The Missionary Review of the World — February 1890
PROTESTANT MISSIONS A Ht:NDRED YEARS AGO AND NOW
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No.2.-01d Series.–FEBRUARY.–VoL. III. No. 2.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. PROTESTANT MISSIONS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AND NOW RESPO:NSIBILITY AXD ENCOURAGEMENT. BY REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, F. S. S., LONDOX, E:NGLAXD.
In our pamphlet, "A Century of Protestant .Missions," we fixed ou the year 1786 as the period of their commencement, and. we have seen no reason to alter that date as a fair approximation. Foul' of the greatest missionary societies ill the world can trace their 'origin to within a few months, if not to that very year; not in the formal organization of their outward framework, but to what is the true birth of missions, the union of spirit for prayer on behalf of the heathen, and the earnest desire for their conversion by the preaching of the Gospel. Not only the fathers of the Baptist Missions, but the founders of the Church Missionary Society, and the London Missionary Society, had their spiritual birth at that time; and the Rev. Dr. Coke was sent out to found missions among the heathen in our colonies in the West Indies that year by vVesley and his fellow laborers.
Missions, like their ~Iaster, are born f!'Om above. . Born of the Spirit, and that was the period of the Epiphany of the missionary spirit, which is ever latent in the Christian Church, though it may long lie dormant, and even seem to die. .
It has often been in my heart to follow up that pamphlet, "Century of Protestant Missions," which was of set purpose written to arrest thought on the great work which still remains to be done in the vast unoccupied fields of the heathen world, by another, showing the means for a much greater work in the future, and the encouragements to prosecute it with new vigor and hope. "A CentUl'y of Christian Progress," which came ont in an ill complete form, owing to the pressure of other duties, was confined to oue aspect of the subject; and the limited time at my disposal will ollly allow me now to put together a few facts, which may, with God's blessing, stimulate aud strengthen the Churches of Christ; in the words of Carey, "to attempt great things for God, and to expect great thing~ from God." I.-THE lI11SSlON ~'IELn.
Let us glance at that field, which" is the world." The first thing that strikes us is the great increase of our knowledge of the world and its inhabitants. A hundted years ago the vast regions of heathenism were comparatively a blank to the minds of most Christians. Of the hundreds of millions in China, we knew little beyond the meagre inf()rmation to be gathered f!"Om the journals of The Polos, and of Roman Catholic Missions, and from a few traders on the coast, ignorant of the language of the people. Vast tracts of India were untrodden by the feet of our countrymen, whose almost sole concerns were trade and conquest. Africa was a terra incognito beyond a few miles from Egypt and the Cape, except for a few bold but imperfect explorations up the Nile and the Niger. Our maps of the interior were either a blank or a blunder-deserts and plains, wbere lakes and rivers, a~d mountains ha,'e been discovered, with a teeming population and fertile soil.
This vast increase of our knowledge acts ill a two-fold way on the Christian Church. First, it excites interest in, and sympathy for, the poor and the perishing; and second, it awak.ens a sense of responsibility for those with whom we seem by our knowledge to be brought into personal relations. The qnestion, ""Vho is my neighbor?" acquires a new meaning and a wider scope. Our fellow man who has fallen among thieves, is now found by the Samaritan spiI"it in the Church, not on the way down from Jerusalem to the neighboring city, Jericho; he is found wounded by sin".and robbed of his Divine inheritance by the idolatries of heathenism and the deceptions of the false prophet in all lands.
This feeling of sympathy and sense of responsibility are greatly intensified by the facilities for eagy and rapid communication with all parts of the world. It makes us realize that we are now in that period of prophetic history, when "many shall run to alll~ fro, and knowledge shall be increased." The whole world is now at our door. It is only a few weeks easy travel by land or sea to reach the most distant parts. By post and telegraph we know daily what takes place in the most remote regions. ';Ve seem to hear the sounds of sorrow and woe in the dark places of the earth, and to feel the anxious beating of the hearts of the thousand millions of the world's inhabitants wh'o are ignorant of God and of His Christ.
n.-THE OPENINGS IN THE MISSION FIELD.
If we compare the world a hundred years ago with what it is now, the calls to work and sense of responsibility will be intensified a thousand fold. When our Protestant missions began China was hermetically sealed. It was death to preach the Gospel in Japan. India was closed against all missionaries; even our own countryman, Carey, had to seek shelter on a little plot of ground owned by a foreign power. South America was tabooed by the Church of Rome. T~e difficulties experienced by African travelers were enough to deter the most adventurous, and Asia Minor was inaccessible, while Mohammeda.nism stood in its pride and independence.
These countries from which the missionary was thus excluded were peopled by the highest and most advanced races outside the pale Qf the Christian Church. Almost the only peoples accessible to the missionary were the inferior and debased races, inhabiting the soft and enervating islands of the South Seas, or the freezing latitudes of the Polar regions; races living under conditions inimical to a high development, and, in most instances, races which were dying out under the double pressure of native vices and the evils attendant on modern «ivilization. Along with these, missionaries had access to certain tribes of Africa, on their native soil, or transplanted to America and· the 'Vest India Islands, under the degrading influence of slavery.
These were not the races whom the wisdom of man would have selected, and but for the overruling providence of God shutting up the new energies of the awakened Church to the degenerate and apparently hopeless specimens of the human family, they would proba.bly have been thought beneath or beyond the reach of the Gospel remedy. That such beings have not only been delivered .from idolatry by the simple prea'ching of the Gospel, but made to shine with the beauty of holiness, giving all the evidences of a nature regenerated by the spirit of God, and abounding in the fruits of righteousness; the strongest proof of the Divine origin and power of Christianity on the one hand, and the clearest demonstration of the disinterested character and aim of Protestant missions on the other. There was nothing to be gained by the churches from conquests over such as these, save the blessing of the Lord on those who obey His commands, and thus enjoy His favor.
But now the whole world is open to missionary enterprise; we can not even name the countries which have been thrown open. It would occupy too much of your space. There is only one isolated little nook from which missionaries are absolutely shut out-the one exception which confirms the rule, and, if we mistake not, even that one exception is likely soon to cease to be one. By her insults to Britain's power and attacks on British interests, Thibet is preparing the way for the overthrow of her clerical exclusiveness.
There is one feature of the great change which has come over the world during this last century, for which the Church is not sufficiently grateful; of which, in fact, no one seems to take note, viz.: that among the nations of the earth thet'e is not one Kingdom ruled over by an independent idolatrous Ruler. The small States in India, under Hindu Rulers, are no exception. They are all under British dominion or influence. EYen .Assam, Tonquin, Corea, and such like powers, are directly uuder the influence or control of the Briti~h, French or Chinese governments; and even the last is monotheistic in its national worship. Thibet, the one apparent exception~ is under Chinese protection. The tribes under the yoke of naked savages we do not reckon among the nations and kingdoms of the world. This overthrow of idolatrous rulers is not the work of Christian missions; but it has been chiefly brought about by Christian powers~ and is surely a part of the Di vine purpose for preparing the way of the Lord. 'l'hat the rulers of all civilized or semi-civilized nations- ill fact, all nations with anything corresponding to or resembling civil government-are monotheists, is well fitted to encourage the mission- ary spirit, and the hopes of the Church. He who has put down the idolatrous power will fulfill His prophetic word, «the idols he will utterly abolish."
HL-THE ENLARGElIIENT AND INCREASED RESOl7RCES OF THE CHURCH.
The altered position of the church in relation to the heathen world, is a cheering fact, and should be a powerful factor in the future. A hundred years ago the numbers of professing Christians of all the three great sections of the Christian Church, were less than 200 millions, now they are over 430 millions; and of this great increase in a hundred years, by far the larger share falls to the Pro- testant Church. vVhile the Roman Catholic and Greek churches only doubled their numbers, the Protestants multiplied nearly foul' fold.
The numbers, as given in our" Century of Christian Progress," stand thus: 1886, Increase 4 fold. less than 2 fold', 1786, 137,000,000 205,000,000 2 fold, Protestants. ' …..•…. 37,700,000 89,000,000 Roman Catholics …… 117,000,000 Greek Church, … , …. 46,000,000 200,700,000 431,000,000 In our brochure, "A Century of Protestant Missions," we called attention to the fact, that while Protestant missions had gathered three millions into the fold of Christ ill a hundred years, the heathen hall increased, by the ordinary birth rate, by 200 millions, in the same time. But if we take the entire increase in the nominally Christian population, which was in the same period 230 millions, we alter most materially the relative numbers, and find that the Christian is rapidly overtaking the heathen and :Mohammedan popUlation of the world. . In 1786 the entire population of the world was probably about ·1,000 millions, of which profesl'ling Christians were 200 millions, forming 20 per cent. of the whole, and 25 per cent. of the 800 millions of heathens and Mohammedans. In other words, the Christians were 1 in 4 of the heathen and Mohammedans. In 1886 the population of the world was estimated at 1450 millions, but the Christians of all ~enominations had risen to 430 millions, that is, 43 per cent. of the 1000 millions of the heathens and Mohammedans, or about as 1 in 2, .or more nearly 1.02!-.
If we take only the Protestant population at the two period,s, the relative change is more striking still. In 1786 the 37 millions of Protestants were to the 960 millions of heathen and Mohammedan population only 4 per cent., or as 1 in 26. In 1886 the 137 millions were to the 1313 millions, 10 per cent., or as very nearly 1 in 10. But the gain is not only in numbers; in learning and science, in wealth and power the gain is greater fat·.
Take this rapid and great increase in the nnmbers and resources .of the church in connection with the opening up of the whole world to evangelistic enterprise, and have we not a clear instruction of the ~esign of God? The one condition, without the other, would have had little significance. If the world had been open, but the church poor and weak and few in numbers, there might have been an excuse for indolence, although the memory of Pentecost and the little company in the upper room, might have inspit'ed even a feeble few to sttempt great things in the name of a risen Redeemer. If the church had been large and strong, but the world closed, she might have taken it as a plea for attempting little. But when we see an open world, .easy of access, and a church so prosperous and powerful, there is not the shadow of an excuse for idleness. There is every encouragement, snd the loudest call to a supreme effort for the evangelization of the world. The heathen are calling, God is commanding His people to srise in His might, and to take possession of all nations, in His name. It is at her peril that the church of Christ neglects the call of Provi- (lence, which is the voice of God.
IV.-FACILITIES FOR lIUSSION WORK NOW, AXD A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
The advantages for a new crusade are inconceivably greater in .our day, as compared with what they were in the days of our fatherR. Then the work was new and untried. The few specimens of work (lone were not models of wisdom, or examples of success. Some were .of value as a wal'l1ing, rather than encouragement. Everything was new and strange, all had to be built up-the very foundations had to be dug. Can we wonder that mistakes were made? It would haye been a miracle if they had not. The condition of the savage tribes smong whom they began was so entirely different from anything in bome experience, we can only wonder at the co.)urage, and faith, and wisdom, of the early founders of our missions.
The tools with which they were to work had to be invented and nlade. Languages had not only to be leal'l1ed, they had to be fashioned and clothed in the forms of written speech. The fleeting sounds from the lips of savages had to be coined into visible words, snd construed in harmony with the strange usage8 of people innocent of grammatical rules. Dictionaries had to be made out of the crude materials of these hitherto unformed tongues, requiring the greatest nicety of ear, and the utmost accuracy in reducing sound to its equivalent in words; and last, but not least, the translation of the Word of God had to be made unto these newly formed languages, and fickle and restless savages had to be taught to read the sacred page.
The amount of this kind of work that has been accomplished is. almost incalculable and incredible. All this is clear gain, which does not need to be repeated in these languages, which now number probably 400, in all parts of the habitable globe. New missionaries, going to these nations and tribes, find their work in acquiring the language of the people comparativaly easy-a clear gain to the church in time and money and men; making spiritual results, under God, more easy and rapid.
Compare also the present with the past in respect of the numberof laborers with which we start this new era in missionary effort. Our fathers had to begin with a mere handf~l of laborers, untrained and inexperienced, with no knowledge of the habits and customs and modes of thought of the various peoples among whom they werll to· work. They had no native helpers or preachers to assist them in theirwork. Everything was against them. The possibility of the preach· ing of the Gospel saving and sanctifying such depraved natures as· those of cannibals, was an untried problem. The natural way would have been, like the first Moravian missionaries, to prepare them by education and civilization for the Gospel message. But, with a sublime faith in the Divine commission to preach the Gospel to ever.1f creature, they went forth with no weapons of modern science or learning, but with the sword of the Spirit, and with that they fought and conquered.
Now, how different are the conditions in the mission field, with 7,00(} European and American missionaries at work, half the number ordained ministers, and nearly all of them educated men and women, acquainted with something like 400 languages, or distinct dialects. But what is a greater advantage than these for aggressive work, ~re the native evangelists, now making little short of 30,000, and of these, nearly 3,000 are educated native pastors, placed over congregations of their countrymen. Greater than even these advantages, arc the three million of converts, two-thirds of whom are either active or passive witnesses for Christ iu the midst of their heathen countrymen -lights, all the more conspicuous from the darkness which surrounds them.
Take in connection with these advantages in the mission fields of the world, the vast increase in the number and resources of missionary societies at home, with the augmented means, their more complete organization, their knowledge and experience of the methods.
DR. PIERSON'S JIlISSIONARY CRUSADE IN SCOTLAND
which have heen lllostowned of God for the conversion of the heathen, their closer touch with the churches, the increase of missionary spirit in England and America, the great wealth in the hands of Christian men, the favorable disposition of most of the ruling powers of the world,-and we have a condition of matters such as could not have been dreamed of a hundred ycars ago, and which lays an immeasurably greater responsibility on the Christian conscience and on the churches of Christ; while they are fitted to put doubt and unbelief to shame, and to inspire the greatest courage and hope in the breast of missionaries abroad, and Christians at home. Surely God is speaking loudly to all, to seize the present opportunity, and make a supreme effort for an advance along the whole line.
We close with a word of wal'lling. There is a danger of trusting to the great increase of knowledge, and numbers, and wealth, and :power. We do well to remember the words, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." We have enough to h-Jmble us in looking to our sinful neglect in the past, when we tr.ink of the generations of men we have allowed to go down to the grave in darkness, while we had the light. We have enough to Bol.emnize us, when we look to the work which lies before us in the future; not only the one thousand millions of heathen and Mohammedans, Christless and hopeless, but the hundreds of millions of the Greek and Roman Catholic churches, corrupting the truth of God and dishonoring the Lord who bought them. Let our attitude be that of humble, earnest, prayerful effort, and devout, hopeful expectancy, trusting "in the living God who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
DR. PIERSON'S MISSIONARY CRUSADE IN SCOTLAND.
[It is known to most of our readers, that in compliance with the earnest request of the leading friends of missions in Scotland, our Associate has gone there to complete the work he began after the rising of the London Conference on Missions in 1888. We give below the first of a series of letters on his mission and its results, which will appear in successive numbers ·of the REVIEW. If all of them shall possess the extraordinary interest of the first, they will surely be read with heartfelt interest and gratitude to God. We invoke the prayers of our readers in behalf of Dr. Pierson in this mission of love, for such it is, May the reflex influence of this mighty wave of missionary interest on the other side of the ocean reach our shores, and mark a new era in the history of the cause among us !-J. lI1. S.] Jfy Dear Dr. Sherwood: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, Nov. 27, 1889.
There was no need of coming to Scotland to " kindle the flame of a Missionary Revival," as the brethren of the Committee were pleased to suggest. It is quite obvious to me that a revival of missions is already in progess, and that all I can hope to do will be to feed ancl fan a flame already burning.
The good ship Etruria had a very rough passage, through a very "choppy" sea. 'Ve were rolled to and fro, and tossed up and down, and found it quite har.} to keep ollr.~elvei> in 0111' berths at night ,or maintain our standing, or even our sitting, on deck by day. N evertheless we landed at Liverpool quay at about 7 o'clock on Saturday evening, November 16th. The brethren came to meet and greet Ufl, and bid us " Welcome in the name of the Lord," and cheered us as a similar embassy comforted Paul at the "Three Taverns." There is no disposition either in England or Scotland to allow our sojourn to be one of idle lounging or pleasure seeking. Ve found arrangements made at Liverpool for a series of meetings, beginning with one on the very night of our arrival. In fact, no time could be spared even to attend to "customs," and so leaving our kind host with }frs. Pierson to look after the luggage, I was hurried off in a cab to Gordon Hall, where a large and select company of the Christians of Liverpool were gathered to offer a cordial welcome. Canon Burbidge was in the chair, and the familial' face of ~lr. Reginald Radcliffe beamed close at his side. At this meeting I made a brief address on the "Present Aspect of }fissions," and was greatly cheered by observing a very manifest spirit of prayer prevailing. This was my first impression, and that impression has been constantly emphasized and intensified during these eleven days.
As I intimated, my sojourn on this side of the water is not likely to suffer by lack of employment. I left Liverpool for Edinburgh on Wednesday morning, November 20, having already held in that city seven meetings, closing with a grand and enthusiastic gathering in great George Street Chapel, which will hold easily two thousand people. The attendance at all these meetings evinced an intelligent and hearty sympathy with the }fissionary cause, and furnished an auspicious forecast and foretaste of the gratifications in store. In Edinburgh, on the night of OUI' arrival, a marvellous assembly convened in the Hall of the Church of Scotland, Principal Cairns in the ohair. Rev. Dr. Lowe, Chairman of the Committee, having direction of the meetings, remarked to me that no more significant gathering had ever met in Edinburgh. The various denominations, which have been divided by conscientious differences of opinion, and have sometimes waged wars, not without much bitterness, came together with a profound and sincere sympathy, to further the common cause of a world's Evangelization. }fen that had met in the arena of theological and ecclesiastical controversy, and engaged in fierce conflict, came into that Hall on a common footing of cordial good will, rallying around a humble advocate of world·wide missions, forgetful of all past issues and minor differences in the one absorbing object-giving the gospel to tMs generation.
The Chairman was Dr. Cairns, a very proper man about whom to gather; It has been said of him that "no man carries under his hat, through all Scotland, a bigger brain." Eminent as a preacher, a writer, a teacher, an ecclesiastic, he is eyen more conspicuous as a. Christian. His charity is pre-eminent, and in the atmosphere of its gentle glow, the ice of antagonism and apathy may well mdt away. The students made a sort of cartoon, not long since, in which they represented "Principal Cairns' introduction to the Devil." He is made to say to his Satanic Majesty, that he has "heard very unfavor- able reports touching his moral character," but that he has "no doubt these reports are very much exaggerated, and that on furthel' acquaintance they will be able to get on together very well." The jest, as Horace intimates, hides behind a laugh a serious truth; for the dear Doctor is always looking for and hoping for the best from everybody.
The object of this first meeting was to express a hearty welcome from all the bodies represented, and to assure me of the most cordial co-operation in the purpose of this Mission Tour of the (;hurches. The welcome was given with all the enthusiasm of true Scotchmen. These people are not so easily moved as some, but when they do move it is with great momentum. Meeting after meeting followed, the details of which space does not allow m.e to give; suffiJe it to say, that, as in Liverpool, they have followed each other in quick succession, on Thursday in the great Synod Hall, on Friday in the Free Assemhly Hall, mainly for )Vomen, on Saturday morning in Moncrieff Hall, fO!' the students, when even the standing room was all in demand; then after two sermons on Missions, the Sabbath evening found me confronting an immense audience at the U. P. Synod Hall, where the most marked movement of the Spirit of God which I have ever witnessed in such a gathering, subdued and melted all hearts. My subject that night was" Individual Responsibility with reference to Missions," and as the duty and privilege of individual giving', and especially prctyill[J, was urged, and the grand promises to prayerful souls were arrayed before us, a sudden hush fell upon the whole assembly; there was a. painful silence, and many bowed in tears before God. As fOI' the speaker, it was with him as with Daniel, when, in his vision beside the Hiddekel, "there remained no strength in him." (Daniel, x :8.) The sense of the divine presence was positively overwhelmillg; no man could produce such an impression; it was manifestly of God, and all felt it to be the gateway of Heaven.
Such a meeting has but one explanation. Ever since it was known that this Mission Tour of the Churches was determined on, and that arrangements were definitely made, there has been an unusual spirit of prayer. Those who on their hearts bear the precious interests of God's kingdom, in this land of Martyrs and Missionaries, began praying in secret and praying in little circles, for a mighty manifestation of God's presence and power. Instead of looking to any man, there has been a disposition to fix the eye of faith and prayer on God alone, and those that honor Him, He will hOllOI'. Of all the meetings I have ever attended, I remember not one in which God more plainly set all human instruments aside, to speak for Himself in the language that has no human speech as its expression and can be heard only by ears open to the still small voice. Some persons were so moved that they had to leave the hall. When the meeting adjourned all left in silence, and since then, token after token of the blessing keeps coming to our knowledge. The next day we received a note in a lady's hand, enclosing the money which would buy "one pail' of four-button kids," in response to an appeal which I made to Christian women to forego luxuries for the Lord's sake, and turn the money to His treasury. The same day brought a half sovereign, the expression of like self-denial; and a letter, enclosing two pounds, ten shillings, the proceeds of a bracelet, sold for the I"ord's sake. These are but a few signs of God's presence and of a coming harvest of missions. Every day brings increasing encouragement. "Ye can only praise God, and give glory to Him.
With Sabbath evening's meeting the series of gatherings in Edinburgh closed for the present, fifteen meetings in all since the Etruri(t anchored in the Mersey River, eight days before. 'Yith Monday we began, accompanied by Mrs. Edge, recently returned from Canton, China, and Rev. Henry'Rice, on a furlough from: Madras, India, to visit cities and towns in the neighborhood of this Scotch Athenl'l. On Monday we held two meetings in Leith, on Tuesday in Peebles and bnerleithen, and to-day in Dalkeith. The afternoon meetings are principally for the women, and the evening assemblies, held in the largest available places, are crowded to overflowing. 'Ve were told yesterday that meetings so large have not been known even in times of great political excitement. Surely God is marching on, and a new departure in missions is at hand.
'Ve cannot bring this letter to a close without remarking upon the grand men and women who in this great Scotch metropolis are arrayed on the side of Christian faith and Christian Missions. 'Ye seem to be back in the times of old when there were "giants on the earth in those days." Think Qf a series of meetings in the interest of }Iissiom~, held day after day, with such men as Principals Cairns and Rainy, and Sir 'Villiam Muir, in the chair; when such men as Rev. Dr. Andrew 'l'hompson, George Smith,LL.D., Dr. 'Velsh, Professors Laidlaw, Blaikie and I.indsay, and 'l'homas Smith, D.D.; Reverends 'Vm. Balfour, tVm Stevenson, 'Vm. Robertson, John McMartrie, Dr. Norman McLeod and Dr. Alison; Duncan McLarew, Esq., and John, Smith, Esq., Professors Calderwood and Johnstone and A. R. Simpson, M.D.; with Reverends W m. Grant and R. Craig, and I . ord Kinnaird, from I"ondon, Principal Simon, Mrs. ,Jane .Millel', representing the Friends, and a host of others, came together to OffCl' the right hand of fellowship in behalf of all branches of the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist~, Episcopalian~, Friends, etc. The Committee having in charge the details of my Tour of the Churches have made singularly complete and satisfactory arrange- ments. They have secured one or two 1'Iissionairies, now at home from their fields, to accompany me. Mrs. Edge is a ready and accomplished speaker and gives vivid glimpses of Chinese home life and sociallif~, showing the marked influence of the gospel in modifying and transforming especially the women and girls of the Celestial Empire. Rev. Henry Rice is one of the most fluent, intelligent and strik~ ing speakers on Missions that it has been my good fortune to hear. He touches with rare skill the salient points of Missions, and gives both picturesque and impressive views of East Indian religions and customs. His book, recently published, on " Native Life in India," printed by the London Religious Tract Society, compresses into a brief Rpace an immense amount of interesting and instructive matter. He is full of missionary zeal, and zeal according to knowledge. It is with not a little gratification that we add such a man to our REVIEW list of Editorial Correspondents, and announce a series of articles as ab.out to appear in these pages from his instructive and attractive pen.
The details of these meetings we have given to some degree, because these pages will be read not only in Great Britain and the United States and Canada, but in far off lands where Christ's Godly messengers are telling the old, old story. Such a movement at the great centers of Christendom will be felt at the outermost bounds, as a mighty heart throb pulses warm life blood to the extremities of the body. And we bid all missionaries in God's name, "Be of Good Cheer." There is a revival of missiollary knowledge and zeal at home, and it means blessing abroad. The key note struck at the opening meeting was" the gospel to be published through all the world in this generation," and this thought seems to be taking possession of the most earnest, prayerful and consecrated men and women on both sides of the sea. God has given us a thousand facilities unknown to our ancestors. lIe has thrown open the doors to the nations and challenged us to enter in and possess the land. "Vhat are we waiting for? AU things are now ready. A united movement all along the lines-more men and women to the front, and the Church of God backing them up with more money and prayer and sympathy; more Godly parents giving their children to God and to Missions from the cradle; morc enterprise for God, pushing the conquests of the cr08S as we push seculal' and scientific endeavor for objects infinitely less i~portant – who can tell what glorious and speedy results may follow a true awakening of the Church of God to the duty and privilege of proclaiming the gospPl to every creature!
THE CHARITIES OF GERMANY
THE CHARITIES OJ!' GERMANY.
BY REV. A. n. BRADFORD, D.D, ~rO~TGLAIR, X. J.
[We offer no apology for embracing "C'harities" in the gospel of Missionary work. The mission of the Master did not overlook them-nay, specially honored them. The Church of Christ has ever been foremost in this work, The true Missionary will find work to do wherever the poor, the suffering, the unfortunate and criminal classes are found, and they are found in great numbers in, Christian lands as well as in heathen. We are sure this paper will be read with ini!erest,-J, M. S.] I Christianity has been called "the romance of the poor." What- ever controversies have marked the history of the Church, and how- ever deeply stained its pages may be with tears and blood, from the first its progress may be traced in the development of charities. It created charity. Paganism had no place for the aged, the infirm, for children without friends. It peopled its schools of gladiators and houses of prostitution from those who, in our time, are beautifully called "the children of the public." Charities are the necessary fruit of Christianity. ,'rhe world has not yet grasped the significance of the incamation-God entering into human conditions to save the outcast and the sinful. 'Vherever Christ has been preached, instantly there have arisen institutions whose object has been the amelioration of human suffering. Philanthropy and Chl·ist.ianity are inseparable.
Lecky, in his History of European Morals, says: "The high conception which has been formed of the sanctity of human life, the protection of infancy, the elevation and final emancipation of the slaveclasses, the suppression of barbarous games, the creation of a vast and multifarious organization of chllxity, the education of the imagination by the Christian type, constitute together a movement of philanthropy which has never been paralleled or approached in the Pagan world." * One form of Christianity devotes its energies to making conver- sions; another form seeks by Christian nurture to place around the children of the poor and vicious such conditions as shall make the new life a second and better nature.
Dr. Channing, in an eloquent passage, says: " Society has hitherto employed its energies chiefly to punish crime. It is infinitely more important to prevent it. And this I say not for the sake of those alone on whom the criminal preys. I do not think only or chiefly of those who suffer from crime. I plead also, and plead more, for those who perpetrate it. In moments of clear, calm thought, I feel more for the wrongdoer than for him who is wronged. In a case of theft, incomparably the most wretched man is he who steals, not he who is robbed. What I want is not merely that society shall protect itself against crime, but that it shall do all that it can to preserve its exposed members from crime. It ought not to breed monsters in its own bosom. If it will not use its prosperity to save the ignorant and the poor from the blackest vice, then it must suffer, and deserves to suffer, from crime. If the child be left to grow up in utter ignorance of duty, of its Maker, of its relations to society, in an atmosphere of profaneness and intemperance, and in practice of falsehood and fraud, let not the community complain of its crime. It has quietly looked on and seen him, year after year • '.,1. II, p,lUO, arming himself against its order and peace; and who is most to blame when at last he deals the guilty blow?"
The conception of Christianity which recognizes in it a gospel for the whole life of man, for man physical as well as spiritual-this gospel of a healthful environment as well as of free forgiveness-is day by day coming into fnIler recognition.
The subject of Charity in Germany is too large for one paper, and. therefore this is chiefly limited to those forms of philanthropy which are known as "Child-saving." 'rhe one exception is that universal chai'ity at Kaiserswerth which could not, with propriety, be classified in any department of philanthropic work but seems rather to embrace them all.
The work of child-saving was begun in Germany in 1695, by August Hermann Franke, in the city of Halle. Franke was a German minister and teacher, and Professor in the University of Halle. "He commenced with a capital of three dollars and a half. ,Vhen he received it, he said: 'With this I must do a great work.'" Halle is a beautiful city of about 70,000 inhabitants, ill N orthel'l1 Germany. It is best known as the seat of one of the largest German Universities. It has always been a center of evangelical theology. It must be rememc bered, however, that that term is more inclusive ill Germany than in America. The University has been a favorite with American students, especially in its theological department. Halle is distinguished not only for its institutions of learning, but equally for its orphan asylums, which Ol'iginated as fullows: It was the custom for beggars, on certain days, to seek alms at private houses. Not satisfied with merely giving them bread for their bodies, Franke began to catechise them, both the old and the young. He discovered among them such utter ignorance of religion that he began to think of providing a school for them. "He opened a little school in his study; in less than a year he found the place too small. He was pained, however, to see that the children's home-life destroyed what his school had builded up. He therefore formed the idea of taking the entire training of a few children upon himself. A house was purchased for this school; twelve were received into it. The next year a new house was purchased."
Rapidly the institution grew. There was no capital, and yet the work flomished. Faith and prayer were his capital. Franke himself said: "From week to week, from month to month, has the Lord crumbled to me, even as one crumbles the bread to little chickens." A Home for Unmarried Women followed the Orphan Asylum; then a Home for Widows. Around these centers schools were founded in which students of the University became teachers. One curious means of help was devised by an eminent physician who gave the institutions the receipts for some very valuable remedies. The sale of the medicines added greatly to the revenue of the charities. They were widely sold in Germany, and even in America and Africa. Another auxiliary enterprise was the Orphan House Book Establishment, conducted by a man named Elers, who put his income at the disposal of the Orphan House, and was content to receive clothing and food. The work among the orphans and the poor at home was followed by Missionary and Bible work in Germany and foreign lands.
There is little about the managem'ent of these charities to distinguish them from others. Dormitories, laundries, school rooms, and play grounds are everywhere the same. The difference between institutions of this kind is chiefly in the system. The congregate and the cottage systems both have their advocates. The Asylums at Halle belong to the former class. His friend Elers once asked Franke as to who had taught him this work. His reply was, "My mother's love." The secret of his marvellous career is in that answer. When King Frederick William first saw the Orphan House, 1713, and was conducted through the book-stores and the warehouses, he was amazed; and he asked Elers how much he got out of all tIllS r " Your Majesty," replied Elers, "only just what you see." Then the King clapped Franke upon the shoulder and said, "Now I see how he accomplishes so much. I have no such servants."
The establishment still remains, and its influence is boundless. The buildings are a quarter of a rile in length, and six stories high, built around an oblong court-yard. In the court-yard is a bronze statue of Franke, by Rauch. In the Asylum are sheltered about 500 children, while schools, a labratory, a printing office, and many charitable associations find a home under its hospitable roofs. If Franke had been a soldier and displayed such courage and zeal, his country would have built him a splendid monument in the capital. If he had been a Romanist, he would have been enrolled among the saints. He was both a soldier and a saint, but he needs no monument and no canonization, for his works do follow him.
The ancient city of Erfurt is picturesque and quaint. It is chiefly celebrated because of its connection with the history of Luther. There he was a monk and a professor. There he had that terrible inward conflict which ended with his discovery of the Bible in the library of his monastery. In that old church he preached. There are still the cells in which he lived and worked. '1'he very place where he found the Bible is still in good preservation. If you would find that old church and monastery ask almost anybody for the "Martinstift." The monastery has been born again. It is now a school, and a home for poor children taken from the streets and prisons. The principle of management is not different from that of other institutions of the kind, and the advantages offered are not so numerous as in some other homes. As in the asylums at Halle, the congregate system is in uSe. Two things especially distinguish this home and school. First, it is not only for children from the street, but from the prisons also. A prison with children in it is a school where criminals are trained. This was clearly recognized by Rector Charles Reinthaler, who founded the Martinstift in 1819. The second fact which distinguishes this institution is that it is the noblest monument to Luther in all Germany. Germany honors Luther as Scotland honors Bruce; His figure in the attitude of a preacher, or a doctor of philosophy, is at Eisenach, at Eisleben. at Erfurt, at Wittenberg; but this home for the homeless, which is nobler than any bronze, is his most appropriate memorial; for it is an unfailing benediction to those who are as desolate as he was in Eisenach, where Frau von Cotta was charmed by the sweetness of his voice, and divided with him her living.
Vienna is, in many respects, the most beautiful, and I think in all respects, the most corrupt capital in EUI·ope. Its buildings surpass even those of Paris. St. Stepheu's is hardly inferior to Notre Dame, and the Votive Church is, in its way, quite as wonderful as La Made- leine. The University buildings are the most splendid for the.purpose in the world.
Two facts conspire to make "child-saving" especially imperative and especially difficult in Vienna. It is imperative because of the vast number of illegitimate, and consequently neglect.ed children. There are about 50,000 women in Vienna licensed to lives of shame, and, perhaps, as many more who are not licensed but whose lives are equally illicit. The number of homeless children where such moral conditions prevail is always large; and to care for them without increasing vice or diminishing the con- sciousness of responsibility on the part of those who bear children, is always difficult. The difficulty is increased by the poverty of the lower classes. There are rumors of dynamite conspiracies in Vienna. They were to have been expected. People who are oppressed, as the poor are there, . will sometimes break their chains and rebel. Women who work all day on buildings, doing what we call hod-carrying, get 40 cents; masons get 75 cents a day. Women who make shirts get 75 cents a dozen. Farm-laborers are cared for, and get from ten to twenty cents a day for doing what, in this country, in harvest time, a man would get $4 for doing. Meat costs about the same there as in New York, but meat is not for the poor. Nowhere in the world is woman's labor so poorly paid. Women in the postoffice and telegraph departments get from $5 to $7.50 a month, and "find themselves." They never have a home furnished with their work; that favor is only for men, and rarely for them. On the other hand, there are numerous day-nurseries, or creches, provided by the government, where the children of the poor may be placed while the parents are at work. Crime and suffering are compulsory where such wage~ are paid.· When pe0ple thus treated learn their power, the existing social order always trembles. That time has already come in Vienna.
Seeking what was being done in that city of splendor and infamy to relieve or to prevent pauperism and crime, I was directed to the Waisenhaus, a Roman Catholic institution, under the direction of " The Brothers of Christian Love." This, in its equipment, is the most complete institution of the kind I have ever seen. It is supported by its endowments. The congregate system is in. use. It has four dormitories, and provides a home for three hundred and sixty boys. After the uniform excellence of the appointments, that which especially distinguishes the institution are the facilities afforded for education. For instance, in the musical department I counted six pianos and three organs, in as many rooms. In other rooms were other instruments. The Museum of Natural History, one of the best equipped in the city and filling a;n immense space, is in daily use. The wash rooms are as interesting as the school rooms. Each boy has his towel and his box: of toilet articles, and the neatness and order are perfect. The older boys rise at five, and those younger a half-hour later. Their study-hour is from quarter before six to quarter before seven. A very large proportion of these boys are waifs. They have no idea of any other home. No motives of love inspire them. The poorest learn trades, and the higher class prepare to be clerks or to enter the army. The fact that they do not know their parentage does not indicate that their parentage is unknown; on the other hand, it is often known, and it is no contradiction to speak of waifs of "higher" and" lower" classes. The order and advantages of the institution were well nigh perfect. The Brothers were exceedingly courteous, and yet there was something about them which was positively repellant. I left the place feeling that it was not good to be there. "The Brothers of Christian Love" are evidently affected by the moral atmosphere around them. The Superior, for instance, spoke of woman, and of unfortunate children, lightly and flippantly. He seemed to have no profound appreciation of the misery he was seeking to relieve. I may do him injustice. Individuals often receive the censure which belongs to the social order. The Waisenhaus is a wonderful institution, but splendor of equipment and perfection of organization can never compensate for the absence of moral earnestness. Thus one of the most splendid charities in Europe made on me the impression of being simply a great machine for providing for illegitimate children. "The Brothers of Christian Love" may be the noblest and most self-sacrificing of men, but the environment of corrupt social life seems to have affected their ways of looking at things. if not· their characters and principles of work. It could hardly be otherwise.
The location of Hamburg is as beautitul as are the buildings of Vienna, and its residences, especially around the Alster Binnen, are worthy of this location. It is the commercial center of Germany, to that Empire what Glasgow and Liverpool are to Great Britain. A few miles out of Hamburg, at Horn, is the Rauhe Haus, which divides with Kaiserswerth the glory of being the most prominent charitable institution in the nation. It consists of a series of buildings around a small park. Each house is a home by itself. The dor- mitories and school rooms have nothing peculiar about them. "Vhat especially impressed me there was the attention given to industrial training, and to the religious nurture of the children. There is a ~ystem of mutual education going on all the time. The teachers, ", Brothers" they are called, who have charge, a,re preparing for other work. They are to be city missionaries and are serving their apprenticeship with children from the lowest and vilest city wards. A man who knows a street boy knows a city's darker side. The boys are training the men and the men are trainiJlg the boys. The " Brothers" remain, I think, for three years.
Three characteristics distinguish the Rauhe Haus. It is a congeries of families, each with its 110me and home-life; it provides industrial education of a very thorough kind; and is a place for the training of city missionaries as well as outcast children. It has it higher department called the Pensionate, where those fitted for it receive the same instruction as in the best German Gymnasia. This institution was founded by Dr. John Henry Wichern and his mother, in November, 18;:13. Dr. Wines says: "The fundamental idea of the Rauhe Haus is that of the famil:y, and it is the mother of all those child-sa,ing institutions, of which the number is continually increasing, that have since been organized on the family plan." Perhaps the finest example of the perfection to which this plan may be carried, is the village of Girls' Homes, at lIford, Essex, neal' London, which is a part of the wonderful sPl'ie~ of charities founded by Dr. Bernardo. There are thirty beautiful brick houses built around a small park, each with its own "Mother," and family from the London slums. But the Rauhe Haus antedated Dr. Bernardo's Homes by at least forty years.
Some one asked Dr. ",Yichern how he was able to produce such wonderful changes in the conduct of children under his care. His reply reveals the secret of his success: "By the word of God and music." The religious training of the children is given the first place. Everything is made bright and beautiful. When possible, each child has its own flower bed; flowers help in the work of educa-. tion. Dr. Wichern once said that "the man who cannot play and enter into the plays of chhhood with his whole heart, is unfit to be an assistant in a child-saving institution." I cannot better describe the spirit of this institution than by quoting words spoken at a public meeting held in Hamburg prior to its opening, by Syndic Sieveking. He said: " The children's institution was not to be a workhouse, nor an orphanage, nor a place of punishment, nor a house of correction; but an institution that allied itself to the family, to the gospel, to the forgiveness of sins, to the first and last thought, that is to the essential nature and work of Christianity." * It is impossible even to mention all the names of the distinguished workers in the field of Charity in Germany. Pestalozzi, the founder of the Kindergarten, did a noble work, but in it the religious element was lackin£,. "At the age of eighty he saw for the first time what he had been striving for for his whole life, when, in 1826, he visited the institution of the venerable Zell'er at Beuggen. When the children of that institution presented him with a beautiful wreath, as they sang one of their sweet hymns, Pestolozzi said.to Zeller: 'This is what I wanted to accomplish.' His mistake was that, in his school at Stanz, there was no place for religious instruction." t In these child-saving institutions in the German Empire, there are' fewer girls than boys. Some of these Homes are managed by the State, and children are sent to .them as punishment; but these must not be confounded with what is done by individuals. There were about three hundred and sixty of the institutions in 1880. Wurtemburg leads all the German States in this work.
" The Deaconess Institution of Rhenish",Yestphalia," at Kaiserswerth, is the most remarkable charity in.Germany, if not in the world. On a dismal day in August I visited Kaiserswerth. The ride from Cologne by train is about one hour to Calcum, and then about a halfhOllr by carriage. The country around is flat and damp, like most of • Wines' State Prisons and Child·Saving Institutions, p. 74. t Wines' Child-SaVIng Institution, p. GOO. that along the lower Rhine. We were set down at the post-office, and then sought the institutions. We could find little besides; they make the town. There is a famous Roman Catholic church, but it attracts little attention. But first, how did we come to be interested in Kaiserswerth? By reading the lives of Elizabeth Fry, Agnes Jones, and Florence Nightingale. Elizabeth Fry unconsciously inspired its ol'lgm. Florence Nightingale and Agnes Jones both resided there and received the instruction and studied the examples which were to stimulate their lives of heroism and sacrifice. A young German pas- tor, Fliedner by name, was settled in Kaiserswerth about fifty years ago. A period of financial depression compelled him to seek foreign help for the continuance of his work. He went to England. He met Elizabeth Fry who was in the midst of her career in the London prisons. From her words and example, Fliedner was moved to go home and attempt the same work. Soon after his return a degraded woman, named Minna, a discharged prisoner, came to him for help.
There was no room in his own house, but there was a little summer- house adjoining. He gave her a home in that, where she could be under the watchful eye of his wife. Soon another homeless and abandoned woman came to him. She, too, was sheltered in the sum- mer-house. There was no place for them to sleep except an attic in the same building, to which they climbed by a ladder. When they reached this place of rest the ladder was removed. That was the beginning of the Deaconess Institution at Kaiserswerth. Now it contains the following departments of philanthropic work: The Mother-house and Hospital where the deaconesses chiefly reside; the Penitentiary where women discharged frolll prison find a home until they can get a new start for a better life; the Training College for teachers, with an infant school; the Orphanage; the Lunatic Asylum for women; the House of Evening Rest for deaconesses no ionger able to work; Paul Gerhard's Home for women, chiefly invalids; a school f()r the training of deaconesses; a school for girls; numerous hospitals, etc., etc.
The exterior of the buildings is severely plain and simple. Many of them are connected. The halls are apparently endless. All is quiet, cleanly and cheerful. In one room children are taught; in another, babies are tended; in another, the sick are nursed; in another, girls just out of prison are trained to industrious and virtuous habits; in another, surgical operations are performed; another is a chapel; another is a parlor for old women; all around are little bed-rooms; and in all is the appearance of a charming and beautiful home. Our guide through these institutions was Sister Charlotte Drude, a tall, gaunt, angular, but exceedingly attractive German woman who has been long in the Sisterhood. Her hospitality and enthusiasm were boundless, and her love for philanthropic work an inspiration. The present Director at Kaiserswerth is Julius Disselhoff, a son-in-law of the founder; and a son, a second Pastor Fliedner, is the chaplain.
Kaiserswerth has literally reached around the world. It is now fifty years old. The Training-school for Nurses, at Salem, near Rati- gen; an Orphanage at Altdorf; a Boarding-school at Heldern; the :Martha'sJIome at Berlin, with infant and elementary school attached; the :Martha's home at Dusseldorf, with infant school; the Home for Prisoners, and the Asylum at Brandenburg; the Convalescent Home for Deaconesses and Children at ""Vallbaum, are all owned by the same society and managed and served by these Sisters. Outside <>f Germany, there is the Talitha-cumi Hospital and School at J erusalem; the School and Orphanage at Smyrna; the Hospital at Alexandria in Egypt; the Orphanage and Boarding-school at Beyroot, in Syria; a Boarding-school in Florence; and minor stations in almost all lands. The Deaconess work of modern times was begun at Kaiserswerth. It has increased marvellously. In 1880 there were fifty-three Central Deaconess institutions, with more than forty-eight hundred Deaconesses working in more than fifteen hundred different places. They were like angels on German battle fields. They nurse, and they preach; they bind wounds, and tell "the old, old. story." For both <>ffices they are trained. No vows are taken. At the consecration to the office, the new Deaconess _promises to be true to her calling, and to live in the fear of God and according to His holy Word. They nurse over 50,000 patients annually, and consequently preach Christ to at least the same number. Theyare the most persuasive preachers, for their message goes to hearts already opened by gratitude. They can leave when they choose, to go to their friends, to marry, to do what they will. Few choose to return to society. Those who wish to become Sisters pass through a course of preparation extending over five years, under the direction of those with whom they are later to be associated. They can be sent anywhere, but may decline any service. N one do decline. They realize that their place is in the midst of the world's suffering, and they covet the hardest posts, like soldiers in battle.
The rooms for the Deaconesses are plain, but comfortable. One into which we were shown was decorated with flowers for a Sister who was, in a few hours, expected home from work in a foreign land. She was worn out and sick, and was coming home to rest; and it was a place as sweet and inviting for one weary with anxiety and labor as the most exacting could desire. The Sisters receive no pay fOJ: anything they do. Their only reward is the consciousness of serving Christ and humanity. They are cared for while they live, and buried when they die; God takes care of the rest. Some belong to the nobility, some to the middle classes, some to the poor, and all to the Kingdom of God.
This Deaconess institution has started others like it in different parts of the world, and thus its work is both direct and indirect. In England and the United States similar Sisterhoods are already in operation, and the sphere of woman's work in the amelioration of human ills is without discernible limit. The seed sown by Pastor Fliedner has grown beyond his most sanguine dreams. Incidentally he came in contact with Florence Nightingale and Agnes Jones. The
THE JUBILEE OF THE NEW HEBRIDES MISSION
former has revolutionized the war-hospitals of England and all the colonies, and effected sanitary reforms wherever the English armies have gone. The latter, in a few short years of service in the Liverpool workhouse hospital, effected reforms among workhouse hospitals hardly less remarkable in their way than those of her more illustrioU'S sister. The influence of these women is felt in almost all institutions for child-saving and for the alleviation of pain, and the reform of criminals in Great Britain and America. The mustard seed which Fliedner planted is already a great tree whose branches reach into all lands.
No attempt has been made in this paper to compare the methods of charity in Germany with those among English-speaking people. In many respects they are radically different, but in more respects alike. It is enough to say that charity is the expression of love, and love is not limited by social or racial distinctions. Its forms of manifestations are everywhere the same, and so charity employs substantially the same methods and works toward the same ends among all people.
THE JUBILEE OF THE NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.
BY REV. ROBERT STEEL, D.D., SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WAI~ES.
In November, 1839, fifty years ago, the" Apostle of Polynesia'~ -John Williams-gave his life in an eNdeavor to pioneer the gospel of Jesus Christ in the islands of the New Hebrides. He had heard of the savage cannibals of Eromanga, and of the many atrocities committed by them; but as he knew the effects of Christianity on some of the Polynesian isla-nds, he was anxious to extend its blessings .to other groups. He had awakened an immense interest in South Sea Missions by his visit to England and by the publication of his "Missionary Enterprises." No book of its class ever created so great a sensation. The Archbishop of Canterbury, after perusing it, declared that it read like a new chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Peers and Peeresses not only read it, but sent their donations to aid the work of evangelization in Polynesia. The press reviewed it with favor. In a few years 40,000 copies were sold. John 'Villiams became the hero of the hour, and many sympathizing friends breathed their benedictions as he sailed away on his new mission for the extension of the gospel among the isles of the Pacific. It was not long after his return to the scenes of his triumphs in Raratonga and Samoa that he set his heart on a visit to the New Hebrides. It had been one of his philanthropic utterances: "It is our duty to visit surrounding islands. For my own part, I cannot content myself within the limits of a single reef." He, therefore, took twelve native teach('rs as pioneers and sailed in the Oamden, under Captain Morgan, for the New Hebrides in 1839. As the vessel neared the group he was all anxiety as to whether the savages would receive him in a friendly spirit, and allow the landing of a few of the teachers to prepare the way of the Lord. The first island of the grOtlp at which the vessel touched was Futuna, a huge rock which rises up 2,000 feet above the sea. The natives there were friendly, but there was not opportunity for making arrangements to locate teachers. It was otherwise at Tanna. The harbor of Port Resolution was a safe anchorage, and had been visited by European traders. The chief promised protection to the Samoan teachers, and three were left. To Mr. Williams this was a notable event. lIe wrote of it in his journal thus: "This is a memorable day, a day which willbe transmitted to posterity, and the record of the events which have this day transpired will exist after those who have taken part in them have retired into the shades of oblivion."
He little thought that the very next day would be rendered still more memorable, not indeed by the landing of teachers, but by his own martyr death at Eromanga, on the 20th of November, 1839. He landed, along with Mr. Harris, a young man sailing in the Camden, and seriously thinking of giving himself to missionary work. CaptainMorgan and Mr. Cunningham also landed. All seemed pleasant at first, and the party proceeded inland along the banks of the river at Dillon's Bay. Suddenly a shout was heard. The natives became hostile, and it was necessary to seek safety in the boats. Captain Morgan and Mr. Cunningham were nearest to the shore and got into their boat. Mr. Harris was struck and fell into the river. Mr. 'Vil- Iiams was clubbed just as he reached the bay. No help could be given, and their friends in the boat saw the natives spear and kill both Williams and Harris. Arrows flew around the boat, and the men had to pull for their lives. The bodies of the martyr pioneers were dragged into the bush by the infuriated cannibals for their horrid feast. When the vessel reached Samoa great sorrow was awakened by the heavy·tidings of the death of John ·Williams. From island to island the wailing cry arose, "Aue Williamu! Aue Tawa!-Ala~, Williams! Alas, our Father I"
But as of old, "the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the <lhurch." It was at once resolved by the mission brethren in Samoa that another effort should be made to place Christian teachers on blood-stained Eromanga. The Rev. T. Heath offered to lead the forlorn hope on the condition that if he also fell, another man should take the colors. He succeeded in his effort, and in 1840, six months after the death of 'Villiams, two Christian Samoan teachers were landed. A veteran survivor of that eventful period, the Rev. A. ,Yo Murray, author of the "Martyrs of Polynesia," "The Bible in the Pacific," and other works on missionR, visited the island in 1841, when Mrs. Williams was on boanl the mission vessel on her way to England and saw the scene of her devoted husband's death in the cause he loved. The teachers were fOl:nd alive, but they had a tale of living martyrdom to relate, and had experienced so many sufferings and hardships that they had to be removed. In England, after the sad intelligence of the death of the heroic vVilliams, it was also resolved by the directors of the London ~lissionary Society to· endeavor to plant the standard of the Cross at once as near as possible to the spot where the apostolic pioneer had fallen. Two young missionaries, with their brave wives, were forthcoming, ready to take their lives in their hands and go on the perilous enterprise. Messrs. Nisbet and Turner reached Tanna in June, 1842, and got what seemed a hopeful reception from the chiefs and natives of Port Resolution. "But," Dr. Turner says, "we had not been twenty-four hours on shore until we found that we were among a set of notorious thieves, perfect Spartans in the trade, and like the ancient code of Lycurgus, the crime seemed to be not the stealing, but the being found out." For seven dreary months the little mission party tried all their arts of conciliation in vain. Difficulties increased, and their lives were in imminent danger. At last, in dead of night, they had to seek safety in an open boat, but they were driven back. It was a critical condition for them to occupy; but providentially a trading vessel called the next day, and they got a passage to Samoa, where for many years they rendered fruitful service to the work of missions, and in the closing years of their residence trained many native teachers ana pastors and aided the work of translation and revised translations of Scripture, till thcy carried through the press an edition of the whole Bible with references in the language of Samoa. The London Missionary Society'S vessel from year to year sailed through the New Hebrides group, and the deputies on board, as Mr. Murray minutely testifies, watched for opportunities of locating teachers on several islands. Much is due to the brave enterprise of these devoted brethren in connection with the New Hebrides .Mission, and it becomes us, as we recall the work of fifty years ago, to record the fact that it was the London Missionary Society that pioneered the gospel to these islands where, in subsequent years, the Presbyterian missionaries had their trials and triumphs. It was their vessel that conveyed the first Presbyterian missionary. It was one of their missionaries that stayed with him during his first year. By their deputies he was visited and cheered from time to time. The Jubilee honors and rejoicings of the mission mu~t, therefore, be shared by that great society.
