Mr. Jef- meeting of the Board is 63, 22 of fery, who goes to the same mission. whom are men, representing all the The exercises occupied two hours, Congregational theological seminaries and were listened to with the closest of the country, excepting Bangor and attention and deepest interest by a Oakland. These facts, taken with the large audience. Thirty-four mission- very handsome increase in the receipts aries were named at this farewell meet- of the Board during the past year, and ing, either now on the way or soon to the good reports of work. from all go to their respective fields; going out parts of the mission field, give abunfor the first time. The total number dant occasion for thanksgiving and of new missionaries that have been good courage for the future.
III.':"'-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Madagascar. where we hope shortly to build a dwelling- house, leaving the town of Ambatondrazaka to Antsihanaka, May 1, 1890. our friend and colleague, the Rev. E. H. Strib- DEAR EDITons:-Herewith I enclose a copy ling, thus extending the mission. We are of circular on the subject of a Cottage Hos- already about 100 miles, or four days' journey, pital, which it is proposed togo on with imme- from any other missionary, and a new hospital diately here iu the heathen province of Antsi- has become an absolute necessity. We intend hanaka. You will note that this mission is to to build a suitable structure to accommodate be extended by our removing a day's journey about sixteen patients, and this comparafurther north, where we hope to have much tively small effort will cost about £250. It is blessing on the work in future years. I need our earnest desire to build it without assishardly trouble you with details, other than to tance from the society, if possible, and so we say that the Christian public at home should are making known the present position of not be allowed to run off with the generally- affairs to personal friends, and to the friends accepted idea, which is false, of the "ad- of missions in general. To the former, we vanced religious and social condition of the would suggest this as a fitting opportunity for island," referred to in a letter received yester- affording encouragement to lonely workers in day from a Christian friend at home. The a far country, which, added to the far higher fact is that Madagascar is about one-third consideration of helping on the work of God, simply evangelized, and that one-third -about we hope will prove a sufficient inducement to three-fonrths-civilized. The work of deepen- help forward this particular object. Almost ing and spreading the spiritual life is only the whole of the working expenses (except now beginning in the above one-third of the the very important items of medicines and island. The work of evangelization and estab- medical appliances) have been obtained for lishment of new missions is being carried out the last two years without any help from the in about half of the remaining two-thirds, society, our patients paying more than twowhich, like here in Antsihanaka, is heathen, thirds of the expense of board and nursing; without missionary agencies at all; and the many of our native friends, too, having conrest is in "gross darkness." tributed to this object." The above is only a very general way of looking at it as a whole, but still it will give a LETTER FROM DR. BROCKETT. good idea of how things really are here. Brooklyn, July 28, 1890. With kindest regards, DEAR DR. SHERWOOD:-I was very much in- JAMES G. MACKAY. terested in that part of Dr. Pierson's letter, in your August number, which treated of the [We regret that space permits only important questions of education and evan- gelization in the mission fields, and the coman extract or two from the printed parative success of the two methods, education first, and then evangelization, or evangeliztlr circular accompanying this letter.- tion first, followed by Ohristian education. EnS.] As I have been for many years studying these questions carefully, with reference to the , .. And now to come to the point of our re- missions of most evangelical denominations, I port. Our present hospital served well for a beg leave to offer a few thoughts, which Inay beginning, .but is now too small for us. Further, the directors of the L. M. S. have agreed to our removing to a more healthy spot at Imerimandroso, a day's journey to the north, be of service in the settlement of the difficult who had the privilege of hearing Rev. Dr. J. problem. E. Clongh, the Apostle to the Telugns, tell of his experience in endeavoring to carry the 1st. I find in our Lord's missionary tours in Gospel to that [,,,ople, will ever forget how Palestine that He devoted His instruction this matter presented itself to him. The mis- and preaching to .. the common people, who sion to the Telugns was founded in 1836, and heard Him gladly"-to" publicansand sinners, in 1866, thirty years later, when Mr. Clough who thronged to hear Him, and almost trode reached Ongola, there had not been a hun· upon one another to listen to the gracious dred native Telugns converted. There were words which He spake." He opened no about fifty members of the single church there, sChools, rabbinical or other, for Pharisees and but some of them were Tamils, English sol- Sadducees, practised no asceticism like the diers or sailors, or men of other nationalities, Essenes, but the burden of his discourses was and not to exceed 25 or 30 were Telugns. concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. There was one native assistant, and sChools had been maintained for instructing the chil- I cannot find that the Apostles opened any dren of Brahmins. The missionaries were ex. school to instruct or propagate the Gospel cellent men, men of deep piety and learning, which they preached. Paul tells us that it and thoroughly in earnest in their efforts to pleased God that by the foolishness of preach- win souls. But, somehow, they did not sucing mlln might believe, and that not many wise, ceed. The Brahmins were very friendly, ana not many learned were brought to the knowl- often called on them to discuss questions of edge of the truth-that" He had hidden these science, and if pressed on the subject of perthings from the wise and prudent, and revealed sonal religion, would reply that they were exthem unto babes." Throughout the Acts and amining the Christian doctrines, and were the Epistles, whether they were preaching to very favorably impressed with them, but Greeks, Romans or Barbarians, the theme desired time to consider. They did not wish was Christ, as the Saviour and Redeemer from to mingle with the lower castes, but thought sin, and no time was spent in endeavoring to they should, in time, come over to Chriscivilize or educate the people before convert- tianity. ingthem. When Mr. Clough came to Ongola, in 1866, 2d. I think it will be found in all modern they pursued the same course with him, and missions that the great snccesses have been at first deceived him; but his faithful assistachieved by following in the line of Christ's ant had preached the Gospel to the poor outexample. In almost every Asiatic mission casts (pariahs) at one of the out stations, and field there will be found two distinct classes, had sent some of the converts in one Saturday often of different origin, the one aristocratic to Mr. Clough for examination and baptism. and lordly, generally the ruling race, educated The Brahmins heard of it, and sent a message after their fashion, and looking down with to him, begging him not to disgrace himself contempt upon their ignorant inferiors. In and them by having anything to do with these India, this class are the Brahmins, proud, in- low and degraded people. The Brahmins telligent, in some respects the superioI'S in could not visit him Or hold any intercourse inteliectual culture of even the best European with him if he thus polluted himself. Mr. a,pd races. Their inferiors, who are gi-ound down Mrs. Clough devoted themselves to the study to the lowest degradation, are the men of low of the Word of God and prayer that night. caste or no caste at all. the pariahs or out- They found that they had erred in respecting casts. persons; they humbly confessed and repented of their sins, and the next day openly went to Many of our missionaries and missionary one of the large tanks in the city, baptized societies have made the mistake of trying to these converts, and preached the Gospel to convert the Brahmins first. They were so re- the poor, who had gathered by thousands to fined and cultured, so polite, and took so witness the ordinance. The Brahmins were much pleasure in discussing-religious ques- furious: they showed tHeir displeasure by tions with the missionaries, and sometimes cutting his acquaintance and reviling him confounding them with their dialectic skill, publicly, but the common people heard him that the poormissionaries indulged high hopes gladly, and received the word with joy. Bapof gathering a church whose members should tisms were constant, and in the ten years all be converied Brahmins, and through whom (1867-1877) preceding the famine, the church the whole nation should ere long Le brought at Ongola alone had received 4,394 members to Christ. It has now been about a hundred by baptism. After the famine, and Mr. (now years since missionary labor was commenced Dr.) Clough's noble and self-sacrificing efforts in India. Has anybody ever seen or heard of to relieve the sufferingcaused by it, the people a church there composed wholly of converted began to press into the kingdom of God, and Brahmins, who, as being all of. the highest to take it by violence. In 1Si'8, 8,691 were caste, did not need to break its bonds and defile baptized in six weeks-2,222 of them in one themselves by associating with Sudras or day-and during the 13 years since the ,,-ork Pariahs? Converied Brahmins there have certainly been, but never those who came in cempanies and retained their caste. Those has gone forward steadily, till on the first of was the only God to be worshipped. Now, January, IS90, there had been during the pre- contrast with this the Karen Missions in Burvious year, in the thirteen stations of that mah. Beginning in 1828 with the baptism of mission, 3,340 baptisms, and the number of a single convert brought to Christ by Dr. Judliving members at that date was 33,838. A son's efforts, it spread through Tavoy, Moullarge majority of these are people of low caste, mein, Rangoon, Bassein and Henzada within or of no caste, but of late the higher castes a dozen years, and has now extended wherehave begun to come in, and some Brahmins ever there are Karens. These people were among them. Of course, schools were neces- very poor; they were cruelly oppressed by sary after this rapid evangelization, and they their Burmese rulers; they were illiterate; have been provided liberally. There are sem- had no written language, till the misinaries for training native preachers (many of sionari.,s reduced their languages to writing; these poor people have developed remarkable they were not idolaters, and while they had abflities, both asscholars and preachers); there some:ideas of a Supreme Being they had never are high schools for girls and boys, and sta- heard of Christ, yet they came to Him at once tion-schools for instruction in the vernacular. when they did hear of Him, and in such num- In some of the stations there are caste schools bers, that for three years and more, under the for girls, in which ·the Bible is tanght, and fierce Burmese persecution, the thOllsands very soon the bonds of caste give way. The who were willing to die for Christ could not girls in these caste schools do not seem to be receive Christian baptism. They have in sixty superior in intellect or ability to their outcast years become an intelligent and powerful peosisters. There are connected with the mission ple, advancing from semi-barbarism to civilinow 47 missionaries, f!7 of them women-IS are zation, education and administrative ability, in America or Enrope. There is pressing need till the Government of British India, whose of at least 20 more missionaries. The number subjects they are, are putting them into places of native helpers is 421, of whom 204 (67 01'- of honor and trust in the place of the Burmese, .dained and 137 unordained) are preachers. whom they have found dishonest and untrust- The appropriations of the Missionary Union worthy. This wonderful change has come for all departments of the work in 1889-'90 solely by the preaching of the Gospel of ,yere $67,972, of which about one-half was for Christ, and in their case evangelization preschools. Here, out of 54 years of mission ceded education. They have had comparawork, only 24 have been productive of large tively few American missionaries (they have visible results. now 57, of whom only 20 are men). They have 560 native helpers, of whom 125 are or- Take another instance, which illustrates my dained pastors and evangelists, many of them point still more fully-the Baptist missions in the peers of our pastors in city or country, Burmah. Dr. Judson entered upon his mis- 492 churches, with a membership of 28,000, and sion to the Burmese in 1813. No abler or more an adherent population of about 175,000. Over· devoted missionaries have been connected 40,000 have died in these sixty years. They with any missions in the world than Dr. Jud- carryon Home and Foreign Missions with son and some of his associates; they were great success. Of course they have schoolslaborious, patient and persevering to a degree over 400 of them, with 11,000 pupils, all receivalmost beyond belief, yet six years elapsed ing an elementary Christian education; ten or before the baptism of the first convert. At twelve academies-some teaching English, but the close of the first Burmese war (1824-'26) all giving instruction in the Scriptures; a theothere were not more than 30 converted Bur- logical seminary, a college, and two highmese living, and now after 75 years of very grade high schools (boarding}-one of them earnest labor, with a large force of mission- with over 400 students. Their native preachers aries constantly in the field, and 63 (20 men are well educated, and their schools have reand 43 women) now at work, there are only ceived the highest praise from the Govern- 29 Burmese churches, with about 2,000 mem- ment Commissioners and inspectors for their bers (probably 4,000 or 5,000 have gone to thorough and critical scholarship. They are heaven in these 75 y£>-&rs). The reasons of growing spiritually; aboU:t 1,850 were bapthis scanty return are not far to seek. The tized the past year. Three·fourths of missionaries are not in fault; they have done their native pastors and four-fifths of the their work faithfully and well. They relied schools, including the costly high schools and to some extent on schools, in many of which college, are supported by the native churches, English was taught. The Burmese were and every church has a chapel of its own, proud, intelligent, imperious, and cruel in built by native Christians. Their contributions temper, bigoted in their Buddhism, and looked to church and benevolent purposes, taking all down with contempt on all other nations, es- their churches together, average $1.75 per peeially upon the Karen tribes, whom they member, while in the missions, where they held in a sort of peonage. They were glad of have plans of systematic beneficence, they the schools, because their children coul~ learn come up to $3.25 per member, and this where English, though they hated the English peo- $50 a year is considered a liberal salary. Here" ple, but they insisted that the Lord Buddha most certainly, education followed evangeli· missionary life does not allow of much time zation. for writing, but I am going to do better in the I might go on to speak of the Mallegassy, who certainly were evangelized before they future. In the meantime I send you an article had anything more than the most meagre education, but are now rejoicing in many good written by my husband, Rev. F. E. Hoskins. schools; of the Kohls, of Central India, Goss· ner's converts*-in this mission, also, evangel- On.him has fallen Mr. Dale's mantle, and it ization preceded education, and indeed educa· tion has not proceeded very far yet; and of is a heavy one, eombined with the study of many other missions of a like character, did space permit, but the points I want to make Arabic. We are feeling especiaJIy burdened are these: at this tillIe, as word has COme to retrench 1. That among the nations who profess and maintain the systematized false faiths- Zahleh station ($554). Buddhism, Brahmanism, Tauism, Moham- medanism – and even, in a somewhat less If we ask which of the out stations we will .degree, the doctrines of the Greek and Roman Cathoftc churches, and who have' a written close, it is like asking a man which of his chil- langnage and literature defending and ex- pounding their respective faiths,. progress in dren he can spare best. With the present evangelization will be slow by any method, and education will help very little, if at all. state of the Government, if we close we will Comparatively little impression has been made in Siam, in the Buddhist portion of not get permission to open again. It is hard China, and in Burmah, upon the Buddhists, .and general scientific education, however com- fighting to hold what we have, and no pros- plete it may have convinced the intellect, has not touched the heart. The same is pect o~ getting more. Turks and Jesuits make equally true of the educational assaults which have been made upon Islamism among the a trying combination. Three girls' schools Turks and other Mohammedan nations. That system of faith has too strong a hold upon have been closed; each one had over seventy the weakness of human nature to be readily relinquished. It does not seem that either the pupils; $40 each would run them to the end adherents of the Greek or the Roman Church have been often educated into Protestant of the year. Can yon not stir some heart to Christianity. Indeed, the results of the educative process have very often found to enure help us? Think of the large sums that were to these religions, e. g., Cardinals Manning, 'Wiseman and Newman, and many bishops raised at Northfield. and other perverts. We have church buildings that need repair; 2. It seems easily demonstrable that our Lord'S plan was to begin missionary work. we do not see how they can stand another with the poor, the lowly, the illiterate and the sinful; to present the dying, risen and glori- winter. fied Saviour to those who are conscious of t.heir You must pray that we may have patience need of such a Saviour from sin; and when the Gospel has lifted them up to Christian under discouragements, wisdom in' facing manhood and brought them to work for the salvation of others, then Christian education many vexing questions, and a great outpoursteps in, and prepares them to lead the hardened idolaters, by the force of a holy example, ing of God's Spirit. to Him who alone can save them. In my sister's absence I have the little organ L. P. BROCKETT. you sent her.* • Syria. During the last ten days I have had a guest Zahleh, Aug. 19, 1890. who formerly lived in Zahleh, so we have had DEAR DR. PIERSON:-YOu asked me to be one of your" Editorial Correspondents." My over a hundred callers, everyone has had a.
* I think the missionaries of the Society for glass of sherbet, about half have been fed; the Propagation of the Gospel, who have ab- with a little maid (Jeannette) to look after, sorbed tbis mission, overrate the conversions among the Kohls. They took over only 7,000, do you wonder that I do not write more? But and their latest report gives only 11,954 communicants. The 32,000 were only adherents. notwithstanding all, I have read the REVIEW for July and retailed its contents to my caIlers.
How we wish you could have extended your mission tour to Syria! You mustspend some time with us when you do come. Our home is near to the grand old ruins of Baalbec.
For some years I have been gathering suo perstitioI!s of these people. Very odd, and of course have their infiuence; and if sueb articles would be acceptable to you, will send one.
Mr. Hoskins is away for the day. Since Jan. 1st he has traveled more than 1,500 miles, 1,200 of these in the saddle, in all weathers and all hours of the day. Yours sincerely, Mas. F. E, HOSKINS.
Moravians not Lutherans.
Nazareth, Pa., Aug. 20, 1890. In the August number of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW (page 634), in the "Table of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Foreign Missionary Work," we find as the 27th Society (sic) the Moravian Church included among the Lutheran Mission- ary Societies, with the foot-note: .. The 110- * This little parlor organ was sent as a help in carrying on Sunday-school and prayer ser- vices. It was given by Bethany Church, Phila- delphia.~A. T. P.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
ravians have the same confession of faith as stuecke des christlichen Glaubens klar und the Lutherans." einfach ausgesprochen sind. Die Freiheit der " Gewissen unsrer Geschwister wird dadurch This is a very inaccurate and misleading in keiner Weise gebunden, insonderheit in statement. The official statement of the doc· solchen Laendern, wo die Augsburgische Kon· trine of the Brethren's or Moravian Church, fession nicht dieselbe Geltung hat, als in as determined by her General Synod, contains, Deutschland. ") among many other statements, this paragraph (freely "trausJated): "In common with all The peculiar position which the Moravian Christendom, the Moravian Church subscribes Church holds among the continental churches to the doctrines enunciated in the so-called makes it necessary for her to take some Apostles' Creed, and acknowledges further notice of the Augustana in order to retain her that in the 21 doctrinal articles of the Augs· legal standing and to carry on her work un· burg Confession the chief points of Christian trammelled. As a matter of fact the Moravian belief are clearly and simply defined. The Church technically has no "confession" of freedom of conscience of our memhers, how· her own, and binds herself to no confessioR of ever, is in no wise infiuenced by this state· any other church, while in all essential p<>ints ment, especially not in those countries where she agrees with the creeds of all Protestant the Augsburg COnfession is not of SO much Churches. She gladly co·operates with any importance, as in Germany." Results of the Protestant Church that will work with her. General Eiynod of 1889 : However, Moravians, as such, are in no sense of the word Lutherans, and Moravian mission (" Die Bruederkirche bekennt slch daher mit work has nothing whatsoever to do with the der gesammten Christenheit zu den im apo· Lutheran Church, although the Moravians stolischen Glaubensbekenntniose enthaltenen gladly and thankfully acknowledge that they Lehrsaetzen, und erkennt weiter, dasz in den have frequently received aid both from Ger· 21 Lehrartikeln der Augsburgischen Konfes· man and American Lutherans sion als dem ersten und allgemeinsten Be· kenntnis der evangelischen Kirche, die Haupt- PAUL DE ScHWEINITZ.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Kingdom of God in the Land of planet on which changes of most sig- its Origin. nificance in the tife of races of men, have, in recent years, taken place most [Condensed from an address of Rev. George rapidly, you must leave behind the F. Herrick, D. D., of Auatolia College and great cities of this land and of Europe, Marsovan Theological Seminary, at the 7th and pass over into Asia. Annual Meeting of the InternatIOnal Mission· ary Union, June 12, 1890.] I. GLANCE AT RECENT OTTOMAN mSTORY. Occidental life is proverbiaIlyrapid; Oriental life, we are all sure, is ex- Reference is not now made to tke ceedingly slow. We travel by ex- press a thousand miles a day. The restless and aspiring empire on the Asiatic still plods on horseback along ememe margin of Asia. I do not a bridle path, or, more recently, in assume to tell of India, where, accord- a springless wagon, over his twenty- ing to those best informed, the English four miles in twenty-four hours. He language has already become the lan- smokes his nargileh, and takes no note guage of all arms of the Government of time. He scratches the ground service, of travel, of all schools; the instead of plowing it; he threshes one vehicle of a progress whose silent his grain as his ancestors did 3,000 and bloodless revolutions are in happy years ago; he puts off his shoes contrast to the numberless revolutions and wears his hat when he enters a that have characterized the life of dwelling; he pulls a saw instead of India for thousands of years.
pushing it, he builds a city with mole I point to the fact that, twenty-nve tracks through it, and if he makes years ago, the Ottoman Empire posstreets at all, it is an after-thought, sessed a territory fully as large in and he burns out the needful spaces; Europe as in Asia, and almost equally by his watch it is always twelve o'clock as large in Africa. The dismember- when the sun sets. And with all this, ment of the empire in respect of terri- if you would find the portion of our tory and its depletion in respect of population, within a qnarter of a hopeful indication of possible entercentury, has been with a rapidity that prise seen in Turkey in modern times. would be startling if we could be Meantime Russia – that essentially startled with anything which is at Oriental Power illy domesticated as once distant and Oriental. yet in Europe-has played her game with singular fatuity in South-eastern Roumania and Servia are inde- Europe. There is no Power, great pendent kingdoms, Montenegro and or small, Slavic or Greek, German, Bulgaria are independent princedoms. French, Italian or English, that will Greeceis enriched by some of Turkey's consent to see Constantinople in the fairest provinces in Thessaly and control of Russia. We should not de- Epirus. Egypt is as much under spise those smaller States, anyone British control as India. Syria is of four can mass a trained army under European protection. England of a 100,000 men, and little Greece holds Cyprus, Austria dominates Her- can launch a fleet that would rival zegovina and Bosnia, Russia has ac- our own navy. But there is one quired Batoum, the most important Power, viz: Austro-Hungary, to which Black Sea port, and Kars, the key it is a question of life or death to keep fortress of Asia Minor. Russia out of Constantinople. The great northern Power may count on In place of 44,000,000 of pop- Austria's opposing her march southulation, the Ottoman Empire now ward and westward by the full force has about 23,000,000; the proportion of her army and her navy. It is of Moslems to Christians has greatly almost equally impossible for Russia changed. They were about equally to push far into Asia Minor on the divided; ?ww the Chritsian population east. She may take and hold Erzroom is but little more than one-fourth of easily enough. She may, perhaps, pass the entire number. Van and even Harpoot, where the Christian population is proportionally The seeming strength of Turkey large, and she may, if she will, push on during the years which followed the to the Euphrates, but she may not Crimean war was fictitious and de- pass on into the heart of Asia Minor. lusive. The semblance of prosperity There, from the Black Sea to the was kept up by immense loans at ruin- Arabian Desert, and from the Euphous rates. "Let the evil come when it rates to the Mediterranean, the Ottowill, so it be not in my day." So runs man people will live, and an Ottoman the Oriental proverb. Turkey was Power will rule for long years to come. rushing on to bankruptcy, at the very Nor is it easy, in the light of history, moment when she was constructing or on principles of justice, to see how an iron-clad fleet, and building palaces the Turks can be driven from Constanon every eligible site at and near Con- tinople, where they outnumber all stantinople. She did not build roads other races put together, or from nor develop her mines, nor undertake Adrianople, their ancient capital and commerce or manufactures, nor es- a Moslem City. tablish schools, except on paper. For two years after the commence- The record of the last disastrous war ment of the present Sultan's reign of twelve years ago is well known. Turkey exhibited the farce of Consti- Strangely enough, ever since then, the tutional Government, played at a policy of the Government of Turkey Parliament with representation from has been studiously cold toward Eng- the different races. But all this was, land, and friendly toward Russia. in the expressive language of one of the ablest mi.nisters our Government We must not fail to give the Turks ever had at the Sublime Porte-HoN. the credit of covering Asia Minor, within the last ten years, with a net work of carriage roads, built without the aid of foreign capital-the most Horace Maynard, "for EUl"opean con- and acknowledge the obligations of sumption." friendly European powers ?"
II.- TURKISH PATRIOISM. "That is all very well for you to There has, under the present Sultan, say," replied my friend, "but for us been a reaction against the liberal the problem is not to be solved in that ideas that prevailed during the years way."
following the Crimean war. Many "Do you mean to tell me," I asked good things can, with truth, be said of again, "that you would prefer to per- the reigning Sultan. He certainly de- ish, as an independent people, rather sires to secure justice and the welfare than owe your continued existence of all his subjects, but he is not a and your future prosperity, with what- liberal man, as we use the term. He ever that would necessarily imply of does not see that the traditions and European influence, to th,e aid of responsibilities of his House, with all Christian nations ?"
that these imply, constitute the load ,'Yes," he promptly answered,"that of lead which leaves him hopelessly is precisely what I-what all faithful weighted in the race with the rulers Mussulmans-mean."
of his age, even with the rulers of Can any true American fail to feel States which have been erected out of a thrill of responsive sympathy with what was just now his own domin- the patriotism, the devotion to ances- ions. If he would but cultivate a tral faith, which underlies that an- relation of real friendship toward swer? And does not such a spirit fur- Christian and especially Protestant nish a new incentive to bring the bless- and English-speaking' nations, the ings of our own civilization within Ottoman State might yet justify its the reach of every race in western place on' the arena of material, com- Asia-not to impatiently force a Chris- mercial, and even of intellectual and tianity, weighted with the gravest e),- moral progress, in western Asia. rors of teaching and of example, upon One chief reason why the Ottoman Moslem races, but, watchfully keep- Turks have been so greatly misunder- ing step with the unfoldings of God's stood and maligned is that we, of the providence, to exhibit before Moslem 'Vest, in defiance of a wise maxim, eyes, at all points, the winning graces none too often quoted, have never of truly Christian example?
taken the pains to see and consider We should never forget that when the Turkish problem from the stand- Islam rose, in the first half of the sev- point of the Turks themselves. Less enth century, it was confronted by, vituperation and wholesale, and really and was a protest against, some of the unjust, condemnation, and more con- most corrupt forms of Christian doc- siderateness would greatly benefit trine and worship, some of the worst every party in interest. caricatures of Christian living, in Some time since, in conversation Arabia and northern Africa, that the with an enlightened Turkish official, world has ever seen.
on the Bosphorus, I criticised the un- Those reckless raids from Europe wisdom of his government in deliber- into Asia, called, in bitter irony, "holy ately keeping foreign capital from en- wars," in the eleventh and following tering Turkey, to construct railroads centuries, violently repelled Moham- and develop her mineral resources. medans from Christianity. How could "But," he replied, "if foreign capital they do otherwise? The expulsion of be welcomed the interference of the Moors from Spain, early in the foreign powers must be accepted sixteenth century, under the greatly too." over-praised Queen Isabella-is any "What harm can it do to govern- 'right or justice discoverable in that ment or people," I asked, "to receive movement on the Christian side, ex- ,eept the right of might? The author worldly men; examples-that is, more read, some years ago, in Turkish, cer- . than 10,000 members of evangelical tain trenchant articles of historic cri- churches in Asia Minor now–of his- ticism, from the pen of an enlightened fellow country~en who are true, liv- and acute Turk, which presented a ing disciples of their master. Evan- long array of facts from the history of gelical worship attracts, it does not Christian Europe, in a fashion not repel the Moslem. Protestant Chris- likely to win Moslem minds to an ac- tian doctrine does not, like the bald eeptance of Christianity. "orthodoxy" of the Eastern Church, And not only in the earlier years, set his reason continually at defiance.
but all down through the later centu- We must not, however, suppose that l"ies, in all western Asia, the Moslem, the Turks officially recognize the right with his clear-cut doctrine of God, or contemplate the contingency of and his sharp recoil from every sem- Mohammedans becoming Christians.
blance of idolatry in worship, with his To this degree, religious liberty is not sobriety and his generous hospitality, yet a fact. Still, in the face of dif- has pointed, with a certain contempt, ficulty and opposition, scarcely con- to the Christians around him, as less ceivable by us, some Mohammedans sober, less truthful, less hospitable, have become Christians, have lived less manly than himself, with a form and died as shining examples of Chris- of religious worship redolent of idola- tian confessors as the early ages ex- try, while his own is simple and pure, hibited. To-day there is, in a town even if it be exposed to the charge of of Asia Minor, a young Turkishwoman lifeless formality. who witnesses a good confession in the We do not say the Moslems' charge house where she was born, enduring against Christil¥lity and Christians is repeated beatings and living down cal- true. Clearly it is not true, but it is umny by Christian gentleness-who not strange the charge is made. The told her Christian sisters, only in ans- vitality and the vigor of the. Christian wer to their inquiry one day in meet- races, their better morality, their men- ing, why her arm was in a sling, that tal and moral elasticity under centu- her brother's last beating broke it.
ries of oppression, is one of the marvels Once, in conversation with one ~f of God's government of Asia. Why the most liberal and best educated do the Christian races remain in kindly Turks of the present age, a man who neighborhood to the Moslem races, has, at one time or another, filled all through western Asia, but to be to nearly all the highest offices of the them in the coming years, the means ~tate, I referred to a well-known of the largest blessing? And who are case of religious persecution that had to be theagents, and what theagencies, recently occurred. He drew me up for which those races have silently sharp on the expression, "religious and sullenly waited for so many gen- persecution," and said, "No religious ,erations? persecution is possible under our Gov- m.-OUR GRAND OPPORTUNITY. ernment. A man's faith is his own, It was, in God's providence, com- between himself and God only, and mitted to American Christians, to re- Government cannot interfere with it."
~stablish vital Christianity in the land "What, then, shall we call the ~f its origin. Call it duty, call it high case?" I asked.
privilege, thEl responsibility, the un- "Why," he replied, "it is perfectly "dertaking, is ours, to put the Bible into plain. The man renounced his ances- Moslem hands and then set before his tral, the national, faith, in which he ~yes living examples of a true and a owes duties to the State. All right, so pure Christianity by which alone the far. But he has publicly avowed his Bible is illustrated to the conviction of renunciation, and declared himself a Christian. In so doing he has com- we that we should withstand God!" mitted a civil offence, and it is, for this The Church of Christ sends out her alone, that he is arrested and pnt un- challenge, "You can do nothi-.g der discipline." against the Truth but for the Truth !"
That is, being a Christian is all right Nearly sixty years ago the Turkish for a born Moslem, if only he will never Government demanded that those say he is above a whisper. pioneer missionaries, Goodell, Schauf- fler and Dwight, be sent out of the In the meantime, as the years have country. Our ambassador, Commo- passed, the Christian races have reo dorePorter, communicated the order. sponded, more and more widely, to evangelical influence. It has pene- "Do you order us to go ?" they asked: traLed all parts of the country. Ameri- "No, I only notify you of the de- can Christian philanthropy has, mand of the Government, and of my through the several departments of inability to protect you," the work, planted the Christian home, "Then we notify you that we de- the evangelical church, developed cide to stay," they replied. Christian education, created through Political events, which shook the the press a periodical and permanent throne and resulted in the destruction Christian literature in the several lan- of the Janizaries and the introductiou guages, begun to establish Christian of European forms of law, hastened philanthropic institutions, and every- on and the missionaries were forgot- where fostered, together with loyalty ten. During all that crisis, and up till to the' existing Government, ideas of the close of the Crimean war, the freedom and of justice. American cit- leading mind, the most imperial presizens have established institutions, an ence at the Turkish capital, was that extensive Bible-house, churches, high- Christian Statesman, Lord Stratford' schools, colleges and seminaries. They de Redcliffe, of England. have acquired property in a hundred As evangelical influence extended different places all over the country. among Armenians, Greeks and Syri- These business interests have become ans, the persecuted Protestants found the care of our Government through aid and comfort from the Turks, as its-official representatives. The power the Jews who rebuilt the temple found of the United States flag is second to aid and protection from Cyrus. none. The Turks have no reason for Twenty years ago, in the Koordislt jealousy of the great republic across mountains, above the city of Mosul, a the sea. Illiberal men, in the govern- young Arab Koord, a born Moslem. ment and out of it, are jealous of was dipping deep into Mohammedan evangelical progress, and wish it had lore, at the feet of a famous teacher, not gained so strong a foothold in the his total wardrobe, a shirt; his food, land. But many Turks see that ,they the coarse bread of the tribe; his bed, also may profit by those ideas that the ground. He committed the Koran Protestant Christianity everywhere to memory, he acquired a most involves and develops, viz: The su- thorough knowledge of' Arabic, of premacy of truth and justice, the in- Moslem law, tradition, history, sciviolability of the individual consci- ence, and interpretation. He found" ence, and individual and social edu- one day, the binding of an Arabic cation and elevation. Bible which had been destroyed. Afterwards, when a teacher at Mozul, IV.-DIVINE INTERPOSITIONS. he sought, found, bought a Bible in Arabic, read and studied it, was in- The modern history of western Asia structed in it by Deacon Michah, as is a history of divine interpositions, Apollos by Aquilla, accepted Christi- These have been so accentuated, that anity as true, accepted Christ as his. men of the world, however highplaced, may well exclaim, "Who are Slaviour, was obliged to flee his part come, found him interested in anti- of the country, came to the Bible trans- quities, of which there are specially lators'room,in the.Constantinople Bible fine relics near where he had lived.
House, and aided in giving the Bible to In fine, we made ourselves as agree- the Ottoman race, a special aid very able as we knew how, not forgetting few men living could have given; to give His Excellency a cordial invi- found of God, led of God, and taken tation to visit our college and other home-to God when,the work was done. schools. "I was just about to mount Permission was asked to print the my horse to do that wnen you called,"
Biblein the Osmanly, and was refused. he said. "Ah, indeed," we replied, After long months of argument, of "then, our call and invitation are propositions and counter-propositions, quite opportune!" They were indeed.
the Board of Censors unwittingly did Thus forewarned, all was in readi- the greatest possible service to the ness at the college to receive the Gov- spread of God's Word, by condition- ernor with all respect. We showed ing the permission on the placing of him all through the buildings; he ex- the statement of the fact of Govern- amined classes, asked to see our text- ment permission on the title-page of books. Among our books he found every copy; and the time when the one of his own composition, and, nat- final version was launched was fixed urally, was not displeased with the by the Author of the Word Himself. It delicate compliment. He visited the was just as the last war closed, just as girls' boarding-school, enjoyed the the last sharp crisis of the Eastern choral singing, and, as he mounted question was attracting all eyes, that his horse at my door, he leaned over, God, by his Word, in the language of and said, "I have been greatly pleased all the people, sent forth His challenge with all I have seen; you may rely on to the Cabinets of Europe, set His wis- me for a report every way favorable.
dom face to face with their folly. And I wish we had such schools in every between that time and this, inquiry city."
concerning the Bible has become as And he meant what he said, as after common among TUl:ks, as before it echoes clearly showed. God's special was rare. They inquire from curiosity, guidance was conspicuous at every it may be, but many do buy and read point of this incident.
God's Word. V.-THE OPPORTUNITY MET.
Four years ago, just as Anatolia The evangelical centres in Turkey College was organized under that now number more than 300. These name, a demand was made through are the centres of influence, extending the local government that we procure from the extreme western border to· from the central government at Con- the farthest east, and from the Black stantinople a formal recognition of Sea to the Arabian desert. The in- our college. Meantime, one morning fluence of the evangelical press is the we learned that the Governor-General leading influence in the department of had come to town over night. We literature. The newly established, hastened to call upon His Excellency, and rapidly growing girls' boarding and invite him to visit our schools- schools, have already revolutionized all the difference in the world from the country in respect of female ectu- which side the invitation comes. In cation.
the court-yard of the house where the But there, as everywhere, the col- governor was entertained were horses, lege is the leader; and Robert College saddled and ready for mounting. We on the Bosphorns, and Syria Protest- were received in audience, praised the ant College at Beirout, and Euphra- public-spirit he had shown in the tes College at Harpoot, and Central province from which he had recently Turkey College at Aintab; and now. the last four years, Anatolia College at guiding all in the interest of His Jllarsovan, in the heart of Anatolia- church, is, by our hands, re-estab- these are the challenges of Christian lishing His Kingdom in the lands of America to the darkness of Asia. Its origin.
Once the comparative importance of The work will not stop for discus- educational and evangelistic agencies sion and criticism. The army of God was a subject of animated discussion will march right onward, and with in missions and missionary societies, accelerated step; and the legacy we .and among the churches of this coun- will commit to those who come after try and of Great Britain. This dis- us will be to hand on our Lord's com- -cussion is a thing of the past. Edu- mission, "Go, make disciples of all the cational work, as represented and led nations," and the testimony and as- by Christian colleges–colleges in- surance we will offer to the diffident tensely Christian and Biblical-is shall be, that the Master ever fulfills His promise to be with His chosen, pressed, and to be pressed to the ut- amid all toil and conflict. Great will most possible-that is, just as far as be the multitude, who, with no alloy resource.9 can be obtained with which of sin, will chant the Hallelujahs of to carry on the work. On this all are the heavenly choir. . agreed. There is no consensus of The Brussels Anti-Slavery Oonference. those interested in the evangelization -of the world which is more perfect; The Christian world has occasion to .and the economy of administration of rejoice in the late Brussels Conference these institutions may be shown by the of signatory Congo powers, and to statement that the actual sum used to carefully study its proceedings. Per- run Anatolia College is one per cent. haps it is not too late-it is rather ·of the cost of running Yale or Cornell doubtful if it may not be too early-to University. The American Christian pass in review what it did. College-these three words are used .advisedly-The American Christian King Leopold of Belgium was the college is the hope and light of Asia. official source of the Convention; but This institution, with its Biblical in- delegates from Great Britain, Austriastruction, with its thorough culture, Hungary, Belgiuin, Congo Free State, with its pervasive Christian spirit, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, with its development of manly, self- Italy, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Spain, reliant Christian character; this in- Sweden and Norway, Turkey, the stitution, in which the preachers and United States and Zanzibar, were the teachers are prepared for their present. work, in which men of affairs are trained for the responsibilities that are The object of the Conference was coming upon them in all eastern lands plainly as possible stated in the circuin this fl.nd the next generation: this lar of invitation issued by Leopold, American Christian college is the which was "the necessity of effectively pledge of a Christian home, of a per- preventing the slave-trade in the inmanent and self-propagating church, terior of Africa, the capture of slaves of all true progress and harmony of destined for sale, and their transport races, of the gradual realization of by sea, which can Qnly be stopped by free and just government in those the organized display of force greater lands of Asia, for ages and centuries than that at the disposal of those who oppressed and groping amid the dark- take part " in the traffic. ness which has enveloped them. This was not the first Convention of Seen or unseen by our eyes, God, the great Powers held to consider the by His Word in every language, by main question. What is known as the Christian example, by education, Berlin General Act had already pro- vided that "All the Powers exercising rights of sovereignty, or any influence 6, ThQ Liquor traffic. 7, General Proin the territories in question,undertake visions, and 8, The Custom's regulato watch over the preservation of the tions of the Congo Valley. native races, and the improvement of their moral and material conditions THE SLAVE TRAFFIC. of existence, and to co-operate in the suppression of Slavery, and especially 1. The maritime trade in slaves was in the negro traffic; they will protect first considered as the part where and favor, without distinction of na- united action could be made most ef-· tionalities or worship, all religious fective if agreement could be come to. The sensitive point here was on the· scientific or charitable institutions and "right of search," whether on the high seas, or in territorial waters, over all undertakings, created and organized sailing vessels,under any Hag, suspect-· ed of being engaged in the slave-trade. for this object or tending to instruct France was specially sensitive on this· point. She, after a month, suggested the natives and make them under- a series of new measures for the pre- vention of the abuse of the French stand and appreciate the advantages Hag, and for checking the crew and passenger-lists at places of departure, of civilization." call and destination. The British government proposed a compromise, It had been fUrther provided that, subjecting only vessels of 500 tons, and under, to the right of supervision and "In accordance with the principles of detention on the high seas, which was agreed to, unless slavers of over 500 the law of nations as recognized by tons shall hereafter be discovered.
the signatory Powers, the slave-trade 2. The suppression of the foreign market was also a delicate and difficult being forbidden, and the operation part of the general question. It is the existence of slavery in foreign counwhich on land and on sea furnish tries which keeps alive the maritime traffic. Abolish that in countries outslaves for the traffic also being consid- side of Africa and the motive for the slave traffic on the high seas is extinered as forbidden, the Powers which guished. The eastern market for exercise, or shall exercise, rights of slaves must be broken down, as a part sovereignty or any influence in the of the general plan to destroy the territories forming the conventional African traffic in slaves. basin of the Congo, declare that these territories cannot serve either as a It is readily seen that this touched market or as a means of transit of most delicate lines of diplomatic slaves, of whatsoever race they may courtesy. Had Turkey been invited be. Each of these Powers undertakes to this general council, to learn that to employ all the means in its power the combined European Powers would to put an end to this traffic and to interfere here and thus with her terpunish those who take part in it." ritorial authority ? Was anyone of these Powers to find in this Congress a It was, however, recognized that dictator domineering its independence as a State? This was, indeed, a delithese most excellent provisions and cate matter. The Conference could do no less, however, than deprecate the understandings were too inoperative, influence of such domestic slavery, and it thus brought the force of Euroand the British House of Commons, in pean public opinion to bear directly March 1889, said so. In August of that year the Queen of Great Britain said in her speech that the King of Belgium had consented to call the Conference of which we now write, and it convened in Brussels November 18,1889.
The three great topics which it traversed were the slave-traffic and the means to suppress it, the importa- tion of fire-arms and the liquor traffic.
The chapters of the work as completed deal with-1, Places of capture of Slaves. 2, The Caravan routes. 3, The Maritime traffic in slaves. 4, The Countries of destination. 5, Institu- tions created for the purpose of insur- ing the execution of the general act.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
()n Turkey and Persia in the matter l.-The territory to be regulated ()f slavery in those lands. The rash- in the matter of fire-arms extends n€ss of this influence is manifest. through 42 degrees of latitude (from 20 degrees north to 22 degrees south), An effort was made to provide for from coast to coast, and a hundred the regulations of caravans for the miles seaward. prevention of slave-trading expeditions. It was sought to exact security 2.-The principle of prohibition is from the chiefs and organizers of laid down, with exceptions. The ~aravans, and for the examination of arms are to be deposited in Govern- ~aravans at their places of destination ment warehouses and taken out only inland, as well as on the coast. No se- on permission, and are not to include curity from caravan organizers, how- the most improved weapons. €ver, was feasible, as these caravans seldom return to their starting points THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. with the same elements. They are renewed from place to place among the If the rights of humanity are to be tribes they pass, remain long at the conciliated with the interests of trade, ~entre, and return to the coast at dif- so far as such interests are legitimate, ferent points. The security, how- as the Conference proposed to attempt, ever, it was agreed, is to be demanded the liquor question had to be dealt ()f those who had already been con- with. The Conference distinguished demned for slave-trade.offenses. between regions where no traffic in liquors had begun and those where it FIRE-ARMS. already existed. For the first of these, the British delegates proposed absolute But slavery was only one feature of prohibition, and for the second, a the great task to which the Powers heavy duty on the importation of had pledged themselves to each other, liquor. The Conference agreed to the when they undertook "to watch over prohibition in the cage of races with the preservation of the native races, whom at present no trade exists; but and the improvement of their moral it was not so easy to reach a concluand material conditions." sion on the other cases. The powers had themselves agreed to Free Trade in From 80,000 to 100,000 muskets and the Congo Basin; how could they then rifles, mainly the disused arms of Eu- now agree to a duty on liquor in that ropean standing armies, are imported districr, and yet, how could they keep annually into Zanzibar alone, and this great channel into the interior of these fire-arms are bartered to Arab Africa from becoming contaminated traders for ivory and other inland with the liquor traffic, unless they products. If the negro is to be pro- prohibited or restricted by the impotected from the slave hunter this slave sition of a duty? The races of the hunter must be disarmed. That was second class, or those among whom a the argument. But there are great traffic in liquors is already established, trade interests which require arms it was agreed that there should be al!l for their conduct and defence. France impost of l~d. or 3 cents per quart, here, was zealous for total prohibition this duty to be subject to advance at throughout Africa. Others would the expiration of three years. limit the territory. Two things seem to have been decided upon: V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY SECRETARY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
Brazil. to a republican form of government The year 1890 is the most eventful without bloodshed, renders it proper of all years in Brazilian history. The that the November concert of prayer fact that an empire has given place for Brazil should be largely an occasion for thanksgiving. Civil liberty is fol- standpoint. Whoever will examine lowed as it always has been by liberty our constitution will there read that ()f conscience. There is now perfect the Apostolic Roman Catholic religion ~ualityofreligious privileges among is the religion of the State; that the Emperor, Senators, Deputies, and all all sects. the public officers, are obliged by pub- The following outline of the pro- lic and solemn oath to maintain and defend it, and that the criminal code clamation of religious freedom issued establishes punishments for any of- after the establishment of repub- fence against it.
lican order will show how completely " A people that, by its fundamental the new authorities have overthrown law, gives special privileges to Roman the assumptions of the Papacy. Catholicism, and seeks by oath to "The text of a decree of the Provisional . guarantee it; that requires its profes- Government of the United States of Brazil of .January 7, 1890, states in substance: sion as a condition of holding office; 1. That Federal and State authorities alike that considers penal all offences against it, ought to be regarded as profoundly religious, eminently Cathare prohibited to expedite laws, regulations, olic. But an observer, looking only or administrative acts establishingor prohibit- at our political Constitution and penal ing any religion, or to create distinctions code, would infer that Brazil is a dis- between inhabitantsof that country on account sonant chord in the infernal chorus of ofreligious and philosophicbeliefsor opinions. imprecations against the Catholic 2. That all religious denominations have Church.
equal rights ~o liberty of worship, and to gov- "But," continues the writer, "let .em themselves in accordance with their us look on the other side of the picture.
respective creeds without being constrained in Whoever reads the history Qf Brazil the acts, private or public, which pertain to in these latter times will learn that the the exercise of this right. Government destroyed, by an edict, 3. The liberty hereby instituted shall em- the religious orders, J?rohibiting the brace not only individuals in their personal receiving of any nOVItiates; that no .acts, but also churches, associations, and insti- country pays such insignificant sal- tutes in which they may be Joined; to all of aries to its church officials; that two which belongs the right to organize and main- bishops were shamefully imprisoned tain their corporate existence in conformity for observing faithfully the Pontifical with their creeds and policy, without the Bull; that the priests are hindered on interference of the Government. every hand in the fulfillment of their duties; that any act directed against 4. That patronage with all its Institutions the Church is applauded; that a .and prerogatives is hereby abolished. bishop, respected even in Protestant countries, here has not the privileges 5. That the legal capacity of churches and of the most humble citizen. As to religious denominations to acquire and admin- the churches, some are already fallister property is recoguized within the limit ing into ruin, while others are comof the laws concerning mortmain, securing pletely stripped of their parapherto each their possession of their present nalia." properties, as well as their houses of worship. The writer goes on to show that the Over against this full and complete guaranty of freedom, the following attitude of the press is no more favorquotation from a Brazilian Catholic paper of ten years ago will show what able to the Church than the Governthe ideal empire was supposed to be in those bygone days. It is a jere- ment. With the exception of five or miad uttered by a bigoted Catholic editor over the inroads which had al- six Catholic papers in the whole em- Ieady been made upon the old regime • f intolerance and oppression, even pire (there is the difficulty) the press under the mild and progressive sceptre of Dom Pedro II. of the country is either indifferent or . "What is the religion of the Brazilian people?" says the writer. openly hostile to the Apostolic Roman " At present, this country (Brazil) is Catholic Church• in an abnormal and contradictory Yet, bad as the case seems for the Catholic, the writer spurns the idea that Brazil is, or is to be, a Protestant country. "Here and there a Protest- ant Church, frequented by a few dozen souls, is all that we see of Pro- position, viewed from a religious testantism. It is clear that with such a state of affairs soon there will be no ernment. This fact doubtless pre- religion at all in Brazil." vented Brazil from becoming a repub- Well, the evil has not mended, as lic during that series of revolutions in seen from the writer's standpoint, and the Spanish States of Central and to an enlightened American reader it South America which followed as a seems that just such specimens of result of Napoleon's usurpation of narrow bigotry as this must have power in th(l Spanish Peninsula.
been the very means of bringing about The home revolution, which oc- the fulfillment of all dark prophe- curred in Portugal in 1820, led the cyings. people of Brazil to demand a govern- More than-was predicted has been ment quite distinct from that of the fulfilled. Doubtless, it is in the mother country, and in 1822 it was power of the priesthood to obstruct declared an independent sovereignty, the extension of Protestant freedom under the heir-apparent, Dom Pedro L and enlightenment to a greater or less A year later the Portuguese court em- extent, but the civil authorities are on barked for Portugal, no more to re- the side of equality, the press willcast turn, and in 1825 Dom John formally its influence in the same direction, abdicated in favor of Dom Pedro I., and the whole spirit and drift of the and the independence of Brazil was age are against the hierarchical as- acknowledged by Portugal.
sumptions which have so long cursed In 1831, Dom Pedro I., alarmed by the country. another movement toward republi- Now that Brazil has joined the large canism, as he thought, abdicated in group of American republics, with favor of his son, Dom Pedro IL, then all the religious freedom enjoyed by five years old, and embarked for the most highly favored, a glance at Europe. Some injudicious republican its eventful history will be in place. agitations which occurred during the The country was discovered in 1499 regency prepared the country for an- by the Spaniard, Vincent Yonez Pin- other trial of monarchy, and on the con, though it was first settled by the 23d of July, 1840, Dom Pedro II. was Portuguese under Alvarez Cabral in proclaimed emperor.
1500. Other small Portuguese settle- This remarkable man, thus pro- ments were made between 1500 and claimed the sovereign of a vast empire 1550. of 3,288,000 square miles, or nearly as Rio de Janeiro was settled in 1558 large as Europe, doubtless owed his by the French as an asylum and a long reIgn to the enlightened and mission field for the Huguenots. By liberal policy which he was wise the adverse influences of shipwreck enough to adopt.
and the treachery of Villegagnon, the While the Spanish-American repub- leader of the colony, it was utterly lics were tossed with political convul- broken up, and Protestantism, as well sions, Mexico alone having experienced as French influence, was swept out of over fifty between the years 1821 and the country. 1867, Brazil, with quite as much real Brazil came under the power of political freedom as they, held on her Spain in 1578 by the assumption of peaceful way. Dom Pedro became em.
the crown of Portugal, but was re- peror at the age of fourteen, and con.
stored in 1648 on the accession of the tinued to reign for nearly fifty years.
Braganzas to the Portuguese throne. Few sovereigns have been able to In 1807, upon the invasion of Portu- maintain a sceptre so long in the gal by Napoleon's army, King Dom midst of a mercurial people, and sur· John VI., appointing a regent at Lis- rounded on every side by nations with bon, fled to Brazil and established which revolution seemed to be the- there the seat of the Portuguese Gov- normal condition of political existence._ But in late years the more advanced priesthood has so long been associated of the Spanish republics have attained with habits of profligacy and vice. and to greater stability; the increase of the hollow sham of mere official sancwealth, and the multiplication of tity, that the intelligent classes have manufacturing and commercial il;l- become infidel, while every form of vestments have rendered the ruling error-8piritualism, Theosophy, Nihilclasses more conservative, and their ism, and even Mohammedanismrapid and prosperous development have been imported; and a paralysis has spurred the aspirations of Bra- of general indifference has settled upzilians for complete freedom. At the on the country. same time, the gloomy outlook. of a possible reaction toward It tyranni- Yet, there are not wanting many incal absolutism under the probable stances of encouragement, especially successors to Dom Pedro's throne, led in the country districts, where the in- Brazilian statesmen to the conclusion fluence of foreign contact has been that the opportune moment had al- little felt. In the last reports of the ready come for a Republic. Brazilian Mission of the Presbyterian Board (North). there is evidence that The world was, therefore, suddenly the most fruitful source of results is startled by a peaceful revolution, the native ministry. The chief inwhich had been precipitated in the gatherings of converts into the quiet evening of Dom Pedro's reign. churches during the last year were in rather than wait for the dubious congregations ministered to by native morning of a bigoted and impracti- pastors. And the argument thus furcable sovereignty in the hands of his nished for the education of young nafanatical daughter. tives for this important field is strong and significant. Thus, under the pressure of an irrepressible longing for liberty, on the The Northern Presbyterian Mission part of the people, there have been reports at the close of 1889, 9 churches three notable embarkations of royalty and 5 ordained missionaries, -8 nativQ for Europe. First, in 1825, when Dom preachers and 22 teachers. The num- John VI. acknowledged the indepen- ber of communicants is 1,009-153, or dence of the Brazilian Monarchy under about 11 per cent., having been added his son, Dom Pedro 1. Second, in 1831, during the year. when Dom Pedro I., alarmed at the appearance of republican tendencies, The great educational centre of this abdicated in favor of his five-year old mission is at Sao Paulo, where 395 puson, Dom Pedro II., and, with what pils of all grades are under instruction. seems a cowardly desertion, left him Under the efficient management of alone and returned to Europe. And, Dr. Lane and his associates a noble last of all, when Dom Pedro, nearly work has been accomplished during 60 years later, was obliged to renounce the year. Dr. Chamberlain, who has a sceptre which he had swayed with labored in connection with the Sao rare moderation for half a century, Paulo institution for many years, is and sail away an exile to the land of now in this country raising funds his fathers, to find there so soon a to endow it as a college for the traingrave for his empress as well as for ing of native ministers and teachers. his life-long hopes. The success gained by the few native pastors during the year is too instruc- Brazil enjoys now perfect freedom tive to need enforcement. of opinion, but it is rather late to reap the harvest which might have been A NATIVE MINISTRY. gained years ago. Other things being equal, a native The cause of religion has so long preacher familiar with the idiom of suffered discredit, the idea of the his mother-tongue, and at one with the people in all his habits of thought, can reach his countrymen far more ons mission in the Argentine republic, effectively than a foreigner. Besides, at with five ordained missionaries and least three natives can be supported as 15 native preachers. Eight stations cheaplyas one missionary. If we add are occupied,.of which Buenos Ayres to this, the fact shown in the Brazilian is the chief. I reports, that four-fifths of the con- In Uruguay there is but 1 ordained verts have been won in the out-stations missionary, but 8 native preachers are under native preachprs, we have a at work; 7 stations are occupied, the pretty strong argument for the educa- largest of which is Montevideo.
tion of more Brazilians and for the Paraguay, Brazil and Peru are also building up of a strong and efficient occupied by the Methodist Episcopal college and theological seminary. Church, each with OIie station. In While at Sao Paulo a given number all these South American missions, a of men shall be trained for the first total membership of 882 is reported, rank of preachers and leaders, it is also 688 probationers. The total num- felt that an institution of a different ber of adherents is reported at 8,935.
grade and, perhaps, having something The missions are apparently charac- of the industrial element, should be terized by remarkable vigor, and all opened for the practical preparation friends of the cause will rejoice that of a clsss of men of lower grade of an influence so directly opposite to the scholarship to be employed in evangel- droning and stagnation of the Rom- istic work in the interior districts. ish church for nearly three centuries Probably this diversity of education past is now awakening these south- should be observed in all the South ern races.
American republics. The enterprise with which the mis- The old order of things is every- sions are carried on is shown by the where passing away. The days when fact that the mission reports $222,290 ignorance was the safe cover for in church property-viz: in churches, religious oppression have gone. Under $190,290, and in parsonages and or- the new impulse imparted by republi- phanages, $32,800, can institutions, schools and colleges The contributions reported in the will be multiplied by Government, and missions in 1889-90 are reported at they will be indifferent in religion ex- $11,205 for self-support, and $13,666 cept so far as they are infidel. for other purposes-a total of $24,871.
The Roman Catholic Church, by a Of conversions 89 were reported, and radical and politic change, will either 335 baptisms of infants. These vigor- compete on the ground, or will im_ ous missions are represented by only port well educated 'priests from Eu- 6 ordained missionaries. " . rope, and Protestantism must not be THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH open to contempt as the repreSenta- (SOUTH).
tive of an ignorant ministry. Some Missions in Brazil begun in 1875. The men must be well prepared, others first Conference was held in 1887, at must not be out of relation and sym- Sao Paulo. There are 7 local preach- pathy with the rural masses-all ers, and 288 church members. Eleven should be filled with a devoted.spirit. Sunday-schools with 33 teachers OTHER SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONS. and 339 pupils are reported. Three Of the flourishing mission of the church buildings at Rio, Piracicaba Southern Presbyterian Church in Bra- and Juiz de Fora are valued at $52,938.
zil and the missions of the Northern Contributions dur-ing the year amount- Presbyterian Church in U.S. Columbia ed to $2,221. Bishop Granberry's re- and Chili, there is not space to write port credits the Woman's Missionary in the present article. The Methodist Society for all the educational insti- Episcopal Church (North) has a vigor- tutions of the mission, viz•• 2 colleges,
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
with'4 missionary teachers, and 13 as- the inhospitable shores of Terra del sistants and 143 pupils. Fuego, grew the South American Mission. His heroism roused all the MORAVIAN MISSION IN SURINAM, DUTCH best manhood, as well as the most de- voted Christian sentimentof England. GUIANA. It was resolved that, by the grace of God, so noble an attempt should not In this interesting Mission 17 sta- fail. It was another of the many in- tions are reported with 71 "mission- stances in which sacrifice and death ary agents," and 377 native helpers. have brought forth more abundant The communicants are 8,313, baptized fruit than a long and laborious life adults, 7,408; baptized children, 8,901; could have accomplished. By the re- candidates, new people, etc., 1,640. port of 1888, the South American S0- Total, 26,262. The missions carried on ciety received contributions, amount- by all Protestant societies in the three ing, with legacies, to $70,000. They Guianas are all attended by peculiar came generally in the form of indivi- hardships. These hot and malarious dual gifts. and from every land in countries have been settled from time which Englishmen wide. to time by the captives rescued from slave-ships. In fact, they were, in It will be remembered that the the early days, regarded as rendezvous late Charles Darwin, after actually for all refuse and castaway classes of seeing the work done in Terra ael humanity, and the population consists Fuego, became a supporter of the S0- -of colonies of English, Dutch, French, ciety. and Spanish, with every cross and grade, with bush-~egroes (the larger The work takes on a wide variety. -class), Indians and Asiatic Coolies. It is directed largely to the Indians in Terra del Fuego, Patagonia, and Para- The susceptible and half-savage guay, but also to chaplaincies in the bush-Negro, on the banks of the low ports and for the seamen of all nations. .and marshy rivers, affords the hope- It embraces the Falkland Islands, ful, because fruitful, field of labor for Terra del Fuego, Wollaston Islands, 1he self-denying Moravian. the Argentine Republic, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Chili. Of almost equal interest with the mission in Surinam, is that of the Mo- The Earl of Aberdeen is its presiravians on the Mosquitoe Coast. It dent, and many eminent names of reports 12 missionaries, and 490 com- England, both clerical and lay, are municants. among its vice-presidents. It has 1 field superintendent, 29 clergymen, THE SOUTH AMERICAN MISSION. and 5 native helpers.
The romance of missions will not' The annual reports of the society, esdie out till the name of Allen Gardner pecially those relating to work among shall' be fotgotten. Out of the melan- the Indians, are deeply interesting. choly circumstance of his death with that of six associates, from starvation, while trying to found a mission on VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
.Important Official Documents From from Downing Street, London, under Sierra Leone, West Africa. date of August 28, 1890. We have not space to give the documents entire, The Editors of this REVIEW have but quote the main facts which conbeen both surprised and shocked to cern the Christian public, and espereceive a copy of sundry official com- cially all the friends of missions. One munications "relating to some Ameri- of these documents is from Dr. Ross, ('an missionaries who have latelyar- Colonial Surgeon at Freetown, and rived" at Freetown, specially directed another from Sir J. G. Hay, Governor to us by order of Lord Kuntsford of Sierra Leone, transmitting Dr. Furthermore Dr. Ross states that he understands these "missionaries. Ross's lengthy report to Lord Kunts- intend going due east into the interior, guided only by a compass;" that they ford, of the home Government, Lon- have been "living as the natives, in the hope that by so doing they will don, and one from him through his sec- gain the confidence of the people;" that they "have been eating native· retary, transmitting the whole corres- food, cooking and washing for them- selves and even collecting their own pondence to the editors of the MISSION- fuel, in this rainy weather." Of course· that they should expose themselves to ARY REVIEW, calling special attention fatal fever and should actually court death by such manner of proceeding to their contents, and "to a notice, is not strange.
headed the 'Soudan Missionary Move- Such is the purport of the commu- ment,' which appeared at page 555, of nications referred to; and the Editors of this REVIEW feel compelled to say the REVIEW for July, 1890." in this connection, that up to this time These documents inform us that sun- they had never had the least intima- dry "American missionaries .have lately arrived at Freetown with a tion that this "Soudan Movement" view of proceeding due east into the was characterized by any such fanat- interior for evangelizing purposes;" that "three of their number have al- icism. We felt that, like other move- ready died," and that "the first inti- ments originating among well meali- mation Dr. Ross had of their being ill was by receipt of a letter ing but inexperienced persons who from Mr. Kingman, reporting that are young in years, it needed a head, two deaths had occurred in the 'Mis- wise counsel and sound discretion. sion House' that afternoon," (July 9th). Even now we see no reason to recall a.. "On Inquiry," continues Dr. Ross, "I gathered that no medical man had word of commendation of the singubeen asked to attend the deceased, the lar unselfishness and heroic consecrawhole party being staunch believers in the 'faith-healing' doctrine, nor had tion that appear to have marked these any medicine been taken." Further- pioneers, but we confess to being asmore Dr. Ross "remonstrated with tounded at the statementscontained in Mr. Helmick, another member of the this correspondence. Itis a sad affair, p~rty," but could not obtain from little less than wanton suicide. To him any satisfactory promise that they persist in such a policy would not would in future depart from the course they were adopting, nor did he only ruin this whole movement but' mention that there were any more inflict a lasting damage onall missionpersons suffering in the house. To ary enterprises and compel sensible prevent this. neglected tropical fever from assuming a virulent and con- people to wash their hands clean of tagious form, the bodies were at once buried by his order and the sanitary all abetting such supreme folly and policeman sent to disinfect the house, practical madness. Certainly the destroy all infected bedding, clothing, editors of the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF etc. On the 10th of July Mrs. King- THE WORLD, have not the slightest man was found in the last stages of exhaustion from neglected fever, sympathy with such disregard of all which had then assumed a malignant proper precautions, not to say defiance type, she having been ill nine days before; and in spite of all that could be of all sanitary and social laws. done Mrs. Kingman died on the even- From the inception of this moveing of the 11th.' "Mr. Kingman was ill also and visited by Dr. Ross, who ment we have said to these western strongly urged him to take medicine. Finding Mr. Trice ill, Dr. Ross re- brethren, "move slowly; gel compemoved him to the hospital, and at last tent medical advisers, and experienced prevailed on Mr. Kingman to be treated, on the ground that his "action explorers, .that you may not risk endangered the whole coummunity." health and life by needless exposure." Dr. Ross felt "compelled to keep the God not only gives a "spirit of power missionaries from going into any other house than their own, and stopped and of love, but of a 80und mind 1'" all communication with other white poeple." We repeat the advice. Call a halt! their own lives dear unto themselves, bui and let it be fully understood that no have obediently gone forth to proclaim the man or woman goes to Tropical Africa joyful Message. to throwaway life on a theory, and -endanger the lives of others by pro- "Our beloved friends believed that nothing moting infectious disease. was too precious for their Saviour, and have made the supreme offering of their lives, and, A. T. PIERSON. standing to-day, where we may again see the J. M. SHERWOOD. broken body of the Christ and hear His words 'As the Father hath sent Me, even so send I On receiving these communications you, ' we are confident that there are -many the Editors felt bound to transmit a who will gladly offer themselves and take the (lOPY to the brethern in Kansas, who place of these messengers who have been are more closely connected with this called home, and, by His grace, plant the ban- movement, expressing also our sorrow ner of the Cross in -darkest Africa. -and apprehension as to the disastrous effect of such a course as that pursued "Asking that continual prayermay be made in Africa, not only upon this, but all to our Lord so that indeed He may speedily other mission enterprises. We have a send His messengers to the uttermost parts of reply from Geo. S. Fisher, Esq., dis- the world, I am, claiming all responsibility for these peculiar views, and saying that these "In the hope of His coming, sincerely thine, pioneers had no such views when they "GEORGE S. FISHER." left the west, but on their way a certain well known advocate of " faith heal- The National Missionary Convention ing" in New York City got hold of them and infused into them his views which met at Indianapolis Septem- <If the subject. We mention this in ber 3d to 9th, inclusive, was, in some ·order to attach responsibility to those respects, a remarkable gathering; not -to whom it 'belongs; and that responsi- in point of numbers, for but a few hundred visitors were there, and resibility, in our judgment, is a very grave dents of _the town were largely kept out of the city by the excessive heat. <lne. But there were signs of the Holy In response to our inquiry, Mr. Spirit's presence and power. Mr. Robert E. Speer, traveling secretary Fisher sends us also the following more of the Students' Volunteer Movement, -cheerful news concerning the surviv- and GeorgeS. Fisher, Esq., of Kansas, as well as Augustus Nash, of Neors.-3. M. S. braska, and Rev. T. C. Horton, of St. Paul, were among the leading spirits. "Ourvery latest Information is to the effect that, Mr. Kingman and Mr. Trice, the colored After watching the Convention with man, have both recovered, and that the others a careful eye, and noting the addresses have had no sickness whatever. They are now made and the tone of general feeling, waiting until the arrangements can be ef- we were constrained to acknowledge :fected so that they can leave Freetown, cross that there were signs of a Higher the Kong Mountains, and enter upon their Hand than man's in the whole miswork, if the Lord will, and enter among the sionary movement of which this is one Mandingo tribes." expression.
Also the following, which we read The band of intending missionaries with many "falling tears:" that we found there, were nearly all young-under thirty years. Moved "The enclosed letter is sent out with some by the awful destitution of a hundred :faIling of tears, but with much peace of heart, millions who, in Africa, are utterly for none who are conversant with the history without the Gospel, they have felt of the spreading of the Gospel in the dark more needed there than here, and have lands, will be surprised orcast down by reason practically offered thelllseives to go ~f these words: abroad to the Regions Beyond-most of them to the Soudan, some to China "'Except a corn of wheat fall into the and other lands of the Orient. No ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it <iie, it bringeth forth much fruit.' This scripture has indeed been fulfilled many times in the history of the early church, among the lllartyrs, and those who have not counted doubt there is some zeal that needs to so that this snall be a gift to the be tempered with knowledge-no Lord's cause for His servants' use doubt a good deal of imprudence that when at home for a season to gather experience will correct and chasten. new strength for further toils. Dr. A.
There is excess of enthusiasm that J. Gordon, of Boston; D. L. Moody, should be restrained, and impulsive Esq., S. P. Harbison, of Pittsburgh; activity that must be wisely guarded. Dr. Munhall, and a few others, will But there seems to be also a passion for be asked to act as counsellors in the souls, a self-surrender to God's work, completion of the plan; and it is not a certain abandon of confidence in his designed to ask any help from a~yone Word and guidance, that we would but leave to those of ~he Lord's people gladly feel were more general in dis- who may feel so inclined to assist in ciples of more mature years. We rearing the cottages. The ground is· should say that not less than fifty already paid for, mostly by one indi- young men and women were present, vidual; and already unsolicited con- whose faces are set toward the deso- tributions have been made to the ex- late regions of the earth, and who are tent of $650. Any who are so disPosed only waiting for the door to open. may send contributions to the editors of There were present several of these this REVIEW and they will be promptly young men who have been traveling acknowledged. Ultimately, after the through the States, mainly o( the cottages are built, a report of the work West, presenting the needs of the per- will be printed and sent to the par- ishing millions, and urging consecra- ties contributing, with pictures of the tion of men and of money to supply houses erected. A. T. P.
their need of the Gospel. These "trav- A Remonstranoe that Should be Heard. elling secretaries" have gone like primitive disciples, carrying nothing "Pardon me, if I seem presump- in their purses, and their unanimous tuous, but do you think the' Presby- testimony was that they ~ave lacked terian Church is moving in the right nothing. Some who heard them wit- direction in its efforts to remove the ness, publicly confessed that, though heavy indebtedness of the two Boards? they had been prejudiced against the Does it not seem that a curse, rather movement, they felt constrained to than a blessing, will follow one form say this is the Finger of GOd. A. T. P. adopted, viz. : cutting down the meagre' salarie.s of our missionaries, and leav- The Home Rest for Missianaries at ing them with no escape from this. Northfield, Mass. iron rule? Is not this 'muzzling the ox which treadeth out the corn?' I By a strange fatality a part of our do not know when anything has so editorial note on this topic in our last burdened me as this mismanagem!'nt issue was left out. We said further on the part of the Assembly. Surely, that these 15 acres of land are to be some better plan could have been laid out in a sort of park, to be named adopted there. This is something like Livingstone Park, in honor of. David 'making bricks without straw.' Livingstone, and it is proposed to erect a few economical and conven- "In my own mind it is clear that ient cottages on these grounds, to be this great debt could have been made furnished rent free to returned mis- the means of rousing the Church to sionaries who are at home for rest and a sense of its responsibility as nothing recuperation. It is desired to have else could have done. It would have these cottages free to those who oc- called out a special day of preaching cupy them without reference to de- on the subject of missions-humili- 1'I.0mination; and to enlist various ation and prayer-aday of collections. benevolent people in their erection, for the debt alone, making at least two Sundays of the fifty-two to be de- voted to the great work of the church. The letters one reads from missiona- ries on the frontier a,re pitiful; and if the church does not hear will not God avenge II "Pardon me, but I feel I am only saying what many must feel. I do awakening in this country. His 00- not like to seem to criticise over-much, dresSB evinced considerable familiarity but it makes me sick at heart to be at with the present situation of things in ease in our luxurious churches and India, and appreciation of the diffi- notice the indifference, the want of culty and importance of the mUwion reference to this, the most, crying evil he had undertaken. I have known; for it is from thosepoor missionaries that part of the money Among other things he said: already collected (?) is wrested–not voluntary offerings, but oppressive "There are 5,000,000 Hindus, young men, taxation, in a sense. " who speak English. We aregoing to reach them. They have never been evangelized. Oc- The above letter is from one -of the casionallya lecturer like the Rev. Joseph Cook largest and best known givers in the will drop in among them; but he is gone in a denomination, and we publish it, first, week. What they want is preaching every because such a munificent giver has a day for six months. All has been touch and right to be heard; and again, because go sofar. We go to preach and not to prove the this church and other denominations Gospel. Disabuse your minds of one thought. ought to know how their principal We don't propose to convert India. Weonly benefactors look on such a mistaken policy as retrenchment; -and thirdly, intend to do our share. It we come back because we feel in absolute accord with these sentiments. God will never without having made any visible impression, bless any policy which is practically we won't feel disappointed. Fifty blows may robbery both of Him and His poor be necessary before the rock of heathenism is and faithful servants, It cannot be split. We hope to strike one of those blows. our duty to do wrong, and we believe The Hindus say that as the English go to this course, whenever and wherever India they drop their religion in the Red Sea, adopted, is dishonoring to both the hoping to lind it there as they go back. The church and to God. There must be people of India are profoundly religious in some way of meeting a crisis like this their way. They look on our missionaries as beside doing an' aditional wrong. being merely men who are hired to conquer This policy reminds us of the man who their religion with our own, just as they were borrowed money to pay a debt! and politically conquered by the English. They the fact that at this time of the judge our religion not by our missionaries but world's history a great denomination by the English people among them, sevencan Bound the cry, Retrench! while tenths of whom are there to trade and not to every call of God says Advance! is it- set a religious example. Belf a melancholy sign of the times. We know one city where a craze for "We will go first to Calcutta., where we will expensive church-buildings has led to open an evangelistic mission and begin on the the abandonment of large and com- English themselves. From them-having by modious edifices for others that cost the help of God brought them to a condition enough more than the old to pay thill where they can exemplify and reflect the debt by the excess on each building. Gospel-we will proceed to evangelize the Eng, lish-speaking Hindus. After them, Provi- EDITORS. dence permitting, we will evangelize the half- breeds. We hope to make a break among the Dr. Pentecost's Farewell Words. high castes. Don't think we are pl"oud be- cause we are going to work among the high We were present at the farewell castes. We have chosen them because nQ service in Dr. Meredith's church in work of evangelization has ever been done Brooklyn, of which he was formerly among them. Finally, we are doing this work pastor. He gave an outline of his strictly at our own expense. If anybody feels plan of evangelistic work in India. He moved to chip in and help us pay our current is sanguine that a great break in expenses, all right. But we are not begging. heathenism will begin there, which Persoually I will pay my own expenses. We will be followed by a wide-spread are a voluutary mission, repreaenting no society and no fuud."
May he not be disappointed in this bold undertaking! May India be moved as never before! He needs and asks and deserves the earnest prayers of Christendom. He remains a month in England and then sails for India. Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins, who have aided him in his €vangelistic Alloa, Scotland, has recently gone to his reward, in his eighty-seventh work, will accompany him in this year. He set an example of benefi- cence which will be fra~ant in Scotforeign tour. J. M. S. land and in all the Christian church for many years to come. His liberal- The Tribune (New York), in a re- ity toward foreign missions is very cent editorial entitled, "Why Foreign conspicuous; but scarcely less so to- Missions Languish," exhibits the most ward all home missionaryschemes also. surprising ignorance of the subject. AUoa, where he built up his fortune, The very reverse is true. Instead of witnessed its dispensing in all good being in a languishing condition the works. He supported missions in the cause of foreign missions was never destitute neighborhoods, provided for so active, so promising, so full of en- the free entertainment of infirm minterprise, so far-reaching and world- isters at Criefi' Hydropathic; and gave, wide in its scope and plans. The great as few men since apostolic days have English societies in 1889 expended given, great sums to God's cause. He $13,000,000 in the work; and our has spent a vast fortune of $1,000,000 American societies full $6,000,000! on missions; and, out of the small anmore than in any former year! Does nuity reserved to keep him from acthis look like languishing? tual want, he managed to give, at the time of my visit to AUoa, another Quite as false is the reason assigned 250 pounds sterling; and, as a letter for the decline of missions. It argues from Dr. McAll informs me, his last they "languish" because the Gospel if! act of giving was the sending of $500 presented so as to repel rather than more to the same great work of French attract, by men not properlytrained. evangelization. He was an office- It is sure that the prevailing methods bearer in the United Presbyterian of mission work are radically wrong. Church, and one of the brightest orna- Now thousands of the ripest scholars, ments of that beautiful body of breththe broadest culture, the most distin- ren, of whom we may say on personal guished gifts, the noblest educators, knowledge that it contains some of the and the most eminent and useful men noblest examples both of piety and of in the Church to-day, are found in the generosity which the United Kingdom foreign field! Methods radically wrong furnishes. That dear old saint gave that have civilized and evangelized not grudgingly nor of necessity, but whole nations, converted millions of cheerfully. Self· denial became to him souls in heathendom, established a habit and a delight for Christ's sake. schools and colleges, and hospitals, To press his hand and look in his eyes and Y. M. C. A.'s all over the world! was one of the rare privileges of that Does not the Trtbune know these recent tour of missions in Scotland. facts? Such stupendous ignorance is He was the patriarch of givers, and, enough to bring Horace Greeley up we trust will have a numerous spiritfrom the grave to weep over the pa- ual progeny who shall emulate an per he made so grand a power for good. example that has few rivals since the This attack on missions is a very feeble days of Barnabas of Cyprus. echo of Canon Taylor's charges two years ago, the falsity and grossness of A. T. P. which were abundantly shown by testimony that could not be set aside. Bishop William Tay:or seems to be The Tribune is late in reviving a man of great common sense. He these exploded charges.-J. M. S. says that on the dead level of heath- enism all genius is excluded; any in- A Princely Giver's Death. ventor is liable to the charge of witch- craft, and the poison draught is the David Paton, Esq., of Tillicoutry, inevitable doom of one who im- Canada, and for years residing in proves upon the crude implements of his ancestors. In the South of Africa the men wear two coats, one of red paint, the other of grease well-rubbed in; and women dig, hoe, gather crops, carry burdens and do other hard work. To educate an African without chris- tianizing him is to train a polite loafer. He instanced the educated native known as "Hodge," who, with a tine culture, turned to Paganism, put on
ORGANIZED lIIISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
the breech-clout and took six wives tian church, he will again let loose this and set up a harem. The educational system of false religion to drive out plan must include all industries that an infernal rum traffic let in by prepare for a life of self-support. The Christian nations! Already are 300,- short and sure cut is to be found in 000 mounted followers of the False rearing in Africa Christian industrial Prophet said to be overrunning th{l homes, adopting about 12 children Dark Continent. under five years of age. Young chil- A. T. P.
dren are not yet heathen and must be The India Sunday-school Union, prevented from becoming such. It is having secured the hearty' co-opereasy to get boys but not girls, to adopt. Girls are a marketable commodity for ation of the British Sunday-school polygamous purposes. The only way Union, has been planning a large ex- tension of its work. Dr. James L. at present is to redeem them from this Phillips, 17 years medical and educapolygamous slavery by a virtual pur- tional missionary in Bengal, has been {lhase. They are sold in infancy for appointed general-secretary of the the future harem of these polygamists, India Sunday-school Union, and sailed and if not redeemed will be claimed ~ven after adoption and education. from New York for Europe. He will A young and pretty girl was thus speak in behalf of this promising movement in the chief citIes of the adopted by a missionary's family and United Kingdom during September iirained as a converted woman, and and October, and then embark for -one day claimed as the betrothed wife Bombay, where he will enter upon his -of a rich polygamist. She was al- work, attend the Punjab Sundayready pledged to a converted young school Convention at Lahore in Thr man connected with the mission cember, and reach Calcutta for the .and presents were freely given to annual meeting of the India Sunday- -secure her release from the prior con- School Union in December. All India iiract. Apparently she was released seems ripe for Sunday-school exten- sion at this time. and the marriage consented to. But afterward under pretext of a visit to It has been our privilege to make the her parents was, with her husband, acquaintance of this beloved brother induced to go to their home, and -on entering the village her young while home on a furlough. Failing husband was literally hewn to pieces, to find us at the office, where he called and she was tied to a tree and whipped to say good-bye, he left us a very kind every two hours till she consented letter from which we make an extract: to go and live with this wretched pagan. That is a glimpse of woman's "Now I go back to my dear India, condition in the dark continent. where I was born, as general-secretary Meanwhile all the work of missions of the India Sunday-school Union, is threatened by the awful flooding of with headquarters at Calcutta. For Africa with rum. Hamburg alone two or three years I shall be on the -exports by two companies annually move constantly all over India, organ- .200,000 tuns of liquor, not to speak of izing and pushing Sunday-school what France, Spain, Portugal, Eng- work. My post is a new one. I am land and New England are doing to called back to India by my brethren ]lOur into that land an Amazon river of all the churches. Our Sunday- -of rum. If Mohammedanism were let school Union there, as here and in Eu- loose, it would soon put an end to this rope, is international and inter-debusiness, for Islam's banner is the nominational, like the evangelical banner of total abstinence and pro- alliance work in the U. S. A., with hibition. It may be that as God at the which I have been connected as gen- beginning let loose Mohammedanism eral-secretary at Philadelphia for a as the scourge of idolatry in the Ohris- year." J. M. S.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
SPecIAL'l'IELDS. square miles, including 30 towns and 3,579 vil· lages, and containing a population of 3,286,889, INDIA. of whom 2, 835,382 are Hindus and 284,889 are American Marathi Mission. Mussulmans. (A. B. C. F. M.) Stations, 5; outstations, 107; missionaries, REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1889. 27 (of whom 11 ordained, 1 lay, 9 missionaries' Stations at Bombay, Ahmednagal', etc. wives, 6 other ladies); n~tive helpers, 302 (of This mission covers a territory of 16,9i4 whom 18 pastors, 21 preachers); churches, 33; ordained); churches, 22; communicants,. communicants, 2,115 (1,197 male, 918 female); 2,466; additions not reported fully, about 300: added on profession, 192; schools, 127; pupils, schools, 40; average attendance, 583; Sunday- 8,280,(2,461 male, 819 female); Sunday-schools, schools, 19; average attendance, 626. 124; pupils, 4,718 (of whom 1,688 Christian); Jlatients treated at dispensary in Raburi, new, Malayalan Mission of the London Mis- 5,052; old, 9,428; total, 14,480 (of these, 12,045 sionary Society, South Travancore. Hindus, 2,059 Mussulmans, 76 Parsees, 41 R0- man Catholics, 259 Protestants). The report for this mission comes to us in four parts: the Trevandrum, Quilon and Ne- PROGREIlS IN TWENTY YEARs. yoor districts and the mission seminary.
Number of churches, 1869, 22; 1889, 33; net In the six stations there are 9 ordained mis- gain in twenty years, 11. Received on pro- sionaries; 18 ordained native ministers; 22S fession of faith, 1869, 53; 1889, 192; net gain in other native helpers; 273 congregations; twenty years, 139. Number of communicants 5,659 church members; 521 admissions; 718- at close of the year, 1869, 677; 1889,2,115; net candidates; 311 schools; 10,560 boys under in- gain in twenty years, 1,438. Contributions by struction, 3,504 girls-total scholars, 14,064; native Christians, 1869, 1,651 rupees; 1889, patients registered iu mission hospital anddi&' 4,630, rupees; net gain in twenty years, 2,979 pensaries-Protestant Christians, 13,874; Ro- rupees. Number of schools, 1869, 35; 1889, 127; man Catholics, 1,698; heathen, 12,116; Moham- net gain in twenty years, 92. Number of medans, 676-total, 28,SfU. Publications, by pupils, 1869,667; 1889,8,280; net gain in twenty London mission press, periodicals, 52 numbers, years, 2,613. 116,600 pages; tracts, 33, S23,100 pages. South Travancore Tract and Book Society has. From this it will be evident that the number published since 1833, when it was formed by of communicants on the church rolls, the con- the union of tract societies long existing at tributions of native Christians, and the num- Nagercoil and Neyoor,442,549 monthly maga- ber of schools, have trebled in the last twenty zines, 181,200 tracts, 28,500 catechisms, 13,500' years. The number of pupils is five times as books, 3,146,900 handbills, and 260,000 Glad IDany as then attended our schools. News for Children, in Tamil-4,072,649 publi- cations. American Madura Mission, South India. Basel German Evangelical Missionary- Population of district, 1,775,000. Stations Society in Southwestern India. at Madura, Pasumaleli, Battalagundi, etc. Canara, Coorg, South Mahratta, Malabar. Stations, 7; out-stations, 25; missionaries, 36 Stations, 24; European miSSionaries, male, (of whom 13 'ordained, 1 lay, 13 missionaries' 66, female, 40; native agency, pastors, 15" wives, 9 other ladies); native helpers, 448 evangelists, 106; other helpers, 27; teachers,. (of whom 17 ordained pastors); organized 27'8; communicants, 5,160; additions, 1M;: churches, 35; communicants, 3,562; added on schools, 121; pupils, 6,707. .profession, 272; schqols, 156; pupils, 5,410; Sabbath-schools, 146; average attendance Mackay Mission Hospital, Formosa. 4,151; patients treated at dispensary, new fi,066; old, 6,504; total, 15,570 (of these 4,775 Connected with the Presbyterian Board of' Hindus, 3,272 native Christians, including Ro- Missions, Canada. manists, 815 Mussulmans. New patients, 3,055; old patients returned American Free Baptist Mission, for medicines, etc., 7,224. The number is less. Southern Bengal, than the last year by 225, due to the fact that there has been less sickness and that fewer Population, 3.817,65.~. Stations at Balasore, soldiers have been admitted. J ellltSOre, Midnapore, etc. Methodist Episcopal Church, (North)t. Stations, 11; missionarles,25 (of whom 9 are North China Mission. ordained, 1 lay, 9 missionaries' wives, and 6 other ladies); native preachers, 17 (of whom Peking, Tientsin, Shantung, etc. 5 are ordained, 12 lay); other native helpers Stations or circuits, 20; ordained missionanot enumerated; organized churches, 11; ries, 15; missionaries' wives, 14; other ladies, communicants, 646; added, 55; schools, 105; 9; native ordained preachers, 6; unordained,. pupils, 3,619. Considerable medical work 10; teachers, 20: other helpers, 22; members, seems to hav" been done, but no statistics are 782; probationers, 517; averagtl atten<jancegiven. Sunday worship, 931; Sunday-schools, 10; scholars, 746; Theological schools, 3; st.udents, Canadian Baptist Telugu Mission. 40; other schools, 27; scholars, 529, Population reached 3,000,000. Stations: Board of Foreign Missions of the Presby- Akidu, Cocanada, Bimlipatam, Bobbili, etc. terian Church, (South).
Stations, 9; missionaries, 30 (of whom 11 Secretary: REV. M. H. HOUSTON, D.D., Nashare ordained, 10 missionaries' wives, 7 other ville, Tenn. ladies); native helpers, 74 (of whom 8 are [By some error the statistics reported for municants, 625;' additions, 100; schoQls, 37, pnpils, 916; medical work, out-patients (at-· this society in the September number of the tendances), 59,311; in-patients, 1,459; visits at homes, 647; surgical operations, 2,868. REVIEW were drawn from the report of 1889,in- stead of from that of 1890. Dr. Houston has kindly called our notice to the error, alld sent corrected ftgures.-EDs.] General Baptist Missionary Society.
REPORT FOR YII:AIl ENDING APRIL 1, 1800. Secretary: REV.WILLIAHHILL, Mission House. 60 Wilson St., Derby, England. Receipts. . REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING HAY 31, 1890. Balance on hand ..••••••..•••… $ 8,457 59 Receipts.
From churches……………….. 49,812 90 Collections, etc …………….. . £3,257 4 5· Legacies …………………. .. 1,497 4 11 Sabbath·schools….. .•.•• •••••••••. 8,673 50 Miscellaneous ………………. . 693 17 10 Missionary societies ••••……••.• 27,258 80 Legacies……… ..•••••••• ••••.•• 14,927 02 Miscellaneous… ••••.•••••••• •••.• 8,652 88 Total for general purposes … ,£5,448 7 2· Speclalfunds……… ………… 225 17 6 Total ••••••••….••••.••.•••••• $117,782 69 In India…. ………………… 2,929 9 6 In Rome……. … . .. . .. .. . ..• … . 149 0 11 Expenditures.
Three Brazil Missions•..•.•••••..•• 5 36,100 32 China llissions.• '" . • . •. • . •. • ••.• •• 24,701 71 Total. ………………….. , £8.752 15 1 Japan •••••••••.•.. ••••. .• 12,814 31 Pavments.
Congo . •.. .••• . • …. . . . . . . 4,000 00 Balance due May 81, 1889…….. .. £20 12 11 Greek • •• ••••• ••••• •• • . . .. 3,453 70 Orissa Mission ……………… .. 3,27013 2- Italian . . . . ••.• •• . . . •.••• •• 1,200 00 Agency…………………….. . 31517 7 Indian •••• • • ••• • •••• ••.. . • 6,490 00 Publications………………… . 171 12 0- Mexican U •• ,. • • • • ••• • •••• •••• 7,870,29 Incidentals. .. • • . .. .. …. .. …. . .. 144 5 7 Totalfor Missions. •••••.••.•••• $ 96,680 33 Assurance, Annuities, and Capi· General Expenses. . . • . . . . ..••. . … • 8,663 02 Balance on hand (including Relief tal, etc ……. " …………… . 1,441 0 4- Fund)….. • •. .. • . .. • ••.• .•••• •••• 12,489 34 In India, (see ahove) ………… . 2,929 9 9 In Rome, ……… "… .. 449 011 Total…. • • •• . .. •••••…•••••• $117,782 69 Balance to new account •••••••••• 10 3 STATISTIcs. Total……………………. £8,75215 .; STATISTICS OF ORISSA MISSION. ~ .,; -d .,; ..:=:l Stations, 4; 15 out·stations, 8 missionaries,. g 0 4 missionaries wives, 4 other female mission· s:l .'"~ -d aries, 21 native preachers, 18 chapels, 1,376 ..= ~ ~'>" church members; 1 orphanage, 122 members; '" :0;:~. '" ~ 12 schools, 641 scholars; 12 Sunday·schools, 751> • oji o[ '" '" " ] '" .$8 ..0= Z members. Local contributions, 8,411 rupees. ~~ '".." ~ » UjUj..~'Si"~1II-5..:.l..r9 ~ '" .9 f/1 ~ s:l ,Q s:l oj Baptist Missionary Society. '~I'~ ~ oj oj ~O A Secretary: ALFREn H. BAYNES, ESQ.,F. R.A.S•• 1 gl§ ~ g! Baptist Mission House, 19 Furnival St., j ~::: Holborn, London, E. C. ~ <I .S .S ~ REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1890 ::l8 Receipts. !,! ~ ! ~ — 8 – – zz 8 oj oj ::l Balance from last year, on Special — – ._- -~ Fund, and Widows" etc., 00· count…………………….. £4,894 14 9 Brazil… 3011 10 510 670 126 224 165 $1,400 China .. 1113 16 .. 15 158 12 245'260 165 For debt……….. ………….. 2,405 2 ;;. Japan •. 19 8 8 5 2 766 151 305 130 651 General Fund . . . …. …. .. • . 68,331 0 1 41111 Special, etc., account…. ……. 3,978 9 6 Greece. "c:' ~'" Total receipts…………… £74,714 12 0 28 ~ 15 … Balance over·drawn on General Italy .•. 1 .. ~ 0 Fund……………………… 2,472 3 1() Mexico. 51 2 Africa •. Z Total …………………. £82,081 10 7 2· ·8 40 …… Expenditures. 4 '3 450 71 ··~~r~ 635 Balances. Debton General Fund. £2,862 3 6 2 .. General Fund. … .. £70,346 2 10 Special, etc., account 6,761 10 3 Total. 116 3741 1931 2,072 360 1,207 845 $2,851' £77,107 13 1 1 Total expenditure……….. £79,969 16 7 American Presbyterian, (North), Mission Balance on hand on Special,etc., in Oanton, Ohina. account ……………..•.••. 2,111 14 () Stations, 2; out-stations, 28. Foreign missionaries, ordained, 8; lay, 6; mediC'.a.l, 4; mis- Total. ………………… £82,081 10 '7 sionaries' wives, 11; other ladies, 6 (1 medical); total, 31. Native 'ordained ministers, 3; other native assistants, 84; churches, 8; com- STATISTICS. Income of Funds ••..••..•••••• " 21,796 51 Government Grants-in-aid, etc…. 8,017 47 I 15 J,'"<ll i1 ~ " oj0;oj "" O.:goj $440,788 07 0; • <ll ~ U-"0=l -UC"=l Balance due April, 1890…… …… 7,942 06 ., 1=:1=l'd …. ~~.[~ ) .0 Total. …………………….. $448,730 13 """'Iaj.9 ~;;<;ll In addition there has been added to the Per- ~ ~1ii S manent Fund, $118,739.68, making the gross ! I~"' ""E"" O~~w";";d''§''~ receipts for the year $559,527.75. …. O·S ."E.:~~ -~= Expenditures. t'l Burmah ………………………. $151,290 85 z~ Assam ……………….. _…….. 22,31258 – – – – — – — — 38 Telugu…. ….. . ….. ……. …… • 64,778 India .,. 147, 57 94 9 4,129 231 15 4,027 Ceylon .• 104 4! 25 868 160342.0..3.,.1.9.0 Siam ………………. ………. 1,373 95 ,China..• 60 21 10 60 1,049 China…. …. …………. …….. 31,605 25 ~!fe~~ine 157 8 1 58 Japan ……………………… , 39,122 72 20 15 75 2 2 69 Africa…….. ……………. ….. 43,780 42 3 1 ••. Europe …………………. …… 32,984 57 Enrope •• 60 W.Indies 111 641143.73 18 1,860 210 .. 409 $381.248 72 12 6,135 423 5 Home expenses. .. …………….. 39,71387 – – – – – – – ,Africa.•• – 10 25 5 .' Publications…. ……………… 1,671 40 43 12 4 143 Annuities…….. ……….. ….. 11,92';) 58 — S440,55657 – – – 515 119319 99 14,316 1,053 47 7,896 Balance due April 1, 1839………. 8,173 56 American Baptist Missionary Union. Total. . •. …. .. . • . . . … •.. • . .. $448,730 13 Secretary: REV. J. N. MURDOCH, D.D., Tre- mont Temple, Boston, Mass. REpORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, lR90. Receipts.
Donations ………… _………… $212,96294 Legacies……….. … ………… 91,935 49 Woman'sBoards…. … …….. ..•. 93,94922 Miscellaneous ……………….. 12,126 44 STATISTICS.
Mission· Natives. .,. ! j aries ~ ~o0~ joj~o~i ~1~~p~;1~"1'.~~jjoi ~ r/.lo)i:j~il<OO 0 ~ a.: 00 Z '21-593 45li7 116 "Bn~-rm-a':'h-..-.-..-.-.-..-.- ..-.-..-.- .•-.-..-.-.. 021 520 29,689 2,039 444 12,669 – $52,633 I Assam .. …… … ….. .. .. 7 64 11 14 22 54 30 1,937 185 87 1,900 740 381 Telugu ………. …………. 13 635 21 26 204 217 72 33,838 3,340 460 4,934 564 China (inch!ding Siam)………. ' 8 59 18 23 25 17 1,535 61 23 325 521 Japan …•… …….. ……… 8 27 15 26 29 17 10 lO5 158 6 216 311 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Africa……. ….. …… …….. 7 4 23 16 5 8 5 386 156 10 471 75 Total…………………… 64 1382 133 192 8191437 654 68,290 5,939 1030 20,515 $54,844 ,Europe …………………. 917 707 70,003 5,638 169,425 TotaL ………………….. 64 ii2 133 100 i7a6 4a7.WtI38,29311.57711OOO 2O,5i5J~ Ohurch Missionary Society. Collection 0 f Funds…….. 13,739 13 2 The Secretaries, Church Missonary House, Administration. 10,596 11 5 Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London,E. C. £215,222 11 0 REPORT FOR' THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1890. Deduct, charged Receipts. to Special Fonds.. …. 8,193 6 7 Through Associations.. £146,771 6 10 Total Ordinary……. '" .. £207,029 4 5 Direct to the Society, including Special Funds…………….. 17,556 8 1 Legacies23,862 7 9……… . 56,046 4 8 Disabled Missionaries' Funds 1,646 10 ..
Rent and Interest …………. 4,05215 9 Total Ordinary….. ……. £208,516 17 10 Total Payments……….. £224,585 12 6 Special Funds… …………. 51,765 13 7 Balance carried to Contin- 35,696 18 11 Total Receipts…………. £26a,282 11 5 gency Fund: OrdinaryRe- Expenditures. ForMissions…..£I82,845 3 2 ceipts……… £1,487 13 5 Disabled M i s- Special Funds.. 34,209 5 6 sionaries, etc.. 7,941 3 3 —– Total…… ……………. £260,282 11 I:>
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
STATISTICS.
Natives, Eurasians, Missionaries, etc, ~ ~ ~..$.~; , g i 'I 3 __________________I§~ ~ ~ i~ ~ h ~ ~j~;. ~ _~_~_§__~_~____ ~ ~ @ ~ Africa ……………. ,…………. 5 59 30 17 15 48 293 9,826 445 108 8,8U Egypt, Arabia, Palestine and Persia.. 3 13 16 6 9 9 107 597 4 50 2,575 India…………… …… ………… 8 96 128 14 15 144 2150 26,942 1,577 1191 47,184 21 Ceylon.,……………… ………… 1 14 18…. 2 15 446 2,363 172 229 11,345 Mauritius…… …… .. …. .. . …. . 1 7 81 3 51 542 108 25 1,562 S!~':t~:::: .. ·:::::.~:::::::::::::::·::: ~ ~ 171 …. 19 1~ ~ 2,~~ .~ Iii 2,~ 1 38 151 2 27 378 2,631 5 1 18 2Q 65 2,455 109 58 1,424 3.835149;016 3,llo i700 ,= 59 286 75:"'581 New Zealand ……… ".. N. W, America and North Pacific .. " 6 55 321 4"..
-~L====·.~: ;iii 3t5 "286152 VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Africa-It is said that the annexations of Their professed object is to convert the Afri- Great Britain in Africa amount to over cans to their faith; and their modus oper- 2,000,000 squa.re miles, "Spheres of influ- andi is to civilize them first, and then to make ence" they are termed, not annexations. We Trappists of them. Their largest monastery care not what they are called; we are glad is at l'IIarianhill, in Natal. At present it con- to know that under the flag of Great Britain tains 170 monks, and in a convent, half a mile the slave trade cannot live. Under that flag, away, are 135 nuns. There are 300 native boys the Bible may be printed and scattered with· and girls under tuition, and the knowledge im- out "let or hindrance," Under that flag, parted is almost entirely industrial. The rear- missionaries of the cross will be safe, and can ing of bees is one of the important industries, go about their work unmolested, Ambitious Papers are published in four languages. They and grasping England, men may call her, but have a church capable of holding 2,000 people, she carries into her colonies, all over the world, the light of civilization, to brighten -Harvest Field. the faces of their ignorant and degraded. -The grant of an immense territory -Rapid progress all along the line is being along tbe Zambesi river has been made to the made in the opening up of the new world of Duke of Fife and some English colleagues, Central Africa. Europe has 'such vast re- The region embraces nearly 300,000 .square sources of power and wealth to bring to bear miles and is very rich both in soil and mines, on the enterprise that the rate at which civili- The company has power to abolish slavery zation is advancing on barbarism is surpris- and restrict the liquor traffic in its domains, ing. and missionary work will be as free there as in India. -To explore Central Africa.-The Siecle says that a French expedition to explore Cen· – The Portuguese have released the British tral Africa is being organized. It will be African Lakes Company's steamer, which divided into three sections, which will start was seized by Lieutenant Continho, Thecrew simultaneously from Algeria and the Niger of the steamer have also been released, and Congo rivers, and converge at Lake Tchad, -The Roman Catholic missions at Uganda will be strengthened by a new party of priests, -The Universities' Mission in Central who were ordained in the cathedral of Car· Africa employs seventy Europeans at four thage, June 29th, According to Roman Cathoprincipal centres in Africa and on Lake Nyassa, where a church steamer is maintained, lic usage, the feet of these 20 "messengers of Bishop Smithers is the leader of this mission, which extends over 25,000 square miles, peace" were devoutly kissed by all priests present, including high dignitaries. Cardinal -The Trappists, an order of Jesuits, have Lavigerie even kissed the feet of two black lately begun work in South Africa on a large surgeons, formerly slave·boys, purchased by scale, In Natal they have an estate of 2Q,OOO white monks on the Nile. acres, and in Griqualand of 500,000 acres, Belgium.-The Government has voted a loan of $5,000,000 to the Congo Free State. The expense of the founding of this State, and introduction into-the-familyof nations, has been Catholic Church has moved against the here- borne chiefly by the king, at an expense of tic, and suppressed his services by the power $~,OOO to $300,000 a year_ In return for this of the civil law. During the present year Diaz grant, King Leopold makes Belgium the heir, and his helpers have been arrested,sent to jail, ten years hence, of his African possessions, and harassed in all possible ways. Diaz is ont which it is believed will one day prove a great on bail, but the courts hesitate and keep him source of revenue_ and his friends in suspense. The intervention of the American Government has been in- -Pastor Anet's Christian Missionary voked. Church of Belgium, added to its members last year 500 converts from Romanism and infidel- England.-The report of the Bible Car- ity. It employs 4 evangelists, 7 Bible-readers, riage Mission in England, shows tbat this so- ,and 5 colporteurs. ciety is doing an important work in the rural parts of the country. Over 49,000 Bibles and Canada.-The Presbyterian Church in Testaments, and about 367,000 books, tracts, -canada has, in all, 326 distinct fields of home etc., were circulated in 270 villages and towns. mission work, and 990 preaching places. The In these places the Gospel was preached, number of missionaries employed last year with many conversions as the result. was 329, of whom 121 were ordained ministers and liceL. iates,and 208 students an.d catechists. -Another new missionary band of special 'The average Sabbath attendance at all the interest is about to go forth in connection stations was 43,065, the number of families with the Church Missionary Society. Rev. Bar- connected with them, 11,701, and of communi- clay F. Buxton, son of Mr. T. Fowell Buxton, cants, 13,907. The progress made in the Pres- has offered to go to Japan with a smaIl party bytery of Manitoba may be given as a speci- of missionaries, undertaking both the direction men of the result.q. It was formed 19 years and entire charges himself. Mr. Barclay is an ago. Winnipeg had tben a popUlation of 421, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge. It is pro- now it has 22,892. Manitoba had then 19,000, posed that Mr. Buxton's party should occupy now it has 150,000. Then Presbyterianism stood the town and district of Matsupe, an import- third relative to other denominations, now it ant place at the west end of the maIn island heads the list. In meeting the expenses in- of Japan. volved in this vast home mission undertaking, the church acknowledges grants from the ~Mra. Hannington, widow of Bishop Han- Presbyterian Church of Ireland, the Church nington, who was murdered in 1885, near <>f Scotland and the Free Church. Uganda, conducts a weekly missionary prayer meeting, in Brighton. -The Toronto medical students' Y. M. C. A., which has 179 members, has just sent one France.-Cardinal Lavigerie opened the <>f their number, Dr. Hardie and his wife, as a Anti-Slavery Congress, in Paris, with an admissionary to Korea, and have agreed to sup- dress, in the Church of St. SuIpice. He highly port him"for a period of at least eight years." praised the enthusiasm of England in the anti- His destination is "Fusan, where he is to co- slavery work, although it was headed by <>perate with Mr. Gale, of University College Catholics. He said he, did not desire the im-, Y. M. C. A." $1,800 is requisite for outfit and mediate abolition of slavery, as that would support for the first year. entail starvation of slaves, but that man-hunt- ing must be immediately suppressed. China.-TheChina Inland Mission hasestablished in China, 16 opium refuges, 3 hospi- Germany.-According to Bisho» Warren tals, and 5 dispensaries. The churches num- the members of the Methodist Church in Gerber 66 and chapels 110. many average, in their contributions, $4.40 per member annually, while the largest incomes -Dr Douthwaite, of the China Inland Mis- among them do not exceed $1.25 per day." sion, Che-Foo, says, that in the late famine district in Shan·Tung, there are now over a. India.-Some of our missionaries in India thousand applicants for baptism. have been caIled on to stand at the bar of the civil courts. Rev. J. J. Lucas and Rev. -The government has indemnified the Henry Forman were summoned before the Presbyterian Board to tbe extent of over a High Court in Allahabad, to answer for the thousand dollars for property destroyed by a baptism of a youth of eighteen, who had promob, in 1885, in the province of Kwong-Sai, fessed to be a convert to Christianity, and China. It has taken our United States lIIin- who had acted throughout of his own free ister a long while to securethis justreimhurse- will, and with intelligent comprehension of ment, but the final action is encouraging, in what his act meant. The judge was a Mothat it recognizes the right of foreigners to hammedan, but so clearly arrayed before him hold property in interior cities. were the facts in the case, and so explicit was the law, that the decision rendered was Cuba.-The Rev. A. J. Diaz, an evangelist that the missionaries had violated no law of her Majesty's empire, and the yonng convert <>f the Southern Baptists, in the Island of was his own master in religious affairs and Cuba, has been wonderfully successful in at liberty to dwell and worship where he preaching and organizing churches. He is a pleased. The case was regarded as an Ironative of Cuba, and preaches with great ease and freedom in his own tongue. The Roman portant one, and the judgment rendered years that the Chinese have been able makes the work of evangelizing the youth of to plant themselves in the country he India much easier and less dangerous. traveled through, so hostile have the na- tives always shown themselves, It is said -The Woman's Christian Temperance that in Thibet nearly every crime is pun- Union of Singapore has organized 'a mission ished by the imposition of a fine, and tha~ for the benefit of European sailors that visit murder is by no means an expensive luxury. tht.t port. This, of course, greatly increases the danger of travel in that remarkable land. Ireland.-The Irish Church Mission So- <:iety seeks to give a pllre gospel to the Irish United States.-The Presbyterian Wo- Roman Catholics. A good work has been done man's Mission Society received for last year through this instrumentality. Fresh impetus $337,842. The society was able to support the has been given to it by the munificent be- following missions: Indians:–ll3 schools, 164 ,quest of $150,000 by Mrs. Susan Hopper. teachers, 2,264 pupils. Mormons:–37 schools, 99 teachers, 2,374 pupils. Mexicans :-32 Korea.-A missionary, Mr. Appenzeller, schools, 67 teachers, 1,627 pupils. South:-16 in the Fndependent, says, that when mission schools, 48 teachers, 1,213 pupils. Total. 118 work began in Korea, the missionaries pre- schools, 361 teachers, 7,47'8 pupils.-Mid·Consented a Bible to the king. The prime minis- tinent. ter took the Bible to the palace, showed it to the king, and then, with the klng's approval, -The Universalists, after an existence of tore it in pieces. Years afterwards, a Ken- more than a hundred years, send out their tucky man presented the Korean minister at first missionary. Washington with a bottle of the best Bourbon whiskey for the king. This was accepted. -The Annual Report of the International 'Then the Christians of Kentuckyresolved to Medical Missionary Society, shows that 7,356 show the king, at as early a period as possible, new cases of disease and injury were treated that the country produced something better during the past Society's year; 14,717 attendthan whiskey. Recently they sent, through ances were given at the dispensaries, of which the Korean minister, three Bibles, one for the there are 7 in New York and 2 in Brooklyn; king, one for the prime minister, and one for 1,641 visits were paid to the sick in their own the foreign secretary. The present has been homes. DuriIig the eight and a half years of 4Ccepted. the Society's existence, over 32,000 cases were treated, about 70,000 attendances were given -Roman Catholic missionaI'ies have at dispensaries, and over 14;000 visits were been in Korea 200 years, yet have never Is- made to sick at their homes. This Society sued the Bible In the native language. They co·operates with all existing Christian agenhave translated the New Testament but have cies, as far as possible, and establishes medinot put it into print, and the only copies, cal missions at Gospel missions, or mission made by hand, cost from $10 to $20 each. churches, wherever practicable. The presi- dent is Boudinot C. Atterbury, M. D.; the -Sad News.-Dr. John W. Heron, Medi- treasurer, Cleveland H. Dodge, Esq., No. 11 <ml Missionary of the Presbyterian Board in Cliff Street; and the medical director, George Seoul, is dead. He died of dysentery. The D. Dowkoutt, M. D., 118 East 45th Street, New loss is great, 'for he was Superintendent of the York City. The Society deserves the liberal Royal Hospital in the capital, and had won the support of Christian people. {lonfidence of the King. His infiuence in the foreign comniunity and in Seoul was also -The receipts of the American Board for very great. the year ending Septemb"r 1st, are $617,723. This amount is $69,025 in excess of last year. .of-Moravian Missions.-The latest statistics Of this increase $22,876 is from donations, the our missions show an increase over last balance is from legacies. During the year 64 year of 620 communicants and of 1457 In the new mission aries have been appointed. 22 of total membership of our congregations in the whom are men: 54 of. these new recruits have foreign fields. The number under the direct already been sent to the field. This number care of our missionaries DOW amounts to 87,263, is in excess of any year since 1837.-The Adand of these 30,591 are enjoying the full privi- vance. leges of communicant membership. These are solid figures, and we thank God for the un- -Secretary Ellinwood of the Presbyterian mistakable token of His blessing on our work Board of Foreign Missions writes, that the in Asia, Africa, America and Australia.- new value put upon silver has so affected ex- Periodical Accotlnts. change in all the foreign countries where silver is the chief medium, that the purchasing power Thibet.-Mr. W. Woodville Rockhill, of the Board's appropriations is diminished formerly of the American Diplomatic Service, from 15 to 20 per cent., and the rate of exhas recently returned from a long and peril- change is constantly fluctuating. A heavy, <>us journey through Thibet, the unknown needless tax is thus laid upon the missionary heart' of Asia. For 700 hundred miles he cause for the benefit of a few silver kings. passed through a country where no white man had ever set foot, journeying, of course, in disguise. It is only within the last few
INDEX OF CONTENTS OF THE NOVEMBER NUMBER
INDEX OF CONTENTS NOVEMBER NUMBER.
PAGE PAGE I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS••••••• 801–842 plore Central Africa, 877; Universities' IT.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLI- Mission, 877; the Trappists, 877; Roman Catholic Missions in Uganda ………… 877 GENCE•• – …………….. _…. 842–850 IIT.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE… 85O-S54 BELGIUM.-Loan to the Congo Free IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT ••• 854-862 States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877 V.-MONTHLY CONOERT OF MISSIONS 862–867 BRAZIL.-Political Changes, American VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT Missions, etc., 862; Other South Ameri- can MiSSions, Brussels Anti-Slavery Con- TOPICS …… _……………. 867-873 gress……………………………… 86(t vn.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK BURMAH AND SIAM.-"A Thousand AND STATISTICS. .. ……..–873-877 Miles on an Elephant. " …………….. 842 VIIT.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS; MONTH- CANADA.-Presbyterian Church, 878; LY BULLETIN ……………… 877-879 Toronto Medical Students' Y. M. C. A… 878 IX.-INDEX TO CONTENTS. .••••• •• • ••• 880 CHINA.-A Great Evangelizing Agency, 845; Inland Mission, 878; Presbyterian Authors. Board Indemnified …………….. : …. 878 EDITORS.-A. T. Pierson. The Miracles ENGLAND.-Flowof Converts to the of Missions; The Wonderful Story of Church of Rome……. .. . … .. …… 846 Madagascar, 808; Editorial Notes. J. M. Sherwood, Book Notices, 841; Editorial FRANCE.-Anti-sla.very Congress …… 878 Notes …………………………….. 871 GERMANY.-Generous Giving………. 878 HAWA H.-Rev.W. A. Essery's Address Blackie, William G., D.D., "Personal Life of David Livingstone, " noticed………. 842 on the Victory of the Gospel ………… 846 Brockett, r,. P., M.D., Education and INDIA.-Lunn's Work; "A Friend of Missions in India," 841; Poverty of the E.vangelization…………………….. 850 Clark. Miss Helen F., The Congo Missions, 826 People, 846; Missionaries in Court. 878 Ellinwood, F. F., D.D.• The Duty of Chris- IRELAl'U>.-Irish Church Mission So- tendom to.the Jews, 801; Brazil and its ciety ……………………………. 879 Missions. Other South American Mis- sions………… _._ ……………….. 860 JAPAN.-The New Constitutional Gov- Gracey, J. T., D.D., International Depart- ernment, 846; Appeal from Ba.ptist Mis- ment …………………………….. 851 sionaries. ……………………….. '" 847 Guinness, Mrs. H. Grattan, "New World of Central Africa," noticed…•…. __ .. 841 JEWS.-The Duty of Christendom to …. 801 Haig, Mrs. F. T.,"Daybreak in North Afri- ca," noticed…. …….. …………… 841 KOREA.-The gift of a Bible to the King, Hallett, Holt S • "A Thousand Miles on an 879; Roman Catholic Missionaries, 879; Elephant," noticed……….. .. .. . •. 842 Moravian Missions ………………… 879 Herrick, George F., D.D., The Kingdom of God in the Land of its Origin…….. 854 MADAGASCAR.-TheWonderful Story Hunt, Life of John; Missionary to Fiji, of its Evangelization, 808; Letter from noticed ……….. _…………………. 842 Rev. James B. Mackay…. .. …. . 850 Lunn, Rev. Henry S., "A Friend of Mis- sions in India, " noticed ………… "…… 841 Moravian Missions in Surinam………… 867 Moorhead, Max Wood, Student Volunteer Moravians not Lutherans……………… 853 Movement ………………… …….. 842 Pitzer, A. W., D.D., The Inheritance of PALESTINE.-An Awakening of Life Nations Allotted of God….. ………… 820 and Energy………. .. …… 847 Schweinitz, Rev. Paul de, The Romance of Goedverwacht ………………….. 833 South American Missions ……. _…….. 866 Starbuck, Rev. Chas. C., Translations from Foreign Missionary Periodicals………. 836 Turkish Empire, Dr. Herrick's Graphic West, Maria A.. Hidden Springs, or How Sketch of its Present Condition .. _. . . .. 854- Missionaries are Made.. .. .. … . . . . .. …. 835 THIBET.-A perilous journey………. 879 Countries and Subjects. UNITED STATES.-The Silver Law's AFRICA.-The Congo Missions, 826; Effect on Missions, 848;.Farewell Meeting New World of Central Africa, 841; of Missionaries in Boston, 849; Presby- Daybreak in North Africa, 841; Dr. terian Woman's Missionary Society, 879; Blackie's Life of Livingstone, 842; Mwan- Report of International'Medical Mission- ga Stripred of Despotic Power, 844; ary Society, 879; Receipts American Editoria Notes on Uganda, 845; Zanzi- Board ………………………. _…. 879· bar, 84.5; The Slave Traffic, 861; Fire- arn1S, 862; The Liquor Traffic, 861; Great Statistics of Foreign Missions. Britain. Sphere of inlluence, 877; to ex- American :r.larathi Mission, 873; American Madura Mission, South India, 874; Amer- ican Free Baptist Mission, South Ben· gal, 874; Canada Baptist TeJugn Mis- sion, 874; Malayam Mission of L. M. S., Basel G. E. M. S., Southwestern India, 874; Mackay Mission Hospital, Formosa, 874; M. E. Church (North) N. China Missions, 874; American Presbyterian (North) Mission in Canton. China., 875; B. F. Missions of Presbyterian Church (South) Report for 1889-90, 874; Ameri- can Baptist Missionary Union, 876; Church Missionary Society…… • … 876·
The Missionary Review of the World — October 1890
CARDINAL LAVIGERIE AND HIS ANTI-SLAVERY WORK
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No. lO.-Old Series.–OCTOBER.–voL. ill. No. lO.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
CARDINAL LAVIGERIE AND HIS ANTI-SLAVERY WORK.
BY REV. J. C. BRACQ, PHILADELPHIA.
The statements of both the colleagues and the opponents of Cardinal Lavigerie remind us that mankind always inclines to ex- aggerate the qualities or the vices of men before it is willing to bestow upon them admiration or contempt. The friends and the foes of th~ Cardinal have each from their own standpoint enlarged upon his merits and demerits, and overrated or minimized the importance of the services which he has rendered to the anti-slavery cause. Their utterances have much value, as they are mutually corrective. Weare not, however, left to these partisans for our information on the Cardinal and his anti-slavery work. The Grey Book, prepared for the Conference of Brussels, gives us an impartial resume of what had been done to destroy slavery prior to the conference. Mgr.
Lavigerie has favored us with a volume of documents, * giving not only his own estimate of his work, but also the means of ascertaining the measure of the (Euvre Antiesclavagiste and of the man whose name is so intimately associated with it. The historical part of the documents is decidedly unfair to the world at large in relation to its share of efforts for African emancipation. The work of Wilberforce, of Granville-Sharpe, of Zachary Macaulay, of Buxton, of Livingstone, of Stanley, of Gordon, of the Anti-Slavery Society of England, the appeals of Englishmen before the Parliament, the patient negotiations of the Powers with Eastern potentates, the work of Protestant missionaries whose eye-witness reports stirred their respective countries-all this is overlooked; or, if referred to, has but an incidental or minifying allusion. The Cardinal speaks too disdainfully of the work of his predecessors, and too triumphantly of his own. He mentions, indeed, the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the Conference of Verona in 1822, the Congress of Berlin in 1884; but he says that up to this time "everything remained in the official world. " Then he adds: "It is true that the first explorers, and particularly Livingstone and Stanley, had begun to inspire learned societies and chancelleries with a feeling of horror and pity which the evils of Africa could but excite. The missionaries in their turn, the * Documents sur ia Fondation de I' <Euvre Antiesciavagiste. witnesses of so much infamy, have not waited, by their letters, to rend the veil." (Documents, p. 9.) According to Cardinal Lavigerie the reports of Livingstone and Stanley did not go beyond the range of learned, societies and the precincts of chancelleries. The multi- tude of their books and reports, which had a circulation a hundred times wider than any of the verbal or written utterances of the Cardinal, and to which he constantly refers for statistical purposes, or fo~ broad surveys of the African evil, count for naught among the powers that have brought to light the African horrors. Again, the "mis- sionaries" to~whom he makes allusion are Roman Catholic, and notably his own. The half century of heroic efforts of Protestant missionaries in Africa before his advent does not seem to trouble him in the least when he calls himself" the pastor of Africa," or when he speaks of" my missionaries" as the only Christian workers on the Dark Continent.
All this represents 'but one aspect of the historical unfairness of the prelate. There is a more serious historical defect: it is his abortive exertions to cause the Pope to appear as the prime mover in the anti-slavery crusade. A careful reading of the encyclical letter to the bishops of Brazil (pp. 1 to 27), of the allocution of the Cardinal to the Pope (pp. 30 to 37), of the answer of the Pope (pp. 38 to 41), of the Cardinal's expression, "daigna 8e rendre d ma priere" (p. 495), and of many similar passages, will convince one that, prior to the first success of the African prelate in this campaign, the Pope had no especial interest in this cause. All through the documents we find exaggerated, irrelevant and unhistorical praises of the Pope of the same unreal order as the statements that make Leo XIII. "the prisoner of the Vatican." Weare far from unwilling to recognize the rare qualities of the present Pope or his co-operation in the present anti-slavery movement; we only contend that neither he nor'the Cardinal, nor the Roman Catholic Church, ought to monopolize the credit of a movement to which Protestant missionaries, explorers, tradesmen, statesmen, and all the great factors of civilization, have been the most important contributors.
Cardinal Lavigerie has certainly aroused the Catholic nations of Europe to the importance of eradicating the slave trade from Africa; he has led Protestant nations to take up with new ardor and in a more practical way a cause dear to them; he has set earnest men to devise. means to destroy African slavery; he has inspired several thousand young men to go as volunteers to Africa; he has so affected public opinion in France that the French Government receives popular support in its campaign of Dahomey, where one of the greatest strongholds of slavery.is being overturned; he has done much to bring anti-slavery men of different countries to act in concert; he has organized the different anti-slavery societies in Europe into the large society, L' (Euvre Antiesclavagiste. These re- sults are remarkable, but they were secured by appealing to Catho- lics, Protestants and Free Thinkers alike. For a long time the work was presented as unsectarian, but it is no longer so. At the height of enthusiasm, Mgr. Lavigede announced the convocation of an im- mense Anti-Slavery Congress on August 5, 1889, in Lucerne. All the anti-slavery societies of the world were to be represented. The greatest anti-slavery orators were to be heard. This was to be the Ecumenical Council of the friends of negro deliverance. A few weeks before the opening of the congress, the Cardinal suddenly and arbitrarily postponed it, and then adjourned it indefinitely. He gave different reasons for this. rrhose made official were tha~ the coming French elections would prevent France from being fairly represented; but how could that be, as the elections were still at least six weeks distant? At a later date he announced, not his immense gathering, but a small conference with four delegates from each society. This was to all a conclusive proof that the "French elections" were but a pretext. The general interpretation of the Cardinal's action is that he clearly saw that, with such a large assemblage and so many Protestants present, it would be impossible to bring the movement within Catholic channels. N ow the organization is not only completed, but the Catholic Church holds command over it. Every friend of anti-slavery will lament this course. Why did the Cardinal appeal to Protestants and Free Thinkers upon a broad humanitarian platform and then put the whole organization underthe control of the Pope? Can those who thought that they were joining an unsectarian philanthropic organization now see it, without indignation, become the appanage of the narrowest sectarianism? That the work' has become thoroughly Roman Catholic is plain enough from pages 490, 497 and 498 of $e documents. It is not astonishing that the Swiss Anti-Slavery Society has already sent the Cardinal a note which is tantamount to a threat of separation.
One of the special features of Cardinal Lavigerie's work is the bold endeavor to stop slave-hunting by the sword. He proposes for Africa the revival of some of the old religious military orders of former days, such as the Knights of Malta, the Knights of Saint Lazarus and the Knights of Alcantara. These bodies of knights, placed under the authority of the Church, would be moving about, interrupting the work of slave-traders. Whether or not this part of the programme is reaHzed, the campaign will take place and volunteers are preparing for it. Will not these volunteers be a danger to Protestant establishments in Africa? As a minority, the Catholic missionaries have done much to wreck our Protestant missions; will not this corps be animated by the same spirit? This is a question which the past of Catholicism brings home to ns with increasing intensity. Another question forces itself upon us. What could not the (Euvre Antiesclavagiste have done, had it remained unsectarian, to destroy slavery in Africa, to improve the relations between all bodies of Christendom, to uphold some of the best interests of mankind and of civilization? It is with irrepressible melancholy that we contemplate possibilities that have been thwarted by unscrupulous sectarianism.
Cardinal Lavigerie is a great man, an adroit leader, one of the most distinguished representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, and one of the most liberal-though honest liberalism is no longer possible in that church. Few bishops have revealed more independence in reference to the Holy See, and probably none have burned more incense before it. His education, more rhetorical than scientific or philosophical, has prepared him for quick rather than ·prolonged action upon intelligent audiences. His addresses in England, Belgium, France and Switzerland sent a thrill of horror through his audiences as he related the harrowing scenes of carnage and barbarism attending the slave trade. The Cardinal stirs up the feelings of his hearers by the appropriateness ()f his utterances, the sympathetic glow that warms them, and the felicitous use of his surroundings. Still, his pictures of slavery are from documents rather than observation; it is easy to see that he has not witnessed the curse of manhunting and man-selling that desolates Africa. His addresses are' full of repetitions, not only of facts but of forms. Even his beaua; mots are ever the same. Compare him with another anti-slavery orator whose voice was heard in England a quarter of a century ago. How witty, brilliant, quick and spontan~ous was the American; how elaborate in method and restrained by religious forms is the French. How matter-of-fact was the Brooklyn preacher; how poetical and emotional is the primate of Africa. What singleness of purpose in the Plymouth pastor; what constant effort on the part of "the pastor of Africa" to win sympathy for the Church, the Pope and his mis-' sionaries. What absence of personal concern in the American patriot; what frequent allusions to age, to fatigue and self-sacrifice on the part c;>f the Catholic philanthropist. The one, how modern in address, how fond of democratic simplicity; the other, how riveted to the past by his ideals; his ecclesiastical rank, his delight in high-sounding titles and aristocratic pretensions. The one must be humanitarian because he is a Christian; the other a Romanist because he 'is humanitarian. Both men have in common great popularity and great zeal for the highest interests of the colored race.
There are traits in Mgr. Lavigerie that we would not discuss. His shrewd diplomacy, his extensive land speculations, and his lotteries, permitted by the French Government on conditions that were not fulfilled, need no comment. His love of personal mise
A FOREIGN MISSIONARY OF OLD TESTAMENT TIMES
en scene is known to all. He had arranged to have eighty of the pupils of his schools go to the famous Congress of Lucerne to sing. One of his priests in Algiers had composed a cantata in which the Cardinal was constantly praised, and several times called "the Liberator. " We do not say that the Cardinal ordered this cantata, but he accepted it. He even invited Gounod to write the music, but this distinguished composer could not comply with the request. Mgr. Lavigerie offered two prizes, one of a thousand francs and one of five hundred, for the best musical composition. When his anti-slavery lectures were published he sent them to the Catholic prelates of France, who acknowledged them in letters of excessive praise. One of the bishops places him among "the illustrious apostles of the Church and the unspeakable benefactors of mankind." Another would make him an "Urban II.," a "Peter the Hermit." Th~se letters, which even a vain man would read stealthily in his closet, the Cardinal published among the documents. While he gave scarcely two pages to what others had done before him to destroy slavery, he devoted more than one hundred and thirty to letters as flattering to him as they were irrelevant. Lately his tomb was finished in the Cathedral of Carthage. He gathered all his clergy and with them marched in procession to bless his last resting-place. That he should have withdrawn from his usual work to go and meditate and pray near it would have been natural enough, but all this ceremonial display reveals a nature which, on the border of the grave, is too self-absorbed. Great as his services have been to the anti-slavery cause, his anxiety to give the history of a work in which he is one of the chief factors; his parsimony in dealing with those that preceded him and prepttred the ground for him; his .finesse in making his (Euvre AntiesclavCtgiste Roman Catholic; his self-glorification in the cases mentioned, have led us to ask ourselves if this modern Urban II., this contemporary Peter the H~rmit, has not much of Loyola in his spirit and something of Boulanger in his methods? Be that as it may, it is certain that Protestants would do well to reflect before giving the Cardinal their money or their praises. Had he continued ashe began he wouldhave deserved both.
A FOREIGN MISSIONARY OF OLD TESTAMENT TIMES.
BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK.
It is believed that the first missionary to the heathen of whom we have any knowledge was Jonah, and he was far enough from being a model. To show that the cause then, as well as now, was a divine and not a mere human enterprise, the impulse came from the infinite compassion of Jehovah. Jonah was reluctant, evasive, disobedient. Even at the last he was churlish and took his allotted task at the hardest. This brief sketch of him which we find among the minor prophe, cies of the Old rrestament, constitutes an interesting and most in, structive object lesson.
First of all, it shows how much broader and grander is God's com. passion for the heathen than that of his select prophets and apostles. It also reveals a wise and tender discrimination, even in the midst of dire judgments. And it affords another proof that a plan of aU-embracing mercy and salvation was in force long bffore Christ came to be offered once for an for human redemption.
As we shall see, this illustrative picture was placed in the very darkest setting. The scene was laid in the thickest gloom of the old world apostasy; the heathenism which Jonah confronted was of the very worst type that the world has seen, either in ancient or in modern times; and even the witnessing power of the Church of God, as represented by His chosen people, was at its very lowest and most ineffectual stage. Out of this widespread and manifold darkness shines forth this prophetic light of the Divine pity for the worst of sinners.
It is scarcely necessary to discuss the mooted question whether the story of Jonah is real history, or only a parable like that of the prodigal son, since, in either case, the lesson taught concerning the mercy of God is the same. No words could portray a father's forgiving love more impressively than the story of the Prodigal; no greater proof could be given of God's compassion to the heathen than is found in His plea for the repentant Ninevites against the peevish remonstrances of Jonah.
I prefer to consider the story a real narrative and to take it as it stands. Miracles are miracles-and nothing is gained by explaining away one and leaving another equally great and extraordinary. All nature is God's handiwork, and He is not limited by our conceptions of law. To accept the Divine Incarnation, the Resurrection and the Ascension, and yet reject the miracles of the Old Testament, has aI– ways seemed to me illogical and capricious. It is a species of discrimination which can rest on no firmer basis than mere human fancy or conjecture.
The mere incidents of Jonah's commission and his flight are very simple. He had been commanded of God to go to the great and wicked city of Nineveh with a definite message of warning. It was not a pleasant errand to be the bearer of evil tidings-in fact, to pronounce upon the city a sentence of doom which would in all human probability cost him his life. He was afraid, and unquestionably that was the secret of his flight. Where he erred was in failing to realize that He who had commissioned could also protect him. "Be not afraid; have not I commanded thee?" expresses the real logic of all Divine commissions. Jonah not merely failed to respond-he proceeded in the very op- posite direction. He labored under the absurd infatuation of suppos- ing that he could be safer and more comfortable in far-off Tarshish than at home, or, as we sometimes express it-that he could gain something by putting the sea between him and the unwelcome com- mand. He proceeded therefore to embark; with a business-like bravado he paid his fare; he would have no issue with any but God. Yet withal he was not so brave as he would seem; he half smuggled himself on board and hid away and went to sleep "in the sides of the ship. "
'l'heJ'e are admirable touches of nature in the part taken by the crew of the ship when under the terrible pressure of the storm. They began to suspect that they had "some Jonah on board." They had labored at the oar and they had prayed, but evidently the case did not belong to any of their gods. They made inquiry therefore concern- ing the mysterious stranger who alone seemed unconcerned enough to sleep. They cross-examined him: "What is thine occupation and whence comest thou? What is thy country and of what people art thou ?"
It is interesting to observe the awe which filled all minds when the judgments of Jehovah were named. These seamen evinced it, and afterward the people of "Nineveh were equaayawe-stricken. Their apostasy could not quite obliterate their fear of that omnipotence which belonged to the God of Israel. When Jonah said, "I am a Hebrew and I fear the Lord, the God- of Heaven, which made the sea and the dry land," they were "exceedingly afraid."
Then there followed some tokens of humane consideration on both sides. On the one hand Jonah frankly avowed his belief that he was the sole occasion of the tempest, and advised that he be sacrificed. On the other hand the seamen were loath to adopt extreme measures, and they struggled hard to reach the land; and when they found that they had no other alternative, they themselves prayed to God that the dire necessity which confronted them might not be laid to their charge. The recalcitrant missionary was thrown overboard and was swallowed by "a great fish."
One might have stIPposed that after his candid acknowledgement of his wrong, and especially after God had mercifully heard the prayer wllich he had offered out of the depths, Jonah would prove thenceforth most grateful and submissive; that he w(luld be fearless also, since God had signally delivered him, and that above all ],e would be forgiving, even as he had been forgiven. He ought to have been, after ~uch a discipline, a model missionary to the Nillevite~. But instead of this he showed peculiar weaklless-the gospel designed for the Ninevites was in an earthen vPRsel.
Jonah prayed fervently in his affliction, and he indicted what seems to be a psalm of thanksgiving for his deliverance. He made solemn vows and was very sure that he would fulfill them. He did obey when the second summons came, "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee," but his obedience was not well sustained. He had a higher opinion of his own righteousness than Paul had of his, and he was not willing to "pluck out his eye" or "be accursed" for the salvation of any man or any number of men.
The solemn message which he bore was that after forty days Nineveh was to be destroyed. God intended it as a warning, involving a chance for repentance; Jonah understood it as a sentence of irreversible doom, and he was piqued at the idea that his prediction was not to be literally fulfilled.
How far the Ninevites repented is an interesting question. The advocates of the theory that the book of Jonah is only an allegorical poem, ask with much emphasis, "Where is the evidence that Nineveh was ever reclaimed? What historic proof appears that it became a God-fearing city?" It is not necessary to suppose that the repentance here referred to was that Godly sorrow which needeth not to be repented of; it was more probably a turning from the specific and unpardonable wickedness which had brought the judgment of God upon it. It. was at le&st a temporary reform of intolerable offenses.
Of all the types of heathenism that the world has witnessed, that of Nineveh and of the Euphrates'vaHey-that which spread westward to Sodom and overran the land of Canaan and Phoenicia-was the worst. It made universal prostitution a religious duty; from this it proceeded still further and spread everywhere the unnatural vice of Sodom; still further revolting cruelty was added to revolting vice, and children were burned alive by thousands a8 sacrifices to MoLoch.
These were the sins that caused the destruction of the cities of the Plain, and all the severest judgments recorded in the Old Testament.
Ebrard has shown how these terrible sins followed all the Phenician colonies on the Mediterranean; and when one contemplates the alternative of allowing the eorrupting influence of such a people to spread everywhere westward till all Europe and the world should be brought under its power, he can better understand the justice-nay, the humanity-of those wars of extermination by which Jehovah swept the land of the Canaanites and planted in their stead a better seed, in which all nations should be blessed.
The preaching of Jonah seems to have operated only as a cheek. Even in judgment God remembered mercy. He would never destroy till patience could no longer forbear, or till the cup of iniquity was fulL ,Vars of extermination waged by divine behest are hard for us to contemplate who see not the end from the beginning, and cannot say whether in the long run this or that may prove more merciful. But the mission of Jonah to the Ninevites throws a bright and pleasing light upon the dark mystery of divine judgments. It shows that in a :sense God loves to repent-we may say 'Waits to repent-of His threatenings; that, notwithstanding all the carping of men against His severities, He is more forgiving than man, and earnestly remonstrates against the hot – headed zeal of His prophet, who, having spoken, would carry out to the letter all that has been threatened.
The most difficult thing to understand in the authorized wars of ·extermination is the destruction of the innocent with the guilty-even little children. But there is a single sentence' in God's appeal to .Jonah which shows that even in that sad extremity God is not without tender consideration. "And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein there are more than six-score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and .also much cattle."
We cannot compass the broad and far-reaching considerations which affect the divine mind, with whom one day is as a th6usand years and a thousand years as one day. We know not in the case of .any infant whether it were better to die than to live. Certainly the death of the innocent were better than a long life of inevitable wickedness like that of Nineveh or Sodom.
Yet no opportunity for repentance is to be withholden, and the ,one thing which is conspicuous in this beautiful glimpse of the divine -character is the compassion-the considerateness-which, in pleading with the indignant prophet, points to the hundred and twenty thousand little children and the multitude of dumb beasts. The attributes of God here present a symmetry which is in strong contrast with the -caprice of man.
The late Dr. Horace Bushnell, in his incomparable chapter on the .divine character of Christ, calls attention to the fact that while men are always losing the balance of truth and verging to one extreme or another, the Christ rests ever in divine poise and harmony. Men talk ,of mercy so soft and limp as to sacrifice all law and order and fill the universe with anarchy, and yet what a history of intolerance and relentless cruelty do the records of mankind present!
So God threatened the Ninevites and held His prophet to the faithful discharge of his duty in warning them, yet how wonderful were His expostulations with that prophet when they had shown signs of repentance! There was no false estimate of their sincerity or their probable stability, yet there was a whole city in sackcloth, from the king to the lowest menial, and by royal decree everyone was" commanded to turn from his evil ways and from the violence that was in .his hands!" A respite must be given. Sentence was suspended and
A SKETCH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC MOVEMENT IN KOREA
the door of mercy was thrown wide open, and who can say how many souls in that great city found the repentance which is unto life?
We love to think that this remonstrance with Jonah in favor of the Ninevites was kindred with that which Christ made with His disciples when they asked that fire should descend from heaven on the heads of those whose acts they condemned, and with that other lesson of similar intent which was set forth in the parable of the barren fig tree. Doubtless, it was He, the same-" the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world "-that interceded for sinners both in the Old Testmnent and in the New.
The scheme of redemption was in His mind even when the wickedness of the world was at its height. Others outside of the Abrahamic Church, and even the chief of sinners, were objects of divine compassion; J·onah's missionary commission was a part of the great commission which in the fullness of time was given to. the apostles and to the whole Church.
A SKETCH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC MOVEMENT IN KOREA.
BY PROFESSOR H. B. HULBERT, SEOUL, KOREA.
Weare accustomed to speak of the missionary movement as one which had its origin during the second quarter of this century, and this js quite natural, because the missionary movement among Protestant peoples did have its origin about that time; but what of the missionaries of the Roman Church? Is it not remarkable that at the very time when the missionary movement was being decried in England and Scotland, and had not so much as been broached in America, the Roman Church had its missionaries in a large proportion of the Eastern countries? The seminary of the Societe des Missions Etrangeres had long been founded in France, and was sending out scores of men to India, Siam, China and Japan. Their great central station in the East was at Macao, near Hong Kong. This place was granted to the Portuguese in ]557 by the Chinese, and became one of the important ports of the East. It made a splendid centre for evangelistic work-a fact which the Roman Church was Dot long in percelvmg. From that point it sent out missionaries into all parts of China, which was at that time violently opposed to evangelistic work. To that place missionaries retired when times of special persecution and hardship came. 'l'here they brought some of their most. promising converts, and tat{ght them in a seminary specially endowed for this purpose.
But I desire to speak more especially of the work of the Roman Church in Korea. I make bold to say that in no country has Christianity been founded under circumstances more peculiar-more romantic, I might alrno~t ~a.". The l'tpry of it, as detailed by one of its workers, is fascinating-bloody almost beyond parallel, to be sure, resume but it was the blood of true men. Let me give a short and entirely inadequate of that story; for, although we differ in some im- portant particulars from our brothers of the Roman Church, it is as well that we should note the truly great qualities which have made them 80 tremendously powerful for good in many parts of the would.
In the winter of 1784, at about the end of our war for independ- ence, the annual Embassy from the court of the king of Korea en- tered the gates of Peking to present the customary compliments and gifts to the Emperor of China. Among their number was a young man of great honesty of character and of high culture, judged by the standard of the East. While in Peking this young man fell in with some Chinese Christians and was brought in contact with the Vicar Apostolic of that city. It resulted in his embracing the Ohristian religion and carrying it back with him to Korea, which before'that time had not so much as heard of the existence of Christ.
It was not long before he had gathered about him a small company of men who found no answer to their religious nature in the Confu- cian cult and, before a year had passed, the Church was an established fact in Korea; not, to be sure, after the Roman idea of establishment, but the seed had taken root and the true church was there. For sev- eral successive years one or other of this band accompanied the Em- bassy to Peking in order to receive baptism and to try to induce the Vicar Apostolic to send a missionary to Korea. But this was impos- sible, for the constant state of uncertainty as to the fate of the work in China rendered additional work impossible. It was just preced- ing the time of the Revolution in France, and the Church found it difficult to send men even to supply the urgent demand in China.
But each time the Embassy went, the Christian who accompanied it brought back books and religious objects, and gradually the band of Christians acquired a good knowledge of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity.
Of course these visits to the missionaries in Peking were unsus- pected by the Korean Government, but the fact of the presence of Christianity in Korea could not be long concealed. In 1791 it was remarked that certain men did not worship at the graves of their"
parents according to the Confucian code. It led to an inquiry, and the open confession and profession of Christ. Then began the first of the persecutions, which have followed each other at short intervals almost to the present day. The methods of torture in Korea are al- most too horrible to be believed. It consisted generally in be.ating the victim with huge paddles about the size and weight of a heavy oar. The victim lying on his face received from twenty to a hundred blows of this murderous instrument, every blow of which was suf- ficient to break the bones of his limbs, and reduce his flesh to a pulp_ Again thongs were put through the wrists and ankles between the tendons and the bone, and the sufferer was drawn back until his wrists and ankles came together, and in this posture he was left for hours. Others had chains put around their necks so heavy that they could scarcely lift them from the ground. They were literally devoured by vermin in the wretched prisons. They died of cold and hunger. Widows who professed faith in Christ and were arrested, suffered treatment a thousand times worse than delth at the hands of the majesterial agents.
In 1794, the Church in Peking, being unable to send a European missionary, put the Korean Mission into the hands of Father Tsiou, a Chinese preacher. But how to enter Korea was a question very difficult to solve. Between the northern boundary of Korea and the eastern boundary of China was a belt of land called neutral. It was forbidden to all men to reside on this belt of land, because it was considered that it was for the mutual benefit of Korea and China that an uninhabited tract of land should separate the two States. This belt of land was overrun by outlaws and refugees from justice of both countries, and they formed powerful bands, rendering it extremely dangerous for anyone to cross it in either direction. At the same time, the points where one could enter Korea were very strictly guarded, and everyone who passed had to undergo a minute examination. Many were the expedients adopted by missionaries from time to time in order to evade the examination. Sometimes they came to the place in the dead of night and made a dash past the sentries and gained the mountai,ns, where pursuit was impossible, but where they had to undergo untold suffering and privation before they could reach a place of comparative safety. Sometimes they would hide among a drove of cattle and thus pass through without being detected. At a later date missionaries all came by the way of the sea, ,crossing from China to a certain island on the coast of Korea, where they had to rendezvous with the Korean Christians. 'l'heir password, or rather signal, was a white cross on a red flag, and whenever such a flag was seen on the horizon a small boat put off to the island rendez- VOIlS, where the transfer was made and letters interchanged. Many a time a boat bearing a new missionary to Korea has hovered about for weeks waiting for its signal to be seen, and not a few times have they made three or four trips from China to the Korean coast before being able to effect a landing. The stories of these adventuresome journeys are as exciting as the most lively fiction.
But to return to the narrative.' Father Tsiou hovered about the boundary of Korea for a long time before he was able to enter. In the month of December, one bitterly cold night, he crossed the Ya- Lou River and was smuggled across the line, and finally arrived in Seoul and began the administration of affairs. From 1794 until 1801 there was a steady growth in the Church, but then broke out the first great persecution. It was not only the hatred of Christianity which made such havoc among the Christians, but it was intensified by party animosity.
There are four great parties in Korea, named from the four points of the compass. Two of these held about equal power, bat a large number of the Christians belonged to one of these, and the other naturally made Christianity the handle by which to exterminate their rivals. The persecution raged with frightful force. The agents of the magistrates sought for the evidences of Christianity with the instinct of bloodhounds. The whole Christian population, amounting to several thousands, was totally uprooted. All who did not renounce their religion and curse J esue were put to death, after the most cruel sufferings, and their relatives, whether Christian or heathen, were banished to distant islands. The detailed account of this persecution is enough to make the blood run cold. The sight of little children and aged men plodding along barefooted through the snow of winter or" the intolerable heat of summer is enough to fill the beholder with the deepest pity. This persecution seemed to have destroyed the Church, root and branch, but it was not so. Those who had been sent into different corners of the land began the work of reorganization immediately, and eventually their banishment caused the spread of the faith into the remotest parts of the country. Persecutions contin,ued at short intervals from that time on. Father Tsiou had been seized and decapitated in the beginning of 1801, and the Christians sent every year to Peking imploring the Church to send some one to administer the sacraments, and meanwhile they struggled on as best they could. The severest persecutions took place in 1815 and in 1827.
Finally, in the year 1830, after the Pope had received an urgent and touching letter from the church in Korea, Father Bruguiere was commissioned to make his way into Korea and take charge of matters there. From 1831 until October, 1835, Father Bruguiere was working his way overland through China to the borders of Korea. The hairbreadth escapes which he had during this journey and the suffering which he underwent would form a volume iu themselves. And no sooner had he reached the borders of Korea than he was stricken with fever and died. Soon after Father Maubaut, a missionary of Manchouria, was appointed Bishop of Korea, and in January, 1836, he arrived in Seoul and began his labors. Soon he was joined by two other workers, and the work was pushed with vigor. But in 1839 the Government became aware of the presence of foreign preachers in the country and a persecution began which bade fair to surpass in violence all that had preceded it. Not one of the native Christians that were seized would divulge the secret as to the dwelling place of the foreign preachers, and suffered death in consequence. Father" Maubaut, seeing that the Government would not stop the persecution until the foreigners had been apprehended, made the determination to give himself up to the authorities, and going quietly to the magis- tracy he announced hi~self. He sent to his two fellow-workers asking them to follow his example, which they did, and the three together, after many severe beatings, were taken out of the south gate of tpe city and beheaded. The persecution gradually died out, and the work again went on. Soon more missionaries came; 1841 saw a terrible persecution, and each year saw its martyrs. In 1855 there were several missionaries stationed at different points throughout the coun- try, and at their head was Bishop Berneux, perhaps the most remarkable of all the Latin fathers Korea had seen. At that time there were about 12,000 communicants in the whole land, but the Christian population numbered nearly 20,000. Steadily the Church increased in spite of opposition from all sides. It has always been poor from the fact that the majesterial agents, or as they are called in the East, " eja~en runners," made Christianity a pretext for seizing a man and demanding a heavy fine before they would release him. In this way the Christian population has always been reduced to the lowest reach of poverty. , And so matters went on until about the time of our civil war in America. At that time the heir to the throne was yet so young that the government was administered at the hands of a regent. It was about the time that the Russians had obtained possession of the territory north of Korea, extending to the Tumen river. Russia was demanding of Korea freedom of trade for her merchants in Wensau, the eastern port of Korea, but at no time has the Korean Government been more averse to the opening of the country to foreigners than it was then. It is said that Bishop Berneux had considerable influence among a certain class of officials in Korea, and that at one time he had it in his power to aid the Koreans in their negotiations with the Russians, and that he refused to do so. Be this as it may, the Regent and ~he Government formed the sudden determination to destroy all the foreign missionaries and to annihilate the whole native church, and then began the great persecution of 1866. First, all the missionaries that the Government could lay hands on were seized and thrown into prison. Two made good their escape after weeks of hiding and starving among the mountains, but Bishop Berneux and eight other missionaries were seized.
Allow me to describe briefly the trial and execution of Bishop Berneux, and that will suffice for all. Being seized in his house, he was bound hand and foot' and cast into the prison reserved for those who had been condemned to death. On the next day he was brought before the high tribunal and was put to the question: "What is your name?" "Berneux." " What is your nationality?" "French." "Why have you come to this country?" "To save your souls." "How long ha,:e you been here? " "Ten years." "Will you apostatize?" "No, indeed, I came here to teach Christ, and I never will renounce Him." " If you do not you shall be beaten to death." " Do what you wish, I am in your hands." " Will you leave the country if we give you a chance?" " No, I will not leave unless you carry me away by force." Then he was stripped and laid upon the ground and beaten with the great paddle-like implement of torture until his flesh actually hung in strips along his limbs. He was also punctured all over the body with sharp sticks. His limbs were thrown out of joint, and in this plight he was thrown into the prison again. The next day he was brought out again to be questioned, but he was too weak to articulate. All the other missionaries went through the same ordeal. On the day of execution a cortege of soldiers bore the prisoners in litters or carts to the place of execution, about three miles from the city to the south, near the river. There a great circle was formed, and the execution commenced. Bishop Berneux was placed in .the circle, cords were passed through his ears and under his arms, and, suspended on a pole, he was carried three times around the circle. Then he was placed on his knees in the center, his limbs securely tied and his head extended forward by means of a cord tied to his hair and held by a soldier. 1'hen half a dozen soldiers, sword in hand, began a savage dance around the victim, uttering horrible cries and brandishing their heavy weapons, and as each soldier passed in front of the victim he delivered a blow at the neck. At the third blow the head fell, and one of the most horrible massacres of modern times was perpetrated. So fell that whole band of noble men. Is it easy to believe that this ghastly work was done in the nineteenth century, nay, within a quarter of a century of the present day? And yet it is true. The persecution, among native Christians, which followed, carried off between six and ten thousand men, women and children. Whole villages were blotted from the face of the country. Whole districts were decimated. The powers of hell seemed to have risen in revolt against the Cross of Christ. Ingenuity, little short of Satanic, was exer.cised in the detection and slaught.er of Christ's followers, until a half of their whole number were added to the list of martyrs. The Church has recovered in large part from that persecution, and its work is being actively pushed by a force of eighteen fathers. The statement that the work in Korea is being carried on by Jesuits is incorrect. It is carried on by the Societe des Missions-Etrangeres of Paris.
UNDENOMINATIONAL MISSION WORK
UNDENOMINATIONAL MISSION WORK.
BY REV. JAMES F. RIGGS, BAYONNE, N. J.
It is a charming theory: Let them go everywhere preaching the- word. Let this new crusade be introduced at once, and let thousands. and tens of thousands of individual missionaries go to all lands,. carrying the knowledge of Christ to gladden the world. Now, if this means that we rejoice in the personal influence of Christian men in every city and town, and further, that we wonld multiply such holy influences without limit, then, of course, we can all say Amen with all our hearts. A noble life, whether it be of tea merchant, ship captain, or railway engineer, can not fail t~ tell in the end. God knoweth them that are His, and the power of a pure, honest, and de- voted life is always a matter of congratulation to us. Especially do, we insist on this high and sacred responsibility in the case of all physicians, editors, and men who employ labor on a large scale in heathen lands.
But observe one important qualifying fact: Such men are not called missionaries; they do not refer to themselves in such terms, and they claim no privileges or exemptions on any such ground. Each man of this class is self-supporting, and he does not fall back on the sympathy or material aid of the home churches. Hence we shut out all such at once from our inquiry. Our aid is not asked for them, nor do they defer to our technical ecclesiastical authority. But there is a class of men to whom we must call attention. They claim, and actually assume, the entire liberty of a wanderer, who may come and go at pleasure, yet they call themselves missionaries, and demand the moral sympathy and the material support of the home churches. To this we do object. They are superior persons, they have discovered the spiritual elixir of life, and they alone possess the secret. Their discourse is based on the general principle that the laborer is worthy of his hire, but they decline all ecclesiastical direction. Even a word of inquiry as to their theological position is often resented. Unfortunately, the supply of such persons is inexhaustible. Hercules cut off one head of the hydra, only to see two heads spring up in place of it. We read in scripture that Jonah's gourd came up in a night and perished in a night. And in the moral world there is a parallel. Such a city as Constantinople is a sort of perennial gourd-garden. The prospectus of each gourd is set forth in great confidence, but the result is not such as to justify the promise.
In these remarks we have no reference to the great established charities of the world, such as the Bible Society. That is not what we call undenominational-it is rather pan-denominational. The Bible Society occupies a position wholly unique, and its agents are like other recognized missionaries. They constitute in real life a body that may be fitly compared with any denomination, and their confession of faith is the Bible itself. But in actual praotioe it is a business enterprise, and so far from coming into collision with any other mi,s- sion, it is the right arm of all missions. Very little enduring work can be done in any place until the Bible Society lends its aid.
Again, special emergencies demand special forms of activity. The Christian Commission, which did a noble work in war times, and other colossal enterprises of that nature, are simply the outcome of a sudden demand that can be met in no other way. So, too, we would set aside the China Inland Mission, which is often called undenomi- national, simply denying that it is in any way a model for general jmitation.
Having thus briefly indioated what we are not discussing, we oan take up the undenominational mission itself. What is it? It is a mistake from beginning to end. It is poor eoonomy in the use of ma- terial, it is poor economy in the collection and transmission of funds, and the individual free-lance, who sallies forth to destroy the works of the devil without assistance, usually stumbles into a trap before he has accomplished very much.
It would astonish and amuse the friends of real mission work if they could listen to the talk of some of these men, and note the nature of their propositions. The most wild, vague and impracticable schemes are suggested by them, in perfect innocence. They know nothing of systematic mission work. They come at a bound into an Asiatic community, knowing nothing of customs, prejudices, and lines of effort that are already familiar to the people. They give needless offense at many points, and they fail to take advantage of points that might be utilized. They have no definite notion as to the possibility or impossibility of any given thing. Many years ago a famous Spanish monk, Raimundus Lullius, proposed to the leaders of Christendom the notion of dialectics as a weapon of universal religious warfare. He proposed to overthrow all forms of error, paganism, Mohammedanism, all schismatics and infidels, by his acuteness in· word-fencing, in dialectics. Roger Bacon proposed to the Pope, Nicholas IV. (who was greatly interested in the crusades), that he should erect large focal mirrors near the great Mohammedan cities, and so set them on fire by the conoentrated rays of solar heat. We are reminded of these beautiful but impracticable plans by the very simplicityof some inexperienced zealots in our own day. Even the young missionaries, who come out to join our regular systematized working force, fall into these inconsistences; how much more the mere religions adventurer who goes out to the field without any allied forces on his flanks.
It will probably be said in defenc'e of this guerilla method, that the regular missionaries have made mistakes. So they have; but their mistakes are noted, recorded, and when all the testimony is gathered into a body of doctrine it becomes the science of mission enterprise. l1issionaries do make mistakes, and what hope do we have that it will ever be otherwise? Only this; that the systematic development of the work, not under a despotic superintendent, but on the true fraternal principle of mutual aid and brotherly co-operation-in a word, the vital denominational system will obviate disorder and provide a trustworthy, scientific method, built up out of the experience which has been so dearly bought.
The common system, known as the denominational method, is the true method for many years to come. Why? Because men are not perfect, and because the only way we can approach perfection is by a mutual system of aid and of encouragement. We must here protest against a little bit of pure theorizing that is certainly thrust in and made a basis of error in this discussion. Weare told, the missionary should preach only the great outline truths of the gospel, in which the entire mass of Christendom is agreed. All minor matters ought to be left in the native churches, that they may develop a local system of ecclesiastical life and manners that shall suit the place and the times. This is a sheer dead-lift of theory. '1'he man who can preach effectively the great cardinal doctrines will be the man who has a well-worked-out theory of systematic theology, complete in all its parts. Who are the successful preachers? Are they not the men of clear-cut and well-matured views? We need the consciousness of reserve force. Denominational details are not trifles, but they are the solid backing of an immovable conviction. The denominational clutch on the sword of the Spirit is simply a confident clutch. Better work with a man who is left-handed than with one who says that there is no appreciable difference between one hand and the other.
In order to teach well, the teacher must know a vast deal more than he actually imparts, and the missiona.ry who is cut off from denominational sympathy has suffered a loss that no personal genius can ever make up.
Very little good solid enduring work is accomplished without the co-operation of a number of departments. Look at any given mission. It has its educational department, training up a native ministry. It has its publication department, providing a religious literature. It has its evangelistic department, the visitation of villages for the purpose of preaching. And, finally, it has its properly episcopal department, or department of superintendence, which is absolutely neceBsary for the proper co-ordinating of these diverse branches. No individual, however highly endowed, can. keep up all these various activities any more than a solitary individual could maintain a complex civilization all by himself. The fatal objection to these sporadic mission enterprises will be found just at this point. But we are told that if we would sustain them, these feeble missions would grow as the others have grown. Yes; then let us humbly ask, What Cate- chism would they use in their schools? How would they examine their candidates for the ministry? Where would they draw their supply of religious literature? There are a thousand practical diffi- culties in the way of all mission work that is not identified with some strong, well-defined denomination. No such worker is content to be always a mere tract-distributor. He will not tolerate the idea of oc- cupying permanently the lowest position in religious life. Every workman longs to see his superstructure rise to its proper eminence, and if this is to be done there must be a foundation, not only deep, but broad. There is a process known in electrical science as " completing the circuit," and in our active work for Christ we .need to do the same. We are not content with a mere piece of wire, or a strip of zinc, or a few drops of acid; we may not stop till we have completed the circuit. Nor are we afraid of denominational zeal. What if the battery is highly charged? What if men do speak unadvisedly with their lips? Have we not a check on such mistakes?
Why do men desire to organize any such efforts? Is it not generally because they wish to shake off responsibility? They are impatient of control. They are not willing to be advised. They find the exact, inexorable character of theology a yoke and a bondage. 'l'hey prefer to abandon themselves to the action of the centrifugal force. They are willing to wander alone, misled by the moral mirage which shows them facts, indeed, but facts turned upside down. Setting out in such a spirit, .it is not strange if they find this world a trackless wilderness.
It may be urged, perhaps, in reply to tp.is, that there is already friction and jealousy between the rival denominations. This is a VfYy unfortunate exaggeration. As a rule the large societies are friendly and sympathetic. A beginning has been made. Now let each society press its work to the utmost, and let the individuals ally themselves as they best can.
Just before the great battfe of Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson stood on the quarter-deck of his flag-ship, the Victory, and his fleet-captains, who had been summoned on board, stood around him. It was an anxious moment. They would soon be enveloped in battle-smoke, and one of the captains expressed the fear that one of them might make a mistake. The reply of Lord Nelson is worthy of a permanent place in the mind of every servant of Christ. It was the very utterance of genius. He said gravely, "No' captain can make a mistake if he lays his ship alongside a French ship."
A SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE.
The exception only illustrates and enforces the general law. The world is familiar with some' remarkable examples of noble, honest, and successful mission enterprise, conducted outside the lines of our regular denominational boards. The present writer has no wish to be unjust, nor would he withhold an iota of the praise due in any case. But mark the facts as they are in real life, not as they are in the dreams of unbalanced courage. Men have crossed the Atlantic in open skiffs; would you therefore advise anyone to go and do like- wise? Men have crossed the Andes alone, without any guide; would you assume from this fact that such a mode of travel is to be com- mended?
A very common mistake in modern times is the undervaluing of system, because somebody got along without any. Mr. Moody never went to college, hence a college course is superfluous. That mode of reasoning would do away with almost every blessing in civilization, because at one time or another some person was compelled to do with- out it. 'fhe independent or undenominational mission is a mission conducted under extraordinary difficulties, and the aim of this plea is to induce men to avoid those difficulties which are now quite needless.
There was a time when each and every mission was an experiment. Methods were uncertain-experience limited. Men who gave their lives in those days to the determination of grave questions in the policy of evangelism, did not throwaway the opportunity, for there was a cause. Now many things are entirely different. Experience is ample, and we know what can be done and what cannot. Let not the old rash ventures be made again to no purpose. We praise Dr. Joseph Wolff, but it would be very foolish for any person now to llndertake to repeat his journeys in the disguise of a dervish. It is not necessary to do so.
The enthusiast who sets forth on an independent mission, is not always to be blamed, but he ought to be instructed. He does not . know the facts in regard to the foundations already laid, and the tunnels already driven far into the rock. It is easy to point to a man of genius, and to imagine that all further debate is shut off. On the contrary, we ought not to be guided too exclusively by the triumphs of genius, because a mighty man may do what a man of ordinary force and consecration could never do. And failure is not simply failure, it is disaster in the foreign field, making the whole region sterile to those who follow.
If the question be put as to our immediate duty toward the scattered forces now in the field, the present writer would suggest: 1. That those persons who can influence any enterprise of this nature should concentrate their men just so fast as may be possible. Missionary power is like the mathematical law of the cube. 'fhe cube of two is eight; but the cube of three is twenty-seven. By all means gather the men into organic missions rather than depend on isolated units at long intervals.
2. Let those missions that are already denominational in substance
THE PRAYER FOR LABORERS
become such also in name and honest avowal. If this involves some criticism and official inspection, so much the better. The tendency will be to weed out errors, to correct bad methods, to bring about harmony in all sorts of questions, and it will prove a check that we greatly need on the reckless waste of money in some places.
The one point on which we insist is that success renders denominational boundaries absolutely necessary. Just so soon as the missionary is able to lead men to the Saviour, then immediately the questions of organization and education come up, and cannot be set aside unless there be such vigor and nerve in the leader as to make of his work, practically, a new denominatio,n.
THE PRAYER FOR LABORERS.
[EDITORIAL.-A. T. P.] "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that He would thrust forth laborers into His Harvest."
How long shall it take us to learn that the grand inspiration to all missions, the world over, and to all missionary spirit and sacrifice in the Church, is PRAYER? not appeal to men, but appeal to God.
This is but one of those injunctions and promises which fix our eyes upon Prayer as the great motor in the kingdom of God. Again we affirm it: Prayer has turned every great crisis in the kingdom. It can bring' men, it can furnish money, it can supply all the means and materiel of war. Yet, we sadly but seriously affirm that this, the grandest of all the sprhIgs of missionary activity, is that on which the least practical dependence is placed in our missionary machinery.
Let us look at the bearing of believing supplication upon our supply of laborers for the harvest field.
The fascination about all true Christian work is that, first of all, it is God's work. The true child of God longs to find his place and 1'!phere in that grander sphere of divine activity where he is permitted to share co-operation with God. Now all true adaptation to our work depends on a higher plan than ours. God's work reaches through the ages and spans even the eternities. Every workman must have hisfltness for his particular work, and that fitness must be (If God, for the workman cannot know what peculiar demands that :t work will make upon him until he gets at work, and then it is too late to prepare. Preparation must be carried on earlier, and, be- -cause no man can tell with certainty what he is to be called to do, or where he is to be placed, the only hope and faith that can solve the, perplexity must fasten on the Providence of God. He who foresees and foreknows what the work is to be must predestine and prepare the worker to do it.
Does He not? 'Who that studies history-which is the mere record (If God's dealings with humanity-cannot see that a divine plan is at work? that in the great crisis of affairs He brings forth some man or woman singularly prepared, unconsciously' prepared, often unwill- ingly prepared, for the work and the sphere? so that, as, in the build- ing of the te:nple, no sound of axe, hammer or tool of iron was heard while it was in building,-so again there is no need of any adaptation after the man and his work meet-they mutually fit as stone does, stone, or timber does timber, where the work has been properly done in the quarry and in the shops.
Many a man has no chance or need to adapt himself to his" en- vironment." One of the great objections to "evolution" is found in the frequent examples of preadaptation with which nature abounds. A caterpillar that lives on the earth, crawls on its own belly, eats leaves and refuse,-at a certain stage of its history enters the chrysa- lis state. It is to emerge from its cocoon a winged butterfly, hence- forth to soar, not creep or crawl, to sip the honey from the dainty nectaries of flowers. Here is a wholly new' experience, of which the' life of the worm furnished no earnest. Now if you run a sharp blade down the length of the cocoon, and cut through the cuticle of the animal while yet in the chrysalis state, you will find all the peculiar' organs of the future butterfly 01' moth mysteriously enfolded beneath that skin. How are they to be accounted for? That caterpillar nO" more knew its future state and needs than the unborn infant knew its coming wants. It could not be said to adapt its organs to its new life after its emergence from the cocoon, for those organs were all there- long before the moment of that new birth. And so the reverent Christian scientist accounts for the preadaptation by a higher evolu- tion in the plan of a Creator.
Just so we discern in history preadaptations that defy any ex- planation without faith in the providence of God. M~n themselves have been undergoing a peculiar training for ten, twenty, thirty" forty years, which has found its explanation only when God has brought' them and their preordained work together! Moses, in the- palace and court of Pharaoh, from the hour when he was taken out of the basket of bulrushes, was unconsciously preparing to become , God's great agent in Israel's deliverance and organization: the fitness of that man as leader and law giver, poet and prophet, organizer and administrator, is so exact and marvellous that it compels belief in God. Luther at Erfurt and W urtemberg, Knox in Scotland, Calvin in Switzerland, J ohn Wesley and Charles Wesley in England, J ona- than Edwards in New England, William Carey at Hackleton, Adoni- ram Judson in 'Villiamstown, John Hunt at Hykeham Moor, John E. Clough studying civil engineering, David Livingstone poring over Dick's "Siderial Heavens," Henry M. Stanley reporting for the New York Herald-these are examples of men whom God was unconsciously making ready for a special work of which they had no conception, and for which they could make no intelligent preparation.
Who was it that not only raised up those six remarkable men and missionaries-Schwartz, Carey, Judson, Morrison, Wilson and Duffbut raised them up in the same age and epoch of missions? All of them from humble life, but of varied nationalities, of different denominations, Lutheran, Baptist, Independent, Presbyterian; who was it gave to all of them essentially the tastes and the training of scholars, though their early surroundings in several cases specially forbade; who was it that singularly fitted them to be theologians, translators, philologists, scientists and teachers? Who was it that so singularly adjusted the plan of these several lives that each spent some forty years among the natives of India, Burmah or China; passed the advanced limit of three-score years and ten, and died rejoicing not * only in their labors but in the fruit of their labors?
Sometimes, indeed, it suddenly appears to the man himself that the adaptation somehow exists; but it is only the consciousness of a pre-fitness. John Hunt has been compared to the forest bird, which, hatc'hed in the nest of some common domestic fowl, moves about restless among the pullets and ducks in the barnyard, until some day, finding its pinions grown long and strong, and instinctively conscious that the air, not the earth or the water, is its native element, suddenly soars from the ground and makes straight and swift flight toward the freedom of the woods and the higher realms of the atmosphere! Of how many of God's workmen might similar words be written? And what new hope does it impart to missiolls as the enterprise of the Church to know that while God buries the workmen He carries on the work ! No gap ever occurs that He cannot fill. How often a desponding spirit cries, when such a man falls as John Williams of Erromanga, or Mackay of Uganda, or Livingstone at Lake Bangweolo, or Keith Falconer at Aden, "How shall that man's place be filled?" But God has another man ready, and sometimes two to take the place of one. And so the work goes on.
The subject will bear indefinite expansion; but our object is only to sound once again the grand key-note of all missions: Believing Prayer. The field is wide-world wide. The Harvest is great, but the laborers are few. How are they to be supplied? There is but one way authorized in Scripture: "PRAY ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that HE would send forth laborers into His Harvest." Nothing else can fill these vacant fields with an adequate supply of workmen. Education cannot do it. A great deal of our education is leading young men and women away from mission fields. "The spectacles of the intellect," says Dr. David Brown, "are binocular." 'l'here is a tendency in all intellectual culture, as in the gathering of earthly * See Dr. George Smith. riches, to make us practically Godless. Men become purse-proud by accumulating wealth, and brain-proud by accumulating learning. If God does not hear prayer and give learning and culture a divine direction, a heavenly anointing, our colleges will only raise up a generation of sceptics. Our appeals and arguments will not give the Church missionaries; unless the demonstration of the Spirit is added to the demonstration of logic, no conviction will result that leads to consecration-that higher logic of life.
And, when workmen are on the fleld, it is the same prayer that must secure to the word they preach" free course," so that it is glori- fied. When the Church at Antioch, praying and fasting, sent forth Barnabas and Saul on that first missionary' tour, the Church kept praying; and, in answer to prayer, doors, great and effectual, opened before them, and repentance unto life was granted unto the Gentiles, and mighty signs and wonders were wrought by the hands of those primitive pioneer missionaries.
We have heard many things said in depreciation of J. Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission. We have he~rd his whole work stigmatized as" without a foundation," a " wild scheme," "im- practicable," "lacking all elements of stability and permanence;" we have heard said of it, that it " gets men and women into Inland China, and then leaves them there to starve," etc. One thing is very remarkable about it: it sets us all an example of faith in God and power in prayer. It has been the writer's privilege to meet frequently and in circumstances·favorable for confidential intercourse, this be- loved man of God-this" Paul, the little "-and from his own lips to hear the history of the China Inland Mission. It is a wonderful story; it sounds like new chapters in the Acts of the Apostles. Mr. Taylor was at the little Conferences of Believers at Niagara-on-the-Lake in July 1888 and 1889. At the first, he made a precious address, fra- grant with the anointing of God-unpretentious, modest, simple, childlike. It took us all captive by a divine fascination. He simply unfolded the word of God, made no appeal, would, in fact, have no "collection. "But that little company of believers, mostly poor, con- strained him to accept a freewill offering of some $2,500. To our surprise he was rather anxious than pleased. And in 1889 he told us the source of his perplexity. As nearly as we can recall, these were his words: " When that money was put into my hands, I felt burdened; when the Lord sends me workers I feel no anxiety, for I know that He who .provides laborers for His harvest-field will provide the means to put them into the field. But when the Lord gives me money and not the workmen to use the monsy, I know not what to do with it. When from the Conference of 1888 tMrteen volunteers subsequently offered • themselves for the great field of China, I said, ' Now the Lord has .solved my perplexity.' But, 'you see, we sometimes reckon too fast. And so it was with me. For when I went to the places from which these beloved laborers were to go forth to the harvest-field, the churches to which they belonged insisted on paying all the expenses .of their outfit and journey; and so I had this money still on hanel, and my perplexity was increased. Now, dear friends, don't give me any more money unless you give me the men and women to use it! "
We have made and heard thousands of missionary addresses, but never any like that! For once we have found the l1ead of a great missionary movement whose main care is not money at all, and who is more an';£ious to have workmen than funds; who, in fact, begs us not to give him any more money until we first provide the workers to use it. The ordinary conditions seem somehow reversed. We hear on all sides frantic appeals for money. To-day, it is said, scores of young men and women are coming forward, offering to go, but there is no money to send them. Brethren told me in Scotland that they were compelled to stop appealing for workmen, because the appeals were so much more enthusiastically responded to than the Church responds to the needs of an over-taxed treasury!
We have no thought of using invidious comparisons; but we are compelled to ask whether we have not, in our missionary work, fallen into the snare of worldly care-whether missions do not stand in our thought too much as an enterprise of the Ohurc.h, and too little as the work of God, of which the Church is the commissioned agent. We feel conscious, like all others that have passed their meridian hour, that our day of labor slants toward its western horizon and its setting-hour. We desire to make every utterance of tongue or pen as serious, solemn, candid, and conscientious, as though it were, as it may be, the last. And, with fnll consciousness that no othel' "Editorial" may ever issue from the pen and hand which write these lines, we here record the profound conviction that, back of all otl.!-er causes ·of the present perplexity in our mission work; behind all the apathy of individuals and the inactivity of churches; behind all the lack of enthusiasm and the lack of funds; behind all the deficiency of m,en and of means, of intelligence and of consecration, of readiness to send and alacrity in going, there lies one lack deeper and more radical and more fundamental-viz.: THE LACK OF BELIEVING PRAYER. Until that lack is supplied the doors now opened will not be entered, and the .doors now shut will not be opened; laborers of the right sort will not be forthcoming, nor the money forthcoming to put them at work and sustain them in it; until that lack is Rupplied the churches in the mis-. sion field will not be largely blessed with conversions, nor the churches in the home field largely blessed with ~utpourings and anointings of zeal for God and passion for souls.
The first necessity for the Church and the world is also the first
THE RESULTS OF MODERN MISSIONS PERMANENT
central petition of the Lord's Prayer: Thy Kingdom Come! of which the hallowing of God's name is the preparation and the doing of God's . will is the consequence. And that Kingdom comes only in answer to . expectant prayer. We need, first of all, a revival of the praying spirit which moved Jonathan Edwards to publish his appeal in 1747, and led 'William Carey and John Sutcliffe to republish it in 1787. Modern missions had their birth in prayer; all their progress is due to prayer. A few souls that have close access to the Mercy Seat, like Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Daniel, have kept up the apostolic succession of prayer. And because of this, and of this alone, doors have been opened, workmen thrust forth into the open fields, and money has been provided. But suppose the 'Whole Church would get down before God! What if, where one now prays, a hundred were bowed on the face like Elijah on Carmel! What, if in place of the naturalism that. is eating at the vitals of spiritual life there might be a revival of faith in the supernatural, a new and universal awakening to the fact. that God is a present, living, faithful, prayer-hearing God; that the closet is his ante-room, nay, his audience-chamber, where, to the sup- pliant soul, he extends his sceptre and says, "Ask what thou wilt in Jesus name, and it shall be given unto thee !"
The late Mr. Neeshima, of Japan, said to his fellow-countrymen when planning an evangelistic tour-"Advance on your knees!" To· work without praying is practical atheism; to pray without working is idle presumption. But to pray and work together, to baptize all work with prayer and to follow all prayer with work-that is an ideal life. Of such a life we may reverently say, labo1'are est orare- work is worship and worship is work.
In the vision of Isaiah (vi.) the seraphim have six wings, and four of them are used in the office of humble and reverent worship, while only two are reserved for flying. As Dr. Gordon beautifully says, " Let us learn a lesson on the proportion to be observed between supplica- tion and service." Better twice as much devout preparation as work~ than a hurried and superficial communion with God, and an unpre- pared and hasty dash and rush into activity. Let us linger before God until we get power, and then life becomes grand. It shines with the glory of His Face, and it moves with the might of His omni- potence.
THE RESULTS OF MODERN MISSIONS PERMANENT.
BY REV. THOMAS LAURIE, PROVIDENCE, R. I.
The American Board began its work in Western Asia by sending missionaries to Palestine. In other words, the new world sent the gospel to that part of the old world whence that same gospel first went forth to bless the rac~-to the city where our redemption was wrought out and where the first Christian church was formed. That fact starts the inquiry, whether the power of the gospel, like that of mere human influences, is short lived? As earthly kingdoms rise from obscurity, flourish for a season, and then decay, does the kingdom of God in like manner have its era of growth and harvest, and then leave nothing but stubble to be ploughed under by new laborers in their preparations for another crop? Missionaries from New England occupied chUl'Ch edifices in Ceylon that had been built centuries before by Papal missionaries from Portugal. Shall missionaries to China a millenium hence find no trace of the work being performed in that empire to·day save some stone like that at Singan Fil, which records the labors of N estorians eleven centuries ago? Or shall future evangelists from Central Africa find such wrecks of churches in New England as we have found in Tarsus, Smyrna and Thessalonica? On the one hand it may be said that our country has not been in existence so long as the time between the visit of Xavier to Ceylon (1544) and the present; but on the other, we can say with the prophet, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever" (Isa. xl:8), and that word has .been translated into the language of China, "and it shall not return to Him void, but shall prosper in the thing whereto He sent it" (Isa. Iv: 11).
These questions present a very interesting topic for discussion. The writer sincerely wishes that he were able to do justice to so grand a. theme, and ventures to submit these few thoughts only as a starting point whence others may advance further into a land flowing with milk and honey, and bring back far richer clusters.
First of all then let us keep in mind that in this discussion we are not inquiring as to the certainty of the conversion of the world to God. He settled that forever when in His word He put the certainty of that result alongside of the certainty of His own existence. The old version of Numbers, xiv:21, read thus: "As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord," but the new revision translates it more accurately, "In very deed, as I live and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." At first sight this seems a weaker statement, but it is in fact much stronger, for while the old rendering made the existence of God a pledge of the conversion of the world, this more correct one co-ordinates the two things as alike certain and incapable of change. How could it be otherwise, when it is written (Daniel vii:14): "His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." And then this divine result is the work of God Himself, as He says (Isa. 1x:22), " I the Lord will hasten it in its time." We must never forget that it is "not by might or by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." And to this agrees Isa. liii:12, "Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He poured out His soul unto death: and was numbered with the transgl'essors; yet He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the trangressors. " Thus binding the redemption already achieved and this future triumph of that redemption in one inseparable bond. Well does the Holy Spirit say through Jeremiah xxxiii:20: "Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant (Jf the night, so that there should not be day and night in their season; then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant."
It is well that our hearts be established by recalling such words of God before we launch out on the more uncertain sea of human probabilitie!l, for what Christian can read such words of God and for (Jne moment doubt the final issue.
Still the fact remains that the gospel was once preached in Palestine by our Lord and His Apostles, and now missionaries from other lands are needed to restore to that land the knowledge of the truth, and the question is, "Have we any reason to think the present evangelization of that region will be more permanent than that which went before?"
We see at once that there is a difficulty here which does not exist in some nations whose nominal conversion to Christianity took place during the dark ages. Take France as a representative of many others. There Clovis, a fierce fighter, when Thor and Woden seemed to fail him in battIe, turned to Christ for help, vowing to be His follower if He gave him the victory. The bloody battle was decided in his favor, "and thousands of his wild warriors followed him to the font with as little thought as they would have followed him to death or victory." It was this conversion that won for the King of France the title of" the most Christian king." The historian adds: "It is from this robber, liar and murderer that France rightly dates her beginning." (Encyclopedia Brittanica, Ninth Ed., Vol. IX, p. 529). It is not at all surprising when nations whose conversion has been brought about by such methods fall away from the faith, for the tru~h is that they never had a faith to fall away from. If the church in Palestine had been brought iuto existence by such methods we might be grieved, but we could not be surprised by its fall; but when the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit lie at its foundation, we must look elsewhere for the explanation of its falling away_ Still no thoughtful reader of the New Testament ought to be surprised at it. The Apostle says to those among whom he had labored more than two years at Ephesus (Acts xX:29): "I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." It may be said that this does not anticipate so utter an overthrow as destroyed vital piety in all that region. True, and yet tha~ same Apostle strove to prevent in, his own lifetime an apostasy that would have been utterly subv~sive of the truth, for he says of some op'posers (Gal. ii:5) that he" gave place to them in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you," imply- ing that otherwise the truth had perished from among them. Then in 2 Thess. ii:3, he speaks of falling away and a revelation of the man of ,sin. "For," he adds in verse 7, "the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now,until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the Lawless One, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of His coming."
Besides, over and above these warnings of the Apostles, how often did the Lord Jesus say to His churches: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen [note it: already fallen] and repent, and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place." (Rev. ii:5). Surely such utterances ought to make surprise impossible when we look on the spiritual desolation 'of Bible lands, and their political and pecuniary desolations are only the consequences of the spiritual ruin that had gone before.
Another truth claims our notice in this connection. At no time in the past has any religious movement been either perfect in its nature or universal in extent. In other words, it has not thoroughly transformed the whole character, or pervaded the entire community. No one man has done good and not sinned at all, and there have always been those who have floated with the current whichever way it turned, but without any spiritual life of their own. Hence among the ancient people of God His kingdom did not move forward in one continuous advance, but rather by seasons of progress, interrupted by either lack of movement or positive retrocession. An advance under Samuel was followed by a backward movement under Saul. Another advance under David was succeeded by a retrograde movement that culminated under Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Again, light under J ehoshaphat was followed by darkness under his son, Jehoram, and so on to the captivity. That, however, was under a dispensation that was growing old and ready to vanish away.
Under the gospel, our Leader teaches us to aim at nothing less than the doing of the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven; and this, which involves complete obedience on the part of each, and the combined obedience of all, we are never to lose sight of. It is to be the object of our daily prayer and constant endeavor. Still, being so high an aim, it is not strange if its attainment be more difficult, but we trust that the morning has dawned that shall shine more and more unto this perfect day, for under the power of the Spirit of God, things shape themselves toward a higher standard of character throughout the Ohurch iu all lands. And here belougs one truth that is fuil of comfort. The work of the Spirit is not stationary, but progressive.
He began by brooding over material chaos. He insp~red Bezaleel and Aholiab for 'their work, and He now works a spiritual transformation in human hearts. Though He did this before Ohrist came, yet it was confined to EO few, that the evangelist could say (St. John vii:39), "The Holy Spirit was not yet given; because Jesns was not yet glorified." After that He wrought the wonders of the day of Pentecost; yet that was only one step in an advance that shall overcome the powers of evil with a continuous and unending victory. The same divine energy that overcomes for one moment is able to overcome forever. And it is in the line of the divine progress to show the power of the redemption that is in Ohrist Jesus, to conquer the causes that now render revivals temporary, as well as those that render them impossible at all to man unaided.
As the plan of God involves this progress, we should expect to find instrumentalities provided to carry it out, and we are not disappointed. The past history of the Ohurch has shown God working toward perfect ends through imperfect instrumentalities. At first there was a needs be for Apostles, lifted out of and above the rest of the Ohurch. Still they were not an unmixed good. Their presence involved the danger of depending too much on leaders, although one of the chief Apostles begged the prayers of the churches for a blessing on his labo.rs. This undue reliance on leaders led to the attempt to perpetuate the apostolic office without the apostolic gifts, hence ruinous ambition among the clergy, who forgot how the Master said, "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Math. xxiii:ll), and that" Whosoever shall humble himself as a little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (xviii:4). When we look back on the bitter fruits of ambition in the Ohurch, we are at no loss to explain the disappearance of spiritual life from Bible lands. Still this does not involve the failure of divine plans, for the same chastening that visited retribution 011 sin in the Ohurch, also prepared the way for a renovated sanctuary and a holy people who should carry out the glorious idea of a Ohurch, as it existed in the mind of God.
Look at some of the wonderful works of Him who is King in Zion. Once copies of the Holy Scriptures could be multiplied only by the slow labor of the pen. Then the common people could not possess them. Even churches could hardly secure a copy for their public worship. This left them dependent on the clergy for their knowledge of the truth, and it is humiliating to have to confess that this great power in the hands of ecclesiastics was not always used to make their people wise unto salvation, but rather to strengthen their own supremacy.
Even now good men look more to the preacher than to Ohrist. How much more when $ey had no Bible at home to correct that tendency, and everything in the Church magnified those who sought their own greatness at the expense of the edification of the people. Even now some true disciples are influenced more by the visible splendor of a church edifice and the audible music of the choir than by unseen spiritual virtues. How much more, when those who ought to have pointed them to the "Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world," claimed that they themselves had power to forgive sins and impart salvation! But now that the common people have the Bible in their own hands, which can make them wise unto salvation, they have a divine deliverance from this bondage to a clergy, and we may estimate the greatness of that deliverance from the frantic efforts put forth to-day to take away the Bible from the masses, or at least to prevent them availing themselves of its divine instructions.
The Master in his day preached the coming of the Kingdom of God, looking beyond the temporary thraldom of his people to that freedom wherewith the truth would make them free. And the Church has now come forth from that dark house of bondage to walk in the light of the truth of God.
The fact, then, that the Providence of God, by means of the press, has put the Bible into the hands of the common people, and stirred up His Church not only to see that it is distributed but that men are stimulated to engage in its study and assisted in that study, is one pledge that the waters of this flood of ignorance shall not return to destroy the Church and necessitate another replanting of those lands where the truth is taking root to-day.
Another fact which strengthens this conviction is the influence which the Bible exerts on those who receive it. It has already been intimated that something is needed to interest men in the truth, so that they shall feel its power, and that something is the Holy Spirit, who, Christ says, "Shall take of mine, and declare it unto you" (St. John xvi:14). It is not necessary to determine the minimum of truth essential to secure the work of the Spirit in a human heart. It is enough to know that He works through the truth. Anyone who has ever had opportunity to compare the working of Papal missionaries with those who go forth from our Puritan Churches, appreciates this fact as no language can describe it. There is a puny weakness in the adherents of the one, and a stalwart energy in the converts made by the other, to which words cannot do justice. On the one hand are Lilliputian superstitions and Brobdingnaggian legends of the Saints. On the other are a wonderful manliness and the fruit of the Spirit in all its v6riety and sweetness.
Some magnify education as a power to renovate persons and peoples; and no doubt education produces great results, but the highest style of education is seen where a soul, regenerated by the Spirit, studies that Word of God through which the Spirit sanctifies. NOl science can compare with the Bible. Other sciences deal with the, works of God, whether in the realm of matter or of mind; Scripture, deal~ with God Himself and our relations to him. No college can rise so high along any other line of study; no university can secure, such a large and well-proportioned mental development through the pursuit of all other sciences put together, and it is this highest style, of education that is given in our higher missionary schools. There,. whatever other line of science is pursued, the Bible is supreme, and_ that not only enmancipates from the bondage of ignorance, it lifts; the soul into the plane along which it is to advance forever, and on which they move in Heaven to-day. And the- men so trained will never degenerate as Bible lands have degenerated under an ecclesiasticism that ignored the Redeemer, and his great Redemption, and sent them to the priest for salvation, instead of sending them to the only name under heaven that is given among men whereby we must, be saved. Men do not go to Him and come back empty.
Some talk as though a new discovery in politics or in science was· lifting up the masses to-day and righting the wrongs of ages-upheaving society from its depths and creating all things new. It is neither a new discovery iu politics nor in science, but an old truth sung by a woman nineteen hundred years ago in connection with the incarnation of the Son of God. "He hath showed strength with His. arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. He hath put down princes from their thrones, and hath exalted them of low degree. The hungry He hath filled with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away." (Luke i:51,53). It is that power of an Incarnate Saviour that was spoken of even a millenium before- Mary thus magnified the Lord, when the Psalmist said of Christ, "He shall deliver the needy when he cricth; aud the poor that hath. no helper. He shall spare the poor and nee(~y, and shall save the souls of the needy." (Ps.lxxii:12, 13).
In the labor questions that now vex society, we see this power grinding like Samson in the mills of the Philistines-a captive shorn of its strength; but in the missionary station we see it wielded by omnipotence, to shatter every hostile force that exalteth itself against God and human well being. There it asserts its divine energy, and there is one line of its working that calls for special notice. The heathen, like sinners at home, are selfish, and their selfishness has. found expression in a lazy looking ont for their own advantage, regardless of the interest of others. At first missionaries were made so happy by the sight of interest in spiritual things, in however small 8. degree, that they were in danger of hindering the work of God by doing everything for their converts and shielding them from every self-denial. They hrnished employment; they protected and coddled
MAHDISM AND MISSIONS IN THE SOUDAN
them till they were in danger of destroying all manly self-reliance. Now they have learned the love as well as wisdom of those words of Jesus (Luke iX:23): "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me," and they teach converted heathen that the work of the kingdom in their land belongs to them and not to the missionary. That to them belongs the support of the churches, and that their feet are to carry the goopel into the regions beyond. The consequence is a type of Christian zeal and self-denial that puts us at home to shame, and our churches are stimulated to new consecration by the example of those who yesterday were heathen. Here is another fact on which we build our assurance: that the present results of missionary labor have come to stay. The churches that lazily leaned on the store of merit which their clergy claimed to have at their disposal may pass away; but these Christian workers are only the vanguard of others who shall enter into their labors, and together press on in the service of the Lord till the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
It is said that even the most fervent zeal may grow cold and disappear. Yes, if its roots go no deeper than the heart, which is deceitful above all things; but if the zeal of the Lord of Hosts is performing this, if the life that is iu Christ as well as from Christ is the power at work in this matter, is anything too hard for the Lord? "Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not> faint." (1sa. xl:28-31).
MAHDISM AND MISSIONS IN THE SOUDAN.
BY REV. LEWIS GROUT, WEST BRATTLEBORO, VT.
Among all the characteristics which mark the followers of the False Prophet in Beled-es-Soudan, "the country of the blacks," perhaps none is stronger or more peculiar than their faith in Mahdism. Nor can any organization or enterprise that may have in view a thought of promoting the essential well-being of that people, whether social, political or religious, afford to be indifferent to the opposition this religion would offer to its efforts. Least of all can any missionary, or missionary society, hope to succeed there without knowing something of the character of the Mahdic phase, of the Moslem faith, and something of the reasons why its devotees are so strongly attached to it. Should a study of the subject show that the Mahdism of the Soudan includes not only a purpose to see their faith extended and established throughout the continent, but also a desire to be relieved from crushing assessments for that which brings them no good, to be exempt from interference with their dealing in slaves, and be left free of every foreign yoke, whether military, political or financial, to govern themselves as of old, it would not be difficult to see why its friends and advocates are firm, active and aggressive. It will help to give some good idea of the hold Mahdism has upon the Soudanese, to take a brief look at the traditions of the people respecting the Mahdi, and at some of the reasons for the ready response they gave to the claims of Mohammed Achmet (or Ahmed) to be the true and very Mahdi for whom they had been long looking.
Soon after Ali, surnamed the Lion or God, married Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed, whose doctrines he addpted and labored to enforce, his rival, Abu Bekr, being chosen calif in 632, the Mohammedans were divided into two sects, the Sunnites and the Shiites, the latter of which were the partisans of Ali. .Ali became calif in 655, but was assassinated in 661, and was succeeded by his son, Hassan. Under the auspices of the Fatimite dynasty, the Shiites soon spread over all Persia and a large part of Egypt, including the Soudan.' They believed Ali ranked equal, if not superior, to the Prophet himself. Some of them looked upon him as the incarnation of Divinity. He was counted the :first of the 12 Imams, or Pontiffs, of the Persian creed, who, one after another, without arms, treasures or subjects, enjoyed the veneration and provoked the jealousy of reigning califs. Their tombs are still visited by the devotees of the sect. For solitude, sanctity, and veneration paid him, the twelfth and last of these Imams surpassed all that went before him, and was made specially con- spicuous by being called EI Mahdi (Mehdi, or Mehedi), literally, "the guided"- that is, "the inspired one;" and hence, a spiritual guide, a deliverer invested with a supernatural mission. The time and place of his death were never known; indeed, it was believed that he never did die. For many generations his votaries pretended that he disappeared in a cavern, where he still lived, and from whence he would emerge before the coming 'of the last day, to overthrow the tyranny of Antichrist. Some of the Persian traditions taught that this Imam, EI Mahdi, would outrank all other prophets and divine messengers; that, being "well-guided," heaven-directed, sent of God to be the leader of His people, he would come out of his concealment in time to accomplish the last things, unite with Christ to consolidate the Christian and Mohammedan law, declare EI Islam the world's true religion, and convert Christians and idolaters alike to the Moslem faith. It is well known that for some years now past the Shiite Mohammedans were looking for the early coming of the last day, and for the speedy reappearirtg of the long-expected Mahdi. Nor can there be any doubt that the superstitious adventurer, Mohammed Achmet, or Ahmed, aware of these shadowy expectations, had endeavored to prepare himself in the seclusion and silence of a studied retreat, to answer the description which tradition had given to the coming EI Mahdi, and seize upon some auspicious occasion to declare himself the promised guide and deliverer.
He was born in Dongola, in 1843, the son of a carpenter, the grandson of a Moslem priest; dark-skinned, with .Arab blood, though he claimed to be a full-blooded Arab-a regular male descendent from Mohammed, through his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali. He is said to have been a strange and precocious child. His father apprenticed him to a boatman, an uncle, from whom,'he ran away, and joined himself to a priest or fakir, a dervish, who lived near Khartoum. Here he studied for several years and made such progress iQ. learning the Koran that, at the age of twelve years, he knew a large part of'it by heart. He lived for a time with a French surgeon-general, Dr. Peney. He attended a Mohammedan school for a few years, and then, for another term of years, studied under a famous saint, by whom he was ordained a priest. Having completed his studies of Mohammedan literature, at the age of 25 he betook himself to a cave on the island of Abba, above Khartoum, near Kana, on the White Nile, where, for fifteen years he lived an austere life, fasting, praying and meditating on the mission to which he would eventually give himself. By his unique personal appearance and mystic manner of life, he soon began to get a wide repute as a most devout and saintly man. Crowds eventually flocked in to ask his prayers and make him presents, and become his disciples. He cultivated the friendship of the influential Sheiks, selected wives from the families of the rich and powerful, and in that way increased his own wealth and power and laid a train for political influence. Having established a school of dervishes, he only needed a good opportunity to an- nounce himself as the Mahdi for whom the people were looking, to draw around him hordes of fanatical followers. Nor was it long before the desired opportunity came to hand.
The Soudan had now, for some years, suffered greatly from the onerous taxation and cruel Bashi-Bazouk system, while Egypt had been continuously imposing upon her, and was now ready to rise in her might and follow any leader who might promise deliverance. And the sad home-troubles to which Egypt herself was just now subject, were too many to admit of her giving any thought or care to her Soudan dependency.
Arabia's attempt to revolutionize the government, England's interference with affairs in Egypt, making the imbecile Pewfik Khedive in place of the enterprising Ismael, bombarding Alexandria, and claiming control over the revenues of Egypt, all conspired to give Mohammed Achmet all the opportun- ity he could wish to announce himself the Mahdi, the deliverer from oppres- sion, the long-expected redeemer of Islam, whom the past had promised. Gor- don, too, the Governor-General of the Soudan, had now, two years since, resigned his charge and left the country, after he had done much during his few years' administration to rouse the ire of the slave dealers, and prepare them to welcome any deliverer who should promise them protection or even tolerance, as the Mahdi would, in their nefarious pursuits. Announcing himself the true Mahdi, as he did in May 1881, a host of zealous emiASaries hastened to carry the news up and down through all the Nile country that Soudan was about to rise in rebellion, throw off the dominion of Egypt and the Turk, and make the triumph of freedom and of the Moslem faith universal and complete. His pretensions were at once reported to Raouf Pasha, Gordon's s~ccessor as Governor-General, at Khartoum, upon which he sent a band of 200 men to capture the prophet; but they were soon surrounded by his adherents, many of them massacred, and the rest put to flight. Upon this, Sennaar and other parts of the Soudan revolted, and the Mahdi soon found himself at the head of an army of 50,000 men. Several bands of Egyptian forces, one of them numbering 6,000 men, were sent against him in 1882, only to share the fate of the first and be annihilated. The city of El Obeid was taken and made the Mahdi's capital. In November 1883, a large Anglo-Egyptian army of about 10,000 men and 42 guns, in command of Hicks Pasha and his European staff, and many Egyptianofficersof high rank, undertaking to recover EI Obeid, were hemmed in among neighboring passes, and, after a most heroic struggle of three days, was overpowered and utterly destroyed-"not a man left to carry the fatal tidings to Khartoum."
To the Arab, these many and great successes of the Mahdi attested the butt of all his claims, and contributed greatly to the rapid increase of his popularity and power, doing more than all his asceticism had done to make him, in the eyes of the people, the very prophet and deli.erer, the religious teacher and political leader they had desired and expected. His. political importance, passing rapidly beyond the bounds of the Soudan and of Egypt also, had now begun to agitate the counsels of England, and trouble the Sultan of Turkey. The British Government which, at first, refused specifically and repeatedly to be accessory in any sense to the military do- ings undertaken by Egypt to subdue the Mahdi and hold the Soudan, had now entered upon a long and disastrous campaign in conjunction with Egypt against the impostor. Long and sad would be anything like a full account of the monies and men sent by England and Egypt to subdue that Soudanese re- bellion, of which the Mahdi and his general, Osman Digna, were distinguished and successful leaders. Nor should it be forgotten that the Premier of England admitted, claimed, that the Soudanese had a good reason for the revolt in which they were engaged, and were fighting for their rights. Gordon, too, was evidently of the same opinion. And yet, in one form or another, the cam- paign was continued till January 1885, when Khartoum was betrayed into the hands of the Arab host, Gordon slain, the English army ordered to withdraw, and the Prophet of Islam left to follow up his so-called mission.
With varied success the Mahdi's career was carried on till about the middle of June, when he fell a victim to the small-pox, which was then raging in the country. But it was not long ere another Mahdi, Khalifa Abdullah, was found to take up and prosecute the work to which Mohammed Achmet had devoted his energies. The long-continued war, and especially the blockading of Suakim and other ports on the Red Sea, bringing much annoyance and damage to the Soudanese, the new Mahdi sent Osman Digna with an axmyof dervishes. and others to lay siege to Suakim and drive the Egyptians into the sea. Upon this, near the close of 1888, the British Government sent troops and ships-ofwar in such numbers as to compel their foe to raise the seige. But the repulse was only local and temporary. Worsted at Suakim, the Mahdi undertook to invade Egypt, and was setting heavy guns, gun-boats and regiments of dervishes. along the southern border to this end, when British forces were sent to aid the Egyptians in repelling their foe. The leader of the dervishes being asked to surrender, replied: "I have been sent to conquer the world. I call on you to surrender. Remember Hicks and Gordon." On the 3d of August, 1889, the Anglo-Egyptian army engaged the derviShes, who made a gallant defense, and yet, losing 1,500 killed and wounded and having 1,000 taken captive, they were completely routed. But anything further, as a move on Dongola, was deemed useless, unless the Government would accept the views of the generals. that Berber should be taken and held as the key of the Soudan.
The Mahdism of Abdullah evidently makes more of the religious element than did that of his predecessor. Abdullah and his dervishes are working for the most extended triumphs of the Mohammedan faith. Some of the less religious of the Soudanese profess willingness to accept English rule, could they be rid of the Egyptian, be rid of exorbitant taxation, be rid of interference with their trade, and be at peace; and the reason of their making common cause with the Mahdi and dervishes is to secure these results. But the more devoted of the Mahdists would expel or subdue all that oppose their making Islam universal in Africa. To this end they invoke the aid of all classes in the Soudan, assail Christian missions in the equatorial provinces, intrigue with the Congo tribes, purpose to push their conquests to the Atlantic, and claim, indeed, already, nothing less than all that part of Africa which lies north of the Zambezi as Mohammedan territory. To this end have they pushed their arms into the equatorial provinces, made war upon the stations and forces under Emin Pasha, compelled him to move southward from time to time, till~ finally, with great reluctance, he has been persuaded to accept the opportunity Stanley's Relief Expedition offered, to abandon the field and leave the realm he had in charge to the undisputed control of the Mahdists.
To be sure, there are those who predict that the Mahdists may yet have trouble in their own camp. The Moslem society, called Sid-es-8enoussi, is reported to have said that Abdullah is only Calif of Khartoum, and not a real Mahdi. But this large and powerful sect of the Senoussi, having its headquarters in Northern Africa, west of Egypt, whose calif, or "divine lieutenant," has under him a complete hierarchy of subordinate officers, with a probable following of 1,500,000 fierce fanatics, is governed by the same spirit and committed to the same end as the Mahdists of the Soudan-all alikeaiming ata speedy, complete, universal triumph of Islam. However great, as between themselves, the jealousy or rivalry of these two califs and their respective followers, or whichever of them may be in the lead, they can but be in sympathy and united in the great end of their common faith, in their purpose to make their religion and their rule universal.
Here, then, is a great field for Christian missions-in some respects the largest and most important in the world. Taken in its largest dimensions, and in general terms, the Soudan extends from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, and from the Great Desert to Upper Guinea on the west, and to the equator on the east, making some 3,500 miles in length, and from 500 to 1,500 in width, with an estimated population of 50,000,000. Some make the Soudan to include more than the above territory, and put the population at 90,000,000, the larger part of whom, be they more 01' less, are in that part of the Soudan of which we have been speaking in the foregoing pages. Converting these millions to Christ is not only redeeming them from errol' and making them a truly civilized and Christian people, but it puts an end to one of the most cruel and nefarious of all traffics, and turns the most active and hostile foe of Christian missions into a friend and helper-believers in a fetish into believers in Christ, the priest of Islam into a preacher of the gospel. And yet it continues to be said there is not a single true missionary of the Cross of Christ in all that brO'ad realm, which, in both area and population, makes little, if any;less than a fourth part ()f the whole Dark Continent.
To be sure, good men and societies have been turning their thoughts and efforts in that direction, and will doubtless continue to do so till an entrance shall be made and a good work done. Some ten or more years ago Mr. Robert Arlington, of England, offered to give the American Missionary Association '$15,000 towards a mission in the Sobat region, and the association undertook to make it up to $50,000, and sent out two men in 1881 to explore the field. They were gone more than nine months, met with many obstacles, incurred many personal dangers, and returned just at the outbreaking of war in Egypt, and at·the uprising of the Arabs under the Mahdi in the Soudan. The exploration was counted a success, but the enterprise was postponed and finally abandoned.
For some years a young English layman, Mr. Graham Wilmot-Brooke, has been laboring to establish a Christian mission among the Moslem tribes of the Soudan. At one time he had hoped to reach some of the central tribes of that region by going up the Nile; at another, by going south from Algeria; at another, by way of the Senegal sources; and then, again, by the Mobangi river, one of the northern branches of the Congo. He is now hoping and working to reach that central region by way of the Niger and Sokoto. Commencing work in Sokoto, his plan is to move forward at an early date into the heart of the Soudan, and give himself to mission labor among the Mohammedans. Four of the general secretaries of the Young Men's Christian Association of Kansas have given themselves to mission work in the Soudan, one of whom has reached Africa; the others are on their way, and others, from both Kansas and Minnesota, are preparing to follow.
The Roman Catholics have several stations in the Soudan, as ~t Khartoum, EIObeid and Delen, where they have at least comfortable houses, hospitals and gardens, and workers trained in Arabic and in the negro dialects. Nor is their mission likely to fail for want of money or recruits. The Moslems, also, especially the religious society of the Sid-es-Senoussi, have schools in many parts of the Soudan, and for the blacks as well as the whites. The dominion of Nadai, the sultan of which is a fervid adherent of the sect, is said to be fairly overrun of Moslem workers. Manyof the blacks are drawn into the schools. Their influence is felt far and wide-" from Senegambia to Timbuctoo; to Lake Tchod, Bahr-el-Gharel, and even to the Danakils, the Gallas and the Somalis." Why should Protestant Christian missionaries be less interested, earnest, self- denying, or less successful in the Soudan than Roman Catholics or Moslems? Earnest Christian efforts to com-ert believers in the False Prophet into believers in Christ have been already successful enough to encourage other and greater efforts. Hitherto comparatively little has been done in this direction, and the methods adopted have generally savored too little of wisdom, faith and hope, and too much of prejudice or dislike for the Turk and Arab to insure the best results. Indeed, too little has been known, or at least too little advantage taken, of the common oneness there is on many points in the beliefs of Islam and Christianity. To those who contemplate laboring among the Mohamme- dans, the conclusions of this kind to which able students of the Koran, as Sir William Muir and Max Miiller, have come, should be of special interest, in that the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, as current in Mohammed's age, were by him held to be the genuine, and of divine authority. The 131 passages brougJat together and compared by Sir William to sho~e testimony which the Koran offers to the authority of the Scriptures, together with the great number of Biblical stories and incidents and passages quoted from the Bible in the Koran, with little or no change, 'give the true Christian missionary of this day much of common ground on which to approach and win the adherents of Islam. As has been said: "It is much that the Koran, despite all its errors, inculcates 'the divine unity, perfections and all-pervading Providence; the existence of good angels as well as of Satan and the fallen angels; the immortality of the soul; the resurrection and retribution of good and evil, and the sin of idola- try.''' And then, too, were we to consider the kind of Christians the Moslem has generally had before him, as in the decayed and corrupt churches of the East, whether Armenian, Nestorian, Greek or Coptic, with which he has been most in contact, we might doubtless make some good allowance for his preju- dice or hate toward the Christian. The debased systems of the so-called Christian faith, which have prevailed for so long in the Turkish empire, have been alike a reproach to the Christian name and a hindrance to any attempt to reach the believers in Islam with the grace and truth of the gospel of Christ. But in the great changes and interchanges of the day, the Moslem is having a . good opportunity to see the difference between a true and a corrupt Christian faith, and to modify his antipathies_ The successes which well-ordered mission work has achieved among the Moslems in other parts of Africa are a good index to what might be expected from such missionary labors among the Mahdists in Eastern Soudan. Rev. E. F. Baldwin, writing of his work in North Africa, speaks of frequent conver- • sions from the false to the true faith in South Morocco, notwithstanding the
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS
great persecutions to which the converts are subject. Under date of March 1889, he says: " For upwards of a year new accessions have been constant, and everyone baptized has renounced Mohammedanism." On one occasion he made a trip of twenty days into a part of the country where Europeans have seldo)Jl gone, and" enjoyed unusual facilities for preaching to the people, and was even admitted to the mosques and preached to the Mohammedan priests. A considerable numper of converts have been gathered, but they suffer great persecutiou." And again: "Tidings from different places in the interior, where the Word of Life has been carried from here, tell us of many turning from Mohammed's cold, hard, false faith, to the love and light the gospel brings them. May not all this encourage the zeal and faith of Scotland workers toiling in these hard }Ioslem fields?"
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS. My DEAR DR. SHERWOOD:-I send you the following letter, a translation of one which I have received from Nice. Willyou be so good as to publish it, and thereby relieve the feelings of our French brethren of what they feel as an injustice on my part? Sincerely yours, C. C. STARBUCK. "L'Eglise Libre," Journal de la Reforme Evangelique.
NICE, FRA."WE, July 21, 1890. SIR:-THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, in its last May number, maintains that the Protestant journals of FraJW6.have not disapproved of the proceedings of the colonial govern- ment of the Loyalty Islands with regard to the Rev. Mr. Jones, miss;onary at Mare. One of our missionaries, in Informing us of the fact, says that he has addressed you a protest, begging us to furnish you the proof of your error. Nothing more easy, Mour journal has in at least a dozen articles remonstrating against the wrongs done to him and to the natives who remain attached to him. Indeed, our energetic protests against the exile of several teachers, supported by the Tahitian pastor who sits in the superior council of the colonies, have procured the recall of the exiles. I hope that you will, in a near issue of the REVIEW, rectify the involuntary but regrettable error into which you have fallen, and will be so kind as to address to me the number containing the rectification. Accept, Sir, our Christian salutations.
H. DRAUSSIN, Editor of L' Eglise Lib,·e.
-The last year's edict of the Russian Government, restraining Protestant Christians from holding missionary meetings, and sending abroad missionary gifts, has been modified as follows: "(1.) Pastors are not forbidden to take a text during worship and to preach from it on the extensionof Christianity. It is only such missionary gatherings as lack a warrant of law that are abolished. (2.) Collections for the benefit of foreign missions may be taken up, but every such collection must have previously been approved by the governor. Such contributions are to be sent only to the Leipsic and Danish missionary societies, and the 'amount raised in each parish and sent from it, is always to be notified to the governor." A grudging concession, but still a concession.
-The Paris Society, finding that the maintenance of the growing number of Basuto catechists and evangelists begins to weigh heavy on the limited means of the nativeI Christians and of the French Protestants, has decided to solicit the assistance of English Christians, Lessuto being under English authority. They find an encouraging response to their appeals.
-M. Ellenberger, French missionary at Massitissi, in Basuto Land (or, as the French call it, Lessuto),writes: "At the opening of this month (Nov., 1889), and on the occasion of the reception into the church of fifty-six neophytes, we had at Massitissi a very delightful Christian celebration, lasting three days. The Christians of the out-stations had been very cordially invited by those here, so that brotherly love has greatly contributed to a good understanding among them and to the joy of all. On Saturday morning we were called to bless nine mar- riages of persons who had been long united according to the customs of their fathers. On the same day, at the beginning of the service preparatory to the Holy Communion, forty children of Christians were baptized, and after a brief meditation upon John iv:19 several members of the church addressed fervent prayers to the Lord.
"On the morrow, Sunday, in an open-air meeting of 800 persons, the neo- phytes, conducted by one of the elders, came in procession, two and two, and were received by the assembly, which raised a hymn of thanksgiving. After a brief address from their missionary,45 of them were admitted to the church by baptism and 11 by confirmation. Several of the men received, edified us by the spontaneous account of their conversion, and one of them offered, with so much unction, a prayer in Zephuthi, his mother-tongue, that the whole as- sembly was deeply moved. My colleague, M. Bertschy, who took part at the reception of the neophytes, presided over the Communion service of the afternoon. Although the sickness, the rain, and the rivers, had made it impossible for many Christians to be with us, nevertheless 353 communicants approached the Lord's table." Deeply profitable meetings in the evening and morning, not unattended by conversions, closed the solemnity.
-The French brethren in the Upper Zambesi, in the country of King Le- wanika, have appeared about as far retired as any missionaries in the world from both the comforts and dangers of civilization. But the magic of gold supposed to be discovered has already begun to bring the world of white men upon them. Let us hope that the Barotsis will not be swept away before it.
But, indeed, from latest accounts, there appears to be more danger that the white race will disappear in South Africa before the blacks, than the blacks be- fore the whites. Many a hopeful tribe, however, has been trodden to pieces first.
-The following shows some of the accompaniments of missionary life in South Africa: "It …vas the season of rains; the country traversed resembled an immense sheet of water; the water-course to be passed had overflowed its banks and rolled along its yellow waters, enormous, impassable.
"They camped. Bushmen stole from us our two goats. Farewell, then, to the few drops of milk which we appreciated so much. Our horses began to die one after the other, and so suddenly that we could do nothing. . . . Our draught-oxen went on dropping like flies. Clouds of vultures, which no longer quitted us by night or day, struggled and fought over the carcasses. Bands of Ma-saroa (bushmen) came to dispute with our horrible guests the morsel of putrified flesh.' This lasted fifteen days. Dysentery and other maladies attacked our travelers, who, however, were at length relieved by the help of Knama, the Christian king or Shoshong."
-The JOurnal of March has the following remarks upon the projected en- terprise of Mr. Graham Wilmot-Brooke, and his three companions, for pene- trating into the Soudan by way of the Niger, under the general direction of the Church Missionary Society, and under the Episcopal superintendence of Bishop Crowther, but, as to details, being left very much to themselves, and renounc- ing the protection of the British Government: "We observe the distinctive traits of this evangelical enterprise: to act, above all, by spiritual means; tv enter into personal and intimate contact with the souls which one wishes to draw to God; for this end to place one's self on the level of those towards whom a pity, without lachr;vmose phrases, but so much the more intense, ought to draw the missionarIes, as Jesus Christ has descended to earth out of pity for our fallen race; finally, in a Moslem country, where to make profession of Christianity may have as its consequences persecution and death, not to cover one's self with the protection of a powerful European government, saying to converts: 'Be firm in suffering, I shall not be touched,' but to share with those whom God shall regenerate, the joy of suf- fering reproaches for the name of Jesus. We find here the alliance of apos- tolic principles with the sound and sobel' experience of a directing committee. The infinitesimal commission of missionary agencies is avoided by the humil- ity of men whose youth is equal to the boldness of great initiatives, and by the wisdom of men of age and established balance of character, but who do not fear the truth of the Spirit and who consent to second missionary essays which depart from the beaten tracks. Thus it is a sweet and vivifying breeze which conveys to us the fragrance of the simple and heroic times of primitive mis- sions."
"How," says the Journal, " when hearing of these projects, can we avoid thinking of our own Senegal? The upper river gives access to the upper course of the Niger and to all the great occidental region of the Soudan; the language of the llandingoes, who, with the Foullas, dwell in these countries, is of the same family with that of the Bambaras; the industrial Mandingoes and the pastoral Faullas are both Moslems; but they are at least as ac«essible as the motley and corrupted populations of the Lower Senegal. When shall the time come when, instead of leaving our mission in barracks amid the pernicious miasms of the Senegambian coast, we shall be able to dispatch men who shall . do, for the glory of Christ, what Captain Binger has just been doing for h~s earthly country, and march simply and resolutely to the conquest of the Afn- .can world, like David going forth toencounter the giant of Gath?"
-It is a matter of satisfaction and thanksgiving, not merely to the Unitas Fratrum, but to Christians generally, that with January of this year the Periodical Accounts of Moravian Missions entered upon its second century.
-11. Grandjean writes in the Bulletin Missionnaire (organ of the free .churches of French Switzerland): " The stay of M. Berthoud is extremely valuable during the Easter season. He has opportunity to give a thorough exposition of the fundamental facts of the work of salvation to' hundreds of souls, that possibly hear all this for the first time. It is not that our excellent Timothy does not well discharge his task, but the preaching of a native, especially of one who has not passed through a school course, cannot but be inadequate, and gradually become thinner, if the voice of the missionary is not sometimes heard. Last Sunday M. Berthoud preached in the morning on the death of Christ, and in the after- noon Timothy resumed the same subject, in order to bring it within the reach of the more ignorant and to drive the nail home. The missionary and the native evangelist admirably supplant one another. The preaching of the missionary is more complete, but it often remains unintelligible to a good many, in view of the immense distance which subsists between their manner of thinking and ours. The evangelist gives to the word of the missionary a form which the negro comprehends."
-Missionary G. Stosch says, in the Evangelische Lutherisches 1/1issionsblatt: " At the death of the venerated (Protestant) Abbot Thiele, in Brunswick, it was relat~d of this faithful witness of thE' Lord, that, from year to year, as the passion-tide returned, he came into new animation; for in the Cross of Christ lay his strength. That is what our Tamil Christians also feel. Should you ask, " What is the main thing in Christianity?" I doubt not by far the most, of high and low, would answer: " The Cross and the wounds of our Saviour." There- forE' they love Passion Week and the weeks preceding. Many a one looks up to the Southern Cross that, still and great, a Joseph among the constellations, is just at this time rising upon the horizon. The soft, luminous flood of the milky way flows down upon the crORS: a lovely- image, holding quiet watch over the pinnacles of India. But yonder cross IS only an image and symbol, impotent to allay India's wretchedness. The true power of the Cross is in Word and Sacrament."
-Tranquebar, on the Coromandel coast of South India, about 170 miles south of Madras, will be remembered as the seat of the Danish-Halle Mission, established about 1706. It is still a station of the Leipsic Society, which, how- ever, works chiefly in other towns. Mr. Stosch writes: "Outwardly Tranquebar is falling into ruin. Its houses are decaying; its :streets begin to look desolate. And yet it will retain its charm for every sensitive mind. It remains the city of a great past, and of earnest, quiet work in the present. There, in all stillness, many an earnest decision is passed. There our Church has won a right of citizenship, even in the consciousness of the heathen. Would that it might please God, through the spirit of revival, t(} bring yet many heathen there to living faith! There is yet much room in our Jerusalem church; nor, indeed, is Tranquebar wanting in outward attractiveness. There you hear, day and night, the thunder of the ocean. How peaceful is this monotonous melody! Our children, too, exclaim, full of delight, when they see the blue flood from the upper chamber of the mission house: , The sea! the sea!' How homelike have been the hours of chat at evening in the veranda of our house, when the white Jerusalem church opposite glittered so festively and yet mysteriously in the moonlight and the cool sea-breeze rustled through the palms.
"Whoever wishes to make studies in the observation of men finds in a· Hindu railway station a wealth of opportunity. Women in brilliant garments and golden ornaments, poor Pariah women wrapped in rags, naked children, gossipping men, all waiting for the late train. We recognize the proud face of the Brahmin; we recognize the Sudra by his more intelligent. countenance and his more elastic gait. People at home are far from imagining the difference between Sudras and Pariahs as great as it really is. It is a, deeper distinction than thatat home between rich and poor, between cultivated' and uncultivated. See this group of Pariahs. What deep furrows sin and superstition have ploughed in these faces. A gloomy trait remains in their features, even when they laugh. But through the influence of Christianity it is effaced. It is surprising how utterly different the expression of countenance' is in Christians from what it is in heathen. This comes out still more strongly in women than in men, and in children than in grown people."
-M. GeOl'ge Casalis, ordained last year in Paris, for the Basuto Mission.
gave, at his ordination, a very interesting address, of which we quote a part: "My brethren: I can well believe that no one among you is astonished to see me to-day occupying this place and ready to receive, ill the midst of this a5sembly, the imposition of hands. Son and grandson of missionaries as I am, it is natural, you think, that I should follow the footsteps of those who have preceded me; it was almost inevitable, you will say, that, being born in a mission field and having grown up in a thoroughly missionary atmosphere, I have felt· myself impelled, when once arrived at manhood and the use of reason, to embrace the missionary career.
"Unquestionably, if at this solemn hour one thought bears special sway in my soul, it is that of a profound thankfulness toward God for the €;race' which He has shown me in causing me to be born in a missionary fanuly; for it is· under the paternal roof, and thanks to the principles instilled into my mind from my earliest childhood, that I have learned to know and love the career which to-day is about to become definitively mine.
" But if, on one hand, I am bound to acknowledge the hereditary element of my vocation, I am bound also, and not less emphatically, to certify that this alone was not sufficient to make of me a true missionary. God has taught me in a very special manner that, to be a genuine messenger of His Word, it is needful to possess a personal faith, firm and immovable, such as alone has power to engender conviction.
" After a classical course pursued in France, I quitted France for Scotland. I was to take up medical studies there, and undertook these with a double aim of becoming both physician and missionary. I was thus fulfilling the prayers of my father and of my grandfather, and had the joy of hoping one day to· follow in their steps.
"Very soon, however, I began to chan~e my point of view. Drawn away by my new studies, I saw, in the shock WIth naturalistic theories, new to me' and whose novelty and appearance of science charmed me, my religious convictions go down one after the other; I abandoned the faith of my childhood, and with it all thought of ever becoming a missionary.
" It would be too Ion&" to recount the struggles which my soul had to sustain during the years followmg this defection. Suffice it to say that God was about to avail Himself of my studies themselves to bring me b;tck to the faith by confronting me, as a physician, with deathbeds which gave me to feel how false and void of consolation all human reasonings are against the remorse of a troubled conscience and the tears of the afflicted.
"The inward work, which at this period went on in my soul, was power-·
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
fully seconded by the l?resence in Edinburgh of a man whose livinO' faith, joined with profound SClence, has been for many students the means of arriv- mg at salvation. Henry Drummond was then giving his first lectures at the University. I went to hear him; I was touched by his ardent and persuasive words, and, thanks to his influence, I becaUle once more a Christian m the true sense of the word. Such were, my brethren, the means of which God made us.e, despite !lly i.ngr~ti:tude, despite my doubts, to reveal to me the. depth of HIS compaSSIOn, m aIdmg me to comprehend that, apart from Him, I could attain neither to the pardon of my sins nor to salvation as it is found in Jesus."
1I.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions.
Of the 5,000 volunteers, 550 have The first pamphlet of the special completed their courses of study, 400 series is from the pen of John N. For- of whom have graduated this year man, and is entitled "The World's from colleges and professional Need," being Student Volunteer Series .. schools. It would be hard to guage No.7. In a single sentence he thus the value of the reflex influence on sums up the needs abroad: "'You the churchathome andon undergradu- know that multitudes are living and ate volunteers, if the men and women dying without hope; then just act on now equipped for their work become this knowledge." Of his own country established in their chosen fields this he writes: "As I write to you from year! Hence, it is of incalculably one of the mission fields of India, sur- great importance that the large major- rounded by multitudes whom we can ity of those whose studies are com- barely touch, how small look the fields pleted, go abroad at once. To the end in America? During the past winter that this exodus may be speedily ac- I have stood to witness for Christ in complished, appeals from various scores of towns, with population from parts of the unevangelized world 7,000 to 28,000, towns which, perhaps, have been written, and are issued in receive a brief visit once in one, two, pamphlet form in the Student Volun- or three years. There is a city of 60,000 teer Series. These appeals will be of which I had hoped to reach. It is un- service to undergraduates as well as occupied by Protestant workers, and to graduates. Those still engaged in hardly ever even visited. It is part ofan preparatory work will find in these immense tract containing 8,000,000 little pamphlets facts and figures on people, and in all this region there is which decisions for chosen fields in just one mission station."
many instances may be based; those There is hardly a paragraph in the who are ready and undecided can gain appeal in which the idea of consecra- much .practical information from tion does not occur-whether the con- them, because from no other single sideration as to time of going, or "fit- source, in so compact a form, can ness for the work" or " ·need for ser- such accurate and recent data be ob- vices at home." The writer's own tained. Furthermore, the peculiar attitude toward all questions requir- needs of different peoples are pictured ing decision is conveyed in the lines with graphic and spiritual power. It he quotes: will be profitable to all friends of "0 use me, Lord, use even me: foreign missions, whether volunteers Just as Thou wilt, and when and where."
or not, to read carefully these Again, in his replies to the personal pamphlets; statements contained of queries," Is now the time?" "Shall such absorbing interest, will give a I prolong my studies?" the thought of fresh incentive to special prayer for consecration is discerned throughout, missions and aids to a more 'intense "like a subtle ether pervading the and personal interest in the evangeli- whole." .
zation of the world. Because Mr. Forman writes from so high a spiritual plane, all that he says others, I look to our dear Lord Him- is characterized by eminently practi- self to show me. It is in His presence cal sense. To those who are thinking every word is written, and I would ·of engaging temporarily in home pray you, in His presence alone, and work, he says: "There is very great prayerfully, to read and ponder. Oh, danger of the work which is under- let us first of all draw so near to Him taken temporarily becoming a perma- in spirit that we may look on all nence. And I doubt whether it will, things with His eyes, feel with His in the majority of cases, prove any heart, love with His yearning com- real preparation for foreign work; at passion, and in His light see light least, not nearly enough to compen- upon these great and important sate for the time taken. As to pro- themes." longing one's studies after having completed the ordinary course for minis- She writes as one who has strong and ters, you must remember that there deep convictions; there is no faltering will be two years of preparation after or ambiguity in the statement of her reaching the foreign field, in the line position, while her language, always ' of language stndy.••. To be able to chaste and beautiful, sooms the true speak the vernacular like a native, will medium for thought so true and subbe worth vastly more than a post- lime. "Fourteen hundred every hour, graduate in philosophy, theology, or one million every month, they die in medicine. But do not understand the China-without God. Think over it; above as favoring your coming out be- weep over it; pray over it. Let the fore having completed the ordinary tears of Christ's compassion fall hot course in theology or medicine." and heavy upon the heart-tears of His anguish, of His love. Think how Miss Geraldine Guinness is the he loved and suffered, loved and gave author of "An Appeal from China," -gave all-until, constrained by the which is No. 8 of Student Volun- same spirit, you too can say with deepteer Series. Miss Guinness is the est reality: 'I haVE:> nothing too daughter of Rev. H. Graham Guinness, precious for my Jesus;' nothing too F. R. S., of London, and is becoming dear to lay down for Him, and for known in America through the His lost and perishing world." volume entitled, " In the Far East," which contains her own letters writ- The writer's method of representing ten from China-a book which has China is by a division into provinces been received with great favor in of which there are eighteen. " Six of Great Britain and America, and with these that border on the sea, and one signal blessing to many readers. inland province, Hunpeh, having been longer and more thoroughly evangel- There is a word which ought to be ized than the remaining eleven, in used with great caution – but which consequence of their having afforded conveys adequately the effect of this open ports and on earlier entrance to appeal-that word is "thrilling." No foreigners. " honest man or woman can thoughtfully read Miss Guinness' message Respecting the remaining eleven without being profoundly touched. provinces, she writes: "At a low es- She is dead in earnest and has com- timate there must be considerably passed her subject in a masterful way: over a hundred and fifty millions of "How to speak to you briefly enough, souls in the vast cities, busy market and ·yet adequately, upon a subject so towns, and thickly scattered villages great and so momentous, upon your of this region. To give some slight own individual treatment of which idea of how unreached these millions hang issues of such supreme and are, think for the present of the cities eternal importance to yourRelves and only-the important, walled cities, the governing cities of each province -where the cultured and ruling six such cities, and fifty-four utterly classes reside." unreached by the true Light.
Two instances will show in how flo-nan, Ton-nan, Kwong-si, and comprehensive a way the need is con- all the rest are similarly represented, veyed: "Shen-si, possessing eighty- giving one a complete picture of the eight such cities, has eighty-six with- whole-and a very black picture it is. out a missionary. Kiver-chon has lifty- MAX WOOD MOORHEAD.
Missionary Oorrespondence, by Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, England.
Zanzibar: Abolition of Slavery.- earnest worker for the extinquishing The decree which the Sultan of Zanzi- of the curseof infant female betrothals bar issued, August 1, prohibiting the and marriages. It is shown that the right of property in slaves, marks the supposition of any buttress resting on dawn of a brighter era in the history the VeWc sacred writings is an entire of' Eastern Africa. Within a com- misapprehension. More probably the paratively short period it is anticipated evil had its birth in the native Hindus.
that the "open sore" on the island ages back, desiring to protect their and coast of Zanzibar will be healed. offspring from the invading Mongols.
Meanwhile the Arabs acquiesce, But the origin is of secondary moment chiefly because of the weakness of in view of the disastrous misl:hief their position and the determined atti- attending it. No darker blot stains.
tude of the Sultan. By and by, when Indian social life, the exposure of the Arab masters recognize that their which becomes an obligation upon labor can only be obtained on terms the whole of Christendom. Girls· similar to what prevail in European whose ages average from five to seven countries, and, further, that polyga- years are universally married to boys mous customs may not be gratified, of scarcely higher age, and forthwith some friction may arise. To the mem- the relations of the married state bers of the Brussels Congress, which commenced. Although the usual age, the Sultan's envoys attended, hearty when the girls "marry" is seven, congratulations will be conveyed. they are pledged to boys by their The Sultan's edicts form the first fruits parents in veritable childhood. One· of the objects of that memorable abominable feature is the common gathering. As regards the influence habit of the parents of female children of the measure upon the interior of selling these to their destined hus- Africa, it is generally believed that the bands. A notorious case may serve· closing of slave outlets, as in Lower for illustration. At Bamundangah, Egypt, will gradually exterminate the near Ionai, in the Hooghly district, traffic throughout the central regions. the wedding of a young bride, whose Seyyid Ali, the Sultan, a monarch of age was registered" eight months,"
only six months' standing, and of was solemnized with a man twenty- thirty-five years in age, has a promis- eight years old. A sum of 200 rupees ing future. With considerable intelli- in cash formed the bride's dowry.
gence he unites good judgment, Such revelations bearing on the years.
honorable principles and strength of and contracts seldom come to the ears will. of American or British missionat;ies.
India: Child Marriages.-All who After parents have arranged the are in helpful communication with betrothal for a girl it is impossible for Hindu life will gratefully welcome her to get it cancelled. That dis- the pamphlet, " An Appeal from the graceful English doctrine of the Daughters of India," the latest publi- " restitution of conjugal rights"
cation emanating from Mr. Behramji woven into the administration of M. Malabari, a weli known Parsee and Indian law works in the most enslaving fashion. A female of tender forcible appeal for the missionary age united by her guardians or a for- cause in the Indian empire. Its tune-teller, to a boy, youth or man, is enormous population made the pro- compelled to make the best of the too gress of missions insignificant com_ frequent .degrading match. During pared with what was expected in the the lifetime of the husband or subse- near future. Twenty-five years since quent to his death her condition is there was not one lady working in the alike one of torture. The widow of a Zenanas, whereas there were now boy husband who may have died early over 100 in India, from Tinnevelly in is exposed to nameless cruelties. It the south to Peshawur in the .Pun- has even been seriously asked whether jaub in the north; and beginnings some kind of immolation is not pre- had been made by the Church of Eng- ferable for the victims than their sub- land at Foochow and in Japan. The jection to barbaric outrages. The bondage of their Indian sisters was British, too, have not by any means terrible, owing to the thraldom of stamped out Suttee. Evidence can caste and the blighting influences of be produced, if necessary, that it is infant marriages and child widow- practised to-day among several of the hood. These sad facts could' not fail less civilized States of India in de- to incite help for missions. The quiet- fiance of the law and, to many a ness of India was not a full guarantee brutally treated girl of eight or nine of security. When masses of super- years, death is a happy release. stitious natives congregated there was A greater knowledge of the cruelty the risk of the flame of revolution of child marriages is awakening the being enkindled and excesses com- spirit of reformation. Among edu- mitted, as in the days of the fearful cated Hindus endeavors are being mutiny. For the prevention of the made to check or abolish it. They recurrence of such a calamity, religious are asking for a prohibition of mar- education was the main safeguard.
riages under twelve years-low as The church society taught equally that will appear to Western minds. women and girls, men and boys. By In numbers of the Indian cities the recent development also of the devotea men and women are working Indian Widows' Union, industrial to mitigate the lamentable iniquity. schools were established with the One of the most efficient agencies is object of training widows to support located in Madras, and receivesgener- themselves. .
ous support. The labors of Mr. Mala- Testimony to Indian Missions.- bari, the voice of Ramabai and the At the complimentary banquet of wel- sufferings of Rukmabai have con- come which was given in July at the demned the social custom and moved Northbrook Indian Club, London, to not a little the world's sympathy. Lord Reay on his return to England Until native and foreign opinion is after five years' service as Governor of strong the viceroy declines to interfere the Presidency of Bombay, his lord- with a national religious (so-called) ship, in replying to the toast coupled privilege. Consequently many strenu- with his name, delivered an important ous advocates of amelioration have speech, in which he reviewed the been much disappointed. Hope is civil, military, judicial and commer- nevertheless growing that the viceroy cial factors associated in promoting having full provincial reports may the growth and unity of that empire.
shortly introduce long overdue bene- Concluding his remarks, he observed: ficial legislation. " Among my non-official allies I must Zenana Missions.-Mrs. Moorhouse, place all missionary bodies. The ad- wife of the eloquent Bishop of the mirable work they are doing is Manchester diocese, lately made a thoroughly appreciated by all the people of India, and I should willingly been accomplished there. Similarly dwell on this pleasant topic." the devoted young missionary, Rev. E. V. Cooper, of Huahine, South It should not pass unrecorded that Seas, feels the pressure of French rule the exertions of Lady Reay to benefit and Roman Catholic emissaries. Nor all classes of women in India were is it long ago that Madagascar was remembered in an unusual manner by the scene of high-handed proceedings the native ladies. Before her lady- on the part of France towards Mr. ship left the shores of India, the native Shaw and others, which are not for- ladies, who assembled for the first gotten. Now it is evident that the . time for such a purpose, presented her ambition of France will be gratified with a handsome testimonial. On by the announcement of a protectorate Lady Reay arriving in London, the over this " pearl of the Indian Ocean." Indian ladies of the metropolis gave a What the Hovas and other powerful similar tribute in recognition of her tribes will resolve upon remains to be ladyship's assistance to advance the seen. The political character of the admirable organization founded by transaction cannot stand investiga- Lady Dufferin. tion, otherwise its morality would be strongly censured. Numerical mis- Lepers in India.-Great attention sionary returns indicate that the Lon- is being given to the better protection don MissionarySocietyhas 31 male and vf the lepers, largely due to the agita- female missionaries, and adherents tion promoted by missionary and numbering a quarter of a million; the philanthropic bodies. At a public Society of Friends have 15 missionaries meeting in Bombay, their housing and and 32,000 adherents, and the Church care was discussed and a committee of England 12 missionaries, to whom appointed to frame a scheme to carry are attached 10,000 adherents. out such requirements of the subscrip- tions amounting to 12,000 rupees, the -A correspondent writing to one of Governor contributing 1,000 rupees. the London papers from the capital, Calcutta is similarly alive to the Antananarivo, respecting the gold necessity of State legislation in leper craze on the island, says, that in the asylums, and a new leper institution country thousands of natives are seek- is recommended by the Bengal Gov- ing gold on Government account, ernment for the city. Present accom- which demands forced labor, Sundays modation for the poor creatures is included. For the same purpose inadequate. Though 387 lepers were children are taken from school. Both registered in Calcutta at the last at Tamatave and the capital he obcensus, the number was below the served the domination of French mark. Probably not more than one- influence, which must be a dishearten- fifth of the leper population is within ing spectacle to the English and other asylum walls. Protestant missionaries, whose years of arduous work is seriously jeopard- Madagascar.-The constituents and ized. The writer continues: directors of the English missionary societies have been unexpectedly " One very noticeable change is in thrown into deep concern regarding the slave market. Formerly (three the position of their missions on the years back), not more than twenty, or island under the Anglo-French agree- at most thirty, slaves were ever exment'just signed. A number of Prot- posed there for sale, and transactions estant missionaries have no reason to took place in such a quiet way that look with satisfaction on France they were not noticed; indeed, the abroad. It seems only yesterday that natives appeared ashamed to acknowlthe Rev. John Jones, of Mare, in the edge complicity in slave trading. But Loyalty Islands, was ignominiously when I visited the market the other expelled after a grand life work had day over 200 slaves of both sexes, men, for English clergymen have kept him women and children, were on offer, incessantly occupied pleading the· and there was little or no reluctance cause of missions in the far East. He on the part of the owners to quote loudly complained, at a meeting of prices. Dancing, also, in European the English Society for the Propagafashion, is now the order of the day. tion of the Gospel, that he could not The French resident gives balls, invit- secure followers from the ranks of ing the Malayasy aristocracy, the the English clergy. In response, four prime minister and the queen's ladies- have promised to join him anda candiin-waiting taking a very active part, date for holy orders. In New York and giving balls themselves in return. he expected to have a young .Ameri.' What do the missionaries think of it, can physician as fellow traveler, to· I wonder?" assist in hospital work. It is intended to make this department a prominent Korea.-For his distant and unset- feature of the mission. The bishop tled diocese the .Bishop of Korea has deserves to be classed high in the recently sailed. Though consecrated annals of heroic missionary bishops. in November last, his engagements Atrica.-The British East African ficates were given tothem. They them- Company. Grave doubts have been selves paid nothing for their freedom. It was an absolutely free gift. No one expressed in some quarters, where controls them. They go and come as perhaps " the wish was father to the they please, and earn their daily wages thought," that the British East Afri- like other people. The second (b) can Company would not prove spec- class of these fu~tives who had ially zealous in the suppression of the sought refuge at mlssionary stations, slave trade, and in the emancipation had fled from masters who were not of slaves within its" sphere of influ- Arabs, and with whom no communience." Such fears may now be dis- cation could be secured. To these missed. The company has recently only a permit of residence was given. adopted measures which have secured While no payment whatever was the liberation of from 5,000 to 6,000 made by the company in their behalf, slaves within its territory, and has or by themselves, they are really on given satisfactory assurance that in the same footing in all respects as are that territory of 50,000 square miles, those of the class first mentioned. and bounded on the south by a line extending from the mouth of the The second general class are known Uniba river, about four degrees and as "the Fuladoyo Runaways," who, thirty minutes south latitude, to a forming a powerful settlement in the point on Lake Victoria Nyanza in interior by themselves, had no conabout latitude one degree south-the nection whatever with European missame being the line dividing the Ger- sionary mcieties, and whose freedom man and English "spheres of influ- depended upon their remaining a unitence"-African slavery will not be ed and compact body. Neither when allowed. "Slaves cannot breathe in their crops failed, as they frequently England," neither can they in the ter- did, nor in any other emergency, ritoryof the British East African Com- could they leave their strongholds to pany. earn money for self-support in the service of the company, or as porters That this work of emancipation has in caravans. These fugitives are also been judiciously and yet promptly registered, and after registry are at effected by the company, will be made liberty to go where they please, upon apparent by the following statement, undertaking to pay their former as to the three different classes of masters $15 per capita, which they can slaves already emancipated. These readily earn in the service of the comare first, the fugitives who have sought pany, and so secure a" freedom cerrefuge, and found it, at the different tificate," according to them all the missionary stations in the company's rights and privileges of free men. territory, and who form two distinct classes: (a) those belon@ng to coast The third general class embraces all Arabs of any African tnbe who were slaves belonging to tribes at the back redeemed by a cash payment of $25 of the British coast line, and for about per capita to their masters. They three hundred miles into the interior, werethenregistered andfreedom certi- who have treaties with the company, and have thus brought themselves sums of money for its colonization. under its protection. Caravans have He has sought to promote its moral heretofore captured these people, and improvement. He has been active in sold their captives as slaves upon measures to suppress the slave trade reaching the coast. The country of and the liquor iniquity. And recently these tribes is subject to fammes, his Premier introduced in the Chamwhen parents sell their children as ber of Representatives What is known slaves to coast-traders to secure food as the Congo State Bill, in which Belfor themselves. A proclamation by gium agrees to loan the Congo State the company has closed all this busi- 25,000,000 francs, without interest; ness, and now all slaves from the 5,000,000 to be advanced at once, and country promptly secure their free- 2,000,000 each year for ten years. It dom when they are discovered or is stipulated, however, that "Belmake themselves known, and without gium can annex the Congo State and remuneration to their purchaser and all its properties and rights, in connominal owner. formity with the acts signed in Berlin, on February 26, 1885, and in Brussels All this is matter for thanksgiving. on July 1, 1890, Belgium assuming all And now let us have something of responsibility toward other parties, the kind from the German " sphere." and King Leopold .renouncing his -The Evangelist (New York). claims for indemnity on account of sacrifices made by him. If, on the -The Congo River of To-day. On expiration of the term, Belgium does not desire to annex the Congo State, the Congo there are no beasts of bur- the loan will bear interest at 3~ per cent., and repayment can be deden, there existing merely a manual manded on the expiration of a further transport, the porters being the natives ten years." These are generous of the Bakongo tribe, inhabiting the propositions, and will likely be agreed cataract regions. In physique, these to by the legislative power. They are me~ are slight and only poorly devel- the result of the discussions and labors oped; but the fact of their carrying on of the Anti-Slavery Conference just their heads from 60 to 100 pounds closed at Brussels. weight twenty miles a day, for sometimes six consecutive days, their only Brazil.-Reaction. While the Re- publicans are wasting precious time food being each day a little manioc in the non-essentials of civil service,. root, an ear or two of maize, or a the arch enemy is organizing all his. handful of peanuts, pronounces them forces to resist the Republic by every' at once as men of singularly sound means known to Popery and Jesuitstamina. Small boys of eight and ism. Archbishop Don Antonio is en- deavoring, with apparent success, to nine years old are frequently met create a Catholic Party which will carrying loads of 25 pounds weight. adhere to the dogma of Roman Catho- lic Infallibility. Although the Gov- Throughout the cataract region the ernment has abolished the Saints:' general accepted money currency is days from the list of official holidays" Manchester cotton cloth nlade up into .he churches never before were so pieces of six yards each. The Euro- filled, nor the feasts so well attended, pean cost of the cloth, paid to these as during the month of May-" the month of Mary." Public departments natives for transporting a load to and the schools, are kept open on the ~tanley Pool from Matadi, including old''holy" days, but neither employees rations, amounts at the present day to nor scholars come; and teachers, in $5 for a load of 65 pounds. Five years ago the cost was only one-third of this amount; but it has increased on account of the competition of the various trading houses that have established stations at Stanley Pool for the ivory trade on the upper river.-Century.
-King Leopold, of Belgium, has manifested a remarkable interest in the development of the Congo State. He has personally advanced large defiance of the new law, take their ornament callf'd the Semboo. It is pupils to confession and the mass. -somewhat egg-shaped, and a foot in During the late persecution of Protes- height, tipped by an enormous dia- tants at Cruzeiro, the parish priest, mond, encircled by many smaller while denying complicityin theattack, . ones, crusted on like barnacles. All added that he had only to raise his over this exquisite oval object are finger to have every Protestant driven similar clumps of diamonds, no other from the village. stones being used for this part.
The Bishop's pastoral hasbeen sent England.-Dr. Bamardo, of Lon- all over the land; papers 'are pub- don, had his annual meeting this year lished in the interest of Rome; schools at the West End, in the Royal Albert are organized, and the priests are Hall. His aim was to take the children, teaching the people that they owe for whose interest he so diligently their duty to the Church first, and the labors, right into the midstof thericher Government afterwards. Civil mar- classes, that they might see and hear riage is proclaimed as no marriage at the little ones for whose welfare their all; and the rumor that the Synod of means and sympathy are solicited.
Bishops, lately held at Sao Paulo, had The experiment was a perfect success.
issued a secret circular instructing The Marquis of Lome presided, and the clergy to resist every measure between seven and eight thousand adopted by the Republic, is confirmed people were present. The speakers on by the defiant attitude taken by the occasion were the Rev. C. H.
priests of the interior. A hard fight Spurgeon, Canons Girdlestone and is before us, for Rome's old cunning Fleming, Sir Arthur Blackford, Lord and craft are still available. The Kinnaird and Mr. W. Fowler. Lady people are in her grasp, and the very Kinnaird distributed about 140 prizes ignorance and superstition she has to the girls and boys from the differ- fostered, are now powerful weapons ent Homes. The total number of in her hands. children rescued since Dr. Barnardo It is estimated that there are 500,000 beg'dn his work 23 years ago is 15,563, Protestants among whom iliteracy is and the income last year was £106,- rare; and there is about an equal 722. The work of last year is shown number of free thinkers, materialists, by the following figures: 1,893 were " indifferentists," and positivists, who, admitted to the Homes, 1,287 boys and if united with the Protestants, could 606 girls, which, with the 2,749 in control the electious. If this unum is residence, make up the total to 4,642 not effected, Rome is almost certain resident in the Homes during the year.
to control the first Congress.-Brazil- Great interest was excited in the ian Missions (August). meeting by the passing across the Burmah.-The Buddhists in Bur- platform of selections of the various mah do not consider the question of classes of children; especially was expense in beautifying their temples. this so when the deformed and crip- Here is the description of the new pled went by. The sight was a grand vane of the pagoda at Rangoon. The object lesson, and aroused the sympa- vane is about three by one and a thies of the audience to an unusual half feet broad, and thickly crusted extent. A collection of £1,850 was with precious stones and lovely fans taken up.
of red Burmese gold. One ruby alone India.-The Opium Curse. Canon is worth 6,000 rupees, and there are Wilberforce, who has returned from several hundred rubies alone on this a visit to India, was present at the beautiful thing. On the tip of the annual meeting in Exeter Hall of the iron rod on which works the vane is a Society for the Suppression of the richly carved and perforated gold Opium Trade, and moved a resolution -calling upon the Government of India many distinct races and religions, led to use the discretion conferred upon it to the same speculations. In India, by the Indian Opium Act of 1878, by long before the Brahmo Somaj, the dosing the licensed opium dens. The Emperor Akhbar tried to form a Canon, in the course of a fervid natural religion for this country by a speech, charged the English people "combination of. what is best" in with the responsibility of the degraded Christianity, Mohammedanism, Hin- social state of the people of India. He duism and Buddhism. In Europe, hadbeenalmoststifiedin opiumhouses, more than a century ago, the atheist where he had seen seventy, eighty, Volney's " Ruin of Empires" was full .and a hundred people in every phase of these ideas. There are some who of intoxication, with emaciated bodies think that this doctrine, made con- and lack-lustre looks. He had seen crete in the form of a great world- these people being slowly poisoned in religion, will be the final, form of ()rder to raise the Indian revenue. Anti-Christ. There are many facts There were ten thousand of these dens which seem to point in this direction.
in India, and he had satisfied himself The proclaiming the "truths" of that the practice of opium smoking Mohammedanism every week in a was spreading among all Classes there. mosque at Liverpool; the spread of It was a common thing, he said, for pseudo-Buddhism in France and the proceedings in one of the courts to America; the acceptance of Theoso- be stopped because the witness was phy with its lying wonders taken unable to proceed with his evidence from Brahminism; the growth of until he had had his pipe of opium. Unitarianism-all are signs of that Dealing with the financial question, he final darkness which is settling over maintained that the revenue of India the world prior to the rising of the might be secured by diminishing the Sun of Righteousness. – Bombay expenses of the administration. This Guardian.
might be effected by employing native Switzerland. – The religious condition of Switzerland pr~nts· -civil servants, so that not a single many interesting facts. According to the statistics of December, 1888, farthhdg of taxation need be put upon the country contained 1,750,000 Prot- estants, and 1,200,000 Roman Cathothe people by the suppression of the lics. There is perfect liberty of creed and of conscience. The person who ()pium traffic. The resolution was exercises paternal authority or acts as guardian can determine the religious seconded by Mr. Frederick Sessions, education of the children till the age of sixteen. TheJesuits are forbidden, ()f Gloucester, who also was able to but the priests are much more numer- ous than the Protestant ministers. As testify, from recent personal experi- is so often the case, the C1}urch in the minority is especially vigorous; in the ,ence, to the physical and moral de- ,Reformed cantons the Catholics are on the increase, while the Reformed pravation caused by the opium are gaining in the Catholic cantons. The Catholic Church is a unit and is traffic. ' domineered by ultramontanism; the Protestants are divided, fierce contro- -There is a strong tendency in this versies raging betweentheevangelical and the liberal parties. In point of ,country towards Brahmo Somajism, zeal the Catholics are far ahead of the Reformed. In the Catholic canton of even outside the cult, to the belief Uri I inquired into the attendance at church, and was told that, as a matter that in some sort of way all the differ- of course, everybody went except the little children and the infirm. In ,ent religions of India are sisters; that winter the people fill the church, even each and all contain sufficient truth to save those who have been born into them; and that the only true religion is to be found in a combina- tion of "what is best" in all. The ()rigin of these ideas is not with the Brahmo Somaj. In ancient Rome, as well as in modern India, the universal empire of one paramount power over on week days, coming from the number of the MISSIONARY REVIEW mountain-sides and the valleys, OF THE WORLD, a periodical which through the snow and over the ice, to continues to maintain its pre-emiattend divine services. I rode through nence in the field it cultivates, Dr. the Rhone valley on Corpus Christi Pierson gives an interesting account· Day. I saw not a person at work the of his mission tour among the Scotwhole day; even the cows were kept tish churches. He testifies that the in stables that their keepers might results every way, so far as they can attend service. Every village had its be now estimated, abundantly repay celebration. The processions were all the cost in time and toil. The large; the display was surprising, re- arrangements, thanks to Dr. John vealing a splendor which, under the Lowe in the east, and Dr. Pagan, of circumstances, seemed impossible, Bothwell, in the west, have been sinand contrasted strangely with the gularly complete, relieving him from ap,parent poverty and squalor of the all needless correspondence and pervlllages. plexity. "We have been met at trains," says Dr. Pierson, "and escorted to hos- Never before did I understand pitable homes; welcomed with a genu- Zwingli's iconoclasm. Of all the re- ine cordiality; we have found everyformers he was most intent on re- where warm hearts and exceptionally moving images and pictures from the generous co-operation. The whole· churches. One need but see the tour reminds me of Paul's testimony Catholic cantons to-day to appreciate to the Galatians. We have met abunhis iconoclastic zeal. Many of the dant hospitality and Christian generimages and pictures are worthy of osity elsewhere; but never any exsavages rather than of Christians, and perience of loving kindness that on the the devotion of them cannot but be whole quite equals this. The meetdebasing. This is true of the repre- ings have followed each other in so sentations of Christ, as well as of pic- well ordered a scheme that there has tures .of the virgin and the saints. In been neither loss of time nor retracing the Reuss valley I saw, in front of a of steps." chapel, the representation of a saint with a hog leaning against his legs, Dr. Pierson sees no reason why apparently rubbing its itching side. I similar campaignsmay not be planned asked for an explanation, but, of in America, so that such men as Dr. course, received none. Gordon of Boston and Dr. Taylor of New York-these are only two of a I can give but one instance of the long list he gives-may be brought superstitions, which are worthy of into living contact with large congre- Spain. In passing up the Rhone valley gations throughout the United States from Brieg to Fietsch, my companion, and Canada. He adds that Scotland a Catholic, proprietor of a hotel in the is a land of martyrs and missionaries. valley, called my attention to a church at our side. "The two naturally go together. The martyr spirit has survived the' "This church is peculiarly rich in martyr fires, and so the vital energy grace," he said. "Emblems of won- that once made martyrs now runs derful cures performed are hung into the channels of missionary enabout the altars. And the church has thusiasm. We go nowhere without this wonderful power: It often occurs feeling ourselves to be on holy ground." that children die without baptism. He seems to have been especially They are then brought to this church struck with that house at Strathaven for the rites of burial. Now it fre- from which have gone William and quently happens that during these Gavin Martin to India, James Martin exercises some sign is given by the to Jamaica, James Martin's son to deceased child. Then the priest im- India, and now Miss Martin, the sister, mediately baptizes it." to Jamaica. "What an outcome," he exclaims, "of one consecrated home! Thus the child is supposed to give Five missionaries almost from one some evidence of life, but just enough cradle! No marvel Scotland is into make it fit for baptism; then it is terested in missions. Instead of coming buried. What the sign is and how it across the sea to kindle a missionary ill recognized I could not learn. But revival, the flame was found already a rare chance is given to the priest, burning, and needing only the fuel of and to the credulous and excited par- facts, and the fanning of the breath ents, to establish a miracle which re- of the Spirit of God, to become a con- suming fire. Coti!d all this intelligent dounds to the glory of the church.- and aroused enthusiasm be effectually Dr. Stuckenberg in Homiletic Review.
MiscellaneouS.-Five Mission- aries from One Cradle. In the March
1890.J MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS•
.applied to action, the whole machinery fice. One lady sold a bracelet and of missions would move with greatly sent the proceeds; one young man increased rapidity and efficiency." took off a solid gold vest chain, and Dr. Pierson mentions the intel'esting another a diamond seraf-ring, and enfact that, although his meetings have closed them to Dr. Pierscn; others not been with immediate reference to sent the price of a pair of kid gloves, raising money, no collections being or a box of cigars, or a concert ticket, taken save for current local expenses, or various other gratifications and voluntary offerings have been sent in indulgences foregone for the sake of to him, some of them very significant, the perishing. – Chri8tian Leader because the fruit of evident s-elf–sac-ri–(-Lon-do-n).
III.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Ohina. in March, 1889, "to consider questions 0/ policy, methods o/work, extension or restric- [Our readers will remember that a tion 0/ fields o/labor," etc_ branch of the China Inland Mission, In view of recent criticisms of the work of representing North America, was re- Foreign Missions and general administration of Missionary Societies, a special importance cently established in Canada, of attached to their duty, and they entered upon which our friend and brother, Mr. their task with a desire to make thorough in- H. W. Frost, is the worthy secretary. vestigation. They appointed sub-committees -This brief letter from him shows that on home and foreign expenditure, and on the best means of bringing the 'lhurches into a good beginning has been made.- closer relation with the society. Rev. Pro- J. M. S.] fessor Anthony, reported on .. The Best Train- ing for Missionaries;" Rev. Dr. Macfadyen, on CHINA INLAND MISSION, } " Celibacy," and Rev. Dr. Mackennal, on Council for North America. "Education in India." Interviews with mis- sionaries supplied valuable information, and Toronto, Ont., July 3, 1890. their varied experience and high standing DEAR DR. PIERSON:-During the short time gave great weight to their opinions. -of our existence in this country we have had the privilege of helping forward 24 persons, The report of the committee was agreed and are hoping to send forward 10 more" ac- upon after much prayerful Inquiry; and sugcepted " ones in the early fall, with others to gests no material change as to the education follow. But this does not satisfy us, just of missionarycandidates, but that the study because we feel it does not satisfy the great of the history of Christian missions and of heart of Him who gave His life "to every comparative religions, form part of the pre- -creature." If, therefore, you can turn the paratory course, especiallyfor thoseappointed thoughts of any, who are not led otherwise, to India or Ohina. toward this mission we will be thankful to you, and shall count it a precious privilege to As to celibate life among the hedthen, the do all we can to help such ones to realize their missionaries all discountenanced making celi- .desires. bacya system in mission effort. The results, With warm Christian regards, In the native and Roman Catholic priesthoods, were declared to be bad. The Oxford experi- Yours faithfully in Christ, ment in Calcutta does not involve a lifetime H. W. FROST, Secretary.
England. of celibacy: In China, celibacy Is an almost [The following report of The Special insurmountable obstacle to the work of the Oommittee of Inve8tigation appointed by the London Mis8ionary Society, missionary, while in India.. it raises grave difll- culties. The unanimous testimony was that in ,should be incorporated in this REVIEW, every mission field the 0 hristian home and not only as a matter of current history, but as a testimony to the grand ohristian family are absolutely necessary as society at whose request the investigation was conducted. Our space makes factors of evangelization. necessary considerable abridgment, As to the proposed new departure, the combut the main conclnsions of the committee we are glad to put before our mittee approve the action of the directors who readers.-EDS_] recently decided to accept, under conditions, offers of service from men who have not A Special Committee of Investigation was appointed by the London Missionary Society passed through a course 0/ theological colle- giate training, and to send them out for a term of years as lay evangelists; not to en- courage any lower educational standard; nor to introduce Into the field workers who will labor for a smaller salary than that hitherto given to missionaries; but to open the door to foreign service to men of good education and who claim high respect are decidedly un- of proved experience as Christian workers, favorable to it. who have not been able to obtain special ministerial training, and to help supply the The committee ask that the following facts increasing demand for workers which the be borne in mind: theological colleges do not at present meet. (1.) The scholars in the schools receive a The committee believe the ultimate success cousiderable amount of regular Bible instruc- of this society, as an evangelistic agency, will tion from the missionary. (2.) Though con· largely depend on the employment of native versions are rare, they receive a degree of workers, and that the existing institutions for preparation, otherwise lacking, for hearing their training should therefore be fully sus- the Gospel and reading the Scriptures in after tained, and, where necessity arises, new insti- years. (3.) Nominally heathen teachers are tutions should be started. not always foes to Christianity; often they are convinced of its truth, though not prepared to They also hold that the existing policy of avow themselves Christians. In some cases, a working lrom centres, where churches and considerable proportion of both teachers and schools are set up, and evangelists trained for scholars voluntarily attend ChrIstian classes, the regions beyond, (as contrasted with a on the Lord's day. (4.) By means of Govern- Tague itineracy), is the method sanctioned by ment grants and fees these schools are to a Apostolic example, by divine authority, by considerable extent self-supporting. The experience, and by the nature of the kingdom committee do not recommend the discontinu- of Christ. ance of these schools, but urge the im- portance: 0.) Of exercising the utmost care· The committee report emphatic and hearty to maintain the distinctive Christian characexpressions from missionaries with whom ter 01 the school.; (2.) Of insisting that suffithey conferred, as to tbe methods and man- cient time daily be given to the Scripture' lesson throughout the schools, and in all theiragement 01 the 80ciety, and their cordial rela- classes alike; (3.) Of substituting Christian teachers in all schools supported by the tions with its directors and secretaries. society, as soon as possible; (4.) Of training, as speedily as possible, qualified Christian. .As to the paramount question of gravest im- teachers in all branches of instruction. ' portance, viz: the relation of Christian missions in general, and those of our own society They urge the noble opportunity which in particular, to education in India, the com- presents itself to wealthy Christians to meet mittee say: At present, such instruction as this great need, by founding Christian colwlIl prepare for university degrees and Gov- leges on unsectarian lines, in each great lanernment service, neceJJ8itates the employment guage area, for the training of such teachers- 01 non-Christian. teachers, as an adequate for the whole of India; and also to well-qualisupply of Christian teachers is not forthcom- fied university men, consecrated to the service ing. Dilference of language forbids the trans- of our Lord, to go out to India and becometerence 01 teachers from one part of India to teachers. another. Even the non-Christian teachers are, of course, contlned to secular subjects, With regard to the expenditure on the misand work under control of the missionary. sion house Btat!. the committee record com- Still their presence and influence detract plete agreement that the staff of assistant. in. from the Christian character of the schools, the foreign, home and accountant's offices is and may, in some cases, hinder the work and not larger than the work demands; that no inflnence of the missionary. Some devoted reduction Is practicable, and that the remunerfriends of missions deem this danger so seri- ation Is very moderate. In fact, the financial ous that they would abandon the educational position of the society has constrained those work llQOner than tolerate the presence of who serve it to contribute a large share of non-Christian teachers. Such a course would their own income. mean the reduction of the schools to the level of elementary vernacular schools-the sur- As to expenses of traveling deputations, anrender of the hold on the young mind of niversary services, etc., during the past ten India, in this crisis when the national mind is years considerable reductions have been beginning to be stirred, and 'old faiths are effected. The committee think this process tottering. It would mean the handing over of may be carried further without loss of effithe .cultured youth of India, the hope of the ciency, especially if neighboring churches and future, either to schools from which religion districts would arrange meetings in concert. is systematically excluded and where morality has therefore no firm footing, and where .As to the salaries of missionaries, etc., the there may be Agnostic and Positivist teachers committee conclude: (1.) The principle, acted as bitterly hostile to Christianity as the upon by the society, of regnlating payments heathen; 'or else to Rome and the Jesuits, to our missionaries by the claims of the several who eagerly-watch the opportunity to step in localities is the only sound one. (2.) Any reand fill the empty places. duction of the present scale of payment would be at the cost of efficiency. (3.) The fixed The great weight of opinion is in favor of scale of payments, as hitherto adopted, should. continuing the present sy.•te"" though some be strictly adhered to. (4.) The existing ar- Bordeaux, etc. The Berlin Conference has rangements for furlough after ten years' done a great deal in that respect. service; a second, afrer eight years'; a third, after seven years'; are the best in the Faithfully yours, interest both of the society and of the mis- E. LENOIR. sionaries. [NOTE:-This brother is one of the most de- As to methods for increasing contributions, voted men we met in our European tour dur- diffu8ing information and awakening and ing seven months. He not only conducts the 8'Ustaining interest in rnissions, throughout McAII work in Marseilles-teaching, preach- the churches, the committee suggest pas- ing, visiting, etc.-but he takes his violin and toral visitation for the purpose of reviving leads the Singing in person. His father is a the missionary spirit; the spread of informa- banker, and Mr. Lenoir gives ~p lucrative tion through lady visitors: that advantage be employment with prospective wealth for the taken of a fifth Sunday in the month to en- humble work of a McAII evangelist. What it force the claims of foreign missions; that the means for him and others like him to lead in a Sunday evening service sometimes take the total abstinence movement can only be underform of a missionary meeting; and that stood by those who know that the use of light special efforts be made to inrerest the young wines is almost as universal among the.French in missionary work, by lantern lectures, etc. people as ice water is on American tables.- A.T.P.] In summing up the result of this prolonged, painstaking, searching and impartial inquiry, India. conducred at the request of the directors and on behalf of the society's constituents, the Comilla, Eastern Bengal, July 19, 1890. committee, with intense satisfaction and DEAR DR. SHERwoon:-Rather more than a thankfulness, bear emphatic testimony to the year ago I wrote to Dr. Pierson, giving a slight wisdom, Belf-devotion, fidelity and executive sketch of our Australasian missions. Since ability with which the work of the society is then, sickness and overwork have made sad carried on, at home and abroad, and commend havoc amongst our laborers, Lutwe are exit to the unabated confidence and largely- pecting considerable additions next cold increased support of the churches. season. Oh, that God's people at home were aroused to the urgency of this work: Only to- The report is signed by J. Wycliffe Wilson, day, as Ilie on my bed, unable to rise, a Hindn- J .. P., Sheffield, chairman. and sixteen others, stani woman who received a little medical help well known in the Congregational body. some days ago, came to see me, and seemed loath to leave. Hitherto, it has seemed utterly France. hopeless to try and speak to her about Jesus, as she knows only one or two words ot Ben- Marseilles, July 9, 1890. gali, and I know only one or two of Hindu- stani; but, to-day, after finding out about her DEAR DR. PIERSON:-YOU will hear with physical stare, the desire to do something for satisfaction that your visit and that of Major her soul was overpowering. With many Whittle, in April last, has not been forgotten. signs and repetitions we managed to get at Every one of us remember, with thanks to the what is meant by hell, heaven and God. Then Lord, your speech on missions in the Y. M. C. coming to an understanding of what "sin" A. Hall; your powerful teaching on "Recon- signifies. the poor creature would have it that ciliation," in the Salle Repub/ique, has often I was siuless, and God to her. It was hard to been referred. to since, and with profit; and make her understand that! disowned to that. the young man whom Major Whittle brought Finding that all her children had died, and to Christ the same evening. We are glad to that one boy who lived to be four or five years say that the work goes on with ever so much old was specially remembered, I asked, joyful spirit. Our halls are both always "Where is he now!" She replied, "He is dead, croWded. I never should have believed that what more is there to say about it." She is we would soo such general desire in the south a strict Hindu, professedly, but is even too of France to hear the Gospel. What marvel- ignorant to think of transmigration. I You lous fervor the doctrtne of Atonement has on should have seen her poor face when she our working people I Long live evangeli- gathered that her child is in heaven and she zation! may go to see him. She tried vel'J:' hard to understand how she might get there, but I Larely, a friend from Switzerland spoke on fear it was beyond her. Oh, may God's Spirit temperance in our halls. We had about 25 enlighten the poor dark soul! May God's people who signed the pledge. I was obliged to people wake up to their duty! We have not join and to lead and take the head in the move- to go and seek for the work-it comes to our ment as there was nobody else to take it. We doors, to our very bedsides every day-and are encouraged on that point, and we hope to how many hundreds who invite us to their increase; there is a good spirit in the new so- houses have to be turned away I The desire ciety. Sabbath observance makes good pro- for more laborers comes to be the one desire gress too. Many shop-keepers enter that of my heart. door; I hear it is the same in Paris, Lyons, Did strength and time permit, I should so eastern :l.nd western extremes, as Arabia, like to tell you of what God has done for us Egypt, Tnnis, Tripoli, and Algeria, as well as poor, weak women, here, regarding the Mis- some lesser States. These all lie in great sion House, and land to build it on. Such darkness and almost wholly unevangelized. wonderful deliverances, such answers to The considerable and admirable educational prayer, and such tenderness. Now, that the mission-work of the American Presbyterians building is suspended for want of funds, our in Syria and in Egypt is confined almost society in debt (unknown to us until lately), wholly to the corrupt, native, nominal Chris- no "allowance" for ourselves, and many of tian sects, such as the Greeks, Latins and our friends in New South Wales bereft of all Maronites of Syria, and the Copts of Egypt. earthly possessions by heavy floods, it seems But Mohammedans are still fast bound in the as thongh our hearts grow lighter and chains of their religious delusions, and in the brighter. The house was so very certainly dense darkness that envelops them. The started at God's bidding and not mine, that I need, in several of these Arabic·speaking, can just rest and let Him manage His own Mohammedan countries is as great as the need business, even though the season for roof- of Morocco was five and a half years ago, making is fast slipping away, and I want the when I began as the only missionary to Mo- house to be ready for the new comers. He hammedans. Now, thank God, in both north- knows what He is about. ern Jllorocco, with Tangier as its base, and southern Morocco, with Mogador, there are Wishing still greater prosperity and useful- many devoted missionaries, over thirty in all. ness to the REVIEw. The desire to be used by God in similarly Yours in the work, opening up other parts of the vast Arabic- speaking Mohammedan world has been much ELLEN ARNOLD. on my mind. I feel my unworthiness for this, but if God deigns to thus use me, the glory Japan. shall all the more be His. It is with a view to this thatI have come East to Syria, and am now A CORRECTION. engaged in seeking to fit myself to be under- Arima, July 23, 1890. stood in Arabic wherever the Lord may lead me. May I ask your pr~ers that I may be EDITORS OF THE MISSIONARY REVIEw:-The helped in tillS language study,which is difficult article of Rev. F. S. Cnrtis, in July, 1890, No. to one who is past forty. Aggressive gospel 7, pp. 535-37, in speaking of Zamaguchi Ken, work, even when hampered by an imperfect and profesBing to give the numberof mission- knowledge of the Arabic, is much more to my aries west of Hiroshima, is unjust to the Bap- taste; but the present occupation is needful tist work there. The A. B. M. U. has two for the future. families now on that field, and they expect to be joined very soon by three ladies, already It is well known that I have advocated and appointed. sought to practise simple and self-denying methods of mission work, and such as seemed The A. B. M. U. had a missionary residing to be, for me, the most direct and effective, in ShinIonoseki two years before any mission- although hard to the flesh. I drew them from ary settled at Hiroshima, and it has never for the Lord's instructions to his first missiona moment withdrawn from that field. In the aries,as recorded in Matt. x. It has become a absence of the first missionary, the work was maxim with me, that while leaving all others carried on for eighteen months by r('gular to conduct their work as seems to them best, visits from Kobe, our men remaining from I must conform mine to the principles conone to four months at a tinIe, until the arrival tained in those instructions, read and underof some of the present workers, a year ago. stood in the light of "the great commission," in the end of Mark and Matthew, and of the It seems but just to the A. B. M. U., and to recorded practice of the Apostles in the men who are your subscribers, that correction preaching tours in Acts. Practically speaking, should be made, so that their work in this im- following out these principles leads those portant field should not be iguored. Asking pledged to them to live upon the level, in mathat you will kindly grant this, I am, terial things, of the people to whom they are sent, as far as is consistent with health and Yours sin('erely, cleanliness. So, when located among the people, such missionaries would live, out- T. E. SHOEMAKER. wardly, as they do; and when traveling, they would go, two by two, on foot, carrying only Syria. the Gospel message, unimpeded by anything to excite the envy or cupidity of the natives, Brumana, Near BeyrO'Ut, June 25, 1890. and, as a rule, depending on the hospitality of DEAR EDITORS:-I have recently come from those among whom they are at the time Morocco to this Lebanon village, where I am traveling. spending some months in close study of pure Arabic. Here, every facility exists for this, but Morocco furnished none. We there labored under the most difficult and discouraging circumstances in gaining so much knowledge of the Arabic tongue as we already possess. Arabic is the language, not only of Syria and Morocco, bnt also of the great Mohammedan nations lying between these two
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
These views of mISSIOn work have been may be better fitted to go out on repeated jour- greatly opposed, and sometimes with much neys for preaching among Moslems wherever I bitterness of feeling, in religious periodicals, may be led. especially in England, where, in The Christian (London), I published, week by week, a series When I left lIIogador the converts were of eighteen articles dealing with the question. greatly scattered and persecutions continued. Since then, some dear friends have become Some of the most true, who had endured both thereby alienated, while enemies have scruti- stripes and imprisonment, left the town to es- nized and criticised every move I have made_ cape further similar treatment, just before I Even fellow-workers, who had pledged them- came away. Others gave ns much concern by ,selves to stand with me in advocating and prac- lack of steadfastness. Through the American tising these methods,after awhile, fell back and Consul I was officially forbidden by the native left me almostalone. I now find myself obliged, governors to travel in either of the two large with barely a single associate, to go forward provinces adjoining Mogador, and through in the path of service to which I feel called, which I must pass to reach the interior. On ,and from which I dare not go back. It is this one visit I was arrested in consequence of this disappointment as to others standing with order, but released in answer to prayer, before me, especiallY, co-workers in the field, com- our captors had reached the governor's house. bined with lesser reasons, that has led me On another journey in the same part, we were to feel unwilling to encourage other young turned back with violent threatenlngs with men to join me. Therefore, I do not now pro- clubs. On stm another journey, in conse- pose, as I had thought to do when I arranged quence of being in some danger in a native to come here from Morocco, to become respon- sok or market, we were reported at home at ,sible for the guidance and support of others. first imprisoned and then killed. On still .such responsibility is a wearing and heavy another journey, we were arrested on two oc- burden indeed, as I have found, and I am not casions, once by being taken before the govsorry to be relieved of it, though I was not un- ernor, and only escaped from his soldiers by willing for It so long as I felt it was God-ap- stratagem. AS to the future of the work in pointed. Such friends as have written, olIer- Mogador and Southern Morocco, the presence ing to support workers with me will accept my of a number of new missionaries provides suf- thanks for their kindness, and will, from this, ficiently against its being neglected. understand how it is that I cannot, at present ,atleast, make nse of their olIers. A bi-monthly statement of the amounts sent toward my support to Mr. Eugene Levering, We are living here very simply Indeed, and No.2 Commerce street, Baltimore, 11M., ap- very much as the native Syrians do. Our pears regularly in The Baltimore Baptist. To organ is about the only article of European all who have kindly helped thus, I return furniture in our little native house of four , heartfelt thanks. The difficulties and trials of rooms and a kitchen. Our food is native. Mr. a life of faith, as to temporal supplies, are not Brading, my devoted co-worker, is at another few nor small, but the compensation in seeing Lebanon village for language study, where he the hand of the living Father in one's daily .only hears Arabic, and where, in his single life, is great indeed. Hence, after years of room with its earth fioor, is scarcely a single treading this pathway, I can recommend it article of all those found in even an humble heartily to such as have falth therefor. But home in America. Notwithstanding his being let none others attempt it. brought up in soft and easy surroundings, he gladly endures hardness, as a good soldier of As great difficulties and keen trials have of Jesus Christ. late thickened about me, may I not ask for an increase of prayer on my behalf. "Grace be From what llIave said, it will be seen that I with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ have not come to Beyrout to make this my in sincerity." ,sphere of work, but only temporarily, that I Yours, in Gospel service for Mohammedans, C. F. BALDWIN.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
'The Foreign Missions of the Moravian Lord and Master, it is that He has Church. caused it to be distinctively a Mission- BY REV. J. TAYLOR HAMILTON, ary Church. Through His grace the ,SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING Moravian brethren early realized that THE GOSPEL (MORAVIAN MISSIONARY the business of a Christian's life is not SOCIETY), BETHLEHEM, PA.
If there is one feature in the history to become one of a select coterie, a ,of the Moravian Church for which we clique banded together to luxuriate have cause to render heartfelt thanks selfishly. in the enjoyment of personal to the overruling providence of our religion, but that the express com~ mands of the Lord and the needs of- Scarcely has the first enterprise the times demand at the hands of be- been undertaken, in 1732, than a- lievers the most strenuous efforts for second is inaugurated. The cousins, the evangelization of the world and :Matthew and Christian Stach and the furtherance of Christ's kingdom. Christi!tn David, on January 19, 1733, I wish briefly to sketch the rise and leave Herrnhut to assist the Lutheran progress of Moravian Missions in sub- missionary, Hans Egede, in his appar- stantiation of this assertion. ently hopeless labors in bleak Green– Ten years after the renewal of that land. Negotiations are next begun at ancient Protestant Church which, in Amsterdam with the directors of the 1467, as a result of the teachings of Dutch Trading Company for Surinam, the martyred Hus, came out from or Dutch Guiana, and in 1735 three Rome, but which had been almost missionaries depart to explore its- blotted out of existence by the merci- rivers and lagoons. As the years pass less barbarity of the dragoons, and the by, other West Indian islands besides cunning procedure of the Jesuits, to St. Thomas are entered-8anta Cruz, whom the House of Austria turned San Jan, Jamaica, Auligna, St. Chris- over Bohemia and Moravia at the close topher and Barbadoes.
of the thirty years' war-ten years In 1735 the first colony of Moravians after the renewal of the Church of the destined for this continent of ours pro- Bohemian and Moravian brethren, ceeds to Savannah, Ga., to labor for- through the instrumentality of Count the Indians, and in 1740 Christian Zinzendorf, at Herrnhut in Saxony, in Henry Rauch preaches to the Mohi– the year 1722, when that settlement cans of New York State. In 1736 of religious exiles numbered only six George Schmidt, who had served an hundred souls, two of the Moravian apprenticeship at confessing the gospel~ immigrants, Leonard Dober and David by lying for six years, for the faith's Nitschmann, with about three dollars sake, in an Austrian dungeon, works apiece, setout on foot for Copenhagen, his way to Amsterdam to find ship for- thence to proceed by ship to St. Cape Colony; and although his success– Thomas, to bring the gospel to pegro fullabors amongst the Hottentots are- slaves. ere long harshly terminated by the- Since then unsuccessful attempts to Christian DutchJ)ettlers, in 1792, when found missions have been made byour missionaries are again sent out, they people in the following countries: in find Schmidt's garden at Guadendal..