The first resident missionary on the New Hebrides was a Presbyterian-the Rev. John Geddie. He was a native of Banff, in Scotland, but had been taken in his infancy to Nova Scotia, where he became, in course of time, a student for the ministry. He was licensed to preach when he was only twenty-two years of age, and was ordained as a pastor at Cavendish, in Prince Edward Island, within a year thereafter. He was connected with a church compara- tively small and poor, and unable to afford more than a scanty income, often much in arrear', to its ministers, yet he had the courage to pro- pose that a Foreign Mission should be adopted. It is recorded that when he made known his views" there was not a man in the church who thought it practicable. Many looked upon it as utterly chimeri- cal, and were ready to pour contempt upon it as folly, while even his f~iends received the proposal with a smile of incredulity." The Church had in all only thirty congregations in the Provinces, and most were poor and str·uggling. Mr. Geddie, however, persevered, and in the course of a few years, carried his motion in the Synod. Vhen the proposal to seek a missionary was made, it was carried only by a majority of one! The attention of the Board was directed toward the islands where John Villiams laid down his life, and at length it was agreed that New Caledonia should be the field of their mission. That island had been named by MI'. Villiams to the Secession Church in Scotland as a sphere that might be occupied by their agents. Mr. Geddie belonged to that branch of the Presbyterian Church in Nova Scotia. He offered himself to the work~ and was accepted. He knew how little could be expected in the way of support; but he was not to be daunted. After visiting all the congregations of the Synod, and endeavoring to excite a prayerful and liberal. interest in the mission, he stw.died medicine for a time. In November, 1846, he sailed along with his wife and family. He was detained at Boston for two months before he found a vessel sailing for the Pacific, and even then the port to which a passage could be got was Honolulu, in the Sandwich Islands, far from the contemplated sphere in the South Seas. Six dreary months were spent in rounding Cape Horn ere they reached Honolulu, and seven weeks passed before a passage could be got to Samoa. Mr. Geddie had, however, an opportunity of seeing the working of the IIawaian Mission, and afterwards that of Samoa. Vhen he reached the latter place, he found that no opportunity could be got to reach New Caledonia 01' the Loyalty Islands for six or seven months, when the mission vessel John TVilliams wottld call. Besides, there then seemed no opening in these islands, as the energetic Bishop of New Zealand (Dr. Selwyn) had expressed a wish to conduct missionary work there. One of the islands of the New Hebrides afforded a single gleam of hope, and Mr. Geddie, with the advice of brethren at Samoa, agreerl to undertake a mission there. The venerable MI'. Murray, who still sllrvives, was a chief adviser and helper of Mr. Geddie during this period. It was proposed that one of the Samoan missionaries should accompany Mr. Geddie for a year, and the Rev. Mr. Bullen was chosen to do so, but amidst preparation for the expedition Mr. Bullen died. The Rev. T. Powell at the last moment offered to go with Mr. Geddie, and they left in July, 1848., They reached the most southerly island of the New Hebrides-Aneit- yum-where some native teachers had been settled, but what was the surprise of the mission party to find eight Roman Catholic priests and eight lay brothers already established in the island! The mission vessel then cruised throughout the group, calling at the stations where native teachers had be~n left. It was hoped that Mr. Geddie might find a home on the island of Fate. An awful tragedy had, however, taken place there the previous year when the British Sovereign had been wrecked. The crew were all saved with one exception. The natives appeared at first to treat them kindly, but it was only to allay suspicion. The whole of the survivors, twenty-one in number, each being placed between two savages in a march, on a given signal were brutally massacred, and their bodies, divided among the villages, were cooked and eaten by the cannibal people. It was selfevident that a missionary could not at that time be safely settled in that quarter. The mission vessel returned to the South, and Mr. and Mrs. Geddie, with an assistant, found an opening at Aneityum, where they settled under the protection of the chief at the harbor. The Rev. 'r. Powell remained with them for a year. The Roman Catho- lic priests and brothers left soon after and never returned. The Geddies had to pass through a hard and trying expet:ience in dealing with a people so low and savage. Their property was stolen, their hollse threatened with fire, and their very lives imperilled. Meantime the horrid custom of strangling widows on the death of their husbands continued. Inter-tribal fighting was chronic, and people wel'e afraid to go from one side of the island to the other for fear of being killed, cooked and eaten. There was little to encourage the mission party. They were, however, cheered by a friendly visit of Bishop Selwyn, who remained a fortnight on the island, and traveled on foot with Mr. Geddie to see as much of native life as he could. He kindly offered the use of a cottage at Auckland to Mr. or 1'lrs. Geddie should they need a change for a few months to recruit their health. On his voyage in 1852 the Bishop conveyed the Rev. John Inglis and his wife, with all their furniture, house and luggage, to Aneityum. Mr. Inglis was a minister of the Reformed or Covenanting Church in Scotland, and it was a pleasing circumstance that an Anglican prelate thus aided the Covenanter. Bishop Selwyn ever after kept up this friendly relation, and also introduced Bishop Patterson to these brethren. He even asked Presbyterians in·New Zealand to contribute, and on one occasion brought over £100 to Messrs. Geddie and Inglis.
By the time Mr. Inglis had settled on the opposite side of the island, the tide had turned in favor of Christianity at ~fr. Geddie's station. Fifteen had been baptized, and the I.ord's Supper had been observed on the visit of the London Missionary Society's deputation that year iu the John Williams. The two missionaries occupied different sides of the island, but labored with equal zeal and great cordiality. They preached, taught in school,., translated Scriptures, composed, and Mr. Geddie printed a class-book, built premiseA, and exercised an influence for good all over the island. Young people were all taught to read and write, congregations were organized with elders and deacons, fifty day-schools established, and over 2,000 persons admitted into the visible Church by baptism. The whole people were evangelized. It was a marvellous change in a degraded and cannibal people. At length the whole Scriptures were translated, and first the New, and ultimately the Old, Testament were printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society in London, but paid for by the contributions of arrowroot from the Christian converts. After a visit to Nova Scotia in 1863, where he got the translation of the Book of Psalms printed, Mr. Geddie returned with the honorary degree of D.D., from the Queen's University in Canada, to resume his labors. But he had to retire in 1872, prematurely aged by his toils and exposures. He died at Geelong in the end of that year, leaving a widow, one son and four daughters. Two of the latter were married to missionaries on the New Hebrides. He was a noble, self-denying pieneer, and led many into the fold of Christ. He had a happy way of dealing with the natives, and was also very handy in work. It was my privilege, by the kindness of a few friends, to place a wooden tablet to his memory on the wall of the stone church he had erected at Anelgauhat, Aneityum. The record of his labors, inscribed on it in the native language, concludes with these words, " ,Vhen he landed here in 1848, there were no Christians, and when he left here in 1872, there were no heathens." Since first published, this inscription has gone round the world, increasing in value, as it was retold, until the latest account makes the tablet marble and the letters gold!
Mr. Inglis continued at his station till 1877, and then retired to carry the Old Testament through the Press in London. He also published his translation of the Shorter Catechism and Mr. Geddie's abridged translation of the first part of the" Pilgrim's Progress," and some hymnl'l. He added a Dictionary of Aneityumese. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of Glasgow, and in a green.old age still served the mission both by speech and by books in Scotland. His patient toil, his wise management, his clear style of instruction, and his benevolent life, aided by his late excellent wife, did much for the Christianity of Aneityum. It is meet that both Dr. Geddie and Dr. Inglis should be held in grateful remembrance for their successful efforts in bringing a whole island of cannibal people into the peaceful fold of the Good Shepherd. Ainidst a decreasing population the cause of Christ has flourished on the island, and the contributions ot
"TO EVERY CREATURE."
arrowroot from the Christian church at Aneityum nearly supported their resident minister-the Rev. J. H. Lawrie. 'fhis church was the first of the Papuan race embraced within the visible kingdom of God, and it became the pioneer of others among the thirty islands of the New Hebrides.
"TO EVERY CREATURE."
BY REV. J. HUDSO"Y TAYLOR, OF THE CHINA I"YLAND MISSION.
We are nearing the close of another year, and of an important decade in the history of Missions. In our own Mission the last ten years have been specially important; at their commencement the pioneering journeys of ~fr. (now Dr.) Cameron and others of our brethren were not yet completed; woman's work in inland China was barely com- menced, and not at all in the western provinces; during this period the number of our stations and out-stations has been about doubled, and the number of missionary workers more than trebled, for in the year 1880 we had but 91 missionaries, including wives, while now it considerably exceeds 300. This decade has witnessed the out-going of the 80 missionaries whom God gave us in response to our prayers for the 70, and in the following year of 40 others, among whom were the well-known Cambridge band; many prophesied the early return of the members of this band, but we are thankful to know that they are all engaged in diligent service in inland China, and that each one has been blessed and made a blessing.
Then we have to praise God for the 100 missionaries given us in 1887, and for the more than fifty who followed them last year, including the first American party. 'Ve rejoice in first fruits gathered in many of the more recent stations, and that over 1,000 were added to our native churches by baptism during the years 1887 and 1888, with continued additions during the current year. 'Vhile some converts have undoubtedly been received prematurely, causing subsequent trial and disappointment (a result which the experiencc of the oldest missionary cannot always avert), a large proportion are showing by the fruit of the Spirit that they have really been born of God. For the 80 little missionary churches now connected with the C. 1. M., we give to God unfeigned thanks, as also for all those gathered in other districts by His honored servants, the missionaries of the various European and American societies.
When we turn, however, from the total number of Protestant communicants-under 40,000-to think of the population of China, the contrast is appalling; double, treble this number to include adherents, and suppose each adherent to be a centre of light to ten of his countrymen, and you reach but 1,000,000 of China's vast population. The Master's words are" to every creature;" how far we are from fulfilling them! In 1877 thc Confercnce of Missionaries assembled in Shanghai appealed to the Christian Church to evangelize China in the present generation, and many hoped it would be accomplished within the present century. More than half the time before the close of the century has passed, and not one-hundreth part of the people have been reached, y~t this generation is the last of sixty since our Saviour gave the command, which, as Dr. Pierson has well pointed out, has laid the responsibility on the church of each successive generation to give the gospel to each individual living in its own period.
How are we going to treat the Lord Jesus Christ in reference to this command? Shall we definitely drop the title Lord as applied to Him, and take the ground that we are quite willing to recognize Him as our Saviour Jesus, so far as the eternal penalty of sin is concerned, but are not prepared to recognize ourselves as bought with a price, or Him as having any claim to our unquestioning obedience? Shall we say that we are our own masters, willing to recognize something as His due, who bought us with His blood, provided He do not ask too much; our lives, our loved ones, our possessions are our own, not His; we will give Him what we think fit, and obey any of His commands that do not demand too great a sacrifice? To be taken to heaven by Jesus Christ we are more than willing, but we will not have this Man to reign over us.
The heart of every true Christian will unhesitatingly reject this proposition when so formulated, but have not countless lives in each generation been lived as though" it were a proper ground to take? How few of the Lord's people have recognized the truth that Christ is either Lord of all, or is not Lord at all! If we can judge God's Word instead of being judged by the "Word; if we can give to God as much or as little as we like, tlien we are lords, and He the indebted one, to be grateful for our dole, obliged by our compliance with His wishes; if, on the other hand, He is Lord, let us treat Him as such. "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" "If ye love Me keep My commandments." Thank God, an increasing number of His children are truly seeking to crown Him Lord of all, and are searching the Scriptures daily that they may know His will, in order to do it, praying continually, "Teach me, 0 Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end."
To all such the Master's command, "To every creature," will come with great power; knowing it to be His will that every living human being shall be evangelized, everything that prayer and effort can do towards its accomplishment will be felt to be a privilege as well as a duty; each will ask himself, "What wilt Thou have me to do?" Will not the very youngest believers pray and give, and interest their young companions? and what mighty power there is in the simple, trustful faith of a little child who believes in Jesus! Will not those who are older recognize the probability of their being personally called to missionary labor and make definite preparation for it, that if pcrmitted a share in this holy enterprise they may be the better fitted? Shall it not become a holy ambition to all who have health and youth to court the Master's approval and tread in His steps, in seeking to save a lost world? and shall not Christian parents encourage their enthusiasm, feeling that they have nothing too precious for their Lord who gave himself for them?
There is no impossibility in our Master's command. Were the Government of England to determine on the conquest of a distant land, they would think it a small matter to land 10,000 troops in any part of the world's circumference; and the Church of God to-day could easily, within the next five years, effect the evangelization of everyone of China's millions. No very great effort was needed in America to secure the signature of over 3,000 college students to a pledge that if God opened the way they would devote themselves to missionary enterprise. Were the enthusiasm and devotion of all our churches aroused, and not merely that of a few individuals, more than that number of effective workers might easily be found on each side of the Atlantic for China alone. But no such numbers are needed in order that every man, woman, and child in China should hear the gospel once, at least. If, in addition to the workers now in the field, one thousand whole-hearted evangelists, male, and female, were set free and kept free fur this special work, they might reach the whole number of China's millions before the e::rd of the year 1895, and this allowing two years of the five for study of the language and preparation for the work. Estimating the population of China as we do at 250,000,000, there will be about 50,000,000 of families; if fifty families were reached daily for one thousand days by each of the one thousand evangelists, every creature in China could be reached in three years' time, leaving the evangelists two or three Sundays for rest each month. If it be said that unexpected hindrances would be sure to arise, it should be noted that this calculation takes no account of the help to be given by the one thousand missionary workers now in China, mainly devoted to pastoral work, to shepherding and feeding the converts; and it takes no account of the help to be given by native Christians, which would, of course, be immense and invaluable. Shall a work which one thousand workers might accomplish in three years of steady work, after two years of preparation, be thought of as chimerical, and beyond the resources of the Christian Church?
But is it reasonable to suppose that a missionary evangelist could reach on an average fifty families a day, and this all over China? In reply we may draw attention to the fact that a large proportion of thc Chinese live in courts or quadrangles containing from four to ten families each; were five the average, then to take the gospel to ten such courts would accomplish the necessary task. And this would llOt nee<1 to be uone unaided, for each missionary evangelist would easily secure the companionship of one 01' more .native Christians as helpers. There are, it is true, a few (though but a few) parts of China where the people are so hostile that we can scarcely' call them now open to this kind of effort; but it must not be forgotten that the Opener, who still holds the key of David, has given His word of promise to be with such workers "all the days." And no such effort could be made without an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church universal, which would include the native Christian churches of China, and make the tens of thousands of native Christians, apart from the foreigner, a mighty power for the evangelization of their .own people. God gives his Holy Spirit to them that obey Him. Even if the churches were unwilling to take it up, are there not 500 Christian workers in Europe who might go out at their own charges and do this grand work? But shall we suppose that the Episcopalians of England, and the Presbyterians of Scotland and Ireland, have. not each among them 100 men and women fit for this glorious enterprise? that the Methodists of the United Kingdom could not provide another 100, and that Congregationalist and Baptist churches could not each supply a similar contingent? VlTe may feel well assured that the United States of America and Canada would not be behind, and thus the 1,000 evangelists might easily be forthcoming.
How shall a project like this be translated from proposition into practice? First, by earnest, believing prayer; this was our Saviour's plan, and it has been left on record for our guidance: "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send fOl·th laborers into His haryest." 'Vhen we sought for the C. 1. M. the 70 and the 100 in prayer, and accepted them in faith, we received them in due course from His mighty, loving hand.
Then, if there is to be the fullest blessing, there must be the united simultaneous action of the whole body of believers; it is by "the effectual working in the measure of every part" of the members of the whole Body that its growth and building up are to be effected.
Third, There must be intelligent co-operation and such division and sub-division of the field that one part have not an undue share of workers while other parts are neglected.
Fourth, There must be Christly giving on the part of individuals and churches of their real treasures to the Lord for His service, and Christly service by those who go forth in His name. By Christly giving and service, we do not mean that which is done for Christ's sake merely, but that which is done after Christ's pattern. His service began with emptying Himself, involved toil and suffering all along the line, and enrled only with the perfect accomplishment of the object for which lIe came iuto the world.
THE CREDULITY OF SKEPTICISM
Fifth, There is no time to lose, for if we commence at once, millions of those now living in China will have passed away before the message can reach them.
Will each of our readers join us in prayer that God will send out 1,000 evangelists for China very speedily, and personally ask Him the question: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Let us not forget that to preach the gospel to every creature, is not a mere human project, but a divine command.
THE CREDULITY OF SKEPTICISM.
BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK.
The credulity of unbelief has become proverbial. There are instances which would be amusing if the subjects were less serious, and their treatment less bitter. Almost as a rule the wildest and most preposterous theories are held by men and women who have made shipwreck of faith. They above all others are ready for a seven-fold possession.
A remarkable instance of excess of faith was brought to myatten- tion not long since, in a book entitled" The Bible in India." Looking on the title page for the authorship, I at once recognized the familiar llame of Louis J acolliot, an intense French infidel whom Professor Max Muller had mercilessly ridiculed in his lecture on "False Analogies." The book was published by a well-known firm in New York, and has doubtless given great comfort to many a foe to Christianity_ M. J acolliot, while acting as a judge in the Courts at Chandel' N agore in the Madras Presidency, warmly embraced the idea that all the religions of Western nations had been derived from India, and that a little searching would find the sources of the Old and New Testaments in the Sanskrit manuscripts. He gave his leisure hours to Sanskrit. He found pundits who were even more ready to promote his purpose than he had imagined. They produced manuscripts, he translated, and the bonanza which he had struck well nigh turned his head. He had not learned, as had others who had preceded him, that a two-fold appeal to the race pride and the cupidity of the impecunious pundits would bring forth Sanskrit treasures of any desired variety or extent.
The essential history, the ritual, and many of the important prophecies of the Old Testament, were found in a Hindu mould, and the god Krishna, 01', as Jacolliot spelled it for greater effect, "Christna," was clearly foretold. New Testament parallels in abundance were also produced, and the mercurial Frenchman was in ecstacies. He could not satisfy his enthusiasm with a plain statement of results; he must work off his overpowering emotion by the following apostrophe to India: "Soil of ancient India, cradle of humanity, hail! Hail, venerable and efficient nurse whom centuries of brutal invasions have not yet buried under the dust of oblivion! Hail, fatherland of faith, of love, of poetry, and of science! May we hail a revival of thy past in onrWesternfutnre. I have dwelt midst the depths of yonr mysterious forests, seeking to comprehend the language of your lofty natnre, and the evening airs that murmured midst the foliage of banyans and tamarinds whispered to my spirit these three magic words: Zeus, Jehovah, Brahma! ..• "
"How often have I heard on the evening air, hoarse moans, wailing complaint that seemed to rise from desert marshes, sombre pathways, rivers' banks, or woody shades, etc.! Was it the voice of the past returning to weep o'er a lost civilization and an extinguished grandeur ? Was it the expiring groan of Sepoys mowed down pele mele by grape, with their wives and, children, after the revolt, by some red-jackets who thus revenged their own pain? "
. . . " Then it was that I sought to lift the obscuring veil from the past, and backward trace the origin of this dying people, who, without energy for either hatred or affection, without enth~iasm for either virtue or vice, seem to personate an actor doomed to act out his part before an audience of statues. How glorious the epoch that then presented itself to my study and comprehension. I made tradition speak from the temple's recess, I inquired of monuments and ruins, I questioned the Vedas, whose pages count their existence by thousands of years, and whence inquiring youth imbibed the science of life long before Thebes of the hundred gates or Babylon the Great had traced out their foundations . . . "
"And then did India appear to me in all the living power of her originality -I traced her progress in the expansion of her enlightenment over the world- I saw her giving her laws, her customs, her morals and her religion to Egypt, to Persia, to Greece and to Rome. I saw Djenimyand Veda-Vyasa precede Socrates and Plato-and Christna, the son of the Virgin Devanagny (in Sanskrit created by God), precede the son of the Virgin of Bethlehem."
J acolliot's theory applies to the Greek and Latin classics as well as to the Old and New Testament Scriptures. The civilization of Egypt has also been borrowed from" the fatherland of faith, of love, of poetry and of science." The Justinian Pandects of Rome were traced to the Laws of Manu, and all the best institutions known in Europe were shown to be parts and parcels of the one great heirloom.
The facile adaptation of derivative names was enough to astonish the most learned philologists. They are generally thankful for slight analogies between European and Sanskrit roots, but no sooner had J acolliot's pundits been made acquainted with the renowned names of the Greek classics, and furnished with some historic clew, than they brought forward original Sanskrit counterparts whose verbal resemblances and whose meanings were startling.
Hercules was derived from Hara-Kala, Rhadamanthus from Rhada manta, Andromeda from Andha ra meda, Centaur from Kentura, Minerva from Mana rava, J upitel' from Zupitri, Pythagoras from Pittia-guru, and Pl'otagoras from Prataguru. Otber nations of Europe had been favored with vocabularies, and had dared to make only the slightest possible changes. Odin came from Yodin, Swede from Suyoda, Scandinavian from Scanda-nava, Celts from Kallata, Gauls from Galota, Baltic from Bala-taka. Philologists have found in true Sanskrit abundant resemblances to roots of European languages. Each branch of the race developed many changes, but that one of them furnished names to order for all the others is a unique hypothesis. It is to be regretted in the interest of the theory that the resemblances had not been toned down to fainter lines; the average credulity of readers is ovel·taxed; the clever work is over- done.
After witnessing the completeness of this linguistic performance no one will be surprised to know that the leading New Testament in- cidents are reproduced almost entire. 'Vhat is known as the" Krishna Cult" is worked to the greatest advantage. Nothing of originality is left to the Christ of Judea.
Among the demigods of the Hindu mythology Krishna figured as a good-natured and rollicking Bacchus. Nothing is known of him in the earlier Sanskrit literature, but in the epic known as the :Mahab- harata and in the Vishnu Pm'ana he appears· as an incarnation of Vishnu. After the rise of Buddhism, Hinduism had discovered its lack of a more sympathetic being than had yet appeared-a god among men who should unite with the powers of deity something like the Buddha's sympathy and pity.
Around Krishna, therefore, there grew up an increasing interest- not that he furnished an ethical model, for his history corresponded very nearly with that of the lascivious satyrs of the Roman mythology, but because he was warmly and sympathetically human. The Krishna Cult was not fully developed until the early centuries of the Christian era, and it pl'Oceeded along two lines. In its popular aspects it kept pace with the growing corruptions which appeared in the Tantras, and were illustrated in the immoral orgies of Siva worship. The festivals in honor of Krishna were, and to a very recent date have continued to be, occasions of unspeakable vice.
The other line of development was theoretical; Krishna was treated as a Divine Counsellor and friend in the Bhagayad Gita, whichthough embracing older materials-was probably composed about the fil'st or second century of our era, and the Bhagavad Gita has, in its. high ethics, often been compared to the New Testament, though falling far enough below a parallel. But the legends by which Jacolliot matches "Christna's" life with leading incidents in the life of Jesus were partly the growth of those later centuries in which Hinduism was brought in contact with Christianity in Southern India, and partly the probable work of our author's own subsidized pundits. Even if the scholarly criticism of Max :Muller had not befaJIen this unfortunate author, the Frenchiness and pruriency with which he clot{led the story of Adam and Eve (" Adima and Heva") ill the Garden, as well as the general extravagance of his statements, would have aroused suspicion. The learned Oxford scholar seems to have felt that some sort of apology was necessary for treating with seriousness so absurd a case of pedantry, and he found it in the fact that so much credence was given to the book. But he proceeds to say that" many of the words which M. J acolliot quotes as Sanskrit are not Sanskrit at all, others never have the meaning which he assigns to them, and as to the pas- sages which he assigns to the Vedas, they are not from any old Sanskrit writer, they simply beloJig to the last half of the Nineteenth Oen- tury." lIe regards them as "simple in:ventions of some slightly mischievous Brahman who took advantage of the zeal and credulity of his employer." And he adds" that such is the interest, or rather the feverish curiosity, excited by anything that bears on the ancient religion, that J acolliot's book has produced a very wide and very deep impression. .In fact, 'if anytldng were wanting to show that a general knowledge of the history of ancient religions ought to form Ct part of our education, it was tlie panic created by tlds book."
But there had been earlier instances in which zealous opponents of Christianity had sought and found the evidence which they desired to prove that Christianity was a plagiarism upon the Sanskrit literature of the Hindus. Voltaire was carried away with enthusiasm when some one presented to him a copy of a portion of the Veda which corresponded in a remarkable degree with the teachings of the Bible. No time was lost in turning this new evidence against Christianity to the best possible account.
But after a time it appeared that an overzealous Jesuit missionary, thinking that the end would sanctify the means, had written certain Sanskrit texts designed to convince the Hindus that the Bible and the Vedas were to a large extent in harmony. This very immoral and fallacious project, however, proved most futile, and the only result was to dupe the arch infidel, Voltaire.
Some years ago Lieutenant "Wilford, who had read Sir ·William Jones' theory that Greek mythology was largely borrowed from that of India (a theory which Sir William finally abandoned), conceived the idea of tracing the teachings of Christianity from the same source. He proceeded to persuade the Brahmans that a thorough search among their ancient records would disclose not only the Greek mythology, but the Old Testament history. He was persistent against their reserve and reticence. He related to them the principal events of the Old Testament record, and at the same time promised ample rewards for their labor. At last the pundits yielded. They resolved that what he so eagerly sought should be supplied. 'faking his stories from the Pentateuch, they adapted them to the Sanskrit style, and brought forth astonishing results. Even Sir ·William Jones was COI1vinced, and congratulated Lieutenant vVilford on his success. The story of Noah was reproduced with a truly Indian picturesqueness. But when at last it was found that a forgery had been committed, that upon leaves which had been inserted in the ancient manuscripts the pundits, under pressure, had rendered in correct Sanskrit all that thev had heard about Adam and Abraham, Lieutenant Wilford did n;t hesitate to confess publicly that he had been imposed upon; yet, as Professor Max Muller says in his account of this matter, the mischief had in the meantime been done. Lieutenant vVilford's Essays had been read all over Europe; they retained their place in the volumes of the" Asiatic Society," and to the present day some of his state· ments and theories continue to be quoted authoritatively by writers on ancient religions.
Speaking further of J acolliot, Max Muller says" he has no doubt found out by this time that he has been imposed upon, and if so he ought to foilow the example of Colonel Wilford, and publicly state what has happened. Even then I doubt not that his statements will continue to be quoted for a long time, and that Adima and Heva (supposed Sanskrit for Adam and Eve), thus brought to life again, will make their appearance in many a book and many a lecture room."
The whole theory of those who would make India <, the source of all faith and love anu poetry and science," rests upon an erroneous assumption as to the antiquity of Illdian chronology. Sir VilIiam Jones was among the first to fall 11I1~ler this errol', and all his dates have been rectified by the consensus of later scholarship. As for the position assumed by Jacolliot, that Egypt b01'ro"ed her faith from India, it need only be said that the chronology and the monotheistic faith of Egypt can be traced from a period at least several hundred years earlier than any well esta.blished date of Indian history. There is ]]0 certain evidence that either the Yedas or any national records were committed to writing much earlier than 300, B. C., and it can only be a matter of conjecture that Europe or Palestine possessed any extended knowledge of India before the invasion of Alexander and the revelations concerning her institutions which were made by IVlegasthenes, the ambassador of Seleucos, his successor.
It may be said, with great propriety, that Christians,' as well as skeptics, have sometimes been very sanguine and even credulous in regard to those phases of heathen faiths which seemed favorable to their views. Max Muller mentions some instances among the earlier Jesuit Missionaries in China. 'l'here were certainly some serious mistakes of the kind on the part of the early Spanish Padres, who fancied that they found many elements of their faith in the traditions of the Aztecs of Mexico. Within our own generation illusive hopes were very generally entertained in regard to the Christian tendencies of the Brahma Somaj in India, and especially the remarkable utterances of Cheshub Chunder Sen. But no such elaborate theories as those of J acolliot have been built upon these fond hopes, which were "too
THE MORAVIAN MISSION ON THE KUSKOKWIM
good to be true." The persistency and intensity of such illusions can be found in full force only in the minds of those who are too wise and cautious to believe the Christian revelation. Any misrepresentation of missionary enterprises, or of the truth which missionaries teach, has always a charmed vitality.
A malicious story which I found more than a dozen years ago in Japan in relation to the building of a Missionary chapel, has been refuted at least a hundred times only to spring up with fresh life again and again. The scene at first was laid in Japan and concerned the Reformed Mission in Yokohama, but I have since seen it re· produced in new dress, located in Shanghai, and published with great particularity as an incident in the American Episcopal Mission of that city. Two years ago my attention was called to an ar~icle in a sporting paper in New York, entitled "Outing." There I found the same old story with the scene laid in Chefou, and given with all the gusto of some ignorant and conceited globe-trotter who had probably either I forgotten where he had heard the story, or where it belonged, or who had located it where he was more familiar with the ground or could present it with the most picturesque effect. The story, though false to the core, is annually heard by hundreds of Pacific steamer passengers who receive it as a clear, straightforward record of truth and verity.
THE MORAVIAN MISSION ON THE KUSKOKWIM.
BY REV. PAUL DE SCHWEINIT.
A lady missionary, returning from China, says: "One does not to have to be a hero any more in order to be a missionary; one goes forth prepared endure all things heroically, and finds that friends at home have so thought of and cared for every want that there is scarcely any call for heroism at the station." That is as it should be. Those who remain behind by " the stuff" should bountifully supply every need of those fighting at the front. But there are fields of labor, which, even in this day of easy and rapid communication and transportation, and in spite of the warm love of Christian friends at home, remain heroic in every sense of the word. Let the following simple historic narrative of one of the newest of the missions undertaken by the Moravian brethren witness to that. Missionary heroism is still extant among these pioneers of modern missions.
In the winter of 1884 Dr. Sheldon Jackson, of the Presbyterian Church, appeared in Bethlehem, Pa., to plead for a missionary to the Eskimos of Northwestern Alaska. He presented the oouse to the Moravians in this wise: That these Eskimos were so degraded, so debased; that the conditions of missionary labor among them were so severe, so dreary, so cheerless; that these forlorn people were literally so God-forsaken, that he could find no one who was willing to carry the 116 THE MORAVIAN lIIISSION ON THE KUSKOKWDI. [Feb.
gospel message to them in their inhospitable regionR, where they dwelt in unspeakable degradation. 'As a last reso~·t he came to the Moravians. No man cared for the souls of these degraded heathen savages-would they have mercy upon them? That was an appeal which the Church that had sought out the Hottentots of Africa, and the Innuits of Greenland and LabradOl', could not resist. Five of the students who were to graduate from the Theological Seminary that year expressed their willingness to go. Two were afterwards chosen.
First an exploratory tour was undertaken by a veteran missionary, accompanied by one student. They found, as is usual in such northern climates, the Eskimos living o~ly in small groups here and there, scattered over a wide stretch of country. The description of their degrada~ion had not been exaggerated in the slightest degree. Filthy and disgusting in their habits, to an extent that forbids description in public print; their morality at such a low ebb that they may practically be said to have none; parents willingly making prostitutes of their daughters from nine or ten years on, ruthlessly taking their daughter from one man and giving her to another, if they thought they could make more by it; the related crimes of killing off helpless aJ;ld old people and unwelcome infants being considered the incontestable right of the persons otherwise responsible for their support; and so on through the revolting catalogue. Their form of religion was so low that it could scarcely be dignified with the name. Priests they had none-only "sachemR," i. e., medicine men. They live principally on fish, of which, in the short summer, a sufficient quantity must be caught to last through the dreary winter. However, they met the missionaries in a friendly manner, and the latter felt justified in selecting a site on the Kuskokwim river for a mission station.
Now that it has become fashionable to run summer excursions to Alaska, it no longer seems so out of the world; but these excursions run only to Sitka. Few have any clear idea of the extent of the territory. Roughly speaking, Alaska is as large as all the Northern lakes east of the Mississippi; and the Moravian mission station on the Kuskokwim is as far from Sitka as Baltimore, Md., is from Minneapolis, Minn. There are no means of communication with the station, except once a year, and then only through the kindness of the Alaska Commercial Company. When once there the missionaries are absolutely separated from all civilization, from all help, from all supplies, for a whole year. Everything must be taken along, as nothing but fish and some game can be procured there.
Nothing daunted by this report, the little band of missionaries prepared to start. On account of the low moral condition of the people, and the unfortunate relations existing between the few white traders and the natives, in order to avoid all possible suspicion of evil, as well as for many higher and nobler reasons, it was absolutely necessary for the missionaries to go out married. They were all young people-the men just a year out of the seminary-and all leaving the refinements of civilization for a desolate country, where they would first have to build a house with their own hands before they would have where to lay their heads. The ordination service of these two devoted young men was impressive beyond description. Their names are worthy of record: The Rev. "William H. Weinland and his wife, Caroline Yost; the Rev. John H. Kilbuck and his wife, Edith Romig. The former had been on the exploratory tour. The latter is a full-blooded Delaware Indian, the son of a chieftain. He had received a full course collegiate and theological education. He is probably the first Indian ordained by the Moravian Church. Now he, as a representative of the Church which had reclaimed his people from heathenism, in turn went forth as an apostle to a much more for- saken and degraded people. There is a true apostolical succession! "He had served one year among his own people in Canada in the ab- ,sence of the regular missionary upon the exploratory tour mentioned before. His wife is an American, who married him in the genuine old- time Moravian spirit, being filled with an unquenchable zeal to serve the Lord in this forsaken corner of the earth. One lay brother, Hans Torgessen, leaving his family behind, accompanied them, in order to help them in building a house.
June 19, 1885, the little band reached the Kuskokwim. Battling their way up the river in a violent storm, Hans Torgessen fell overboard and was lost! A year must elapse before help could reach them, yet strong in the strength of Christ these young men, fresh from college though they were, girded themselves to erect a house, and with their young wives prepared to face the unknown horrors of an Arctic winter, ill provided, on account of the loss of time caused by this accident, both in provisions and in shelter, for its hardships. 'rhe Church at home waited the outcome in dread suspen,se-a year. Then came the heroic message: 'Ve are, thank God, alive; and we will·remain. Send us help and we will start a second station! The history of that and succeeding winters was full of thrilling incidents -lack of space alone forbids their narration. There was no wood at hand, the woodland beginning far inland, and laborious journeys up the river had to be undertaken ~o gain fuel as well as !ogs for building purposes.
In 1887 a second station was begun at Nushagak, and in 1888 an assistant sent to the Kuskokwim, but the two stations afforded little companionship to each other, as nearly 200 miles of almost impassable ~ountry lie between them. That on the Kuskokwim has been christened Bethel; that near Nushagak, Carmel.
In spite of tremendous obstacles missionary work was at once begun. Of course, in order to gain the adults, the language had first to be learned, but for the children a school was at once opened. Only the history of the station on the Kuskokwim can be followed. The missionaries were not in a populous country, as China, Japan or India; the children had to be laboriously sought from village to village, and the only way to teach them was to keep them at the Mission House. That meant to board them, to clothe them. The task thus set the noble wives of the missionaries can scarcely be appreciated by us dwelling amid the conveniences of civilization. All were thus brought into constant personal contact with the most disgusting features of the most degraded heathenism. The work, however, went bravely on.
But, alas! the vessel which brought the new missionaries to Carmel, to the consternation of the Church at Home, was compelled to bring Mi~sionary Weinland and his family back to the States, completely broken down in health. (He has since undertaken a mission among the Indians of Southern California, in the San Jacinto Valley, made famous by H. H.'s "Ramona.") The Kilbucks heroically resolved to remain alone and hold the post until re-enforcements came, or death called them away-Mrs. Kilbuck the only white woman in that desolate region among degraded heathen.
The next year brought electrifying news. Scarcely two years had the missionary been there, and he could but imperfectly stammer forth the message of the cross in that uucouth language of the North, when its stolid people awoke, and the bleak and desolate land began to blossom with the fruits born of such self-consecration. The simple yet wonderfully impressive Moravian Christmas, and especially the Passion Week services, made a deep impression on the natives. From far and near they gathered, besought the missionary to come to their villages too; that they would build chapels for him; that they "wanted a share of the blood of Jesus to take away their bad" (sins). In Greenland the Moravians labored five years before they made a single convert. When Karjarnak was baptized the hard-tried missionary sent the message home: "Sie wollen nem "-they want to be saved now. And when this historic message was sent from bleak Alaska, after two years' labor, the Church was thrilled with holy joy. The appeal sounded forth for re-enforcements, for aid for the noble woman, who, alone of her kind, was battling for the Lord in the stronghold of Satan in the North. Eighteen responded-four single sisters, three single brethren, one widower and five married couplessome of the latter volunteering to leave their children behind. But before the chosen ones could be sent, a terrible winter had to intervene. Mrs. Kilbuck became sick. It was evident that she would have to go back to the States, or an experienced nurse be sent to her. Think of the dreary months of waiting! This noble couple resolved to separate. The wife would travel as soon as spring broke to the
TRANSLATIOlS FROM FOREIGl :lIISSIONARY :lIAliAZDIES
States, with the children. The husband would not forsake the post, but labor Oil alone. Heroism has not died out, and the Moravians are still the gens eterna! This resolution had to be, if possible, communicated to the church. They heard of Lord Lonsdale coming down from the Arctic regions, and in the midst of winter Missionary Kilbuck had to start out to meet him. Seventy-three days elapsed before his return to his sick wife, left alone with the assistant. Terrific storms, temperature 59° below zero, tell the story. He was given up for lost. His noble wife resolved then, if the Lord gave her strength, to remain herself alone with Assistant "Veber at the post! But her husband, miraculously preserved, returned, the message brought by Lord Lonsdale reached the States in time. But there was no time for a new call for volunteers. Aid had to be sent at once. A person of experience was required. The heroine was found. The official item, without any ostentation, simply announced in Moravian style: "Sister Bachman has received and accepted the appointment to Bethel, Alaska, for one year"-that was all. But those who knew, knew that that meant that the wife of the presiding bishop of the church had been willing to leave her husband and family to serve the Lord among the Alaskan Eskimos!
The re-enforcements are now there. The last message proclaims Mrs. Kilbuck's recovery. With characteristic Moravian caution, only 22 converts have been actually admitted to church membership, but the awakening still continues. Another year must elapse before new information can be received.-So ends this narrative. It has been simply told. Lack of space forbids dwelling on single acts of heroism. All that must be read between the lines. But it shows that Mi8sionary heroism has not yet gone out of date; that there is no nation so degraded that the Lord cannot find some who will go as His apostles; and where His word is proclaimed, there it never returns void unto Him!
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
More and more it impresses itself on the minds of missionaries, how much less competent they are than the native helpers to reach the inmost minds and hearts of the heathen. These words of a native preacher give us a glimpse of this: "Agreeably to our missionary duty, we go so often as opportunity offers into the various villages and houses and preach Jesus Christ, the crucified. But the manner of preaching, as it is used in the ordinary congregations, does not please the Hindus. They are not accustomed to listen attentively to a continuous and somewhat lengthy discourse. Therefore, it is hard to obtain an auditory for such a sermon. And if any means are resorted to of enforcing attention, they endeavor to disturb the preacher by all sorts of objections. .At such times they all talk in a body, to no intelligible effect. Therefore, it is very useful to proclaim the gospel with intervals of hymns and psalms, sung to native melodies. All Hindus are delighted with such songs, even when they do not understand their purport. For the Hindus hold noth- ing so high as song. So often, therefore, as we go out to preach to the heathen, we first sing to the accompaniment of violin, cymbals, kettle-drum, and other musical instruments, hymns of our native composition, and thereupon we preach." It seems that in the Madura district the native helpers of the Leipsic mission go through the heathen villages three days in every week, preaching three times every day, relieving each other in turn. The presence of a white missionary, however, they say is a great additional attraction. "On one occa- sion, when a great idol feast was in progress, and we had {;:ome into the neigh- borhood with music and song, there appeared the priest of the pagoda with his son. They not only urged the nume;ous company of hearers to be seated and listen quietly, but made us sit in the veranda before the pagoda for three hours, sitting themselves as hearers. Finally the priest despatched his son to perform the ceremonies before the idol, and said: 'All that we do is only for our belly's sake. We know that all that you say is true, and that your Veda (the Bible) shows the way of salvation. Come back here every year, and teach the true religion.' As a farewell honor he offered all of us the usual tribute of betel and areca nut." .
-The Berichte of the Rhenish Missionary Society remarks, in speaking of the first Christian Chinese family at Bandjermasin, Borneo, of whom it gives a very interesting picture taken from a photograph: "The first Christian family in a church to-be newly established is of great significance. Even in the Acts we find names of the tlrst families tbat received baptism. So long as only men and youths become believers at a station among the heathen, the Church has no thoroughly constituted existence.. There is lacking to it its nerve, the family with its family worship, Christian training with prayer, in brief, Christian domestic life. "
-A Missionary of the Rhenish Society in Southwestern Africa, remarking that under the influence of Christianity the natives and half-breeds are becoming weaned from their nomadic ways, and are settling into more steady labor on their stations (aided of late by providential affluence of rains), adds: "That Christianity brings also earthly blessing is plain to be seen in the case of our Church, especially with those who have learned not only 'Thou shalt hallow the Sabbath day,' but also, 'Six days shalt thou labor.' He who learns this with us may assuredly hope for earthly blessing also."
-In view of the terrible increase of necromancy inour own country, thefollowing words of Missionary Fehr, of the Rhenish Society, on the Island of Nias, SJimatra, have more than a far-off interest: "The fact that, in all the sicknesses and distresses prevailing among us, no one of our Christians has allowed himself to be misled into sorcery and sacrificing, is a cause of thankfulness to the grace and protection of God. In such times of trial the thoughts and hearts of men are wont to be revealed, and it then appears whether or not the faith of Christ has already struck abiding root in them. And in truth it does require an energy of faith and no common confidence in God, for people who have grown up in heathenism and idolatry, when they see their nearest and dearest at death's door, to remain steadfast, and to refrain from resorting to any forbidden means of help. Herr Fehr says: "When people pass over from heathenism to Christianity they commonly suppose that the good God must now be especially gracious to them and bless them, because, they say, he is surely stronger than our idols. And how glad the missionary would often be, if, to such young beginners, especially in cases of sickness, the Lord would give experience of his especial help and kindness, that in this way, too, they might experience and learn that the Lord is the true Helper. But in many cases the Lord does the very opposite of this, that no one may flatter himself with false hopes, and thereby be misled into crooked ways. Here in Lololofaoso, for instance, there was a leading family, which, after long gainsaying, had tlnally inclined to Christianity, and had begun to visit the public worship. Soon after, however, their little son was taken sick, and, in spite of all medicine and all our prayers, died. Almost at the same time the child's grandfather was attacked by a very long and painful eye-trouble, so- that he was almost beside himself for pain. Under these circumstances the confidence of the family in the cause of Christianity suffered a great shock, yet thus far they have continned nniuterruptedly faithful in coming to church. How earnestly, in such cases, one is tempted to wish that he had the apostolic gift of healing."
-It is sometimes said that in Greenland the Danish Lutherans and Mora- vians have haptized the last heathen Esquimaux. This, 1 believe, is true as to the natives of the West Coast. But lately the natives of the East Coast have been coming across to the Moravian brethren. This inaccessible region was once far milder in climate, and was, as we know, the seat of a flourshing Danish colony, from which Eric the Red, or his son (1 am not sure which), is said to have come down along the shore of New England. But some 600 years ago a sudden lowering of the temperature took place; long piles of icebergs began to line the coast; the last bishop of the colony consecrated at Trondhjern, in Norway, set out for his diocese, but ~either he nor his people were ever heard of again. Whether these Eastlanders that are resorting to the Moravians are a mixed race of Eskimos (Esquimaux) and these old Northmen, or pure Esquimaux, 1 do not know. It is said that a European has lately made his way across Greenland from east to west. If so, we shall know more about the region so long mysteriously secluded. Missionary A. Riegel, in t¥ CalweJ' Missionsblatt of June, 1889, writes: "Having been able in my last report to give account of 6 newly baptized Eastlanders, this letter will report 50 additional baptisms of heathen. The first family dwelt very quietly among us, and we took a good deal of satisfaction in them, although they were little enough advanced in Christian knowledge. The man had a boat, indeed, but got little by it, so that the family was none too rich, especially as in the winter the man fell sick. The sickness increased till spring, and then the Lord took hhn to Himself. He felt disquieted in view of his family, but was glad to go home. The countrymen of this man, who had returned to the East Coast, kept their word and came back. In September they came to this station and made ready for living here by putting up three houses; expressing the desire to become Christians, they received catechetical teaching, and at Easter were baptized.
'Unhappily they were very sick and wretched, and several died; nor did they earn any too much, for there were fewer seals and birds than usual. As this naturally implied a scarcity of winter provisions, it came sometimes very near to famine with them. Since Mayall the people, the newly baptized among them, are at the summer-grounds, that is, the seaward islands; yet unhappily we only hear of a very scanty take of seals. This raises forebodings for the coming winter, yet the Lord may secure them an ample autumn fishery. How these neophytes will develop' spiritually, remains to be seen. We cannot expect that all will turn out to be of the best quality.
" You believe that there must come a time when the Greenlanders can maintain their churches and their Christianity without European pastors, even though under European oversight, 'and with European money.' If you had added this last, 1 too should not doubt of the possibility. That the Greenlanders will themselves voluntarily meet the costs of their churches and schools, only he can believe who does not know the Greenlanders. But it will be practicable to maintain paid catechists, upper and lower, at the different settlements, to work under Europear. direction. 1 believe that is the aim of the Danish Mission, because they can secure hardly any pastors or missionaries for Greenland. "
There we see Christiauity struggling to live, chiefly because the race that professes it is struggling to live. -Primitive, uncivilized natures, in whom self-control has never been devel- oped, are subject to very extraordinary mental affections, which, it is true, are sufficiently common among ourselves. In Amalienstein, South Africa, there lately died. aged 71, a cripple, Elizabeth Klaasse, doubtless a Kaffir or a Hottentot, who, in consequence of a church quarrel, in which she had taken part, had sunk into melancholy, and for nearly twenty years had only jumped along like an ape, muttering unintelligibly, and repelling all pastoral attention, until finally Missionary Schmidt succeeded in inducing her to pray with him, and to come to church once more. Thenceforth she was never seen sitting in the church otherwise than with a radiant face; "she followed the preaching as a bird of prey does his quarry, nodding in smiling assent to all that was said."
-Missionary Bieger, writing in the Mededeelingen of the Dutch Missionary Society, gives, in a single sentence, a powerful impression of the deadness of soul engendered by Mohammedanism, which knows absolutely nothing of inward spiritual experience, takes absolutely no account of it. Herr Biger has labored in Java, where the people are almost all Mohammedan, but has lately gone to the little island of Savoe, where they are or have been heathen. He remarks: "What I have not seen in Java in fourteen years, I have seen here in four months-a tear; the genuine witness of the fertilization of the sinner's heart by the seed of the gospel.·'
-Christianity in the East Indian Islands has the greatest prevalence in the Minahassa, the northermnost of the three eastward stretching arms of the island of Celebes. Heathenism being largely overcome, at least in various districts of the Minahassa, of course the number of adult baptisms will be apt to diminish. In 1887 there were in the Minahassa: Adult baptisms, 476; infant baptisms, 5,021; communicants received, 1,182; school children, 7,240; Christians on the Island of Savpe, 3,783.
-M. Duvoisin, of the French Basuto Mission, speaking of finding himself overwhelmed, in addition to all his evangelical cares, with the labor of building, says: "I have already passed through trials of many sorts, but there is one of which I had not yet had experience, that of feeling one's self overwhelmed on all sides, and of finding one's self anew, day after day, in presence of a task for which one is not made, and from which, on the other hand, he cannot withdraw himself. But I have found that this also is good. I have understood better than hitherto this word of St. Paul, • Cast down, but not destroyed,' and I begin to realize the fact that when the Lord invites us to cast all our cares on him, he doubtless means all, the task of building not excepted."
-The extensive awakening among the pagans of the Basuto country has declined, although not until after large additions to the churches. M. Duvoisin remarks: "The outward circumstances were only too favorable. In the Lexuto–as elsewhere, I imagine-temporal and spiritual blessings are a little like the two buckets of a well. Now the late harvest has been most abundant, there is in the country a great number of mabele; that is, for the pagans, numerous and riotous gatherings around great pots of yoala, gatherings which, too often, take place on the Sunday; and for Christians, leting, that is, mild ale, at discretion. Unhappily these latter have not yet learned to use all things as not abusing them." "Yet, if there is in our churches a current of evil which draws away more than one, others again yield to the attraction which draws them to the feet of the Saviour, and these latter, I will believe, are the more numerous."
-" The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty."
OUR VOLUNTEER MISSIONARY STUDENTS
This is painfully illustrated in the description given by M. Louis Jalla of the Barotses, the heathen dwellers on the banks of the Zambezi. "These people are children in many respects, but they are true savages, cruel, ferocious, even in every direction. Their pleasure lies in witnessing suffering. It is very hard to bring our boys to kill a hen before plucking it. How jolly it would be, said some men one day, if we could flay an ox all alive! When a man is condemned to death, they do not give themselves the trouble to kill him. They only half strangle him, fixing their nails in his throat, and then conduct him to an islet in the river, leaving him to die there of hunger."
Yet these same people, who are very fond of receiving visits, are, at home, polite and affable. The women also, at least those of the higher ranks, making an ambition of keeping their houses neat and in good order. They esteem themselves much honored by receiving visits from the missionaries, who seem to be slowly, but surely, weaving a network of Christian influences around them, in a dreary, unwholesome region, one of the most ill-provided in the world with the means of enjoying even common comforts.
-Our French Protestant brethren have a mission in the French possession of Senegambia. The following, by M. Escandre, is a lively description of the }fohammedan negroes, the chief part of the population of the town of Saint Louis: "A new comer recognizes them at once; you see them pass in the streets, furnished with enormous rosaries, which they are telling in a very absent-minded manner. Then, women, babies at the breast, all are loaded with gre-grees (amulets), enclosing fragments of the Koran, which, it appears, possess marvellous properties. Then, when the hour of prayer is called at the corners of the streets, on the square, and chiefly along the river, you perceive files of natives bending to the ground, like a thicket of reeds before a breeze. Take care not to enter one of their shops at this hour, for, in the very middle of your purchases, you would see the merchant leaving his business in the lurch and begin his interminable genuflexions, your objurgations not being of the slightest avail. You needs must summon up your best patience, or walk off, until his salaam is at an end. The other evening, from my balcony, I noticed a woman making ready for these exercises, and stationed myself to observe her. You would scarcely believe it if I should tell you that having had the curiosity to count on my fingers the number of times that she kissed the ground, I arrived at the respectable figure of thirty-one. Her salaam had lasted twenty minutes by the watch! She must have been, doubtless, a great sinner, some penitent Magdalen, or possibly she had terrible arrears to wipe off, for you are aware that the Koran authorizes such adjustments."
OUR VOLUNTEER MISSIONARY STUDENTS.
" Upon the young men of this generation God lays a responsibility never before known." Who are the responsible young men of this generation? They are to be found in our educational institutions, and they represent a host. Two million young men will graduate from our schools and colleges in this generation, and, surely, we ought to be able to give one per cent. of this number to Foreign Missions, which would mean the "evangelization of the world." It does not seem possible that there could be 20,000 young men "willing and desirous, God permitting, to be foreign missionaries;" but the fact is, if the number increases as it has since this movement was inaugurated, it will not be long ere the pitiful cry that is coming from across the seas from the millions in darkness and death, will be heard by thousands of our best educated young men and ,,·omen. The number of ,olunteers up to the Northfield meeting was 3,847, of whom at least 1,000 are young women. Since that time, through the aggressive efforts of leading volunteers, the number has increased 500 more. Volunteers may now be found in nearly every country in the world; 195 have already sailed for the foreign fields. These 195 volunteers settled as follows: 29 in Japan, 28 in India, 12 or 13 in Africa, 46 in China, being distributed in 21 different fields, and representing 25 different organizations. Forty-nine institutions in the United States and 5 in Canada are contributing , to send out or support their representatives, pledging last year between $26,000 and $28,000, of which amount all but about $3,000 was pledged by students.
A remarkable fact, to be especially noted by those who are wont to criticise the movement in thinking that it is opposed to our Missionary Boards, is that, with the exception of five or six institutions, which are State institutions, and hence undenominational, all the money has been sent to the several Boards, and the missionary sent out is connected with the Board representing the church of which he is a member.
This, in general, is a bird eye's view of what is being accomplished by the movement. In particular, the work of Mr. R. E. Speer, the present traveling secretary of the movement, is very interesting and profitable. He has been speaking since Sept. 4 in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and is now about to enter upon an active campaign in Ohio. During that time over 500 volunteered, and about $4,000 were pledged either to the support of some alumnus in the field, or to swell the funds for the Young Men's Christian Association building that is to be erec- ted in Tokio, Japan. Up to November 9, Mr. Speer had visited 27 colleges, 7 city associations, 17 churches, besides attending 5 State conventions. Among the colleges visited were 5 State universities and 4 normal schools, where the religious life is very low. In spite of this drawback, in these 9 institutions there were 65 new volunteers, an average of 7. At a normal school at Fort Scott, Kansas, there were 15 volunteers and $364 pledged, and at the State Normal School of Missouri, they intend to raise $500 for the Tokio building, three college professors have volunteered, and the Secretary of the St. Paul Young Men's Christian Association, who has a burning desire to.go to the Soudan, when he told his wife of .his intention, she answered, "Go! I'll go with you." A missionary of the Presbyterian Sunday School Union volun- teered, giving this as his reason: "The fact that the heathen could not get the gospel now even if they wanted it, was enough to call him fron: a field, needy, to be sure, but where the people could have the gospel whenever they wanted it." A lady physician, whose daughter had already volunteered, offered her services at a young woman's convention in Nebraska. Can any more beautiful sight be imagined than to see mother and daughter ready to leave home and friends for the sake of their dying heathen sister! At the Kansas young women's convention, the whole delegation, consisting of 36, vol- unteered before they returned home. St. Paul had so many volunteers, 26, that they intend to put some of their business enterprise into missions, by sending a Golony to the Soudan, and one gentleman showed a determination to have his representative in the field by signing the following paper: "I am willing and desirous, God permitting, to support a missionary from St. Paul." Minneapolis, St. Paul's great rival, has raised a large sum for the Tokio Young Men's Christian Association building. At a meeting in Iowa, an incident occurred which may affect not a few Christian parents. Mr. Speer was teil- ing the story of how an old l.o.linister appealed to an audience to make a per- sonal consecration of themseh-es to missions. When he finished speaking his
GENERAL ~IISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
own daughter came forward and knelt before him, but raising her the old man said: "I did not mean you, my daughter." The next day, after relating this in(:ident, an old gray haired man came to Mr. Speer, and said: "You have hit me. My daughter wished to go out from the Methodist Board. and they wanted her, but my wife and I held her back," and then he added signifi- cantly: "We have not felt so well as before." How many parents there may be who are thwarting the will of God and are saying in their hearts, "vVe have not felt so well as before."
It will no doubt be interesting, now that so many volunteers are in the field, to hear what they think of the battle while they are at the front.
Mr. F. W. Brown, a volunteer from Hillsdale College, Michigan, writes from India, while on a mission boat on the Byturney river, near Orissa. He says: "How goes the work? Here I am in this hot ]jed of idolatry. We feel that we are on the eve of a big break here, and are looking for it soon. The Lord hasten it on. I went to Puri to the Ratti Jutra; I saw enough to tire my soul. They stoned us while preaching. I have the stone that a wall opposite me kept from hitting me on the head." Mr. S. R. Gulick writes from Japan calling for 34 volunteers to go out under the A. B. C. T. M. He says the movement is an inspiration to the soldiers in the front, and they are looking b~ R~R n.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
ACrica.-Mr. Stanley has emerged in his path, and which to the average on the western shore of the Indian man would have seemed insurmount- Ocean from his marvelous mid-Afri- able. True, he is as yet his own hiscan march, the most successful ex- toriographer, but there is no reason to plorer in the world. It would be diffi- doubt a narrative the very simplicity cult to imagine a narrative more and modesty of which gives it the wonderful or fascinating than that of stamp of tJ,"uth, and in which the his journey from the Aruwimi to the humblest of his followers is made to Albert Nyanza, through a forest larger share in heroism with himself. There than France, and through the matted is no attempt at advertisement. "Nothundergrowths of which the starved ing happened," he writes in his acand dwindling column crept at the count of the march from the Albert rate of less than three miles a day. Nyanza to the coast, "save a fight or That awful itinerary, filled with fever two with theWanyoro," though on that and fighting and hideous sufferings, march he discovered that the Muta continued for more than five months Nize was the source of the White Nile, before the hundred and more thin a discovery which other men would skeletons emerged into the plain re- have deemed glory enough for a life gion; and with food and plenty about time. And yet there is a full apprethem, began to take heart and hope. ciation of the horrors of the journey, But more fighting awaited them, with and of the importance of its results, the dreary counter-march back to the as well as the expression of a reverent Aruwimi, disappointment and waiting and unfaltering faith in God, who had and horrors on end, consuming nearly led him on his way, and turned what a year more, until, in February last, seemed defeats into success. No other the explorer met Emin and forced his explorer has endured and overcome reluctant consent to be relieved. Dur- so much, adding to his own burdens ing all this time Mr. Stanley never lost responsibility for others and for rehope or changed his tone, or permit- sults, and yet has so steadily grown in ted himself for a moment to be over- himself and in the estimation of the come by the new obstacles that rose world. Great cities vie for the honor of entertaining him, and nations, with the journalistic reporter who went to find Livingstone at Ujiji in 1872, and African possessions to develop, are the wise, hardy, heroic, broad-minded and indomitable rescuer of Emin bidding for the assistance of the boy Pasha and discoverer of the heart of Africa, is far greater than usuaUy befrom the Welsh poor-house. For he longs to human life. Few men so distinctly find their mission, or reis pre-eminently a man of action, ceive such enhancement of personal power and character from rendering with a genius for the government of the service to which they are called. We may well enter his name in the barbarous peoples, and it is on the list of providential men, like Colum- bus, William the Silent, Washington organization and government and de- and Livingstone, raised up for a i7eat purpose and divinely guided till their velopment of the black races that the work is done. It is not the least strik- ing part of our first messages from world must rely if anything is to be this man, as he emerges again into the light of 'blessed civilization,' accomplished in Africa. But while that he recognizes the divine' hand in the thrilling experiences and delivermankind will not withhold its meed of ances of these three memorable years. And it is an eminent sign of the place praise from Mr. Stanley, there is a he has won in the popular judgment that the secular press, no less than the darker side to his success-the fact religious press, takes note of this de- vout acknowledgment and justifies it. that in its first great contest with the "For the moment the withdrawal of Arab for control of the Dark Conti- Emin Pasha leaves the vast and popu- lous territory of the Soudan stripped nent, Europe has suffered defeat. of every civilizing, restraining and uplifting influence from without, and The gallant explorer has survived the opens the way for the Moslem faith and the accursed slave trade to revive march through the tangled forests of and flourish in that imperial domain without let or hindrance. But this the Aruwimi, but the darkness of situation cannot long continue. Stan- ley's exploit has powerfully drawn night has closed in behind him, and the thoughts and interests of the civ- ilized world to this great center; and of aU that Europe has won in the past it is next to impossible that some one of the great powers should not assume ten years, nothing remains but Egypt, the responsibility of giving order and stable government and protection to the scattered stations on the Congo, the native tribes, and access for for- eign commerce and missions, throughand a few points on the shores of the out this splendid country. It will be thought an intolerable thing that the Indian Ocean. Wadelai, Darfour and path thus first broken by this intrepid explorer should be closed up as soon Khartoum are garrisoned by Arab as it has been opened, and one of the richest and most populous parts of the armies, as are the Central Soudan States; and encouraged by their recent successes, they are bent on the con- quest of Abyssinia, and the re-conquest of Egypt. The tide will turn, of course, for Africa will not be aban- doned to barbarism, but more vigor and means will have to be put into the task, and the fact brought home that civilization can march only where there are highways.-The In- terior. I -" Stanley and Africa."-Dr. Jud- son Smith, in the Oongregationalist, writes most intelligently on this sub- ject. We have space for only his closing words: "What results may we expect from this great expedition? It is too soon to ascertain all the facts, or to draw aU the inferences. Without doubt this brilliant and heroic exploit will distinctly add to Stanley"s steadily rising repute as a man, a philanthro- pist, a scientific explorer, and a mili- tary leader. The contrast between whole continent left to fall back again the Arabs were up in arms. The into primeval barbarism, or the deadly blockade of the coast maintained by blight of Mohammedanism and the Germany infuriates the rebels because infamous slave traffic which it fosters. it stops their traffic, and they will, it The challenge to the Christian world is feared, massacre all the missionaries to enter this fair domain, and fill it on whom they can lay hands.
with the Christian faith and the benefi- Missionary interests have become cent institutions which flourish wher- very extensive in East Africa. The ever that faith holds sway, is as bold Church Missionary Society and the'
and inspiriting as we can well con- Universities Mission, of the Church of ceive. England; the Established and the "Almost the last word which we Free Church, of Scotland; the London have from Stanley declares his convic- Missionary Society, the United Meth- tion that the mantle of Livingstone has odist Free Churches, and the Church fallen upon him, and his purpose to of Rome, all have missions on the devote his life to the exploration of coast or in the interior. The Church Africa. We would fain believe that Missionary Society has two distinct above this man's thought presides the lines of missions-one with its basis same divine purpose which controlled at Mombasa, in the English Sphere of his predecessor's life and shapes the Influence, with eight stations, some fortunes of the nations and the ages, of which are on or near the coast and and that through all his varied and some in the interior. One is in the heroic efforts that which was the in- neighborhood of Mount Kilimanjaro.
spiring aim of Livingston's marvelous The second line of stations is that career-the evangelization of Africa- which stretches from Zanzibar to shall be hastened apace. May the. Uganda. There are nine stations in Church of Christ, in all lands, give this line. The Universities Mission heed to the solemn and imperative has twelve stations, one ~ Zanzibar, call of the hour, and see to it. that four in the Usambara country north along the track which has thus been of Zanzibar, four on or near the River broken the light and freedom and Rovuma, and three on the east shore heavenly hope, which are the one of Lake Nyassa. The two Scottish priceless treasure of history and civil- Churches have the Free Church five ization, shall press in with resistless stations on Lake Nyassa, the Estab- power to scatter the darkness and lished Church one on Lake Shirwa, at redeem the nations !" the south of Lake Nyassa. The route -Missionary Interests in East to this region is by the Zambesi and Africa.-The massacre of German Shire rivers. The London Society missionaries at Dar-es-Salam, on the goes further west than any of the East African Coast below Zanzibar, other societies, and plants two sta- has been followed by the massacre of tions on Lake Tanganyika. The an English missionary named Brooks, United Methodist Free Churches have with sixteen of his followers, at Saad- two missions in the Mombasa region, ani, a point nearly opposite Zanzibar. and one in Gallaland. Three German These massacres, committed by the Protestant Societies have five stations Arabs and natives under their control, -three in gaIIiland, one in Zanzibar in the rising against the Germans, and one in Dar-es-Salam, where one were not unexpected. The course of of the massacres took place. It is the the Germans, who had no experience Berlin Society which maintains the with African Arabs or natives, was last two stations. These are all the Pro- such as to provoke hostility. They testant missions between Wito and the established their commercial enter- Rovuma River; but there are German prise last August, and in a few weeks and French Roman Catholic stations. In all, there are 13 missions-six congregation also was urged to estab- British, four Germans, and three lish a fellowship meeting for the study French. One society, the Church of Scripture on Sabbath morning. A Missionary, alone has spent $500,000 proposal to visit every household in in the last 30 years in East Africa.- South Formosa was well received.
Tlw Independent. • With. a view to its being carried into China.-One of the most success- effect, it was resolved that each ful of the Chinese Missions is that con- preacher on his return to his station 'ducted by the Canada Presbyterians should make out a list of the towns and the English Presbyterians in the and villages in the neighborhood; that Island of Formosa. Mr. Mackay, of the preachers should bring these lists the Canadian Mission, has been from to the next meeting of preachers in the first as one of the people, and has May, so that the field may be divided taken a wife from among them. He out among the various churches. The is a man of apostolic devotion and subject of self support was most ear- simplicity, and has wrought a great nestly discussed, and a determined work among the Formosans. The effort to increase the number of self- English Presbyterians occupy a dif- supporting churches was agreed to.
ferent part of the island, that to the To this end the church where the con- south. They, too, have made large ference met agreed to help out a use of native talent in the spreading neighboring church at Kio-a-thau by of the gospel. Recently they held a contributing what it lacked. After conference of preachers and office- the conference, when the preacher bearers, all the preachers except one for that station returned to his work, being present. They were examined he told his people that it had been carefully, and good reports are given arranged that for the four months.
of them. In the conference these they were short they were to look, native preachers spoke earnestly in not to the home church, but to the favor of self-supporting churches, and church in Taiwanfoo. This caused stated that they would rather receive them to reconsider the matter-it their salary from the native brethren seemed a shame to get money from a than from the Missionary Board. neighboring congregation; and they Though the money comes to them sent back WOl'd that they would not more promptly from the Board it need the money, that they would be often subjects them to the taunt, responsible for the whole twelve " You preach the foreigner'S doctrine months themselves. This released the because you eat his rice. " Each church at Taiwanfoo, and it gave the church represented in the conference help it had offered to Kio-a-thau to sent a dollar toward the expenses. another struggling congregation.
The missionaries gave a dollar each -Uneasiness at Pekin.-We learn for the preachers, and the balance, from Pekin that there is a feeling one dollar, was contributed by the there of great uneasiness as to the sta- church where the conference met. bility of things in China, The young The conference agreed to recommend Emperor and Empress are believed to each congregation to follow the ex- be unlucky, as there has been nothing ample of one station, where the but disaster since their accession.
worshippers are classified as readers There is no loyalty in China in our and non-readers, and one of the for- sense of the word, and there are great mer told.off to teach one of the latter. fears that troubles will arise from the In this connection the importance of general distress inevitable in this com- a large-type Romanized New Testa- ing winter; and if there were any man ment was mentioned, for which ar- of eminence who saw any advantage rangements are being made. Each to be gained from raising a rebellion it would go haru with the present dy- hope that this mission would be auded nasty. The misfortunes which have happened since the present Emperor's to the other missions carried on by the accession have revived the discontent that was felt at the irregularity of his Reformed Church. Owing to its large succession, which found its expres- sion at the time, as will be remem- and growing indebtedness, however, bered, in the suicide of one of the Cen- sors. We would earnestly echo the the Board of the Church felt com- remarks of our New Chwang COlTe- spondent, and impress upon the naval pelled to decline to assume this new authorities that no treaty port in the empire ought to be left without a man- responsibility, while at the same tllle of-war this winter. There is no special antipathy to foreigners; but expressing a great interest in it. their safety may easily be involved in some tumult that has arisen from Hence the present character of this causes entirely unconnected with their presence.-North China Herald. miSSIOn. The funds for its support Egypt.-The Rev. James Cantine, are contributed upon a syndicate plan.
the first missionary of the recently or- The mission has found a number of ganized Arabian Mission, sailed on the City of Rome last month. He will warm friends and supporters in vari- . spend the winter in Syria carrying on his Arabic studies. In early spring he ous denominations, and the work is will be joined by Mr. S. lf. Zwemer, of the Theological Seminary, New progressing in a very encouraging Brunswick, N. J. The two will then proceed to their field of work-South- manner. J. G. L. western Arabia-in connection with Keith-Falconer Mission of the Free Eng-Iand.-Letter from Bishop Church of Scotland. The chief object of this mission is to do pioneer work, Taylor.-" I have just arrived from and especially (i. e., not exclusively but equally) in behalf of lIoslems and the Congo. My principal business, on slaves. The brief history of the Keith- Falconer Mission shows alike the great a hasty trip, to return to West Africa need and great encouragement for undertaking this work at once and in a few weeks, is to complete ar- carrying it forward vigorously. This mission is for the present, at least, in- rangements with the builder of our dependent, in the sense that it looks for its support to any without refer- steamer to send a master builder from ence to denominational adherence. This was not the prefelTed way of his yard to put her together and see founding anu carrying on the mission, but it was the way to which the found- her afloat as quickly as possible. Hap- ers were shut up if the work designed and desired was to be accomplished. pily, delays are not always failures, It was hoped that this mission would be founded by and under the charge but often essel1tial conditions to ulti- of the Reformed Church. The action of the last General Synod led many to mate success. I believe it will be so in regard to our unexpected delays with the steamer.
" The teaching force of all the facts in the case brings us clearly to the conclusion that the planting of mis- sions extensively in the great and populous countries of the upper Kassai and Sankura, requires that we have a chain of missions, and a transport agency and facilities, extending from the sea to the centre of the Con-· tinent, giving us, by the way, a neglected, densel}: populated region, belonging to the Congo State, on the north side of Lower Congo,100 by 250 miles in extent. The older mis- sions are working on the south bide of the Congo, so that we shall in no way encroach upon them. So, as a part of these foundation alTange.ments on the Lower Congo, essential success on the Upper Congo waterways, "'e find that our steamer is needed, by twenty to one, more on the Lowpr Congo than upon the Upper. We shall build her at Vivi, to carry mission- tricts they come after, but often asso- ciate with the mayor, the doctor and aries and mission goods from ship'il the priest. The Sta,te considers them to be of such importance that it frees side at Banana 100 miles up the river them from military service, pays their salary, and at the age of sixty grants to Vivi. them pensions. The number has be- come so large that some have asked if "In connection with this we will the work of the Normal schools should not be suspended. At this time, when build a steel launch, to be propelled the enemies of the Republic try to underrate the services she has renby oars and sails, to carry up river dered to France, I feel it a duty to vindicate the good work she has done. ' cargoes through the middle passage Her efforts to raise popular education have not only been great, but very of Congo, 88 miles, from Isangila to successful. "
Manyanga. When this is developed, India.-A Hindu Lady Reformer. -During Bishop Thoburn's recent then we shall require a small steamer visit to Bombay he caned on the Pan- dita Ramabai at her own home. This for the Kassai and the Sankura. vVe lady's name is almost a household word in England and America; her needed such a boat in 1886, when we devotion to the women of her country is well known. He thus describes his had a force waiting at Stanley Pool, visit: "I found her busy, but not care- worn, in the midst of her various who would have met Dr. Summers, projects for elevating her race, and especially those of her own sex. One who entered by the Angola route, of her cardinal ideas is that the status of Indian women must be raised to at Luluaburg, but we could not on the level of true womanhood. Her little daughter was in the room, and any of the five little steamers on the I asked her name. ' I can her Mano- ram,' she replied. 'The birth of a Upper Congo, about the time of his daughter is considered a great ca- lamity in India, and so I named her arrival, get a passage for one mission- " Heart's-delight " as a protest against the bad notion.' The Pandita is giving ary. Now there are a dozen little special attention to temperance re- form, and I was only too glad to steamers on those waters. and we can promise her whatever assistance I might be able to render her in her get passage to take up a successor to good work. She is I;>eginning to real- ize that her work will encounter diffidear Dr. Summers and others also, culties in its progress, but thus far she shows no sign of discouragement. to keep our promise to the Bashalange Her chief enterprise, that of founding a home for Indian widows, has not people and other nations beyond, till yet passed beyond the experimental stage, but she seems satisfied with the we can complete arrangements below, success thus far achieved."-The Har- ~'est Field. as aforesaId, for planting of missions in those far interior countries on a broad scale. WM. TAYLOR."
France.-Rev. J. C. Bracq says: "The public 8chooois of France have never before approached their present state of thoroughness and efficiency.
It i8 to the credit of the Republic that she has made greater efforts in that direction than in any other. She has increased her war budget only two- thirds, while that of popular educa- tion has risen from 24 millions of francs to 130 millions. The teachers have better preparation in the Normal schools, larger salaries, better houses to live in, while their school buildings form a pleasant contrast with those of the past. They have also large as- sociations for mutual improvement and for the defence of their interests that could not have existed under former governments. Their social position is equal to that of teachers in the United States. While they are much respected in cities, in rural <1i5-
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
South America.-The Ameri- fact that during the past ten years 264,542 copies have been circulated, can Bible Society reports that Bible of which 90,484 belong to the first distribution was fifty per cent. larger half of the decade, and 174,038 to the last year hi South America than in last half. These figures are exclusive any former year. The number of of the work of the Valparaiso (Chili) Bibles, New Testaments or parts dis- Bible Society, which sold during the posed of by sale or gift (mainly the year 4,563 copies, and during its exformer) was 51,862. That this large istence of 28 years has distributed increase was not the result of mere 54,417 copies in the Republic of Chili. spasmodic effort is evident from the I1I.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Brazil. candidates for the Gospel ministry. To the churches of this Presbytery were added during SAO PAULO, Oct. 17, 1889. the last year 133 infants by baptism and 187 DEAR DR. PrERSON: Knowing you to be an on profession. Permission was granted to ardent friend of foreign missions, I take the organize two new churches. The reports of liberty of sending you an item of news. all the pastors were very cheering; each one reporting fields much too large for one man During the late sessions of the Presbytery to occnpy. of Sao Paulo, its licentiate, Senior Benedicta Ferraz de Campos, was examined for ordina- This Presbytery, in harmony with the Standtion. His final examinations and sermon gave ing Committee on Home Missions of the evidence of 'Very fine talent. His knowledge Synod, is seeking for means to sustain and in Greek was especially noteworthy. A very teach a class of eleven young men, married large congregation assembled on a Monday and single, for a year, in purely Biblical innight to witness the ordination, when the struction, and then send them out to occupy pastorof the church, Rev. E. Carlos Pereira, the many places where the good seed of the preached the sermon, and Rev. Carvaihosa Word has been planted and is bearing fruit. gave the charge to the candidate. Both sermon and charge were especially appropriate Yours truly, to the occasion, but the crowning act was the . J. B. KALa.
final setting apart of the candidate by the Ohina. laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. By invitation of the Presbytery, the repre- [Do not fail to read this letter from sentatives of other Presbyteries and of the a remote corner of this vast empire. Methodist and Episcopalian Churches, were -EDS.J invited to take part; so that upon the head of SINING, &AusUH PROVINCE, N. W. CHINA., the young candidate were laid the hands of Sept. 24, 1889.
different representatives of the Christian DEAR EDITORS: Your April number of THE Church. 'Twas a beautiful sight and one MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLn contained which made a solemn impression upon all: an article on "The China Inland lIiission, " by that union of sympathy and brotherly love, ( Prof. Hulbert)in which are a few statements which could lay aside all differences and ..nite which require some modification.
in so solemn an act. The candidate was very He says:" Wben I say the work is compre- deeply affected. We certainly have reason to hensive, I give no idea of the vast area covered believe that" the laying on of hands" in this by the Inland lIIission. Its laborers may be case brought with it the blessing of the pres- found from the borders of the Mongolian desert ence of the Holy Spirit. Wbat an inspiration and the boundary line of Siberia on the north, our newly ordained brother has received! to the banks of the Bramapootra river and "May the Holy Spirit ever bless his ministry." the valleys of the Himalayas on the south; The two young men, Messrs. Morris and Kin- from the Pacific ocean on the east to the solineg, sent ant from the seminary at Alexan- borders of Tnrkestan and the unknown pIa· dria, Va., are winning for themselves and the teau of Thibet on the west." Mr. Stevens, of church they represent golden opinions. They this Mission, is located at Bhamo, on the banks expect to accompany the newly ordained min- of the Irriwady, in Burma. 1111'. Geo. Parker ister, Mr. Benedicto, to his field of lahor, and has recently returned from a journey across there study the langnage, after which they the desert of Shamo to Hami, Urumtsi, and expect to choose for themseh-es a good wide Iti, making only a few weeks' stay there, and field of labor, of which there are many. then returning to Lanetes. He also visited The Presbytery of Sao Paulo recei,ed three KokomoI' with a Russian exploring party. With others he crossed the border and entered into Turkestan, as far as Kashgal' and Yark, Jllongolia for a few days, from Ninghia amI and a fourth to Kokonor and Tsaidami. It Rweihaachenj, in N. Kausuh and N. Slausi. matters not which side of the Atlantic you live, come and be spent for Jesus, and take pleas- Possibly the Mission may be contemplating ure in ,', necessities" for Him. Sell all you further extension. But at the present I be- have, if needs be, to pay your passage out lieve I am right in saying that, with the above here, and what you haven't got ask God for, exception, the work of the Inland Mission is and tell his people. Get one of these places entirely confined to the provinces of China right down into your heart, find out every properl I suppose it takes as long to get to scrap of informa(,!on you can about it, wrestle Sining as to any place in China-four or five in prayer for it night and day, aud the proba- months' journey from the coast. Coming here bility is that every obstacle now in your way we crossed no excessively dangerous moun- will be removed, and you'll be out, where your tains, and no burning deserts. I have not heart has been already, before many months heard of any brethren of this Mission who had have passed. That is something like the way I came to China, and now am being drawn to· any experiences very much out of the com- Thibet. mon, though we settle often in teeming cities. I have not heard of any member of the Mission For Thibet, lIIongolia and Turkestan, the attaching himself to Nomadic tribes of Chinese language would be almost an essen- Mongol Tartars, living in miserable tents, and tial, for they are a part of the Chinese em- roving from place to place, with no fixed home, pire. The Turkestan party might commence no familiar fireside, but wandering over the in the Mohammedan towns of this province Tartar plains at the will of wild chieftains, or (Kausuh), getting their Chinese education as the scantiness of pasturage for flocks de- while picking up useful hints for Mohamme- mands. dan work. 'Ve have Turks, called Salah, within four days of Siuing. A knowledge of There are members of the Mission on the Arabic would be useful. Persian is more use- Chinese border of Kokonor, and let us pray ful in Turkestan. Mongol could, I fancy, God that before long Christianity may be easily be picked up here. knocking at the doors of Slamaistic faith; but though in many cases the Slamas are friendly For Thibet, at present, the Indian door and and kind, I have never heard of any workers Sychnan are closed to us. To work Thibet any- of the Mission having had the opportunityoffer- way, will require much prayer; the Chinese ed to them, by Thibetan officials, of entering are very suspicious of us; but this Kausuh the country of the grand Slama quietly amI border appears the most open, Passports without danger of molestation. lIfr. Gilmour. would be required for all these, and we must of the London MiSSion, is pioneering in Eastern pray hard that that difficulty may be removed. Mongolia; haven't you got a score of young Don't let us mind about fixed salaries. Get fellows wishing to join him? Then the Mora- the money to bring you out, and then look to vian Mission at Leh, and a Bible agent at God for the rest. 3Iarried or single, come Iskutsk in S. Siberia. With these exceptions, along. £100 per man should bring you from am I not right in saying the whole of Thibet, England to this corner of the empire, and Mongolia, Turkestan and Siberia are without give you a bit in hand. Look all the difficula Protestant missionary. "There remaineth ties well in the face, and then make up your yet very much land to be possessed; let us go mind. If you can't trust God, don't come. up at once and possess it, for we are well able, because the Lord of Hosts goeth forth with Yours, in the Lord's service. our armies." We haven't got to wait for orders to go forward; they were given more than CECIL POLHILL TURNER. 1800 years ago. When acting in obedience to Him, t~e power of God, the Holy OPENING OF WORK IN KIRIN. Ghost, is upon us, and then there is no room Our work gradually grew and people begun for failure. You will probably receive this to see we had not come to do them harm, but letter as the new year opens. Suppose all who good, One little boy, whose parents were read it pray for at least 20 workers each for dead, had for some time been troubled with Thibet, Mongolia, and Turkestan-in all 60- sore eyes. He spent nearly all his spare before the close of 1890. Let us ask for men money (3s. or so), a great deal for him, upon full of the Holy Ghost; men willing to rough native doctors. to no avail. By God's blessing it for Jesus; men who don't mind being cold, on our treatment, he was soon made all right. hungry and wet, and robbed, and, if need be. He, of course, could not k""p the good news to <i¥ing, because death brings glory. himself, but published it abroad, and soon Dear brother, who reads these lines, come great numbers came thronging to us to have out and join our band. Then let us go two by their eyes cured. We were very closely two through Thibet, to Slaosa, and on to watched by government officials in every Rashmir; along the high-road through Kausuh thing we did. Soon their favorable report to Hami, Urumtsi, Iti; another lot branching brought us invitations from Mandarins and off to the north to Kobats, Uliasutai; It third gentlemen of all ranks. Thus did God open up our way befon' 1)S. 'Ve then sought and gained an interview with July 9. -At evening service the church and one of the chief magistrates, and through yard were so full the pulpit was placeq in the him got permission of the Governor·General open door that all might hear. The Lord to come and establish a Mission and hospital. helped while preaching from "What shall I do to be saved?" All who were seriously After spending a few days longer looking thinking about their souls were asked to raise out for a suitable house, which, however, we hands; nearly 100 responded. did not find, we again returned to Monkden. Thus, through the Divine blessing, the way July 10. – A meeting for men only, but about seems clear for our going up, perhaps early 200 women came begging to stay; talked next year, and establishing ourselves in this about "Saving faith:' Two young men, large city of Kirin, the capital of the northern doubters for two years, de<'ided to serve and province of Manchuvia. confess Christ.
A RESIDENT MISSIONARY. July ll.-A mother's meeting; 400 present; many remained for inquiry meeting; over 20 Turkey. took part; earnest prayers in Turkish, Arme· nian and English, offered with tears of re- THE GREAT REVIVAL AT AlNTAB. pentance, reminded us of "Pentecostal Days. " I too could not keep back tears of joy; 35 [So remarkable a work deserves the arose, giving themselves to Christ. "Not unto fullest information. Although we us, not unto us, 0 Lord, but to thy name give have given some account of it already, glory." P. M.-Another woman's meeting. To we are quite sure our readers will be my surprise the church and yard were full; greatly interested in this detailed 1,600 to 2,000 present, most of whom were record of it, taken from the diary of Gregorians; 8 Mohammedans-a large gather. Rev. H. G. Jenanyan, of "St. Paul's ing; pulpit moved to the door so all could Institute," Tarsus, who took an active hear. part in the revival. We are indebted to his wife for this graphic view of the July 12.-The Holy Spirit's work among inmemorable scenes.-EDs.] dividuals is wonderful. Thus I am taught W/Ult and how to preach. Henceforth our serv, Aintab, July 2.-Having an urgent invita· ices will be union in the First Church, which tion from the pastor of the Third Church, the holds 2,000 to 2,500. The women's side is smallest one, with a congregation of about smaller, but to-night they filled their own and 200, to hold special service, this evening I one-third of the men's. " Not by might, nor preached my first sermon; only 150 present. by power." 'Text, "To think of latter end." July H.-At morning, in the Third Church, July 3.-Preached to about 300, one half of two new Sunday-school classes organized. whom were Gregorian Armenians. All listen- Church members promised to visit two by two oed attentively to, "Son, give me thine heart,~' the neighboring houses. Evening service in ~nd the Lord gave the words to speak; hoping the First Church. From 300 to 400 could not for great results, I pray and believe. enter the full house, but crowded near win- dows and doors. "Almost persuaded" was July 5. -This evening preached from, "Thy my subject; asked those who would like to sins are forgiven." God gave a blessing to have a prayer meeting to remain; only a few -over 500 present. My heart is rejoicing. An hundred left, but their places were at once inquiry meeting, 22 decided for Christ; 15 filled by the waiting throng outside. In this backsliders returned to the Lord; an infidel meeting over 100 rose deciding for Christian youth is earnestly seeking the light. life. This was the largest congregation to which I ever preached. I better realize the July 7, Sabbath. -Morning preached from power of simple gospel preaching. "Christ our pattern;" over 1,000 present; church full; hundreds in the yard. Evening July 15.-Much time is occupied with callservice in First Church; 1,600 present, one-third ing, conversation, preparation and preaching. of whom were Gregorians. "Jesus" was the Morning scrvice for women in Second Church: theme, and the eagerness with which they lis- 60 remained for inquiry, most of whom gave tened was an inspiration to me. "O! Lord, good proof of conversion. Afternoon met bless, encourage, and fill me with thy Holy with Christian Endeavor Society, giving a Spirit." Bible reading, "Christ our example. " These are good workers among the women, and their July 8.-Went to church one hour before numbers are now doubled. The following day service-was surprised to find both men and I preached in the First Church to a full house; women's side filled with women coming early 30 arose for prayer. to find room, thus crowding ant the men. At once began preaching; dismissed the meeting July 1/.-Morning held a service in the Grethat the women might go and the men come gorian house in the city suburbs; over 300 in; but most of them kept their seats on the present; every corner full; a few Protestants, :IIoor; the men were obliged to stay in the yard several Mohammedans. Afterward called on while I preached a second sermon for all. two palsied women confined to their beds for The need, desire and interest is wonderful. years. Among those who called. one man July 26.-Rev. T. D. Christie, of Marash, said: "I have done all known wickedness, hearing of this revival, came to help us. We been in prison three times-one Sunday I are very glad, for there is great need, and he heard you preach, since then I am surprised has large experience, and is very valuable in at the change in me; can't tell what and such work. Ever since the Adana revival, where I am-never prayed before, now pray- where we were together, I have greatly ening always; would like to tell others of this joyed working with him. He will give much change but fear they will not believe, but will of his time to personal work among new contry and show them by my life." Evening verts and inquirers. A large gathering in the meeting with young people; two pastors and First Church, Mr. Christie taking part; 45 exone college professor took part-it was a pressed desire for salvation. To-day a youn", season of great blessing. man came to a missionary, returning several small articles stolen at a fire eight months July 19.-Many young people come for per- ago. He confessed his sin with tears, saying sonal conversation-three boys and two girls he could not rest till his conscience was clear, earnestly pleading to be taken in our Tarsus he having recently given his heart to Christ. school. Thus far 17 applications from this city, and if we only had accommodations it July 28, Sabbath.-Morning attended First would be a grand thing to give a Christian Church Sunday-school; found 26 children had education to these young converts, who could decided for Christ; their tearful confessions be the means of blessing to their people. and simple faith was such that I went to the " My Lord, thou knowest and seest the need, adults, related the fact, while Pastor Mardagive opportunity as thou givest desire, grant ros earnestly spoke on "Where art thou ?". enlargement and blessing to St. Paul's Insti- The meeting was very solemn and blessed;' tute, take away all obstacles for its progress." many hard hearts were melted. Afternoon Evening meeting, where the three pastors Mr. Christie and I preached; at the close' took part. Their faith has been greatly nearly 500 remained for a testimony meeting; strengthened by seeing what the Lord has 28 took part, giving interesting accounts of done in our midst. their conversion. All hearts are grateful for such an outpouring of the Holy I::lpirit. July 21, Sabbath.-After Sunday-school and a good prayer meeting, a woman came, say- July 29.-By invitation, went to an Armeing, "Here are three Mohammedan women who nian meeting; was permitted to speak some would like you to talk and pray with them." words of truth, to which all listened atten-' I gladly responded, going to where they sat, tively; 5 priests expressed interest. Afterlith faces veiled; knelt down and prayed. noon 22 children and 14 young men came to I Evening, large meeting in First Church, more inquire the way of salvation. Missionaries, Gregorians came than ever before. Previously and native pastors are working heartily and they besought their priests to invite me to in full sympathy. preach in their church, but a few wealthy members objecting, the people came to our July 30 to Aug. 3.-These days have been church to hear the tl"".1th. This has been a especially devoted to church examination. day lonj:( to be remembered for its fullness of Preached only once; in the three churches 267.' blessing. came forward. So many interesting facts and testimonies, I cannot begin to write them. July 22.-Women's meeting. Holy Spirit, at Enemies are reconciled, notOrious crinlinaIs the close of sermon. asked all who wanted to converted, drunkards reclaimed, parents re-' come to Christ to arise; 22 responded, one of joicing over wandering children, whole famiwhom, 80 years old, was a great opposer to lies coming together to unite with the visible the truth, but now her groans and tears melt church. Said Pastor Mardaros: "I have been many hearts. Afternoon, 11 callers, compan- here thirteen years, and can it be possible ions in wickedness, now Christ's followers. that this great blessing has come to this city, Said they: "A month ago if anyone would even on Aintab!" "Yea, this is the Lord's tell us of such a change we would not believe, doing and wonderful in our eyes." now we tell others but they believe not." Aug. 4, Sabbath.-This is the crowning day July 24.-Children's meeting; 500 present. of the revival. At morning, by invitation, Theme, "Christ and the children;" 150 re- went to Episcopal Church; small congregamained for inquiry meeting; many prayed, tion; large building; unfinished for lack of confessing their sins. We hope all these are money. I preached, •. Fear not, little lIock." accepted by·the dear Saviour. Union service at noon; large attendance. I preached to those who will to-day join tl,e July 25.-Missionaries and natives urge me church, .. Lovest thou me?" (We all felt the to remain that these services may close with Holy Spirit's personal presence.) The reply a communion season and accept new converts. on hundreds of faces was, "Thou knowest that We all hope for a grand harvest. Evening I love thee. " After the sermon those who will service for new converts; 400 present. The unite with the church arose, 248, a large band prayers and testimonials were very interest- ready to serve Christ. They all repeated ing: over 25 took part, even 4 women ventured together after me the three verses beginning, to pray. "Who can separate us from the love of for inquiry, most of whom found salvation.
Christ1" Any who were seeking Christ were Among the new converts are several who invited to remain after service; 140 respondAd lately mocked at religious things.
-22 by words and 83 by rising expressed Aug. 21.-Temperance day; I preached their new decision; among them were 20 from, "We will not drink wine." Reading a children, whose deep conviction was very few passages at the close, asked- those who, Dlanifest. Evening there was communion in like the Rechabites, would promise thus, to the three churches-new members accepted; express it publicly. Over 1,000 arose. What an former members more hmnble and grateful. encouraging sight. Next day, in the Women's It was a day of holy consecration for us all. meeting, Mr. Christie preached; 45 remained Aug. 5 to n.-The work is so interesting, for inquiry; many blessed prayers and con- the plea so urgent, we have decided to remain fessions. During these two weeks 365 came two weeks longer. This week I preached five for church admiSSion, far more than we, in times to full congregations; many new con- our weak faith, expected. The Lord is work- verts-one a noted gambler, another an infi- ing mightily.
del, whose public confession was touching to Aug. 25, Sabbath.-Union service at noon for many. I visited 20 houses with Pastor Gara- missionary cause. After preaching I asked bed. The pastors have decided to have the people, as a slight token of gratitude to another comnlunion soon. This gives me God, to organize a Missionary Society and hope that Vartina Bajis's (a good mother in support some preachers in needy cities. Mr.
Israel,90 years old,) expectation will be ful- Christie also spoke encouraging words. All filled. One day in church she said, "I am responded well; a committee was organized, a praying for 500 new converts." A good brother collection taken amounting to 2.400 piastres said, "You are expecting too many, mother.~' ($95); during this week the gift of 600 piastres "I have prayed for them, and they are sure to to Third Church poor pastor, 1,400 piastres come. " I quoted, "According to thy faith be debt to First Church pastor; and this contri- it unto thee." bution is, for these poor people, about the Aug. 12 to 17.-Examinations for church ad- same as $5,000 in Ami'rica. Can we ask a mission; a new children's society (Zion'8Mes- better proof of revival work?
sengers) organize(!; their work is to visit Evening communion in each church; 286 houses each morning and hold half-hour new members accepted, hearts glad, families prayer-meetings with the children; they also happy, and the day blessed, to be long, long collect money to purchase Bibles for needy remembered..
Sunday-school classes. This week I preached During this revivai 534 new members were four times and gave a Bible reading; 31; newly added to the three churches on confession of decided for Christ. Now I am preaching on faith, while many are secret followers, not the various dnties of church members. The quite ready to come out now. Such an addi- evening of the 13th the theme was, "Seek tion to the awakened churches will no doubt the peace of Jerusalem." At the close, asked prove a great power and advance Christ's all who would vow anew to fulfill their church kingdom in Aintab and vicinity. "So then duties, to rise. All members solemnly respon- neither is he thatplanteth anything, neither he ded, a sight that gladdened our hearts. We that watereth, but God that gi11eth increase."
hope, after this, the weekly meetings, which, The two following days I preached to many before the revival, were attended by from 10 hundreds.
to 20, will be crowded, and instead of a few, The sermOD, Aug. 27, "Go forward," was scores will take part in the blessed prayer- my last charge. I did not tell the people of meetings as they do now. A deacon said, "I our departure, that we might leave quietly.
have complaints to make against you preach- Next day we left Aintab for a season of rest ers; before this I could pray ten minute. and among the mountains near Marash. I am speak as long as I wanted in prayer-meeting, glad Mr. Christie could remain and carry on not taking anyone's time, but now so many are the good work. The pastors are working ear- ready and waiting to take part, I cannot find nestly, and we hope and pray that a greater even one minute to thank God for all he has bleSSing is still in store for Aintab. "0 Lord, done." carryon Thy work; visit the needy, hungry Aug. 18, Sabbath.-Two more new Sunday- churches, and glorify Thy almighty name."
school classes organized in the Third Church. TARSUS, Nov. 12, 1889.
Our teacher of St. Paul's Institute has been much blessed in his efforts to work among WORLD'S CO)l'VENTIO)I' ON MISSIONS IN young people. He preached weekly in a Gre- 1892.
gorian Society of 200 young men; his visits LETTER FROM REV. WM. 11. M'CAUGHEY, PHILA.
and conversation brought many into these DEAR DR. PIERSON: With regard toa World's new Sunday-school classes and the church. Convention on Missions in 1892, there is a Union service at noon. I preached to a full movement on foot looking in this direction.
house. The following day after the sermon, In the Central Presbytery of Philadelphia Rev.
H Now is the day of salvation," 250 remained R. D. Harper moved that a committee of five
I~TER~ATlO~AL DEPARTMENT
be appointed to confer witll a committee of return you to your native land. I am, yours the Baptist brethren on this subject. The committee was appointed, and I have the honor truly, W. H. MCCAUGHEY. to be one of the five. The first meeting was held early in October. The Baptist brethren Rev. L. S. Tugwell, of the Spanish and were Russell·H. Conwell, D. D., Geo. C. Bord- Portuguese Church Aid Society, writes us to man, D.D., and John Peddie, D.D. Dr. Harper say: "You will be glad to hear that we are was made chairman and Dr. Conwell secre- receiving enconraging reports of the work in tary; and these were empowered to call a meet· Spain and Portngal from the Rev. H. E. Noyes, ing of representative men of differentdenomi- the editor of Light and Truth, who is now just nations. Such a meeting has been called to concluding a visit to our brethren of the meet at the Baptist Rooms Nov. 11th. Per- Spanish and Portuguese Reformed Churches. haps this is all known to you, but if not, I He has been greatly cheered by all he has know it will be a real pleasure for you to hear seen, and his highest expectations have been it. The plan, as projected, is on a large scale. Calling, as it does, for special buildings, it exceeded. One of the most hopeful features will require a great deal of expense and hard in this movement is the self-denying zeal, earwork; yet, with you, I feel that it would be nest devotion, and patient perseverance of the one of the grandest movements of the century. pastors, evangelists and teachers in their ardu- With an earnest prayer that God may bless ous but blessed work for the Master." your work while abroad, and in his own time [Dr. Gracey, in sending us this item, says: "Tugwell deserves encouragement, for he has had a long, hard pull. All the work of this society originated with him. "-J. M. S.] IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Our Relations with Latin America. It affords more miles of navigation than all The meeting of the Representatives the rivers of Europe combined, and more than the Mississippi with its several tributaries. of the Republics of the Three The tide from the Atlantic reaches two hun- dred and sixty miles up the stream, and ocean Americas-North, Central and South -in our national capital, forces to ships of twenty-four feet draught can find the front questions about the duty water enough the year round at a distance of which new conditions promise to a thousand miles from its mouth. Vessels impose on the Protestantism of of from sixteen to twenty feet draught can go 'twenty-seven hundred miles into the interior the United States toward the fifty of the Continent, and a comparatively small ,millions of people in Spanish America amount of money-a mere fraction of the -a population numerically about sum that has been spent upon the Mississippi- equal to our own j just below our will furnish a path for a four thousand ton horizon, Latin America contains vessel from New York or Liverpool to the very heart of Brazil, by way of Buenos Ayres. "
some three thousand natives of the The vast resources of these Southern United States and about ten millions Republics are certain to tempt Euro- of European subjects, the nucleus of pean immigration as well as com- the forces which are to make a new merce. The Italian Government sends world out of the " New World " Co- a steamer every month from Genoa to lumbus revealed four centuries since; Montevideo and Buenos Ayres, and for the Americas are being re-dis- another to Valparaiso, Chili. There covered. are five French lines of steamships If the reader has doubt of that, let connecting Marseilles, France, with him try a geographical study of South ports of Brazil, Uruguay and the America, and test whether he has Argentine Republic; and a line from realized its physical conditions. We Havre to the North and East Coast of venture to assign one lesson as a sam- South America. There are German ple, taken from a government docu- steamers running from Hamburg to ment: the West Coast of South America as " The Rio de la Plata, or the River Plate, as far as Guatemala. Belgium has a it is commonly known, offers a more extensive semi-monthly steamship service to system of unobstructed navigation than any Brazil and Argentina. The Pacific river in the world, and, with the exception of Steam Navigation Company has rethe Amazon, pours more water into the ocean. cently latmched four magnificent artificial land transportation, present steamers for England's South Ameri- and prospective. A railway from can trade, t,vo of them being larger Boston to Buenos Ayres seems vision- and faster than any hitherto in that ary perhaps; but it is worth fixing commerce, being of 6,500 horse power our thought on. Within three years and 6,000 tons capacity. past railroads have been actually built, and routes surveyed, for at least Of course, the concomitant of all one-third of the distance between this is an influx of Europeans into Buenos Ayres and Bogota-one-third, South America and Central America. and that the hardest one-third to con- The Argentine Government pays the struct, has been actually completed pasmga of the immigrant, keeps him or is constructing. for days after arrival, and forward:; him atgovernment expense by steamer There are two lines built, and two or train to the farms of the interior, lines for which concessions have been gives him land and seed, and six dol- granted, which, with shorter ones allars a month for the first year. This ready in operation, leave but about Republic received more European im- 2,000 miles of road to be constructed migrants in the first six months of to make the chain complete. That is last year than in twelve months of the no such task as was our Pacific Railprevious year. The Mexican Govern- road. The Republics along the line ment pays the steamship companies are anxious for its construction, and sixty dollars per head for each immi- are ready to guarantee five to seven grant landed in the next five years, per cent. on the capital invested. Some and an average of forty-five dollars five distinct routes are proposed for each for the succeeding ten years. this inter-continental railway, one of which leaves 3,252 miles to be built, These facts, and vastly more of the another 2,616, and two others, roundsame genus, plainly indicate that the ly, 2,000 miles. The route which immediate future is to bring new con- leaves the least mileage to be conditions to us on the south. It seems structed runs from Buenos Ayres to just as plain that America is to be Jujuy, thence to Bogota, and about evangelized by Americans. Protestant 1,000 miles are now operated. The Europe evidences little interest in the lines would pass throughout its whole spiritualizing of these newly-rising length through countries teeming people, and we have been laggard and with the most valuable articles of half-nerved in what we have done. commerce. These are the EI Dorado It is not an easy thmg to kindle enthu- regions of the ancients. "Stripped siasm about Protestant work in South of all poetry," says the Report of the American fields, though we do warm United States Government, "immense up a little more readily of late to work mines and deposits of precious metals in the Republic of Mexico. If the do exist in Bolivia, though too remote contact of steamer and rail accounts from highway and habitation now to for this it may not be long till we have be explored." largely similar conditions with the more southern States. The Director of the United States 1tfint said that under favorable cir- "Ve cannot enter into the political cumstances Chili, Bolivia and Peru question of the duty of the govern- might add fifty million ounces of silment to improve our ocean highway ver to the world's stock annually. conditions to South America; but, " Every spade that turns the clod rethat aside, the overland communica- veals the silver" in the basin of the tions are, prophetically at least, in Cerro Pasco in Peru. The region sight. At the risk of dropping some through which this proposed road of our readers at this point, we ven- would pass, when the other twoture to present something about the thirds are completed, yields even now, When a body as representative as apart from gold and emeralds and that sends out a manifesto, it should, diamonds, six hundred million dol- at least, secure the attention of the lars' worth of commerce annually. Christian public. It deals with some of the more recent criticisms on Mis- With the celebration in 1892 of the sions, and we may assume it, therefour hundredth anniversary of the fore, to be of wider interest than the discovery of this continent, we will circle of patrons of those specific be face to face with problems of pro- missions. They first emphasize the foundest importance in reference to fact that India is not one, but many this Western Continent. Whether we countries, with many languages and are to have a World's Missionary Con- an extensive literature, but partially ference at that time does not yet ap- explored. Omitting Moslems, the bulk pear, but that the Protestants of North of the population about Madras as a America ought to face calmly at that center are non-Brahmanical. But time the question whether the Ameri- Brahmans have grafted the Hindu cas are to be evangelical, we do ear- caste system on to Dravidian ancient nestly believe. It is sad to think of tribal systems. After describing modthe multitude to the south of us, weary ern Hinduism (the indescribable) they and sick with Popery and Jesuitism say that with the people about them to the edge of revolt against all truth, all thought is contemporary, presentand certainly against all ecclesiasti- ing an epitome of all thought, ancient cisms. This four hundredth anni- and modern, that of the West with versary ought to see the broadest and that of India 2,000 years ago. The best minds of Protestantism ready old social order has been infracted, with great schemes for the religious and hence disturbance and disintegrauplifting of those Republics, whether tion, and a social freedom without by missionary or merchant, by teacher, internal standard. Altogether they mechanic or farmer. A great upris- are in the midst of intricate condiing might be inspired, and a move- tions, and feel called to every possible ment organized for aggressive work. sacrifice. They then name the forms Hundreds of Protestant mechanics, of missionary agency which they Use. we are assured, can find a field where they may make a good living and find They venture to defend such of opportunity to help evangelize those these measures as have been recently lands. A council of eminent leaders and widely criticised. They say of should prepare for at least an Ameri- Higher Education that "the withcan Missionary Conference in 1892. drawal from the mission field of this agency, which, after all, absorbs but a Missionaries Answer the Oritics on small fraction of our numerical Mission Economy. strength, would leave a blank, for the filling up of which no hostile critic The Missionaries of the several Pro- has yet made any practical suggestestant churches in Madras, India, tion." have sent out "An Open Letter to the Churches," which is signed by four Referring to the question of Missionmissionaries of the Church of Eng- ary Economies, they say the salaries of land Society, four of the London So- European Missionaries have not been ciety, six: of the Englis~ Wesleyan, six questioned in India, and they think of the Free Church of Scotland, three them fairly reasonable, no class of Enof the Church of Scotland, one Ameri- glishmen, not even artisans, receivcan Baptist, two American Methodist, ing so small allowances as Missiontwo Danish Lutheran, nine represent- aries. ing'the Madras Christian College, and one the Bible Society-38 in all. • The Salvation Army has been much lauded as illustrating greater pOSSIble economy in the conduct of Missionary opportunity to acquire language in so work. They say the results of the brief a period. The number has been Salvation Army labors are not tabu- terribly reduced, and the wear and lated, and hence a true verdict cannot tear of their way of living is largely be hoped for; but in their part of In- responsible for this. Their very plan dia the Army has not been successful. of operations increases health and life It has swelled its ranks from converts risk, and affords no corresponding in- of other churches, many of whom crease in efficiency, have returned to their old fold. It has They refer next to the Roman Cath- only labored where other Missions olic priest as a missionary model.
had planted themselves. They have The rate of increase for these missions found it easier to appeal to Christians has for twenty-five years been lower than to Hindus for support, and have than that of the Protestant missions.
diverted funds from other Christian The Protestant Church is not ready work-only the merest fraction of to insist that all its missionaries shall their support has ever come from non- be celibates. In<Ea has had enough Christians. The Army has carefully of asceticism according to prescribed avoided districts where no missionary Hindu rules, unless it should appear work is done by others. in the form of a great Hindu reformer.