Lapland, amongst the Srenoyedes, in his outpost amongst the heathen, with Algiers, Ceylon, Persia, the EastIndies a thrifty pear tree to mark the civiliz- and Demerara.; and the following were ing agencies he had introduced, and.
established but afterwards suspended: better yet, they find aged Magdalena, on the Guinea coast of Africa, amongst one of his converts, with the gospel the Tartars, in Abyssinia and in Tran- Schmidt had preached still fruitful in quebar. Concerning these I shall say her heart; and to-day our South Mri– next to nothing. In their zeal the can Mission has the care of 13,590'
brethren sometimes overestimated souls. In spite of the failure of a first their own resources; sometimes so- attempt to land on inhospitable· called Christian governments inter- Labrador in 1752, owing to the massa- fered, or unscrupulous trading com- cre of a boat's crew by the natives, in panies placed unsurmountable obsta- 1764 J ens Haven, after years of care- cles in their way; sometimes heathen ful preparation and the study of the savages refused to allow a permanent Eskimo language in Greenland, taking- residence amongst them. I shall his life in his hands, hazards a visit.
speak only of those fields which have and later the mission is permanently • been permanently occupied. established by fifteen Moravian colonists, of whom he is the leader. Themis- commenced amongst the Indians of sion amongst the Indians of New York, Southern California, and finally, this Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Ohio year, the negroes and coolies of Trini- having experienced various vicissi- dad hear the message of salvation tudes during the war with the French from our brethren. in colonial days, and during and after the struggle for Independence, notably Whilst there has been individual the massacre of more than ninety instances of failure and seasons of ap- Christian Indians at Guadenhuetten, parent standing still, on the whole Ohio, had found refuge in 1792 at New there has been ever a steady and Fairfield in Canada. Nevertheless, in general advance. The work comspite of the ruthless reduction of the menced 158 years ago has widened converts,who had once been numbered out into a vast series of missionary by hundreds, to a mere persecuted enterprises. In the foreign field our handful, in 1801 new operations are Church has now about 86,000 souls in commenced amongst the Cherokees. her care, ministered to by 343 mis- Again fourteen years elapse, and an sionaries, of whom 51 are native born, old field is re-entered. The Calmuck with 1,659 native assistants. There are Tartars are revisited, though they 135 stations and out-stations, with 140must later be once more abandoned. schools of all sorts, attended by about 20,000 scholars. The support of the Yet within the 'decade of this relin- work entails an annual outlay of quishment, namely in 1827, possession $300,000 in round numbers. is taken of a new outpost on the Island of Tobago. One year after that Kaf- It has been with deliberate purpose fraria is entered. Less than a decade that I have gone into this somewhat: passes when Demerara is invaded in tedious skeroh of the growth of the the name of Christ, to be temporarily operations of o~r Moravian Church, yielded, indeed, five years later. But which has ever been federated together in 1848 there is a new advance, the in the Continent of Europe, in Great coast of palmy Mosquitia in Central Britain and Ireland, and in our own America being claimed as a Moravian country, for work in the foreigu field. mission field, ere long to be one of its I have done so because three special most fruitful. In the following year features stand out from such a survey, attention is paid to the degraded state which are not without their signifiof the black fellows of Australia. And cance for tile Church of, Christ in in 1859 the eternal snows of the Hima- general. They are these: layas are pressed by the footprints of our brethren in Cashmere. In the First, the missionary activity of the sixties Hus' descendants in the faith renewed Moravian Church is seen to seek to revive vital godliness in their have been not spasmodic, but steady spiritual fatherland, and their light and on principle. It cannot be atnow shines amidst the dark supersti- tributed to an overwrought and temtions of Bohemia. In 1867 a mission porary excitement, but must 'be no less noble than that of Father ascribed to the intelligent recognition Damien is begun, one leper hospital in of the truth, that the Church cannot Jerusalem, that has been steadily discharge its duty to the Master withmaintained ever since, having at out steadfastly seeking to win the present twenty inmates. In 1878 the world for Him in accordance with His outpost in Demerara is won back. In command. 1884 we rejoice in the privilege of sending God's Word to Northwestern Secondly, there never has been a. Alaska, to the Eskimos along the time when the renewed Moravian Kuskoquin river. In 1889 a mission is Church has been dead to missionary work. It has a record of constant ac- tivity. Decade by decade new field" have steadily been added to the old. In the third place, the Moravian Of course we have our theological Church has often made grateful ac- seminaries and our institute for the knowledgment of the reflex influence training of missionaries; and we, no of the foreign work upon the home less than others, place a high value {)hurches. Itisactivity here-the being upon a medical education as a valubrought face to face with the needs of able element in a missionary's equipthe perishing heathen and the utter ment. Yet from the days when .abyss and sin into which these have Leonard Dober, the potter, we!lt to fallen, and it has been the steady the West Indies, and Christian David, drain upon the Church's strength to the carpenter, to Greenland, to the meet the demands of the hour abroad present, in which we have sent men that have preserved the home congre- who were farmers or carpenters by gations sound in vital faith, during occupation to Alaska, our Church has periods when enthusiasm within never hesitated to accept as volunteers, threatened to degenerate into fanati- or directly call for the services of cism, or when rationalism was abroad such who have been, if you are pleased outside and was rendering callous the to put it so, untrained laymen, pUl"e sense of responsibility in the souls of and simple, up to the time of their thousands of professed believers. going forth to the heathen. And in many a case these men have met with In considering the methods and gloriously fruitful success. principles according to which Morayian Missions have been conducted, I And again a second characteristic believe that the following are worthy of our work has been to manifest" less ·of attention. First of all, both in solicitude to bring a great number of theory and in practice, we have en- persons to a mere profession of the deavored to maintain that all the mem- Christian faith,"-again I quote the bers of our Church should feel that Synodal Results-" than by means of the responsibility for the success or the gospel preached with the demonfailure of our heeding the Lord's com- stration of the Spirit and of power to mand to go and preach the gospel rests turn souls from darkness unto light, upon everyone. Iquotefromthereso- andfrom thepower ofSatan unto God. lutions published in the "Results of For this purpose the preaching of the .ourGeneralSynod,"thehighest legisla- gospel must be accompanied by the tive body in our Church, as follows: specialcareofindividualsouls;periodi- clI,l conversations of the missionaries "The Brethren's Unity is a Mission- with the members of their congregaary Church. It finds its missionaries tions according to their several in the rank and file of its own mem- classes, and visits to the houses and bership, and there is no special class to the beds of the sick and dying, are out of whom they are to be selected. deemed of the utmost importance." Even if the majority do enjoy a .special preparation before their en- This principle is faithfully observed trance into the service, such prepara- in all our mission provinces. In order tion is not necessary in every case. tofacilitate itsapplication, theconverts The chief preparation for missionary are divided into the following classes: service must take place under the 1. New People, the lowest class, conteaching of the Holy Spirit, in order sisting of those who have applied to that it may be said of all missionaries, the mISSIonaries for instruction. ., They shall be taught of God.' All These are taught the rudiments of the human learning and external accom- Christian religion. 2. Oandidatesfor plishments will abide without influ- Baptism, a higher class, those who ence and result if inward enlighten- have passed the first stage and arenow ment and the training of the heart be being prepaJ:ed for baptism. 3. Bap- , -'tnting." tized Adults The term explains itself. 4. Communicants, those of the third managed by an elected board, repre_ class who have undergone probation, sentative of our entire Church, and and, having been confirmed, are ad- having its seat in Berthelsdorf, mitted to the Holy Communion. Saxony. I refer to the fact that There are besides, two other classes: about $25,000 a year come to our sup- Baptized Children, the children of port from the "London Association parents in fellowship with the Church, in Aid of the Missions of the United and the Excluded, those who, being Brethren," an association composed under church discipline, are deprived of members of the Church of England, of the privilege of sharing in the of Independents, of Baptists, of Metho- Lord's Supper, but who receive the dists, and of other Protestants, and particular attention of the mission- which was formed in, and has been aries. It must be remembered that supporting our operations ever since the position of a convert from the year 1817. On the continent of heathenism, or even that of a Chris- Europe, and particularly in Switzer- tian of a second generation, is far land, moreover, large sums are different from that of a man who has annually received from Christian grown up in a Christian land with the people who are not in immediate con- inherited tendencies of many genera- nection with our Church. In fact, tions of Christian ancestors. Hence without this noble assistance, our the need of special fidelity in watch- denomination, which numbers only ing over individual souls. about 33,000 at home, could never sus- And I may yet mention a third tain a work which embraces almost characteristic. For the· sake of the three times as many abroad. We may natives themselves, in order to teach be said, therefore, to stand a living them habits of thrift and to educate monument to the truth that Christian and civilize them, no less than in union for the Master's cause is a fact order to diminish the cost of the mis- that isreal, even in these days when sions, in many of the fields mercantile sectarianism seems sometimes to have concerns and trades are carried on, run mad.
the profits of which are for the benefit In the latest edition of his Church of the gospel work. In Labrador, for History, Professor Kurtz of Dorpat, instance, a considerable business is is pleased to pass judgment upon the done in furs and fish and cod-liver missions of the Moravians in the fol- oil. In Surinam the mission has in lowing words: "Their procedure was some years been almost or quite self- admirably suited to uncultured races, supporting with its various commer- and only for such. In the East Indies, cial operations. In South Africa the therefore, they were unsuccessful."
raising and preparation of arrowroot, Perhaps there is something in what under the guidance of the mission- he writes. Yet he overlooks much.
aries, has saved our native converts He forgets that they made their from extremest want in times of attempt in the East Indies at a con- scarcity or famine. Yet, it may well be siderably earlier date than Carey- understood that, with all the revenue namely, in the year 1759, and then, derived in favorable seasons from too, in spite of the fact that almost all such sources, the entire work has re- the colonists of a Danish commercial mained and will remain pre-emi- establishment on the Nicobar Islands, nently one of faith. north of Sumatra, whither the In as much as I have touched upon brethren proposed to go, had died one of the means of support, just here from the effects of the climate. He I may be permitted to draw attention forgets that when they first founded a to a unique feature in connection with settlement at Tranquebar, on the our work, which in the last instance is Coromandel coast of Ilindustan, for the purpose of preserving connection too, for the most insignificant, for with civilization and the home Church, whom also Christ did not disdain to the climate carried off one' of the die. And they belieTe that the living leaders and his wife in less than three Word of God is for the salvation of :years. He seems to forget that when these also-body and soul. They the brethren began to gain converts know well enough that the same .at Tranquebar, their Christian adver- amount of disinterested persistent saries among the colonists sought to fidelity would have produced possibly procure from the King of Denmark, richer harvests elsewhere; but they in whose territory the place was know also that these are the peoples <situated, a prohibition of all further who might otherwise say in the Judgoperations there. He further over- ment, "No man cared for our souls." looks the fact that when, in 1768, the They believe that even the most brethren were at length enabled to utterly degraded are still within the pass over to the Nicobar Islands, the reach of the Bible to Christianize and climate speedily carried off two of the civilize. And their success has warsix missionaries, and utterly pros- ranted a firm continuance of their trated the remaining four. He does traditional policy. Notoriously low not tell you that in 1781 the war ip. the scale, for example, are the between the French and the English black fellows of Australia. Yet it has hampered the missionary operations happened that amongst twelve hunat Tranquebar, and that in 1778 already dred colonial schools in Gippsland, the Nicobar Islanda were seized by one mission school for the natives at the Roman Catholic commanderof an Ramahyuk has gained the first prize lmperial frigate in the name of Joseph offered by the Government. The II. of Austria, and every hindrance Bush negroes of Surinam were savages placed by him in the way of our descended from the fugitive slaves of brethren. Finally, in less than twenty- the colony, brutal, fierce Ishmaelites, five years, forty missionaries were vic- finding a secure refuge amidst the tims to the East Indian climate. malarial swamps. Yet after conver- Christian charity would take these sion, our missionaries have so trained things into account. them as to awaken an appreciation for the grandest of sacred music-in Might not the true explanation of fact, themselves to sing with powerthe fact that our people have labored, ful effect choruses from the Oratorios, .as a rule, amongst those heathen who with orchestral accompaniment furare lowest.in the scale of humanity, nished by themselves. The Dutch be rather found in pursuance of a settlers of Cape Colony were wont to deliberate pm'pose to do something class the Hottentots with their own for those whom others might overlook? dogs. Overthe river Sonderend there It is probable that the conviction that is now a bridge one hundred and such is the true explanation, occa- eighty feet long, resting on five massioned the formation of that unique sive piers-the whole entirely the work auxiliary society in London in 1817. of Christianized, civilized natives. The Moravians are not so devoid of It is said that a farmer who was once judgment as to be blind to the policy just passing over the bridge, began to of seeking to convert to Christ rail at a Moravian Hottentot from the populous, cultured and influential Guadurdal near by, and to grumble nations of heathendom, whose con- at the laziness and worthlessness of version would insure a large IWcession Hottentots in general. The Hottentot to the capacity of the Church of Christ pointed to the bridge, and replied reto compass the whole globe. But spectfully: they seek to give testimony to their conviction of the necessity of caring, "Baas, I do not choose to answer. Let that bridge speak for us. If baas the day will surely dawn-sooner than had built it for me, and I could with- many anticipate, if the Church uni- out trouble walk and ride over it, I versal is permeated with the spirit of 8h~uld not venture to complain of service and is faithful to her calling- baas' laziness, for I should think it when" all shall know the Lord from required more diligence and labor to the least unto the greatest," and when build a bridge than to walk over it." " the earth shall be full of the knowl- edge of the Lord, as the waters cover Surely the Eskimos of Labrador, the sea." whose winter lasts from October almost to June, with a thermometer First Impres8ions in Brazil. sometimes forty degrees below zero, have very little to stimulate them to BY REV. THOMAS J. PORTER, CORYmake exertions for self-improvement. Yet the Rev. Benjamin La Trobe, of TIBA, PARANA, B~ London, England, who visited the country two years ago, thus depicts Among our very first impressions an Eskimo interior at one of our sta- is a painful one of the irreverence of tions: "It is furnished with the usual Romanists in their use of the names <louches spread with skins. One o. of God. For example, the square on two objects in the room testify to a which we live is known as "the refinement that is unusual. A guitar square of the Good Jesus." They call their children by the same sacred hangs on the wall near a cage with d. name, "Jesus." And they have in Rio the " Navigation Company of the bird in it, and against the partition Holy Spirit" and the "Brewery of stands a piano. Fancy such an instrn- the Holy Spirit." ment in a low turf hut, even though it be but an old square piano!" The Roman Church has made them so irreverent, ignorant and skeptical, Elsewhere he describes a native that the majority of Brazilians have church choir as accompanied by four practically no religion. Many writers native musicians, three of whom play for the press evidently do not know on violius and the fourth on a violon- what Christianity is. They have seen cello. There are natives, too, who it as belied by the lives of priests, of have cabinet organs in their homes. whose wickedness horrible stories are He speaks of Eskimo choristers as currently believed. No intelligent rendering chorals and anthems so man now send3 his wife or daughter difficult, that the ability of the average to the confessional. Old missionaries European church choir would have say they have never met a Brazilian been well tested in attempting them. who confessed belief in the infalli- bilityof the Pope. And now, since the If the missions of the Moravian separation of Church and State, the Church teach anything, they cer- only power of the priesthood is " the tainly demonstrate this in a way not power of the keys." But very few to be successfully controverted, that Brazilians ever confess, except at marthe gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is riage and at death. And very often the power of God unto salvation; that they are buried without the presence its sufficiency is dependent upon no of the priest. What effect civil marextraneous or accidental combination riage Iuay have on the influence of of circumstances and upon no purely Romanism remains to be seen. But mental qualities inherent, or, at least, evidently the even*s of the past year dormant in the race, whether favored have weakened that influence. Alor unfavored by those things which most nobody in this city attended the in and of theIUSelves incline to intel- services of Holy week. Yet it is scarcely lectual culture; and finally, that if four years since the vicar-general of the very lowest pagans can be thus the province of Parana, from tl$ savingly illumined by the light divine, same capital, dared to order the people neither a scholar nor a father to his to burn the Bibles the missionaries country. He left without a friend were selling. and without an enemy. I have heard Brazilians say "He was a bananf." On April 21 the hanging of Xavier He did much for his empire. But Tivadentes, in 1792, for conspiracy to why did he not stimulate his subjects create a republic, was celebrated with to develop their rich but uncultivated great show of attachment to the country? Why did he not educate Republic. You remember that after them to independence of foreign his execution, the Bishop of Rio had labor, capital and enterprise? What, the Te Deum sung in the churches. I has he done of late years, except at was glad that I could not discover a the monition of the coming event?' priest among the crowd. The speeches Since the martyrdom of Tivadentes, I heard were very weak and tame. republicanism has lived and thought The only man who made a goodspeech, and waited the fullness of time. The was promptly carried off to Rio de emperor knew this, and knew when the Janeiro to be tried for treason in time had come. mildly and justly criticising the provincial governor. The large portrait I will not lengthen this letter by of Tivadentes which appeared in the ~umerating facts to show the proleading daily paper of the city, bore a found ignorance of the people and striking resemblance to the head of the wretchedness of their schools; Christ, as drawn by Carracci. This such facts as these-there is no college fact was probably the resultant of in the American sense in the counjournalistic enterprise, infidel irrever- try; thirteen teachers of the public ence and republican spirit. schools in Pernambuco were dis- missed because they could neither read The eight men who form the present nor write-but, in view of the whole military dictatorship are considered to situation, it is evident that the imperial be intellectually the ablest in the coun- need of this country is Christian edutry. So far they have been wonder- cation, from primary schools to a fully wise, temperate and just. The Robert College. Such schools would preference expressed by many for be the right arm of the Church of adopting a national constitution by Christ in moulding the Republic of arbitrary methods, rather than by a Brazil. vote of the people, forcibly reminds us that this is not Saxon and Protest- Trinidad. ant America, but Latin and Roman Brazil. However, it should be re- A. NOTE FROM REV. JOHN MORTON, D.D. membered that more than four-fifths of the population cannot read nor Tunapuna, Trinidad, May 31, 1890. write, and, therefore, cannot vote. To the International Missionary Union, hold- And many voters are hardly fit for self-government, they are so ignorant ing its Seventh Annual Meeting at Clifton and destitute of patriotism. At best Springs, N. Y., June 11 to 18, 1890, Mr. and the Republic will be, for a time at Mrs. Morton, of Trinidad, send greeting: least, an oligarchy. Yet, if it accom- We returned December 5, 1SS1l, having seplishes the tithe of what Brazilian cured when in Canada one missionary and patriots hope from it, the abolition of two female teachers for vacancies, and the the monarchy will be justified. promise of a fifth missionary, who is already virtuallyunder appointment. These were the Contrary to the prevailing opinion objects for which, at the convention at Bing-' in the United States, Dom Pedro II. hamton, we asked the special prayers of the was not a remarkable ruler. It is said International Missionary Union. Our united here that he aimed to be thought prayers have been answered; let us praise scholarly and liberal, and was, in fact, the Lord together. At the close of 1SS1l our agency consisted of 4 Canadian missionaries, 2 ordained native ministers, 20 native cl'te- chists, 3 Cl'nadian female teachers and 34 native teachers. We had 2,060 children in our schools, 36 couples were married and 210 per- sons were baptized in 1889.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
We received from the Government for edu- Chinese who come to the United cation in 1889, $7,350; from proprietors of States and our treatment of a Treaty estates, $3,BOO, and from the native church with China or any other Government nearly $2,000. We began the year with a debt on earth. It is on the latter phase of of $300, and closed it with a balance to credit the subject that this deliverance was of $280. made by the Missionary Union.
The returns for 1889, just published, set the The following was adopted: total number of East Indians in Trinidad at 88,000. The increase by immigration alone in CHINESE RESOLUTION. 1888 and 1889, was 5,200. Of those who arrived in 1889, 537, or nearly one-sixth, had been Whereas, the United States of America. and in Trinidad before, and 131 had been in other the Empire of China are bound by solemn colonies. These figures show that our field is treaties, and whereas, unjust laws discriminafast widening. ting against Chinese subjects have been passed by our Government, and whereas, The work of enlightening and Christianizing missionary work, on account of this wanton this people goes steadily forward. We are insult to a friendly power, China is greatly with you in spirit, and wish to share in your retarded, and whereas, leading Chinese statesinterest and prayers. men, through a memorial presented to the throne, have petitioned for retaliation against Yours faithfully, Americans in China, and whereas, it is stated, on competent authority, that new treaties, as JOHN MORTON. strict in regard to Chinese immigration as may be desirable to our Government ca.n be nego- REV. DR. GRACEY, President International tiated; therefore, Missionary Union. Resolved, That we petition Congress to re- Our Oonduct in Relation to the Treaty peal that unjust and dishonorable Scott Bill, known as the "Chinese Exclusion Act of with Ohina. 1888," and at once. in a manner compatible We present herewith the action of with our honor and dignity as a Christian the International Missionary Union on nation, to commence negotiations with the the question of our treatment of the Chinese Government for the revision of former Chinese Government. There should treaties, or the making of a new one, as may be be a distinction kept in mind between deemed best. the treatment we should give the V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY SECRETARY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
Missions and Sects in the Turkish in controversies and often in open Empire. strife, are now too thoroughly under subjection to Turkish rulers to al- No other country presents such a low of conflict, and they have been medley of reljgions as the Empire of the Sultan-and the fact most re- too deeply humbled and dispirited to- markable of all ii!, that although hat- exercise any very aggressive characing each other most cordially, they all ter. For a long time the Patriarch- remain in a sort of trnce. That truce ate of the Greek Church was regularly has continued for centuries with com- sold to the highest bidder by the Sul-· paratively few religious outbreaks, tan, and that fact alone WIj.S enough to whatever may have been the political destroy all spiritual life in the church.
intrigues, and however great may Much the same policy has been ex- have been the oppressions visited by ercised by the dominant power to- the strong upon the weak. In the ward all other Christian sects. If one Turkish Empire, or at least the coun- would gain a realizing sense of the tries which it now dominates, the two moral condition of the Christian great 'Western religions had their de- Churches in the Turkish Empire, and velopment. They have both passed at the same time would see the hu- its boundaries, however, and have miliating subjection in which they are been characterized as "missionary held by Mohammedan authority, he religions. " has only to witness the services of The Christian sects, which in the Greeks, Maronites, Armenians, Jacob- early days were so constantly engaged ites, Copts, and Nestorians, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Je- of Constantinople, claimed supremacy rusalem on Easter Sabbath-all wor- over both the Eastern and the Western shipping at the same time, and all churches. Gregory the Great,of Rome; kept from quarreling with each other defended hiR See against this assump- . by the stern authority of a Moslem po- tion, by the scriptural doctrine that lice. It should be borne in mind, bishops are equal.
however, that this subjection to the The Greek Church agrees with the Turk, however it may have been ne- Church of Rome in reference to bap- cessitated centuries ago, is now only tismal regeneration, the worship of an accident of European diplomacy. Mary, prayers for the dead, the use of As for the humiliation of the Greek relics, the infallible authority of coun- Church in any part of Turkey, the cils, prayers to the saints, and the Russian power would make quick virtual substitution of their interces- work of it were it not for the political sions for those of Christ. It differs restraints of Protestant and Catholic from Rome in allowing the marriage Europe; and, on the other hand,Catho- of the clergy, in denying the supreme ·lic Europe would sweep away Moslem authority of Peter and his viceregents.
:tyranny from.. the Holy Land but for It rejects the doctrine of supereroga- _the fear of Russia and the armed pro- tion and the dispensing of indulgences.
test of England. So, from age to age, It does not accept the doc~rine of -the Turk continues to insult and hu- the immaculate conception of Mary, miliate all branches of the Christian though it does claim for her a miracu- Church within his dominion. lous resurrection like that of Christ.
Let us take a very brief glance at It rejects the ;worship of images, but some of the sects of the Turkish Em- (very illogically) it does worship the pire. flat paintedforms of saintscarved from THE GREEK CHURCH. boards. A Patriarch of the Greek This has its principal seat of power Church has great authority over his in Russia, and it is supreme in all bishops, but he alone is not infallible.
parts of Greece, but it is also found The Greek Church holds the unique in both European and Asiatic Turkey. doctrine that the souls of unbaptized It was formerly known as the Eastern infants, and of the ignorant heathen, Church, in distinction from that of go at death to a limbus which is Italy and Western Europe, or as the neither heaven nor hell, but a place Byzantine Church to distinguish it suited to their case.
from that of Rome. Its separation The history of the Greek Church from the Latin or Roman Church has shown far less moral corruption began with the removal of the throne in its average clergy than the Church .of Constantine to Constantinople and of Rome. It is, however, far more the division of the Empire between his torpid and inefficient than the Western sons. This led ultimately to the over- church, partly' from the repression .throw of the Eastern Empire by the suffered from the Turkish power, and .Turk, and it also facilitated the over- partly from differences of race. It throw of the Western Empire by the has never been, to any extent, a mis- Goths. sionary church. The missions of the The Eastern Church also began to Russo – Greek Church, as in Japan, diverge from the Western on doctrinal may owe their inspiration quite as .points, and especially on the question largely to political designs as to the of ecclesiastical supremacy. The coun- spirit of Christ. The Greek Church cil of Chalcedon, A. D. 451, decreed differs from the Papal in reckoning the equality of the Eastern and the the time for observing Easter accord- Western prelates, and about the close ing to the "old style" instead of adopt- of the sixth century, John, Patriarch ingthedates oftheGregorianCalendar. It also immerses its candidates for characteristics, however, a degree of baptism three times-once for each of independence has been maintained.
the persons of the Trinity. Maronite patriarchs and bishops The Greek Oatholic Church, num- must be Maronites by birth, and must bering thirty or forty thousand people be chosen by their own people; the in Syria, is simply a branch of the clergy may marry once; tHey may Greek Church which, after cen- also own private property, imless be- turies of proselyting and intrigue on longing to a monastic order. No the part of Rome, finally acknowl- Maronite can belong to a European edged the supremacy of the Pope. monastic society; the saCred language But it makes some reserves. It ap- used must be the Syriac, and not the points, or at least nominates, its own Latin. Scriptural lessons are printed patriarchs,who must always be chosen in Arabic. from among its own people, and its In their relation~ to the Turkish clergy may marty before ordination. Government the Maronite bishops Its formularies declare Christ to be hold a degree of political power-the the only intercessor for sinners, and governorships of their districts being yet, in consistent subserviency to subject generally to their choice. Mul- Rome, it proceeds at once to commend titudes of the Maronites have been the intercessions of Mary. The Greek won to an evangelical faith by the Catholic Church persists, against all Syrian Mission of the Presbyterian flatteries and threats of Rome, in ob- Church, and they have been found to serving the Eastern reckoning for the appreciate education to a remarkable time of Easter. degree.
THE MARONITE CHURCH. The lack of space forbids even a To speak very briefly, the Maronite brief notice of the Armenian and Church, which is found principally Jacobite Churches, also found in the on Mount Lebanon, is a branch of the Turkish empire, as we desire to pre- Roman Catholic Church, though ad- sent brief sketches of the sects of the mitting only a qualified adherence. Druzes and thE( NllI'sareyehs.
The fact that its ilartial dissent is Mohammedanism, the staple and allowed, is but another evidenceof the dominant faith of the empire, would tact, and, when necessary, the flexi- require a treatise instead of a sketch.
bility of the Papacy in adapting itself THE DRUZES.
to all possible conditions if only its The brave and desperate resistance supremacy is acknowledged. which the Druzes of Syria have re- The name Maronites is derived cently made against the Turkish from Maro, the name of their first Government, suggests a brief review bishop. In doctrinal controversy they of their singular religious faith and adopted the theory of the Monothe- their characteristics as a people. Even lites, a sect of heretics who, in refer- Mohammedans are scarcely more diffi- ence to the question whether Christ cult to be reached by the gospel than had two natures or one, settled upon these strange fanatics of the Lebanon.
the belief that He had two natures, They are generally reckoned at about but one will. The sixth council of 50,000. One half this number are on Constantinople, A. D. 680, condemned Mount Lebanon, and the remainder the doctrine, but it survived for a long are scattered through Hasbeyia, time. At length the persistence of Merj Ayun, Damascus and the Hau- Rome brought the Maronite Church ran. They do not consider themselves to abandon the Monothelite theory, Mohammedans, though the Govern- and in most other points to come into ment so far classifies them as such full subordination. On the side of as to include them i~ the military political sympathies and national conscriptions. The genesis of the Druze sect grew the Court of El Hakem, and to him is. out of the assumption that the de- to be ascribed the real authorship of scendants of Ali, the cousin of Moham- Druzism as it now exists. His name med, and husband of his daughter was Hamzeh Abu Ahmed. He con- Fatima, were the true successors of demned many of the teachings of EI the Kaliphate. Dorazy, but confirmed the divinity of EI Hakem. During the reign of the Abbassides, Mohammed Abdullah, who claimed This tyrant, after many atrocities, to be a descendant of Fatima, suc- was assassinated, probably at the in- ceeded in detaching from the Kaliphs stigation of his sister, Sit EI Mulook. of Bagdad, the Mohammedans of Hamzeh represented to the people Arabia, Syria and Egypt. The latter that the Kaliph had not been murder- became the seat of government. ed, but had mysteriously disappeared Early in the eleventh century, Abu to test the faith of his followers. And Aliel Hakem, the sixth of the Fatimite he claimed that a book which he had dynasty, came to the throne at the written, containing the Druze docearly age of eleven years, and began trines, had been" found at the gatea reign of folly and unparalleled op- of the great mosque at the disap-· pression. He fancied himself inspired, pearance of our Lord." and at length divine. His monstrous assumptions were encouraged by a Druzism was not the first system in Persian mystic, who came to Egypt which the old Persian philosophy had and succeeded in raising himself to a been mingled with the Monotheistic position of great influence and power. religion of Syria and Egypt. Mani- His name, EI Dorazy, was, with a cheism and Gnosticism had some cen~ slight change, given to the sect who, turies before greatly disturbed the under his teachings, came to regard peace and corrupted the doctrines of EI Hakem as divine. EI Dorazy con- the Christian Church. But a different ceived the idea of framing a system combination produced a different reof religion which shopId unite the sult. The allegorical tendencies of all mystic dualism of Persia, which had branches and products of Zoroastrianborrowed some admixture of Hindu- ism, engrafted upon the stock of stern ism, with the Monotheism of Islam. and dogmatic Islam, presented a weird EI Hakem aided this project by severe system which is altogether unique. persecution of non-Fatimite Mohammedans, and also of the Christians. The basal doctrine of the Druzes, as. He himself claimed to be an incarna- of the Mohammedans, is the unity tion of God. and supremacy of God. Theirs is the most strict and intense type of When EI Dorazy, having finished a Unitarianism, though with a panthebook designed to prove the divinity of istic notion of man's absorption into his master, undertook to read it in the that unity, and they virtually regard great mosque, the exasperated Mos- God (as the Hindu Brahm is regarded), lems rose in rebellion, and he was as destitute of attributes. Like the obliged to flee to the valley of EI Hindus, they insist that we cannot Teim, which lies between Lebanon predicate anything of the Infinite. and Hermon. There he won many Very inconsistently with this doctrine followers, by money furnished by his they contend that the Deity has often royal patron, and by the licentious- been incarnate in human form, though ness of his teachings. it is not quite clear that such incarna- tions are not merely phenomenal. After EI Dorazy's escape from Egypt, another Persian, of the same The Druzes attempt to reconcile Batemite sect of the Indo-Persian Islamic Monotheism with the Persian Mystics, was instated in his place at Dualism by the theory that the Su- preme created out of His own essence. an intelligent being known as the '. by the question" Did this man sin or Universal Mind, and that this being his parents, that he was born blind? ..
.sinned through his personal vanity. This doctrine of transmigration or Thereupon, as a punishment to him, metempsychosis was common in old God caused to spring from him another Egypt as well as in India. It was also we being-the Antagonist or the author held by Pythagoras and the Greeks, .()f evil. Here have the Persian and by the Pharisees, and it was one Ormazd and Ahriman as secondary of the heresies charged against Origin .()r created beings. The Antagonist by the fifth ecumenical council. The was not made evil by arbitrary cre- Druzes make it very prominent.
ation, but became so by his own rebel- When the souls of men first came to lion. Other beings were created, till inhabit human bodies they were with.
the moral antagonism of the world out bias toward goodor evil; theyhad ,came to be represented on the one no moral law and were not account.
hand by the Universal Mind, the Uni- able. But they were at once subjected versal Soul, the Word, the PrecedeI' to the influence respectively of the ,and the Succeeder-as ministers of ministers of truth and the ministers God, and on the other hand, by the of error above named, in order that Antagonist and the Foundation-as they might freely choose between the .ministers of evil. All human souls two. God Himself also then appeared were created at the same time-viz.: in human form and preached the .at the beginning of the world. No truth to men. The sun, moon and addition has ever been made to the stars and the winds were sent as ob- ,original number. All souls are im- ject-lessons or symbols, to reveal to mortal and pass from one bodily form men God's wisdom and power. Under ,to another according to the'Indian doc- this Divine manifestation, all men be- trine of transmigration. The dualism lieved and all were good; but after a ,of good and evil enters into all human time God withdrew from the world, life; every soul is a battle-ground for and then the ministersoferror succeed· the two conflicting principles. ed in leading a large part of the hu- The last of material creations was man race to apostasy. The choice once that of human bodies. The world was taken was final. No man has changed ,stocked at once with human beings in since that first decision, nor can he'
.all stages, from infancy to old age. ever' change in all his transmigrations.
.All the souls of the world's history It will be seen from this how utterly were thus variously and contempor- hopeless is the fatalism of this strange aneously embodied-some for a longer system. All Druzes, of course, are and some for a shorter term. The believers, and therefore are on the idea of Adam and Eve as progenitors side of the good; all the rest of man- is ridiculed. The world was fullypopu- kind are faithless and evil, and there- lated and in full tide of activity from fore in an utterly hopeless condition.
the outset. This is probably the farthest But from our standpoint it is the of all removes from the doctrine of hopelessness of the Druzes that pains Evolution. us. How are a people thus environed The Druzes defend the doctrine of and encased in conceit to be reached transmigration by the Hindu argu- by the gospel or by truth of any kind?
ment that the unequal allotments of Their creed leads them neither to the life can only be explained on the sup- conception of being converted them- position of sin in a previous existence. selves, nor to any desire to proselyte They meet the objections of Chris- others. All outside of their narrow tian!! by referring to the New Testa- sect were eternally doomed by the ment assertion that John the Baptist fatal choice made thousands of years "Was a transmigration of Elijah, and ago. These people are the most com-: When Ibrahim Pasha, taking them pletely isolated of all men; their or- at their own professions of faith in ganization is a secret society. Their Islam, compelled them to bear arms, dootrines are carefully withheld from multitudes became Christians, only to the rest of mankind. Every Druze is throw off the mask at the close of sworn to secrecy, and' it was only the war. Except in their many acts through the wars of Ibrahim Pasha, of kindness toward each other, Dr.
between 1837 and 1842, that their W ortabet, of Beyrout, from whom I sacred books first became known to have received many facts, regards the world. them as " the most fraudulent and de- The Druzes have many mythical ceptive of all peoples."
doctrines in regard to the successive They believe that the inhabitants of manifestations of God among men, in China are all Druzes, or, as they say, which Adam, Enoch, Noah and Shem "Unitarians," and that in a great playa part. The Deluge is treated alle- future conflict between Mohamme- gorically; honor is shown to Isaiah, dans and Christians, a great Druze David and Daniel, who "allegorized leader, with a vast army, will come the Law of Moses;" also to Pythagoras, • from the far East, and conquer both.
Plato and Aristotle. Jesus is said to EI Hakem will then reappear in visi- have been only a representative of the ble manifestation, and will reign for true Christ, who remained concealed ever from his throne in Egypt, attend- in the person of Lazarus. ed by five ministers! What can be Druzes reject the doctrine of the done with such a people? It is well Resurrection, but admit that the true to know their real character. Their Christ promulgated the story that the bitterness and ferocity was shown in son of Mary had risen, as a means the massacre which attempted the of establishing the Christian religion. extermination of the Maronites of This was done in order that, under Lebanon in 1860. Their system seems the foil of Christianity, the esoteric a master-piece of Satan. Only the Druze religion might be concealed. power of the Divine Spirit can trans- It was the real Christ, and not Jesus, form them. The work of missions that appeared to the Disciples after must be a work of faith and prayer.
the Resurrection. Discouraging as missionary labor God is represented as having pur- among the Druzes is, the Presbyterian posely misled one portion of the Mission in Syria has rejoiced in many human race and to have enlightened apparent conversions. It even num- and saved another. And this arbi- bers two or three Druze preachers.
trary and fatalistic doctrine has given The native Protestant Christians, how- a vitiating tendency to all Druze ever, look with great distrust upon ethics. For example: the sacred members of this sect who profess their books enjoin strict veracity in dealing faith. But all things are possible with with fellow Druzes, but justify false- God. His mean~ may be various.
hood toward all others. No confi- Education will effect changes. The dence, therefore, can be placed in the absurdities of the old system will be word of a Druze beyond the dictates seen. Prevailing Christian sentiment of his own interest. He is commanded will make itself felt.
to love the brethren of his sect, but no THE RELIGION OF THE NUSAIRIYEH.
others. An implacable hatred exists These strange people, found in the toward Mohammedans, and yet, as a extreme north of Syria, are even less matter of policy, the Druzes conform understood than the Druzes. Their to many outward requirements of mystical and mysterious faith has Islam. They are not greatly trusted as been kept a secret by the force of the soldiers, though they are enrolled. death penalty which awaits any man who shall divulge it. Yet glimpses in constant conflict with each other, discovered here and there seem to and are only united in their opposition favor the conclusion that the basisisthe to the gospel, missionary effort is by old Phrenician heathenism, to which no means in vain. additions have been made from time to time, from Persian Mysticism, Mo- As a result of the faithful labors of hammedanism, Druzism and Christi- its missionaries 213 native preachers anity. They believe in many incar- are now proclaiming the truth to their nations of God in human form. countrymen. There are 130 churches, with a membership of thousands. In this, as in the doctrine of trans- There are 16 colleges and high schools migration, they agree essentially with for young men and boys, 13 girls' the Druzes. There is, however, this boarding-schools and 235 primary or difference-that they believe that the common schools. The whole number souls of wise men, after many changes, of pupils of all grades is over 11,000. become at length stars in heaven, The number added to the churches while base men become incarnate in last year was 683. beasts. Like the Persian fire-worship- . pers, they associate God with the sun, Two generations of native Chris- and they turn toward the sun, morn- tians have spread their influence far ing and evening, when they pray. and near, and it would be scarcely too They seem to regard both J esut! and much to say that the whole Armenian Mohammed as prophets, and they race has been awakened to new life. favor Ali, son-in-law of Mohammed, as the true successor, and the Fati- The work of the American Board in mites as the lawful dynasty of Islam. Turkey cannot be measured by statis- They hate the opposite and prevail~ tics. Education has achieved a tre- ing party, the Sunnites, and some of mendous influence, whether we esti- them at least profess to honor Jesus. mate it from the standpoint of Rob- The element of doubt lies in the fact ert's College in Constantinople and that, like the Druzes, they recognize the other flourishing institutions in the no claim of trutl:t or veracity, except interior, or from that of the widely toward their own people. They believe scattered primary schools, each one of that women have no souls, and they which becomes an object-lesson and a treat them accordingly. They are powerful stimulus to a whole comcharged with domestic crimes of a re- munity. Home life has been raised volting character, and, in spite of some to a higher grade, all the wholesome mauly traits, they are a degraded peo- influences of a better public sentiment ple. Secluded from the world in their and a purer morality have been felt. wild mountain life, they have resisted A general thrift has been promoted, the civilization, such as it is, of the the common comforts of life have Turk, and the religious influence of been multiplied, and the oppressions Mohammedans and Christians alike. of a tyrannical government have at least been mitigated. Medical science The Reformed Presbyterian Church bas come in Turkey, as everywhere of America is trying to reach them else, as a handmaid of missions. The with missionary labor, and has had hopelessness with which Mohammesome success, but the field must be dan fatalism looks upon the unresistregarded as extremely difficult. ed ravages of disease has given place to a new confidence and a better esti- MISSIONS IN TURKEY. mate of human life. Not only are thousands saved by the direct efforts The success of the American Board of the missionaries, but a native mediof Foreign Missions in Western, Cen- cal corps is being raised up: the whole tral and Eastern Turkey furnishes treatment of disease is being revoluabundant proof that, even in a coun- tionized. try where gigantic forces of error are
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
In a purely economic view, the its true value. So great has been the Turkish missions have accomplished impression which it has made upon inan untold good. Fanning mills and telligent Englishmen that years ago other agricultural implements have a Turkish Missions Aid Society was gone forth in the train of the mis- formed for the purpose of increasing sionaries, and the mean and grudg- the funds of the American societies in ing spirit of those who complain at their work. Among those noble men the alleged robbery of our own coun- who, from their ownobservation, gave try by foreign missionary outlay, has it their cordial endorsement, was the been rebuked by the tens of thousands late Earl of Shaftesbury. of dollars which the enlightened districts of Turkey alone have paid Even the Turk appreciates if he for various lines of American manu- does not approve the work. He canfactures. not be indifferent to its educational influence or to the general enlighten- If there are American Christians ment and moral elevation which it is who, through a satisfied ignorance, promoting among the people. The fail to appreciate the missionary work apprehension which his restrictive accomplished in the Turkish Empire, measures imply is a proof that mis" there are others who estimate it at sions are a power.
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
.The Soudan Pioneers. of petition was that the Kingdom of God might come; that the gospel Whatever may be said about the might be published to the world in this ., intemperate zeal" or the" mistaken generation, and that God would in methods" of the Kansas brethren, who, some remarkable way use us-the four. under the lead of Mr. George S. Fisher, men there bowed in prayer-to give a have organized this new Soudan new impulse to this work of a world's movement, we feel constrained to say evangelization. That prayer has been that we have never known any move- already most remarkably answered. ment that in its inception and pro- God laid on the heart of the then gress seemed to bear more distinctly pastor of the Philadelphia church, the the stamp and seal of God. In fact, burden of arousing the churches to the whole movement may be said to more intelligent zeal for missions, and have had its unexpected origin in the in June following he resigned his little prayer meeting, held on a Sab- pulpitand parishtospendsix monthsin bath morning in May, 1889, in the Great Britain in addressing the people study of one of the editors of this RE- of God on this great subject. Mean- VIEW. The International meetings of while, these brethren went to their the Young Men's Christian Association Western fields and could not layoff were at that time being held in Phila- this load of a world's destitution. Undelphia. Early on that Sabbath morn- expectedly to themselves they were ing, as by a common impulse, Messrs. led in a strange way: they found grow- Fishel' and Nash, Y. M. C. A. Secre- ing up about them a new foreign mistaries of the States of Kansas and sionary interest. It grew and spread Nebraska, and Rev. Thomas C. Hor- like a prairie fire, until it swept everyton, Y. M. C. A. Secretary from St. thing before it. Had they proposed Paul, Minn., came to unite in aseason at the outset to turn the Y. J..f. C. A. of prayer with the editor, then pastor into a foreign missionary organization, of Bethany Church, Philadelphia. they would have felt it at least a di- That prayer meeting, will ;never be version if not a perversion of the purforgotten by the four men that con- P?ses of the organization. But the stituted that gathering. The burden .movement took so sudden and rapid martyrs to follow in the steps of John .a progress, that it seemed to defy con- Williams, and Coleridge Patteson and trol. We have never felt otherwise James Harrington. than satisfied that the Y. M. C. A., be- ing, as it is, established for undenomi- At the same time, is not God speak- national work among young men, it ing to us a word of caution' Is it {)annot be turned into foreign mission- prudent to rush into Equatorial Africa ary work in such form as to interfere with no knowledge or experience of a with other established agencies with- torrid climate, to face unknown foes, ·out inevitable friction; and we believe peculiar forms of disease, and a thou- that if this Soudan Pioneer Mission is sand perils which, like the flora of the to be permanent, it must separate country, are indigenous to the soil, from the State associations where it without all adequate information and ·originated, and take a separate, inde- provision against such exposures ? We pendent fprm. are nOl to count our lives dear unto ourselves, but are we not to reckon At the same time we cannot see that them dear to our Master and for our any intentional perversion of Y. M. C. Master's sake? When this movement A. money or energy has been intended. began, we cautioned our brethren not 'This whole movement strikes us as to go into the Soudan without ex- -one of those rare and exceptional ris- perienced guides, without explorers ings of missionary interest which can- familiar with the country and its .not be accounted for by ordinary peculiar dangers and diseases, who causes, or confined within ordinary could also advise as to all proper prebounds. We simply wait for this cautions respecting dress, food, habits rushing torrent that has swept be- of life, and exposures to malarial in- .yond its banks, to scoop out a new and fluences . permanent channel, and we look with prayerful interest to see the final is- Those who have read Bishop Crow- .sue. We ca~ appreciate the emphatic ther's life, will remember the strange protest of the brethren of the Inter- fatality attending that first exploring national Committee, while we confi- party of which he was a member, be- .dently believe many of their fears are cause of the green wood that was groundless, and that if they patiently stowed in the barge. A simple wait and rather seek to guide sympa- precaution such as was afterward thetically than to arrest arbitrarily adopted, would have saved a score of .a movement so might.y, the ultimate most precious lives. Those who go to result will be advancement all along Africa or any other untried climate, the lines. should first get all the wisdom that ex- perience canfurnish, and go armed and Meanwhile, three of the Soudan Pio- equipped as the laws of prudence en.. neers are reported dead with African join, with all the panoply that a true fever; and a startling rumor in the science can supply. We may be called New York World, which has not been to martyrdom but not to suicide. We .confirmed, states that Mr. Kingman earnestly hope our Soudan Pioneers and others have been massacred. We will exercise unusual precautions, and wait with no little solicitude to hear advantage themselves of every prepafurther and authentic news. It would ration that the combined experience not be surprising if God should bap·· of all explorers and missionaries can tize this new mission in blood. If He supply, before venturing into such a has a really great future before these perilous district. Let us guard human devoted young men, it may be that a life in proportion to its priceless value, ~up of suffering is to precede thechal- and so make our offering to the Lord ice of joy. That is God's way. Let one of the more permanent service. us not hesitate if He calls for more A.T.P. Dr. Penteoost's Siege of Oaloutta. that in India, China, Japan, Syria, Our readers have, before this, this class who are familiar with the· learned of the scheme of our esteemed brother, the Evangelist, Rev. George English tongue, its literature, and its. F. Pentecost, D.D. He proposes to go to India, to be joined by volunteers gospel message, are the last to yield from Britain and .America, and to attempt evangelistic work among to the power of that gospel, and often English-speaking residents, Anglo- Indians and Eurasians, and native the most pertinacious foes of its prog- Indians who are familiar with the English tongue. He proposes to go as ress and the most malignant adversathough there was no concert of action, and as though the concurrence ries of its spirit. were merely accidental, and to have these pilgrims meet in Calcutta for a We say this not to cast any chill over stay of five months; then lay siege by Bible-readings and sermons and prayer the enthusiasm of our brother. We services, to the English-speaking population; and, having thoroughly bid him God speed, but we believe he aroused them, seek from this vantage ground to reach out and affect wider will need to be sustained by the prayers results. We hope for great results from this mission. It seems to us a of an unusually consecrated band mistake, however, to announce at the beginning of a programme, which in- of God's watchers. If this work can cludes a meeting of various parties at one centre, as though it were wholly be done and the English-speaking resiundesigned. Anything that produces an impression of disingenuousness can dents and natives can be aroused and hardly be according to God's will. And, besides, the rapid communication of quickened and consecrated, it may be· intelligence in these days makes sure that this sailing under sealed orders the signal for the Revolution of India. becomes an open secret. Tbe people of East Indies will already, before Dr. God grant it I A. T. P. Pentecost has landed at Calcutta, have been informed of the "un-designed The "New Herrnhut." coincidence. " A PROPOSED HOME-REST FOR RETURNED' We are persuaded that the work MISSIONARIES. undertaken by Dr. Pentecost and his co-laborers is not an easy one, but the Every reader of this REVIEW, and hardest job that could well be under- every friend of missions, will feel taken. No class of the community is warm interest in a new and unselfish so impervious to all impressions as project which has in view the comfort those who have been confronted with and welfare of returned missionaries, the gospel and have been accustomed who are seeking rest and recuperation to resist its power. Give us the most after years ofexhausting toil; and no hopeless Regions Beyond as our field, class of the Lord's servants are more rather than the gospel-hardened sin- deserving of our sympathy and gener-· ners whose eyes are blinded by the ous aid. very blaze of gospel light. 'We have the common testimony of missionaries Every year, at the great Northfield. gatherings, these dear brethren and sisters are to be found, sometimes by .the score, and, not infrequently, like our esteemed friend and correspond-· ent, Rev. George W. Chamberlain, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, they find Northfield a convenient place, not for their own rest and refreshment alone, but also for the education of their children during their furlough.
We have been impressed with a· growing depth of conviction that, if some adequate and permanent provis- ion covId be made for the accommo- dation of such missionaries and their families, it would be one of the noblest and most useful forms of benefaction. Just now, a farm of fifteen acres, beautiful for situation,' just border- • ing the grounds of the Northfield when our colored brethren of the Seminary, was found to be for sale, and at a very low price. One of the South, properly trained in medical editors ventured to purchase the property in behalf of the friends of science, could traverse and live in the missions, and we now desire the prayerful and sympathetic co-opera- "dark continent" with comparative tion of all willing hearts in the further- ance of what we believe" God has impunity. We believe that God will put into our own heart to do" for his own servants. force this question upon the considera- Letter to Henry M. Stanley. tion of the Church, North and South, We have been favored with the fol- and upon our missionary societies. lowing letter, with the request to give it to our readers, with such com- We shall wait with interest Mr. Stan- ment as it might suggest. We cheer- fully comply. The letter will speak ley's reply to Mrs. Ray's letter, which for itself. And sure we are that 1:11'. Stanley will give it due consideration, we introduce by a note from Miss and a fitting reply. The subject of the letter is one of profound interest to Frances E. Willard, who sends it to- the whole American people, as well'as to Africa. It is an important factor us:-J. M. S. in the stupendous unsolved problem of the future of the negro race. For "Evanston, Aug. 14, 1890. ourselves, we are more and more con- "DR. J. M. SHERWOOD: . fident that Divine Providence is shap- "ing events so as to use our rapidly-aug- "HONORED BaOTHER:-I am sending you 8c menting colored population to take a letter addressed to Henry M. Stanley, by 8c very important part in the occupa- tion, the civilization and the evangel- gifted Christian woman of the South. Would ization of the immense territories in Africa, so suddenly and wonderfully it not be well to publish this letter, with opened up and brought under the favorable commentary? It is not at all in- protectorate of the leading European tended to exploit the colored people, but in SO powers. We have in the South, abun- far as they desire to do it, to set before them dant material out of which to make, in due time, thousands of mission- this open door. Mrs. Ray says: 'Our South- aries, the peers of Bishop Crowther, ern women were, for a long time, unconscious who was a slave in his youth, and missionaries in the home for the foreign now a l~ding bishop in Africa, and field;' and if a great magazine, like the who commanded the homage and ad- ~EVIEW, would take up the subject, in its own miration of the W orId's 1:1issionary Conference, in London, in 1888, and wise and cautious way, immense good would whose striking photograph forms the come of it. A resolution, urging the National frontispiece in the January number of Women's Christian Temperance Union to give this REVIEW. Such being the case, attention to this feature of missionary work, why should such numbers of the choice young men and women of the was adopted at the Asheville Women's Chris- North fall victims to the climate of tian Temperance Union training-school, re- Africa (three of the Kansas band that sailed in May have already fallen), cently held. Please let me know how this· looks to you, and give me any ideas that you think will be helpful. " Yours, with best wishes, and grateful re- membrance of your kindness, "FRANCES E. WILLARD."
"HENRY 1:1. STANLEY: "HONORED SIR:-I write at a ven- ture, to ask how shall the Southern women of the United States co-operate for the evangelization of Africa ? You know the institution of slavery as it once existed in theSouth. You know Africa. You can contrast these con- ditions and determine what sort of an evangelical factor these colored peo- ple, once slaves, who still remain with us, might become to their own race in Africa. If the discipline of slavery, under superior moral condi- tions, should prove to have been the prinaary training-school for such work, now that the second step of preparation is opened to the race, through citizenship, with its atten- dant responsibilities and opportuni- ties, the last link in the chain, of out- going missionary effort by Africans in America for their own continent;. might soon be forged. Individuals, given, and simple ways were sug- great or small, have a measure of re- sponsibility. The thought, 'How gested for saving that small amount. shall we help these people to do this work?' has often stirred my heart. We observed that Mr. Wilkins ex- One way suggested to me (leaving the commercial view of the subject to plained the plan at Northfield, at one statesmen and publicists), has been to ·organize our Southern women, of Mr. Moody's conferences, and it thro~gh ohurch missionary societies, intO home missionary bands, for the seemed to meet with favor. In a purpose of aiding the willing-minded among the blacks to go out on such a note, just received from him, he holy errand, to which they are better ,suited than the Anglo-Saxons. I am says: anxious to present this feature of pos- sible Christian enterprise to our mis- " You were good enough to publish sionary boards, and a statement from in the July number of the MISSIONARY .you would have great weight. May I not hope for it, in the interest of the REVIEW my paper on the' Extra-Cent- , dark continent,' which you have done a-Day Band. I am sure that you and more than any other person to bring your readers will be very glad to know ;to light. that there are now 13 or more bands, ,, Yours, with high esteem, with aggregate membership of about " Mrs. J. E. RAY. 650. More bands will be started imme- ." Asheville, N. C." diately.
Grand Possibilities. "There is a widespread interest in We gave in our July issue the out- the movement. Among the letters of line of a plan, devised and put in inquiry that I have received, some have come from Maine, New York, {)peration by a leading banker of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Nebraska, and Boston, to increase the permanent re- even Oregon. I am more and more ceipts of all our missionary societies sanguine that the' Extra-Cent-a-Day Band' may be made a tremendous without interfering with already-es- missionary power. tablished agencies. Simple and unos- " Sincerely yours, tentatious as this plan is, it seems to "S. F. WILKINs."
us worthy of careful study, if not of This is a good beginning, and we see general adoption. In the nature of no reason why the plan should not things it is adapted to all churches, come into general use. We earnestly all lands, and all conditions of things. commend it to our churches of all It is systematic in principle; it en- denominations, and to the considera- courages self-denial; it is within the tion ofourmission-boardsandsocieties.
reach of every friend of missions; the A cent a day is but a trifle, but if the method costs nothing but a little thirteen million Protestant Christians ,effort; and while the gift is small, the in the United States would give at aggregate is likely to be large. Mr. that rate, yeady $47,450,000, instead of Wilkins' own experience, at Newton $6,000,000, would flow into the Lord's -Centre, Mass., in the church which treasury. Is the plan not worth a he attends, we regard as a fair speci- vigorous trial? J. M. S.
men of what the method is capable of In response to a recent statement in yielding, if a fair chance be given it. the REVIEW, that a church in Phila- The Extra-Cent-a-Day Band there delphia had undertaken the support of numbered, in July, 111. The ex- at three of the native helpers whom Rev.
pected receipts for the year will be R. M. Mateer has hired his own over $400, which will practically all be charge in Shantung Province, Shang- extra. It is not intended to interfere hai, we have received the following: with other ways of giving, but to -EDS.
supplement the usual methods or "The Willing Workers' Band, of the Broadway Presbyterian ,Church .agencies. So an extra cent only is of Rock Island, a band of some 25 lads, has assumed the support of another, and it has kindled great en- thusiasm to think of supporting a preacher for a year in China.
"Yours, "WM. S. MARQUIS, Pastor."
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN. 797'
VII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Africa.-The London Spectator reports a five Europeans superintend the work.-Afri..
recent decree issned by the Sultan of Zanzi- can News.
bar which is more immediately important as Brazil.-Protestant newspapers.-Brazil'
a blowto the African slave trade than the con- has at present six, to wit: ImprensaEvangeli- ference at Brussels. Zanzibar has heretofore ca,weekly; Evangelista, three times a month'
afforded the largest outlet for slaves from the Apologista Christao, weekly; Expositor fJhris: interior, Under the decree of the sultan, the tao, fortnightly; Arauto, monthly; Pulpito.
exchange, sale, or purchase of slaves is ab- Ji}vangelico, monthly. The representative'
solutely prohibited; all slave-dealing estab- Christian newspaper has not yet made its ap- lishments are closed; all slave-brokers carry- pearance in Brazil; a paper that is able to ing on the business made liable to heavy cover the whole ground. The capital and the penruties, and to deportation; all Arabs deal- men are both wanting. The present religious ing in domestic slaves are included in this press is in the hands of busy, overworked mis- provision, and any houses hereafter used for sionaries who edit their newspapers in the any purpose connected with the slave traffic hours stolen from rest.
are to be forfeited. Regarding slavery in Cbina.-Recent trustworthy calculations Zanzibar itself, the decree provides that on of the population of the Chinese Empire, by"
the death of their present owners slaves shall Russian antporities, reckon it at 382,000,000, be ipso facto free, unless the deceased leave and the annual increase at 4,000,000. Not one lawful children, who alone may inherit them. in 10,000 ever heard of the religion of Jesus, Slaves cannot be willed away or sold after the Christ.
death of their owner, and their ill-treatment -The China Inland Mission received last by their masters will be severely"punished, and, year £51,484, of which £33,642 were available"
in certain cases, involve the penalty of for- for general mission purposes.
feiture. Any Zanzibar subject married to a per- France.-The Rev. Dr. McAII, ofParis, in son under British jurisdiction is disabled from a recent letter, doolares his intention to have holding slaves, and all slaves now in the pos- anchored in the Seine a large missionary boat, session of such persons are declared free. Per- which has done service in many of the French sons who have themselves been slaves are pro- seaports. "It will be the first time," he says, hibited from owning slaves. Every slave is to "that this mode of evangelization has been at- have the absolute right to purchase his freedom tempted in Paris, but, though the popUlation· at a reasonable price; every slave is to have the is not seafaring, we have the impression that same rights as Arabs in courts of justice, and with God's blessing, the novelty of the method the sultan binds himself to accord them special will draw the attention of many hitherto ig- protection. These regulations will undoubt- norant of the Gospel. The cabin of the ship"
edly inflict a very heavy blow on a large sec- will contain nearly 200 persons, and we hope tion of the slave trade, besides involving a to have daily servi~ on board for two very serious social revolution in Zanzibar. If, months. The authorities have given us every as is reported, this decree has been secured by facility and protection."
English influence, the English protectorate in Formosa.-Rapid progress.-Some per- Zanzibar has made a most auspicious begin- sons complain that the missionary work ad- ning. vances so slowly, but God often shows that -Africa has now within her borders 10 He can accomplish His ends rapidly. One of American, 12 British, and 13 continental mis- the latest Instances of rapid progress is the sionary societies. There are more than 700 change wrought in the moral and religious ordained missionaries, and more than 7,000 condition of the inhabitants in Formosa, an native preachers. It is estimated that there island in the China Sea. The population here are, both white and native, about 175,ooocom- is mixed in character, being partly Chinese, municants, and 800,000 adherents.-North- and partly wild tribes. Among the latter western Ohristian Advocate. people, the missionary began some fourteen -Hamburg, July 23d.-The Reichstag, the years ago, to labor. At that time, idolatry first steamer in the new East African line, held sway, and hatred was felt and expressed sailed hence to-day with a full cargo and sev- for the foreigners. The diftlculties and ob- eral passengers. stacles in the way seemed almost insuper- -Congo Railway.-Over 1,000 Africans are able, but the workers had faith and energy, now at work on the Congo railroad. On April and God was with them. They gradually 12th, two miles of it had been completed; this found favor, and their labors proved success- portion begins at Matadi, which is at the ful. Now 12,000 conversions are reported, western end of the road, ninety miles from and churches are In full operation. Schools the sea. The principal difficulties lie in the have also been started, a native ministry is building of the first ten miles before the level being trained, and hospitals have been estab- plateau of the Congo hills is reached, Twenty- lished. Christianity has thus gained a strong footing. The next 14 years should,with such a Japan. – Murder of Mr. Large. Dr. wonderful foundation, manifest most remark- Thwing, our correspondent, who has just re- able gains in this island, and its complete turned from Tokyo, and who spent some time domination by Christ may be expected in the among the associates of the recently-murdered near future. GDd has his own way of work- missionary, w!'ites us that it was clearly a ing; but whether it be by slow or by speedy cltse of revenge, and not of cupidity. The processes, let us not despair of his final con- reply to the question, .. What is it?" which quest of the world, nor relax our efforts to met the two assassins as tbey entered the eircle the earth with His Gospel. chamber, was "Business," the euphemistic word for revenge. Mr. Large had not an Italy.-The Evangelical Church of Italy, enemy, but he and his wife were regarded as formerly called the Free Italian Church, is one in this savage, retaliatory action. There doing a noble work for Christ in that land. is a widespread feeling of unrest and of re- Its report for 1889 shows that it has many en- pugnance against the revolutionizing infiu- couragements attending its work. The ence of Western ideas, both in education, re- ehurches number 31, with 55 stations. There ligion and politics. are 2,305 communicants, and 1,374 school -It is a noteworthy circumstance that the ehildren. Evaugelist Spigno, of Genoa, one first Japanese Parliament, elected on the first of its agents, makes the following cheering of last July, contains ten Christians, or one in statement: .. The time is not mature for a thirty of the whole number of members. profound and general revival among the These Christians were elected in the face of Catholics, but it is certainly coming through much opposition to them on account of their the power of Christ. With pleasure, too, I religion. observe that the skeptical spirit, once so dominant, is gradually dying away, so that -It is reported that there are 3,000 Japan- the Gospel is no longer the object of scorn. ese in this country, of whom 2,000 have been In regard to Catholicism, it is morally de- baptized by missionaries in their own land, or molished. since they came to the United States.
India.-At a recent meeting in connection New Hebrides.-We have another strIk- with the C. M. S. in Salisbury square, a letter ing instance of the fact that the gifts of con- was read from Rev. H. J. Hoare, of Peshawar, verts from heathenism for the work of the Punjab. He speaks of it as a city of seventy Lord, put to shame the contributions of Chris- or eighty thousand inhabitants. The Afghans tians in better circumstances. The converts in it call themselves Bani-Israel- sons of on Aneityum, one of the New Hebrides Israel. They have a decidedly Hebraic cast Islands, volunteered the price of this season's of feature. Theyare great enemies of idola- crop of cocoanuts for the purpose of roofing try and higoted Mohammedans. The GDspel two churches with corrugated iron. The ean be freely preached; a handsome church copra, which is the dried fruit of the cocoanut, is built; and English-speaking natives attend is the chief source from which these islanders a literary institute. Before this wide door obtain their foreign goods, such as clothing, which is opened, the paucity of missionaries is ironware, tea, sugar, rice, etc. These Christhe pressing distress. "Fields white unto tians agreed to use for this purpose all their harvest" is the summons proceeding from copra for six months, so dispensing with every quarter. the comforts, not to say the necessaries of life. In this way they gave twenty-six tons of -Two Bengalee ladies, after a five-years' copra, valued at $574. While engaged in this course of study, received the degree of M.B. work of self-denial one of the churches was (Bachelor of Medicine), at the Calcutta Uni- destroyed by a hurricane, and so the people versity. They are both Christians. One has proposed, in addition to what they had already received an appointment under the Countess done, to devote the proceeds of the annual of Dufferin fund, and the other will open pri- arrowroot contribution toward this object. vate practice in Calcutta. Giving like this, were it practised among Christians generally, would make the Lord's -The baptism of Baboo Poresh Nath Sar- treasury overflow. kar, an interesting young Hindu, by Mr. Hector, principal of the Free Church College New Zealand.-The last census in New at Calcutta. which took place on a recent Zealand reveals the interesting fact of a pro- Sunday at Mahanad, has excited no little fession of religion on the part of no less interest. His relatives tried to prevent the than 95 per cent. of the whole population. baptism by detaining him in Calcutta, but he escaped from their toils, and reached the ap- Palestine.-Bishop Blythe, of Jernsalem, pointed place in time to meet Mr. Hector. He says there are now in Palestine double the has had to leave his wife and three children, number of Jews that returned from the Babywho have been taken possession of by his lonish captivity, and that the "latter rains" father, a bigoted Hindu. This persecuted which had been withheld since the times of disciple took his B.A. degree in 1884, and has the exile, had been granted again during the been head'master in a Christian school in last two years. Mahanad since 1887. -Colonization.-At a meeting of about '2,000 Jews in London, an address was given had done all in their power to dress the wounds by the Rev. H. Mackobe, on the new move- and sustain the patient. For a time good ment for the colonization of Palestine. It was hope was entertained of her recovery, but in stated that large numbers of Jews were be- the course of a few days inflammation set in, ing enrolled as members, and that the pro- and neither tender ministrations nor medical posed agricultural pursuits on the ground skill availed to save the precious life.
round Mount Zion were meeting with general As usual, the authorities were slow to take support. The allotments would be by ballot. measures for the arrest of the murderer, but Russla.-The Russian Minister of the In- through the vigorous efforts of Col. Stewart, terior has prdered the local authorities to pre- the English Consul, who stirred up the officers vent foreign missionaries from carrying on and himself offered a reward of $75 for the their religious propaganda among the Jews, capture of the murderer, the man was finally to the detriment of the exclusive right of con- arrested and imprisoned.
version possessed by the orthodox church. Mrs. Wright was an Armenian lady of most Scotland.-A society in Scotland, the Ayr- excellent Christian character, the daughter of shire Christian Union .has undertaken the a noble Christian mother who had been identi- work of sending out young men to Southern fied with our mission for ml;lny years. Mrs.
Morocco, to become missionaries after the .Wright visited this country with her husband plans advocated by Rev. E. F. Baldwin, going a few years ago, and won the confidence and forth two by two, without purse or scrip, ac- esteem of all with whom she came in contact.
cording to Matt. x: 9, 10. Although enjoying her visit to this Christian Switzerland.-The annual session of the land, she welcomed the day of her departure Switzerland Conference of the Methodist for her own land, that she might resume the Episcopal Church was recently held at La work which lay upon her heart, and to which Chaux de Fonds, with Bishop Warner presid- she had giTen her life. The bereaved husband ing. The Conference reports 5,109 members, and children and the mission so greatly 33 preachers, and 28 chapels. Formerly the afflicted are commended to the prayers of churches of this Conference were united with God's people. -Dr. Gillespie in New York those of Germany in one conference. Evangelist.
Turkey.-A·n extraordinary result of mis- -The Proportion of Missionaries to Popusion work in Turkey is the large Armenian lations. When the total statistics of missions emigration to America. The Armenians have are submitted one gets the notion that the learned that America is a paradise, next to . laborersaremanyratherthanfew. Butletthe heaven; and they are here, now, literally by number be placed side by side with the poputhe tens of thousands, all as the result of mis- ·Iations to whom they are sent and the imsion work. They do not go to Europe, but to pression is very different. America, and here they are industrious, respectable people. But this is a serious loss to China has one to 733,000 of population. the mission churches in Turkey. Siam " 6(X),OOO -The great revival which has taken place in connection with the Turco·American MIs- Korea 500,000 sion at Aintab, in Armenia, has resulted in the addition of 534 new members to the church. India 350,000 -Murder of a Missionary's Wife. A re- Africa 300,000 cent telegram in the newspapers has already announced the murder of Mrs. Wright, the In Central Africa and the Soudan the prowife of Rev. J. N. Wright, of Salmas, one of portion is one to each 5,000,000 of people. the stations of our Western Persia Mission. What are these among so many f Like the The facts, as they have reached the Board of five barley loaves, they must be multipled to Foreign Missions, are hriefly these: An Armen- supply the needs of the hungry multitude. ian teacher who had been employed in our We confess that it requires a miracle to make boys' school at Salmas was dismissed because the supply equal to the need. But nothing is of gross sin. As a maid servant iI'. the family too hard for God. Were His people as obediof Mr. Wright was involved, Mrs. Wright had ent to His will and as responsible to His comfelt constrained to reprove the young man, mand as were the loaves to the Lord Jesus, who in turn charged his dismissal entirely to there would soon be more than sufficient for the work of evangelizing these millions, and th~re would be no lack of funds, but the peo- ple, like the Israelites in the wilderness, would her, and took revenge by stabbing her five have to be told to cease from giving. Chris- times. Mr. Wright, who was in the adjoining tendom has the men and the means necessary room, immediately rushed to the rescue, but for the conversion of heathendom. Our chosen too late to avert the assault. A telegram was fields-China and India and Central Africa- a_ once sent to Tabriz for a physician, there are in especial need of more laborers. The being none nearer. Tabriz is thirty hours few converts call to us to come over and help from Salmas, but because of various delays, them. Let them be helped promptly, liberally, forty-nine hours elapsed before a physician and as if we are resolved soon to win China reached the bedside of Mrs. Wright. Mean- and India and the Congo for Christ.-The while her husband and associate missionaries Freeman (London).
INDEX OF CONTENTS OF THE OCTOBER NUMBER. [Oct•
INDEX OF CONTENTS OCTOBER NUMBER.
PAGE PAGE· I.-LITmRATURE OF MISSIONS•••••• 721-759 mated population, 797: ChinaIulandMis· II.-GmNmRAL MISSIONARY INTICLLI' slon……………………………….. 797'
GENCE…………………… 763-778 ENGLAND.-Dr.Barnardo's annual meet- m.-MIssIONARY COaREBl'ONDENCE•• 773-777 ing of children, 770: Report of the Inves- IV.-INTmaNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.•• 777-785 tigating Committee of the London Mls- V.-MoNTHLY CONCER? OF MISSIONS 785-792 sionary Society…………………….. 773, Vl.-EDITORUt. NOTmS ON CuRRENT FRANCE,-Letter from our cOxTespon- TOPICS ………………… 792-796 dent at Marseilles, 775: a missionary boat on the Seine…………………… 797'
VII.-PRoGREss OF MISSIONS: MONTH- FORMOSA.-Rapid progress in mission t.Y BUUmTIN ……………. 797-799 work ……………………………… 797'
vm.-INDEX TO OONTmNTS ••••..• ••••• 800 INDIA.-Child marriages, 765: Zenana Authors. missions, 766; Testimony to Indian mis· sions, 766; Lepers in India, 767: The EDITORS. – A. T. Pierson. The Prayer opium curse, 770; Tendency toward Brahma Somajism, 771: Letter from for Laborers, 741; The Soudan Mission, Miss Ellen Arnold, 775; Hebraic race in the Punjab, 798; Baptism of an interest- 793: Dr. Pentecost's Siege of Calcutta, ing Hindu …………………………. 797 794: ~he "New Herrnhut," 794: J. M. ITALY.-The Evangelical Church Mis· sion……………………………….. 798- Sherwood, Editorial Notes…………… 795 Bracq, Rev. J. C., Cardinal Lavigerie and his Anti·slavery Work……. …. … 721 Ellinwood, F. F., D.D., A Foreign Mis- sionary of Old Testament Times, 725; JAPAN.-A correction of statement, Missions and Sects in the Turkish Em· 776; murder of Mr. Large, 797; First Jap· pire ……………………………… 785 anese parliament…………………… 798- Gracey, J. T., D.D., International Depart- KOREA.-RomanCatholic movement In. 730 ment……………………………… 777 Lavigerie, Cardinal, and his anti·slavery Grout, Rev. Lewis, Mahdism and Missions work ……………………………… 721 in the Soudan………………………. 753 MADAGASCAR.-Confcern of Eng. Hamilton, Rev. J. Taylor, The Foreign Mis- lish missionary societies, 767; The gold sions ofthe Moravian Church ………… 777 craze…………………………….. 767 Hulbert, Prof. H. B., A Sketch of the R0- Missions, modern, results of permanent. 767 man Catholic Movement in Korea …… 730 Mission work, undenominational…. •• …. 736 Missionaries, Five from one Cradle. . . . . .•. 772 Johnston, Rev. James, A. S. A., Missionary Moravian Church, Foreign Missions of the 777 Notes …………………………….. 765 NEW HEBRIDES.-Remarkable Liber· Laurie, Rev. Thomas, D.D., The Results of ality of the Converts …….. ………. 798- Modern Missions Permanent………… 746 NEW ZEALAND.-The Last Census..• 799 Moorhead, Max Wood, Student Volunteer PALESTINE.-The Number of Jews Movement…………………………. 768 there, 799; Colonization. …………… 799 Porter, Rev. Thomas J., First Impressions Prayer for Laborers, 741: The Bishop of in Brazil……… . ….. …………… 783 Korea……………………………… 768' Riggs, Rev. James F., Undenominational RUSSIA.-Repressing Missionary Work. 799 SCOTLAND.-Sending out Missionaries Mission Work ……………………… r.m to Morocco….. .. …………………. 799 Starbuck, Rev. Charles C., Translations SWITZERLAND.-The Religious Con· from Foreign Missionary Periodicals•••• 759 Countries and Subjects.
AFRICA.-Mahdism and Missions In the dition of, 771: Annual Meeting of M. E.
Soudan,753: Abolition of Slavery in Zan· Conference .. ,…………… .. …….. 799 zibar, 765; The British East African Co., SYRIA.-Letter from our African Cor· 768; The Congo river of to-day, 769; King respondent, now in Beyrout…………. 776 Leopold and the Congo State, 769; Zanzi- TRINIDAD.-Letter from Rev. John bar decree against slavery, 797; Number Morton, D.D……………………….. 784 of missionary societies in Africa, 797: TURKEY.-Large Armenian Exodus to Congo railway.. . .. …… • •.. .. .. .•• :. 797 America… … .. ………….. , …….. 799 BRAZIL.-Reaction, 769; First Impres- TURKISH EMPIRE. – Missions and sions in, 783: Protestant newspapers .••• 797 Sects, 785; The Greek Church, 786; The BURMAH.-Buddhist extravagance in Maronite Church, 787; The Druzes, 787: beautifying their temples…………… 770 Missions in Turkey, 791; The Religion of CHINA.-China Iuland Mission of North the Nusairiyeh…………………….. 799 America, 778: The treaty with China, 785; Note from Dr. Thwing, 798; Wright, Mrs.
Support of a missionary in, 796; Esti· J. N., of SaJmas, the Murder of……… 799
The Missionary Review of the World — June 1890
MISSION TOUR OF BRITAIN
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. m. 6.-0td Series.—JUNE.-voL. IlL No.6.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE MISSION TOUR OF BRITAIN-No. IV. BY ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D.D. Edinburgh, Scotland, March, 1890.
DEAR DOCTOR SHERWooD-ApeHes' familial' maxim has been constantly before me in this mission tour of Britain: "Nulla dies sine linea." By the time this letter falls under the eyes of our readers, this six months of daily labor will have closed, and on May 31 it is. our expectation to sail for America. The aim has been to let no day pass without a new" line" of definite effort for the cause; Being now nearly at the end of the work, as mapped out for the British Isles, it may be well to record some impressions made by the-. experiences of four months in England and Scotland. Everywhere, the welcome has been most cordial and the co-operation most generous' and complete, recalling what Paul said of the Galatians, that they received him" as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus." Everywhere the assemblies have been large, attentive, responsiv~, sympathetic. Invitations pour in upon the committee from every quarter, which it is impossible to provide for, and which indicate abundance of opportunity were time only at my disposal.
1. It is quite noticeable, first of all, that here, as in America, evangelical belief and evangelistic zeal are inseparably wedded. In proportion to the spread of doubt as to the realities and verities of the Christian religion, is the reign of indifference as to missionary enterprise,or at least, of practical apathy. A firm faith in the Word of God and the person of Christ; clear views of sin and salvation, of law and penalty, and of atoning love and grace, seem to be vitally connected with earnestness and enterprise in world-wide exangelism. Nothing has impressed me more than this, that wherever I have found any man or woman absorbed and engrossed in missions, invariably further acquaintance has revealed that there was also hearty acceptance, without question, of the grand truths of Christianity; so that 1 have come, almost unconsciously, to accept intelligent missionary enthusiasm as a safe gauge of soundness in the faith. It is to be fcared that the so-called" higher criticism" is making havoc of missions, so far as it prevails, not only because it insinuates doubt., if not misbelief, but because it diverts attention from what is practical to what is speculative. Dr. Gardiner well says that" Geological strata, studied from a mineralogical point, are very perplexing; but no one mistakes the significance of a boulder/ that is, at least, an unmistakable FACT, driven about for ages and rounded off by friction. The boulder has a history, and to that as a fact geology must accommodate its tale. The gospels are full of boulders: the sermon on the mount is one; the parables of the good Samaritan and the prodigal son are others. We must admit the boulder; and then we may ask how it came."
As to this new critical school, Delitzsch sagaciously says: "Willful contempt of external testimony and frivolity in the treatment of historical data have, from the very first, been the fundamental evils apparent in the manner in which modern critics have handled certain questions. Those two coryphcei of the modern critical school (Hitzig and Ewald) find themselves hemmed in between two foregone conclusions: 'There is no true prophecy,' and' There is no trne miracle.' They call their criticism' free,' but when examined more closely it is in a vise. In this vise it has two magical formularie~ with which it fortifies itself againt any impression from historical testimony. It either t.{rns the prophecies into merely retrospective glances, as it does the account of miracles into sazas or myths; or it places the events predicted so close to the prophet's own time that there was no need of inspiration, but only of combination, to make the foresight possible. That school of criticism which will not rest until all the miracles and propltecies which cannot be set aside exegetically, shall have been eliminated critically, must be regarded by the Church as self-condemned. "
Connected with this destructive "higher criticism" is almost always a speculative tendency as to the questions of eschatology, especially the future state of the heathen. Doubts creep in as to the doctrine of eternal punishment, and all the related teaching of Romans, Chapters T. and II., and kindred passages, as to the condemnation and exposure of those who have lived and died without the gospel. And the consequence is that, instead of promptly bearing to the heathen the saving gospel and leaving the hereafter to settle speculations, the energies of disciples are expended on speculations about the" eternal hope" and" future probation," while with each second of time a human being passes heyond the reach of Christian labor! Some questions never can be settled in this world; there are secrets that exegesis, criticism, research, archreology, philology, philosophy, are powerless to unlock. Let us leave them to Him who holds the keys of David, while we enter at once those open doors which He has set before us, and to every soul thus divinely made accessible let us carry the tidings of that name which is the only name whereby we must be saved.
2. The use of a good missionary map has been abundantly demonstrated. I have had with me the grand map of Prevailing Religions, generously lent me by William E. Blackstone, Esq., of Oak Park, Illinois, which is the most complete and accurate I have seen. It is prepared, not to show the various countries or nations, but solely the religious dominant syetems, and these are represented by various colors. 'l'his map, being about fifteen feet by ten, can be seen in any church where there is a space to hang it. It illustrates at a glance much that cannot be "seen by the ear," as an Irishman might say. I use it to make manifest four things: first, the vastness of the world-field, with its vast yet unoccupied spaces; secondly, the great plan of God's campaign, in which it is the map of his battleneld; thirdly, the grand successes of missions, in which case it represents a harvest-field; and fourthly, to show the possibility and the practicability of the church's actual possession of this world for Christ. I do not see how any man can speak very effectively for missions who does not learn how to use a first-class map, and how to address the eye as well as ear. Wherever this map has been hung and used it has been the most eloquent of orators, as Webster said of the silent shaft at Bunker Hill. Best of all is it, when the man who WJes it makes his own map, so that he has been over it in :all its details, and so knows just what it means and why everything is as it is represented. Together with this map, I have used two charts: one representing the comparative extent of the false and the true faiths numerically, and the other representing the comparative expenditure for frivolities ($100,000,000), for tobacco ($600,000,000), and for liquors ($900,000,000), annually; with another column showing the comparative expense, during ninety years, for missions and 1iquors, the latter reaching the enormous sum of $80,000,000,000 in ninety years, while the former would not reach over one two-thousandth part of that sum. 'l'hese estimates are for the United States alone, but they are about equally true for Great Britain.
The farther I go the more I feel that the great need everywhere is information. The bulk of the people do not know the facts about missions, and if those facts could be widely disseminated and presented in an attractive manner, no one can tell the result in quickening and intensifying interest throughout the Church. It is melancholy to see how little even intelligent people know of the real destitution which exists, the wide areas yet unsupplied with missionaries, and the great facts of missionary history and biography; and therefore it is that faith in missions is easily shaken with some. I heard Miss Child say, at Edinburgh, that at the gates of the Golden Horn the black gulls are seen flying, and, being never seen to rest or alight, are called" l08t souls." Even Moslem and Pagan peoples have a con,cep- tion of the soul as restless without God; and, to wander without such rest in Him, is the synonymn of all forfeited bliss. The same lady also remarked' that one hundred thousand people, representing every variety of national type and religious faith, p:}ss over the Gallica Bridge; but the proverb is, "Not one idea goes over," so little intel- lectuallife and vitalizing power does Turkey seem to provide for its subjects, and so little mental activity is there to be found in the Greek church, likewise.
But again, Miss Child said, that in Constantinople, when they build, a cross is set up in the corner of the scaffold, and it means a constant prayer to the patron saint of the builders at the Bosphorus until the work is completed. What a suggestion to those who are seeking to build up, whether at h~me or abroad, a true missionary work! Whether as pastors we seek to arouse our own people and the communities where we live, to a new intelligence and interest in God's world-wide work; or whether, as missionaries abroad, we are building up for God a church among the heathen, the cross should stand on the corner of the scaffold, and our eyes should be upon it. 'fhe work can only go on as the prayer of faith goes up. He who praY8 is he who build8. Here, above all, orare e8t laborare-work is worship.
Curious are the synchronisms and correspondences of history. 'fhe first slaving voyage from England was made in 1562 by Sir John Hawkins. Queen Elizabeth, on his return, called him to account, and expressed her disapproval of carrying off Aft-icans without their own consent, declaring such an act detestable, and invoking vengeance on the perpetrators of such deeds. Whatever assurance Captain Hawkins may have given that he would act within the limits of her majesty's instructions, and however he may have glossed over the iniquity of Bis doings, greed proved too powerful a temptation for his veracity and integrity. Captives on the African coast were very cheap, and the profits in St. Domingo were very ample, and the slave traffic went on.
In 1564, he sailed with four vessels, one of which was named the Jesur (Jesl1s?), and he made str;tight for Cape de Verde and Sierra Leone. At the Island of Sambala, Hawkins and his crew stayed for days, going on shore daily, burning and spoiling towns and taking the inhabitants for a prey. This voyage proving profitable, another was undertaken in 1567 in the Jesur, and some 400 or 500 captives secured. The voyage, however, proved disastrous, calamity after calamity befell them, and few of all the crew ever found their way to England. Yet Sir John went on with his work of trading in the bodies and souls of men, and records his sufferings as though he we~e writing" the lives aud deaths of martyrs," as, on previous prosperous voyages, he had entered on his log book, how God had not "suffered his elect to come to harm."
Curiously enougp, it was just 300 years from that time (1861-1865) that in America a civil war was raging, the natural fruit of that very slavery which such. traffic had planted on these shores; and in 1865, Abraham Lincoln struck the fetters from four millions of African slaves!
In 1622 Japan was driving out Catholics and Jesuits who brought to the empire of the Rising Sun a nominal Christianity but no Bible; and at the same time, at Plymouth, Pilgrims were landing from the Mayflower, and planting the Bible as the very corner stone of liberty and religion; and from their descendants, says D-r. A. J. Gordon, came Commodore Perry, who, in 1853 and 1854, more than two cen- turies later, 'was peacefully negotiating a treaty by which the faith of those Pilgrim fathers was to find its way into the island empire. How remarkable, too, was that year, 1858, for the opening of wide doors to Christian missions! That was the year when Japan, by treaties, made successively with the United States, Britain, France, Russia and Holland, became generally accessible to those nations; in that same year, China, which, by the treaty of Nankin, in 1842, opened five ports, Canton, Amoy, Foochou, Ningpo, Shanghai; further, by the treaty of Tien-Tsin, opened other ports and conceded t9 British subjects the right to travel under passports in the interior. That same year, 1858, India became part of the British Empire, and David Liv- 'It: ingstone a second time sailed to Africa to pioneer the way for mis- sionaries into the unexplored interior of that Dark Continent. Thus in one year the doors were mysteriously opened to mOl"e than half the population of the globe. Probably no such a series of providen- tial interpositions ever occurred in history before. The year 1858 ranks as the Annus Mirabilis.
Not only is God in missionary history by his providential inter- positions, but by his gracious transformations.
Whc;m Barnabas and Saul were separated, qualified, called of God and sent forth by the church at Antioch, to go to the Gentiles, they completed their mission tour by returning to Antioch and gathering the church together to rehearse all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the gentiles. Afterward, when they went up to Jerusalem, being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phamicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and caused great joy unto all the brethren. When they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders,and they declared all things that God had done with them, and what miracles and wonders He had wrought among the Gentiles by their agency.
It is most noticeable throughout these three chapters of the Acts (xiii., xiv., xv.), how constantly and emphatically God is recognized in the whole inception, progress and success of this first missionary campaign. Christ had accompanied the first great commission by a grand declaration, ".All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth;" and by an equally grand promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." .And now the .Acts of the .Apostles records the fulfilment of that promise. Such was the success of that campaign that it could be accounted for only on the ground of divine interposition. From first to last He is gratefully acknowledged and glorified. He selected the laborers and thrust them forth into his harvest fields; He set them apart, appointed them and annointed them for this very work, and as the church sent them forth, so also the Holy Ghost sent them forth and went with them. He who thus thrust forth the laborers, opened the doors, wide and effectually before them. Their entrance in unto the Gentiles was plainly of God. He gave. them access to foreign and hostile peoples and secured them an audience, and turned even their persecutions to a testimony, and their rejection into a welcome. Then he granted conversion unto the gentiles, and sanctification, purifying their hearts by faith. Then he wrought various miracles, signs and wonders by the hands of his apostles. So that throughout the whole course of their campaign GOD'S PRESENCE and POWER were conspicuous.
It is our deep conviction that no candid man can read the history of the last century of missions without being impressed that it is the twenty-ninth chapter of the .Acts of the .Apostles; and that through. out this whole historic chapter, as throughout the rest of that book, God's providence and grace are conspicuous. So far from missions being a failure, their success demands a supernatural force and factor as their only adequate explanation. From the time when William Carey began to revolve in his humble shoe shop at Hackleton the plan for a world's evangelization, all along through the periods of organization, .occupancy of the fields, and realization of results, the mighty hand of God is marvellously manifest. We believe that the study of missions is the effectual cure of all skepticism. If there be any modern Nathaniel who doubts whether any good thing has come out of Nazareth, let him" come and see." Let him read and study Robert Morrison, Charles Gutzlaff, Peter Parker, and their work in China; let him follow the footsteps of .Adonaram Judson and his devoted wives in Burmah and among the Karens; let him sail with John Williams through the South Seas, until he falls beneath the savage club at Eromanga; let him watch the work of Charles Wheeler on the Euphrates, and Dr. Barnum at Harpoot; let him go to Zululand and hear the native preachers now. telling the gospel story to their yet benighted countrymen; let him visit the crowded salles of Mc.All in Paris and the French provinces, and go for fo.ur months every night into a new station among these mercurial Frenchmen; let him go to the Eternal City and see thirty Protestant chapels within the walls where thirty years ago no Protestan t could bring a Bible; let the candid investigator go. into the Madras Presi- dencyand visit Tinnevelly, where in six months 16,000 were bap- tized, and the Telugu country, where 10,000 were baptized in a twelve- month; let him trace the footsteps of Fidelia Fiske in the Land of Esther, and sit down with her at the Lord's table with seventy young ladies brought to the Lord by her influence; let him visit the sun- rise Kingdom, and realize that the changes of ten years, as Kawmura says, have" left nothing as it was before except the natural scenery;" let him go to Formosa, where, on the twelfth anniversary of his arrival, McKay sat down at the Lord's table with 1,200 converts; let him who is willing to be convinced go to William Duncan's Metlakahtla and see a model Christian state among the Indians, whom some even now think good only to kill; let him go to old Calabar and see the heathenism of a thousand years yielding its long established customs and superstitions before the gospel; let him compare the India of to-day with scores of its cruel tortures and outrageous oppressions either abolished or abated; let him read t,he story of Madagascar and the twenty-five years of persecutions that not even with scalding water and martyr-fires, with hurling from precipices and drowning in the sea, could intimidate Malagasy disciples; let him go to Aniwa and see John J. Paton's memorial, a savage cannibal population turned intoa Christian community, with churches, schools, hospitals, hallowed homes and civil order suoh as becomes a Christian state; let him look on the thousand churches of the Fiji group, many of them built on the site of cannibal ovens; let the doubter who is willing to be convinced that God is in missionary history, follow the steps of the mission band from William Carey's sermon in Kettering in 1792 to the latest triumph of men of faith and of prayer who still " attempt great things for God," and" expect great things from God;" and he will find himself following the pillar of cloud and fire, and. dazzled by the glory of the Shekinah !
We have written and spoken for twenty-five years upon missions. And to-day, conscious that we stand a quarter of a century nearer the bound of life, where burdens of duty are laid down for the nnresting but unwearying service of a higher life, we calmly and confidently say that, for closeness of fellowship with God, and for the vivid vision of His almighty power, and for the effectual removal of all honest doubt as to a supernatural presence in human history, and especially the work of world-wide evangelization, we know of nothing equal to a participation in preaching the gospel to the lost.
After about three months of missionary campaigning in Scotland, my tour closed there on the twenty-thircl instant, with meetings at Campbeltown, Cantire, and;as was becoming, a closing meeting in that border city, Berwick-on-Tweed, which is on the Scotch side of the 'l'weed, but within ,English jurisdiction. From first to last there has been but one experience of welcome from all disciples, and gen- erous cordiality and hospitality.
At Alloa, in connection with one of the grandest meetings held north of the border, I saw a man that reminded me of what Bayard Taylor said to Baron von Humboldt: " You have seen a great many ruins, :Mr. Taylor," said the Baron, "and now you behold another." " No, not a ruin, but a pyramid," responded the accomplished author of " Views Afoot." So I felt when I saw in my audience that venerable man of ninety, who is one of the noblest givers of his generation-David Paton, Esq. In the course of his life he has contributed to missions his whole fortune of some million dollars, and is now living on a small annuity. Yet when in course of my address he heard me refer to the present straits of the McAll missions and the threatened danger of being compelled to close thirteen of the Salles for lack of funds, out of the little left to him, David Paton managed to contribute another two hundred andfifty pounds sterling (nearly $1,250), as a letter from Dr. :McAll jnst informs me. It was worth going to Alloa to look upon such a " pyramid."
That meeting at Alloa was an example of energy in working up plans for a public assembly. The week days are, of course, the difficult times in which to secure large gatherings for such purposes. Almost all the local committees beg for a Sabbath, and the Central Committee regret that Sunday comes but once in seven days. But although Alloa is one of the smaller towns and the only day that could be given was a Wendesday, the great Town Hall was crowded and not a few had to go away without getting even standing room. And, writing of meetings, it is very, noticeable how much the success of a meeting depends on the spirit of the local committee of arrangements, and even on the way in which what the Scotchman calls the "intimations" are given. I happened to be present in Barony' Church, Glasgow, when the genial and gifted Dr. Marshall Lang was announcing the meeting to be held at St. Andrews' great hall on the Monday evening following. He said: "We are to hold a great meeting to-morrow night. If you want to get a seat you must go early; and that you may not fail if you go early, I have had enough tickets brought to the church to supply such as wish to go; and if you find you cannot go, you must surrender your ticket to some one else who will." Of course St. Andrews' great hall was filled. " According to your faith be it unto you," is true in more spheres than one. The very next Sunday I happened to be where a brother minister, who felt great misgivings about the week-night meetings being a success, besought his people to go, as many as possibly could, all though he wished to save it from disastrous failure. Both enthusiasm and des- pondency are contagious, as this campaign furnishes abundant proof.
After having held 150 meetings in England and Scotland, from Bristol to Aberdeen, and from London to Glasgow, there are now more applications unfilled than brought me over the sea last autumn, showing that there is abundant opening for work of this sort. As yet Wales and Ireland are untouched. England has been approached only at some principal points like London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liv- erpool, Leeds, Leicester, Oxford, etc. Even Scotland, where three months have been spent, has not been overtaken. Inverness, Elgin, Forres, and all the country north of that line we have been unable to -embrace in the tour, not to speak of many other places as large as Kirkcaldy, which in the more southern portion have been necessarily omitted. One of the most delightful visits I have yet made was to St. Andrews, the venerable university town, sacred to the martyrs of Christ, and consecrated by the graves of such men as Halyburton, Rutherfurd, Adam Ferguson, and the like. I was a guest of Dr. A. K. H. Boyd, the Moderator-elect of the Established Church As- 'sembly, whose pen has made his name a household word far beyond the limits of his voice. Under his genial guidance I went to see the famous" bottle dungeon," where Wishart and other martyrs were con- -fined, and saw the spot where he and Hamilton were burned, and the window from which Beaton was hung, just opposite, in the castle; we walked through the Abbey grounds and among the University build- ings, only regretting that the time was so short.
Scotland is full of accomplished men, and from many a humble llOme has gone martyr or missionary. From one lowly cottage in 'Strathaven, went the Martin brothers, William, Gavin and James, two of them to India, the other to Jamaica. Then a son of James followed, then the surviving sister, allfive to the foreign field. And when I spoke at Edinburgh to the students on Friday evening, March 14th, two more sons of those Martin brothers came up to me and -shook my hand and told me they were in training for the same work! Seven from one house-we might almost say from one cradle! What a land of missionaries would this be if the cradle-s were consecrated! From how many other humble homes whose kingdom cometh not with observation might there go forth bands of missionaries to spread the good tidings!
In all my addresses here I have sought to impress the vital connection of prayer with missions. Nothing is more important-notlling is so important. The work is essentially divine in conception and ,execution. This supernatUl:al gospel can accomplish that supernatural 'work of conversion only through a supernatural power, the Holy Ghost. Prayer is the only hold we have upon the Spirit of God, and Ithel;efore prayer is the single secret of all blessing upon our work.
PASTOR HARMS AND HIS MISSION WORK. [June-
Prayer means every other form of blessing. It means plenty of workmen, it means open doors of access, it brings plenty of money and means, it brings unction upon the workmen, it brings success of the highest sort on the field, large harvests and frequent harvests-the rain on mown grass making the grass to grow again for another crop.
Those who cannot go, who have no child to give, and but little' money to give, can pray)' and it is noticeable that of all the gifts we can offer, this of fervent supplication is the most emphasized in the· New Testament!
Our beloved friends in Scotland have, with characteristic generosity, crowned all their former loving kindness with one last act, of which I can hardly write without indelicacy and yet scarcely forbear to write without ingratitude. Just as my three months' campaign, closes, a letter reaches me from the beloved and venerable Rev. Dr. Andrew Thomson, of Edinburgh, announcing that the" Duff Trustees. have appointed me as their next lecturer on missions." Dr. Thomson. gracefully adds that" nothing could be more cordial than the appointment, as well as more gratifying to himself, and that he hopes no obstacle may be found to stand in the way of my acceptance." This lectureship, founded in memory of Dr. Alexander Duff, has already been filled by such men as Dr. William Fleming Stevenson and Sir Monier' Williams, etc. It deserves mention in these letters, for, as it seems to· the new appointee, this election is not so much a tribute to the capacity and ability of the lecturer-elect, as it is a beautiful and graceful expres!'lion of appreciation for the work that he has sought to do in, Scotland. If the way shall appear open for acceptance, it will give· opportunity also for the gathering up of the loose threads of a some– what scattered and imperfect impression, and weaving them into a more substantial and permanent form. This last act of our Scottish friends we cannot but esteem an undeserved honor, but it is the most fragrant laurel wreath that has ever been placed upon the writer's head; and it is specially grateful as the last of a long series of generow; and appreciative acts, crowning this short mission tour of the churches with a diadem that shows rather the princely nature of my hosts than the princely title of their American guest. One hesitates, to follow where such men have led. But if the providence of God shall permit, we shall feel constrained to say, like Franklin of his. illustrious predecessors at the Court of Versailles, "I come to follow,. not to succeed them !"
PASTOR HARMS AND HIS MISSION WORK.
BY REV. LEWIS GROUT, WEST BRATTLEBORO, VT.
LOllis Harms, the son of a Lutheran minister, was born in 1809,. at Hermannsburg in Hanover, and educated at Gottingen. From his youth he gave promise of being, as he proved to be, a man of manystrong parts-thoughtful, sympathetic, self-reliant-a man of great energy, industry and perseverance, together with a kindness of feeling and a high sense of honor, truth and purity, that could not fail to win the confidence and esteem of all who should know him. ,His good judgment, good memory, and great activity made him a good man- ager of great enterprises; while the great simplicity of his trust in God, his strong faith, and rare devotion, made him bold and strong to attempt great enterprises. Such a man was needed in just the times and place in which he lived. Many of the two millions of people around him were given to infidelity, many to formalism and worldli- ness. Few of them cared at all for either the house or the word of God. For a man of traits like those of Harms: the l,ord had a great work, both in Hanover and among the heathen beyond the sea. But for this work the man must have more than natural talent-must be himself first roused to a new spiritual life. To this he was moved and converted by reading the tender, loving words of Christ in his intercessory prayer. Being himself divinely imbued with the spirit of his new Master, he entered at once upon his labors of love for others, and soon became assistant pastor in his native village; and at the age 'of forty, on the death of his father, refusing many temptiftg calls to other places, he became pastor of the parish in which he was born and reared, and set himself to the joyful work of developing in it the best type of a useful church and ministry.
Nor was it long ere his earnest efforts began to yield a rich return. " The attendance in church increased; reverence for the Bible grew; there was more conversation on sacred things, more order and neatness in the village, and the 'Hermannsburghers' became a proverbial people. The noon bell was sounded, and every head was bared in prayer. No- where else in Hanover was a parish to be found where apostolic piety seemed revived as here, in the consciousness of a present Christ and a present Spirit, and in the effectiveness of the means of grace."
And now the heart of the pastor began to beat warm and strong for the millions in heathendom, especially in Africa, who had never as .yet heard of the love of that Saviour who had died for them. Upon this he began to speak to his people. Sometimes the subject gave him wakeful hours at night; sometimes he made it the theme of a dis- course on the Sabbath, and often was it the chief topic of remark in his visits from house to house among his people. They soon caught his spirit, and began to talk of the work among themselves and with their pastor, and some of them began to give. Their first contribution was a silver penny from a child, sixpence from a poor laborer, and six shillings from a widow. Little did these humble givers think what" a soaring pillar of fire" was to come from these trifling sparks, by means of which many a benighted soul on the Dark Continent would yet be guided and cheered in the way of life. And now this enthusiastic pastor begins to urge his church and parish to give themselves, personally and practically, to the work, be- {Jome responsible for a portion of the heathen world, form a society, choose a. field, and go in person, or help send others of their own number to man the field. 'rwelve came forward and offered to go, one of whom gave his farm as well as himself. With the avails of the farm a training school was established, where the twelve put . themselves under their pastor's teaching for two or three years, by way of preparation for mission work. Then the people began to study and plan with their pastor how they should send their brethl·en, when they should be ready, and provide for their support. Meantime, others offered themseives and came into the training school for instruction, and among them a number of newly converted sailors from the German fleet. Then some of the peasants expressed a wish to go as farmers, and some of the villagers as tradesmen or mechanics. In this way a new element was infused into the scheme, emigrants or ()olonists being now associated with the missionaries, and the hope cherished that the mission might eventually become self-supporting. And here the pastor himself is not only greatly encouraged, but set forward and furnished with a new idea; for, says he, "Without these sailors we should never have become colonists; for we, honest but somewhat stupid, heath-people, should never have dreampt of sending out any but real missionaries." And then, too, out of these sailors, they got the idea of building and having a ship of their own for mission purposes. Putting their minds and hands together, by faith, work and prayer, the ship was built, and the much-loved pioneer pastor, with some hundreds of his parishioners, took a special train to Hamburg to see the new ship, christen it Candace, and dedicate it to the work of carrying the gospel to the Ethiopians. Eight of the twelve candidates for appointment as missionaries being accepted, together with eight colonists, on the 21st of October, 1853, the Candace took them joyfully aboard, weighed anchor, and spread her sails for Mombas and the Galla country, via the Cape and Port Natal.
And now it was, on reaching their desired haven, that their faith and zeal were put to the first and severest test. The Mohammedan powers at Mombas, subject as they were to the Imaum of Zanzibar, jealous of all foreign influence, and especially opposed to the· incoming of Christian missionaries, set themselves firm against the proposed enterprise, and compelled the missionaries to depart. "The Arabians themselves towed the ship, with wild cries, out of the harbor of Mombas, as if they had gained ·ha1£ a world by getting rid of the Christians." The Candace now put back to Natal, where she had called on her way up the coast a few months before. Here they had a glad reception by some of their own countrymen, by missionaries from other lands, and by the Government of the colony. Without renouncing the hope of yet reaching the Gallas, on which their hearts are deeply set, they settle down to begin work where they are. Consulting with others' as to the best way and place to begin, on the 19th of September, 1854, with five ox-teams, after the Dutch Boer fashion, they reach the seat of their first and central station, which they call by the dear homeland name of " Hermannsburg," on a large farm of six thousand acres, called" Perseverance," and situated on the Iuhlimbiti, one of the inland branches of the U mvoti, their purpose being to strike out, eventl].ally, from this in different directions, especially into Zululand and the regions beyond, even to the Gallas, as the field should open and their forces increase. Already had they entered on their work by making tours of observation and by studying the language of the people with other missionaries, and aiding them in their work as best they could.
Having fixed upon a station, their next work, like that of other enterprising missionaries in the same or any similar wild and barbarous region, was to build themselves a house in which to live and a place in which to worship. To this they devote themselves at once in right good earnest, and yet keep up their study of the language,. and let pass no good opportunity to teach the people in whatever would be helpful to them, both in this life and the next. The carpenter, with the best workers in wood, went to·" the bush" for timber. The smith made ready a smithy for work in iron. The farmer gathered a native force to care for the teams and help him in his husbandry. The mason, with a few good helpers, began to make brick. The thatcher worked in the garden till he was wanted on the roof. The cook, as yet without a kitchen, had" a laborious business to feed so many hungry people." They planned to build a house· 120 feet by 40, with eight dwelling-rooms and twelve bedrooms, a large dining alld sitting-room, a large kitchen, and a long hall running through the centre from end to end. The writer, bEing there on a visit at a later date, after the house had been finished, and the mission enlarged by the incoming of other members, found this house the abode of thirteen families, who took their meals all at one table in the large central dining-room. Here, too, they all met,. morning. and evening, for family worship; and everything, as the visitor was atl>ured by the superintendent and his lady, went on,. from day to day, in the most orderly and harmonious manner. Less than half a mile away there was another band of seven families, living in a similar manner in one house.
Nor was it long, considering the missionaries' imperfect knowledge of the language, before they began to get from God "an earnest of an extended blessing on their religious labors, and to be thus encouraged to persevere." Ere three months had expired four natives, a married couple and two others, who had been under instruction, came to their teachers with a wish to be baptized and make a public profession of their faith in the Saviour of whom they had been told. After some weeks of further instruction, on the first Sabbath of the new year, they were examined before the congregation, accepted, baptized, and made the nucleus of a church among the Zulus. Forthwith, upon this, say the missionaries, "Satan broke loose, and did all in his power to hinder and destroy their work; but, thanks and praise to God, his grace gained the victory." Writing home, they entreat their patrons and friends to help them in their prayers, that the Lord may give them true humility and a self-sacrificing faithfulness in their calling, that they may not look for soft beds, luxurious sofas and good eating and drinking, but look to the I.ord Jesus and the extension of His kingdom. Nor was it long ere they felt that they had still further evidence of God's readiness to bless them in the ~oming of many natives to be taught to know and read the gospel. Some of the natives ask the missionaries to come and teach them at their homes, in their kraals, and some bring their children to the station to be taught. "Are not these fair prospects 't 0, Lord Jesus, the seed sprouts already. Preserve it from the hail! "
:Meantime, the full and frequent reports and familiar communications which these missionaries and colonists make to their friends and patrons in their fatherland, and especially to their beloved pastor, who, in turn, from time to time, talks it all over with his people, or has much of it published in his missionary magazine, help to keep the stream of mission interest ever full and rising. The training school was kept full, usually numbering about fifty. In 1856, a second company, chiefly farmers and maids, was found ready to go out; in 1857, still another company, numbering forty-six, of whom twelve were missionaries, was sent out; and then, in 1860, still another, numbering twenty-nine, of whom four were missionaries, the l'est colonists. On one occasion more than a hundred stood ready to go at one time. All this led to the frequent founding of 'a new station, so that in 1860, six years from the beginning of their work at Hermannsburg, they had ten stations, four in Natal, three in Zululand; and, at the united request of the chief Sechele and the Dutch, they had sent and formed three stations among the Bechuana, which were proving prosperous, the schools large, the attendan~e upon Sabbath worship good, and baptisms many.
At the end of the first decade of this mission, 1864, they had founded 24 stations and started two more, and baptized 190 converts. How well founded, planned and managed was Pastor Harms' mission enterprise, is seen in the fact that it went on to live and prosper marvelously after his death, which occurred Nov. 14, 1866. The annual Christmas festival, at which the pastor and his devoted charge of peasants and villagers were accustomed to review their year's mission work, was still kept up; and at that held in 1870, they reported their work greatly enlarged. The number of stations in Africa was now said to be 37, of which 7 were in North Zululand, 5 in South Zululand, 8 in Natal, 2 in Alfredsland, 10 in Bechuanaland, and 5 in Little Mosika District. At these stations 200 persons re- ceived baptism during the previous year. They had also 5 stations in India and 1 in Australia. Two brethren were about to leave for California to labor there in behalf of the Chinese in that State. The moneys received for the support of the Hermaunsburg Mi1!sions the previous year amounted to 50,311 thalers. The expenditures were 44,590; the balance, therefore, in favor of the treasury was 5,721 thalers. Their South African missions continued to grow till they numbered 50 stations and 5,000 converts, when some 12 or 15 of these stations were swept away by war; since which, however, it is under- stood that some of these devastated 8tations have been rebuilt.
In 1886 the income of the Society was $48,500, its missionaries and native helpers numbered 219, of whom 40 were ordained Euro- peans, 50 laymen and 42 women, likewise Europeans. The native communicants numbered 4,680, and baptized persons, 12,120. The gain of the year was 260 communicants. Rev. Egmont Harms was secretary of the Society in place of his father, now deceased. Aside from South Africa, the Society was doing mission work in India, Australia and New Zealand.
At an early stage of his Zulu Mission, Pastor Harms began to look for some suitable person to have the general superintendence of the work, and made choice of Rev. Mr. Hardelalld, D.D. arid Ph., who for many years had been a missionary among the Dyaks in Borneo. Dr. Hardeland would take this charge on condition that the Mission' .should be brought, in some measure, into connection with the Lutheran Church of Hanover, so far, at least, as to require that Church to examine and ordain all missionaries who might be sent by the Hermannsburg Society to this field. To this Mr. Harms assE:llted. Dr. Hardeland reached the field in 1859, after which the mission was subject to his oversight and direction.
Nor should we fail to notice that Pastor Harms and his enterprising people seemed all the more interested and active in their homework becaustJ of. their interest in the foreign field. In addition to other charitable efforts, they established a refuge for discharged convicts, about whom there hung a taint of disgrace, whose sympathies were perverted, whose sensibilities had been hardened by crime, and whose career had alienated common confidence. Moved to pity and helpfulness toward this neglected class, the warm-hearted Hermannsburgers bought a farm and built an asylum on it to be a home for the helpless and the hopeless, and yet a means of self-help for those who ·could labor. And then, again, as a means of imparting information
THE RELIGIOUS WORK AMONG THE IMMIGRANTS
and promoting mutual sympathy among themselves, as also between themselves and their brethren in a distant land, they started a live missionary magazine. This gave employment, for a portion of their time, to some in the training school, and thus helped to prepare them for the handling of type and a preBs, in a land where press and type had never been known. Beginning in this humble way, this department of the work went on to unfold and grow, till, eventually, they had" a Parish Publishing House~ issuing catechisms, tracts, and the literature of the Gospel, yielding an annual profit of six hundred pounds sterling."
In the narrative before us, what pastor, missionary, or missionary society, church or individual, can fail to find instruction and inspiration? In the Hermannsburg pastor and people, what an example for us to study and be encouraged! In it we see what an earnest, devoted pastor, who has God and a responsive, united people to help him, can do in face of great obstacles. Pastor Harms was a man of faith. He made his work, whether at home or abroad, a work of faith. He had faith in God, and faith in his people. He was a man of prayer. Of God he asked-in faith-the help he needed from God; of his people he asked-in faith-the help he needed from them. Putting·and keeping his work before his people, making it their work, consulting with them, informing, cheering them, he had their confidence, their hand and their heart, and found that as the work grew upon them, the means to carry it on grew also. Pastor Harms was a man of great spirituality, and yet a man of affnirs, a great worker, intensely active, a great organizer and manager, eminently original, progressive, trustful, hopeful, faithful, successful. His ways and means of securing a mutually helpful interest .between the church at home and his missions abroad-his way of promoting a loving, personal sympathy and attachment between the laborers in the field and their patrons at home, are worthy of consideration in this day of diverse thought and study as to the best me~hods of mission work. Indeed, in all the union of individuality, fres~ess, freedom and fitness in his beneficent plans and labors, never running in the ruts of lifeless uniformity or imita– tion, always finding some good place or use for everybody and everything, and especially in his great simplicity of purpose, his Christly spirit, his consecrated life, there is much for the whole Christian world to admire and emulate to-day.
']'HE RELIGIOUS WORK A~fONG THE IMMIGRANTS.
BY REV. PROFESSOR GEORGE H. SCHODDE, PH. D., COLUMBUS, OHIO.- It is only within the last decade or two that the immigrant problem has assumed in the public mind a moral and religious phase, in a. measure crowding into the background the purely economic feature of the question. The number of strangers entering at our gates. average each year more than half a million. The new factor and fer- ment introduced into the thought and life of the nation by the advent of millions grown up' in environments and surroundings often radi- cally at variance with the ideas and ideals of American traditions, make the inquiry as to what is being done for the intellectual and religious education of these masses one of direct home interest, in which every citizen and Christian must look with personal concern and solicitude. This modern migration of nations is also a mjgration of national peculiarities; and the number of new comers is so great, that it is a question as to how far they will assimilate to American life, and how far they will attempt to impress the stamp of their own individuality upon our people. Experience has shown that the efforts made in the latter direction are far from being welcome innovations and transformations.
Naturally the State can do nothing for the religious wants of these strangers; and what is done in the way of establishing schools, is practically of. .little benefit on account of the language difficulty and the age of most of the immigrants. Only the second generation can hope to make use of the opportunities offered for intellectual improvement by the State. Accordingly, the whole work in this direction must be of a voluntary character, carried on by those whose interest in it prompts them to this labor of love. The immigrant, himself cannot be expected to do much for himself in this respect. As a rule they are poor, and are intent, above everything else, upon the establishment of a house and home. Then, the majority of them have grown up in State churches and have never learned the lesson of self-help in regard to church and school, which is the condition of success in America. They are helpless as regards both ways and means. Often, too, they are but little concerned about their highest and deepest interests-those of their souls and hearts-the religious life in the State churches being but poorly adapted for the develop- – ment of personal piety and a clear appreciation of;he individual's religious needs and duties.
The work has then been left for those religious organizatio;ns in our country which, from a national or confessional point of view, must evince the deepest concern for the spiritual welfare of the immigrant. Nearly all of these strangers who come from southern Europe and from Austria and Ireland are Roman ·Catholics, as are also, perhaps, one-third from Germany and Switzerland; while the great majority of the rest of the Germans, as also all the Scandinavians, Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, Finns, Icelanders, and a small per cent. from Austria are members of the Lutheran State Churches, the Reformed Church being represented by a small German and Swiss contingent. From a l'eligious point of view, at least twotlJi",]R of tIle immigrants are P,'otestants, or, at any rate, non-Roman Catholics. The new immigration spirit which has in the last three or more years taken hold of the Roman Catholic Latin nations in Europe, and has made the number of emigrants from those States almost equal to that from the Anglo-Saxon and Teutonic nations of northern Europe, has not changed this proportion, to any perceptible extent, in favor of the Church of Rome, because the great majority of the Latin wanderers go to South America and not to the United States.
The work of the Roman Catholics for housing their portion of the immigrants is carried on more systematically than can be done by any of the Protestant denominations. The magnificent organization of the Church of Rome enables it to do effective work in this direction. Of the more than five hundred thousand children in Roman Catholic parochial schools, one-half or more are taught in languages other than the English. 'That Church claims no fewer than two million German members in the United States, divided into thirteen church provinees. Seminaries and ins,titutions for the education of priests and teachers multiply with great rapidity, and, in general, every effort is made to take care of their people and to keep them faithful members of the church. Just in how far this is to be regarded as consistent with the best American citizenship, is a mooted question. It is quite clear, that Roman Catholic ideas and methods in this regard are not yet in agreement with the public thought and conscience of the country.
The provision for the spiritual wants of the Protestant contingent naturally falls to the lot of that church to which it chiefly owes at least a formal allegiance, namely, the Lutheran. Unfortunately, the Lutheran Church of America, with its communicant membership of considerably more than one million, is a divided household of faith, the lines of separation being along a more or less rigid confessionalism, aided to some degree by linguistic and national divergencies; but, notwithstanding its divisions, the whole church is a unit inrecognizing in the home mission work among their newly arrived brethren in the great Woest and Northwest, the task above all other tasks for them to engage in. Accordingly, the Lutheran Church of this land has. bent all its energies upon the accomplishment of this one end, and of the four large general bodies and the independent Synods, numbering, in all, more than fifty Synodical organizations, there is scarcely one which does not take active part in this work. It is for this reason, chiefly, that this church has been able to take but a small part of the evangelization of the heathen world upon their shoulders. The large bodies of the General Synod and the General Council, indeed, carryon work in India and Africa, and the Southern I~utherans are beginning in Japan; but the largest complex of Synods, the Synodical Conference, as well as the independent Synods, engage in foreign mission work only in so far as they contribute to the missionary societies of Germany and the Scandinavian lands. Other denominations are not idle in this important field, but quite naturally cannot, and do not, accomplish what is being done by the Lutherans. The Methodists have a German membership of more than fifty thousand; the Presbyterians of nearly ten thousand; the Baptists are working among the Germans, while the Congregationalists have devoted their energies chiefly to the Scandinavians. The United Synod, a German body, representing the standpoint of the Prussian State church, in which the Lutheran and the Reformed confession are of equal authority, have a membership of about one hundred and twenty-five thousand; and the Reformed church, a German membership of fifty thousand. Of the more than a million Lutherans in America, at least two-thirds are non-English, she being the most polyglot church in the United States, no less than nine or ten languages being preached from her pulpits.
The care for the spiritual interests of the immigrant begins even before he leaves the fatherland. Small pamphlets have been published containing the address of every Lutheran or United Synod pastor in America, and these are scattered throughout the districts of Germany, informiug the immigrant where he can find a church home in America of his faith and confession. In Hamburg, Bremen, and <>ther seaport towns, immigrant missionaries have been stationed, who provide the people with good advice, and help 1;hem in general to get into Christian hands upon landing in America. In New York there are three Lutheran immigrant missionaries and two missionary houses, in which annually more than fifteen thousand strangers are housed and sent on their way. The Roman Catholics, too, have their mission house in New York, and the Methodists did have, but its discontinuance has been agitated amid the protests of the German brethren. In Baltimore there is also an immigrant missionary. These men and concerns are supported by the church at large, as the immigrants are charged only a nominal price for lodging and board, and the needy receive these free. The missionaries have large correspondence with the pastors throllghout the West.
The work of hunting up the new settlers and inaugurating the religious movement among them is the special task of the missionaries in the employ of the various Synods, who have scores of men engaged in this work. The ordinary method is to learn where there is a sufficient number of Germans or Scandinavians, or others, in a certain locality, and then to send a man there who is familiar with the language of the people. As a rule, no attempt is made at a church organization at once, even if the people were all nominally members of a State church in Europe. The most solid foundation for a congregation has, by experience, been found to be the establishment of parochial schools, in which the instruction of the young in the truths of Sacred Writ formfl the ellief feature. To this is added regular preaching, until the people are ripe for an organization, and with the assist- ance of the church building funds, if necessary, a house of worship is erected. But the parochial school system has been the backbone of the success of the Luther~lll church in the West. No less than 150,000 children are being educated in these schools at present, while the United Synod has more than twenty thousand in their schools. :More than two thousand teachers, nearly all males, are engaged in these schools, for the education of whom special' seminaries have been established at Addison, Ill., Woodville, Ohio, and elsewhere, or special courses have been arranged for this end in connection with the colleges and academies under the control of the church. The po- sition of the Lutheran church in the parochial school question differs radically from that of the Roman Catholics. While the latter are loud in th,,:ir denunciation of the public schools as "godless," the former establish their schools chiefly for the purpose of securing a religious education for their children, which, in the nature of the case, the State, because separated from the Church, cannot furnish; and besides, offering an education to those who are not acquainted suffi- ciently with the English language to make use of the public schools, the establishment of which is recognized by the Church as a duty of the State. The Lutheran church does not antagonize the public- school system; but for her own members she seeks to supplement it by supplying what, in her estimation, is the chief element of a true education, namely, the. religious.
It is from this standpoint that we can understand the opposition of the friends of the parochial schools in the Northwest to the re- cently enacted laws, particularly of Wisconsin and Illinois. There is no dissatisfaction with the demands of these enactments that pre- scribe that certain branches shall be taught in English, nor with their compulsory features, for in nearly all the parochial schools English is, in a greater or less extent, the medium of instruction in certain branches, and no one is more in favor of a thorough education than are the Germans and the Scandinavians. But those features of the new laws which virtually deprive these schools of their independence or of congregational control, by putting them under the supervision of county officials and non-religious authorities, have induced the tens of thou- sands of Protestants in Wisconsin and other States to inaugurate 'an agitation looking to a modification of the laws. The Protestants have steadily refused to go with the Roman Catholics in their opposition to the public schools, for the simple reason that they occupy an en- tirely different position over against these. On principle, the friends of Protestant parochial schools do not at all antagonize the school , system of the country; on the contrary, as a rule, their children for a certain number of years attend these schools, going to the parochial only for their religious training, especially for their preparation for confirmation. From these data it is plain why these church schools, established at so great a cost by the struggling non-English Chris- tians of the Northwest, have been one of the greatest features in the religious education of these people, doing a work which the State neither could nor would do.
In the line of higher education-the establishment of seminaries, 'Colleges, and other institutions for the special or partial benefit of the immigrant-immense strides have been made in the last half century. Then scarcely one concern of this kind existed; now, several of them are scattered over the whole land. The Lutherans maintain no fewer than twenty such establishments for the Germans alone, with an at- tendance of more than two thousand students. The capital invested in buildings reaches the millions, and the annual running expenses are fully $150,000. The returns for all this outlay and work can be seen in the progress of the church; for, on an average, one new Lu- theran church is dedicated each day of the year, and four-fifths of these are among the new citizens in the West. The Reformed Church has two chiefly Gennan colleges; the United Synod has a seminary .and two colleges; the Methodists have five small colleges of this {lharacter; the Presbyterians have two German seminaries, o~e in Bloomfield, N. J., the other in Dubuque, Iowa; the Baptists have a German department in Rochester, N. Y.. A similar work is being done among the Scandinavians and other Protestant strangers. Swedish institutions like that at Rock Island, Ill., are prominent educational forces; while fully a dozen smaller college~ and academies are maintained among the Scandinavian Lutherans. The Methodists have a Scandinavian theological school at Evanston, Ill.; the Baptists a Danish department at Morgan Park, Ill., and the Congregationalillts have one in connectiqn with their seminary in Chicago, Not a small agent in this religious education of the immigrant is the press. The polyglot newspaperdom of the West is almost entirely in the hands of the church, with the exception of a number of German papers in the larger cities. It is extremely interesting in this connection, to note the fact that all work of this kind undertaken by other agencies than the church, or from another standpoint than the Christian, has signally failed. The Milwaukee teachers's seminary, established on a "liberal" basis. has been a dismal failure.
Taking all these data into consideration, it is evident that the religious interests of the immigrant are receiving probably more marked attention and are treated with greater success than is the calile with" the native churchless masses of America.
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS IN BRAZIL
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS IN BRAZIL.
BY CHARLES E. KNdiIK:, D.D., BLOOMFIELD, N. J.
(Concluded from page 348, May number.) 3. We were much impressed with the personnel of our missionary force, and with the missionary's opportunity. The men and women in the service, the churches and stations, the centres of missionary power, all inspired us. The Southern Methodist Church was under strong guidance in the person of Bishop Granberry, and his missionaries seemed able and zealous men, intelligent and devoted women. They were strengthening efficient centres at Rio and Piracicaba. Frequent visits from their bishop, who returned with us on the steamer, and who left his daughter as a teacher at Rio, gave them all courage and animation. An earnest preacher and teacher was prosecuting a mission under Bishop Taylor's self-supporting plan, in Para. The Baptists, who 'had come late, had made a beginning in Rio and Pernambuco, although still without a church edifice. Maranhao, Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio, Sao Paulo, Campinas, all Brazilian centres, were occupied as centres of our own missions. The Southern men and the Northern men from our own church were men of ability, strong in character, prudent in action, harmonious in purpose, versatile in pastoral and evangelistic service. The native ministry and elders, so far as we could judge, were men of excellent qualities of mind and of heart, and foretoken a large body of worthy preachers and rulers. The evangelistic work opened everywhere and greatly outran the missionary force. In any new place the traveling preacher could have a congregation on a half-day's notice. With common prudence and loving endurance of the priest's opposition, and with perhaps a little cool courage under a shower of stones, he could in a short time establish a permanent congregation. Two missionaries, one a Bible society agent, joined our steamer at Pernambuco, who had come 1200 miles down the San Francisco river. They had started from the farthest interior station in the south, inland from Sao Paulo and Campinas, crossed from the head-waters which flow to Buenos Ayres, to the head-waters of the San Francisco, and canoed to its mouth. Through two of the larger provinces, Minos Geraes and Bahia, a full thousand miles northward on high land parallel to the coast, then on the borders of the smaller provinces of Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe, eastward to the coast, they followed the stream second only to the Amazon. Everywhere they had met with kindly reception. The Bibles distributed may be expected to repeat the work of Dr. Kidder's Bibles distributed in 1839, developing into inquiring souls and into groups of inquirers ready for the future missionary; but the long journey revealed the universal plaint of the desolate heart, ready now to turn its cry of need to a song of joy at the message of love. In the Sao Paulo region the excellent evangelistic service of Mr. Chamberlain and of others has dev~oped a vast region ready for the detail work of a large missionary force. At one place was a school, whose origin was from a Bible in a Masonic lodge, purchased as a sacred book on which to take oaths. The planter whose curiosity led him to read it, vowed to furnish a building whenever anyone would come preaching the doctrines of that book. After the preaching he established the school, and then vowed that as soon as a white teacher would come to take charge of the school, he would put an endowment in his will. The last steamer of this present year brings the news from the college-bred lady teacher who has just located there, that the endowment is already in his will. At another place was a saintly member of a church, himself at one time full of hatred, who was con- verted by another whose heart and life had been full of ugly violence a few years before. At another place, where our Philadelphia engine stopped, was a flourishing church, where twenty years before Mr. Chamberlain and his assistant were stoned for explaining to the people the gospel of St. Mark. In rural plantations, in hamlets, in villages, in larger towns, notwithstanding the priests' protestation!;, the people will listen to the pure and loving story. An ebullition of emotional hostility may send off hot steam, but the prudent missionary stands one side, and soon the same emotion pushes the piston of a well-ordered life. The sub-stations and preaching places with one accord, in fourteen out of the sixteen sea-coast provinces, give the same testimony to the accessibility of the people.
One hundred new men, our missionaries said, could be at once profitably employed, as soon as they could learn the language, and another hundred could follow them at once.
The subject of lay colonies of Christians, in default of clerical missionaries, was discussed in our missionary company on the steamer. Most of the missionaries considered such colonies desirable, if practicable, and most of them thought something of the kind practicable under careful conditions. The oldest missionary, whose judgment was entitled to special weight, did not consider colonization from the United States practicable, and would not like to enconrage it. "The United States people," he said," do not colonize-they emigratethey will not remain together." General Magalhaes, who had personally explored the Amazon, said, at Sao Paulo, in answer to the question-Would colonies on the Amazon, from the United States, be practicable? "It would not do to bring people whose condition of life is too far above the conditions on the Amazon. The colonists must be of a class something like the conditions there-common ·laborers-not too cultivated." As the country becomes develop-ed and rises in intelligence and in civilizing institutions, such colonies will undoubtedly succeed, and it may be that colonies, like the colonies from the Southern States, if founded on Christian principles, may help to develop the civilization a.a Christianization of the country.
The Southern colony on the Amazon went to pieces. The Southern colony at Santa Barbara, in the more favorable conditions of Sao Paulo province, through many changes remains the same substantial unit, and has Presbyterian and Methodist churches. If such a colony founded on disaffection arising out of our civil war and on worldly ambitions has maintained its life for a quarter of a century, a Christian colony, founded on nobler motives, might wield a powerful influence under the new Republic.
4. The native and immigrant population impressed us as presenting certain characteristics which are specially hopeful. Three aspects are full of interest. In the first place, the Portuguese and the Brazilian are an amiable people. They are not intense and vindictive, like the Spanish. They are affectionate among themselves and hospitable to strangers. The.y may be aroused to sharp encounter, but their pre- vailing mood is placid. The history of their former revolutions shows this, and the present bloodless revolution exhibits the same trait. Religious animosity, therefore, inspired by selfish priests, is not likely to be persistive, as under the Spanish type of character. Never was there a better opportunity to introduce the high principles of Christi- anity, than among a people who have a strong social nature, who have ardent desires for a pure religious love, whose confidence in their false religious teachers has been broken, and whose present revolution points them towards civil and religious liberty.
In the second place, the color line is unknown. Prejudice in a. race caste does not exist. The ebony black, the Corinthian bronze, the Indian copper, the Caucassian white, and all the shades, statures, features, dress and manners of all these classes, sit side by side in the congregation and mix in common society. Grades of social distinction do not depend on color. Our brethren from our Southern States said , to us again and again: " We have no difficulty here in respect to the color line." "The old idea at home does not disturb us here." "We hardly know ourselves in the changed condition." This condition of the Brazilian community· arises out of the long intermixture of blood, the consequent impracticability of applying any race distinction, and the continued adjustment of social relations and customs to such a historic fact.
In the third place, the immigrant population has already become a powerful factor in the nation. The German people in the extreme South, especially in Rio Grande de SuI, have been recognized as a possible foundation for a separate republic. They occupy districts. and towns and cities. In Sao Paulo, also, their numbers are increasing. " We have a contract to bring in ten thousand faJllilies from W ur- temburg," said General Magalhaes to us. "The German emigra tion to US has been resisted in Germany, but the obstacle is now removed." The Italian constitute/the principal immigrant for mul- tiplication of "arms." They were not regarded formerly as m~king good citizens, but recently a better class from the farms of Italy has come. They do a large amount of work and consume little food. 'The Portuguese immigrants, principally from the Canary and Azores Islands, are less numerous. They are chiefly in the cities.
The great demand of the Empire has been for" arms," or, as we say, for" hands," to develop the acres, to open the mineral depths, to lay the railroads and build the mills. National laws and provincial laws have therefore offered a premium for the introduction of labor. The province of Sao Paulo has been the most enterprising. Large buildings were pointed out to us in the city of Sao Paulo) built for the temporary accommodation of these multitudes in transit. " We are bringing five thousand a month into this province," said General Magalhaes. "We have a contract by the province for this purpose." "More immigrants have come into the country since October last (about eleven months) than during the preceding history of the Empire."
By far the greater part of all this immigration is Roman Catholic. But from the old life of Europe they are coming into a new condition which is in rapid transit towards free ideas and private judgment. Met with a pure gospel in their own tongue, they may be converted to Christ and made a mighty force in the Christianization of that imperial nation.
5. We were very greatly impressed with the opportunities for Christian education. We heard t,he clamor of children in high voice, as we passed the common schools of the towns. In Pernambuco, our (lompany found its way into a girls' school-house at the edge of the dty. The voices were in full concert-the pitch was high-the action forte, the chorus without solo or duet. About fifty little girls and two little boys filled the room. Behind the desk sat a young lady <>f twenty-six or t~enty-eight. Her face was bronze, her eyes black, her jet black hair went down her back in a praid. With happy features, abounding spirits, a ready affability and overflowing pleasure 'in her work, she went freely on in the gu~dance of the school. She called up a girl to read. While hearing and correcting her, she gave attention to another, who came with an example in arithmetic; and then to another who came with her sewing, and sent another still for the tin scissors-and-tape box. When the little bronzes and blacks of all shades grew quiet from looking at their visitors, her vigorous itnd (lheery voice shot out the word" study," and off they all started in loud chorus again. We were reminded of what we had read of Mohammedan schools. The course of instruction was reading, writing, arithmetic, Christian doctrine (a Catholic shrine was in the corner) and sewing. One or two little ones recited in simple geometrical "form." They all seemed delighted with their cheery teacher. The same mode of education we saw in a school for boys of older age in Maranhao. From our Protestant Church school in Rio, we l~arned that the national habit was to train the memory, but that· the child was instantly lost if the teacher put his question outside the page of the text-book. Memory, obedience, emotion-these were to be cultivated among the people as a foundation for a blind church life. We were never more impressed with the value of a healthy logic in popular and in high education-to teach the child, the family, the community, the nation, to think for itself, and to exercise a private judgment in civil and in religious life.
There are professional schools of high character in leading cen- tres, law schools with large attendance in Sao Paulo and Pernambuco, medical schools in Bahia and Rio, a theological school with small attendance in each of the twelve dioceses. For these high institu- tions there are private and Governmental preparatory schools. And the "collegio," which is either a private school or an ordinary high school, is to be seen here and there in every city. There is, however, no university nor college of high degree in all Brazil. A few of the leading statesmen were educated in former years at the University of Coimbra, in Portugal, or in othe~ European universities. A few of th~ young men now go abroad. A bright young man on .our steamer was receiving his education in the Polytechnic. Institute at Worcester, Mass., where others of his nation had been. A polytechnic institution on the plains of Ypiranga, just outside Sao Paulo, is expected to grow out of its incipiency, if it escapes political complications. One considerable institution in the interior is founded on the doctrines of Augustus Compte. Independent of the missionary school and of pulpit instruction, the common people of the towns have the meagre education of the Catholic church, and the reflective mind tends towards materialism.
In several places Protestant schools had been begun. In four places they already assumed significant character. Under the Southern Methodists in Rio and in Pericacaba; under the Southern Presbyterians in Campinas; under the Northern Presbyterians in SaO" Paulo. The Methodist school property at Rio is on a noble site, commanding the city and the harbor. The school was in its early beginnings, the prosperous school at Pericacaba having been established some years, but we expect to see at the capital an institution of wide influence as an outgrowth at no distant day. The Campinas school had attained a high order of excellence and had gathered numbers and older students in spite of the rival Compte institution in the same town. The Sao Paulo school was, however, the leading missionary institution. Beginning as a little school for the missionaries' children, it had grown into a system of Kindergarten-Prjmary, Intermediate and Grammar departments-with a class for instruction in teaching and an advanced class ready for collegiate or theological education. There were 244 pupils present in the main hall on the day we were there. The number has since in- creased to about 400, the accessions again outgrowing the walls. The buildings adjoining the church should be at once assigned to one or two departments, and new apartments sought elsewhere for the other classes. The young men's dormitory, on the edge of the town, was an attractive building of yellow brick, one story in height, with dwelling-rooms for the Director. It stands on an elevated site, overlooking the city, and has ample grounds for a" future college. The teaching force, composed chiefly of intelligent ladies, Southern and Northern, under the excellent guidance of Dr.
H. M. Lane, was of high order. In our company we brought to them a New England teacher to take charge of a normal class of teachers.
Education had here advanced up to the line of the college system. The Sao Paulo school was ready at that time to present seven or eight, and the Campinas school five or six students for a" freshman class, as soon as a curriculum and the first professors could be provided. The opportunity is ripe for the completion of the educational system. Superior Protestant education would at once command wide attention. Its high morality would appeal to the deepest desires of parents who have fared ill under the Romish training. This highest complement of the system should be at once expressed in a college which should develop into a genuine university.
Roman Catholic education is unequal to the crisis. It is insufficient for the mind and morals of the masses. So long as the leading minds of the nation are under Catholic education, the people will not rise to high moral and religious convictions. The alliance of Protestant principles with professional edncation will at once give external and internal support to true Christian life. The State needs Protestant principles in its conception and administration. Such an education is the speediest way to produce the ministry which Brazil needs. The existence of a body of learned men at such a high institution is a constant educational force through all grades of political and domestic society and through all ranks of instructors.
Teachers of an elevated common school system, educated Christian fathers and mothers, communities which shall demand a" higher popular education for both girls and boys, leading Protestant minds in common society, in common commercial and in common agricultural life, educated church officers, native ministers to fill the countless opportunities, Christian men in the professions, leaders in the State Chambers in the new chambers of the Nation-these are within the speedy reach of such an institution. Next to the proclamation of the gospel-this is for Brazil the all-important thing. An opportunity for so broad a work, so world-wide an influence, is seldom presented to the Protestant Church.
HOW SHALL MOHAMMEDANS BE EVANGELIZED
HOW SHALL MOHAMMEDANS BE EVANGELIZED. [We are not at liberty to give the name of the writer of this article. Sui- nce to say, that it is from the pen of one who has lived forty years in the Turk- ish empire and is thoroughly conversant with the subject. Like the masterly paper we gave in the August number (1889), on "Islam and 9hristian Missions," it merits careful reading.-J. M. S.] This article does not discuss the general subject of Mohammedan- ism, giving an abstract of its tenets; nor does it propose to give a history of its progress and a statement of its present extent and power; nor does it compare this religion with Christianity, presenting the similarities and the contrasts between the two religions. It aims simply to treat of the best mode of presenting the gospel to Moslems, so that it may meet with their acceptl!-nce-treating the subject in view of the obstacles which hinder the success of the gospel in the Turkish empire. Is the inquiry presumptuous ?-The fact is not ignored that some persons regard this subject as not properly one of human discussion and inquiry. They say that the opening of the Mohammedan world to the gospel is a work so entirely dependent upon divine interposi- tion.and Almighty power, that it is presumption on our part to spec- ulate and plan, or do otherwise than" stand still and see the salva- tion of God." They say that it becomes us to acknowledge that the evangelization of Moslems in the Turkish empire is a sheer impossibility to human endeavor, that God has purposed it, and in his own time will indicate the means to be used for its accomplishment, as he did when the Egyptian bondage was to be broken and Canaan possessed; that we now stand before a closed door wl!-itingfor the providence of .God to open it, and that such an inquiry as this is as uncalled for and ill-timed as if J oahua had presented a paper on the best mode of delivering Israel at the time when they were hemmed in by the Red Sea and Pharaoh's ~rmy, or as if Eleazar had prepared a similar paper on the speediest mode of reducing Jericho before God had revealed anything about the blowing of the ra~'s horn and the seven times encompassing the city. They say, and they say this truly, that when the allotted period of 430 years was passed and the iniquity of the Amorites was full, all the walled cities of Canaan were powerless to resist the Israelites, and not before; that when the 70 years of the Babylonish captivity were fulfilled, heathen kings were inspired of God to further the return of the Jewish captives; that "in the fullness of time" Christ came; that forty days after his ascension the wonders of Pentecost were revealed; and so, when the Holy Spirit moves upon the darkness and bigotry of Mohammedanism then will begin the dawn of a new creation for its followers, for the decree still stands in regard to all the religious movements of the world: they are to be accomplished" not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." But, while we reverently acknowledge the divine decrees and pa- tiently wait for their unfolding, we should never fall back upon them as an excuse for our supineness.
Is the inquiry skeptical.j>-Braving the charge of presumption in proposing this inquiry, we expose ourselves to the charge of skepti- cism. Weare asked, Has it not been revealed from heaven that the gospel is the divinely-appointed remedy for the whole race of man? Has not the command been given us, "Go, preach my gospel," trust- ing to the power of the Spirit to make that preaching effectual to the evangelization of all men without exception, whether Jews, Moham- medans or heathen? And is not the raising of this question with reference to the evangelization of this one class an implication that the divinely-appointed remedy is inadequate to the peculiar difficul- ties of this case, and that it must be supplemented by means which human wisdom must devise; that the naked sword of the Spirit is in- sufficient to pierce the armor of this Goliath? Are we not preparing ourselves for a rebuke from our ~Iaster, similar to that which those nine disciples received from him when, having received from him a commission and power to cast out evil spirits, they failed in the case of the child in Cesarea Philippi and learned the cause: "Because of your unbelief, you could not cast him out?"
Or, at the least, we are told that there is, in instituting such an inquiry, a reflection on former and present laborers in behalf of the Moslems, and on the agencies used by them, and an ignoring of these long, faithful and prayerful efforts, and an assumption that the want of success which has attended these labors was a consequence of their having overlooked or neglected measures which they ought to have discovered and used, of which we are now on the track and ,repared soon to reveal.
If there is seeming ground for this objection, the writer of this article would hasten to disclaim all disposition to ignore the zeal and activity of these laborers, or to imply that they had shown a want of wisdom or courage, and that their efforts had been failures; or to counsel the abandoning of their plans and the adoption of others. On the contrary, he recommends the gathering up the results of their experience, the marking of their footprints for future guidance, and the imitation of their faithfulness.
The peculiar difficulties in the case.-That there are peculiar difficulties attending the efforts to evangelize Mohammedans everywhere, and that these difficulties are aggravated in the Turkish empire, is conceded by all. A cursory survey of these difficulties is a necessary preparation for surmounting them, as a knowledge of an enemy's defences is of prime importance to the general who intends to break through by assault.
1. The first of these difficulties is that of finding means of accesS' to Mohammedans, in order to teach them the gospel. Rarely do they {lome to our churches to hear our preaching. They do not visit us in our houses nor invite us to visit them. We have hardly any oppor- tunities for contact with them, so as to be able to explain our religion to them, and to urge them to accept it. The constitution of Moham- medan homes, with thejealousy and seclusion of the harems, creates a serious bar to the evangelization of the Mohammedans. The leaven has no access to the lump in order to leaven it. The salt cannot reach that which it is desired should be preserved by it. The patient knows not the remedy, therefore cannot apply it, to feel its power. Places of business in the daytime, and coffee-houses in the evening, where all listen to a story or a poem, are not favorable places for relig- ions discussions, and yet there are few other places for meeting Mos- lems.
2. A second obstacle to their evangelization is their pride and arrogance of opinion. They consider themselves the favorites of heaven, the depositaries of the truth, the elect, true believers, saved. They despise Christians, and couple their names with those of the lowest animals. This pride, this feeling of superiority, this lofty dis- dain, is an effective obstacle to their being influenced by Christian teachers. It increases their contempt of Christianity, that it is the religion of those whom they have been accustomed to regard as their subjects-their slaves. Shall the conquerors adopt the religion of the {lonquered? Shall they bow down to that. which they were commissioned of God to root out and destroy?
3. A third obstacle is the strength of the fortress 'Which Mohammedanism occupies. Heathenism has no such defences. The natives of Borneo, Java and Sumatra, while they are yet heathen, are far more easily reached by the gospel than after they become Moslems. This is the case also with the heathen of Central Africa. One reason of this is that there is so much of truth mingled with error in this religion-truth derived from God's own word. As the Moslems have taken possession of some of the fairest Christian churches and made them mosques, so they have stolen some of the most sacred'truths of Christianity and used them as buttresses to their fortress of error.
Another strong bulwark of this delusion is its harmony with the self-righteousness of the human heart. It offers a salvation by works, which it is possible for man to perform, such as prayers, fasting, pilgrimages, ablutions and alms-giving; and the performance of these acts gives the Moslem an assured title to Paradise.
This religion is stron~ again with sensual man, in that it allows and sanctions immorality and licentiousness, which Christianity forbids. It allows a man to act like a beast, and to account himself, at the same time, a saint. It lets him indulge his lusts without a bridle. and think that he has a special license from heaven for so doing and an illustrious example of such conduct in the person of his prophet. Being thus strong, it surrenders few captives to Christianity from its own ranks, and it gains many captives from heathenism, and holds them with a firm grasp.
4. Political complications give Mohammedanism greater power to oppose Christianity in the Turkish empire. The religion of Moham- med is the State religion. Defence of the faith of Islam is regarded as essential to the integrity of the empire. To sustain the tottering throne of the sultan, religious fanaticism has been invoked and fos- tered; during the last few years schools for teaching the Koran have been multiplied in all parts of the land; even among the Bedouin tribes have apostles of the revived faith been sent; new mosques have been built and old mosques repaired, and praying places opened, where religious devotees may shout the name of Allah till they become voiceless and nerveless with their frenzied effort. Bigotry and patriotism have become synonymous terms. And, since Moslems only are drafted into the army, the government dreads that they should become Christians, lest they should found thereupon a claim from exemption from military service. Moreover, they fear that such conversions may be made by foreign powers a pretext for their interference in the affairs of the empire, and a ground for demanding new concessions and national dismemberments.
5. Another obstacle is the fact that in the Turkish empire at this time the death penalty hangs over every Moslem who becomes a Chris- .tian.
The Koran authorizes this. Religious liberty is a doctrine inconsistent with the spirit of Islam. It is almost certain that a Mohammedan who professes faith in Christ must leave the country, ifhe can,or be impressed into the army, or be arrested and imprisoned on false pretences, and all traces of him be speedily lost. This terror, so imminent, hinders Moslems from indulging any disposition to examine carefully the Christian religion and to balance properly the claims in its favor. To be known to be an attendant upon the religious services of Christians subjects a Moslem at once to a warning from the heads of the sect; and if he perseveres, he soon feels the weight of their power to compel him to separate himself from such associations. As long as civil power remains in the hands of :Mohammedan rulers, it is difficult to see how it can be otherwise than it is now. If the sultan should declare that every Moslem was free to adopt what religion he chose, he would be regarded as a traitor and an infidel, and be in danger of deposition and. assassination.
While the pope was king of Rome he repressed Protestantism with an iron hand; and while Abd-il-Hamid or any other Moslem holds sway in Western Asia, we must expect that he will do all in his power to prevent his Moslem subjects from becoming Christians. From the very nature of things, the religion propagated by the sword must be sustained by the sword; the same means which were employed to make disciples will be used to keep disciples. The death penalty incurred by Moslems renouncing their religion stands as a. powerful obstacle to hinder their evangelization.
6. Moslems have imbibed a prejudice against Christianity from the false reprel!entations of its character and its effect as given in the worship and conduct of nominal Ohristians, with whom they live. As the superstitions and idolatrous worship of these Christians brought the wrath of God upon them centuries ago, and caused him to deliver them over to their Mohammedan conquerors, so their clinging to their errors has kept them under the yoke of their oppressors, and they have during all these centuries been bearing false witness against the holy doctrine which they profess, and making their conquerors hate, scorn and detest a religion so idolatrous in form and bringing forth such fruit of unholy lives and conversation. Can we blame men for rejecting Christianity when it has been so misrepresented and profaned by the so-called Christians of the East?
7. Another obstacle exists in the misconception by the Moslems of the cardinal truths of Ohristianity, without opportunity being sought or found to correct those misapprehensions. They totally misunderstand what we mean by calling God "our Father," and Christ "the Son of God," being misled by hearing Mary called by Christians "the mother of God." They misunderstand the doctrine of the Trinity, thinking that we worship three gods, and they miss entirely what we mean by calling God "a Spirit," thinking that we thus rank him with angels and souls of men, which ar~ spirits. They have been taught. always that the Scriptures, though originally from the hand of God, have been changed and corrupted by Christians, into whose hands they have fallen, and therefore these holy writings have no power over' them. Apostate Syrian Christians, educated in Protestant schools, taught foreign languages in order that they might be more efficient helpers in evangelizing their countrymen, have gleaned among infidel books in England, France and Germany to find every objection that has ever been raised against Christianity, no matter how absurd or how many thousand times refuted, and hav;e translated the accumulated mass of objections into the languages of the East, and published them as the u:iJ.challenged and irrefutable proofs that the Scriptures of the, Christians have been corrupted on every page, and that Christianity itself is an imposture. Let anyone who would see proof of this statement read the book" Izhar-il-Hok," prepared by Fares Shidiak, once an employee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and a translator of the New Testament into Arabic, under their direction, now a devoted adherent and strong ally of Mohammedanism in Constantinople,. and a bitter foe to Christianity, in whose folds he was born. 8. Another obstacle is that there is no liberty ofthe press in Western .Asia, nor lioerty of public iliscussion, by which the fallacies of Mohammedanism migh! be exposed and the slanders against Christianity refuted. Islamism enters the lists, free, untrammeled, permitted to strike as hard and as foul a blow as it will, while Christianity stands manacled, not allowed to raise a finger even to ward off a blow. Customhouse officers and public censors watch jealously to prevent foreign importations of books exposing J'Iohammedan errors; a printing press which printed a word against Mohammed and his religion would instantly be stopped; and if the missionaries braved all personal risks and denounced openly in their pulpits the prophet of Mecca, not only would they fail to reach Mohammedans with their message, but speedily their churches would be closed, and all other work done by them in the land would be stopped.