Nor have the agents of the Army To Hindus generally, Western men g-ot into greater sympathy than others will not appear to be real ascetics, but with the natives. The text of the manufactured and spurious. More- letter on the matter of Europeans over, there is nothing Hindus corre- adopting native dress runs as follows: sponding to the Christian home, in .. For at least two cellturies. the Englishman which woman fills her place of honor, has been a familiar figure In India; to this gen· and where unity and affection dwell eration he ill! now almost as familiar as the Mus- together. Nothing is more necessary Bulman. To HinduB, his dress seems to be even and instructive to Hindus than the attractive. While no Hindu dreams of adopt· exhibition of that family life which is ing the Mussulman costume, thousands of Hin.
dus are now adopting the English dress. It is the rich fruit of Christian faith. Of impossible, therefore, that what is familiar and course, the other phase of an economiattractive can at the same time be specially reo cal agency implies that cheaper men, pellant. All who know anything of human na· men of less intellectual furnishing, ture will agree, that not by a particular dress, but by intelligence and true sympathy do we even of less moral endowment, may find access to the hearts of men. Soul must be used, that the standard of the mistouch soul, and eating curry and rice with one's sionary force might be lowered. Refingers and weaJ.ing long hair are poor substi. ferring to this, the open letter says: tutes for a. knowledge of the language and "Outer conditions will adjust themthoughts of Hindns."
But, after all, can there not be a selves and will never hinder mission- cheaper agency employed with ad- ary work if the agents supplied by the vantage in the mission field? That is churches are what they should be, l't current question. Multitudes of and here we earnestly plead that the thoughtful friends of missions are standard of attainment and efficiency asking that question. Does not the be maintained among all Europeans Salvation Army prove that? This who come to India as agents. If it be " open letter" replies that the cost of lowered, nothing can be gained, but its European agents in India has never . much may be lost. Imperfectly been made known. The number of equipped Europeans can only take a deaths among them is exceptionally place as the rivals of imperfectly large. The number disabled by sick- equipped native agents, than whom ness is very great, as compared with they will be more costly, and-less other missions. The average stay in effective."
India is very brief. They have little They say they need a class of native agents more highly trained than any lem by living as the Chillese live, eating their they yet have had. They appeal for food as they cook it, sleeping on their k'ang men to reach the thousands of Hindus beds. and very closely imitating their mode of who have been educated in schools life; but a part of these, at least, having decided and colleges, more or less acquainted that nothing is gained by such a life, and that with Christianity, and who have im- health and fitness for service are endangered bibed some of its moral thought, but thereby, have returned to a more Western man- 'who have not found the path to true Der of living. Simplicity is not imitation. We light. They wish, too, for some few are not Chinese, and no amount of imitation men of learned leisure to produce will make the people think we are." a Christian literature in the vernacular. "Year by year," they say, "the The other writer discusses the quesreading public increases, as does the tion of lower-salaried, and thus a less demand for Christian literature; but expensive, even if a less furnished miswe cannot give them the best, as we sionary agency. He does not think ought." that the nllssionary who uses the smallest amount of money is there- They say it has been matter of re- fore the cheapest agency. gret to them" that the criticism rece~ly bestowed on Indian missions so .. Commercially, the investment that brings in much has referred only to details of the largest proportionate returns-the largest secondary importance, and so little to percent.-is the cheapest_ So financially, and the essentials of the missionary prob- every other way, the missionary that accomlem." plishes the largest amount of efficient results is, as a rule, the cheapest. By' efficient results' They close their "open letter" say- is meant living, active, self-propagating ing: "The progress of Christianity is churches, a wise and earnest native ministry,etc. that of 'the truth as it is in Jesus,' The missionary that accomplishes nothing is breaking the spell of an antiquity not only expensive, but a •dead capital,' though which overawes, and scattering a he were to use only 100 Mexicans a year J while manifold error which has long bewil- one using 5,000 in successful work may be the dered men. And because we know cheapest." that here in India the battle is the Lord's, we rejoice in the certainty He affirms that sbtistics prove that that the victory is His also. And all the man or the Society that works flesh shall see the salvation of God." with least proportionate expenditure, reaches the least proportionate results, And now we have two other per- and that nine-tenths of the efficient resons discussing these features of mis- sults in China have been from Missionsionary economies in China whose aries who live comfortably, from their views are set forth in The Chinese own national standard of comfort. Recorder, the first we give being a There is little economy in a merely strong advocate for the simplest possi- numerical increase of missionaries. A ble style of living for missionaries, so few well-trained, suitably cared for, as to destroy the impression that mis- able to create and direct a native force, sionaries are lovers of good living, and are cheaper than many of the cheaper so as to avoid a style of living so far sort trying to do the work themselves. beyond the reach of the people as to It is on the line of this power to create arouse their cupidity rather than fur- the middle man, the efficient native nish them an example. But even tIllS force, that, he says, "comparatively a advocate of simplicity says: very small number of the number of foreign workers now in China have .. Living <u rimply as the average teacher or accomplished very nearly all the efmerchant, does not mean that we live as they ficient results so far. It is a notorious do. The former is practicable; the latter is im- fact that several of the smaller practicable, and, therefore, unwise. Some very societies have done some of the best earnest men have endeavored to solve this prob- and largest work."
He fortifies this position by quoting from Rev. John Ross, of Manchuria, speaking at the London Conference: "Let all the missionary societies manned, but is now in the same position as pick out, not as many men as they can find, but pick out a few, choice in Loando, awaiting good workers to man it. all respects, spiritually, mentally, in- tellectually, physically-let there be a Nhangupp<po.-From Dondo we .. take it few choice men, let these train the natives, and the natives will do the afoot" fifty·one miles over l1i1ls, monntains and work. It seems to me that this is the only way you can get the work vales, by the old caravan trail of the ages, to properly done." Nhanguepepo Mission station. Our property Bishop Taylor's Industrial Missions. there is worth about $6,000. It was deSigned Bishop William Taylor sent an ex- tended report of his work in Liberia, to be 8. receiving station, in which our new- and also in Angola, and in the Congo country. We condense the latter por- comers might be acclimatized, taught native tion of it, as this mission has attracted a good deal of attention and been the languages, and prepared for advauce work. subject of considerable criticism: Under the superintendency of Brother Withey Mamby.-Two days above Congo mouth we land at lIIayumbo, and proceed in boats seven- a great preparatory work has been done at this teen miles up an inland lake to Mamby, where Mi.s Martha Kah is stationed. When we settled station. It has, however, become specially a there it was in the bounds of the" Free State of Congo," but later the published decrees of the training school for native agency under the Berlin Conference putit under the wing of the French government. The French authorities leadership of one young mau of our first have recognized and registered our native title to 100 acres of good land, and are not unfriendly party from America, Karl Rudolph. We to US by any means; but .. by law" forbid us to teach any languag6 but French. Good has already have an organized Methodist Episcopal been done at Mamby, and is being done. Ow· ing to this disability, we have proposed to aban· Church at this station, composed of thirteen con- don it, but Martha Kah is entirely unwilling to leave, and as it is our only footing in French verted native men and boys. The work of each territory, and as they hold a vast region, peo- pled by numerous nations of African heathens, day is distributed; two of our boys called" pas· we have thought it best to hold on to Mamby. tors" have the care of about 100 head of cattle Loanda.-Passing the mouth of the Oongo River, we proceed by steamer over 300 mUes to belonging to the mission. Several boys are the beautiful land·locked harbor of St. Paul de Loanda. The Portuguese town bearing that taught to yoke and work oxen in sled or plow; name has many massive buildings. includillg churches in ruins, dating back over 300 years. several boys bave learned to be stone-masous,. It has an estimated population of 5,000, a few hundred of whom are Portuguese (one English and when I was there last were engaged in house of business), the rest being Negroes. From the beginning we have had adequate self· building a stone wall around the cattle" cor· supporting resources in Lo..nd.. from the Portu- guese patronage of our schools, and have now, ral." One boy is trained to business in the lit· but at present we lack the teaching corps requis· .; ite. tIe store. .
Dondo.-From Leanda we proceed by steamer Pungo Andongo.-Pnngo Andongo Station has oisixty miles" south by sea, and cross the bar into the mouth of the Ooanzo River, as large a8 the cro.sed the lines of sustentation and of abso- Hudson, and ascend 180 miles to Dondo, at the head of steamboat navigation. Dondo is a noted lute self-support, and is making money to open trading center, and has a population of about 5,000, mostly Negroes. We had a good property new statious in the regions beyond. in Dondo worth about $5,000. Its school work and machine shop were self-supporting when Malange.-An onward march of sixty·two miles brings us to Malange, a town of probably 2,000 population, and noted for its merchandise. Our people there are Samuel J. Mead, P. E ,"his wife, Ardella, retined, well educated, and a tine musician, at the head of our school work.
Willie Mead, head of the mechanical depart-.
ment; his wife is especially engaged in teach iug missionaries. Robert Shield, a young mis~ sionary from Ireland, who was brougl1t up at home for a. merchant, runs a small mission store at Malange, preaches in the Kimbunda, and has a growing circuit extending among the villages of the surrounding country. Uur na- tive Church, organized at Malange at the time of my visit, had" the number of twentY'one, all probationers, of course, but baptized and saved. Our property at Malange is worth prob- ably i6,~00. Samuel J. Mead has charge of a big farm, and making it pay. Brother fillie trained four native men to run two pit-saws, and in the last year or two has turned out $1,500 worth of lumber, which sells for cash at the saw·pits. These meu are also preachers, and preach several times each week in the Por~ tuguese language. In labor, money. and build· ing material, they have recently completed a new two-story mission house and other mission improveonents, amounting to an aggregate cost of $1,200, without any help from home.
LulU<.lburg.-From Malauge a tramp of 1,000 miles northeast will bring Us to Luluaburg, in the Bashalange ·country. discovered by Dr. Pogge and Lieut. Weismann in 1883. Th-: ..tot yet built a mission bouse in Pluky. Miss Governor-General of the independent State of McNeal teaches school in a native bonse in the Congo, at my request, gave to Dr. Summers. midst of the town, and preacbes on Sabbath one of our men from Malange. permission to days under tbe sbade of a bread-fruit tree.
found " station for our mission at Lnluabul'g. Her scbool house is crowded, and sbe has six of which he did, and built a couple of houses bel' boys and three girls converted to God, wbo on, it, and was making good progress when be testify for Jesus in bel' meetings, and belp her became worn out by disease and died. I bope in bersonl-saving work. Probable value $800, 80011 to send a suceeSBor to dear Dr. Summers. in land. Miss Barbara Miller assists her tem- Kimpoko.-From Luluaburg a week of foot porarily, but her specialties are kindergarten traveling northwest will bring us to Lueba, at and mllsic, awaiting tbe opening of the tbe junction of the Lulua and Kassai rivers. academy.
Tbence, in a little steamer descending tbe G'araway.-Twenty miles nortbwest of Cape Kassai river about 800 miles, we sweep through Palmas. Miss Agnes McAllister is in cbarge of U Qua mouth·· into the Congo, descending tbe station, and Miss Clara Binkley bas special wbicb 70 miles we will tie up at Kimpoko, near cbarge of tbe educational department, botb the northeast angle of Stanley Pool. We. working togetber as missionaries. Aunt Rachel, opened this station in 1886, designed as a way a Liberian widow woman, runs the farm and station for our transportation to tbe countries produces indigenous food enougb to feed two or of the Upper Kassai. At Kimpoko we made an tbree stations. This is a station of great irrigating ditch a mile long, drawing from a promise. Probable value, $1,200.
bold mountain creek an abundant supply of Matumba.-One hundred miles by steamer water to insure good crops at all seasons. We down tbe Congo to Banana brings us within an have there about ten acres ,under cultivation, hour and a half by cars of our mission station and grow in profusion all tbe indigenous food at Matumba. Miss Mary Kildare, a superior that we can ll.I!e. Brotber Burr, who is our pre- teacher, linguist and missionary, is our sole oc- siding elder at Kimpoko, writes that Kimpoko cupant of the station at Matumba. I bougbt of has been nearly self-sustaining from the be- the government nearly ten acres of good ground ginning, but entirely 80 since the beginning of there for nearly $120, baving previously bought this year. They are building a new mission- the native title. We bave a comfortable little bouse this dry season, about 15×80. In tbis bouse of galvanized iron, 22×24 feet, set on pil- work they may require a little help-a rew bales lars six feet above ground. Tbe bouse is divi- of clotb from borne. At a low e,timate our ded into two rooms, 12 x 12 feet, and a ver- property in Kimpoko is worth at least $1,000. anda 12×124 feet, enclosed by balu.trading and Manyanga.-From Kimpoko we go by oars or a gate, and is used for schoolroom. She bas steamer twenty miles to the lower end of Stan- now a scbool of twenty scholars. Sbe does her ley Pool at LefYjJoldville. Thence by foot 100 preacbing mostly in the villages; tbe bouse is miles to South Manyanga (which is called the in an enclosure of nearly an acre~ surrounded Nortb Bank route; by the Soutb route we walk by a bigh fence with strong gate wbich is locked from Leopoldville 231 miles to Matadi or Lower up at 9 P. 111. daily. Itook her recently a box of Congo), Liberian coffee seed, which she has in a nursery Isangila.-From Manyanga we go by a launcb growingbeautifully, and sbe bas a fruit orchard of three or four tons capacity, propelled by oars coming on.
and sails and currents, 88 miles to Isangila. We Our property at Matumba is wortb $1,000.
bave bad a station at IsangiJa for over two years, We, two years ago, started three stations be- on which we bave built good native houses, but tween Vivi and Isangila-Vumtomby Vivi, Sadi bad not bougbt the site of the Government till Kabanza, and Matamba. We built pretty good my last visit to the land office at Barna. The houses at a total cost of $30, not counting our site, containing 7Yz acres. cost us nea.rly $80. A labor.
good garden spot. Ollr bretbren dug a yam Since tbat, Brother Reed and wife and from their garden in Isangila when I was tbere Brotber Bullikist, very good people, sent out by a few weeks ago, which weighed twenty-two Dr. Simpson, of New York, have opened a pounds-more wholesome and delicious if pos- station nearly midway between Vnmtomby sible than Irisb potatoes. Our paying industry Vivi and Sadi Kabanz.., so when we get ready tbere will be in the transport line of business. to go out to found new stations, we sball prefer, instead of resummg work at those vacated, to • As our Vivi Station is at tbe higbest point of small steamer naVigation, so Isangila. is the go into the more populous regions of the inte· lowest point of the middle passage of the Congo rior. The Congo State bas a strip of country from Isangila. eighty-eight miles to Manyanga. densely populated, 100 miles from the north Our site at Isa.ngila_with improvemeuts 19 worth bank of tbe Congo, and extending from Banana $300. 250 miles to Manyanga, all unoccupied and open Pluky.-Across Hoffman river, from Cape to U~. except a few new stations near the Congo.
Palmae, is the beginning of our h.ru Coast line So God is opening a vast field for us 011 the of stations. Miss Lizzie McNeal is the mission- Lower Congo as well as on the Upper Congo ary. Though two years in the station, we have and Kassai. Death of lIfissionaries.-The list of writer that those societies who print eminent dead has been lengthened of full and succinct accounts of their late by the addition of missionary work in a variety of forms, and keep- names. ing the same 'steadily available to outsiders as well as their own sup- Mrs. SarahB. Lansing, wife of Rev. porters, become most fully established Julian Lansing, who for the past in the public confidence, and ulti- thirty years has faithfully labored as mately command the fullest support. a missionary in connection with the It is quite curious to watch the filter- United Presbyterian Mission of Egypt, ing process which goes on from these has deceased. She was born in 1820. prints, larger or smaller, through the She was a sister of the Rev. Dr. Dales, press and public assembly. of Philadelphia, Corresponding Secretary of the United Presbyterian Board -Now that the Christian world is of Foreign Missions. In her mission depressed, if not discouraged, by the work she has suffered many hard- entire collapse of England's policy in ships, and at one time, while at the Soudan for the suppression of the Damascus with her husband, had to slave trade, by extension of the Kheflee for life under persecution. dive's jurisdiction from Khartoum to the Central lakes, it is with peculiar Rev. C. W. De Heer, of long service interest and some fresh hope that we in the Gaboon Mission of the Presby- learn that the Sultan of Zanzibar has terian Church, died at Clifton Springs, published a decree that after Novem- N.Y. ber 1, 1889, all slaves entering his dominions shall be declared free; and The Methodists of India have been that after January 1,1890, all children sorely stricken of late in the succes- born of slaves in his dominion shall sive loss by death of Dr. McCoy, of Cal- also be free. A single generation will cutta; Rev. Mr. Gray, of Singapore, thus see the end of slavery in this and also Mrs. Rudisill, Mrs. Winter greatest of slave centres. The Arabs and Mrs. Hopkins. in Zanzibar do not seem to have waked up to the effect of these two edicts on The Church of England mourns the slave trade. the death while she rejoices in the life of Bishop Sargent. He was sev- -At the meeting of the Anti-Slavery enty-four years of age, and furnished Conference in Brussels the Belgian another illustration of missionary King said he felt hopeful in regard to longevity, he having served fifty-four the steps now being taken for the supyears in India. He went to Madras pression of the slave trade, though when barely twenty years of age, and he had little hope that domestic slavery entered the society's service. He has would be done away with for many served in the Episcopacy for twelve years to come. Perhaps not, but the years. On the celebration of his foreign market for slaves can be cut jubilee in the mission he addressed off, and if the foreign market for ivory 1,400 of a Christian community, of were cut off a large motive power of whom sixty were native clergy. the slaver would be destroyed. But, after all, there is a long, tedious task -The General Assembly of the ahead of the humanitarianism and United Presbyterian Church haf' for- Christian evangelism of Europe and mally requested Rev. Andrew Watson, America in uplifting this Dark Con- D. D., to prepare a history c f < their tinent. But it can be done, It must Egyptian Mission to be publishea by be done, and it will be done. It is their Board of Publication. This is being done. to be commended, and the example should be imitated by all societies -The Free Church of Scotland sends whose work is at all historic, even if out a leaflet appealing to the children it be small. A close observation of the subject for years has shown the
ThE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
to aid the Sheikh-Othman slave refuge. Woman's Board. There are five This is the present headquarters of the native helpers in this mission. Keith-Falconer Mission to Arab Muslims. It is a large native village about -A missionary in Korea, writing to ten miles north of Aden, with a fluc- us recently, says: "I hope I have tuating population. The children in convinced you that we have great enthis refuge now number sixty, thirty- couragements in regard to the work, eight boys and twenty-two girls. They notwithstanding all you may have were dragged over three hundred heard to the contrary. The work has miles to the African harbor called not stopped; it cannot stop. Even Tajora, whence they were being taken were we all to leave Korea to-day I in dhows to Arabia to be sold as believe it would still go forward, and slaves, but were captured by a British eternity show grand results from the gun-boat and taken to Aden, and the seed-sowing already done. Just now Government asked the missionaries to the obstacles do seem somewhat fortake charge of them. What is known midable. I want you to pray the obas "The Arabian Mission" of this stacles down, or pray us above them. country, of which Prof. J. G. Lansing, We read in the Book that there is a of New Brunswick, N. J., is an active 'faith which subdued kingdoms.' projector, has decided to co-operate That is the kind we want brought to with this mission at Sheikh-Othman. bear on Korea."
-The Friends Mission at Ramsallah, -We gave a full account in former Palestine, ten miles north of Jerusa- numbers of the Patna case, as it is lem, founded by members of the called; that of Luchnion, the Hindu Friends' Society in England, has re- girl who fled to Miss Abraham to escently been transferred to the New cape the bondage of a so-called mar- England Yearly Meeting, and is now riage, but which in fact was a sale of known as the" Eli and Sybil Jones her person to a life of shame. The Mission. " The General Board and Calcutta Missionary Conference petithe Woman's Society of that yearly tioned the Government of India to remeeting co-operate in this work. verse the decision of the magistrate There is a Friends' Church at Ram- remanding her to this ignominious sallah, and twenty-five to thirty ap- bondage. The Government replies plicants for membership are now that it is unable to disturb the finding awaiting admission. There are five of the Courts in the case, as it was schools, two in the village for boys supported by the testimony. The and two for girls, also a training home High Court acknowledges the wrong just opened, with about eighteen done, but cannot see any "possible jimpils. There are three lady mission- measures that are practicable to undo aries, all of whom sailed from New that wrong." This is a most humili- York since June. Two of these ladies, ating confession for a strongChristian the assistant physician and the teacher Government to make in the premof English, are in the employ of the ises, and the matter ought not to rest here.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY REV. F. F. ELLI1'WOOD, D.D.
The Religions of Ohina. the hills; every store and shop has its In one sense there is no country so little altar with burning incense to the full of religions as China. The gods god of good luck; every house is built and shrines are, if possible, more with reference to geomantic influence; ubiquitous than in India. Gods of the " fung shuay" is consulted in all mat- river, gods of the trees, gods of the tel'S of life; the whole land teems with hearth, gods of the kitchen, gods of the emblems of polytheism. First is TA01TIS!.1. Nevertheless, the Taouist priests have To this system the above named remained as a power in China. The in- liuperstitions chiefly belong. Its tellectual classes would disclaim any founder, Laotze, lived about 500 years confidence in them, and there are few B. C., and was already a public of the laity of any rank who would call teacher when Confucius was born. themselves distinctively Taouists, yet But Laotze's system, which was all classes, high and low, resort to these rationalistic and highly mystical, was professional necromancers on special above the comprehension of the people. occasions, and particularly when in Its ethical standards were pure and trouble. lIen claiming to be Confu- lofty, but cold and censorious. It had cianists are Taouists by turns, and no element of sympathy. Its philos- many costly Taouist temples have ophy was impracticable, as compared been built by the gifts of the wealthy with the precepts of Confucius, and in extremis. Much is given also by its discouraged and disgusted author way of financial ventures, as the god of died at length a voluntary exile in a wealth falls into the Taouist category.
remote western province. Laotze was The whole Joss business belongs to a true philosopher, propounding orig- this system, and it constitutes a large inal theories, while Confucius had lit- element in the practical religion of the tle originalty, but was a skillful com- Chinese wherever they are found.
piler of the ancient observances and CONFUCIANISM.
traditions. No uninspired teacher has " Quong fu tze" was a cotemporary ever taught a more exalted system of of Laotze, though several years private, social and political ethics younger. Attracted by the fame of than Laotze, but his transcendental- the great philosopher, he went to hear ism had little power with the people, him. Bnt there was little sympathy and the virtues which he commended between them. Confucius seemed to were disproportionally of a negative the older and morbidly critical Laotze kind. He feared the effect of general as only an ambitious and conceited education as fostering conceit, and young pedant. On the other hand, civilization as leading to corruption. one visit to the old philosopher seems His only god was reason (Taou), and to have sufficed for his young rival.
the mystical and pantheistic character Confucius gaye his attention to the with which he invested it-its imma- ancient records and traditions, and, nence and indwelling as an efficient winnowing out the abundant chaff, force in all things animate and inani- presented what he considered the mate-opened the way for the count- wholesome wheat. The Ancient less superstitions which now bear the 81100 King he rednced from 3,000mon- Taouist name and fill the land. His ographs to about 350. Unfortunately, successors fell far short of his sublime in his strong leaning toward Agnos- philosophy and his moral purity, and ticism, he is believed to have ruled out only preserved his mysticism as a most of the passages which related to basis for every species of jugglery and the worship of the Supreme Being.
imposture. The all-prevailing " Taou" 'Vhat he sought to establish was a took the form of spirits dwelling in purely ethical system bounded by the Ih'agons, in men and lower animals, confines of the present life. He ig- and even in trees. Certain uncanny nored all that related to the unseen animals are especially regarded as world or to the hereafter. Beginning embodiments of spirits. It peopled with the domestic and social relations, t118 land with elves and hobgoblins. he endeavored to build up society as As a disembodied essence it also ap- a pyramid, with the King or Emperor peared in the vague influence known as the head. The State was his uni- as " fung shnay." verse. In reply to some questions about the unseen world he said: eties of Buddhism. The most popular " We do not know life, how can we form of Buddhist worship is that paid know death." He magnified the re- to Quanyin, the " Goddess of Mercy." spect due to parents and to all ances- She is supposed by Beal to be identical tors, and .that came to be the only with the Avolokitesvara of Northern real worship of strict Confucianists. India and Thibet. Avolokitesvara is His ethics were out of true proportion. a later mythical personage of whom The rights of the father and the hus- Gautama knew nothing. He is a livband were exaggerated even to tyran- ing god, and therefore able to hear ny, if not to the power of life and prayer, while the Buddha is extinct. death. Woman, as woman, was not He is a Bodisat (one who will become duly honored. Only as a mother, or an incarnate Buddha at a future time). the mother of a husband, did she re- When Fahieu, the Chinese pilgrim ceive respect. As such she might even who visited India at an early day, was bea tyrant. overtaken bya stormat seaheprayed to Avolokitesvara for real help: prayers That Confucianism is a mastBrly offered to Buddha are only expected to piece of statesmanship, that it solidifies produce reflex influence on one's own the whole fabric of authority and uni- heart and promote self help. fies all the forces of the home and the social bond, none will deny, but it In China this Bodisat is worshipped is not a religion. Its ethical stand- under the conception of a virgin ards are for the most part high, and princess who won Nirvana, but postall history represents its author as a poned it, and still lives in one of the virtuous exemplar as well as teacher. heavens to bless suffering humanity. This worship is wholly alien to primi- Confucius found his country dis- tive Buddhism, but it is more sympatracted by social and political dis- thetic and seems better adapted to orders, and he confidently offercd his human necessities. i services to various provincial princes as a governmental adviser. His suc- There is also in China a popular cess was not great in this attempt, Buddhist worship of Amitabba, anand he was obliged to be content with other Bodisat, ·.,yho presides over a gathering about him a multitude of real heaven beyond the setting sun. disciples, to whom he taught that The chief hope of the masses is not ethical system which, since his death Nirvana, but a re-birth into one of the and through all subsequent ages, has heavens, or at least into a higher and exerted so vast an influence. more favorable earthly state. The number of those who may be regarded Confucianism is the controlling sys- as distinctiv'ely Buddhists in China is tem of China. small, beyond the limits of the mon- astic orders. Those who are at times BUDDHISM. Buddhists, and who cherish some Bud- dhist hope for the life to come, are This system was introduced from mostly concerned in this life with the India early in the Christian era. countless popular superstitions of Through successive centuries Chinese Taouism. They may frequently be scholars and religionists went to India found consulting' the Taouist jugglers to study its teachings on its own soil. or in the joss houses offering paper The type of Buddhism introduced into money to the god of wealth. China was chiefly that of the Mahayana, known as the Northern Bud- All the religions of China are overdhism, and which was already depart- lapped and blended together, and we ing from the atheism of Gautama and must remind those apologists who are promulgating various theistic doc- anxious to swell the comparative forces trines. of the non-Christian religions, that it China is now said to be the theatre of more than a dozen different variis not good arithmetic to set down the is so much easier to reiterate than to whole population of China to each of investigate and learn the truth. the three systems. Other doubts are raised of a pre- THE PRIMEVAL FAITH OF CHINA. cisely opposite nature.. "Are not the noble Confucian ethics all sufficient A presentation of the religions of for China?" "The Chinese are astute, China would not be complete without reflective, proud of their country and at least a brief reference to that im- their creed, why not let them alone ?" pressive imperial worship which is Thus, from the extreme position that paid by the Emperor in the Temple of all effort in their behalf is bootless, Heaven in Peking. The subject is owing to their depravity, we are carworthy of an extended paper, but there ried to the opposite and contradictory is only space to say that it is believed, assertion that it is gratuitous, as they with apparently good reason, to be a have a philosophy of their own which l'elic of that primeval worship which we could scarcely hope to improve. was rendered to the true God. The Then there is the still further question prevalence of polytheism has not whether it be possible to change the wholly eradicated the conception of religion of a nation so populous and so One self-existent and ever-living God, vast, and whether with all our effort the Creator and upholder of all things. and sacrifice, the total result is not The offering of a whole burnt offering ridiculously inadequate. Yet notonce a year by the chief ruler, as the withstanding all this variety of dark King of Salem was once the " priest of prophesying, China is, perhaps, the the Most High God," seems indeed a most important mission field of the relic of something of which we would world to-day, and lays a larger degladly know more. Drs. Martin and mand than any other upon the faith Legge, two of China's foremost for- and effort of the Christian Church, eign scholars, do not hesitate to regard andespeciallyof the American Church. it as an obscure perpetuation of the primitive worship of Jehovah. Alas! First. In common with the other that it is an imperial monopoly, fm' Mongolian nations, China presents a even the common people often seek very significant claim by its geosomething iligherthantheir basesuper- graphical position. As the Missionstitions. The sailors of the Fukhien ary Churches of Europe look eastward Province, when overtaken by a storm, toward these Mongolian races, they make offerings to the gods of the sea, find a twofold barrier in their way. but when that does not avail, they Russia on the north and the Mohamthrow them all away and pray to the medan powers on the south rise up Supreme God of the Heavens. like mountain ranges to shut them off. An oyerland propaganda seems im- CHINA AS A MISSION FIELD. possible. Russia is quite as impenetra- ble to western Christianity as the EYer since the publication of Mr. Turkish Empire, while farther south, Pumpelly's " Across Asia and Ameri- even to the southern point of Arabia, ca," his example has repeatedly been Mohammedan fanaticism raises its followed in the cheap assertion that formidable barriers. India might find no Chinaman is ever really converted access from the south, but the Himto Christianity. He is too material- alayas rise between. Burmah may i"tic to appreciate spiritual truth, it is one day open a passage, but Burmah said, or he is too crafty to be credited itself is dark. The highway of salvain any profession he may make, or he tion to China is by the sea, and it is is too stolid to be aroused from his straight across the Pacific that our Confucianphilosophy. It is hard to re- path lies open. Yokohama and San fute false utterances of this kind when Francisco -are now separated by less once they have gained currency. It than thirteen days. As in all the lands men and women of a higher past, so now the indications of Provi- type than I met in China, of a finer dence all point westward, and our spiritual experience, of a higher spir- American people, with their wealth itual tone, or of a nobler spiritual life, and intelligence and Christian in- and I may say with conviction that fluence are in the van, or should be, there are in the native churches in of this great movement for the con- China not only the elements of stabil- quest of the Mongolian races. ity, but that steadfast and irresistible Second. The character of the revolution which will carryover the Chinese presents a special argument whole empire to the new faith."
for a forward movement. Like the Rev. Jolm L. Nevius, D.D., who Anglo-Saxons, they are aggressive and has spent over thirty-five years in cosmopolitan. Their industry and China, declares that he has nowhere enterprise reach out over the world. found a higher type of manhood than They are found, whenever permitted is presented by the native Christians to enter, in all North and South Amer- of Shantung, and he has given many ica, in the island groups of the Pacific, proofs of their Christian fortitude.
in Australia, in New Zealand, in Sin- Nowhere in our generation are there gapore and the Straits of 1I1alacca. more striking instances of the genu- They are everywhere remarkable for ineness and self-help of Christian con- their thrift, and in spite of all the hin- verts than in China, considering their drances that can be interposed, this great poverty. In large portions of wonderful race is sure of great future the Shantung Province churches are influence in the world. No other na- almost entirelyself-supporting, though tion is so industrious, so frugal, and, poor to a degree which Americans considering its age, so well preserved cannot realize. As a rule, they have and so likely to continue in power provided their own places of worship.
and influence. Instances such as these are given: Just now China is awakening to a Of a Taouist priest in a country vil- new sense of its latent possibilities and lage, who, on becoming a Christian pressing to the forefront of the great convert, at once began to preach to empires. Moreover, in spite of all that his neighbors without salary, and is said of the deceitfulness of the China- he gave not only his time and man, it may safely be said that the men 'labor, but the principal part of his of no other race are more fully trusted house for a chapel; of a poor man in whatever industry they undertake. who, out of his narrow means, recent- No others are so law-abiding and ly gave a cottage for a school and peaceful as citizens, and that even chapel; of a woman who, though the without the privilege of citizenship. only believer in her village, persevered In places of trust they rival the Jap- till she had secured a Christian school, anese even in Japan. The thrifty in- which grew into a church; of a little dustries of Singapore, and Malaysia, congregation which, upon its organi- and the Sandwich Islands, are largely zation as a church, subscribed upon in their han,p.s. the spot the whole salary of their pas- I Third. The Chinese will compare tor for a year; of an intelligent widow favorably with any other race in their who left her home and went to Peking capacity for strong and controlling to learn more of the gospel, that she Christian faith. This point has been might teach her neighbors. ,Could all abundantly attested. The late Fleming similar annals of the Church in China Stevenson, who had visited the mis- be gathered together they would form sion fields of China in person, gave a large and interesting volume.
the following testimony: Fourth. The numericalresultswhich " I have found nowhere in Christian have been gained in the Protestant missions of China within the last Thibet and its Religion. few years are certainly remarkable, Perhaps in no country has Buddhism and only excelled, perhaps, by those of become so intrenched, no where else Japan. Two years since it was stated has it so monopolized all thought and at the annual meeting of the Ameri- aspiration, or so molded and concan Board that in a single decade trolled the people, as in Thibet. At the number of converts in the dif- the time of its introduction from India ferent missions of China had increased by way of Kashmere-it had scarcely from 13,000 to 32,000, and this ill spite gained a footing before the seventh of bitter persecution on the part of century-the system of Gautama had relatives and friends, and notwith- undergone important changes. It had standing the prejudice created by the drifted from the atheistic position of wrongs and outrages committed by the early Buddhists of India and Cey- lon and had adopted a vague and fan- Christian nations. II tastic theism, at the same time that it had received various admixtures of Fifth. There is great hope for China devil worship and sorcery. It had and great encouragement for mission- developed a trinity of supernatural perary labor in the new order of things sonages, who were destined to become which is fast placing her abreast with future Buddhas, though not until Vestern nations. The railroad and after various incarnations for particuthe telegraph line have come to stay, lar service~ on earth. This proved a national defences are in progress, min- convenient doctrine for the priestly eral wealth will be developed, and magnates of Thibet. It encouraged education is to be encouraged in all the claim now set up, that two of these practical Sciences. The late Viceroy beings are incarnate in the Grand of Canton, in a memorial to the Gov- Lama at Lhassa and the Puntsheu ernment, asking royal sanction for a Lama at Kroshis Lunpo. railroad from Peking to Hankow, The Thibetan King Srong Tsan said: "For China to return to the iso- Gampo, who introduced Buddhism lation of her past is a hopeless task. 622, A. D., was the first to be wor- It only remains for her to assimilate so shipped as a divine incarnation. In much of modern progress as will enable 822, A. D., the second son of the last her to outwit her astute Western com- King of Thibet instituted a bitter perpetitors." He adds: "I was myseff. secution against the Buddhists, and opposed to the introduction of rail- they were mostly driven from the ways at first, but when I came to country. Civil disorders followed till Shanghai and saw the progress possi- the Buddhist missionaries, Atisha and ble, I could not deny the sight of the Brom Ston, regained the best ground eye." The imperial permission has and restored prosperity to the Buddhist been given for building this road, and order. But what proved still more if the conservatists have burned the important to the stability of the sys- Temple at Peking in the hope of scar- tem was the fact that for ages there ing the Government with the supposed has been an alliance between Thibet displeasure of heaven at these innova- and the Empire of China. In the tions, they are too late. The shadow thirteenth century, A. D., Kublai on the dial of the nineteenth century Kahn, grandson of Jenghiz Kahn, is too far advanced. China is open to made the Lama at Lhassa " Tributary the gospel now; it may not be so when Sovereign of the Country and Head she becomes strong enough to dictate of the Buddhist Church," and as a rethe terms of her treaties. She may turn he was officially crowned by the copy the exclusion laws of Christian Lama as sovereign oyer the vast Mon- America. She may rule out British gol E,mpire. Kublai Khan thus be- Christianity with British opium. It is the full hour of opportunity. came a convert to Buddhism, and the practice of polyandry. The Lamas are Lama of Thibet became high priest held in great reverence, and some of or spiritual head over all Buddhists of them are high-minded and good men.
the vast empire including China and As each Lama at death is supposed Mongolia. The Lama was simply an to enter into a new-born infant, whose ecclesiastic invested with these spe- identity great pains are taken to estab- cial powers. The seat of government lish, a long regency must in each case was, and still is a Buddhist monastery intervene, and this is filled by some -the Emperor of China being the real honored monk. The infant when ruler. found is addressed as if, he had just About 1390 Tsoongkapa, the Luther died and risen again. The following of Thibet, came forward as a reformer. is an illustration: He purged out the base alloy of Sakt- In 1774 WalTenHastings, Governor- ism (the worship of Siva and his wives) General of India, sent an ambassador and the low superstitions which had to Thibet. On his arrival, the Lama grown as parasites on a corrupt Bud- to whom he bore messages had died, dhism, founded many monasteries, but he addressed the newly-born suc- and reformed the observances of the cessor as the identical Lama, express- monks and nuns. His influence so ing the Governor-General's sorrow at weakened the supremacy of the Dalai his recent death, and his joy that he (Grand) Lama that, by Imperial edict, had again returned to fill the world his jurisdiction was divided with the with hope.
Pautsheu Lama. Both of these, as Time, that has wrought changes above stated, are incarnations of the and revolutions in the other nations of Divine Bodisatvas. the world, has brought little chang'e Lamaism might, therefore, be called to Thibet, and now in our day systems a sort of theocracy, subject to the of error like Esoteric Buddhism and Imperial Government of China. Ec- Theosophy, desiring to secure the very clesiasticismcontrols and characterizes highest authority for their wild as- everything. The great monasteries sumptions, are deriving that authority are the leading institutions, and their from the Mahatmas or monks of Thi- monks and nuns number thousands. bet. It is contended that there, by The inhospitable character of the long continued meditation and great country and the lack of encourage- bodily mortification, they have ac- ment for industrial pursuits seem to quired the power to discern the favor monastic life. thoughts of others, and that they are An astonishingly large proportion conversant with all that transpires in of the people of both sexes are buried distant planets. It is favorable to in these religious houses. An observ- these extravagant theories that Thibet ing traveler long ago remarked that is so far off, so high up, so snow-coy- this withdrawal of so many able- ered, so unknown. It would seem to bodied men from active pursuits is be one of the most difficult strongholds compensated by the fact that no army from which to dislodge a hoary system is necessary for defence, and there is of error. Buddhism in Japan is worn too great a torpor in both the people lightly by government and people.
and the spirit of their institutions to Buddhism in China is only a guest of think of conquest. There is little soil the nation, though having strong fol- to cultivate and no market for manu- lowing among the lower classes. The factures, and why not spend much of more intelligent resort to it only in the national strength in meditating on time of trouble. Buddhism in Siam the law of Buddha? is regnant and strongly entrenched, Population is kept down not only but not so deeply seated as to exclude by monasticism, but also by the s~range a liberal spirit. Siam is an open and,
EDITORIAL NOTES OX CURRENT TOPICS
so far, a welcoming mission-field. But Some encouragement has been met Thibet has little contact with the na- with by the faithful and self-denying tions, and is not touched by the spirit missionaries, and though the fruits of the age. Yet even Thibet has not are meagre tJ:1ey have no thought of been despaired of as a mission-field. retreat. They have translated por- tions of the Scriptures into Thibetan, The Moravians, whose province it and at two stations they have printing has been to enter inhospitable fields presses at work in mUltiplying copies which no others were likely to choose, for the use of the people. Rev. A. C. established a mission in the lofty Thompson, D.D., in his admirable mountain town of Keyelang in 1856. book on "Moravian Missions," says, They experienced great difficulty in very justly: "Seldom have Moravian reaching their chosen field, and when laborers had a severer trial of their settled at last they found themselves faith and patience than amid these at the great height of 10,000 feet strongholds of Buddhism. But in that above the sea. Dark skies, almost dreary , Dwelling of Snow,' near the perpetual snow, except in narrow headwaters of the Indus, the Sutlej valleys, scanty vegetation and general and the Ganges, they have enkindled gloominess and sterility are thenatural a beacon light; they are occupying characteristics of the country. The advanced posts and preparing a base pessimism of the Buddhist faith seems for movements into Thibet proper, and well suited to the general environ- into China from the west." ment.
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
The Need of Oaution. last, wholly an individual work of faith, looking for support to no other In view of censure, already noted in orgauization, nor to any system of these columns, as rather freely applied solicitation of funds, public or private. in a certain quarter to a work of evan- It seems, therefore, to be in no proper gelization among the Jews which has, sense the "mission" of any other enjoyed the confidence of the Christian body, to which a' detailed account of ministry and people of all denomina- proceedings would be due; nor yet in tions in this city for a number of such a sense a child of the Christian years past, we have availed ourselves public at large as to invite an account of information from a disinterested of that sort, which might be thought source in which we have confidence, to savor rather of uncalled-for ostento the following effect: tation than of duty, precisely as it would in the case of a~y other of our The Hebrew Christian Church in city churches. Nevertheless, all con- St. Mark's Place, of which the Rev. tributions have been publicly acknowl- Jacob Freshman is pastor and founder, edged in detail, and the general dishas been organized about eight years, position of them explained in the during which it has steadily grown Annual of the church and in the quarup from the feeblest of beginnings to terly issues of The Hebrew Christian. an effective centre of evangelization, Contributions have thus been classed not only in this but in other cities of in three kinds: (1) All collections and this country, in Paris, and even in donations, not expressly otherwise Jerusalem itself. Although enjoying d3signated, have been devoted to the advice and sympathy of other church and missionary expenses, exchurches, through an invited Commit- clusive of the support of the pastor; tee of leading pastors and laymen of (2) such donations only as have been the several denominations, who have never ceased their fraternal interest ,expressly designated for personal use in its affairs, it has been, from first to have been appropriated to the necessi- tions towards reducing the mortgage ties of the pastor, leaving him wholly to a small encumbrance. J. M. S. dependent on the providential response to faith, without salary or visible We rejoice to see that Senator Mormeans of support, and subject at times to severe trials; (3) contributions des- gan, of Alabama, has introduced a ignated for the building fund, which are at once turned over to the bus- bill instructing the Committee on Fortees of the church property, for the extinguishment of the debt thereon. eign Relations to ascertain and repOlt To these may be added a fourth fund, now closed, 'which was confidentially the best methods for increasing trade contributed for Mr. Freshman's recent missionary journey to Jerusalem, re- and commerce between the Congo sulting in the establishment of a branch mission in that city under the Free State and the United States, and charge of a Hebrew Christian convert, supported by the little church in St. the obstacles, if there are any, in the Mark's Place and its friends. Further, concerning the accounts: to the trus- way of such trade and commerce and tees, who are men of well-known and high Christian standing, and also to other intercourse. The resolution is the distinguished clergymen and laymen who constitute the advisory com- timely, in view of the statement that mittee, full' and systematic book accounts are understood to be ahvays the United States did not formallyacopen, including the detailed expenditures to which invidious reference cept the conclusions of the Berlin has been made; and auditing committees have made actual examinations Conference, and therefore holds no and published reports thereon. It i~ possible that self-appointed investiga- political or civil rights for its people tors (perhaps unconsciously prompted through the malice of a certain crafty in tile Congo Free State. One of the Jewish Sanballat, or Gashmu) may have failed to obtain a search warrant avowed objects of Senator Morgan is which it would be impertinent to ask. It is well known that the Jewish per- to secure those rights; another is to secutor referred to has exerted himself persistently to undermine Mr. encourage the wealthy and enterpris- Freshman's work, not only by scurrilous articles in the savory columns ing negroes of this country to emigrate of the Truth Seeker, but also by cunning communications to the leading to the Congo Free State, and engage friends of the work, and to editors of religious newspapers, one of whom in trade or in such other beneficial enhas perhaps been induced to listen, in ignorance of the character and mo- terprises as may be open before them. tives of the man. In the interest of commerce and mis- The cost of the church property has been about $25,000, of which $15,000 sions, and especially of the future of have been paid, and substantial prog- the colored race, we hope CongreH>'I , ress has been made by recent subscrip- will rise to the dignity of such a sub- ject, and by prompt and enlightened action afford evidence that it under- stands and appreciates the significance of Africa's present condition, the result of a series of marvelous proyidential interpositions. We cannot but regard the opening up of the Dark Con- tinent by a brilliant succession of heroic explorations and the extension of European gm'ernments over im- mense areas of territory, and the in- troduction of railroads, enterpriHf', commerce and Christian civilization, as shedding light on the" Negro Prob- lem" among us. We earnestly hope that our Government will take a wise and active part in the matter of the Congo Free State, and in all otlwr feasible ways for the benefit of Africa. J. 11. S.
Facts from Mission Fields.
The year 1889 is the fiftieth anni- versary of the martyrdom of John "Villiams. who fell on Erromanga. relating to their own missions, which It is a very remarkable and significant we give from month to month. Its fact that his murderer's youngest son plan of sending out monthly a letter is to-day, as a professing disciple, ad- giving in condensed form the latest dressing crowds in Sydney, New South news from their various fields, is an Wales; and his oldest son, now past admirable one, and we wish other so- 60 years, has asked to be instructed in cieties would follow the example. It the way of salvation, and is now being is, in fact, an advance sheet of fresh taught by the missionaries on Erro- and important news, and the facts are manga the way of life! What hath eagerly caught up by busy editors and God wrought! Truly the "field is given to the public. J. M. S.
the world, and the good seed are the " The American Board Almanac of children of the kingdom /" John Missions" for 1890 is a thing of beauty Williams died and was buried as God's as well as utility. It is crowded with seed, and here is a part of the visible matters of interest and information harvest. respecting missions. It is sent by mail Hayti presents in its past history for 10 cents a copy, $1.00 a dozen, $6 and present condition one of the worst a hundred. Send orders to C. E.
types of paganism. Cannibalism of Sweet, 1 Somerset St., Boston. See our the worst kind prevails. Not simply advertising sheet in January number are human beings eaten, not only are for fuller account. J. M. S.
those who are devoured captives or prisoners taken in war or by violence Our associate, Dr. Pierson, is meet- ing with great success in London and forcannibal purposes, butfamily feasts Scotland. Enthusiastic crowds, fill- ing the largest churches and halls in are held where those who partake ac- Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and wherever he goes, flock to hear his tually eat the flesh of a member of the addresses. He has averaged two or more addresses a day, we believe, family / Children are devoured as a since he landed at Liverpool. In his last letter he says: " Every day is filled delicacy by their own mothers, who with engagements to the 1st of May, and even June if I will consent to reassert and justify their right thus to ap- main." The interest is intense. All ranks and classes and denominations propriate the fruit of their own womb. are engaged in the work, and impor- tant results must flow from it. This is under no pressure of hunger or J. M. S. want. .It is simply a proof of the fact that the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cmelty. An attempt was made by a governor of Hayti to suppress the atrocity by exe- cuting those engaged in such a canni- bal feast, but he was driven from the throne and compelled to take refuge in the neighboring island of Jamaica, the condition of which, under the in- [We have received a letter from an fluence of a pure gospel, is a sufficient aged minister of Christ, in the course of which occur the following signifi- . refutation of the charge that missions cant words.-EDs.] are a failure. These two islands, side " My attention has for forty years been fixed upon those professors of religion who may be by side, are a standing monument of called •average Christians.' They compose a very large part of the Church, and questions the respective influences of the gospel like these have often arisen: Are they Chris- tians? Are they a help or a hindrance to th" and paganism, even when a nominal cause of Christ? Ought not special efforts to be made to reach them for their own sake and Christianity like Romanism touches for the sake of the cause of Christ?
its awful death shade. A. T. P. "I was not a little surprised some time ago to find in Dr. Geikie's • Hours with the Bible" We desire here to express our indebtedness to the Baptist Missionary Union for various missionary items the following very strong endorsement of this sionary MassConvootion of the Northclass (p. 317): ' No career could have been west," under the auspices of the Methmore uneventful than Isaac's, but it showed at odist Episcopal Church, to meet at least that a path of modest retirement may Clear Lake Park in July of this year: honor God as much as one of more prominent "Rev. A. T. Pierson, D. D.: action. Our Lord's authority is vouchsafed for his having passed from earth to heaven at ,, Your suggestion some time ago his death.' It seems to me that there is great that the Church should gather toerror just at this point through all branches of gether an Exposition of 'the Results of the Church. I have no recollection of seeing Missions from all parts of the world, anything published bearing upon it except in and the suggestion of the Spirit of a volume of discourses by Dr. Skinner, en· Missions that at the next World's titled 'Religion of the Bible,' issued about Fair would be a good place for the the time I left the Union Seminary in 1841. In display of such an exposition, ought the first discourse, on 'Spiritual Religion,' he to be acted on, and that without dequotes Dr. John Mason Good as saying, on his lay. Three years would be short death-bed, 'I have taken what unfortunately enough time to gather and arrange the generality of Christians too much take-I the materials. We are 'about to gather have taken the middle walk of Christianity.' the material for a Missionary Museum The discourse which follows is a description of on an extensive scale at Clear Lake, spiritual religion, not of the 'middle walk.' Iowa, for use in our Annual Conven- It seems to me an appeal to average Christians tions. I think that our Missionary urging them to consider the nature and re: Secretaries could be interested in the sults of their religion; might be made that matter and all materials gathered would have a great awakening effect. Just could be used at the World's Fair, and here is one of the chief reasons why the cause then be dispersed to our different Misof missions is not more flourishing: average sionary Centers for continued and Christians regard missions as something which perpetual use. You ought to be able may be passed by without endangering their from your central position to interest standing in the Church or their final salvation. all the Missionary Boards. I would It seems to me, judging from the fullness and like to be informed of the prospect, pungency of your writings on missions, that and would be glad to assist. We could this whole subject must have passed through interest all our missionaries. Let me your mind. An article of yours in the' New hear of the prospect." York Observer' of July 25, entitled' First the Kingdom, 'bears in that direction and encour- A subscriber congratulates the ages me in asking you to put before the Church, editors upon their success during the in the form which seems best to you, an appeal past year, and says: to average Christians. You have the eye and ear of the Church, and can make yourself " You have given us a magnificent heard as few others can. Will you not try i11" magazine. I hope you will be pros- perous and successful in the coming We feel such sympathy with the year. If you would place before us above, that we purpose in due time to for Monthly Concert in tabulated form, the complete missionary forces prepare for these pages an appeal to in the respectiye fields presented, you the average Christian. It is the great would give what is greatly needed. body of the Church that need arous- What the more progressive friends of ing, and that, so far, are doing next to missions desire is not simply their respective denominational forces, sucnothing for missions. Out of a con- cesses, cost, etc., but with their own gregation that numbers from 4,000 to that of all other societies-' the u'orld 5,000, it has been found, by actual in- rather than the society view of the vestigation, that only 386 are known to work." contribute anything regularly to the support of the Gospel! How large then We think our brother scarcely ap- must be the proportion in all Christendom who have no active interest, by gifts or even by prayers, in the great mission work of the world!
We have received the following suggestion from Rev. S. P. Marsh, of Iowa, Corresponding Secretary of the "Mispreciates the imnl>nse labor he would earth," they ,"vould exclaim: "What lay upon our overtaxed shoulders hath God wrought!" That first con- when he asks each month a complete tribution of £13, 2s. and 6d. has showing of each field treated. More- grown to between two arid three mil- over, one entire department of this lions of pounds a year. That cottage REVIEW is given up to the exhibit of is, we understand, still to be seen.
just such facts, so far and so fast as The English Baptists ought to buy it we are able to gather reliable figures. and make it a missionary museum Vould it be wise to encumber our where the relics of idolatry and super- pages with such repetitions? By a stition might be preserved as a witness little careful search in these pages any of what God has wrought. A. T. P.
pastor may collate on anyone field all the figures at our disposal. A. T. P. Asceticism in Missions."
The crisis of missions is evidently [Our editorial correspondent and translator of our foreign magazines upon us, and this seems to be the grow- sends us the following, which also ex- presses our own jUdgment.-J. M. S.] ing conviction in every part of the " I am glad to see Dr. Ellinwood's field. A missionary who has labored sound and healthful paper on Asceti- cism in Missions in the January RE- 26 years in India says: "India is now VIEW. There seems to be setting in a craze for this. But, at home or abroad, ready for our work, and if this crisis asceticism for asceticism's sake is neither Protestant nor Evangelical. is not met by the Church at least two For a definite end, individual or social, it may, like everything else, or three generations will pass before be sometimes eminently serviceable, but to set it up in a vague way as an equal opportunity can be offered." a model to strike people with admira- tion, is really nothing but a particular From Brazil the word comes: "This fashion of " striking an attitude." It is the beginning of all the wretched land is ready; thousands would accept uneasiness and trickery of self-salva- the gospel if they only had preachers."
One writes concerning China: "A thousand missionaries are worth more now than ten thousand ten years from now. As for Japan, it is melted and waiting for moulding. What shall the mould be: Christianity or infidel- ity?" A.T.P.
1892 ought to be kept as a great an- tion.
niversary, and Kettering ought to be " It is a wonder that those who are the place of pilgrimage. disposed to think that it is a source of When we think of foreign missions strength in Roman Catholic Inissions we must not forget that, strictly speak- do not consider that their mission- ing, they are the outcome of the aries are unmarried, not because they present century. It was in 1792 that are missionaries, but only because twelve Baptist ministers met in the they are priests. And as to asceti- little cottage of Widow Wallis, at cism generally, the Jesuits-the mis- Kettering, and formed the first En- sionary order by pre-eminence in that glish society proper for" propagating Church-are, for Roman Catholics, al- the gospel among the heathen." most the least disposed to asceticism Since then what marvelous Iniracles for its own sake. They are ready to have been wrought! What gigantic undergo any amount of privation in strides taken by this magnificent the way of their work, but are very movement! If these twelve men little given to affecting it where it is could come back to-day and see how not providentially imposed. Sim- the little "mustard seed" has de- plicity of living is a Christian and a ,eloped till it has become a mighty missionary obligation. But an affec- tree ., whose branches co,er the tation of luxury and an affecta-
1:;6 QROAXIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
tion of squalor are the two opposite producing, he yet adtls: "To the great evils which the Christian and the mis- laboring, toiling mass of the Indian sionary ought to avoid, although people there could be no more benefi- doubtless he ought to incline rather to cent influence than the daily coming bareness than to sumptuousness. Dr. in and going out among th~m of a Ellinwood's article is just the right Christian missionary and his wife thing. CHARLES C. STARBUCK. and children. To millions of their " Andover, Mass." Indian fellow-subjects the missionary We add a word on the subject from family was the great daily object Sir William Hunter, who is constantly lesson of the Christian life. But referred to as the highest authority on besides these millions there were hun- civil and political matters in India. dreds of thousands of men of a cul- In a recent address before the British ture which demanded another method Baptist Missionary Society he defines of attack." "This certainly," says " Asceticism" as "merely a life of the Missionary Herald, from which quiet self-denial." He speaks of it as we get this testimony, "is a weighty one of the methods to be employed, testimony, and it commends itself to and by no means the sole method. all who hold the doctrine set forth by 'While he bears solemn witness to the Paul, • I am become all things to all ,aluable results which the celibate men that I might by all means save luission brotherhoods in India were some.' " T. M. S.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS. * Woman's Missionary Societies of Oanada. general society. They have a successful work in India-schools and Bible women-but no I. Woman's Foreign Missionary So- ciety Presbyterian Church in Can- statistics are at hand. Income for the year, ada. $5,000. WESTERN DIVISION. Ill. Woman's Baptist Missionary So- Secretary, Mrs. Shortreed, 218 Ontario St., Toronto, Canada. ciety of Ontario and Quebec.
Periodical: Monthly Letter Leaflet, Toronto. Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. H. H. Fields-The New Hebrides; Trinidad, Brit· ish Guiana, West Coast; China, Honan; For· Humphrey, Toronto. mosa; Central India, and Indians of Canada. Ho-me Force-Presbyterial societies, 25; aux- We are obliged to use last year's annual re- iliaries, 4m'; mission bands, 156. Income for port, as that for 1889 is not issued at the time the year, $80,000. we write, and as the society is organized into EASTERN DIVISION. provincial divisions it is not quite easy to pre- Mrs. Burns. President, Halifax, N. S. sent a summary of their work in our brief This division has 9() auxiliaries, 35 mission space. bands, and 4,000 members, and income for the year $6,000. During the year two Presbyterial Field.-The stations in India occupied by societies have been formed and six auxiliaries organized. Fields the same as Western Di- this society are Cocanada, Samulcotta and vision. Tuni. . II. Woman's Baptist Missionary Union of Maritime Provinces. IV. Woman's Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, Canada. Corresponding Secretary, lIIrs. John March, St. Johns, N. B. Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. E. S. Strachan, 113 Hughson St., Hamilton, Onto This society occupies the same fields as the This society is divided into five branches. [* The Home Work of the M. E. C. in our There are 800 auxiliaries, with 7,173 annual and 39Q life members, and 123 mission bands, January number, page 76, second column, 20th with 3,511 members. Income for the past line from top to 32d line, inclusive, got mis- year, $22,806; an increase of $8,285. placed in the make-up, and connected with that of M. E. C. South, whose Home force was This society has work among the Indians, already stated. Please connect it with the the French, the Chinese in America, and previous Society, No. XII.-EDs.J Japan. Four ladies were sent to Japan this past year. They have a very successful board- ing school at Tokio, with 150 boarders. A new school has been opened at Kofu.
Publication department in the missionary Outlook. V. Woman's Auxiliary to the Board N. ,V. Periodical: OurSistersinOtherLands of Diocesan, Domestic and Foreign Missions, Church of England. 14 Paternoster Row, London. '
The headquarters of this auxiliary is To- Fields and Force- China, Swatow, For. ronto. They collect about $15,000, and have a departmeut in the Canadian Church Magazine mo~a, Amoy, the Haka Country, Singapore, and Mission News. No report of distinct work. IndIa, Rampore, Bauleah. No summary of European Woman's Missionary Sooieties, statistics is available. They conduct board- I. Indian Female Normal School and Instruction Society. ing, day and Sunday· schools, and hospital 2 Adelphi Ten'ace, London, W. C. Periodi- work. Income, $3,755. cal: The Indian Female Evangelist; quarterly. V. Central Committee and Church Woman's Association of the Scot- Fields and Force.-Bombay Presidency, 13 stations: Madras, 2; Northwest Provinces, tish Episcopal Church. 9; Orissa, 1; Punjaub, 1. Missionaries and assistants, 63; native teachers and Bible women, ~onvener, Miss H. Mackenzie, 28 Nelson St., 175; Zenanas visited, 1,353. Eight years ago Edmburgh. Office of ASSOCiation, 122 George the mission staff numbered 106, now 238; St., Edinburgh. Periodical: The Jllission then there "rere 26 schools, now 66. Then, Chronicle. total under instruction 1,296; now 4,150. Medical treatment in 1888 given to 9,338 Fields-South Africa and India. That in patients. In 1881 the income was $34,710. In Africa was begun in 1873. and lies in Indepen- 1888 it was $67,885. dent Kaffraria, a district about as large as Scotland; that of India is at Chamba, a dis· II. Ladies' Society for Female Edu- tant part of the diocese of Calcutta. The pres· cation in India and South Africa. ent number of members co·operating with the (Free Church of Scotland.) committee is 3,080, and the annual subscrip- tion amounts to $1,925. Offices of Free Church, Edinburgh. Periodical: Woman's Work in Heathen Lands; qnar· VI. Ladies' Association for the Christerly. J. and R. Pro'lane, Paisley, Edinbnrgh. tian Education of Jewish Females (Church of Scotland). Fields and Force.-India and Africa. In India five principal stations, includiug Cal- Secretary, Miss Tawse, 11 Royal Terrace, cutta, are in Bengal; Western Indian ineIudes Edinburgh. the stations Bombay, Poona, Berar, and Jalno. ~ladras and Nagpore are centres with Fields-They support schools in Smyrna, a variety of work. Africa includes Kafraria Salonica, Alexandria, Constantinople and Beywith Lovedale and other stations, Transkel rout,with missionary ladies at each place, and and NataL a total of 16 assistant teachers.
The grand total of missionaries is 34, of VII. The London Bible and Domeswhich 13 are in Africa; native Christian agents tic Female Mission. number 181; total, 215. The pupils count 6,738, of ,vhich 1,758 are in Africa. Income, Office, 2 Adelphi Terrace, Strand, London, $44,065. W. C. Periodical: Bible Women and Nurses. Cassel & Co., London and New York. III. Church of England Zenana Mis- sionary Society. Besides a large and most noble missionary work in the poorest parts of London, carried Office, 9 SaJisburySquare, London, Periodi· on through Bible women and Bible women cal: India's Women (bi-monthly); Daybreak nurses, this Society operates on some foreign (for young people, quarterly). JaB. Nisbet & fields, but we have no data of that part of its Co., 21 Berners St., London, ·W. work.
Fields and F01'ces-India, China, Japan. VIII. British Syrian Mission Schools Missionaries 105; assistants 57; Bible women and Bible Work. 139; native teachers 368. Over 7,000 children in scbools. Medical work also is carried on. Corresponding Secretary, Bliss Poulton, 18 This year the Society has commenced work in Homefield Road, Wimbledon, London. Peri· Ceylon for the first time. Income 1881, $68,200; odical: Daughters of Syria. Seeley & Co., 1888, $138,265. Essex St., Strand, London IV. Women's Missionary Associa- Tbe mission originated to relieve the con- tion of the Presbyterian Church of dition of the 20,000 widows and daughters of England. the Maronites and Greeks, whose husbands and fathers were massacred by the Drnzes in President of General Committee, I<lrs. H. 111. 1860. The work has been extended and ar· Matheson, Heathlands, Hampstead, London, rests general attention, Fields and Force-It operates at Beyrout, Damascus, Hasbeiya, Mount Lebanon, Code- Syria and Tyre. The Jllount Lebanon depart· ment has 7 stations, making the total of sta· tions 12; foreign workers 21; native workers 120; adherents 920; schools 29; scholars 2,779. The income is $1,120 IX. Ladies' Auxiliary of the Wes- ants, 30; native Bihle women, 55: native school leyan Methodist Missionary So- teachers, 59; boarding and day schools for ciety. girls, 50. They have a normal school for training Bible women at Calcutta, also one at President and Treasurer, Mrs. Lidgett, 69 Delhi. Income, $31, .55. Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath, London, S. E. Issnes quarterly papers. XIII. Church of Scotland Ladies' Association for Foreign Missions, Fields and Force-Europe, Spain, and Italy, India, Ceylqn, China, Africa, South and West. including Zenana Work. It supports 86 missionary workers. The annual report has no su=aries, hence it is Periodical: News of Female Missions. R. difficult to properly present this work. They and R. Clark, agents, Edinburgh. report checkerd success in India. At Negapatam, India, the members of the Hindu Tract Fields and Force-India, Calcutta, Madras, Society have been lecturing and distributing Poona (Zenana mission, orphanage, female tracts, warning their fellows against Christian medical mission), Darjeeling, Sialkott, Chamschools, with only too painful success. ba; Africa, Blantyre. Missionaries appointed in Scotland, 15; in India, 11; native agents, Their income has slightly fallen off this year, 6; male, 76; female, 82; non-Christian, 24; being $38,140, and they close the year with a scholars, 2,522; Zenanas visited, 59; houses small debt. regularly visited, 200; patients at Poona dis- pensary, 2,526. Income, $33,450; the largest in X. Ladies' Committee of the London its history. Missionary Society. XIV. Zenana Mission of the Irish Office, 14 Biornfield St., London Wall, Lon- Misswnary Society_ don. Periodical: Quarterly News of Woman's Work. John Snow & Co., London. We have only the local report of the mission in Gujerat and Kattiawar with the Zenana Field. and Force-China, India, and Mada- Mission before us. It appears from this that gascar. Lady missionaries, 36; wives of there are two missionary ladies engaged in missionaries, 45; schools, 148; pupils, 7,507; educational and Zenana work at Surat, and native teachers,l38; Zenana agents, 114; Ze- one in medical work; als02 assistants and 6 nana pupils, 2,982. Income, $28,760. native Christian agents, and 15 non-Christian teachers. At Borsad there are two mission' XI. Ladies' Association for the Pro- aries. At Ahmedabad there are others; also motion of Female Education (So- a medical mission, and 8 native Christian ciety for the Propagation of the agents, with 9 non-Christian teachers. Anand Gospel). and Broach also appear as stations.
Office, 19 Delahay St., Westminster, Lon· XV. Miss Walker – Arnot's Tabitha don, S. W. Periodical: The Grain of Mustard Mission at Jaffa. Seed Gardner, Darton & Co., 2 Paternoster Building. Hon. Secretary, Miss E. Walker-Arnott, 24 St. Bernard's Crescent, London. Fields-India, following the lines of the Dioceses of the Church of England, including that This simple organization has been in existof Rangoon, Japan, Tokio and Kobe; Mada- ence 25 years. The field is designated in the gascar, four principal stations; South Africa, corporate title, which we give above. The following the lines of the five Episcopal dio- boarding school numbers 60 residents, of whom ceses; Capetown, Zululand, etc., India. Mis- 12 were Javesses, and the day schools 100 sionaries, 45; native teachers, 85; Japan mis- pupils. The receipts last year were $4,825. sionaries, 3; native teachers, 2; Madagascar missionaries, 6; native teachers, 14; South XVI. Helping Hands Zenana Asso- Africa missionaries, 7; native teachers. 4. ciation (Young Ladies)_ Total missionaries, 61; native teachers, 105. It speaks well for the ladies of England, that Office, 42 B. Fulham Road, London, S. W. of these, 12 are honorary missionaries. Publication: It utilizes India's Jewels for pub- lication of its correspondents. XII Ladies' Association for the Support of Zenana Work and Bible The society co-operates with the Indian Fe· Women in India,-Baptist_ male Normal School and Instruction Society at Jaunpore, Benares and Lucknow; "ith the Mrs. Angus, Honorable Secretary. The Col- Church Missionary Society at Brindabun: with lege, Regents Park, London. Periodical: Our the 'Church of England Zenana Mission at Am- Indian Sisters; quarterly. Elliot Stock, 62 ritzar, and with the Ladies' Association of Paternoster Row, London. the S. P. G., and the London ~1issionary Society at Belgaum. The distinct branch, Fields and Force-Stations in India, at prin- known as the Nurse's Missionary Association, cipal cities, 18; lady Zenana visitors, 42; assist- trains as nurses those who wish to assist mis- sions abroad.
1890.J PROGRESS OF MISSIO.TS-lIIO.TTHLY BLLLETIN
VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Afrlca.-The Niger Mission. Rev. W. -A general conference of Chinese mission- Allan, of West Africa, thus summarizes the aries will meet at Shanghai May 7, 1890, and vast changes that have taken place since the continue for ten days. Rev. J. R. Goddard, of Gospel was first preached at Bonny, in Africa: Ningpo, is the secretary.
.. The worship of the iguana is overthrown, -The totals of missions in China are: 39 the priest is a regular attendant at the house societies, 526 male missionaries and 597 of God, and the iguana itself converted into an women; total, 1,123 miSsionaries; 162 native article of food. The Juju temple, which a few ordained helpers, 1,278 unordained, 34,555 comyears ago was decorated with twenty thou- municants in the churches, and 14,817 pupils sand skulls of murdered victims, I found rot- in schools; $44,173 were contributed by the tingawayin ruin and decay. Ipassedthrough churches the past year, and the net increase the grove which was formerly the receptacle in membership was 2,295.
of so many murdered infants, and I found it France.-The Statistics of France for had become the regular highway from the 1888 contain some sad facts respecting family town to the church, and that the priest was life. Compared with 1887 the decrease in mar- now a baptized Christian. I went ashore and riages was 212, while there were 6,360 less than addressed 885 worshippers, including the in 1886. There were 1,702 more divorces than .. king, the three former heathen priests, chiefs, in 1887, and 1,758 more than in 1886; the total and a multitude of slaves, and was thankful number waS 4,708. The decrease in the num- to ascertain that the work of conversion was ber of births since 1887 was 16,794. Since still going on; for. in addition to 648 persons 1884 there has been an annual decrease in already baptized, of whom 265 are communi- births. In 1884 there were 937,758 births ; in cants, there are over 700 at Bonny alone who. 1888, the number was 882,637. In illegitimate are now under instruction. " – Missionary births there is, however, an increase. In 1881 Herald. they were 7.5 per cent.; in 1888, 8.5. In the -In Northern Africa has lately been dis- Seine department 25 per cent. of the births covered a river that has worn a bed through were illegitimate. The official report states the rock 300 feet deep, and then makes a per- that if it were not for the illegitimate births pendicular leap 650 feet, while all around are there would actually be a decrease in the deep, yawning chasms and gigantic peaks. population of France.
-The pupils o{the Huguenot Seminary at -Miss Grant Brown, who with two other ladies lately made a mission tour in Corsica, Wellington, South Africa, have formed the Huguenot Missionary Society, which sends out reports that wherever they traveled they held from its ranks missionaries to labor among the daily meetings which were thronged by people heathen in Africa. The lady principal, Miss eager to learn the truth. The work met with Ferguson, and the other teachers, are all much opposition from the priests; but the earnest' Christians, and seek to lead all the civil authorities were generally friendly, and pupils to Christ. in several villages the mayors offered the use – The Moravians have projected a mission of rooms. In one village three men volun· teered to stand every Sunday in the market on the Victoria Nyanza, but have been unable place, and read the Gospel to their countryto establish it by the lack of funds. Just be- men. There is no Protestant church on the fore the opening of lheir General Synod this island. year news was brought that a legacy of be· tween $25,000 and 30,000 had fallen to the Germany.-According to the Statisti- Church, and it is probable that the work will cal Year Book of Germany for 1889, the latest speedily be carried forward, as the men are data on the religious status of the country are ready. these: 29,369,847 Evangelicals, 16,785,734 Catholics, 125,673 other Christians, 563,172 Deymah. -A Mission School is to be established by Rev. E. W. Kelly, of lVlandalay, Jews, 11,278 confessors of other religions or on the very spot where Dr. Adoniram Judson, professing no religion at all. The Evangelicals the first missionary from America, suffered include Lutherans, Reformed and the United the cruel imprisonment at Oungpenla. Church, .:. e., the union formed in 1817 in Prus- Chlna.-Rev. J. W. Stevenson writes sia and sorne other States between the two from Shanghai: "I am happy to report 27 Protestant confessions; the Catholics include 'baptisms this week, viz., 12 at Gan-ren, 7 at Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics and old Nan-k'ang, by Mr. McCarthy; 3 at Chau-kia· Catholics; the other Christians represented k'eo, by Mr. Coulthart; and 5 at Ning-hai- are United Brethren, Baptists, Mennonites, chau, by Mr. Judd. Mr. McCarthy baptized in Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists.
all during his tour in Kiang-si 66 persons, and Quakers, Irvingites, German Catholics, Free he reports quite a number of inquirers. At Religionists and Dissenters. In 1871 the pro· Chau-kia-k'eo a great fire has devastated the portions were these: 25,581,685 Evangelicals, place, and 3,000 families are said to be burnt 14,869,292 Catholics, 82,158 other Christians, out of house and home." 512,153 Jews, 17,156 of other or no religion. The most noteworthy features of these figures pany did everything possible to keep mission- is that while the Evangelicals and the Catho- aries out of India; now the British East African lics have grown in equal proportions, the Company has invited the Church Missionary number of " other" Christians has increased Society to place missionaries at all the stations in much larger proportion. This is evidence of the company as fast as they are opened. sufficient that the propaganda made by the various denominations of England and Ameri- Italy.-Ten thousand Italian priests cain Germany has not been unsuccessful. This have secretly signed a petition to the govern- is one of the factors that is slowly but evi- ment praying for protection against the tyr- dently surely at work toward the disestablish- annyof the Vatican. They have been prom- ment of the Protestant Church of the land of ised assistance by several deputies, who will Luther. plead their cause in Parliament.
-The Sixty-sixth Annual Report of the Japan.-It is said that there are more Berlin Society for the Promotion of Christian- than 1,000 pnpils in a single, rapidly-growing ity amongst the Jews shows than two mission- Sunday-school in Okayanla, Japan. aries and one colportenr are employed by the Society, and that its income during the year -Results oCa Japanese Earthquake, Ac- 1888 amounted to 25,593 marks 42 pfennigs cording to the official return of the damage (about £1,279), which, with a balance of caused by the recent earthqnake at Kumamo- 46,34i marks 54 pfennigs from 1887, made the to, in Southem Japan, the loss in that pre- total receipts of the year 71,925 marks 1 pfen- fecture alo!le-an area ronghly equal to that nig. The expenditure was 41,219 marks 46 of a medium-sized English county – was as pfennigs, leaving a balance of 30,705 marks 55 follows: 234 houses completely ruined; 239 • pfennings in hand. Pastor Hausig, a former partially destroyed; 19 persons killed, and 58 missionary of the London Soci8ty, is secretary injured; at 893 places there were fissures in of the Berlin Society. the ground; roads were destroyed iu 137 places; forests injured at 17; building lots and – The Gustavus Adolphus Society, to carry cultivated land at 3,336 places, and embank- the gospel into Catholic countries, last year ments at 45 places; 24 bridges were entirely received $230,000, 01' $5,600,000 since 1832. The destroyed and 41 damaged, and the water in society has had 1,444 applications for aid from 138 wells became muddy and unfit for con- Roman Catholic countries. sumption.
Indla.-Perhaps one ofthe most notable Korea_A traveler in Korea writes: testimonies to the success of miSSionary labor "Buddha 'worship, as conducted among Koin India and other countries was made during reans, is a species of idol-worship. Diviners the recent Baptist Union Conference at Bir- walk the streets in the persons of blind men mingham, when Sir W. Hunter, before a gath- lTUh long staffs, W]lO anllounce their pl'esenee ering of 4,000 people, gave his experience of with a peculiar professional cry. Demonmissionary work. He simply dealt with the worship prevails in various superstitious pracnlatter as, to use his own term., "' a secular tices, to ward off disease and other ills of life." man and a layman," and in doing so pointed out that during the ten years from 1871 to 1881 Russia. – Twelve hundred converts the Christian popnlation of India had increased 64 per cent. as compared with the 11 have been baptized in the Baptist Mission in per cent. increase of the general popnlation, Russia in the past two years. The lliission is and that the Indian native Protestant Chris- principally among the German colonists in tians had now grown up into a native Protest- South Russia. There is also a snccessful misant Church, with their own pastors, number- sion in Ronmania and Bulgaria. ing 576, and their own native lay preachers, 2,756 in number. "Missionary work," he 8weden.-The minutes of tile Swedish added, "is one of the greatest and best works Augustana Synod gives 291 ministers, 582 conat present going on in India; it has been rich gregations, 425 church edifices and 191 parsonin results in the past, and is fraught with in- ages, valued at $2,503,304; 74,2,'J4 commnnicalcnlable blessings for the future." cants, 5,935 baptisms, 3,263 confirmations, 288 parochial teachers, and 11,506 pupils. Synodi· -The Mission College at Ahmednugar has cal treasury, $1,526.44; education, $16,414.4f; won for itself such a high place among the home missions, $15,901.63; foreign mission" govemment officials that they have increased $6,60•.39; orphan homes, church extensioll, their grant-in-aid nearly fourfold for a term etc., $27,749_54; congregational expense", of five years. The school for girls nnder the $511,986.40; total, $580,823.58. charge of the Misses Bissell, in their fine new. building, is a busy hive or Christian instruc- -Baptist progress in Sweden is one of the tion, full of hope and cheer. Five new village most remarkable religious movements of the churches have been organized during the year present time. Revivals are constant. In in the vicinity of Ahmednugar, Mr. Robert twenty years the nnmber of church members Hume.being specially active in mission work has advanced from 7,900 to 32,308. The bapin these rural districts." tisms in 1888 were 2,390.
-Seventy years ago the East India Com- -Swltzerland has 1,162 Sunday·schouls, with 5,459 teachers, and 84,000 scholars. Sweden has 3,340 Sunday-schools, -with 15,000 teachers and 220,000 scholars. Austria' has 140 Sunday-schools, with 312 teachers and 4,51!) scholars.
The Missionary Review of the World — October 1889
THE EVANGELISTIC EARL
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XII. No. lO.-OldSerie.._-OOTOBER.–VoL. II. No.IO.-NewBerie..
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. SHAF'l'ESBURY, THE EVANGELISTIO EARL.
[EDITORI.A.L.-A. T. p.] WREN Oonstantine, in 330, resolved to build the New Rome on tht> site of Byzantium, he was himself marking out the boundary lines on a scale of more than twice the magnitude of the old city. One of his followers ventured to remonstrate against so iDl.practicable a scheme as to inclose within walls such an extent of territory. But the founder of Oonstantinople replied, {( I am /ollowinJ Him who is leadinJ me."
When we laid down those two imperial volumes* in which Mr. Hodder has so graphically portrayed the most many-sided life of the century if not of history, we felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of the scheme on which that life's activities were projected. But the coster~ earl built more wisely than he knew. He followed One who led him, and who had for that life a sphere so wide and so varied in its service. The story of such a man is peculiarly valuable at this crisis of history. It illustrates what a single man can be to his own generation directly, and to all coming generations remotely, by simply giving himself to every work in the spirit of a true evangelism. We are reminded of Admiral Foote, who, when the King of Siam came on board his flagship to dine with him, asked a blessing on the food; and when the king said, "You do just like the missionaries," the Ohristian commander beautifully replied, "Yes, I, too, am a missionary."
It is well worth while to glanp~ at this career of an English nobleman, whose nobility was less that of the garter and the escutcheon than of the Ohristian and the universal benefactor. We may learn from it one grand lesson: that he who hallows life with a consecrated missionary spirit and purpose may work out a truly missionary service wherever he goes and whatever he does. Shaftesbury had the marvelous power of· turning every employment and environment into a new opportunity for evangelism. In even so unlikely a place as the Houses of Parliament he preached the gospel. His pen and his tongue were constant tonics and stimulants to the work of missions both at home and abroad. Robert Morrison in Ohina, William Oarey in India, Robert Moffat in Africa, Eli Smith in Syria, Justin Perkins (."Life of the E~rlof Shaftesbury." by Edwin Hodder. 2 vols•• 8vo. London.) in Persia, Adoniram Judson in Burmah, never did a more thorough missionary service than did Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury.
During a public life spanning a period of more than fifty years he was identified with more organizations and measures for the uplifting–of humanitythan any other man who ever lived. Though heir to titles and estates, he found no man so poor and degraded, no child so filthy and repulsive, no place so dark and dismal, as to dishearten him in his errands of mercy. Wherever he went he found existing evils which were a disgrace to a Christian civilization. The condition of the insane patients in hospitals, of wage-workers in factories and mines, of dwellers in tenement-houses and lodging places for the poor, of the outcast population in towns and cities, of bootblacks and chimneysweeps, drew out the sympathies of his soul. But he neither wasted his energy in remonstrance, nor exhausted his emotions in sentiment, but he set himself personally to reform every abuse and to remedy every evil. Michael Angelo cQrrected one of Raphael's mistakes, not by criticising his work, but by simply sketching another wall-figure on a larger scale, and writing over it, "ampUus"-broader. Shaftesbury likewise criticised" by creation rather than by finding fault." And, in all his herculean labors, among the seats of the highest or in the slums of the lowest, one purpose moved him: loyalty to Christ and the gospel.
So absorbed and engrossed was he in his mission for humanity that he seems almost omnipresent. To-night he is at the vagrant's hidingplace, the Victoria Arches under Holborn Hill, rousing the poor sleepers from their damp bed of rotten straw filthy with vermin, and leading them to the Ragged School, to sit by their side and by loving counsel stir in them hopes and longings for a true life. To-morrow, at Exeter Hall, he takes the chair and thrills a host of veterans who are holding a council of war, in the interests of the life-long conflict with human wrongs; he inspires new zeal, kindles new enthusiasm, provokes new emulation. Again he stands in the midst of five hundred acknowledged criminals, without weapon or guard, and calmly and courteously advises them how to get out of the clutches of evil habits and into an honest livelihood. Yet again, in the House of Lords, he draws aside the veil, and discloses to the peers of the realm the actual, factual tragedies enacted daily within a few squares of Westminster Cathedral, or among the operatives in the foremost factories of the land. That tall, pale, thin, careworn man puts his shoulder to the wheel where others would think humanity hopelessly bemired, and instead of waiting for some Hercules to come and help him, lifts with all his might. And that one man carries through Parliament scores of relief bills, in the face of opposition, and what is worse-inertia. He shortens hours of labor, secures sanitary provisions and educational opportunities, better wages, better homes, and whatever else can improve the condition of the poor working-people. There is nothing, near or far, that is wrong, oppressive, unjust, unmerciful, in which he is not personally interested. He does not, like Mrs. Jellyby, look past the misery at his side to dream of some philanthropic scheme in Boorioboola Gha ; nor, like too many other small souls who claim that "charity begins at home," does he exemplify the sordid selfishness that begins at home and stays there.
No wonder that when, as the autumn leaves fell in 1885, his bier stood in Westminster Abbey, a nation wept. Throngs of the common folk leave scant room for the simple funeral cortege to pass through the streets. There they stand-the men with bared head and mourning badge on the coat-sleeve; the women with crape on the bonnet and tears in their eyes; artisans and seamstresses, factory hands and flower girls; they come -from homes, refuges, asylums, tmining-ships, ragged-schools; costermongers and bootblacks, reformed criminals and reclaimed women, stand without. Within the great Pantheon of England's dead, royalty and nobility, dignitaries of church and state, the leaders and the literati, lords and ladies, crowd to pay the last honors to the illustrious man, who, being human, like Terence, counted nothing human as alien to himself. When before was there ever such a burial sceue? where prince and peasant met in an equal sorrow, and where on the same coffin there lay side by side ~he flowers sent by a crown princess and by London's flower-girls!
To give a complete review of such a long and laborious life would consist neither with our space nor our aim. But, if we may get some point of view from which to command the whole horizon, we may get some conception of the bolder, more conspicuous features of an almost limitless landscape; and so we shall seek to discover some secrets of the power and success of this singularly consecrated life, which is perhaps the greatest lesson on missions which the nineteenth century has yet taught us. We incline to emphasize it the more because it illustrates the great fact that the sphere of our service is comparatively inconsequential. Not where we go, but how we go, is the all-im- . portant matter. He who has within him the love of Christ and the love of soul!':, the divine enthusiasm of humanity, the passion to do good, cannot be placed amiss. He will transform any work into a divine ca.lling.
Shaftesbury was a man of one idea. Early in his career he laid down the law which ruled his life, that the English nation's best policy was to declare Christia.n principles the basis of its government and the law of the land. That was his" one idea." He determined, whether that declaration was openly made or not, to regard it as a fact that Britain was a Christian land, and that everything unchristian and inhuman should, at leaFA, g~ I?ol!lvelled to face the light of investigation and exposure. One of the Erskines used to call God to witness that he had done his best to bring on a definite issue between Christ and the adversaries of the truth. Shaftesbury did the same in his parliamentary career. He compelled what was wrong to confront exposure; he tore away every curtain of concealment. He compelled those who claimed to be virtuous and defenders of right to see what was vicious and unrighteous, and then disregard it if they dareu. As Voltaire shamed papal France out of persecution for religious opinion, he shamed even political partisans and demagogues into righting great wrongs. He first went himself to explore abuses; then he set himself to expose them; and, with characteristic intensity, tenacity and pertinacity, he held on to his manly and godly purpose till he wrought reform. He believed in the double power of light-to reveal and heal, to expose and transform; and was confident that life would follow light.
Costermongers especially interested him. They constituted a community by themselves, and the donkey is a member of the family with family privileges. Poor and improvident and untidy, they needed help and comfort, and he called himself a coster, bought a barrow and donkey, and then lent them to those who had none. He mingled with the costers, joined their society, and insisted that, when they communicated with him by letter, they should not forget the honorary titles, "K. G." and" Coster!" He encouraged them to Sunday rest, and by donkey shows and prizes stimulated a wholesome pride in the care of their beasts. The costers loved him; and on one occasion presented him with a fine donkey duly decorated. With rare tact he rose to receive the gift, and, with arm around the donkey's neck, said that he would ask no epitaph beyond this, that "with a patience as great and a resignation as unmurmuring as his, he might have done his own duty;" then, as the donkey was led from the platform, he humorously begged the reporters to state, that" the donkey having vacated the chair, his place was taken by Lord Shaftesbury." This scene of itself is a revelation of the man: his singular simplicity, sagacity, tact, freedom from all lordly airs; his remarkable union of a dignified manhood with a flexible adaptation to his environment, are all here exhibited and exemplified.
The best part of such a life is found in what it stimuZates others to do. In 1861 he plead for an asylum for the middle classes. Thomas Holloway then formed a resolve to found such an institution; and twenty-five years later the" Holloway Sanatorium" was opened by the Prince of Wales. Another of Munchausen's "frozen tunes" had thawed out into the music of action.
Nothing is more important in this life of many-sided philanthropy than the fact of his soundness of doctrine. There is a current impression that laxity of doctrine and the '" enthusiasm of humanity" are somehow linked; that orthodoxy is narrow, unsympathetic, uncharitable; and that it is the liberal thinkers who a,re the liberal givers., Here is a standing refutation of the idea that a man must be a heretic to be a worker for men and a winner of men. The Earl was from deepest conviction an old-fashioned believer, and belonged to the extreme wing of that evangelical party from whom have sprung the great philanthropic movements of the century. His orthodoxy was of no compromise pattern. He held to the total depravity of the human heart, the need of the new birth and of simple faith in the inspired Word and the atoning blood; he believed in prayer and Providence, in the resurrection of the dead and a coming judgment. His theology had three vital points; a divine Christ, an atoning sacrifice, and a coming kingdom. Notwithstanding its unpopularity he believed in the literal return of Christ as the only hope of humanity. To him all things move toward that event. The world cannot be saved by human agency. We may and we must preach this gospel "for a witness in all the world; and then shall the end come." For all this misery "the only remedy is in His r6turn, for which we should plead every time the clock strikes! "
Shaftesbury's identification with the poor was not formal but real. When in 1860 the Ragged Schools of London presented him with their testimonial, he replied that he would rather preside over the Ragged School Union than command armies or sway empires.
Nothing in the character of this superb man attracts more than his habit of discriminating if at all in favor of the most degraded and destitute: To have seen him at St. Giles' Refuge, talking to ragged, barefoot, homeless boys, drawing out from them frank confessions as to their vicious and criminal habits, kindling in them new hopes of an honest and industrious life, and planning for them a way to such a goal-this was to see him at his best. For thirtytwo consecutive years he presided and spoke at the meetings of the Ragged School Union. It was his habit to look at every question from the point of view of the poor and the outcast. The shoeblacks, like the costers, called him" our Earl;" ragged urchins and half-starved gamins during one winter were fed with 10,000 basins of soup and bread, made in his own house and sent to supply their needs. He had boundless faith in the power ofthe gospel to uplift, save and sanctify. In the worst and lowest h(sawa genIi of good that could be made to grow into a heavenly plant.
He was an aristocrat by lineage but a democrat by principle. He believed with Burke that the condition of the common people is the condition of the commonwealth. We may call the great lower stratum of society "the masses," as though it were only an aggregation or conglomerate of dead matter, but these masses have marvelous powers to heave and shake and cleave the upper crust. There the volcanic fires burn and thence the earthquake shocks come: The base of the pyramid is much broader than the apex, but if it be laid in the marsh or the quicksand the whole structure sinks. Sbaftesbury's tastes, like F. W. Robertson's, were with the elect aristocracy; but, like him, his principles were with the mob. His great aim was to lift the common people to a higher level, and, because the only way to find a solid fulcrtlm for his lever was to get down to their plane, he would not accept any honor or office which put them at too great a distance. When, in 1855, Pal- merston urged him to take a place in the ministry of the realm, he answered: "I cannot satisfy myself that to accept office is a divine call; but I am satisfied that God has called me to labor among the poor." Of one-half of bis life that sentence is the key. When again, in 1866, Lord Derby urged him to accept a high office, he said, "1,600,000 operatives are still excluded from the benefits of the Factory acts, and~ so long as they are unprotected, I cannot take office. "
Much of his public work bore directly on evangelism. As late as 1855 he found an unrepealed law, forbidding gospel teaching and worship in private houses where, besides the family, over twenty per- sons were gathered. Under such an enactment any religious gathering, not under the protection of the established church, might be dispersed as an unlawful conventicle! Shaftesbury moved for the repeal of this relic of barbarism. He presented the facts: millions of non-church- goers; all the churches together unable to cope with prevailing immorality and infidelity; the need of using every agency to per- vade society with the gospel; and he showed now if literally construed that law would shut up every Bible class, Sunday school, cot- tage lecture and ragged school, and make the 25,000 annual meet- ings of the Oity Missio)1 unlawful.
Of course he met opposition. Indifferentism said the decree was a dead letter; he replied that a dormant reptile is not dead, and may be warmed into life when occasion serves. * Ecclesiasticism fought him, but he insisted that" permission" to breathe is no more absurd than permission to pray or praise, teach or preach; and that, with no limits save those demanded by public morality or safety, every Englishman . should enjoy his right to worship God when, where and how he pleased.
He was a man of many sympathies. The unity of his purpose was not more conspicuous than the multiplicity of his. labors and interests. If he was narrow at the point, he was broad at the blade. While he was fighting the "Improvement Oompanies," that, while displacing old tenements by newer houses, drove the poor into overcrowded dwellings or compelled them to lodge at a great distance from their workshops or else pay excessive rents, he could originate a sanitary commission in connection with the war in the far EaRt.
*Lord Brougham. Florence Nightingale equally with the sewing girl called llim " our leader." The tortures to which chimney sweeps were subjected in hot, sooty and narrow flues; the sufferings of children while training for the circus-shows; the snares lai'd for the vIrtue of young girls- all these drew out his sympathy. .
Shaftesbury's evangelism was of the individal sort, private and personal. Never did he lose a chance of bringing the subject of religion before either a community or an individual. There are some people who are forever talking about evangelizing the masses, but who never attempt the work of winning souls one by one. Somebody quaintly says that the priest and Levite who passed by the wounded man were on the way to preach to the masses and could not stop to take care of one man even if he were dying.
He protested that in a country where 100,000 souls were every year added to those who had neither church, pastor, nor sacraments, and 500,000 persons were absolutely without any religious instruction, the church that restricted evangelism, nay did not lead in evangelism, would soon die of dry rot, if not by divine judgment. .That sentiment is one text from the Earl's life that might well be cut in stone upon the walls of every church building in Christendom!
Of course such a man took the lead in every effort to evangelize the cities and gather in those who go to no church. He rejoiced when thousands thronged Exeter Hall and thousands more went away un- able to get in,' during the special services held there for non-attend- ants. When the metropolitan theaters were opened for Sunday even- ing meetings, he was there often, Bible in hand, facing the motley throng; and he, like Ezra, "read in the Book of the Law of God distinctly, and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading."* The study of Scripture was his habit and delight. He searched the Word of God and knew how to use it. He was appalled at the prevailing spiritual destitution of the people, and put forth every effort to supply it.
His self-oblivion was the fruit of a cherished principle and a culti- vated habit of self-forgetfulness. He esteemed nothing his own, ex- cept his conscience. To pride he became b.,y simple habit an alien.
He helped a hobbling old woman to his place in the carriage while he mounted the box and drove up to receive military honors as Lord Lieu- tenant of his county; or bent to kiss the little girls who won the prizes at the hllillble flower shows; or went into the worst districts to carry toys to poor little children, or read and pray at the bedsides of the dying.
The Countess was a noble helper to the Earl. He said with tearful emotion that in every crisis of his life when timidity or infirmity • prompted him to hesitate, she always and promptly said, "Go for- "Neh. viii. ward and to victory!" From the time when in 1833, a few years after his marriage, he set before her, and in no rose-colored tints, the career of self-denying service to which God seemed to call him, she never wavered. She bade him follow his dnty, and resign honors of state and comforts of home, yea, even intellectual culture, to place himself on the side of the children of want and woe. And so he did!
One additional fact must be noted. The primal inspiration of all thIs heroically unselfish life came not from his parents, nor wife, but from Maria Millis, a humble nurse, who, before he was seven years old, taught him to pray, to study God's Word, and to love the poor. To her he attributed that first touch that set all the chords of his being vibrating at the story of the cross, and the old watch which she left him as her legacy was the only one he ever wore. When his heart was attuned to such a key, it needed only an occasion to waken life-long harmonies; and that occasion was furnished when, at fourteen years, he saw a pauper borne to burial in a rude coffin by staggering drunkards, who actually let their burden fall, and then cursed and swore. Not a mourner was following the bier, and the thought of flinging It human being into a hole without decency or humanity, simply because he was a friendless pauper, set his heart-chords trembling; and henceforth they never ceased vibrating in that minor key. Just before his death he said, « I feel age creeping on me, and I know I soon must die. I hope it is not wrong, but I cannot bear to leave this world, with all the suffering in it."
Of his activity in promoting the" Water-cress and Flower-girls' Mission;" the" Flower Shows," where prizes rewarded the faithful care of household plants; the reform of lunatic asylums, factory abuses and sanitary science; in espousing the cause of chimney-sweeps and workers in mines and collieries; in relieving the sufferings of the blind, the crippled, waifs and orphans; in fighting opium and Sabbath labor. we cannot speak in detail. His life illustrated the inexorable law of vicarious suffering. The disciple is not above his Mastel', who" saved others; Himself he could not save." His dedication to the cause of the friendless poor was costly; it cost pain of body, and more exquisite pain to his sensibilities; it left on his face the lines of care, it marked him as an old man when yet in life's prime. His was an alabaster flask of ointment very precious, bnt he broke it lavishly upon the feet of his Lord, and of His poorest and least creatures.
Of course Shaftesbury was tL habitual giver. He despised the selfishness that expends itself in ample indulgence and then seeks to atone for a life of luxury by "munificent bequests." He said there is no such thing, but there are munificent donations. He could not keep money in the face of human want, and only his frugal habits kept him from insolvency. He knew no value in money save its power to confer good; and he held that to put it to an unselfish purpose stamps
WILLIAM CAREY. '729
on human coin the image of God and makes it pass current for heaven's own merchandise.
Shaftesbury, in preparing addresses, always followed a few rules. He neither wrote nor trusted to notes. He gathered and arranged '~acts and quotations. By investigation and then rumination he made himself master of his theme and its great outlines, and then trusted to the inspiration 01 the occasion. In the House of Lords, where the very atmosphere stifles enthusiasm and affords no inspiration, he sometimes, though rarely, committed a speech to memory. But he used to say that how a speech begins is of little moment, but not so how it ends; and he often committed to memory his entire peroration. But his life was one grand oration. The golden pen of heroic action, held in the hand of sublime resolve, wrote out its sentences in living deeds. No wonder it was grandly effective. Its echoes may still be heard and will long stir to similar action like the clarion peal of a trumpet along the lines of battle.
WILLIAM CAREY.
B~ JAMES M. LUDLOW, D.D., EAST ORANGE, N. J.
ONE hundred years ago this sign hung over acottage in aNorth- amptonshiro village: "Second-hand..shoes bought and sold. William Carey." Within sat a cobbler, twenty-eight years of age, careworn, burdened with the support of himself and a sickly, half-crazed wife. On a pile of leather chips, the leaves held open by lasts and awls, were books in Hebrew, Latin, Greek and French, which languages he was trying to master. On the wall was a map which he had rudely draw~ and scribbled over with the statistics of the world. Some years later Lord Wellesley, the English Governor-General of India, hearing this man commend his course, said, "I esteem such a testimony from such a man a greater honor than the applause of courts and Parliaments."