I will only hint at other obstacles, such as the indifference of many native Protestants of the East in this work, their want of faith and of zeal and of prayer in its behalf, while they have facilities vastly exceeding those which foreigners possess of reaching the minds and the hearts of their countrymen of a different creed; and again, that so many Protestant officials, representing Christian nations, men of the highest positions in civil life and in the army, should ignore their faith and their convictions and their customs when among Moslems, and for political reasons pay the most profound respect to their superstitions and their vain worship.
Has Christianity any allies ?-Leaving a further consideration of these difficulties, let us inquire if Christianity has any allies in this contest upon which she can rely. The answer is yes, and the most prominent of these are three: 1. The first of these allies is the progress of human thought. As surely as the fervid sun and the warm tides of the temperate zone melt the icebergs drifting down from the frozen North, so surely will this relic of the seventh century feel the influence of the second and third decade of centuries, and grow powerless before them. Mohammedanism represents the feebler intelligence and narrower range of thought of the world twelve centuries ago. It cannot adapt itself to the advance of the world in knowledge, like Christianity, which indeed leads the van of all human progress; but being of human origin, the product of a mind which could not look beyond the horizon of the age in which it was born and the region of its birth, it is out of sympathy with the present current of ideas and contradictory to the later teachings of science. Every new discovery is a protest against the errors imbedded in Mohammedanism. All advances in science expose the fallacies of that system, and prepare its followers to perceive these and make the necessary deductions from them as to its earthly origin. 2. The second of these allies is the human soul awa/Cened to a consdousness of wants which Mohammedanism fails to meet, and which Ohristianity meets fully. When man. awakes, as he must sooner or later, to the consciousness that he is a sinner and that his own self-righteousness will not suffice to justify him before God, then he looks in vain into the Koran to learn of a mediator and an aton- ing sacrifice and an effectual intercessor. Mohammedanism knows nothing of a "Father in heaven" to comfort the soul in its hours of loneliness and sorrow. It knows nothing of the Holy Spirit to change the heart and aid it in overcoming sin and temptation. But Christi- anity meeting these and other wants of the soul, for which Moham- medanism has no help, possesses in man's soul itself a powerful witness to its divine origin.
3. The third auxiliary is that course of divine providence which is weakening the political power of Islamism over the peoples and count?·~es now held in its grasp. The dismemberment of the Turkish empire is preparing the way, in its gradual progress, for the triumph of Christianity. The frequent conversion of Mohammedans in India, where English rule prevents the death penalty from being visited upon the converts, and in Egypt, where partial religious liberty now exists, show what we have reason to expect in Turkey when there is free2-om of inquiry, freedom of· discussion, freedom of the press and pulpit, freedom of profe~sion of faith in Christ.
To these elements of hope might be added the fact that there is much buried seed in Turkey of past labors, of Bible truth which has been sown-and what God has sown shall not return to Him void- so many unanswered prayers for Moslems yet in the golden censer.
The next question to be considered is: What agencies have proved most successful hitherto in commending Ohristianity to Moslems, and what may still be accounted the most hopeful means to be used in seeking their evangelization? .
1. The first and foremost of these is. the circulation of the Word of God. Bibles can enter homes whence preachers are excluded.
Bibles can be read where there is no fear of jealous witnesses and cl:uel betrayers. The Holy Spirit can apply that word with resistless power to the conscience and heart.' There is no doubt that immense good has been done by this agency alone, and that many Moslem men and women thus taught have lived and died, clinging to Christ and His cI:oss for salvation, of whom we have no record. We have cer- tain testimony of some who have been savingly enlightened by this means alone. Let us not despair of our influence in evangelizing Moslems while this agency is left to us. Let us rejoice in the oppor- tunity of circulating the Word of God with so few restrictions. Let us rejoice in possessing the Scriptures in the languages of Moham- medan peoples, and particularly in their sacred tongue, the Arabic, and in vowelled form, fitted to compare so favorably with the form in which the Koran is possessed by them. Let us use all available efforts to place the -Bible in the hands of Moslems, and to induce them to read it. Let us show ever in our conversation with them our assurance of its divine origin and our certainty of its being 'un- corrupted, and our belief in its saving power. Let us multiply colporteurs, wherever we can, to circulate and explain the word of light and life.
2. A second means, justified most amply by experience, is the edu- cation of Moslem children and youth of both sexes in our common schools, higher schools, boarding schools and colleges, and giving them both scientific and religious instruction. All science refutes in some form Mohammedan teaching. The schools which have been ()pened iu Turkey by American and English Christians, and in a lesser degree by Germaps, have brought in a flood of light which has been crowdin'g back into narrower confines the ancient night of Mos- lem delusion. School teachers are the sappers and miners who are undermining this gigantic fortress of error. Moslems perceive this, and hence their new zeal for opening schools of their own to coun- teract Christian schools, and hence that wonder of wonders, that Mohammedans should open schools to teach girls to read. It is to be regretted that so few Moslem youth attend our institution,s of learning. We should double our efforts to pring them in and to re- tain our hold upon them. While the children are yet young they carry home and teach to their parents by means of the hymns which they have learned to sing, and the verses of Scripture they have been taught to repeat, lessons which we could not otherwise introduce into those homes, and which may be the means of making the parents wise unto salvation, while these children themselves, sooner or later in life, may find their way to the gate of heaven by means of what they have learned in these schools. Boarding schools for Moslem girls have been wonderfully blest as means of good. May they be sustained as they deserve, and may they be multiplied!
3. Bible 'Women can do immense good by visiting Moslem harems, teaching the women to read, and reading the Bible to them. Some most interesting cases of hopeful conversions have occurred in connection with such labors. Women are thus' reached by the gospel who would otherwise never have heard it. There is less jealousy of female laborers thau of men. Where suitable Bible women can be found there is large encouragement for their employment.
4. Another object to be striven after is the cultivation of the acquaintance of Mohammedans. If we meet their coldness with coldness and their seclusiou with a corresponding non-intercourse, when can we expect that the barriers between us will be broken down? Personal influence, the world over, is the strongest influence. Men will not listen profitably to teachers who have not their confidence. Conviction is a matter of the heart as well as of the reason. A word from a friend influences more than a hundred words from a stranger. Difficult of acquisition as this way of influence may seem, yet it should not be slighted. If it is set before us as an end to be reached~ it can be compassed. On their fast days some rooms of Moslem houses are open. We can show an interest in their joys and sorrows" attend their weddings and their fuuerals, invite them to join literary coteries. When once an acquaintance is formed with a few Moslems it is easy to extend it by their means. Neither should the wives of missionaries limit their acquaintance to the poorest class of Moslem women, whom they teach to sew and to whom they give charity, but should cultivate the society of the better classes, and seek to gain an influence over these, doubly secluded as they are and wholly debarred from learning of Christ. Lady teachers in female seminaries have rare opportunities of making such acquaintances by visiting the mothers of their Moslem pupils. As matters now stand, women have better opportunities than men in evangelizing Moslems. In the nine- teenth century crusade women can have the honor of planting the ,standard of the cross where men are powerless, and this will not be the first time that the softest hand has proved the strongest.
5. Another important point is that those who expect to influence Mohammedans should make their religious belief a study / they should know what the Koran teaches, its truths and its errors; they shollld study also the commentaries upon it, and they should do this not second-hand, through translations and comments by foreigners, bllt should be acquainted with native modes of thought' and expression. Moslem literature, secular and religiolls, its philosophy, history, poetry and books of proverbs, which are now almost a terra incognita to scholars in other branches of science, should be carefully studied by those who hope to benefit them. Without such a knowledge we can no more hope to prevail over Mohammedans in discussion than Indians with bows and arrows could cope with Europeans armed with rifles.
6. Medical 'Work, and especially hospital 'Work, affords rare vantage ground for evangelical teaching of Moslems. A doctor among them is a privileged character. His life is safe where others would be in peril. He can enter within doors barred to others. His words carry weight which 'another man's do not. He meets men under the most favorable circumstances to influence them for good, when their hearts are made tender by sickness 01' bereavement, and when the nearness of another world makes the conscience alert and the soul susceptible to religious impression. The gentlfl ministries of Christian men and women in hospitals have, again and again, softened the hearts of bigoted Moslems, and the daily listening to the name of .Jesus and receiving care and healing in his name, have prepared them to accept the Christian's faith and Saviour.
From the agencies thus enumerated, as sanctioned by experience, it is plain that indirect, unobstrusive, unostentatious efforts are those upon which most reliance must be placed in this stage of the work.
An organized, avowed, aggressive mission to the Mohammedans, which proclaimed its designs and its results, would defeat itself and imperil those it sought to benefit. While the servants of the church are faithfully using all the means in their power to find an entrance for the gospel, the church must be content to allow the kingdom of God to come in Turkey without human observation, and to accept it that God's spiritual work here should move on as silently as the great processes of nature.
The vast importance of the theme.-In concluding this paper it is worthy of being set forth in words, although it is doubtless already the burden of the thoughts of many hearts, that the evangelization of the Mohammedans is a theme of great importance; it should be the subject of our careful consideration, strong faith and earnest prayers. It deserves to be made prominent as the subject of united, special, importunate and persevering prayer.
The vast number of the Mohammedans makes a strong appeal to our interest in their behalf, they constituting at least one-tenth, and perhaps one-eighth, of the human race. Their influence in the world commends them to our notice. That influence is not negative, like that of the Brahmins, and of the followers of Confucius, but positive, aggressive and visibly effective and ascendant in some parts of the world, and destructive always; but, if turned into right channels, promising to be as conducive to the triumph of the Lord as it now is influential to hinder it. They need the gospel as much as others to enable them to bear the woes of life and to light them through the dark valley. The gospel is as well adapted to their needs as to those of others. The commission, " Go teach all nations," extends to them. The success which has attended labors for them in individual cases shows that no impassable barriers lie in the way of their enlightenment and conversion.
The difficulties in the way of reaching them do not relieve us of the responsibility of laboring in their behalf. The dangers which may threaten us should not make us hesitate. It would be hard to prove that the difficulties and dangers attendant upon preaching the gospel to Mohammedans now in the Turkish empire are greater than those which faced the apostles and martyrs and early teachers of Christianity in the Roman empire in the first three centuries of the history of the Christian church. They preached to proud Romans, as well as to bigoted Jews and sensual Greeks, in spite of threatenings, scourgings, stonings, imprisonments and cruel deaths, and as a result pagan Rome was Christianized. So, with like faith and prayer and courage and perseverance and effort, in due season, and it may be after a hard struggle, the gospel will a second time triumph on its old battleground where its first victories were won; exiled Christianity will return to the home of its birth, the Bible will supplant the Koran, the prophet of Nazareth will t::tke the place of the prophet of Mecca in the heart of Moslems, the Son of God the place of the son of Abdullah, to the glory of God and the salvation of immortal sEmIs.
~S8 THE DRUID CELTS
THE DRUID CELTS-THE EARLY MISSIONARY RACE OF WESTERN EUROPE.
BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK•• The first wave of Aryan migration into Northern Europe was that of the Celts. They were the first column in that grand westward march which has wrought the highest civilizations. and filled the world with great achievements. In France they were first known to the Romans as Galli or Gauls. In Britain as Cimbri, or, more generic- ally, Britons.
But there were successive waves of migration: In the fourth cen- tury, B. C., one of these broke over the Alps and made a victorious entry into the city of Rome. In the year 279, B. C., another horde of Celts entered Macedonia, Thessaly and Greece, but were repulsed in the gorges of Delphi, whence passing through Thrace and turning eastward, they crossed the Hellesponte into Asia Minor. But having been conquered by the armies of Augustus, 25, B. C., they were con- fined thenceforth to the province that bore their name-Galatia. It was these brave adventurers whom nearly a century later Paul found it difficult to bring under the curbs and restraints of the gospel of peace, and to whom he found it necessary to write a very plain and outspoken epistle. And yet we get the impression even from Paul that they were a manly race.
During the Punic wars of Rome, large bodies of the Celts or Galli were found aiding the Carthagenians, and on many a well-contested field the Roman legions found them worthy of their arms. These alliances prompted R~me to crush their power, if possible, on their own soil, and Julius Cresar, with the Greek colony of Marsailes as a base of operations, began that series of resistless invasions which pursued the Celts over the whole area of France, and even to the British Isles. During fourteen years of conquests he is said to have sacrificed two millions of men. He respected his foes, however, and at last even cultivated their friendship; for in his further ambitious schemes he led the brave Gauls under his standards even to the gates of Rome.
The conquest of the Britons was a more difficult and protracted undertaking. The tribes who took their stand in the mouutains of Wales and of Scotland, as well as the inhabitants of Ireland, were never conquered by their Roman invaders, and on more than one occasion these vigorous mountaineers pressed upon the Roman colonies so fiercely as almost to extirpate their power in Britain. They seem to have been reserved for a great purpose. "Their forefathers," says McClear, "had formed the vanguard of the western portion of the great Aryan migration; they were to form the vanguard of the missionary history of Europe. While the Roman world was more and more decaying, and the great Teutonic movement was as yet in its infancy, they were destined to train and send forth some of the earliest and bravest pioneers of Christian missions in Switzerland and Germany."
Before entering upon the study of the Christian conquest of Britain, first by the Romans and at a later day by missionaries from Iona, one should first understand, if possible, the ancient religion of these brave and stalwart tribes. Enthusiastic writers have not hesi- tated to declare that the religion of the Celtic priesthood, known as Druidism, was the primitive religion of mankind. Discounting, how- ever, this extreme statement, it is enough to say that the faith of the Druids could not have been the faith of a savage race, for never has uninspired man attained to nobler conceptions of his own being or his relations to Deity than some of those which were taught by the Druids. Hume, the historian, declared that" no religion has ever swayed the minds of man like the Druidic," and in Cresar's Commen- taries are found brief references which show his profound respect for the faith of the vanquished Celts. "The Druids," he says, "make the immortality of the soul the basis of all their teaching, holding it to be the principal incentive and reasoll for a virtuous life." Again, in the fifth book: "The Druids discuss many things concerning the stars and their evolutions, the magnitude of the globe and its various divisions, the nature of the universe, and the energy and power of the immortal gods." Again in the same book: "The Druids teach that in no other way than by ransoming man's life by the life of man is reconciliation with the divine justice of the immortal gods possible."
It is easy to see that abuses of this last strong doctrine may have led the Druids to justify human sacrifice, of which in fact they were guilty; but we certainly have here presented, on the testimony of a Roman warrior and historian, some of the grandest conceptions of religious truth that have ever been assigned to any people. And in the last clause quoted, many have found what they believed to be an enunciation of that great principle of vicarious atonement which underlies the Christian faith.
The proverbs of the Druids, which are generally found in triads, are indicative of very noble qualities of race. Thus:" Three duties of every man-Worship God, be just to all, die for your country." How much nobler is this than the vaunted Buddhist triad: "Trust in the Buddha, trust in the Law, trust in the Sangha" (of Monks). It would be almost Christian if it had in it the element of love, for, like Christianity, it begins with the supreme claims of God, and is at leastjust to one's neighbor as to himself, and it adds the most exalted patriotism that a man can cherish. Yet its falls far short of the Christlike spirit, which loves all men even better than self, and is ready to spend and be spent in their service. Here is another terse triad: "Three things came into being at the same moment-light, man, and moral choice." Another: "There are three men whom all should love-he that loves the face of his mother nature, he that loves rational works of art, he that looks lovingly on the faces of little children." Again:" Three things only God can do-endure the eternities of infinity, participate in all being without changing, re- new everything without annihilating it." Another: "The three necessary essentials of God-infinite in himself, finite to the finite, co-unity with every mode of existence in happiness." These are noble utterances, one and all. How clear and just is the discrimina- tion which makes God infinite in Himself, and yet finite to the finite. Unlike many a heathen religion, this exalts God to infinitude; unlike many a cold philosopy, it brings him down to our finiteness, and recognizes the necessity for a Goa with us. 'l'hese triads set forth a the sublime responsibility of moral choice in man, and yet the ten- der grace that looks lovingly on the faces of little children. In word, the faith of the Druids differed entirely from the dark pessim- isms of the cotemporary philosophies of India and Egypt. It was a bright and hopeful system. "Three things," says still another triad, "decrease continually-darkness, evil, and death. Three things increase continually-light, truth, and life. These will finally prevail over all, then probation will end." 'l'his idea of the gradual and eternal progress of man and of the universe, stands apart from the teachings of most heathen systems.
A summary of the doctrines held by the Druids may be given as follows: There is one supreme God, and His nature is spiritual and invisible. The universe is pervaded by Him as His body, and He rules it as the human mind rules the human body. To human apprehension, though not in Himself, he appears in a triple aspect in relation to the past, the present and the future; the Oreator as to the past, the Saviour or Preserver as to the present, the Recreator as to the future. In the Recreator the idea of destroyer was also involved. This trinity strangely corresponds to the Hindu Trimurti, in which Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Siva both destroyer and renovator. Of the Druid trinity the names were Belis, Taran, and Esu or J esu, and when Ohristianity was proclaimed in Britain, J esu was retained, and it is still retained as the name of the second person of the Ohristian Trinity.
The Druids held that man was created at once in his full strength, and that all matter was both created and arranged in the order of the universe in one and the same act. Nature is the action of God through matter. There is no such thing as the annihilation of matter. Every particle is capable of passing through all possible forms, and every form has its own laws of existence and action. They also believed that there had been a fall of once pure and happy beings into sin and condemnation, and that it was brought about by an attempt on their part to rival God in sustaining and governing the universe. In so doing they brought themselves to the lowest degree of unmiti- gated evil (annwn). For the redemption of these fallen beings God granted a period of probation (abred). By this means, after a long disciplinary course, they might again attain to the lost purity and happiness (gwynfyd).
The essence of the soul, according to Druidism, is the will, and the essence of religion is willinghood. The first essential of manhood, as distinguished from the nature of beasts, is the ·power of free choice. No other system of belief has ever more fully emphasized man's freedom and responsibility. Every man, ere he can be immovably settled in the bliss of heaven, must have passed through every experience of good and evil. Memory of evil endured is the only safeguard against yielding to temptation. Heaven then cannot be a place hedged against wrong. In an intense and sublime degree it is character reinforced by the remembrance of all evil suffered and mastered.
With the Druids the life hereafter was to be one of eternal progress and growth. No such conception as that of future rest occurred to them. Suffering might be willingly endured, either for one's own good or for that of another. In the one case it might expiate his own sin, and this, accompanied by confession, might absolve him. In the other case his suffering might atone for another's sin.
It cannot be successfully maintained that Druidism was free from polytheistic tendencies. At least, subordinate gods were regarded with something akin to worship. But the above outlines are sufficient to show that the Druidic faith was at once the product, the expression, and the perpetual source of great moral power. No wonder that the Celtic race produeed such characters as those of the exiled Caractacus, or the sublime heroism of a Boadacea. And it is not strange that the armies of Rome found it well nigh impossible to conquer Britain, and, in fact, never did conquer her remoter tribes.
Weare told that about five centuries before the Christian era the civil laws of the Druids were codified by Dunwal Moelmud, and that since that time they have remained the common unwritten or native laws of the island, as distinguished from the Roman, the Canon, and other codes of foreign introduction. "These Druidic laws," says Rev. R. W. Morgan, "have always been justly regarded as the foundation and bulwark of British liberties," and he refers to the testimony of Sir John Fortesque and of Coke, to that effect.* So, far from savagery, the Druids were possessed of a high degree of civilization. They studied science with a truly religious fervor, since the laws of nature were regarded as the modes of divine activity. Theya-re said to have supported sixty colleges, and the * St. Paul in Britain, p. 64. •1.umber of students from Britain and from Gaul sometimes rose to sixty thousand. These institutions were generally located in the, fortified capitals of the tribes known as Caers, Castras, and finally,. Chesters. Very many of the old names still remain, as Doncaster,. Leicester and Winchester. The pride of learning in these institutions was very great. The only prophets recognized were those who had penetrated all nature's laws. Only the highest social classes were eligible to the Druid order, and each applicant must prove his descent from nine successive generations of free forefathers. In the Druid order centered all knowledge, human and divine. They were the hierarchy and the parliament. They never bore arms. Expulsion from the order rendered the culprit an outcast, whom none might. fellowship or assist or pity.
The conversion of the Britons to .Christianity was facilitated by two favoring influences. The first was the fact that their own system of belief had so many high and noble elements in common with the religion of the Bible. They claimed identity as to the unity of God, in three manifestations, of whom "Jesu "was one. They recognized also the principle of vicarious expiation for sin, and the doctrine of repentance and confession. Like the Christian doctrines, their creed_ emphasized the freedom and responsibility of the human will and the moral influence of discipline, as a blessing in the government or God. Said Taliesin, a Druid bard, with some exaggeration: "Christ" the Word from the beginning, was from the beginning our teacher, and we never lost His teaching. Christianity was a new thing in Asia, but there never was a time when the Druids of Britain held. not His doctrines."
The second special influence which opened the hearts of Britons, to the gospel was a fellow feeling with the Christians under the cruer wrongs of the Roman power. The Christian church was persecuted,. and Druidism soon shared its trials. It became so evident that the_ strong religious faith of the Celts was the real secret of their invincible bravery, that orders were given to the commanders of the legions to extirpate Druidism at all cost. Thus by a common sympathy ilL suffering were the hearts of the Druids opened to the gospel. The family of the royal exile, Caractacus, became prominent among. the Christians of Rome. Many memorable names, like that of Pelagius, appeared in the history of the British churches.
In our common habit of lauding the Anglo Saxon, have we not, unduly overlooked the Celtic element in the civilization and moral power of Britain? From the Picts of Scotland, and the brave and hardy sons of Wales, who even yet speak the original tongue of the Britolls,and the secluded Irish, whom Patrick won to the truth, we~ trace very many of those early influences which have leavened the ooaracter of the nation. That enthusiastic youth, who, from having
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES
been a captive and a swineherd, became, in the fifth century, A. D., the apostle of Ireland, belonged to this Celtic race. Before the con- quests of Saxon and Dane, which waged a war of extermination against Roman and Briton alike, he had established Christianity in Ireland. From Ireland a refluent tide of Christian influence returned to Wales. In both countries monasteries sprang up, which were really missionary trai~ing schools. Northward to Iona this monastic enthusiasm spread. Thence, men of heroic faith and endurance carried the gospel to Scotland and to N orthumbria. From the Ban- . gors of Ireland and Wales missionaries passed into Burgundy, Switzer- land, Germany, and even Italy. It was an evangelical faith which they proclaimed. Patrick had studied with Martin of Tours, who, sur- rounded by Celtic monks of Gaul, had followed the culture of Poly- carp rather than that of the Popes. It was an age of moral earnest- ness, and the faith of Britain was exceptionally free from the hair- splitting doctrinal speculations which prevailed in the East. It was free from ecclesiastical ambition and intrigue; from the accumulations of human traditions; from the worship of pictures, im'hges and relics. .
Religion was the great interest of life. Mo,nastic devotion and missionary effort, far and near, were considered nobler and more desirable than money getting, or fame, or earthly pleasure. It was then that the foundations were laid for the political and religious liberty and power of Western Europe.
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
-The following from the Macedonier is a fair specime,n of what" secular instruction" means when carried out logically. The writer is speaking of Dutch Government schools in the East Indies: " This was the first fault (the denationalization of young teachers), but the second was not lessgrave. It was the principle of neutrality. 'There might not be any religion ill the Government schools!' This measure roused an unnecessary aversion in the parents towards the Government schools. Among a population where but one church was known, the name of God or of Jesus might not be named; nay, even proverbs, like that of Solomon, ' Go to the ant, thou sluggard,' were objected to as injurious because they stood in the Bible." Are we going to yield to Antichrist in that fashion?
-The same writer, after remarking that the Government schools do not deserve to be called people's schools, inasmuch as for the great majority of the youth who are not looking for Government appointments, the little knowledge they give is of a kind to spoil them for their actual life, pronounces the missionary schools to be true people's schools, because (1) They use, as a rule, the vernacular tongue, although in the Minahassa (the northern arm of Celebes) they still use the Malay too much. (2) They keep in view, in their instruction, the development of the understanding and the forming of the heart agreeably to the stage of development on which the popUlation stands, and the occupation and course of life which lie before by far the greater proportion of the school-going youth. (3) They limit themselves to giving instruction in read- ing, writing, ciphering, geography and singing. Point 2 is, in the writer's judgment, of great importance. His conclusion is that the East Indies require, not the Government school, but the free, subsidized private school.
-The following from the Dansk Missionsblad gives an impression of how, where there is still a zeal for Hinduism, the gospel is weakening its defences in more cultivated Ininds, and how fierce a reaction of heathen bigotry is still possible even against Hindus, whose greater enlightment compels them to make certain concessions to Christianity: " As we were returning from church, we came by a great company of people that had flocked around a speaker, who, with enthusiastic words, was extolling the excellence of Hinduism at the expense of Christianity. My companion knew the speaker, a young Hindu from Madras, who had seized on this festal occasion to make an essay to strengthen the tottering thrones of his gods. We stopped and listened; and our native preacher having undertaken to answer him with somewhat dubious success, Herman Jensen entered the circle. He extended his hand to the abashed Hindu, and kindly inquired after his health, which for an instant stayed the flow of his eloquence and drew the hearers' attention. Jensen availed himself of this moment, and, without entering upon the interrupted discussion as to the trustworthiness of the Bible, he began to speak to the people of' Him who is not far from anyone of us.' . . • Having ended, he at once took leave, that the impression left might not be effaced by aimless disputes. We afterwards learned that some of the crowd had begun to make sport of the Christians and their religion, but were checked by the young Hindu, who reminded them that although as Hindus they were antjl.gonistsof Christianity, yet they could not refuse it their respect, as it was in reality a good religion. At the same time he let fall a hint that the Hindu zeal to drag their gods about the streets was of doubtful value.
"The next day we heard that the young Hindu had been obliged to leave the town early in the morning. For as soon !,S it became known in Tricalore that he had permitted Herman Jensen to speak, and had even expressed himself favorably as to Christianity, no one in the whole town would sell him rice or anything else. The Brahmins in particular began to assume so threatening a demeanor toward him that he judged it prudent to leave Tricalore as quickly as possible."
-Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land, the German part of New Guinea, the northeastern part of this great island, is about ten times as large as the kingdom of Wurtemberg, but has only about one-twentieth as large a population. We are glad to see that the German Company which controls it forbid the importation of either spirits or gunpowder. The people are not, like many Papuans, cannibals. They are of strict morals, and of a reasonable disposition. The Inissionaries say: "If only they would wash themselves now and then !"
-'fhe Missions-Blatt of the Moravian brethren for JanuarY,1890, opens with the words: "Thy Kingdom come. Praying thus we enter upon the New Year. We utter it with universal Christendom over the broad earth. But above.all it should be the watchword for the missionary church of the Unitas Fratrum. The Kingdom of the Lord our God, as yet invisible in its .full depth, power and glory, by us as yet uncomprehended, but in faith apprehended as the Kingdom gained by the conflict unto blood and death, of the Son of God, wrested from the devil and formed by the communion of the redeemed, ought in this year also to gain ground afresh and to make a victorious advance. There should be assured to it victory upon victory, as well among ourselves as also abroad, in the far distance where light and darkness are wrestling together, or where the yet unbroken darkness rests in thick masses upon the nations. This is the tenor of our prayer. And if we pray thus believingly and confidently, with a 'heart full of love for this kingdom, into which we know ourselves to have been translated, then we all labor together for the coming of the same, then are its victories also our victories, then something of the glory of the Kingdom is likewise reflected into our own life, and purifies our faithfulness, our labor, our patience, so that they put on some value in the eyes of its King." -The Moravian brethren remark that the past year has been marked by liberal gifts for their modest but model missions. In a peculiar sense, what- ever is given to the Brethren's Church is given to the Church universal, and has, therefore, a double value, immediate and exemplary. In 1889 the extra outlays of 1887 were fully covered. And large giving soon showed itself, as commonly, to be the parent of larger giving. For the church at Dornburg, Surinam, costing more than 20,000 marks, the costs are assured. 6,500 marks have been paid and subscribed for opening a work in the island of Trinidad. .a Mr. McNiece, in Ireland, has left the Moravian Church the equivalent of 115,000 marks for their missions in Africa and .asia. Mrs. Disney Robinson having given in 1888 the sum of 20,000 marks, and 20,000 marks in 1889, has bequeathed 40,000 marks.
" But with the chords of thanksgiving and joy there mingles also a subdued strain of sadness in looking over the past year. We trust it does not lessen gratitude, but in a measure it troubles joy. It has pleased the Lord to, visit our missionary brethren and sisters the past year in a very extraordinary degree with sickness. This has occasioned many withdrawals from the service, and has diminished the strength of many who remain. It has also made it necessary to decline many overtures of service. Finally, this year has seen a, larger number called to the heavenly home than many others. Five brethren and sisters have been called away out of a fruithful activity-five in Surinam alone.
" In the past year a special consecration was imparted to our missionary' work by the meeting in Herrnhut of the General Synod of the Brethrens' Unity. In this the missionary work of our church, in all its aspects, was thoroughly tested, unfolded and weighed. And this was done with so comprehensive an interest, and with so hearty an affection, that we were thereby mightily strengthened and filled with the consciousness that we were acting in the commission not only of an important but also of a praying missionary church, and could take up our work afresh in the refreshment of such a. consciousness.
"Thus, then, may the Lord go with us into the new year, and His blessing accompany all we do! May His spirit rule without in the field, as well as at. home in the church. May He build up His kingdom in our midst, and, through us, ever wider and wider out into lands remote! The experiences that we may have gathered in the past year, painful as well as consoling, all this should firmly conjoin itself for us'into piers and arches of a bridge, on which Hope shall advance, boldly and securely, from time unto eternity. To the Lord, the victorious king of his kingdom, be glory and praise and honor, .amen!"
-The Brethren's missionaries in the little Mosquito State complain that the Catholic State of Nicaragua is constantly nibbling at the eastern boundary, and, unless restrained by England and America, the guaranteeing powers, bids fair to devour it altogether. The two governments ought to be stirred up to look into the matter.
-The Berlin Missionary Society gives its present statistics as follows: In South Africa, 6 superintendencies, 47 stations, 83 out-stations, 143 preaching places, 53 ordained missionaries, 4 candidates for ordination, 6 colonial brethren, 93 paid and 323 unpaid colored assistants, 20,000' baptized Christians now living, 8,000 deceased, and 3,500 scholars. In China, 4 ordained European missionaries, 2 European candidates for ordination, 28 native helpers, 4 of them ordained, 9 stations, 7 out-stations, 23 preaching places, 736 baptized Ch..istians, living in 135 localities, and 116 scholars. In tbe Mission house in Berlin there are some 25 or 30 pupils under training (after the Continental metbod) for work abroad. The almost entire talk of University men is a deep drawback in Continental Protestant Missions.
The Society, now 66 years old, is assisted by 300 auxiliary associations. -Director Wangemann says, with considerable humor, that the effectiveness of the system of auxiliaries is by some set much too high. " My dear friend, Professor Flash, once remarked, that the Director of Berlin I. (for there is another Berlin Society) has a good position; he sits like a telegraph director before 300 wires, at whose ends are to be found 300 auxiliaries. He only needs to press on the buttons, and movement ensues in the whole system. Now, whether a Berlin Misfionary Director has ever been in this happy situation or not, I do not know; but, as concerns myself, I h~ve never enjoyed it, and even less to-day than when I took up my office 26 years ago. I may press on the buttons as much as I will, the great majority give no answer whatever. Some wires are rusted; some quite broken asunder; the system as a whole no longer works. For years, 60, 70, perhaps 90 answers, has been all that my pressing on the',00 buttons has brought to pass, and of these more than half not at all thorou:,;lly entering into my questions." So it seems that even German thqroughness has its provoking limitations in the missionary cause.
– " As Paul, with good right, was honored with the title of ' Apostle of the Gentile~,' so our time, above others, is the period of the world·mission, whose business it is to be thoroughly in earnest with the commission of the King of the kingdom of heaven: 'Go ye into all the world,' , Make all nations my disciples.' But in this great mission field the Supreme Missionary Direc· tion has distinctly designated certain fields of labor, above other8, as those whichju8t now need our especial faithfulness and energy, for the very reason that here more than elsewhere' a great door and effectual, offerinli:' abundant fruit, is opened unto us, and there are many adversaries.' As in a hattie a wise general sends the main reinforcement to those points where the crisis is imminent, and the enemy most vigorously unfolds his force, so ahro in the combat for the world's conquest, which missions have to wage, the most decisive and energetically assailed points must be occupied with the most numerous and the best troops. The greatness of the duty, which the present opening of the world imposes on Christain missions, has an almost bewildering effect, and involves the danger of an inauspicious scattering of forces. It often misleads Christians to an unreasonably rapid succession of new enterprises, not seldom at the cost of such elder fields of labor as afford fruit already ripe for the harvest. The opening of new doors should certainly not be left unregarded, but be an incitement to multiply our exertions; but they ought neither to afford nourishment to a certain missionary romanticism, which is only intent on 'either seeing or hearing some new thing,' nor to infringe on due fidelity towards elder fields, nor to come in conflict with the wisdom which demands the fullest outlay of strength where, at a particular juncture, the opportunity is most distinctly given by God for wide·reaching decisiveness of result." -Dr. Warneek in Allgemeine Missions·ZeitBchri/t, January, 1890.
-" The great missionary decisions do not, in the first instance, impend in the newly·dis· covered regions, especially of Central Africa; but in older fields, where access to human throngs is conjoined with an entrance of the gospel message into human hearts, and the enemy is organizing a resistance to the gospel. There, as in Madagascar, in India, in Japan, where the situation already draws near to a final issue, the missionary forces should receive the greatest possible concentration."-Ibidem.
-" We can but lament that so many in our day account as insufficient the only means that is given to Christian missionaries, namely, the Gospel, and, therefore, meditate how they may rel!der it effective by additions of their own devising. Their unbelief arises out of the just observation, that the missionary with the Gospel has to attack, not only an individual, but a world that, in its manifold political, social, ethical, religious relations, is fortified against the truth. For this the Word appears to have too isolated an operation. But the Word finds not only one individual, but then a second and a third; there arises a Christian community, which is the legitimate means of warfare against the heathen community. The greater this community becomes, so much the greater is the capital with which missions work. Every mission· ary society which founds a second station, which has a fiourishing neighbor-mission, experiences that the first helps to bear up the second, the neighbor to support its own work. It appears to me that this source of efficiency is at present overlooked, when in Africa so many entrenched camps are broken up, and the war almost wholil. carried on by skirmishes. Especially is this a tactical mistake in a land where one has to do Wlth Islam, which works by its compact masses; in a land that intelleCtually, morally, religiously, is so little prepared for Christianity as Africa, where all the spiritual capital, all the instruments with which we labor, for instance, in most places the very alphabet, have first to be created. What is natural, appears also here to be reasonable. Why should one carryon the war some hundreds of miles away from the nearest of our country's troops, and not rather advance shoulder to shoulder into a stronglyfortified enemy's land."-F. M. Zahn in Allgemeine Zeit8chrijt, January, 1890.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
n.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions.
The organization of the Student academic students; 200 (4.%) grammar Volunteer Movement is not perfect as and common school students; 500 yet; nor are its methods infallible in (10%) who are not students, and 500 aim, however its representatives are (10.%) who are out of school on account united, for they are striving in single of health or lack of means. Besides hearted endeavor to evangelize the these, about 275 (5~ Yo) have completed world in this generation. And be- their course of study (125 of whom are cause they are honestly and earnestly not likely to go), while neady 250 (5%) and prayerfully striving to enfolce have departed to their foreign work.
our Master's last command, they wel- About 250 (5.%) have renounced their come, and most gladly, criticism from decision; and 50 (1.%) have been re- friends-criticism in the broad signifi- jected on account of ill health and cation of that much abused term. other reasons.
Now and then statements like the In the following estimate the same following reach us, and because these persons are considered with reference statements are typical of criticisms to the time required to complete their which come from various quarters, we courses of study which they have laid give this sample: "We have heard out: The number who have completed of some thousands of students in our education and gone. to their work, colleges 'pledged to foreign missions,' about 250; number who have finished but, somehow, they do not material- their education and are still in this ize. We would be willing to hear less country, about 150; that expect to com- about their enthusiastic pledges if we plete studies in 1890, 400; about 550 might see more proof of the enthusi- will complete their studies each year asm." Lookers on think it a little for the next four years; while 1200 will strange that out of so large a number have more than four years of study be- {)f volunteers so few appear to be fore them. About 500 are uncertain as ready to embark in the work. An ex- to time required to finish, on account of amination of the latest statistics very health and means. To complete total recently compiled will show results of 5,000, there must be added 50 who encouraging to all who are anxious have been rejected by the Boards, and for the extension of Christ's kingdom, 250 who have reversed their decision.
and will reveal some of the reasons There are between 90 and 100 mis- why even a greater number of volun- sion boards organized in colleges' for teers have not already sailed for for- promulgating the missionary spirit in eign shores. their respective localities; but volun- The American Board sent out last teers are reported from 300 insti- year 52 missionaries, the largest num- tutions. There has been pledged for ber for any year in over half a century, the support of missionaries through and has as many more.applications on the influence of the movement: by nle. This Board has sent out 30 vol- colleges, $19,450; seminaries $9,850; unteers in the last three years. churches, $13,000; miscellaneous Dod- Five thousand persons have signed ies, $3,400. These figures include the pledge. single contributions and permanent The most accurate estimate gives annual pledges, but omit all work the numbers and proportions of the done in 1890, and much done previous- volunteers in the various grades of ly and not reported.
educational institutions as follows: Mr. John N. Forman will be remem- 1750 (35.%) college students; 125 (21 Yo) bered as the person who was associa- medical students; 450 (9%) theological ted with Mr. Robert P. Wilder at the stUdents; 650 (13%) preparatory and date of the inception of the movement, in 1886. Mr. Formanis now in In another part of the REVlEw* may India, and is supported by the students of Princeton college. He writes from be found an appeal from the Kolhapur Datia, Central India: Mission for 16 new workers. It will " Datia Is a city of 28,()()() souls, a fine specimen of an eastern city, surrounded by a strong be remembered that the founder of wall which is pierced by five gates and three 'windows.' The people are independent, with this magazine, the Rev. R. G. Wilder, a king of their own, who is responsible to the English government." established this mission, and that his Since Mr. Forman's arrival at Datia wife and daughter, Miss Grace E.
he has been endeavoring to establish Wilder, are carrying on the work an independent native church, and he there now. has adopted, in a measure, the mode of living of the natives. He does not There are at present only 18 work- yet feel convinced that this latter plan el'S in Kolhapur. How needy the is altogether wise; but of two points he is convinced: first, no man should field is will be seen by examining the live in this country without a com- apportionment of workers to other panion; and second, it is not best to countries. Mexico has a population work among natives as poor men. of 10,OOO,OOO–two and one half times "We certainly must have," he writes, "all that Is necessary to health and efficient service, that to be reached by the Kolhapur and must not go in for asceticism. The preaching is sometimes quiet, and sometimes stormy. missionaries. Mexico has 48 ordained our Evening before last a young man came, intent missionaries, 44 lay missionaries, and on breaking up preaching. He tlrst tried 43 female missio!J.aries. Total, 135. to get me into an argument, but finding that would not work he talked away, pretty loud, If Kolhapur wen to have an equal to those about, and at the same time another man preached to another part of the audience. proportion, it shoull be furnished with I had to preach pretty loud to make myself heard, even by a small part of the audience, 54 missionaries. Japan has 15G orfor, in addition to my two rivals, there was all the ordinary noise of a public square.". . . dained missionaries, 161 lay, 113 fe- male, and 14 medical. Total, 443. If Kolhapur were to have as many in proportion, she should be equipped with 48. Even" in dark, benighted"
Africa, there are proportionately more missionaries at work than in Kolha- pur. MAX WOOD MOORHEAD.
* See page 456.-EDs.
Aftlca.-The British Missions Zambesi for navigation was being- and the Portuguese. On Livingstone's sounded, and a new and direct com- return to England in 1856, after 16 munication from the sea discovered. years of self-inflicted banishment in The Shire was then unknown to Por- the heart of the "Lost Continent," he tuguese voyagers except in its lower said: " I have opened the door, and I reaches and near the Zambesi. Dr. leave it with you to see that no one Livingstone and Sir John Kirk traced closes it after me." This door was not it to the Falls; proceeding on foot be- to be shut, either by the murderous yond them to Lake Shire, until their' Arab or the Portuguese filibuster. discovery of Nyassa. On this explor- Thirty-two years ago a well equipped ation Dr. Livingstone had proof that expedition was placed by the English the Portuguese encouraged slavery. government at the disposal of living- stone to extend geographical knowl- Next in chronological order came edge, and to assist the people in land the Universities' Mission. Livingstone cultivation and production of raw ma- chose a site for it which had many terial, for which the latter might be natural advantages. At this point exchanged for English manufactures. gang after gang of miserable slaves By this form of legitimate trade the were met, being led away to Portu- terrible slave traffic might be mitigat- guese settlements. Native villages. ed. Concurrently, the capacity of the likewise were commonly fired. At Chi- bisas a colony was formed, which had. continued to grow, and which to-day al experience, Portugal had all but was claimed as a birthright by Portu- strangled the life out of commerce, and gal. During the intervening 32 years the soul out of freedom; while on the Livingstone's old friends and servants East, the story was one and the same." had been peacefullysettled, save under The personal experience of Captain attacks from the Angoni and Machin- Lugard and Commander Cameron ga tribes. The Universities' Miss!on should not be forgotten. It was W. in Nyassaland had cost £43,000. In H. Stanley who wro~, in 1856: "If 1874 it was followed by the mission of you deliver these people into the hands the Free Church of Scotland, stationed of the Portuguese, the past as well as on the shores of Lake Nyassa, or the the present teaches you what to ex- Lake of the Stars. Its missionaries pect. You deliver them body and had explored the country surrounding soul into slavery." Effectively, it had Nyassa, attached the natives, and as- been said by the Rev. Dr. Symington, certained the natural resources. A an acknowledged authority on Af- sum of £50,000 had been expended on rica's regeneration, "that the only this powerful and successful enter- thing which can give any right in the prise, for whose enlargement four new highest sense to go in and occupy the missionaries had just gone out. The soil of Africa, is an honest, open desire Church of Scotland beginning in 1875 to restore to the' natives the first birth- at Blantyre, its retained headquarters right of mankind, their personal free- had enjoyed much prosperity. Blan- dom, and then to bring them into re- tyre lay equi-distant from the lake lations with our knowledge and our northward and the southerly Chibisas. commerce, which shall make them On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, sharers of our privileges."-Our En- 420 miles long, the London Missionary glish Correspondent. Society's gallant workers had battled against the combined forces of heath- -German Protestant Missionaries enism and slave rading. The African on the Cameroons River -The noble Lakes Company, formed in 1878, to achievements of the Baptist Missiondevelop the resources of this region, ary Society in the Cameroons district, i.e., Nyassa, and to act as carriers for with which the name of the Rev.'Althe mission stations, had been a large fred Saker is imperishably associated, and prosperous undertaking, with have not failed to receive admirable twelve trading depots and a capital devotion from the German Mission of £170,000. Stringently prohibiting since the territories were ceded to Gerany commerce with the liquor traffic, many. Eight European missionaries it has introduced' new sources of are engaged in the German Colony of wealth into the country. Throughits the Cameroons. For the training of expansion and the presence of other teachers and catechists, a small school Scotch traders, a British Consnl had was founded at Bethel, in January, been appointed. Until about five 1889. On its roll are the names of years ago Portugal had done nothing nine pupils. Native assistants have for the advance of scientific explor- also been appointed, partly in connecation. Her tracks along the lower tion with the mission work, and likeand upper banks of the Zambesi were wise to give independent courses of marked by slave marauding and an- instruction. The Mission in the Protagonism to the enlightenment and tectorate is making progress. Bethel, civilization of the natives. the main station, serves as the centre for other stations further up and down Mr. James Irvine, of Liverpool, to the Cameroons River, some of which whom the writer is indebted for some were taken over from the English of the foregoing details, said, that "on Baptists. South of Bell Town stands the West coast, he knew from person- the lately founded settlement of the Christians in Tokoto village. The pull down th!J teacher's house raised by the Baptists at Banjongo and re- -chapel here is utilized as a school. At build it at Bwea. To effect the Chris- tianization of these native cannibals, Hickory, on the right bank, the old the Baptist Society sacrificed a few heroic lives and expended over a sum Baptist mission house is being rebuilt, of £100,000 in holding forth the word of life upwards of forty years. Pray where one or two European mission- for their consecrated German mission- ary successors!-Our English Correaries will soon be stationed. The old spondent.
school-house has been repaired and – A Pathetic Story. The Free Church of Scotland has just issued a fitted up as a chapel. Towards the tract treating of 300 captured slave children in their Nyassa Mission. For overhauling, the little community of five years past the mission at the north end of Lake Nyassa has been seriously 27 souls, all counted, contributed about threatened by the man-stealing Arabs. These surround a village at early dawn 100 francs. In several villages, as far and fire into the houses, and ~hen the terrified men rush for their lives as Bakundu, on the Upper Mungo, the they are shot down, and the women and children captured. This is no mission undertakes both teaching and new tale. In this case the Arabs ~ent south to these villages with the bark preaching. rope made ready for their captives, to a village seven or eight days' journey At the end of 1888 the number of from Bwana, and there sold their cap- tives for powder. A second band atnative converts in the Protectorate tacked the village of Kapiyira, thirty miles south of Karonga, shooting down was registered at 160, not including the men as usual and capturing the women and children. These were 88 persons who were receiving instruc- surprised by some Christian natives, when every Arab bolted. The women tion with a view to baptism. The they had captured, being bound, could not escape. Six women and children number of children under the influ- had still the ropes on their necks. One little girl in the fight had received a ence of the mission is estimated at 300. bullet wound in the back of the head. One poor, old, helpless woman was led The Bille Missionary Society accepted into the stockade with the gore (slave stick) still on her neck, who had been the mission at Christmas, 1886, and of found by some Wankonde in the woods, and was brought to us. Her the 12 missionaries employed, four story was very sad. She was one of the women stolen lately, and was, have died. To fill the vacancies three with five other women and five chil- dren, put into the slave-sticks. By more will shortly depart for the Guinea night the end of the sticks-young trees, indeed-were tied to the roofs coast. . of the houses; but by day they were allowed to crawl about the verandas The Mission has advanced from Vic- toria, on the Ambas Bay, to the moun- tains peopled by the Bakwiri tribe.
In attempting the conquest inland, a native Christian was sent as a teacher to Banjongo, and the missionaries, Scholten and Aulenrieth,went to Ober- Bwea, a place some two thousand five hundred metres above the level of the sea. On this site they were permitted to stay, after lengthy nego- tiations with the chief and his pe~ple.
A hut was next purchased and re- moved to a suitable locality. The missionaries stripped a delightful hil- lock of its trees, and then laid an un- derstructure on which the hut was erected. Here the teacher lives, and Bwea is a mission station with a promising spiritual outlook. The neighborhood, which is healthy and populous, is weIl adapted for the cru- sade. Already a Iargerhouse is need- ed, and, in the absence of building materials, and the difficulty of their .transport, the missionaries propose to of the houses, always dragging the Among these is Lieut. Stairs' account tree behind. The morning of her es- of an attempt and failure, in June cape she crawled outside the village last, to reach the snow – crowned gate and got into ihe grass. Soon a summit of Ruwenzori, which Mr. cry was raised, and although they Stanley claims to be the ancient searched everywhere, and even set fire " Mountains of the Moon." The to the grass, she eluded their inhuman Lieutenant, after reaching a height of vigilance and got off, being only ten thousand feet, found his progress slightly scorched. All day and all arrested by three deep ravines, on the night she crawled along on hands and farthest side of which tlie nearest knees, and in the morning was found peak rose to an additional height of by the Wankonde in the woods. six thousand feet. Beyond this were other peaks rising still higher, and to Dr. Cross has a school composed of an altitude of at least eighteen thouchildren that have been thus rescued. sand feet! While there were many Three hundred of tbem are enrolled on indications of life within the ten his books; 250 have been present at thousand feet passed over by Lieut. one . time. There are six classes, Stairs, there were no evidences that taught under six giant trees. The this upper region was the regular Sabbath meeting is sometimes very habitat of animals. The lower mounlargely attended, 600 to 1,000 people at tain sides were overgrown with bamtimes being present, the whole serv- boos, above which.was found a dense ice being in the Ikimwamba dialect. growth of heaths, some of which rose The little scholars are of the Wankonde to· a height of twenty feet. The villages, the children the Arabs fought whole Ruwenzori range is evidently for and longed to enslave. They are one of extinct volcanoes. Of course, ~very one naked and helpless. But even with a registry of sixty degrees what touches us tenderly is that these by the thermometer, t;he night spent "naked, helpless" African children, on the mountain-side was felt to be instead of being in the slave pens of uncomfortably cold. Mr. Stanley rethe cruel slave hunters, are in Dr. ports that the debris brought from Cross' stockade, and all sing most these mountains, by the Semliki river, .sweetly: is rapidly filling the southern end of Lake Albert Nyanza. The lower eight .. Ut&ndeke Yesu wangu thousand feet of these mountain- Pilika UD~. sides were found inhabit;Qd by a people who had retreated up them before Wangi ukubiIikiIa hostile invaders, and who assumed Ut&ndeke we." the retreating business so promptly before Lieut. Stairs and his party as This is the first verse of "Pass me to quite escape their observation. not, 0 gentle Saviour." It is a very touching cry from helpless ones in the The discovery of this great mounheart of Africa, and the mute a,ppeal tain-the Mont Blanc of Africa-is hut of the prayer is to us as well as to the one of the geograpical results of this great Father of us all. expedition. Other discoveries solve perplexing questions in African geog- J. T. GRACEY, D.D. raphy. The real discoverer of the Congo has now discovered a source of -Ascent of Ruwenzori in Africa. the Nile in Lake Albert, and the Any attempt to detail to the public water-parting between those two the important results of Stanley's last rivers. From the Yambusa country African expedition must prove very to the Albert Nyanza, and thence inadequate until some map-maker onward to Msalalala, he discloses what gives to the public a full map of the vast regions traversed by the explorer. And yet some things that will prove interesting, without the aid of a new map, may be said just now. is really a new country, gives to the surface, we find that the mischief world its_physical features, and more under which we, Hindus, at present.
accurate information than it has ever labor is owing chiefly to the influence had before about the tribes of people of Christianity, brought steadily and who inhabit it.-The Evangelist. constantly to bear on our national China.-From Wei-Hien, China, mind for nearly a century and a half.
comes the intelligence that an Ameri- Raja Ram Mohun Roy, of happymem- can missionary lady, Mrs. Mateer, ory, felt its influence with the deepest who had been engaged in famine concern, so far back as 1821, and did relief work, had the high honor all he could to check its progress.
lately shown her of being taken Since his time, it is to be regretted, no through the city by an escort of literary Bengali gentleman (with one or two· men of high degree. They presented honorable exceptions) have done so her with a beautiful banner and much as to send a serious thought.
other tokens of esteem, and their escort after this matter, which is of such was a very brilliant one. Such honor vital importance to our Society.
shown to a woman, and a foreign " The result of this national apathy woman, too, and by China's proudest is, as might be expected, that the men! This was a marvelous spectacle, countless Christian missions at work in and it evidences how men who are this country, especially in Bengal, are hardest of all to reach and influence in a fair way of achieving their object, in any other way, may be moved to not so much, however, by carrying'
admiration and esteem by deeds of conviction to our hearts about the su- charity and mercy and loving personal periority of their religion as by slowly service to the unfortunate and the and imperceptibly changing our ideas.
suffering. Mrs. Mateer said that with regard to our moral, social, and while she was being thus honored, she domestic life. The unflagging energy tried to observe a fitting humility, and the systematic efforts with which as she remembered times when she these bodies are working at the foun- had suffered quite different treat- dation of our Society, will, unless coun- ment at the hands of the prejudiced teracted in time, surely cause a mighty and unfriendly literati and gentry of collapse of it at no distant date. Any China. family man who lives in town will, on India.-An Extraordinary Pamph- examining his household, discover un- let. We find in the Ohronicle of the mistakable evidence of the absence of London Society an extended quotation that domestic simplicity and spiritual from a pamphlet entitled, "Are We integrity that marked the ways of our Really Awake,! An Appeal to the Hin- women only a decade or two back."
du Oommunity," which has been re- The appeal proceeds to speak of the cently published in Calcutta. Vve can entrance of Bible-women into the give but part of the appeal here. It homes of the Hindus, and of the mis- is significant in many ways as showing sion schools to which the children are the attitude of the Hindus in the midst sent without hesitation, because there of the influences which are brought to are no Hindu schools for them, and it bear upon them. If those people who affirms that unless ihey arouse them- are asserting that missions are a fail- selves speedily to guard against the in- ure would candidly read this statement sidious progress of Christianity their of the Hindus themselves, they would society" will surely be turned topsy- find how wide of the truth are their turvy in a few generations hence." As assertions. The appeal says: a result of this appeal some Bengali " The life-blood of our Society is fast gentlemen established two or three ebbing away, and irreligion is eating schools close to the schools of the Lon- into its vitals. Looking beneath the don Society, but no appreciable difference was seen in the attendance at the in all Jewish learning, and one who latter.-Missionary Herald. will very soon qualify himself to be a JewS.-Free Church of Scotland valuable laborer in the ~ion field, MissIOns. There are many and striking indications that that" day of for which he has already discovered visitation" has at length begun to aptitude, and to which his whole soul dawn. Within the last twenty-five years there has been a remarkable tends. His baptism has produced a change in the attitude of the Jew towards Christ, and in various parts very deep and widespread impression. of the Jewish field we hear of a singular openness to listen to and consider The way has been opened up for the the great facts and truths of the gospel. The conversion and testi- permanent extension of the Sea of mony and work of Joseph Rabinowitz in South Russia, and of Rabbi lich- Galilee Mission to Safed, the traditenstein in Hungary, have produced a profound impression, and may be tional "city set on a hill " of Matthew taken as the forerunners of what is coming. The Jewish missions of our v: 14. The town contains about own Church are occupying an important . place in this interesting 15,000 Jews and 5,000 Moslems, and movement. Our mission schools are doing a great work in the way of vigorous operations-medical mission, leavening the young and impressible Jewish mind and heart with Christian and, it is hoped, educational-will be knowledge and sentiment. It is preparatory work, but we believe in begun among these this season. We sowing, and can wait for the harvest. Already the first fruits are being welcome this opening hopefully and gathered in, some of them rich and beautiful in no 'ordinary degree. joyfully. It cannot but stir the heart The school work has been resumed of the Church. to think of carrying on for the Winter at Budapest, Constantinople, and Tiberias with undiminished the work of healing and evangelizing numbers and with unabated zeal and hopefulness on the part of our devoted among those of His own nation, on teachers. At these three stations the Medical lIission continues in vigorous the very spot where our Lord carried operation. Every door may be said to be open, and in the case of the on His personal ministry in the days thousands of patients treated at the dispensary or visited in their homes, of His flesh, where He taught the our missionaries are not mere physicians, but avowedly preachers of people and wrought so many of His Christ. This arm of the service is growing in power from day to day. deeds of mercy. The first of the mis- From Breslau Mr. Edward has just sionaries' houses at Tiberias is nearly reported the baptism of a young Jew, to which he attaches unusual import- ready for being roofed in. Dr. Moody ance. He speaks of this young convert, who was preparing to be a Stuart writes regarding this: "It Jewish rabbi, as thoroughly at home brightens all our hopes to know that in. the great goodness of the God of Israel we have now taken a permanent position in the land of Israel."
Portugal.-Under the well- known initials of R. N. C., the Rock offers the following note of warning with regard to the claims of Portugal, which is well worth the consideration of all who wish to form a just judg- ment in the matter.
The subjectseems at the first glance, to be far removed from that of Chris- tian missions, but when we examine it closely we tip-d that these two are intimately connected, and it is as well that this should be understood: If the claims of Portugal are admitted the Protestant missions will be hampered or totally extinguished. Behind Portu gal is a greater power-the Church of Rome-and the reason why this little inert State is put forward to arrest the progress of civilization is because it is felt that wherever British influence prevails, there is toleration, and mis- sions of all denominations have a free hand. In the Mission Catholiques,
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
published weekly at Lyons, in France, It is, therefore, expedient that the no secret is made that Cardinal Lavi- religious organs, especially those gerie ha.tmade arrangements with the which look ypon Christian missions as King of Portugal to occupy what he one of the chief duties of a Christian, is good enough to call the Portuguese Provinces of the Shire and Nyassa. to support the present Government in The Romish missionaries would be the bold front which they have prearmed with power and privileges, sented to the ridiculous Portuguese partly from Rome, partly from Lisbon. claims. For three hundred years they We should hear of principal chiefs be- had the field open to them, and had ing received, like Mwangaof Uganda, they annexed the whole of South into the Church of Rome, and the door Africa from Mozambique on the east closed to the commercial activity and to Angola on the west, no one could have called out; but it is an admitted missionary enthusiasm of Great Brit- fact that Livingstone discovered Nyain. The crafty Cardinal knows well assa Lake and the River Shire, and all enough that under British rule or pro- that remains of the Portuguese mediretectorate no let or hindrance will be val power is but a dream. made to his missioJ:Y3. but he requires not toleration, but exclusion of the We have long thought that the osapostles of error, as he calls Protest- tentatious anti-slavery demonstrations ants. It may be taken as an axiom of Cardinal Lavigerie had but one obthat when a Romish Cardinal preaches ject-the advancement of the Romish an anti-slavery crusade, or asserts the church. At the same time we most rights of a weak and effete monarchy earnestly hope that the war spirit and nation like the Portuguese, he has may be kept under, and that the misbut one object, the advancement of the sionaries whose work is threatened Roman Catholic religion by force or fraud, by violence or chicanery, or, if may put their trust neither in this necessary, by bloodshed. government nor that, but only in the living God, who rules and overrules in the affairs of men.
I1I.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Ohins.. a revision of the Tien·tsin treaty with Great Britain, so as to exclude the legalized importa- GOD AND THE OPIUM TRAFFIC. tion of opium into China, may be embraced, signed by about 750 foreign missionaries, 1,200 [The following letter from an native pastors, evangelists, etc., and 5,000 American missionary at Shanghai, other Christians in India, as well as a goodly and the Petition of the Christian number in England and America, along with a Churches at China, we are sure will similar memorial from Scotland containing get an attentive reading and incite to nearly,7,000 signatures. Another object is to earnest prayer that the dreadful see and hear what we may on the spot, and curse to which it relates may be supply the religious newspaper press of Great abated, and in due time removed. Britain and elsewhere with some new and While the petition is addressed to the additional material for arousing the Christian Christian churches of England, the churches and people on the subject of the churches of America are 'not innocent opium curse-which we doubt not the Lord is in the matter, as the letter of our cor- going very soon to overthrow. respondent and missionary will show. The facts to which he alludes have The accompanying is an address, with its faded from the public mind, but they translation, from the Chinese Christians of are none the less true, and are written Canton to their brethren in Great Britain, but in God's book of remembrance.-:J. it has occurred to me, since visiting that M. S.] ancient and populous city, that it would serve a good purpose in stimulating Christians in As ambassadors of Christ, with the burden my own land, who, as well as our English of the Lord upon us, my friend, Mr. A. S. cousins, have a duty to perform in putting Dyer, of the Bombay Guardian, and myself down this iniquitous traffic; for though the left Bombay, on the 3d ultimo, on a special United States, in the final treaty with China, mission to China. The object of the mission wiped their hands of it, they have not yet is to present to the Court of Pekinga memorial, entirely wiped out the stain of their former praying that tbe opportunity now afforded for complicity with it. Because, as I have found on the spot, it was not merely the American eagle swooping down over the field, ready to pounce upon the prey as soon as the paw of the British lion might strike it down, and thus craft deteriorates, business suffers and time is reaping the fruits of the two unrighteous squandered. There is no worse evil than this, opium wars, but rather an actual participation and its curse appears again-in the gradual of American vessels, with their officers and destruction of the industries and trade of the others, in the nefarions work of smuggling country. the contraband drug into China up to the time of those wars. Our people originally are comparatively strong and healthy, but when once they At least, it is our dnty to unite in prayer to acquire the opium habit they become mere God to pnt a stop now to the wicked traffic, weak skeletons and can neither eat nor sleep and to avert the cnrse which is coming home with comfort. This physical deterioration to us in the shape of opium dens in America, is transmitted to their children and grandnot only for the Chinese, but for our own children, and the curse of opium is seen in the countrymen. injury it inflicts upon the very life of the people. 'With this hope and prayer, I am sending copies of this address for publication in When a man has enough to eat and to wear America, trusting that Christians generally he observes the proper regulations and cusmay soon be able to rejoice together in the toms of society, but when once he takes to removal of this great barrier to the progress opium he loses all self-respect, and as money of the Gospel in this land. becomes each day harder to obtain, he resorts to dishonest, means to gain a livelihood and W. E. RoBBINS, becomesutterly debased; so the curse of opium Missionary to India. appears again' in destroying the character and Shanghai, Feb. 21, 1890. manners of the people. The Christian Chnrches of Canton respectfully address the Christian Churches of Eng· While these evils are preying upon the land: people of China, the.obstacles they present to This year, when holding our Annual New Christian work are not a few. Your people Year's Meetings, we were 'favored with a come to preach the doctrines of the Gospel, visit from a Western Evangelist (Alfred S. which are indeed the truth, and your real Dyer), who told us how the Christians in India, desire is to lead many to believe; but those to the number of several thousand, had iP-l- who hear them say that opium and the Gospel proved the opportunity afforded this year, have come together from England, and the before the time fixed for t,he revision of the doubt arises and tinds expression in words Commercial treaty in reference to opium ex· that the Gospel is false. Your missionaries pires, to appeal to the Executive Council and come with the real desire to benetit the people, the Emperor of China to co-operate with your but those who see them maliciously declare Government in abolishing the opium traffic. that opium IOnd missionaries are alike English Having been told this, we were incited thereby productions, and they suspect the missionaries to prepare this letter, signed by representa- of secretly doing evil. Moreover, the Church tives of all our Churches, beseeching your oppns free schools, and although they are Churches, pastors and teachers to combine meant to benetit the youth, yet it is impossible your strength in devising some efficient means to stop the mouths of those who are not to remove this curse of opium. Years ago, taught, while opium remains unfprbidden. Mr. Turner, besides other good works, pre- The Church has opened hospitals; but, sented an appeal to your Parliament to pro- although they are saving men from disease, hibit the importation (by British merchants) it is impossible to iutluence the hearts of those of opium into China. who have not been healed while opium remains Although the object sought has not been unforbidden. Your Christians, with siqgleattained, the agitation of the matter should ness of heart, are zealous in many good not be -allowed to flag, for the calamities works, but while opium remains they are all which opium brings are numberless. like so much water poured out. Per~it us to set forth briefly a few of the .more conspicuous forms. It is said by some that the Ghinese are fond The introduction and sale of opium extends of opium, and the calamities they suffer are of to all the cities and villages of the land, the tbeir own making, and the English have noth- Chinese expending upon it more than $50,000.- ing to do with it. The New Testament says: 000 (about 10,000,000 pounds sterling) every "Have no fellowship with evil." Now, when year. By this means the rich are made poor, your Government plants and sells opium to and the poor led to sell their children, and its minister to the evil propensities of the curse appears in the dissipation of the wealth Chinese, you are partskers with them, and of the land. Scholars, agriculturists, artisans what can you say in excuse thereof? and merchants represent the constant and productive employments of the people. When An opportunity having now been provionce they acquire the opium habit they dentially afforded by our friends in India to become weak, inefficient and indolent in every renew the agitation of the matter in the department of labor; every form of handi- memorial they have presented to the throne of China for consultation and prohibition, our hope is that your Christians will, with one heart, exert themselves, without regard to time has come when as a .mission we must profit or loss, and be enabled to abolish opium, divest ourselves of this modesty and make that the Chinese may be released from this known, in part, at least, our desire and the yoke of bondage and the obstacles to the claims of the field committed to our charge. preaching of the Gospel be removed. Wehave Such is the object of this appeal. but litt.le strength, but night and day we pray the Lord above to reveal Himself, and help Our mission-field embraces a population of England and China to abolish this great evil. four million souls, contained in the native May this exceeding blessing come to us and to states of Kohlapur, SaugJi, Miraj, and parts of China. For this we reverently wait. other states in the Deccan and Rutnagiri col- lectorate in the Koukan. (Signed) LEUNG To, AN FUNG-SHI, YEUNG WING Cm. With our present staff of missionaries, in- In behalf of the London Mission (which has cluding ladies, we have only one worker to every 235,000 of the population. Three of the aoo native communicants). above missionaries are now in America for health, and two others will probably follow CHAU HOK-SHUE, MAK RANG NIN. within three months. This leaves us with an actual force of only one worker to 330,000 In behalf of the English Wesleyan Mission souls. (which has 700 native communicants). In Kohlapur state alone there are 1097 vil- U PIN-OM, WONG KWONG-FUK. lages, many of which have a population of several thousand. Preaching thrice daily In behalf of the Berlin Mission (wbich bas 350 in three different villages, it would take a native communicants). missionary a whole year to· proclaim the Gos- pel to the villages of that single state, to say FUNG, FuNG TaUN-TAK, CH'AN SUN-MAN. nothing of the thousands of villages within the bonnds of our field. Kohlapur City could In behalf of the Baptist Mission (which has easily occupy 12 more missionaries. Miraj, 470 native communicants). another city of 24,000, is without even a native resident worker, while two of our stations are KWANHIN-SHAlII, UEMUNG-LING Tao TAU-SHAN. now without missionaries, viz., Pauhala and Rutnagiri. The collectorate of Rutnagiri con- In behalf of the Presbyterian Mission (which tains a population of at least a million, and all has 600 native communicants). without a single missionary. Apportion one to every 50,000 souls, and this field would re- NG UEN-LI. quire twenty missionaries.
In behalf of the American Scandinavian In Miraj, Sangli, and adjoining states, we Mission (which has 10 native communicants). have 2,500,000 people, humanly speaking, de- pendent upon three missionary families for India. the .. Bread of Life." Within a ten-mile [We gladly give place to this earnest radius of SangJi there are 125 villages. Here and affecting appeal in behalf of this alone is work for six missionaries. Within the mission, first, because the mission limits of our field there are five large towns needs immediate reinforcement, and (capitals of native states), with a population the field is an inviting one; and, varying from 8,000 to 24,000 each, and all as second, because the appeal comes yet unoccupied by any missionary. from the mission in the establishing of which the founder of this REVIEW As to work among women, Eastern women spent the best years of his life, and must necessarily be reached in their individual whichhis widow and daughterarenow homes. The demands of school work are such rendering efficient aid in sustaining. that our present ladies give but a fraction of We recognize the appeal as coming their time to evangelistic work, so to say that from the pen of the devoted and ac- each could be responsible for a parish of 2,000 complished Miss Grace E. Wilder.- heathen women would be to give each a large J. M. S.] average. Provided we could work at this rate, we need now 1,000 lady workers to reach AN APPEAL FROM THE B:OHLAPUR MISSION. the women of our field. In Kohlapur state there are 1,000 girls attending Government Mission work in the Kohlapur field has been carried on for nearly forty years, and with a schools. Last year aoo passed the standard measure of success that certainly justifies its continuance and extension. Many years have examination. Eight are preparing to be been spent in arduous preparatory toil, the teachers. Probably not a dozen of these girls fruits of which can never be estimated by hu- own each a single Christian book. Is anyalaman reckoning. The little band of half a baster box of ointment too precious to be dozen missionaries and their devoted wives broken for the honor of our King and the salhave for years labored earnestly to plant the vation of these souls ? precious seed of the gOspel among these four millions of immortal souls. There is a crisis upon us now. At least twelve important towns should be occupied at once.. In their modesty, and the consideration of the urgent needs of other fields, they have never asked for more than a mere fraction of the required number of workers. But the Never before were all classes so accessible. soulsare passing into eternity every day; dy- We must seize this opportunity. Scores of ing without Christ and without hope! villages are wanting schools. The ouly native Biblewoman in Bangli was laid to rest recently, Who will come "to the help of the Lord and the heathen women are now asking, "Are against the mighty?" That this appeal may you not going to send some one to teach us ?" be a call to some who from their hearts will Such are the open doors. Shall we enter and respond, "Here am I, send me," and that it possess this land for Christ? Can we do it at may lead those who cannot Come personally the present rate ? to provide the support of a substitute, is the earnest prayer of every missionary of the To forsake our stations to occupy others, KoIhapur mission. would be to bring discredit upon the cause of Christ. To open new stations and at the same "If thou forbear t{) deliver them that are time maintain present work is impossible. No drawn unto death, and those that are ready to one of us is giving more than a few days of be sIain; if thou sayest 'Behold we knew it each year to touring; hence the great mass of not,' doeth not he that pondereth the heart ·our village population is left without a wit- consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, ness for Christ most of the year. In the face doth he not know it? And shall he not ren- of such need shall we not have the few mis- der to every man according to his works ?" ·sionaries we are asking for? We call for 16 new workers for the whole Kohlapur field. On behalf of the mis8ion, Eight of the 16 to be ordained, one a physician, one a consecrated layman to superintend the ! GRACE E. WILDER, English High School in Kohlapur. (One of ·our missionaries ofi'ers $200 towards the sup- W. J. W.u.'LESS, rCommittee. port of this layman.) One is to be a devoted J. P. GRAHAM, ·and intelligent mechanic, to take charge of We, the undersigned, heartily endorse this mission building and teach Christian boys in- appeal, and would urge that the new mission- dustrial work. The ordained missionariesare aries be sent at once, needed to occupy new centres, and so Eliza J. Wilder, G. W. Seiler, M. F. Seiler, ,strengthen the present force at existing sta- J. H. Sherman, A. M. Goheen, M. L. Ewalt, tions, that preaching may be systematically A. M. Hull, M. E. Wanless, S. M. Tedford and ·carried on in the surrounding districts without L. B. Tedford. neglecting regular work at the stations. Japan. Five of the 16 should be single ladies. Well might it be asked: "Why this request for five THE MODERN MARTYR OF THE ORIENT. workers, where 125 are needed for Kolhapur :statealone?" This is not the measure of what [This brief paper will be read with we want or what we need, but five we must mingled tears and thanksgiving.-J. have now. So urgent is our case that two of M. S.] ·our lady missionaries have each ofi'ered half her salary to any Christian sister who will OUYAMA, March 1, 1890. -come out and share it with her. Japan never witnessed an auto-da-fe. A pale martyr in his shirt of fire, could not be One of the five is needed to take charge of a written of her old-time Christian heroes. The girls' school in KoJhapur City; one to be a martyr was there in generous numbers, hut physician; two others are wanted for evan- never the paleness, the shirt, nor the fire. gelistic work in and about Kolhapur. One is Sword and sea took the place of wood and needed for school and evangelistic work in flame. Thousands died for the faith in those Bangli. In order to continue the Christian stern days 260 years ago. boys' boarding-school, which should be in Aud now the word comes to the front once charge of a married missionary, one of our more. A man dies peacefully in his bed, sur- ,.single ladies must, until help comes from rounded by loving friends. Everything pos- home, give up the greater part of her evan- sible has heen done to save his life. The best gelistic work. physicians at the capital summoned by tele- graph. Also a faithful nurse and many attend- We are asking for two physicians when our ants. A leading statesman of the land telefield could furnish immediate work for 25. graphs to his bed-side, "Make him live at all The present and only medical missionary, hazards." Thousands of Christians all over though he has been in Sangli but two months, Japan were pleading in prayer for his life. has more patients than he can possihly attend Can such a man be called a martyr? And yet to. Many have to be turned away. This medical the word is used repeatedly in speaking of work is disarming prejudice and preparing the him. Hiscountrymen delight to call him one. ·way for direct evangelistic work. Through The sermon at his funeral was from the text, the dispensary or hospital many from distant "Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth villages will be brought to us. Shall not two and die." … and its leading thought was be sent to engage in this Christ-like work of martyrdom. .11ealing and preaching? Some 150 precious How explain this seeming contradiction? Some one-was it Napoleon-has said, "It is the cause, and not the death, that makes the martyr." Yes, Joseph Neesima was a martyr. Hehad
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
the martyr spirit. He sacrificed himself for earth." He feared no man. When ordered by church and school and country. High office Prince Iwakurayears ago to go from Andover was within his reach. He spurned it for the to Washington, to act as interpreter, he re- higher one of teacher and preacher. Duty plied, "I acknowledge no lord save God Al- with him was a law of love. He never thought mighty." When traveling through Europe of self, but always of others. with the embassy, he insisted on keeping the Sabbath, and often remained alone from Sat- No wonder his students loved him so much urday till Monday. He felt as clearly in his· 'that they were eager to play the part of cool- soul as did John the Baptist, that he was ies and carry the body of theirlamented presi- called of God to do a definite work. He felt dent through the streets of wondering Kyoto. himself to be a "child of Providence." His· More than once he had risen from a sick bed, plans for his beloved school, with its 700 stu- and gone with aching head but pitying heart dents, and his equally loved churches, always. to hunt up some wayward boy, or to urge some kept ahead of their fulfillment. He was the departing student to take a Christian stand in prophet leader of Japan's Christian hosts. On life. There were times when no doctor could January 1st he wrote a brief poem for his own hold him hack, and he was ready to take any consolation. He died on the 23<1. The thought. risk to life or health for the sake of school or was, "Though weak in body and every way un- people. Whatever we may think of his judg- worthy, yet with large aspirations I greet the ment, there can be no impeaching the loftiness opening year." of his motive, or the loyalty of his spul. As iIlustrntive of his daily anxiety over his. He was dying all his days in behalf of great Kyoto College, just budding into a University, causes, and that the end should come in mid- he frequently quoted a heautifullittle stanza dle life, while his mother still Iives-a mere ex- in Japanese: istence, at the age of 84-was as fitting as it was expected. He loved life. He was the es- "Every morning we look anxiously to see sence of humility, and never strained after ef- if the white clouds have lifted which shut out· fect; and yet he was always overdoing, and the blossoms on the mountain of Yoshi." his life and early death stand out in the mind of every Christian Japanese a clean-cut, strik- Now $50,000 are needed at once to open the· ingly impressive lesson. University in accord4nce with Mr_ Neesima's· final request. Will not some American admirer- Worn by his wearying winter-work in behalf of this sincere man, who in his short life did of the Kyoto school, he runs away to Oiso, a more than anyone else has done to link the' watering-place near Yokohama, for needed best of two lands together, send on the money? change. Even there he will not rest, bnt writes a hundred letters, many of them sixfeet Free schools and a working church were' long, to individuals, mainly in regard to evan- what he aimed at for Japan. He ever worked gelistiC work in Japan; begging men to give for both, practically sacrificed his life in their themselves more unreservedly to the blessed behalf, and died, as it were, with one hand of service, to seize strategic centres, to send blessing on his college at Kyoto, and the other' preachers to the needy places, to occupy all on the churches scatteredover the land. Budd- Japan for Christ and make a forward move- hists are reporting that the head of Christianmentall along the line. ity being dead, Japan will soon see the last of the Western religion. When he was too weak to write he began to dictate to another, and spent a large part of But Christian Japan-and that means now the day before his death sending last mes- 38,000 strong in the Protestant ranks-is· sages, burning with love and earnest appeal, aroused to renewed activity. to friends far and near. He loved everyone, once punishing himself severely before his Neesima dead is even more powerful thall. school, that the law might be upheld, and yet Neesima living. All Japan rings with his- 'his students escape. praise and emulates his spirit. God give her hundreds of Neesimas-men full of faith and Some of hislastwords were, "So far as I know the Holy Ghost-to carry on to its final tri- I have not an enemy in the world;" and again, umph this wide and waiting work. "I envy not heaven and I blame no one on JAMES·H. PETTEE.
Missionary of A. B. O. F. M.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
COND~CTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Let Us Expect Great Things. thought which is of great significance.
The times we live in afford topics It is an old observation that an earth- of great interest to the Christian stu- quake in the Andes has an answering dent of the movements of Providence. earth-wave in the Himalaya Moun- We glance only at a few of these fac- tains; and that a hurricane in the tors of the present times. 1. There is West Indies is most likely accom- a wide-spread disturbance of religious panied by a cyclone in the Indian Ocean. It is something like this ma- Revolution were all in that religious terial simultaneous perturbation to and social revolution which has long which we call attention in the relig- been characterized as " The Reforma- ious world. Archdeacon Hardwicke tion." But at this same period the pointed out years ago the fact of Thibetan form of Buddhism, now the great periodic perturbations in the re- purest Buddhism perhaps extant, ligious thought of mankind, occun-ing came into existence under the mould- simultaneously among peoples widely ing hand of that new incarnation, the separated from each other. Great Lama of Thibet. The import- When the Jews were in Babylon, ance of this movement can best be the Orphic brotherhood were diffus- appreciated by the student who has.
ing in all quarters in the West their seen the mongrel Buddhism of Bur- thirst for an objective revelation. At mah and China, or even the better the same time that Confucianism was preserved Ceylonese branch of this being re-formulated by its great vast nightmare of thought. But author, thus rehabilitating the State while Protestantism was being born, religion of China in a mode it was to and Thibetan Buddhism, with its vast· .maintain for many succeeding cen- literature, was taking form, Baba turies, every village in Persia was Nanak, the Luther of the Panjab, quickening under the Zoroastrian doc- was reasserting the absolute unity of trine of Dualism; and simultaneously God, and endeavoring to blend Hindu with both, Buddhism began to be dis- and Moslem by a new fusion of seminated, and to exert its wondrous thought, which resulted in the foun- witchery on the millions of the East. dation of the Seikh religion.
It is doubtful if the masses of man- It is to illustrate the widespread un- kind have ever been to such an extent, settling of the religious opinions of our in anyone period, agitated by religious own time that we have cited these reform on SO large a scale as at that instances of simultaneous disturbance time. The well nigh simultaneous of the religious convictions and notions.
origin of three systems destined to in- of men. The importance of giving fluence the world on so stupendous a attention to the recasting of religious scale as Confucianism, Zoroastrian- thought is seen in the fact of the long ism and Buddhism, marks a most ex- continuance of the forms in which the traordinary epoch in the destiny of faith of mankind were cast, in the our race. Centuries passed, and there case of these religions to which we occurred another of those periodic in- have made reference. Confucianism, tellectual and religious movements, Buddhism and Parsiism, the last two affecting communities which did not modified, to be sure, in localities, touch each other, and which had remain practically the same as when nothing in common, and each must simultaneously erected. Ifsomething have been but little acquainted with like this is occurring now, it will the fact that such perturbations other therefore appear to be of vast import- than its own were taking place. ance that the Christian church appre- Martin Luther, "with a little book ciate the situation, and lay her utmost and a beating heart," was upheaving moulding force upon the phenomena all Europe, and with his compeers, of the times. We need hardly point Melancthon, Calvin and others, were out the tendency in the Christian laying the foundations not only of world to-day to re-examine the entire doctrinal reform, but of that vital dis- foundations of its faith, and to re- tinction between ecclesiastical and state and reformulate its doctrinal civil authority as has resulted widely basis. Perhaps there never was a more in the separation between Church searching investigation made by the and State. The seeds of the American friends and allies of any body of religious teaching than is being frankly ing farther and farther into antiquity, made by the Christian scholars of the and are being found to be less and less world to-day. They shrink at no dis- satisfactory. Back they must go to closures, are disheartened by no diffi- Menu and the Vedas, and the more -culties, and are fearless of ultimate these are made the standard of morals, -consequences. They have flung their or of social or political order, the more faith into a crucible of their own and more they are found to be vague -erection, and push boldly toward the and unadapted to the times. Hinduism last analysis. Foes have sometimes is thus experiencing this profound perset a religious community on their turbation. defence, but it is the truest and best friends of the Christian religion that It is needless to pursue the Japanese to-day are thoroughly testing every through his athletic reforms and revopart of it that will submit to the lutions. Nationally it is without a -<lrdeal. They are quite' ready to dis- faith at this hour, and the very hearts credit -what cannot be thus satisfac- of the people might wear the placard, torily put into the furnace. The "Wanted, a Religion!" Its perturba- Christian religion was never more tion is like that of an earthquake. thoroughly an agitator of society than it is at this hour. We believe it to be It is not our purpose to more than in preparation to be a far mightier point out the fact of this widespread, factor than ever it has been in human diverse and yet simultaneous religious affairs. disturbance of our times, and to press upon the Church the consideration of India is unsettled religiously. It is its importance relative to the future. in a ferment. The Brahmo move- It will not remain in this agitated ment is a sort of Lutheran reforma- condition. What phases it may pass tion in~ the community. But deeper through before it finally settle!:; down and broader than that is the profound into forms which it will accept, one disturbance which is compelling it to cannot guess, but this period of unrest, answer, not to the foreigner, but to of remoulding of thought. of restating itself about itself. It is being forced faiths, will not last. Large communito open the question, now vital to its ties will settle down in some forms of €xistence, as to what it really is. faith which will probably be accepted What it really ought to be it may take for centuries. It is the duty of the up later, but for the present its rela- Christian Church not the less to investions to the courts of a gigantic con- tigate its own faith, but to instantly querer, which concedes its right to be, set itself to guiding other disturbed is obliging it to answer in court as to communities to reformulate theirs. what it really is. The British Government, acting on the principle of relig- 2. There are pre-intimations that ious neutrality, and assuming to be demand thought. It is with no little ready to adjust itself to authoritative interest that a careful student of his- Hinduism, asks it to show from its tory observes that great political and {)wn standards what it really is. To do religious epochs have frequently been this it is obliged to acknowledge the prefaced by a general pre-intimation accumulation of a vast debris of in the public mind of some great Rabbinism; and the farther it pushes change. The country of the Aztecs its investigation into its own acknow- enjoyed a golden age, under "the god ledged law the less satisfactory it finds of the air." He had long departed the it to be. Hinduism in the presence of land, but the people were ever eager for British authority and Christian his return. When Cortez and his felthought is compelled to search for its low-Spaniards proved invincible, the {)wu foundations, and they are reced- Indian became possessed of the idea, either from his arms or his art, that he must be "the god of the air," returning from the sun-rise, a'ld at the stead of his customary answer, he said thought of contending with Deity, he "The truth is the Messiah is come, quailed, and the Spaniard conquered. and if you will show me a place of The legend and its application un- safety from the scimiter of the Mos- locked an empire, while the physical lem, I will show you ten thousand force and courage of the people were Jews ready to say that the Messiah not yet half spent. Popular impres- is come, and that Jesus of Nazareth is sions are great factors of history-and that Messiah." that, whether formed on principle, prejudice or mytb. There are other instances in which such impressions are testified to on all When the trouble in Herzegovinia hands. In the Zenanas even of Cal-· and Bosnia arose some years since, it cutta, Mrs. Page says, that one day a was found that the insurgents were woman said to her: "Only have a lit- animated by an old prophecy, found tle patience, and all the Hindus will. in a work on Bosnia, published fifteen become Christians." A little woman years before, which stated that in the in the seclusion of the Zenanas of Cal- fifth century after the taking of the cutta expressed a similar sentiment. last Bosnian king by the Turks, the She said to Miss Britain, "Don't take· rising of the Christian Slavs in Turkey so much trouble, our folks will all would be victorious. Stephen Thom- soon become Christians even if left to· aserce, the last Bosnian king, was ex- themselves." The Lucknow WitnesS" ecuted on the 30th of June, 1463, on some years ago said on this topic~ the plain of Blagaj, and the insurrec- "We believe we speak the simple truth. tion alluded to commenced on the an- when we say, that millions of natives. niversaryof that event. are firmly convinced of this. We have· found it an accepted belief in the most It is said the Mohammedans in the remote mountain hamlets, where no- valley of the Euphrates were greatly European had ever penetrated, and we disturbed when they saw an iron find it received as an inevitable event· steamer floating on the Euphrates. of the near future in every city and There was an old proverb that "when town of the plains." Rev. Dr. Waugh iron floats on the Phrat (Euphrates), said: "A deep and wide-spread con- Mohammedanism will come to an viction prevails, not only in the cities, end." That was meant by a simile of but also in the country places among one impossible occurrence to assert the villagers, and indeed throughout. the impossibility of the occurrence of all classes, that a day of overthrowing another. All the laws of nature would of the old religions and effete faiths, of have, as they fancied, to be reversed, the breaking up of old forms, is at. before iron could be made to float, and hand. The common people speak of it was just as impossible that the Mos- the coming day of overturning, and lem faith should fail. But, 101 here seem not dismayed at its approach, before their very eyes iron was float- but announce themselves as ready toing, and that on the Phrat. This im- join in the van-indeed, are only waitpossible thing had occurred: might the ing its coming to break away from other impossible thing occur? It was their present thraldom and bonds of an ominous event, and that floating caste." iron steamer was a depressing circumstance. Indian Evangelization.* A missionary iiL Constantinople, The North American Indians are, some years ago, said he was in the ethnologically one people from the habit of meeting a pious Jew, and asking him " When will the Messiah * "By Canoe and Dog-Train Among the Cree come?" His usual reply was," The Messiah cometh." But one day, in- and SaJteaux Indians." By J;tev. Edgerton R_ Young. Eskimo of the North to the Aztec and ilized world, having mail communica- Peruvian in the centre, and the Fue- tion but once in six months, and regean on the extreme south. They duced much of the time to the food have ever been an independent people. resources of the country; living, on They have conducted a war of in- occasion for six months at a time, on dependence protracted through cen- fish, possibly varied by small contrituries. They have gradually perished, butions of wild meat. Mankind have but, except in Mexico, they have not always shown an appreciation of the in North America been conquered. heroic element, and Mr. Young and They have seen their heritage gradu- his wife have found a wide apprecia- ,ally wrested from their possessions, tion of their self-denial and devotion and have laid themselves down to die among a, very large circle of symwithin an ever-narrowing area. But pathizers with missionary work, in they remain the same dignified, seri- Europe as well as in America. ous and proud people. Mr. Young has been called to nar- They have a natural element of rate his experience before audiences poetry in their character. Among varying from a few scores to many no other of what are styled nature thousands, and always with the same peoples could the equivalent of the peculiar result. At the annual meetscenes of Hiawatha have been laid, ings of the International Missionary nor could any other have afforded Union at Niagara Falls and at the ,such simple and natural material for Thousand Islands, before the vast asromance. We have wronged them semblies at Ocean Grove, at Chautau- -often and grieviously; not always qua, and at other gatherings over the with intent; often' from ignorance of United States and the Canadas, he them and their necessities. We have has told of the trials and the triumphs misgoverned them, or rather failed to of his missionary career. There was govern them at all. and then cruelly always the same fascination about the ,shot them down because of our blun- story told so artlessly, and with an ders. The ill-acquaintance with their eloquence fresh as the breeze in the temper and their force has often been tops of the fir-balsams of the great ,costly. General Grant is reported to North land. Mr. Young has spent two have said that in one of our Indian winters in the British Isles telling of wars, "we spent six millions of dol- these stirring scenes in the same simlars and killed six Indians." The ple and charming way as hearth-stone Christian sentiment of the country tales are told, and as the world's folk- ,still forces the Government to take a lore has grown. paternal interest in them; and we are pressed to one more and final expedi- Naturally enough those who have ent of admitting them to citizenship listened to these tender or humorous and to individual instead of tribal stories, these traits of the red man and holding of lands. these triumphs of divine grace, begged Mr. Young to put these narra- Weare moved to write of their tives into a more permanent form. evangelization at this moment because We take the liberty in advance of the we are favored with the advance issue of the book in America to make sheets of a deeply interesting book by some extracts. We have alluded to Rev. Edgerton R. Young, relating his the natural eloquence of these rude personal experiences as a missionary races, whose oratory has on occasion among the Cree and Salteaux Indians risen to the highest level. Mr. Young of the extreme North land. Mr. had gone to a tribe which had never Young, with his estimable wife, heard the gospel, and summoned them spent nine years among them in a to a council to seE' if they were disposed state of practical exile from the civ- to become Christians. The principal chief, according to their unwritten " Missionary, once my hair was laws of precedence, spoke first. His black as a crow's; now it is getting voice was good and fuIl of pathos. He said: white. Gray hairs here, and grand- children in the wigwam, tell that I am " Missionary, I have long lost faith getting to be an old man, and yet I in our old paganism." Then pointing never heard such things as you have cdown to the outer edge of the audi- told us to-day. I am so glad I did not ence, where some old conjurers and die before I heard this wonderful medicine-men were seated, he said: story. Yet I am getting old. Gray " They know I have not cared for our hairs here, and grandchildren yonder, .old religion. I have neglected it. tell the story. Stay as long as you And I will tell you, missionary, why I can, missionary; tell us much of these have not believed our old paganism things, and when you have to go for a long time. I hear God in the away, come back soon, for I have thunder, in the tempest, and in the grandchildren, and I have gray hairs, .storm; I see His power in the light- and I may not live many winters ning that shivers the tree to kindling more. Do come back soon. Mission- wood; I see His goodness in giving us ary, may I say more?" the moose, the reindeer, the beaver and the bear; I see His loving kind- " Talk on. I am here to listen," said ness in giving us, when the South the missionary. "You said just now winds blow, the ducks and geese; and 'No tawenan' (our Father)." "Yes, I when the sno~ and ice melt away, did say our Father." "That is very cand our lakes and rivers are open new and very sweet to us. We never again, I see how He fills them with thought of the Great Spirit as our fish. I have watched these things for Father. We heard Him in the years, and I see how during every thunder, and saw Him in the lightmoon of the year He gives us some- ning and tempest and blizzard, and we thing; and so He has arranged it, that were afraid. So when you tell us of if we are only industrious and careful, the Great Spirit as Father, that is very we can always have something to eat. beautiful to us." Lifting up his eyes, So, thinking about these things which after a moment, to the missionary, he I had observed, I made up my mind said: "May I say more?" " Yes," he years ago that this Great Spirit, so answered, "say on." " You say , No kind and so watchfuI and so loving, tawenan' (Our Father). He is your did not care for the beating of the Father? " "Yes," said the missionary, conjurer's drum, or the shaking of the "He is my Father." Then he said, rattle of the medicine-man. So I for while his eyes and voice yearned for years have had no religion." Then, 'the answer, "Does it mean He is my turning to the missionary, he said: Father-poor Indian's Father?" "Yes, "Missionary, what you have said to-' oh yes, He is your Father, too." said day fills up my heart and satisfies all the missionary. "Your Father-misits ~ongings. It is just what I have sionary's Father and Indian's Father, been expecting to hear about the too? " " Yea," said the missionary. Great Spirit. I am so glad you have "Then we are brothers," he shouted. come with this wonderful story. Stay "Yes, we are brothers," said the misas long as you can, and when you sionary. have to go away, do not forget us, but .come again as soon as you can." The excitement in the audience became wonderful. But the old man Many more responded. The last to had not yet finished. He said: speak wasanold man withgrizzly hair. He was a queer, savage-looking man, "May I say more?" "Yes, say on; and spoke in an excited way. He said: all that is in your heart," was the reply. "Well," the Indian resumed, " I do not want to be rude, but it does seem to me that you, my white and beaver, and other things to exbrother, have been a long time in coming with that great book and its change for :flour and tea." wonderful story, to tell it to your red brothers in the woods." "What have you got, pOCl>r woman?" "I have got a couple of fish nets." Among the many incidents recorded "What do you do when it is too in this volume is a thrilling one of stormy to visit the nets?" Christian Indians volunteering to "Sometimes some of the men from carry food relief to some white settlers the other houses visit them for me, far" in the north, shut away from sup- and bring me fish. Then we some-" plies by the prevalence of the small- times get some by fishing through the pox. It was a long and perilous ice." journey, with risk of contagion. ~he " What about when it is too stormy expedition was well conducted by an for anyone to go?" Indian named Samuel, but thoug-h he She quietly said, "If we have nothbrought back all his force in good con- ing left we go without." dition, the strain had been too much The missionary hurried out of the for him, and, nervously prostrated, he room to stifle his emotion, but the soon died. His death, however, was a woman, suspecting the feelings of his happy one. His widow and children heart, followed him out and said: were cared for, but after a time re- "Ayumeaoke (Praying master), I do moved to a distant settlement, where not want you to feel so badly for me; it. Mr. Young subsequently found them is true I am very poor; it is true, since in great need. Looking at their ex- Samuel died we have often been very treme poverty the following colloquy hungry, and have often suffered from ensued: the bitter cold; but, missionary, you have heard me say that Samuel gave. "Nancy, you seem to be very his heart to God, so have I given my poor; you don't seem to have any- heart to God, and He who comforted thing to make you happy and com- Samuel and helped him, so that hefo$ble. " died happily, is my Saviour; and where Samuel has gone, by-and-by I Very quickly came the response, in am going too, and that thought makes much more cheerful strains than those me happy all the day long." of the missionary. Of course, her necessities were re- lieved by the care and thought of the "I have not got much, but I am not mISSIOnary. We have no room for unhappy, missionary." extracts showing the cost at which this missionary work was done, the· "You poor creature," he said, "you long privations, exposure to severe don't seem to have anything to make weather, and danger from vindictive you comfortable." heathen tribes; nor can we quote the" fascinating stories for young people "I have but little" she said quietly. about the canoe and dog-sled adven- "Have you any venison?" "Nol" tures. "Have you any flour?" "Nol" "Have you any tea 1" "No!" The Worship of Words. "Have you any potatoes?" When this last question was uttered A brother wrote us recently ask-" the poor woman looked up, and said, ing the meaning of the words, Om, " I have no potatoes, for don't you re- Manee Padme, Hom, found in Armember, at the time of the potato nold's •• Light of Asia. " We replied planting, Samuel took charge of the that we doubted if anybody on earth brigade, that went up with provisions knows. One authority renders the to save the poor white people. And meaning as "Oh, the Jewel on the· Samuel is not here to shoot deer, that I may have venison; and Samuel is not here to. catch mink and marten Lotus I" and Dr. Hooker translates it, forth, becomes forever the means of "Hail to him of the Lotus alid the the worsliip and knowledge of Brah- Jewel." Cheeboo Lama says the six rna." syllables represent the six states of future existence. The first represent- Once the idea of sacredness starled ing Lha, or the state of the gods; the in relation to words, and there is no second, Mee, or the state of human existence; the third, Lhamayin, or end to the coinage of such, whether the state of neutral and mischievous in the sacred incantations of the spirits, to which men who die in war Egypti:'m Book of the Dead, the Hindu are regenerated; the fourth, Tendo or Ram Ram, or the Roman Catholic Ave Dado, the state of beasts in which lazy and indifferent Buddhists are born Maria, or the unspeakable but not unagain; the fifth, Yedag, or the state of thinkable words of the Ancient Parsee wretched demons in a condition of suf- sacred books. fering; the sixth, Myalwur, or the state of punishment. Those born in Ohurch Dis-establishment in Brazil that state are exposed to tortures, heat, cold, thirst; those sent there for abus- The following is the text of the de- . ing the priesthood are born with long tongues, perpetually lacerated with cree with regard to the Church estabploughshares. The constant repetition of these six syllables closes the en- lishment in Brazil: trance of the six states of metempsychosis, and procures Nirvana. "Article 1. The Federal authorities, as well. as the different Confederate States, are pro- But a writer in the East has re- hibited from making laws, rules, regulations, cently pointed out the tendency in or any administrative acts establishing a human nature to worship sound or religion. speech, independent altogether of the meaning it conveys, and because of its "Article 2. To all people is given the privimysteriousness. The thunder and lege of exercising their religious cults in acstorm have been thus worshipped, and cordance with thetr belief, and they are not to speech has been deified under the be interrupted or disturbed in such devotions, name of voice (vach, vox), and Hindu either private or public, which belong to this tunes have. been deified as gods and privilege. goddesses. Words have been singled out because of oddness or potency as "Article 3. This liberty not only embraces divine or demoniacal. The East is full individuals in their individual acts, but also of them, and the West has them churches, associations, and institutions in buried in its folk-lore. Scott's "Lay which they are employed, all having full right of the Last Minstrel" beautifully illus- to unite themselves and live in accordance with trates this in the wonl,s which he dare their creed without interference from. the pubnot utter lest the Abbey be wrecked lic powers. about him. Thus the syllable" Om," or in Sanskrit form, "Aum," has been "Article 4. Patronage, resources, and pre- rogatives of all religious institutions are heremade to stand for "A," "U," and "M," by extinguished.
representing the triad, Brahma,Vishnu "Article 5. The right is recoguized of ali' and Siva. churches and religious orders to acquire and administer estates under limits made by the "Om" is especially a word of power. laws concerning corporations, grantingto each Meditating on it or muttering it, one one the right to ownership in property, as well becomes Brahma. "By the Om, the as the use of buildings for worship. supreme light of the ether, which is within the heart, starts, rises, breathes "Article 6. The Federal Government will continue to furnish ecclesiastical revenue and support for the actual personnel of the Catho- lic Church, and in other institutions will sub- sidize for one year the professorships in the seminaries, it being at the option of each State to recognize in the future the ministers of this or any other religion where they do not run contrary to the preceding articles in this de- cree.
"Article 7. All acts to the contrary are here- by revoked."-Brazilian Missions.
The International Missionary Union.
The International Missionary Union will hold its Seventh Annual Meeting at Clifton Springs, New York, June 11th to 18th, inclu- sive, 1890. Free entertainment will be pro-
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
vided for all foreign missionaries, or persons lator of the Scriptures at Bangkok. The Ex- who have heen foreign missionaries, of what- ecutive Committee are: Dr. J. L. Phillips, Rev. ever evangelical society, or board, or field. :l1essrs. M. B. Comfort, C. W. Park, Benj. Memhership in the Union is open to all such Helm, and J. A. Davis; Miss C. H. Daniells, persons and includes no others. Candidates M. D., and Mrs. M. E. Ranney. Treasurer, Prof. under actual appointment to the foreign field M. N. Wyckoff; Librarian, Rev. James Mudge. of any evangelical organization are earnestly invited to attend, and will also be freely en- It was resolved at the Binghamton Meeting tertained, as far as provision can be made. It to establish a Circulating MiSSionary Library will not be practicable to provide for the at- for the benefit of the memhers of the Union. tendance of children of missionaries. The following volumes were contributed as a nucleus of what it was thought might grow to A special rate offare (one fare and one-third) be a very useful and valuable collection: " over certain railroads (' 'Trunk Line" territory, and perhaps the Southern Passenger Associ- :rhe Great. V'!-lue and Success of Foreign ation and others), can he obtained at any im- )fISSIOns. Llggms. portant station on the conceding roads, and must be certified by the agent selling it, and Roport of the London MiSSionary Confer- on retnrn by the Secretary of the Union. The ence. 2 vols. ticket must be bought not earlier than June 8th, and not later than June 13th, and on re- Report of the Calcutta Missionary Confer- turn not aft"r June 21st,and must be a through ence. ticket on the conceding lines only; no stop- over. There must he at least 50 ticket·holders The Missionary Year-Book. Vol. I., 1889. at the meeting, to secure the deduction of two- Letters from India. Rev. H. J. Bruce. thirds return fare. The Natural History of the Marathi Bible. Rev. H. J. Bruce. The programme of this meeting cannot yet Among the Turks. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin. be furnished. The papers and discussions are Ann H. Judson. Dr. W. N. Wyeth. always on topics of special practical concern SarahB. Judson. Dr. W. N. Wyeth. to missionaries; but numerous addresses will India. Dr. J. T. Gracey. be made of a character interesting to the gen- China. Dr. J. T. Gracey. eral public, who are always cordially wel- Open Doors. Dr. J. T. Gracey. comed. Missionaries are requested "to com- Woman's )fedical Work in Foreign Lands. municate with either the President or the 1I1rs. J. T. Gracey. Secretary, to obtain further particulars, as Africa in a Nutshell. Rev. G. Thompson. well as to make suggestions as to topics, Memorial Papers of the American Marathi -papers, or addresses. If any would like to -discuss some particular subject themselves, Mis~ion. :provided suitable arrangements can be made, ·or if they know of any missionaries specially Further donations to the Library from ,qualified to present papers before the Union, members of the Union and other friends are or to address popular meetings, the President respectfully solicited. Will not all authors -will be glad of such information. among the members see that a copy of their works is sent as soon as possible to the Libra- The roll of the Union (organized in 1884) now rian? It is hoped that during the coming year 'includes 179 names, representing 18 different a beginning may be made of circulating these denominations and societies, Canadian, Ameri- volumes through the mail to such of the memcan and British, and at least 23 distinct fields. bers as may wish them. The plan is for the Its Vice-Presidents are: Cyrus Hamlin, D. D., person desiring to read any volume to send to founder of Rohert College, Constantinople; the Librarian the amount of postage required S. L. Baldwin, D. D., one of the Mission-Secre· to dispatch it by mail, and then in a month to taries of the American Methodists; and William Dean, D. D., the veteran Baptist trans- return it, postpaid, by the same channel. The Librarian is Rev. James Mudge, of East Pep. perell, Mass.
Inquiries concerning the approaching meet ing at Clifton Springs, or on any subject con- cerning the International Missionary Union, will he answered with pleasure by J. T. GRACEY, D. D., President, 183 Greenwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York WILLIAM H. BELDEN, Secretary, Bridgeton, New Jersey, V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY REV. F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
The Great Afrioan Mission Field. once and a half that of the United No other country is attracting so States from New York to San Franmuch attention as Africa. For many cisco. If it were divided by an east generations most of it has been con- and west line, running a little north sidered an unknown land, and even of the equator, the northern portion yet there is generally but a slight ap- would receive all North America, and prehension of its vast extent. Its the southern would embrace all Eugreatest width from east to west is rope, including Russia. The population is estimated by Mr. Stanley at of eastern Soudan. It bears north- 250,000,000. This is not to be compared in density with India or China, ward that annual tribute which for but it is far greater than has been supposed. Six hundred languages and ages has made Egypt the granary of dialects are spoken, of which not more than one in six is a vehicle of the word the East. ·of God. The fourth great river, theZambesi, The coast line of Africa throughout nearly its whole extent is low and gen- receiving the waters of the Nyassa erally insalubrious, but the interior is, for the ]Lost part, a vast table-land, and the Shire, passes over the great with mountain ranges which, in one {)r two instances, rise nearly two thou- cataracts to which it has given its .sand feet. name, and flows eastward into the No river in the world, unless it be the Amazon, equals the Congo in Indian Ocean. It is a remarkable volume. It is said to be thirty times as great as that of the Mississippi. It fact that the Congo, Nile, and Zambesi has no such breadth as the Amazon at its mouth, and instead of emptying find their sources all within a limited through the channels of a great delta .like the Ganges or the Niger which area of high table-lands, though they ·embraces three hundred miles of coast, it pours over a long succession of discharge their waters into widely disfalls and rapi~, and thence rushes to the sea through a deep-cut channel, tant seas. with a current well nigh resistless. Through its lower stretch it has Since the discoveries of Krapf and scooped the bottom of its channel till it is said to measure miles in depth; On Rebman, and the wonderful achievethe Upper Congo, including branches, there are five thousand miles of navi- ments of Livingstone and Stanley, all ,gable waters opening up in all directions a great interior basin of almost Europe has been enkindled with the unequalled fertility, and inhabited by not less than fifty millions of people. spirit of African discovery. For a Besides the Congo, three other great rivers and many smaller ones drain century previous there had been octhe great interior table-lands and -empty their waters into the sea. casional expeditions, but the explora- The Niger, rising in the country tions of the last two decades have back of Liberia, makes a circuit northward and eastward, draining the probably been equal to all that had western Soudan, and joined at length by the Benue, which flows westward previously been made. from the region south of Lake Tchad. It proceeds southwar4i to the Gulf of The following list of discoveries, for Guinea. which I am largely indebted to Rev. Dr. R. R. Booth, presents the principal The Nile, which has never been ex- African explorations down to Stanley's plored in its sources until within the discovery of the Congo: last twenty years, is the outlet of the great Equatorial Lakes and the waters Bruce, in 1768, explored the Blue Nile and Abyssinia.
Horneman, in 1798, reached Fezzan by way of Cairo.
Burkhardt, in 1812, visited Suakim and Dondola.
Captain Luckey, in 1816, explored the Congo for 200 miles.
Denham and Clapperton, in 1822, penetrated the desert from Tripoli to Lake Tchad. In 1825, they. passed from Guinea to Socotoo.
1I:1ajor Laing, in 1826, marched from Tripoli to Timbuctoo.
Clapperton and Lander, in 1827, ex- plored the south shore of Lake Tchad.
11:1. Cailli, in 1827, passed from Mo- rocco to Samagambia.
The Lander Brothers, jn 1830, ex- plored the Niger.
Laird and Oldfield, in 1833, also visited the Niger.
Engliflh Niger Expedition, in 1841, attended by missionaries.
Barth, Richardson, and Overweg, in 1849, passed from Tripoli to Lake Tchad.
Livingstone, in 1849, visited the Makalolos from the south. Egyptian Expedition, about 1850, up tended by the murder of Bishop Harthe Nile to 4° N. L. rington; the new conquests of Samadu, and of Islam in Western Soudan; the Krapf and Rebman, 1850, entered discoveries and.telTitorial occupations by Mombas and discovered Mount Kili- of DeBrazza on the Ogovie; the manjaro, and heard of the Lake Coun- strange fortunes of Emin Pasha; the try. founding of the Congo Free State; and the very latest achievements and dis- Anderson, 1850-54, explored South coveries of Henry M. Stanley. Africa from Cape Town, and discovered Lake N'gami, S. Lat. 21°. The Congo Free State demands fuller consideration. The king of the Bel- Livingstone, in 1852, discovered the gians, supported by the Geographical Falls of the Zambesi. Societies of Europe and the admiring sympathy of the civilized world, has Edward Vogel, in 1853, joined Barth interested himself in the opening up at Lake Tchad. of Central Africa to the interests of Livingstone, 1853, crossed Africa, and in 1858 discovered Lake Nyassa commerce and Christian mISSIOns· and the Shire Valley. and all the elements of a humane and Christian civilization. Burton and Speke, 1857-59, discovered Lake Tanganika. In the prosecution of this great en- terprise the leadership of Mr. Stanley Speke and Grant, 1859, discovered has been engaged, and the co-opera- Lake Victoria, Nyanza. tion of the different European powers has been enlisted. Agreements were Samuel Baker, 1861, discovered entered into exempting a vast terri- Albert Nyanza. tory from encroachment, and enabl- ing King Leopold to make and enforce Livingstone, in 1866, discovered treaties with the native tribes for the Lakes Moero and Bangweola. preservation of a general peace and harmony. The King is now virtually Schweinfurth, 1869-71, explored the the sovereign of the Congo Free State, Nyam-Nyam country, and discovered and is expending annually hundreds the Wells River. of thonsands of dollars from his private resources in the prosecution Stanley, in 1870, found Livingstone of his noble plans. at Ujiji, on Lake Tanganika. The Christian churchesof the world Muncie and Petherick, about 1870, explored the Upper Nile and the Bah- have been welcomed to the mission rel-Ghazil. fields of the Congo, and several socie- Gordon and Long, about 1870, ex- ties have established their stations plored the two great branches of the upon its waters. There are now said Nile. to be thirty small steamers plying above the falls, of which several are Livingstone, in 1874, died near Lake connected with missionary work. Bangweola. Of the different missionary organi- Stanley, in 1875, visited Mtesa's zations, the English Baptists, among kingdom, having advanced to the east the first, if not the very first, to ocside of Lake Albert, and in 1876 he cupy the country, is perhaps the passed westward into the interior. strongest. The American Baptist Union having received the mission Gamerou, 1874-76, crossed Africa to which was established by Dr. H. Benguela. Grattan Guinness and others, and known as the Congo Inland Mission, Stanley, August, 1877, arrived at now employs 29 missionaries, and Emboma, on the Lower Congo.
Since the discovery of the Congo more than forty expeditions have been sen~ into Africa by different na- tions, and many thrilling events have occulTed;-such as the overthrow of Arabi Pasha and the occupation of Egypt by Great Britain; the ill-fated mission of Gordon to Khartoom, and the bootless expedition up the Nile; the tragic career of El Mahdi; the varied and desperate encounters with Osman Digma; the Italian campaigns about Massowa; the struggles of British arms in South Africa, and the tragedy of the French Prince Im- perial; the death of Mtesa and the cruel persecutions of Mwanga, atits work is prosperous. The Metho- nificent government road, with tele- dist Congo Mission, under the direc- graphic communication and military tion of Bishop Taylorl has made a stations along the line. In the equa- vigorous beginning, and quite recently torial regions also, including Gaboon the Southern Presbyterian Church of and the Ogovie, with a territorial the United, States has sent a devoted claim extending along the northern young man with a colored assistant to bank of the Upper Congo, she holds lay the foundations of a mission some- a territory numbering 240,000 square where in the great valley. His ex- miles. The aggregate of these three ample in leaving high social at- protectorates is three times the size of tractions in the South to devote France.
himself to the colored races of Cen- 3. Germany hasannexed West Cam- tral Africa, is a proof that whatever aroons, and a vast territory in south- ground may be taken in the Southern western Africa, embracing Demerara churches in regard to the color line, and Namaqualand, whose united coast there are not wanting those who line extends 900 miles. Besides this, cherish the Christlike spirit of love Germany holds a vast territory in East toward the African. Africa, lying between Zanzibar and There has within the last few years Lakes Tanganiyka and Victoria Ny- been great rivalry on the part of anza.
European powers in gaining posses- 4. Great Britain has held permanent sion of Africa. In the words of Dr. possession of the Cape of Good Hope Guinness, to whom I am indebted for since 1795, and her various possessions many facts, "the whole coast has of Cape Colony, Cafraria, Natal, and been literally besieged by protector- last of all Zambesia, have been added.
ates." A railroad is now being projected two The following is the present situa- thousand miles from the Cape to the tion: Zambesi River. England also claims 1. Portugal holds large territories as large territory extending from on the west coast below the mouth of Mombas on the east coast above Zanzi- the Congo, besides its claim to Mozam- bar to the lake Victoria Nyanza, in- bique and territories extending west- . cluding the beautiful mountain region ward till they meet those of the west Kilimanjaro. She also holds a coast <coast. These claims are being seri- line of 400 miles in the Somali country, ously challenged, and important con- opposite Aden. She holds a virtual cessions have of late been made to protectorate of Egypt, besides posses- Great Britain in the region of the sions on the west coast at Sierra Leone.
Zambesi and Lake Nyassa. 5. The Italian Government, by pursu- 2. The French have held possession ing a vigorous policy on the west coast Df Algeria since their conflict with the of the Red Sea, has gained a strong- Riff pirates in 1831. Algeria is larger hold at Magada, and seems likely to than France, and has cost her some exert a dominant influence over Abys- hundreds of thousands of men and sinia.
$1,200,000,000 in money. It is a strong Two great questions, affecting the colony and is i~habited by a manly moral and religious future of Africa, race. A French protectorate, which are of such vast import as well nigh to looks towards annexation, is also ex- baffle the wisdom and the faith of tended over Tunis. France also claims Christian men: The Slave Trade and two hundred thousand square miles in the Liquor Traffic.
the region of the Senegal and the The fornler has been the topic of dis- Gambia. This large territory extends cussion in the great International Con- €astward to the waters of the Niger, ference recently convened in Brus- and is connected therewith by a mag- sels. That the problem of its suppression is notan easy one, a single example to suppress the introduction of liquor will show. and fire-arms into certain groups of the Pacific Isles, where terrible havoc It is said that Tippoo Tib, whose pow- was being produced, the State Depart- er is yet unchallenged on the Upper ment at Washington refused to join. Congo, commands 2,000 men, armed Public sentiment in Europe has not. with Winchester rifles. It is their credited our Government with the business to raid the villages through- highest and purest motives for this re- out a wide range of country for the fusal, nor has it hesitated to declare acquisition of slaves. Pillage, slaugh- that the responsibility of failure rests. ter, fire and devastation are merely with the United States and Germany. incidents in the work of capture. The terrible journey to the coasts is a What the Conference at Brussels has. sequel, and the business must be ex- accomplished in reference to the liquor tensive enough to cover a large per traffic, is to affect an agreement that cent. of deaths by the way, and an oc- beyond the present coast belt-rather casional loss by rescue. How shall a broad one unfortunately-the liquor this evil be reached at its source? importations shall not extend. This is something to be thankful for, and 'Ve understand that the Conference it points to the interior as the most. has agreed: First. That where it is pos- hopeful mission field. It affords an sible, the tribes concerned in the raid- answer also to those-some of them ing shall be held responsible. Second. Christian men-who have been ready Any tribe through whose territory a to conclude that Mohammedanism, slave caravan passes shall be held to with its strong prohibition of all inaccount. Third. The chief in whose toxicants, would, for the present at territory on the coasts the shipment least, offer a better evangel to Cenof slaves occurs shall also be dealt tral Africa than our Christian faith with. Fourth. The police of the sea coupled with the vices of Christendom. shall be maintained by the joint effort of the European powers. In any view, the outlook of Africa. is mixed with light and shade. Its It may confidently be hoped that problems are too great for human these measures will greatly curtail wisdom; too great for the Conference the desolations of this horrible traffic of the Powers. in flesh and blood. More than this cannot be expected till European Unfortunately, the Mohammedan philanthropy can draw the ligatures slave traders of Africa have two of repression more closely and strangle words which they may hurl back the hydra in its inmost retreats. with terrible force in the face of Chris- tian nations: "Opium!" "Rum! " And In regard to the liquor traffic, the they are not careful to discriminate problem is still more difficult. In this between Christianity and Christencase it is the civilized powers them- dom. They take ~o account of any selves that are the offenders. The difference between the counsels and dark tide of poison that deluges the prayers of the missionary societies. the coasts of Africa flows from so- in Boston and the agnosticism and called Christian lands. The Govern- whiskey of the distilleries not far away ments of Great Britain, France, and which are under contract to supplyfor' Germany.are ready to capture slave the African trade 3,000 gallons per day ships on the Red Sea-are they pre- for seven years. pared to confront the liquor interests of their own realms? Is there any way then for the Chris- tian church but to look away to the The attitude of the United States is hills whence cometh her help? It is still more doubtful. In 1885, when the time for a concert of prayer for Great Britain, France, Italy, and Aus- Africa. A greater burden was never tria were ready to unite in an effort brought to the mercy seat.
E;DITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPIQS
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Comparative Destitution in Christian American missionary in Sweden, and Pagan Lands. writes us: The venerable Dr. McCosh remarks "I am astonished at reading one that in the contempl~tion bf the waste sentence in a letter which you pub- of resources by want of church union, lished in the liarch number (page 214) while not only in heathen countries of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE but in our own great cities there are WORLD, and am very sorry that you multitudes who have not had the gos- should allow it to go out to your pel preached to them, he fears that thousands of readers without com- the judgment of Heaven may descend ment. The writer, in speaking of the upon the churches. He counsels the drink curse in Africa, says: 'The forming of a Federation in America amazing thing is that all this traffic to see that the whole country be di- [the rum trade in Old Calabar, West vided into parishes or districts, each Africa,] is conducted, in the main, by to be provided with a gospel minister not over a dozen firms, the members of and a lay agency put under obliga- which are most excellent men, many tions to have the gospel preached to of them, I believe, sincere Christians.'
every creature, young and old. He " Do, I beg of you, say to your read- will be glad to correspond with those ers, that you do not endorse such a who are ready to carry out this view. sentiment. It is high time to protest This is a suggestion in the right di- a against the doctrine of some of our rection. There is everywhere a mani- English friends-that man can be a fest disproportion between the differ- Christian and at the same time deal ent local fields. In Africa, at least out death and damnation to his fellow- 150,000,000 of people are entirely men!"
destitute of all knowledge of the gos- It is scarcely necessary to say that pel. The Soudan districts and the an editor is not to be held personally Congo Free State are absolutely with- responsible for all the sentiments ex- out the gospel. In Siam 13 Presby- pressed by his correspondents. In this terian missionaries, including women, instance we felt that our highly re- are the sole force for evangelizing the spected correspondent stretched his native Siamese and Laos population! charity beyond proper bounds. We These are two instances of the im- are not willing to believe that the man mense vacancies in heathen fields. I who traffics in liquor, asa drink, in this spoke in a village of Scotland having enlightened age, is a "sincere Chris- a population of about 1,200-800 of tian," or a Christian in any sense.
which are of a church-going age, and And the sin is the greater, incompar- there are five churches and as many ably, when a British or an American ministers! One, or, at most, two merchant holds out the temptation ministers could care for the entire and inflicts the ruin coollyand deliber- population and leave the others free ately upon the poor benighted African, to go to these vast vacancies of hea- in his heathen ignorance and degra- thendom, and leave the money that dation. The slave traffic and the rum those other church edifices cost free to traffic are twin curses, and no really be expended in foreign fields. God good man can have anything to do will surely hold us accountable for with either, save to pray and strive the immense waste of resources im- for their overthrow. J. M. S.
plied in maintaining so many -There are two pictures Stanley loves to draw. The first is Mohamchurches simply in the interests of medanism overrunning North Africa from Guardafui to Cape Juby, where sectarianism! A. T. P.
-An indignant correspondeut, an the gospel of force is triumphant and the standard of the crescent is planted. [On the 12th of May 1889, four men He pictures the followers of Mahomet met to hold a consecration prayer- advancing on their fleet dromedaries, meeting in my study, at Philadelphia. coursers of Yeman, and white asses of One of them was George S. Fisher, Arabia, against Paganism, with the the Y. M. C. A. Secretary of Kansas; fierce cry of "Death to the Unbeliev- one was Mr. Nash, who filled a like er-there is no God but God, and post in Nebraska; another was Rev. Mahomet is His prophet." He graph- T. C. Horton, of St. Paul Y. M. C. A., ically describes how terror precedes and the fourth was the writer. God them, death accompanies them, deso- laid his hand in a marked manner on lation follows them, and disease marks each of the four from that day on. their course. The Libyan desert and Those three men from the Northwest the Sahara are traversed by these in- returned to their respective fields, and vincible and dauntless Arabs until the in each of those fields there began a Equator is reached, when they have mighty movement in the direction of to succumb to the mysterious changes pioneer missions to the regions beyond. of nature and retire baffled, leaving The same answerer of prayer disthe southern half of Africa to other lodged one from my church in Philaand higher influences. delphia to undertake a crusade for missions among the churches, and The other picture is of a more mod- made the other three the pioneers of ern period. From the Cape of Good missions in the great States of the Hope advances a meek and humble Northwest. From Topeka, Kan., follower of the Cross, who penetrates February 3, 1890, there has gone forth towards the untraveled wilds of Southern Africa to seek the heathen in his the following communication. Let home. He hails him as a brother. every reader ponder well this signal He tells him of a loving Father in of the moving of God's pillar of cloud heaven, and of redemption through and fire.-A. T. P.] Christ. He repeats the song of Bethlehem: "Peace on earth and good All our readers will be interested in hearing will towards men." He travels over something about the three young men, Messrs. 30,000 miles, and dUling his thirty- Mails, Helmick and Kingman, who have left two years' labor discloses to Christen- the Association work of Kansas to give their dom one million square miles of inner lives to the work of spreading the joyful Aftica. All on whom he gazed, with tidings in the dark Soudan districts of Africa those eyes radiant with loving fellowship, he blessed with the view of a Since the "great meeting," at Topeka, good man made perfect by trial in the October 16-20, 1889, they have spent the time wilderness. At last he surrenders his in traveling, and have conducted missionary life at Bangweolo, loving and loved, meetings in nearly all the larger cities and blessing and blessed. There was colleges of Kansas, besides having spent about pomp and majesty in the proud ad- six weeks in work outside of the State, visitvance of Mahomet north of the Equa- ing, among other places, the following cities: tor, but the picture of the lone Chris- Chicago; St. Louis; St. Paul and Minneapolis, tia~ wandering in these untrodden 'in Minnesota; Eau Claire and Milwaukee, in wilds of Southern Africa is almost Wisconsin; South Bend, Indianapolis and divine. Stanley then adds:" I was Greencastle, in Indiana; Fayettville and Fort the last of David Livingstone's race Smith, in Arkansas. It has pleased the Lord and color who talked with him, and to own, in a wonderful manner, the labors of my desire is to take up his work with these brethren during these weeks, and many the view of redeeming Africa from its have been led to the Lord Jesus Christ in the forlornness and squalid poverty-in- meetings conducted by them, while the hearts itiating true missionary enterprise." of not a few of God's children have been deeply stirred.
Speaking from a human standpoint, it is truly marvelous how these brethren have been provided "ith all things needful as they have gone about from city to city, and from State to State. Of course, they had no means of their own with -:hich to cover the expenses of their tour, and so, during the first week or two, collections for their benefit were taken they have word from Kingman, after his in the meetings conducted; but it was very arrival in Africa. ,evident that this only tended to detract from the spiritual power of the meetings, and the [I was present at the farewell meeting of the taking of collections was dropped. Since Wilmot-Brooke party in Exeter Hall. and was then they have traveled almost continually, called on to offer the consecrating prayer.- asking nothing whatever of men, depending A.T.P.] alone upon the Lord to supply all their needs, and never yet have they lacked for any of the Messrs. Mails and Helmick will still continue "good things" of this life, nor have they been their tour around the country, conducting delayed a single hour for want of money with missionary meetings, and already dates have which to meet railway expenses. Often, how- been arranged for until during March, cover- ever, the Lord has permitted them to go to ing appointments in Arkansas, Ohio, Pennsyl- the depot without a cent in their pockets, but vania and Maine. On the 14th inst. they will always, before the train pulled out, although be joined by Mr. Frank M. Gates, for some sometimes at the very last moment, the neces- time past gymnasium superintendent and sary money has been provided. (phil. 4:19.) acting secretary of the Topeka Association, In addition to supplying the needs of these who will leave for the Soudan with them. It men as they have journeyed about the country, is also probable that Mr. Roy Codding, of York, the Lord has used their words to touch the Neb., will join the party at the same time. hearts of His people; one man in Kansas offered $125 towards the passage of one man Two of the young men from the Y. M. C. A. for the Soudan, and, in St. Louis, the ladies of at St. Paul will sail for Africa with the Kansas one of the churches offer to become responsible men, and intend going to the Upper Congo for the support of two of the Soudan mission- country, to prepare the way for" The Upper aries. We could add many other testimonies Congo Missionary Colony, " which has recently along this line to show that the King has set been ~rganized at St. Paul, as a direct result His seal of approval on the efforts of these of the interest in missionary matters awakened His servants, as they have tried to present the in the Association work there. . " world-wide Gospel." The Lord has seemed to make it plain to the Word was received a few weeks since, that Kansas missionaries for the Soudan, that it was Mr. Graham Wilmot-Brooke, of England, a His will that they should sever their connec- 'young man who has traveled a great deal in tion in this movement with Dr. Guinness. the Soudan, was about to leave again for that Some of the reasons for this are : "country, and he kindly invited the Kansas missionaries for the Soudan to have one of 1. That while in a certain sense, Dr. Guin- their number meet him in England before he ness' missionary work is undenominational, sailed, and, if possible, set sail with him. yet it was found that the men who were at ,After much waiting before the Lord, it seemed the head of his training institutes, both in this to be His will that one of the men should go, country and in England, were all members of as a forerunner in this movement; thus it was the same denomination, and the doctor him- that on Wednesday, January 29, Mr. E. self stated, that while the Boston institute is Kingman set sail from New York for the undenominational, yet its main object is the Soudan, going by way of England. 'trainil',g of missionaries for one of the denomi- national missions on the Congo. 2. It was The following telegram was received from found, that while Dr. Guinness has been the agent of the steamship company by whose wonderfully used of the Lord in the caus..,f line Mr. Kingman sailed: missions, yet, so far as the e:;perience of t'Le Kansas young men went, he did not seem to " To-day has seen, in the departure of King- be able to handle the details of this movement, man for the Soudan, the beginning of what is which seemed to them a matter of great going to be the greatest missionary movement Importance. 3. After conference with persons of this century. God bless it, and the West in other parts of the country, the doctor con- where it started. Keep believing." cluded that he could not aceept, for the Soudan mission, money contributed by the missien And SO the Soudan missionary movement is bands of our State. no longer something talked of, but is now something real. Praise the Lordi Mr. King- These points, among others, led to a sepa- man will join the Wilmot-Brooke party at ration, which, however, was brought about Liverpool, and take ship with them for Africa. with the kindest feeling on both sides, and Mr. During the voyage out he will have ample Guinness yet shows a deep IIfnterest in the opportunity for conference with Mr. Brooke, work which the Kansas men hdtJe to do, and is, and other members of the party, and by the from time to time, giving such information time of arrival on the coast of Africa, he will as he can. have gained much valuable information in regard to the Soudan country, and will at once And now, may we not ask that every reader 'communicate with the othe~Kansas mission- will be much in prayer, that the Lord Himself :aries in regard to what to bring, etc., etc. will guide very clearly these of our brethren "They, of course, do not expect to set sail until whose hearts He has touched and filled with a desire to carry the Gospel to the neglected Soudan, the" regions beyond."
Yours, for" the uttermost part of the earth, " E. S. WALTON. Bedford, England.-A memorial and devour, now combine to rescue statue to John Howard-the great prison philanthropist and missionary and protect." A. T. P. to the criminal classes and the inmates of hospitals-is next year to be China.-The literary teacher in erected, at a cost of $15,000. The money is fast coming in. It will be China is called" The First-born," and borne in mind that one of the last requests of this disinterested man was is almost worshipped. Books written that no such memorial should be erected to him. And, in our judg- in the literary character may be read ment, that request should be sacredly regarded. If any monument should in every province of China, and even be built to his memory, would it not be better far to construct a model hos- in Japan, Korea and Mongolia. pital, and call it the "Howard Home?" Why waste money on a statue? Hence the vast power of a Christian Prohibition. – Prohibition Kansas literature in the Chinese tongue. Mishas 100,000 more population than Texas, which is under license. Kansas sionary work proper began with the has one penitentiary, with 966 prisoners, while Texas has two, with more cession of Hong Kong in 1843. Now ~han three times as many convicts. Is there any connection between the doors are open everywhere. The pubdrink traffic and the excess of crime? If prohibition does not prohibit drink, lic mind is getting free from prejudoes it lessen criminality? A judge with whom I stayed at Greenock, dices and dislikes of foreigners, and a Scotland, explained the absence of every form of liquors at his table, by truer notion prevails as to the characsaying that he used wines until he became a civil officer. When he ob- ter and unselfish aim of missionaries. served in court that nearly every case of offence against law was traceable Now, the law protects a man in the Ijp drink, he gave up the use of all trquors, fermented or distilled, and espousal of Christian faith. had since been a total abstainer. That man is ex-Provost Dugald Campbell. In Manchuria, William Burns was Captain H. B. Kennedy, Ballater, the pioneer, and now there is abundtold Rev. Wm. Robertson, who had been speaking on Missions in the Es- ant opening for 1,000 laborers. There tablished Church of Scotland: " I was the captain of the Ruby that took are 23,000,000 of people, and only 900 Bishop Sterling to Terra del Fuego, when he gathered the facts that over- converts, so far. Medical Missionswhelmed with surprise the mind of Charles Darwin, and led to his re- have especial promise in China, markable confession as to the success of Christian Missions. Those very where Benevolence is so prominently Terra del Fuegoes have now formed a , society for the rescue of shipwrecked taught as a leading principle of Conmariners.' Those who would a half century since have united to plunder fucianism.
Recently a prominent Chinese liter- ati came to the Missionaries and said: "I want a Saviour! Confucianism provides none; neither does Bud- dhism, or Taoism." In Christ he found the very Saviour he wanted.
Anti-Ohinese Legislation.
The enemies of the Chinese in this country seem determined to fill up the measure of their iniquity. Not con- tent with securing the passage of the "Scott Law," by which a solemn treaty between the governments of the United States and China was nul- lified, and 20,000 certificates entitling absent Chinamen to return to this country and to which the faith of this government was pledged, were repudi- ated, they delibeFately framed another "outra~eous and barbarous" scheme, as the Herald justly characterized it, and the House passed it without op- position. The object of this Enumer- ation Bill was to exclude absolutely all
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
Chinamen from this country; without moralized the Senate. And it was not regard to rank, character, occupation or the purpose of their coming. Mer- in vain. The Independent, of New chants, tourists, students, all, in fact, would be prohtbited from setting foot York, which, from the first, unsparin the United States. We had penned an indignant protest against such a ingly condemned the measure, thus shameless abomination, but before the cold type had put it in permanent voices the feeling and sentiment of the shape the welcome news came that the Senate had killed.the bill by so amend- nation, outside of a narrow circle of ing and eliminating its most offensive features, that its friends were politicians: willing to let it die. " The final result is a victory for the God be praised that the country has Christian sentiment of this country. been saved the shame and wrong of We rejoice in it. '];he Senate did not such an infamous measure. One can- dare to disregard this sentiment. And not read the provisions of this bill and for the present, at least, the tide of conceive how it was possible that the legislative persecution, as we may call popular bFanch of this nation could it, of the Chinese has been stopped. propose such a wanton violation of We trust that it will never come to a our treaties with China, and offersuch flood again. We hope to see it turned a flagrant insult to that great nation. and to see our National Legislature That the passage of the bill would engaged in undoing the wrong that have been followed by retaliatory has been committed in the Exclusi.on measures on the part of China, imperil- acts. ing the lives of our missionaries there and interrupting their work, and re- " What is needed now is an earnest· coiling on American commerce, is be- champion for the Chinese in each yond a doubt. House; some strong man gifted with the courage and perseverance of No more earnest protest was made Senator Blair, who would introduce a against the passage of the bill than repeal bill at every session and keep the that sent up by the New York Cham- subject constantly before Congress and ber of Commerce; and even the secu- the country. Wearesure that the Chrislar press, with few exceptions, spoke tian sentiment which has just shown out against it at the last. Likewise, its power so signally would express our leading Missionary Societies, the itself as openly and emphatically in American Bible Society, the Evangeli- favor of this repeal as it has expressed cal Alliance, and the Society of itself against the Deportation bill. It Friends, as well as several Confer- would, we are confident, rally to the ences of the M. E. Church, vigorously support of such a measure. protested and warned, and also me- The Exclusion acts are directly opposed to the whole policy of this nation from the time of the adoption of our Constitution down to the present. The sentiment of our Christian people does not object to the regulation of the immigration of the Chinese any more than it does to t~e regulation of the immigration from any other quarter; but it is opposed to the absolute exclusion of the natives of any country on the face of the earth. As our Government must sooner or later return to this sound policy, now is a good time to begin to agitate for the repeal of the Exclusion acts."-J. M. S.
VII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
ACrlca.-An English Missionary among couraging, after one's dismal thoughts, to perthe Balolo tribes, on the Upper Congo, says: ceive the readiness with which the people " The people here are a very fine-looking race; listened to what was said to them, and their tall and well made, with intelligent counte- appreciation of it. We have certainly been nances, some of their features being far IIlQre guided as to settling in this place, by far the Enropean than negro. There are five native most populous district we have seen, and huts on the ground which have been bought. utterly untouched by the gospel. To-day, for We have also on the land some plantain trees, the first time in their lives, many of them a few pepper bushes and some maize, the be- have heard the good news." ginning of our future garden. It was qnite en- -" The end of the geographical feat is the beginning of the missionary enterprise." So wiII need the constant intercession of God's said Livingstone in reference to his own plans, people on their behalf. At Matadi there are and so it has proved in connection with the no less than three steamers for the Upper discoveries of Mr. Stanley. His first expedi- Congo besides the Pioneer, two of these are tion resulted in the opening of Uganda to the for the State, and one for the French house. Church Missionary Society, and of Lake One of the State steamers will be the largest Tanganyika to the London Society, and subse- on the Upper Congo.-Mis8. Notes from the quently his passage of the Congo prepared Congo. the way for not less than half a dozen mission- ary societies to enter into that formerly -The grant ofan immense territory along unknown region. Shall not his last crossing the Zambesi River in Africa has been made to of the continent start some new missionary the Duke of Fife and some English colleagues. expedition for the redemption of Africa?- The region embraces nearly three hundred Missionary Herald. thousand square miles, and is very rich, both as to soil and mines. Tile company has power -Lieut. Werner, recently returned from to abolish slavery and restrict the liquor traf- the Congo, said that when he was at Stanley fic in its domains. Missionary work will be as Falls, just before Major Barttelot was killed, free here as in India.-The Helping Hand. Tippoo Tib had a large quantity of ivory, which he would not dispose of for anything -The Basle Mission Magazine gives a ~but gunpowder, and this he could not get then. compreheusive statement as to South African Eventually he sold it to a trader, and Lieut. missions: These missions deserve notice as Werner afterwards met hundreds of barrels of exceptionally strong, and ere the century powder being taken up to pay for the ivory. closes it is probable that Christianity will hold This powder would no doubt be used in raids the predominant position south of the Zam- upon the natives. As to the liquor trade, it besi. We give some of the statistics of tbe was one of the greatest curses under which missions: Rhenish, 30 missionaries, 6,384 com- Africa was at present laboring. This question municants. Berlin, 53 missionaries, 9,763 com- could be much more easily dealt with than municants. Hermanusburg, 52 missionaries, that of arms, as the importation of intoxicat- no statistics of communicants. Paris Evan- ing liquor could be prohibited or put under gelical Mission, 23 missionaries, 6,534 commu- high duties-the more so, as there were few nicants. Free Church of Scotland, 13mission- articles of African commerce which would aries, 3,779 communicants. United Presby- bear taxation. terian, 12 missionaries, 2,307 communicants. American Board, 14 missionaries, 979 com- -Upper Congo Steamers belonging to the municants. To these there are to be added State: "Stanley," "A. I. A.," "En Avant.," three missions of high importance, but which " Ville de Bruxelles," "Ville dQ Gand, " the Basle Resume does not notice, as their "Ville de Liege," "Ville de Charleroi" (the missionary and colonial statistics are not .last is coming); to the Baptist Missions: readily distinguished. These are, first, the S. " Peace, " "Henry Reed;" to the French P. G., which is carrying on with great zeal and House: "France;" to the' Dutch House: euergy a work not second to any. The Wesley- "Holland;" to the French State: "Olima;" an Missions are also most importaut and sucto the Belgian Company: "'Roi des Belges," cessful. To these is to be added the Dutch "General Sanford," HBaron 'Veber,H "¥lori- Reformed Church, which, under leaders such {la," "New York "-17 in all. On the lower as Andrew Murrayand others, is peuetrated by river are, belonging to the State: "Heron," an evangelical and evangelistic spirit, and is "Prince Baudouin," "Belgique," "Esper- doing a great native work. There are also the ance," "Camille Janssen " (the last is a steam Norwegian and Swedish missions inZululand; launch); to the English House: "Itumba;" long oppressed, now with larger promise. to the Dutch House: "Morian;" to the Portu- There is also the Finuish Lutheran Mission, guese House: "Luso."-African News. now under the German protectorate.-Ohurch Miss. Intelligencer. -Bishop Taylor's steamer will be put to- -The Swedish Missionary Society will gether and run on the Lower Congo. shortly send eleven new missionaries into the field, of whom seven are going to the Congo -A steamer of over a thousand tons is and four to Chiua. Good progress is being about to be placed on the Lower Congo to run made on the Congo. Mr. Nilson writes from between Banana and Matadi, in connection Kibunzi that they have had the great joy of with the Congo Railway. baptizing lately three pupils iu their school. The candidates confessed before all their -Messrs. G. D. Adamson, R. Cole, and J. people that they believed in the Lord Jesus Luff, of the Congo-Balolo Mission, arrived Cilrist, aud wished to live in future for His safely at Mpalabala from England, February glory and for the salvation of their fellow-men. 4th. They bring with them a new steam It was a beautiful scene. The congregations launch, the Pioneer,which already has reached are increasing rapidly, as also the confidence Mamdi, the higbest point on the lower river. of the people in their missionaries; so that They hope that this new steam launch wiII they now send their children freely to School. greatly facilitate the preaching of the gospel among the Balolo tribes of the Upper Congo. They have an arduous task before them, and The seven who are going out shortly will raise planted the papal standard four days farther the number of the Swedish missionaries in the inland than the advance Protestant posts. Congo field to twenty. The prosperous and hopeful effort is one of the offshoots of our old "Cheering news comes from the new Congo- Livingstone Inland Mission, which has now be- Balolo Mission, on the Lu Ponga River. They come three bands: this one, the A. B. M. U., have all had fever, but were well and hopeful and the new Congo Balolo. at last writing.