The evolution of such a life from insignificant obscurity to worldfilling influence and renown is a subject of study for this age. It was an evolution, not a change through mere environment, for we can detect the germ of that great after-life in its earlier years.
Carey was born in 1761, the son of a poor weaver. His early education was such as, with his marvelous powers of observation, he picked up from men and things. When a mere lad his garret-room was stocked with specimens of bugs and botany. As Solomon in more elaborate address, so the ragged boy whose genius for discovery led his playmates to call him" Columbus," "spake to them of trees, even unto the flower that springeth out of the wall; he spake also of beasts and of lowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes." He devoured the few books that came in his way. For language he had such a natural gift that he learned to read F'rench in three weeks from a French translation of an English work, and that without grammar or dic- tionary. But though a genius, he had no natural endowment of piety. He learned to lie, and once he stole. He was converted at eighteen; married at twenty; cobbled, peddled shoes and studied during the week'days, opened a school at night for those poorer than himself, and preached for the Baptists on Sunday.
There were no foreign missionary meetings, magazines, or interest in those days. But, bending over his Bible and his last, the cobbler student felt himself swayed by the conviction that the church must go to the heathen. At a meeting of preachers he brought up the subject. The presiding officer, as wise as his age in these matters, rebuked him: "You are a miserable enthusiast; nothing can be done before another Pentecost, when an effusion of miraculous gifts, including the gift of tongues, will give effect to the commission of Christ as at first." But the Pentecostal effusion was already in Carey's soul, and it almost took the form of the gift of tongues, such was his marvelous facility for acquiring languages. He sent out from his cobbler shop a pamphlet, which, as it was the first, is still about the best missionary prospectus in the English language. Its chief suggestions were united prayer and a penny a week from every communicant. His genius in putting the matter and his devotion to the idea soon won him some grand friends, among them the distinguished Andrew Fuller. They at once started the" monthly concert" of prayer for missions, which is still observed so largely in England and America. In 1792 Carey preached a grand sermon, a direct result of which was the fouuding of the Baptist Missionary Society. As the chief projector of this grand scheme, the devoted man did not hesitate to offer himself as its first missionary.
He stndied his maps. Iudia, with its hundreds of millions, seemed to be the most needy, and, at the same time, the most promising field accessible, in that the English flag was already there. Fnller eloquently'described the meeting where Carey volunteered. ,. We saw there was a gold mine in India, but it was as deep as the center of the . earth. Who will venture to explore it?" "I will go down," said Carey, "bnt remember that you must hold the ropes." "We solemnly engaged to him to do so, nor while we live shall we desert him," was the pledge with which the little band practically launched the scheme of modern English missions.
Taking John Thomas, who had once been in India, as a medical helper, Carey sailed in 1793. That vast land was then without a ray of clear Christian light, except that which lingered with the reme;nbrance of the German missionary Schwartz, and the glimmers in the homes of certain English army and civil officers. The land was divided between the various forms of Hinduism in its densest superstition, its most horrid crnelties, and the equal bigotry of Mohammedanism. The British influence being that of the camp, the trading station or the political office, showed the vices of Christian lands rather than the virtues of Christian life. The East India Company dreaded the attempt to evangelize the land lest It should awaken the religious prejudices of the people and imperil their gains. Such was the hostility of even English merchants that the missionaries were denied passage to India in an English boat, and sailed in a Danish ship. Arriving at Calcutta, they were not allowed by the East India Company to engage in religious' work. For five mohths they lived in abject poverty. Carey finally went inland, built a bamboo house in a neighborhood infested with tigers, hired out as an assistant in an indigo factory, and while thus engaged studied the Bengali language, talking the gospel in it as fast as he learned the equivalent of the sacred words. He set up in a corner of the factory a rude printing press, to which he was so devoted that the natives thought it was his god whom he worshiped. On this he printed with his own hands portions of the Bible as he translated it.
Able to earn some money in the factory, the self-sacrificing man declined to receive any salary from the friends in England. He soon fell a victim to the fever. His children sickened; one died. The insanity of his wife developed into actual mania. But he worked on without abatement of zeal. Beside his house he built a chapel and preached to the natives, though such multitudes came that they congregated outside more frequently than inside. He visited two hundred villages, everyone he could reach in his boat, which was his sleeping place and his library; for all the while he was studying Sanskrit, the mother tongue of the various Indian languages. He saw that the Bible must be laid beside the Shastras of the Hindus; that it, the divine light, could evangelize India-he could not. This great soul thus faced the immense problem of making himself to India what Ulphilas had been to the Goths, and Jerome to the Latin world, giving those vast millions the Bible in their own tongue. In the meantime the letters of Carey to friends in England electrified the home church with his own spirit. To his personal influence we trace the formation of three great missionary societies: the London Missionary Society, representing various denominations of dissenters; the Scottish Missionary Society, representing Presbyterianism, and the Chu1'ch Missionary Society in the Established Church. Individual Christians, too, caught Carey's enthusiasm. After reading the account of his project, Robert Haldane sold all his possessions, and gave $200,000 to establish a similar work in Benares, which, however, was prevented by the cruel timidity of the secular authorities.
Soon Carey was joined by those grand men, Marshman and Ward. The East India Company not allowing them in their bounds they settled in Danish territory at Seram,Pore. On Christmas day, 1800, after seven years'labor, Carey baptized his first native convert, Krishna Pal, whose hymn translated by Marshman has become an heirloom of aU the modern church: " 0 thou, my soul, forget no more The friend who all thy sorrows bore; Let every idol be forgot, But, 0 my soul, forget Him not."
Krishna was a high-caste Brahmin; he became a gifted preacher, and with his own private fortune built the first house of Ohristian worship for natives in Bengal.
The same year witnessed the publication of the entire New Testament in Bengali, a work which made Oarey's reputation as the foremost of Oriental scholars. The British Government now found it necessary to establish a college at Fort William for the instruction of their own officers in the languages and" literature of India. There was one man only in India, or the world.. if we except Lord Oolebrooke, who could fill its chief chair. Oarey became a professor, but really he became the university. One who had seen him at work writes: "Here was for nearly a whole generation a sublime spectacle-the Northamptonshire shoemaker training the governing class of India in Sanscrit, Bengali and Marathi all day, translating, too, the Raynayana and the Veda; and then, when the sun went down, returning to the society of the maimed, the halt, and the blind, and many with the leprosy; to preach in several tongues the glad tidmgs of the kingdom to the heathen of England as well as of India, and all with a loving tenderness and patient humility learned in the childlike school of Him who said, 'Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?' "
It was in lR04, when Oarey had thirty years of life still before him, that the Governor-General of India declared· that he esteemed the commendation of such a man a greater honor than the applanse of courts and Parliaments." The occasion of this praise was a notable one. In a brilliant assembly of European officers and native scholars Oarey had welcomed Lord Wellesley in a speech in Sanskrit, at the time an almost unknown tongue to Europeans. It was an exploit of a great genius, at which the Sanskrit scholars of to-day marvel, although they have the aid of Oarey's dictionaries and grammar, and more recent works based upon them, with which to acquire that language, while Oarey had to make these tools for himself. That the following thirty years of such a man's life would be of immens@ influence we could predict, but the full greatness of his work no man can estimate. With the corps of scholars he brought about him he rendered the gospel into between thirty and forty different tongues, and thus brought it within the reach of over three hundred millions of human beings to whom it had been unknown. It was a beautiful custom of these translators, when a volume was. completed, to place it on the communion table and dedicate it to the service of Ohrist. And why not? It was the offering of intellect and heart and body, of which the volume was the product. But Oarey's work was wider than this, although this alone would have warranted the praise given him at his death by Robert Hall, as "the instrument of diffusing more religious knowledge among his contemporaries than has fallen to the lot of any individual since the Reformation;" if not that of another who pronounces him "the most honored and the most successful missionary since the time of the Apostles." (Dr. John Wilson.) We can only indicate the side work of this wonderful man. He was distinguished as a botanist and edited the journal "Flora Indica." He founded the Agricultural Society of India. He made the first dictionary of Oriental languages. He translated parts of the Hindu sacred books and made Europe fa- miliar with the Eastern religious thought. He established the first dis- tinctly Ohristian college in heathen lands, having won the patronage of the King of Denmark. He started the first newspaper in the East, the Samaohar Darpam. His was the first clear and potent voice which the British authorities heeded, in suppressing the cruelties of infanticide, the murder of widow-burning, and the living sacrifice to Juggernaut.
Oarey died at the age of seventy-three. At that time English mis- sions had become established in India, and all sects recognized him as the divmely appointed pioneer. When on his sick bed the Metropolitan Bishop of India, the highest official of the English Ohurch in the land, visited him, and bowing his head by his pillow asked the dissenter's ben- ediction, feeling that no ecclesiastical honor could equal the blessing of one whom God had ordained to be the great apostle of modern mis- sions. The learned world went into mourning when the news floated to the universities of England, Germany and America that Oarey was no more. 'rhe secular authorities did .well to recognize his departure as if he had been one high in political or military life, by dropping the flag to half mast, for he had accomplished more for European influ- ence in India than any single man who represented only the State. But Oarey himself seemed during his life to be the only one who was ignorant of his greatness. The humility of this sublime iloul was beautifully illustrated during his last illness. Dr. Duff, then a young man, visited him. As he was leaving the chamber the sick man re- called him, and said, "Mr. Duff, you have been speaking about Dr. Oarey, Dr. Oarey; when I a~ gone say nothing about Dr. Oarey- speak about Oarey's Saviour."
Where ninety years ago Oarey was the only ordained Protestant missionary are now about seven thousand. That single convert, Khl'lshnu Pal, has a goodly following of two-thirds of a million. This is the commentary on Carey's early sermon that led to the establish- ment of the society which sent him out as its first missionary. His text was Isaiah liv.: 2, 3. "Enlarge the place of thy tent," etc. Un- . der this he made the two points-the heart lobes of his own life: 1. Exped great thing8 from God. 2. Attempt great things for God.
VIEWS AND PRACTICES OF THE ZULUS
RELIGIOUS VIEWS AND PRACTICES OF THE ZULUS.
BY REV. LEWIS GROUT, WEST BRATTLEBORO, VT.
WHEN I received my appointment to labor as a missionary among the Zulus in South Africa one of the Secretaries of the Board in Basion expressed to me the wish that I would give special attention to the language of that people, as little or nothing had been as yet done in that direction. In following out this request, I found it necessary to go directly to the more intelligent of the Zulus, if I would have genuine samples of the language as they speak it, since among themselves they had neither a book nor even an alphabet with which to write or print one. Having learned the language, as best I could, from their best speakers, I set about getting from them the needed material for preparing a Zulu grammar.
Among the extended sketches of various kinds which I wrote out verbatim from the lips of SGme of the older and best informed that I couid find among them, a good number had respect to their religious views, their divinities, their modes and objects of worship. These objects I found to be the spirits of their departed friends, the shades of their ancestors, and especially the ghosts of kings and other men of rank and renown. Of these they speak as the amahlozi (singular, ihlozi). To these they are wont to ascribe eyerything, good or. evil. For the good, they are praised; for the evil, they are propitiated by sacrifices. Sometimes the departed spirit is spoken of as reappearing in the form of a snake, whenever the departed thinks it necessary to commune with those he left on earth. Sometimes, or at least among some of the tribes, the divinity or shade is spoken of as an itonga (pI. amatonga), a defending or preserving power. And sometimes the departed spirit is spoken of as an isitunzi, a shade, the soul after it has left the body. Ask the people about the end of man, where he goes when he dies, and they generally reply that he becomes an ihZozi, and goes off to live somewhere under ground, there to build and abide with his ancestral friends.
The ordinary and more formal method by which the people are accustomed to communicate with their divinities, the spirits of the departed, is through the inyanga, doctor, medical priest, or diviner. It would take long to describe the way in which he prepares himself for this most important profession; nor is it necessary. From the artful, ambiguous language he employs, when his services are required, one would think he must have studied the ancient Delphic oracles. In case of sickness, death, loss of property or other great calamity, a deputation is sent, with a cow or other present, to consult this medical priest, the inyanga, and find out the cause and cure of the sickness or the calamity. If the present is wanting or insignificant, the doctor or medical diviner is quite likely to excuse himself by saying that the divinities are not at home to-day, and so nothing can be done till they return. If the deputation comes again, on the morrow, and brings the desired cow, they will find the divinities at home and the doctor ready for service.
The following is the substance of an account of going to inquire of the inyanga (priest), in a case of sickness, first taken, as above described, from one of the older and more intelligent of the Zulus, and then translated from his own words, with some condensation, into English: When sickness comes, someone takes something and goes to the priest to inquire about the sickness. When they arrive at the priest's, he comes out, sits down, passes the compliments, and remains silent for a time. Then he says, Come, let us go yonder. What have you brought? They say, Sir, we have brought nothing-here is a trifle. Then he says, Come, speak, that I may hear; smite (the earth with your rods), smite ye, that I may hear. They say, hear; he says, sickness. They say, hear. He says, it is in the chest; and the people say hear. He says, it is the lungs; they say, hear. H{f says, his paternal shade wants something. They say, hear. He says, it is the shades of his ancestors. His ancestral shades say, why is it that he (the sick man) does not care for us? Why does he no longer recognize us, since we have preserved him from his infancy? The people say, hear. Will he never build a large kraal for our sake? Why does he not recognize us? Then the people say, There, that is it. And he says, they ask, Why is it that no offering is made to them by the slaying of an animal? Then the people say. there, that is just it. Then he says, smite again, that I may hear; and they say, there, there, he is coming nearer to the seat of the difficulty. Then he says, his paternal shades are angry with him; he is diseased, he is sick; the shades are calling him. And the people say, Who told you?- hear. Then he says, Should an animal be slaughtered, he will recover. They say, hear; he says, the shades require that particular cow of theirs.
And so, when he has finished, the people give him the present which they brought, and go home. Arriving at home, the people there at home say, come now, tell us, that we may hear the words of the priest. What did he pretend to say? How did he inquire and perform? Oh! the priest performed thus: He came and followed the omen of the occasion; he came and said, he is sick, he has a disease, he is called by the shades of his ancestors, who reproach him, saying, Why is it that he acknowledges them no longer? since, long ago, they went and delivered him from great suffering, while other people died? and have they not delivered him from great evil? Why, then, does he not continue to acknowledge us and give us what we require?
And now the sick man admits it all, and says: Oh, since that which they require is thus required by themselves, who can refuse it?
then the people say: Oh, yes/ ~s lOU sa,!, who could refuse a thing when it is thus demanded by the owners themselves? How can the priest be mistaken, since he has gone so evidently according to the omen? Do not ye yourselves perceive that he has run according to the omen? Then let them have their cow, the very same which they have demanded, and then we will see whether sickness will leave me. To this they all assent. And now some one goes out, and when he has come abroad without the kraal, all who are within their houses. keep silence, while he goes round the kraal, the outer inclosure of the kraal, and says: Honor to thee, Lord. Offering prayer to the shades, he continues: A blessing, let a blessing come, then, since you have really demanded your cow; let sickness depart utterly. Thus we offer your animal. And, on our part, we say, let the sick man come out, come forth, be no longer sick, and slaughter your animal, then, since we have now consented that he may have it for his own use. Hail to ~hee, 0 King! glory! Come, then, let us see him going about like other people. Then he goes back into the house, takes a spear, goes out with it, enters the cattle-fold, comes up to the cow, gives it a stab, and as the cow bellows, saying y-e-h, he says, Yes, an animal for the shades ought to show signs of distress; it is all right, just what was required. Thus the offering is made. But if the sick man fails to recover, he goes to his neighbors and says; How is this, that I have slaughtered my cow, which was said to have been required by my pa~ ternal shades, and yet I have never recovered? And they say: It cannot be so; there must be some mistake; it must have been just a device of the lips to get a man's cow. If it had been required by the shades, then why has the sick man never recovered? The priest has been fabricating a lie. He does not know how to inquire of the oracle. Let us go to another priest.
So they go to another priest, salute him, and say: Hail, friend, good news. And he says: What present have you brought? And they say: We have brought a present, so and so. And he says: Oh, the shade is not willing; he is absent. Then the messengers return, and go to another, a.nd after the usual salutations the priest proceeds to inquire of the shades as to the trouble in hand, its nature, cause and cure, as did the other priest. After a long-continued consultation, much smiting, and hearing, and reporting, the priest comes out to say: The sick man's paternal shade is calling him to an account, saying, Why does he abuse me by acting in this manner? I am weary. The shade of }lis mother compla.i.ns also, and says to her son, What art thou doing there yonder? I am displeased with you. The deputation returns and reports to the sick man: The priest says your father demands that particular cow, thy favorite, and says, Since the cattle are mine, being given to you by myself, why have you never made me a decent offering? To this the sick inan replies: Oh, since the owners themselves decide thus, why, what can I say? so, then, let them have an offering, and then I will see whether or not I shall recover. Perhaps beer is included in the offering, with the understanding that some might like beef and beer. Then some one goes out, and there talks, while all within keep silence and listen to what he says, to wit: o ye dwellers below, shades, ye our fathers, there is your cow; we of- ferthe same. Now, then, let this your sick one recover, let disease depart from him; the cow is already your own. Then he goes back into the house, gets a spear, and stabs the cow; and when she bellows, he says, Let your cow ~ry, then, and bring out the evil which is in us; let it be known abroad, then, that it is your cow, which is reqUIred by yourselves. Thus it is slaughtered, thus it dies, and the rest of the cattle are put out to pasture, while this remains dead in the fold, and is left alone for a time. Then they dress it, cut it up, and put it away in a hut by itself for the night. The sick man takes the gall, pours it upon himself, and says: Yes, then, good work is this; let all evil come to an end. The contents of the larger stomach of the slaughtered animal are also strewn upon the house and the premises of the sick man. Noone is allowed to open the hut while the beef is there, until they are ready to take it out, lest the shades be disturbed in their feasting upon it. On opening the hut in the morning, a portion of the beef is said to have oeen consumed. The rest is brought out, cooked and eaten; all the neighbors having gathered to have a share in the feast. As they take their leave they thank the man for the rich entertainment they have had, assure him that it was a very fine animal, an offering with which the shades ought to be satisfied, and express the wish and hope that the sick man may soon recover.
One party, of whom the writer inquired, put it in this way: When they are sick they slaughter cattle to the shades, and say: Father, look on me, that this dise3se may cease from me; let me have health on the earth and live a long time. They have a long talk (with the shades) in the cattle-fold, and praise the spirits, saying: Hail, friend, thou of such a place, grant us a blessing, beholding what we have done, what an offering we have made. You see this distress; may you remove it, since we have given you our animal. We know not what more you want, whether you still require anything more or not. May you grant us grain, that it may be abundant, that we may eat, of course, and not be in need of anything, since now we have given you what you want. Yes, for a long time have you preserved me in all my going. Look here; you see I have just begun to have a kraal. This kraal was huilt hy yourself, father, and why should you now be willing to diminish your own kraal? Build on, as you have begun; let it be large, that your offspring, still here above, may increase, increasing in knowledge of you, whence cometh power.
If one is on the point of being injured by anything, and yet escapes, he says: I was preserved by our shade, which was still watching over
THE NEW ERA OF COLONIZATION
me. Perhaps he slaughters a goat in honor of the same, and puts the gall on his head; and when the goat cries'out for pain of being killed, he says: Yes, then, there is your animal; let it cry, that ye may hear, ye our gods (ye of ours) who have saved me. I myself am desirous of living on thus a long time here on the earth; why, then, do you call me to account, since I think I am all right in respect to you? And while I live I put my trust in you, our paternal and our maternal gods. The writer's informant says they slaughter only goats and cattle, and, not sheep, because sheep never cry when they are slain. They want something which will cry when it is about to be slaughtered.
THE NEW ERA OF COLONIZATION AND ITS BEARING ON CHRISTIAN PHILANTHROPY.
BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK. NONE can look upon the progress of civilization by the powers of Europe with greater interest than the friends of missions. The question how the dark places of the earth are to be brought under civil government, through what agencies this is to be done, and under what Christian or unchristian influences they are to be placed, is one of the greatest moment as affecting the progress of Christ's kingdom in the world. The spread of that kingdom has from the earliest ages been more or less connected with the great enterprises of colonization. The occupation by God's chosen people of the countries lying on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, considered as a radiating point of influence upon the nations of the world, was of vast consequence. The dispersion of the tribes of Israel through the Babyl~nian Empire, until in the time of Esther the exiled people, with their knowledge of the true God, were represented in aU its one hundred and twenty provinces, greatly enhanced their influence. The numerouS' Greek colonies that were formed in the East, carrying with them that language which became the vehicle of the New Testament revelation, became still another factor in the spread of Christianity. The enforced dispersion of the early Ohristian believers by persecutions at Jerusalem was in the same line. The extension of the Roman arm!:! over all Europe furnished also highways for the messengers of Ohrist, and the settlements which were extended to Spain, Gaul and Britain became centers al1d sources of Ohristian influence. The occupation of the North American Oontinent, and, later still, various portions of the East, by the Anglo-Saxon, has started great forces, whose results we are not even yet prepared to estimate. How, then, can the student of the Bible and of the history of Christian civilization look without deep interest upon the great movements which are being made just now by Britons, French, Germans, Italians, Portuguese and others for the possession of hitherto uncultivated regions of Africa and the Islands of the Sea. It is an encouraging consideration for all those who love the cause of missions that side by side with the small and inadequate work of prelchers and teachers are the great movements of God's providence. The most important element in the missionary work is the fact that by obeying the great commission of our Saviour the church comes into the sweep of those vast and omnipotent forces which move the world by divine behest.
We do not overlook the many and serious hindrances which have been interposed by commerce, especially the contact and influence of those evil-minded men who resort to all mission fields with sinister aims. We do not forget the almost disheartening discouragements of the opium trade, and the still more devastating liquor traffic; but rising high above all these are the supreme purposes and powers of Him who has promised to be with His people" alway, even unto the end of the world."
It has been a matter of just pride throughout Protestant Ohristendom that the Anglo-Saxon has had so prominent a place in the colonization of the waste places of the world. Leaving Southampton one finds the Briton dominant in the great natural Fortress of Gibraltar; he is also at Malta, and at Oyprus, with his stores and naval equipments. He is dominant in Egypt, in Natal, ,and Oape Oolony ; he has established a British Empire in the heart of the Asiatic Oontinent ; Australia, New, Zealand, Fiji, are under his power and influence, not to speak of Singapore, Hong Kong, and various smaller island groups of the Pacific. Wherever British power has obtained a footing a degree of permanence is found in the institutions of government. of education, of economic and political enterprises. The Bible, the school, the eleemosynary institution spring up ; the work of missions by Protestant or Oatholic is impartially protected, though it is fair to say that in India particularly it was by a long and hard lesson that British authorities were taught to deal justly with the missionaries and their converts as against the popular demands of prevailing heathemsm.
It has often enough been said' that the Spanish and the French have never proved to be good colonizers; that on this continent the Spani!3h saw their powers swept away as a result largely of their own blundering, and as a reaction against their remorseless rapacity and oppression. The French colonies on this North American Oontinent were largely lost by the mistakes or weaknesses of bigoted French sovereigns; and where their influence still prevails, as in Lower Oanada, stagnation, the handmaid of superstition, is still too palpable to be hidden.
But a change seems to have come, The Germans, not hitherto inclined to colonization, and the Italians, occupied until within a recent period with their struggles against French ambition, Austrian tyranny, and papal repression, have only just wakened to the spirit of 740 THE NEW ERA OF COLONIZATION. [OCT., colonial enterprise, and a good beginning certainly has been made in Abyssinia. Among those explorers who in the last two decades have helped to open the secrets of the Dark Continent are found names like Caserta and Piaggia, who are proving themselves worthy of the raceof Marco P<>lo and Carpini.
Some recent events have seemed to indicate that possibly Great Britain is in danger of losing her laurels. It is claimed that the splendid opening of Zanzibar, which was accomplished by the enterprise and humanity of Great Britain, under the lead of Sir Bartle Frere, has virtually been snatched from her grasp by Germany; not by force of arms but by a more vigorous utilization of the advantages which were gained when Sultan Borgash had been compelled to treat for the suppression of the slave trade. And now Germany is in possessian of a vast territory which is a key to the,Great Lake Region.
The Egyptian campaign of Great Britain five years since was brilliant and worthy of the British arms, so far as it went. But in the wretched delays and indecision which resulted in the sacrifice of General Gordon, and in much of the policy which has been pursued since that time, there seems to be a lack of that energetic and humane statesmanship which has so long been the glory of the British flag.
A recent editorial article in the New York Tribune condemns, very justly, we think, the short-sighted policy which has been pursued in connection with what it calls the massacre of the Dervishes in the Nile Valley. It justifies the measure as a necessity, but one which when once accomplished should have been followed up by such measures as would prevent a like necessity-for just as soon as another horde of blood-thirsty fanatics can be gather6ld in the desert, it may sweep down the Nile and again fill the whole country with disorder and alarm. It complains that Dongola, Khartoum and the Soudan are still left to govern themselves, and with such a rule one cannot tell what to expect. At the time of Gordon's death the capture of Khartoum would doubtless have been justified by the European powers; now it may be a question. But certainly some measures should be taken to establish authority and permanent peace along the upper Nile, and not only destroy the slave trade, but afford protection to those more peaceful tribes which have so long been devastated by fanatical raids. The fact that Massowah, and other coast towns of Abyssinia which have come under Italian rule, have increased their population more than tenfold in a half dozen years, affords evidence that what the people of all that vast region most desire is stable government and protection. What more significant refutation could be given to those recent pleas which have claimed that Africa should be given over to the superior control of Islam?
The article referred to gives English rule in Egypt much credit over against its failures and mistakes in the Soudan. It has done much to relieve the burdens of the Khedive's subjects; the fellaheen have been delivered from the injustice of arbitrary conscription; the military budget has been rescued from spoliation and extravagance ; taxation has been reduced, and the floating debt has been paid; the system of enforced labor on public works has been' abolished; progress has been, made in irrigation; prisons have been reformed, etc., etc.
But with all this a damaging contrast is still drawn between these results and those effected during a corresponding period of French occupation in 'l'unis. "There," says The Tribune, "the public debt has been refunded at a low rate and carried up to par; surplus revenues have been obtained; a new and radical land system has been introduced; new industries have been established and old occupations revived; commerce has been doubled; municipalities have been created and law courts opened; school-houses have been built and the French language is rapidly spreading through the country. All these results have been accomplished because the French Government, having conquered the country, has justified its continued occupation of it by governing it well, and civilizing it without delay." An important qualification of this contrast must be admitted in the fact that in Tunis capitulations have been withdrawn and a French protectorate has been construed as excluding other EUl'opean nations; while in Egypt the reverse is trne ; international complications have hampered the English at every turn, and the permanence of foreign occupation has been left in doubt.
But the question is : Are these evils insurmountable? In a strategic point of view Egypt is tenfold more essential to African civilization than Tunis. More important than all tho Barbary States together is the Nile; it is the key to the Soudan and all Eastern-Central Africa, and it is along the line of the Nile and the connecting links of navigation through the Lake Country that the fatal blow must be struck to the African slave trade. There is, therefore, a power of motive in connection with diplomatic progress in Egypt far greater than can be found in any other country now waiting the influence of humane I I statesmanship and philanthropy. When Cardinal Lavigerie appeared in London with his stirring appeal for an international movement aimed at the suppression of the African slave trade, whose atrocities he so eloquently portrayed, there appeared in some of the London papers an expression of surprise, amounting almost to a sneer, that a French Catholic should deem it necessary to exhort the countrymen of Wilberforce and Clarkson on the subject of human slavery. Nevertheless, the verdict of Christendom seems to be in favor of Lavigerie; it justifies the pertinence if not the necessity of his appeal. 'rhe horrible traffic goes on, and whoever may be to blame, it cannot be said that anything like adequate efforts are being made on the part of any of the great powers for its suppres-
INTEREST IN MISSIONs
sion. But individual efforts are being put forth, and men of benevolent impulse are associating and conferring with reference to the subject, and it is to be hoped that the sympathy of Christian people on both sides of the A.tlantic may be awakene(j. in this great matter.
There is now in this country a gentleman from London (Mr. Francis William Fox) who is most deeply interested in the establishment of a line of police stations extending from Suakim on the Red Sea to Berber, the most easterly'point of the Nile, thence to Khartoum, and up the Nile to the Lakes, Victoria, '.ranganyika, Nyassa, etc., to the' mouth of the Zambezi. This would complete a cincture which, it is believed, would sever the roots of that foul cancer which Livingstone caned the" great open sore of Africa." Mr. Fox is encouraged by the prospect that a meeting will be held in New York in October which will enlist some of our influential classes of citizens in favor of the project which he has at heart. There should be found a hearty sympathy with it on the part of all friends of missions and all others who love humanity.
'rhe time seems to have come when the Government and people of the United States should begin to cherish a more active interest in the great geueral movements of the world and should seek to exert an influence worthy of their power.
The policy of avoiding" entangling alliances" with other powers has been carried to the verge of absurdity and contempt. When Mr. Kasson in the Berlin International Congress on the affairs of the Congo cast his influence against the introduction of liquor into the African Free State, he was reprimanded by our Secretary of State. When Earl Granville, moved by the reports of devastation produced by the trade in liquor and firearms in the Pacific Islands, sent a circular note asking the great powers to unite in repressing it, France, Austria, and even Russia, gave a favorable response, while Secretary Bayard humiliated the United States by a shuffiing declinature.
It was doubtless well for the infant Republic when scarcely recovered from her long struggle with Great Britain to avoid an entangling alliance with France, over which the clouds of a European war soon gathered, but to parade that old threadbare doctrine as a pretext for standing aloof from every joint enterprise of humanity in these days of our security and strength is to bring on us the contempt of the na":' tions. We certainly have had something to do with slavery, and if now we can make atonement by helping to sweep it from the face of the earth it is worth the effort.
-~—- INTEREST IN MISSIONS.
[The following brief and pertinent thoughts come from a source which entitles them to more than ordinary consideration.-EDB.] THAT the interest in missions is on the increase is manifest in this country by many signs which cannot be mistaken, some of them of a character which may be called in question by the" wise and prudent," but all indicative of life and vigor. I have seen not fewer than five new missions to Africa alone started within the last twelve months by as many new organi- zations, besides fresh efforts by old societies. This tendency to start new and independent schemes is one of the signs of-vital energy welling up from the spiritual quickening of new life in numbers of the churches, too exuberant to be kept within the old limits and forms of church order, and too independent and self-conscious to be restricted by the rules of our old societies. That many of these enterprises will fail in accomplishing what their ardent but inexperienced originators so earnestly aim at is painfully cer- tain to anyone familial' with the history of missions. But we cannot but follow them with interest and not a little hope. They have a vitalizing ten. dency and are the signfl of a rising tide of missionary life inside the churches out of which they have sprung; and they help to get us out of the ruts in which all old institutions have a tendency to run. We shall learn many a lesson from the failure of some and the success of others.
Another hopeful sign of the increasing interest in missions is the interest with which not only enemies but friends are sifting and in no measured terms denouncing the missionary methods and operations of. the past and present. The impatience for tangible results, even where unreasonable, is hopeful and expresses the intensity of desire which gives rise to impatience.
The long series of lessons by "a missionary" in the Ohristian, and fol- lowed up by vigorous lessons in the Wesleyan Times by "A Friend of Mis- sions," have led to a great discussion in the recent meeting of The Wesleyan Oonference in Sheffield.
Neither of these writers, when stripped of the lions by means of which they made a loud voice widely heard through the important organs in which their strictures appeared, were found to be men of weight or experience', but both have arrested attention, and we doubt not good will come of their ill- advised utterances.
The charges brought against the missionaries of the writer's own church, as well as those of all societies, in the Wesleyan Times were so severe as to compel all the missionaries of the denominations in Southern India to sign a memorial to the Conference, demanding a searching investigation of the charges made, or that they might be recalled. The writer, who turned out to be a young man who had only been a little more than a year in the mission field, and had cost the society seven or eight hundred pounds and had never done a stroke of work, charged his brothel' missionaries with living in the greatest luxury and fashion; keeping their butler and coachman and fine -clothes for presentation at the mimic courts of the viceroy and governor, and with a retinue of servants which would outnumber those of a merchantprince in England or America. And this without any adequate explanation of the climatic and social conditions of life in a country like India, which compel and facilitate a mode of life very different from what they would desire, if life is to be maintained and health preserved for the Master's work.
Of course no man who knew anything of the facts of the case attached the slightest value to such baseless and cruel charges; but as there are many of the warmest friends of missions who knew little or nothing of these facts, the missionaries did well to demand an inquiry. They were ablv defended in the Conference and an unanimous vote of confidence pa;sed, but it remains to be seen whether they will be satisfied with the resolution. It is expected that they will insist on a thorough inquiry by an influential deputation, and it will be for the interest of missions that their demand be complied with.
One outcome of the discussion is most satisfactory. Mr. Hugh Price
THE CHRISTIANIZATION OF MONEY
Hughes,in whose paper the accusations appeared-a true-hearted missionary, equally able and ardent as an advocate of missions at home and abroad- urged the church then and there to resolve to raise £20,000 as an addition to the income of her foreign mission income.
One unpretentious outcome of the Missionary Conference in London of last year is the resolution of the" Christian Vernacular Education Society"
to devote its efforts in future to the preparation of a Chriatian literature for India. The great need for this was strongly expressed at the Conference by missionaries from all parts of the mission field. The constitution of the society precludes the extension of their operations beyond India, but as this includes a popUlation of 200,000,000 it is large enough for a beginning. The Secretary of the Conference, Mr. Johnston, has been induced to take the work in hand and important results are looked for. A WATCHMAN.
LONDON, Aug. 16, 1889.
THE CHRISTIANIZATION OF MONEY. BY REV. W. HARRISON, CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E. I., CANADA. THl? rapid increase of wealth among the present progressive peoples of the earth is a fact which stands broadly out in the times through which we are passing. In some of the leading nations this growth has assumed proportions of an extraordinary character, and is compelling recognition in quarters the most representative and infl.uential. Mr. Gladstone, everywhere recognized as one of the highest financial authorities of the age, stated recently that the present income of the English nation is more than five thousand million dollars a year, and that more money had been made in England and Scotland in the last century alone than from the days of Julius Cresar to the year 1800, and more money had been made from 1850 to 1870 than from 1800 to 1850. The annual savings of the country are estimated at six hundred and fifty millions of dollars.
In the United States the unprecedented expansion of the nation's money capacity has been one of the growing wonders of the times. The President of Rutgers College, Dr. M. E. Gates, from extensive and reliable data, reck- ons the wealth of the country at fifty billions of dollars, and the daily increase at six millions. The marvelous development of the wealth of the United States, by decades, has been officially reported as follows: 1850……………………………………………. $ 7,135,780,228 1860……………………………………………. 16,159,616,068 1870……………………………………………. 30,068,518,507 18BO…………………………………………… 43,642,000,000 1887, say ……………………………………….. 60,000,000,000 Government officials estimated some years ago that the annual income of the entire population was a little over seven billions of dollars. Having ascertained a fair and reliable showing as to the financial resources of the two leading nations of the world, it is now in order to approach more directly the subject which this paper has specially in view.
How far, then, has the process of converting some fair proportion of this enormous wealth to definitely Christian objects been achieved? What are the present demands, and the prospects for the future? As an example, we select the following statements, exhibiting as they do the present extent of Christian liberality in the United States. The figures have been carefully prepared, and are sufficiently correct to enable us to form a pretty definiteconelusion as to the present-day religious application of the wealth now in the hands of Protestant Christendom. Our firm opinion is that the current givings of the Christian popUlation of the American Republic to deflnitelyreJigious objects are above rather than below the average of the other nations coming under this classification. Bearing this in mind, the present attitude of Protestant Christendom toward this question of money comes into view and suggests considerations which will claim in the near future a deeper and wider attention than they have ~et received. Taking the total wealth of the UnIted States for 1887 at sixty billions of dollal's, it is in place to inquire as to what proportion of this vast wealth is now held by the members of the evangelical churches, and to what extent this proportion is applied to purely Christian uses and ends.
Dr. Dorchester, awidely recognized authority on the special lines we are now discussing, has stated the matter as follows: "Having submitted the above inquiry to many thoughtful persons, they all agree that the share of the nation's wealth possessed by the members of the evangelical churches may safely be estimated at their pro rata share numerically.
•• For instance, if the communicants of these churches in 1880 were one- fifth of the whole population of the United States, their wealth may be safely estimated at one-fifth of the total wealth of the country."
Figuring on this basis, the total pro rata wealth of the churches named would stand as follows: 1850………………………. : .•.••…•…………. $1,084,803,490 1860…………………………………………… 2,693,269,344 1870…………………………………………… 5,202,184,274 1880.. .. ………………………………………. 8,728,500,000 1887, say ……………………………………….. 12,000,000,000 Before pt'oceeding to inquire as to what proportion of this enormous wealth, now in professedly Christian hands, passes over in some form into the treasury of the Lord, we call attention to the powers and responsi- bilities of wealth in general. It is almost impossible to overestimate the immense influence which the money-power of the world carries within its strong and imperial gt·asp. To say that it constitutes one of the principal in- struments by which the aifait-s of the age are turned is simply to state a fact which is evident to all. This agency of wealth, which holds in its hands the golden scepter of such a wide and varied dominion, becomes increasingly powerful as the march of civilization proceeds j and, other things being equal, the people possessing this money-capacity in its largest • form, carry that by which they can make themselves a felt and command- ing figure among the nations of the earth. Without this universally- recognized and almost sovereign power very little of all the vast and com- plex machinery of the age can be worked a single day; the grand stimulus and attraction to the busy and toiling millions of the race would be re- moved, and one of the prime forces now pushing onward the material, political, social, and ever-multiplying improvements of the age would sink out of sight. The value of this one item of money in all the departments of this constantly expanding century is increasing with such marvelous rapidity that the financial condition of a people has become the index to their prosperity, and their influence and authority in the councils of the world are largely determined by it. National bankruptcy means na.tional impotency, deterioration and decay, and all the proud pages in the past history of that people suffering such financial ruin cannot save them from being stripped of those qualifications which are regarded as among the prime passports to honorable rank among the powerful, progressive nations of the time. Financial supremacy involves responsibilities of the most in- fluential kind; it may become a far-reaching and beneficent power, or a ruler of the most tyrannical and despotic kind. If, then, in the realm of • commerce, and in all the multiplied departments of national life, the money question is such a mighty engine in the way of motive, influence, and achievement, it is .surely worth while to inquire as to the moral bearings and possibilities of this universal and princely power. If the great secular .enterprises of the age and all the splendid lind myriad-sided machinery of this nineteenth century are bare impossibilities without the aid of gold, it is quite in place to ask as to what part God intends that this money-power of the age should take in the enlightenment and evangelization of the world.
It is safe to say that never before did the money question occupy so much of the attention and prayerful solicitude of the Christian Church as at present, and never before did the moral and religious capabilities of wealth stand out so distinctly and vividly as they do to-day. It is becoming more and more evident that the very agency which is the grand essential in all the secular movements of the world, and without which they would immediately collapse, is also one of the divinely-appointed instruments by which, in the hands of a consecrated church, many of the great spiritual undertakings of the period are to be sustained, perpetuated and brought to their predicted and beneficent consummation. The broad outline of that plan which contemplates the capture of this world for truth and righteousness is coming into greater clearness, and the responsibilities of wealth in connection with the realization of that plan cannot now for a single moment be pushed out of sight. Gradually the importance of money as a necessary power·in the establishment, support and universal diffusion of Christian agencies has been coming to the front; and, so far as the evangelization of the millions of heathendom are concerned, all at once, or nearly so, the financial question has rushed up to an unexpected, indisputable and burning climax. This climax is the undoubted result of God's providential hand in the history of His church, a searching test and challenge of His people's sincerity, and marks a comparatively new stage in the onward march of that kingdom which is yet to win for itself a final s~premacy over the mind and heart and conduct of this fallen but redeemed world. When we state that the Christianization of earth's 1,000,000,000 or hitherto unreached pagans has been 'educed largely to a matter of dollars and cents, we are but stating what is rapidly becoming the deep and powerful conviction of all branches of the Church of God. The appeals for a larger liberality, coming as they do from every quarter, and marked by such intense urgency and such a weight of sacred obligation, only confirm too well the somewhat startling statement just made. We now return to the inquiry raised in a previous part of this article as to the proportion of wealth now in Christian hands which is being applied to objects of a purely religious character.
Just here it is well to recognize the fact that the grasp of Ohristian principle on the money power of the world was never so great as at present. It is estimated that the amount contributed annually by the Christian population of all lands for religious purposes of every kind is about two thousand rnillionsoj dollars, being an average tribute of about $1.50 for every man, woman and child on the face of the earth to-day. At the Evangelical Alliance, held at Washington in 1887, it was affirmed that "Probably since 1850 more money has been raised by the Protestant churches of Christendom for purely evangelizing purposes, aside from current church expenses and local charities, than was raised for the same object in all the previous eighteen centuries." This is clear when it is remembered that the aggregate receipts of the Protestant Foreign Missionary Societies of Europe and America, from their origin to 1880, calculated on the basis of numerous data.. cannot be less than $270,000,000, of which nearly or quite $200,000,000 have probably been raised within the last 30 years. The increaiile in contributions to home missions and the various local charities is just as striking. Taking the givings for all pUl'poses of Chl:istian benevolence during the past 50 years, it will be found that there has been a very substantial improvement in this direction, and in this increase we have but the commencement of that process which must finally result in the Christianizing of those vast treasures of wealth in which there slumber moral and spiritual possibilities of the sublimest kind. Let the demands for a larger consecl'atioB of the money ability now possessed by the church be presented to the Christian intelligence of the age with all the force of an ever-increasing obligation, and let the issues be clearly stated, and our conviction is that the deeper fountains of generous and grateful emotion will be stirred and a new era of a more Christly appropriation of our temporal possessions will then be inaugurated. While, however, recognizing the marked advance in the amounts placed in the treasury of the church, and the wider and more earnest recognition of the doctrine of our individual stewardship, we must not overlook certain facts which still stand out with painful prominence and call loudly for the immediate and solemn consideration of the whole Church of God. The time for congratUlation over the victories of Christian principles as they relate to the capture of the money power of the church has not yet arrived, as the following statements will plainly show. That there is a lamentable deficiency in the givings of professing Christians ii clear when we look at theil· comparativelyinsignificant contributioni toward those divinely-appointed agencies which are. working for the evangelization of the world. The figures which are to follow will at once show this matter in its true light, and bring out the fact that large numbers of communicants are at present doing little or nothing in helping forward the most important undertaking in which the church is now engaged. It is from this cause of an utterly inadequate appropriation of the wealth now in possession of the evangelical churches that the highest designs of God are hindered, and the measureless blessings of the Christian redemption are being held back from the larger half of the human race today.
Lest we should be charged with a too passionate and extravagant statement as to the inferior response now made by the church at large to the pressing claims for foreign missionary effort, we ask attention to the following significant facts. We select, as fair examples, the amounts contributed by the Protestant churches in the United States for home and foreign missions during the past 30 years, viz.: FOREIGN MISSIONS. HOME MISSIONS. TOTAL.
1850………………… $ 675,000 $ 587,123 $1.232,123 1860………………… 1,075,070 1,450,479 2.525,549 1870………………… 1,753,T06 2.472,246 4.225,952 1880………… .. ……. 2.600,000 3.389,845 5,989,845 When we come to compare these figures with the membership of the evangelical churches, we find the amount per member very small indeed. Taking the averages for the same years and the givings for the two objects named will stand as follows: MEMBERS. AVEIU.GIll PER MEMBER.
1850………………………… . 8,529,988 3458 ce.n.ts. 5,240,554 68 .. ~~.:::::::::::.:::::::::::::::::: 6,673,396 59~ .. 10.000,000 1880 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It is, however, when we come to analyze the contributIons for foreign missions alone that we are almost startled by the infinitesimal giving in the dil'ection for which so much sympathy has been aroused, and apparently so much effort has been expended in recent years. We are at first incredulous and are ready to declare that there must be some serious miscalculation somewhere; but a little patient examination of the bare facts will convince tlul most skeptical that the money capacity of Christian communities has just been touched and nothing more. "The annual expenditures of the Protestant church members in the United States fOI' religious purposes of every description at home are about eighty millions of dollars, while for foreign missions the amount is about four millions of dollars. While the need is from five to six hundred and fifty times greater in the heathen world, we spend twenty times as much in our own work at home. This eighty million is expended for the Christianizing of sixty millions of people, 01' an average of one dollar and thirty-three cents each, while the four million dollars are expended for the spiritual welfare of eleven hundred millions of utter heathens, or one-third of a c~nt each." The average contribution per communicant, throughout Christendom, for the conversion of the myriads of totally unreached pagans does not amount to fifty cents each per annum. In some of the wealthy British churches it is as low as twenty-five cents each, and the Continental churches range from two to six cents per membet'-always excepting the little Moravian Church, which stands out a conspicuous example to all the world of the splendid results which may be achieved by a willing and consecrated people." In 1888 it was ascertained in England, that out of seven thousand titled members of the nobility, including all branches of the Royal family, only about five thousand dollars altogether was given for missions. (MISS. REV., April.) One-tenth of a cent per day, or one cent in ten days, is the present average contribution of the membership of the Christian Church throughout the world for the recovery of a thousand millions of heathen to a knowledge of that gospel which we deem to be the bearer of boundless blessings to our race. And the fact is that the real average is much less than one-tenth of a cent per day, foritis to be borne inmind that quite a number give to the cause of missions who are not included in the membel'ship of any of the churches. It is therefore evident that many professing Christians are doing absolutely nothing. or next to nothing, toward the advancement of those missionary agencies to which has been committed a duty and responsibility of the most momentous and solemn kind.
We have now reached a stage in our investigation which enables us to arrive at an estimate of the amount contributed to definitely religious objects, both at home and abroad, by the Evangelical communities in the United States for a single year.
Taking the aggregate wealth of thp. nation at sixty billions of dollars, and allowing that one-fifth of this amount is III the hands of evangelicalchurch members, and that the annual giving by this part of the population to Christian purposes of every description is something below one hundred millions of dollar8, we reach the conclusion that about one per cent. of the gross total of twelve billions of dollars is about the extent of the Christian liberality of one of the most religiously progressive nations of to-day. The percentage or church membership of the total population of the United States is larger, we think, than of any of the other great nations that can be named. We do not claim absolute cOl'rectness for our statements; but as an approximate showing of the present whereabouts of the gold power of the age in its relation to Christian influences and claims, we believe the representations here tabulated to be within sight of the facts as they now stand. We have selected the United States as a fair example of the other Protestant nations, and if there is a difference we are of the opinion that the higher average of Christian liberality will be in favor of the nation selected as the basis upon which our calculations and inferences in this article are largely drawn. From the above conclusions, drawn from a pretty wide outlook of the facts within our reach, it will be quite clear that the Christianization of the money ability of the professedly Protestant peoples of the century is a work only fairly commenced, and that extensive territories of wealth now in possession of the evangelical churches stil1remain to be brought into subjection to the dominion of the Son of God, whose suffering, hindered cause cries out as never before for that financial help which a thoroughly-consecrated church cannot long withhold.
'!'he present givings, especially to the work of foreign evangelization, are out of all proportion with the urgent, burning demands of the hour. There is no lack of money-our preceding statements have placed this beyond a doubt-but there is lack of deep, intelligent conviction respecting the claims which God has upon us and ours, and an apparent unwillingness to face the dollar-and-cents question upon which there is now laid in the religious opportunities of the age the solemn emphasis of unparalleled importance, and which the providence of God is every day pushing to the front. So evident and wonderful al'e the present day moral and religious possibilities of money that to ignore them is simply to come into collision with one of the plainest purposes and plans of God as to the means by which the message of redemption should be published to the race. No subtle reasoning, no manipulation of the conjurer's hand and no "paralyzing cant of an unfelt devotion" can for a moment substitute fOl' generous, enlarged Christian giving any other agency that can accomplish the work which a consecrated wealth alone is fitted to perform. The main difference between the financial position of Christian and heathen peoples is explained, very largely, on theological grounds alone. But for the undoubted and now grandly historic advantages secured by the movements of Chl'istianity among the leading nations of the world, is it probable that those nations would possess the unequaled money capacity they now enjoy? For what great cause, then, has God, through various means, poured this river of gold into the coffers of His peopIe? Is it that they may live only in pleasure and ease, transform the world into a brilliant saloon, and abandon themselves to selfish luxury, while teeming millions of their bl'ethren are dying for lack of knowlede:e and passing into an eternity for which they are ill-prepared? Surely the end to be a.ccomplished by this agency of wealth is something nobler than this. The finger of God points most distinctly to this higher object, and the most ordinary intelligence can now see what that object is. The citadel of human selfishness must be captured, 01' the mterests of Christ's kingdom must be cramped and betrayed before a perishing world. The battle has already commenced, and one of the grandest triumphs possible in the near future is the destruction of this giant of selfishness within the church and the consecration of some fair proportion of her immense treasures to the' cause of the gospel and a shipwrecked humanity. The sincerity of Christian men and women is being tested before the gaze of watching multitudes, and the religion of a spurious sentimentalism can no longer pass unchallenged in this time of reality and need. With the late Dr. Bushnell we may say that "the great problem we have now on our hands is the Christianizing of the money power of the world. What we wait fOJ' and are hope-
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF MISSIONS AMONG THE JEWS
fully looking to see is the consecration of the vast money power of the world to the work aud cause and kingdom of Jesus Christ. For that day, when it comes, is the IJIorning, so to speak, of the new creation."
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF MISSIONS AMONG THE JEWS.
BY RBV. B. PICK, PH.D., ALLEGHENY, PA.
(Concluded frOm page 673.) BUT we return again to Germany, where, with the eighteenth century, a 'new era commenced for the mission among the Jews. The first quarter of the eighteenth century was a period of great religious excitement in Germany, owing to the indefatigable labors of Spener and A. H. Franke (especially by the" collegia pietatis" of the former), which quickly spread far and wide, among high and low, poor and rich. The Bible, which had been entirely neglected and forgotten, was taken in hand and read again; and how extreme the desuetude into which the word of God had fallen may be gathered from the fact that Spener had to procure a special order from the elector for the practical explanation of some part of the Bible at the universities. A fruit of this new life in the church (for it was a complete regeneration) was the foundation of the University of Halle. Bible and missionary societies were also called into existence. Nor were God's ancient people forgotten. An interest for the Jews was evinced to a degree exceeding anything known in former periods of the church. It seems as if rulers, magistrates, professors, the clergy had been alike ani- mated with zeal for the conversion of Israel, for we find that Reineccius, in one of his works published 1713, says: "The general topic of conversation and discussion of the present day is about the conversion of the Jews." This new-born zeal for the Jewish cause was so great that we are told that many Christians learned to read Jewish-German in order to make them- selves better acquainted with Jewish books and more efficient for conversion with Jews. Prof. Callenberg lectured on that language and had an auditory of 150 persons. The Rev. John Muller of Gotha, who very often came in contact with trave~ing Jews, and took a lively interest in them, wrote a tract .for the Jews, entitled "The Light at Eventide," in dialogical form, which was in- tended to prepare the Jewish mind for the reception of Jesus Christ the Mes- siah; and through the extraordinary exertions of Dr. Frommann, a physician and Jewish convert, it was published in Jewish-German for wider circulation among the Jews. This tract produced the greatest sensation. For soon it was not only reprinted and translated into Hebrew, but also a German (1'736), Dutch (1735), Italian (1732), French (1748), and English translation was published, the lattel' by the" Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge" in the year 1734, and it is still used for missionary purposes. Even Roman Catholic priests took an intereflt in its circulation, and sent subscriptions for promoting it to Prof. Callenberg. This tra.ct is the more remarkable be- cause it became in fact the foundation stone for the well-known Oallenberg .Institution, or Institutum Judaicum, established in 1728, the object of WhICh was the conversion of the Jews, and also of Mohammedans. This institution, however, was closed in 1792. But the interest in behalf of God's ancient people was not confined to Germany alone; it also spread beyond the continent, for the well-known Jewish missionary, Stephen Schultz, tells us in his" Leitungen des Hochsten" (iv. : 74), that when he visited England in 1749, he was told that there were many laymen in London zealous for the conversion of the Jews. Next to Spener we must mention the early efforts made by the Moravian brethren. It was in the year 1738 that Leonhard Dober, who had established the first mission amongst the negroes in the West Indies, felt an ~arnest desire to labor for the conversion of the Jews. For this purpose he repaired to Amsterdam and hired a lodging in the so-called Juden-Hork. In 1739 Samuel Lieberkuhn succeeded Mr. Dober in Amsterdam, who devoted himself entirely to the service of the Jews. On account of his knowledge of Hebt'ewand his lov,e to Ist'ael the Jews called him "Rabbi." For 30 years Lieberkuhn labored among the Jews with great success.
The CallenbergInstitute, as we have seen, was closed in the year 1792, but in the providence of God, soon another way was to be opened for the mission among the Jews. It was only a few years after the first great thunder-clap of the French Revolution,. when three German stUdents, in whose hearts God had begun a work of grace, were assembled together, for mutual consultation and direction, in a room in the metropolis of northern Germany. They were pondering in their minds what they should do, and whither they should go, that they mig-ht be successfully employed inthe cause of missions. Berlin, their native metropolis, was at that time the stronghold of rationalism, the center of religious infidelity; and evangelical religIon, or pietism, was above all things hated and almost universally spoken against. Where, therefore, were the three German students to go? Pastor Jaenicke, and some few other pious Christians in Berlin, who had established a seminary where six or seven students were trained for missionary enterprise, were often in the greatest straits for want of funds. Their cause met with little sympathy, and they were almost in despair, when one day help came in time of need from another great metropolis, with a demand for three missionaries to occupy an important missionary post amongst the heathen tribes of Africa, This was in the autumn of 1801. Our three students went to London, in oi'der to enter the service of the London Missionary Society, and one of these was a Christian Israelite, C. G. Frey by name, who died some years ago in our country, a member of the Baptist denomination. During his stay in London it was put into his heart to visit his brethren after the flesh. He found them in a state of total darkness and bondage, worse than that of their fathers in Egypt. He spoke to them of Christ and His salvation. He engaged a few Christian friends to feel a concern for their spiritual welfare. He made known to thE' directors of the London Missionary Society his earnest deRire to be permitted to preach the gospel to hiS own brethren, This application was favorably considered by the directors; they acceded to his request, and some three years having been consumed in the needful preliminary preparation, we find him in 1805 commencing in earnest missionary work, under the auspices of the London Missionary Society. It was soon, however, discovered that the work required distinctive and peculiar machinery. Accordingly after the brief existence of a few years in 1808 a separate society which contemplated Jews exclusively as its object, the present "London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews" was founded in the begining of 1809. The main promoter of this society was the nobleman Lewis Way. It was in the year 1808 that Lewis Way, while riding with a friend of his in Devonshire, passed a park where some very fine trees attracted their attention. His friend told him that the owner of this park in her last will forbade the cutting down of these trees, until" the Jews would again have come to J erusalf)m." These words so deeply impressed themselves on the mind of Lewis Way that he never forgot them. From that day he devoted his large fortune as well as his talents to the conversion of the Jews. At first the newly constituted society was composed both of churchmen and dil:lsenters. In 1815. by an amicable arrangement, the dissenting members retired from its management, and its liabilities having been discharged by Way's munificent donation of £10,000, it entered on the present phase of its existence as a Church of England Society on the 11th of March, 1815. In the year 1814 the Duke of Kent, the father of Queen Victoria of England, laid the foundation stone of the Episcopal Chapel, in Palestine place, in which up to this day divine service is held in different languages. This society, which was so small at the beginnin,!(" has not ouly its own printing establishment of Hebrew Bibles, tracts, etc., but has also its stations in Europe, Asia and Africa, occupying, according to the annual re- port for 1889, 37 stations,* with a staff of 138 laborers, of whom 84 are ~hris tian Israelites. We have now reached that period in the history of the Mission among the Jews from which time on the mission work is carried on systematically. In speaking of the missionary societies we must commence with England, as the mother-land of the present Protestant Jewish Mission.
A. Great Britain and Ireland.
1. The London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews. This society has stations as follows: in England 6, in Holland 2, in Germany 8, in Austria 3, in Russia 2, in France, Roumania, Italy, European Tur~ey, Persia 1 in each, in Asiatic Turkey 5, in North Africa 3.
Of the many missionaries of this society we mention some few Christian Israelites as Mich. Sol. Alexander, afterward first Protestant Bishop of Jerusalem, Christ. F. Ewald, D.D., M. Marjoliouth, S. H. Deutsch, H. Popel', Henry A. Stern, D.D. (for many years a captive of King Theodor of Abyssinia), J. A. Pieritz, ChI'. W. H. Pauli, J. A. Hausmeister, F. J. Rosenfeldt, Joseph Wolff (father of Sir Drummond Wolff, the English states- man),tetc. 2. The British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews, founded in 1842 by Ridley Herschell, a Christian Israelite, father of the present Lord Chancellor of England, with 6 stations in England, 5 in Germany, 3 in Russia, 2 in Austria, 1 in Italy, 1 in Turkey, 1 in Palestine.
3. The Jewish Mission of the Presbyterian Church of England, founded about 1871 with one station in London.
4. The Parochial Mission to the Jews' Fund, founded in 1879. 5. The London City Mission, which for the last twelve years also employs missionaries among the Jews. 6. The MildmayMiS'Sion to the Jews, organized in 1876, with the purpose of preaching Christ to the Jews everywhere, and of distributing the Hebl'ew New Testament (Salkinson's translation).t 7. The Barbican Mission to the Jews, located in the eastern centpr of London, and founded in 1879 by Rev. P. Warschawski, a. Christian Israelite. 8. The Jewish Mission of the Church of Scotland, founded in 1841, with stations in Constantinople, Salonichi, Beyrout, Smyrna, Alexandria. 9. The Jewish Mission of the Free Church of Scotland, founded in 1843, with stations in Amsterdam, Breslau, PI'ague, Budapest, Constantinople, Tiberias. One of the most prominent missionaries of this society was the Rev.
• For details concerning some of the stations, as Patestine, Poland, and Tunis, see my arts. in McClintock & Strong.
t With the exception of the first, compare my biographical sketches of these men in McClintock & Strong's Cyclop.
:I: On the different Hebrew versions of the New Testament see my arts. Hebrew Version a.nd Sa.lkinson in McClintock & Strong's Cyclop. Dr. Charles &hwarz,* who on Sunday morning, Aug. 1, 1858, while in silent prayer in a pulpit at Amstel'dam, was stabbed by a fanatical young Jew, without, however, being killed. • 10. The Jewish Mission of the United Presbyterian Church, founded in 1885.
11. The Scottish Missions to the Jews, founded in 1887.
12. The Jewish Mission of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, founded in 1841, with stations- in Europe and Asia.
Altogether these societies have a staff of 312 missionaries scattered over 81 diffel'ent stations, as follows: England, 214 missionaries on 55 stations.
Scotland, 71 " "17"
Ireland, 27 '! "8"
312 81 B. Germany.
Owing to the influence of Lewis Way, who came to Berlin in 1818, there was founded in 1822 : 1. The Berlin Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews. The late '
Prof. August Tholuck was for many years the secretary of the society; and one of its earliest missionaries was the Jewish Christian, Jacob Brerling.t Since the year 1859 this society receives the church collection taken up on the tenth Sunday after Trinity throughout the Kingdom of Prussia. It has 3 missionaries.
2. The Rhenish-Westphalia Society for Israel, founded in 1844, has 4 mis· sionaries.
3. The Evangelical-Lutheran Central Association for the Mission among the Jews in Saxony, Bavaria, Hessen, etc., founded in 1849. Its main seat is Leipsic, and the soul of this association is the venerable Dr. Franz Delitzsch, whose masterly Hebrew translation of the New Testament has become the best means for the mission among the Jews. Another means fOl' furthering the interest in God's ancient people are the so-called Instituta Judaica, ,first organized after the pattern of Callenberg's institute by Mr. Faber in 1880 while a student at Leipsic, and now to be found at almost all universities of Europe. In this" Instituta" the students hear of the Jews and the mission among the Jews, and thus the future ministers of the gospel are interested in behalf of Israel.
4. The Wirttemberg Society for Israel, founded in 1874. Altogether we have in Germany 13 missionaries on 6 stations.
C. Switzerland.
In Switzerland exists the Society of the Friends ofIsrael at Basle, founded in 1830. D. Netherlands.
In the year 1844 the missionary of the London Society, Mr. Pauli, inter- ested some friends of Amsterdam in behalf of the Jews, ,and a society was formed under the name: 1. De Nederlandsche vereenigung tot medewerkung aan de witbreiding van het Christendom ender de Joden. The object of this society is to care for the Jewish Christians of the London Society.
2. De Nederlandsche vereenigung voor Israel, founded at Amsterdam in 1861. It has 2 missionaries. 3. Christelijke Gereformeerde Zending onder Israel, founded in 1875. It em- ploys 1 missionary• .. See my art. in McOlintock & Strong's Cyclop.
t See my a.rt. in I. c. of E. France.
In 1885 the Rev. Gustave Krueger of Gauber, in the middle France, started a monthly, Le Relled d'l81"ael, and by means of this paper he reviv~d the interest in Israel. F. Scandinavia.
1. Centralkommitteen for Israelsmissionen, founded in 1844 at Stavanger, in Norway. This formed the nucleus of other societies. At the instance of Prof. Caspari, himself a Christian Israelite, a Central Committee was formed in 1865 at Christiania, which regulates the finances of the different auxilia- ries. Not having a missionary itself, the Committee supports the different 'missionary societies in Germany and Russia.
2. Foreningen for Israelsmission, founded in 1876, with its headquarters at Stockholm. It employs 4 missionaries at 2 different stations.
3. Svenska Missionsforbundel, founded in 1877, has 2 missionaries at 2 stations.
4. Forening fer Israelsmissionen, founded at Copenhagen in 1885.
Thus in Scandinavia 6 missionaries are directly employed at 4 stations to work among the Jews. G. RU8sia.
1. The Jewish Mission in St. Petersburg, founded in 1881.
BeSIdes, there is an asylum for Jewish girls at St. Petersburg, founded in 1884, where they receive a Christian education. Some of these girls are now employed as deaconesses.
2. The Baltic Mission among the Jews, founded in 1870.
3. The Mission of Paster Faltin in Kischinew, founded in 1860.
4. The Mission of Joseph Rabinowitsch at Kischinew, founded in 1883.
In Russia are directly employed in the mission among the Jews 8 mission- aries at 5 different stations. H. Nortk Am-ema.
In our country different societies exist for proclaiming the gospel to the Jews. The oldest is that of the Protestant Episcopal Church, which com- menced missionary work as early as 1842. Since that time the work has been carried on directly and indirectly by differ,ent denominations or indi- viduals.
It may be safely stated that there exist at present about 50 missionary societies, with about 400 missionaries. Taking the number of Jews scat- tered over the world at about 6,400,000, we have 1 missionary to 16,000 Jews. We have thus far sketched the mission among the Jews as carried on by the Protestant Church, but our sketch would be incomplete were we not to speak in a few words of the mission of the Roman Catholic Church.
Starting from the prinCiple that" extra ecleaiam nulla eat salu8," i. e., outside the church (of Rome) there is no salvation, the Church of Rome re- garded the Jews also as an object of her special interest. But there were not wanting such Jews, strange as it may appear, to whom the Church of Rome had an especial attraction, and who, when once a member of that church, exerted their influence upon their former co-religionists. This cen- tury is especially rich in such conversions. Thus, in 1876, died at Prague Johann Emmanuel Veitk, * cathedral dean, who belonged to the order of the Redemptorists, and for some time one of the most celebrated preachers of St. Stephen's in Vienna. In France especially the Church of Rome re- ceived large accessions from thEe' synagogue at Paris. David Paul Drach,* a rabbi, joined the church in 1823 with his son and daughter. The son be- came a priest, the daughter a nun, while the father acted as Librarian at ~ See my a.rts. 1. c. the Propaganda in Rome, where he died in 1865, highly honored by popes – and the French Government. By word and writing he labored for the conversion of his former co-religionists. He was the ·means of bringing many Jews into the Church of Rome, and in 1828 Drach could write that" never since the destruction of Jerusalem so many Israelites have adopted the Catholic faith."
One of Drach's spiritual children was Jacob, afterward Maria Paul Francis Libermann, who was baptized in 1826, and received holy orders in 1841. He founded the" Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Mary" for the conversion of the negroes. Cardinal Pitra, his biographer, cannot speak highly enough of this priest, who died in 1853, and whose beatification the congregation of rites in Rome had decreed a few years ago. Especially important for the mission among the Jews was the conversion of Theodor, afterward Maria Theodor Ratisbonne, son qf the rich president of the Jewish Consistory at Strasburg, who. in 1827, joined the Church of Rome. His conversion he owed to Louis Bautain, author of "Philosphie du Chrisiianisme." Besides Ratisbonne, Bautain was also the means of the conversion of Isidor Goschler, afterwards director of the Collegium Stanislaus in Paris, and Jules Lewel, afterwards prelate and superior of St. Luigi dei Francesi at Rome. Ratisbonne received holy orders in 1830, and for many years he acted as director of the fraternity" of the Sacred and Immaculate Heart of Mary for the Conversion of Sinners," till the turning point in his life came in 1842, when his brother Alphons became a convert to the Church of Rome, owing his conversion, as it is said, to the; appearance of St. Mary. Alphons, who had joined the Jesuits soon after his baptism, wrote his brother, asking him to establish a Christian institute for Jewish children. On the very same day Theodor was notified of the sickness of a Jewish lady. He had the joy of converting her before she died. Her two daughters he took under his care. In the same week another Jewish lady brought her ,three daughters to him, and these five girls he put temporarily under the care of the Gray Sisters. Ratisbonne now went to Rome to get the papal authorty for his new activity. Pope Gregory XVI. blessed him and appointed him" Apostolic Missionary" for Israel. Pope Pius IX. granted to him in 184'7 important privileges. In the meantime his brother Alphons had received holy orders, and through the efforts of his brother he was permitted to leave the order of the Jesuits in order to assist Theodor. In 1855 Alphons conceived the idea of founding a similar society at Jerusalem. In 1856 he commenced his labors there; in 1862 the monastery and in 1868 the" Ecce Homo" church was completed. In 1874 he erected a similar institute for boys. Both brothers are dead. Theodor died in 1884, January 10, and a few months later, May 6, his brother died. Their work is still carried on in different parts of the world. Of those who were baptized by the Ratisbonne brothers, one Hermann Kohen, afterward Augustin Maria, joined the Carmelites in 1849, and died in London as prior of the Carmelite monastery. A sermon of Hermann Kohen was the means of converting the painter, Bernhard Bauer, who also joineti the Carmelites and became the confessor to the Empress Eugenie of France.
The noblest representatives of the Romish mission to the Jews are the two brothers Augustin and Joseph Le1nann, both converts from Judaism and both priests and canons at Lyons; the former doctor and professor of theology at the university; the latter apostolic missionary. Both joined the Roman Ca.tholic Church in 1857. Their special work is mainly literary, and by means of their writings which they publish from time to time to
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES
endeavor to impress upon the Jews the truth of Christianity. When the Vatican Council was assembled in 1870, the two brothers came before that assembly to plead the cause of their Jewish brethren. In fine, it may be said that whatever efforts the Church of Rome makes for the conversion of the Jews, they are to be traced back to France. It were an easy matter to bring before the reader a galaxy of Christian Israelites, who have distinguished themselves in church and State, t9 prove that the gospel is still the power unto salvation to the Jew first; but in spite of all it must be acknowledged, with a modern writer of the Church of England, when he says: "Missions to Jews I know are not popular; I suppose they never will be fashionable; but for men or women professing the faith of Jesus, the question' can never be, Are they popular? nor even, Are they what I like? The only question must be, • A~c they right?' Are they according to the mind of Christ? St. Peter and St. Paul must ever remain to us two of the greatest interpreters of Christian duty. Where they are both, there seems little room for us to differ from them. The whole life of one was spent in winning Jews to the Saviour; and if the whole life of the other received a different mission, it WaH from no lack of earnestness or zeal in thiS behalf. His most impassioned prayers were for this work, even when he was not in person permitted to take a leading part in it• .. Our own sweet church poet, George Herbert, has caught some little of this fervor of St. Paul, and in his own quaint way pleads earnestly to God for the welfare of Israel, the actual nation of the Jews. I cannot do better than close with his lines, which may appeal to some whom words of mine would hardly reach: ". Poor nation, WhOSA sweet sap and juice Our scions have purloined, and left you dry: Whose streams we got by the Apostle's sluice And use in baptism, while ye pine and die, Who by not keeping once became a debtor, And now by keeping lOSe the letter.
Oh that my prayers I mine, alas I o that some angel might a trumpet sound At which the Church, falling upon her face, Should cry so loud until the trump were drowned, And By that cry of her dear Lord obtain That your sweet sap might come again l' "
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CRAS. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
The Evangelisch.Lutherisches Missionsblatt says: "That the Hindus have, in fact, gone astray is proved by their religion, Brahmmism. This religion lays claJm to our deepest interests, not only because it is the most magnificent or the most huge and monstrous heathen system of religion that exists, but also because in it is revealed the greatest energy of heathen religiousness, consuming itself in seeking and striving after peace. The religiosity is a salient trait of the Hindu character. There again appears their relationship to the Germans, of whom the depth of feeling with its disposition to meditate and ponder, its longing for peace, is characteristic. Even yet, although the long dominion of heathenism has externalized aud ossified everything, the whole life of a Hindu, from his birth to his burial, nay, long after his burial, is controlled by his religion. And the whole people have devoted their energies to adorning their religion as magnificently as possible. The whole land which they inhabit bears the stamp of religion, it is a La.nd of Temples. If now we look away from the blinding glitter and noisy pomp of the idol worship and ask, • What is the real essence and aim of the Hindu l'eligion. the answer is: Self-redemption.' ..
"The ancient Greeks," says the Missionsblatt, "contended for their freedom, the Romans, for universal dominion-but the Hindus, for the prize of communion with God. The former two were great in combat with the outward foe, these took up the strife against the foe within, their' sin,' and set their life at stake, to control it, or as they express it, 'to bind the unruly ape in the heart.' True, the spiritual energy of the old penitents is now almost vanished, but yet there is in the people and in individual per. sonahties, a ~emnant of this intense impulse after self-redemption and the effacement of sin, which still breaks out afresh at the idol-feasts, under the force of great calamities, 01' at other times. Indeed, in this our own time, when the preaching oCthe word of God knocks at their hearts, when the youth of India have been brought in contact with European education, this religiou8 spirit of the Hindus has first-since of old-come to a revival. There is stirring among the people a spirit of inquiry and seeking, which implies a longing for something better. In some places, especially in the larger towns, the religious question has become so burning a question that it is dealt with even by the heathen.. in lectures, discussions and dissertations. And thus the missionary in India, almost everywhere, where he opens his mouth to bear testimony, in the markets, as in the streets, on journeys, as at home, in shops and offices, by day and night, finds people who are ready to enter with eager interest upon a religious conversation, even though it were only to ad'ance objections.
.. What a mission, to bring to so religiOUS a people the gospel, which alone has the power to bring to wounded souls refreshment, which sets forth the true whole burnt-offering of the God-man as the only way to redemption, and offers the true and complete communion with God, without requiring the dissolution of the individual personality'"
The province of Tanjore, comprised in the Kauvery Delta, is the most fruitful province and the corn, 01' rather the rice, granary of South India. This" Waterla.nd" is, year by year, twice overflowed by the Kauvery and fertilized by its fine mud, so that it yields a rich double harvel'lt. Every spot of this belt is cultivated. Six thousand and twenty-five settlements lie strewn iIi the river delta, concealed in thick groups of trees, only the pagodas rising out of the dense green wood which surrounds them, for the land is full of pagodas and shrines, almost oeyond any other. "Water from above, water from beneath, and mountains neal' at hand," these according to the Tamil minstrels, are the choicest blessings of a land; their land, accol'dingly, belongs to the pre-eminently favored lands. Hot and yet free of fever; fruitful, yet only when irrigated and tilled in ihe sweat of the brow; rich in rice, cotton, sugar-cane, indigo and palms, in herds of cattle, but also in snakes and scorpions; covered with populous cities and villages, devoted to idols and serving them in numerous pagodas; securing to its inhabitants a certain seclusion, which favored the peculiar development of their national life, but yet more aCcessible to intercourse with the world abroad than most other regions of India; this is the character of the land of the Tamils.
.. The Tamils, a race highly endowed, of rich sensibilities, joyous, laborious, distributed into many branches. although, in the middle classes not belonging to the Aryan, but to the Turanian or Scythian stock, nevertheless, soon assimilated the Aryan culture in a remarkable degree. Although they hold fast to their ancestral usages and to the rigorous division of castes, yet. being the most mobile and mo~t disposed to wander of all the Hindus, being found diffused over all India, and indeed beyond it, they have the most quickly unclosed themselves to foreigners and the most generally appropriated the Englishculture. Among the 14 millions of this race Protestant missions soonest found entrance and bave had the greatest success."
Madras, the capital of South India, has 400,000 inhabitants, of whom 39,- 094 are Christians, and 50,000 Mohammedans..
Islam and'the gospel are rivals for the dominion of India, and this fact gives to Christian descriptions of Mohammedanism an occasional pungency which is a refreshing contrast to the fantastic idealizations of Canon Taylor. This, from Missionary Baierlpin, is much to the point. It is easily verifiable throughout, with some tempering down, and may fairly be styled" Moham- medanism in a nutshell."
"Mohammed became at last convinced that Abraham, at all events, must have had the right religion. But the Jews had corrupted his religion. Therefore God sent Jesus, to restor~ the religion ot Abraham. Bnt the Christians had not understood Christ, and had become idolaters 01 him.
Therefore God had now selected him to restore the religion of Abraham. He bimselfwas a proph· et of God and the last. God has no mother, no wife, and no son. He Is alone, a great unit. That the Divine being, One, can yet be Triune, as already Indian philosophers, lIf1teen hundred years before him, had dimly conceived. this high thougbt could find nO place in his unlearned hea!!. So then he made his God, his Allah. into a wooden unity, and therefore immovable. It is trne, he repeats Incessantly, in place and out of place, tbat God Is compassionate, but in fact there is no move· ment in the inner being of his God. Believers, i. e., those who believe his prophet "-more proper- ly his apostle -" Mohammed, and honor him according to the prophet's precepts, are rewarded by him with Paradise, which is full of shady trees, springing founts, and beautiful young women, named houris. All others go straight to hell. The women of the Mohammedans have no access to their mosques "-not true of all mosques-" and no" specified" place in Paradise; there are women there already. There i~ a Kismet, a Fate, and this is absolutely unalterable. With this fate man is born into this world. And in this neither prayer nor mercy makes a change. The service of God consists in the repetition of certain forms of praise and other sentences at certain precisely appointed times of the day, towards a certain point of the horizon, Mecca. the position at each prayer, whether standing, kneeling, crouching, or lying prostrate, being also imperative. Of a conversion of the heart to God there is no mention, no more than of a love of God to man, and therefore there can be no mention of a love of all the heart and all the mind to this stllf, cold cipher, one Allah. And therefore among the Mohammedans "-so far as respects any influence from their reUglon-" there is lacking all love to men, all true humanity, such as extends to whatever is called Man. Robbery and murder are the order of the day, and among no people do children so orten rise a/(ainst the parents, as among the adherents of this false prophet."
True, in the main, though needing here and there som.e softening down.
'fhe Journal des Mission8 Evangeliquea for November, 1888, has an interesting article on the various ways of training missionaries. Among us, of course, and largely in Great Britain, the ordinary colleges and seminaries. Buton the continent, where so few university men become missionaries, the societies have to depend on training-schools of their own. We select a few facts. The Moravians, who have sent out among the heath~n about 2,300 missionaries, male and female, have a theological college at Fairfield, near Manchester, in England, under the care of Rev. R. Elliott; a German seminary at Gnadenfeld, in Prussia, under care of Rev. P. Beckel'; at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a college and seminary under care of Rev. A. Schultze and Rev. J. F. Hamilton. "The great Moravian Society indicated its methods from its very beginning. Its purpose was to send, above all, into the bosom of the pagan world, faithful witnesses of the Saviour, capable of ~laking Him known and loved by the heathen, whether they were artisans, like its heroic pioneers, potters like Dober, or carpenters like Nitzschmann. The society, nevertheless, now lays out 9,000 francs a year for the }:reparation of its missionary workers."
The Baptist College in Regent's Park, London, appears to train indifferently pastors and missionaries, comprising the classical and divinity course into a shorter time than ours. The London Society has no training.school. Nor has the Wesleyan Board. The Church ·Missionary Society, of 1,000 missionaries sent abroad has received only 200 fl"om the universities, and has trained 500 in its own Islington College. Most of the lesser English societies get tkeir missionaries where they can, a good many, probably, from the East London Missionary Institute, founded in 1872 by Rev. Grattan Guinness. This has already received 800 pupils, of whom 506 are now at work.
.. On the continent of Europe the method followed has been altogether different; not only had Wala.eus, as early as 16%2, a missionary college at Leyden. and the Dutch Society one of its own at Berkel, in 1810, and a.fterward, since 1821, at Rotterdam; but the Basel80ciety, founded in 1815, and that of Paris, in 1822, were established in the expectation that their first duty was to train missionaries for the great societies which had arisen before them. The example of the aged Jaenike, of Berlin, whose missionary school was closed after hi. death, in 1826, doubtless infiuenced the Berlin Society, which opened it.. institute in 1829 or 1830. Pastor Gossner, finding the new mission hou!/> of the society too sumptuous,left it, and toward 1840 trained his laborers in his own seminary or missionary school. Barmen opened its house in 1833; that of Hermannsburg began in 1841l with 12 pupils; the school of Reval was opened in 1882, and in 1884 pastor Janssen commenced a prepara.tory school for the Lutherans of Eastern Friesla.nd. Leipsic, in fine, which had wished at first. to recruit its missionaries solely among the pastors graduated from the universities, has been obliged by the Ia.ck of laborers to reopen its missionary semInary in 1879. We do not speak of the seminary of Neuendeltelsau, which prepares pastors for the colonies• .. As to the High Church Society (S. P. G.), it maintains or assists 28 theological seminaries where ecclesiastics are trained either for home or abroad. The Danes, in 1875,amalga.mated the two semina.ries intended to supply native pa.stors to Greenland."
The Journal has a letter from M. Henri Bertschy, of South Africa. Speakmg of his school he says: .. My neighbors, the Ba-Thlokoa, have sent some boys, but turn a. deaf ear whenever I raise the question of girls. • They have no need of knowing how to read,' they say to me. 'Let them once get a better educa.tion tha.n their husbands, and they would soon refuse to be married to pagans.' The fear of these people is, that in learning to read theirdaughters might possibly come to be converted and no longer choose to be bought by a heathen for twenty or thirty head of cattle. • Our daughters,' they say, • they are our bauk; it is on them we reckon to brinll' us cattle.' From that position you cannot move them. The daughters of the Ba-Thlokoa, then, will not come to schoQI until their parents shall have been converted. Is not this an illustration of the fact that Christianity will have to precede civilization?
.. Twice this past year the chiefs, especially Nkoebe, have demanded that we should hold prayer-meetings to obtain rain. The first was in September, at sowing-time; then again about New Year's, when the intense heat seemed likely to spoil the crops which had been doing well thus far. Both times the rain came while we were assembled, which bas been a veritable benediction."
Our Moravian brethren are disturbed lest it should be supposed that their mission work has everywht're transformed itself into a simple pastoral care of converts already secured. M. E. A. Senft, in a letter addressed to the Journal des Missions for November, 1888, points out some inadvertences of statement in a recent artice of The Journal. "For instance, the article in question, speaking of Greenland, forgets to add that God, and tha~ very lately, has brought to our brethren a whole troop of pagans from the east coast, hitherto inaccessible to our missionaries." In South Africa, again, the work" at various points" has passed into a home missionary stage, but not at aU of them. So, inSurinam, the work has largely become one of purifying Christian communities from ayet remaining pagan taint. "Butanother vast missionary field remaiJ;ls open before us at Surinam, and we have this very year been using all our strength to meet this work. In the ranks of our missionaries this marching order is heard ever more resoundingly: 'The Bush country for the Saviour! Let each one strive his best to accomplish this end.'"
The West Indies are the eldest mission field of the Moravians. Here, as they themselves say, "the mission work, properly so called, has long since reached an end." "This mission, numbering 44 stations, is in a fair way of coming to ripeness of age, and of forming, by the side of Germany, England and the United States, a fourth province of the Church of the Unity. It already has its normal schools, and its school of theology; and a considerable number of its parishes are served by native pastors."
There ar€ at present 3S6 hrethren and sisters in the missionary service of
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
the Moravian Church, 28 being- natives. There are, besides, 145 native evangelists and 1,468 native helpel's of various kinds.
The Moravian missionary stations, by industry and commerce, have thus far been able to contribute toward the annual expenses of the work from $130,000 to $150,000. Friends at home have, therefore, only needed to contribute, at most, about $95.000.
H.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Afrlca.-At a recent enthusiastic gath- what is meant by Arab power in Africa., East ering in Liverpool to bid God speed to the and Central. For generations the Arabs have intrepid African missionary, Graham Wil- been the skilled traders with the natives; they mo~ Brooke, who has made three unsucceSS_ have traveled in powerful companies, and they ful attempts to reach the tribes in tbe Cen- have made some localities in the interior almost tral Soudan, and IS now en routefor the same entirely their own. It is they, not the natives, region, via the Niger and Sokoto, a stirring who are at the bottom of the opposition to re- address was made by Mr. J. Spencer Walton form work, western enterprise and the canse ou mission labor iu South Africa. This in- of civilizatiou generally ou the east coast and in defatigable herald of Christ, who is proceed- the interior. German policy on the east coast ing under the auspices of the Cape General has greatly irritated the Arab traders; and Mission, to undertake evangelization work they have been in various ways taking their re- in that portion of the globe, asserted that venge. Of conrse, they are opposed to the en- Englishmen in South Africa had been a tire movement which is represented by the greater curse than a blessing. The track blocka.de ; but somehow the British element of the white man has been followed by abom- contrived so to manage things that the peace inations in the garb of religion. It waR this was not seriously distnrbed. fact which rendered missionary effort abor- ti"e. Denominational rivalry was likewise The Arabs haveso long had things their own frequently a cause of hinderance. Every way in East and Central Africa that they takeit one seemed to be trying to plant his own ill to 1lnd themselves beset by a policy and by special little ftower in bis own littledenomi- forces which mean the extinction oC their nefar- national ftower-pot. For the success of ious trade. They are engaged in a kind of missions it was necessary to sink sects and death-strnggle. Germans. French and English multiply undenominational lines of action. on the east coast are all pledged to a. strict Missions were primarily for salvation and blockade. so far as slavery and the introdnction •. only secondarily for education. of 1lrearms and otber weapons of war are con- cerned. Tbe repressive force of this arrange- On the 9th of March last the Cape General ment can bardly be overestimated. Tbe Congo Mission was launched, which, without con- Free State schemes tend in the same direction. sideration of sect. was seeking to spread the The railroad, which is to connectthe lower and gospel thronghout every part of Cll.pe Col- the npper Congo, will have the effect of opening ony. In SWll.zilll.nd, where there was a up the whole interior of Africa to civilized splendid race of natives Il.nd a chief well trade, and to bring it under civilized in1lnences. di$poRed to white people, a visit from a mis- The African slave-trader is well aware that his sionary was unknown:· It was a deplorable special business is doomed. In a few years revelation that of the 12,000 nativesworking from now it will be dead. Hence his despera_ in the mines at Kimberley not a hundred tion; but his desperation will not prevent the were Christians. In that town alone in the inevitable. Tbe poor African has suffered long. year 1888 no less than 580 natives were picked We already seem to see the dawning of a better np dead by the slaughtering evil of intoxi- day for that unfortunate rsce.-Xnil and Ex- cating drink. Mr. Wll.lton himself had preBB. eounted by the side of the ra.ilwa.y from Cape Town to Kimberley a broken brandy -The Imperial British East African Com- ftask every 25 yards. The natives, who pany. The first general meeting of this com- ftocked to these mining industries compara- pany WIIS held In London, June 6, and from the tively sober in habit, returned to their reports then given we gather some definite krll.~ls drunken and irredeemll.bly depraved. statements in regard to what the company pur- In the gold-mining centers the same havoc poses to accomplish. As yet little trading has was being wrought among the native tribes. been attempted, and it Is not expected that any With pll.ssionate fervor the speaker ap- pecuniary proftts will be reallzed at once, but pealed for the sympathy and prayers of the the directors of the company are con1ldent entire Church of Christ.-Our Englisl. eorre- that in due time good returns will be secured. BpOfIdent. :Mr. Mackehzie. who has been in charge on the East Coast of Africa, declares that tralllc is -The Arab Traders In Centra,l Africa. It is capable of enormous development, and that it diftlcult for the reading public to understand is the purpose of the company to establisa itself by planting stations, first along the cORst, -Another African Hero. The heroes are and then toward the interior, so that the na- not all recognized by men. Some do ".reat tives shall be under kindly control, and be en- things out of sight. and the world is long in couraged to raise those prodnets which wlll discerning them. The following para;:-raph stimnlate trade. Mombasa will be the port. describes a man evidently of heroic mold, and it is amrmed that before long this place though it is not wise to make comparisons will rival Zanzibar in its commerce. The ad- to the disparagement of such men as Livdress of the president of the company shows ingstone and Stanley: plainly that it i. expected that Mr. Stanley on returning from the interior will come to the .. Rev. James Scott, Free Church mission- East Coast through the territory of the British ary of Natal. speaking in Edinburgh lately, company. A project has been presented for declared that the greatest African hero, the construction or a railway, to be built in surpassing Stanley and even Livingstone, sections, Victoria Nyanza being the objective is Mr. Alexander M. Mackay, of tbe Church point; several caraVans having already been Missionary Society, who thirteen years sent out to the north and northwest,one ofwhich since went out to Uganda, in Central Africa, will establish a station at Lake Baringo. This and though left long alone has never ceased East African Company is composed of leading to work. He has reduced the native language commercial and philanthropic men, who have to writing. and printed the 1J0spei of Mat.. in mind what has be<on accomplished for Brit- thew with his own hands." ish interests by trading companies in India and North America, and their hope is to open Chlna.-The Chnstian College in Can- Africa to British commerce. It is proposed to ton. Rev. A. P. Happel', D.D., writes us that increase the capital from £250,000 to£1,OOO,OOO. he has hopes that ground will soon be pro· -MiB8. Herald. cured for the college, as the Viceroy of Canton has at last designated a plot of gronnd which -Mahdists and Abyssinians. To the Lon- he was willing to have sold for that purpose. don Time. the Secretary of the British and The attendance on the college is BOW as great Foreign Anti·Slavery Society recently commn- as can be accommodated, there being 66 scholnicated a letter from Herr Flad, the well- ars in attendance, and the work is em inently known German missionarY, which fully con· satisfactory. Tbe hours for recitation lire from firms the fears that have been expressed that nine till four, and on Sabbath the scholars are the recent defeat of the Abyssinian army by expected to attend religious s.rvice In the Mohammedan Mahdists or dervishes, will be chapel. We notice that this latter requirement the early addition of Christian Abyssinia to the has been made the object of criticism by the list of countries desolated by the African slave Canton correspondent of The Ohina Mail, who trade, unless such a result is speedily averted says that this renglous featnre of the work wlli by the proposed Conference of the Powers. be likelv to cause suspicion and keep desirable The dereat and murder of the Abyssinian King, students from attending; in the same letter he as will be remembered, was one of the sad states that the college is fnll to overfiowing. events of the last year. It followed successful and thns proves the futility of the objection. invasions of Abyssinia, and the slaughter and As the college is avowedly a Ohristian one, we enslavement of large numbers of AbysslDians do not see how the "venerable Professor" can do in 1885 and 1886 by the Mabdists; and their de- otherwise than fu1fill the trnst placed In him by feat by King John and his people in 1887. With striving to do everything In his power to his own commuuication Herr Flad transmitted .. proselytize" the stndents who attend. a letter from Christian Abyssinians, which is a most earnest and pathetic appeal for help from In anSWer to nnmerous inqniries whicli have their fellow Christians, and such help as wUl been made of ns, as to the conrse of stndy prevent their enslavement and the entire deso- and expenses necessary for a stndent in the lation of their country. Very pertinently these college, we give the following facts: The 8es· people, whose liberties and lives are in such im- sions of the college co.nmence on the 15th of minent danger, inquire of ChrIstians in other the Chinese first month and close on th" 15th of lands, after depicting the desolation of their the twelfth month, with a vacation in summer own; the selJing of thousands of people into or not, as may seem best in the future. The slavery, and the cruel butchery of other thou- charge for tnition is $12 a year. The stndents sands," Why should fanatic and brutal Moslems form a club and board themselves, the cost of be allowed to turn,a Christian land like Abys- which is about $2 a month. The students bave sinia into a desert. and to extirpate Christi· to snpply their own bed-room fnrniture (in their anity from Ethiopia f" They close with this case very simple) and clothes and bOoks; the earnest plea: .. For Christ's sake make known cost of these varies according to taste, but $50 our sad lot to our brethren and sisters in Cbris- in gold wUl cover all these very comfortably. tian lands, who fear God and love the breth- The course of stndy inclndes three years of a ren." While Abyssinian Christianity may not preparatory conrse and the regular four years' be witsout spot, Abysslnians are God's men college course in addition. As soon as ground and women.-N. Y. EvangeUst. can be procured and the necessary buildings erected, the attendance on the college wlll easily be 200, as many have al'plied who cannot now be accommodated. In spite of the number. Unfortunately the year's accounts lack of accommodation, Dr. Happer writes that closed with an adverse balance of £1,500. he will always find a place for any of the students from the Sabbath schools in this country It appears from the return presented by the who may wish to return to continue their stud- Paris Council that the ladies conducting the Ies In this college.-Chi1le86 Evangeli8t. work In the various homes fulfill their duties with economy and marked efficiency. The home and France.-Miss Leigh's Paris Romes. institute, Washington-house, 18 Rue de "Milan, in- A shower of congratnlations greeted Miss Ada augurated with a view to befriend young men Leigh, the dlstingnished fonndress of the as they enter Paris had received 70 of these British and American mission homes and Chris- from Great Britain, the United States, Canada, tian associations in Paris, who was lately mar- and New Zealand. It is regrettable thatasnm of ried at the English Embassy in the French £8,000 has still to be paid to completl the paycapital to Dr. Tarver Lewis, the Bishop of On- ments upon the land. A special appeal Is being tario. It Is the intention of this esteemed made to raise £500 for the purpose of increasing Christian lady, so widely known in Europe and the accommodation for the Exhibition. The read- America, to visit annually the institutions ers of the MISSIONARY REVIEW Ol!' THE WORLD which have 00 long enjoyed her able superin- will not fall on visiting the World's Fair at tendence and direction. In her absence the or- Paris in 1889 to visit some of the Institutions, ganizations will be uuder the mauagement of including the British Free Episcopal Church, a an assistant who hasbeena co-worker with the Brlhsh Orphanage and Homes for British GovprinCIpal npward of fifteen years. The many ernesses established by the unremitting exerfriends who are acquainted with the noble work tions of Mrs. Lewis.-OurEnglish CO'I'reapondaccomplished by Mrs. Lewis will join in the ent. wish expressed by the Bishop of Ontario that her residence on the other side of the Atlantic may Indla.-Child Marriage. It is intended not Interfere with the progress and continued shortly to select a child-wife for Scindiah, who benefactions of the movements identified with is himself 8 mere child. The marriage will be her name. A pleasant feature in the bride's celebrated during the next cold weather. In cortege, and eminently characteristic of her life- the case of a feudal minor subject to direct mission, was the presence of a number of Government infinence it has been suggested bright-eyed, rosy-faced children from the Or that the Government shonld endeavor to disphanage. These little girls dressed in dark-blue countenance such a marriage. The antiCipated cloth frocks, mantles, and hoods, with posies In union will be nsed throughout India as the their breasts evoked a compliment on their strongest argument for maintaining such charming appearance from Lady Lytton, who abUSES. with her danghters attended the wedding cere mony. After the marriage, at which the Bishop A Times' Calcutta telegram of July 7th conof Quebec officiated, accompanied by the Hon. tains the following intelligence: "Application Hector Hare, the Canadian CommiSSioner in has been made to the Bombay High Court, on Paris, and other Canadians, the Bishop of behalf of the child-wife of Holkar's son-in-law, Ontario and Mrs. Lewis received their friends to direct a new trial on the cbarge of cruelty. at the Orphanage erected in the Boulevard The case was adjonrned. A Bombay news- Bineau. paper announces two marriages. In oue case the bride was aged two years and in the other The importance of the operations in which 15 months, while the bridegroom was 30 years Mrs. Lewis has been engaged may be realized old. Pundita Ramabai is giving a series oflecfrom the report which has just been read at the tures to thronged andlences on female educa- 17th annual gathering held at 77 Avenne Wa- tion." gram. Around the Chairman, the Bishop of ,Quebec, were observed the Countess of Lytton, -In May lastthe city of Bombay WaS honorthe Bishop ofOntario, the Revs. R. McAn, and ed with the first public lecture ever delivered in T. de Carteret, Drs. Chapman and Barnard, Mr. India by a native lady. Doctor Miss Ratanbai Sewell and other infiuential friends. The re- Ardeshir Malbarvala lootured in the FrlLmjee port stated that during 1888 no less than 401 Cowasjee Institnte to a crowded audience, young women had beeu received into the home, which IDcluded 200 native ladies. Lung phy~i making an aggregate of 5,229 since It was ology was the subject dlsconrsed upon in a opened. Situations to the number of 196 had modest, able, and Interesting manner. The been obtained by means of the free registry. lady's courage and ability were cordially The applications from governesses had been greeted. 3,080 and for governesses 912. The home for young women employed in' shops, 26 Faubourg -To meet the growing evil oCleprosy in India St. Honor6, had been full, while its outdoor the Government has decided to introduce a bill members numbered over 500. The governesses' giving district magistrates power to order the and artists' in~titute and home had been re- arrest ofany leper fouud begging or wandering moved to larger premises at 153 Faubourg St. about without means of subsistence. Such Honore, and Its members were more than 200 In lepers may be detained in a retreat for life or until their discharge Is sanctioned, and if they escape may be re-captured by the police. No rdlreat will be sanctioned unless provision is made for the segregation of the sexes. The every denomination in Bengal, the Pnnja!,., the local governments may establish retreats, make rules for the management, discipline, aud in· Dekkan, Bombay, and Madras Presidencid8. spection of them with any moneys placed at their disposal for hospitals, dispensaries, and We bave stayed in tbeir bouses, lived close to Innatic asylum., and complete religions freedom will be assnred to lepers in such institutions. them for many months, bave known the details Contrary to tbe returns made by the sanitar· of their expenditure, and I can bear unqnallfied ians of India that leprosy was decreasing, to which the past apathy of the Government is testimony to their self-denying economy and simtraoeable, the eminent civil service officer, the Hon. Sir H. Ramsay, of Kum;J.on, in the Hima- plicity of living, and to the ricbes of their liberlayas, considers that the outbreaks of leprosy are rapidly multiplying in that empire. ality to the poor'in times of famine. Nothing can The condition of these poor creatnres is mis- be more unjust or ungenerous than to charge erable, turned out from family, village, and all that makes life dear. "If there are objects on them with' self-indulgence,' 'luxury,' or 'worldearth;' writes Dr. Pringle,formerly for SOyears Surgeon-Major to Her Majesty's Bengal Army, liness,' of any kind. The' gulf' between them .. that claim Christian charity more than others it is theBe lepers. Now help has come, and the and the' station people' is tbe gulf between ~he Jubilee of the Empress of India, • The Maha- Ranee,' will ever be known as the 50th year of church and the world. Men like Dr. Duff, or the rule of her who desires to be known, not only as the defender of the faith, but'" the fol- Mr. Hislop, of Nagpur, may occasionally be lower of Him who had compassion on the leper and whose religion welcomes tbe leprous out- sought after by high otlicials fortheir knowledge cast cf otber religions with' Come unto me, and I will give you rest. ' or their gifts, but very few civil or military offi- " The last of the tbree great orders promul- cers, and .till fewer ladies, ever visit a missiongated in the Punjab of old, viz., • Burn not widows, kill not infant girls, bnry not (alive) ary's family unless they are one with them in lepers,' bas now not only its fulfillment, but adequate provision supplied for carrying It into the faith. Missionaries are not • in society.' effect with love and mercy, and henceforth tbe bomeless, friendless, religionless leper will find They have neither time nor inclination to be so. a home and a friend, and, if he will believe it and accept it, a religion which will take him I never met a missionary at Government House. just as he is." I never beard of one staying with a Governor, Dr. Pringle read a mastetly paper, Jnne 12th, before one of the most influential assemblies except Mrs. Ingalls, ortbe Burmah mi.sion,witb ever gathered in London on" The Increase of Leprosy in India, its Causes, Probable Conse- Lord and Lady Lawrence. At tbe same time, quences and Remedies." their own houses were always open to anyone In this connection we should not omit an expression' of gratitude to the promoters of mis- seeking their society, their bospitality genersions who bave sent ministrants to the 135,000 lepers in India, chiefly from Scotland and Ire- ally taking the'form of evening tea. They were land, for the last 15 years. The stations may be traced on the leper maps of India, and also on universally respected by the natives who knew those of Burmah and Ceylon. them, and hy all those Europeans who kept -From Bombay a painful case of suttee by opium is reported. The wife of a wealthy aloof from them. I have not spoken of tbe real Brahmin, in order not to survive her sick bus- band, whom sbe was ,nursing, committe!! sui- hardness they endure in teaching, hazaarpreach- cide by taking opium,-Our English {Jorre- spondent. ing in the hot winds, and in itinerating often on '
-Missionary Life. The widow of the late foot. As one instance, all the Basle missiona- ' General Colin Mackenzie writes to Tlte Ohm- tian (London) a8 follows: .. Dear Sir: Allow ries engaged in the revival among tke J nlus in me to confirm the testimony of Miss McInnes (in your issue of May 31), as to the' simplicity of 1870-71 were invalid from the hardships they life' and devotion to their great work of Indian missionaries. DUring more than thirty years went through. Faithfully yours, my busband (General Colin Mackenzie) and I were intimately acquainted with missionaries of I., HELEN C. MACKENZIE."