-The Royal Niger Company has, accord- "Out of the small band of missionaries labor- ing to the London Times, reduced the import ing on the Upper Congo, five have had to re- of spirits on the Niger to one-fourth of what it turn home recently. was, prohibiting the trade absolutely in one- third of its territories, with the intention to do "Our daily cry to the Lord of the harvest is, so in another third, and being ready, as regards , sendforth laborers.' " the remaining third, to welcome any definite arrangement on the subject agreed to by -The British South Africa Company is, England, France and (krmany. The total pledged by its charter to labor for the extinc- importation of spirits into these widely-ex- tion of slavery and the slave trade, and to pre- tended territories last year amonnted to vent the sale of intoxicating liquors to the 70,000 gallons. The-complaint made by Ger- natives. In connection with the African Lakes man merchants as to tbe neglect of their in- Company, it proposes to establish regular terests on the Niger has not yet been finally postal and passenger service on the Zambesi disposed of by the British and German gov- and Shiril. ernments; but, from an official reply in the Reichstag, the main question is not the im- ChloD.-Dr. Peck, on retuming from position ofcustoms by the Niger Company, but China, after nine years of service, finds that, their excessive rate. This applies specially to he has a record of 70,000 cases which he has intoxicants. treated, including those who have come more than once, and that fully 45,000 persons, -Bishop Taylor arrived in New York in have thus been brought under his influence. Aprilin good health. He says: "Our missions in Africa, in spite of all sorts of discourage- IodID.-It is reported from India that ments, are developing most encouragingly. two women commissioners are to be appointed This year will exceed any in the past in pre- by the Nizams' government to take the testiparing mission-houses. We have just com- mony of the residents of zenanas who are not pleted the repairs of the Monrovia Seminary suffered by usage to appear in court to testify. building, and will, by July, complete the repairs of Cape Palmas Seminary. They are -Out of 900 foreign missionaries at present large, stone buildings, erected by our Mission- in India, representing various lands and peoary Society many years ago, but for years ples, the oldest is an American, the Rev. John abandoned to the wastes of decay. We will Newton (of the Presbyterian Church), the this year (D. V.) rebuild the seminary at veteran missionary of Lahore, who at the age White Plains, twenty-three miles from Mon- of 78 is still a happy worker in his chosen rovia, up St. Paul's River-the old battle- field. Mr. Newton landed in Calcutta in Febground of Ann Wilkins-also, repair our ruary, 1835, almost 54 years ago; he has, church in Cape Palmas, and build two mission- labored since in connection with the wellhouses for new missions in North Liberia. All known Lodiana Mission. Four sons born here this belongs properly to the old Liberia mis- and educated in America, returned to this sion work of our Society, and they are fur- country 'as missionaries; one of these, Dr. J. nishing the fnnds for the improvements Newton, died in India after 22 years' service; named, except forthe Cape Palmas Seminary. the others are still in, the ranks; the five We expect, by the will of God, to find the men laborers have given 125 years of service to and the money for passage, and have all these India. A daughter returned to India as a manned in this year, 1890. About a dozen missionary, and afterward married Rev. Dr. houses for chapel and for school purposes, Forman, of Lahore, whose two sons and commenced in our Cavalla River and Kru daughter have recently returued to India as Coast Missions last year, are to be completed missionaries, the first representatives of the this year. Further, the builders of our steamer third generation in this grand missionary on the Congo have gone on at the time ap- family. pointed, and will (D. V.) construct and launch her during the coming summer. " -The Cambridge Mission to Delhi, estab- lished twelve years ago, is earnestly com- -Our correspondent at the Equator Station mended to the sympathy and support of CA. B. M. U.) writes us: Cambridge men by Dr. B. F. Westcott, as chairman of the Cambridge committee, in a "The Leo XIII, Catholic mission steamer, letter to the Times. At the present time the has just returned from Bangola, where the Mission is building a new college at the sug- Jesuits have been to complete arrangements gestion of the Indian Government, who have' for opening a new station. Thus they have given the site, the higher education of the Southern Punjaub having, "by a series of most unexpected events," been entrusted to the Mission.
-Seventeen Kohls were baptized by Rev. E. Petrick, in Assam, January 5. Thousands ous churches and vigorous schools established of these people are laboring in the tea-gar- under their care, over a territory nearly as dens of Assam, and they offer one of the large as the State of Massachusetts. But there finest fields for missionary labor. is one large part of this interesting field, in and around Konia, the Iconium of Paul's epistles, -Darjeeling. Baptisms in 1889. There have where schools and church work are almost at been 118 baptisms in the three missions dur- a stand still because the station cannot pro- ing the last year, viz. : 72 in Darjeeling, 45 in vide for the slight additional expenditure Kalimpong, and 1 in Sikkim Mission. Since which is needed. With $675 more at command Jauuary 1, in Darjeeling Division, 13; Kalim- each year for the purpose, this part of their pong Division, 36; Sikkim Division, 1; total, 50. field, as open and promising as any other part, There are now 1,182 baptized Christians in the could be well manned and a noble evangelical three missions, viz.: 562 in Darjeeling, 566 in work inaugurated. Who will come forward Kalimpong, and 54 in Sikkim Mission. with special gifts to aid in re-establishing the Christian Church on these apostolic found- Japan -A telephone has been estab- ations?-Missionary Herald. lished between Yokohama and Strizuoka, a rustance of 100 miles, in Japan, by order of B1Bc:ellaneou8.–Moravian Missions. the Mikado. It is the first in the country and works finely.-Electrical Review. TABLE SHOWING THE NUMBER OF BAPTIZED ADULTS IN THE VARIOUS MORAVIAN MISSION -The Osaka fre-{)ity and surrounding dis- trict-in its last annual statement, gave the FIELDS IN 1790 AND IN 1890. number of Christian church buildings in the jre on Dec. 31, 1889, as 25, and of rented chap- As the first column, taken from the first els, 19; total, 44. This is the first Japanese issue of the Periodical Accounts, 1790, ex- official recognition in annual statistics of the cludes the catechumens and baptized chil- status of the visible Christian Church in the dren, the second, showing the present number land. of converts, must do the same.
-Rev. J. L. Dearing says the eagerness of 11S.
the Japanese for Christianity is overstated. I~ They are eager for education, but Christianity is a stumbling-block to many. 1~210,,§co"l~ 0:p:~ ::j"..'3q ~q~ ~O;"I~ g ~ "'I!' !I:: -A New York publisher has been shipping ..",,,, IIR ~.; I~., l""'I ~ .$ 50,000 American school books a year to Japan. "~8'"~.8…!.:: ~ I I w. .""~ . -The Roman Catholics have organized in .Japan, with four bishops, at Tokyo, Kyoto, ""0<'"l : Nagasaki, and Bendai. ~=~.~~;:~~:: .. < .. :" S """"<~'"l .";::: "S'l ':.~- ':-Z.~,' Korea.-The Korean Alphabet is pho- :ai ~5: 8~.,.;~s::~.r…; ; CIS netic and so simple that anyone can learn to §~ 0 read in a day. Nearly all thewomen in Korea '<l iw. : ~ -can read. 0 .. " : :.S "~'" ~S:!';':~ Ne'W Zealand.-The last census in I ' : : ~ ~ ~1: .S "<'"l New Zealand reveals the interesting fact of a • •:"<'"l profession of religion on the part of no less 'I " :s~ ~ than 95 per cent. of the whole population. .01-1 •• ? ~ ~""'~ II.UBBla.-Aside from the idolaters of : :.~ Siberia there are thirty million subjects of ! ~ Russia whose religion is foreign, namely: 'S~~"""''Sl~;.~g ~ ~t.,w:o .S 1,500,000 Armenians, 5-6,000,000 Lutherans, I"'"~'"~"=~1"!=a';<:5:l.jECIS ~'" 9-10,000,000 Catholics, 3-4,000,000 Jews, and ""~'" O.S"'l§8 ? about 10,000,000 Mohammedans. Buddhists " ;.J;48~~:"d~,!::I:dI abound in Siberia, and extend even to the borders of the Volga. ~","1"'0lO"=i="S<-"il'll Thlbet.-A Roman Catholic missionary, liHHH2E §lei ~~~~CX~l~OH~¢~OO~~ the Abb6 Desgodius, has been for thirty years trying to gain access to Thibet. He has been ..=&, all that time living on the southern and easternJ'rontiers, and has compiled a compendious ~~ Thibetan dictionary. l""'I'P"'I..-t,….,….
Turke;y.-Probably no mission station Including baptized children and converts for in the Turkish Empire can give a better ac- baptism, the total at present under the care of count of the work attempted and the results our missionaries is 85,806.-Periodical Acaccomplished in"evangelistic labor and tour- count•. ing among the out-stations than Cesarea, in the Western Turkey Mission. Dr. Farnsworth -The chief religions of the world may be and his associates there have a noble memorial classified according to the number of adherof their enterprise and fidelity in the numer- ents as follows: Christianity, 450,000,000; Confucianism, 390,000,000; Hinduism, 190,000,- 000; Mohammedism, 18,000,000; Fetishism, 150,000,000; Buddhism,I00,OOO,OOO; Spirit Worship, 50,000,000; Shintoism, 20,000,000; Jews, and abroad, for publications, loan libraries, 8,000,000; Parsees, 1,000,000. Total, 1,449,000,- expenses, etc., amounted to $30,241.41. 000. $491.85 has been expended for the aid of the shipwrecked and destitute. -The following shows the distribution of missionaries in the chief missionary fields: -A popular edition of the Bible in Portu- China has one ordained missionary to each gese is to be issued in numbers on the same '733,000 of population; Siam, one to each 600,- plan that has been so sucoessful in Italy. 000; Corea, one to each 500,000; India, one to each 850,000; Africa, one to each 300,000; -Medical Missions: Facts and Testimo- Japan, one to each 215,000; Burma, one to nies to their Success. Compiled by W. J. each 200,000. Nearly all the missionaries in Wanleas, M. D., and published by the Mission- Africa are around the coast. In Oentral ary Echo Publishing Co., Toronto, Oanada. Africa and the Soudan there is as yet only It is a small, convenient, and admirably ar- one missionary to each 5,000,000 people.- ranged manual. Price 6 cents; 30 cents a Baptist Mission. dozen.
-Heathen at Home. The Rev. J. S. Stone, -Rev. F. T.Whitman, of the Brighton Ave. formerly of Bombay, now engaged in mission Church, Boston, Mass, has sailed for Rangoon, work in this city, testifies that the moral deg- Burmah, where he is to become pastor of the radation of New York city equals the worst English-speaking Baptist church in that city. pht>nomena of the Black Holes of sin in Cal- cutta and Bombay, where the depravity of -Bishop Thoburn of India expects to be the Orient shows its darkest sides. At times, in this country in July for a brief visit. he says, it is appalling even to an Indian mis- sionary. -Mr. Joseph Thomson's article on "The Results of European Intercourse with the -Chinese Evangelist. We deeply regret to African," in the March Contemporary Review, note that our friend, Mr. Rapper, has been will strengthen the hands of thA British repre- obliged to discontinue the issue of this excellent sentatives at the International Oonference now missionary magazine for want of support. It sitting in Brussels. The importation of ardent is a pity; for just such a periodical is needed to spirits is producing results even more appall- awaken a deeper and wider interest in our ing than many philanthropists have pictured. Chinese population. We earnestly hope it Our own merchants, says Mr. Thomson. may be revived. Is there not some liberal through the trade of gin and rum, are spread- ,soul who will furnish the means necessary? ing ravages of demoralization that ought to Would it not be well for some of our mission- clothe us in sackcloth and ashes. European ary societies to consider the matter? Such a intercourse along the West Ooast, and over the promising agency ought not to be left to die. whole of East Central Africa, spite of mission- -J.M.S. ary efforts, has been an unmitigated curse. The warehouses along the coast are filled with -American Seamen's Friend Society. gin; the air seems to reek with it, and every Dr. Meredith, of the Tompkins Avenue Oon- hut is redolent with its fumes. To walk gregational Ohurch, Brooklyn, preached the through the squalor and vice of a village is annual sermon in his own church to a large like a horrible nightmare. Women and chilaudience on Sunday evening, May 4. dren even are calling out for gin, and all is be- sotment and fiendish debauch. This awful The report of the secretary of the society, witness is from one who has seen it all, and the Rev. Dr. W. O. Stitt, was read, giving par- ought profo'undly to affect the Church of God. ticulars in regard to the society's work that cannot fail to be gratifying evidence of suc- -A Missing Missionary Steamer. A telecess in its sixty-second year. The feature of gram from Victoria, BrItish Oolumbia, anthe work for seamen that was most empha- nounces that the missing missionary steamer, sized by both Dr. Meredith and Dr. Stitt was Glad Tidings, concerning whose safety considthe "loan library" scheme. These libraries erable apprehensions have been entertained, are selected by experts and placed upon ships has arrived safely at Port Simpson. ·on their outward voyages. -The American Baptist Year Book for During the year ending March 31, 1890, the 1890 gives large figures for the Regular Baptists BQCiety had sent out 490 of these loan libraries. in tlie United States. They have 21,175 or- 'The total number of volumes in these libraries dained ministers, 33,588 churches, and 3,070,047 'is 21,070, and of new books 6,665, available members. These figures include white and during the year to 7,026 seamen. The United colored, Northern and Southern Baptists. states naval vessels and the hospitals, as well The number of baptisms last year was 144,575. as the life-saving stations, have also all been They' have 17,096 Sunday·schools, with 1,158,665 provided with these libraries. pupIls; the value of their church property is $53,568,502, and the aggregate of their contri- The cash receipts of the society from lega- butions last year was $9,363,S77. ·cies, donations, loan library contributions, and ·other sources amounted to $38,5l!O.35. The -American Colonization Society. Receipts ·disbursements for missionary work at the during the past year, $17,144; expenses, $13,- 'Cherry street home and elsewhere at home 508: balance in t.he treasury, $3,636. Sixty emigrants were sent out during the year, making a total of 21.858 persons to whom the Society has given homes III Africa. Liberia is in a flourishin~ condition. It is America's gift to Africa. It 1B a comprehensive missionary station. It is a ~rand basis from which to in- troduce civilizatlOn and Ohristianity into all that region of the Western Ooast.
INDEX OF CONTENTS OF THE JUNE NUMBER. [June-
INDEX OF CONTENTS OF THE JUNE NUMBER.
PAGE China, 474; Anti·Chinese Legislation, I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS..•••••• 401-446 474; Dr. Peck's Nine Years' Service, 477; n.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLI' Chinese Evangelist……. . …………. 479" Colonization Society, American, last re- GENCE ……………………. +17-454 port……………………………….. 479 m.-MIsSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE••• 454-458 Comparative Destitution in Christian and IV.-INTERNATIONAI.. DEPARTMlllNT.••. 458-466 Pagan Lands…. ………… ……. .••. 471 V.-MoNTHLY CONClllRT OF MISSIONS 466-470 Consecration Prayer Meeting, A, and What VI.-EDITORIAI.. NOTES ON CuRRENT Came out of It……………………… 472 Druid Celts, The-The Early Missionary TOPICS. '•••.•.•……. " …… 471-475 Race of Western Europe, Dr. Ellinwood 438 VIT.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY GREAT BRITAIN.-Dr. Pierson's Mis· sion Tour of Britain, 401; Memorial BULLETIN •••••••••••••••••••• , 475-479 Statue to John Howard …………….. 474 Heathen at Home ……………………. 479 Authors. How Shall Mohammedans be Evangelized 428· INDIA.-An Extraordinary Pamphlet, Anonymous, How Shall Mohammedans be ~52; Appeal from the Kohlapur Mission, 456; The Gospel Weakening the Defences Evangelized••••••••••<.. ,……… •.••.• 428 of Hinduism, 444; The oldest Foreign Missionary out of 900 in India is an EDlTORS.-A. T. Pierson, The lIlission Tour American, Rev John Newton, 477; The of Britain .•••••…•…•.••…. , •. , .•…• 401 Cambridge Mission to Delhi, 477; Darjeel. ing Mission ………………………… 478' Editorial Notes, J. M. Sherwood………. 471 Indian Evangelization, J. T. Gracey, D.D .. 461 Ellinwood, Dr. F. F., The Druid Celts-The International Missionary Union, Seventh Annual Meet.ing……. . …………… 465, Early Missionary Race of Western Eu· JAPAN.-The Modern Martyr of the rope, 438; The Great African Mission Orient, Joseph Neesima, Letter from Field ………………. ,' …………. 466 Rev. JamesH. Pettee, 456; Various items Gracey, J. T., D.D.; International Papers. 458 of interest. '" ……… '" …………… 478 Grout, Rev. Lewis, Pastor Harms and His JEWS.-Free Church of Scotland Mis· Mission Work ……………………… 410 sions …………………………….. 453 Knox, Charles E., D.D., Personal Observa- KOREA.-The Korean Alphabet.. ……•. 478 tions in Brazil…………. . ……… 422 Let Us Expect Great Things, Dr. J. T. Moorehead, Max'Vood, The Student Vol· Gracey …………………………… 458 unteer Movement ……. , …………… +17 Medical Missions, Facts and Testimonies Schodde, Rev. George H., Ph. D., The to their Success. … ….. .. ………… 479 Religious Work Among the Immigrants 416 Missionaries-the distribution of, in the Starbuck, Rev. Charles C., Translations world…………………………… 479 from Foreign l1issionary Magazines .. " 443 Mohammedans, How Shall They be Evan· gelized …………………………… 428 Countries and Subjects. Moravian Missions …………………… 445 Moravian llnssions, table of statistics in AFRICA.-British Missions and the Por· 1790 and 1890. .. . . .. .. … • .•• ………… 478. tuguese,448; German Protestant Missions NEW ZEALAND.-Ninety·five percent. on the Cameroons River, +19; A Pathetic of the population professing Christians.. 478 Story, 450; Ascent of Ruwenzori in Opium Traffic in China; Powerful Appeal Africa, 451; The Great African Mission Against it from the Native Churches..•• 454 Field, by Dr. F. F. Ellinwood, 466; Afri·· Pastor Harms and His Mission Work, Rev. can ExPlorations, 467; "Sincere Chris· Lewis Grout ……………………….. 410 tians" and the Liquor Traffic in Africa, PORTUGAL.-Its Claims to Afrlcan Ter- 471; Two favorite Pictures of Stanley, ritory, a Note of Warning from R. N. C. 453 471; The Balolo tnbes on the Upper Religions of the world classified. . •• . . •. . .. 478 Congo, 475; Geographical Discovery and Results of European Intercourse with the Missions, 476; Lieut. Werner and Tippoo African ………………….. '" …….. 479 Tib, 476; Congo Steamers, 476; Mission. RUSSIA.-Foreign religions in the em. ary Notes rom the Congo, 476; South pire ……………………………… 478 African Missions, 476; Swedish Mis. Seaman's Friend Society, American, an· sionaries to the Congo and China, 476; nual report. . … .. ….. .. .•.• • .. .•. …… 479 Royal Niger Co., 476; Bishop Taylor and Secular Instruction……… : …………. 443 hl"African Missions, 477; From our Cor· Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign respondent at the Equator Station, 477; Missions ………………………….. 447 British South Africa Co.,……………. 477 THIBET.-Thibetan Dictionary ……… 478 UNITED STATES.-Religious Work Baptist Year Book for 1890, the American 479 Among the Immigrants…………….. 41& Berlin Missionary Society, Statistics of, ••• 458 Worship of Words, The ………………. 464, RRAZIL.-Dr. Knox's Personal Observa.
tions in, 422; Church Disestablishment.. 465 CHINA. – High Honor shown to an American Missionary, 452; God and the at Opium Traffic, Letter from an Ameri.
can Missionary Shanghai and an Appeal from the Christian Churches of Canton to the (''hristian Churches of England, 454; The Literary Teacher in
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1889
~ERVING OUR OWN GENERATION
IISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE- WORLD.
VOL. XI. No. 7.-Oid Series._-JULY.-_VOL. II. No. 7.-New Seriu. , I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. SERVING OUR OWN GENERATION.
LEDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] PAUL, in the Antiochan Synagogue, significantly said of David, "He served his own generation by the will of God." * If anything especially distinguishes those foremost missionary disciples of our day-the Moravians-it is the sublime purpose to reach their own generation with the gospel. Count Zinzendorf led in this unique consecration to present service, when he chose as his motto, "That land is henceforth my country, which most needs the gospel."
To this thought we would now give emphasis: the lifetime of our generation bounds at once our work and our opportunity. What we are to give we must impart while we are living; what they are to receive from us they must get while they are yet living, We owe to our Lord an infinite debt; we can never pay it ; all we can do is to acknowledge it by service to our generation according to His will and in His name. Obviously 80 far as that debt can be paid, it can be paid only during the period which limits the generation of which we form a part. This proposition seems so simple and obvious as to need no argument. Yet, practically, it has never been accepted and acted on by the church in modern times, nor at any time since the apostolic age.
There are two sorts of service we may render to humanity: one is immediate and transient, the other is remote and permanent.
For example: a confbgration sweeps over some great metropolis, consuming every conbustible dwelling and leaving thousands of families without clothing, food or shelter. Manifestly, every true fellow-citizen owes to the naked, starving, homeless, an immediate and imperative duty which can be done only now. The first necessity is to rally universally to put out the fire, save those now imperilled and perishing, and feed, clothe and house the destitute. After these present and pressing needs are met, it behooves us to make permanent provision against like calamities hereafter, preventing such catastrophies by securing a more adequate water supply, a better equipped fire department, and a fire-proof class of buildings. But only fools or monsters * Acts xiii : 36. would meet to consult about such permanent preventive measures while the fire was yet raging or the multitudes were yet starving or freezing! Humanity and philanthrophy instinctively impel us to re- lieve immediately the peril of the perishing. '
God has committed to the church a double work. Undoubtedly there are remote and permanent results at which we are to aim, even the laying of broad and firm foundations for the evangelization and edifi- cation of future generations. We are to erect Ohristian homes, churches, schools, colleges, seminaries; provide translations of the Word of God and a Ohristian literature, thus simplifying the work of each succeed- ing generation, lessening the labor, facilitating the process, accelera- ting the progress of the work, for all time to come. But, me:1nwhile, we must not overlook what is even a more pressing duty and'privilege, viz.: 1.oe must not permit this1!eneration to die unsaved, so far as our consecrated labor can prevent it. No activity in providing for future generations can atone for our inactivity in providing for our own generation, which first of all we are to serve, by the will of God, with the gospel.
We pray God that this one thought may press with mighty and resist- less weight upon the heart and conscience of every believer. When Ohrist said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," he must have meant that those to whom he spoke should go forth and reach those who were then living. That command is of perpetua.l force. It applies to every new generation of believers; and it means that, in every successive age, the church shall both undertake and overtake this great work. If it seem too great, he reminds us that omnipotence is His: "All power;" omnipresence is His: "Lo, I am with you;" eternity is His: "Alway, even unto the end of the age."
And, if the church will take up this work faithfully, He will supple- ment all her efforts with His omnipotent, omnipresent, perpetual co- operation.
How the church may serve its own generation has an example in Scripture history. The so-called Acts of the Apostles is a book, the very frame work of which has a strange meaning. It covers just about thirty-three years, the average lifetime of a generation. It reveals the infant church, receiving its" infant baptism," its anointing ofthe Holy Ghost for service; and then undertaking to reach every "nation" and "every creature" with the proclamation of the gospel. The book covers only the period of a single genemtion, as though to show us what was possible even then, with a few disciples who had no wealth, no learning, no social standing; no modern facilities for travel and transportation, for translation and publication and distribution of the word of God, for acquiring and utilizi"!1g foreign tongues; and, as though to demonstrate to each succeeding generation of believers what could be done and what should be attempted, as the progress of the ages should put at their disposal new and marvellous helps to the work.
How did .those primitive disciples undertake the work of serving their own generation by the will of God? As John Wesley said, they were" All at it and always at it." The first glimpse we get of the apostolic church reveals the disciples, men and women, meeting for ten days of continuous prayer, waiting before God for the gift of the Promised Spirit. They had from Christ a verbal commission; now they tarried for that enduement and endowment which were to become a new and actual and dynamic commission: they had the message; now they waited for the power. The only time that was "lost" for the direct work, was the time" saved" in getting the divine preparation for the work. Then, at once, on that very day of Pentecost, the actual business of bearing the message of life to every nation and every creature was systematically begun. Peter's unfolding of pruphecy and of the history that fulfilled it, was the means of bringing 3,000 hearers to the immediate acceptance of Christ as Messiah and Saviour.
That was' the first step. What was the second? Those converted souls became witnesses for God and the gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Read this explicit narrative. Why is the Inspiring Spirit so careful to leave on record the wide representation gathered in that Pentecostal assembly? Four verses in the second chapter are given to the brief delineation of the Pentecostal Descent of Power: the fulness of time, the one accord in one place, the sudden sound from heaven, the three symbolic expressions of the Holy Spirit-the wind or breath, the invisible secret of communicated life; the fire, that represents light, or knowledge, heat, or love-that purifies what 18 most precious and consumes what is worthless; and the cloven ton.tue, that represents the VOICE, that sign and signal and symbol of intelligence and affection, multiplied to meet the ears of all strange peoples.
The next eight verses are given to the delineation of the wide territory represented in that Pentecostal gathering. "There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." And subsequently minuter particulars are added: they are from the remote East, Parthia and Media; from the north, Pontus, and the shores of the Black Sea; from the south, Arabia and Egypt; from the west, Crete and even Rome. In other words, every quarter and almost every portion of the known world is represented in that audience and in that anointing. Ears accustomed to strange tongues hear in those foreign dialects the story of redemption, and tongues accustomed to foreign speech begin to tell the story to others. What is the Spirit doing? Not simply bringing the message to the ea.rs of all nations in one gathering, but raising up and equipping a great body of heralds to bear the good tidings back to their own peoples. Let lis not attach too narrow a meaning to that phrase, "dwellinJ! at Jerusalem." * These were probably not permanent inhabitants, otherwise they would not have been more familiar with foreign tongues than with their own Jewish language, or the current Hellenistic dialect; they were proba- bly either Jewish proselytes or foreign Jewish residents, who were tem- porarily residing at Jerusalem to keep the sacred feasts, and who would, sooner or later, return to their own homes, going to all points of the compass to carry the good news of salvation. The Eunuch of Ethiopia has generally been regarded as such a proselyte, who, on his return from the sacred city to Ethiopia, was reading Isaiah's prophecy, deeply absorbed in what he has heard at Jerusalem, and who, on be- ing taught by Pl:;tilip, and illumined by the Holy Spirit, went on his way rejoicing; and, as traditon states, together with the evangelist Mark, founded the church at Alexandria.
But we autictipate. The natural, conservative, concentrative ten- dency of the Hebrew converts would lead to their prolonged iltay at Jerusalem. On the one hand there was the old exclusive jealousy of Jerusalem as the capital city and only nucleus of the Jewish state and church; and on the other hand there was the exclusive spirit of Judaism that shut in all Jews, and shut out all Gen- tiles as common and unclean. God interposed to prevent the church from u tarrying at Jerusalem" after being "endued with power from on high." First, He dispersed those disciples by persecution and while the apostles were still at Jerusalem, the great body of be- lievers were scattered abroad, and went every where preaching the word. t And, secondly, He taught Peter, who was both a leader in evangelism and in exclusivism, a threefold lesson on the house-top, that what God had cleansed no man must call common. Here, then, were the three grand conditions of universal evangelism: a universal commission and endl1ement, a general scattering of disciples in all di- rections, and a rebuke of all exclusive Jewish prejudices.
The church of apostolic times heeded the voice and finger of God, and took up, straightway, the work of preaching the gospel to their generation. They all undertook to reach all men God gave suc- cessive Pentecosts, as He always will when the work is done in His own fashion. The outpouring in Jerusale~ was followed by another in Samaria nnder Philip, and another in Oornelius's palace under Peter, and another in Ephesus under Paul,-and so Jew, Samaritan, Ro- man and Greek-all had typical blessings.
Another step must be noted: the division ofthe world-field. So vast a terriiory could not be covered 'in one generation without system There wert several conspicuous" pillars" of the church, leaders of the Lord's host: Peter, James, John; and, later, Paul was added.
*KilTou'oiJV're~. tActs viii : 1-4; xi : 19-21. There were at least four classes of peoples to be looked after-converted Jews in Judea, dispersed Jews in the East, Greeks and Romans. A glance at the Acts of the Apostles and at Galatians 1 : 7-10, will show that there was a distinct und~rstanding entered into and acted upon that there should be a divisiou of labor. James seems to have become the guardian of converted Hebrews in Judea; Peter, to have gone eastward to the Dispersed Tribes about Babylon; John, to have nourished the church in Ephesus, the center of Greek civilization and Diana worship; and Paul to have set his face toward Rome and Gaul. There were doubtless minor subdivisioJ).s of labor, but these cardinal points in the compass of the work are conspicuous. In the book of Acts, after the first ten chapters, Peter disappears from view, because the book is mainly designed to tell us how the doors were opened to the Gentile world, entered by the apostle of the Gentiles. But we are not necessarily to suppose Peter to have been any less active or successful among the circumcision than Paul among the uncircumcision.
Now we have no record of Peter's activity in evangelism, but we may take Paul's as a specimen of how one believer in the early church served his own generation. We find this one man going within thirtythree xears over most of the known world west of the Golden Horn, from Antioch to Athens, from Jerusalem to Rome, and, as some think, to Spain and Britain. And the astounding result of such evangelistic activity on the part of th~ whole church is that Paul is able to write to the Oolossians, before his death, which must have been, of course, before Nero's death, which was in A. D. 68: "The gospel is come unto you as it is in all the world;" and again, "the gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every creature (or, in all creation, R. V.) under heaven." * Making all allowance for a legit- imate generality of I:'tatemen t, we find it difficult to get away from this fact that, within thirty-five years after our Lord ascended, the gospel had been carried throughout the known world. That generation of believers gave the gospel to that same generation of unbelievers as it has never been done since!
There has been a long, a criminal delay of the church in taking up the enterprise of a world's evangelization. While we have been" playing at missions," fifty generations have come and gone, without one generatiou of them all being overtaken with the gospel! It is believed that, since the days of our Lord, the average of a generation has been from about one-third to one-half of the present popUlation of the globe, say 600,000,000. If so, the aggregate of these fifty generations has been 30,000,000,000 or twenty times the entire present population of the globe! Of course we can form no conception of such a vast host. To march by us in procession, day and night, ten abreast • Colossians i : 6-23; 1 Thess. i: 6·7. passing each second, such a multitude would require nearly a centur,y! Each generation thus perishing without Christ has gone to accuse the church before God of the double crime of unfaithfulness to the Saviour and neglect of souls.
Meanwhile, during all these fifty generations, the church has been suffering injury in every vital interest. The connection between evangelistic activity and evangelical purity is natural and necessary. Dr. Duff rang out this as with a voice of thunder. Shaftesbury testified that the most potent remedy for current unl:>elief, skepticism and ungodliness, is to be perpetually busy in work for souls. And Dr. Hitchcock, almost with his last breath, declared that the church that has no missionaries will soon have no ministers. The primitive church still stands a model and a pattern of purity of faith and fidelity of work. Never was evangelism so universal, both as to those who undertook it and as to those who were reached by it. Ever since, and down to our day, the best churches in every respect have been those which are foremost as aggressive missionary bodies. In fact, the guage of church life has come to be, what we are doing for lost souls outside of ourselves.
But, most of all, this thought oppresses us, that for fifty generations Christ has been waiting to see of the travail of His soul and to be satisfied. Missions have an intensely vital relation to the person of our Lord. He left certain representative commands-commandswhich center about His own personality: "Follow thou ME 1" "Do this, in remembrance of ME"; "Go ye: and 10, I am with you." Weare identified with Him; we are to share His travail, His yearnings, His sorrows, His vicarious agonies;* yes, and His conquest, His satisfaction, His coronation, too. How can we be Christ's, and yet have none of His passion for souls? How escape travailing in birth for souls until Christ be formed in them ?t Upon the banners of the church let us emblazon, as in letters of light, our motto: THE WORLD FOR CHRIST IN OUR OWN GENERATION; and let us take up the work anew, with a firm purpose, by God's help, to overtake eveOry living soul with the message of the Gospel before this generation shall pass away 1 God is in haste to cut short this work in righteousness. In a reverent sense, Dr. Gordon has reversed the old adage, and says, "God's extremity is man's opportunity." We, who are His disciples, must come up on higher ground. Our platform must be one of abso- lute self-surrender to Him for service to our own generation. We must be willing, now and here, to say, "Lord, I am ready to do what- soever Thou shalt appoint." In simple obedience to that last command, without a secular spirit, a calcula:ting hyper-caution, a dependence on worldly patronage, a distrust of adequate support, without wait- *0010s8. i:24. tGal. Iv: 19. ing for the whole church to recognize her obligation or attempt to"
discharge it, those who do feel the mighty pressure of these great facts and truths must covenant with God and each other, that this generation shall not pass away till all this work be done I This conception of evangelism grows upon the writer until it is difficult to think of anything else. God has given to the church of our day a material equipment for this work which is as far in advauce of apostolic days as the speed of steam and lightning is ahead of camels and horses. Every resource is divinely at our disposal. We can go round the earth in ninety days, and girdle it with electricity in ninety seconds. Steam cars wait to carry us wherever engineering can construct a track, and steamboats are ready to float us wherever rivers run. The printing press will multiply the healing leaves of the tree of life as fast as we can scatter them, and the common school, now fast becoming universal, offers to fit every man to read the Scripture in his own tongue. God has flung all the doors open, and every land is now a Macedonia whose voice is, "Come over and help us/' Back of the missions of a century there stand results so amazing that even unbelievers confess the finger of God. In front of the mission band lie unoccupied territories, inviting the plowman and the sower, and white harvest fields demanding the reaper with his sickle. .AJ3 to money, if one-tenth of the treasure now in the coffers of Christians in England and America were put on the altar of sacrifice, it would suffice to multiply all that is now spent on the entire mission field~ two hundredfold. Do we realize what that means? It means twelve hundred thousand missionaries in the field, or one to every eight hundred of the unevangelized; it means churches, schools and colleges in every heathen, pagan, papal, and Moslem community; it means the blessing long since promised, when all the tithes are brought into the store-house,-a blessing poured out until there be none left to pour ouf; 1* Here is a magnificent material equipment, but it is a machine without an adequate motor. All the combined energy of the flesh will never set this huge mechanism in motion. There is bnt one Power equal to the emergency; it is the vital spark that flashes from above, and only prevailing prayer can bring that spark down. The whole church of Gou should be on her knees, pleading and waiting for the celestial fire. Let that descend, and every wheel will move and every lever play; money will be outpoured like water; life will offer its vitality and vigor, and, better than treasure or life, LOVE will count no cost dear, no toil hard, no load heavy, when Jesus leads and souls are dying! We write these words with the conviction taking hold like a taproot upon the depths of our being, that it is both practicable and *lIIalachI3: 10. See Hebrew.
MUSTARD SEEDS OF MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
possible to preach the Gospel to every human being before this generation passes away!
THE MUSTARD SEED OF MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
BY REV. LEWIS GROUT, WEST BRATTLEBOROUGH, VT.
IT was a little more than 150 years ago, or in 1737, that George Schmidt began to tell the story of the cross to a little company of darkminded Hottentots at Bavian's Kloof, 130 miles out from Cape Town. This little nook at length took on the more beautiful and appropriate name Genadendal. or "Vale of Grace." Having built a house, planted a garden, set out a few fruit trees, taught some of the people to read the Scriptures, and gathered a few of them into the fold of Christ, the Dutch settlers began to put such hindrances in the way of his work that, at the end of seven years, he was obliged to give up and leave the field. And yet, the seed he sowed, though much of it laY" buried long, was neither lost nor forgotten. After a lapse of 50 years the way was opened for others to come in and renew the work. Reaching the same field, "the Vale of Grace," to their great joy, in a few remains of the old mission walls, a few fruit trees still in bearing, and, most of all, in a few praying souls, they found glad mementoes and proof of the good work there begun in the years of long ago, and among the rest an aged Hottentot woman, whom SchmIdt had baptized, who still remembered her beloved teacher, had, indeed, a Bible he had given her, and rejoiced exceedingly when she was told that the new missionaries were his brethren. This new mission, though for a time greatly opposed by the Dutch, was greatly blessed of God. The enterprise, there and thus begun, has continued to grow until that" Vale of Grace" is now able to show a large and prosperous settlement, and a congregation of more than three thousand members, and from this blessed center the good work of theMoravians has gone on to prosper and extend till it now includes two South African provinces with 16 stations, 60 missionaries, and more than 12,000 converts to the Christian faith.
It was not long after Schmidt's immediate successors revived his work, that the London Missionary Society was formed (1795) and began to seek some one who should be suited to the same pioneer work of carrying the light of the Gospel to the benighted tribes of Africa. Nor was it long before they found such a man in the person of John Theodosius Vanderkemp, of Holland. Having pursued a five years' course of training at the University of Leyden, distinguished himself as captain of horse and lieutenant of dragoon guards in the army, taken a course of study in the classics, both ancient and modem, in the natural sciences, and in philosophy, at Edinburgh, and then risen to great repute in the practice of medicine, and been subject, meantime, to much severe discipline at the hands of the Lord, at the age of fifty he responded to the call to be a leader in raising the standard of t116 cross in one of the darkest parts of the earth, and entered upon his work in 1799 at the Cape of Good Hope. Having labored for a time among the slaves, Mohammedans and Hottentots here at the Cape, and awakened a deep interest in his mission on the part of the colonists, he set forward for the regions beyond; and then to the northeast, among Hottentots, Kafirs, and other tribes, shrinking from no labor or peril, however great, he did a marvellous work for Christ and his poor. Often opposed, often persecuted, yet never yielding, he devoted himself with great diligence and fidelity, for 13 years, to the cause he loved; and then, with a few farewell words, went suddenly to the rest his Lord ~ad prepared for him in "the better country." The station which Vanderkemp founded at Bethelsdorf continued to prosper, and the work he began under the auspices of the London Society went on to develop and extend until it has already raised up more than a hundred native preachers, brought about 6,000 souls into the church, and won to its instruction about 30,000 adherents.
'1'he Wesleyan Missionary Society began work in South Africa in 1814. Extending its operations by degrees from the Oape Colonyinto, Kaffraria, Natal, and the Bechuanaregions, it now numbers 40 stations, 60 missionaries, and more than 6,000 church members. The Rhenish Society, which commenced operations in this field in 1829, now numbers more than 10,000 members. The Berlin began in 1833 and has 8,000 members. The American Board, which entered the field in 1834, has grown into three missions, the Zulu, the East African, and the West African, and now numbers 30 stations, 48 laborers from America, more than 40 native assistants, about 2,000 under instruction and 7,000 adherents. Besides these, the French Protestant Missionary Society is doing a large and blessed work among the Bechuana and other tribes. The Norwegians are laboring among the Zulus, the Scotch among the Kafirs, the Hanoverians and the Ohurch of England in Natal and Zululand.
These, with a few other organizations, make more than a dozen societies at work in South Afri~a, occupying more than 200 stations, and employing about 500 foreign laborers, besides a much larger force of native helpers. Of the success and value of these labors we get some idea when we find it estimated that not less than 40,000 souls have been brought in this way into the Redeemer's fold, 50,000 children gathered into Ohristian schools, and 100,000 men and women blessed with the direct teaching of the gospel of Ohrist.
Similar labors have been bestowed upon other parts of the continent, and similar results achieved. Well nigh every Christian nation is coming to have a mission, one or more, in some part of that long-neglected land. The mustard seed which the Lord used George Schmidt to plant 150 years ago, in the Southern angle of the continent, though it lay, in
HE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE WORLD'S EVANGELIZATION
a measure, hid for half a century, has taken deep root, sent up a vigorous stem, and sent out many a strong and fruitful branch. The successes of the past, the openings of the present, and the demand for the future should awaken a redoubled devotion to the blessed work. In no age of the world, in no history of continents, can anything be found so surprising as the discoveries and developments made in Africa since the days of those pioneer missionaries, Schnirlt and Vanderkemp. It would take long to tell how her bays have been sounded since their time, how her plains have been spanncd, her mountains scaled, her rivers threaded, lakes discovered, diamonds found, and a goodly number ' of grand highways projected into even "';he remotest parts of that, till of late little known, yet most marvellous land of the sun; and all under the gracious ordering of the Lord, that men freighted with the blessings of the gospel of God's own dear Son might enter and occupy. EthIopia, all Africa, is on tiptoe of expectancy, only waiting to know who God is, that she may stretch out her hands unto Him, and be lifted into His truth and grace.
THE BOOK OF AOTS AND THE WORLD'S EVANGELIZA- TION.
BY PROF. A. W. PITZER, WASHINGTON, D. C.
THE Book of Acts was written by a Gentile physician, who was the intimate associate of the special Apostle to the Gentiles and his companion in the work of evangelization. It is not a record of disconnected facts and incidents in the lives of the Apostles, but an accurate and scientific history of what Jesus continued to do after His ascension, through His spirit, His word and His servants. The principles and patterns of all missionary work, in all lands, among all peoples, until time shall be no more, are contained in this precious book; and as the church addresses herself more and more eagerly to the great and blessed work of preaching the gospel to every creature, she will also turn with ever-increasing delight to this noblest of all missionary records for guidance, for strength and for comfort.
Until our Lord shall return in bodily presence from the heavens, the elements of the missionary problem will never be essentially different from what they were when Luke prepared this record: A risen Lord on his Father's throne in glory; an omniscient and omnipresent Spirit; a living Word, written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; living men and women, filled with the Spirit and thus endued with power to be witnesses for Ohrist; a lost race, without God and without hope either for this world or the next; the command of the King, H Go ye"; and the limit of labor-Ci into all the world."
In this Apostolic constitution and by-laws of the First Missionary Society there is a conspicuous absence of elaborate and intricate machinery, of minute rules and regulations for the guidance of the missionaries, ot endowed colleges and seminaries for training ministers, of multiplied scholastic requirements before anyone should preach the gospel-in fact, many things now thought to be indispensable, were not, at that time, even so much as thought of.
And yet the old Roman Empire extended from north to south more than 1,500 miles, and from east to west more than 2,000 miles, and included Medes, Parthians, Syrians, Ethiopians, Egyptians, Cretes, Arabs, Greeks, and many other tribes and tongues of Europe. ChrIst was the Captain, the Word was the instrument, believers were the agents, power was to come from the Holy Ghost; the only waiting to be done by the missionaries was for Him: He would endue them for their work, then they must start, and never stop until the gospel had been preached among all nations as God's witness.
Not the apostles only, but all disciples, were to go everywhere preaching the gospel. The duty of evangelizing the world was not laid upon a chosen few, with superb scholastic attainments, who could discuss gnosticism and polytheism with the scientists of that era; but every disciple who felt in his own soul the power of the Holy Ghost, was to go forth, and as the one supreme business of his life tell his fellow-men what he personally knew of Jesus of Nazareth; they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and went everywhere evangelizing.
We hear much in these days of new and difficult problems, and of new and special difficulties in the missionary work. But there are no new problems, and no special difficulties. The problems and difficulties that confront the missionary of to-day confronted the missionary of the Apostolic age. Heathenism, polytheism, philosophical speculations, sacramentarianism, polygamy, drunkenness, licentiousness, prize-fights, theatres, party spirit, persecutions, unknown languages, different tribes, tongues, races, slavery-these were in the world then, they are in the world now. The Book of Acts is a perfect Manual of Missions for all Christians, in all lands, among all peoples, through all ages, until the gospel has been preached to all nations as God's witness and the end shall come, and the Lord shall return.
The gospel proclaimed by apostolic Christians came in contact and conflict with every phase and form of human existence; in contact and conflict with Jewish bigotry, with Grecian idolatry, with Roman cruelty, with Cyprian licentiousness, with Ephesian magic, with Corinthian luxury, with Lystrian barbarism, with Sadducean skepticism, with Epicurian agnosticism-in contact with race prejudice, caste, polygamy, slavery, the drink traffic and the social evil; and the testimony oJ the humble witnesses, under the power of the Holy Ghost, was indeed the power of God unto salvation; and the men and women of all classes and conditions, of al~ races and tongues, turned from idolatry and vice to serve the living God and to wait for his son, Jesus Christ, from heaven. What problem or difficulty can meet the evan-
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
gelists of to-day that did not meet the evangelists of the first Christian century? Within the pale of the church, then, there were mistakes of jndgment, and sins in conduct; there were legalism and Antinomianism; excesses and excitements; false teachers and bad doctrine; dissentions and factions; backsliders and apostates; but in spite of all these evils, the work went on, believers were multiplied on every hand, churches were organized and Christ was honored.
After eighteen centuries, the church of this age finds itself engaged in the evangelization of the world; and we call this the era of univerversal missions, when many questions of urgent interest cry aloud for answer; the sphere and functions of Missionary Boards, the powers of the evangelist, the relation between the home and foreign churches, the status of heathen converts, churches and ministers, the erection and support of schools and colleges, female missionaries, medical missions, the uses of cI,"eeds, denominational comity, increase of heathen populations, Mohammedanism and Buddhism. Whatever answers may be given to these questions, the fact remains that all the essential elements of the missionary problem are precisely the same to-day that they were in the apostolic age of the church. As regards evangelization, there is no new thing under the sun. In every perplexity and difficulty the disciple of Ohrist may turn with confident hope to this Missionary Manual for light and guidance; he will not here search in vain for either principle or practice, for example or illustration.
THE MIRAOLES OF MISSIONS.
. WORK AMONG THE WY'NDS IN IJLASGOW.* [EDITORIAL-A. T. P.] LOVE is omnipotent. Wherever passion for souls burns there we may find a new mount of transfiguration, where the earthly takes on the complexion of the heavenly. Let us find an example of the power of such love and holy passion in one of the citief: of Scotland.
It is now a little more than forty years ago since a young man of 23 undertook work as an agent in the Glasgow Oity Mission. Even before he was fully accepted as a missionary by the directors of the work, he began his apprenticeship by visits at every house in one of the lowest districts, and by conversing with every person there encountered, as to eternal things. The whole salary he was to receive for a year's work was less than two hundred dollars; and the section of the city appointed to him was especially needy and destitute, and particularly difficult as a field of labor. It had never yet been occupied and was in the worst respect pioneer ground. It has been well said that he who is not ready to preach the gospel everywhere and anywhere is fit to preach nowhere; and we are more and more persuaded that if every candidate for the office of the ministry were first tried in some such field it would prove a training in its way more profitable than any • John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides. London: Hodder& Stoughton. discipline in the classroom, and would "shake the napkin at the four corners," and disclose whether or not there were in it even "one talent" for winning souls. What a preparation for practical dealing with men and women and children; with people of every variety of temper and temperament, of thought and opinion, of character and life, would such an experience be !
But we anticipate. The young man, who took up that work in that most degraded district in the great Scotch Manchester, was John G. Paton; afterwards the devoted missionary to the New Hebrides, a man whose biography, just issued from the press of Hodder & Stoughton, is uusurpassed for stimulating and inspiring narrative by any existing story of heroism. Mr. Paton found that many families around the Green street of Oalton had never been visited by any TYbinister; and there were lapsed church members who, for ten and even twenty years, had never been in a church building, and had been called on not even by a Ohristian visitor. Of course, in such classes and courts the worst conditions of society were to be found. Drunkenness, infidelity, licentiousness, blasphemy, ran riot; and there was no religion to set up any barrier against them save Romanism in it~most ignorant and superstitious form. Sin and vice walked about openly, naked and not ashamed.
Four hours a day were spent in house-to-house visits. Little prayer circles, or larger evening meetings, with personal sympathetic contact, were the means mostly used to reach and relieve all this misery of soul and body. A Sabbath evening evangelistic service was very needful; but the only available place for it was a hay-loft, with cowstalls below and a rickety wooden staircase as an outside approach. After a year's hard work Mr. Paton could show only six or seven nonchurch goers whom he had persuaded to come regularly to this rude assembly room, besides about as many more who on a week night met in a humble room of a house of the poor. That very house was a scene of gospel triumphs. The hardworking Irishwoman who lived there had a husband whob the demon of drink turned into a monster, and who cruelly beat her and pawned for accursed rum everything of value. Through the influence of these night meetings this man became a total abstainer, abandoned his evil doing, and not only attended Sabbath worship regularly, but urged others both to become abstainers from drink and attendants at worship. '.rhis man and thi!:! woman became the first real helpers of Mr. Paton in his self-denying work in the wynds of Glasgow.
Still the results of twelve months' work were so small that the directors inclined to abandon Green street as a hopeless and fruitless field and try some other section of t.he great city. But Mr. Paton's heart had become enlisted, and he who afterward at hourly risk of life persisted in abiding among the cannibals of Tanna, pleaded for another six months among Green street heathen. He obtained permission; and at the next meeting told his little congregation that if he could not induce more non-church-goers to attend he would be sent to work elsewhere. Few as they were, they had already learned to believe in Mr. Paton and to love him, and they remembered that first lesson in arithmetic, "two times one is two; " and so each one present agreed to come to the next meeting and bring one more. Of course that simple and easy method at once doubl~d the attendance. When people learn this practical multiplication table, it is surprising what wonders are wrought. From this time forth no house that could be had in that whole district was big enough for the meeting. A Bible class, singing class, communicants' class, Total Abstinence Society, Mutual Improvement Society, etc., were instituted. Beside the usual services, two prayer-meetings were opened for the policemen, one for those who were on day duty, and one for those on night duty. Mr. Paton now found every evening in the week occupied with his work, and every Sabbath brought two public services.
And now the hay-10ft had to be abandoned, for the owner required it, and the poor people were at a loss for any other place of assembly. The hostlers and other servants of a certain coach-hirer, lIfenzies by name, got permission to clear out another unused hay-loft, and at their own cost built an outside stairs for approach, to the great relief of the little congregation. Mr. Paton shared the general joy, but felt that if the work were to prosper, a permanent building of some sort must be had which they could control; and with the help of Thomas Binnie, Esq., secured not only a good site, but a Mission Hall was projected at Mr. Binnie's own expense. Just then a block of buildings being offered for sale, singularly adapted for the purpose, this generous benefactor persuaded Dr. Symington's congregation, in connection with which this mission work was carried on, to buy the whole block; and so, at the crisis of the work, God's providence put at the disposal of Mr. Paton and his mission buildings suitable both for evangelistic and educational work.
Of course the time had now come for reorganizing aud enlarging this work. At 7 A. M. on the Lord's Day. Mr. Paton held a class for BIble study, where from seventy to one hundred of the poorest young men and women of the vicinity were gathered. They came in their workclothes, for they had but one suit, all without coverings for their heads, and some without shoes for their feet. Mr. Paton remarked with joy how contact with the gospel brought improvement even in dress and manners. Gradually the attendants began to come in better and more complete attire, fitter for such assemblies; then they were emboldened to "go to church; " and then to bring others with them. Their teacher's joy in his work was ecstatic, but it was not reached by any dainty and delicate steps. At six o'clock every Sunday morning this indefatigable worker might have been seen running from stl'eet to sheet and from door to door for an hour, drumming up his recruits. He kuocked and called, till he roused the careless and the sleepy; and by dint of such perseverance he got together and kept together that early morning Bible class. At a later stage in its history, a band of voluntary visitors from the class itself undertook to relieve him and loolf after the irregular, indifferent and tardy members.
On Monday nights this devoted city missionary held a sort of Bible ;reading for all who chose to come; on Wednesday evenings a combined Bible lecture and prayer service that half filled the church; and on Thursdays an Intending Oommunicants' class for the instruction of those who wished to confess Ohrist and join anyone of the Protestant churches in the city. Friday evening brought a singing class for church music, and Saturday, a total abstinence meeting, in which the members themselves conducted the varied exercises. Mr. ,Paton testifies to the great influence and power of Temperance as the handmaid of the gospel. He himself being a total abstainer both from liquor and tobacco, he found himself the more able to influence others to forego these injurious indulgences.
Thus this mission, which began with so little promise, became a feeder to all the churches, training active and useful members for neighboring congregations; not only so but it became a kinll of theological seminary in which eight lads got their first lessons in Latin and Greek from Mr. Paton's little stock, and their training for the work of preaching the gospel and winning souls.
And now this Oalton Mission grew rapidly to unrivalled dimensions. From 500 to 600 were in weekly attendance, exclusively poor wageworkers and very largely mill-workers. The results were wide-reaching and far-reaching. Habits improved, personal appearance and the whole environment; many removed to better localities. But Mr. Paton kept watch and hold npon them nntil he saw them safely housed in some church. Often his four hours of daily labor which were "nominated in the bond," expanded to double that time. He trained eight or ten devoted young men and twice as many young women as visitors and tract distributors, and twice a month they went on their rounds of visits. At monthly meetings of workers, reports were made and matters of importance brought to notice. Mr. Paton fou.ud himself the head of a sort of Bureau of Tract Distribution, Relief and Employment.
All this work for God and His poor could not be carried on without antagonism. The keepers of the public houses saw the Total Abstinence Society making fearful inroads on their destructive business, and they were ready for any act of undcrhanded or openhanded violence. Mx:. Paton held, on summer nights and Saturday afternoons, Evangelistic and Total Abstinence meetings in Thomson's Lane. The top of an outside staircase furnished a ready pulpit, and the audiences were large, though the gospel had no meretricious charms of art and resthetics by which to "draw." Oomplaints were made by these tavern keepers to the captain of the police that these meetings were hurting their trade. l!'ortunately the complamt was true, though in another sense frpm that intended by the complainants. The captain happened to be himself a pious Wesleyan, and he informed Mr. Paton of the complaints and of the attendance of his police force, but bade him go on and conduct the meeting as usual. A large crowd gathered, and among them many of the dram-sellers and their minions, expecting to see the police break up the meeting and humiliate the missionary and his helpers. The police appeared in force, headed by Oaptain Baker, and the foes of the mission were jubila.nt in anticipation of a row. But the meeting proceeded in so orderly a fashion that Oaptain Baker himself surprised both friends and foes by mounting the platform and devoutly listening till the close. Thus the whiskey ring had to "wait out" the service and hear the gospel-which was not a frequent experience. And at the end of the service Oaptain Baker, instead of breaking up the meeting, or prohibiting others like it, spoke warmly in favor of the work and wished it God speed.
So the enraged dram-sellers planned another assault. The next Saturday evening, a spirit-dealer ran his van in front of the iron gateway of the church which was the only place of egress for the assembled multitude. Two young men were sent by Mr. Paton to drag away the wagon; they were seized and marched off to the police office for "injuring the whiskey-dealer'S property!" and when Mr. Paton ran after them to ask their offense, he was threatened with similar arrest if he did not cease his interference. He went with them to the station. The rumor flew that the missionary and his young men were being" taken up" by the police, and a crowd ran to the rescue; but Mr. Paton begged them to refrain from all disturbance. The lieutenant on duty was manifestly in league with the conspirators and no justice would have been done but for the interference of some gentleman who threatened to expose the whole outrage, and the accused parties were suddenly set at liberty.
Romanism and skepticism likewise opposed the work; and Mr. Paton at first tried to offset their influence by lectures with free discussion at the close, but he became satisfied that he was only advertising the devil's wares, and he abandoned all defensive methods for the simple preaching of the gospel.
We cannot close this remarkable chapter of city missions without an example or two of the wondrous power of the gospel in these Wynds. An infidel lecturer in that district was very sick and Mr. Paton was called to see him. He found him in the midst of a library of infidel publications which he eagerly circulated to poison the minds of the linwary. Whatever little he knew of the Word of God, was only sufficient to feather the arrows of his ridicule. But now he felt himself to Qe taking that awful" leap into the dark," and his mind was full of terror at the "unknown." Mr. Paton's visits were so blessed even to .that hardened sinner, that another wonder, like that of Ephesus, occurred. With cries and tears for pardon and peace, he became a penitent believer and called in all the infidel works he had set in circulation, piled them together after his wife and daughter had torn them in pieces, and he himself struck the light that turned the pile to ashes. * That man was so completely transformed by that simple gospel message that he not only abandoned his infidelity and ceased to be a panderer and procurer for the devil, but till the close of life continued to wit- ness to souls and thereby to win souls.
The district where Mr. Paton labored was so degraded and depraved that he not unfrequently came upon those who seemed to be possessed of a demon. He met an infidel whose blasphemies made even his vile neighbors shudder; and who even as death approached would not hear a word of gospel comfort, but foamed with rage and even spat at Mr. Paton when he mentioned the name of Jesus. His hatred to God seemed to drive him mad. He yelled like a demoniac, and tore to pieces his very bedclothes, till he had to be bound to his iron bed, still foammg out curses and blasphemies. When the humble missionary asked if he might pray for him, he shouted with all his remaining strength, "Pray for me to the DEVIL!" And when Mr. Paton re- minded him that he had declared that he did not believe in either God or devil, he shouted again in terrific rage, "Yes, I do believe in a devil and a God, and a just God, too; but I have hated Him in life and I hate Him in dea.th I "
Yet, even into such a "mouth of hell" went this fearless young mis- sionary, even there to rescue souls; and he did it I He was called to see a doctor who was both an unbeliever and a drunkard. In hi.s at- tacks of delirium tremens he had tried one and another method of suicide. At one time the watchers barely succeeded in dashing from his lips, after a fierce struggle, a fatal draught of prussic acid; again they caught a glimpse of a shining lancet hid in the :folds of his shirt with which he would have bled himself to death. In one of these fits of suicidal madness Mr. Paton, at his request, took his seat beside him, alone, he having first promised that he would do anything the mis- sionary would ask if everyone else might be put out of the room. After a long conversation Mr. Paton took down a dusty Bible that had long lain neglected in the closet, and after reading said: "Now, shall we pray?" "Yes," said the doctor; and kneeling beside him, the missionary whispered: "You pray first."
*Oompare Acts xix: 17-20.
NOTES FROM OUR ENGLISH CORRESPONDENT
"I curse. I cannot pray; would you have me curse God to His face? "
"You promised to do all that I asked. You must pray or try to . pray, and let me at least hear that you cannot."
"I cannot curse God on my knees; let me stand, and I will curse him; I cannot pray."
Mr. Patou gently but firmly held him on his knees, saying: "Just try to pray, and let me hear you cannot." Instantly he cried out: "0 Lord, thou knowest I cannot pray," and strove to rise up as though Satan were struggling within him to turn that beginning of prayer into a curse. But the noble winner of souls took up that unfinished prayer and continued it as though it were his own, till the old blasphemer was subdued and quiet at the feet of the Master. Then inducing him to lie down and sitting beside him till he fell asleep, Mr. Paton commended him to the care of the Lord, and slipped away to other duties. Returning later in the day, the poor victim of delirium was found in his right mind; nay, running to meet the missionary, he hugged him in his arms, crying, "Thank God, I can pray now! I rose refreshed from sleep, and for the first time in my life prayed with my wife and children; and now I shall do so every day and serve God while I live, who hath dealt" in so great mercy with me !" And so he did, joining Dr. Symington's church, and giving his medical skill to a holy ministry to God's destitute little ones, as anxious for their souls as their bodies, until he, who once could not pray, but only curse, fell sweetly asleep in Jesus, to wake where there is "no more curse."
What wonder that even anonymous letters threatening his life, and the public curses from the altar by Romish priests, and the advice of directors of the mission could not induce this brave city missionary to leave a work attended by such supernatural power of God. For ten years he struggled patiently on, though he was at one time felled to the g.round by a stone hurled.at him by a malignant Papist, and mar- vellously escaped assault after assault upon his life. While we sit quietly at home, in our easy chair, or making rousing addresses or write with burning pens on city evangelization, or the estrangement of the masses from the church, here is one man who dives into the depths of all this depravity and degradation, and demonstrates what love and the gospel can do to rescue drowning souls!
NOTES FROM OUR ENGLISH CORRESPONDENT, REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, A. S. A.
I. RELEASE OF EAST AFRICAN MISSIONARIES.
AFTER months of suspense there is rejoicing among the frIends of the English Church Missionary Society over the telegram from Zanzibar of May 5: "Mr. D. A. L. Hooper, the last of the missionaries detained by Bushiri, has arrived here safely." In conne"ction with the release of the entire band of missionaries, special acknowledgment is due to the British Consul- General, Col. Euan Smith, at Zanzibar. His energy and tact in effecting the safe arrival of the missionaries recalls the generous aid tendered to Dr. Livingstone by Sir John Kirk some 25 years ago. Since the outbreakofhos- tilities between. the Arabs and German traders, the missionaries have been imprisoned at the mission stations of Mamboia and Mpwapwa, about 160 miles from Bagamoyo. Early in February the British Consul deputed the Arab Commissioner to re-open the negotiations for the safe conduct of the missionaries to the coast. Meanwhile, March 11, a gleam of consolation was given by the French missjonaries securing the ransom of the German missionaries, numbet"ing six men and one lady, on payment of 6,000 rupees and the sunender of 12 slaves captured by the German war vessel, the Leip- sic. Subsequently rumors reached Zanzibar that the missionaries belong- ing to England were in daily apprehension of a catastrophe at the mission station. A letter from Mrs. Roscoe, a missionary's wife, dated Mamboia, March 11, and received in England April 28, showed the danger to which the brave band was exposed. The raids of the hostile natives compelled them twice to retire to the hills. In vain they tried to obtain a travelling escort. From this neighborhood Mr. Brooks, at his own risk and against the wishes of his friends, attempted at the cost of his life, to make a pas- sage. The lady correspondent had slight faith in Bushiri, which was speed- ily vedfied by his demand for a ransom as soon as he had the missionaries in his power.
Late in March the French missionaries, by request of the British authori- ties, prevailed upon Bushiri to grant the English missionaries protection from Mamboia and guaranteed arrival into Bagamoyo. Thh. port and mis- sionary station is COining in to rapid prominence. From Bagamoyo, which lies to the southwest of Zanzibar, runs the main trade route inland to Lake Tanganyika. A telegram was dispatched to England April 24, fromZanzi- bar, stating that Mr. Roscoe, of the Church Missionary Society, and his . wife, who were on their way from Mamboia to the coast, had been released by Bushiri and were then receiving the hospitality of the French mission station at Bagamoyo. This good news was darkened with the intelligence of the retention in Bushiri's camp of the Rev. W. E. Taylor, Dr. C. S. Ed- wards and MI'. D. A. L. Hooper, three of the society's missionaries, as hos- tages, for whose redemption 10,000 rupees were demanded. With commenda- ble decision the acting British Consul, Mr. Hawes, authorized the Ft"ench missionaries to pay the entire required amount.
A message dated Zanzibar, April 28, intimated that Bushiri had allowed the Rev. W. E. Taylor and Dr. Edwards to leave his quarters. Without de- lay, the missionaries, in the company of Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe, proceeded from Bagamoyo to Zanzibar, en route for Mombasa. Bushiri still detained 111'. Hooper, on the plea that he was not a missionary and did not hail either from Mpwapwa or Mamboia. Fresh negotiations resulted in his release as announced in the first telegram. Happily, the reported death of Mr. Stokes is untrue. Despite his very critical situation, he has passed through the country safely, and is now on the Victoria Nyanza, arranging for commu- nication by water with Uganda.
The unwearied efforts of Col. Euan Smith throughout the negotiations }Iave made him popular on the East African coast and in England. His de- parture from Zanzibar on a short visitto London was a signalfor an ovation at Zanzibar. In this the fOI"eign representatives, the native community, and even influential Arabs participated. Captain Wissmann cordially bade the Consul a temporary farewell, expressing his intention to encourage British Indian commerce on the German seaboard, and forthwith to open and . protect the caravan routes into the interior !rom Bagamoyo, and Bwam- bara.
Since Col. Euan Smith's arrival in England he has paid visits to the For- eign Office. He has freely communicated his views to the Church Mission- ary Society with regard to the outlook in East AfrIca. With Great Britain the Sultan remains friendly. In suppressing slavery the combined blockade of Germany, England and the other powers had been most effective. The conveyance of slaves by sea had been almost entirely checked. A less fa- vorable statement is made respecting the stoppage of the importation of arms and ammunition. These were landed among general cargoes in large dhows. The Colonel denies the truth of the charge made in the English House of Commons, that slave dhows carried the French flag, or that let- ters of marque were given to such craft by French Cousuls. With reference to German colonization, the Colonel spoke of an interview with Captain Wissmann at Zanzibar. He believed him to be a man of great power and I knowledge, whose experience would undoubtedly help him in hi,; mission.
The latest telegram, May 5, states that the hostilities between Captain Wissmann and Bushiri are imminent neal' Bagan-lOYo. The German force numbers about 400 men, composed of Europeans, Soudanese, Tomalis and Zulus. His purposed by the Germans to restore law at Lundi, Kilwa, Dar- as-Salaam, Pangani and Tonga, and to make a re-conquest of the stations Usagara, Usegua, Ukami and Nguro, belonging to the German East African Company. Along the coast-line from Wanga to Rovuma Bay a pax Ger- manica will, if possible, be impol'ed. Gl'ave apprehensions are felt regard- ing the issues of the ensuing conflid on the mission centres situated in East Central Africa.
P.S.-We append the following telegrams, which are creating much ex- citement in English missionary and colonial circles: " ZANZIBAR, May 9. .. There was a decided engagement yesterday between Captain Wissmann and Bushiri, the former being assisted by a detachment of 200 German sailors. Bushiri's camp was captured and destroyed, and his followers dispersed. His loss was 70 killed and 20 prison- srs. One German naval officer was killed and several of Captain Wissmann's officers were wounded. Forty black soidiers were killed. Bushiri has escaped."
"BERLIN, May 10. "Captain Wissmann's victory over the Arab insurgent leader, Bushiri-a victory though achieved with considerable superior forces-bodes well, think people here, for the future tranquility of German East Africa. . The Imperial Commissary's forces numbered about 900 men, iucluding 200 marilles from the blockading squadron, while Bushiri's in- trenched camp was defended by only 600 of his followers. The fight was short and sharp. Bushiri. himself, managed to escape, according to one account, even before the stormers advanced on his position, his loss being 80 killed and 20 prisoners. while Captain Wissmann had 40 of his black troops killed and one German sergeant of the naval contingent,one offi- cer-Lieutenant Schella of the Schwalbe-and a marine, of the Leipsic, were killed. What effect this defeat of the Arabs will have on the future of the missionaries and other Euro- peans in the interior, remains to b~ seen, but the opinion here is that the insurrection on the East coast will now collapse."
The London Times' comment on the conJecture is as follows: "The escape of Bushiri renders the issue uncertain, nor is it possible to avoid apprehen- sions for the safety of Europeans in the interior. There is a solidarity among the so-called Arab traders of Easters and Central Africa, arising from the con~iction that the advance of Europeans into the country is fatal to their interests."
II. THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY· SOCIETY.
Rev. C. H. Spurgeon has recently spoken in tones of strong encouragement on missionary matters. He remarked that it was wonderful how much was being done for the conversion of the world by Christian people of all sorts, in aU sorts of ways. He believed their missions would yield a glorious harvest tor Christ one day, whether they lived to see it or not. Sometimes it took a. good while to prepare for a great work, and a vast amount of material had to be expended in order to make the foundation solid and good. He had no doubt that by and by they would be well repaid for all their labor and sowing of seed. In a similat' vein of congratulation his brother, the Rev. J. A. Spurgeon, urged all Christian toilers to remember that love was the secret of success in foreign missions.
It is noteworthy that notwithstanding the criticisms which Mr. Caine made upon the methods pursued by the Baptist Society in India, and also the severe strictures to which Canon Taylor subjects the Church Mi5sionary Society, both societies are in receipt of unprecedented incomes for 1888. Secretary Baynes, of the former society, announced at the annual meeting thatthe receipts for the yeal' just closed amounted to £80,818, as compared with £66,- 209 for the previous year, an increase of £14,609. A special sum of £3,800 had likewise been contributed for the relief of sufferers in the Chinese famine. Still thet'e was at the close of the year a deficit of £2,800, caused by increased expense in connection with the Congo Mission. Part of this deficit had been made up. The river Congo rates for transportation were excessively large. Mr. Baynes stated that the contract for the new Congo railway had been signed. On its anticipated completion four years hence the cost of mission freights would be much reduced. This railway will have a length of 265 miles, at a cost of 25,000,000 francs. It will start from the Underhill Baptist Station on the Lower Congo and terminate at Kinshasha, Stanley Pool. By this communication Central African commerce, civilization and Christianity will be enormously benefited.
From the report of the society (ninety-seventh) we learn that six missionaries have died and eleven new ones gone forth during the past year. On the society's staff are now 125 English missionaries and 334 native preachers. The numbers of unpaid native agents and self-supporting native churches formed a promising outlook. In 1888 the converts baptized represented 317 in India, 113 in the Bahamas (and upwards of 240 awaiting baptism in the out-stations), 70 in the Shantung province of China, 40 in Japan and 22 at San Salvador. Marked progress was noted III the Congo Mission. In China there were 21 Baptist missionaries who for some months had been mainly engaged in ministering to the famine-stricken Chinese in Eastern China. Two of them were credited with keeping ~live 2,000 at a station in the city where they resided and over 10,000 others in the neighborhood.
Educational and literary agencies had been vigorously maintained. The sale of bibles, religious books and tracts during 188£ in India by the Baptists had never been exceeded. Issnes of portions and complete copies of the Scriptures from the Calcutta Mission numbered 34,535. Testimonies of missionaries and civilians demonstrate that the preaching of the gospel and the translations of the Bible are working a revolution in that empire, and inevitably, is gradually undermining the degraded superstitions of the Hindoos.
'1'he Baptist Zenana Missionary Society drew as usual a crowded assembly. Financially the year has been exceedingly stimulating. Receipts were £9,- 641, which leaves in the treasury a balance of £1,100. Miss Angus, of the Ladies' Home, Delhi, delivet'ed a notable address, from which we quote a single passage: "The map of India is now dotted over with mission stations. Butit must be remembered that these are, for the most part, situated in the large cities, and even there the work to be done far exceeds the strength of the workers. There are literally thousands of smaller towns and villages as yet unoccnpied, hundreds of thousands who have never heard the name of Christ. Day by day the cry goes up to God from many a heart, 'Refuge bath failed me, no man careth for my soul.' For' the millions of India still lie untouched.' Dr. Pierson's words in THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THill WORLD snould ring in our ears: • We are not responsible for conversion, but we are for contact.' When will the church of Christ rouse herself to the duty of contact with these millions?"
III. MISSIONARIES FOR CENTRAL AFRICA.
Toward the last of March a splendid ovation was given in'Exeter Hall to the eight pioneer missionaries departing for Central Africa in connection with the new Balolo Mission. This mission has been formed for the evangelization of the Balolo people dwelling in the Upper Congo, and is a continuation and extension of the Livingstone Inland Mission, begun in 1878. The chairman of the meeting, Mr. J. E. Mathieson, held that it was obligatOL'y upon England to let Africa occupy a large place in the affection and intecests of the church. In deprecating the sever-ely critical attitude taken by so many toward missions, the speaker endorsed the action of five or six of the great missionary societies in London whose methods were being revised in orner to open their doors to young men who had not gone through the regul.ar college curriculum. In sending forth this class of missionaries the directors would command the sympathies and gratitude of the churches. Dr. Grattan Guinness followed with a panegyric upon thL'ee men by whom Central Africa had been opened up to Christianity and commerce, viz.: Livingstone, Stanley and Leopold, King of the Belgians. On the banks of the Upper Congo, where the mission was to do its work, one tribe alone nuPlbered over ten millions, among whom only two missionaries labored. The mission was originally started by a gift of £800, and in a very short time more than £1,500 had been subscribed by friends interested in the enterprise. A rousing speech was delivered by that gifted and eminent representative of young Wesleyanism, the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes. He maintained that the antidote for drunkenness, gllombling and all forms of crime and infidelity in these days was foreign missions. England ought to be active in this branch of service, as there was probably no nation now existing that had done so much mischief as Great Britain by the liquor traffic, and in many other ways, and also by shedding innocent blood in almost every corner of the globe. He held that at the present time there were too few evangelists abroad and too many English ministers at home, a state of things which ought certainly and speedily to be reversed. The devoted leader of the mission, Mr. J. McKittrick, and some of his fellow-workers subsequently addressed the large gathering of friends.
IV. PROTESTANTISM IN HAMBURG.
In Hamburg, one of the gayest and most licentious cities In Europe, a bazaar liberally supported in aid of the maintenance of the Church Fund and, if possible, the early erection of a new English church in the city, realized £1,700. .This amount, raised by the combined efforts of English, American, German and other nationalities, chiefly of the Protestant faith, far exceeded the expectations of the small colony of British and American SUbjects. The l:iympathy which this worthy undertaking has elicited has been confirmed by the unanimous praise accorded to it in the local press, which describes it as the most tasteful and brilliant enterprise of the kind ever attempted in Hamburg.
At the opening ceremony, April 4, the reigning BUrgomaster Dr. Petersen, expressed the genuine sympathy in which Hamburgers held the English people. As the head of the Hamburg Government, he remarked that between England and Hamburg an unbroken friendship had continued for upwards of 600 years, commencing as early as 1266, when the King of England bestowed valuable land and commercial rights upon Hamburg subjects in London. These rights the Hanse factory in the metropoHs was privileged – to enjoy undiminished until the beginning of the nineteenth century. On the other hand, the company of British merchant adventurers received a grant of land, the permission of living under English law with inulluUlty from taxation, and religious freedom in the shape of an English church a.t lIam- burg as early as 1567. Notwithstanding hard times of fot"eign religious in- tolerance, Hamburg alone, perhaps, of all states, can point with pride to the fact that the English church of evangelical profession had been allowed un- mterrupted toleration for three centuries.
V. ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN INDIA.
In the voluminous replies which Mr. Caine's attack on Indian missions has provoked, there will be some advantage in recording the results oC the mission work in India, with which the Roman Catholics credit themselves. The editor of Illustrated Catholic Missions in England has published various statistics bearing upon Roman Catholic missions in India, chiefly based on the figures published in the new edition of the Imperial Gazateer of India, compiled by Sir W. W. Hunter. An English correspondent who has spent 20 years in the Indian Civil Service recently asserted that Catholic and Protestant missions were equally failures in that Empire. He held that in an especial deg-ree this was true of Catholic missions since the beginning of the eighteenth century, while in view of the increase of population Catholicity had been declining for many years. Challenging Mr. Caine.'s implied assertion that Roman Catholics were more successtul than Protesta.nts, he quoted in his proof the official returns of 1881. These show in round numbers as follows: Catholics, 936,000; Protestants, 435,000; Nestorians and others, 456,000; total, 1,827,000. From the number of Pl'otestants 100,000 might be deducted for Bt'itish-born and foreign Christians, though they are not all Protestants. This would leave 335,000 Protestants, a far more satisfactory number in less than 100 years than 936,000 in the 350 years since Xavier began the gt'eat work in India.
It is admitted by Roman Catholic wt"iters that the census of 1881 returned the total number of Catholics as 963,058 (excluding French and Portuguese territories, which contain 285,703 more). The census returns they regard as erroneous to the extent of 100,000 Christians, quoting from Sir W. W. Hunter to the same effect. He writes (vol. vi., p. 265) : "The Roman Caiholies were under-estimated in the census returns by the exclusion of about 100,000 Syrian Christians who acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Vicars- Apostolic of Verapoli and Quilon, andby their inclusion among the Jacobites, who are unconnected with the Roman Catholic Church." Adding, it is said, these extra 100,000, and also the Catholics of Portuguese and French India, which practically all form one mission field, there will be a grand total of Catholics in India numbering 1,349,441. According to the" Madras Catholic Directory" for 1885, the returns at"e estimated at 1,356,037 for British, native and foreign India, some four or five years before the inauguration of the Indian hiet"archy. Mulhall supposed the Catholics in India to number 1,318,000, and another estimate, which appeared in the Deutsche Reich8 Zeitung, gives 1,600,600 as the probable total.
In reply to the charge that the Catholics are steadily diminishing, the advocates of Catholic missions quote the following passage from Sir W.W. Hunter: "The Roman Catholics in India steadily increase, and, as in former times, the increase is chielly in the south, especia.lly in the missions of Pondicherry and Medura. The number
A FmST YEAR'S IMPRESSIONS .oF JAPAN
of Catholics in British and French India and the native states, but exclusive of the Portu guese possessions, rose from 732.887 in 1851 to 93~,400 'n 1871, and to 1,103,560 in 1881. The Pondicherry Mission lately performed over 50,01 ) adult baptisms in three years. In British India. and the native states the children in Catholic schools increased from 28,249 in 1871 to 44,699 in 1881" (p.259).
The Catholics contend that they do not possess a tithe of the funds which the Protestant missionary societies have at their disposal. In verification of this the evidence of Sir W. W. Hunter (in the Imperi:J,l Gazetteer, vol. vi. p. 260) is again adduced: "The Roman Catholics work in India," he writes, .. with slender pecuniary resources. Theyderive their main support from the two great Catholic organizations, the Associa- tion for the Propagation of the Faith, and the Society of the goly Childhood. The former contributes £24,4M yearly to Indian missions, and the latter £12,300, making a total of £-36,- 764. This is exclusive of the expenditure within the Archbishopric of Goa; but it repre- sents the European contributions to the whole vicariates under the Pope. In 1880 they maintained 16 bishops and 1,118 priests, teaching 1,288 schools, 40,907 pnpils, and giving instruction to 1,002,379 native Christians. Tbe Roman Catbolic priests deny tbemselves the comforts consid- ered necessaries for Enropeans in India. In many districts tbey live the frngal and abstemious life olthe natives, and their inlluence reaches deeply into the social life of tbe communities among whom they dryeU."
This Important chain of testimony relating to metbods of operation and principles of teaching, so distinct from the great Protestant sections in the Indian mission field, will nevertheless receive re- spectfulattentlon when associated witb the authoritative imprimatur of tbe foremost living Indian statistician.
A FIRST YEAR'S IMPRESSIONS OF JAPAN.
: BY REV. FRED. S. CURTIS, HIROSHIMA.
As a mission field Japan is doubtless second to nonein regard toits present results and promise for the future: but, judging from a purely human stand- point, the coming of the kingdom of God in Japan is yet in the dim future. The eighty million;; of gods in the" Flowery Kingdom" cannot receive their . deathblow in a day. In the houses of all who are not.either Christian 01' agnostic you may stilI see the little shrine with its offering of flowers. Every- where-not only" on every high hill and under every green tree;" but in the shops and boats, by the wayside, at every turn in the road, these symbols of idolatry meet the eye.
Hiroshima is a stronghold of Buddha. The street on which we live has a continuous row of temples for an eighth to a quarter of a mile. And though the worshippers at these tern pIes seem very scarce the strong Buddhistic prejudice of the people renders them unreceptive to Christianity. The Hiroshima people are looked down upon throughout the Empil'e as being hard, indifferent and unreliable. On arriving we were much disappointed to find tbat, aside from the regular attendants at the Presbyterian and Methodist churches established here-some two or three hundred people- there were but few who manifested any particular interest in Christianity, or who would even come to the preaching places from curiosity. We had expected to see iarge crowds flocking to hear the word of God, and inquirers coming from all parts of the interior, and that anywhere and at any time a large audience could be gathered. This last is true when a large hall or theater is thrown open for a popular lecture on Christianity and prominent speakers are advertised.
I find that the people differ greatly in different localities. For instance, in Koohi the people are exceedingly impressible and embrace the Christian re- ligion readily, while in Nagasaki the old prejudice against the Christian and the" Christian's God" still lives, making it perhaps a more difficult field than Hiroshima. Here it is very difficult to induce the people to enter a otlurch building j they seem to think that in so doing they would commit themselves to Christianity. Since this feeling exists, I am strongly in favor of establishing out-statiorls or preaching.places which at present shall not themselves become churches, but act as feeders to the churches already established till the prejudice is overcome.
As to the government, while it t~lerates Christianity, it clings to idolatry. A recent report shows $150,000 as given in one year to Shinto temples, and year before last $50,000 was given to one single temple. The Mikado himself is an idolater and worships his ancestors.
What the government wants is not so much Christianity as Western science and institutions, and just now, perhaps, more than anything else, treaty revision; and to bring about the last is doubtlebs their motive for keeping foreigners out of the interior. If it permits freedom here, there is no privilege left which it can grant to foreign nations in the future. The various fOl'eign powers have certainly taken advantage of Japan, obliging her to admit aU their products at a duty of five per cent. or less, while she has to pay enormously on her exports. Then, too, no foreigner is amenable to Japanese law, all cases being tried before the consuls.
Some time since I saw quite a melee in front of the hotel at Kobe. A Japanese boatman was being very roughly and to all appearance unjustly treated by a crowd of Chinamen, while not ten feet distant stood a Japanese policeman, his sword hanging by his side, for the treaty laws do not permit any interference with foreigners. Now the time has come when it would seem that the Japanese government does not propose to remain longer in leading strings; but the other nations cannot seem to agree upon any satisfactory revision of the treaties regarding "exterritoriality." What can Japan do to bring about the desired change? If it absolutely forbids foreigners to travel, reside and teach in the interior, "the people would probably become disaffected, so to go outside the treaty ports is being made as difficult as possible. Heretofore the government has permitted foreigners to go to different parts of the interior on passports for" travel, health and scientific observation," also when employed by the Japanese. These purposes have been regarded as mere technicalities by the officials, and many missionaries have lived on such passports.
Having tried every other expedient, the government, while continuing to issne, enforces the strict letter of the law, thus making them very difficult to obtain. One of our missionaries waited at Kobe fOI" his passport from Thanksgiving time till the middle of January. Then, too, after a passport has been once obtained the trouble is not over, for it must be renewed, with greater or less frequency. When the time for which it has been granted is about to expire, the passport must be brought to a treaty port and surrendered and an application made for the renewal. The passport is then sent to Tokio, and after a longer or shorter time the renewal is granted.
There is a missionary who has waited three months, and is still waiting, in Kobe, for her passport to be renewed. This lady is a teacher in a mission school, which may account, at least in part, for the delay, for the government having taken such pains to establish its own schools throughout the empire, naturally wishes them to be well patronized: hence, all private schools are discouraged. Recently it was desired to start a Christian school in Kochi. The Japanese engaged by a missionary was obliged to write "almost a volume to the authorities in regard to the matter," after which, says a missionary, in writing home of the action of the authorities, "they sent this communication back as not correct, wanted to know the number of feet in the school-house and around, the name of the school, etc. All this was written out at full length, when again the paper was returned, asking , what books would be taught, who were the publishers, when and where were they published, how far in each book the pupil must get in a term and at what age a pupil could enter the school.' " .
These questions were duly answered, but sometime after came the query: "If you get two hundred pupils at 35 cents each pel' month, how will you use all that money? If you do not get that number of pupils, where will the money come from? "
Viewed in the light of a determined purpose to secure treaty revision, such seemingly puerile actions are significant. I trust the time is not far distant when propel' treaties will be made, giving Japan her ri~hts and a footing more nearly equal to the otb.er great nations of the earth. For sev- eral months there have been rumors afloat to the effect that Japan had made a new treaty with America, which will give us liberty to go anywhere in Ja_ pan, but whether this is true or not remains to be seen. That some sort ola treaty has been concluded with a certain foreign power, is all that we can now be sure of.
Let mesay a word in regard to my personal work so far. Although I cannot yet preach in the vernacular, I have established a temporary preaching place at the girls' school. My teacher has done the preaching while I have read the Scriptures and led the singing. This tl'acher is a young Japanese student, who is working to obtain funds that he may resume his studies for the ministry in the Congregational College at Kyoto. Though but twenty- two years old, he has already, we think, shown a gift for preaching, but he lacks power, and seems to have very little realization of the meaning and responsibility of the sacred office to which he aspires. I am very glad, how- ever, that he does not think it necessary (as many of the native preachers do) to use the classical Chinese words, which are unintelligible to the unedu- cated. The services which we have carried on together have had an aver- age of about twenty-five attendants, half of these being heathen. Were the preaching place on some large thoroughfare, instead of being near the outskirts of the city, no doubt many more would come in and heal' the gospel.
By the time I am ready to preach, it is my hope that the Lord will open the way for the establishment of a preaching hall on some main thorough- fare, where large numbers may readIly be reached. The people are so ex- ceedingly curious to see foreigners that I am sure they would listen, could some prominent spot be secured. When any of the missionaries enter a store on one of the principal streets, a large crowd invariably collects to watch their every movement and catch their every word. 0, that this same spirit of investigation might be transfel'l'ed to the Gospel of the one true God! For there are in this city a hundred thousand souls who know Him not. Of equal urgency is the need of the handful of Christians here who must be" instructed in the way of God more perfectly." Were I asked what I consider to be the most vital needs of the church of Hiroshima, I should say.
a deepel' heart experience and life, and a realization of the lost condition of the souls of their countrymen, prompting to earnest effort for their speedy evangelization. With many their Christianity seems largely a matter of intellectual belief, and in this section of the country I have failed to see any marked spirit of evangelism.
As to ihe people of Japan, as a race, it may indeed be said to be favorable towar(1 Christianity, but it is, like its rulers, much more favorable towal'd western civil~ation and its accompaniments. .Witb the multitude it mat-
FATHER DAMmN THE LEPER PRmST OF MOLOXAI
tel'S little what it is, if it be but American or European, whether to wear foreign clothes, to eat foreign food, to drink fpreign liquors, or to learn the English language. All these things are done to a most remarkable extent; for our language there is a perfect "craze." The highest ambition of the Jap1.nese youth is to go to America, and next to this to speak Engbsh.
Many Christian teachers would lack for pupils, were the teaching of English done away with.
The superficiality, fickleness and" happy-go-Iuckiness" of this .people, with an impressibleness that is only" skin deep," :O,re the greatest trials of the missionary who seeks to labor among them.
But there is another side to this picture which is so well presented in the recently published report of" The Council of Missions co-operating with the United Church of Christ in Japan," that I send you a brief extract from it• * .. The United Church of Christ in Japan has enjoyed a year of constant growth. * In no previous year have the additions been so many. The adult members of the Church number 7.551. The infant members number 1.139. The total membership is 8.690. The increase during the year is 1.831. The churches are sixty-one. The ministers number thirty-six. The contributions for churCh purposes were yen 20.315.82. A comparison with longer periods is instructive. The United Church of Christ was formed in 1877 by the union of eight churches and 623 Christians. including the children. In 1882 there were twenty- five chnrches. with 1.728 members. Three years later. in 1885. the churches were fifty and the members were 3.922. In the past the church has doubled 10 membership in each three years. and in eleven years the incrl'ase has been from six hundred to nine thousand. A like progression for the remaining twelve years of the ceMtury will make the· membership in the year 1900. one hundred and forty-four thousand.
"Such a hope should notbe too great for our faith. The future may well be richer in blessing than the past."
And there are some of us who are hoping and praying for still greater things-the evangelization of this Empire before 'l,e present century closes.
FATHER DAMIEN THE LEPER PRIEST OF MOLOKAI.
BY REV. EDWIN M. BLISS, NEW YORK.
ON the little peninsula of Kolowao, on the island of Molokai, Sandwich Islands, is the famous leper community established by the Hawaiian Government in 1864, after the ierrible scourge of leprosy that committed such fearful ravages among every class of the people. It is not an ideal place of residence, cold in winter, hot in summer, absolutely isolated from the rest of the island by high mountams. Here the unfortunates were placed. So terrible was their fate deemed that many families sought to hide their afflicted members from the officials, preferring to l"Un every risk themselves rather than condemn loved ones to such hardships and privations. Suitable dwellings were not provided, fo.od was insufficient, there was no medical attendance or nursing; the outcasts were practically condemned to death, with no hope of even the last sad offices or sympathy of friends. It was little wonder that every evil passion rose triumphant. A root growing in quantities at the foot of the mountains furnished a highly intoxicating liquor and drunkenness became almost universal. With this came'licentiousness, until prostitution was the only resort of women who sought a living fOl' themselves and their children. The hula dances were seen on every hand and the whole community became a mass of corruption of every kind.
Into this community, in 1873, went Father Damien, a Roman Catholic Priest, of Honolulu, a native of Belgium, of great talents, wealthy, and with every prospect of success in life. It was no rash act, but a carefully considered purpose, with full recognition of all that it mean~complete isolation from all associations such as he had held deal', fellowship with those who were lower and more degraded than the brutes, and the certainty of the most horrible dise;tse and death known to the human race. • The Government, unable to understand his purpose, thought he would soon seek to return, and gave strict orders for his immediate imprisonment should he stir from the community. They refused him counselor assistance of any kind, and he was compelled to rely upon the lepers themselves for support. He found the dead and dying on every hand, and was so absorbed in his care for them that he could find no time to build him even a plain hut, but slept under the trees. His kindly words and efficient aid won him the confidence of the whole community, and little by little his influence became unbounded. Recognizing that in their condition, spiritual counsel was of little avail without temporal help, he was not only priest but" magistrate, school-teacher, gardener, carpenter, joiner, painter, housekeeper, cook, and often grave-digger and undertaker." He lived with the people, shared their experiences in every way; he persuaded them to care more for cleanliness, comfortable houses, good food, so far as practicable. Soon thE' Government, recognizing his real spirit, changed their attitude, gave him greater privi.
leges, allowed him counsel and assistance, at his suggestion provided bettel'
dwellings, and more suitable food; sent medical officers and nurses, fur.
nished medicine, and sought to alleviate, instead of increasing, the suffer· ing of the poor unfortunates.
The natural result has followed. The hula dances are no more heard of.
Licentiousness has almost disappeared. Intoxication has given place to sobriety, and the company that seemed given over to everything evil has become peaceful and happy, so far as there can be happinE'ss with so much suffering. Even much of the virulence of the disease has disappeared.
Better dwellings, good ventilation. healthy food, sobel' lives, and quiet minds and Christian faith have had their effect to lessen suffering, to pro- long life, and make death itself less dreadful. When, nine years after Da- mien's voluntary exile, the queen visited the settlement, and saw the neat houses, the fields and gardens, the well-dressed, orderly people, her officers, pointing to Damien, who stood humbly at a dtstance, said, "He is the father of it all."
Already the dread digease had taken its hold. A few months later the fatal tubercles appeared, and the devoted priest knew that he was to pay the penalty of his self-sacrifice. In 1886 he was joined by Father Conrardy, a young priest from Oregon, and after initiating him into the work, Da- mien himself yielded to the progress of the leprosy. April 10, 1889, he died, leaving a record of as noble work as that achieved by any martyr of the early church.
There are not a few who claim that the heroic age of the church has passed. The lives of Henry Martyn, David Livingstone, James Hannington, Adoniram Judson, Father Damien, are eloquent witnesses to the fact that this is not true. Yet, while they are conspicuous by reason of their position and public office, they are no whit more heroic than many a faithful laborer among the slums of our great cities, in the dugouts of the Western prairies, or the out-stations of China, Africa and Abyssinia.
One healthy sign of the church's life is the universal recognition of Damien's service as a Christian service. To the great body of Christian believers his creed is lost sight of in admiration for his work. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
EVANGELIZATION OF THE CHINESE IN AMERICA. I
EVANGELIZATION OF THE CHINESE IN AMERICA.
BY J. STEWART RAPPER, NEW YORK, EDITOR "CHINESE EVANGELIST."
THE marvellous way in which God ans weI'S prayer is contin uaUy shown to His children in a manner which humbles their pride and rebukes th('i1'
unbelief. There is no more wonderful instance in modern times than the way in which prayer for the work in China has been ans wered. The barriers of. supel'stition, bigotry, political seclusion and national conceit have been broken down, and now the gospel can be preached in every province. But the answer IS ovedlowing in its abunda,nce of opportunity; and not alone in China is the privilege given to the faithful preacher of the word, but in this la.nd also the Chinaman is found, and those who are unable, for any reason, to go toa foreign land, have the opportunity offered them in their own city, nay, at their own street corner or in their near vicinity.
Thb large number of Chinese who came to California, early attracted the attention of the church, and efforts were made to reach them by the establishment of Missions. Of the work on the Pacific slope I do not in- tend to write at this time, but shall confine myself to the work which is being carried on throughout the Eastel'll and Middle States.
Twenty years have now elapsed since the work among the Chinese in the east was started by the efforts of the Rev. Lycurgus Railsback, at tne New York" FIve Points House of Industry." Since then the Chinese Sun- day-school is found inevel'Y large city, and in almost evel'y place where ~he industrious Chinaman is found, there are also found those who look at the boul in the uncouth mati and try to save it.
So peculiar is the work of evangelizing these heathen in our midst, that it may be of interest to many to speak of the methods and the character of the work in general.
The Methods.-Af> will be readily seen, the work is necessarily at first of teaching the alphabet and the rudiments of our language. Given a China- man who understands little or no English, and a teacher who understands no Chinese, and the conditions of solving the problem of educating the for- mer will at once be undel'stood to be difficult in the extreme. The methods of instruction must necessarily be those which are employed in the primary schools,and picture and pencil are used to express what words fail to convey.
In its first stages a Chinese Sunday-school differs little from a primary school for teaching English. .
The arl'angement of classes is different from the usual manner, for each teacher has but one pupil. This seems at first an unnecessary waste of ma- terial; it would be so, were all the godly people who take this field of labor skilled in teaching languages, for then more than one pupil might be taught; practical experiment, however, has proved that it is hard for the avel'age teacher to manage more than one at a time, until the pupil is far enough advanced to read the Bible. The writer is endeavoring to secure a reform in this matter wherever it is feasible, and urges that the ol'dinary manner of arranging classes of three or four be adopted wherever the pupils.al'e suf- ficiently advanced to make it possible.
Anothel' feature of this work is the fact that the teachel's are (01' the most part ladies, and much trash and scornful comment has appeared in the secu- lal' newspapers in l'egard to the fondness of the Chinese for the pretty Sun- day-school teachers. I would like to express my deliberate opinion that the reason why the Chinese pl'efer lady teachers is because the ladies are more willing to teach the Chinese, and, in fact, are often the only ones who will teach them. If you find a young man who has the patience, the dogged determination, the persistency and tact which are displayed in such a mal'ked manner by lady teachers, you will find that the Chinese will accept him as a teacher just as readily, and treat him with the same consideration. The fact is, that as the work resembles the work of the primary school, so the teachers must possess the same qualifications; and we find most of the teachers of the yonng to be ladies.
Difficulties of the W07'k.-The greatest difficulty often arises from the op- position of supposed Christian people. Some have been known to say that the Chinese never could be converted. As though the grace of God, which can reclaim a South Sea Islander, could be baffled by the Chinaman! Others say the Chinese are such low, degraded creatUl'es that we ought not to ass<>1(iate with them even as teachers! Did not Christ die to save sinners? Others seem to be infiuenced by sentimentality in their religion, and will give freely fOt' the cause of foreign missions, and weep tears over the thought of .. the heathen in his blindness, bowing down to wood and stone;" but fail to see a fit object for their benevolence or effort in the heathen on the avenue, bending all the day over the wash-tub or the ironing-board! Then the charge is made that the workers are actuated by sentimentalism in taking up the work. If sentimentalism consists in coming Sabbath after Sabbath, rain or shine, t!,spend an hour in the hardest kind of teaching, then we must admit the truth of the charge, though I should call that the hardest kind of prosaic work. The most plausible, yet illogical objection, is the one which is made against teaching the primer and against the school, because the Chinese come merely to learn English and not to learn anything about Oul' religion. No one who has been in the Chinese work will attempt to deny that at first the impelling motive, perhaps the only motive, which leads a Chinese into the Sunday-schoolis the desire to learn Eng'lish. We know that, we recognize that desire, but it does not prevent us from using that motive to the good of the man. Soon after he comes he begins to understand that the teaching is done from a spirit of kindness; he begins to look for our motive, and when he has at la!>t comprehended that it is Christian unselfishness, he realizes that here is something he knows nothing of, and he wishes to learn of Christ and His doctrine. Even if he should be so bigoted as to care nothing for these things, he receives a lesson of practical Christianity which does more good than many hours of preaching and theoretical instruction.
Another difficulty, and a most serious one, confronts the teacher of the Chinese when at last they know enough of our language to read and understand the blessed truths of the gospel. In a so-called Christian land, among a professedly Christian people, the observant Chinese is immediatelyoverwhelmed by the difficulty of reconciling the practical Christianity (as he imagines it to be) which he sees around him six days in the week, with the blessed maxims and truths he is taught on the Sabbath. If you tell him that the people who break everyone of the commandments almost every day of their lives are not true Christians, it does not make the matter much better, for, thinks he, why do they not accept such blessed truths? Will a man offer good gold to a stranger when his own kindred l,ave it not? There must be a false ring a bout the gold! It is for this reason that those who have labored both in the foreign field and in this land, unanimously concur in saying that the work is much harder, more discouraging in this land on account of there being" too many weekdays for one Sunday."
Results.-The direct results of the work have been such as greatly to encourage the workers. Nearly everyone of the different denominations working in New York City among the Chinese have several Chinese connected with the chUl"ches, who have proved themselves to be worthy of their profession and excellent examples to their heathen brethren. In many respects they put other Christians to the blush. They are characteristically slow in professing their faith, but that slowness arises often from their deep sense of the responsibility involved. 1 have often been told by an inquirer that he wished to profess faith in Christ, but he did not know enough to lead in pI'ayer, or to give a few minutes' talk in prayer-meeting, The first Chinaman who was converted under my instruction was quite perplexed over the question whether it was right for him to shave his head and plait his queue on Sunday I A Chinese Christian asked me recently whether I did not think that having a fair in the Sunday-school rooms of a church did not resemble the sin committed by those who sat at the tables ot the moneychangers in the temple. Another Chinese, who is soon to be baptized, was very much troubled because the writer did not ask a blessing at an evening gathei·ing where a few Chinese were entertained by their teacher, and icecream and cake were passed al'ound. It was a difficult matter for his teacher to explain to him the reason for the omission, but finally he looked satisfied and said, "0 I I see, ice-cream no count with God."
Space fails to speak of the many notable examples which have proved that the saving grace of God is not confined to any ('ace or people, but wherever sin abounds grace doth much more abound.
The results of this work are wider and reach further than we would at first suppose. Not only do those who are converted in this country return to be messengers of good to their brethren, but on account of the friendly feeling engendered in them toward the Christian people, they are made the means of introducing a minister 01· an evangelist to their neighbors or friends, who would not gain a hearing were it not for their friendly intervention. Even if a man has not been converted, he respects Christians after he has been an ob- ject of their kindness, and he is able to assure the villagers in China that the "Jesus man" has no ill designs on them, but is a harmless person who does good, even though he preaches a lot of nonsense, and thus the reflex in- fluence of the Sunday-school here opens the door for the preacher in China. So no one can estimate the results of this work, except Him who hath said, "My word shall not return unto me void," and in the day when He maketh up His jewels we shall be amazed at the harvest. We sow blindly, but we shall reap abundantly, for it is God that giveth the increase.
I have not attempted to give any statistics as to the number of schools and of those attendant thereon. The simple reason for this omission is that it is hard to get such statistics. As editor of The Chinese Evangelist I have made great efforts to get a complete list of the schools for the Chinese, but every day we hear of some new one, and new ones are continually being started. Since the establishment of The Chinese Evangelist we have en- deavored to systematize and tabulate the work, but such is the difficulty of getting accurate information that so far we cannot indicate the extent of the work except in this general way. The Chinese Evangelist is now being taken in schools all over the land from Maine to Oregon, and from Canada to Florida, and even in the Sandwich Islands and China. From the letters which come to the editors, it seems that the work is being carried on with increased vigor, and the Christian church is awakening to the responsibility resting upon it, and is improving the opportunity now presented. There are still 100,000 Chinese in America, and in spite of the Exclusion Bill more are
TRANSLATIONS }!'ROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES"
coming, and hardly any are returning. The opportunity now is great, the need is pressing, and no one can overestimate its importance, when we consider that the best way to reach China is through the Chinese themselves. In our land we can infuse American pluck and energy into the slow-moving, phlegmatic Chinaman; and these, united with the love of God and his fellow-man, will enable the Americanized Christian Chinaman to be a power in his own land, and he will be able to do a work which none other can do. H anyone cannot go and work directly for China, here is a field, hard, stony, comparatively uninviting, but one which will yield a rich reward in God's own time.
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
THE Rhenish Missionary Society, as is known, has a very important mission in Sumatra. We give some extracts, which make this great island seem more like a real country to us than it has seemed before. From the station of Bungabondar: "In the last yea.r ninety have been led to the Saviour and received into the church by baptism." It is known that in Sumatra Mohammedanism is very strong. Yet, as remarkable exception to the general fact, almost half the converts are from Mohammedanism. On the other hand, a good many unstable Christians flo.at over to it. The following narative from the Berichte for January, 1889, casts a new light on the mental attitude of Moslems in the face of death. We often heal' of their contempt of death. But this appears to be only in the fierce fanaticism of a religious war.
.. Here I must make mention of the faithful Asenath, whom on the last day of the old year we committed to the bosom of the earth. After an illness patiently endured for two years "he felt her end approaching. As the last provision for her way she wished yet once more to enjoy the Holy Supper. I administered it to her in her roomy house before a large assemblage. As Iwas about to give her the bread she said, • Let me first pray.' And now the woman, who for weeks had not been able to sit upright, straightened herself up, and prayed for full ten minutes, as if she would fain pray away every earthly care out of her heart. I have seldom heard a woman pray in snch wise. Thereupon she recei ved the sacred elements. The next day I found witlit her a Mohammedan chieftain, who at taking leave wished her health and long life. •What say you?' she replied, •after that I have no further longing. My wish is now to go to heaven, to my Lord. Death has no longer any terrors for me.' Astonished, the Mussulman replied: 'Such language is strange to us. We shrink and cower before death, and therefore use every means possible to recover and live long.'
.. Even so I think of our James, whose only son had died. When at the funeral I pressed his band, with some words of comfort, he Said: • Only do not suppose that r murmur and complain. All that God does to me, is good and wholesome for me. I shall hereafter find my son again in life eternal.' So vanish little bylittle the comfortless wailings of heathenism; the beams of a living hope penetrate the pangs and the terrors of death, as the. beams of the sun the clouds of the night. And, as the hopelessness of heathenism is disappearing, so is also its implacability. When Christians contend, and at the communionl say to them: 'Give each other your hands,' they often say: 'Natureisagainstit; but how can I withstand the graciou~ness of mv Sa.viour ?' Such words are not seldom heard. And am Inot well entitled to hope, that they, as a grea.tgift of my God, warrant a confident hope in the final and glorious victory ot the Prince of Life, and of his great and righteous cause? "
On Palm Sunday, at this station, Missionary Schutz Qaptized 18 fOl'mer Mohammedans, confirmed 18 Christian children, and restoi'ed one apostate.
THE Rhenish Missionary Society has in all over 150 native trained helpers, of whom only foul' are ordained. The Society has also in all, in Sumatra, China and Africa,250 native elders, and remarks that it might easily be that these" signify as much, perhaps, indeed, even more, than the salaried assistants, for the development and healthy growth of the general cause." The government of the Transvaal Republic, in .South Africa, has suddenly put in force atainst the mission stations a law which forbids more· than five native families to live together on anyone estate. This harsh statute, harshly applied, has already broken up five Hermannsburg stations, and at least one Berlin station.
The MonatsbUitter remarks that in Africa it is not the Mohammedans who have introduced slavery, though it is they who. are fast depopulating lal'ge regions of the unhappy continent by their ruthlessness in conducting the hunting of slaves. Slavery itself is aboriginal in Africa. As no one in Africa has any hope of protection unless he belongs to some one of the few great men, the poorer freemen have gradually reduced themselves to servi- tude, until now, in some n~gro tribes, out of evel'y 100 persons, 80 or 90 al'e slaves. In Igonda the traveller, Paul Reichard, out of 500 or 600 inhabi- tants, found only six free persons. Of his own caravan of 650 there were only five freemen. An institution so deeply rooted cannot, of course, be otherwise than gradually done away, remarks the MonatsbUitter. But the horrors of the Arab slave trade are to be at once attacked. And it is to be remarked that Christian Europe was the first great offender, and not Mohammedan Arabia. Christianity, however, is against the iniquity; Islam fully sanctions it. Christendom, therefore, could be moved from within to abandon it; Arabia will have to be coerced from without.
The MonatsbUitter remarks that the best known emporium of the Arab slave trade is Ujiji, on Lake Tanganyika, and quotes the following descrip- tion of it from a Catholic missionary: .. This is the meeting point of all the caravans of slaves who, captured in the interior, are to be brought to the coast. There are gathered all the Waguana and Mohammedan reprobates to con- cert in what direction and against what tribe the next foray shall be nndertaken-a veritable Sodom, a theatre of all sorts of crimes, excesses, shamelessness of vi~. What a day of calamity for Africa. on which the Arabs first set their foot in its interior I For with them they have brought into the land also their immoral religion. their Vices, as well as the foul contagions dis- eases, which previously were wholly unkuown among the negroes. Towards the end of 1887, when I was in the city, it waS regulu!y flooded with slaves. You saw in hideous medley men, womeu and children, some bound together with cords, some with chains. Some had their ears pierced to admit a small cord, for the sake of fastening them together. At every step which one took along the streets, he encountered living skeletons, painfully dragging th"mselves along by the help of a stick: they had been released from chains, as being too weak to flee. It was not Sickness, but hunger, which had thus reduced tbem, aud the great scars which appeared on tlieir backs su1llciently dis- closed that their masters had not spared blows to urge them along. Others you might see lying in the street before their masters' doors or elsewhere, awaiting the end of their comfortless existence. The heart bled to reflect that these unhappy ones had uot eveu the hope which helps a Christian to bear his misery.
•• An uncultivated plain, growu up with grass, which separates the marketplace from the lake, Is the graveyard of Ujiji, or more accurately the trench, into which are thrown all the bodies of the deceased slayss, and even of those who are still in the last agonies. The wild beasts are their only sextons. A young Christian who did uot set know Ujiji set out to go from the town to the lake shore,but came back in dismay at the view of the numerous corpses, which, gnawed by hyenas and birds of prey, lay along the footpath. Then I asked au Arab why the corpses here were so numerous, and why they were left so near the town, at the risk of a geueral pestilence. He replied with the utmost composure and nonchalance: • From of old we have been used to throw the bodies of our slaves iu this place, and the hyenas would come every night and carry them away; but this year there are so many dyiug that the wild beasts can't get through with them; they have come to have a loathing for human flesh.' It is plain then that blockading the coast is but a small part of the work."
The Evangelisch Lutherisches Missionsblatt says; "We read here and there, e€pecially in English missionary magazines, that the Indian temples are falling into decay. 'rhis may be here and there the case, indeed it is some- times so In the Tamil land; bnt in general our Tamils, especially those who live in the Cauvery deta, are still thoroughly zealous in the temple-service, standing, as they do, wholly under the influence of a. numerous priesthood, for which the maintenance of the temples is a matter of life and death. Here, as in all reports from Ind'ia, we must remind our readers how needful it is to abstain from unadvised generalizati07l/l. For India is a mighty land. Conditions differ enormously from region to region within it, so that It Is only seldom that what may be said of Olle place or district applies to another. What traveler could pronounce a trustworthy judgment respecting the religions condition of all Europe? And if he could it is still more difticult in India. The visible decay of the temples will be in India, as It was in Greece the last 8taqe of heathenism."
.. Here In Shiall the modern schooling has not yet undermined belief in the ancient gods. Here there still prevail" the same zeal in their worship which the Apostle Paul recognized among the Athenians. New temples are still built and the old ones repaired. Wealthy merchants give hundreds of thousands of rupees for this end, and the people work themselves weary for half-wages. The festivals are celebrated regularly, and on their account the most important labors are interrnpted. Even the State must still recognize the heathen holidays, at least as respects its heathen officials. The Brahmans not only claim divine titles for themselves, bnt are also in fact addressed by the people as gods. They, are not only the intellectual and spiritnallea.ders of the people, but as wealthy landholders, are in various ways their secula.r lor:ds.'· .
"Yet worse "-in Shiall, in South India-"the heathens force the Christians into the idol festivals In order to drag through the streets the great car on which the idol. with his tram of attendants, is placed. One would think that for such a work of honor to the god the heathen themselves would gladly offer and be proud of the toil. But this is not so. The wealthy do their part bV deputing their servants and dependents. And almost all our Christians here are depeudE'nts of theirs. At alate festival they came in great numbers to me, showing me their masters' orders. I dissuaded them from obedience. Some followed my counsel and hid themselves in the church or the garden. Others followed their orders and went to take their place at the ropes. What the consequences are likely to be for the disobedient I have not yet learned. One who had refused from the first showed me the marks of a seVere beating."
We have all'eady given a description, from the Mi88ionablatt, of the great temple of Trlchinopoli. We here give a description of the city itself: .
.. Trichinopoli, or, in Tamil, Tirisiril.palli, that Is,' City of the Three-headed Giant,' formerly the capital of a mighty Nabob, with 76,000 inhabitants, among whom are many skillful and industrious Hindus, fanatical Mohammedans, and some 15,000 Catholics, is also a garrison town for a regiment of Sepoys, that Is, nativetroops in English pay. It lies near the ri ver Canvery, which here diVides into two grea.t a.rms, forming the long and fruitful island of Soi-r..ngam, that is, ' Holy River isle.' This island, the paradise of the Vishnuites, is renowned for the magnificent temple of Vishnu, whose external inclosure is some four miles and a half ronnd, and comprises 21 gopurams, that is, p..godas, in fact, a whole city of tcmples. No wonder that the smothering atmosphere of idolatry prevailing here weighs depressingly upon our missionaries, even more tha.n the solar heat augmented by the rockY soil. Yet even as early as 1762 Protestant missions gained a firm footing here. The simple church built by 'Father Schwarz' in the next neighborhood of the' Prichi-rock,' and his modest dwelling-house, keep up even here the memory of this blessed missionary. Southward from this rock the slender spire of our Zion Church, built upon the' Elephant hill,' nea.r the market, points the heathen to a better heaven than the stone god Ganesa, enthroned upon the rock, has power to give."
Herr Kahis then speaks of their girl's school: .. Twenty years ago no heathen girl was yet to be seen in our school. Now many are coming. There is no more grateful task than the instruction of little ~L'ami1 girls. Quiet and yet joyous, easy to guide and of responsive intellects, they make the work of their teachers light. What joy it affords us to scatter the seeds of life in their childlike hearts, and through them to see it borne into families which are otherwise inaccessible to our preaching."
The Caho MonatsbUUter, quoting the text Proverbs xxiv: 11, Which, in the German, reads, "Delivel' them, whom one will kill, and withdraw not thyself fl·om them whom one will strangle," refers to the dangers in East Africa, which since then have been terribly realized: .. This word applies to E..st Africa in a two-fold way. First, to the poor natives who live yet under the curse of superstition, discord and the slave-trade, and whom we may not withdraw ourselves from the duty of delivering out of the hand of him who is a murderer from the beginniug. Secondly, to the missionaries themselves who are laboring there, and who would have cast their lives into the breach in vain unless we send the requisite force of men to support them. Some of them are absolutely in danger of being put to dea.th. TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZnmS. M5 Missionary Gordon at Uganda lies there, as it were, in a den of lions; the Scotch mission- aries live every moment in expectation of an assault from,their Mohammedan foes, and the Neukirchen brethren on Toka river have no assurance of their lives."
"The Anglican and High Church Universities' Mission," says the MonatsbUitter, "has passed through grevious years. Once, or rather more than once, it was a fire, then a hurri- cane, then a plundering irruption of savage heathen, and more than all, a succession of sud- den deaths which appeared to imperII the continuance of the work. But the undaunted sol- diers of the cross, all of them unmarried brethren and sisters, have yielded tono discourage_ ment. They go on unweariedly with teaching, with preiLching, with building, with jour- neying, with care of the sick, with singing and praying; and now they are able to show a.s visible results, not only handsome churches, schools, workshops, gardens and fields, but alsu Christian flocks, amounting in all to about 1,000 souls. All their ways, it is true, are not after our taste. They lay more stress than is easily reconcilable with the New Testa- ment on outward forms. genuflections and vestments, on liturgies and sacraments, on churches and tapers, on eucharistic functions and altars. And when Bishop Smythies went out he took with him, uot only a costly crosier in an oaken futteral, but a set of vest- ments as highly tinseled as you need look for in Rome. • A droll bishop I ' we thoull'ht then. But for all that the mnn has shown himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Worthy of all honor in these years past have been his achievements in journey_ ing and visiting, in care spent on all his stations, in sacrifices of bis own strength and com- fort. It is true while he has been about this the poor crosier has fallen a prey to the flames. But though the shepherd's crook has perished we do not learn that the sheep are any worse cared for."
The Monatsbliitter, as well as the Allgemeine Jlfissions Zeitschrijt, thinks , that the present craze in Germany for colonial possession is of veryambig- uous benefit to missions. "Bishop Smythies complains that since the terri- tory in which most of his stations lie has become German, he enjoys neither the protection of the Sultan of Zanzibar nor of the English Consul, but has to endure passively the plunderipg attacks upon the missions. This then is the shady side of the' colonial policy.' And who forgets the sad end which befell good Bishop Hannington under Mwanga's fears of the' land- eaters.' " Those people who imagine that men go out as missionaries in order to have an easy time of it among a simple people who half worship them, will be profited by reading these words of Mi.3sionary Posselt, among the Caffres: .. After having worked myself weary through the week, when there, on Sunday, I saw these wild men of the wilderness sitting before me, absolute obtuseness towards everything divine, together with mockery and brut2,1 lusts written on their faces, I sometimes lost all disposition to preach. Those fluent young preachers who not only like to be heard, but to hp.a.r themselves, ought to be sometimes required to ascend the pulpit before such an assemblage. There is not the least thing there to lift np the preacher of the Divine Word or to come to the help of his weakness. As when a green, fresh branch laid before the door of a glowing ovp.n shrivels up at once, such has sometimes been myex- perience when I had come full of warm devotion, before the Caffres, and undertaken to . preach. I have sometimes wished that I had never become a missionary. Once the hour of Sunday services again approached. The sun was fearfully hot, and I felt weary in body and soul. My unbelieving heart said: • Your preaching is for nothing,' and Beelzebub added a lusty amen. The Caffres were sitting in the hut, waiting for me. • I will not preach to-day,' said I to my wife; but she looked at me with her angelic eyes,lifted her finger, and said gravely: • William, you will do your duty. You will go and preach.' I seized Bible and hymn·book, and loitered to church like an idle boy creeping unwillingly to school. I began, preluding on the violin, the Caffres grunting consentaneously. I prayed read my text, and began to preach with about as much fluency as stuttering Moses. Yet soon the Lord loosened the band of my tongue, and the fire of the Holy Ghost awakened me out of my sluggishness. I spoke with such fervor concerning the Lamb of God, that t&keth away the sin of the world, that if that sermon has quickened no heart of a hearer yet my own was profoundly moved."
Yet Herr Posselt lived to baptize 1,000 Caffres.
Rev. Victor Holm, Director of the Daillsh Evangelical Missionary Society.
STUDENT VOLUNTEER NOTES
in announcing the appointment of a young parish clergyman, the Rev. Nils Peter Hansen, as a missionary for India, remark!!: .. This will undoubtedly be received with general delight. We have so often complained that no clergyman already proved and found to be a faithful servant of the Lord and possessed of the requisite culture offered himself to serve the Lord as a missionary among the heathen. It has also been the them" of many prayers, that the Lord would provide and send out such a man. That this has now come to pass, that our prayers are heard and fulfilled, is, we are sure, no matter of doubt to all who kuow Pastor Hansen, whose circle of acquaintance is far from being a narrow one."
A German nobleman, quoted in the Missionstidning for Finland, Count Limburg-Stirum, writing from the Dutch East Indies, avows that he had been greatly prejudiced against missionaries, but adds: "But God brought a missionary in my way. And now I could not say, like Cresar, veni, vidi, vw~. True, I came and saw, but instead of conquering I was conquered. I can no longer deny the good fruits and blessed influence of missions."
The Finnish Society first sent out missionaries 20 years ago to King William's Land in South Africa. For more than 12 years they baptized no one, then they baptized 6. At the end of the fourth year there were 80. During the fifth year there were baptized on Whitsunday, 51; ten days later, 23; and subsequently 11. So durlllg the fifth year the number of the baptized was just doubled.
In Germany, hitherto, it is known, the leading classes have been, for the most part, very disdainful towards Missions, and the journals, largely conducted by Jews who had ceased to believe in their own religIOn, and were bent on the destruction of ours, have exhibited towards them a virulent hatI'ed. But in a recent debate on the colonies, held in the Reichstag, a great change was noticeable.
.. We must note as a great matter of satisfaction," says the Allgemeine Missions Zeitschrijt, .. that this time missions have been discussed without being attacked, indeed, withont even the jocularity commonly thought to be due to such a subject. On the contrary, one had only honorable recognition for them ou all sides of the house. 'Missiouary testimonies' were designated as the 'most uuimpeachable,' the aims of the missiouaries as 'undeniably ideal,' their' work of Christian beneficence as rich in blessings,' 'the mission·stations as the true points d'appui of Christianity and civilization,' and all this by men, from whom, hitherto, we have been wont to hear a very dif- ferent language."
Especially significant, in the German Parliament, was the testimony of a social democrat, Sabor, who, of course, occupies a position of incompatibility with Christianity. He says: "We acknowl- edge that there has been a healthful activity developed by the missionaries in Africa. They have shown how much everywhere in the world is to be accomplished by patience and love; they have pi'oved that even with uncivilized tribes hearts which have a fund of goodness, can accomplish mnch without the lash of compulsion."
Spain and France both, from a regard to the political value of the Catholic missions in their colonies, contribute large sums from the public treas- ury for the support of these, doubtless to the great detriment of their spiritual character. But, as the Zeitschrift remarks with just satisfaction, Herr Windthorst, the leader of the Ultramontanes in the Reichstag, has distinctly disclaimed for his party all expectation of such subventions from the imperial treasury. There is no reason, as the Zeitschrift remarks,. why the government should not afford aid to the schools and presses of the mis- sions, Catholic and Protestant, but every reason why it should not inter- fere with their properly spiritual work, even by affording aid, since aid soon establishes a claiI!l. of supervis-ion-. – – – – STUDENT VOLUNTEER NOTES.
THE volunteers who were at the Northfield Summer School in '87 will remember the In- spiring words of Mr. H. F. La. Flamme, who but six months before, when Mr. Forman was in Toronto, had decided for the foreign work and was thAn on his way to his field in India. During the summer of '87, Mr. La. Flamme and Mr. Davis made a tour of Canada and secured about $3.000 for India. Then they saIled together.
After sixteen months spent in the study of the language they set out in February last on their first tour" to breathe out the new words in an old, old storv." Mr. Davis was given permanent charge of 500,000 souls. Mr. La. Flamme will work with him until joined byaB- other man from America, when be will push up north and open a new station. The people rush together in crowds to hear them preach, at times literally mobbing- them by pressing around tbem for the tracts they distribute. A strong appeal is made by the missionaries of the district for 52 men at once, and the third of April Was observed as a day of special prayer for tllis end. The same need is felt all over India, as IS indicated by Dr. Chamber- lain's trumpet-call in THE MISSIONARY REVIll:W OF THE WoaLD for 5,000 men. In the central provinces a work is being originated similar to the China Inland Mission to get out young men on a salary of $300 a year to evangelize Central India. Until they learn the language they will all live in a central horne, BaJaghat, with food and cloth..s only provided. Then they are to go out two and two throughout the land proclaiming Christ.
It gives us pleasure to present a letter from Mr. La. Flamme to the volunteers: My Dear Fellow Volunteer.: CORANADA, INDU., April 8,1889.
As one of you I wish to give testimony that Jesus Christ fully satisfies. That promise, .. Lo I am with you a.lway," is a living- promise, and is fully wrought mto life only when we leave all to follow Jesus. One of our number said at Northfield in IM87: .. Perhaps you think we men who are about to start for the foreign field are sorry men. I tell you we are the happiest men here;" and he spoke the truth. We prove a problem by working it back- wards. The problem of "'peace on earth and good will toward men" was worked out from God to us by the death on the cross of the Son of Man. The proof of It is found in Luke ix: 23 : .. If any man will come after me, let bim deny himself and take up his cross dally and follow me." .. Whither, Lord?" ., To crucifixion," he a.nswers. Self-crucifixion, na.iling the old man to the cross, leaving all to follow Christ, that only brings to the soul the" peace of God that passeth knowledge." Self-devotemen~ to God, and that only, works the prob- lem back from us, in our peace with God, to the full peace of God in us, which proves" the good and acceptable and perfect 1"ill of God."
And now we have proved the problem, we hav.e given ourselves. not our belongings only, not a portion of our time only, but ourselves to God himself-not to God's service merely, but to God himself. We are ready to go anywhere for Jesus, and we have peace in our souls. Bu t let us not rest there. Let us apply the problem. 1 Tim. ii : 3-4: .. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: who wllleth that all men should be saved and corne to a knowledge of the truth." And how shall they be saved? .. Whosoever call- eth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." .. How, then, shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shaH they beheve m Him whom they have not heard ?
and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be &ent?" The voice of God cries. "Whom shall I send 1" "Who will go for us?" The WIlling response comes, U Here am I, send met"and with it the question, "'Whither, Lord? "-many volunteers stand just there-willing to go, but wanting to be sent, and asking… Whither, Lord?" And as they wait, expecting a special call, the great need of the foreign field is lost sight of. God's proTidences are the indications of His will.
And what are these indications? (1) Christ means each generation of Christians to give the gospel to each generation of unbelievers. Marl< xvi: 15. And the special providence for all the essentials of this vast enterprise Is found in Acts i: 8 : .. Ye sh..l1 receive roWER, after that the Holy Ghost is COrne upon you • • . to witness unto the uttermost parts."
(2) Though in some generations the carrying out of such an enterprise might have seemed like a march up to the Red Sea with the command to cross. it is not so in this. Every door is wide open. all peoples can be reached, all mission boards are calling for more men.
(3) God has established a law which makes It .. more blessed to give than to receive." If you would see the home church largely blessed,let her send you out to the foreign ser- vice according to that unfailmg promise, .. There is that scattereth and yet increaseth."
(4) One other striking indication of God's will in thIS matter is that be has informed you of the need of these destitute parts. Is that not significant? See John iii : 17. Of India's immense population, 288,000,000, fully 8,000,000 die every year, 24,000 every day. To reach these millions with the gospel the present staff of missionaries is 'Utterly inadequate. A call for 5,000 men (there are now some 600) has gone ringmg through tbe home land without contradiction or response.
But why no response? It Is because the great and perishinll:" need of India's millions Is l!Iot realized. To impress this need upon thIS home church Is the duty and the hIgh privilege of you volunteers. Urge the young men and women by the love and death of Christ, by the worth of souls and by the awful condition of the heathen world to devote their lives to the work and cry in an agony of love, .. Here am I, send me."
Mr. Wm. M. La.ngdon, another volunteer, writes from Pekin, Qhma. :
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER
"The needs here are oTerwhelming, and yet are not to be compared with those inland. With more than 200 foreigners in this city, we still sometimes attract curious, gaping crowds; and If the preacher is so strange, how unknown must be his gospel of salvation I Eleven months ago I learned of my appointment to North China, and was a little less pleased than if it had been to Japan. To-day I am glad it was China. Japan seems attractive to young America (and may the volunteers crowd that country), but tell them _ they will not regret giving their lives for Christ's work in old China."
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
Garenganze,. or, Seven Years' Pioneer Missionary Work tn Central Africa. By Fred S. Arnot: Fleming H. Revell, 12 Bible House, New York. Victor Hugo predicted that m the twentieth century, Africa would be the cynosure of all eyes. In this story of seven years in the Dark Continent, Mr. Arnot has given us a son's letters to his mother and the home group; a story of strictly pioneer work, fer he undertook to cross the contment on foot. The journey was marked by supernatnral savor so sweet to a believer; as when, for example, . In a terrible thunder storm, an electric ball rell crasbing at his feet hke a cannon's shot, yetlefthim unharmed; or as, when III reptlated Illstances food and water were found to reo lieve extreme hunger and thirst, just whell the crisis came and behevlng prayer had made appeal to God. The book reveals a passion for souls.
With his whole heart Mr. Arnot loved those poor Africans and yearned for their salva- tion. He was divinely restless so long as his tongue was forced to be mute amid such spiritual destitution; and love quickened his mental powers and well nigh became to him a. gift of tongues, so that after but four months he began to use the Sechuana dialect in reading, conversation and prayer. The gospel still proves its power. The converted chief Kama not only forbids the traffic in stron!" drink, but the right of way for it throngh his dominions; he puts down revolting heathen customs, and sets an example of self. denial; yet while warring against their pagan practices, he wins the hearts of his people so that, almost to a man, they would die for him. One might see more shameless vice and immorality in Glasgow 111 one day than in Shoshong during a twelvemonth. It will take more than an English canon or M. P. to shake our confidence in Christian missions while such resnltsare wrought in the very homeso! thedeathshade and the habitations of cruelty.
Mr. Arnot's secrets are open secrets. A faith that made God's promises verities, real- ities, certainties to go by; a felJowship with God that would not be satisfied Without the holy llltimacy which reveals the secrets of God to the meek; a fidelity to the lower law bf duty and.higher law oflove, that turns our groveling into pimons that bear these secrets of this apostolic traveler's success-any disciple may learn and follow… There are eudless fresh beginnings in Christ." We have not yet begun to sound the possibilities of missions, because we have not yet proved the full power of prayer and faith and obedience. When believers trust the promises, learn of Christ and fully accept the great truth that the whole world is thejield and the whole church is the foree, many more will go forth with seed and with sickle, ready both to sow and to reap; and no part of the wide field shall re- main destitute of laborers, and given over to the Harvest of Death I-A. T. P.
F. H. Revell has also published a new Imperial AUas of the TVorld in convenient folio form at the amazingly low price of one dollar. We recommend all students, and espeCIally stu- a. dents of geography, history and missions, to procure copy to place on their tables for constant reference. We have found it invaluable. It has some thirty-three maps repre- senting every continent and country in colors, with a copious index by which easily and rapidly to find any city or town or distrIct; and one great excellence of this atlas is that the maps are not encumbered With too much matter, which sometImes makes an otherwise first-rate map obscure by multipliCIty of details and lessen its utiiity.-A. T. P.
The Missicmary Library. Chicago and New York. Eight charming volumt's, of moder- ate compass, ha.ve thus far appeared in this series, viz.: the lives of Robert Morrison, Rob- ert Moffat, Jas. Chalmers, Thos. Comber, Wm. Carey, Griffith John, Bishop Crowther and Bishop Patteson. Mr. Revell's aim is to put into brief form the most interesting and a.rousing narrative" of missionary heroism. These are not pans of milk, but little pitchers of cream. compact a.nd condensed from bulkier volumes. They can be read in few hours, and easily borne ill memory. because they do not burden the reader with details. If some benevolent person would put a set of these books into every college library or within reach of students in our theological seminaries and Y. M. C. ASSOCIations. not to say the children m ourSunday-schoels. they would become the seeds of many a devoted form of service on fields both at home and abroad. We rejoice to see cheap and available mis- sIOnary biography multiplying, and have seen none that more fully suits the growing de- mand.-A. T. P.
Missionary Enterprises, South Sea 181ands. By John Williams, Presbyteria.n Board, Phil. adelphia. The name of John Williams, the martyr of Erromanga, is a sort of talismllol1 of mlSSlOns. He who knows nothing of Williams has yet to learn the alphabet and primer of missionary literature. He went to the most hopeless field in the South Seas, and found tile isles waiting for God's law. He dared all perils for the sake of Christ aud souls. His career became a triumphal one. Before he died he had the satisfaction of sowing Polynesia wiGh the gospel, and of seeing in most of the islands the seed coming to ripeness in the harvest. 'this Is another chapter in .. The Acts of the Apostles." Williams burned with it Pauline fire and God granted him a Pauline success. This book is one of the" Evidences of Christianity," an unanswerable argument and appeal for the truth and power of the Gospel.-A. T. P.
Ohri8tian Womanhood. W. C. Black, Nashville, Tennessee. There has been need for a. longtime of some monograph upon woman's position in the ancient and modern civihza.. tions. Without endorsing eVt'ry statement or opinion of Dr. Black we consider his book a. very valuable contribution to the literature of the subject, and calculated to throw much light upon some of the most important questions of the day. HIs disc~ssion of the female Diakonate is especially thorough and helpful. He shows woman's position in the ages bafore Christ, ber domestic thraldom, her social status, her systematic ignorance.alld degradation, and the wonderful reversal of all these condItions after Christ came. No ·'coman, especially, should be WIthout the stimulus this work imparts. The place woman holds and is to hold in modern evangelizatlOn is emphatically brought to the front. The book wlll prove a great help in stimulatingmissions.-A. T. P.
The Romance 01 Mis8ions. By Maria A. West. Boston: Ara Kelyan. This book is well named. It is from the pen of a most accomplished woman, Whose imaginative pen invests the work of missions with a romantiC, but not illusive or deceptive coloring. Her experi_ ence in the La.nd of Ararat we have not only read in tilese pages, but hear4 from her own lips with not only interest but fascination. She sees and hears with singular acuteness ot observation,and then with graphic power paints what she observes. We should think our misslon~ry library very deficient without Miss West's delightful and instructi ve book. Missions would not be barren of mterest if such volumes were more read. Few novels compare with this narrative of bcts.-A. T. P.
Bits about India. By Mrs. Helen H. Holcomb. Presbyterian Board of Publication. The writer of this beautifnl book has long been a missionary resident in India, and is thoroughly familiar with the things of which she writes so pleasantly. The title of the book indicates its character. It is fuJI of interesting facts about India, its people, Its customs, its wor. ship, its prlva.te and social life-the very things that really tell most concerning a. country, and yet the very things which most writers are apt to overlook.-J. M. S.
Twenty Years of the Woma.n's Foreign. M"Ul8ionary Society of the Methodist Episcopa.l Church. By Mrs. J. T. Gracey.
Sketch 01 Mr8. J. C. Doremus, by the same author. The first of these brochures is an Intel. lIgent, compact and comprehensive outline sketch of the history, the work and the results of twenty years-from 1869 to 1889-of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the M. E. Church, published bV the Heathen Woman'8 Friend, Boston. It is a sketch of remarka.- ble Interest and full of information and of inspiration.
The other Is a graceful and most touching tribute to the memory of one whose name Is like preclOus ointment ponred forth-a name lJIustrious in the annals of philanthropy and ChristIan work. She Was the first President of the first Woman's Missionary Society- "Woman's Union Missiona.ry Society "-and made her blessed infiuence felt at home IIilId abroad through a thousand channels. We wish this sketch, which costs but three cents, and is published at the same place as the one above, could be read by every woman in the land.-J. M.S.
Memoirs of Mrs. Augusta Tullis Kelley, late missionary to East Central Africa. By her husband. "In these memoirs the reader will find nothing fictitious, exaggerated or highly colored, but a plain, faithful record of the work and sacrifice of a woman of God of more than ordinary ability, wholly consecrated to his service It is a deeply interesting volume. It is charming for its simpilcity. It is the record of a holy symmetrical lire. Her own writings contribute an attraFtive pa.rtof the book. It will encourage all who pernse It to holy living. It will, we trust, awaken new zeal in the missionary cause." rhe book is deeply spiritual, bntisnot narrow or sectarian. $1 sent to Rev. W. W. Kelley, Paxton,Ill., wllIse- cure a copy.-J. M. S.
The M"l8IJionary Year Book for 1889, containing historical and statistical accounts of the principal Protestant Missionary SOCIeties in Great Britain, the continent of Europe, and America. London: The Religious Tract Society. New York: F. H. Revell. 12 mo, 428 pp. Prlce,1.25. We barely announced this work in our June issue,anda.reglad to saythat it is now upon the ma.rkilt. A similar volume was published last year, but we note a decided
GENERAL MISSI,ONARY INTELLIGENCE
improvement in the present, especially in the American department, which last year was very meagre and imperfect. Fortunately Dr. J. T . Gracey, who conducts the International Department of this R&VlEW, collated and edited the matter in the American section -<lver one-fourth of the book-which is a guarantee that this part of the work has been intelligently and thoroughly done.
The design of the Annual is to give a bird's-eye view of all the important missionary operations of Protestant Christendom. Each society in turn is briefly sketched, its field and work described, and the latest statIstics presented. So tbat within the space of a moderate volume the reader can learn just what each missionary society or agency in the wide world is doing, ",here it is laboring, and with what success. The statistics given-often tabulated-are official and invaluable. It is justsuch a work as thousands of those engaged in missionary work need for information, and it ought to have, and we believe will have, a large circulatiou. And If the success of this volume warrants it, a similar one will be issued each year hereafter.-J. M. S.
H.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Afrlca.-Prof. Calderwood, in an able -Diffusion of the English language. The article in the Unzted Presbyterian Magazine, fact that at the recent National Congress shows conclusively that concentrated effort in India all the speeches and the entire prohas proved far more effective than desultory ceedings were in English, is a striking illusenterprises. He contrasts for example what tration of the wide diffusion of that tongne. has been done by the China Inland Mission, There were gathered at Madras seven huna.lId by the Presbyterian Church of England. dred dele::a.tes from all parts of India, Af- "Wilham Burns went to China," he says, ghanistan, Nepaul, Bnrmah and Scinde. .. in 1847: Hudson Taylor in 1>l55; Burns had They spoke nine different languages, and thus the advantageo! eight years m ad- the English was the only medium throu&'h vance. The Presbyterian church has con- which the proceedings could be satisfactocentrated in Amoy, Swatow, and in the rily conducted. Great Britain's colonial island of Formosa. This mission has now 16 enterprises ha ve been probably the largest missionaries, 7 medica.l missionaries, 13 wo- factor in spreading a knowledge of English. men wboare zena.namissionaries-36agents It is found also that in countries like Java, m all ; whereas the China Inland Mission where Great Britain has no control, the has 339 agents. How then do resnlts stand? knowledge of English IS steadily growing. The Presbyterian Church of England Mis- Not long ago the French language was the sIOn reports at the end of 1887, 3,528 commu- medium invariably employed in all internanicants. The China Inland Mission, with its tional conferences. At the last Berlin connoble examples of seJr-consecration, cannot ference, however, English and German as show results to compare with them."-Free weIl as French were employed. The other Church 01 Scotland Monthly. leading languages of Europe have graduaIly been insisting on recognitiou on an equal -We must be aggressive. We neglect the footing with French in their proper domain. work of missions at our peril. Look abroad. It was Mr. Canning who led the way when The multitudes of India and China are fast at the foreign office he ordered that certain becoming possessed of the instrnments and correspondence, hi thertowritten in French, appilances of Illodern civilization, while should be sent in English. .. The time will vice and Infldelity from the West keep pace come:' said Bismarck in 1863," when I inwith the advance of art and commerce. If tend to have all my dispatches written in Christianity fails to s~bdne these people, If German, and when I shall find means to the Christian church fails in her duty to make them understood even ill FranCe." He them, and selfishly Ignores the splendid op- kept his word, and both the English and portunities before her, she Is preparinl';' German tongues have profited by the cona.:vengers of her guilty negligence and sel- siderable decline of French as the interns.- fish apathy more cruel than the harbarlan tionallanguage of diplomacy and polite soscour&,es that deva~tated Imperial Rome. ciety. Look at h"me. Infldeilty, socialism, anarchy, the outcome of the neglect, oppression -The Scriptures are now accessible, as to and unfaithfulness ofChristendom,are rally- languages, to nine-tenths of the world's ining their forces, and preparing certain judg- habitants, while in the early part of this ment for a worldly and apathetic church. century they could be stndied only byabout Whatcanavertlt? Communism must come one-flfth. Shall it be the commnnism of the devil, or the communism of Christ? Under God, our _. Are our foreign missions a success? salvation as a church, and as a. people, de- Though the direct results of the propa- ·pends npon revived faithfulness to that ganda of the various Christian missions great aggressive work Which Christ has which have long been at work in Africa may not show an extraordmary num- Iiven us to do. ber of baptized and professing Christians in their pnblished statistics, yet their vastated." At the close of 1887 the Arab Indirect inlluence has had really remarka- traders attacked Karonga, one of the com..
ble effect in educating and humanizing can- pany's stations at the North end of Lake nibals and fetish worshipers, and the mere Nyassa, but a body of native allies came to fact that numbers of savages have been their help, and after five days the siege was taught to read, write and speak good Eng. raised. The company are appealing for lish or French, is alone one result of mis- funds to enable them to send a force of ex- sionary enterprise which should secure the perienced and equipped men to undertake sympathy and support of European Goveru- the work of repelling these Arab aggressors.
ments for these painstaking societies. In- -ReVIved HindUIsm. TheBharatDharma deed, though the converted barbarians may Maha·mandal (Iiterally"theGreat Assembly afterward grow slack in observing theprac- of the India Religion"), Hindooreligiou8 con..
tices of our religion, no one can deny that ference, concluded its second annual meet- they have been very much benefited by ing at Brindabun on the 29th ultimo. About their studies at the mission. No doubt if 200 delegates from various parts of the Pun- the great missionary propaganda of Britain jab, the northwestern provinces, Oudh and confined itself to being a kind of School Behar, including Dewan Ramjas, C.I.E., and Board for savages, it would save time and Dewan Mathuradas Bahadnr of Kapurthala, money spent in installing into low-grade were present. The conference upheld im- minds dog-mas and doctrines which these age worship, the incarnations, sbl'addha barbarians are scarcely capable of turning and pilgrimage. It was resolved that to the practical purposes of life, but inas. branches of the Maha·mandal (Great As· much as that is the original motive-power sembly) be established in places where they of Christian missions, and one must utilize do not already exist, also to promote all forces as one finds them, political ec·ono- over the country religious education, and mists should be content to let the missiona- that Hindoo boys sl,ould be taught :rI:indi, ries dogmatize and indoctrinate without let Sanskrit and the principles of the Hindu or hindrance, on account of the education religion before they begin to learn a foreign and civilization which they laterally intro- language; that no boy be married below 16, duce. The trader civilizes, but he does not and no girl belOW 10 or above 12. The con· go to savage countries for that purpose; he ference closed with prayers for the Queen- goes to trade. In like manner the bait Empress under whose benign rule, as the which draws these good men and women of Secretary remarked, they enjoyed that Ro~an Catholic and Protestant missions to mo.t invaluable boon, namely religious free- Africa, Polynesia, North America, India, dom. Prayers were also offered for Lord China aud Persia, is the desire to instUl into Lansdowne, Sir Auckland Colvin and Sir the minds of the backward races of these James Lyall; but to which of the 330,000,000 'savages of semi-civilized lands their own Hindu divinities the prayers were offered, views of Christian faith and hope, but they our authority does not say. We take it to accompany their care for the spiritual well- be to Krishna and his mistress Radha, the being of the pagan or Mohammedan with a local divinities, who, we suppose, presided very practical intention to improve his over the "Great Assembly."-Indian Evan· bodily life and to educate his mind, and in gelical Review, April.
this they do, and have done in the past, an -Results of a Christless Civilization. Grat- amount of good that has never as yet been tan Guinness lately said: .. All along that sufficientlyappreciated.-H. H. Johnston in West coast of Africll. we have built great Fortnightly Review for Aprtl. warehouses stocked with guns, gunpowder -" The African Lakes Company was form- and murderous drinks. We have built them ed in 1878 to assist the various missions at every river's mouth, and far up every then established and to work out Living- navigable rlver in the interior of the coun- stone b schemes." James Stevenson, of try, wherever European capital and power Scotland, is chairman of the company, and could reach. Where the Senegal, the Gam.
the road known as the Stevenson Road, con- bia, the Niger and the Congo roll their be- necting lakes Nyassa and Tanganyika, was neficent waters to the sea, there we have b'lilt at his expense. This is said to be one set up the man-murdering fa.,tories, and of the most important roads in Central there we land our cargoes of deadly poison.
Africa, commercially considered; but the Look at the green boxes in those factories, Arabs have begun to appropriate it to their packed with gin-infamously bad gin, too, own use, and to block the way with their scarcely lIt to make paint with; gin boxes caravans. Mr. Stevenson has just issued a by the l'Illllion I Look at the demijohns of pamphlet containing a slave-trade map of rum, great glass jars enclosed iu wicker Africa, and bringing together facts to show work, filled up to the brim with burning, that "within the last five years the ravages maddening liquor; rum jars by the million I of the Arabs have increased in area and in- Look at them in every African village and te,sity, so that a territory West of the town all along the coast, positively for thou- G~t Lakes,l,OOO miles by (O(), llle been de- sands of miles, and far away in the interior. See how the deadly trade eats like a cancer that it was fun of interest, a.nd that the into the very vitals of tbe dark continent." road is perfectly open; but being a white man, I had to pay' right of way' to the .. In wandering through some native vil- principal chiefs, who, by the way, are anxla.ges on the Kru coast," says Thomson, ious for white men ~o live with them. We "one feels as if in a kind of hades, peopled a.ri ved here in a. hundred marches, the by brutalized human beings, whose punish- marches averaging six hours. Here my ment it is to be possessed by a never-ending head was overwhelmed at the reception I thirst for drink. On all sides you, are fol- everywhere got from the BashiJange. Every lowed by eager cries for gin, gin, always hUJ dotted with large and beautiful vilgin. I had travelled and sulfered in Africa, lages; the couutry teeming with people who inspired by the idea that I was doing some ha,ve abandoned fetishism and are waitillg good in the world in opening up new lands for what the white men can bring them; all to commerce and civilization, but all my a.nxious to'learn, intelligent, have now some satisfaction was blighted as I felt that what idea of God, want to know about everything. httle work I had done had better have been faces all smiling, and everyone polite. Go undone, and Africa still remained the dark anywhere over the country, and great vilcontinen t, if such was to be the end of it all I lages enconnter tbe eye. The population is For me, as things stand in many places, I enormous and is marvellously thick. Trnly, am inclined to translate this cry of the • the harvest is great, but the laborers are opening up of Africa to civilization as really few.' Few I one only, and that one worth being the opening of itupto European vices, almost nothing."-Baptist Mis.ionary. old clothes, gin, rnm, gunpowder and guns." Ch i na.-A good book. A Chinese mer- -An Italian traveller, Signor Cechi, has lately published, in his work on East Africa, chant came into the American Baptist Misa.n interesting account of the degenerate sion Chapel in Shanghai, and, after talking representatives of ancient Christianity with him for a short time, Dr. Yates sold whom he found among the peoples inhabit- him a copy of the New Testament. He took ing the region South of Abyssinia. The Mo- it home, ;;00 miles awa.y,aud, after about hammedan invasion has driven these de- three months, appeared again in the chapel. scendants of the primitive African Chris. tians to the more mountainous parts of the He came back to say that he was uuder the country, where, .in sequestered vales, scat;.· impression that the book was not complete, tered communities of them have churches that surely it must have other parts, and so adorned with double crosses, and dedicated he came to get the Old Testament as he tosnch names as the" HolyEmanuel." They read and studied the New. What had he profess the old heresy that our Lord had only one nature, the divine. But Signor done with the New Testament r He had Cechi found them so staeped in ignorance that their doctrine can be little more to taken it to his home and shown it to the tbem tban a traditional formula. schoolmaster and the readiug people. They said: .. This is a good book. Confucius him- -Dr. Robert N. Cust, in a recent number self must have had something to do with it." of Ohurch Work, says: .. After a careful As there was only one copy, they unstitched consideration of the subject for many years I have come to the firm conviction that a this one and took it leaf by leaf, and all missionary in Equatorial Africa, East or those who could write took a leaf home. West, at a distance of, say fifty miles from Tbey made twelve or fifteen complete copies the coast, .hould not be encumbered with a of the New Testament, and introduced it family. He is like the captain of a ship, the into their schools without any" conscience soldier on a campaign, the explorer of un- clause." It was introduced as a class- known countries, and should not be weak- book throughout that district for heathen ened in the hour of peril by personal and schools.-Selected. home considerations calculated to unnerve him. It should be a rule absolute that as England.-A missionary exhibition. regards Equatorial Africa no woman should The Kensington Town Hall, London, has be allowed to be sent to a station in the in- been the scene of a very interesting exhibi- terior. I have seen a procession, as it were, tion and bazaar. A perfect museum of arti- of young women pass from the committee- cleg, illustrative of native life in India, room into African graves, with no possible China, Japan, Africa, North America and advantage as rega.rds mission work to com- Palestine, has been brought together under pensate for the frightful sacrifice of life." the auspices of the Church of England Mis- sionary Society; whilst lectures, with dis- Central Africa:-Dr. Wm. R. Sum_ solvIDg views, au the society's various fields mers, who died ,at Luluaburg, in the Congo of foreign labor have helped to render the Free State, wrote as follows to Dr. Sims re- exhibition still more instructive. Manyob- garding the people among whom he found jects of great interest, including idols, himself in that remote station: models of temples, weapons of sa.vage war- fare, and numerous specimens of native .. Of the journey I will sa.y notbing but mauufactures have been lent, and in each division of the exhibition a missionary well acquainted with the country from which the articles came was generally to be found have asked for a re-enforcement of Ii2 missiona- ready to alford all needed infotmation. ries. By the same proportion our own force Qught Relicsofa personal character, too, attracted to be enlarged by more than 100. Bnt they do much attention. Among the latter the most pathetic was the diary of the late Bishop not ask that. They ask this year for sW: new Hannington, with the last entry on the men. Let the young ministry see that the men day he was murdered, October 29, 1885: .. I can hear no news, but was held up by the are found, and the chnrches be sure that tho 30th Psalm, which came with great power. means are provided to respond fnlly to this A hyena howled near me last night, smelling modest request.-Baptist Mis8ionary. a sick man, hnt I hope it is not to have me yet." -The Pandita Rambai has met with a kind reception from all parties in Bombay, and her -The income of the Church Missionary So- experiment of opening a training school lor ciety is larger this year than it has ever high caste widows will have a fair trial. Dur- been before, and the Kensington exhibition ing her prolonged visit to America the Pandlta must materially increase it. Mightnotother met with great favor, and received more liber· missionary societies imitate with advantage al assistance than, we think, had ever before such a good example? been given to any person for missionary pur- poses. We have not been sanguine by any I ndia.-The American Baptist Telugu means in hopes for her success, knowing as we Mission. The Telugn Mission presents a cu- do the character of some of the barriers wb;~h rions 'anomaly in the missions of American Bap- rise in her way, but every such experiment Is tists. It was the most hopeless at the first, worth a trial, and every elfort, whether suc- and is now the most prosperons. From the cessful or not, which aims to ameliorate the least illteresting and encouraging, it has ad- hard lot of Indian widows, deserves the sympa- vanced, in less than twenty-five years, to the thy of all good people. The Pandlta has en- most marvellonsly successfnl mission on the thusiasm and persistence of pnrpose, and we face of the earth. The history of Christianity trnst that her success will be snch as to silence all donbters. As to opposers, she has none.- in all ages and countries shows nothing which Indian W,tnes8. snrpasses the later years of the American Bap- tist Telngn Mission in spontaneous extension, .Japan.-A College Revival. In the Chi- in rapidity of progress, in genuineness of con- cago Watchman, Mr. L. D. Wishard tells a very ver.ions. in stability of results, or in promise for the fnture. The missionary marvels of the interesting story of work in connection with his Sonth Sea Islands cannot parallel it. Only in visit to'the leading Christian college in Japan: the tragic and romantic annals of Madagascar can we find anything to compare with it; and " The Doshisha, as it is called, contains 700 , in the missions of to-day, when the amonnt of students, about one-half of whom are members elforts pnt forth, and the reality of personal ex- of the college church. The institution Is not perience is taken into consideration, not even only the largest Christian college in Japan, bnt the wonderfnl progress of Christianity.ln Japan is one of the very largest Christian institutions can he placed beside it. . . . And yet the Tel- In Asia. It has done more for the spread of ugn Mission occnpies no such place in the af- Christianity in Japan than any other agency, fections and aspirations of American Baptists, and has a national reputation for its literary as as Its wonderfnl history and success would well as its religions standing. We pursued ex- warrant. Here is one man who has under his actly the same course wbich we had followed care more than half as many native Christians so often In American colleges, and the work as there are In all Burma, ann we haven't sent from the beginning to the end of the visit was so similar to an American college revival that any even one man from Am~rica to reinforce the special description Is scarcely necessary. One Telugu Mi8sion jor near,v three veal's. .•. subject which especially interested the stndents was the place which Christianity holds in the Bnt the crisis has come. The mission cannot colleges and among the highly educated of the and must not go longer in the way it has been West_ Many of them had been led to think going. These thousands of converts, most of that Christianity was losing its hold upon onr whom are less than ten years in the Christian intellectnal classes. This outrageous falsehood life, must be trained for Christian manhood has been circulated in Japan by skeptical pro- and womanhood. The appeals of these hun- fessors from England, Germany and America. dreds, and even thousands, who are asking for the missionary to visit their villa~es, and bap- "One of the most interesting and the most dif- tise taem, must be responded to. The over- ficnlt features of the work consisted in the in- worked and overburdened brethren mnst be qniry meetings. It was an imposing sight to see relieved and enconraged by seeing re-enforce- a score of gronps of from three to six students ments coming to their help. We have other gathered about a professor or experienced great and pressing works which must be done, Christian student eagerly discussing the plan of but the re-enforcement of the Telnga Mission salvation. The meetings for personal work presents claims npon our young men, and upon were generally held In onr private rooms. Dr. the gifts of the people, which cannot be longer Davis gladly tnrned his parlor and dining-room into an inquiry-room, and sometimes forty or Ignored. The Canadian Baptist TeluguMission more stUdents would crowd in and spend from ODe to two hours. It was a joy indescribable to answer their eager questions, and lead them we left. The same evening fifty men in a meetstep by step into the light. One of those meet- ing for the unconverted announced their deterings I shall never Corget. The company was mination to begin praying for themselves, and pretty evenly divided-about half of them skep- to seek Christ, as it was expressed, untll they tical concerning the inspiration of the Bible, the found Him." Divinity of Christ, the immortality of the soul, &c.; while the balance were settled upon these Iu this connection we add the words of a mispoints, and were willing to accept Christ as sionary who writes to the ilfiBsionary Herald their Savionr. I di vided the crowd, leaving- the that on March 24 103 students from this instituskeptics with Mr. Bartlett of Dartmonth, '87, tion, 98 young men and 5 young women, received who was one of the first of the pledged mission- Christian baptism and were welcomed to church ary volunteers to reach the foreign field, and fellowship. Last year 141 of the students wbo has a special knack for meeting skeptical made public profession of Christ. And still objections. I took the others into an adjoining further: room. There were abont twenty-two of them. After talking for some time about the plan of .. It is with great pleasure, " says the Mis8ionsalvation, I asked those who had already ac- ary Herald, "that we are able to announce that cepted Christ, or were willing te accept Him a Christian gentleman of New England, who there and then, to aunounce it. Fnlly seventeen desires that his name should be uUknown, has did so, and the reasons which theygayefortheir been so impressed by the value of the work hope in Cbrist were as satisfactory as you will done by the Doshisha Institution at Kyoto, and ordinarily hear iu an American college. by the caU which Mr. Neesima has made for its enIargementasa university,that he has contribut- .. Four or five fellows listened earnestly and ed the noble sum of $100,000, of which $.5,00 are iadly to the testimonies of their companions, to be for an endowment, and $25,000 for the but were unable to grasp the fact of his gift of erection aud furnishing of a science haU. " eternal life. So I said to them, 'Fellows, what will convince you beyond a doubt that the gift PerSia.-Mission Movements. A recent is yours?' They did not answer at once, so I letterfrom Persia speaks of the rapid move tosaid, 'If I should come to you and teU that you wards religious liberty to Moslems, which has had fallen heir to a maguiflcent estate, what been taking place in the capitol, Teheran, and iu would convince you beyond all question of the the part of the field where our American truthfuluess of my word?' , We may be satis- brethren are at work. A few facts will illustrate fied if we could see it,' one. of them replied. this: (1) At Tabreez, an American medical mis- • Would that really satisfy you f' I asked. They siouary was asked by the Vali Ahad, or heir-apdidn't grasp my meauing, so I continued, ' Sup- parent to the throne of Persia, who is also Govposing you saw the legal document-the re- ernor of the Province of wbich Tabreez is the cord? ' , Oh, yes, that would settle the ques- capital, to give up his connection with the mistion,' they exclaimed. 'Well,' I continued, • we Sion, and become his private physcian on a large are 80 fortunate as to have the record. Turn salary. The doctor had no wish to accept it, but to John v: 11, aud let us read, .. And this is the was urged by· his brother missionaries aud the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and Mission Board to doso. He told the prince that he this life is His Son." , could do so on the condition only that he should bequite free to teach and preach his own religion, " I bhall never outlive the memory of the and to this the prince agreed. The appointment scene of that room. They fairly snatched their was considered so important that it was dis- New Testaments from their pockets, and eag- cussed by all the Legations, and oppo,ed by erly searched for the record. And bending low Russia only. The strangest thing was that tho over the pages they seemed to drink in the Mullahs approved of it, and said they could trust words like thirsty men. It was a pathetiC a man to attend to their women who was not sight, those boys beuding anxiously over the ashamed to stand up for his own religion. (2) record, which probably none of them had ever A convert from Islam in another city has not seen before. I could see their faces brighten, only made a public profession of Christ, but has althougb my eyes were becoming somewhat also acted as a mission agent under the American dimmed. Presently one of the boys looked up. missionaries there, and was lately married tothe His face glowed. He reached out his hand. daughter of the native pastor. Great opposition • Is the qnestIOn settled f' I asked. 'Yes, it is was raised to the marriage by the native Chrissettled,' he replied; and they all said the same. tian community (Armeniaus), but none whatever There was joy in that room. The iuterpreter by the Moslems. (3) Not many years since an said, 'L.t us pray'; alid while he prayed I order was given by the Shah, through H. B. M. thought of the joy with which heaven was ring- Minister, that the missionaries should not allow ingas any Moslem to enter their church, or attend any kind of service. Iu December, when Dr. Bruce The angels echoed around the throne, was returning to Julfa, he preached in Persia in .' Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own I ' Teheran to a crowded congregation of Chris- tians, Jews, Parses., and Moslems. After the "So the work continued day after day. As service the whole congregation stayed for Sunsome indication of the progress of the work, I day-school, and one of the missionaries had a wi11 say that fully one hundred men attended a class of some 25 lloslems, Jews, and Parsees. meeting for new converts, held a week before
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL
chiefly Moslems, whom he taught the word of Sabbath, with a total attendance of about one God, just as in any Sunday-school clas~·. (4) thonsand. In the qnarters ot Haskeuy and Scu. After service one of the missionaries went out tari and in the rear of the Bible Honse, there are with, a catechist to two Moslem villages, and commodions chapels, bot for more than torty preached quite publicly to attentive congrega- years the evangelical Armenian chnrches in the tions in the street. (5) There are now several great quarters of Pera and Stamboul have converts from Islam In Ooroomiah who make 8 snffered severely in their growth and influence public profession of their faith. These five facts for the lack of church homes of their Own. The are significant signs of progress, and give ground brethren of the Pera and Stamboul churches are, for belief that God's time to favor Persia, of now about to make fresh efforts to secnre hOllses which Dr. Bruce has so often spoke, is at hand. of worship, and we bespeak for them tbe sym- -Christian at Work. pathy and aid of American Christians. The preachers of the gospel have never been so nn- T hi bet.-Mr. Andrew Wilson says that the merous and strong as at present, and the spirit of love and union among the brethren has sensi- Thibetans are the most pre-eminently praying bly increased. By means of our station conferpeople on the face of the earth. .. They have ence, genuine co-operati~n in carrying forward praying stones, praying pyramids, praying flags the evangelical work has been secured, and the flying over every bouse, praying wheels, praying differences of former years have quite disap· miJJs, and the univereal prayer, 'Ommani padme peared.- M!88ionary Herald. haun,' is never ont of their mouth," A German writer on Lamaism says of this sentence, which United States.-A fearless Missionary. literally means" 0 God 1 the jewel in the lotus," Dr. Otis Gibson, who died recently in SanFran. that these six syllables are, of all the prayers of cisco, was a noted missiona.ry among the Chinese earth, that which is most frequently repeated, in that city from 1868 to 1886. Dr. S. L. Baldwin written, printed, and conveniently offered up by in the Chinese Evangelist gives a thrilling acmechanical means. .. They constitute the only count of hisebaracter and work. We give,an exprayer which the common Mongols and Thihetans tract. "He soon gained the entire respect and know; they are the first words which the stam- confidence of the Chinese residents; and when mering child learns, and are the last sighs of the the hoodlum spirit became rampant and truckdying. The traveller murmurs them upon his ling politiCians catered to it for personal advantjourney, the herdsman by his flock, the wife in age, so tbat a public sentiment was engendered her daily work, the monk in all stages of con- very inimical to the Chinese residents, Dr. Gibtemplation-that is to say, of nihilism; and they son with that lofty courage cbaracteristic of him, are the cries of conflict and triumph. One meets stood firmly and resolutely in defence of the opwith them everywhere, whereever the Lama pressed Chinese. He was once burned in effigy church has established itself-on flags, rocks, in front of the City Hall, while the mayor of the trees, walls, stone monnments, utensils, strips City was making an anti-Chinese speech within, of paper, human skulls, skeletons, etc. They and conniving at the doings of the godless mob are, according to the meaning of the believer, without. On appearing once in the Legislative the essence of all religion, of all wisdom and RaHat Sacramento, a motion was promp~y revelation; they are the way of SIllvation and made by one of the hoodlum members that Otis entrance to holiness." Gibson he expelled from the hall; but there was a majority of rational and dece&! men in the Turkey.-Constanti~ople. Arnerlean Chris- body large enongh to prevent the passage or the tianity has three grand institutions in Constanti- resolution. Sometimes it was necessary to senople, namely, the Bihle House in Stamholll, cure police protectiou for the mission house, which is the centre of literary work for the Em- and on many occasions Mrs. Gihson was in seripire; the Female College, called the .. Home," ous donbt when he left the building whether she on tbe heights of Scutari, on the Asiatic shore, wonld ever see him again alive. In the midst and Robert College, on the bluff of the Bo~pho of such conflicts and trials he pressed on unrus, six miles above the city. There are thrEe daunted in his work until three years ago, when native evangelical churches, namely, two Arme- he was stricken with paralYSiS, undoubtly the niau and one Greek, with a total membership result of the long nervous strain to which he of over two hundred, and eleven religious ser- had been subjected." services in eight different quarters of the city and in three different langnages lire held every I1I.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Africa. of a year now accessions have been constant E. F_ Baldwin's Work in Southern and everyone haptized has renounced Moham- Morocco. medanism. For a time the work was seemingly much hindered by severe persecntion. Impris- MOGADOR, MOROCCO, March 21, 1889. onment, be3ting, disowning, banishment-these DEAR BROTHER: Some of your readers know are all too familiar to the converts here in somewhat of the precious work of grace in pro- Southern Morocco. But when it was impossible gress here among Mohammedans. For upwards to longer work here in Mogador we travelled and preached, going literally on the methods gospel brings them. May not all thia encourage laid down in Matthew x, which we hold with, the zeal and faith of scattered workers toiling we find, increasing numbers of God's children in these bard Moslem fields? to be of perpetnal obligation. We have found them to contain the deep and matchless wisdom Some new workers, all committed to Mat- thew x lives, have just jOined us. Tbere are of God for missionary etrort.* Several others now six of us bere, all mrn of course, with onr lives given up to toil for Lurist nnder bis primbesides myself, inclllding recently converted itive instructions. A band is forming in Ayernatives. are so travelling. The natives knowing shire, Scotland, of others. who will come to us no other methods, have gone glad)y forth, with- soon, we trust. Others in different places are ont purse or scrip. on foot, taking uothing and greatly interested. We hope to have many namarvellous blessiug in the way of conversion tives together here in the summer months for has followed the steps of their simple faith. trainiug in the Word, that they may afterwards They go with no thought of payor salary. The go forth two by two, without purse or scrip. Father makes their simple needs His care. lily own position as an unattached missionary, de- E. F. BALDWIN. pendent only on God for temporal supplies (which, blessed be Hie name, He ceaselessly Brazil. supplies), enables one to consistently instrnct these native Christians in the principles and THE MISSIONARY BUREAU,LoNDON, methods of .Matthew x, and encourage them to go forth npon them. April 8, 1889. DEAR DR. PIERSON:- I enclose It is to this retnrn to these first principles of mission work I attribute the constant :!low of copy Qf a letter received from Brazil, blessing we are having. and which is so except- 10~1 in Mohammedan fields. I earnestly rec- on the subject of "Self-Supporting ommend them to others who may have the faith and are so circumstanced as to practice them. Missionaries." As it is the phase of I say this without any reflection upon the more ordinary and accepted lines of mission endeavor. the subject <in which we are most The field is vast and the need great, and by all and every means let the gospel be.preached. deeply interested, and one in which Jnst now the vigilance of our persecutors and very much more can be done than adversaries has somewhat relaxed, and our fre- has yet been ~ttempted•. I thought quent meet:!Igs (sil<teen in Arabic and eight in English per week, are well attended, and we you might find room for it in your are cheered by more conversions. Several are jnst presenting themselves for baptism. Last excellent REVIEW. night one of the most intelligent and best educated Moors I have ever met,:pnblicly confessed JOHN M. PAMMANT, Secretary. Christ for the first time-both speaking and praying (as all the native Christians do from the Self-Supporting Missionaries: honr of their conversion) in onr meeting before "GREAT BRITAIN, tbrough her vast commercial many witnesses. He is one of the few" honor- and colonial relations, sends men to all parts of able" ones who have been won. We trnst he the habitable globe. These men are natnrally may become a veritable Paul. He was··some energetic and enterprising or they would not months since arrested and thrown into prison on offer for foreign service. the suspicion of being a Christian, which at that ,. Is it not possible to transform this splendid time he was not. His feet, like Joseph's, .. they army of yonng men into repres~ntatives of hurt with fetters," the scars of which he will Christ? I sincerely believe it is. The church never cease to carry. Poor fellow' He was of Christ in England has within its fold the very then withont the comfort that comes to a child flower of manhood, ready for service In any part of God in a1Hiction, and yet enduring reproach of the world. What then is necessary? That for Christ. But God blessed his dreary sojourn for every foreign post a Christian man should in prison to his soul, and it contribnted to his be forthcoming, a man with every qualification conversion. Pray for him. necessary, and equal to any that may be fur- nished from the world's ranks. But how are Some from among the few resident Europeans these men to be brought into contact with the and from among the Jews also have turned to companies who are to employ them? Anassoclthe Lord and confessed Him in baptism. ation might he formed of Christian merchants and others, who would, by their infiuence and Tidings from different places in the interior, known integrity,be nble to select men ofguaranwhere tbe word of life has been carried from teed ability antI general suitableness. But what here, tell us of many turning from Mohammed's wonld be the ~ractical gain to the church by all cold, hard. false faith, to the love and light the this? The gain would be sim ply incalculable. In the first place a great stumbling block wonld –*A series ofpapers dealing witb the qnestion be removed, fornothing impedes the spread of the gospel abroad more than the lives of godless of mission methods and entitled The Question Englishmen. All missionaries will attest this. 01 the Hour-Foreign Mis8ions, is appearing But the greatest advantage of all will be that now in The Christian of London, and are at- thousands of seU-supporting missionaries will tracting wide attention. be located all over the world, for every living Christian is a missionary, whatever his private , calling may be. The opportunities of spreading I hear Miss Pilditch is this moment bnsy giv- the gospel which lie within the reach oC every ing a singing lesson to our school children.
Englishman abroad are very great, and this Santhals are hill people and good singers.
without in any way interfering with his private Thank God for liberty to praise the Lord in the dntles. While laboring abroad I have had the midst of heathendom.
constant fellowship an 1 help of several young Last Sunday about 150 were at the Lord's Englishmen. One who ,vas ever ready to help table to remember His death; it was the won- was the manager of a foundry; another was the der of the RItes, the Son oC God dying for sinful director of one of the largest companies in this men. Eleven men and women were baptized city; and in the same way every Englishman in November, and one man l'lst month, on who fills an engagement abroad may do good proCession of faith in Christ. There is hope oC work for Christ, providing he be a living Chris- many more to Collow. Pray for them.
tian. Famine is tormenting thousands of people i I ask, should all this power for good be left daily heads of families, men and women, come to unapplied f Surely heroic young Christians will me, saying we have nothing to eat; give us some be forthcoming to fill any post that others work, rice or money; the children are crying.
would accept for the salary. The love of Christ The Santhals are a brave and hard-working.
should be stronger than the love' of enterpri.e people, but this famine is a great trouble, and or lucre, and as to fitness, who shall say that the Government does not Ceellncllned to help.
the man of God is inferior to the worldling f " Come ye blessed.-For 1 was hungry and ye Joseph and Daniel proved themselves not one gave me food. Inasmuch as ye did it unto one whit behind their godlesR compeers in worldly of these, my brethren, even the least, ye did It knowledge, tact and business capacity. unto me." Matt. 25 : 14-40. How can we see All that is wanting to put this scheme into these people starving before Our eyes f This is practice is the formation of an association of a time of need. Pray lor them, and afterwards Christian merchants and philanthropists, and see how mnch you can deny yourself to help its results will be universal. them. If friends knew their need, they would " JAMES F ANSTONE." cheerfully send a few pounds to help them.
India. A Ohristian Baba. Interesting letter from Secretary From Rev. J. A. B. Cook, Singa- Haegert, of the Bethel Santhal Mission. pore, Feb. 21, 1889.
BETHEL. 21st March. 1889. MR. TAlIl KONG WEE was born In Singapore, DEAR EDITORS: of Christian parents, in 1842 i he was thus a Baba. To explain this word, I cannot do better We left England in October, '88, with six new than quote the following from Vaughan's" Chi- missionaries for onr mission, and arrived here nese of the Straits Settlements": "The term safely on the 2d December. Our services on Baba Is used by the natives oC Bengal to board were a joy to os and a blessing to others. designate the children oC Europeans. and it Is Oor missionaries learned 500 Santhal words, probable that the word was applied by the and attended 24 lectures on diseases, their Indian convicts at Renang to Chinese children, cause, their course and treatment on board. No and so came Into !(enerai use. The word is time was lost; since their arrival they have given in Donglas's Hokien Dictionary as mean- continued their study. and made good progress Ing a half·caste Chinese from the Straits. In in medicine and the Santhallanguage. Mess1·s. the Straits, however, the term Is applied to all ,Panes and Hearn are at Bethlehem, 20 miles Chinese born there, half-caste, or otherwise." east; the others are here. We trust Mr. The term, moreover, is applied to adults as Rowat will go 20 miles north by and by. well as to children.
D,n:ing the last four months, patients from Mr. Kong Wee's father was a gambler 25 villages were attended at Bethel. Our and pepper trader. who sent him to school at the ulne dispensaries are busy at this time, as Rame's Institution, where he was taoght Eng- the prevailing heatlays many aside. (It is 8 P. lIl. lish. Like all Babas he knew Malsy better just now. and we have 95 degrees on our veran- than Chinese, though he also knew Chinese, dah, in the shade.) Oor nine dispensaries re- which some Babas do not. He left school when move moch misery and woe from many a home, sixteen to enter a lawyer's omce, where he and this they do all the year rouud. As a rule, remained until about three years ago, when he patients from more than 150 vill"ages receive removed to Madras for the education of his two treatment every year. sons. He had saved sumcient to enable him to. retire and do this. The reason why he went Since January, '89, we visited four melas there I will give further on. (heathen feasts) and disposed of 1,850 gospels. May the bleSSing of the Almighty rest on His His parents, brothers, sisters, and indeed all word, printed and preached, and may He guide his relatives were heathen. He also remained a the people to the feet of Christ. heathen Cor some years after leaving school, un- til he came into contact with a Chinese Chris- Last week our preachers, two and two, visit- tian, one of the earliest converts oC the London ed ftfty villages. M18si(!nary Socie.ty, which nnfortunately aban- children the best training they could under ~ most fayorable conditions. Their hope was that doned the Straits altogether, so long ago as both the lads might not ouly become earnest Christians, but also like the f:tther, preachers of 1847. By this Chinese Baba he was induced to the gospel, to the Babas of Malayrla. I am thankful to add that both the BOns are now cast in his lot with the Christians. He after- members of the church, and we hope to. see them more than filling their father's place in wards married one of his daughters, and she the coming years. May God grant it.
had much to do with the after life and usefulne.s PerSia.-The American Presby;'
ot her husband. She still survives, and intends tcrrian Mission.- From one of the missionaries: to return to Madras, until her sons complete The missionary work of Oroomiah Station is their education there. . in some respects unique, and iu many ways it is di1llcult, but full of promise. We area band The whole of Mr. Kong Wee's relatives stood of missionaries set down among a remnant of ancient Christendom in the midst oC Moslem out against his becoming a Christian. He was conquerors. It is a journey of nearly two months' travel to our field-so Car inland and so afterwards on visiting terms with them, and Car isolated that very few Americans other than missionaries have eyer yi"ited tbe region. The supported his mother nntil the last, but he was band of missionaries are four Presbyterian min- isters and their wives; one physician, his wife never forgiven by them for leaving the" cus- and mother; one secular missionary, and tbree single ladies. toms of his fathers," i. e., idolatry. While in The location and extent ofthe field.-To the India he often wrote, urging Mrs. Cook to visit north is Monnt Ararat, at the corner of Persia, Russia, and Tnrkey. The eastern boundary hi… de",rest mother" and sis ters. This we for nearly a hundred miles is the inland Ses of Oroomlah in ancient Media. Then the field extried to do, but apparently with little good tends westward to the Tigris, over the rugged region of the mountains and valleys in Kurdi.. result. Yet snrely God will hear his prayers on tan to the Tigris, as it passes the site of ancient Nineveh. The territory to be evangelized by their behaIr. When he first became a Christian, our station is nearly as large as the State of OhiO, partly in Persia, partly in Turkey, and is he once told me, thongh he had made a clean one of the oldest abodes of man.
break with idolatry, he knew very litt:e of the The Population and Nstionalities.-The first people Cor special efl'ort are the Syrians, or steps he had taken. Bnt by the teaching o~ his Nestorians, a remnant of the once great church of the Far East, that had its missions even in wife and others, by prayer, and the constant China a thousand years ago. This remnant nnm- bers about 150,000. There are probably 30,000 stndy of his Malay New Testament, he came to Jews on the site where they were carried cap- tive twenty-five centnries ago; there are as see "trnth as it is in J esns." He became a many more Armenian Christians; nearly a mil- lion and a quarter oCKurds, Moslems and Devil trne disciple, and was ever found ready to worshipers, aud over half a million of Persian Moslems; a total of near two million souls. speak for the Master, in his own house, at tbe There are many reasons why we should expect the Nestorians to be won over rapidly, as a cbapels, tbe prison, and elsewhere. He was people, to pnre Christianity, and the other peo- ples more slowly. certainly tbe most hearty and enthusiastic Chi- History of the Miasion.- The Nestorian naman I ever came across. So frank and out- remnant were first fully made known to the Protestant world in 1830, by exploring missionspoken. It was qnite refreshing to meet with aries. The mission was begun in 11l35, and called the Mission to the Nestorians. The him. first missionaries were Rev. Justin Perkins and Dr. Asahel Grant, very noble and euthnsiastic He preached freely at his own charges, and pioneers. Others, of a like spirit, ,followed them, of whom the Messrs. Stoddard and Rhea, gave regularly of his means to the cause of the and Miss Fidelia Fiske (as well as the two piO- neers) furnished subjects of bioll:raphy. In 1870 gospel, and even when away in Madras, where he also gave, he always had his monthly sub- scription paid in Singapore, and when he heard of the new chapel at Bukit Timah he sent twen- ty-five dollars towards the building fund. For years he and a few others went regularly once a quarter to communion services, and thus helped to keep things going tbere, after the founder of this station, Mr. Keasberry, had passed away; and it was largely owing to him and two or three others that services were maintained at tbe Malay chapel from the time Mr. Keasberry died, until our mission took over this station also, with its much reduced congre- gation. We shall continue to miss him in many ways. I shall always be thankful I knew him, and learned to love him as a brother. I shall remember his pleasant, hearty manner, his readiness to take a service or help in any way he could.!
A severe liver complaint brought him back with his wire to Singapore, but it was too late to save his life; he died in February of last year in great sufl'ering, but" in peace."
The reason why the parents took their sons- their ouly surviving children-to Madras was· that they might be witb them tbere, away from the debasing influences of Chinese idolatry, and the example and practic~s of heathen rela- tives. He knew too well what heathenism was.
So these loving parents wished to give their the name of the mission was changed to The Church has four Presbyteries -and a Synod; MiSsion to Persia. Since then it has enlarged also a native Board of Evangelization that meeta its sphere to embrace half Persia, or near 5OO,()(,0 monthly. By combining funds and counsels square mUes, in its efforts. Stations have been with the miSSionaries, a system of pastoral care established in Tabreez, Teheran, Hamadan and and itinerant labors is in operation which aims, a8 fast as possible, to reach all the Christian Salmas. population, and to carry the gospel to all other 1835, the work was hegun, and the mission- population. about us.
aries warmly welcomed by the Nestorians; The people are very poor in worldly goods, 1836, the Shah of Persia gave a firman to the but are able to do much for their own support, missionaries, and severely punished ruffians and for the spread of the gospel. The average that tried to kill them; 1838, the Roman Catho- amount given is about a dollar to a communilic mission was begun in the same field; 1841, cant-$2,000 per annum. This sum stands for the first printing-press ever seen in Persia began much real devotion and self-denial. Tne wages its work at Oroomiah in printing the Bible; of a laboring man is ten to fifteen cents a day, 1844, the training-school was removed to Seir, and of a skilled laborer, suob as a carpenter, and the Female Seminary was fairly opened; never more than thirty cents a day. Money is 1845, was the massacre of thousands of Chris- very scarce, and the sum that passes the hands tians by the Kurds, and follo wing this was a se- of our Christiaus is very small and very bard to vere persecution; the Patriarch and the Persian Governor beat and imprisioned many of the earn; but all give, and some conSCientiously missionaries' converts; 1846 to 1849, remarkable revivals; 1852, Persia was at war with Enl(land, give their tithes. and the missionaries were under Russian .pro- The Special Needs.-These are numerous; tection; 1855, the Reformed Church began; 1862, the Presbytery formed; 1862 and 1866, the one most pressing at this time is to provide years of cholera, and many thousands of people larger accommodations for our college. The swept away; 1870 to 1871, years of famine iu present building (two stories and basement, 110 many parts of Persia; 1871, the missiou trans- by 45 feet) gives ns chapel, library and recitation ferred from the American Board to the Presby- rooms, aud accommodations for sixty students, terian Board; 1877, extensive revivals; 1878, This building cost about $5,000. The demand is the Reformed Church more fully organized; very great to double the number of students, 187~, the new college built, and hospital begun; and give to half of them industrial educatiou. 1880, terrible famine, also insurrection of the It is an opportunity we must avail of, and thus Kurds; 1885, prevailinl!: revivals in the congre- bring the active and leading young men into the gations; 1886, High Church ritualists sent out evangelical Influence. In a few years these by the Archbishop of Canterbnry and began a young men will be the pillars of the church. If miasion; 1888, new Female Seminary built; we fail, these young men whom we reject will 1889. a new station nndertaken in the Kurdish fall Into the hands of Roman Catholics and Mountains. other errorists. While we sleep the enemy will sow tares. Three thousand dollars will bnild The first yearl, from 1835 to 1845, were years the needed accommodations for seventy addiof preparation in teaching, preaching and trans- tional students and provide shops. lating the Scriptures. From 1845 to 1855 there were many blessed revivals in the boarding- DEAR DR. SHERWOOD:-I have just schools, and the young men and women con- received particulars of the murder of verted carried the love of Christ with them to the villages, and many souls were spirituaJly of one of our converts in the Reformed renewed. From 1855 onward the Reformed Church was gradually formed, necessitated by Presbyterian Church, Antioch. persecution and other causes. The converts Yours faithfully, were first invited to meet with the missionaries R. M. SOMMERVILLE. in the Lord's Supper. As the members increased. separate congregations were formed in The following extractfl'oma private the villages, and native pastors placed over letter, recently received at Mersine, them. As pious young men were trained, they from Mrs. James Martin, of Antioch, were sent outaa teachers and evangelists. Thus should drive the churches to more the work has grown, and several thousaud souls are annuaJly reached. There is the stated importunate prayer in behalf of the preaching of the gospel in 120 places. The devoted brethren who are laboring largest congregation numbers 600 ; the smallest there in the face of such violent only ten or fifteen souls. opposition: The communicants in 1S:>7 were 216; in 1867, 697; in 1877, 1.087; and in 1887, 2,003. The .. We are now in deep grief and aftliction. whole number from the first is over 3,000. The Two weeks ago yesterday Abd EI Maseeh Telroll of ministers shows 40 fully ordained, and fort, one of our members, a yonng man of about 30 others, licentiates; also 87 elders and 91 dea- twenty, who joined our church in company with conesses of the congregations. The Reformed his mother three years ago last October, was set on by the Greeks in the shop where he was learning dyeing. Being at leisure, he was reading in the Bible, when a man standing on the other But the Persian Consul brought to court lve side of the narrow street said to another, 'See men, Greeks, who Baid they were in the street that fellow I He is still reading the gospel.' all day, and no assault occurred. We had Fast- Then the man attacked Abd Et Maseeh, striking day yesterday. The Greeks say, •That is the him on the head and kicking him, and cursing first of you only; we will settle you all.' Yeshim, his religion, and hook. A brother of the terday our cook was out in the evening, when young man roshed on him too, aod they dragged one of several men cursed his religion and made him oat of the shop, beating and kicking him. to strike him. Another caught the man, and He appealed to his master for help, but the mas- Yusef got away. The Lord is on our side, and ter took up a stick and made to strike him, and we shall not be moved." others coming np, Abd Et Maseeh got off. This is what the witnesses iestify. The father of Tahiti.-We gladly give place to the yoong man says that his son came home with blood flowing from his ears and nose. The this communication. father, a Greek, wanted to complain to the Government at once, but Abd Et Maseeh replied, In the midst of this dark financial 'No, my father, leave it to Christ, the Judge.' crisis of the London Missionary Society, Tile Ioung man ate a little supper, and went out we have been favored with the sight of a recent to an evening meeting where he and some others letter from Tahiti, well known and remembered were discussing Bible truth. He Boon returned by some of us as Otaheite, as the earliest part home, and after vomiting lay down, and falling of the field of the labors and of the signal sucinto coma, never spoke again. It was near noon cess of this mission. next day before they came for the doctor. When the doctor saw him and heard his story, he got the The remarkable importance of this intelligence futher to call in the Greek doctor and Immanuel, at the present moment is that it shows in a well the Bon of the Turkish Protestant pastor here, authenticated and most interesting detail the who had just returned from Stamboul with a fresh fruit that still remains on the old field of diploma, having .todied in Beirnt. The Greek Pomare, even after the French aggression. and Protestant doctors quarreled at once, the Greek saying it was meningitis, and the other We think we are noW warrented to print and saying it was impossible-it was from violence. to circulate privately some sentences of this let- The family dismissed the Greek, and the doctor ter, which is addressed to a lady in Edinburgh got there just as he was leaving. The doctor who was once herself a foreign missionary, and and Immanuel examined Abd EI Meseeh, and who presided at the Edinburgh Ladies' Associthey came together here, and in this room Im- ation of the London Missionary Society the manuel declared it could be nothing but violence. The young man died Friday evenin!(, and the other day: doctor asked the family to get a paper from the "I have always been hopiug to have a great Government for a post-mortem. Dr. Garabet Hagopian, of Aleppo, who studied in New York deal of missionary news to give you, but, though under Dr. Post's father, is here, and the doctor it is now nearly seven months since we left Sanasked the family to call him, and with Immanuel Francisco, I have not seeu a single European and his brother Yakoub, who studied in Aintab, Protestant missionary. All the IslandS that we and Is the agent of the city, made a post-mortem have visited are in the hands of the French, and examination and declared all the signs were of the English missionaries have been gradually violence to th~ head. That was On Saturday, driven out. Both in the Marquesas and the and on Tuesday they met to arrange their re- Panmutos we saw a great deal of the Roman port, and the sons of the Protestant pastor, Catholics, and I am glad to say that they seemed though not daring to deny that death was caused much less bigoted than they are with us. They by violence, said that there were many enemies, read the Bible in churcb, aad preach sermons, and they dare not say in the report to the Govern- and where there was only a catechist to conment that it was so, and they, too, actually drew duct the service, it seemed quite like our own, up a report in the Interest of the murderers_ as, of course, he could not celebrate Mass. At Dr. Garabet was besieged and offered bribe~ and Tahiti, though I found no missionaries, I am intimidated to compel him to pui his signature to very·glad to tell you that I found that the work their report, but he refused. The assault oc- had been so thoroughly founded that it is going curred In open day, in the street, and the wit- on quietly in the hands of native missionaries, nesses are numerous; but Greek and Turk have and very few have joined the church of Rome. united to kill the case. Three Moslems and two • . • After leaving Papeete we were detained Fellaheen gave testimony, but the Government by broken masts for two months at a very beausaid it would be wrong to write down that they tiful village in the southern part of Tahiti, called cursed his religion aud his book. The murder- Tantira, and it was there that I saw most of the ers are hidden in the house of the Persian Con- people, and loarned to love them. They are so sul. He is a Mason, as also are the pastor's loving and hospitable, and so cheerful and sons. The do«tor telegraphed home and lI:ot au happy. The fir~t Sunday, when I went ashore answer, and the pressure on the Turks is strong. to church, I found the table spread for the communion, and all covered with a white cloth. I asked leave to jOin, and was welcomed by the officiating minister, who was dressed in a dark blue and whIte narin (a cottou kilt), white shirt, and black paletot coat. All the ministers and deacons 'll'ere dressed in this fashion, and
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
had bare feet. In fact, my shoes were the only ship on Wednesday. On the appointed day ones in the chnrch I thirty women and three children came dn .. When the covering-cloth was removed, I fonnd that the wine was in black beer bottles, board, and not satisfied with what they had the cups were of very coarse earthenware, and the bread was baked bread-fruit cut in very already given me, they brought twenty-five small pieces. It was very touching to me to keep the feast with the Mi.sion congregation cocoanuts, fowls, and six pillows stuffed with so recently rescued from heathenism,-touching, too, to realize how the simple rite is silk cotton from the cotton-tree. I asked them snited to all climes and peoples, and may be nnderstood and partaken of although you do to sing a hymn before we went downstairs, not nnderstand a word of the language. When the service was over, I fonnd that I had put my_ which they did; and then, to my great surprise self in a much more conspicuous position than I had any idea of. First, all the ministers and they proceeded of their own accord to make deacons shook hands with me, aud ~hen all my fellow-communicants, of whom there must have speeches and prayers. An old sailor on board, been more than 280. who speaks the language, told me that one wo- .. That afternoon the chief called on me, and begged me to come ashore early on Monday man, who prayed fervently, prayed much for the morning, to receive a gift which the people wished to give to their new member. I went, captain, that he might be guided to do all that and here is a list of what I call •the gains of godliness' in Tahiti :-six fowls, one hundred was necessary for our safety. I was strnck with cocoanuts, bananas, ripe and green, breadfruits, sweet potatoes, taro, pine-apples, eggs, that when I heard it, and still more when the capand a lobster. These were all carried by men on poles over their shoulders, and laid on the tain discovered the very next day that the mast ground in front of our house. ,The chief preseuted them in the name of •Tws/ell religieus.. ' was in a bad state, and must be repaired before of the village. I returned thauks through the chief, and invited the givers to come and see the we could continue our voyage. Was it not a wonderful anSwer to prayer? and don't yon think the Christian kindness of these people might be a lesson to many professing Christians at home? I was a little vexed with the very common look of the vessels of the sanctuary, and have promised to send them Communion cups from Scotland, much to their delight."
Being personally acquainted with the writer.
I can confidently commend this unexpected testi- mony to encourage and stimulate all friends and supporters of Foreign Missions to contribnte to the funds of the London Missionary Society, ihat commenced in Otaheite at the close of last century. G. D. CULLEN.
EDINBURGH, 16th March, 1889.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY J. T. GRACEY, D. D.
Mr. Oust's" Notes." country, as a member of the Indian Civil Service, has been supplemented A CLERGYMAN who was a very by extensive travel in Turkey, Transbrilliant writer but not equally at- Caucasia, Syria~ Egypt, Tunisia, AItractive speaker, said to a brothel' gel'ia and Morocco. He has been for minister whose qualities were direct- many years associated with the conly the reverse of his own: "When trol of the British and Foreign Bible you write people go to sleep, and Society's interests and operations, when you speak they keep awake; as well as with those of the Church but when I speak they go to sleep, of England Missionary Society and and when I write they keep awake." other prominent and important evangelistic a~d learned associations. But if Mr. Robert N. Cust, of Lon- The Royal Asiatic Society designadon, speaks he is sure of a hearing, ted him as an Honorary Secretary. and if he writes he is sure of a He has contributed most valuable reading. He is entitled both to speak stores of knowledge on the languages and write on missionary topics. He of the East Indies, Africa, the Cauhas had to do with missionaries and casus and Oceanica, being the author missionary societies for> almost half of separate works on each of these, a century, and for over thirty years besides linguinistie and Ol'lental has made a close and careful study essays and other more popular topof missions and collateral subjects. ics. He has, besides, taken promi- A large personal acquaintance with nent part in the missionary discusthe people of India, gained during a quarter of a century's residence in the sions of the last quarter of a century, In his annual tours, made volun.- and is well and widely known as a tarily at his own charges, inconnea.
man of strong opinions, which he tion with the Bible Society's work, holds independently and champions he has visited many parts of Europe, fearlessly, according to others the Western Asia, and North Africa, right to exercise the same pdvi- except Tl'ipolitana. One year he lege!3. was in Norway discussing the Lapp We are favored with the second translation; the next year on the and enlarged edition of his valuable cataracts of the Nile, listening to contribution to missio)lary literature, men speaking in the language of which he has modestly entitled Nubians; then on the shores of the Notes on Missional'Y Subjects. The Caspian Sea, or the Sea of Galilee, volume consists of four parts, which or down III the Sahara of Algeria, or though published and procurable at Cape Spartel in Morocco.
separately, are here gathered in one Such a writer, were he far less large and comprehensive book. Part learned than our many-sided scholer I contains (1) Obsel'vations and Re- and literateur, would challenge at- flections on Missionary Societies,and tention; but when there is super- (2) Language Illustrated by. Bible' added a devout sympathy with the Translation. Part II treats of The progress of Christ's Kingdom in the GreatProblems Outside the Orbit of world, he commands it. He told the Pure Evangelistic Work, but which under-g-raduates of BaIliol College, the missionary has to face. Part III Oxford, in an address on "The Duty is devoted to the Relation of Mission- of the Youth of Great Britain," that aries to the Outer World. Part IV when, in 1838, he went to that col- is composed of missionary addresses lege, they knew as little about mis- delivered by the author under vari- sions as they did about Chinese mu- OilS circumstances, and what he sic. On repairing to Calcutta, styles " Pictures" and," Notices," through conversation with Bishop composed in omnibus and railway Wilson, he became interested in mis- trains or elsewhere, as reading, con- sions, and found "a new world"
versation ot' observation have sug- open to him, and missions have since gested the train of thought. They are been the" leading object of his very a layman's utterances on these great existence."
themes. Part V is to follow on " The But Mr. Cust pre-eminently de- ,Missions of the Romish Church." serves attention as one of the com- Mr. Cust's wide experience and ex- paratively few laymen of large abil- tended acquaintance in the depart- ity who have not only lent an ab- ments of geography, philology and sorbing attention to the subject, and ethnology, together with his promi- aided intelligently in missionary nent relation with practi'!al politics, counsels, but who have devoted have been all laid under contribution their enel'gies and literary skill to in the production of the several parts produce a literature on the subject.
of this volume; and the relation of It is surprising what stores of all these to missions has been con- knowledge and thought are gathered stantly present in' his thought dur- in this large and importantcontribu- ing all his life in the saddle, on the tion to curl'ent evangelistic litera- judge's bench, and in the student's ture. We are enthusiastic and ap- retreat; so that the consideration preciative to a degree which will of these themes is not something he scarcely be accredited to be sober, in has taken up, as he says, as the our estimation of this volume; and: "craze" of his "old age," but has yet, there al"e some whole chapters, been almost a life-long study. and plenty of paragraphs and sentences, which do not command our where after the festival is over, one judgment;' and there are manystate- might purchase hundreds ofcarcasses ments of facts from which we would of little pigs at a pice apiece. But dissent, and of opinions which we we do not wish to distract attention judgemustbe greatly modified before from the estimable qualities of this they can be accepted as the last or book by the correction of incidental even the best analysis of the subject statements, norby giving expression in hand. Some of the statements to any diversity of view on the subare, to om· personal knowledge, too jects treated which we, or others, to sweeping, both as to facts in India our knowledge, hold. and in Africa, while the ex cathedra This volume, as a contribution to manner in the utterances of opinions missionary criticism from one of the is not indicative of the essential mod- stoutestfriends and ablest champions estyand broad charity which really ofall evangelisticlabor,has a peculiar pervade the volume. The wisest value. It is a sad fact that the gencounsels are divided upon subjects eral church has not been until of late, on which Mr. Cust does not hesitate intelligently acquainted with the isto write, in the rhetoric at least, of sues and problems of practical workan ultimatum; and though large lib- ers enough to either pass judgment erty be conceded him as a "Christian upon their merits or become intereststatesman." there are other eminent ed in their presentation; and it has Christian statesmen, with long ex- only been when some secular or ecperience and careful judgment, who clesiastical adversary antagonized will differ from him as much as he them in press or on platform, that will from a multitude of missiona- they came to know of the existence ries, who he thinks take a less sym- of some of the most vital problems. pathetic view of human affairs than Friends and administrators of mis- the secular student does. But Mr. sions have discussed thf'se questions Cust does not expect uniform concur- too esoterically. But we hail the rence with his views; he distinctly day when friends and advocates are says so about some chapters of the to assnme the role of frank and book; and though he says all per- friendly critics; and, taken all in all, sons acquainted with the subject we do know not where we will find will agree with his views as express- a warmer friend and abler aU-round ed in "Islam," it is more than proba- critic of missionary matters than the ble that he overestimates the gen- honorable gentleman, the product eral unanimity even there. We do of whose pen has afforded us such not know, for instance, if we appre- great delight, and yet, from whom we hend him aright as meaning to say and so many others; we repeat, will that after li·ing with Mohammedans on so many points widely differ. in India for a quarter of a century, But there is so much that is valua- he never heard of their offering ani- ble in the book that .we must have mal sacrifices; but if so, it seems in- done with our dissertations about it, explicable to us. The "anachron- and regale our readers with some ism" to which he refers may be wit- extracts, though should we even se_ nessed at the Devi Pathan Mela, at lect the samples that tempt us, we Tulsipur, near Gondah, any year, would quote enough to fill a whole where the Hindoos sacrifice sheep and number of the REVIEW. goats; and close by a long line of Few persons appreciate the au- Mohammedans can be seen, each thor's reference to the variety of reo with a squealing, suckling pig under sponsibilities devolving on Mission his arm, waiting their turn to pre- Boards, which have to sent their animal sacrifice; and .. Discharge the duty of a Quarter-master General, the head of a great ~ommission, a. * * .. The last two decades have been ex- Boa.rd of Architects, Shipbuilders and Engineers, a Board of Finance, a Council of ceedingly propitious to the extension ofmis- Education. a Committee on Geographical sions ; the expansion has been marvellous, Exploration, a Superintendent of a Trans- but mnch of it imprudent. The next two IMing and Publishing firm, as well as other decades may prove periods of trial and peril secular duties." by the close of that period the Europea~ octopus will have closed over the continent He adds: of Africa as it has already over Oceanica. and America." .. I have been for more than forty years a witness and a studier of the conduct of hu- :Mr. Cust invites" dowlll'ight critiman affairs, bnt I never realized such puri- cism," he says, a.nd he will surely get tyof motive, such'simplicity of conduct, it sooner or later, though the high and on the whole, such practICal wisdom as respect in which he is held may deis found in such a body." ter some, and others will forbear lest the friends of missions be thus Mr. Cust thinks-and with the hIgh- apparently set over against each est esteem for the missionary force other, in the estimation of the of Great Britain and the eminent thoughtless and indifferent members qualities and immense labors of of the societies themselves, or be many of them, we yet, on the whole, flaunted as sectarians and dessenticoncur with his statement-that the ents by those downrightly antago- 'American churches send out their nistic to the cause. But like Calbest men" to foreign fields, while' vin's Institutes, Mr. Cust's "Notes" might take as their symbol a flaming "Great Britain keeps her best at sword. Missionaries may, themhome." But this must be taken in its selves, not concede the justness of broadest sense or we shall be asked the criticisms on their personal conto show who Great Britain's" best" duct toward the heathen, but they men are, with the record of Pat- will find no public test to exceed the teson, Hannington, Griffith John, high standard to which they hold Dr. Duff and othe1's before us. Still themselves as a class, to be amenawe appreciate Mr. Cust's compliment ble; and our autho1"S beautiful imi- -not to the missionaries, but to the tative extension of the XIth chapter of Hebrews will be as oil to the estimate put by American churches wounds made by Mr. Cust's free on foreign mission service, as de- lance. "By faith the United Mora- vian Brethren at Herrnbut, in Germanding the richest contribution of many, more than a century and a talent they can command. Mr. Cust half ago," &c. "By faith the London thinks missionary operations legiti- and Wesleyan Societies," &c. "By mate subjects of criticism. He says: faith Moffat's son-in-law Livingstone abandoned his home, his chapel ano '" We can no longer treat missionaryop- his school/' &c. " By faith Krapf and erations as above or below candid criticism Rebman sat year after year at the when t4ey are forced up<¥> tbe public notice watch tower of Mombasa, waiting till in the public papers, in Parliament,on plat- the day should dawn, calling to each forms and ,an abundant literature. Mis- other: Watchman, what of the sions like those of tbe Moravian Missionary night?" and thusonandon through a Society,or of the Americau Societies to their galaxy of heroes of whom time would indigenous wild tribes, might be conducted fail us even to mention the names for centuries without public notice: but selected by our author. It was with the evangelizing warfare all round Africa much sadness we read the almost pa- all over Oceanica, into the heart of India; thetic closing paragraph of the vol- China and Japan, by at least two thousand ume in which the author concludes: agents, at a cost exceeding two millions [pounds] annually, cannot escape notice." .' I have said my say. This is probably my '" '" It must needs be that mistskes-are made, but tl:ey need not be perpetuated.
'" * Hard words are often spoken against missions, and whole classes of the commu- nity, from deep prejudICe, hold back from their support. It is in their interest, their positive advantage, that the tendencies should be exposed, that the blots should be hit, and the dangers pointed out." ast contribution to missionary literature. self of the former, and the latter could be If I have written what is not true, let this of no use to him in the social circles of the paper be consigned to the fire. If there is leper colony. a scintilla of truth, think over it. It cannot now be said that we must travel onward, as "Father Damien had resided among tbe if in mist, and that, as nobody criticized lepers for sixteen years when death came to there wa.s no error." his relief, and be had seen the population of Molokai renew itself three times, as the Missions to Lepers. average duratiou of a leper's life is about se ..en years. Years ago he became affiictep THE death of the Roman Catholic with leprosy himself, and for a long time bepriest, Father Damien, popularly fore his death Was a painful sufferer from styled" The Apostle of the Lepers" the scourage. The latest letters from the and now" The Martyr of Molokai," leper colony stated that his health was so which occurred on April 10 last, at broken that h;s death was likely to occur at Kalawa, Hawaii, has called popular any time. Father Damien had for assisattention to a form of Christian tants two men as beroic as himself. One of heroism which may well be exalted these was an Irishman natned Walsh.· He in the public mind in an age quite was a mason by trade, and had been a soldier too justly characterized as supremely in the English army. Walsh reached Honoselfish. lulu III broken health and reduced circum- stances just at the time a supermtendent As the daily papers of the country was needed to keep the colony in order. He generally gave large space to the accepted the position with the result that facts of the self-surrender and self- he is a leper himself to-day and pining for immolation of this Romish priest, relief in death. Father Damien's other we will only give so much of the nar- helper was the Rev. M. COJlrardy, a Catholic rative as is essential to our general priest formerly connected with the Archditreatment of the theme in hand. The ocese of Oregon, who volUntarily went to account before us says Father Da- Molokai about two years ago to become mien was a native of BQlgium and Father Damien's assista.nt." was born in 1840. Mr. Ed ward Clifford, of England, .. He was ordained to the priesthood in writing of " Father" Da.mien during 186~, and SOOB. after went to the Sandwich a visit to this leper island, said: Islands as a missionary. About sixteen years ago the Catholic bishop of the islands "He is just what you would expect him to wanted a priest for duty at the leper set- be-a simple. sturdy. hard-working, devout tlement at Molokai, and Father Damien man. No job was too memal for him-bnildpromptly volunteered for the work. Both ing, carpentering, tending the sick, washing he and his bishop knew what the end would the dead, and manr other such things form be, but these heroic men did not hesitate- part of his daily work. He is always cheerthe one to give the order and the other to ful, often playful, and one of the most truly obey. Father Damien was landed at the humble men I ever saw. The leprosy has leper settlement on the ,eland of Molokai disfigured him a good deal, but I never feel and allowed to provide for himself as best he it anything but a pleasure to look at him." could. There appear to be a thousand or .. From the time of his taking up his resi- more lepers on the part of the island, dence among the lepers Father Damien had occupied by the leper settlement, so much to do in simplyatte.nding to the shut in from the other parts of the wants of dying people that he was unable to island by enormous cliffs, which renprovide shelter for himself for .. long time. Once placed on the island, he had to resign der it almost inaccessible from the his liberty. The sheriff had orders to arrest land side. This touching story and him if he crossed to any of the neighboring the pitiable condition of this portion island.. He became physician and teacher as well as priest, the children born of lepers of the human race, deserves more depending on him for all the education they than a passing glance of the curious could expect to receive. Kiug Kalakaua or sigh from the sympathetic. When soon learned to admire the martyr priest, we learn that there are 40,000 idiots and a rew years ago bestowed on him the in the United States, the first quesprivileges of the medical inspector at!d the tion that occurs is why they should decoration of Knight Commander of the not all be chloroformed out of exist- Order of Kalakaua I. He did not avail bim- ence. What is it that makes that sort of life and life of every sort sacred, when it.cannot be seen to be valuable to it!! possessor or to man- they congregate oCten in latoge numkind? When we learn that in India bers. alone there are half a million of our fellows who are lepers, with no hope The disease may begin anywhere of recovery, deformed and decaying on the body, or at more than one before they are in the grave, suffer- place at the same time, and then, ing a living death, the first thought loathsome, painful and offensive, it again is, why is it any mercy or duty progresses till it reaches some vital to prolong their existence? As Chris- part, and the wretched subject is retianity throws the halo of sacredness lieved. When it commences at the over this wretched and ghastly mock- extremities the first joints of the eryof life, it is not far to see why it fingers, or toes as it may be, fall off should be held responsible for the and then the next joints part, and so amelioration of the condition of on till you see them in all shapes those who carry about this body of from this horrible disease. It is too death. revolting-this rotting alive-to jus- tify more minute description. Leprosy as a disease is in all its varieties in all lands and in all ages, We turn rather to note what the the most repulsive, protracted and kindliness of Christian charity has painful of human maladies. It is attempted in the way of relief to this scrofulous in its character and is helpless, hopeless and suffering portransmitted from parents to children, tion of the human family-vexed and though the offspring of lep~rs with the unsolved problem, Who may be apparently free from the did sin? they or their parents, that taint for many years after birth, the they were born thus? which presses disease is sure to develop sooner or npon them and upon othel·s. We later. Whether leprosy is contagious, cannot attempt any comprehensive and if so, whether alone by contact, summary of the ope:"ations of the are questions about which there is Christian chul"ch to afford relief to considerable diversity of opinion, yet these sufferers. We take from what in all countries contact with lepers is is at hand a few facts sufficient to avoided. After the disease is devel- show that Protestants have been oped so as to render its character active in this department of eleemosmanifest, the subject of it is removed ynary labor in several quarters of from social life and obliged to dwell the globe, as Father Damien and his apart from the community. Though associates were in Hawaii. In 1823, at all stages of the disease they are owing to a request of the Governnot unable to work, yet, except as ment, Hemel-en-Aarde, a leper hoscared for by Christian charity, all pital in South Africa, became a mislepers, so far as the writer knows, sion station of the Moravians. i'his lead a pauper life. They become in was removed to Robben Island in various parts of India quite a commu- 1846 and placed in the charge of the nity and beg in groups. They resort church of England in 1867. Rev. Dr. Augustus Thompson, writing of to places most frequented that they this mission, says: "A less inviting may appeal to the benevolence of the field can hardly be imagined than this refuge of wasting sufferers, and mere passers-by by the exposure of their relics of humanity-deformed, cripdisgusting sores or helpless deform- pled and loathsome beyond expresity. They build for themselves some sion. For simple garden operations flimsy shelter by the roadside in In- one patient would supplement andia, whence they make their exit to other. A man who had no hands petition for the inevitable "bak- might be seen carrying on his back sheesh." Along the trunk roads, another who had lost his feet, but at the ferries, near holy places, who could drop seeds into the ground wOl'k among the lepers at qmb~l)a, with the member which was want- in the Punjab, where their last ing to his fellow, sufferer. report mentions the bapti5m of fif- The institution has a large space of tt-en of this class of pE'rsons. The gl'Ound enclosed with a high wall, and only one entrance, which was accomplished Dr. John Newton, .Tt-., strictly guarded. The leper who entered that gate might never return." labored among these poor sufferers Mr. Thompson says the mistake has for years and wrote a work on leprosy gone abroad that the missionaries which was published in England. who went into this leper enclosure His estimable wife, Mrs. Sarah Wigwere never allowed egress; that he fall Newton, conducted this work for went in there, as Father Damien did a season after her husband.'s death. to the island of Molokai, but this he contradicts positively. But there was At the time when the Moravians still quite sufficient self-denial re- handed over their leper work at Cape quired in the service rendered to these Town, South Africa, in 1867, the poor sufferers. Lord opened to them a' similar work The London Missionary Society has long conducted a leper asylum in in the Leper Home at JerusaJem. the Himalaya Mountains at Almora. which was founded by a Christian which we believe has usually about baroness. Froln its commencement 150, though at times we think as the missionaries for the hospital many as 300 inmates. These are not have been supplied by the Moravian necessarily restrained within the en- Church, and in 1880 they assumed its closure. They also marry and are directiol'l. In 1887 they erected a new gi"en in marriage among themselves. building, which accommodates about A little farther east, at Pithoragarh, twenty-five patients. is another asylum for lepers in charge of Methodist Episcopal missionaries In 1875 an independent societ.y was from the United States. Here an es- organizcd in England, styled "Mistimable Methodist brother, Rev. M. sions to Lepers in India," which B. Kirk, of Ohio, who was educated seeks to alleviate their sufferings by in Mount Union College, for some medical aid. It is at pl'esent carrying months before his death waited on on work at eighteen different centers these wretched sufferers. However and in connection with eight differloathsome their condition, that de- ent missionary societies. It seeks to voted servant of the Lord never utilize asylums already established shrank from ministering often per- and aid them with mean!:' to carryon sonally to their wants. It was while their work. It makes grants of money , collecting funds for a chapel for these for new asylums, and in some cases lepers that he was suddenly called to provldes entirely for the support of his reward. The chapel has since lepers. Mr. W. C. Bailey, a misbeen completed as a memorial of this sionary of the Church of Scotland, devoted servant of God, and on the was the founder of this organization. opening day, after the service, twelve It is at present carrying on work at lepers were baptized, thus raising the Kashmir, Rawal Pindee, Chamba, number of Christians in this institu- Sabathu, Dehra, Rurki, Almorah, tion to slxteen; and a new building Pithora, A~lahabad, Calcutta, and was ordered to accommodate twenty- other places and aids the American five more inmates. Presbyterian and Methodistmissiona- ries, and three of the principal mis- The American PresbytE'rmn Mis- sional'y sociE'ties of Great Britain, as sion has for many years QQl,lducted well as Gossner's Independent Mis- sion.
It must be gratifying to friends supporting this work that it is not only l!eIeVQ!ent, but evangelistic. The record of the Christian experi- with nine evangelic"l churches: Presbyterians, ence of many of these sufferers is two branches of Methodists, and Baptists. most affecting. Not all, but many of these who seem ." baptized unto Denominational lines bad been drawn rather death," enter bto most gracious closely about these churches.. They met one Christian life. One man in India, anothsr at union meetings once a year, on the being pitied on account of the loss of afternoons of the" Week of Prayer," but be- his eyes, said; "I have lost my eyes, yond that hardly knew one another in any way. but with the eye of faIth I have seen Probably it was noc realized that Christian the Lord Jesus, and shall soon go to union was really under discussion in the minis- Him." The testimony from South ter's meeting in the form of a proposal to invite Africa is similar; "Amongst the a pandenominational body of missionaries to poor suffp.rers in that lazar-house," work their will upon the city for a week. But writes one of the missionaries, they determined to invite the International Mis- "there are many dear souls who re- sionary Union to their city. A representative joice in the Lord their God and the meeting of the churches-a remarkable novelty assurance of a better world, and re- -was called, and proved of the same mind with lyingon their Saviour's merits watch the ministers; and in the preparations which their diseased tabernacles falling to all the churches shared together, there began to pieces in the hope of soon being with be the dawn ofa better day. Him in glory. It makes one Hhudder to visit the patients in their dwell- Contemporaneously with this undertaking, ings, such pitiable objects do they the pastors asked all the churches to unite in a present, and so offensi ve is the efflu- complete visitation Of the city for evangelizing via j yet when you enter into con- purposes, and obtained from them all a body of versation with them on the concern visitors, four to each hundred of each church. of their souls and find these poor As might be supposed, the public interest in cripples full of faith and joyful COI1- missions had not been on a much higher plane fidence in the Saviour's merits, it than that in Christian union. The invitation to makes you feel ashamed of your the missionaries was favored, perhaps as much . fastidiousness, for they exhibit only yom other considerations as from love for ' too often in their helplessness and Foreign Missions. And when the International .hopelessness the fun measure of that Union arrived, forty-five strong, the city was at other more dire leprosy of sin. They first disposed to feed them and sleep them cour- are often as repulsive morally as teously, and leave them to carryon their own physically. They need cleansing in meetings by themselves. the blood of Christ." But gradually the spiritthat animates mission- That this is a direct work of grace aries of thc Uross bAgan to make its impression. and of change of heart is abundantly People who dropped in at their meetings were proven by the testimony as to the greatly surprised at their earnestness. It so selfish sordidness and innate deprav- happened that the Union came at the hottest ity which so manifest themselves in time of the summer, and when the native mos- those not the subjects of these gra- quitoes were masters of the town; but people cious influence. who looked in found the missionaries so busy at their conferences, that they sounded their The International Missionary Union praises abroad. "These men and women," they said, "have not come here for a holiday; and the Revival at Bridgeton, N. J. they are doing good hard work studying the questions which concern them." The Upion be- REV. WILLIAM H. BELDElif, A. M. gan its sessions on Thursday, July 5; by Monday evening they began to be crowded, and from that BRIDGETON, New Jersey, was the first place time until adjournment on the 12th missions be- not a summer resort, which invited and enter- came the theme of the town. Tuesday evening tained the International Missionary Union. Re- was occupied by J. Hudsou Taylor, founder of snits can be traced from that meeting, among the Chiua Inland Mission, and Wednesday by the most recent of which has be~n a revival of Cyrus Hamlin, founder of Robert College of religion affecting the whole community. Bridge- Constantinople. The impression made by these ton is a mauufacturing cit;v 9f 12?OO(lj~h!lbitants, two mighty men of God, exceedingly different, but one in testimony to the power of God as dis- played in the missionary work, will never be forgotten in Bridgeton. They lifted Foreign Missions from being a H cause" to receive un- willing pennies or dollars, to a living and boly reality endeared to the hearts of awakeuing Christians. Not, of course, that all needed this advance, but as a change of the general public mind on this great theme, the International Mis-
1889.] THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
sionary Union bad its way witb tbe town. A affections and convictions, that when a8 Presinumber of young persons consecrated tbeir dent of onr Ministers' Association I' had to lives to tbe missionary work. New missionary make the parting address to Mr. Mills, my felsocieties began to be formed; and in tbe old low-pastors, with remarkable agreement, reones the subJect took thence forward a 'real quired me to include in my acknowledgement aspect nnknown before. of the divine work among us some careful refer- ence to the infiuence of the visit here In 1~88 of So spiritual an effect did not, naturally, stop the International Missionary Union. witb the revival of missions. The cburcbes bad enjoyed their work in commo)! of entertaining THE SIXTH AN,mAL SESSION OF THE INTERthe Union. The Ministers' Association had become a recognized and trusted organization. NATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION, as we have al- Plans for furtber work in common were ready announced. will be held in Binghampton, broacbed. The "Week of Prayer" found tbe N. Y.. July 5-12. The prosPect is ofa meeting of cburches in new sympathy with one another; great interest_ Important papers have already never before was there such a "Week" in been received from the outlook Committee in Bridgeton. At last the suggestionstook.hape; foreign parts. to invite Rev_B. Fay Mills, the evangelist. His first demand, of absolute fellowship of all the On the last day of the meeting special attenevangelical churches of the city, could not have tion will be given to aiding missionary candibeen complied with before those blessed days dates appointees and others inquiring as to of the Missionary Union; but now tbey could their duty regarding personal service abroad. and they were, and be came. Mr. Wilder, wbo has so successfuliy with others stirred the students of the country in this mat- We have just risen from bis two weeks visit. ter, will be present, and veteran missionaries of Six hundred persons bave signed his cards, say- almost all fields and churches will be there, with ing: .. I desire bencefortb to lead It Christian whom these persons can take council. Nothing life." The cburcbes bave called themselves for could be better for persons seeking light on this many weeks" The united cburches of Bridge- line of personal duty, than to spend the week ton;" and are studying now how to perpetuate with this noble band of returned missionaries, their harmony. Some of tbem bad been t""ns- and listen to their discussions of practical matformed from a conservatism wbich was threat- ters. ening their spiritual existence into a practical piety which is the wonder of tbe town. The Railroad certificates can be bought of any whole city has been shaken with· the power of ticket agent at point of starting on paying full the Holy Ghost, as it never was befor~. fare, and when countersigned by· secretary of the meeting the return ticket will be one·third It is a significant testimony to its place in our the usual mre. Tickets procurable on the 3d, and good tilIthe 14th of July.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D. D.
SUBJECTS for July: Islands of ea, in the Hawaiian group. This the Sea, Java, Greenland, Utah, crater is three miles in diameter, a Alaska, North American Indians level bottom with three cones rising and the Chinese and Japanese in from its center hundreds of feet high, America. and onl) of which, hom its ceaseless Java, which we select for this activity, is called Brahrna.
number, is the third island in area Though a Dutch colony, two native and first in importance of the Malay kingdoms were suffered to retain a archipelago, 666 miles long and from nominal existence under Dutch offi- 36 to 126 miles broad, with 50,000 cials, namely the dominions of the square miles of surface and a coast Senaan or Emperor of Surakarta and line of 1,400. It is shaped like Cuba the Sultan of Jokjokarta. The rest and about as large. The geological of the island is split up into twenty formation is highly volcanic, a range residences or provinces, ruled by of mountains traversing the central Dutch residents, six of which belong line from end to end with peaks to the country of the Sundese and reaching from 4,000 to 12,000 feet. the rest to that of the Javanese, the The most remarkable of these is Mt. two distinct nations comprised in the Yenger, whose crater is 1,000 feet be- native population. The Sundese hold low its summit and the most remark- the west end, are inferior both in able in the globe, except only Kilau- numbel' and civilization to the J avanese and speak a distinct language, ninth or tenth centul"y when the but both nations are Malayan. , They are docile and peaceable, so- J ains had ascendancy in Guzerat ·and ber and industrious. Crawfurd pronounced them the most straightfor- westel'll parts of India. ., ward and truthful of all Asiatic people. Java is densely populated, hav- In some respects Javanese civilizaing about 18,000,000 of people, and Buddhism still sways multitudes of tion is an advance upon that of Brit- Javanese. In the central district this story is told on stone: The famous ish Ind~a. The Dutch rule here dates ruins of Borobodo, or Bol'o Buddor, are among the most imposing re- from 1623, with five years interrupmains of religious structures. A pile of masonry, pyramidal in form, 525 tion. Batavia,on the northwest coast, feet squat'e, nine stories h;gh in the center, is covered with figures of is the capital and commercial depot, Buddha. To descdbe this extraordinary group of buildings, the temples with over 100;000 inhabitants. Moof Bramb~nam, mO'e exactly: the great temple is a square building 45 hammedanism is mixed up with feet square, 75 feet high, terminating upwards in an octagonal, straight- Buddhism and heathenism as the relined pyramid. On each face of this is a smaller temple of similar dimen- ligion of the island. Annually the sions, joined to it by corridors. The whole five thus constitute a cruci- natives go in crowds with priests up form building raised on a square base very elaborately ornamented. One the Bromok volcano to propitiate of the minor temples serves as a pOI'ch. Two hundred and thirty-nine with offerings the Fire Spirit. Cocoasmaller tempIes surround this central shrine. Twenty-eight of these stand nn ts, pineapples, rice, cakes, fruit, just beyond the square terrace of the central fane, eight of course standing coins, are cast into the crater. This on each side of the square, and each corner one counting for two sides; ceremony has probably been sugbeyond these 35 feet off comes a second square or court with 44, 12 on gested by the ten"Hic and fatal vola side; then comes a space 80 feet wide, with 6 more temples; then two canic outbreaks that have abounded. more rows o( temples, standing close, Java has near Batour a VaUey of back to back, 160 in numbel', forming another square, each face of which Death, of an oval shape and half a measures 525 feet. All thes~ 239 temples are similar, the lesser ones mile in circuit, in which the exhala- 12 feet square at base and 22 feet high, all richly sculptured and each tions of carbonic acid gas make imhaving a small square cell, within which originally was a cross-legged possible plant or animal life. It also figure of a Jaina saint or Buddhist image. The date assigned to these has its Poison Tree (antiaris macro- most remarkable monuments is the phylla), an ornament to the woods, but from the bark of which flow poison juices.
The Evangelical Mission in Java is in a very destitute condition. There are at most only about 4,GOO Chris- tians, a fact whIch reflects no glory on the Dutch rule and the Christi- anityof the Netherlands. The few luminous points in the meagre mis- sion history of Java, says Dr. 'War- neck, are the Watchmaker Emde in Surabaya, the Missionary J.ellesma, the newly-founded and nationally- aided institute at Depok, an " Oasis in the Desert," and the work of the Nethedands Missionary Society of Rotterdam among the Soudanese.
NEW GUINEA.
S. McFarlane, LL.D., has recently published a story of missionary labol's " Among the Canm'bals of New Gui- nea." It is published by the London Missionary Society. We advise any one who wishes to know what are both the difficulties and the triumphs
1889·1 THE lloN'lHLY OOlWER'l' Oli'1.USSIONS
— ofmissIDn,ary life among the worst eluding the immediate~y adjoining savages to read this book. We give islands, of 311,958 square miles. Con~ space to a brief resume of its· con- sequently its at'ea is about the same tents: as the united area of the Britisn Mr. MacFarlane first had experi- Islands with France, or the British ence of savage life on Lifa, a charm- Islands, Italy, Turkey in Europe and ing South Sea island. Greece. And this vast region has to Three months after his arrival, in be won to Christ and to humanity.
1859, he could preach to the people in What an object of holy ambition I their own tongue. The first years' of If the Christians of the nin~teenth danger, toil and loneliness were also century rose to a perception of .their years of great blessing, useful expe- duty they would follow the example rience and encouragement. Before of the Christians of the first, and he left, at the end of twelve years, count nothing that they possess their "a marvellous change had taken own if only they might acquire the place Il'om idolatry, cannibalism and glory of gathering the outcasts of constant wars to the worship of the New Guinea into the church of the true God, peaceful industry and a living God.
growing education. Schools and In their mission in New Guinea.
churches established throughout the they had to contend with difficulties island, and the New Testament and quite peculiar to the place; to sail in Psalms translated; the teachers' unknown and dangerous waters in seminary in good working order, order to reach the natives; to con- supplying native teachers and pas- tend with savages and cannibals, tors and pioneer evangelists; Euro- who regard strangers generally as pean stores established in different enemies to be killed, cooked and parts of the island, and the people eaten; to pass through sickly swamps not only paying for their books and and be exposed to deadly fevers in providing for their pastors, but also planting and superintending mission making a very handsome contribu- stations; to reduce the languages to tion to the London Missionary Soci- writing and translate portions of the ety to help to send the gospel to the Scl'iptures, school-books and hymn- heathen beyond." books into them; to battle with the In 1870 Mr. MacFarlane began a evil influences of abandoned sailors; mission in New Guinea, "largest, to guide the natives in making and darkest and most neglected island in administering laws, in developing the world." He laid the matter be- the resources of their country, in fore the students, native pastors and building houses, making roads, and, churches of Lira, and asked for vol- in fact, in everything connected with· unteers, giving them to understand their material as well as their spirit- the dangerous character of the ual progress. They opened up about climate and the savages. Every na- six hundred miles of coast line, tive pastor in the island and student gained the confidence of the natives in the seminary offered himself for and established sixty mission stations the' work! Four pastors and four along the coast. They formed six students were selected, and in July, churches, which contain an aggl'e- 1871, the party started for that great gate of between six and seven hun- land of cannibals. dred members, I'educed six of the New Guinea is larger than any languages or dialects to writing, and country III Europe except Russia. It translated portions of the New Tes- is 1,500 miles long and from 30 to tament, a school-book, catechism nearly 500 miles wide, containing an and hymn-book into each. They area of 303,241 square miles, or, in- have two institutions at work for the training of native pioneer evangelists ture's children the comforts and the and pastors: the Papuan Institute at decencies of humanized life, ex- Murray Island, in Papuan Gulf, con- claimed: "Oh, ye orators and phi- taining over fifty students; and the losophers who make the civilization institute at Port Moresby, containing of the species your dream, look to ten or twelve. Twenty-five have been Christian missionaries if you want to sent out from the former and eight see the men who will realize it! You from the latter as native pioneer may deck the theme with the praises teachers, and are located at stations of your unsubstantial eloquence; but in the interior, on the coast and on these are the men who are to accom- islands off the coast, and are doing plish the business! They are now excellent Christian work amongst risking every earthly comfort of ex- the people with whom, in many in- istence in the cause, while you sit in stances, their fathers used to fight, silken security and pour upon their As an illustra,tion of the change holy undertaking the cruelty of your from cannibalism to Christianity, scorn." These words were spoken in compare father and son in the fol- what seems a past age, the age when lowing passage: "The old chief the highest organs of literature Mamo was our friend all along, al- treated missionaries and their work though he had a weakn{'ss for cutting with contempt. The more than seven off the heads of his enemies, and de- decades that have passed since then clined to embrace Christianity' be- should satisfy the most rigid experI- cause its pr{'cepts forbade him this mental philosopher that the words of pleasure. The last time I saw him the preacher were words of tru th and (he died two or three years ago) he sobemess, and that the only power was sitting, as usual, cross-legged on that will redeem degraded nations is a mat in front of his house waiting the power of the gospel of Jesus to receive us, and looking as dirty Christ.
and as ugly, and as great a'savage, "There is a change seen even in as when I first saw him thirteen the appearance of all the natives of years before. He was getting too old New Guinea. They were a wild can- to pursue his favorite sport, skull- niballot a few years ago. One of the hunting. His son and successor is a natives spokea little English. Peat'se fine, tall, powerful man, who at- asked them if they eat man, and was tached himself to the teachers from answered, 'No. No eat man now; the first, and by whom he was edu- all follow missionary now.' In the cated. He has been for many years evening, at seven, a bell rang, and an earnest Christian and indefatiga. soon hymn-singing was heard; they ble local preacher." May we not say, were having evening prayers. You look on that picture and on this-the cannot realize it-savages, cannibals, savage cannibal skull-hunter, and the murderers-now seeking to worship loving, kind-hearted Christian, who God. It was strangely pleasing to is indefatigable in his labors to save hear an old hymn tune in such a both body and soul. Hear this, ye place," A New Guinean, preaching, who prate about the service of man 'I said: "The time has come for us to Where are Yl1ur missionaries ? Where be up and doing. Foreigners have are the savages converted into men brought us the gospel, many have and brothers of whom you can say, died of fever, several have been " These are our epistles"? Echo an- speared and tomahawked; now let swers, Where? us carry the gospel to other districts, Dr. Thomas Chalmers in 1812, after and if we die 'tiS well, for we die in describing the missionaries as ex- yhrist ; if we are murdered, 'tis well- tending among the wildest of na- 'ms carrying His name and love, and 'twill be for Him. Motu, let us do and sacl'ificed thousands of lives, it I" "He knows only a 'little, so Canada, with a larger proportion of vel'y little; yet he loves, and he is Indian population, has not spent a , willing to endure for Chl'ist. I saved dollar on such wars nor suffered that lad a few years ago from being from one such massac!'':l.
attacked, perhaps murdered, by his It is commonly supposed that the own people. Did I LeU you at Vab- Indians are rapidly disappeal'lng and ukori, neal' here, there are forty- almost extinct. This is a. great mis- three catechumens, and at Tuyuselei take. The total number was estimated fifty-six? The prayer of faith is be- by Schoolcraft in 1855 at 350,000. In ing answered. The greatest power Mexico there are at least 4.000,000, in of the mission-house is that monthly Central America 1,5@0,000, and in prayer-meeting. " South America 7,000,000.
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. The Puget Sound Indians have no THE question of the N. A. Indians literature. Hieroglyphic emblems and is too big to discuss in this limited signs and pictures take the place of space. Our Indian record is not an books. But, the exigencies of kade honor to us as a nation. Our gov- have created a sort of commercial ernment has made hundreds of trea- dialect, which, after a century, has ties with the redman, and seldom if largely displaced the many Indian eve~ kept them. Bishop Whipple dialects aB a vehicle of communica- asked scores of brave officel's if they tion. With only about 450 words in knew of one instance in which Indi- its vocabulary, it is capable, by into- ans were the first to break these nation and vocal inflection, of a wide treaties, and they Il.nswered, in every range of expression, and can be used case, "No." to impart gospel truth.
In 1828 we solemnly guaranteed to No more remarkable work has ever the Cherokees their lands forever. been done among any people than by Ten year later, at the request of Wm. Duncan in his Metlakhatla, Georgia, 18,000 of them were dl'iven the story of which has been so well from their homes and tilled lands told by Mr. Wellcome.
into an unknown wilderness. In Who in the United States shall an- 1876,700 Poncas were similarly robbed swer before God for the sad fact, that and exiled. In 1878 a remnant of in this second century of the life of the Cheyennes, driven to a new this mighty Republic there are still home, were compelled to attempt to 200,000 Indians unchristianized with- return, to avoid starvation, and were in its borders I It is stated that there pursued, captured, and imprisoned, are only eighty-one missionaries at until the chief and his wife escaped work among 184,000 Indians, or one tortnre by snicide. Foul' times in a miSSionary to 2,000 Indians; "17,000 century the Stockbridges and Dela- Navajoes whom Christianity has not wares have suffered the horrors of touched; 5,000 Apaches in Arizona "removaL" absolutely destitute' of Christian The manner in which we have, as light; 17,000 Indians in Washington a nation, paid our Indian debts, the Tel'ritory still heathen." In our In- violation of our express pledges, the dian Territory murder and crime 'are provocation of Indian wars, the mas- rampant, anditis impossible to obtain sacres to which our unfaithfulness justice, owing not only to wickedness a,nd injustice and cruelty have been of government officials, but to the the incitements, all these have come drunkenness and lawlessness of the up for a memorial before 9-od to call Indians. Driven from home by land- down His wrath. While 'Ye have grabbers, they are the victims of the spent $500,000,000 upon Indian wal'S, very officials to whom they look: tor protection, whose character is so vi- says Mr. Egerton Young, missionary orthe Cancious that the Indians say: "If this ada Methodist Church there, .. a number· of Inis civilization and Christianity we do dians came into my room, noiselessly, aCter their not want them." In the southwest- fashion, so that the room was filled with them before I knew it. When I became aware of ern part of Indian Territory is a their presence I asked whence they were.
much more neglected tribe, number- • From a journey of fourteen nights,' they reing about 1900, living in teepees and plied; for they reckon distance by the number tents. They have had the worst of of nights they are delayed to sleep. • We have got the Kessenaychen (the Great Book), but we agents since the administrations of don't understand it, although we can read it.' I Grant and Hayes, whose bad exam- thought they were joking, for the Indians canple has done much to debauch and not read unless some one has taught them, and discourage them. One of these a- I knew from their accoont they must live far away from any missionary, but I asked them: gents is said to have stolen $14,000 'From what missionary did you learn f' • We from these Kiowas and Comanches. never saw a missionary nor a teacher.' I took There is a government school, to down from my shelf our Bible, printed in the beautiful syllabic character for the Cree lanwhich only about fifty Kiowa chil- guage, and opened to Genesis; they read it with dren are admitted, when there· are ease and corr~ctness. I turned the pages and nearly 400 anxious to be educated. they read in many places. I was amazed, and asked them again where they lived. They de· '·The Kiowa,s are eager to lea.rn agricul- scribed it to me; it was far away, north of tural arts aud housekeeping. aud some have Hodson's Bay, hundreds of miles from any mis· taken up land and are trying to improve sionary. Their honting-gronnds, it seems, adtheir methods of tilling it. One woman join those ofsome Christian Indians-they cover about fifty years of age. visited a returned great distances in huuting-and, continued my student of the Carlisle school and saw the visitors, •We vislte~ your Indians and found famliy hving in a house with land and us- that they had the K688enaychen. We got them ing agrICultural implements and living a to read it and then to teach it to us ; and we CIvilized life. She returned home. sold two were so pleased with it that we all learned to horses and a mule. bought a set of harness. read it during the Winter.' Every soul in a a plow. hoes. several thousand feet of wire village of three hundred population had thus fence, and went to work with her two actually learned to read the Bible without ever daughters. They went into the woods, cut having seen auy white teacher; and having rails, and fenced in fifteen acres, not know- providentially come into possession of some ing the use of the wire which they had pur- copies that happened to be in the hands of the chased; neither did they know the use of Hudsou'~ Bay Company's agent, these heathen the tools after obtaining them, but they put Indians had journeyed through the snows fourup a log cabin and raised a fine crop of po- teen nights' distance that to them might be tatoes and melons. While the woman was given instruction in the Book they had thus a.t work a rough man from the Texas border learned to love." was riding by and sa.w her, He dismounted and asked her what she was doiug, and Ohinese in America. hearing of her ambitions, showed her the use of the harness and plough, and from The new Chinese temple, the second Chinese that time she has steadily improved in cir- place of worship in America, was dedicated in cumstances and surroundings." Mr. Her- New York, January 7, and Joss duly installed bert Welch says: .. The two wants of the in his new quarters. The unique dedicatory Indians are tools alld schools.•, services were conducted by the Chairman of the Among the Indians, as among the Chinese Mnnicipal CounCil, acting High Priest ·Africans, the rum traffic has intro- of Joss. Woug Siu Nam and Ah Hi, both being duced evils that actually more than well·to-do merchants of Mott street, and acting as assistant priests. and the Chinese Council, in overbalance aU that thus far Chris- full Mandarin costume, attended. Among the tianity has accomplished for their curious proceedings were the carrying of a big good. The New York TribuniJ, re- roasted pig, painted and decorated, and many ferring to the illegally licensed liquor chickens, pigeons. cakes, etc., to Joss.
A Chinese gambling room was lately raided shops of Alaska, says: by the police. The Chinese when brought be- "The result of the immunity to these grog fore the poliee eourt contended that they were shops is s great spread of immorality among but imitators of the best American society in the natives who will sell their offspring or the National Capital. The keeper of the room, wives for whiskey." Kwong Chong Lee, said he had heard of the "At Norway House, on a certain occasion," clubs incorporated by " the Mellcan man," who
1889·1 ];:i)I'f'OIUAL
can play poker and not be molested, and, ac- the children. The preachllr on the Sahllath cording to his statement, the "Celestials' Pleas- afternoon will often consecrate the elements- . ure Club" meets at .the house raided. He they administer the sacrament every Sabbathshowed Policeman Costello a book in which then preach a sermon, retiring immediately were written the names of the officers of the afterwllrd to bet on a horse race that takes club. The incorporation purported to have place the same afternoon. Last :week I heard been sworn to before Justice Clark. The Chi- one of the elders say in the pulpit, at one of their nese on their arrival at the police station were conferences, that he would as soon have his taken into the sitting room to the rear of the children read Dickens's works as the Bible. office, where there was a pack of cards on the table. Some of them evidently thought they The missionaries sent into" the world" to ' had struck another Chinese joint, fOt' one ofthem preach" the gospel" are often renegades ofthe picked npthe cards and started a game of poker, wildest nature and lowest character, who are but the police interfered before much progress sent ont to see the world. I know of several was made iu the game. A curious commentary young fellows of the higher classes, however, is all this on morals among certain Americans. who were sent" on missions" to Europe sim- ply to procure better edncations. One of them, Morman Morality. The term morality as the son of an nnderground apostle, did the Holy known among the Christians of the world, is an Land in that way; while another, the son of a nnknown term among the Latter Day Saints- German professor, simply went as a guide Mormons. Upon becoming a Mormon no one is through Switzerland for a party of Salt Lake required to lay aside his cupidity, evil heart, young blood. From a town to Southern Utah foul month or beer bottle. A Latter Day Saint there w,ent in 1886 a young man to Nebraska on is not known from other men by the testimony a missiou. He is one of the most notorious of a spotless life. Many a father sits down to gamblers in the whole country, and the night the dtnner table, asks a blessing, and before the before he left lie won a team of horses and a meal Is over is cursing and sweartng at one of wagon at the gambling table. Of such is the kingdom of the Mormons.
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Strange Doctrine. judged fairly in isolation from their surroundings. The text is often ex- .. Da. PIERSON is reported as saying' I be- plained by the context. but above all lieve that, all the time. men and women are by the drift and tenor of a man's going up to heaven from heathen lands, who whole book of life and testimony. never heard of Christ.' Such a hope would Whatevertruth lies back of the above afford as grateful exhilaration to old mis- professed" quotation" is connected sionaries, whose work is almost done, as to with the teaching of a class in the Y. Dr. pierson-if it can be shown to rest upon M. C. A. Hall of Philadelphia, where a solid foundation. •Take the case of Cor- on Saturday at 4 P. M. from 500 to nelius,' says Dr. Pierson. 'He was a, 1,200 of the most earnest and evanheathen; he had not heard of Christ; and gelical Sunday-school teachers and yet his prayers and his alms came up before adult disciples of the city gather. God. Do you believe that Cornelius would And it may be sufficient to say that have been lost if he had died before he saw whatever was said by the writer, Peter?' I have been face to face with the who has the honorto lead the studies races of Bui-ma for thirty-five years, and of that great class, it awakened no have not yet fonnd a Cornelius, nor have I murmur of disapprobation. So met or heard of a missionary who has found much for the orthodoxy of the a Cornelius among any af the heathen races teacher and of the class. of Asia. It is true that I have found some,· to my great joy, who somewhat resembled But as to the sentiment itself. We Cornelius; but it was soon found in every were studying Matthew xxv. and case that the person had read and pondered the last judgment. The question a ChristIan tract, or a portion of God's arose as to the grounds of final conword." demnation. And one of the princi- ples affirmed from Scripture was that Such paragraphs as this have been no man is held accountable except flying about in the newspapers. We for the light he has. And again, do not often consider it worth while that if the measure of knowledge to chase up our" good name," be- lieving that a reputation which needs much looking after is. not worth looking after-no man's utterances, whether of tongue 01' pen, can be
NOTES
given him is improved, he will not found in the depths of the jungle be condemned. ,Those principles we who had fur years been living in a regard as self-convincing, like axi- state of discontent with his own oms. There is no question in our ancestral faIth, and had been led in mind as to the condemnation of the a strange way to trust to some other heathen world. The first chapter of plan of salvation, of which till then Romans settles that. But it settles he had never had distinct informa- also the grounds of their being tion. Dr. Nevius of Chefoo has just "without excuse." "They held written of Yang-yin-shin, whom he down the truth in unrighteousness," met in a market town of China, and "they did not like to retain God in who, as soon as he heard the gospel their knowledge," " when they said, "This is the very truth Iwant, knew God they glorified Him not as this is what I have been waiting for God." for twenty years. I have been earn- estly seeking for light and guidance, Now it follows from the same inex- but without success. This is the orable Logicthatif a heathen man does very truth that meets and supplies use thelightandknowledgegiven him my want." And his embrace of the hewillnotbejudgedguilty. Weven- tru1tl was immediate. He proved tured to say to those teachers, that If himself one of God's elect by the God saw any man in a pagan land avidity with which he immediately . honestly endea..voring to live up to welcomed redemptive truth. the light he had, he would if neces- sary send to that man an angel as he Now, we have no sympathy with did to Cornelius. We did affirm that universalism, restorationism, second it was not conceivable that if Cor- probation, post-mortem opportunity, nelius had died before Peter reached preaching to spirits in prison, or any him, he whose "prayers and alms other of the hundred modern extra- came up before God" with accept- scriptural expedients to get men ance, "for a memol"ial," would have saved without compliance with the been driven into outer and eternal terms of the gospel within the limits darkness. And we did also venture of the life-time. But no man is com- to say that there may be those who petent to affirm that it is impossible out of every nation go up from time for any heathen man to be saved to time to a saved state, exceptions without the knowledge of the historic to the great mass of the heathen, as Christ. The grace of God is wider proofs that there is no fatality about than our creeds or our philosophy. this wholesale perdition, and alil jus- The love of God is broader than our tifying the condemnation of the rest. narrow theology, Arminius did not This is scarcely an article of faith, know everything, nor Calvin either. for it is not revealed. Yet we cannot And if O'u:f; of every nation some shall but feel that "in every nation he join the redeemed, who, never having that feareth God and worketh right- heard of Christ as a historic person, eousness is accepted with Him," and have been led and taught of God's that in some mysterious way, un- Spirit to rest upon a method of sal- known to us, God may lead a. poor vation only dimly revealed to their pagan who is feeling after Him if yearning souls, not only will God's haply he may find him, to rest upon justice and grace be vindicated and the merit of a mediator, of whom as glorified, but the condemnation of a historic personage he has never aU other lost heathen will be maqe heard. to appear consistent with human freedom and responsibility. While A most beloved missionary in the we suggest this relief to the dark Orient has told us of a white-haired picture of the wOl'ld's condition and and venerable patriarch whom he
EDITORIAL
prospects, it must be remembered paper; I beg leave to quote one par- that, as a practical question of duty, agraph giving my views: this hope does not affect the respon- .. Evangelization-the proclaiming of the good sibilityof the church. It still re- news of salvation to all who are ignorant oC a mains true that without the gospel Saviour's love and intereession-'-is our part in proclaimed among them by believers. the Divine economy of redemption, on whieh is conditioned the conversion of men by the Holy the vast multitude of the heathen Spirit. The work includes the Christian colwill actually perish. This we cannot lege and seminary for the education of a native but believe. While some may be agency, since every country must be evangelized speculating as to the future of those by its own sons, duly prepared by divine grace, through miSSionary instruction and example; who die unsaved, we prefer to give and it includes a Christian literature for the demen the gospel here and now, assured velopment and nurture of Christian life and on the authority of God that "it is eharacter in new-born souls; but more than all else, it includes the preaching of' the word.
the power of God unto salvation to • How shall they believe in Him of whom they – everyone that believeth." have not heard, and how shall they hear with- A.T.P. out a preacher, and how shall they preach THE editors are more and more except they be sentf' No miraculous power is to print the Scriptures and scatter them broad- cast among the tribes of men. No voice from satisfied that the views presented in heaven is to proclaim the message of Ufe in the the leading article of the May num- ear of assembled mnltitudes. This work has ber, on the "Mission and Commis- been committed to the church. The final glory sion of the Church," are not only is not promised till the gospel has been preached for a witness to all nations. The way must be unassailable, but fundamen tal to a prepared for the coming of the Lord, for those right conception of our work and its grander workings of the Spirit, which have success. We venture to print a let- been the hope and the joy of the people of God ter from one of the greatest of the in all the ages, when Christian institutions shall cover the earth, and Ch"istiau homes shall be leaders of the missionary host. the common heritage of all the children of DEAR DR. PIERSON :-1n the May men." number of the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, 1 read with much Grateful for your valuable services interest your editorial on the matter in your present field of labor as conof "evangelization" as distinguished nected with the progress of the kingfrom "conversion" in the foreign dom of God. field. 1 was very glad to see the article, as 1 hope it will correct a good Very sincerely yours. N. G. CLARK.
BOSTON, May 10,1889.
deal of improper lan~uage, which THE HELL GA'fE EXPLOSION of Oc- we hear in the pulpit and through tober 10, 1884, caused the most in- the press. 1 have for years been tense excitement in New York City.
very careful never to speak of the The Brooklyn Bridge was crowded, conversion of men as in any sense a every available space on the house- human work. That is the preroga- tops, the horse cars, the river banks; tive of the Holy Spirit. Evangeliza- all the world was on the streets. The tion is our work; when that work is explosion took place at 11.13 o'clock well done we may hope and pray for A.M., and the progress of the vibra- the conversion of men. Of that the tion was found to be' 1,700 feet per Holy Spirit will have all the honor. second. There was great fear that As long ago as at the annual meet- the shock might cause disaster to the ing of the American Board, in 1877, foundations of buildings, and even I presented a paper entitled" Claims the towers of the East River Bridge.
of the Un-evangelized," in which I Just before 11 o'clock a small band endeavored to set forth the truth on of engineers stood about a small bat- this subject. I should be glad to terynear the Astoria Ferry slip, with call your attention to the entire General Newton, theil'chief, who frequently looked at his watch. At revolutionary. He would have m'i~ 11.12 precisely, a baby's hand was laid upon the little key of the bat- sionaries go out without purse ,Ii# tery and instantly 13,286 dynamite scrip, without human patronltgeQl" cartridges, protruding from as many dependence, without stated salary,Ol' holes in the mine, exploded, and a settled habitation, precisely as did second later the 240,000 pounds of those primitive disciples. With l'ackarock, packed bacl~ of the car- many of Mr. Baldwin's principles and tridges. Flood Rock was blasted sentiments we confess ourselves in away. The report was not loud, but very hearty accord, while we feel a second before it was heard a great confident that he has carried those mass of foam white as snow shot principles to the extreme of applicainto the air 200 feet, and fell back in tion. wild confusion to meet new upheavals. Great masses of rock were We believe that there are some flung upwards in a giant shower, but truths which belong to the realm only seen here and there through a not of obligation, but of privilege• mountain of shining foam. The elec- .. He that is able to receivli}t, let him tric current moved over a single wire receive it." And to all Mr. Baldwin's beneath the river to a heavy bichro- papers we have one answer-a scripmate battery on the rock, which dif- tural one; it is found in 1Corinthians fused the current through twenty- ix.,3 to 19. Paul, to those who critfour independent circuits, the ends ically examine His course, insists of those wires being bridged and upon certain rights, while at the joined by a fine platinum wire. Big same time he waives them. To rewaves were driven shoreward, and duce all the self-denials of a devoted vessels rocked wildly to and fro. The life to the level of cold duty and newater settled slowly, yellowish in cessity robs them of theil' beauty. hue, and emitting an odor of car- But when a life is lived in peculiar bonic acid gas. The crowd on land closeness of faith and fellowship, and river cheered lustily and waved leaning absolutely on God, and votheir hats and handkerchiefs, while luntarily choosing to have no interthe steamers whistled their salute. mediate dependence on man, we con- The channel was deepened from five fess there is about it a sublimity and feet to five fathoms. What an illus- beauty that are without a rival. tration of the work of God in mis- SIOns, long undermining great sys- A.T.P. tems which some day shall suddenly upheave and disappear.-A. T. P. REV. GEORGE STOTT, of the China Island Mission, fell asleep at Cannes, OUR friend and correspondent, Rev. April 21, 1889, aged 54. He and his E. F. Baldwin, of Mogador, Morocco, beloved wife were the companions has been furnishing a series of letters of Drs. Gordon and Pierson on their to The Christian (London) on "The tour of missions in Scotland in 1888, Question of the Hour-Foreign Mis· and Mr. Stott was one of the lovelisions." These remarkable papers est disciples we ever knew. He had take Matthew x., etc., as the basis of for years had but one leg, but he did all foreign mission work. Mr. Bald- as much work as most !pen with two. For some time he had been troubled with his lungs and a complication of diseases.-A. T. P.
win regards our Lord's instructions THERE was recently held the great to the twelve and the seventy as per- centennial of Wasl~ington's Inaugumanent and authoritative guides in ral Oath. No such celebration has the work of evangelization. His po- eyer been seen on American soil, but sition,is of course both radical and it may be doubted whether any spec-
1889.J ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND
tacle equally disgrltceful with the utterly inadequate; but ample means are EaIl at the Academy of Mu~ic ever at the disposal of our 75,000 Baptist breth disgraced and dishonored such a fes- ren iu the Dominion of Canada; tive occasion. What a contrast between the morning service of wor- That to every 50.000 of the population of ship at St; Paul's and the evening this land one missionary and fifty native worship of the world, the flesh, the Christian helpers are the least possible devil and the drink demon I number of evangelizing a.gents necessary; The Speedy Eva.ngeliza.tion of the Te- That nntil the country is thoroughly lugu People. evangelized, the home churches must pro- vide the support of missionaries and the AT the Thirteenth Annual Cana- higher traiuing of native agents, leaving to dian Baptist Missionary Conference, the Christians of this land the support of in Bimlipatam, India, January, their own pastors and teachers. 1889, the following resolutions were adopted: Therefore we now urge upon the home churches the pressing necessity of at once That the commission of our Lord Jesus grappling with this work by sending out Christ means that this generation or Chris- immediately fifty-two men. and additional tians in the world is commanded to give the lady·missionaries as the work demands' gospel to this generation of heathen; and providing for the consequent extension of the evangelizing agencies; That the one thousand million who are in spiritual darkness. the three millions of We will impress more fully upon the Telugus dependent on us for the Bread of native churches their responsibility in this life. are a share proportionate to the num- work; ber of our brethren in the Canadian Baptist churches; We request both the hotne and native churches to unite with us in steadfast and That for the evangelization of these continued prayer to the God of Missions, for people, the means at present employed are a large output of laborers into this His har- vest field; for an abundant out-pouring of His Holy Spirit, that the workers be filled with power, and their hearers bowed with conviction; and for the speedy triumph of the cause of Christ throughout the world.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
Wesleyan Methodist Mission (English) of a native minister, who seized the oppor- in the Mysore District, Madras, India. tunity to dwell upon the spiritual life of Christianity. Another most important and STATISTICS FOR 1888. useful work is that accomplished by the temperance societies• ., .,riJ cO …;. .; ';' …;. '" ., " ''".""", """ . " ." ~".'" t"": . :5 " " '" 6 ss ::iiij '-·'5§Io~;"w:si ~~''E;§"0~;::'· oZ.,~~…"..,;..~£,<,:.:;~rQ.t~";I.t0.'!,-'Ij'l.a<,.=8l~3.0!:.,lI. ~ "~ ~ .; ",!l .0 The North India Oonferenoe of the Meth- .; c III 0 odist Episoopal Ohuroh. S 'i:l THIS conference met at Bareilly on the 9th .; ~z January under the presidency of Bishop ~ Thoburn. General delight was expressed " .s 'r::-" " '" <J at the bishop'S presence, because his ea.rli- 'a 0 .; .; ~ '0 est field of labor was North of India. The ~ .<:I 0 following table indicates the position of the 0 " ~ rIl '0 Q) rIl work: ~ 0 0 " :g ai S '0 S -" -oj rIl ai .cI rIl '" Q) rIl Eo< E-I u1i – – – – – – – —- – – 84042 912 109 28 1,068 136 8,621 24 1.030 THE field covered by this mission is larger DEPARTMENT. Increa.se than Scotland, and has a populatiou of over Total. on 4,000,000. Except Mysore and Bengalore, there are no large cities. the headquarters Year. of the different districts being towns of about 10,000 inhabitants. Among the most Church Members………… 7,944 1,924 important phases of the work is that among Nat. Christian Community. 10.828 1,602 the Kolar gold fields. The most effectual Baptisms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,952* evangelistic work is accomplished at the Sunday-schools…………. ' 703 520 time of the idol festivals, which are univer- Sunday-school Scholars,… 26,585 109 sal holidays. One special instance is noted 2,672 where a quarrel between two rival idols resulted in marked attentIon to the preaching *Of these 1,201 are adults.
That is a grand record for a year's work.
In the day schools there are 16,000 pupils, 5,000 of whom are girls, and over 3,000 Chris- tians. Deaconesses' Homes are to be openeO at Mathra and Lucknow. Bengal Mission of the Methodist special lecturers, one American on physi_ Episoopal Ohuroh. ology and sanitation, and two native on methods of theory and practice of mission REpORT for 1888. See Statistics Page 314 work. In the theological department there MISSIONARY REVIEW for April. are 37 students, and in the normal depart- ment 30 students. The course of training The reports of the presiding elders of the includes specially Bible study, togetherwlth four districts, Ajmere, Burmsh, Calcntta and practical instructions in evangelistic work. Mussoorle, bring very forcibly before the reader The classics are those of the country, though the need of the great work. In some places, occasionally Greek and Hebrew are taught where there was urgent need of advance and increased elfort, the word came to retrench, and General Synod Evangelical Lutheran the problem became a serious one how to hold the ground already occupied. The laying of Mission in India. Baptized in 1888 by: the corner stone of the J abulpore Mission buildings brought some grateful words from Rev. E. Unangst { Adults, 311 the chief commissioner, Mr. A. Mackenzie, Chtlctre:1, 318 C. S. The times have greatly changed in India 629 since the day when the first American mission- { Adults, 11 aries were peremptorily ordered out of the Rev. L. B. Wolf, Children, 14 country. At pr.esent there are no warmer sup- 25 porters of their work than mallY of the oftlcials { Adults, 140 of the Indian Government. Rev. B. John, Children, 271 411 Bareilly Theologioal Seminary of the Adults, 9} Methodist Episcopal Mission, N ol'th { Rev. M. Nathaniel, Children, 117 India. 216 REPORT for 1888 shows two missionary professors, with six native assistants and three Total, 1,281 These statistics show that our work here is a graud success. Who will come to help to carry it on ?
Malayalam Mission, Travancore, India..
LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, COMMENCED 1805. STATISTICS FOR 1888• .; ..",; ..",; ….,.;. .; ….;, .; M …., . """…. ~ ….;, "tS.~ ",.c:I ~ .c:I "o· """".c:I -;; .; .; oj't:l ..;.0.:.,:, .,0 0 "oj A ., …. ~ oj ~ 't:I oj "'>< "0 ~" – "'"0 " o";o;f!j oj ~ "oj ..c."".:,I "E-o M 'a0 0 .c:I o0.j..", "",Il< ~Il) .c:I ".o~ j o "0 "…. "ee ",.c:I 0 r:0n .~…, o~ …. 00 't:I.~ 0 bo 0 "..q, ' " "g..q zoj 0 .c:I 0 ;;: o,-.;!";l: 0 "0 00 0 — —- ———————- —- — 6 6 19 213 1163 266 44.633 5,356 g56 295 13.229 27.657 Trevandrum station, including the city those sold by the colporteur Bible women and with a population of 57,611, and the district, at the depot. covering 632 square miles, with a population of 253,280, has 48 congregations with 1,200 The Medical work Includes 1 MiSSionary, 9 church members, 7,719 adherents, 59 schools Medical Evangelists in charge of Dispensaries, and 1,712 scholars, new adherents 584. 2 Dispensers, 1 Evangelist, 1 Catechist, 1 Bible woman, 1 Colperteur. The patients included Among the chief features of the work are 10,503 Protestants, 2,694 Roman Catholics, 13,- Gospel lectnres to caste Hindoos and 930 Heathens, 530 Mohammedans. others; open.air preaching and private conversation with enquirers; dissemina.- Zenana Work in India.-The Zenana Mistion of Scriptnres, religious books and sionarv Society of the Church of England tracts. reports that in 1888 it had 106 missionaries in the home connection, 189 Bible-women, The chief hindrance is from the high caste and 349 native teachers. Under this mis- Hindoos, alarmed for the safety of their sionaryforce 3,118 houses have been visited traditional religious usages, and hostile to in which there are 2,797 pupils. This method the low cast people who are glad to come of reaching the women of India is proving to the preaching, so that care has to be taken successful, and those who could not possinot to open more places of worship than can be bly be brought together in any public aseared for. 1,439 Scripture portions, chiefly sembly are glad to welcome Ilo Christia.n Gospels, were sold by the preachers, besides teacher in the home, United Ohuroh of Ohrist in Japan.
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT, 1888.
~..".,.. STATISTICS.
9o · MISSIONA.RIES, ! . .n..; as 0"""0i''."-" FOREIGN. " I '" '""§ Sil .n (!)~t ~al .. Sl" ,!.-~ "CIS000"O-, "M D.S ~ ~" .; 6 ;;" z"'''….. f ~.~~,!:,g..= '" – <S»l § o§o.Jd3'fi ,.,~"Qg-.".:a2'e0dgen-j ~ .; .; rJ2 ~~() – – ''"" – – 0 0 Po< ,; ."8o"s' o Po< zg ".d – – – – .S :c ~ ,; PPo< " !l ~ :~:;: ~ I: ~ 44 ~ rJ2 0 8 rJ2 411 : ~ ~ "~ —— 0 -rJ2- 1$:,;;00 8,690 1,831 80 24 2,260 4,000 39 38 36 THE whole report is one of encouragement Missionary Society are calling for men and and hope. An increase for the remaining twelve money to enter the doors open on every side. years of the century similar to that of the past The great desire i8 to increase the power of the year would give for 1900 a membership of 144,- union by the addition of the Congregational 000, a token of the evangelization of this great churches, which will nearly double the effectempire. ive force of the union, adding to it 45 churches with 7,093 members. With such a compact Several more churches have become self-sup- body of Christian workers, animated by such a porting, and it is a question whether many of those still receiving aid are not hurt more than spirit of self-consecration and earnest purpose they are helped. The principle laid down is to work for Christ; there is no obstacle too tbat any church of a hundred members should great. In union is strength. We earnestly be entirely self·reliant. The chief growth is in hope that there will be nothing done to kamper the chnrches, but the fields on every hand are or hinder that union. white to the harvest, aud the native Home -~– Statistios of the Egyptian Mission. (Frbm 1865 to 1887.) ESTABLISHED IN 1854. 1865. 1870. 1875. 1880. 1887.
—-.——-_._-.—————- Ordained Missionaries…………………………. . 8 7 8 8 11 Unmarried Female Missionaries……………….. . 3 3 7 8 10 Native Pastors…………………… , …………. .. 1 3 6 10 Native Licentiates…………………………….. . 5 Organized Congre:oations……………………… . 1 3 8 12 7 3 24 Stations Occupied ……………………………. .. 5 10 6 48 21 85 Communicants …………………………. , …… .. 79 237 676 1,036 2,307 Average Sabbath Attendance ………………….. . 125 513 1,133 1,837 4,747 Pupils in Sabbath-schools…………………….. .. 236 658 1,494 4,438 Number of Schools…………………………….. . 5 49 82 8 23 Pupils in Schools ………………………………. . 815 520 1,040 2,219 5,601 Books Distributed (volumes) …………………… . ? 5,506 1l,8PO 25,534 33,609 $655 $797 $4,863 $13,083 Tuition Fees…. :………………………………. . 1,037 2,795 5,541 7,815 Proceeds from Sale of Books……………………. . Totals paid by Nat's for Prc'h'g., Schools and Books 2,788 4,840 14,986 27,173 Baptist Foreign Missionary Society of The Woman's Baptist ForeIgn Mis.ionary Ontario and Quebec. Societies of Ontario and of East Ontario and Quebec report for their Zenana work MISSION FIELD, TELUGUS, MADRAS, INDIA. expenses additional to the sums paid to the General Society of $2,315.32. STATISTICS.-TwENTY-SECOND ANNUAL RE- The work of the Societies has been ham· PORT, 1888. pered by changes necessitated throughsick- ness and retirement of some from the field. …. " . ".- " " … ;1ui't:! .u..i .n .u.,i Yet they go on their way with good cour- age, "300,000 sonls with a single missionary, :s .-" . " " <II"d~~.~~~c.'g..",.:. 't:!.n ..e- .n .; ::l ::l and he 35 miles distant," calls for help• .':~-t:l:Q."!c~) '0 " " A::l'~" ~~ "'~ Ci~ ~… ."c ~ ~ The Leper House at Jerusalem, 1888. "~ 0 't~::!:ol 80 :te:l'Ow :J .d ~ ';":; The Seventeenth Annual Report of this Insti- Ci'~ E-< tution, under the care of the 1I0ravian Society, ",.- S.:!i 0 "rJ2 ".O..r "S shows an e'lCpenditnre of £435-3-0, $2,176. The Sil new asylum, built at a total cost of about ~dl ~, S $21,C-00, and unencumbered by any debt, has 19 inmates, 13 males and 6 females, 8 Christians Sil ~::. <= 0 and 11 Moslems.· Three died during the year, _. — — — — — — — – 0 aU haviug the Christian hope. 0 0 4 5 4 4 5 46 40 40 13 1.947 Increase from collections, legacies, etc ………………………….$14,67648 Received from Woman's Societies (less $325 returned).. .. .. .. .. .. .. • 4,605 Do 'l,'ota.l income …………… $19,281 48
Missions in the Dutch East-Indian
From the latest reports received during the year 1888, prepared jor THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD by Rev. N. D. Schuurmans, Haarlem, HoUand.
Name of the So- Stations. Receipts European Native As- Adherents. Schools. Scholars. during the ciety. Missionaries -s-i s t-a n-t s . – -l-as-t y-ea-r.- Notes. 8.- 74.- — – – – – – The Netherland ModjowarnQ-Java. 5,me, (on Ja- 135 8,472 on Java $37,706 In the Minahassa (Celebes) are a great . .(founded in the Kendal-pajak, llilissional'Y Unlun Kediri, h The number va) 221 (be. and Celebes; many native churches (communions) for- year 1797 at Rot- ~~:~b~~~Cele~~s. teachers and longing to of Savoo the merly founded by the missionaries of the lterdam). catechists the resort of N. M. S., now under the pastorshlp of Euro- Tanawan~ko .. in the lIiina- Seba (Savoo) number is pean associate preachers, who in connec- hasia prov- not known. tion with the Dutch Protestant Church in Seba-8avoo. inee is 115. Neth. India and under pay of the Dutch Government, yet greatly act asmissionaries for the propagation of the gospel,. Thenum- ber of native Christians is reported abont 120.000 souls. Notwithstanding two mission- aries. properly so-called, are at work in the niinahassa, the one is placed at the head of a training school for native assistan ts, the other occupied witha printing press for the sake of the missions on this Island. – —– .. Missionary Socie- Cheribou, The Netherland nieester-Cornelis-Ja va 7 24 874 11 146 $17,846 Of the 874 adherents 251 may partake of .. ty II. (founded in Indramaju, .. ,he year 1858 at niadjalengka, the Holy Communion.
. Rotterdam). . Sukabumi. Sumedang, .. 1'jiandjoor, .. Pangharepan, . Buitenzorg, —– —- ———- –~~— This year (1889) one Missionary more will Foreign Mission Batavia-Java. 3 6 200 4 224 $8,000 c f the Christian Surbaga, U be sent to Sumba.
Reformed Church Melolo and Cabernero, in the Netherlan<ls Sumba. (founded tn the ear 1860 at Leyen.) – – – – – – 125 Missions Church Salatiga-Java.. 6 8 500 5 $1,892 Only one missionary is sent by tbe Erme a t Ermeloo (found- 'Vonoredjo. ,. (during 1887.) 100 Mission; the other by the Neukinchan Mission. which are united on Java. under .. e d in the year Klampok, the name of h Salati;;a Mis8ion."
1856 at Ermeloo.) Kali<lJeret, ..
.. Tjem~h,
Un- Mergoredjo-Java. 3 16 491 5 200 I $8,479 The three old missionaries, thonlth
ion, for the propa- Pakanteu-Sumatra. (during 1887). directly on the mission field, are yet occugation of the gos- pied wi th working for the missionar~ cause; pel in the Dutch the first by translating the Bible lDto the colonies (founded Javanese language, the second by means of in the year 1847 at writmg, the third by preaching (Reise- Amsterdam). 1——— —– —— —- – – – – – '- – – -…- – $2,127 prediger.) Dutch Lutheran Pulo Tel;o. 2 This mission but just begun.
Society for Home Batuv Islands.
and Foreign Mis- sions (founded in the year 1882 at Amsterdam).
Java Comi te Batavia-Java. (2 on Java. 13 on Java. 115 3 ..t200 $11,911 Missionary I. Esser, of Bondawosso. is at 5 80, present in Holland for the translation (branch of the So- Bondowossa" 1 all Sum",-.J 011 Suma- 450 of the Bible (New 'l'estament) into the Maciety for Home Uta Rimbaru-Suma- tra). tl'a.) durese language. and Foreign Mis– tra.
sions at Batavia, Java) founded in the year 1856 at Amsterdam. —— —– Utrecht Mission Mansinam-N.Guinea. 8 total. 7 180 6 U38 $21,940 Union, founded in Andai, •• the year 1859 at Doreh, Utrecht. Rhoon, Duma, Almaheira. Soa, Konora, •• – – – – – – – – -Ka-w-ir-i. B-u-ru-. —- ——-, —– —– Rhenish Mission Bandjarmassin-Borneo 8 {on Borneo)i26 {on Bor- 1,120 {on Bor- 136 (on Su- $83,362.56 An auxiliary society tor the Rhenish Mis- Society, founded Kwala Kapuas, .. 15 (on Suma- neo). neo). matra). for year end- sian was founded at Amsterdam in the year in the year 1828 at llIandomal, tra). 220 (on Suma-12,702 (on Su- – – – 373 (all Bor- ing Easter 1869. Barm en (Ger- Pangkoh, 5 (on Nias), tra). matra). many). Telang, 9 (')n Nias). 616 (on Nias). neal. 1888. * We have valued thejlorin at 50 cents, Amer- 48 (on Nias). Tameanlajang, U ican money, in these jigures. The Dutch guild- , er is equivalent to 40 cents our money-EDS. Sipirok-Sumatra. Bungabonder, U Pangaloon, U Sigumpu]an.
Pantjarnapitu-Sum. Stations (Continued). Simorongkir, " Pearadja, Sipokalon, Sibtoga, Sum. Lobusircgar, Gunougsitoli-Nlas. Lagubati, Dahana.," Balije, Ombalata, I Sipahutar, Padang, I
ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. On the Sangi and Talauuer Islands are 6 As already mentioned in the a.bove Tables, several native churches, founded in stations and 6 missionaries (under pay of former times, are now under the care of European association preachers, not only in government) with about 20,000 native Christhe Minahassa (Celebes), but also on the other islands of the Dutch East Indian tians. One of these missionaries, Rev. Kel- Archipelago, as on Java, Timor, Amboina, Ternate, etc. Their number (i. e. of the ling, on the Sangi Islands, preaches at preachers) amounts to 26. Likewise there are a.bout 80 native teachers. All these are 21 different places (villages), while 15 schools paid by the Dutch Government. At Depok (Batavia) is a seminary or are entrusted to his care. trainiug school for native assistants of missionaries. Dnring the year 1888, 10 pupils, The Netherland Reformed Mission Union, being well taught and examined, have left this institution in order to begin their founded in the year 1860 at Amsterdam, has work among their fellow-countrymen. At Madjowarno (Surabaya) Missionary Kruyt 2 stations on Java, with 3 missionaries. has also founded a training-school with about 14 pupils. The number of native The number of native Christians is about Christians at D6pok is about 600 souls. The Netherland Bible Society. founded at 6,000 distrtibuted in 47 churches or lo- Amsterdam in the year 1814, has 122 branches in the Netherlands and also in the calities. Dutch East Indian Archipelago at Batavia, Depok, Samarang, Surabayo, Padang, Aug… For the evangelizatiou in Atjeh (North kola, l'Iakassar, Tondano, Bandjarmassin, and in the Dutch West Indian colonies Sumatra) a comita last year was founded (South America) at Paramaribo. With the aid of this society the Bible has at Zeist. Probably this year (1889) a misbeen translated into ten different languages of the Dutch East Indian Archipelago, viz.: sionary will be sent out to that country. the Dajak, the Javanese, the low Malay of Surabaya, the low Malay of Samarang, the The Union for the Propagation ofthe Gos- Sundanese, the Alfurese, the Batta (Toba), the Buginese and the Macassar languages. pel in Egypt was founded in 1886, at the Two new translations of the Bible have been made, namely, one into the Sun- Hague (Holland). Its missions-field is at Caldanese langnage by Rev. S. Coolsma at Bl1ndung (Java), and another into the Madurese iub, which is i:lhabited by Mohammedansand language by Rev. J. Esser at the Hague. During the last year 57,405 copies of the Hoptish Christians. According to the report, Bible, or parts of it, have been sold or distributed. The receipts of the society dur- 1887-'88, there are seven adherents and a school ing this year (1888) amounted to 53,267florins. Likewise the" Society for Home and For- with sixty pupils. The miSSionary working eign Missions" and the uUnionforspreading Christian literature,"both at Batavia (Java) there will be joinml by a European schoollargely contribute for the propagation of the gospel into the Dutch East Indian Arch- teacher, in May. Receipts, 5,052 florins. ipelago. Total receipts in Holland for the Prot. Mis- Mission of the Christian Reformed Church sion in the Dutch E. I. Archipelago, about $150,000; total native Christians, 240,000 among Israel, began in 1875. Report, August souls.-Two mis~ionaries of the Neth. Miss. Society had arrived on Java for the Missions 1, 1885-Julv 15, 1888: Missionary HORter held on Savoo and Soemba. The Java-Comit" intends to enlarge its mission-field, namely: meetings in several towns and villages that to found five stations more in East Java and Madura; also the Dutch Ref. Union were frequented by the Jews; at many intends to send as soon as possible missionaries to Tegal and Rembang and Madiun, places he visited Jewish families in their houses. Java.-To the mission on the Sanggi Islands, Rev. P. Helling departed Feb. 2. At present this missionary has been honorably discharged, and several members of the Board occasionally hold meetings. Many religiOUS writings or tracts were spread among the Jews.
Receipts, 5,7€2 florins. '
The Netherland Union, for the propagation of the gospel among the Jews, in connec- tion with the English Episcopal Church, began in 1£84, Leist (Holland). Report, 1887: The missionary has his mission-field at Amsterdam, and another at Rotterdam, who visited also sev- eral provinces of the Netherlands. The evan- gelization met with mnch opposition from the Jews; the iOlOrance of this people with regard to the Bible, was very breat. Notwithstanding this opposition, many of them accepted' and read the religious tracts, that were spread among them. Though the resnits of the preach- ing of the gospel are not clearly visible, the labors of the missionaries can be considered as pr<)paring the way for the children of Israel to receive their King. During the last year thirteen Jews asked religious teaching, and fonr of them were baptized. Receipts, 2,724 florins.
Dutch, East Ind.an Arch.pelago.-In the Bottom-lands (North Snmatra) the progress of Christianity is stated to be very hopeful. The missionaries of the Rhenish Missionary Society have their station near to the lake of Toba, at Lagubati, and Balige. In their efforts to spread the gospel into this eDnntry they receive much help of the native Christian churches, and of tbeir assistants. SociE)tyfor the Propagation ofthe Gospel 5, Druze 1. .. All Lhese, evening a.fter even- in Foreign Parts. ing, have heard the Word of God read and very simply and earnestlv explained, many EsTABLISHED 1701. Report of the year 1888. of them joining, with every appearance ~f THE SOCIETY'S INCOME FOR 1888. reverence in' Christian prayer." In this as ,in so many other cases the most interesting I. GENERAL FUND- £ 8. d. features of the work can be known only to Subscriptions, Dividends the workers themselves and to God. The supporters must be content to await the and Contributions…… . 105,910 1 1 open answers to their prayers and dona- Legacies ……………… . 8,552 11 5 tions, until there is more perfect liberty granted to searchers after truth. Reuts, Divideuds, etc ….• 3,222 2 6 Totalreceiptsgeneralfund 117,684 15 0 II. SPECIAL 1<'uNDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21',982 2 6 Total income …………. £]38,666 17 6 American Seaman's Friend Society. The sixty – first annual meeting was held in the In addition to the above, the society's chapel of the Sailor's Home, 190 Cherry street, . treasurers had received for invested funds, New York, on the afternoon of the 6th inst. held by the society as a corporation for The annual report shows that 27 chaplains or specific trusts by request, the sum of £1,- missionaries have endeavored to promote the 429 Os. 8d. spiritnal and temporrl welfare of seamen in ports extending around the world. During the In this sum of £105,610 Is. Id. are included year 501 loan libraries have been sent out, contwo gifts of securities, worth £25,296 and sistine: of 18,036 books, 7,524 being new, and £2,263 respectively. The former was U a supplying crews of 7,781 seamen. On U. S. thankoffering to almighty God for the ex- Naval vessels and in U. S. Hospitals, 993 libratension of the church in the colonies and ries, of 35,742 books, )lave been maintained dependencies of the British empire and be- within reach of 114,267 men. The heroic U. S. yond it." The latter w..s a memorial of one Life Saving Service has been remembered by 117 who had long been a munificent supporter libraries of 4,220 volumes. The Sailors' Home, of the society. on Cherry street, N. Y., accommodated 1,351 sailors during the twelve months, and took Oentral Ohina Missions of the Methodist good care of more than $10,000 deposited tem- Episcopal Ohurch. porarily with the lessee. Shipwrecked and destitute seamen were relieved by gifts amount- REPORT for 1888. See Statistics Page 314, ing to $653.70. The income of the year MISSIONARY REVIEW for April. amounted to $27,832.89, and the outgo to $34,- 971.05. One of the most important minor reports presented is that in regard to Land Tenure. It American Bible SOCiety. The sixty-first should be followed up in every mission of every annual meeting was held Thursday aftersociety. The necessity of owning and develop- noon at the Bible House. The annual reing real estate in connection with mi.sionary port shows that the total cash receipts for genwork makes it of the highest importance that eral purposes were $499,823.56. The disbnrsethe laws of Land Tenure should be well under- ments for general purposes amounted to $555,- stood. The Brother who makes the report 979.78, leaving a deficiency of $56,166.22, which seems to feel as if the time spent upon it was of was provided for j'l part by aloan and in part by little value. We would reply in the words of the sale of certain securities. The following the venerable Father Goodell of Constantinople were elected to the Board of Managers for four to one who made a similar complaint: "The years: John H. Earle, S. V. R. Cruger, Elbert disciples were serving the master just as much A. Brinkerhoff, James G. Levett, Charles H. wheu they went to get the ass as when they Trask, William Hoyt, Robert W. De Forest, J. preached at Pentecost." D. Kurtz Crook and T. G. Sellew_ The Philander Smith Memorial Hospital at The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Nanking reports in all 10,100 patients treated, a American Baptist Missionary Union began grand record of good work done. at Boston, May 15. The following statistics were given: Missionaries appointed dnr- The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society has ing the year, 30; missionaries sailed to the b~en very successful in its medical work among field, 31; missionaries retnrned, 9; total the Tartar women of Chiukiang and good re- appropriations for the year, $423,318; total sults are already evident. receipts, $415,144; balance against the treasury, $8,174. The Foreign Secretary's. Jaffa Medioal Mission and Hospital. report shows that in all the missions there are 279 missionaries,l,316 churches, 134,413 The annual report for 1888 shows expen- members-an increase of 17 missionaries, ditures of £1,209, $6,046. The number of out- 20 churches, and 7,205 members. In misdoor cases has heen 13,217; 138 on a single sions to the heathen are 62 stations and day. 511 patients have been received to 1,179 out-stations, the hospital; 307 men and 204 women and children. The various religIOns represented have been, Mo~lem 414. Greek 44, Je~ish 23, 11aronite 13, Protestant 10, Roman Catholic
~~ . r r
556 [JULY, PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN.
l"
VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY' "
BULLETIN.
What a stimulating Btudy follows the lower Rownma, three in Zanzibar and three footsteps of Jehovah through these forma- in the Portuguese interior. Besides there tiveyea.rsofmissionaryenterprise I Mighty are the East Africa. station. of the London obstacles removed; a missionary spirit de- and Scottish societies.-In~pendent.' veloped; over 200 general missionary societies and boards organized; woman's work ·-Rev. E. F. Baldwin, writing from Mogafor women inaugurated and already a phe- dor, Morocco, in April, says: The, work nomllnal success; many of the sons and goes on well, now. There is a. lull In persedaughte~s of ~he church in our educational cution: hence many meetings-five on Suninstitutions pledged to service In the foreign days, fonr on Wednesdays a.ud Sa.turdays, field; medical missions securing gratefulre- a.nd three on other days. We are trying to cognition; the .Bible printed in 300 tongues; make the most of our opportunities. On our a vernacular literature created, and schools last trip Mr. Nairn and I were reported for the lowest grade to the well-equipped killed, and the statemeut was believed by college and theological seminary estab- all except my family. True.wewere roughly lished. handled, but not a. bail' of our heads per- ished. Rosine Is back. and Abraham is on -The most effective reply to pessimists his way. They were separated by Abraham like Canon Taylor and Mr. Caine will be being in prison and put in irons nine days. found in the MISSIONARY REVIEW oJ!' TliE his outer clothes heing also stolen. For WORLD. and more especially in such a paper about six months they were away on a jouras Dr. Pierson's in the April number on ney. on the lines of Matt. x.; many believed. .. Further Testimonies to Missions." Itsets and many were baptized. The work grows forth an array of well attested facts, so in other ;>laces. We hope to devote the weighty that all the accusations and in- summer months to systematically training sinuations of professed friend. or open foe, in the Word the most promising converts. will be but a feather's weight in comparison. in order to their doing service as native No Pl'Stor who desires to keep his congrega- evangelists. Blessing has begun among the tion up to the mark In missionary fervor Jews. I have recently baptizcd three Jewa should fail to procure this hest of all the and lour Moslems. One of the Jew8 Is just missionary magazines.-OhriBtian Leader out of irons for his faith; one or two others (Scot/and). await baptism. The last steamer brought Mr. Sheehan. s. non-commissioned olHcer Africa.-The Missions ofthe German and from Gibraltar, to join us on Matt. x. lines. English societies cover a considerable part Thank God. there are six Matt. x. missionof the countries around the back of the ter- aries (men) here in actual work; one is Mr. ritories of the Sultan of Zanzibar, on the Martin and two natives. I am just olf …. east coast of Africa. The Nenkirchen So- another trip, going first to Cass. Blanca. ciety has had since 1887 a station at Ngao wearing Moorish clothes. which we all (men) on theTana. in the Suabalicountry with two now wear, finding it much better tor the missionaries; a third missionary died short- work, and more comfortable every way. lyafter his arrival. On the other side of Blessing and trial continue intermingled. I the Tana is the station Soldanti. of the hope in tbe coast towns to visit and os- United Jllethodist Free Churches, who also tablish several ~roups of believers who have two stations, Joursee and Ribe, in the have never seen the face of a foreign mis- Mombasa. district. The Evangelical Lu- sionary. therau Missionary Society for East Africa of Jla,varia. has stations at Jimba and at -The Romish Church is pushing for the Mbungu among the Wakamba, six hours in- open regions of the upper Congo. Two Porland, with three missionaries; a fourth mis- tuguese steamers recently carried from sionary died at his home, whither he had twenty to thirty Jesuit priests and nuns to retUrned for his health. One bour from labor in Africa for the propagation of their Jimho is the station at Kisulutini, or Rabai, faith. foun!ied by Krapf and Rebmann in 1876, which with Mombasa, Freretown and Kam- -Rev. George Grenfell, Ia.tely returned likene. torms the Mombasa district of the from the Congo, reports .. Cbristianity English Church Missionary Society. The spreading even where missionaries had not Evangelical Missionary Society for German labored. As he approached one town in East Africa. has a station at Dar-es-Salaam, which no Baptist missiona.ry had ever lawith one projected in Kisserawa, on which bored. he saw a band of native eva.ngelists are two European missionaries, one Abys- coming out of it to preach the gospel to sinian teacher and a deacon. The English their native brethren, and that town. a few Universities Mission has five stations In years a.go, wa.s sunk in hea.thenism." Usambara, oPpol'ite the island of Pemba, four farther south, in the !iistrict of the -Inspector Harms, in his tour among the Rerma.nnsburg missions in South Africa. last year, also visited the Norwegian mis-
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY
sion at Umpupulo, Natal. The stationed celve all who apply; 70 applicants have "missioo!lory had seven 'preaching places, a.t been declined. A Training Cla.ss from the which his helpers preached, ha.ving heen school visits female patients in the Hospispecially prepared for the service on the tal, There are six native teachers at work. Saturday. .. This is a matter of which we do not take thought enough," the Inspector -The Baptist Mission in the' Sbantung remarks; .. yet the Norwegians are lacking Province, have, in the districtofTsing-cheu in emcient evangelists, while we are much Fo, 55 chUrches, all self-supporting, minisbetter provided through our Seminary at tered to by five native pastors maintaining Ehlanzeni, with its 16 pupils." themselves and not drawing any of their support from the society. Belglum.-The Missionary Church of Belgium (EvangelicalSociety) reports a rich -Tho Chinese Inland Mission has been enspiritual growth within the past year. A abled to send $20,000 for the reliet of the letter from Pastor Brocher says that this sufferers from the famino in China. missionary church is composed largely of -The ratio of the gain in converts In all the poor miners who have come out from Ro- Protestant missions In China during the manism. There are 22 ordained minIsters, decade is about 140 percent. ; and In Japan four evaugelists, eight Bible readers, and It is over 300 per cent. four colporteurs, but a large portion of the work Is rendered by the workingmen who, Central Amerlca.-In the latter from the mining and manufacturing dis- part oflast year tbe Prt'sbyterian Bo~rd of tricts, return to the village. There are now Foreign Missions made a liberal appropria- 27 churches, with sixty-one preaching sta- tion of funds to help the mission in Guatetions and 84 other localities where ihe gos- mala, Central America. in purcha.sing proppel has been preached occasionally, besides erty and huildlng for mission purposes in 000 placas visited by colpoteurs. Nearly the city of Guatamala. Ground was imme- 8,000 religious services have been held dur- diately bought and building begun, and ing the year, with a regular attendance of now a house is almost completed and a from four to five thousand hearers. Of the church well under way. 00 Sunday-schools 18 are called .. Missionary Sunday-schools "; that is, composed -City of Mexico, May S.-News has heen reexclusively of children of Roman Catholic ceived here of a discovery of great archfamiliee. This certainly is a cheering re- reological importance in the State of Chia.· port, and the appeal for financial aid which pas, near the ruins of Palanque, being no- Is made by this Missionary Church of Bel- thing less than a large city hidden in the gium should have a generous respoDse. depths of the forests. Some buildings are five stories high and in a good state of pres- Chlna.-In Canton, with its 1,500,000 in- ervation. There is a well-paved road sevhabitsnts, are fifteen Christian chapels, wbere eral miles in length still perceivable in the missionaries and the native ministers preacb midst of a tropical fOl"est. Very few partie. the gospel, not on Sunday only, but daily, and ulars bave reached kere, but the report from two to four honrs each day, to audiences comes from good sources. Palanque is said varying from fifty to several bundred. After to be S, mere village in comparison with tbls the sermon, Chinese Evangelists continue the lost city of prehistoric times. services. Free conversations and discussions tollow; rooms are at band for private confer- Egypt.-Miss Whately's work in Cairo. ences, and Cbristian books and tracts are kept The schools and mission established in in readiness, and disposed olin large numbers. Cario by the late Miss M. L. Whately will The preaching halls are tbronged during the hot- be carried on by her sister, Miss E. Jane test montbs–July. August and September-and Whately, who is well known as the biografrom noon till tbree o'clock-tbe hottest part of pher of. her father, the late Arcbbishop the day. Tens of tbousands of visitors to the Whately, and as a frequent contributor "to city bave beard tbe gospel in tbese cbapels and various periodicals. She will have the valhalls, and have carried It hundreds of miles uabie aid of Mrs. Shakoor, the widow of a. into the interior. The missionary encounters Syrian gentleman. who voluntarily assisted tbese in the most remote places on bis inland Miss Mary Whately in her work until his tours, and sometimes listens with surprise death some years ago. Mrs. Shakoor had while tbey repeat the substance nfthedlscourse for many years been tbe devoted friend and which tbey have beard. The dialect used by companion of the late Miss Whately. most of the miSSionaries, in preacbing, 1s the Punti, or pure Cantonese. by wbicb tbey have England.-English Presbyterians now access to twenty millions of people. number 64,000. according to reports submit- ted to the annual meeting of synod held in -Letters just received from Dr. Happer at Regent Square Church at the beginning of May. This shows a gain of 1,500 communi- Canton, speak of the encouraging Increase cants for 287 congregations in the past year' of students In the Anglo-Chinese College. -a small total and a small average. We The number at the beginning of May was had hoped for better things after the meettrT. The Girls' Boarding School cannot reo ing of the Presbyterian Alliance in London last year. -Dr. Dale, ofEnglan4, thinks that India is to be Christia.nized by her own sons, and cumbent of the Established Church, in the therefore he believes in sending out edu- enjoyment of a remarkably good living, with cated Christian men, capable of training a very small charge, who dwells at ease in Indian converts for the work of teaching England during its pleasant snmmer, and the gospel. There can be no question that enjoys himself in Southern lands during its the native element in missionary work has winter, and who does not even subscribe not been utilized as it should be, not in the con ventional guinea a year to the C.M.S., India only, bnt in other regions, as not- is hardly the man to·hold up a. high standably in Armenia. ard to his fellows I"
-The Wesleyan Missionary Society, with France.-Interference With Missions.- headquarters in London, has missions At a missionary breakfast at Birmingham established in Europe, India, China, West recently, at which Rev. J. Jones, who was Africa, the Transvaal, British Honduras expelled from the Island of Maro, iu the and the Bahamas. It reports ::36 central South Seas, was present, Dr. Dale uttered a stations or circuits and 1,338 chapels and timely protest agaiust what has the appear_ preaching-places. It has a staff of 833 mis- ance of French vindictiveness against Britsionaries and assistants, with 2,000 other ish missions in heathen J~nds. .. It is all paid acents, such as c",tcchists, interpre- the same," said Dr. Dale, .. whether the Emters, etc. It enumerates::;,::::J unpaid agents, pire, the Monarchy, or the Republic obtain such as local preo.chers and 3abbath-school iu Frauce, her officials, goaded on by priests. teachers, and a el:urch membership of 32,- repress Protestantism, wherever possible." 325, with 4,674 persons on trial for admission And he added: "When M. Paul Bert. the to the· church. The method pursued by the bitter opponent of Cleric",lism at home, society is to send to the field English mis- went as Governor of Tonquin, he remarked sionaries for the purpose of organization that their free thinking aud liberty of conand supervision or to gIve instruction in science views were not for exportation. training institntions. All subordinate po- In Tahiti and several other South Sea sitions are occupied by a trained native Islauds, in Madagascar, and wherever our agency, While it is understood that every missionarie~ have been signally successfuh convert, according to his ability, should be the French have. if opportunity offered, a voluntary worker for Christ. The total tried to damage them." income for the past year was nearly £132.- 000. The report for the year expresses -The Paris Missionary Society has a wongreat discouragement because of a debt of derful missionary work in South Africa. In almost £17,000 which has been accumulat- connection with its mission amoug the ing for the past three years. In addition to Basutos it has 176 native workers and 6,000 the above is the work done by the Ladies' church-members. The Zambesi Mission, of Auxiliary connected with the society. and which M. Coillard is in charge, is an offreporting an income for the year of almost spring of the Basuto Mission. The society £8,000. also has missions on the Congo, in Senegam- bia, and in Kabylia. -Rev. James Johnston, F. S. S., in a recent letter to us, speaks of the attacks which India.-Rev. J. E. Scott writes from have been made by Canon . Taylor and Muttra: others on the missionary societies of Great Britain, and says: .. These recent attacks .. There are 90,000 people just around me, on our missions in this country are encaur· and more than 700,000 iu the district. The aqing ! ! They are made by men whose sound of the hammer and trowel has comtrade is sensation and can only gain it by menced. A mission house half finished, a attacking what is great and popular. Not training-school (Woman's Foreign Missionone society has suffered. The Church Mis_ ary Society) just commenced, a schoolsionary Society never had such an income house and a hall and chapel in prospect. as this year. The London Mission Society The fincst temple in North India is here. A have in a few weeks made up their chronic temple covering 10 acres and costing $2,000.- deficit of £15,000; and the number of new 000 is here. 'l'here are 8,000 widows, all bad, schemes started by independent societies is at Brindabon, in the vicinity. They are the another sig.. of life. though it takes erratic so-called' Brides of Krishna.· .. forms and tends to weaken old societies."- The Missionary. -From Dr. Fry's report of the Travancore Medical Mission for the past year, we learn -Canon Isaac Taylor's attack on the mis- that at Neyoor. and in the eight branch dissions is the subject of a brief but powerful pensaries now opened throughout the provarticle in the January issue of Regions Be- ince, 27,657 patients were treated during yond, by Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness. Agree- 1888. Of these 1,255 were received into the ing with the Canon that" the work would Neyoor Hospital as in-door patients… The be better doue if the missionaries were year 1888," writes Dr. Fry, .. is one of faultless, unselfish. devoted, heroic saints," special interest, as being the jubilee year Mrs. Guinness tersely says: .. But au iu- of the South Travancore Medical Mission. Fifty years have' now gone by since Dr. Ramsay, the first medical missiona.ry, began his work in Nagercoil. Drs. Leitch, whole Waldensian church of Italy, of which Lowe and Thomson have successively sus- the present statistics are 42 churches, 38 tained the burden and increased the influ- preachini' stations, 124 pastors and other ence of the enterprise, and it is gi ven us to workers, is the outcome of that return of .. reap where others have sown, and to wit- few hundred, Who were all that were left of ness in the present developments of this the 3,000 to 4,000 that had been expelled by branch of service the results of half a cen- Victor Amadeus II. of Savoy. Without that tury of faithful toil. We have every reason return the Waldensian Church would have to bless God and go forward in firm depend- been wiped outof existe'lce in Italy. In the ence on His power who has so markedly minds and hearts of this people it is the most supported His servants in past days."-Ed- glorious event in their eventful history {nburgh Medical Missionary So~iety. which they are this year celebrating. Dr. Emil Comba, probably their best known -Arcot American Mission. At Katpadi a itterateur, compares it with the return of new chapel wasopcned January 10, on which the ten thousand Greeks, and draws special occasion twelve children and two adults attention to the fact thltt the skill of were baptized. The mission was established leadership had called forth the warm adat Katpadi 1.1 Rev. W. W. Scudder, D.D., miration of Napoleon Bonaparte.-The ["'- who occupied the station for five years and dependent. baptized fifty person~. At the close of his pastorate there were fifteen commnnicauts. -Count Campello, who was a canon in the There are now 164 communicants and a con- Church of Rome tiil1881, when he placed his gregation of 485 Teluga and Tamil ChriA- resignation in the hands of Pope Leo XIII., tians. A native minister, the Rev. A. Wil- has lately been addressing immense meetliams, is assisted by two deacons and two ings in various parts of Italv. He does not elders. call himself a Protestant, but a Catholic Reformer. His latest meetings were at -In the Northwest of India and of Qude San Remo, where, a correspondent of the missionary physiciaus are coming promi- Christian says, .. the Italians turned out in neutly into nutlce. Nearly 75,000 cases were thousands to hear liim. He told them plainly treated at eleveu dispensaries, and 11,000 that he left the Vatican because he was women sought relief at Mrs. Wilson's dispen- wearied of hypocrisy and of slavery. He sary at Agra; 18,850 women and children were left itobecause he wished to profess himself treated at the Thomas Dispensary at Agra. a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. He The women doctors in charge. successfully called upon the Italians to drive the papacy performed some very important surgical from their consciences aud minds, and operations. hearts, and homes, and, if one day an oppor- tunitv came to do so, out of their country. -The Moslems of Delhi have opened a And then, in most earnest and impressive seminary in which preachers are taught all words, he urged them to put Christ in the the objections of Western infidels against place of the pope, and the gospel in place of Christianity that they may go forth to op- the Syllabus. In all he -said he was suppose the Christian preachers in town and ported by the applause of his audience. count.rv. Even when preaching Christ there was not raised one cry of opposition. The local press -The Waldensians are eagerly preparing is strongly supporting Count Campello and for the celebration of the second centennial his movement, and some of the young Italof the" glorious return" of 16~9, when after ians waited upon him before he left the Umuntold sufferings aud banishment from the bria to beg his return." historic valleys as one of the results of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, they, Japan.-Opposition to the proposed unwith sword in hand, and led by their war- ion between the united church of Japan, like pastors, Janavel and Arnaud, forced which is composed of all Presbyterian bodtheir way back to their ancestral homes. ies in that empire, aud the Congregational- The contest was against fearful odds. On ist missionaries, comes from a new quarter. the mountain fltstness of Lit BalsiJIe, Where, Theaid of the Southern Presbyterian church of the 900 Waldensians that returned, about has been invoked to hinder consummation 400 held at bay more than twenty thousand of the union. The Presbytery of Greenbier, Savoyan soldiers, a school is being erected. in the Western part of Virginia, has OVer- In Sibltourd, where, when surrounded on all tured the General Assembly of that church Sides by the hosts of the enemy, the Walden- to take measures to protect the infant sian Christians took a solemn oath either to churches formed by its missionaries from conquer or to die, a pyramid bnilt of blocks the dangers which it believes to be involved of stone is being erected, the number of in this union. These dangers the Presbytery blocks corresponding to the number of Wal- declares to be both doctrinal and ecclesiasdensian congregations existing at present. tical-that is, a danger that fundamental At Torre Pellice, the centel' of the literary truths of the Christian faith may be ignored, and educational work of this people, a new and a danger that principles of church order theological hall is to be dedicated. All these memorials are now abo;]t completed. The which are manifestly scriptural may be moa of the invasion of that troubled king- dom by a band of Mormon missionaries. Six abandoned. ' of them have appeared and six more are on the way from Utah, and they say they are -The number ofconverts in the Japan Mis- going to carryon a vigorous campaign in every viJIage in the group. They appear to sion of the American Board has increased have plenty of financial support., The na- tives receive them coldly, but they have in fifteen months from 4.226 to 7,098, a gain made an impression on European traders.
of 2,867. This is the most remarkable record Thlbet.-Thibet is the only known coun_ tryon earth not open to missions. It has an in any mission connected with the board, area of 750,000 square miles, about as large as the United States East of the MiSSisSippi with the exception of tbe great gathering River. The greatest length from East to West is 1,500 miles, and the population is esin the Sandwich Islands. timated at 8,000,000. It is the stronghold of Buddhism. Lhassa, the capital, is the -At the service in the Doshisha church, .. Rome" of the Buddhists, and the Dalai Lama is the Buddhist pope. He is supreme Kobe, Japan, March 24, there were 100 of in both temporal and spiritual things. One monastery has about 5,000 Buddhist priests, the pupils who united with the church. Five and there are about 60,000 in the country. Thibet is virgin soil for missions. The counwere from the girls' school, 62 from the pre- try is tributary to China.-Illmtrated Chris- tion Weekly. paratory department, 20 from the first year -Mr. and Mrs. Turner, of the China Inland collegiate, and 16 from the second and third Mission, have begun work in Thibet from the Chinese side. They travel in Chinese clothes. years. This fact is a most important one. Thibft is inaccessible to Christian missionaries -The Japan" Mail," of Yokohama, in a from the Indian side, the natives supposing that the British Government have designs series of ILrticles on thc rising generation in to annex the country whenever a missionary in European costume enters their State Japan, says that the young reformers agree from the South. If the China Inland Mission .. keeps low, keeps believing and keeps going that there must be a new moral system for forward," it has a still mightier future be- fore it than in the past. The society that Japan, and that it must harmonize with the opens up Thibet to the gospel deserves the hearty thanks of the whole Christian church spirit and aim of modern ciyilizatior: ; but throughont the world.
they are divided on the question whether it United States.-Dr. Talmage, ofBrook- lyn,says: "The church, if it would do its shall be the Christian system of moraJity or duty, could convert the world in ten years. Ithas the men and money." On which The Inthat which is based on science and philoso- dependent makes this cutting and deserved criticism: "Perhaps so, but it must turn phy. The MaU goes on to say: over a new leaf of generosity very soon if it is going to undertake so great and speedy a "That in recent years a wonderful change task. The Brooklyn Tabernacle last year, with 4.126 members reported, gave $151 to has taken place in our attitude toward home missions and $138 to foreil:'n missions."
Christianity is now a well-known fact, and -Romanism. Father O'Connor, the con. verted priest, is said to have led 800 Romanneed not be dwelt upon here. Only, how- ists into light in five years in New York City ever. within the last two or three years, or, -Gift to United Presbyterian Board. An- other l,OOOcopies of the" Crisis of Missions" in other words, since the awakening of the has been given to the United Presbyterian Board, the author and publishers uniting rising generation, has the new creed become with Rev. J. B. Dales, D. D., in the gift.
a vital element of the nation's civilized life. -Woman's work. The Woman'& Execu- Its inlluence is now felt through the rising tive Committee of Home Missions ot the generation, not only by reason of the fast Presbyterian church announces that its re- ceipts for the year just closed amount to increasing number of young converts, but S320,OOO, an advance over last year of $94,000. Well done. also, and perhaps to a greater extent, by means of the creation of a powerful litera- ture thoroughly imbued with Christian spirit."
-"The Twelfth Report of the Council of Missions co-operating with the united church of Christ In Japan," publislled at Tokio, January, 1889, says: .. The united church of Christ iu Japan has enjoyed a year of constant growth. There has been no excitement and no extraordinary efforts have been put forth." Yet it says in no previous year have 'the additions been 80 many. The adult members of the church number 7,551. The" infant members" num- ber 1,139, the total being 8,690, an increase of 1,831 during the vear. The churches num- ber 61, three having been added during the year. This church was formed in 1877 by the union of eight churches and 623 Christiaus, including the children. In the pa.st three years the church has doubled its member- ship, and in eleven years has progressed from 600 to 9,000. A like progress for the remaining twelve years of the century will make the membership in the year 1,900, the nuinber of John's vision, 144,000.
Samoa.-Monnon InvaSIon. The Lon- don Missionary Society has news from Sa-
The Missionary Review of the World — March 1889
THE CITY AS A FACTOR IN THE WORLD'S EVANGELIZATION
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD~ VOL. XI. No. a.-Old Series.–MAROH.–._VOL. II. No. a.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE CITY AS A FACTOR IN THE WORLD'S EVANGELIZATION.
I "WHAT a fermenting vat lies simmering and hid in the great city."-CARLYLE. [SOME two or three years since we wrote and pnblished an article in The Hl>miletic Review entitled, •• The Enormous· Growth of our Cities, and the Duty of the Church in Relation to It." The paper attracted no little notice at the time, and we have been repeatedly asked to reproduce and give it a wider circulation. While w1itten for a uitrerent specific purpose, the following article will embody many of the facts, statements, and considerations given in the paper referred to. We freely quote our own language, where it subserves the end we have in view in the present contrihution. The facts here stated have been carefully scrutinized, and the statistics, wherever obtainahle, brought down to a late date. Our object now 1S not to suggest or discuss the best methods of city evangelization-we have not space to do justice to that burning question-but simply to show, from their rapid growth, and the character and outcome of that growth, the aboslute ·necessity of evan- gelizing OUr cit:es if we would save the nation and,evangelize theworld.-J. M. S.] [EDITORIAL.-J. M. s.] THE history of great cities is, substantially, the history of man. Not only have they played a conspicuous part in the political affairs of nations, but they have originated and determined the social and intel- lectual, the moral and spiritual conditions and destiny of the various peoples and communities that have dwelt upon the earth and made its history. Blot out the record of a dozen ancient cities and but little will remain of man's history prior to the coming of Ohrist. Babylon and Nin!lveh ruled the largest empires of antiquity. The cities of the Nile gave to the Pharaohs for many centuries vast dominion and power. Jerusalem was long the glorious life, and finally the over- throw and ruin of God's chosen people. Rome imperiaZ long -dic- tated laws to the world and subjectcd it to its iron scepter, while Rome spiritual, for more than twelve centuries, has perverted the faith and ruled the consciences of a large part of the Ohristian world. While Athens swayed a majestic power in the realm of the intellect and of the civilizing forces of humanity.
Ooming down to later times we find that Paris was France under the Empire, and is substantially so under the Republic; while uuder both, as the goddess of Fashion and the genesis of the French novel and the French play, Paris is fast corrupting the morals of Germany and England, and spreading her infection on this side the sea. London to-day dominates Great Britain and Oceanica and the commercial world, and rules 200,000,000 souls in India, while New York has long corrupted ~nd cursed, politically and mQrally, the Empire State, And Ohicago and Oincinnltti and other cities of our land are fast becoming centers of tremendous forces and agencies of evil, which the patriot and the Christian cannot contemplate with complacency. The opening of the next century 1"Hl find New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, San Francisco and New Orleans, the dominant force in the government, and in the moral, social, and religious life of from ninety to one hundred millions of souls spread over this vast national domain, speaking, for the most part, one language, and living under one system of laws. .
What is to be the character and influence of these cities thus des- tined to overshadow and sha.pe our political, social, and religious development as a nation in the near future is, therefore, a vital ques-.
tion. The problem,confessedly, is one of tremendous proportions, and the solution of it is proportionately difficult and momentous. It is a problem which presses more and more every day upon the atten- tion of the thoughtful patriot, the Christian, and the social and political economist. We must grapple with it in dead earnest, and solve it in the interest of law and order and sobriety and good morals and Chris- tianity, or it will solve itself in the overthrow of our institutions and the reign of lust, communism, and anarchy in their worst forms. We sound no trnmpet of the vain alarmist. But we cannot shut our eyes to facts which are patent to observation-to a state of society already existing in our chief cities and towns, and daily growing worse and spreading throughout the country, and permeating society every- where, which, unless checked and remedied, must at no distant day imperil, if not actually subvert, state and church alike.
I. The first matter for consideration is the enormous growth of our cities, and the character of this growth.
1. There is a marked tendency in our day to gravitate toward great centers of life-to mass in cities and large towns-and this ten- dency becomes more and mor.e general and intensified every year.
The census of th~ last few decades shows that onr cities are growing with unprecedented rapidity in population, as well as in wealth and luxury, and consequently in power and influence on the body politic- growing so rapidly, indeed, as to essentially change the elements, condi- tions, and relations of the social problem. This marvelous increase of city life and wealth and power is at the cost of the rural popula- tion, wealth and influence. Notwithstanding the importation of so many foreigners into our manufacturing towns and districts, the growth of the city population is much faster than that of the country districts.
In fifty years the ratio of city growth has advanced from 4 1-2 per cent. to 22 1-2 per cent. The next census (1890) will show that one- fourth of our entire popUlation is massed in our cities! So great is the drain to the city that very many of the country districts of New England, of central and western New York, and of other of the older States are actually decreasing in population and thrift and wealth, and the school-house and church, once their glory and strength, are dying out!
We need not stop to point out the meaning and outcome of this startling fact. The enterprise, tIle sinews, the hope of the rural poplation, are fleeing to the city. What the city gains .the countrJ loses! What might prove the glory and salvation of country life may prove the shame and evil of city life! From 1790 to 1880 our entire population increased but 13 times, while the city population increased 86 times! In 1800 we had but 6 cities, with a population above 8,000; in 1880 we had 286! The census of 1890 will make this showing still more significant. Such phenomenal growth and· preponderance of city population constitutes one of the most serious portents of modern times. Weare not prepared to forecast its final effect on our. national life, l)olitical, social, or religious. But its influence, whatever be its character, will be tremendous, if not irresistible.
2. Another fact of momentous importance. The condition of our large and rapidly expanding-cities has unquestionably changed decidedly for the worse during the present generation. The growth has not been a healthy growth, whether viewed politically, morally, or religiously; whether estimated in its influence on country life, on business integrity, on political and commercial morals, on the spiritual life of the church and the welfare of the government, or in its bearings on class relations, on social economics, and on the uplifting and purification of society in general. There has been a marked and alarming deterioration. There is no denying this fact-the evidence is too overwelming. Weare confronted to-day with gigantic and rapidly augmenting evils, economic, social, political and moral, caused mainly by the massing of such multitudes in afew great centers, which attract the worst elements of society, as well as the better-centers where all restraints are thrown off, and vice and crime and lawlessness run riot, and corruption and an manner of wickedness take on huge proportions, and endanger the peace and welfare of the people at large, and ultimately the permanence of our free institutions.
The depravities of our great cities increase in the ratio of their growth jn population. Of one thing we may be sure, the cities, owing to !l;dvantages of centralization and organization and countless wealth, will ultimately triumph over the rural regions. It has been so always in the history of the world. And history repeats itself to~ day along this line, and will repeat itself with greater emphasis in the future. It is evident, then, that the decisive battles between Christianity and infidelity and agnosticism; between true liberty and licentiousness; between law and order and virtue, ~nd the hostile alien forces which are waxing so strong and defiant among us, are to be fought out in a. dozen centers of our widespread republic. Tacitus long since described Rome as the coZluvies g'entiu7rlr'-the sink of nations-and his history, and that of Gibbon, justify the designa- tion. Our chief cities are fast becoming the sinks and slums of the Old World depravities, added to those which have their source in .our own soil. Hither they flow in a broad, ceaseless, putrid stream- a menance to our institutions, a curse to society, a disturbing and cor- rupting element in the body politic. "A little less than a third of the entire population of the United States is foreign by birth or parentage, and yet 62 per cent. of the population of Oincinnati are foreign, 63 per cent. of Boston, 83 per cent. of Cleveland, 88 per cent. of New York, and 91 per cent. of Ohicago! * This fact alone is enough to startle us out of our fancied security and excite the gravest apprehension for the future. The danger is not so much in their numerical strength as in their social· ideas and political affinities and hostility to religion and the church and the old order of things. They come here largely, not for liberty, but for license. They are as a class ignorant, degraded, hos- tile and dangerous.
Romanism has its centers of organization and strength in our cities, where there is such a; vast foreign element, largely in sympathy with it, and offering favorable conditions for ·propagandism. Here it con- centrates its strength, plants its institutions, organizes its forces, sways political influence, fills its coffers from the city treasury, t and openly fights and secretly intrigues for the overthrow of our public schools and for ultimate ascendency. Beyond a question, Romanism is a menance to our free schools, to a free Bible, and to an enlightened, patriotic, catholic Ohristianity. And yet Romanism is rampant in New York and other cities of our land. Moretlmn half of the teach- ers in our public schools are Roman OatholIcs. Our municipal offices are largely in their hands. The Romish Ohurch is growing rich on the favoritism of politicians and legislators. Its influence is courted ob- sequiously by office-seekers.
Already the large foreign element concentrated in our chief cities is making its power and pernicious influence tremendously felt in our social condition, in our politics, in municipal, state, and national legis- lation, and in public sentiment, which is st~onger than law. Many of * .. Our Country," page 129.
.. The Compendium of the Tenth Census gives the number of persons foreign-born in each of the fifty principal cities, but does not give the native-born population of foreign parentage. We are enabled to compute it, however, by knowing that the total number of foreigners and their children of the first generation is, accordin~ to the census, 2.24 times larger than the total number of foreign- born. "-Ibid.
t The Independent gives a chapter of what it calls" Sectarian appropriations," which have been made dnring the current year in the city of New York. The total amount appropriated during the year to the charitable and benevolent institutions of the city is $1,142,232.61. The non-sectarian, private and public, institutions receive $510,092.88. The surprising thing is that sectarian institu- tions receive a larger sum than the non-sectarian, to wit, $632,130.23. The Hebrew Benevolent Society receives $60,000 annually. Several institutions of thc Episcopal church receive altogether $81,814.68. The Roman Catholic Ohurch receives for its institutions the large sum of $540,- – a~.60. our city governments are controlled by this elemcnt, and when it gets the ascendency the people are cursed by the most corrupt rule ever inflicted upon a Christian people. This is the Force that is at war with om.: American Sabbath, and with all our American ideas and habits in relation to social economics. It is an un-American, socialistic, atheistic, dynamite force that is fast intrenching itself in the chief centers of our commercial, social and political life. Its manifest purpose is to revolutionize the entire order of things, in the interest of what is called labor, socialism, communism, the rights of the masses; and it will do it, if suffered, even though it drenches the nation in blood, and plunges it into a state of absolute anarchism.
The city is also the chief seat of the saloon or liquor power. Here it has rapidly grown into a formidable power, antagonistic to every interest of the individual and of the public. Here it is intrenched, and corrupts and ruins, and crowds our prisons and jails and asylums with its victims, sets laws at defiance, and outrages decency and public sentiment. Such a gigantic iniquity-satanic in character, satanic in its :work and designs-never before in the sunlight of heaven so afflicted and cursed a Christian community. It decoys and pollutes our young men. It controls the ballot-box. It corrupts our legisla~ tures, and dictates to our political parties. It spends money freely to gain its ends. It has of late growu arrogant and defiant. In our reccnt election it dictated the nomination, and carried the election of the Governor of the Empire State, the friend and abettor of their interest and schemes! And they will rule him and use him, and he dare not say nay to his masters. There is not at the present time an element or force in American politics and American social life so powerful for evil, so actively at work to corrupt and destroy all that is good, as the liquor power, the saloon element, which our cities foster. And it will yet throttle the city and the nation, if not checked and put down. The more than 200,000 saloonists who flank our thronged streets and avenues are mostly foreigners, multitudes of them are ex-convicts, and their dens a,re so many centers and sources of political corruption, as well as of social ruin and crime in every form.
3. The most alarming fact of all, in our judgment, is, that this appalling state of things is largely the product of our boasted modern civilization! If it were caused by accident, or by agencies and forces which are artificial and transient, there would be infinitely less to fear from it, and we might reasonably hope that society. would in time right itself and pass the crisis without serious permanent damage. But, alas I we can indulge in no such pleasing dream. The causes which have produced the several great evils and imminent dangers which to-day threaten the United States, and more or less threaten every other civilized nation on earth, are radical in character, every one of them. They enter into the very structure of modern life. They are born of new ideas, new forces, new agents, new developments, in nature, in social economics, and in the laws which govern humanity and organized society. The wonderful growth of our cities in population, largely by immigration; the rapid increase of wealth and its concomitant evils; the corruption of morals and the decadence of religion; the formation and grasping greed of odious and oppressive monopolies; the rage for mammon, and the reign of lust and pride and sensuality; the rise of socialism and anarchism, a,nd the assertion of power on the part of the laboring class; the strange contrast of overgrown wealth and extreme poverty in city life, and the discontent and muttering tempest we hear-are but the natural outcome of the new elements which permeate and rule our nineteenth-century civHization. Such gigantic and deep-seated evils are not easily checked, much less eradicated. "Seven devils" possess the city, and nothing short of Almighty power, in response to much fasting and prayer, will be able to cast them out. If we are ever to find and apply an adequate remedy for these formidable evHs, we must dig down deep into the subject, and meet the new condition of things in the only way that will afford relief, namely, by an enlightened apprehension and appreciation of the natural and social causes anu conditions which are at work in our day antagonistic to our p~os perity; and then work along the great lines of Providence and Christianity, to restrain and uproot by methods and forces adapted to the changed state of things which exist. The old ideas and modes and appliances will not meet the case! The old easy-going and half-earnm;t policy of the church, and of organized governments, will end in awful disaster, if adhered to. The church certainly can no longer afford to slumber. The danger is immine:p.t. The enemy is at hand, strong and defiant. A single decade will be likely to decide for us whether Romanism, rum and corruption, and anarchy and agnosticism and a gross materialism, shall rule this great nation; or whether the church of God, Christian morality, and a purified and Christianized civilization shall predominate in it.
II. The facts already cited in regard to the growth of our city population, and the character of that growth, raise the question whether the church of Christ is alive to the duty which such a condition imposes, and whether the policy and the methods which have ruled past efforts to advance Christ's kingdom in the world have been wisely adapted and vigorously prosecuted? It seems to us that we have made a terrible mistake. We have not estimated on the one hand the appalling evils incident to the city, and on the other hand the mighty lever it puts into our hands to uplift the world. We have not bent our energies to evangelize this mass of humanity brought to our doors from all quariers of the world, nor concentrated our efforts to Christianize it and enlist it in the work of the world's evangelization. We think we hazard nothing in saying that our cities have been, fC1r the most part, left to take care of themselves, and that our present policy and methods are a sad and conspicuous failure in both particulars.
And our condition is waxing worse and worse every year, and on a gigantic scale of proportious. The church is fast losing ground rela- tively, as to population, and actually, as to its hold on the masses, and its restraining and evangelizing influence on the whole community. Under the very shadow of our costly and stately churches, and in spite of the ten millions of money given yearly to foreign and home missions, and to the various works of charity and benevolence among us, there are to-day millions of souls as ignorant, as degraded, as godless, as abandoned to iniquity, as any community in heathendom! 'rhe gospel exerts no more influence on them, or over them, except it be to excite their hatred and contempt, than if they lived in Africa! The church, with all her institutions, and machinery and appliances, does not so much as touch the hem of their garments; nay, they are bitterly hostile to it, and to its teachings. The ministry they denounce, the Sabbath they scout, the laws and the restraints of virtuous society they set at naught, and a feeling is growing up among them not only adverse to Ohristianity and the church and Ohristian society, but absolutely destructive to them. Many will question the truth of such sweeping statements, and cry out against them as exag- gerations. But it will be only those who have not been, or who will not be, at the pains of studying the problem in the light of existing facts and tendencies.
Take an illustration or two, which is better for purposes of argument than general statement. We select the city of Brooklyn, where the writer happens to reside, once designated" The Oity of Ohurches,"
and doubtless above the average of city population in point of intelli- gence and social standing. 'rhe popUlation of Brooklyn in half a century has advanced from a few thousand to full 800,000. But sta- tistics prove that the church, instead of keeping pace with the incont- ing population, has fallen so far behind that its relative strength to- day is tenfold less than it was three decades ago; indeed, so far as church accommodations for the Protestant population are concerned, it actually makes a worse showing than any other city in the land! The Presbyterian, Oongregational and Reformed (Dutch) churches-once in the ascendant, and which, it might be said, had the right of domain-have added little or nothing to their number ~nd strength in the last twenty years! While several new church.es have been started, so many have died or been consolidated that the number to-day is but a trifle in excess of that 20 years ago. Hence this great city, rising into such prominence, is a city of relatively few churches.
And the most of these are in the older part of the city. The outlying wards, where the main growth is, are poorly supplied, while the older and wealthy down-town churches leave them to struggle witll debt, and many of them to die out. . In nine of the wards of the city, with a population of 195,131, there is no Presbyterian church whateve~.
And' what is the result, from a moral and spiritual point of view? Full half the population of this once favored city are living without church instruction and influence. The Protestant Church provides for only a small part of her population. There is already a marked change for the worse in the tone and moral sentiment of the city. 'rhe Sabbath is now largely a day of pleasure and dissipation. More than 3,000 saloons are in full blast, defying the law even on the Sabbath. King's County has become the" Paradise of Gamblers." * The rum power and H bossism" rule our politics. Theaters have multiplied at a fearful rate, and some of them are of a most demoralizing character. 'rhe church, though manned with some of the most popular and gifted ministers in the world, is essentially weak, and her power is scarcely felt on the mass of population. If this state of things continues and grows worse, as it naturally will, for ten or fifteen years to come, Brooklyn will inevitably become one of the wickedest and· most Godabandoned cities in our land! There is no helping it. Her doom is decreed as truly as if a mystic hand traced it on the sky.
And what is true of Brooklyn is substantially true of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati, and other great cities of the United States. 'rhe same conditions exist, the same forces are operating, in them all, and with similar results.
Take New York. The population of the city has for years been steadily and rapidly inereasing, while at the same time the numbel' of churches has been relatively decl'easing. In 1830 there was one Protestant church to every 2,000 people; in 1880, one to 3,000; and in 1887, one to 4,000. South of 14th stl'eet there is an estimated population of 587,616; and north of 14th street, exclusive of two wards, 732,048. Survey the latter first.
The xvi., xvii., xx., xxi., xxii., xix., and xii. wards had a popUlation, according to the census of 1880, of 622,872, probable increase in eight years of 109,176. Present population, 732,048. These wards had 221 Pl'otestant churches and chapels in 1880; now, 195. They contained 2,947 saloons in 1880; now, 3,988. In these seven wards thel'e was one church to 2,947 of popUlation in 1880, and one to 3,754 10 1888. In these seven wards there was one saloon to 211 of popUlation in 1880, and one to 184 in 1888.
"Ten thousand saloons, or one to every 150 of the inhabitants of the entire city, stand over against the 355 Protestant churches, or one to 4,464 of the inhabitants of the entire city, as a constant menace. They breed poverty and crime. They increase in ratio fastel' than the churches and schools. They are open day and night. They make legislators, aldermen, district attorneys, and judges. Thev modestly claim to control 40,000 votes in this city; and twenty men, mostly bl'ewers, hold 4,710 chattel *The main issue In a recent election in Brooklyn was. whether the laws relating to gamb. ling should be enforced or remain a dead letter, and the candidate who had pl:ostituted his office to shield the open violators of the statute from punishment. and who on the eve of the election malle a bold and scandalous bid for the saloon inlluence, was re-elected to IItnce 1 And h~ is anything but a terror to evil doers. mortgages on saloon fixtures to the value of $4,959,578. Thirty-two tenement-houses contain an avel'age of thirty-three persons each, with 1,079,723 tenants and with 237,972 families. Home is virtually banished by these abodes, and physical and mOl'al misery necessitated. How can Christianity reach these people?"* NEW YORK SOUTH OF FOURTEENTH STREET.
Estimated population, 621,000. The numl1er of churches 127, and this includes Catholic churches and Jewish synagogues. In 1868 there were 141 places of worship. There are now, with nearly 200,000 more people, only 127, PL'otestant, Catholic and Jewish. That is to say, a city double the size of New Haven has moved into the lower half of New York, and 14 Protestant churches have moved out. Even these figures do not tell the whole story. For with a few notable exceptions these places of worship are very small, and will not seat over 150 each.
" New York has an enormous population-larger than five of our largest Territories combined. Many of these Western States and Territories, for which appeals are so oiten made, and where such vigorous and constant efforts are made by us to plant new churches, are better {Jupplicd with churches thanJV'ew York and Brooklyn!" It seems incredible, and yet it is true. And still the astounding fact has little or no influence on the policy of the ch urch. We strain every nerve to build up Ohrist's kingdom in remote and sparse regions, while we neglect the mllltitudes that throng our streets and are living in heathenish ignorance and sin and moral and social degradation under our own eyes ! We send missionaries abroad-would that we sent more-while we have tens of thousands in our midst from the very countries we send oUI'missionaries to for which we are doing little or nothing. We seem slow to comprehend God's purpose in pouring such immense tides of immigration upon our shores from almost every natIOn and people, and criminally remiss in taking advantage of the opportunity it gives for their evangelization-certainly at far less cost, and in far more favorable conditions, than if they staid at home. We have 400,000 Germans, 30,000 Bohemians, 10,000 Hungarians, a large number of Jews, and some 25,000 Italians. Why send mi8sionaries to these nationalities when we have so many of them living in the midst of us, and who have come here to stay, and who, as all testify who have made the experiment, are easily accessible to gospel influences when wisely approached. They are as "foreign" in ideas and habits of life as if they were in their native land, while they have stronger claims on us than if they had staid at home. Promising mission work has been begun among them, and why should not our" Foreign" Mission Societies as well as our "Home" and "Oity Missions," lay hold of * These facts and fignres respecting New York City are condensed from the addresses of Rev.
J. M. King, D.D., and Rev. A. F. Schauffler, D D., at a Christian Conference held in Chickering Hall. Dec. 3, 4 and 5, 1888. The entire proceedings of this important Conference, called by a large numberoflhe leading clergymen and Christian laymen of the city,with all the addresses made, have been publ,shed in a book, paper cover, by the Baker & Taylor Co., fifty cents, entitled, .. The Religions Condition of New York City." We advise all who desire to know what that" condition" is, to get and study it. It is a fit companion of Dr. Strong's famons book, .. Our Conntry:' these agencies and reap a glorious harvest here at home as well as in foreign and pagan lands?
It is time to look at the question of policy and methods in the matter of the world's evangelization. For this end the church exists, and for no other. What can be done to save our cities in order to save the world? Weare confronted with facts and conditions that demonstrate that the cause is imperiled-that our past policy in reference to the city is a ruinous policy – and that without immediate, concentrated and united efforts to Ohristianize our great and growing centers of life and power the conversion of the world is hopeless.
1. First of all let om; ministers, our intelligent laymen, and all our church-workers study carefully and thoroughly this serious, stupendous problem, which we have brought to their attention. It is.of the utmost moment to the whole church of God. There is none more urgent. It touches her at every point. It demands immediate, solemn, prayerful attention, and prompt, intelligent and combined action. We cannot take these facts into full view, and give them due consideration, and yet sit still and do nothing. We cannot discern the failure of past methods and policies, and not anxiously cast about for something better adapted to the tendencies and changed conditions of the times. Upon the church of God devolves the fearful responsibility of solving this greatest problem of the age. Let us fully understand it, in all its essential facts and relations, as a necessary condition to suitable action. 'rhe movement which found expression in Ohickering Hall recently was not begun a moment too soon. Let it be followed up in every city.
2. 'rhe teaching and example of Ohrist and the Apostles present a marked contrast to the policy which has ruled the church in these modern days.
(a) Ohrist himself devoted almost His entire ministry to the city popUlation. Says Matthew: "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities." Luke quotes Him as saying: H I must prea.ch the kingdom of God to other cities also, for therefore am I sent." "And behold the whole city came out to meet Jesus." " And all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? " He taught and wrought wonders in Nazareth, Jericho, Ohorazin, Bethsaida, and Oapernaum. He was frequently at Jerusalem. It was over that metropolitan city that He "wept," crying: "0h, Jerusalem, J erusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children" together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Though born in the country, and living there till He entered upon His public ministry, yet the greater part of that ministry was given to the city. And how He upbraided the cities" wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not! " " Woe unto thee, Chorazin; woe unto thee; Bethsaida," etc !
(b) Christ enjoined the same policy upon His disciples. To the "twelve" sent out, His instructions were: "Into whatsoever city or town ye enter," etc. And also the "seventy": "Into every city and place whither he himself would come." "Into whatsoever city ye enter and they receive you," etc. But" into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways," etc. "When they persecute you in one city, flee ye into another; for verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of :Man be come." Why such prominence given to the city if its reception of Christ were not of supreme importance?
(c) The same rule is laid down and emphasized in the last commission which the riseu Lord gave to His disciples, and through them to the church in all ages, not only in reference to itself, but to the establishment of His kingdom in the earth. 'l'hat bloodstained city was the center of the new Faith and the new Life that were to conquer the world. There the royal commission of Zion's King was to be opened and proclaimed. There the Spirit of God was to descend in mighty power and inaugurate the new dispensation. There the Christian Church was to be organized, on the very theater of the crucifixion, and of resurrr::ction marvels. And thence "the Word or God was to sound out in all the region about." There "the banner of the cross" was to be planted, in the royal city of David, on Calvary, by the open sepulchre, and nigh to the mount of Bethany; and when persecution arose, thence the chosen aud anointed army were to bear that consecr,l.ted banner forth and plant it, in a single generation, in all the chief cities of the Roman Empire. Had not the Apostles given their main, if not exclusive, attention and labors to iarge cities, Christianity could not possibly have made such rapid progress, and in so brief a time conquered the Roman world for Christ. They felt, as did the Founder of the Church, that to convert the great cities was to convert the country. Hence they went direct to Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Rome itself. There they preached Christ, wrought miracles, and organized strong 6hurches. Paul, the,great Apostle to the Gentiles, spent three years in the city of Ephesus-the Paris of antiquity-and with such success that from that great city" sounded out the Word of God over all Asia, both among Jews and Greeks." He spent two whole years also in Rome, the capit~l of the world, and among the fruit of his ministry there we have the grandest Epistle of the New Testament. "One who studies even cursorily the beginnings of Christianity will not fail to detec,t a masterly strategy in apostolic policy. Christian enterprise at the outset took possession first of strategic localities, to be used as the centers of church extension. The first successes of Christian preachers were in the great cities of the East. The attractive spots, to the divine eye, were those which were cro'wded with the densest masses of human beings." * Now if centralization was so vast a power for good or evil in Paul's day, it is even more so in our day, for reasons that will readily suggest themselves to the reader. If cities have been the strongholds of Satan in the past, so that God has swept them with the besom of His wrath, as with Sodom, Gomormh, Babylon and J ernsalem, because there was no other way to maintain His religion on earth, they are fast becoming satanic strongholds at the present time, blighting and cursing the earth with their pestiferous influence.
4. The policy of the church of modern times contravenes both the letter and the spirit of her Master's example and partinlf instructions. The divine policy involved in the memorable words, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM, is practically disregarded. Our great centers of life and power have been left to take care of themselves, after being drained of all available means to help others. The church has been more anxious to plant and foster feeble churches in sparsely settled rural districts, and in far-off heathendom, than to do it amidst the teeming populations of our cities. There is more spiritual destitution prevalent to-day amonlf a million ofthe dwellers in Hew York and Brooklyn than exists amonlf a dozen whole States and Territories at the West! And what is being done for this million of degraded sinners, who are our neighbors, in the way of providing churches, or of evangelizing efforts? Nothing-or next to nothing. 1'here are single wards in the cities whose population exceeds that of whole states.. in which there is scarcely a Protestant church or Bven mission chapel, or evang~lizing agency of any kind. If such a state of things existed out of the city anywhere, the church would put on sackcloth, and the land ring with appeals. New York City, below 14th street, and the outlying wards of Brooklyn, into which a mighty tide of souls is pouring, present as dark an outlook for the future as many parts of heathendom itself.
And still the ministry here, and the church at large, for the most part, sleep over the volcano which is smoldering nnder us-over" the fermenting vat which lies hid and simmering" with the worst elements of society. It is easier to-day to plant a dozen new churches ill districts or hamlets never heard of, or in India or China or Africa, than to plant and nourish into vigorous life one in either of these cities. We write from a painful knowledge of this subject, and on the basis of well-established facts. Forty years ago, when Brooklyn had just begun its rapid growth, the writer, with a few brethren, made a vigorous fight in the Presbytery of Brooklyn for a plan of church extension and evangelizatioll, the fundamental pl'inciphi of which was, belfinninlf "'Prof. Austin Phelps, in Introduction to" Our Country,"
THE EXPOSITION OF MISSIONS
at Jerusalem. But it was resisted by the pastors and elders of the wealthy churches, and by the American Home Missionary Society. And what has been the result? The Presbyterian Church there, as we have shown, is but a trifle stronger to-day than it was then; while, relatively to .population, it is tenfold weaker. Until quite recently our Home Missionary Boards and Societies refused to aid churches located in any city, and presbyteries and associations and large city churches were required to pay over all their funds to these national agencies, and let their own local feeble churches go! It just begins to dawn on the minds of some of the brethren that this is a most unnatural and losing policy.
And what is true of Brooklyn and New York, is largely true of all our great cities. The Protestant Church located in them is growing relatively weaker in numbers, strength and effectiveness, year by year, while sin and wickedness and ungodliness in every form are waxing stronger and more aggressive and dominant.
What will be the outcome of all this? But one answer can be given, unless the church shall quickly arise in the might of her power, and concentrate for the next few years her attention and means and prayers and evangelizmg agencies upon our large and wicked cities, till the plague is stayed, and they are made centers of a powerful spiritual life and power. This, as a Christian duty of the hour, is imperative. The crisis is upon us and can be met in no other way. No other policy will save us as a people! What if the country population and the heathen world, for the time being, receive less attention and aid from us? Save, Christianize, our cities, and in the end the whole world will be infinitely the gainer. One strong church in the city IS a greater force than twenty.in a sparse population !
The larger part of the wealth and talent and enterprise and liberality and agressive power of the church is in the city. The church is a unit. The church is the incarnate Christ sfl'J!nng the salvatiou of the world. Work where the greatest results oan be had! The field is one-no home, no foreign, no East or West or North or South. John Angell James, of England, never made a truer or more pregnant remark than when he.said, in urging that the :flrst duty of the American Church'was to evangelize our own land: "America for Christ for the sake of the world." And we say, convert our cities to Christ for the sake of America and the world.
THE EXPOSITION OF MISSIONS. [EDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] THESE are days of great" expositions." This term, imported from the Freneh, does not convey to us the exact meanmg It does to a ParIsian-an exhibit of those products of human invention, and industry which are the exponents of the progress of the age, For example, there was the late International Exposition in Glasgow. A vast building, a quarter of a mile in length, was filled with twentyfive classes of indu;;trial products. Agriculture and horticulture; mining and engineering, both civil and naval; machinery of the most colossal and the most minute and delicate character; cutlery and arms; carriages and all manner of wheeled vehicles; the most recent and improved methods and devices for illumination by oil, gas and electricity; textile fabrics of wonderful variety and delicacy; food and cooking utensils; paper, printing, and book making; furniture and decoration; fishery, pottery and glass; jewelry and plated ware; ship-building, with a profuse display of exquisite models; nay, e~-en the subtler sciences and fine arts-physical training and education, chemistry and philosophy, music and painting and sculpture and architecture-all these and much more found there exhibition and exposition. What a new world was unveiled in the single department of woman's work, the arts and industries at which her deft and delicate fingers preside. How far and wide the field represented in this garner of abundant harvests. Not only England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, but Canada, France, India and Ceylon-all helped to make this International Exposition one of the world's wonders.
What if we could have an exposition of missions, as the first century of modern missions draws to a close the triumphant history of this sacred evangelism! What if the present condition of the world, of every land and people touched by missionary effort, might be compared, contrasted with that of one hundred years ago! What if we could have there; represented in miniature, the Schway Mote 'rau Pagoda on one hill, with its idol shrines and superstitious wild men, confronting the Kho-'l'hah-Byu Memorial Hall with its holy worship, its reverent church members, its intelligent cla~ses of pupils, and the fifty thousand Jiving and dead Karen converts, of which it is the "Ebenezer." What if we could have the thousand cannibal ovens of the :Fijians to confront in glorious contrast the twelve hundred Christian churches now reared in their place (the chiefs' huts, built on piles round which human beings were buried alive; the chiefs' canoes, lau~ched over human bodies as rollers; to compare with the Christian homes in which thc voice of family worship now may be heard, and the floating bethels where seamen may learn of the Christ who came not to kill but to save. What if we could in the same .department represent the horrors of that mixed multitude in Sierra Leone, the refuse from slave-ships, that had no communication but that of vice, and no co-operation but that of crime, until William Johnson introduced that gospel which became a common dialect and brought this score of hostile and fiendish tribes mto harmony at the Lord's table.- What if Sierra Leone conld be "exposed" as it was in 1816, and again exhibite~ as it was in 1823! Suppose we could on one side set Madagascar as it was under Ranavalona 1., and then as it was under Ranavalona II., or Nanumaga as it was when Thomas Powell set a native evangelist there, and the superstitious inhabitant:;; kept him two 'hours on the beach while they reconciled their dumb idols to his remaining; . and two years later, when there was not an idol to be found on the island, and the whole community was under Ohristian instruction.
A.nd these are not exceptional, but rather representative cases; for wonders like these make th!;) march of missions, like the" milky way," a pathway of light. Take the story of Tahiti. Oaptain Oook thought and said: "This island can neither serve public interests or private ambition and will probably never be much known;" This was before 1779 when he perished at the Sandwich Islands. About the close of the last century, under the rousing appeals of William Oarey and others, the London Missionary Society sent missionaries to Tahiti. There was indeed a long "night of toil." Sixteen years and not a convert, or a sign of blessing, so hard was that fallow ground to break up. Behold a missionary with a group of savages about him. The only weapon in his hand is a manuscript of the gospel of John. He reads chapter iii., and as he repeats the sixteenth verse a warrior in the group asks him to read it again and yet again. Amazed at this new revelation of a love of which he had never heard, he said: "If this is true it must be for you only." But the missionary read again, "that whosoever believeth .on Him should not perish." "'rhen your God shall be my God," said the savage warrior, with the ardor of Ruth; "for never have we heard such a message as this. Our Gods do not:ove us so-we never heard of such l{)ve as this." At Dufftown, this summer, I heard Mr. Green himself testify, that in 1861 on the island of Taha, he himself received from his predecessor in charge an old female chief who had been converted from the lowest state of savagery, whose wonderful conceptions of grace filled even Ohristian missionaries with amazement. Not yet seventy-five years have passed since the first convert crowned these labors, and that convert was the first fruits of all Polynesia. Now in those Pacific Archipelagoes there are 750,000 converts and the work has reached that greatest of islands, New Guinea. A band of not less than 160 young men and women, themselves native converts, have gone from Tahiti and surrounding islands, as evangelists, and of them all not one has ever proved recre- ant or faithless. Among no equal number of Ohristian laborers in the most favored part of Ohristendom can a like measure of consecration and fidelity be found. And yet these are the very people, who, before the gospel touched them, had absolutely no conception of God save that somewhere, somehow, afar off from men, some sort of a being dwelt, who wielded the scepter of a divine despotism; these are the very people who were wont to go to the graves of their ancestors, and . beseech them to plead with that same unknown, unattractivl$, unapproachable God, not to destroy his human victims altogether. Missionaries found in their language no adequate terms to express divine and spiritual conceptions. The idea of God had dropped out of their native tongue. A new matrix was needed in which to cast the forms for conveying spiritual ideas. And yet this is the people who have been setting, even to Ohristian England and America, an example of intelligent piety, discriminating insight into spiritual truth, loyalty to Ohrist, passion for souls, and self-sacrifice in giving!
It was but a few years ago when in Zululand, Dingaan, a cruel chief, caused one hundred innocent maidens to be slaughtered, who bore propitiatory offerings from a tribe which had offended him. For that offense the penalty exacted was a thousand head of cattle, and in the aritlllpetic of those savages one girl was equal to ten cattle; hence to slay one hundred girls was the equivalent of the thousand oxen or heifers. This same Dingaan gouged out the eyes of the scouts, who being sent out to search for cattle, mistook tame herds for game. "Dig out their eyes," said the monste'r. "Of what use are eyes to such men?" Go now to Zululand, visit the Ohristian homes where every amenity of Ohristian civilization sheds its lustrous light. Hear those eloquent native preachers with tearful eyes illustrate love, by love's stupendous sacrifice; go into those churches, sit with those converted savages at the 1-1ord's table; see them bring their weekly offerings, saved by such self-denial as we have never known, to send the gospel to others still in the habitations of cruelty; behold those churches, selfgoverning, self-supporting, self-propagating, and then pronounce missions a failure if you can or dare.
In the leading daily paper of Britain * there appeared, during the sessions of the ",Vorld's Oonference of Missions, an editorial, in which, after sundry compliments to the distinguished membership of that grand gathering, we read this closing paragraph: " One of the conference chairmen congratulated his fellow delegates on the pleasant pJaces in which the lot of modern missionaries is cast. They have no longer, he said, to break the gNund. They have not, he might have asserted with still more assmance, to strive agfiinst a (lead weight of English apathy less penetrable even than Hinduism and Islam. They have their countrymen with them in their endeavors to extend the frontiers of Christendom. Criticism is not hostile to their object because it cannot express itself as altogether contented with the amount of ground whieh has been annexed. An army of diligent and Jearned laborers is occupied in missionary work. Two millions stet'ling are annually subscribed for their maintenance. An appeal is being made for more men and more money. It is declared that the income of missions should be nearer eleven millions than two. Befot,c the promoters of mIssionary work can expect to have greater resources confided to them they will have to render a satisfactol'Y account of their trust in the past. Their progress, it is to be hoped, is suee j indisputably it is slow. A congress like the present wguld b~ Qetter employed *, London rimes/ June 1[)/ 1888, in tracing the reasons for the deficiency in quantity of success than in glorifying the modicum which has been attained. The cause it advocates has vanquished the obstructions interposed at home to the accomplishment of its aims. It enjoys a sufficiency, which according to ordinary estimates might seem an abundance, of good will and fnnds. Still it marches at a pace which, unless it be registered by the enthusiasm of Exeter Hall, appears little more than funereal. If Carey.could have foreseen the magnificence of the means which his successors were destined to command, and the re- moval, as if by magic, of all the barriers which hemmed him in, he would have supposed that the foes were beaten, and the harvest was being reaped. Exeter Hall says it is,'and that the only thing now to be done is 'to hold the conquered forts, and to push on to fresh conquests.' For eyes not endowed with the second sight of the platform, the prinCipal citadels of heathendom continue to flaunt their banners as before. If some people profess to believe, as one speaker deplored the other day, that they hear too much of foreig"n missions, the explanation is that they see too little of their results."
With this" editorial" in his hands, the present writer from the'plat- form of the Conference made the bold challenge, which, from the more commanding-platform of this REVIEW, with its many thousand readers, he now repeats: he defied any man to show, in any other sphere, in whatever age or by whatever means, results so magnificent, and so out of proportion to the agencies and instrumentalities employed, as have been wrought in the last century by a few pioneers in the field of mis- sions! With a conviction as profound, he is prepared to add, that, of all the evidences of Ohristianity, this is the perpetual and present proof, that, in face of foes so gigantic and of obstacles so insurmountable, such progress haS been made. To him who will study it, the whole his- tory of missions is the overwhelming demonstration "of a supernatural Gospel, environed by a supernatural Providence, and enforced by a supernatural Spirit!
Of course rhetoric is not logic, and declaration and declamation are not demonstration. We neither ask nor wish such a statement to be accepted witho~t investigation. On the other hand, it is a searching – examination that missions court. The main difficulty is that, to most disciples, and even to the more intelligent, the field of missions is a terra incognita. When a leading philanthropist of Britain confesses himself to have been ignorant of the great facts of missionary history, -we shall not wonder if the bulk of disciples ha,'e yet to make their first voyage of discovery. But to those who, like the Genoese navigator, will venture on the unknown sea, a whole continent, a new world of startling facts, waits to be unveiled and revealed.
The flippant fashion in which too many dispose both of the con- quests and claims of missions finds illustration in a conversation over- heard by the writer on the Umbria. "I have been in a number of countries," said one, "and never yet saw nUloh good done by mission- aries." " Nor I," said another; "and in fact I think the people would have been as well off without them as with them." Perhaps these far-traveled observers were related to that wise woman who said that she lived at Kobe for eighteen months, "right opposite the mission chapel, and never saw one native Japanese enter there." A good reason why! for that happened to be the chapel for foreign residents, and of course the natives did not attend there; the mission premises were in other quarters. An American clergyman, passing through Beirut, said to a friend, "'1'he missionaries here seem to accomplish nothing." Further inquiry revealed that he had not even heard of the crowded audiences of Drs. Thompson and Van Dyck on the Sabbath, nor visited one of the schools which are the glory of the Syrian Mission and the envy even of the Moslems; nor had he looked in upon the presses and publication rooms, which kept a score of men constantly busy, and send Arabic Bibles and Testaments to every quar- ter of the Mohammedan world. * Instead of being straitened by lack of proofs, we are rather embarrassed by the riches of the evidence both of the extent and rapidity of mIsSIOnary progress. '1'he first Malagasy who ever learned the alphabet of his own native tongue died six years ago last month, aged seventy-two. He had lived to see fifty thousand of his countrymen taught to read, and over seventy thousand profess their faith in the Christian's Redeemer. We could fill the pages of this REVIEW with similar testimonies from all quarters of the mission field, and even then should have but gleaned, like Ruth, a few handfuls from a harvest field that has supplied the vast garners of miSSIOnary biography and history with countless sheaves. In fact, these astonishing successes of missionary effort are so world-wide and conspicuous that we feel as though we were arguing with willful ignorance, or attempting to point out the glories of a prospept to eyes blinded or voluntarily closed.
The writer in The Times calls the progress of missions" funereal" for its slowness. '1'0 us it seems rather triumphal for its rapidity. We cannot understand how any intelligent observer can apply such a term to the march of missions during the century_ If anything has been conspicuous about it, it is the wonderful celerity of movement which has marked its whole history. The writer in The Times manifestly knows more of the kingdoms of this world than of the Kingdom of Christ. Some of us who are "not yet fifty years old," have seen the major part of all this astounding development. '1'he century is not complete by three years since the first Baptist society was organized by William Carey, and yet within that space of time there has been both in Christendom and heathendom a revolution so wonderful that we c&n only account it a revelation of supernatural energy at work among men. Missionary organizations have multiplied, averaging con. sic1erably more than one every year, until now their network wraps -If Ely Volume. lutl'od, viii. the globe in its golden meshes. Within this ninety-seven years, they have averaged nearly three translations a year; and for nearly each year a new language, which had neither alphabet, grammar nor lexicon before, has been reduced to writing by the missionaries, and a literature created out of nothing. During this ninety-seven years, a total force of not less than 20,000 missionaries has gone from Christian lands, an average of 200 for each year. Where scarce one door was open a century ago, scarce one door is shut to-day; women, who were then secluded in seraglios, harems, zenanas, are now accessible; and in great cities, even in India, one society alone has access to 2,000 homes.
It is estimated that the number of converts gathered within this time, including those who have died in the faith, forms an aggregate of from 10,000,000 to 30,000,000. Among the Karens alone we know of 60,000. And every convert represents both a rallying and a radiating center for all holy and benign influences. During this time whole systems of polytheism, idolatry, superstition, have been swept away like chaff from a threshing floor. Jno. Geddie, after eighteen years in Aneityum, wished to bring away some idols as relics, and none cou~d be found.
Of the great mass of missionary history we have no written record. A converted Chinaman on our Pacific Coast sold himself to work as a coolie in New Guinea, for the sake of working among his own countrymen; and before he died personally led to Christ two hundred of his companions. But how many such heroic lives have no written annals, save in God's" Book of Remembrance?"
Were no other results of missions apparent, their reflex influence on the church at large no gauge can measure. Had not one convert been gathered or one conquest won in pagan lands, the effort put forth on behalf of the heathen by the Christian church would have been more than repaid by the healthy reaction upon home life. One of the lead- ing thinkers of our day,* discussing the question, "What have the home churches gained by foreign missions?" cites in reply, "The noteworthy examples of Christian zeal and self-sacrifice, an answer to skepticism, an impulse to earnest Christian labor, and the prevailing spirit of Christian brotherhood." But this covers not half the ground. At the beginning of the last century, and during its first half, the church of God was almost dead of apathy and inactivity, like a halffrozen man amid arctic ice and snow. Irreligion, immorality, and infidelity, together, seemed closing in upon the body of nominal disciples, folding the church in the fatal embrace of a merciless winter. Nothing but the activity of a new missionary era broke the awful charm of this dp.adly stagnation and congelation. God's clarion peal, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," fang once * Rev. Dl·. Wm. M. Taylor. more in the ears of a slumbering and half-frozen church. A new col- lege of apostles-the apostles of modern evangelism-laid hold of the body ecclesiastic and violently shook the church with impassioned and prayerful appeal. Men woke to see that, as Samuel Blair said, "piety at home lay a-dying," while pagans abroad were perishing; and it was this arousing to a new activity for the lost, that brought back warmth, restored circulation, and quickened all the pulses and currents of spir- ituallife. Oanon Taylor may try to depreciate modern missions, but a 'far greater than he, who a century ago bore the name he is dishonor- ing,* declared that England herself wag" in a state of virtual heathen- ism" until William Oarey led the way in foreign missions. Missions a failure? No, not if it be worth while to displace a fatal frost by a summer's sun, barrenuess by fertility, and spiritual apathy and lethargy by a world-wide, unselfish ministry to human want and woe, whose reflex influence is even more -precious than any direct blessing it bestows!
England and the Anglican Ohurch, to which the Oanon belongs, are justly proud of her cathedrals. But there are no Gothic structures on British soil that compare, in grandeur, symmetry, and beauty, with her magnificent Bible and missionary societies. "Walk about Zion, tell the towers thereof, mark well her bulwarks, consider her palaces." What" towers" are those Bible societies that lift the word of God, in three hundred tongues, to such a height that all the world shan see and read its witness! What "bulwarks" are those-great, aggressive, organized activities whose offensive warfare against the foes of Ohrist are the best defensive and protective measures of the church at home! What" palaces" are those churches where the Killg himself delights to dwell, drawn to abide by that spirit of missions which is the Spirit of Ohrist! It is these united movements of the great Ohristian brotherhoods to give the gospel to every man in his own tongue and by the lips of the living missionary, that are reversing the miracle of Babel and-perpetuating the miracle of Pentecost!
Three years hence, in 1892, Spain proposes in an imperial way to celebrate the foui' hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America, and to honor the memory of Ohristopher Oolumbus. A royal decree has been issued, announcing an exposition to which the Kingdom of Portugal and the governments of Latin America are to be invited. The object of the exposition is declared to be "to present in the most complete manner possible the condition of the inhabitants of America at the time of its discovery, by collecting for that purpose all the· objects which can give an idea of the state of their civilization, and of the civilization of the races inhabiting the American continent at the end of the fifteenth century; and by a separate exhibition at the same time of all the products of the art, science, and industry which char~ * 18&ac Taylor. acterize the present culture of the nations of Latin America." In that same year, 1892, the full century will be complete since William Oarey formed the first distinctively Foreign Missionary Society of Britain.* What a grand celebration of that centennial would it be, if in some great center like London or New York, there could be an actual colossal exposition of missions! What if, in some ma~uificent building like the Orystal Palace at Suydenham, the Ohristian Oh'.1rch might undertake to exhibit to the eye some such comparison as Spain proposes, in the language of the royal decree just quoted! Would it not be worth while to express, by the unspoken and unwritten language of such an exhibition, the fruits of missionary toil?
Let us suppose pains to be taken to bring together, from all parts of the world, the visible, tangible proofs and products of the work and its success. In one department the Hawaiian Isles would have their place-on one side rude hovels with earth-floors, in which two-thirds of all children born on those shores were, by their own mothers, buried alive; a despotic Tabu system putting even between husband and wife impassable social barriers; idolatries and cruelties, innumerable and indescribable; then over against this exhibit of the islands as they were a century ago let them be represented, transformed into the abode of a Ohristian nation, when instead of being a field for missions they supply a part of the force to work other fields, like Micronesia. In another department Polynesia and Melanesia would be shown as they were and as they are. On one side would stand the idol shrines and cannibal feasts, with half-naked savages engaged in senseless rites of worship, or in their horrible butchering, roasting and devouring of human bodies; on the other side converted natives in decent dress, with their neat cottages, commodious churches, varied industries and Ohristian literature.
Burmah would have a department. Her wild Karens as Boardman and .Jndson found them, and the Ohristian Karens as t:1ey now stand among tho aggressive missionary force of the day,. their huts, habits, dreso, degradation, sharply in contrast with their present high level of Christian civilization. France would have a department as she was when, as the right arm of papal despotism, she was ready to sound another tocsin from the tower of St. Germain, and repeat the tragedy of St. Bartholemew's Eve to uphold the papal tiara and crush out the hated Huguenots; and France as she is now, with Re"eillaud and Saillens and McAll and Miss DeBroen teaching and preaching the simple gospel of the Apostles to hundreds and thousands of attentive workingmen, and that, too, with governmental approval!
In such an exposition there would, of course, be one department assigned to the literature created by missions; to the seventy-five * The .. Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," formed' in 1701 rather for colonial than foreign miSSionary objects, became a distinctly missionary agency in 1821. topgues whose alphabet was first formed by missionaries, with the three hundred translations of the Word of God and the millions of pages of religious reading produced by hundreds of mission presses. The industries planted and developed by missions would demand a like display; in a word, the entire results of this unselfish ministry to lost, man would as far as possible be put into visible forms.
Could some such exhibition of the results of a century of missions be actually planned and properly conducted; could such industry, zeal and disngard of cost, as mark commercial and industrial expositions, be put at the service of the Kingdom of God; could Christian merchant princes and men of letters combine to gather from all lands, from museums of archreology and. private collections of curious relics, the needful material; could master workmen he employed to construct and arrange the material basis for such a display; in a word could the Christian Church take up the task of furnishing such a Centennial Exposition of Missions, and give the work of her devoted men and women such an exhibition as all other forms of labor have, in this nineteenth century-we are not sure that Christian history would record an achievement more important in its impression upon the minds and hearts of men. Thousands, it may be millions, who do not sec the exposition of missions already furnished in the printed page would see presented, represented, before their eyes, the testimony of a century's work in a form not easily to be forgotten.
Nor are we persuaded that the conception of such an exposition is merely chimerical, a yagary of the imagination. Modern enterprise, in the Crystal PILlace at Suydenham, has built upon a scale of one-third the actual size the Assyrian palaces, rock-tombs of Egypt, Greek and RomaL! temples, gorgeous Alhambra, superb dwellings of ruined Pompeii, and cathedrals of medireval France and England, so that visitors walk through them and see three thousand years of successive civilizations crystallized into material forms. In the Egyptian museum at London, vast galleries and corridors are assigned to the huge tablets, sculptures, sarcophagi, papyri, vases, gathered from Babylon, Nineveh, Thebes. In Paris, the" Nouvelle Bastile" is the actual reproduction of the old fortress prison demolished one hundred years ago; you may cross the drawbridge over the moat, descend to ,the subterranean dungeons, see prisoners in effigy, and realize. somewhat t.he horrors of those cens when the Bastile actually stood where now stands the Colonne de J uillet.
Such are the costly and elaborate methods by which the children of this world seek to impress the eye in the interests of trade and manufacture. Is there any adequate reason why a corresponding effort might not be made to impress the actual and stupendous achievements of a century of missionary labor?
The thought may not seem practical and practicable, but it was first suggested by the Indian Department of the Glasgow Exposition. There were to be seen, not as pictures or photographs merely, but in actual forms on a small scale, the native habitations and dress, the Hindoo temples, car of Juggernaut, suttee-piles, modes of torture, etc•. In San Francisco, Ohinese Joss-houses, pagodas, shops, and theaters may be seen confronting Ohristian churches and mission halls. In the Ohurch Missionary and London Missionary Societies' rooms are relics of a half century ago that tell m'ore eloquently than any words can the depths out of which the gospel has lifted whole tribes of men; and those remains of idolatrous customs and savage life, gathered from among peoples now pervaded by the light of the gospel, would go far to furnish such an exposition of missions.
The fascination of such a scene would be marvelous. It might be made so attractive as to draw visitors from every quarter, and so effective as that no one could evade the force of its argument and appeal.
But those who are familiar with the ,rich literature of missions are already constantly walking through the corridors of such an exposition. Even an English canon cannot infect them with suspicion .touching the "Failure of Missions." To them the story of missionary labor and success is a tale of fact, rivaling, surpassing the tale of fancy which finds expression in the" Arabian Nights." They have seen a more wonderful lamp than that of Aladdin. Its rays reach into the deepest darkness and banish the death-shade. Touch that lamp and the angels of God are at your side to do your bidding. Place it in the huts and hovels of misery and poverty and it transforms them into the palaces of princes where dwell the heirs of celestial thrones and crowns! Give it a place in the midst of pagan society and with incredible rapidity it changes the whole aspect of mankind. Robes take the place of rags; virtue, of vice; cleanliness, of filth; intelligence, of ignorance; courtesy, of cruelty; and health and happiness, of disease and wretchedness. Yes, the magician's enchantments are once more outdone by the miracles of the Spirit of God, and even unbelievers are compelled to confess, "ThIs is the finger of God." Fables and fancies fade before facts, real, tangible, indisputable. That fine, poetic saying, "Architecture is frozen music," has been attributed by some to Madame de Stael, by others to Schlegel. The structures which missionary heroism has built are crystallizations of piety. They are God's temples; they rest on rock; their timbers are as of cedar, fragrant and enduring; and within and without they are covered with the gold of the upper sanctuary I
CiUTICISMS UPON FOREIGN
ORITICISMS UPON FOREIGN MISSIONS.
BY REV. EDWI~ M. BLISS.
[ON page 95 of the February number of THE REVIEW, in my paper on "The Results of Missions in the Levant," the sentence, "Up to the present year there have been distributed by the American Bible Society," etc., should have read, "During a single generation, from 1858 up to the pr$ent year," etc. The total distribution of the two Bible Societies from the beginning is estimated at about 2,250,000 copies.-E. M. B.] ATTACKS UpOIJ. foreign mis.sionaries and their work, such as have. appeared recently, voiced in England by Canon Taylor, and echoed in New York by The Evening Post, are nothing new. The would-be zeal covers over for the multitude the writer's absolute ignorance of his topic, and many, supposing that position implies knowledge, are inclined to applaud what appears to them a frank looking in the face of important questions. A writer in The Church Missionary Magazine has pretty thoroughly riddled Oanon Taylor'S claim to worthy consideration, showing him up as a man who, having failed in his regular work, has undertaken a sort of guerilla warfare as a free lance in an outside field, in much the same spirit as Napoleon used to start a foreign war-to hide defects of home administration.
Were it possible to penetrate 'the obscurity surrounding the authorship of an editorial paragraph in a New York daily, it would probably appear that the one who is so earnest lest "poor Sunday-school children should be cheated out of their hard-earned pennies" for the benefit of a school in Athens, or for reconverting an Armenian Ohristian, is some disappointed agent for a torpedo or rifle manufactory, a naval officer disgusted at being compelled to leave the fashionable charms of Nice, or a chance traveler who goes abroad with the idea that a missionary ought to be It sort of Christian dervish, a Protestant anchorite, like the Greek hermit of Cape Matapan. Such critics it is of little use to argue with. Their attacks are not the result of serious conviction founded upon careful investigation, but upon chance information or constitutional prejudice.
Not all hostile critics, however, are of these two classes. It not infrequently happens that travelers not especially interested in mlSSJOn work, yet with no positive prejudice against it, receive decidedly adverse impressions; and sometimes those who are genuinely, heartily interested in it, and who make earnest efforts to get at the truth, come to the conviction that missionary work, as carried on, isnot what it ought to be.
The opinions of such critics carry weight, and should be fairly and honef1tly met. Their complaints may in general be included under four classes. 1. That the missionaries do not accurately represent their work to the churches at home. 2. That they are extravagant in the use of funds. 3. That they are not in cord~al sympathy with the native Christians and churches. 4. That they pay undue attention to education and civilization to the neglect of spiritual work. To answer these fully would require a treatise, not ari article. Little more can be done here than to offer certain suggestions. The first charge, of misrepresentation, is sheer nonsense. There is no line of action in any department of life so fully described, so thor-' oughly advertised as is that of foreign missions. Secretaries and mis- sionaries are doing their best to give a "clear idea" of their work, but • no one who has not tried it, can understand how difficult a thing it is to give a " clear idea" of a foreign field. Even those who have made it a special 'Study are constantly compelled to revise their opinions as they learn more, and it is not unnatural that the great mass of people who give little or no attention to the subject, except as they hear a missionary address, should be surprised at what they see, even dnring a brief and hasty visit to a mission field. ~'o charge" malversation, deception, fraud," because of this failure to understand, is not only foUy, but crime.
2. Extravagance. This has reference chiefly to the style of life among missionaries, their" good, sometimes handsome houses," "suf- ficient servants," "books, periodicals," "pIanos, organs," etc. There is an idea, prevalent in many circles, that the foreign missionary should go to his work just as the home missionary goes to his. That he should living among the people to whom he goes, eat the same food, wear as nearly as possible the same dress, get down to their plane, and then lift them to a higher style of life. Not a few have entered the foreign work with this idea and have sought conscientiously to carry it out. The experiment has never produced the results hoped for, aud has been repeatedly abandoned as a failure. The reasons for the failure are several. The foreign missionary has to create an ideal, and for this he must not merely instruct but exemplify. Moral forces are not easily measured, but it is certain that the moral influence of a mission- ary's home, with its refinement, its comfort, is a very large factor in the development of the communities about him. If he lives as the natives do, they are very apt to say, "Wherein is he better than we? If his Christianity does not bring him more than our religion brings to us, why should we change?" This may not be entirely logical, but it is cer- tainly natural. The average home missionary community has already an ideal of a better life, and cordially works with the missionary toward its realization. Not so on the foreign field, where the ideal has to be set before the people, and a desire for it enkindled. An- other reason for the fl1ilure of the attempt to live as the people do, lies in the fact of the abnormal strain it brings upon the missionary. Ohange of climate and food, separation from home, friends, and national life, the nervous exhaustion resulting from the necessity of listening t(}, trying to understand and be understood in a new language, are at the best a severe tax upon most constitutions. It has been recog- nized by all Mission Boards that it is economy to reduce this strain so far as possible, by giving the missionary pleasant surroundings, a healthful, comfortable home. It does not pay to send a man and his wife to Africa or India, and have them break down and return in two or three years. Every added year of life and se.rvice increases a missionary's usefulness in an almost geometric ratio; hence, heaUh is a prime consideration in his arrangements. For health it is as essential there as here that houses be good, food be wholesome and palatable. It is clwaper for the churches to provide "sufficient servants" than to compel their missionaries to spend their time and strength in the ordinary household duties. Not less important than health of body are health of mind and soul. Books and mnsic are not seldom genuine means of grace to the community as well as to the missionary. Of course, when one gets beyond the bare necessities of life, it is difficult if not impossible to draw a sharp line. Personal taste and tact enter in, and produce widely different results with the same means. Some missionaries have private incomes which they use for the advantage of those around them, as well as for their own comfort. Others have wealthy and generous friends who rejoice in adding to their homes those adornments that make a missionary's house like a beautiful oasis in the desert of comfortless dwellings about him. A missionary lady once adorned her walls with arrangements of autumn leaves sent to her from the New England forests. A native preacher entering, exclaimed, "How beautiful! it is a Paradise!" Then drawing nearer and examining more closely, he added, "How much you make out of little!" No foreign missionary ever yet laid by a competence out of his salary.
3. Missionaries are often charged with lack of sympathy with the native Christians and churches, with exercising a sort of tyranny over them, not allowing them that independence of action that is essential to their best development. It is undoubtedly true that here is a great difficulty in community as in home training. The surprising thing is not, that there are so many mistakes, but that so few are made. Every mission has experience of individuals, who begrudge the consideration paid to what they call (( foreign" influence, claim that the missionaries are really aliens, do not understand the peoples' needs or capabilities, etc., etc., and demand that the direction of affairs be placed in their own hands. They talk about the funds collected in America as belonging in truth to themselves, and pose virtuously as champions of national rights. Occasionally they secure the indorsement of a native church, but never of any number of churches, and invariably lose whatever hold they may have gained upon the community. Such men are very apt to get hold of passing travelers, and lament over the overshadowing influence of the missionaries, which is so great that the churches are really not free to hold the position of independence that is their due, and for which they are entirely fitted. Occasionally one
THE MffiACLES OF MISSIONS. iS7
finds a missionary who is inclined to be somewhat autocratic, just as one sometimes meets a pastor who knows better than his church what is good for them, but as a rule the whole history of foreign missions is marked by constant deference to the desires and opinions of native churches, an earnest desire to make them as soon as possible entirely independent of extraneous support and influence. Indeed, sifted to the bottom, the trouble with many of these complainants is that the missionaries are putting too much upon the people, in the way of their own seH-support, so that they are unable to give to their pastors as large salaries as a few-by no means all, or even many–claim as their due.
4. Perhaps the most serious charge made against foreign missions is that they pay undue attention to education, to the neglect of distinctively spiritual work. Here some, who honor missionaries and their efforts, feel obliged to dissent from their position. They say, "This education is all well and wise, but so long as there are such wide regions unreached by the gospel, it is not right to withhold the offer of salvation to thousands, that a few hundreds may learn more of this world's wisdom." In order to a correct understanding of this most important subject, certain things must be kept in mind. The object of sending foreign missionaries to any community is not merely the conversion of a certain number of individual souls, but the development of a Ohristian community, founded upon solid Christian character. Except as this is accomplished, there can be no permanence. It cannot be accomplished without education. The native communities cannot give that rducation, foreigners must. In this all agree. There must then be some education given by missionaries. The question thus bccomes one of degree. How much is essential, or rather, how little can possibly meet the most urgent demands. Here it may fairly be claimed that the churches must trust their missionaries. None realize so keenly as they do the great need. N one are more fully alive than they to the heavy responsibility resting upon them. None understand so well the shifting phases of the great problem of the world's evangelization, or are so competent to judge wisely how to meet them. At 7,000, 10,000, 12,000 miles' distance, their acts may not always seem wise, but the chances are that they are fully as wise as the criticisms that are passed upon them. They may fairly claim, that if they are worthy to be the churches' representatives, they are worthy of their confidence, especially in so vital a matter as this.
THE MIRAOLES OF MISSIONS.-No. XI.
A WONDERFUL WORK IN THE WEST INDIES.
[EDITORIAL-A. T. P.] FOR years we have been watching one of the most remarkable of all the missionary movements of modern times. It is remarkable for its strange inception, its providential progress, and its unrivaled success. Dr. Tichenor's brief and beautiful accounts of the work supply the main sources from which we draw the material for this little sketch, which we are confident no one can read without thanksgiving to God.
During the last Ouban rebellion Oaptain AlbertoJ. Diaz, then in the rebel army, was dispatched to one of the army outposts to warn against an expected attack by Spanish forces; and in ob@yingthe order he and those with him were surrounded by the enemy. The only avenue of escape was by the sea, anq. to that they intrusted themselves. They were, however, borne out from shore, and would have perished had they not been picked up by a small vessel.
Oaptain Diaz then went to New York. Having already been graduated from both the literary and mediqal departments of the University of Havana, he resolved to -prepare himself to treat especially diseases of the eye. During the winter a severe attack of pneumonia brought him to the gates of death. Among those whose regard this polite and intelligent Ouban had won, was a Ohristiau young lady, who visited his room and vainly sought to converse with him. He could speak but little English and she did not understand his Spanish. Leaving the room, she shortly returned with her New Testament, read a portion, and then silently prayed. This she repeated for several days, until the patient sufficiently recovered to write to her, in broken English, his heartfelt thanks. He inquired what was,the little book out of which she read every day, and why" she closed her eyes and talked to herself"? She replied that the book was the New Testament, and that, after readmg it, she had prayed for him. He.had never seen anybody pray in that way before. In the great cathedral of his native city he had seen people kneel upon its marble pavement, count their beads, and, with" vain repetitions," mutter the lifeless forms and call it prayer. But this was a new idea of religion to him. He expressed his desire for the "little book," that he might find out what it was that could make her so love it. She gave him a copy, and he began to translate it into Spanish, as best he could, so that he might the better comprehend its teaching. While thus engaged, he learned that he could procure a Spanish translation at the American Bible Society; and having obtained one, he read that new and wonderful story of the life, suffering and death of Jesus.
rroward the story of blind Bartimeus his mind and heart were peculiarly attracted. The helplessness of the poor blind. man, and the wonderful goodness and power of Jesus overwhelmed him. Again and again he read it, until it dawned upo~ his soul that he was just like blind Bartimeus. Ohrist had been standing before him, but he had no eyes with which to see Him. He fell prostrate on the,fioor, and in speechless agony lay for a long time. He had never prayed and did not know how. Only with the" groanings unutterable" could he cry unto God. But God who hears just such moans and groans heard the I voice of his longing heart, and opened his lips to ask in the very woriis of that blind beggar of Jericho, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me !" The eyes of his understanding were opened. He arose" a new man." How strange, how wonderful! A new world was revealed to him; his blindness was gone; his Saviour was found; his sins were for- given; he was a child of-God.
Having been received into the fellowship of the Willoughby Avenue Church, in Brooklyn, N. Y., he yearned to go back to his native island and tell of Jesus; and he soon set sail for Cuba. He could scarcely wait for the usual salutations of love to be exchanged with his family, so eager was he to witness to the great Saviour who had opened hi~ blind eyes. But when his parents, brothers and sisters learned of his "apostasy from the true church," and of his embrace of the Protes- tant heresy, they were beside themselves with alarm and grief and for- bade him to speak to them further on the subject.
For days this bitter disappointment overwhelmed his soul with darkness; and he could do nothing but in cries and burning tears ap- peal to God for help. At length it occurred to him, that if his kin- dred would not hear him, he had friends in the city who might. To these he went, and to his great delight some of them listened and said, "We will hear thee again about this matter." On a Sunday morning a numher of them met him in the parlor of the Pasaje Hotel, and to that little company he preached Jesus and the Resurrection. All were impressed; many well-nigh convinced. The next Sunday the attend- ance was larger, and the numbers and the interest increased until the place became too small. 'By this time several had found peace in be- lieving, and it was resolved to rent a han and form a society for relig- ious worship. The Baptist articles of faith were adopted, and only those who had been made new creatures in Christ were permitted to unite with them. Diaz preached to them every Sunday, and shortly about one hundred converts were gathered into fellowship.
One holiday, as he was passing along the shore of the bay, he saw two men fishing. He stopped and began to talk to them of Jesus and salvation. They stopped and listened, and soon another party engaged in sports drew near. Then others were attracted, until from every quarter the people began to throng. In order to command his audi- dence, he mounted a barrel and spoke with great power the wonderful words of God. While he was addressing the eager crowd, two policemen stepped beside him, as he thought, to preserve order. But at th~ conclusion of his discourse he found himself under arrest. 'rhe American Consul secured his release after a short term in the guard house, but he could no longer preach on the streets. The priests re- solved to crush this Protestant movement, and warned the people not to employ the heretic physician, under pain of churchly anathemas. Djaz had been supporting himself by his proiession in order to make the gospel of Christ without charge. But now he saw himself compelled either to desert his field of labor or starve.
He sailed for New York, hoping an<,l praying that he might find the means by which to return and go on with his work. Finding that the Ladies' Bible Society of Philadelphia wanted a colporteur for Ouba, he offered his services and was accepted. Joyfully he went back, and once more was among his people; on week days he scattered Bibles and Testaments, and on Sundays met his congregation and dispensed to them the Word of Life. For more than a year the work went on; his brother and sister embraced the faith. Persecutions arose, but this fearless man continued his work.
One day he went to a town in the interior to preach and distribute books. In Cuba no religious service can be held except indoors; and he found every available place to preach barred against him. Nobody dared to allow him to hold religious meetings on their premises. At length an old, unoccupied frame building was found near the Oatholic church. At one end a rude platform was built, and Diaz began the services. The multitude thronged the place, but were ready on the slightest pretext to break into open violence. While Diaz was preaching a shot from behind and above him was fired; and the ball, passing close to the intended victim, struck a boy in front of him. The deadly shot had been fired through an opening in the weatherboarding from the tower of the Oatholic church, and the priest was the assassin. He was tried and convicted, and sent to Spain for punishment.
The screams of the wounded boy excited the multitude to frenzy. "Kill them !" "Kill the Protestants !" "Shoot the heretics !" was heard on every side. Diaz and his brother who was WIth him entered a room close at hand and barred the door agaillst the mob. With howlings and curses the infuriated rabble demanded their blood, and nothing but Divine interposition saved their lives. When the tumult died away they unbarred the door and Diaz's brother went out to see if they could find better protection or make their escape. Soon some one ran to Diaz and told him that others were beating his brother to death. He sprang from his place of concealment and ran to his relief. The mob seized him and would have killed him had not the police come to the rescue. With their coats torn off and their hats and shoes gone, bruised and bloody, they were taken before the mayor. They represented to him their treatment by this lawless mob. He promised them protection, tried to dissuade them from prosecuting their persecutors, and ol:dered his police to see them safe upon the cars. They returned to Havana, glad to escape with their lives.
Meanwhile at Key West, in Florida, W. F. Wood was laboring among the English-speaking population. In that city more than a thousand Oubans were at work in the cigar factories. No attention had been paid to their religious condition. It was taken for granted that, being foreigners and Roman Oatholics, they were inaccessible to the truth.
One Sunday morning, as Mr. Wood arose to announce his text, a stranger and a foreigner, who was deformed, slowly and with halting step moved up the aisle. All knew he was a Ouban. He gave earnest attention to the sermon, and at its close was found by Mr. Wood sitting upon his doorstep waiting to converse. '1'hey tried to talk, but as neither could speak easily in the other's tongue, a Miss Adela Fales, who lived near by, was asked to act as interpreter.
It was then found that this Ouban had come to Key West, attracted by a rumor that he could there find what he longed to find-a religious faith that could satisfy him better than the papal doctrine in which he had been reared. He had landed that very morning. Mr. Wood that week gave many hours to instructing this poor, cripplecl wanderer; and when, on the next Lord's Day, he saw two women baptized he hurried from his seat, saying: "I want to be baptized! I want to be baptized! That what my Jesus tell me do !"
All present were deeply moved by the earnestness of this simple man to follow his Lord in this ordinance representing death to sin and resurrection to newness of life. Mr. Wood wept for joy. A church conference was called. Through Miss Adela Fales he related his experience of grace, and he was received and baptized. For some weeks he remained in Key West. He was a man of intelligence, anu one evening in the Baptist house of worship he gave his reasons for leaving tHe Oatholic church and uniting with the Baptist. The house was filled to overflowing. Many Oubans were there; and at the close one of the most intelligent among them arose and asked some questions, which evinced the interest awakened in the subject.
After a few weeks this stranger returned to his home in Ouba, and nothing more has ever been heard of him. Whether he is dead, or whether for his faith in Ohrist he may be immured in some dungeon, we may never know until that day which discloses the secrets of all hearts. His coming had accomplished one great end: the Ouban people of Key West were no longer to be disregarded. Ohristian sympathy for them was awakened. '1'he Home Mission Board was appealed to for help, which was cheerfully given. A church was erected, and Miss Adela Fales was appointed missionary to this people. A Sabbathschool and a day school were established. Mr. Wood gave every enc6uragement and help to the work. Soon one, and then another, and another, until they numbered five, ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty, forty, were, as hopeful converts, brought into the fellowship of the church. The harvest was ripening for the reaper. Bya strange Providence the work in Ouba and Key West were thus linked.
This wonderful work in Ouba, considering the time and means expended in its prosecution, has n,ever been surpassed in the history of modern missions. ~n December, 1885, Alberto J. Dia.z was ordained to the work of the ministry at the request of the Baptist church in Key West, of which he was a member. In Jan- uary, 1886, a church was constituted in Havana. In May, 1887, that church numbered 301, with two other churches elsewhere, four Sunday-schools, and two day schools; and six men preparing to preach.
The whole island is open to Christian labor, and thousands are ready to abandon the system of superstition in which they have been reared, and embrace the truth as it is in Jesus. A house of worship is greatly needed in Havana. It is essential to the highest snccess in that city and in the island. Unceasing prayer for Cuba, with large and liberal offerings, should be made.
The reports of Rev. Mr. Diaz sound like battle bulletins.· They are short, almost telegraphic, but they mark wonderful progress. Here is one of them : "I baptized 33 the last quarter of 1886; up to March 1, 1887,69 more, mak- ing the total in fellowship 202, and I have received for baptism 100 more. We have now great excitement, and the cry from every part of the island is, 'We want the gospel,' but we have not the means to support the laborers on the field. Your brothel', A. J. DIAZ."
Note these remarkable facts from Dr. Tichenor's appeal: H This Cuban mission, established in January, 1886, grew within the first year of its existence to have in Havana- H 1. A church and five other preaching stations, three Sunday-schools numbering three hundred scholars, and two day schools, where Christ is taught as in the Sunday-schools, numbering one hundred and fifty more, all in the city. This church, numbering two hundred and two baptized believers, with one hundred candidates for baptism and six men studying for the ministry.
H 2. Another church, with a Sunday-school and a day school had been organized in a town nat far from Havana.
H 3. Two churches, numbering over three hundred members, four Sunday-schools numbering about three hundred and fifty members, and three day schools, where Christ is taught, numbering say two hundred pupils-were the work of a single year."
Here is a later account, published early in 1888 : ,( Two years ago a Baptist church was constituted in Havana–the first one in the island of Cuba. This church now numbers 700 mem- bers. Three other churches have grown out of it, which aggregate probably 250 members. These four churches have seventeen regular preaching stations, twelve of which are in the city of Havana.
" The smallpox has scourged the city terribly in the last three or four months. These Baptist people went everywhere when the disease was raging, visiting the sick, caring for the dying, burying the dead.
The martyr spirit animated them. Ttw ~~~e of Christ constraine<i them, and when the dark pan hung over the city, they became mini~ter ing angels to the pOOl' and the needy.
"Thirty-five church members, and 150 of the congregation, became victims of the destroying pestilence. Since last May 200 adults and about 150 children have been buried in the Baptist cemetery in Havana. But see how God has rewarded the faith and Ohristian heroism of his people. At the beginning of this fearful epidemic the church in Havana numbered 350 members; it now numbers 700. On the 13th of November brother Diaz baptized 105 "new men and women" born into the kingdom of God during this time of trouble.
" Do you wonder at it, and inquire how such a work was accomplished?
Here is part of the secret. Two of our female missional'ies reported more than 1,600 conversations with individuals about their soul's sal- vation during the last quarter, forty-four of whom embraced Ohrist as their Saviour and were baptized into the fellowship of His people.
Similiar work was done by many others not in the employ of the Board. Into the plague-smitten homes they carried healing for the soul as well as the body. God blessed their words and let none of them fall to the ground.
"Read brother Diaz's letter, and while you rejoice and thank God for His wonderful work, remember that you cau help to redeem the mil- lions of that fair island who yet walk in darkness."
"HAVANA, 27 de December, de 1887.
"The epidemic disease is over, only one or two cases we have daily. We hitve lost over 150 members. Last month I baptized on Sunday evening (the 13th) 1()5 that were converted during the epidemic disease. I asked one Of the deacons to go with me into the water, and we both expended two hours baptizing the new women and men. The membership in Havana is 700. I calculate we have 1,000 Baptists on the island. Last year we had in our Sunday-school 500 pupils, and in the present year we have 1,844 in the city of Havana. All the missions outside Havana ha'e their own Sunday-schools and they may have 150 or 200, each one of them. We celebrated the Christ- mas tree this year, and took one of the theaters, where we gathered 2,000 children and over 3,000 adults; the hall was full. We will double Oul' mem- bership if we have the church building. Your brother, " A. J. DIAZ."
IT is not to be wondered at that the Southern Baptist Convention in its last session at Richmond, Va., declared that in Ouba a crisis has been reached that imperatively demands an expenditure of over $50,- 000. The Home :fifission Board, to which this work is intrusted, pro- poses to purchase a property built for a theater, which is admirably situated and adapted to the needs of the work. To purchase this valu- able property will enable the congregation to have an immediate place of worship instead of waiting two years to build one. We hope the appeal of the corresponding secretary. Dr. Tichenor, will meet with a prompt response. The door has been opened by God in Ouba and the right man is there to carryon the work.
PROT~STANT MISSIONS IN EASTERN EQUATORIAL AFRICA
From Dr. F. M. Ellis, of Baltimore, we have just received additional facts) from which we gratefully glean a handful for this article: The work has gone steadily forward, and the progress reported has been simply marvelous, until there are now 17 mirsionaries, six regularly organized churches in as many cities, about twenty preaching stations, over 2,500 pupils in Sunday-schools, and 500 more in day schools where the Bible is taught large congregations, and a revolution of pnblic sentiment, which is as remarkable as it is hopeful. In a little more than two years, 1,100 bave been baptized, and nine native preachers l'aised up. These converts have contributed $4,610 in a single year, faced the pestilence, endured mob violence and priestly persecution. Over8,OOO have applied for baptism, but only those are received who give clear evidence of the new birth. One of the most eminent priests is among the converts, and intends to give himself to preaching the pure gospel in Cuba.
PROTESTANT MISSIONS IN EASTERN EQUATORIAL AFRICA.
[WE reproduce from the London Reco)'d a timely article relative to events in which the whole missionary world feels intense interest. The illltlals to it show it to be from a source which entitles it to the most serious consideration. It presents a different view of the movement on foot to suppress the African slave trade from that usually taken, but it is well to see both sides. Some of the sad eveuts preuicted in Decembel' have already come to pass.-Ens.] BEFORE the blow has fallen it is as well that those who are interested in the sacred work of missions should reflect upon what is likely to happen in the first half-year of 1889.
During the last fifteen years (or more in some cases) the following British Protestant Missionary Societies have, out of pure love to their fellowcreatures, without any idea of personal or national profit, prosecuted their quiet and unselfish labors among the inhabitants of the vast region which extends ft'om the Victoria Nyanza south to the River Zambezi, and from the IndIan Ocean west to Lake Tanganyika: (1) The Church Missionary Society. (2) The Universities' Mission. (3) The London Missionary Society. (4) The United Free MethodIsts. (5) The Established Qhurch of Scotland. (6) The Free Church of Scotland. They ha'e been received by the people willingly, and quite as much progress has been made as the most sanguine dared to hope for. Tens of thousands of pounds have been disbursed, but on tIllS no stress is laid, as missions are not commercial concerns, and it is not easy to assess the value of one redeemed soul. But the prayers, the deepest intel:est-, the greatest selfdenial and self-consecration of the British nation have gone forth into Eastern Africa. Bishops Mackenzie, Steere, Hannington, and Parker, and a great army of. Christian confessors, male and female, have left their bones in Africa as a witness, before men and angels, that the land has been claimed for Christ. Suddenly a Protestant continental nation, which had not studied the A B C of colonial policy, or the rudiments of treatment of Oriental nations III a lower state of culture, puts itself forward, and goes in for so-called colonies. Just as an upstart citizen, who has amassed a competency, sets up a carriage and an expensive establishment, so a newly-formed empire, remarking that the elder Powers of Great Bl'itain, France, Spain, Portugal, and Denl1lal'k had colonies, cries out, "Oh! We must have colonies also," an<l the statesman of Friedl'ichsl'uh sends for tIle traveler, the botanist, the liquor dealer, and the general merchant, and takes counsel with them as to the unoccupied tracts in Africa and Oceania, on which violent hands can be laid; the more unprotected the less trouble to annex. Unhappy Eastern Equatorial Africa presented an opening. A company is formed, armed at all points, for it hal', its Protestant and Roman Catholic Mission Department in connection with it. Fictitious treaties are formed with imaginary chiefs, and the German cartographers hasten to recolor their political maps with so-called colonies. Men are sent out to administer, utterly ignorant of the elementary principles of rule. The Mohammedan chief of Zanzibar and his adherents are insulted; it is openly asserted that plantations are to be es- tablished, as all proprietary right" belong to the state; that the natives are to be made to work as the condition of existence; and that it is the duty of the missionaries to substitute industrial training for religious instruction and teach the natives how to work. The Hamburgh liquor exporters have a new field of profitable commerce thrown open to them.
Last autumn the whole thing blew up; every German is driven out of the country; many are killed, and the work of reconstruction "with blood and iron" has to be recommenced. The British Government has been in- duced to join in a blockade, ostensibly against the slave dealers, with the Germans, who have never as yet shown any anti-slave-trade interests; the blockade may not do, much to restore the German power, but it may do much to injure the British missions, and this is the real and only point of interest to us.
Wherever the missions are planted they have gained the affections of the people, and their very existence depends upon this fact. A capricious chief may give occasional trouble, but he is soon appeased; a covetous chief may demand excessive presents, but, ff the missionary has little to offer, he can- not be plundered to any extent. There is the great fact-that the missions were there and were doing well until the German trouble arose. 1'11e great object must' be to convince the natives that, with the exception of being white men, there is no connection between the British missionary and the German trader and annexationist; that the aim of the two parties is totally different. Whatever may be the object and method of the Germans, it should he impressed on the people that the British missionaries seek not the lands or the products or the wealth of the people; they desire to exercise no au- thority over them. They will not raise their hands against anyone of them, and they are prepared to die rather than fight: It is a shocking thing that it should have come to this, but the only chance of maintaining the mis- sionary position is by asserting this and practicing it. If the rule of "blood and iron" be introduced by the Germans, it will go hard with the British mIssionaries, unless they take up an entirely separate position from the in- vaders of a peaceful country with no shadow of right.
The British missions on Victoria Nyanza will suffer trom want of supplies of men and means; the mission on Lake Tanganyika will be in great peril on both sides, from the Kongo on the west as well as from the east. The missions on Lake Nyassa may possibly hold their own, if the passage of the Zambezi is kept open. On the Universities' mission in U-Sambara, north of Zanzibar, and on the Rovuma to the south, the storm will burst with greatest violence. '
These excellent missions have been conducted on the soundest principles- for the good of the people, spiritual first, and material as a consequence; they have the credit of being popUlar, and now will come the proof. AU the female agents of the mission I have been sent to Zanzibar, and the Bishop and his subordinates will hold the fort, not against the people, but against the Germans and the low creatures of the coasts who may take service for the purpose of plunder. In U-Sambara there is a large popula- tion of several hundred thousand agriculturists, dwelling in villages, peace- fully disposed, but well armed with European weapons, and under one su- perior chieftain, a man who is quiet and yet determined, wl;o declares that he has made no treaty with the foreign invader accepting their suzerainty, and who, "like Ulster, intends to fight." Bushirk, whose name is mentioned as leader of the Country Party, is a man well known to the missionaries and of good reputation. These people are not Mohammedar.s, not Arabs, not Arabized Africans, not subjects of the Sultan of Zanzibar, but an indepen- dent Bantu population who will fight, and all that the missionaries can do is to keep clear of the combat both in word or deed, and retire to some safe spot till the issue is decided. Any partisanship in deeds of blood is con- trary to their office.
These remarks are made from a missionary point of view, and not a polit- icalone. We should be silent if the Gel'mans annexed wantonly a large region where there were no miRsions. But the highest principles of mis- sionary opera,tions are violated by the German annexationist. Forgetful of the hospitality shown to German missions in British India, he commences his career of colonial government by ejecting the British Baptist Society from the Kameruns in West Africa. The welfare of the Universities' mis- sion on the East Coa1't is now at stake. The view of the German annexa· tionist as to missions is cynical. He introduces both Protestant and Roman Catholic under the condition that they are German, and teach only the German language; religion must give way to patriotism; the banner of the Lamb to the German flag. How different will be the position of the mission- ries in U.Sambara after the country has been invaded, villages burnt, and hundreds shot down; yet there is no other way of re-establishing the Ger- man rule, which was based on unprincipled annexation. R. N. C.
lWe append two items from the daily press of a more recent date as con- firmatory of the above-EDs.] .
.. The fight of slavery for existence in East Africa is one oC desperation, and for the past few weeks all the successes have been on its side. Save for the jOint action of the European powers in patrolling the shores, there would be an enormons exportation of the victims of this traffic, who are said to be found in the coast districts in great throngs. The attack on the Dares-Sakem station and the selling into slavery of a hundred natives there captured, besides several of the missionaries themselves, shows the cbaracter of the struggle now going On. So does the establisbing of a great slave mart close to Bagomoyo. The Arab slave-dealing power is, in fact, now alert everywhere. The wbole 1I1ahdist movement had back of religiOUS fanaticism tbe slave-hunting infiuence to uphold it, and propably Khalifa Abdullah, as well as his predecessor, has drawn sinews of war from this source. In Mwanga's domains the Arabs have made a clean sweep, and from many points between the lakes and the coasts tbe mission stations have been recalled. These will hereafter appear memorable days in the history of tbe slave traffic in Africa, when it made a fierce struggle against the advance of civilization and humanity."
.. ZANZmA.R, Jan. 17.-'l'he Arabs have destroyed the German missionary station at Tugu, 15 miles west of Dares-Sakem. A majority of the slaves captured by tbe German man-oC-war Leipzig were lodged at tbe station. One missionary succeeded'in escaping from the Arabs, but eight others were massacred. Three bodies, One of them that of a woman, were found mutilated in a barbarous manner. The Arabs carried off the servants and slaves at the station. The Frenell missionary stations, e6pecially those situated near Tugu, are in imminent danger. The Arabs, who are now joining in the slave trade, come principally from Kilwa and Lindi, and are richer and more infiuenlial than Busbirk, and are likely to overshadow him. These accessions to the l'anks of the slave traders will have the effect of reinvigorating the revolt, whieh wonld have died ont if the Germans had not retained Bogamoyo and Dares-Sakem."
Iii!!.) 'l'Jllil BONDEI MISSION, EAST AFRIOA. 1~
THE BONDEI MISSION, EAST AFRICA.
BY W. H. MORSE, M.D., WESTFIELD, N. J. [IN connection with the fore:::oing article, the foJlowing paper we are snre will be read with lively interest.-EDS.] IT is doubtful if, in the history of modern missions, there has been anything more pronounced in the way of the reflex influence of missions than that which has attended the labors of the "Universities' Mission" on that section of the East African coast which is now the theater of the revolt against the authority Of the Sultan of Zanzibar. It is less than a quarter of a century since the inauguration of efforts outgrown from the notable work of Bishop Steere on the site of the former slave-market. The spire of the new cathedral had hardly been reared to cast its shadow across the straits upon the dark mainland, when men of the band bore the gospel to the savage tribes whose fire-winged arrows had repelled the advance of trader and teacher.
•, vVe bear Life and we trust to live! " they said when warned of the embrace of death's opportunity. And they lived. Not.a knife was drawn-not a spear was raised. Incredible as it may seem, within ten years the Bondei country was the seat of several flourishing stations. Magila had its mud-walled chapel; Pangani.was made the port of entry for the good tidings; and all along the water-side from Bagamoyo to Dar-es-Salaam striking results were visible. More than this, the chiefs of Usagara, Nguru, Uzeguha, and Ukami, and the redoubtable Kimweri, Sultan of Usambara, all invited an extension of the sphere of activity and welcomed the missionaries. Nothing could have been more encouraging. Moreover, the country was thus opened for trade, and the merchant, following in the track of the missionary, and profiting by the protection afforded him, gained a success which commercial endeavor could not have achieved alone.
All went prosperously. For benevolence of intentions, modesty of demeanor, and purity of proceedings, the missions had no superior. The year 1884 brought the first premonitions of a change. With the Englishmen came other Europeans-Italians and Germans-men with other aspirations and ambitions than those of evangelization and trade. On the 26th of February the General Act of the West African Conference for the future partition of Africa was signed by the European Powers, and within twenty-four hours the Emperor William chartered the German Colonization Society and confirmed certain papers which Dr. Karl Peters and Count Behr Bundelin had brought from Africa. These papers were distinguished as treaties, and were concluded by Dr. Peters in November and December of the previous year with the four principal savage chiefs, who, by their presents, made cession of large territories to him with sovereign rights. The charter conferred the Imperial Protectorate. Supplementarily there was added to the bundle of treaties a formal concession from Seyid Bargash, Sultan of Zanzibar, which granted to the company for fifty years the administration of the entire coast line from the Umba to the Rovuma river. "The secret of the proceedings which led to the signing of these several documents stands unrevealed. One of the missionaries, Rev. J. P. Farler, writing of the matter, says pointedly: "No chief ever did knowingly make such a treaty with utter strangers for no equivalent."
That this opinion had some basis the sequel showed. When the news gradually reached the natives that the Germans had acquired sovereign rights over the countries of Bondei, Chaga, Pare and Usambara, the indignation was of the most intense character. They came in crowds to the missions to inquire what it all meant, anil to absolutely repudiate the so-called treaties as exceeding any intention entertained by them. They inquired of the missionaries as to who the Germans were, and were greatly relieved to find that they were a different nation from themselves, speaking a differ- ent language. To again quote Mr. Farler: "They said, 'The English we know, and the Arabs we know, but who are these people?' As we foresaw trouble," he continues, "we made it clear to the chiefs and natives, that in Europe, as in Africa, there were many l'aces, speaking different languages, and ruled by different sovereigns," -"Vhen the news of the Sultan's conces- sion was added to the previous information, and was emphasized by the sad fact that it had been obtained on his death-bed, "the Arabs and Swahili of the coast towns were highly indignant, and openly said: 'The Sultan is our lord, and we will obey no other master. If the Germans merely take over the administration of the customs, and we remain under the Sultan's rule, we shall offer no objections. But if they attempt to exercise sovereign rights we shall oppose them by every means in our power.' ,', It is easy to see the reason for the insurrection with which the cable is still burdened. When the time came fOl' replacing the Sultan's officials by Ger- mans, they unfortunately, through their want of tact and experience in dealing with indigenous tribes, excited the angel' of the people by ignoring their customs, and treating both the flag of the Sultan and his officials with contempt. '1'he patience of the natives gave way, and the whole coast rose against them. The tribes of the interiol' shared the feelings of the coast peoples, and in September they began to come down to the coast in vast num- bers to support the Arabs and Swahili against the obnoxious foreigners. Thousands quickly assembled, and beginning with Tangani, the port of Maglla, they visited town after town, until the Germans were all driven out or killed. In less than thirty days the company were driven out of the country, and the new Sultan's authority was in abeyance at all points.
Toward the close of the month grave fears for the safety of the missional'ies began to be entertained at Zanzibar on the part of their friends, and especially on that of the British consul-general, Colonel Euan-Smith, whoat once implored the Sultan's aid. An Arab of importancf', and possessing large influence with the insurrectionists, was dispatched to Pangani in one of the Sultan's ships, under orders to bring away the misslOnaries, if they had survived the rising. At Pangani this official was refused permission to land, and had to return to Zanzibar. The following day (Sept. 27) the insurgents surprised all by sending CoL Euan-Smith a letter, "guaranteeing the safety of the missionaries, in recognition of their many good deeds." "They have always treated llS with courtesy," the letter simply said.
Soon after the mission party found means of communicating with Zanzibar, and sent word that they were not in any danger, and that they were receiving the kindest of treatment from· the natives. The Arabs and the chiefs, who have the most influence at Pangani and in its neighborhood, are the close personal 'friends of the missionaries; and one, an Arab of the highest prominence in the country, had paid a long visit to Magila just before the rising, and had been hospitably entertained. Indeed, there is not the slightest hostility of the coast people; and the same may be said of the inland tribes. There might be danger from some of the savages from the far interior, who might consider all white men of one race, and make no discrimination.
But this peril will hardly be great, from the fact that Usambara lies between the Bondei country and the interior, and Kimweri, its sultan, who 1889.j TIlE BONDEI MISSION, EAST AFRICA. 199 has a warm friendship for the missions and the Christian religion, would not allow any tribe to pass who would attack Magila. "We can therefore conclude by saying," writes Mr. Farler, "that we believe our missionaries to be in no greater dangers than are incidental to uncivilized countries. The time of anxiety for oui' brethren at Magila has at least Ehown that the natives far and near are our friends, and that we have won our way into the respect and confidence of the people among whom we dwell."
Nevertheless, the British Government wants to "remove" the missionaries "to save them from the savages." It advises them to leave, and offers to help them get away. Protection is declined, and would not be given were it needed. "Solid tude for their welfare" is Lord Salisbury's wish; but so confident is Bishop Smythies of Magila that, in answel' to the proposal he has written the Foreign Office: "If you remove us by force we shall l'eturn; and the only way to get rid of us is to take our lives." There may, of course, be a matter of mistake as to the political fault in the case; but putting aside all question as to the honor of intent and purpose, the idea of removing a number of Englishmen accepted by the natives as their instructors and benefactors is characteristic of the time as it is interpreted in England. But the brave Inen propose not to be removed, and while the hatred for the Germans and the Sultan's officials is intense, they are enjoying their steadilyprogressing labor of love. Not one of the members has been molested, and· the brave band of eighteen remain to do more for the extinction of African slavery and the suppression of the rum traffic than all of the efforts of Cardinal Lavigede and his crusaders.
The success of tlle missions in the real work of evangelization, while not wonderful, is certainly notable. The New Testament, translated into Swahili, is read by hundreds, if not thousands, who, from the sea-coast to the lake-country, have a general acquaintance with that language. There has been accomplished a real work of civilization; but the testimony to the value of the results is as nothing when there comes forth the fact that such is the influence of the missionary that, in this time of fiercely jealous savagery, he stands protected by the Divine favor shown in the savage heart.
[We append the following items of interest from the London Times of a late date.-EDs.] Extract from a letter of Prince Bismarck to the German Consul at Zanzibar, censuring the German Company: .. As to the events at Bagamoyo and Pangani referred to, the detailed accounts thereof now before me confirm me in the opinion that the hoisting of the Company's fiag at the ports was neither called for nor advisable, and that the disputes which have arisen 011 the subject might have been avoided had the agents of the Company prudently confined themselves to doing what was practically needful. which constitutes the primary condition of success in hazardous undertakings on nnknown territories. . . . The Company's conduct, as it appears to me, was more energetic than circumspect, and energy in a region which 1s beyond the ran:re of our guns can only be displayed at the cost of incommensurate sacrifices,"
BISHOP SMYTHIES' PROTEST.
Extract from a letter from Bishop Smythies of Zanzibar to his brother: .. I hope it is clearly understood in England that the distnrbances on the coast have had nothing to do with opposition from the slave-traders, or With Mohammedan feeling; but are entirely due to the high-handed action of the members of the German East-African Company, who have treated the parts of the coast where they have settled as a conquered country."
MISSIONARY VOLUNTEERS
MISSIONARY VOLUNTEERS.
[THE movement among college students in our day is so remarkable in its inception, progress and possible results, that we think it ought to be chronicled in these pages. We have put into competent hands the work of preparing from time to time a brief statement of new developments.-Ens.] THE two leading features of the student movement at present are the steps, first, toward a better system and permanency in organization, and secondly, toward having each college send its representative to the foreign field. i At first a man was sought who should give his whole time as chief exec- utive; afterward it was thought best to choose instead a~ executive com- mitteeof one representative from the Y. lL C. A., the Y. W. C. A., and the Inter-Seminal'y Missionary Alliance respectively. The Y. M. C. A. was already represented in Mr. John R. Mott, College Secretary, one of the" Mt.
Hermon Hundred." The other members will be chosen soon by the Northfield Committee, subject to the :;tpproval of the national Y. W.C.A. and the Inter- Seminary Alliance committees. Mr. R. P. Wilder, inseparably connected with this movement, consents to give one more year to develop and extend it by visitation among the students. He has already v.isited several insti- tutions and conventions with rich results. There will be, too, a corre- sponding secretary and a press secretary of the movement.
The succeSi; of the Princeton college men last year in raising money to support a representative in the foreign field, and the prompt departure of Mr.
Forman for India, stimulated like effort in the theological seminades of Prmceton, Union, Xenia, Rutgers, Allegheny, and the Virginia Protestant Episcopal Seminary in the United States, and Queen's, Wickliffe, Univer- sity, and Knox colleges in Canada.
This year also Princeton College has raised $938 for Mr. Forman, Prince- ton Seminary reports $1,000, and Union has pledged $747 for a foreign missionary, and voted an additional $300 [or a home missionary. Brown University has chosen a member of the Senior class who goes to the Congo valley next June, and already $700 are subscribed toward his support.
Hampden-Sidney, Va., has a fund of $625; Lafayette, a total subscription for this year of $787.68, and an aggregate for foul' years of $2,157.08.
Othel1s are moving -in the same direction, sl1ch as Boston, Wooster, Grove City, Drew and Oberlin. In some cases, as at Lafayette, funds are pledged for a succession of years.
The number of volunteers anj the interest in the bands are also increasing.
The total number of volunteers reported at Northfield last July was 2,600.
The work of Messrs. Wilder, O'Brien, Stoops, and others increased that number to 2,900 in October, and on December 13th the total in the United States and Canada was 3,100.
This movement has been characterized as merely a "splendid burst of enthusiasm," an "excellent harvest of promises"; but the steady increase in numbers and practical interest, and the fact that, according to the reports of the Canadian and American Foreign Mission Boards, 103 have already gone to foreign fields, and 17 more are under appointment, prove God's hand in this uprising of student volunteers.
As yet, however, not one-half the colleges have been touched. Even those visited by Messrs. Forma,n and Wilder have two new classes. Each band must reach out to its sister colleges, and each volunteer to another rnan, a.nd so help on this work so grandly begun.
la8~.] TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES
A VOLUNTEER'S EXPERIENCE.
FROM one who has been visiting among the churches of Ontario we cull the following interesting account: "My summer's work for' missions' bas been eutirely in connection witb tbe Presbyterian Cbnrch in Ontario. I bave addressed, since tbe 15tb of May, 44 congregations and some of tbem twice. Several of tbese were doing practically notbing, oLhers almost indifferent, and but few awake to tbeir responsibility. Being in tbe conntry most congregations were comparatively small, and tbe work of missions quite new to many; and several do not even support their own pastors. However, all congregations visited promis~ to do more, and one cburcb will likely support a man, and I trust also our own in Parkdale before anotber year. My work was simply that of stimulation, presenting missions in tbe plainest way possible, using charts and diagrams, showing' the encour- agement, tbe need and tbe claims upon tbe cburcb at bome,' and speaking oftbe ' volunteer students,' and the responsibility of Obristians regarding tbem. Tbrough the introduction of our pastor here, I went out, trusting only in tbe Lord for support. I made no appeal for myself or my work but I can noW say experimentally that' I lacked nothing.' My expenses were all provided for by voluntary contributions and witb the surplus 1 bave circulated free over 100 copies of the' Crisis of Mis- sions,' cbeap edition, and 17,000 of 'A Group of Facts on Foreign Missions.'
"In conclusion I add a tonching story: .. On tbe evening of the 9tb of July,1887, a Cbristian girl but fifteen years of age departed this life.
Sbe had, for a long time, suffere'd from consumption. On tbat evening sbe asked that her mission- ary box sbould be brougbt, and sbe began to count ber savings for missions durine; tbe month; and it amonnted to forty cents. She placed ber little savings in the usual envelope for miSSions, and two hours later went to be witb the Saviour.
.. Having known the cbild personally,whose life bad been a wonderfnl stimulus to me in my work, and wbose death I sball never forget, I asked her motber for tbis forty cents for missions. It was gladly given and inclosed in a little purse to organize a WQ1'k in China. I began to give testimony concerning ber life, nsing tbis last act by way of iIlnstration, and at tbe first meeting the Lord added $14 to tbe little purse. .. Since tbeu God has increased the amount to $117,and simply as the resnlt of r~peating to otbers tbe simple story."
BRIEF NOTES.
THE total number of volunteers iu the States and Canada (Dec. 17) was 3,100.
One hundred and three volunteers have sailed; 17 more are under appointment.
The student interest in missions extends over two continents. American colleges are joined in this work with the universities of England, Scandanavia and Germany.
Tbe" appeal" of volunteers to the churcbes bas called forth a corresponding appeal from a member of the church to stUdent volunteers for foreign missions, which may hereaiter appear in these pages.
Missionary "bands" are being introduced in the English universities. Oxford has just started one with a membership of fourteen.
The entire Senior class-fourteen in number-in tbe United Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pa., have "eported to their Board of Foreign Missions their willingness to engage in the foreign work. Churches and an individual have engaged to provide for tbe support of six, who will probahly be sent during the coming season.
Al! the missions of the Reformed Church in America are asking for men and some for women. Present necessities call for five or six men, and two or tbree women. Two years ago their Japan mission asked for ten men and four women. Only one of each could be sent. Already this year tbree applications have been refused from lack of means.
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
THE Lund Missions-Tidning, speaking of the Missionary Conference in London, says; " There was no parading with great names in this conference. Tbere was no disposition to regard anyone else than Jesus alone. Many of tbe names wbicb stood upon tbe programme are not especially well known. IDlt it is just the true renown of the possessors of tbese names tbat, in self·forgetful love, they bave busied themselves among tbe heatben, and bave come forth from these living graves, called by the conductors of this conference, to describe wbat they bave seen and beard in the land of darkness and tbe sbadow of death, with all its bideous abominations, and to bear witness of tbat gospel wbich both for higb and low is God's power nnto salvation."
A Lutheran missionary of Madura, writing in the Tidning as to the needs of their native helpers, says, among other things: " We onght to take care tbat tbey have or get good books. Of these some of them are sadly destitute. I once met with a native helper, who had been ten or twelve years in the missionary service, and yet did not own a Bible, nor eYen the New Testament. In Madnra I have had all my native helpers give me a list of their books, and where they need good books I procure them and let them pay me gradually. But it is not enough: they must also learn to study them. The natives are in general no friends of literary occupation. Diligently as they labor upon tbeir studies when preparing for an examination, yet, as soon as this is over, they cast their books into a corner, and trouble themselves no more with them. Our native helpers are no exception to the rule. They have to be encouraged, and indeed compelled, if nothing else will avail, to make use of their books, so that·they shall not forget what they have learned in the seminar)", but shall go on to build upon the foundation there laid. It is true, the yearly examination they have to undergo before lhe Church Council is an admirable means of driving them to study, especially as the increase of their wages depeuds essentially upon their passing it. Yet these yearly examinations comprise only a small part of the circle of knowledge which it concerns them to cultivate. They do not supersede, but rather imply special instruction and examination by the missionary himself."
The Dansle Missions-Blad says that its soqiety has had, this last year, in its fields of labol' abl'0L:' especial occasion to complain of indifference to the preaching of the missionaries. Madras, however, contrasted favorably with the country parts of South India. A Brahman had been baptized. The Danish Society is considering under what form those are to be received as catechumens, who cannot be baptized, as having more than one wife. In the annual meeting of the society there was a lively debate upon this topic, evincing decided divergences of view. The introductory prayer to the annual sermon of the Danish 111. S., preached at Ringsted, in Zealand, is worth translating. It is a good missionary collect: "Holy and mighty God.! Holy and compassionate Saviour! Thou thyself hast said that thou wilt be with thy friends a)l the days. Let us, therefore, perceive beyond doubt that thou art with us to-day, that thou dost operate within our hearts and upon our hearts by thy Holy Spirit, and that thou dost bless this missionary festival throughout all its course, even as thou alone canst bless. Amen." In the following serl1:lOn is this brief reminder: "The Missionary Commission. was given to men who were unhesitatingly ready to show their faith in Jesus by their deed. But yet it was given to sinfttl men, who could be terrified, over-scrupulous, and often doubtful. Even a Paul and a Barnabas, on a missionary journey, could fall at variance as to the best method of carrying on the work, and thereupon separate, although neither of them was separated or wished to be separated from the Lord."
The German friends of missions are under strong temptation, continually repeated, to subordinate their work to the colonial ambitions of their country. They appear to be meeting this temptation manfully. The following, from the Evangelisch-Ltttherisches Missionsblatt, can be best understood as having such a reference: f "Th~ kingdom of Christ was not to succeed the great dominions of the world as these succeeded each other. There the later always brought· destruction to the earlier, and one transmitted to the other the germ of sinful corruption. But in the midst of these temporal and earthly changing and tranSitory images of the prophet's vision, there grew up, out of the seed of the gospel, out of the mustard grain of the preached word, the eternal kingdom of the Most High, in the unostentatious, simple form of the congregation of Jesus Christ, of the Christian church. This has, it is true, experienced at the hands of the kingdoms of this world much injustice, hostility and oppression. She has had also many enticing offers to receive their characteristics into herself. But she has steadily asserted her peculiar character of God's kingdom in this, that she has never and nowhere allowed herself to be permauently fettered by the boundaries of nations or langnages, by the enactments or policies of states, by distinctions of race or grades of culture. She has remained true to the apostolic declaration: 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, .there is neither male nor female.' Over all these severing barriers she has striven toward the higher unity: •Ye are all one in Christ Jesus.'"
The Leipsic M. S., though sending out within three years 11 missionaries to South India, has met with so many losses by death or sickness that now, for its 23 stations, it has only 22 missionaries. Yet "we have to acknowledge as a speci~l blessing of God that these our missionaries do not stand alone, but are supported 1?ya stately array of native helpers, namely: 14 native preachers, 4 candidates, 57 catechists, 267 teachers, and some 130 inferior assistants of various sorts, making out 472 in all." The income of the Leipsic SOCiety for the last financial yeal' was: contributions, $69,614.40; intel'est on legacies, profits of the Missionsblatt, etc., $4,098.72; total receipts, $73,713.12; balance in. the treasury, $10,440.24. Grand total, $84,153.36; outlays, $72,317.76; balance, $11,835.60.
Trichinopoli is a main station of the Lutheran lfission. I therefore give at length the following description from Missionary A. Gehring, as it conveys a vivid impression of South India: " A citadel of heathenism. This citadel lies ever plain before my eyes as a steady admonition not to become weary in the combat for the truth. For when in my study I raise my eyes to the window it frowns threateningly across the city upon me. This citadel is 'the Rock of Trichinopoli.' A brief description of it may perhaps serve to convince my friendly readers that there is still much, very much, to be done before the King of Glory can enter India also in triumph.
"At the northern end of Trichinopoli, not far from the banks of that stream of blessing, the Cauvery, there rises out of the plain an isolated, massive rock of granite, apparently ejected from the interior of the earth by volcanic forces. The rock, unclothed with soil, lifts itself in the form of a truncated sngar-Ioaf to the height of 330 feet. At its foot extends the city, toward the south. Coming from the Enropean quarter, which lies outside the city, we pass through the long marketstreet dil'ectly to the point at which begins the ascent to the rock. From thence we behold the whole rock-temple lying before us in its imposing grandeur. For it is no modest footpath which leads to the summit. For you must climb toilsomely up, some two-thirds of the height, by ample staircases and under lofty halls, constructed of great granite blocks, which are built to the rock almost as if amalgamated with it. The steps are perfectly smooth from the continual ascents and descents of the barefooted visitors, and the walls have been colored black by their oily hands. For in India people like to oil themselves, and even the idols receive their daily unction, so that at last they acquire the veritable color of darkness. After the first landing we turn into a street which runs around the rock, and is already within its preCinct. There dwell Brahmans, at the feet of their gloomy idols. A little farther the visitor is greeted by two huge elephants, which ofter their salutation by lifting their trunks to their foreheads with a trumpeting roar, begging a gift for the temple. These, notwithstanding their clumsy feet, have learned to go up and down the staircases most handsomely. For all, their puffing we leave them without a present, and still ascend. The Brahman women, mostly close-shaven widows, who are toilsomely ascending and descending, carrying water-pots on their hips, crowd shyly back against the wall as if fearing the polluting vicinity of the nnbelievers, or retreat into the niches which are built on here and there on either side, and in which Pulleiar, that hideous idol with the elephant's head and huge paunch, broods in the darkness. He never lacks for fresh flowers and a sacred candle, nor for timid worshipers that humbly bow before him, presenting oblations and prayers. About halfway up the ascent we reach two great halls to right and left, supported by stone pillars hewn out with skill and art, and serving as a storehouse for all manner of tinsel used in adorning the idols, and as a place of abode for guests at the great heathen festivals. The covered staircases end only at the entrance of the main temple, which lies to the left of the ascent, and, massively built of granite blocks, rises in a lofty oblong. Into this temple no· European dare venture, and only from the threshold do the anxiously watchful doorkeepers allow him to cast a glance into the dusky halls. No great loss. For the space within seems like the ve"tibule of hell. Bats flit around by thousands and poison the air. Filth, moisture, darkness. and uncanny music resounding out of the background quickly drive the visitor away, to go out upon the open rock, and to enjoy himself in the fresh air with the beautiful prospect which offers itself from here over the city, and beyond it over a plain overflowing with abundance. How beautiful, indeed, it is I Below, the variegated throngs of natives in their picturesque costumes passing through the streets; beyond, the green trees and gardens out of which the European dwellings shimmer forth, and to right and left the palm-woods and luxuriant plantain-gardens interrupted by rice-fields in the most glorious green. We then learn to understand the words of the missionary Bishop Heber, who)ndeed lies buried in Trichinopoli : " •For every prospect pleases, And ouly man is vile I '
.. Bnt there is one thing wt.ich I may not leave:unmentioned, which rejoices the heart, after hav- Ing come up hither through the darkness of the courts of heathenism. That is, the crosses which rise before us over the slender church-spires_ One of these spires belongs to our Zion Church, which in its vestment of rose color, illumined by the evening sun, greets Ius with a friendly mien ~trengthening to our faith.
" But we are not yet at the summit, for on the very uppermost pinnacle there still stands a tempie of Pulleiar, over which rises the flagstaff of the Euglish Government. From here night by night bright lights gleam over the city. To reach the top we turn eastward and climb toilsomely up on steps hewn in the stone. We pass traces in the rock which resemble a wagon track, and lead into a deep cleft of the rock. They have evidently beeu hewn by the stone masons in the rock, but the superstitious multitude relate that here the war·god, Subramanien, came in his chariot out of the air and entered the cleft. From the temple on the snmmit, which is surrounded by a covered gal- lery, there is a convenient prospect round, revealing on the north the broad river beds of the Collu- dam and Cauvery, surrounding the fruitful island of Srirangam (i. e. holy river isle), which is reached by great bridges over the two rivers. The distant ,'region, bounded by blue mountain ranges, fairly deserves the name of. a paradise, unknowing fall or winter. but in which perpetual spring appears to reign. The rock on this side descends almost perpendicularly, and the houses at its foot seem, with their level roofs, to lie flat upon the ground. Looking westward, we see right at the foot of the rock the old church and dwelling·house built by 'Fatber' C. F. Schwarz in 1766. They are now in tbe hands of the English, who are in a way to obliterate nearly everything which betokened their Lutheran origin. The old pulpit I have bought for our new chapel in Ichumpati.
.. Bangalore, the greatest city of the Maisur land, is reached by a night journey from Madras, on the railway. It is a great military station, with 156,000 inhabitants aud 15 Protestant churcbes, upon a table-land 2,000 feet high, and rejoices, nine months of the year, in an Italian climate, leaying only three to the prevalence of the Indian heat, "
,,'What avails all morality without God!" exclaims the jl:fissionsblatt. Buddha denies the existence of God. This is distinctly declared by the catechism published by Colonel Olcott, under sanction of the Buddhist high priest in Ceylon, which says: , The Buddhists rcgard a personal God as only a gigantic shadow, tllrown by the fancy of igno- rant people upon empty space. Therewith they put to death the heart of religion, Faith. Therefore , it is that you find among Buddhist populations a churchyard stillness, a spiritual insensibility and lukewarm indifference, which far more impedes the activity of Christian missions among them than it is impeded among the bigoted Hindus. 'Would that thou wert cold or hot,' one is inclined to say to these frog-like natures which are engeudered by Buddhism. They let everybody have his say, answer yes to every opinion, and-remain what they were."
The Journal des ~Iis8ions Evangeliques for September, under the title, "A Double Sorrow," gives the following sad intelligence: "Up to this day the life of our missionaries on the Zambezi had been so marvelously pre- served, tha t we had in some sort lost ant of view the dangers to which they are exposed by a murdcrous climate. But the last mail, arrived at Paris August 15th, shows us that, if up to the present they have served God by word and by action, they may, never- theless, be c[LlIed to glorify Him in suffering and by death. ThL H. Dardier, missionary physician, whom the previous mail had let us know to be seriously ill, has sunk under the fever and exhaustion, Fcbrnary 23, at Kazungula. A month later M. and nladame Jalla were afflicted in losing a little daughter, whose birth, Jannary 13, had brought a gleam of joy into their home.
.. The letters which bring us these monrnful tidings at the same time portray in somber colors the situation of the mission at Sesheke ; the greater part of its members have been snccessivelyattacked by the fever; their cattle are decimated by the murrain; and lastly, civil war has raged all aroulld them, and made victims at their doors.
"Profoundly moved and afflicted by this news, we are, however, not minded to let it shake our confidence in the final success of our mission to the Zambezi, the beginnings of which have been so visibly directed and blessed by God, and we reckon on it that the Frelwh churches, which join with us in the sorrow for our dead, will, with us, strive to bear up against everything which might resenlble discDuragement. . •• U We consider these tidings, moreover, as a summons to us to disavow, more entirely than ever, all ex~ggeration, all lack of simplicity and sobriety, in our way of regarding and speaking of the work of missions. We must recall to mind yet agaiu that this work is no child's play, byt a serious labor, an enterprise which can be brought to its goal only at the cost of great sufferings and great sorrows, and to which no one ought to put his hand Who is not effectnally resolved to renounce himself, to bear the burden of the cross, and tp follow the Master even unto death." . . . . . I hope," writes M. Jalla," that the death of Dardier will not discourage anyone of those who expect to rejoin us one day. It is very evident 'that here one feels himself, like the bird au the bough, always ready to depart; but on the other side one experiences with ever increasing vividness how precious it is to be in the hands of God. "
M. Jalla gives a touching description of the death of his infant daughter, with allusions which may well go home to the hearts of us who, in a healthy
CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE
climate, see our children growing up around us exposed to the minimum of danger, while those who go out on our account tremble every time a child is born, lest, as in this case, the" murderous climate" should claim it immediately for a victim.
.. We possessed a suubeam to cheer OUr moments of sadness or of weariness. God has seen fit; to take it from us. Our dear little daughter soared away on ,Thursday. March 27, in the arms of her father, while her mamma was moistening her parched lips. Dear little creature, so well beloved I It seemed to us almost impossible that she could one day be taken away from us, so perfectly did she fit into her place in our Zarnbezian home. But God has doubtless been minded to spare her many sufferings, for shewas born in a climate which gives little hope of escaping them. She is to-day a little angel which will one day receive U8 in her arms. Rut her departure leaves our house mournfully empty; we find it cold and desolate. Ah I how much the presence of a child was appreciated in our solitude! How we enjoy being, We too, papa and mamma, as well as our friends the Jeanmairats I How many dreams aud projects concerning our little daughter I To-day everything still speaks to us of her, but she is no longer here to rejoice our hearts, and we find it hard indeed to realize all we have lost. God, however, faithful to His promises, has been with us in an extraordinary manuel'. We had so distinct a consciousness that it was He who had taken her from us that we have surrendered her with a full confidence, althoug-h our hearts even now demand why we have been so SOOn deprived of her. . . . You, without doubt, comprehend our sorroW and this is why I have not feared to give you these details. May you possess your dear children during long and happy years I but in your happiness think sometimes on your young friends so sorely tried."
n.-CORRESPONDENCE and GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE EVANGELICAL :MISSIONARY SOCIETY " The statements made on page 808 in regard AT BASEL. to the finances of the Basel Mission are, as far as I see, taken from an article pnblished in the LETTER from Prof. Henry W. Missions Magazine, 1885, page 433, as also the statement of $43,742 (which corresponds to Hulbert: the 174,847.20 marks in the above article of the magazine, page 440), as heing the Sum that DEAR DR. SHERWOOD.-As I sug~ested to 'above all expenses was paid into the you I have submitted the articles contributed to coffers of the society by the Industrial Commisthe October and November issues of the MIS- sion in 1886 (1884 ?)' Bnt as it is pnt here this SIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD concerning statement might, I am afraid, be liable to some the" Basel Mission" to the authorities of that misconstruction. In the article in the magamission for their correction, and have received zine it is clearly stated emt these 174,847.20 a very courteons reply, the substance of which marks (or $43,712). was the total sum con- I herewith send you. The letter gges on to say: tributed by the l:ldustrial Commission toward "The outlines of the history of the. BaRel mis- the eX)Jenses of the society. It consists of two Sion, as given in the papers, as well as the different items, between which it is very description of the work done by the society at essential to distin,guish clearly-for strictly home and abroad, are, I am glad to say, on the speaking, only 43,200 marks ($1O,80P) were whole correct. There are only a few and un- paid into the [(eneral fund of the SOCiety important errors we have met with on reading 'above all expenbes ' by the Commission, wherethe articles, and I beg, in accordance with your ~s tbe remaining portion ($32,912) had to be request, herewith to point out some of them. expended in the keeping up and management of the Industrial establishments nnder different "On page 743 it is said that the fine structnre heads, such as salarie. (or 'allowances ') and (Home of the Mission at Basel) was the gift of home voyages of the agents of the CommiSSion, Christian Merian and was presented to the contributions toward the children's home, society, etc. This statement is not quite cor- widows' fnnd, etc. It seems not fair nor correct rect. The fact is that, at the very time when that the latter sum, forming, to speak strictly, the construction of a new bnilding was found part of the' expenses' of the management of the necessary, the society received a very liberal indnstrial and mercantile establishments of the donation at the hands of Christian Merian, part Commission, should be put on the same basis of which was allotted to the building fund by with the regular contributions toward the the committee. general Mission Fund.
"The statement on page 807 about the staff of "You are, as it appears, not aware that the instrnction needs to be slightly modified. Strictly Rev. Th. Oehler, the present Inspector of the speaking there are only six theological teachers, society, in September last started on a tour of and among these there are only four that devote inspection to China and India. He is accomtheir whole time to the instrnction of the students. Besides these 'theological' teachers there are two other teachers, who are laymen, though trained educationistli. panied by Mr. W. Preiswerk, a member of the Christian Church. Especially in Tokio-the committee. According to news lately received capital, a city of a million souls and constantly they arrived safely in Hong Kong. After having growing, center of social and political life, seat visited all the Chinese stations of our society, of the coming Imperial Parliament, of the Unithe Inspector intends, God willing, to proceed to versity and countless other great schools, India, and after a stay of several months there whither the youth of the nation come up to rereturn home in J uue next (1889) if possible. ceive edncation and inspiration, whence they return again as teachers, doctors, lawyers, au· " Praying that the Lord may bless your efforts thors, officials, etc., to mold the empire for to interest vour countrymen in His cause, good or ill-there is ample field for the largest enterpri~e. Whatever Tokio hears and heeds, "I remain, yours respectfully, that hears and heeds.a nation; whatever moves "CHRISTIAN ROMER, and molds Tokio moves and molds the em- pire; whatever or whoever puts an impress on "Secretary to the Basel Evangelical Missionary Tokio and Japan just now will leave an infln· Society. BASEL, Nov. 24, 1888." ence for ages to come. The question is whether The two publications sent forth from the the nation shall become Christian or agnostiC within the next very few years. The multiplica- Basel Missionary Honse are the Evangelisches tion of small chnrches and of schools cannot Missions Magazine, devoting itself to general meet the immediate necessity of appealing to information concerning missions, founded by the intelJectnal classes of Japan, in whose hands Inspector Blumhardt in 1816, and the Evangel- lie all the national issnes and who are not inacische Heidenbote, founded by the same man in cessible to Christian thought if presented in the 1828, which deals exclusively with the transac- proper way. tions of the Basel Missionary Society, giving extracts from the quarterly and yearly letters of In 1883 these thoughts culminated in an exthe missionaries laboring at the different stations periment, when a conrse of apologeticallectures of the society in India, China, on the Gold Coast, for the educated classes was given in the Meiji and in Cameroons. Under the management of Kwaido extending throngh a period of fonrteen their astnte fonnder, Inspector Blumhardt, weeks. The resnlts in the immediate effect at these two magazines (monthly) attained such a the time of delivery, and subscqnently through circulation, that at his death, 1838, the income pnblication, have jnstified the highest hopes from this source alone paid the expenses of the with regard to that class of work. In February Mission House. This is an interesting item in of 1884, I read a paper before the lInssionary view of the present discussion concerning mis- Conference of Tokio on the" Immediate Christsion pnblications by the churcbes. There is a ianization of Japan" in which this matter was certain shrewd business sense displayed by the referred to : Basel Mission anthorities which is well worth most careful study. If ever a "science of mis- "We want to appeal to the intellectual acth" sions" is to be developed and elaborated, the ity of the land. In Japan Christianity is on trial experiences (we need hardly call them experi- with no prejndice in its favor, where old phil· ments) of the Basel Mission must receive special osophies ha"e molded a ripened phase of attention. In 1890 this society will celebrate its civilization, ",;here western materialistic infidelseventy-fifth anniversary. ity has the Htart of western religions thought, where the nnh'ersity is absolutely agnostic, Appeal for Japan. where the learned believe in Spencer & Co. as LETTER from. Rev. Chas. S. Eby, we believe in Christ and His Apostles, where out of Tokio: into the tiniest hamlets have penetrated the scientific inquiries and the scientific donbts of THE general facts as to the transformation of the day. We mnst go through a phase of apOlo- Japan from the most exclusive of hermit nations getics in Japan. But it is not necessary that into the foremost Oriental pioneer of western each church should expend its energies on such civilization are widely known. An empire of a work as this; it can be done a thousand fold nearly forty millions, which within the memory more effectnally by concentration in an institute of living men prohibited the introdnction of that conld be used for other purposes as well. I Christianity under penalty of death, is now as propose therefore that we have one central open to the gospel as the most Christian nation Apologetic Institute or Lectureship of Christian on earth; colossal changes in commercial, Philosophy, which shonld be housed in an imsocial, political, edncational, literary, moral and posing building of solid constrnction, containing religious matters have taken place and are now a hall capable of seating from 1,000 to 5,ooD people progressing on a national scale. The variou~ and a library Of choice apologetic and other great chn~ches of Christendom have not allowed literature in English, German, Chinese and Japthe opportunity to pass of bringing to the people anese. The soul of this institute shonld be the light of the gospel, and great has been the some one man or two men npon whom could joy of success resulting from increasing mission- fall the mantle of the confidence of the whole ary work on educational, literary and evange- chnrch and around whom the chnrches could all listic lines. gather at times for a great demonstration; !l.
But more shonId be done to meet the 'unprecedented opportnnities-and hence to the Qhristian the vast privilege and dnty of the course of lectures, similar to that about to be results will not be reaped alone by one denomibeld iu the Meiji Kwaido under the auspices of the Evaugelical Alliance, conld be an annual nation, but by all, and will advance the Chrisfact, and celebrated men of power could occasionally be invited from abroad to make a still tianization of Japan as a whole. larger impression by such efforts as bave moved the West. The man in charge should be one Funds may be sent to the Methodist Mission who commands an outlook npon the intellectual ebb and flow of the land, to meet issues as they Rooms, Toronto, Canada, or direct to me, 18 arise by a perennial use of platform and pen." Kasumi cho, Azabu, Tokio. C. S. EBy. At subsequent crowded meetings of the Conference, when Yokohama missionaries were also A Voice from India, largely represented, the desirability of such a Christian institute was strongly urged. INDIA has about 800 foreign missionaries wholly ordained ministers-a noble band Difficulties however arose as to the practical and nobler still judged by what they have realization of the scheme, and the whole thing done. We want more missionaries. Dr. fell through. In March and April of the same Pierson's lay brigade of men of means year a second course of lectures was given, this who give their service and money; of men time under the auspices of the Evangelical Alli- whose friends have meanR and support them ance. These were likewise largely attended and as an offering for this world's salvation; of produced marked results, strengthening the im- those who in secular service here teach the pression that such work should be more con- rising Christian host how to utilize and destant and on a wider scale. As it seemed how- velop tbe resources of this great land. Docever nnpossible to unite the missions in the en- tors, merchants, lawyers, engineers, finanterprise, I turned to our own church and urged ciers, editors, educators, authors, bankers, that we should uudertake central mission work scientists and philosophers-all are needed. in the city, which, while under the auspices of The devil is sending in hosts of all these, and the Methodist Church of Japan, would as far as paying them well out of tbe indigenous repossible carryon the work of popular apologet- sources of this land, to oppose the gospel ics, not doubting that help would be forthcom- and leave as little as possible for Cbristianing from other churches as well; for the influ- ityto feed upon. A few men called to the once of such an enterprise could not possibly be exclusive work of the ministry are not the confined'to one denomination, but would be for only ones to whom Jesus says, U Go preach the general advancement of the canse as a my gospel." The great command is to every whole. While in Canada and the United States individual believer, and men of all callings dnring a part of the years 1885-6 I spoke repeat- ought to be found obeying. There is too edly of the need oCthe undertaking and seemed much left to be done by proxy in these days. to arouse considerable interest in it, but little If men of means would for Christ's sake was done in the way of raising money. Subse- come here and use their wealth for the quently amounts were sent in aggregating be- . work, their business sense and sagacity tween one and two thousand dollars, an earnest would nobly serve the cause. .. Cotton of larger gift. if the work were only once inaug- kings" have left old England for the com- urated. Hence at our annual meeting last mercial fortunes life offers. Real estate spring it was decided to open a "Central Mis- yields a heavy revenue here to English and sian" in the midst of that section of the city native house-owners. Our great lawyers, largely occupied by government and other edu- and editors, and bankers, and engineers are catioual iustitutions. There is to be a " Central Englishmen, but too seldom Christians. Hall," seating between one aud two thousand people, for all the purposes of a Christian insti- Thenative Christians of this country now tute and evangelistic work. number over half a million. Christian men and "romen in every line of human pursuit Providence has put into our hand just such a are demanded to teach by example and pre- piece of ground, and in the place we needed. cept these Christians to labor and do busi- This we have secured for 4,000 yen, paid for by ness. The finance problem is troubling all the money referred to above and other amounts missions. Three thousand volunteers offer collected in Japan. for foreign service. But whatof the financial limit? We need a producing element on the We want $4,000 (gold) to build at once. It battle-field. India is poor, but she spends would be better to build of brick, but we be- more for tobacco and spirituous liquors than lieve it betterto build a temporary strncture and 10,000 new nlissionaries·need cost. get to work rather than postpone longer. In the meantime we shall probably build with bor- Out here the idca is getting deeply rooted, rowed money in the expectation that this appeal as in too many home churches, that no one will bring the wherewithal to pay. Our church has any duty toward the nnevangelized but has seen fit to appoint the writer to the charge those who are paid to preach. The expedi- of this" Central Mission" work, and I appeal encyof missionary efforts is questioned by to fpends of Jaran in every church because the some. Let some of God~s almoners come and see for themselves, and stay and administer their own benefactions for God and His Christ.
1'he great ibody of the people here are agrieulturists and artizans. They toil against odds many others, perhaps another sixty, could be with nnwieldy and nnprofitable implements, and found if the place were more thoroughly ex- plored. against odds with brute force to utilize the water and soil. There is an army of Ia90r-sav- Tbe higbways of the district are canals and ing machinery or implements in America and rivers. I have traveled over portions of the England. Would it not be a benefaction to plain at different times between the Grand Canal teach the "poor Indian" how to treble his re- and tbe sea, and from the Yangtsi river on the turns, whether in field or shop? Here are mil- sou th to the old bed of the Yellow river on the lions of untilled acres, unmeasured material to north. The usual way is to travel by boat, of work up, or treasures to be dug out. But such which there are thousands. As the cities and lay service will be top secular, uuless pente- towns lie alongside the canals and rivers and are e.ostally baptized. easy of access by boat our plan was, on arriviug at a place, to leave the boat in charge of the Iu this far off-land we hail the pIau for churches, boatman or captain while we went along the culleges, families, communities aud individuals streets offering the Scriptures to anybody we to have their own missionaries in the field. met, visiting the shops and preaching the gos- One hundred times the present expenditure on pel to the crowds of people at different points. the outline of salaried society missionaries won't suffice to Cover the land. May God thrust ThBse journeys were all taken for the purpose out at an early day 1,000 men workers, who of selling Scriptures for the American Bible Sobring their means with them, and teach Christ's ciety, and with the help of the native colporsalvation. teurs there were sold some 20,000 portions and New Testament Scriptures. In the city of Ru- We need in India some man of God with kao, on a second visit, accompanied by Mr. $100,000 to found a Christian publishing honse Hogg of the Chiua Inland Mission, we sold over to flood this land with pure literature and Coun- a thousand portions in a day. At a small town teract the infidel and immoral publications now on another occasion, single-handed, I sold 450 rolling upon us. God's stewards we waut, not Scriptures during the day. They bought these answerable snbstitutes for themselves in the books, not because they contained gospel truth, form of a few thousand doJlars-men filled wi th but from various reasons-some out of curiosity, the Holy Ghost andfaith who can preach Christ some attracted by the cheapness and well-got with slee,es rolled up or over a work-bench or up-style, some because they tanght doctrine, counter. and others possibly becanse they contained what we had beeu talking to them about. The gospel can be preached to all men in India by the year 1900, if lay workers come and The people are quiet, industriOUS, and well-tolead out the lay ho,ts of the daily increasing do generally. On onr last Bible-selling journey, Christian Church in India. But if the multipli- Sept., 1887, through the plain the people paid cation of the herald force depends on the in- great attention to the preaching of the gospel, crease only warranted by funds to subsidize besides purchasing a goodly number of Bible the workers with, such results are impossible. portions. Some thousands of these people must have heard the gospel on this journey, and I fre- We are thankful for scholarly missionaries. quently heard the remark, chit chit zun(!, every Bnt we need au army of common men and sentence (we understand). women in India, made wonderfuly uncommon only by the induement of the Holy Ghost, and This, added to the attentiou with which they fine colleges do not make missionaries. Mis~ listened, was most encouraging to the preacher.. sionaries made of the Holy Ghost, educated and I never enjoyed a month's gospel work so much or little, small in men's eyes, but made much anywhere. It was the most blessed work mighty through God, these are wanted every- I ever engaged in. It was a time long to be re- membered with joy. To know the joy there is where. C. B. Woon, in preaching the gospel to crowds of willing listeners on such virgin soil one must go and en- Methodist Episcopal Local Preacher. gage in the work. It is a glorious work and it is a blessed privilege to be allowed to go to the SECUNDEROBOD, DEACON, INDIA. ends of the earth for Christ's sake to take part in it. A Call to China. As far as I could ascertain the people in these LONDON, Dec. 4, 1888. parts had never heard the gospel before and had ON the east coast of China, between Shanghai neyer seen another European among them, save and Chinkiang and on the north bank of t],e perhaps with one or two exceptions. There great Yangtsi "iver, there lies an immense is throughout the whole of thut region not plain. This plaiu is some 150 miles broad from a mission station nora missionary, either foreign east to west and 170 long from north to south. or native, resident or itinerant, so far as I could It is for the most part well watered, very fertile, learn, for all that six and a half millions of heaand teeming with a population of some six and then. I believe the people in the extreme north a half millions. of this province of Kiangsu are in the same neg- There are thirteen cities on this part of the lected condition. plain, not counting Yangchow, a large city situated at the main entrance to this region. Besides tbese there are sixty towns and villages known to us, and I have reason to believe that This part of the country is open to European of His servants to-day? He is " the same yestravelers from one end to the other, and should terday, to-day, and forever." be occupied at once in the name of Christ by a number of men and women with the love of God Yours in the service of Christ in China, in their hearts, and a burning desire to make ALFru:D CCPP. known that love to the perishing heathen. I say at once, for the Romanists, who are already Africa. on the borders, may enter and occupy it at any time. The fact that I could find no Roman FROM our editorial correspondent Catholics throughout the plain is one reason for considering it a more promising field than in Tangier, Morocco: otherwise. WE have had grea~ encouragement in the Dr. Pierson says that" in America and Eng- work here. For some two months we have land, a band ofprobably no less than 3,000 young had nightly meetings for iuquirers and men and women stand ready to go to the for- young converts, attended by from ten to eign field if the door shall open before them." twenty. Many have received Christ as their lIlay 30 or 40 of this number or of some other personal Saviour and have been at once number respond to this call! If 'the Lord has baptized. For some weeks most of my time laid it upon our hearts to go to~these needy was occupied from mornin~ until night talkpeople, let us go in any way that He may open ing with interested ones who visited me, up, whether through missionary society or not. and daily there would be natives in my There are independent workers to-day who are room much of the time. At times convernot connected with any of these organizations; sions occurred daily. All of them are one I know in particular who is doing a most brought out of Mohammedan darkness. self-denying work in China in preaching the They all renounce that false religion forgospel to the heathen. Are we to let these peo- mally at their baptism. Almost all are ple all perish for lack of the Bread of Life? young men, some of good position, but most Would their blood not cry to us from the of them from among the poor. There is not ground that we had stood by unconcerned while one who has not prayed and spoken in our these heathens were going down to perdition? meetings from the day of his conversion. lIlay not a few lay themselves upon God's altar and say" HERE AM I, SEND ME !" Two of the earliest converts are in the mountains traveling on foot without purse, I believe the Lord will provide the means, scrip or pay, preaching in both Arabic and not only to send out everyone who is willing to Shillah. They have been away now several go for Christ's sake, but will also support them weeks. Others, whose faces we have never there. Who fed his ancient people in the wild- seen, have been converted III distant places erness with manna from heaven? Who taught through one from here, and write us of us to pray" Give us this day our daily bread? " many others believing through their word. Who cares for lIlr. Geo. lIluller and his num- We have reason to believe the gospel has erous family of orphans? Who cares for Mr. taken root in several places in southern Mo- Hudson Taylor and his army of missionaries? rocco within these few weeks. Two others Who feeds the sparrows? Shall he not also care of our number are arranging to start at for you, oh ye of little faith? Let us have child- once to preach in another direction. Mr. like faith in our Heavenly Father who is faithful Martin and I are also leaving as soon as we that has promised .. lily God shall supply all can get away, and will travel also as Christ your need according to his riches in glory by commanded, on foot and without purse or Christ Jesus." Phil. iv: 19. To doubt God's scrip. faithfulness is the same as doubting His fatherly care for His children. Only let us be fully per- Within a few days Satan has come in like suaded that we are following the command Of a flood and some of the converts have been Jesus out of real love to Him and a desire to summoned before the kaid or governor, serve Him, to "Go into all the world and some beaten, almost all threatened, and all preach the gospel to every creature," and we notified that the governor had sent a list of need not fear the consequences, for we have His their names to the Sultan with a letter ingracious promise, .. Lo I am with you alway, quiring what is to be done to them. They even unto the end of the world." are the derision of the whole town and are mocked and literally spit upon. They be- I am purposing (D. V.) to return to China with lieve the Sultan will require them to be my wife and family early in February to work sen~ to him. Some have left the town to in this hitherto ne/(Iected field, above described. escape. Others are leaving. Many fear to attend the nightly services. So it is a time One word to help strengthen your faith. In of sorrow and perplexity. Some few of the our gospel work we may always fall back upon converts have given us anxiety and even this sure and certain promise, "Lo I am with sorrow, but most of them are bt'ave and you alway, even unto the end of the world." true. What they have learned they well God promised His servant Joshua, chap. i: 5, understand and several of them are faiththat He would not fail him nor forsake him_ ful in speaking of Christ to others. We feel DId th$ Lord fl'll Joshua? Will He fail anyone the need of much prayer.
E. F. BALDWIN. [The idea of a definite assumption that an armed expedition assist in the blockade. of responsibility for evangelizing He invokes all the European people to unite in others is taking shape in many minds. a crusade not against the natives, but against the Moslem slave.trade, the Bole source of the Witness the following letter.-EDS.] evils ofslavery.-African News.
WEST NEWl3URY, MASS. China.-Dr. Martin'S Labors in Peking. DR. A. T. PnRsoN.-In your masterly book, .. The Tung Wen Kwan, or College of United "Evangelistic Work," page 49, is a clear state- Learuing,the college founded by the Chinese Govment of a magnificent possibility for the evan- ernment at Peking for the instruction of distingelization of the world. It seems practical and guished native scholars in the Western Sciences, practicable. Why not make some attempt to though as a government institntion not open to carry the plan into execution? Even if not fnlly realized, might we ,not expect to accom- systematic instruction, in Christian truth must plish more by snch a method than by any other, still be regarded as in a yery high sense a misor all others combined? Would it not com- sionary institution. Its president, Dr. W. A. P. mand the blessing of God in the largest degree? Martin, is known throughout the Chinese Empire Wisely conducted, in the right hands, startling by his work On 'The Evidence of Christianity,' a results would be attained in a few years. work whose influence in Japan also, the appendix " Who kuoweth whether thou art come to the of Joseph Cook's 'Orient,' furnishes some inter. kingdom for such a time as this?" As co-editor esting proofs of. This book has led many of of the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE 'VORLD, as the Chinese to couple Dr. Martin's name with well as in other ways, you have a good oppor- that of Matteo Ricci, when they speak of the tunity for bringing the plan before the public. most powerful foes of their religion. When" The" student volunteers" might enlist in such missionary of the Presbyterian Board at Ningpo, a movement, and greatly aid it by their conse- in addition to the preparation of this treatise, crated enthusiasm. Some simple organization Dr. Martin contributed largely to the translation will be required. Little machinery is necessary. of the Bible, wrote or translated a number of I inclose a form of pledge, which will convey smaller books, and did good service in the imsome idea of what is intended. Make such use pOl-tant matter of determining a suitable alphaof it as you see fit. I commend it to your pray- bet for the Ningpo colloquial dialect, which was erful attention as it stands. first reduced to writing by the missionaries. I hope for some encouragement that something will be done toward carrying so good "Going to the north of Ohin" with Mr. Ward and promising a plan into speedy execution. I in 1859 to act as an interpreter in the conclusion shall await your answer with much anxiety, and of a treaty between China and the United earnest prayer that you may be divinely guided States, a felicitous quotation from Oonfucius at in a matter of such vast importance. a critical moment won him the friendly regard of Prince Kung. When !Peking was opened to Yours in Christ, foreigners he became the founder of the Presby- F. H. BOYNTON. terian mission there.
PLEDGE " In connection with his missionary duties, as Believing in Christ as our only hope, and in 8 means of obtaining the regard of the educated the urgent need of many Christian workers, classes and a favorable hearing of the claims of engaged in personal effort, in humble reliance Christianity, he condncted, at the request of Sir on Divine grace, I hereby pledge myself: Robert Hart, Inspector·General of Maritime To make .an honest effort to lead to Christ Oustoms, and Prince Kung, a school for interat least one person every year. preters, which has been gradually developed To earnestly endeavor to induce other Chris- into the present college, where Dr. Martin himtians to subscribe to this pledge, one every self instructs in International Law, Dr. Dudgeon month, as long as practicable. in Anatomy and Physiology, and a Chinese, who has translated a nnmber of works of Prof. GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. Loomis, in MathematiCS. while there are speCial Africa.-The East African Policy. A chairs occupied by Enropeans for instruction in series of resolntions, by Dr. Wiudthorst, in the Chemistry, Astronomy, French, Russian, and German Reichstag, relating to the Government's English. A great part of the labor of the Facnlty East African policy, will find support among the has been the preparation of works that would Government group, with some qnalifications. acquaint the Chinese with the history and The first article expresses the conyiction of the science of foreign peoples. Among these the Reichstag that it is necessary to combat the contributions of Dr. Martin include a translation slave trade without mercy, to win over Africa of Wheaton's' International Law,' executed at to Christian civilization. The secona resolution the suggestion of Auson Burlingame, Woolsey's pledges that the Reichstag will pay attention to , International Law, ' De Marten's' Guide Diplo- and examine the measures of the combined matique,' and Bluntschli's 'Droit International Powers, approving all legitimate means taken Codjfie,' and a treatise explaining in popular for this Christian crusade. Dr. Winthorst de- forl. the principal applications of chemistry and fends the German East African Company against the charge of causing a native revolt by phYSics. "It is an into,"" .~~ fact that Dr. Martin in Ql'l'r~s§iQnl apq leclar~s tl1!1tit i~ !!!tljspeDsabl~ l860, while ill t1)e In, 'fjtates, leal'Ied how to nse II, telegraphic instrument, that he might in- loved, or homeward-bouud to rest Well troduce the telegraph to the knowledge of the earned, have been brought safe to their desired Peking officials if he should find opportunity. haven. Truly He that sitteth upon the flood The first dispatches sen~ in China were sent by hears our intercessions and watches over His him arouud his house in Peking, some of them messengel's oy sea. -Periodical Accounts. in the presence anll. with tha participation of inlIuential members of the Government. The '-The Salvation Army. A great meeting telegraph in China to-day, and the fact tbat she was lately held in London to take farehas about a hnndred miles of successfnlly oper- well of fifty missionaries of varions nationated railway, must be regarded as having been alities about to embark for India and differmaterially hastened by the existence in the ent parts of the world in the work of the Chinese langnage of a popular scientific descrip- Salvation Army. General Booth presided. The tion of these wonders. A crowning trinmph of missionaries were from Germany, Holland, this book is the circnmstance that the young Sweden, India, and Canada. When the great Emperor has expressed 'a desire to study physi- body marched ou to the platform clad in the cal science, and has commanded the preparation brilliant Indiau costumes, the scene was exceedof an edition de lnxe for his nse. Of course, the ingly pictureSl"ue. The General said many peo- Emperor conld not use the ordinary edition! ple wondered what it was that had made the Dr. Martin is now engaged in the somewhat army so successful. He could tell them that the arduons task of revising the book and bringing secret was due to the intense love which they it up to date. . had for each other as IDembers of one family. They had commenced operations in Holland "While this toil i~ nominally secnlar, it can- eighteen months ago, and the work was so innot but be seen that the spirit in which it has creasing tlmt the Dutch missionaries would been performed has been in the highest sense start for Holland that night. Great progress religions, and that its certain effect upon the was being made in Norway, while in Denmark lidvance, not only of secular civilization, but and Sweden the work of the army was greatly 11180 of Christianity itself, make it a genuine hampered oy the excessive interference of the missionary work. As such It has oeen oegun, police, who even forced themselves into the and steadily carried on amid a thonsand ob- private meetings of the officers. In Germany stacles. The Master has recognized It as His they had a great struggle, though there was work. And let us be thankful that our Board much cause for hope. One of the converts the of Foreign MIssions of the Presbyterian Church, General introduced was a notorious German by sending its able and laborious missionary Anarchist, who was known by the name of to this field of labor, has promoted results so Black Charlie. Mter threatening to shoot the great."-New York Evangelist. General in the United States, he was converted and was now on his way to Germany as a mis- England.-" Watch over thy messengers sionary for the army. The whole of the mis- by Sea." Marvelous has been the answer to sionary party were to leave at midnight. A this petition of our Church Litany, which Sao- former Buddhist, and some Indians, addressed bath by Sabbath has ascended to the throne of the meeting, and sang some Indian songs to the grace during the 156 years of our missionary en- beating of the tom-tom. A relative of the late terprise. To say notbing of long and often very orator Gongh gave an address. A Ceylonese perilous river voyages in such crafts as open woman, named Captain M'Taffery, sang a salvaboats, Eskimo umiaks, Alaskan oidarkas, tion solo with such stirring effect as to elicit Surinam corials and Indian canoes of various loud applause, after which she gave an earnest kinds, what a record ofinfinitemercy is involved address. The meeting closed with the singing in the protectiou vouchsafed for more than of hymns and a general farewell greeting, and a centnry and a half to our missionaries, who, the waving of oauners and the sounds of army as God's messengers to the heathen, have mnsic.-Our English Correspondent. crossed and recrossed the ocean. About 2,300 have been sent forth to distant lands; many of Germany.-The German papers contain these have traversed the deep more than once; some interesting reports of Dr. Ziemann's the majority of their voyages have not been labors in Schleswig-Holstein. He had been made in ocean steamers, bnt in small sailing invited to attend the Conferences of the Church vessels; and yet lww few have been the number Congress in Neuminster, October 3d to 5th. of fatal accidents which the church has had to Accompanied by Pastor Brauue, the Secretary deplore! Eleven times only have shipwrecks of the Evangelization Society, he afterward resulted iu the loss of lives so dear and valua- visited Flensburg, Gluckstadt, Preetz, Schles- ole. Twelve missionaries and six wives or wig, and Serup. Says one writer: "To the widows of missionaries have been drowned at Congress the Doctor came as an old friend, and sea, and once two children shared the fate of a very hearty welcome was accorded to him. their widowed father. Of all the children sent He delivered a very powerful address on onr home to Europe for education in charge of present wants and, difficulties. He gave a friends, and accompanied by the prayers of lov- dreadful picture of the abonnding forces work- ing, sorrowing parents, not oue has been snf- mg iniquity, and contended that all work against fered to perish at sea. Thousands of our mis- them must be Christian work, while he related ionaries, whether outward-bound to labors Ulany remarkable gospel triumpl1s from his owa experienee in the work in Germany. The audi- experience, by fits Rnd starts, but tbe cnrrent·ot ence was deeply impressed. Iu the provinces he the life. There are some people who. in mohad very crowded meetiugs, and it is chiefly ow- mentary ecstasies, seem to go into the third ing to his euergy that different local associations heaven, but the current of their life is earthly. have been started for vigilance and rescue work sensual, devilish. Walking with God is the in connection with the Evangelization Society. source of power. Many speakers followed on The Doctor won even the most cautious people. the same subject, most of them d welling upon His language is simple and direct, ·and he has the necessity of a childlike trustfulness. the power of arresting attention and holding his audience spell·bound from the first word to the Rev. W. H. HOllister spoke on the admonHion, last. We thank God for him and for the results "Confess your fanlts one to another, and pray which have attended his work." one for another." Man's way of saying things is, ., Confess one another's fanlts, and pray for India.-Times of Refreshing. Dnring the yourself," bnt God's command was to confess Daijehra Festival among the Hindus, when the one's own faults and pray for others. Many deeds of .. gods which are no gods" are re- others spoke briefly, and amongst them a clergyhelr<led all over the Northwest Provinces and man. who thanked God that he had been Oulih, the missionaries are unable to do much present, and asked the prayers of everyone, as in the way of aggressive Christian work. For he intended. by God's grace, to go home aud some years past, therefore, missionaries of ail confess his bad temper to his heathen native denominations in the region have assembled at servants. this period of the year for spiritual refreshment and prayer to God for increased poweI' for In the course of a powerful address, Rev. F. service. The meetings have always been held W. Warne pointed out that the way to get at the at Lncknow, which, being a central point, has Rajah is to convert the coolie; when the Rajah also the advantage of " large and influential is in spiritual want, he will seek for the spiritual Enropean and native Christian Church, the peace he has seen in the coolie. The early members of which, with the visitors, are accord- Church was built upon this principle. The ingly brought under the influences of this first that were converted were slaves and " Christian Dasebra." people of the loyer classes, in greater and greater multitude_, until the whole of society The session this year extended from October was permeated. The Reformation started on 10th to 14th, and the proceedings were reported this same basis and every revival since. God is at length in The Bombay Guardian of October always getting His choicest workers out of the 20. At one of the meetings, Rev, Dr. Johnson, most unexpected places. He choo.es the weak presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal things of the earth to confound the mighty. Chnrch, alluded to the fact that there are at present some thonsands of Hindus all over the At the several meetings many signified their conntry who are intellectually convinced of the desire for abounding spiritual life, and not a Cew truth. Having, however, to face casting out persons confessed Christ for the first time. from home in the event ot their confessing Among the latter was a Jew. and among the Christ, they hesitate to give proof of their faith. former a lady reputen to belong to the Roman Missionaries are being asked how they would Catholic commnnion. Many natives also testiprovide for such converts if they should become fied their faith, and among the children there Christians f In answer, he pointed out that were some who stood up and blessed the name Christ had the same difticnlty to face. It will of Jesus.-The Ohristian, London. be remembered, moreover, that He had nothing to give His converts, and though He told them -Sir Wtlliam Hunter predicts that the abo.. that "He hnd not where to lay his head," rigines living in Iudia will, within fifty years, thousands followed Him. Dr. Johnson main- be absorbed into either Mohammedanism and tained that the problem will be solved by the Hinduism or Christianity. Looking at the rate power of Christ resting upon every Christian at which the Santals, Kols, Bhils and other worker iu India, then thousands of the people aborigines are becoming either Christians or will be fonnd willing to give up all for Him. Mohammedans or Hindus, I would readily ac- cept Sir William's prediction. But I would ven- In an exhanstive address on " The Fullness of ture to predict that of these people the greatthe Spirit," Rev. J. N. Forman said: Every est number will be the Christians. a lesser num- Christian, weak or strong, has the Holy Spirit. ber wonld be Mohammedans, and the leastnum- That is the One great difference between a moral bel' Hindus. Hiuduism is not a ~proselytizing Mohammedan or Hindu and a Christian; one religion, while the other two religions are. has, and the other has not, the IJoly Spirit. But Already it is seen that there are more thorough the command is, "Be jilled with the SPirit.', Christians among these aboriginal races than This fullness of the Spirit is wanted for active Mohammedans, and more Mohammedans than service. It gives wisdom, boliness. courage, Hindus. This curious fact was recently discovand power. The knowledge of God is hy the ered. that Mohammedans were increasing in IJoly Ghost. .. They that know the Lord shall India at a rate faster than that at which the population increased.-Indian Spectator. do exploitft." Dr. McCoy. of The Indian Witness, spoke on The Dialects of India.-More than 150 I"n- guage~ and dialects are current in India and in .. Walking witb God." This Is not a temporary BritisbBurmah, with tbeir Z56,OOO,OOO ofpeople and the distinct alphabets of those couutries, it is ore-emiuently Unitarian; one God, with many of which are very elaborate, outnumber the human admixture, Mohammed, God's great all others in the world. Some forty different prophet. Islam has its strength and its weak. alphabets or syllabic systems, each having ness: has had its prosperous and adverse day•• Crom 250 to 500 combinations, are used to rep- Among Mohammedans it is a matter of surprise resent the sounds of ]50 languages, and more that in Christian lands all are uot Christians. thau 1O,COO different signs and types have been In their communities all are looked upon as elaborated from the original alphabet to rep- Islamites. No greater insult can be offered one resent the fifty simple souuds-all that the com- of them than to say that he has no religion. If bined Indian vernaculars contain. As these one of them swears by his religion and his life, simple Bonnds can not all be represented by the it is regarded as the end ofa1l controversy. The 26 letters of the English alphabet, 24 letters oC prevailing and educating idea is that every man the English phonetic alpha)et are captured and has a ~eligion. The Mohammedans also insist made to do service in this new English phonetic upon the religious head being the political head, alphabet; aud we then have one simple alpha- and cannot uuderstand tne Protestant theory of bet taking the places of forty or more. and be- the separation of the state and the church. As coming available as the written langnage of 200,- to the questIOn whether Cnristianity is spread- 000,000 people who have no written alphabet, ing faster in Africa than Islam, Dr. Post conbecause they don't know just how to use one. cedes to Islam a greater rapidity of advance, -The Bombay Guardian. but holds that it is due, not to the better adap- tation of Islam to the negro populations, but Jerusalem.-A German newspaper, pub- because Christian nations have not fully exerted lished in Palestine, states that the city of tnemselves, and also to the existence of those Jerusalem is growing in size and population restrainiug and hindering forces-the liquor at a remarkable rate. Its growth is the traffic and gunpowder. Let these destructive more surprISIng because neither its situa.. agencies cease and missionaries be sent in suffition nor its trade is favorable to a rapid in- cient numbers, and Christianity would prove its crease; it lies among a not very fertile conquering power and leave her rival Car in the group of mountains; it has next to no com- background. Dr. Post deprecates the injurious merce, and it has no manufactures. Never- effects of Christian divisions, and pleads Cor theless, new buildings are rising- daily; unity of spirit and co-operation on the part of churches. gardens and institutesof various the Church of Jesus Christ, particularly in miskinds are 11J1ing up the formerly desolate sionary enterprises and in heathen lands. neighborhood to the distance of half an hour's walk beyond the old limits of the Spain.-A Bonfire of Bibles. The Madrid city. The Jews are to the front as builders. correspol1dent of the Daily News writes: .. The Their honses spring ont of the gronnd Liberal Government tries in vain to enforce the like mushrooms, uniform, ugly,one-storjed, spirit of toleration among the authorities and plentifully supplied with findows, but with subjects of his Catholic Majesty. Very recently no manuer of adornment. The Rothschilds in Biscay an agent of the Bible Society was have completed a new hospital. Close be- attacked and insulted by twenty young Catholic side it there is a new Abyssinian church. students led by a Jesuit father who excited the The Russians are also great builders. They lads to take possession of, tear up, and make a have erected a new chur'ch, consulate,lodg- pious bonfire of the Bibles, Testaments, and ing-honses for pilgrims of the Orthodox tracts. The Spanish judges after carefully invesnational churches, and a hospital. Near to tigating the case declined to send the offenders the Russian group stands the "German before the tribunal Cor the assault and the de- Honse" for German Roman Catholics, from strnction of the property oC the Foreign Bible whose top tbe German and the Papal flag Society. The students and not the JesuiHather, 1l.0at side by side. The Russians have also who was the principle instigator of the outrage, bnilta high tower npon the Monnt of Olives, will have to appear before the municipal magisfrom whose summit the Mediterranean and trate, who can only infl'ict a line and a few days' the Dead Sea can both be seen. The Greeks arrest even if they are convicted. While this and Armenians are also busy builders, but treatment is meted out to foreigners and Protthey provide for the bodily rather than the estants, the Spanish courts of justice send religious demands of the pilgrims. The for- journalists to penal servitude Cor criticising the mer build cafes and bazaars and the latter State religion." set np shops. Syria.-H. H. Jessup, D. D;, pf Beirnt, MOhammedanism.-Dr. Post, in an ad- writes, that 46 young men have just completed dress on "Islam in Western Asia and Africa," their course of training in the various educasays the Eastern, or, as he maintains, the South· tional institutions of that city in connection ern question, instead of being 200 is nearly 4,000 with our chnrch. Six young men were graduyears old. The reverence ofIslam's followers ated from the theological seminary. wenfor name is marked, God's and. the secret of the equipped for the work of the ministry. Twelve power of Mohammedanism consists in a tena- received their diplomas from the college proper, cious holding on to one God. There are in the 6 Crom the medical college, 1 from th~ depart- ment of pharmacy, and 21 completed the connll Koran mllny Christian doctrines and ideas, but
"'INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
of instruction in the:preparatory department. hotels. Moses, no doubt, had a hooked nose; During the same week the Youug Woman's Where did you get your material civilization Literary Society held its anniversary. A notable from? From the Eastern descendants of Ham, feature in this was the presence of a :Y:ohamme- who were settled on the Euphrates in the dawn dan sheik, who expressed himself as greatly of history. God alwayr has an eye to worldpleased with the society and interested in its service when He gives superior endowments success. An nnusually large number of Mo· Have you ever thought that the admisfioion that~ hammedan sheiks and effends were present at negro may become a true Christian involves all the college commencement, and one of the possibilities of development? Godliness has Mohammedan journals on the next day spoke the promise of the life that now is as well as of in the highest terms of the occasion. The that to come. A capacity for reJi!,ion implies British press continues to scatter the leaves of the prom,se and prophecy of all enlargements. the tree of life. During the first six months of But we make a mistake in urging the undethe current Year more than 15,000 copies of the veloped race tc run before they can walk. Don't Arabic Scriptures were issued, a larger number make the education of the negroes top·heavy. than ever before in any similar period. Every We want more industrial training·schoo)s. The copy bore the following stamp:" By the permis- majority of any race mnst live by mannal labor. sion of the Board of "Public Instruction of the Ot- They have a greater chance to live by work toman Empire."-Church at Horne and Abroad. South than North. If you give them the ability to earn good wages and save them, they will by United States.-Missions Among the and by build their own universities, and then Colored Race. We hear that races do not rise missionaries of that race will lead Africa to the by external helps, but by iuternal forces. I point where she will shine as a black diamond don't so read history. Where did you get your in the crown of Christ.-Dr" A. J. F. Behrends, religion from? From the despised Hebrew at A. M. A. Annual Meeting. race, Whom you try to crowd off the piazzas of III.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
OONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., OF THE" INTERNATIONAL MIS- SIONARY UNION."
Islam. was necessary to cement these peb- I. PRE-MUHAMMADAN ELEMENTS. blesinto a bowlder. There was noth- A PATIENT and profound study of ing in the times to demand this ag- Muhammadanism reveals, as is com- glutina,tion, nothing even in the se- monly known, pre-Muhammadan el- cret thought of the best people that ements which were incorporated, and called for religious revolution, cerare extant, in the Islam of to-day. tainly nothing that wa,s a,t all na- Further, this study reveals two other tional that demanded any return to facts: first, that Muhammad was a,n older and primitive faith. Neither not the product of his times; sec- had Arab culture reached a point of ond, that Muhammad is necessary development, intellectual, .social or to Muhammada,nism. Thatis to say: moral, that caused it to demand ad- "Remove Muhammad and neither vance, or to ask for something less Islam nor anything like it comes gross, less offensive than the idolatry into existence." extant.
The elements of Islam were pres- Religious indifferentism and negent in the times of Muhammad, but lect there may have been. Dr. Tielle they were not conjoined. He appro- of the University of Leyden thinks priated, agglutina,ted, or crudely religion was in a deep decline, that assimilated them. Islam is an Arab- but few retained faith in their idols, ian gnosticism. It was composed on" and these invoked them only as methe central idea of gnosticism, that diators with Allah. The chief gods, of making a conglomerate of relig- he thinks, had neither temples nor ious thoughts. YetlVIuhammad-Mu- priests. Personal and tribal interest hammad with his intense individu- only, kept the ancient fetishism alive. ality, his personality, his peculiar But there was no longing for revival proclivities and appetences, his phys- 01' reformation, or for the revelation ical, mental and moral qualities- of someting better. What was the material, then, out of which Muham- charms, and sacrificed a pledged mad made Islam? sheep on the fulfillment of his de- THE PRE-ISLAMIC ARAB. sires. Blood for blood was his meas- No estimate of Muhammadanism ure of justice, and his national code is complete that does not include an of honor would not allow him to analysis of the pre-Muhammadan compound with a murderer without Arab and his times. vVe can scarcely becoming an object of contempt. He say "pre-Islamic Arab," for "Is- loved his camel and his horse, and lam" and" Muslim" both antedate set the one free on the occurrence of the prophet Muhammad. Yet this various events, and raced with and historic technicality being explained bet on the other. The only trace of we shall speak of Muhammadanism cruelty to either was his custom of aslsla~. tying a camel to the tomb of a de- 'l'he civilization of the Arabian ceased friend and suffering it to peninsula, in the midst of which Mu- starve to death. War would arise hammad was born, was unique. The on trivial cause. Women shouted nomadic Arab had few and simple wa,rriors on in the fray, refusing to wants. He fed on milk and dates be wives if they flinched before the and half-raw flesh, wrapped his per- foe.
son in a long sheet, and dl'Ove in the vVood, Yaghoos, Yaook, and othel'
earth the 'pegs attached to which idols healed their sick, removed the was the coarse canvas that consti- pestilence, sustained their genera- tuted his only home. Cattle and tions and received the people's adora- camels and slaves were his precious tion as they kissed their images, things. His more settled life com- marched round them, or prostrated prehended tillage and trade; but themselves before them, sacrificed whether in tent or town the national the camel, or offered the first-born of chal'acteristics were the same. their flocks, and the first fruits of Frugal of food, rising "while their fields, at their shrines.
birds reposed within their nests," he Some lVere Sabeans, worshiping never failed of hospitality, and had a the heavenly bodies and dedicating curse for himself if he gave" bark- pagodas to deified planets and fixed flour" bread while wheat was in stars. Seth and Enoch were their store. Kindness to neighbors, suc- prophets. They prayed seven times cor to prisoners and aid to the help- a day to avert the malignant and to less were to be accorded before they secure the propitious power of the could be solicited. Clean clothes, per- stars.
fumed shoes, and hail' scented with Some were atheists, to whom the musk added to his personal attrac- existence of man was precisely simi- tions, while eloquence, humor and lar to that of plant or other animal.
wit were always modified with for- Others were deists, holding to no bearance. His horsemanship must· revelation but what was afforded in indicate a childhood apprenticeship, rock or river. Some reverenced the and his bravery be tested with the Kiiba, and built imitations of it.
wolf. Poetry was the vernacular of All were superstitious. The ail' was his daily life. Himself unblushingly the soul, and blood the breath; or licentious, his verse was correspond- the soul was an animalcule entering ingly immoral. He gambled at fav- the body at birth and expanding till orite resorts, and sang and danced death, when it screeched around the with female slaves. He robbed with- grave till it was as big as an owl.
out misgiving, and murdered with- Demons and evil spirits, good and out remorse. He told his fortune by bad genii, some half body, half spirit, divination, used small stones for haunted desert!> and rivers in fantastic shapes, while others forever un- tent, inclosed by a waUthatis in turn seen uttered prophetic warnings and surrounded by a colonnade of three forecast the future. hundred and eighty pillars of marble, granite and porphyry, which sup- Society was of low type. Females port one hundred and two small were wretched and degraded, and domes. It has but one door, which licentiousness was open. The num- is opened but two or three times a ber of wives was unrestricted, and year, and is reached by a ladder. It divorce and remarriage were subject is wholly coated with silver, and has _to caprice. There was a limit to the gilt ornaments. Wax candles are period of divorce beyond which re- bUl'ned before it nightly, and permarriage was prohibited, and a man fuming pans of musk and aloes. The might keep his wife in perpetuated water-spout is golden. Veilf.ng the divorce by remarrying her just before Kaba is a very ancient custom. A the expiration of the limited term, covering is stretched over the buildand redivorcing her at once. Daugh- ing; sometimes it is Yemen cloth, ters were killed at pleasure or buried sometimes Egyptian linen, somealive. Women mixed in public as- times red brocade or even black silk. sembli4s without restriction. To furnish this veil is the emblem of Mosl~m royalty. The Khalif THE STONE AGE SURVIVAL. Sultan of Egypt and the Turkish Empet'or have furnished it. Of this pre-Islamic fetishism Muhammad retained the most promi- About one-third of the distance nent feature. Mecca is essential to from the top a band of golden emthe communal life of Islam. It would broidery of Koran texts is placed disintegrate without it. across the building. Poems, for which prizes have been awarded, are What is it, then, that gives Mecca also hung in golden text within the its importance? It is the Kaba and building. the Kaba alone. And it is the black stone built into it which renders the The whole territory about Mecca, Kaba of any worth. This has made five, seven or ten miles distant, is con· Mecca a place of pilgrimage from a sidered sacred. No twig must be cut, period long anterior to Muhammad. no fowl must be killed, within this From' 'hme out of record" Mecca has precinct. Touching' this line, the been a place of pilgrimage from I, a pilgrim must clothe himself in two circuit of a thousand miles, inter- woolen wrappers, and a pair of scant rupted only by the sea." slippers. The Kaba has been rebuilt several Since the second year of the Mos- times. Muhammadfound it damaged by a flood and falling into decay, lem et'a the Kaba has been the being without a roof and despoiled prayer-point (Kibleh) for Moslems of some of its treasures, and the re- in all the world. The direction of mainder insecure. He built it A. D. 605, lfecca is marked in every mosque- and it was rebuilt A.D. 1627. The best in the desert of Africa, on the levels authorities think it to have been con- of the Gangetic valley, on the high nected with systems ofidolatry preva- tables of Central Asia, and in the lent in the southern part of the Ara- cities of Turkey. Five times a day, bian peninsula. Some have supposed wherever the Moslem spreads his it devoted to Saturn, and it has been prayer-carpet, he bows with his face the emblem of four different faiths, toward :M:ecca. Hindu, Sabean, Gueber, and Mos- lem. This "CubeHouse,"orKaba, is But remember what has already called by the Moslems" the house of been said. The black stone is essential God." Itis forty orfifty feet in height, to the Kdba. It is a fragment of vol- and fourteen by eighteen paces in ex- canic salts, sprinkled with colored crystals and varied red felspath upon idea that the Hanyf were remnants dark ground like a coal. It may be of the Israelites and that "the be- an aerolite, some say a lava stone. It lief of Abraham" and the traditions is bordered all round with a large and usages which Muhammad adopt- plate of silver about a foot broad, ed at Mecca were Israelitish, and not and is worn uneven by the touch and heathen. Yet we must recognize kiss of pilgrims. The Moslem world the Hanyf as another Muhamma- is full of traditions concerning it. It dan elemeut here asserting itself was originally white, but became black before Muhammad appeared. They in the surface by virtue of its con- had early taken the name Moslem, tinual weeping on account of the sins the believer, from the root Islam, of men. The tears were as unseen as "submission." They claimed to be they were silent, and left the interior blindly submissive to the commands of the stone as white as before. Others of God, according to their name.
think the continual touching of the What they were besides is the subject millions of pilgrims has changed its of widely divergent opinion: A color, as all pilgrims, in marching sect, say some, which arose under round the Kaba, either touch it or the influence of the Arabian religions kiss the finger. Some call it "the in protest ag'ainst idol-worship and right hand of God." It is reputed to low morals; a remnant of the Israel- be one of the precious stones of Para- ites, say others, who made their way dise, which came to earth with Adam, into Arabia in the times of David and having been preserved miracu- and again in the days of Nebuchad- lously during the flood, was brought nezzar. It mightseem at first glance back to Mecca by the Angel Gabriel of little import who or what they and given to Abraham to build in the were, but it is not so. The question Kaba. It is said that it once was whether Muhammadanism was mere- stolen and could not be purchased for ' ly a natural and national reforma- five thousand pieces of gold, but was tion is involved in this, in part, as afterward restored. a primary C'luestion. Was there al- Hel'e is then a survival of a poly- ready a revolt in the heart of the theistic" stone age," a symbol of an people against the abuses of idolatry?
idolatrous cultus which is appro- Had Arab culture reached a stage priated, account for it as we may, by where the secret thought of the best the most fanatical monotheism the people demanded something purer, wo1'ld has seen. Destroy this, and less gross, less offensive; a simpler, you despoil Mecca of that which gives truer recognition of God and ethical it worth. Strike out Mecca, and goodness?
where were Islam? Judaism and Christianity had con- Iconoclastic beyond any body of tributed to the Arab stock of ideas religIOnIsts known, and flaunting those of revelation and the moral the "green banner" as the symbol government of God, and had intensi- of hatred to idol-worship, one hun- fied at least, the doctrine of the unity dred and seventy-five millions of Is- of God, even if we suppose that, un- lam turn their faces in prayer to a derlying this Arabian polytheism spot which finds its most sacred there was the apprehension of it ail characteristic in a relic of old Ara- the while.
bian stone worship. Strike this out, Was Muhammadanism simply are- we have said, and the Moslem world turn to the primitive faith, as Conhas no geographical nor communal fucianism was to the primitive c®ter. doctrine for which the Arab mind was ready, or which, in fact, was THE HANYF.
We have little sympathy with the evolved by the national heart and mind, and which Muhammad simply opium. To smoke opium is slow suicide. To eat or drink it, as some represented. Would the reformation do, is more rapid suicide. While it does not make one quarrel and fight have come without him? We have as liquor does, it is harder to leave off, and brings one surely though already said we think not. Muham- slowly to an untimely grave. The victim's body becomes weakened and mad was nQt the product of hW times. emaciated, his will becomes enslaved, and even his conscience seems to be Hanyfism had assumed no such pro- destroyed. When he has used up all his luoney and cannot borrow more, portions, had found no such expres- he is sure to ste::t.l to get money to buy opium. Men who once were rich sion, as to indicate a national revolt and strong and well educated are made pOOl' and weak and thoroughly against the religious usages and vile. The people express their hor- ror at the sight by calling them thought of the times. It was not a "opium devils." In Kalgan, a city of nearly 100,000 inhabitants, more religion, not "a fixed doctrine," not than half of the men smoke opium. In farming communities only one or an "organized worship." It wanted two out of ten smoke it. In Kui Hua Ch'ing, a l~rge city west of Kalgan, divine sanction, it had no prophet. almost everyone smokes it. It is impossible to reform without medi- It needed Muhammad. Kuenen fair- cal help, and many of those who reform go back to their vice again. ly puts .QUI' thought, when he says, Over thirty-fi ve million dollars' worth of opium is imported in a year, and as already quoted, "rcmove Muham- the Chinese. themselves raise twice as much as they import. For a few mad and neither Islam nor anything years past food w::t.s dear at Kalgan, and it was feared that there would like it comes into existence." be a famine. An abundance of rain in 1886 made food cheap again. But True, it is claimed that, denying priceR were so low that the farmers could not make money. The result this, it is just as difficult to account was that they raised more opium in 1887 than ever before. What an for Muhammad. How should he awful state of things! If they have less rain, they have less food; if they have discerned the short-comings of have more rain, they raise more poison! Though its awful effects are this national religion? He was a well known, the use of the drug is increasing. It exhausts the soil, "Semite of the Semites," and the impoverishes the nation, enfeebles the army, corrupts the magistrates, " keynote of Semitic piety is submis- brings unspeakable sufferings upon the innocent wives and children of sion to the Divine power," but was Its victims, and kills two 01' thtee million people each yeaI'. A physithis intensified Semitic tendency to cian in China says: "Of all narcotics recognize the unity of God enough to explain Muhammad? This we shall never know. The historic fact of his association with Judaism anu a per- verted Christianity come in as factors to prevent a solution on any hypoth- esis which omits to recognize them.
But let all these be given quantities, and they do not account for the rise and development of Islam without Mpl}ammad. '
(Concluded in next number.) The Oharacter of the Chinese.
By REV. J. H. ROBERTS, KALGAN, CHINA. (Concluded from last issue, p. HZ.) BUT the great vice of China is the use of opium. The poppy is the plant from which opium comes. In July the fields are bl;ight with its blossoms. As soon as the seed-pod is fully formed, but before it is ripe, the farmer' cuts around and around the pod with a knife, and collects the juice that comes out in a little tin mug. This juice, when boiled till it is a thick paste, is used by the human race, opium is, always avoid paying if they possibly on the whole, the most pernicious. can. Christian faith, in greater or It not only injures the physical sys- less degree, frees the converts from tem, but has a peculiar effect upon superstition and from the fear of the brain, perverting the moral sensi- death. They all endure more or less bilities, and permanently confusing, of persecution. Unworthy ones have in the patient's mind, the distinctions been excomlnunicated. So that, be- bet'ween right and wrong, truth and tween persecution on the one side falsehood." Thus opium deadens its and church discipline on the other, victim to all appeals and makes him the sincerity of the Christians has unable to respond to Christian truth been fully tested. In the south of and friendly pleading. China at a few points the gospel has In view of all these facts, is it not been preached for about forty-five evident that the Chinese need the years, and the churches number sev- gospel? Their good traits of charac- eral thollsands of communicants. In ter are perverted by their many sins. the northern half of the country the Anger and lying, cheating and steal- work was begun twenty-seven years ing, wine-drinking and gambling, ago by one missionary, and now obscenity and lasciviousness, malice, there are about a hundred ordained revenge, cruelty, and opium-smoking missionai'ies, and perhaps two hun- have defaced the fail' image of God, drecllady assistants, and about three in which they were created, and have thousand converts. The Bible has reduced them to a most deplorable been translated into the book lan- state of degradation and misery. guage and into all the principal They need-oh, how greatly they dialects of the spoken language.
need-the forgiring mercy of God Gospels and tracts have been sold in and the compasMon and help of all great numbers throughout the em- true Christians! pire.
Thirdly, I must tell you briefly their At the end of 1887 there were 38 character as redeemed by Christ, and miss~onal'Y societies represented in what has been done for them already. China by 1,030 missionarips, of whom The gospel bears fruit among them, 489 were men and 221 were single as it does in all the world. Theil' re- ladies. There were 175 native or- pentance and faith are proved to be dained ministers and 1,316 unor- sineere by the change that takes dained helpers, 32,260 communicants, place in their lives. One of our na- and 13,777 pupils in schools, and the tive pt'eachers was once addicted to contributions by native Christians gambling, and another used opium, amounted to $38,236.70. The in- but both have lived irreproachable crease over the preceding year was, Christian lives for many years. The of missionaries, Including men and converts destroy their idols, study the women, 111, or over 11 per cent.; Bible, learn to sing and pray, and of communicants, 4,260, or over 12% testify for Christ among their neigh- pel' cent. ; and of contributions, $19,- bors and frierrds. They are generally 862.14, or over 100 pel' cent. Last truthful and honest, in which re- year the Chinese Christians, in their spects they are very different from extreme poverty, doubled their con- the heathen. 'Ve find that Chris- tributions to every benevolent work.
tian servants do not chcat us, nor Do not they set a noble example to steal our goods, as heathen servants their brethren in this more favored do. The members of our church land?
have a good reputation for paying up It requires great moral courage for their debts; whereas the heathen a Chinaman who believes the gospel have, to be dunned repeatedly, and to openly confess it. He is looked upon with contempt for following saved is by faith in the Lord Jesus the foreigners. He is despised for his Christ. In a long and intimate ac- atheism in not worshiping the gods quaintance with the Chinese one of his fathers" and for impiety in not does not find one person who with- worshiping his ancestors. He is be- out the gospel has come to love what lieved to be a willing tool of political God loves, and to hate what He agents from foreign countries, join- hates. They themselves say that a ing in a plot for the injury of his holy man is not seen oftener than native land. He is sure to be reviled once in five hundred years; and by a and persecuted, and it is wonderful holy man they mean one who, like that our Chinese brethren have so Confucius, could readily tell a lie. great a degree of patience and faith- How exactly does the character of the fulness. Farmers who become Chris- Chinese correspond with the words tians find it impossible to rent land of !ioly Scripture: "'fhere is none to till. No one will rent to them, righteous, no, not one. They are all because they will not pay taxes to gone out of the way, they are to- the heathen temples. If they till gether become unprofitable; there is their own land, the refusal to pay none that doeth g'ood, no, not one."
those taxes arouses persecution God grant that His truth may be again!:'t them. If an apprentice is con- proclaimed throughout China, and verted he loses employment, and if that the other words of Scripture a shopkeeper is converted he loses may soon be fulfilled: "that as sin patronage. You will see that our hath reigned unto death. even so Chinese Christians have a heavy might grace reign through right- cross to bear. They prove their sin- eousness unto eternal life by Jesus cerity, and deserve our prayers and Christ our Lord."
our help. The Habitations of Cruelty. Such are the people in "the land THE North China Herald some- what recently narrated the punish. of Sinim" : with many good traits, ments which were inflicted at the commanding our respect and even Che-hsien's jail, on some prisoners admiration, but depraved by their brought before him. We need not sins and helpless in their moral ruin, recite the points of the case, as these yet believing our message and being punishments are not uncommon. truly converted in such numbers The Herald quotes from the Hupao, that we may well "thank God and and says: take courage."
One word more as to their sinful character. It is positive, not negative; .. The Che-hsien thereupon ordered the not a mere absence of good motives leader to receive 1,000 blows with the rattan and feelings, but a great combina- and 1,000 with the bamboo; a second man tion of eVIl ones. It is sin against 1,000 with the bamboo and 2,000 ''Hth the rattan; a third 1,000 with the bamboo and light, though not against the gospel the fourth 2,000 with the rattan. These light. The knowledge of right and pumshments were mflicted in the courtwrong, which God has gIven to them yard. and III addition the foot of the chief and to all men, is a great light. They was placed on a stone and he received thir- ty-three blows with an iron hammer on the know that it is wrong to lie and re- ankle; and the second, who had flogged the vile and steal and fight and cheat. new prisoner and his friend, got fifty blows They are condemned by their own with the same hammer on the ankle. Both consciences. The Bible says that men's ankles were broken, and the men fainted under the pnnishoent. The other those who do such things are under two were kept kneeling during thiS time. the wrath of God, and are doomed to This took place between five and SIX o'clock an awful punishment. We know that in the afternoon, and It is said that the men the only way In which they can be whose ankles had been thus hammered were insensible until nine o'clock. Three of the men were placed in cages, and yesterday whence they came, and the result was furmorning the leader, who could not walk, ther atrocities. It is difficultto estimate the was carried before the magistrate, who is number of killed and eaten, but reports to preparing a special cell for his detention. hand put the number at 150." The leader is, we are informed, the same man who was put in a cage in the city to be But now comes the rub. What we starved to death a few months ago. The above punishments were, the Chinese say, have been quoting is about noninllicted by orders of the superior officials at Soochow. No doubt all the men were Christian lands. We venture, with thorough-paced rascals, and their chief, or leader, had not only broken every law that deepening shame, to refer to our it suited him to break, but had made his authorities ridiculous by setting them at Alaska possessions. The following defiance. Nevertheless the sentences on them were barbarous in the extreme. It quotation from the New York World, does not matter that the men were probably able to obtain some miti.!::ation of the of a part of a letter written to that severity of their punishment by bribing the executioners to lay the blows on lightly, journal by Mrs. Voorhies, a welland that therefore they did not suffer much known lady of New York city, is si~ from the bamboo and rattan. It is the iniquity of the punishment which foreign na- ply startling: tions will bear in mind when considering Chinese claims to be on an equality with "In all that country there is no law-thAre can be no restraint-and the lowest animal them." passions of the rough miners, trappers, hunters, soldiers, and sailors rage uncheck.. Turning from China to Africa, we ed. The Indian woman is considered the find in The African Times of Nov. 5 lawful spoil of these men. They steal them if they can; if not, they buy them from the following: their parents for a knife, a jug of rum, or a. string of beads. If these considerations do "Last September a section of the Ogoni not weigh, then they make the old people tribe, once a powerful people but now split drnnk and ca.rry off the girl. A miner will up into factions, apPilaled to the king and come and dicker for a child of fourteen, and chiefs of Okrika to intervene in a dispute bear her off shrieking with terror. She bebetween themselves and another faction. comes the slave of the whole camp, and is This quarrel originated at the oil markets, finally sent back to her people to die. A which it is to the interest of the Okrikans, lady with whom I talked of these horrors at as middlemen, to keep open and free. The Sitka told me of a case which had come Okrikans sided with the appellants, and nnder her own observation. so she could warned their opponents that in the event of vouch for its truth in every revolting parhostilities they would assist them and put a ticular. This lady, by the way, is the first stop to the feud. The warning was without white woman who ever went to Alaska. Of effect, and the hostile Ogonis attacked the course there may have been some Russian allies of the Okrikans while they were re- women there before, but I mean the .flrst turning from the markets, killing a chief woman from onr conntry or England. and taking a number of prisoners and a quantity of property. The Okrikans, on .. Well. she knew of a little girl having being informed of this raid, planned with been carried off forcibly by some soldiers, their friends a terrible scheme of revenge, and one day, a few months after, an Indian which they proceeded at once to carry into woman came to her exhibiting signs of great effect. Under the pretext of an invitation grief, and begged the white mother, as she to a frieBdly palaver for the purpose of called this lady, to go and look at her settling the differences between the parties, daughter, who was dying. The lady went the Ogonis concerned in the attack, accompanied by eighty of their chiefs, were to the place where the girl lay on the treacherously lured into a trap, captured, ground, a mass of rags, filth, and corruption. and taken to Okrika, where they were She had been returned to her people by her butchered and eaten. The reports received captors to whom she was no longer useful. as to the condition of the town during the Such horror is felt by the Indians at the aptragedy are too revolting for publication. proach of anyone afflicted as she was, that Mangled remains and remnants of human thev avoided the victim as thongh she was beings were strewn in all directions, while plague.stricken. In the case of this poor mutilated bodies were observed floating child, who was only fifteen years of age. down theBonnyriver. After the captnre of they had built a stockade about the place the party invited to the palaver, a raid was where she lay, completely inclosing her. A Ulade upon the virtuaUynndefended villages small aperture had been left on one side close to the ground. through whieh food and water were thrust to her. The 'white mother' cl'awled through this hole to reach the sufferer, and did what was in her power for the wretched young crea.ture. One ear was entirely gone, and the girl's face horribly disfigured. Because she had been kidnapped by soldip.rs. the brave white lady sent word to the garrison that they must give medical aid. A physician came, through whose efforts the child's life wall saved."
'l'HE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS. [MAR"
IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D.D.
Evangelization of Oities, In addi- ed, a surprising likeness to the women tion to Dr. Sherwood's article, we of Paris, and perceives with a thrill give simply a few hints in the form of dismay that the models for this of paragraphs and notes. picture of decadent human nature 1. The Modern Decadence. "There are furnished by the very city in is a picture in the Luxembourg Gal- which he lives."-Putnam's Monthly, lery at Paris, the' Decadence of the Feb., 1853.
Romans,' which made the fame and Oities have always been the Oit- fortune of Couture, the painter. It adels both of sin and of the Christian represents an orgie in the court of a fu,ith. "They were the .first points temple during the last days of Rome. of assault by primiti ve Christianity.
A swat'm of revelers occupy the They have ever determined, by their middle of the picture, wreathed in attitude towu,rd religion, the posi- elaborate intricacy of luxurious pos- tion of nations and the destiny of ture, men and women in tenningled ; men. It is therefore not strange that their faces, in which the old Roman when Christ sent out His apostles to fire scarcely flickers, brutalized with convert the world, He should have excess of every kind; their heads of bidden them to begin their operadisheveled hair bound with coi'onals tions at the ecclesiastical capital of of leaves, while from goblets of an their native land. This law has antique grace they drain the fiery never been changed. .The spirit of torrent which is destroying them. our age, the trend of civilization, the Around the bacchanalian feast stand pressing necessities of the world, the , lafty upon pedestals the statues of manifest exigencies and perils of the old Rome, looking with marble calm- times, all combine to urge more and ness and the severity of a rebuke more faithful obedience to the Mas- beyond words upon the revelers. A ter's law and conformity to His youth of boyish grace, a wreath method. Nothing has so mm'ked the woven in his tangled hair, and with growth of America as the extraordired and drowsy eyes, sits listless from nary development of our principal drunkenness and proffering a drip- cities." They expand with marvel- ping goblet to the marble mouth of ous rapidity. There is an unceasing the statue. In the corner of the pict- activity in building operations all ure, as if just quitting the court- along the margins of their popula- Rome finally departing-is a group tion. The drift is continually outof Romans with care-worn brows, ward. In many the popUlation and hands ru,ised to their faces in doubles within u, few decades, and melancholy meditation. In the yery the per cent. of increase is probably foreground of the picture, which is more rapid to-day thu,n ever before. painted with all the sumptuous splen- How shall we meet the obligations dor of Venetian u,rt, IS u, stately vase, which these facts lay upon us? around which hangs a festoon of Protection against Rum. Rock- gorgeous flowers, its end dragging ford, Ill., proposes a "Home Protecupon the pavement. In the back- tion League," for the suppression of ground, between the columns, smiles the dram-shop and the saloon; to the blue sky of Italy. the only thing pursue constantly, vigorously and Italian not deteriol'ateci by time. persistently "the absolute over- The careful student of this picture, throw of the dram-shop and beer-sa- if he has been long in Paris, is some loon.?' Entirely non-partisan, and day startled by detecting, especially free from alliances with any and in the faces of the women represent- every political party, it has but one foe-the saloon. It proclaims hostil- was that the Buddhists in a temple ity to that as its one object, and it in- in Southern India allowed the great vites all who sympathil!e with this American theosophist to plant a tree purpose to join. inside the sacred inclosure commem- orative of his conversion, and to en- The Question of Free Churches. ter the temple to worship. But as At the thirteenth annual meeting of soon as he was gone they cleaned the the" Free and Open Church Associ- temple from his unholy contact with ation," held in Boston lately, the re- the excrflment of a cow, burned to port for the year showed the mem- smoke out his defilements." While bership to be nearly 100 clergymen we talk about the evangelization of and about 60 laymen. The object cities, the danger is that the foreign is to promote the free-church idea; faiths will heathenize us completely. to do away with all pew-rents, and all distinctions on account of wealth, Why Churches are Empty. Rev. so far as the sanctuary is concerned. Dr. Huntington, rector of Grace Already nearly or quite one-half of Church, New York, thinks the folall the clergymen in the diocese of lowing are among the causes to Massachusetts give the movement which the emptiness of churches their cordial support. We notice seems attributable. "1. Unsettlethat Dr. Parkhurst of New York has ment of the public mind with respect publicly declared his adhesion to the to the first principles of religion, system of free pews as one method mainly occasioned by large, undiof promoting access to the common gested masses of new knowledge people. supposed to be irreconcilable with the Christian creed. 2. The unexam.. Paganism in 01£'1' Cities. There is a pled material prosperity of the coun- Buddhist temple in New York city. try, whereby men's thoughts arl!; " This temple, which makes no pre- turned away from spiritual things. tensions as an edifice, is located at 3. The reluctance of young men at No. 10 Nassau street. It is concealed promise to enter the Christian minis, from.the curiosity and access of the try. 4. The failure on the part of 'profane,' by a shop, or office, in Protestant Christians to compose front, through which the initiated their differences and to achieve visimust pass to enter the sacred shrine. ble unity. There is little complaint of This is said to be duly equipped with empty churches among Roman Cathan idol, with rare mystic paintings, olIcs. 5. The Sunday newspaper. 6. and with a sacred oracular crystal. The Sunday opening of club-houses. The walls of the temple are enriched 7. Saturday night social entertainwith twenty-five memorial shields, ments carried to the edge of Sunday. each bearing some legends in San- Some of the above causes are remediscrit, these being donated by the able, but the greater number of them twenty-five Theosophical Societies areaslittlewithin thel'eachofhuman of the United States. It is no Chi- effort as is the movemen t of the tides." nese Joss house, but a high-toned sacred resort, where the cultured in CAN THE MASSES BE REACHED? occult religion meet at stated times each month for worship, meditation, There is no insuperable difficulty and training 'in the mysteries.'" in the way of approach and even as- The Presbyterian Observer adds: "It similation between the highest and is probable that Col. Olcott and the lowest classes of society, pro- Madame Blavatsky are in this place, vided there is a will to reach men as it has become most too warm for and an adaptation of means to ends. them in India. One of the stories of Much of the lllutual antagonism is the Colonel's Buddhist conversion due to a simple lack of acquaintance. Points of cont;l,ct will become points of attraction or of repulsion, accord- army consists, on a war-footing, of ing as the contact is or is not sympa- 165,000 officers and men. The pavy thetic. Habits of selfish isolation, is small, having five gunboats. Mexthe culture of our "affinities," the ico's exports are minerals and metals; habit of consulting our own refined precious woods, especially mahogany tastes, comfort, and gratification, and dye-woods; coffee and cocoa, will lead us to avoid all unnecessary vanilla, tobacco, cochineal, drugs, contact with those who occupy a cattle, etc. lower social stratum, and will make points of necessat'y contact points of Proximity to our own country forrepulsion. But when there is volun- bids us to regard Mexico with indiftaryand kindly approach we always ference. At our very doors, our discover something that is a basis nearest neighbor, her elevation and for sympathy and love. evangelization touch not only our duty but our interest. The great The :;;ecret charm of the gospel of variety and richness of her fauna Christ is that it inspires, not simply and flora; the possibility of finding the love of complacence, but the love almost any desired climatic condiof benevolence. The true disciple tions within a small range of terriloves not for the lovely and lovable tory; the beauty of her scenery, qualities already seen and developed, constituting a modern occidental but for the sake of what may be lIe- paradise-all these considerations veloped. And so, in the most repul- make Mexico a country of supreme sive object, love sees a field for celes- importance to the United States. tial blooms. The stagnant marsh brings forth the white and fragrant There is sure to be contact and water lily, and the desert becomes commerce between these two neighthe garden of the Lord. bors. As facilities of travel increase, this favored land will throng not THE subjects assigned to this only with visitors but residents from month are Mexico, Central America, our republic. If we do not raise her West Indies, and Evangelization in moral and spiritual state, she will the Cities. We refer our readers to lowel> our own. Self-protection de- Vol. 1, New Series, p. 224-226, where mands that we send to our Mexican the main facts as to Mexico are set neighbors the gospel in its purity. forth. Much other valuable matter is presented in the same volume. See The papacy in its worst form rules copious index. The editors earnestly in Mexico, though in 1873 church hope that every student of missions and state were separated, and Conwill avail himself of the bound vol- gress precluded, from passage of laws ume for 1888, which he will find an either establishing or prohibiting encyclopedia of missions. any religion. Marriage was made a civil contract; slavery abolished, MEXICO. and a severe blow struck against the monastic orders and religious estab- In 1882 its area was computed at lishments, and in favor of public 743,948 square miles, and its popula- education. In 1884 there were about tion at about 10,500,000. It consists 9,000 public elementary schools, with of 30 States, of which the largest are 500,000 pupils, and about 140 for Chihuahua, Sonora, Coahuila, Dur- higher education, with 17,200 pupils, ango; and the most populous are and that year the Government grant IaliS-Co, Guanajuato, Mihoacan, Oax- fot> educational purposes was $3,000,- aca, Puebla and Mexieo, all of which 000 and upward. contain upward of 700,000. In 1882 Mexico had 23 towns containing over These were rapid steps-strides in 8,000, the City of Mexico being advance, in fact too rapid for the igmuch the largest, with 300,000. The norance and superstition, of the peopIe. Reaction was inevitable, and church edifices and 265 hired halls, the laws-passed in a previous decade are in danger of becoming a dead 350 congregations, 18,000 church letter. The priests, who see the scepter passing out of their hands, members, and about twice that numare making desperate efforts to retain their influence and recover lost ber of adherents, 180 Sunday-schools ground. But the danger is now that in this reaction the people will swing with 6,000 scholars, 110 day schools away from all religious moorings, and plunge like France in 1789 into with 4,500 scholars, 3 theological an atheistic revolution. seminaries with 50 students, and 8 As we have said, papacy in its moral form dominates Mexico and evangelical presses and 8 evangelical Central and South America. The religion has been nominally Roman papers. But what is a total force of Catholic, with a mixture of Toltec less than 400 Christian workers in a and Aztec superstitions and idolatrous relics, and utter ignorance of popUlation of ten and a half millions? the Scriptures, together with most shocldng immorality. Many of the Every worker must care on the averpeople not only have no copy of the Bible but do not know how it differs age for 26,250 souls! And yet Bishop from a prayer-book! The better features of Catholicism, such as may Hurst of the M. E. Church, after two be found among the more intelligent adherents of the Romish Church in months spent in Mexico, wrote from France and Austria, are not found among Mexicans, while all the worst El Paso in March, 1887 : features-abject ignorance, servile bondage to superstition, empty and "As a proof of the readiness of the meaningless forms, the despotic con- Indians of Mexico for Protestantism, I fessional, the tyrannical and licen- may say that the local authoritieshave tious priesthood, corrupt monastic given us temporal'Y use of the Roman institutions, an enriched clergy and Catholic church, where our missionan impoverished people-these are ary preaches every Sunday, and in prominent chamcteristics of the another town the authorities are ar- Mexican Church. The people are ranging to give us outl'ight another enough awake to be conscious of Catholic church. The bolts are all their religious enslavement, and suf- broken and the doors wide open for ficientlyaroused to seek deliverance; Protestant work among all the 32 but the risk is that in breaking their races of Mexican Indians. President present bonds they will run riot in Diaz informed us in person that if free thinking and scorn all religious any of our missionaries were threatobligations, becoming churchless, ened, we should immediately telecreedless, Christless. graph him, and troops would be fur- nished for their safety." Now is the time to enter Mexico with the gospel. But we are doing TEXTS AND THEMES. almost nothing. In 1887, Rev. John W. Butler reported 10 Protestant The Gospel Preached to the Poor.-Luke vii: denominations in the field, with 16 22.-The last great sign of Messiahship-the missions, 105 ordained ministers, 100 grandest moral miracle. For this Christ was unordained, 180 other workers, 85 specially anointed, iv : 18.
This is not a class distinction, even though in favor of the poor. The poor represent here the most numerous, needy, and neglected; hence, the hest representatives of humanity at large.
SOCiety drifts toward patronage of rich, wise, great. Christ the only teacher who treated the 8mtl of man as the only great thing in man.
I. The church is truly Christian only so far as she follows in His footsteps.
The great question of our day is the evangeli- zation of the masses of the people. One-half of the community are non-church goers. Their ma- terial and moral condition only makes our duty more imperative. We must go out into alleys as well as avenues, hedges as well as highways, and compel them to come in. It pays, every way, to preach the gospel to the poor.
The largest harvest, are gathered from such preaching. When brought iuto effective con- taot with the gospel tile poor prove the more susceptible to it.
II. Conditions of effective preaching to the poor.- 1. Simplicity of thought, word, and illustra. 2. A habit of making even the poorest feel a tion. If anything ought to be plain it is the gos- home. The oftener the people can be got into pel. Preaching should be comprehensive-em· the church building by any legitimate means bracing the whole gospel, and comprehensible or attraction the better. To connect the edi· -easy to be nnderstood. fice with homelike associations and frequent gatherings makes it attractive. Hence all pop- 2. Sincerity. We must first ourselves thor- ular meetings on temperance, ph,ilanthropic and oughly believe and be affected by the truth. benevolent work, and for innocent recreation and Lyman Beecher said: "Eloquence is logic on entertainment, help to run the stream of popular fire." Every preacher ought to be the gospel life through the church as a channel, and a on fire. All trifling sensationalism, etc., is ulti- stream will naturally flow in its usual channel. mately fatal to pulpit power because it impairs People who go to a church-building through the impression of the preacl1er's sincerity. The the week will naturally go there on the Sabbath. grace of feeling is the gift of God. Old theolo· But if shut doors compel them to find Bome gians wrote of" donum tach'rymarum." other place every other day, why should open doors on Sunday find them thronging the place of 3. Sympathy, both rhetorical and popular. prayer? Rh'l,torical sympathy brings the preacher into accord with his theme, hearer, and occasion. 3. A habit of power in preaching and pray· Popular sympathy brings his heart into contact ing and working for God. It was the popular with the heart of humanity. It abates fastidious expectation of some wonderful display of miractastes, prevents a perfunctory discharge of duty ulous power that drew the people in throngs to and social seclusion and separation from the meet Christ on His triumphal entry. Jno. xii: great mass of the people. F. W. Robertson said 18. A church which is wont to be filled with the power of God dra ws the people, becanse his tastes were with the aristocracy, hut his they expect great things. The lame and sick principles were with the moh. To a spiritual will crowd the porches of Bethesda because they are looking for the angel of healing to preacher" not man'8 merit, but his misery, is trouble the waters. Hence the ultimate secret the magnet" that draws him toward all men. of all church power is prevailing prayer.
SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS. Robert Murray McCheyne's tomb in old Dun· SIR HUMPREY DAVY once said, .. Of all my dee reminds us of the fact that a missionary discoveries the greatest was Michael Faraday." spirit will find abundant Christ·like work to do A church in Scotland gained but a single memo anywhere. Here is a touching account of his ber in a twelvemonth. But the single memher was David Livingstone. last service: Harriet Newell, dying before any heathen had listened to her voice, has been a ministering He had heen visiting in the fever-stricken angel to the mission cause ever since. Within dens of Dundee. Typhus fever had laid hold of one year she was a wife, a mother,-8. missionary, him; but, ignorant of the cause of the languor and a saint. She buried her heart with her and pain which oppressed him, he had gone to child, on the Isle of France, aud then was celebrate a marriage, and remained for the buried by her baby's side. Her life had failed, entertainment which followed. Some were she thought. She knew not. If we do the there who were no friends to his faithful preachvery best we can, even thongh it be but little, ing and thought that his grave manner was due God will not allow its influence to be lost. to pietism and not to illness. So one of them Church HabiUi have much to do with success said, "See now if I cannot tease your minister." in evangelism. So saying, she sent a little girl of nine years to 1. A habit of accepting her mission to preach Mr. McCheyne with a marriage favor and a the gospel to all men, and disposing all things bouquet. When the child approached him he with reference to that divine purpose. From brightened up. " Will you put this on ?" said the hour of organization-from:conception of she. "Yes, if you will show me how." When the idea of a new church, in all arrangements it was all arranged, he said: "I have done what looking to pastor, site for building, details of you asked me. Will you listen while I tell you structure, administration, etc., everything a story?" So he began to tell her the" sweet should have in view reaching the people to story of old." Very soon six other little girls save souls. We must not invest any "conse- gathered round and listened with upturned crated building" with a false sanctity. The only faces while he told them how the Lord Jesus had H temple'~ or "church" known to the New come down from heaven to earth, had lived 'Testament is the body of believers. Our per- and loved on earth, and then died to save sinmanent model is not the temple but the syna· ners. When he had finished, he laid his hand gogue, a place of assembly free from rigid, on the head of each child and asked God's frigid Jines of separation and a cumbrous cere- blessing on her. Soon after he said he felt so monial. And any place is to be preferred for ill he must retire. He went home to his bed, purposes of snch assembly where the greatest and in a few days he was with the Lord.
IlUmber can oe reached and saved.
PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
V.-PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Africa.- The Universities Mission has Upper Congo among the large and intelligent received the following cable message from Zan- Balolo tribes. Eight thousand dollars is subzibar: "Sunday, 10: 36. Bishop Smythies safe scribed in Great Britain to begin the work, at Mkuzi. All the ladies, Revs. Wallace and which is to be nnder the direction of young Dr. Maxwell, and Mr. Coggan have come down to Guinness. Zanzibar." The secretary of the mission explains that the political disturbances on the Belgium. – Evangelical Society of Bel. coast have obliged the mission to snspend its gium. We call particular attention to the work on the mainland, that while the ladies following extract from the preface to the have been withdrawn to the Island of Zanzibar, report for the year ending 30th June last: none of the mainland stations have been aban- .. This year, that of our Jubilee, has been doned, and the work of the mission is still car- marked by abundant blessings, of which ried on. The British Consul-Geueral at Zanzibar this is one. )vIore than 500 new members, has issued a stringent proclamation, 'warning all Roman Catholics or infidels, have been British snbjects of the penalties incurred by added to our church. In many cases facts their making illegal contracts with slave-own- show that their public professioo was preers for the employment of slave labor. Great ceded by real conversion and a change of Britain and Germany having invited Portngal to life. No new station was added during the co-operate in the blockade, two vessels have year~ our funds preventing it. This causes been ordered to reinforce the Portuguese squad- us much cenceI'll." ron on the East African Coast. The French Government, however, declines to permit a Brazil. – The opportunity for Christian search for slaves, but only for arms, on boal'd missions in Brazil, says the Presbyterian vessels carrying the French flag. Observer, is very extraordinary. The peo- ple are without confidence in the Romish -Bishop William Taylor, now in his 68th priests. The,attitude of the Brazilian mind, year, left New York for a second four years' high and low, is large1y either of disgust or sojourn in Africa, December 1. Notwithstanding indifference. Everywhere the Protestant his age, he plunges into the wilds to accomplish evangelist can have an assembly at a. few a work sufficient to tax the physical euergies of hours' notice. Everywhere he can have a the strongest man, thirty years younger. Fevers, nuclens of a church after a little loving ILnd perils from the natives, a burning equatorial right teaching of the truth. A hundred sun – these have no terrors for him. He additional missionaries could be set to work is "moving out on the high lines of human im- at once. possibilities, trusting alone in Him with whom all things are possible," and he is strong in faith Cllina.-The Synod of China metat Tung. for the conversion of the heathen millions of the chow, September 13th; in attendance 2~ "Dark Continent." He was to preside over ministers and 9 elders. Of the ministers the annual Conference of the African Methodist present 20 were missionaries and 9 Episcopal Church, at Greenville, Liberia, on natives. The elders were all natives_ There ure now on the various church rolls January 10. 3,632 communicants. Additions since last -The Times correspondent at Zanzibar tel- Synod, 1,981; expulsions, 560; deaths, 292. The churches number 42 and the ministers egraphs: "At the Church MIssionary Society's 61, of whom 23 are natives and 38 foreign Station of Rabai a very remarkable sight was missionaries. Besides these, there are 8 witnessed on New Year's Day, when Mr. Mac- licentiates, who do regular work as preachkenzie, before an immense concourse of people, ers. The day schools have 1,358 pupils, and presented papers of freedom to many hundreds the boarding-schools 643 pupils, making a of runaway slaves, for whose unconditional re- total of 2,001 in these Christian schools. demption he had amicably arranged with their Total contributions for the five years, owners. This philanthropic measure has had $6,695.15. Resolutions looking toward a an extraordinarily widespread and beneficial union of the different Presbyterian ehurches effect on all cJasses."-The Record, London. in China were unanimously adopted.
-Eastern Africa is in a ferment. The efforts -The China Inland MiSSIOn records, as the to stop the slave trade between Africa and Asia most striking feature of tire past year, the has roused the Arab slave dealers to the fiercest arrival of Ruccessive parties of u the Hunanger, and they are using every means in their dred," each reporting souls won for Christ, power to destroy European influence. Com- backsliders restored, or believers quickened mercial and missi,onary stations have been de~ on the voyage. F,)urteen new stations were stroyed, aud several Europeans killed. The opened in the year, making 64 stations in result will undoubtedly be the extinction of all. In no province has there been more the slave trade, and the opening of the country decided advance than in Shansi. The numto the free progress of commerce and missions. ber of converts baptized in the year was 308.
-A new mIssion is to be started on the -The An-ting Hospital, connected with the Presbyterian Mission at Pekin, is an illus- income is £2,000 lives on £200, and gives away tration of the importance and the economy £1,800; another who earps £1,500 lives 011 of this branch of mission work. It has two £100, and "ives away £1,400; anotber whose in- dispensaries, a, t which the total attendance come is £8,000 lives on £250, and gives away has been 18,333. The hospital has received £7,750. The latter gives back to God $31 out of 322 in-patients, who have been treated for every $32 received.. As we read these things, all sorts of diseases and accidents; of these we begin to get some idea of what is mnnifi- 87 were treated for the opium habit. This cence." work ought to be greatly extended among -There are at the present moment 110 stu- the large towns, as nothing else so attracts dents nnder training in the Eost London Insti- the admiration and gratitude of the Chinese. tnte for Home and Foreign Missions-the largest nnmber reached since its establishment in -A recent letter from the President of the 1873. Christian College in Canton, Rev. A. P. Happer, D.D., says that the purchase of -The annual summary of contribntions to ground for the building is impossible at foreign mission work, jnst completed by Canon present, owing to the strong anti-foreign Scott Robertson, shows that for 1887 the snm feeling of the Viceroy Chang, due to the given by religious bodies in the British Isles was passage of the Excusion Act by the United £1,228,759. Of this total the sum of £461,236 States. This Viceroy is one of the most was given through Chnrch of England societies; powerful officials in Ohina, and the rejection £187,048 throngh jOint societies of Ohnrchmen of the new treaty was largely due to his and Nonconformists; £367,115 through Non- efforts and influence. Hampered as the conformist societies in England and Wales; . work is, the instruction is carried on faith- £202,940 throngh Scotch and Irish Presbyterian fully, and much progress is being made. societies, and £10,420 throngh Roman Catholic societies. -The latest news received from China is that a recent issue of the Ohinese l'irne8 con- -Five Continental Powers maintain twelve tained a communication from a Chinese official millions of fighting men, costing annually £112" residing in Peking, which probably foreshadows 000,000. So says Lord Lytton speaking as the course to be adopted by China at an early Rector to the stndents of Glasgow University. day toward this country as a result of our re- He said that" war wonld be, tberefore, sudden cent legislation against its people. This com- and gigantic. conclnding with decisive and far- munication states very positi"i'ely, that should reaching results."-B011'boay Guardian. the obnoxions provisions of that legislation con- tinue to be enforced, Ohina can pnrsne bnt one – Canon Taylor's article on Foreign Mis· course Qconsistently with her self·respect and sions spoke highly of the . Salvation Army dignity as a nation. They will compel her to methods of missionary work in India. There consider whether the time has not come to is a department at the Headquarters of the abrogate all existing treaties with the United Salvation Army in London the duty of whose States, recall all her subjects now in this conn managers it is to issue any literatnre likely to try, expel from China all our citizens now resid- make the work of the Army more widely ing there, and terminate all relations and inter- known. Canon Taylor's article was therefore cOnrse with ns of a commercial or diplomatic reprinted by them. Bnt when General Booth character. This conrse would involve a diRas- heard of it, he issned orders that it shonld be at trous interruption to our missionary work in once withdrawn from circnlation, as the pnbli- China, and perhaps occasional violence to the cation of snch a pamphlet by the Salvation Christianized Chinese, if not to the missionaries Army would appear to be an indorsement of themselves. Canon Taylor's strictures on the ,,ork of other miSSionary societie~. -When Dr. S. Wells Willi"ms arrived in Canton in 1833, there was only one Ohinese -Rev. George Muller. Upwards of fifty convert, and the penalty for teaching for- years ago he receil'ed his first orphans in his eigners the Chinese language was death. house at Wilson street, and withont canvassing Now there are 33,000 COllverts. or regnlar list of subscribers, or pnblishing the names of donors, he has received volnntarily England.-Real Munificence. Great gen- npward of £1,153.000, Over £100,000 has been erosity is often ascribed to those who give large spent in providing accommodation for lodging snms without regard to the amonnt of property and educating the orphans, and the Cnrrent ex- which they possess, bnt sometimes more real penses are npward of £25,000 per annum, in benevolence is shown in giving $10 than $10,000 : addition to £10,000 yearly spent in edncational it depends on what relation the gift bears to the and missionary work, !J.nd the distribution of giver's prosperity. The National Baptist calls tracts and Bibles. The average cost of each attention to the follo," ing : orphan is £13 78. 6d. After preaching for forty- three years exclnsively in Bristol, during the " At the late annnal meeting of the Baptist past 13 years he has traveled 150,000 mile. in Missionary SOCiety of Great Britain, Rev. F. B. Europe, Canada, United State., Palestine, AlIiI' Meyer mentioned tbAse instances which came Minor, Anstralia, China, and Japan, lind is DOW nnder his notice: A governess earns £100 a at Sydney, New Sontb Wales.
year, and gives away one·balf; a person wbose -The printing of the revised version of the emphasized. We d.. not look hopefnlly npon Malagasy Bible has been completed. The Re- this new amalgamation. Brahmanism, following vision Committee, presided over by Rev. W_ a well-beaten track, has tried this role with very E. Consins, of the London Missionary Society, indifferent success. Christ will enter no pan commenced their work in December, 1873. It theon save to hurl all the demi-gods from their has thns taken flfteen years to accomplish the seats of nnlawfnl authority.-lndian Witness.
great work, which has nOw been happily bronght -The Synod of the American Presbyterian to a snccessfnl conclusion by the printers, Church of India has held a three days' session Richard Clay & Sons. at Umballa. Rev. C. B. Newton, of Lodiana, Guinea.-Bunyam's "Pilgrim's Progress" was elected Moderator. Rev. J. J. Lucas, the is again translated, now into the Fantis tongnes, retiring Moderator, preached the opening ser- for the people on the Gold Coast, Upper Guinea.. mon, taking for his text "Be ye filled with the It is to be early translated into Korean, Dr. Spirit." The depntation from the American M.
Pierson's Satnrday afternoon Bible class, in E. Church, conSisting of Rev. A. J. Maxwell, Y.M.C.A. Hall, Philadelphia, on the anniversary Lucknow, Dr. T. J. Scott and Rev. F. L. Neild of Bnnyan's death, having taken up a collection of Bareilly, gave some interesting particnlars of for this pnrpose, of over $300. their work in the villages and among the low -The first printing ever done in New Gninea caste people which it is hoped will indnce the has just heen· put out by the mission on Murray Presbyterian brethren to make more special Island-so again is missions the pioneer of efforts on behalf of the villages in their districts.
civilization. Mr. Neild gave the following statistics for the Hawaiian Islands.-Two-thirds of the M. E. Church, BareillyDistrict: 6,ooomembers, infant children, before the advent of missions, 9,000 adherents, 488 day schools with 1,500 male were strangled or burned alive. and 1,200 female pupils, 594 Sabbath schools India.-Rev. Dr. Wilson, of Budaon, has with 18,000 non-Christian and 5,000 Christian baptized over 160 persons since February last. scholars. A reciprocal depntation was ap- The work is expanding rapidly. pointed to the North India Conference of the -The Woman's Union Missionary Society M. E. Church which meets at Bareilly in Janu- of America has in Calcntta and the villa!!;es ary. The next Synod will be held at Allahabad south of it 22 schools, with 1,178 girls, and 114 in December, 1891.
zenanas in which are 130 regular pupils. A -In India 50,000 Bengali Bibles were issued Bible lesson is given every day in the schools (not given away, but sold) in 1885; in 1886, and at every visit in the zenanas. 86,000. In Madras in 1885, 109,000; and in 1888, -It is proposed to erect as a memorial to the 419,000.
Rev. George Bowen, so long a missionary in -Of missionary success in India, Sir Bombay, a native Christian institntion and a hall Rivers Thompson says: "It has been most to serve as .. center of missionary effort. pronounced and indubitable amongst the abo- -Upward of 2,000,000 of the youths of India riginal tribes, the low-castes, and the no-castes are to-day receiving a liberal English education, throughont the country. from whiclr class for the most part pnrely secular. The spread of I believe I am right in saying we may claim Western knowledge is opening the flood-gates something like 500,0(0 converts to Christ· of infidelity and of non-religion, leaving the ianitv."
people in a state not only creedless, but godless. -One thousand converts were baptized last -A lady from Dr. John Hall's Chnrch, New year in the American Baptist mission at Ongoll, York, bas given $500 to ftnish the chapel at under the care of Dr. J. E. Clough.
Sungli, India, and provide a bell and commnn_ -There are twenty-two Protestant places ion service. This chapel affords the only ac· of worship within the walls of the city of Rome.
commodation for Christian worship in a city of There are twenty-six iu Bombay.
600,000 inhabitants, a population eqnal to that of Italy.-Padre Agostius, "the modern Sav- New York below Fourteenth street. The force onarolo," addresses average congregations Of of Christian workers consists of two married 8,000 people, and reports of his sermons have missionaries and their wives, one of them at been published in volnme form. He makes great home, and two native helpers. use of the argument from fear, and creates a -It sounds a little Japanese to hear Hindn great sensation.
gentlemen proposing to call a Congress of Brah- Japan.-In 1714 the whole number of the man priests and pandits for the pnrpose of in· temples was found to be 393,087. In 181J5 an- corporating the Christian Scriptnres among the other enumeration was made and the whole Sacred Books of India. The argnments nrged number was found to be only 57,842 or 335,245 are prudential, social, and religious. The less than 171 years before.
ancient priesthood is admonished that its power -The Empress of Japan has established a is waning, and that it must adjust itself to the college for women, which is to be rnled by a demands of the age or perish. That Christian_ committee of foreign ladies. Two of these are ity is the religion of the conqnering and ad- Americans, two English, and the other two vanced nations is pointed to; and that Christian French and German respectively.
teachingia adapted to the oriental mind is also -Rev. H. M. Scudder, 0.0 .. is deliverilll!; a course of lectures on Christianity at Tokio, In Stockbolm there are three Metbodist cburcll. Japan, to crowded bonses. es, with a total membership of 983 and 317 011 probation. To this Conference belong also tbe J ews.-At the late anniversary of the mission Methodists of Finland, where several orthodOJt to Jews in Paris, three young Israelites were Russians bave joined them. The Norwegiall baptized. One is a Russian, three years a resi- Conference has 33 preachers, and a membership dent in Paris, a full scholar and a joyful believer; of 4,403, who contributed 90,445 kronen. In the another an Anstrian, wbo was destined for capital, Christiana, the Methodists have two synagogue service; and .tbe third is from Pestb, churches. and means to go and preach ill the Hungarian tongue. South Pacific.-Three thousand out of the four thousand people on the island of Mase, of -29,602 Jews landed at Castle Garden during the Loyalty group, in the South Pacific are now the year ending Sept. 30,1888, the largest num- Christians, and they are well clothed and comber in anyone year. fortably honsed, and are remarkable for tbeir industry and thrift. By this industry they are -A Writer in the Advance, Chicago, asserts not only able to support all their churches, that there are to-day more Protestant mission- schools, and other institutions. but also to send aries working among tbe Jews, in proportion to a goodly sum to the Society in London.- Spirit tbe wbole number of Jews in the world, than Of Missions. tbere are among the heathen. According to Dr. Dalman, of Leipzig, there are at the present South Sea Islands.- The church on the time 47 P"otestant missionary societies devoted little island of Atafu includes all the adults on to work for the Jews ; the societies support 377 the island. Not one remains in the service of laborers at an annnal expense of $432,000. Satan.
Korea.-Americans are in great favor in Smnatra.-In the southern part among the Korea, and the army is to be reorganized on Passumahs two Dutch missionaries are settled, the American plan. but have not yet permission from the Dutch Government to begin their proper work. The lUadagascar. -The Queen has presented east of the island may be said to be under the Mrs. Mary Clement Leavitt with $lCO as an ex- spiritual care of three Rhenish missionaries aud preSSion ,of her interest in the total-abstinence their native belpers. In Battalan, in the north work. of the island, a raid of robbers, headed by an escaped prisoner, threatened for a time to stop North Sea.-Elght mission ships are now mission work; but their career was soon cruising in the North Sea, each a combinatiou stopped by the Dutch soldiers; and around of church, chapel, temperance hall, and dispen- BaJige fear and distress seems to have drawn sary. the native Christians together. Here and at Lagaboti the members number over 1,000, and Persia.-The Rev. W. S. Whipple writes: further additions are likely soon to be made. " At Oroomiah I met several Moslem converts; On the further side of the Toba Lake a colporfive of them were Sayids, direct descendants or teur and several voluntary evangelists have Mohammed, who are held in especial awe and done good work. In the district of Silingdring, reverence, who told me that they attribute for instance, the church at Pantgar-na-pitn has their ~onversion directly to the reading of the become quite an important one. New Testament." Syria.-Miss Eddy writes from Beirut there Russia. – Two hundred and thirty-four is much to encourage our workjustnow. "In the were baptized into the:Baptist churches in Russia quarter of Beirut called Musaitbe my father last year. In spite of persecution, the work has for fonr years past preacbed in a small room prospers greatly. to a congregation of from twenty to forty." Lately they moved to a large ball, and even this Scandinavia~·-In the three Scandinavian for several Sabbaths has been packed with eager, attentive listeners. Calls for more schools come countries, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, from every part of Syria, and the demand for the Lutheran is the state religion, and up to trained workers from Palestine, Northern late years other denominations were not per- Syria, and the Egyptian missionaries is far larger mitted to labor there. In the neighboring state every year than this mission with its deservedly of Finland religious equality, and this only to a renowned educational institutions can supply. limited degree, was introduced only one year ago. But since the doors of Scandinavia were Turkey.-American missionary enterprise opened to others, these have not been inactive. is bearing fruit in Christian colleges. The The Roman Catholics have done somethin!( youngest of these is " Anatolia College," at toward realizing their dearly cherished hope of Marsovan, sixty miles inland from the Black "redeeming" northern Europe. The most' Sea port of Samsoull. It has had great sucsuccessful in this work against the state church cess in winning pupils and the confidence of have been the Methodists. The Swedish Con- aU classes, and even of the Government. It ference of this church now numbers 57 active has no debt. but its need of endowmellts is aud 18 probationary preachers. A theolog- most urgent. ical seminary bas been established at Upsala. The congregations have a membership of 12,393 and 3,582 probationers'. The total number of congregations is 84, and the total contributions for all purposes last year were 195,095 kronen. -The right man in the right place. Our were present and participated in the pro- Minister to Turkey has added -another im- ceedings. The attendance was large. portant achievement to the series of valuable services he has rendered during his -The American Board is urgently calling official career. The State Department re- for 32 lnis.siunary fa.milies and 29 women for ceived information from him recently that their various Inission fields. he had obtained from the Grand Vizier the necessary authorization for the Bible -Rev. Jacob Freshman, of New York City, Honse atConstalll>inople, to print in Turkish has established a mission in Philadelphia, which 35,000 Bible tracts, consisting of the Psalms. he visits once a mO~lth. At the first meeting Proverbs, the four Gospels, and the Acts. there were forty Hebrews present in eamest, When tne British Government found that rapt attention, and at a late meeting there were Lord Stratford de Hedcliffe was remarkably about eighty. At this ratio it would seem as if successful in treating with the Sultan's the Lord's hand had directed every thought government, it continued him as its Minis- toward these people. Two of Mr. Freshman's ter-plenipotentiary for nearly forty years. converts are in ~hal'ge of the mission, main- Would it not be wise for our Government to tained by the New York work. At a recent follow so good an example? meeting iu New York thirteen were conyer(ed ; twelve Jewish meu and women and one Roman United States.-Isa'ah V. Williamson, a Catholic. millionaire of Philadelphia, has donated $5,000,000 for the establishment of a great -The new schQol. building at Tucson, indnstrial school for boys. If $5,000,000 Arizona, will accommodate from fifty to sixty prove inadequate for his cherished scheme, children. The Indians there are of the Pimos he will make it $12,000,000 if necessary. The and Papago tribes. Around the central buildinstitution will be known as the" William- ing it is proposed in course of time to erect son Free School of Mechanical Trades," and cottages where the Indian boys will Hve in will be devoted to the education of white families. Miss Clara Shreiner has just" gone to boys in the old-fashi)ned trades; all white Tucson as a teacher, from Bethany Ohurch, Philboys, orphans or otherwise, will beadmitted adelphia. She is a noble woman. free of tuition, and afund set apart for expenses of those who cannot pay their own -The Work of the Sailors' Bethel in New way. No religious qualification will be ex- Orleans, under the charge of A. J. Witheracted of any applicant, and Jewish, Irish or spoon, D.D., has had marked success. Last German boys will be admitted on the same year 21,873 sailors are reported as entering basis as those ofAmeri can birth. The school that port. The English and Belgian consuls is to be located in Philadelphia or vicinity have given special aid. Religious services are held Sunday and Wednesday, and a -Convention of Christian Workers. The' temperance society is kept up. The late third convention of Christian and mission Chief of Police in New Orleans, M. J. Farworkers in the United States and Canada, veil, says the sailors are now seldom seen having for its object the study and discus- intoxicated in the streets, and are more sion of practical subjects and methods of rarely arrested than some years ago. Christian work among our home heathens. met in Detroit, Mich., for six days, Nov. -It is reported that the Presbyterian Church 15-20, under the auspices of the committee, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., assumeS the expense of including many well-known and representa- maintaining a married missionary in Japan; tive ministers, evangelists and city mission- considerably over $2,000 pledged to be given aries. Among the list of subjects dis- annually. The Second Church in Scranton, Pa., cussed at the Convention were: Woman's is supporting a missionary and his wife in Place and Work as a Christian "Worker, The Persia. Bethany Church, Philadelphia, supports Caste Spirit as a Hindrance in City Evan- the daughter and son-in-law of Dr. A. T. Piergelization, The Use of Newspapers by Chris- son, its pastor, and we believe that Dr. McIntian Workers, A Free Church Experiment, tosh's Ohurch, Philadelphia, is working by the Christian Union or Co-operation in City same method. Mission Work, Child Saving Work, Christian Living, The Best Means of Applying the Victoria.-The Congregational Union of Charity Necessary for the Prosecution of Christian Work among the Fallen, Work in Victoria has inaugurated a jubilee fund of Police Courts among Prisoners, COBstttu- $500.000. One layman of the church, Mr. G. W. tions and Forms of Organization, Social and Taylor, proposed to contribute $150,000, at the Entertainment Accessories, etc. All Chris- rate of $50,000 per annum for three years, if tians, without regard to denomination, as the Congregationalists of the colonies would the COllvention was entirely unsectarian, raise a similar sum; or he would make it £10,000 a year for five years if they would raise another £')0,000. The latter chRlienge has been accepted with great enthusiasm. "The money is to be largely used in founding a theological Semina!y.-Nashville Christian Advocate.
STATISTICS oF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS. [MAR.,-
VI.-STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS.
The Growth of the Ohurch. sions, $91,134. Total for all purposes, $1,- 036,086. No one familiar with the facts, questions -The statistics of American Baptist missions that the Evangelical Church is making en- to foreign conutries are given as follows: The American Baptist Missionary Union-stations, couraging progress In the United States_ 6O,out·stations, 831; missionaries of aU classes, 2,060; chm'ches, 1,2a6 ; members, 127,208; bap- We now have 107,200 churches,82,723 min. tized last year, 10,602. 'l'he Southern Baptist Convention-Churches and stations, 51; missionisters and 11,869,000 members, distributed aries of all classes, 114; members, 1,968; baptized last :year, 391; making the grand total of misas follows: sionaries, 2,174; churches, 1,374 ; chnrch mem- bers, 129,1';'0; baptisms last year, 10,993. The Churches. Ministers. Members. appropriations of the Union were, for the past year, $890,586.40; those of the Southern Baptist Methodists,…. . .. 32,000 30,400 4,600,000 COllvention, $83,000; total appropriations, Baptists,………. 4~,700 28,255 3,800,000 $473,586.40, an average of about 17 cents to each Presbyterians,…. 15,000 11,500 1,500,OeO memberofBaptistchurches in the United States. Lutherans,…….. S,IOO 4,217 1,023,000 Congregationalists, 5,000 4,500 5OO,COO -The Protestant Episcopal Church, accord- Episcopalians,. . . . 4,700 3,860 446,000 ing to Whittaker'. Almanac for 1889, has 50 dioceses, 16 missionary jarisdictions, 69 bishops, The increase is shown according to the 6,766 priests and deacons. The baptisms for 1888 numbered 56,709; confirmations, 39,590. following table. The membership of the The whole number of communicants, 450,052; Sunday-school scholars, 342,431. The contri- Church was in butions amounted to $11,483,597. The increase of communicants is npward of 12,000. 1800, one in 15 of the population. 1850, one in 7 of the population. -According to recent statistics the Lutheran 1870, one in 6 of the population_ Church in America now nnmbers about one 1880, one in 5 of the population_ million commnnicant members. Of these less 1888, one in 4.5 of the population. than one-fourth are entirely English, more thau one-half are Germans, and about one-fonrth are The Evangelical Protestant Churches of Scaudinavians, Fiuns and ot·hers. The dllIsr~ ence of language, together with doetrinal disthe United States since 1800 have contri- agreements, have caused the Lntherau Church of this land to divide itself into no less than buted to fifty·four synods. A number of these are again united into general bodies, of which there are Foreign Missions….. ' . . . . . . . . . .. $ 75,000,000 fonr. The Synodical Confereuce, with 333,987 Home Missions…… .. ……….. 100,000,000 members, is nltra-conservative and is almost Religious Publishing Houses…. 150,000,000 entirely German; the Geueral CounCil, with a membership of 245,228, is composed of German, They build ten new churches every work- English, and Swedish Synods, or occupies a more moderate position; the General Synod, ingday. entirely English, with a membership of 140,553 is the most liberal ofall the branches; while the In their colleges in 1884 they had 79 per United Synod of the South, entirely En,!!lish, with a membership of 33,703, at least officially cent. of all the college students. accepts the symbols in full. The independent Synods, all Germans and Scandinavians, have They have a church for everyone thou- 241,552 members.
sand of the population. -The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists em- brace 1,220 chnrches, 1,290,000 members, 1,012 Sabbath-school scholars in United ministers, and 1,450 Sabbath-schools, with home States…………….. ……….. 9,156,739 and foreign missionary societies.
Sabbath-school scholars jn the -The Catholic Church in the United Stlltes world………………………. 18,419,961 has 13 archbishops, 71 bishops, 7,976 priests, 1,411 seminaries, 7,424 chnrches, 3,183 chapels YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS. and stations, 27 seminaries, 97 colleges, 516 academies, 3,024 parochial schOOls, 585,965 pupils No. in United States,………….. 1,240 in parochial schools, 519 charitable iustitntions, No. of Members,………………. 180,000 and a Catholic populatiou of 7,855,294.- Oatholic Buildings, etc. (value) …………. $7,202,000 Review.
These statistics are taken from the exhibit made in the Cincinn"ti Centennial Exposi- tion, and are, we presume, approximately correct. Surely such figures should en- conrage the Churcl: to more zeal and effort for the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom in our beloved land.-Herald and Presbyter.
-The statistical report as given in the An- nnalMethodistEpiscopal Year-Bookshows : Annual Conferences, 110 ; itinerant preach- ers, 14,135; local preachers, 14,132; lay mem- bers, 2,093,935; number of Sunday-school scholars, 2,016,181; value of church prop- erty, $80,812,792; value of parsonages, $12.- 908,047. Total value of chnrch property, $93,720,839. -The Year-Book of the United Brethren in Christ for 1889 shows 4,451 organized societies, an increase of 55 in a year. Itin… erant prea~hers, 1,490; local preachers, 560; number of members in the church, 204,517, increase, 9,239; Sabbath-schools, 3,,509; teachers and officers, 32,026, increase, 1,975; preachers' salaries, $474,590, an increase of $25,91~. Totai collected for mis- -Hoffman's Cathotic Directory for 1889 gives Jukes, may be quoted as an example,and be somewhat different statistics, namely: Priests, thus summarized: 8,118, of whom 6,110 are secular; churches, 7,353; chapels, 1,480; stations, 2,770. There Number of schools……………… 88 are 119 orphan asylnms, with more than 21,358 Number of boys………………… 2,196 inmates; 32 theological seminaries, with 1,570 Number of girls ………………… 2,265 candidates for the priesthood; 124 colleges, 549 Number of children able to read … 1,702 academies, and 2,799 parochial schools, with an Number of children able to write .. 1,134 attendance of 1)97,194 pnpils, several dioceses Number of children able to cipher. 984 not reporting. The' estimated Catholic popu- Nine schools knew a little elementary lation is given as 8,159,676. New York diocese grammar, ten a little geography. The heads the.1ist with 800,000 ; Boston has 475,000 ; children'S knowledge of Scripturewas fairly Chicago, 450,000; Philadelphia, 400,000 ; New satisfactory. This district is one of ten Orleans, 300,000; St. Louis, 280,000; Brooklyn, connected with the capital itself. Besides 230,000; St. Paul, 2$,000; Baltimore, 220,000. these there are about twelve country dis- tricts.-ChronicleLondon Miss. Society. NORTH INDIA CONFERENCE -STATISTICS FOR 1888. . -The receipts of the Congregational Union th~ last year were $134,72.5, an in- The statistics for the year ending October crease of $7,800 over last year. Forty-one parsonages and 104 churches were aided in 31,1888, have been compiled by Rev. J. E. the last twelve months. -Missionary zeal is a fair test of the vi- Scott of Muttra, and show a marked ad- talit:y of a church. If that testis applied to the churches of Great Britain, and a comvance over last year. The largest church parison is made of the funds given to the foreign work, it will be seen that the Estabmembership is connected with Bareilly lished Church does not maintain the pre- eminence which its membership and its (700) ; Budaon is the banner charKe for bap. great wealth would lead one to expect of it. In the last full fiscal year, the total amount tisms (243) ; Shahjehanpore, for day schools given to foreign missions through the Church of England societies was $2,300,000, (35); Lucknow, for pupils (1,490) ; Cawnpore, in round numbers; through Nonconforlnist societies in England and Wales, $1,800,000 ; for Sunday-schools (45); Lucknow, for throngh joint societies ol Nonconformists and Episcopalians, $~OO,OOO ; through Scotch scholars (2,250). and Irish Ptesbyterian societies, $1,000,000; through Roman Catholic societies, $50,000. SUMMARY. The Presbyteriansand the Noncomformists, as a wpole, are makIng long leaps toward Totals. Increase. the front in the work of evangelizing the Members ……… 3,728 world. 607 Indian Empire.-The Statistical Ab- Probationers….. 4,216- 7,944 1,317- 1,924 stract of India which has just been issued Baptisms during contains an estimate of the present popthe year, adults 1,201 ulation of India. According to the census 369 of 1881, the population of British territory Children. . . . . . . 751 was 198,790,853 and of the native states 55,- Adult accessions 151 191,742, giving a total of 253,982,595. The es- timated population of Cashmpre (which was during the year not included in the census) in 1873 wasl,500,- 000; of Upper Burmah in 1886,3,OOO,OOOandof -Hindus. " …. 1,118 297 the Burmese Shan States, 2,000,000. The Mohammedans. 35 yearly increment of the population is at Others………. 29 8 least 5 per cent. With these additions, and No. Schools…… 545 with the allowances for annual increments h Teachers…. 852 "57 since the census of Febrnary,1881, the pop- 89 ulation of India in March, 1887, would be- Sc];olars…. 16,418 1,120 British territory 207,754,578, the native Sunday_ states 60,382,466, giving a total population for all India of 268,137,044. Both in British schools….. 703 109 territory and the native states, the num- ber of males is much larger than that of Scholars…. 26,585 2,672 females. In 1881 in British territory there Nati ve Ohris- were 101.2 males to 97.4 females, and in the tians-adults… 6,653 native states 28.7 males to 26.4 females, and 978 in all India there were in that year just 6,- Children.. .. .. .. 3,765-10,318 214- 1,092 Missionary co 1- lections ……… Rs. 1,618 Rs. 12 Children's Da y collections ….. For Pastors-Eu- 669 75 ropeans……. .. 7,000 For Pastors-Na_ tives ………. ,_ 2,497 Tot a 1 contributions from na- 3,566 tives……….. . Total amount collected in India. .. 109,726 .. 12,739 -The Star Of lndia.
Madagascar. – School Statistics of an Imerina District. The missionaries of this society in the central provinces of Madagascar are chiefly occupied in the superintendence of large districts (dioceses), in which they have churches and schools to be reckoned by the dozen or the score. The statistics of recent school examinations held in the Ambavahildimitilfo district, which, beginning at the eastern gate of Antananarivo, stre~ches away to the East Coast, and is under the Care of the Rev. C.
EDITORIAL NOTES
013,418 more males than females.-India better than ever it was. The hospit"ltl is Witness. open to all, but he says they do not practice indiscriminate giving away of medicines, –The Hangchow Hospital. We have re- nor give charity to those who are able to ceived from Dr. Duncan 2I1.ain, of the O.II. pay. To the out-patient there is an en- S., a copy of his in teresting report of the trance fee of 14 cash, which is not sufficient work in this hospital, for 1887. After re- to cover the cost of tile medicine given, but ferdng tothe arrival of Dr. Hickin, he says still makes him feel that it possesses a cash they were startled on the 21st of Feb- value. For the in-patients there is a scale ruary, by finding that all the instruments of charges according to their means. The had been stolen to the value of $800, and so out-patients numberetl 10,271 (w.th 26,811 far neither the thief not" the instruments visits); the in-patients 502; suicides 134; have been discovered. It is gratifying to patients seen at their homes 195; in the fiud, however, that through the generosity eountry 2,234.-The Messenger. of friends tbe stock of instruments is noW VII.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Bishop William Taylor. Taylor's future movements, and the THE editor of the New York Mail result of his bold experimentto plant and Express says: and sustain a self-supporting mission in Africa, will be watched with in- "The heroic days are not yet over; Bishop tense interest.-·J. M. S. Taylor is a proof of it. The story of his life reads more like a tale of medieval days than "WITHIN 1888 nearly one million Of converts a history of the immediate past. He has traveled more, been in stranger places, made more were added to the Christian churches in heathremarkable conversions, endured more hard- en lands; and yet there are those who say that ships and seen more adventnres, than any other foreign missions are a failure. " preacher now alive. He has preached the !!;OSpelin every continent on the globe, and in many So says the Presbyterian Banner. of the islands of the sea. He is one of the most We do not know whence come these nniqne personalities of the nineteenth century. figures, but they are so amazing that Iu 1862 he went to England, Ireland and Pales- we cannot but think them' erroneous. tine. Then Australia and Tasmania were visited, There are years in which 100,000 and in an evangelistic tour, lasting nearly three even more have been added in foreign years. In 1865 he first enteretl Africa, and lands. But as there are less than labored in Cape Colony, Natal Colony and 40,000 laborers, all told, a million Cafi'raria, where multitndes of foreigners and converts would imply an average of natives were converted by his preachiug. In over twenty-five converts for every 1870 he went to India, and in 1871 he began his worker in the field, male and female, self-supporting work there, which has devel- native and foreign. We think there oped into the Sonth India Conference. Since is a mistake somewhere.-A. T. P. that time he has established a chain of churches and mission stations in South America." Women's Ohristian Temperance Union.
His brief visit to this country last THE recent anniversary of the yeat·, and the deep interest he every- Union in the city of New York was where awakened, are well known. a notable event. Its sessions were We have elsewhere chronicled his held in the Metropolitan Opera return to Africa with fifteen mission- House, which seats about 5,000 peraries as a reinforcement. sons, and which day and night for nearly a week was filled to its ut- We at'e glad to receive the initial most capacity at every session. The number of The African News, edited audience was chiefly composed of by Bishop Taylor, with Dr. I. B. women, and a more intelligent-look- Welch, associate editor, whose ad- ing and cultured and dignified audress is Vineland, N. J., a magazine dience we have seldom seen. Miss of fifty pages, with a striking like- Willard presided with a grace and ness of the Bishop. It will keep us deliberation, impartiality and pa- tience rarely witnessed in any coninformed about missionary news from Africa, and from Bishop Taylor's wot'k in particular. We bid the new- comer a hearty welcome. Bishop vention. The business of the Con- WE give space in this connection, vention, vast in extent and variety, by request, to the following petition was conducted with order and deco- of the World's W. C. T. U., of which rum, spirit and ability, deserving all Miss Willard is also the President: praise. While there was divet'sity of opinions, and strong feel ing apparent, ~~ PETITION OF THE WORLD'S W. C. T. U. FOR THE especially on the" political" question, yet there was no breach of par- PROTECTION OF THE HOME. ADDRESSED TO liamentary rules or exhibition of evil temper. This Convention settled THE GOVER~MENTS OF THE WORLD. the question th~t women are as capable as men of understanding and dis- "THonored Rulers, Representatives and Brothers: cussing the grave questions which e, your petitioners, although belonging agitate and interest the social and to the physically weaker sex, are strong of public weal of the nation. It was a heart to love our homes, our native land, grand, inspiring sight, to look upon and the world's family of nations. such an assemblage of Christian women, intent on noble work, and con- We know that clear brains and pure hearts secrating their gifts and organized make honest lives and happy homes, and efforts to its promotion. _that by these the nations prosper. and the time is brought nearer when the world shall We have not space to note the pro- be at peace. ceedings. The President's address was very able, evincing a rare mas- We know that indulgence in alcohol and teryof the situation, as well as tact, opiumt and in other vices which disgrace discretion, and charm of manner our social life, make misery for all the that won all hearts. We have but world, and most of all for us and for our one regret, and that is that the Ca.n- children. vention entered the arena of "Politics" and committed itself to the We know that stimulants and opiates are "Third Party." Personally I am a sold under legal guarantees which make the "Prohibitionist," and have been for governments-partners in the traffic, by acmore than forty years. Yet I regard cepting as revenue a portion of the profits, this step as unwise in policy and de- and we know with shame that they are often plorable in effect. forced by treaty upon populations, either ignorant or unwiIIiug. The organization now represents a membership of over 200,000 wo- We know that the law might do much, men, pledged to promote by all pos- now left undone, to raise the moral tone of sible pl'opel' means the purity of society, and render vice difficult. hom~, the abolition of the saloon and the advancement of the cause of "Ve have no power to prevent these great temperance. It is unsectarian, and iniquities beneath which the whole world its membership is limited to those groans, but you have power to redeem the who are in sympathy with the cause honor of the nations from an indefensible of temperance. complicity.
The Corresponding ;3ecretary's report con- We therefore come to you with the nnited tains the following statistics of the National voices of representative women of every Union: Number of Unions, 7,371; membership, land, beseeching you to raise tue standard 164,243; Young Women's Unions, 958; member- of the law to that of Christian morals, to ship, 21,278 ; Loyal Temperance Legions, 3,427 ; strip away the safeguards and sanctions of membership, 163,743; Colfee Honses and the state from the drink traffic and the Friendly Inns, 433; money raised by Local opium trade, and to protect our homes by Unions, $227,948.07; received by State, $52,926.- the total prohibition of these curses of civil- 46; convention organizers, 758; county and zation throughout all ~he territory over district conventions held, 694; States having which your government extends. Scientific Temperance laws (besides all the Territories and the District of Columbia), 21. On the back of each petition slip is found provision for the indorsement of men and of gatherings of any and all kinds that by vote will join their plea with ours. This petition has been in circulation wherever the voice of our organization is heard, but the meas- ure of effort in our own land bears nnfavor- able comparison with that elsewhere put forth. Mrs. Deitch, President of the Ceylon W. C. T. U., has forwarded signatures to the number of 33,797, and these from Tamil, Singhalese, English, Bengali, Marathi, Gug… erati, Santali, and Hindustani men and women of the Island of Ceylon, while we of the United States have not largely exceeded that number. Mrs. Leavitt writes of it in sorrow, and have we not reason to fear that our Lord will say, 'I have somewhat against thee,' unless there shall be an immediate ment, and hinder the work of misarousal to activitv ? sions. We wish the voice of the world's Christian Womanhood had Surely a million'of names may be secured spoken also on this subject in the in this country by diligent, systematic above vigorous petition.-J. M. S. effort." Dr. A. A. Bonar, at Mildmay Con- We say Amen to this petition, and ference, in his inimitable way 'asked, urge every woman to sign it. What do you suppose the disciples imagined to be the reason for Christ's We regret that the Union omits calling them to meet him on that anothel' monstrous vice in regard to mountain in Galilee? We may supwhich their VOlCe should be heard, in pose themsaying among themselves, thunder tones, and we believe would "Why did not the Master say he would meet us here? We remember be if they knew the facts. We refer that the night before he died he said, to the" Licensed Vice Act" in India, 'When I am risen I will go before which, although the British Parlia- you into Galilee.' What new and ment unanimously resolved last June wonderful revelation can he have should be repealed, is still in force in for us that he appoints to meet us India, and harlotry is legalized and there where the most of his disciples practiced among the English soldiers. have been gathered'? He has already The IndiaGovernment still upholds it given us his blood, the peace, joy, in the face of the British Parliament, love, glory of God. What more has he to give or reveal? But when and" official perfidy" is practiced by he came it was just like this and no Lord Crosse, the Secretary for India, more: 'Go ye into all the world and and Sir John Gorst, the Under-Sec- preach the gospel to every creature, retary. See this REVIEwfol' Novem- and 10 I am with you alway.''' ber last for decisive evidence of this fact. And recent papers from India And yet the more we study this confirm it. The Bombay Guardian the more we are impressed that this refers to it as notorious. is the richest revelation of privilege ever given to disciples. "All the .. The Sentinel for September pledges it· world" is collective; "every creaself to the ,accuracy of the statement that ture" is distributive; "go ye" is when Lord Cross, the Secretary for India, individual. No one is shut out. It is stated to a deputation that the whole of the more blessed to give than to receive. infamous regulations under the Cantonment When the serpents stung the rebelacts were ~ absolutely suspended and non- lious camp of Israel, w~ may supexistent,' and when Sir John Gorst, the pose every individual bitten, and the under-secretary, told Prof, Stuart in the healed ones-Moses, Aaron, the sev- House of Commons, that 'the regimental enty elders-going about absol'bed in system has already been wholly abolished,' the holy business of pointing others the government of India was actually still to the healing brazen serpent. continuing-as it still continues-to license women to sin as heretofore. Let all OUr This is the work of the dispensareaders demand of their representatives in tion. The chm'ch is to "rule in the parliament that no rest be given to Lord midst of her enemies" "until He Cross and Sir John Gorst until the truth is come." He is now gathering a peomade manifest. Let the women of Britain, ple for himself. Your only time for in behalf of their Indian sisters, besiege the converting labor is now, and it is the Throne, if necessary, that these cunning only time for tbem unto whom the devices of the unscrupulous may be de- gospel is preached.-A. T. P. feated. The repeal of the wicked act in India, decreed by the Imperial legislature, must be carried out; and officials who deliberately lie must cease to oceupy the high offices of state which they dishonor."
The Missionary Society of the M. E. C. (United States) last summer memorialized the Imperial Government to repeal these infamous laws whioh disgrace a Chl'istian govern- The Christian Unity Commission of the of power, and in both departments Episcopal Church w!ll, we are glad to know, of the highest order. There is such continue their work of conferring with the a thing as luster withont weight, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Lntheran even as there may be weight without brethren in the matter of Christian Union about luster. Here we have both: the the declaration of the House of Bishops. This most glorious moral radiance with is auspicious. It would be really assuring if the the weightiest moral dignity, worth, Episcopal Church would, at the outset, take two sublimity! And such a gospel is it important steps: 1, recognize the validity of the wherewith the world is to be won for ordination of their non-episcopal clerical breth- Christ. Let us take courage, for never ren; 2, open their closed pulpit doors to non- man spake like this man !-A. T. P. episcopal evangelical ministers. For onrselves we are not very expectant as to any approach to Chinese Benevolence. An article organic nnion, or even very close fellowship-as in the London Times or recent date long as one denomination unchu'f'che8 another. has a pertinent discussion of Chinese If the things in which we differ are vital and fundamental, then they forbid not only unity but benevolence worth publishing. It fellowship. If tbey are not vital and funda- carries its own moral: mental, they should not shut our pulpits or our sacramental tables to our brethren. This is "Renevolenc.. the Chinese have placed at short logic, but we cannot see where the fallacy the head of their list of the five constant lies in the argument.-A. T. P. virtues. The written character which de- notes it is composed of the symbols for De Quincey has drawn a beautiful .. man' and" two,' by which is supposed line of distinction between the" lit- 1>0 be shadowed forth the view that benevoerature of knowledge and the litera- lence is something which ought to be develture of power." "What," he asks, oped by the contact of any two human "do you learn from 'Paradise Lost' ? beings with each other. It is by no means Nothing at all. What do you learn true, as might be supposed from a superfrom a cookery book? Something ficial examination, that tbere is no benevonew, something you did not know lence in Chinese practical life ; the forms of before, in every paragraph. But benevolence which have commended themwould you therefore put the wretch- selves to Chinese are fonndling hospitals, ed cookery'book on a higher level of refuges for lepers, for the aged, etc. But estimation than the divine poem? these are relatively rare. Nast soup kitch- What you owe to Milton is not any ens, which are set np anywhere and everyknowledge of which a million sepa- where when some great fiood or famine rate items are still but a million of calls for them, are familiar, as well as the advancing :steps on the same earthly dona1;ion of winter clothing to those who level; what you owe is power-that are destitute. Then there are societies for is, exercise and expansion to your providing coffins for those who are too poor own latent capacity of sympathy to buy them; for gathering human bones with the infinite, where every pulse which have become exposed in course of and each separate influx is a step up- time and giving them suitable burial; for ward-a step ascending, as upon Ja- gathering up paper on which there is writcob's ladder, from earth to mysteri- ing or printing that it may be burned and ons altitudes over the earth. All the thereby saved from desecration; for giving steps of knowledge, from the first to plasters of a mysterious nature to all applithe last, carry you farther on the cants; for presenting" virtue books,' etc. same plane, but could never mise But organized charities are few in number you one foot above your ancient level and narrow in their range of action, and of earth; whereas the very first step except the institutions above mentioned, in power is a flight, is an ascending into another element, where earth is Chinese chaNty is very intermittent. A forgotten !" typical example of Chinese benevolence is In the teachings of Jesus we have the curious ebullition of charity which the literature both of knowledge and tak"'" place on the eightiJ. day of the twelfth moon. Everyone who has accumulated a large quantity of benevolent impulses which h!<ve had no opportunity for their gratifica- tion is accustomed on that day to make the most liberal donations to all comers, of the very chl'oapest and poorest quality of soup, during about twelve hour~. This is called • practicing virtue,' and is considered a fifth. No.6, income, $54; given to idolatry mode of laying up merit. If the year is a good one people do not apply for soup, the $12.20' ratio, more than one·fifth. No.7, in: poorest of them having as good or better at home; but, all the same, the donors adver- come, $66.66%; gil'en to idolatry, $12.72; ratio, tise their intentions to practice virtue; and when the day ends and no one has asked less than one-fifth. No.8, income, $133.33%' for a bowl of the soup it is put into the broken jars out of which the pigs are fed, given to idolatry, $25.11 ; ratio, less than one: and the benevolent man closes his door feeling that he has beeu virtuous for the fifth. No.9, income, $48; giveu to idolatry year. The narrow range of Chinese charity is shown by the circumstance that asylums $20.22; ratio, less than two-fifths. ' for the weak-minded and insane, for the deaf and dumb, for varieties of disease, do Rev. J. L. Atkinson of Kobe, Japan, gives an not exist, and would remind a Chinaman of nothing he eYer saw or heard of. Chinese acconnt of a Japanese family which worshiped benevolence, indeed, has no heart in it; • that state of mind, in which practical the god Kanni.n lJaimiyo.jin-san. In Japan, a. philanthropy becomes an instinct, demanding opportunity to exhibit its workings, in China and India, it is common to have a god whenever the need of it is clearly perceived, may be said to be almost wholly for almost every object and virtne, and this very wanting among the Chinese.' " self-denying famjly had chosen the one named. We cannot but think this Chinese custom a parable for Christian na- The master of the house, on being questioned, tions. In our churches our benevolent uprisings are too often sup- gave the following account of the practice of his pressed, and wait for the annual collection, when a dish of weak soup household: dealt out to perishing millions is supposed to atone for the year's .. From ancient times my family has believed neglect.-A. T. P. in and worshiped 'the great bright god of self- Heathen and Christian Giving. Idolaters, restraiut.' We have alsomadeabox, and called whether from fear of their false gods, or from it 'the self-restraint box,' for the reception of the hope of physical, pecuniary or social gains, first-fruits and other percentages, all of which give far more to support heathenism than Chris- are offered to onr god. As to percentages this tians give to maintain and propagate the true faith. Dr. Scudder, long a missionary in Iudia, is our mode of proceeding: If I would buy a says: "The offerings made by the heathen to dollar garment, I manage by self-restraint and support their idolatry are far greater than those economy to get it for eigMy cents, and the rewhich are made by Christians to honor their maining' twenty cents I drop into the ~ self-redivine Master." Rev. J. L. Douglass, writing from Rangoon, BUrmah, says: "The whole straint box' ; Of, if I would give a five-dollar length of the empire is consecrated to idolatry. feast to my friends, I exercise self-restraint and The people spend thousands of dollars for pago- economy and give it for four, dropping the redas, and only tens for their owu homes." Rev. maining dollar into the box; Of, if I determine Mr. Noyes of China reports, in addition to the to build a house that shall cost one hundred dolvast sums paid for the support of Confucianism, lars, I exercise self-restraint and economy and Buddhism, and Taouism, more than $200,000,000 build it for eighty, putting the remaining twenty spent annually by the Chinese for the worship of dollars into the box as an offering to Kannin ancestors. He furnishes important data in the IJaimiyo.jin-san. And it is always my purpose Ohinese Recorder, the results of careful inves- thus. to make an ofier to my ~od twenty per tigation. Of nine persons he gives the annnal cent. of everything, hy the exercise of the virtues income of each, the yearly amount given to of self-restraint and economy. In proportion to idolatry, and the rabio-thus : my annual outlays the sum in this box is large or small. This year my outlays have been No.1, income, $120; I!'iven to idolatry, $29.30; ratio, almost one-quarter. No.2, illcome, $60; large; hence, by the practice of the virtues given to idolatry, $14.?4; ratio. almost one- named, the amount in the' self-restraint box' is quarter. No.3, income, $84,; given to idolntry, great. Yet, notwithstanding this, we are liviug $21.48; ratio, more than one-quarter. No.4, in comfort, peace and happiness." income, $60; given to idolatry, $21.69 ; ralio, more than one third. No.5, income, $33.33% ; Some native Christians in Japan, China, and given to idolatry, $7.31 ; ratio, more than one- India equal or exceed the ratios already quoted in giving to support the gospel, but most of them fall very much helow. A striking feature of the proceedings of the Missionary Confer- ences at Calcutta aud Osaka was the confession of certain missionaries of their failure to do their full dnty in this respect, and their resolve to act differently in the future. Already very marked results appear in the increased liberality 'of the native churches.
But the converts in the Foreign Mission fields have given more to the cause of Christ, in pro- portion to their means, than Christiau people at home. While many of the latter have abounded in the grace of giving, yet the withholding more than is meet is the rule, and the liberal givers are the exceptious. One cause of this is that many of the clergy do not educate their people in this duty. Bishop Stevens says: "'When I first went to Philadelphia as rector of a church there, I was called upon to present a great object to my congregation. I did so, knowing that they were wealthy, and expectin~ from them a Iibeml response. Afterward I called on several individuals, one a rich gentle- man, who, after some hesitation, promised me fifty dollars. Noticing my surprise. he said: • I see you are disappointed.' 'I am : I ex- pected a thousand dollars.' 'Well,' replied he, 'I have not been educated to j!ive.' I said, • You shall never have cause to say that again, By the blessinglof God I was enabled so to bring will press in, from mere curiosity and asthis great subject before my people, that when tonishment to hear a woman addressing a I was called to the Episcopate, there were few meeting. Christian women in, Japan have churches which would via with it iu the liberal- done incalculable service in promoting unity ity of its gifts for the support of the church of and peace in the chnrch. Christ." The women of Japan are not yet aspiring Women in Japan.-REV. JAMES H. for truth and purity so mnch as they are ambitious to stand side by side with women BALLAGH, at the annual meeting of of Occidental countries. But this ambition presents a tremendous leverage for their the Reformed Church Women's nplifting to a higher plane.
Board, said, referring to Psalm lxviii : The woman already referred to is Mrs. Louisa A. Pierson, a member of the Re- 11,12. formed Episcopal Church (Bishop Cheney's, Chicago), and a representative of the Wherever Woman begins her work the ·Women's Union lliission at Yokohama. enemies quail, and even kings flee apace. She conducts an English and Japanese All the elevation of woman in our day is young ladies' school, giving instruction in found mainly in what she is doing for the both languages, from the beginning to com- Lord. She has a mission, and in Him it cen- pletion in English, ending with psychology ters. Mary inaugurated it in her anointing and Bntler's analogy, algebra and geometry. of her Lord, pouring her ointment not on She lectures on the Old and New Testament his feet but his head. history and gi ves analyses of Romans and Panline epistles; carries on honse visita- In Japan there are 231 women at work tion and women's and other meetings daily; for Christ; 128 are wives, 103 are single. in vacation goes on evangelistic tours with There are 128 male married missionaries and a company of her trained workers in her' 20 single; some 21 voluntary workers, also Bible School for Women; holds meetings in women, making in all 400 Christian laborers, churches and theaters for both sexes; is of whom about three-fifths are women, and withal most womanly, a fluent speaker in these 240 Christian women represent the in- Japanese, and most powerful in prayer; a crease in that land in a single generation. poetess by nature and a most richly endowed When I went there there was only olle Chris- spirit by grace. She has received the Holy tian woman at work there. She went with Ghost and seeks to obtain larger gifts, Dr. Brown, hut removed to China, where she believes in healing by prayer and the speedy died. coming of the Lord.-A. T. P.
These women are distrihuted as follows: It is often said that we must Chris- The Northern Presbyterians have 34, of tianize the pagans or be pagani~ed whom 13 are married, 21 single; the Reformed Presbyterians 14, of whom 10 are ourselves. The Archbishop of Cantermarried and 4 single; the Woman's Union Mission has 5, all single; the Southern bury, at a meeiing in behalf of the Presbyterian German Reformed has 9, the Umted Presbyterian 3, alld the A.B.C.F.lI. Society for the Propagation of the has 45, of whom 24 are married and 21 single; the Methodists have 63, of whom 37 Gospel, took occasion to speak of the are married, 26 single; the Episcopalians 28. of whom 19 are married, 9 single; and heathenizing process to ,vhich Engthe Baptists 22, of whom 12 are married and 10 single. land was in danger of being sub- The school-work, mainly controlled by jected: women, has 29 boarding·schools, with 2,~'07 .. Go to the Temple, where the familiar pupils, and 2,895 pupils more in day schools, making in all 5,502 nnder lady teachers. sight of our barristers with their peculiar There are 247 Sunday-schools, with 3.000 costnme used formerly to be the only thing pupils. The .higher schools, like the Ferris we saw, and we find Some sixty Hindus and Woman's Union lliission and Methodist members of the Temple or Lincoln's-Inn, still seminaries, all work toward a high grade of remaining Hindus and heathen, in the cen … scholarship. ter of English civilization. Go, again, to another quarter of the city-to the East End In the Ferris Seminary no language but of London-to what is called the Oriental English is allowed. Of course the religious Home, where every specimen of the heathen character of all these schools is high. Then of the East is gathered together in consethere are four or five advanced sehools for quence of our merchandise with the Eitst, women, training them as Bible readers, etc. living here for nlOnths, mixing with our There is one woman alone, who has for 10 people; or follow Mr. Dickens into the Chinayears been laboring there continuously that man's shop and see there men smoking stands for efficiency higher than any other opium as if they were in the center of China; laborer, whether man or woman. or go elsewhere l1,nd meet a whole troupe of AIlJapan is open to women's work. It is aitllcult to hold a women's meeting-the men Japanese, and you will see that a man no and his barrow and donkey. And yet more requires to go to the extremities of the this man, who coflld spend his fortune earth to be convinced of the claims which and the fortune of his imperial faculthe heathen have upon us, and that in our ties for home work of every kind, had ,own metropolis we are brought so near a heart that beat for foreign ~issions heathenism of the worst class that unless with the quick pulse of aHenry we take some steps, instead of converting Martyn or a Robert Moffat, a standthe heathen the heathen will be converting ing proof of the fact that all true us. For this is not merely an imaginary mission work the world over is part idea. I am almost afraid to say it, but I of one grand whole.-A. T. P. cannot help thinking that this great prox- imity of the East to ourselves has somehow Rescued Slaves' Fund. or other infected the philosophy on which the yonng men feed in our great semina- THE KElTH-FALCONER MISSION, SOUTH rie. of learning, and that men of learning, from rubbing shoulders with men who alto- ARABIA. gether disbelieve in Christianity, have more toleration for that denial than they had in THE English gunboat Osprey recently the olden times; and that systems which have existed for centuries in the extreme captured three cargoes of slaves off the la.uds of heathenism are finding some sort of echo even among the literature and phi- island of Perim, which guards the Aden losophy of this Christian country." entrance to the Red Sea. The engagement The statue of the late Lord Shaftesbury in Westminster Abbey, un- was severe; the captains of two of the veiled by Lady Burdett – Coutts, is in face and posture a striking like- slave-dhows were killed. Fonr ofthe slaves ness of the late earl, in peer's robes and of full length, and, after the were killed and four wounded. When date of his birth and death, bears the inscription, "Endeared to his coun- brought to the Admiralty Court at Aden trymen by a long life spent in the cause of the helpless and suffering. they proved to be about 217 in number, 'LOVE-SERVE.' " These last two words fonned the motto on his crest, chiefly Abyssinian boys and girls from 10 and never perhaps did mortal man more beautifully exemplify the senti- to 20 years of age; capturE'd by the fierce ment of his coat of arms. In our recent stay of four months in England Mohammedan Gallas, and rnn across to we saw innumerable proofs of the in- weaving of Shaftesbury's life into Mocha to be sold for the vilest sexual purthe whole structure of British society. Identified in person with up- poses to the ·lIIohammedans. The British ward of sixty forms of benevolence and beneficence-institutions, organ- Resident at AdE'n offered the Keith-Falizations, societies, almshouses, or- phanages, mission halls, ragged coner Mission the care of the freed captives. schools, lodging houses, industrial institutes, €lvery conceivable form It acc'lpted 62 of them, all they dared to un. and method of reaching the poor-the wage-workers, the unfortunate and dertake to care for. The Foreign lIl:ission outcast classes, borrow his name as if it were a talisma.nic charm. Eyery Committee in Scotland appeal for a special costermonger wheels his barrow with the greater ease and hopeful- Rescued Slaves' Fund of at least £1,500, not ness a.s he thinks of the cOiter-ell-rl only for the support and Bible education of these Abyssmian youths, but for the other captives who, at such a center of the opera.
tions for suppressing the slave-trade at Aden, will likely be pressed on the Keith- Falconer Mission.
Says the Committee: "Thi5 blessed Christ- like work is not new. It was begun by Dr.
John Wilson more than half a century ago. Of the two fugitive Abyssinians whom he fed at his own table and educated in the college 'which now bean.; his name. one, Maricha Warka, is the PrIme Minister of King Johannes, who in 1884 sent him as envoy to Queen Victoria. The son of the other is now receiving a Christian education in England at the hands of the British Government. Since we induced the Egyptian Khedive to make over his frontier Soudan dis- tricts to Kinl'( Johannes, and since the Italians have come into conflict with him at Massowah, it is more than ever important, for the future of pure Christianity in Eastern Africa, that Abys- siuia should enjoy the services of mauy of her own sons, who will do for her what the brothers Maricha aud Gabl'U Warka did.• I trust,' wrote Dr. Wilson, • they are not the only Christians connected with the Eastern churches exterior to India who will be pnt under our care.' Lord Napier of Magdala sent bim four more, rescued from slavery, and now God Himself, in His lov- ing providence, has given us tlle Privilege. of. trainingothers."-J. M. S. -. .
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.