-India would seem to be practically unedu- cated. The total number ofscbolars in schools and colleges of all sorts is only three and a quarter millions, or one and a half per cent. of tbe entire population. These are mainly confined to the cities and towns; and out of 250,000,000 in all India,less than 11,000,000 can read and write. A census of tbe illiterates in the various conntries of the world, recently publisbed in the Statistische MonatsBchrift, places the three Slavic States of Roumauia, Servia and Russia at the head of the list, witb ahout 80 per cent. of the populatiou unable to read and write. Of the Latin-speaking races, Spain heads the list witb 63 per cent., followed by Italy witb4S per cent., France and Belgium having ahout 15 per cent. The Illiterates in Hungary number 43 per cent., in Austria 89, and in Ireland 21. In England we find 13 peT cent., Holland 10 per cent., United States (white population) 8 per cent., and Scotland 7 per cent" unable to read and write. When we come to the purely Teutonic States 'we find a marked reduction in the percentage of illit- erates. The bighest is in Switzerland, 2.5; in the whole German Empire it is 1 per cent. ; in Sweden, Denmark, Bavaria, Baden and Wur- temberg there is p~actically no one wbo cannot read aud write. -The latest and most baseless accusation humanity in the bresBts of their oppressors. brought against PrQtestant missions in India Debarred from carrying on the ordinary trades is found in a home paper. and is to the effect oflife, they have been compelled In many inthat the natives were so afraid of medical mis- stances to earn their living by debased occupa. sionary ladies that they would not admit them tions. Taught by bitter experience to feel how to their houses, and other ladies had to be sent unequal they Invarisbly are to cope with the for. The well-knowu truth is that missiouary aggressions of the Mnssnlman population, they ladies made the Lady Dnfferiu movement possi- adapt their speech and conduct to their unforble. They entered India when very many Enro- tunate condition. They passively submit to peans regarded them with disfavor. and proved the vilest Insults, whilst the petty acts of perseby successfal practice in many parts of India cution gradually become habitnal on the part of that the ladies in the zenana could be reached. the Mussulmans. A :Mussulman child may They were gladly received by the natives. The with impunity pull a Jew's beard snd spit into first lady doctor who came to India landed in his face. The poor Jew makes no complaint, 187(), and came to India as a missionary. So and his resignation, taken as cowardice, is not far from exciting fear or suspicion, she gained calculated to act as a deterrent. It is impossiimmediate access to royal houses, and when ble to form a conception of the sentiments of a Lady Dufferln landed In India this medical lady Persian toward a Jew. Taught by tradItion was established in the capital of a Rajpoot and custom to despise the Jew, as being an inprince, and was not only generously'supported by fidel and an impure and defiled creature, it is no him, but had full liberty to carryon her mission- wonder that the Mussulman acts toward him ary work in whatever way she chose. Here and in a disgraceful manner. The word "Jew" is there a noudescrlpt without missionary creden- considered as a term of disgrace, and is never tals may have failed, but as a class the medical used by a Persian without an apology for giving mlsslouary ladies have been eminently success- utterance to it. Their cry for help will assur- edly not fall ineffectually upon the ears of their ful, aud but for them neither India nor China brethren in lands where the blessings of educawoald have had a medical lady. or a female tion have rendered our co-religionists peaceful student in a medical school, to the present and prosperous. day.-India Witness (BmnlJall.) Russla.-Daybreak among the Kirghlz. -Christianity in India.-It is the peculiar To Russian civilization the varied tribes and distinction of India that it has beeu the peoples of Central Asia have readily assimilated; theater of four great religions-Hinduism, the Kirghiz alone have hitherto remained 0 b· Buddhism, Mohammedanism and Christi- stinately wedded to their semi-barbarism. Evianity. The first three have each had many dence, if not overwhelmingly strong, indicates centuries of opportunity, and yet Christian. a tendency to adapt civllized customs and the itv has done more for the elevation of In- elements of education. 'A century and a half ago dian societ,, in the last fifty years than the Kirghiz, who at that time inhabited nearly duringall the long ages of their domination. one·half of Central Asia, surrendered them- Neither Buddhism nor Mohammedanism selves willingly and without bloodshed to the made any serious impression upon caste, domlnstlon of the White Czar. The Russians neither W80S 80ble to mitigate the wrongs have persistently, by every rational means, which h80d been.heaped on women; Moham- striven to remove antiquated prejndlces and the medanism rather aggravated them. The eradication of Kirghiz superstitions. Not until horrors of the suttee and the murder of fe- recent years have Ru.sian persuasions issued maleinfants, those bitterest fruits of super- in Imore than partial success. When the free stition, were left unchecked till the British schools were instituted and tolerance toward Government, Inspired by Christian senti- religion and language exercised the children ment, branded them infamous and made shunned the doors. As determinedly the Kirgthem crimes. Eveh the native sentiment of hlz declined to allow their young men to accept India. is now greatly changed, and the gen- vacancies offered to them in the Rnssian cadet eral morality of the better classes is raised corps. Latterly, however, the Rnssian authora.bove the teachings of their religion.-Dr. ities have overcome the scruples of the Kirghiz EUinwooa, in Ohurch at Home and Abroad. parent. by the gift of premiums. The induce- ment has been successfuf in attracting to the PerSla.-The Jews. Several representa- schools numbers of boys. An earnest endeavor is also being made to break through the pretives of the aggrieved have approached the Per- viously impenetrable wall of prejndice which sian Shah' now visiting in London. The Armin- excludes all female children from the advanians, the Engli.hJewsand the Parseesthere res- tages of educational training and discipline. It ident, have presented addresses. Thefollowing is reported that the wife of s Kirghiz chief i.interestlng just now touching the cruel op- named Galschevskaya has finally overborne all pressiou of the Jews in Persia: :Mr. Morris native opposition, and, with the permission of Cohen of Bsgdad writes in the last report of the Government, a few months ago opened a the Anglo-Jewish Association that centuries of school for young girls in the little town of Jrgis. persecution have not failed to stamp their effect Already she has succeeded In bringing together in deep. broad characters upon the Persian Jews. Despised and persecuted, they are unable to commaud respect, or to arouse feelings of 15 girls. These are entirely the daughters of United States.-From The Exa.miller native Sultans. There is likelihood of tAe we gather some facts respecting Rev. Grattan lady's example being followed shortly by the Guinness, head of the great London Institute establishment of similar schools in more popu- for the training of missionaries, who has been lous centers. The girls attending the Irgis • traveling for months through Mexico and the School are described as wonderfully good Southern States: pupils. In spite of much criticism abroad of the From MeXICO he went through Texas. Lonisi- Russian manner of treating the popular senti- ana, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and ments and traditions of the subjected Central others of the States. His purpose was to visit Asian races there is no donbt that the Rnssian the oolleges for colored students. In a single Government is becoming more permeated with month he addressed 3,000 colored stndents, re- the princjples of educational rights and relig- ceiving offers of service for the Congo missiou ious liberties. ·More acquaintance with the in- from thirty of them. Dr. Guinnes8 finds that ternallife of the Emph'e of the Czar as shown a new movement is begun among the million in Dr. Lansdell's writings proves that Russia colored Baptists-as he puts it: .. Africa in in her own way is a civilizing not less than a America is beginnin::- to move towards Africa conquering power in Central Asia.-Our Eng- beyond the seas." After seeing the colored lish Correspondent. I people, Mr. Gninness went among the white Syrla.-Dr. Lindsay, of the Free Church chnrches, taking with him his bright Congo ofScotland, is now visiting the missions of that boy, N'koiyo. N'koiyo nsed to be at Ilarley church in India, and he gives in The Free House nnder Mr. Gulnness, bnt is now stud,.
Ohurch Monthly an account of the Syrian Ing in one of our Sonthern institutions. Mr.
Christians who dwell chiefly in Travancore. Guinness's plea was that indlvidnal chnrches One authority states that there are about 100,000 should support each a miasionary on the Con- of these Syrian Christians. Dr. Lindsay re- go in connection with onr Missionary Union, gards them as probable descendants of the bnt in addition to what they at present are Nestorian Christians who were banished from doing for missions. Nine Baptist churches in the empire by Theodosius. The Church Mis- Phlladelphia promised to support ten fresh sionary Society of England has labored among missionaries on the Congo. The American them, and oftentimes with promise of much Colonlzation Society has promised to transport snccess, but while there has been a reforming all these missionaries free, and Mr. Guinness party among them, the majority hold very has secured a suitable house in Monrovia, LI- rigidly to some of their ancient tenets. Dr. beria, where the missionaries can wait until Lindsay now reports that the reform party, they can be sent to the Congo. He will be which is headed b~ the Bishop Mar Athana- bnsy:in September seeing to the start of these sius, has endeavored not to secede from the new miSSionaries, and In October is to be at aucient church, but to secnre an evan- the opening of the new missionary college In gelical reformation within it. The chiel Boston. Mr. GlJlnness shows how great pleas- points they insist upon are: The repudiation of nre he takes in thus forwarding the work of prayers to the Virgin or paints and tor the our missions on the Congo in all his letters.
dead; and of the doctrines of transubstantia- His is a crusade for missions wisely and eco- tion and the mass, and of compulsory fasting. nomically condncted, and carried on without They protest also against various superstitious any llourish of trumpets, or appeals (or help rites, such as kneeling before the cross, the for his personal expenses.
lighting of candles for forty days at the graves The first Congo-Balolo mission party sent of the dead, and the offering of sweetmeats at out by Mr. Gninness and the East London In- the temples. They demand that worship shal! stitnte to the Congo above our farthest sta- be in the vernacular, and that the old Syrian tion, arrived safely at the mouth of the Congo.
litnrgy be translated into Malayalam. They In 1878 the first Congo missionaries (establish- desire to be associated with other Christians, Ing the mission which has since been conveyed and especially with evangelical Protestants. to the American Baptists) arrived. There is a This reform party is engaged in a protracted wonderful contrast between then and now.
lawsuit with the nnreformed section for cer- As the missionary party reached the Congo'. tain property belonging to the chnrch, the mouth, they found every provision made for courts hitherto in their decisions having fa- the comfort oC arriving missionaries, wnereas vored the old party. The reformers are antici- ten years ago the pioneers had to endure many pating defeat in their suit, bot are building discomforts. Shortly after this party of Congochurches, and are resolnte in their purpose to Balolo missionaries arrived, they wlilre met by maintain evangelical Christianity. It seems a representative of Dr. Simpson's (ol New that the impulse that led to this reformation York) faith-healing missi01l". She talked in an is dne to the" work of the Church Missionary Indignant strain of the "awlul country," the Society, and to the Christian College at Ma- "terrible people," that '.' It was not right for dras. Mar Athanasius, the present leader, ladies to go to snch a place," and mnch more was a student in the Madras College-Miss. In the same strain. The next morning an Berald. Irish woman connected with the American
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
Methodist· (Bishop Taylor's) mission met the it wa.s committed in lta.ly a.gainst one Jew- party and gave them the bright side of the pic- ish child. Many become sick. and some die tnre. She was fnll of enthusiasm for the work in the school away from home and kindred.
on the Congo. After remaining five days at Those who live to gradnate become" camp Banana, the Congo State steamer took them up Indians" again,little better for· the" edu- to Boma. cation" they have received at the expense -The Indian political problem as viewed of the GovernmeQt.
by a missionary. A life of fifteen years Our present policy is unjust in pauperiz- among the Indians has shown me some light ing the Indians and then making their pau- on the Indian problem which it seems to me perism an excuse for invading family rights.
importa.nt to bring before the citizens of on the plea that their children must be the nation which is trying, vainly thus far, taught to support themselves. And the to solve it. I lived among the Ottawas in Indians' hearts are broken and our money Michigan more than two years before and is spent in vain. To educate Indians under nearly five years after their reservations present conditions is to enable a few of were opened to the white settlers. I have them to support themselves and to leave the been more than eight years among the rest to fall back into pauperism.
Sioux on reservations in Dakota and Mon- .I refer to the Government plan of whole- tana.. I have seen the working of both poli- sale education. There a.re mission schools cies a.nd become convinced that the follow- where a limited numberof Indian youth can lng truths contain the key to the solution of obtain a better educatiou than in Govern- the problem: ment schools. The supply of those who ob- I. The Indians are men and cannot be tain this higher education is not equal to saTed without recognizing the rights of the demand. But graduation at a Govern- ma.nhood. The longer they are trea.ted a.s ment school gives no assurance of self.sup- children the inore childish they become. port.
They are sinking deeper in pauperism. At The only wa.y in which the reservation this a.gency it costs the Government as system benefits the Indians is by enabling much to support them as it did when there the agent to keep liquor away from them.
were three times as many. If the traffic in liquor was suppressed 2. What they need is not speciallegisla- among white people, their settlement among tion in their behalf, but the protection of the Indians would not be an injury, but a laws securing equal justice to all men. The benefit.
Government appropriates money to feed 3. A homestead should be given to every them, but that does not teach them to earn Indian, and the rest of the reservations their own living. The Government under- should be open to other settlers. As far as I ta.kes to give their youth an education, both know their feelings, the Indians would be literary and industrial. A few learn to read glad of the change. There would be district and write English to a very limited extent. schools, a.nd their children would not be ar- Some have acquired considerable skill in rested like criminals and put into boarding some kind of work. The Government hires schools by force. Partly by cultivating a.
a few laborers, and the rest are left to eat little land for themselves, and partly by the bread of idleness, as before. Thefavored working for their white neighbors, they laborers receive wages, a.nd the rest get could sup·port themselves and dispense with …bout rations enough to save them from be- Government rations.
ing sta.rved to death. The Government sets 4. All distinctions of race should be abol- apart reservations to protect them from the ished and the laws a.dministered impa.r- intrusion of white people and keep out set- tially. A crime against an Indian should is tiers who would give them employment. meet with the same pnnishment as when the The India.ns are induced to scatter with a victim a white person.
view to farming, and the oilly result is that How will these principles solve the Indian their time and strength are consumed 10 problem? Apply them, and the Indiaus will coming to the agency for their rations. solve it themselves. They are made of Children are educated by forcibly kidnap- human nature as well as we, and all they ping them, in utter disregard of parental want is a fair chance, equally with our- rights, theanthorities thus repeatedly com- selTes. GEORGE W. WOOD, JR., mittin&" the crime which a.roused the indig- Presbyterian Missiona.ry. _, nation of all Europe a few years-a-g-o.-w-h-en—-F-OR-T-P-EC-It AGENCY, MONTANA. ilL-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Mrica· of May .49 converts were baptized at the A. B. M. U. Station of Ranza Mauteke. P ALABALA, CONGO FREE STATE, On the 4th of JUDe one young man was bap- 12 June,1889. tized at Underhill Station of the Eng. Rap.
EDITORS MISSIONARY ReVIEw.-On the 25th Missy. Socy. At Lukunga Station of A. B. M. I write the above notes about Bishop Union 4 were baptized on Jnne 9th. At Banza Manteke Station of A. B. M. Union 20 were Taylor's work, not to clog the wheels of the baptized on June 11th. gospel chariot, but rather that the truth By the steamship .Afrikaan the Congo Balo Mission party from London arrived lBay be known. I long to see chnrches essafely; there were two ladies and six gentlemen In the party, all of whom are new tablished-I care not by whom they a.re to the country except the leader, Rev. J. McKittrick, who was for some years in the built up-Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist A. B.M. Union and held the Equator Station of the A. B. M. U, for some time., or otherwise, so long a.s h the Kingdom"
By the same steamer three new mission_ comes, and men are led to follow Jesus. aries came for the A. B. M. U.-Misses Gordon and Royal and Rev. W. A. Hall. But people are giving" gospel money" to The Portuguese mail of 26th May brought what professes to be the cheapest and best four returning and six new missionariesone for A. B. M. U., five for the Eng. B.M. mode of spreading the knowledge of God, Socy. and four for the· Swedish M. Socy.- total for May,21. (3 American, 4 Swedish, and what can be seen at a glance tobe a tail- 1 German and 13 British.) ure on the Congo up till nolO. A new station has been opened by the A. B. 11. U. at Bwemba (Nchumbiri's) fully At Oivi. the base station, no school is es- 200 miles above Stanley Pool. tablished and no one can speak the' lan- Rev. J B. Murphy reports from Equator Sta.tioll that, though there are no known guage. Messrs. White and Ra.smnssenhave conversiuns, the people are inquiring about the gospel and seem very much interested. both worked hard and' are able to converse, There has been fighting amongst some of and to tell of Jesus, in the native language. the Interior tribes, the people themselves saying that since the white men sold them At Kimpoko, I believe, no practical knOWlguns there has been much more lighting. The Statewiselyforbids saleofrifleand capguns. edge of the language has been attained by Good reports as to health and work come any of those established there, yet they from all the A. B. M. U., B. M. S. and S. M. S. stations. have been there for over two years. Mr.
Bishop Taylor's steamer is still in transitu Burr works very hard and earns a good deal and will not probably fioat this year, and if things go on at present rate it will not float by hippopotamns shooting. The two ladies next year. at Banana no doubt do a good work; there In Congo Free State there are four points held by the Bishop's people: (1) Near Bana- the natives understand a good deal of Eng- ns-Misses Kildare and Collins. (2) Oivi (houses built by State)-held by Mr. and Mrs. lish and Portnguese languages. Mr. Burr Teter and Mr. Briggs. (3) lsangila-only a grass hut for temporary purposes-lIessrs. can almost support himself with his gnn, White and Rasmussen. (4) Kimpoko (State houses)-Messrs. Burr, Harrison and Elkins bitt nODe of the others attain "self support," and Mrs. Elkins. No other places are held by the Bishop'8people, though I see repeatedly and even if they were to do so, they, like longer lists of stations. Mr. Burr, wonld be almost completelY cut The list of,missionariesof the Bishop Tay- lor mission, as recently published in the olf from school work and evangelistic ef. pamphlet he edits, Is also incorrect. The names of two trader8 (Evans of Mayumba fort. Yours in the Lord's work, and Fontaine of Banana) are given as .. mis- slonaries;" and fnrther, the reason given JOSEPH CLARK, Missionary of A.B. M. U. for delay of trarurtt of the .Anne Paylor is in- complete and incorrect. LUCKUNGAN, CONGO, June 10, 1889. Forty-flve converts were baptized at It is now over nine years since I came to Banza Mantike (A. B. M. U.) on 2d of this this country, and I have no desire for a month. Fifteen new mission!l.ries and fonr ," better fleld." I love Africa and my desire returns arrived here during the past month. is to see the Cross of Christ planted In A new mission, to work among the Balolo, every village. I daily pray for the spread have arrived on the Congo under the leader- of the knowledge of the name of Jesus, and ship of Mr. J. McKittrick, who did elfect- 1 daily work for that end. ive work and ~ained considerable expe- rience a few years ago while working nn~er theL.E.M. Nearlyall members of the Bishop Taylor mission have either died, gone home, or connected themselves with other missions here. Self-supporting missions are regarded as a failure, and we are very sorry for this; the Bishop is going to !rive it another trial; we wonld rejoice greatly if he suc"eeds, but we ha.ve no ground to hope.
CHAS. JAMES LA1i'J'IN.
Ohile.
AN appeal to Christians for prayer in behalf of Chile: We, the Chile MisSion, assembled Cor oonsu!ttr tlon and prayer concerning our Master's work in Chile, unitedly call upon our fellow-cbrls- tians here and in other lands to join us In c0n- certed and continued prayer to the God of all grace for a special blesSing npon His work here. We gratefnlly acknowledge past blessings, The work of this latter is largely among the and are thankful for the achievements and cou· cesllions of a liberal government, for the marked Chilians. In connection with its work are five spirit of tolerance recently shown toward the propagation of a pure Christianity among this Chilian churches, three schools, one theolOgical people, for the preachim; of the gospel many years to the foreign communities on these department, seven foreign missionaries, three shores and more recently to the Chilians and to a few Indian trihes, for the many copies of the Chilian ministers, besides other helpers and Scriptures scattered among various classes, for the seed sown by tracts and papers in thousands teachers. Among the special indications of of human hearts, for the little companies of be: lievers here and there who have not been God's providence are the rapid movements of ashamed to own the name of Him who called them luto His own marvelous light, for those the past few years toward religious freedom in 'Who have been led by the Divine Spirit to consecrate themselves to Chr istian work in Chile the spirit of the people and in governmental for all the manifested tokeus of the presence and power of God in Christian life and work, acts. The Evangelical Union, which issues this and, finally, for the providence of our Father overall. appeal, has recently received articles ofincorpo- Yet, while mludful of these things, we cannot ration granting the right to hold property, libshut our eyes to the pressing needs around us, and we are constrained to ask you to become 'erty of worship and permission to propagate fellow-helpers In prayer with us in the work oC the gospel of Christ in Chile. Romanism has the Reformed faith throughout the country_ blighted these shores and Inthralled this people for centuries. A reaction is taking place; but, Other tokens of providential favor are seen in excepting In a few Instances, it is not toward the religion of the Bible. The great trend is the large number who now gIve the gospel a toward infidelity and indill'l'rentism. The naturaI'frnlts of hoth are seen in the confused and hearing, and in the Cact that sever..l ChllIans sad state of opinion and practice regarding religion and morals. It would be possible to men- have just entered upon or are in the active tion facts which would prove how important it I. to have a pure gospel preached in Chile. preparation for the gospel ministry. This progressive people, once brought to love and obey Jesus Christ, would show that divine The demands of the hour may be expressed trnth conquers slu and brings to a more perfect development qualities naturally excellent. In- by two wordS, immediate occupation qf the fiuences adverse to a true religious life are felt also by foreign Christians residing here. Yet entire j!eld and a gracious and mightll outit is cause for gratitude that so many avoid these dangers, and, by engaging in Christian pouring oj the HollI Spirit. Pray that the meswork, by consecrated giving, and by their sympathy and prayers do promote the blessed gospel sengers of Christ may be speedily sent to the in Chile. Stili let prayers ascend that their nnmber may be increased, that foreigners and large colonies of foreign peoples on these Chilians may become, under the blessing of our covenant God, trne sons and danghters of the shores, to the dominant Spanish Chillan race King. and to the untonched aboriginal tribes. Nor The present is a time of opportunity. A beginning has been made and special indications can we pass by the fields north ofus, the United of Providence have been vouchsafed. The agencies at work in Chile are the following, States of Colombia and Pern, in which there are viz.: thirteen Protestant churches among the foreign communities, five boarding and day very few laborers; also Bolivia, Ecuador and schools and three Spanish preaching stations under the Taylor Mission of the American Venezuela, almost entirely unoccupied. Plead Methodist Church, a seaman's mission in Valparaiso harbor, the ValparaiSO Bible Society with our God that these nllglected fields may employing several colportenrs, a mission to the natives of Terra del Fuego under the care or immediately hear the gospel. Pray that the the South American Missionary Society of England, and the Evangelical Union or Chile Mis- Spirit may convict of sin this whole people. .1011 of the American Presbyterian Church. Pray that He may make fruitful the widely scat- tered seed. Pray that he may give courage to confess Christ and to openly avow allegiance with.His chnrch. Pray God that He may conse- crate more Cully to Himself the Chilian and for- iegn Christians, that the testimony of a whole- handed and whole-hearted service may aid the witness of God's truth. Pray the Lord of the harvest for godly native ministers, teachers and other workers, and for a marked enduement of the spirit of Christ upon His mmisters here, both Chilian and foreign, for harmony, for wis- dom, for love, for power. Pray for the church of Christ in ChUe that it may be powerfully re- vived. Pray for the Christians of Protestant Europe and America that they may appreCiate their vast responsibilities for money, men and practical interest, also their wonderful oppor- tunities for 1WW undertaking and carrying out our Lord's gre..t command to disciple all na· tions. The one comprehensive blessing which we de&lre is the presence of the Holy Spirit working in all the plenitude of Hisl(race and power.
Dear brethren, what is to be done must, be done quickly. This generation is fast passing away. May we all quit ourselves like men, praYIng while we labor 'and laboring while we pray, as those who look for the Lord and His divine approval.
Those who are willing to nnite in a weekly observance of prayer in behalf of ChUe and the other darkened papal hnds of America are re- vations is to have nothjng to do with Christians as servants, when they can get Hindu or Moquested to send their names to any member of hammedan domestics. I do uot agree with the , Old Colonel' in his sweeping denunciations of the Evangelical Union. These are not Intended our native Christian brethren in. India. But I am compelled to admit, that he has often pracfor publication, but that we may be encouraged tical experience in support of his views.
by the knowledge that some are joining us in .. The low state, moral and social, of these • Portuguese Christians,' Is the direct historical this requeet, and that we may be able to com- result of a system of conversion without educa- tion. The Roman Catholic authorities have municate with them iu the future. themselves perceived this; and in our day they are second to none in their efforts to educa&e Rev. J. M. .Allis, Casilla 912, Santiago, Chile. the people. I would speak of the existing Catholic missions and missionaries in India " S. J. Christen, "6tH, " with the highest respect. • • • " W. H. Lester, 231, "The fact. however,remains that the low social and moral status of their converts is the histori_ " W. H. Dodge, 202, Valparaiso, " cal result of the old-world methods of conver- sion without corresponding efforts at education " J . .F. Garvin, 904, on an adequate scale. These methods have now been abandoned for more enllghteued ones " W. H. Robinsou," Copiapo, by the Roman CathOlics in India. "
" W. B. Boomer, Ooncepcion, " Iu comparing the number of converts'by the Roman Catholic and Protestant missionaries we In session at Valparaiso, Chile, January, I88)' ought never to lose 'Sight of the fact that not only were the former 300 years sooner in the 1 These. iii: 1,2. field but that they had the Nestorlan Mis- sions on which to draw for many of their England. early converts. as all were called who left the weak and unprotected followers of the early FROM REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, F.S.S. church for the powerful church of their Portu- guese conqnerors who did not scrnple to nse Roman Catholic Missions in In- strong measnres for their conversion. dia. It is also necessary in speaking of the increase KDS. 011 THill MISSIONARY REVIEW 011 THE WORLD: of Roman Catholic converts in India, to em- Dear Sirs.-Your correspoudent in this Jlhasize the fact that the Increase is largely due to the natnrallncrease of the mnch larger numconntry, who happens to be a namesake of ber with which the comparison is made. mine, and for whose communications I find myself credited, has in your July Issue given the I am, dear sir, most truly yours, nnmber oC Roman Catholics in India derived JAMBS JOHNSTON, F. S. S. Cram their orgau, Illustrated Catholic Missions. The numbers are probably near the truth; but India. certain quotations from Sir W. W. Hunter as LETTER from a Methodist misslOnto the comparative cost ofPopish and Protestant ary in Monaffarpur, India: missions, and as to the self-denying way in which the agents of the former carryon their I read in THE REVIEW a short time ago an work, are apt to mislead, when not accompanied account of the Lady Dnfferin Hospital, by other passages from Sir William's writings. opened at Darthanga and built by the Ma.- harajah. I see the building often and enjoy The following passages are from one of his the hospitality of the lady in charge, who is most recent ntterance., as to the character an East Indian from Madras. Already the of the converts made by the Roman Catholic enterprise is a success; the wards are filled Chnrch ; and as they may not COme under your and much good is being done. Miss R., an correspondent's eye, and will certainly not be excellent Christian lady, told me of a very given In the nlustrated Oatholic Missions, I successful treatment in removing a cataherewith give them: ract from a native lady, who, after years of darkness, has returned to her home and Referring to the danger of the withdrawal of people. It is great misfortune that theladies Protestant schools and co~leges, Sir William engaged in these hospi tals, by a stipulatIOn says: accepted by Lady Dufferin, "annat converse with theIr patients on the subject of Chris- "The Roman Catholics in the sixteenth and tianity. Either these institntions in time seventeenth centuries made the great mistake must pass into the care of ladies of an of converting without educating. Their con- acknowledged creed or the Christian la,di!llil versions were on an enormous scale, and they must stullif,y tb/lm.,, VIIS, have left behind a hereditary caste of Christians, numbering abont one and one-third million of the two millions or native Christians in India. It is not too much to say that the native Christians thus left behind by the rapid conversions of Roman CatholiCIsm were for long a reproach to Chrlstiauity. It is these' Portnguese Christians' who have given rise to the popular idea in India, that a native Christian is a drunkard and a thief. There are many thousands of exceptions to this rule. But the rule Is so general that an 'Old Colonel' .when he Writes to the Time8, usnally speaks of it as universal. Yet the class of Englishmen represented by senior military officers are both truthful and accurate ~lls~rvers,. and the ~eneraI rllswt Of th,eit obse~- The field which our ehurch. the Methodist "The mission on which I started has proved successful beyond my expectations. Episcopal, has just entered has been occu- Our friends will be glad to know that we have begun a, mission in Jerusalem, and ba.ve -appied-for some years by the members of the pointed a missionary. Not only was I myself actively occupied during the whole period Gossner Mission. For want of men and of my stay at the ]'[oly City, but I also en- gaged a. Hebrew convert to continue the funds it ha.s for several years been almost work as an evangelist among the 30,000 Isra- elites at Jerusalem. I am sure that your at a standstill. The mission has bnt two earnest prayers will go up for this new branch of our work. There are in other cities men, one of whom is to be removed to an- of Palestine 50,000 more of God's ancient peo- ple, making 80,000 in all, or more than in the other field. A 1l0urishing Zenana mission days of Ezra and Nehemiah, for then there Were only 50,000. 1 may add that the number a.nd a press, which aided the mission greatly, is constantly increasing and that there are signs of renewed prosperity. I believe the have both been abandoned. Lord is preparing the land for the people and the people for t{ie land; for just as the Provision has been made by which we curse haB been fulfilled so all the bleSSings foretold by Israel'" prophets shall assuredly hope soon to put half a dozen native helpers come to pass and be fully realized." From Paris he writes: "Many of you will know in this field. It will be something of an ex- that three years ago I was enabled, with the aid of Pastor Hirsch. to start a work among periment with us, as we have only one the Hebrews of this city. I am anxious While here to strengthen and enlarge the foreign missionary to represent the work. work." It has been assisted by the contri- butions of Mr. Freshman'S little Hebrew There is but one town in Lirhort, and that Christian Churoh and congregation of St. Mark's Place, from which have also ema· is where We have established ourselves. nated, directly or indirectly, missions to the Jews in Philadelphia and Chicago. besides Here we hope soon to have a dispensary incipient work in PIttsburgh, Des Moines. Toronto and other cities, as opportunities with a lady doctor in charge, a very mnch have offered, by Mr. Freshman personally,or by missionary converts from the little needed auxiliary to mission work. mother in St. Mark's Place, ten or more of whose sons are already in the field or pre- Your accounts of the increasing interest paring in theological seminaries.
taken in the Lord's work, and your own United States.
eO'orts to create and foster this interest, [COMMUNICATION from Dr. L. P. Brockett: Corrections in article on are very encouraging to us. We are satis- ·'Madagascar."] fied that the Lord will make known and EDS. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD: I glorify Himself among the nat'ions, but we have received from foreign sources some communications in relation to my article on ask, When will the church be willing, nay, " Madagascar" in the May and June num- bers of your REVIEW, and I beg leave to make anxious, to give the millions of India an op- a few not very important corrections sug- /!rested by t,hese criticisms that your many portunity to see the light and enjoy the readers may not be led into even trivial er- roneous impressions. blessings of our glorious gospel? May article, p. 352, lines 22 and 23, for We have a station as near Mt. Everest as "lemurs" (which helong to the monkey fam- ily) read "'emeers" (which belong to the we can get in the plains of India. When not Same natura.l class and order as the monkey which they replace in Madagascar.) obscured by clouds and mist it can be dis- Page 858, line 28, for" the great province tinctly seen, and appears to be but a few of Imerina • • • is the larl!"est of all the provinces," read" which is the chief of aJl miles distant,while it is not less thau eighty. the provinces."
Bishop Thoburn, our recently appointed Page 858, line 8, for "and the Bt!tsileas"
bishop of India and Malaysia, has just ar- rived. On the 7th of January he presides at his first conference, to meet at Bareilly.
northwest provinces; on the 17th he will meet the Bengal Conference at Allahabad, and on the 31st the South India Conference at Bombay.
Hoping you may be Interested in a few items from these gatherings. I will endeavor to send them to vou as early as I can obtain them.
We trust you have every encouragement in your noble work. We join in prayiug that yOU may he aided, both by the Lord and by the church, for you need grace,and you cannot work without means. Tell the churches in America we are waiting on their prayers; our eyes are lifted unto Him who has promised to hear and answer prayer. Yours very sincerely, (Rev.) H. JACltSON.
Syria..
THE FRESHMAN JEWISH MISSIONS. [REV. JACOB FRESHMAN writes to his congregation in New York of the enterprise for Jerusalem for which he has been for some months absent, as follows:1 read .. the Betlmmena and the Betsimisa to be prepared. based on the best codes of raka." England and America.," read .. caused a re- vision of the MallloG"asy laws to be prepa.red. June article. p. 425. line 24, for "1863." read approximating them in some degree to the "1868." Sa.me line, for .. in Imerlna. " (the codes of Western nations." land of the Hovas) read" iu the island of llada.gasca.r. " Page 428. line 11. for" the Scriptures" read .. religious books." Same page. line 14. for Page 425. line 29, "they had only the New .. she greatly multiplied copies of the Scrip- Testament in their own langua&-e, and the tures " read" she greatly promoted the cirtranslation of'this was not perfect." The CUlation of the Scriptures." and refer to the following toot note should be appended to new note on page 425. this page : Page 428. line 25. for .. to the levying of * .. The New Testament and the Psalms taxes" add" to diminish the burden of the jarwmpoana or per90nal service." had been translated and circulated prior to 1834, and 5,000 copies of the former and 6,000 In the note at the foot of P. 428. line 12. of the latter had been put in the hands from the bottom. for" spent three and a of the natives. The Old Testament had half months." read .. spent thirty·eight also been translated and a small edition da.ys" printed in the summer of 1835; but in Februaryof that year the Queen (Ranavalona I believe these are the only pa.ssages or I.) had prohibited her subjects (under pen- phrasesrequiringcorrection or modification altyof death) from reading or having in to which my attention has been ca.lled. I their possession copies of the Scriptures or will add two verba.l substitutions which I any religious books, and had caused a vigor- ha.ve noticed. Page 433, line 21. from bottom ous search to be made for them, a.nd the of page, for U voice" substitute ., utterpenalty to be inforced fer the possession of auce." and eighteenth line from bottom. for even a ~ingle leaf. Under these orders "voice" substitute "sound." nearly every copy of the Old Testament and many thousands of the Psalms and New Tes- L. P. BROCKETT. tament were seized and sent to England and BROOKLYN. July 25. 1889. their retnrn prOhibited. No other New Testaments were to be had till 1869, when the Letter from New Jersey: British and Foreign Bible Society sent a revised edition of 5,000, and in 1871 an edition MARLTON, N. J., July 8; 1869. of the Old Testament. Even these editions, DEAR DR. PIERSON: I was greatly pleased with through revised, were not perfect. and a your suggestion that the church should undermore thorough revision ha.s just been com- take to evangelize the world within the present pleted. It was a stray copy of the first edi- generation. I have been impressed for seversl tion of the entire Scriptures which was years with the same thought. that the world placed at the side of the Queen when she could be evangelized before llJOO. Four years was crowned." ago I expressed this thought to Bishop Taylor of Africa. He replied: .. I think it can be Page 426, mnth line from the bottom, for done in 20 years." In conuectlon with this I .. the coronation oath was adminis$ered to have been forcibly and sometimes pa.infully imher with her hand on the sa.cred volume," pressed that the average church co,uld and rea.d .. as she a(!dressed her people, on this should support two pastors: one at home, her corona.tionday, she stood with her hand one abroad, and the weaker churches. paying upon the sacred volume." from $400 to $700 salaries, should unite, two or more of them, in supporting a foreign pastor, Page 427, second line. for" and united with whUe the richer churches should multiply one of the mission churches " read hand their pastors abroad as the Lord should prosper united with the Independent Palace them. And all this without diminishing in the Chnrch." least their annual contributions to the general cause. This cmdd be done if properly set before Pa.ge 427, line 6, for" the beautiful Mala- the churches and urged upon them. Their gasy marble" read u the massive Ma.laga.sy missionaries could be under the supervision of granite." Line 23, for" a beautiful marble the parent boards of their respective denomichurch " rea.d u. a bea.utifulgranite church." nations. But such a worl< needs a pioneer, like yourself.to travel amongthe churches, aud also A note may be appended as follows: through the press to stir them up. Why not. dear Doctor. tske this upon your shoulders as, *.. There is a very fine Malagasy white a part of the precious burdeu you are carrying for the swift subjectiou of the world to our marble, used to some extent n Madagascar Lord ? Very sincerely yours. for building, but the churches and palaces of the capital were either built of hard na· W. MaK. BRAY. tivewood,painted whlte,of a native granite Psstor M. E. Church. which.' from excess of felspar. is nearly white. or of tae native blue rock, a gra.y or [A remarkable movement is on bluish basalt abounding in that vicinity. foot in Kansas, in response to Dr. H. The fioors of some of the palaces are of white n&'tive marble."
Page 428. line 5, for" caused a code of laws
"'~' ;:"y"''''
7'12 INTERNATIOll'AL DEPARTMENT. [OcT.; Grattan Guinness's appeal for the and others carefuUy explain to the pastors and Soudan district. We willingly give business mell that the associations are not going place to this circular, and trust it into a general missionary work, but ouly take will lead to similar movements else- up the work of sending pionee~s to prepare the way of the Lord, and open up lIelds for the where.-EDS.] church societies and others.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, July 17, 1889. We advise that a committee of from three to DEAlI FmENDS: At the last meetiug ofthe State five be appointed from your association for Executive Committee, after careful aud prayer- the Soudan Pioneer Mission. That the officers ful consideration, the following resolution was be a chairman, set'retary and treasurer. unanimously adopted, viz: RetlolfJed, That the State Executive Commit- Sample blanks, with electro map of Africa, tee approves the appointment of missionary will be furnished at an early day. committees bylocal associations for the purpose of aiding the Soudan pioneer missionary move- A number of good men have volunteered to ment or other pioneer missionary enterprises. go, and Kansas will probably send from five It was also agreed that some member of the to eight men to the Sondan about October 22d State Committee should be designated as a -immediately after the State CODvention. member for the Soudan Pioneer Mi.ssion, who should act for and represent the missionary Asking your earnest prayers and hearty cobands ofour associations in this State. operation in this great work, we are, on be- We should be glad to have the secretaries half of •• every creature,"
Faithflllly yours, JAlIIES D. HUSTED. Chairman. GEO. S. FISHER, State Secretary.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
How Shall Returned Missionaries Render attentions for which he has, orshould the Best Service to the Oause of Mis- have, no desire as being more his sions While at Home? due than to home workers for Christ. Any seeming complacency in being BY REV. GEO. W. WOOD, D.D. lionized he should avoid by'a care- ful cherishing of his conSCIOusness FIRST by being in spirit, manners that many a laborer at home is more and conduct an honor in the highest approved of his Master than himself possible degree to the missionary deserves to be. name. The cause of missions receives damage from anything in the Secondly, if the missionary is at missionary which tends to excite home for nefded rest and restoration suspicion as to his motives, and of health, let him, next to spiritual lower respect for him as a man. culture, make it his first aim to be- Whatever helps to raise him in the come able to return speedily to his estimation of intelligent Christians work abroad. If he is at all an efand other candid observers as a man fective public speaker, the demands of intellectual ability, good sense, upon him will be incessant for labor firm principle, broad and generous beyond his strength. Whether the sympathy, charity and other traits call come from secretaries of socieof the best style of Christian char- ties and boards, or, in more numeracter, brings advantage in every way ous cases, from pastors and others to the object which he seeks to pro- in the churches, he must Jearn, when mote. A model missionary is a he ought, to say No, and insist upon crown of glory and a tower of it. If his desire to excite interest in s~rength to "the cause" which he miSSIOns, or his inability to resist represents. pressure. leads him to prevent the physical recovery for which he came Especially, and in all ways, should home, or much to delay it, he makes the foreign missionary show him- a mistake which is harmful to "the self in accord, as a fellow-worker, cause." with every form of evangelistic and benevolent activity in the great Thirdly, in order to render the best home field. He sometimes receives
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT. 7'78
service to the cause of missions Butin respect to the pen, as also to while at home, the returned nlis- the voice, we do well to resolve that sionary must well consider his pecu- .. every missionary returned from liar adaptations and circumstances. his field, and so withheld from his work abroad on account of impaired "Not all men can do all things." health, should be subject explicitly to the advice of his physicians in ':!. witty correspondent of the New undertaking any missionary service York Evangelil;lf, "Ambrose," once at home." Giving lectures and wrote: "Missionaries are of two mll-king addresses from the pulpit, classes-those that can talk, and in Sunday-schools, and in missionary those that can't talk." Now, we and ecclesiastical meetings, may well know some scholarly and other men employ such measure of strength as in our own country who nevel' went a judicious physician will approve. abroad, who are very useful in their In rendering this service, let not own proper spheres, but who have zeal override judgment; and let care not the gift of eloquence; and some be taken not to harm by mistakes in who can be interesting and instruct- the manner and length of speaking. ive to auditors of'a certain kind, and Missionarielll are like other public yet fail when called to face audi- speakers, needing to know how to ences of a dIfferent sort under differ- begin, what to say and what not to ing circumstances. David Living- say, and how and when to stop. stone was not a Dr. Duff in speech, Painfully conscious of my own defibut hewas David Livingstone never- ciencies, and that I can present mytheless. Some men can do better self not so much an example as a than they can describe, and some beacon, may I not, nevertheless, recan use the pen more effectively than mind my brethren and sisters, with, the tongue. Ready writers may do myself, that the three s's are an exmuch for missions through the cellent general rule, viz. : "Be short, press. They may do this not only by spirited, spiritual" 'I " Spiritual," sketchy and more elaborate articles not in the way of cant, sanctimoniin magazines and the religious press, ousness, affectation of piety, faith, and by books, but by watching op- self-denial, but from the spirit of 'portunities for useful statements Christ in the soul of the speaker, that will be welcomed by conductors which cannot but pervade aU his utof local newspapers and secular city terances; "spirited," from depth of journals. Some missionaries abroad, conviction and feeling, not of a and some when re~urned, have, by spurious oratory, and this, though thei.r facile pens, communicated in- it may cost effort; for often the formation of great value to thinking missionary is so exhausted from minds, and, bringing honor to them- feebleness, the fatigue, it may' be, selves, have honored and aided" the of traveling. and the social intercause" to which they are or were course with kind Christian friends, devoted. The late Rev. Dr. Robert not always considerate in their de- Baird repoded that M. Guizot said sire to entertain and heal' from the in his hearing: "If ever the world visitor from a foreign land, how can is to be well informed respecting he help being dull? But let him be itself, it will be done through the as spirited in the best sense of the efforts of missionaries." Of the con- word as he can; and th€'n, unless he tributions of missIOnaries to several is to be the only speaker, and is debranches of science, and to general SIred to occupy more time, let him knowledge and literature, the most for the sake of his hearers and himgratifying appreciation has been ex- self, and efficient service "to the pressed by men of highest eminence in learning. cause," be short, above all; never The Anoient Ohuroh of Persia. a.nd its spoiling a meeting, and vexing the Reform. arrangers of a programme and those who are to follow him by overrun- BY REV. J. H. SHEDD, D.D. ningthetimeallowed to him I Learn THERE were present on the day of to speak, if, you must, with your Pentecost, Parthians and Medes and watch in your left hand, and don't Elamites and the dwellers in Mesoforget to look at it in season and potamia, devout men from the Car obey its monitions I East and forerunners of the great church of Pt'rsia that flourished from Unless one is a Christian Daniel the days of the Apostles for twelve Webster, like Alexander Duff, he centuries, and that planted its misdoes well not to occupy much time sioJ:s in Eastern Persia, Turkestan, in a missionary address by discussing China and India, while Europe was scriptural principles of missions; still a wilderness. The fruits of these this may better be reserved for other missions were all destroyed 600 years times or left to other speakers. Mis- ago by the exterminating sword of sionary facts are eagerly asked from Tameriane, except the Syrian Chrismissionaries. Let these be selected tian community on the Malabar to illustrate principles. The most coast in India; the monument of unprofitable thing that a mission- Singan fu in China and a few similar ary can do is to scold the churches. relics. There are extensive grave_ He can quicken consciences by yards on the western borders of touching hearts in well-selected, China, recording on the tombstones truthful narrations concerning con- the fact that they buried their dead verts in missionary fields or Chris- in Christian hope. tian supporters at home. The church which sent out these missions, now commonly called the Much of the returned missionary's Nestorian, has dwindled, from Mosmost effective service when at home lem oppressions and inward decay, to may be rendered in prayer-meetings a little more than a hundred thouand social circles, in which, without sand souls. Half as many more of obtrusion, he may, by suggestions, the same race and language are anecdotes and illustrations, give en- united to the Church of Rome. largement of thought, and make a This remnant of the oLd Syrian 01' favorable impression in relation to Nestorian Church was first reported missionary topics. He will some- to the Protestant world in 1830 by times find himself in company with Messrs. Smith and Dwight, Ameridisbelievers in missiom; and thus, can exploring missionaries. Their by exhibition of the Christian spirit, report was so favorable that the tact in parrying an objection or a American Board soon after began a sneer, self-respecting dignity and mission to the Nestorians. The first knowledge, refuting assertions of missionaries were Rev. Justin Perignorance, he may worthily defend kins and Asahel Grant, M.D., very the cause against assailants. By noble and enthusiastic pioneers. communication of information in an Others of like spirit followed them, easy and natural way he may, in and since the mission was begun in personal intercourse, be useful in in- 1835 a strong station has been maincreasing interest in the cause in pas- tained at Oroomiah, and unwearied tors and private Christians, and es- efforts have been made to promote. pecially in helping the young to be- a revival of pure Christianity. The come recruits for its service abroad means used are the translation of or at home, and "he that winneth the Bible into the spoken language souls is wise." of the people. the introduction of a. Christian literature, the teaching of ~ possible nearer the currup.t churches thousands to read in schools and of Greece and Rome. .
Sabbath schools, the training of But we anticipate. Let us llrst teachers and ministers, the preach- mention the nature and history of ing of the gospel everywhere and the the reform in progress and then planting of a reformed church with add a few thoughts on the opposi- its congregations and schemes of tion, difficulties and hopes that at- beneficence. tend it.
In 1841, thefirstpl·inting-press ever The Nestorian controversy carries seen in Persia began its work at us back to' the decisions of the coun- Oroomiah in printing the Bible. From cil of Ephesus, A.D. 431. Nestorius 1846 to 1851 there were remarkable was condemned on two charges. (1.) revivals in the mission schools and For refusing to call Mary theMo- in some of the village cong-regations ; ther of God. In this certainly no also severe persecutIOns by the Nes- Protestant would accuse him of torian Patriarch and the Persian heresy. (2.) For saying that there Governor. In 1855 the Reformed com- are not only two natul·es, but also munion was begun, twentyyears after two persons in Christ. Students in the founding of the mission. In 1870 church history recall to what con- the name of the mission was changed troversies the Greek words uVUla, to The Mis8ion to Per8ia. In 1871 the lJ1r6U'T'autu, and 'TrpOUoJ1rov and the corre- work was transferred to the care of sponding terms in Syriac gave rise.
the Presbyterian Board. Since then The difficulty of definition and of ad- it has enlarged its sphere to embrace justing their meanings to each other not only Nestorians, but all the other gave the opportunityfor endless mis- peoples-Armenians, Jews and Mos- understandings. Nestorians have al- • lems in half of Persia and a large ways held to the true diTinity, the part of Kurdistan in Turkey. Sta- true humanity and the true incarna- tions have been established in Tabriz, tion of our Lord. In their contro- Teheran, Ramadan and Salmas, and versy with other churches on the a station in the mountains of Kurdis- term Mother of God we are their al- tan undertaken. lies. The same is true of many In 1838, three years after the Amer- other points at issue between them ican missionaries, French monks be- and the papacy. The unscrlptural gan their work on the same field. dogmas and practices of the Greek, They have for the basis of their opera- Armenian or Latin churches, such tions several thousands of the Syri- as the refusal of the cup to the laity, ac-Persians who are nominally at- purgatory, confession, the mass as a tached to the Church of Rome. They real sacrifice of Christ and image have fought the Protestant reform worship never entered this church.
at every step and with all the weap- The errors of the fourth century ons that the Romish hierarchy know and some later ones are found, but so well how to use. In 1885, fifty the people are not bound by the years after the Americans entered councils and traditions nor are they the field, the Archbishop of Canter- under a hierarchy as the other cor- bury, at the request of some ecclesi- rupt churches. They hold the Bible astics and in pity for the old Syriac as the full and only rule of faith.
Church, determined on an Anglican They have a liberal spirit toward all mission, and in 1886 he sent out his who teach the Word of God. They agents from Protestant England to- confess that the teachings of the oppose the Protestant mission in American missionaries agree with Persia and to confirm the people in the primitive doctrines of· their their formalism and bring them if church and that errors have crept 776 INTERNATIONkL DEPARTMENT. [OcT., into their system inlater times which deacons, all of whom had received orshould be reformed. dination in the oldchurch, metin con- ference with the -missionaries. The The missionaries in 1835 were wel- first of these conferences was held in comed by the people, and for many 1862, and adopted a brief confessiml, years an honest effort was made form of government and discipline. to reform the old body without de- Some things were taken from the stroying its organism. This effort canons and rituals of the old church, failed. God was pleased to pour out others from the usages of Protestant His spirit, many souls were renewed, churches. The confession and rules and a new church was gradually were enlarged in 1878, and the name formed for the following I'ea- adopted was" The Evangelical Syrisons: (1) Per8ecutions. The patriarch ac Church." The missioitaries and did all in his power to destroy the the evangelical bishops have someevangelical work. He threatened, times joined in the ordination serbeat and imprisoned the teachers vice and it would be difficult to draw and converts, and thus did his ut- the time when the Episcopal ordinamost to alienate the spiritually mind- tion ceased and the Presbyterial beed and to drive them from his fold. gan in the Reformed body. (2.) Lack of discipline. Theconverts could no longer accept unscriptu- The relation of the American misral practices and rank abuses that sionaries to the old ecclesiastics has prevailed, and it became evident been somewhat different from that that there' was no method of reform- found in other missions to Eastern ing those abuses and practices. The Christians. The patriarch in office missionaries and converts alike gave fifty years ago was at first very up the hope of such reform. (3.) Lack friendly to the missionaries. and perof teaching. The converts asked for sonally aided them. Later he did all better care and for purer and better in his power to break up the mission. instruction and means of grace than His most able brother, DeaconIsaac, they found in the dead language and however, accepted the evangelical rituals of the old church. The sepa- doctrines, and till his death, in 1Be5, ration, however, was made in no spir- was the foremost man in the Reformit of hostility or controversy. There ed communion. The Patriarch now was no violent disruption. The mis- in office h&8 taken the attitude of sionaries published nothing against neutrality, with frequent indications the policy or ecclesiastics of the old of fairness and friendliness to the church. Their efforts were not to mission work. proselyte, but leaven the whole people with the Scripture truth. The The next in ecclesiastical rank is new life was not forced into a western the Metropolitan, the only one left of mold, but left to adapt itself to the the twenty-five mentioned in the peculiar character and wants of the thirteenth century. The present inpeople. cumbent, recently made distinct avowa16f the scriptural character of The method was guided by Provi- the Evangelical Church, and expressdence. The conveJ't:;, were first in- ed a strong desire to come to an unvited to unite with the missionaries derstanding with it. Of the bishops, in celebrating the Lord's Supper. As three have united with the reform the numbers increased, and societies and died in the Evangelical Church_ were formed in the sevel'al villages, Of those remaining, the two in 01'00native pastors were placed oVll'r miah, to the extent of their ability, them. In time these pastors and oppose th,e light, beca.use their deeds their elders, and the other preachers, are evil. The three bshops in Kurdincluding bishops, presbyters and istan are friendly, and give their influence in favor of the mission instructed in Bible truth by a l'eg'eu- schools. Alarge numberof the priests erate church that rescues what is.
or presbyters of the old church, in most precIOus :from a system that Persia. at least, joined the reform decayeth and waxeth old and is movement, aRd as large a proportion ready to pass away. The members of the deacons. In Kurdistan, fur- of the Reformed Church revere and ther from the mission station and in- love much the history of their fath- fluence, the number is smaller. In ers and appeal to their examples of all, nearly seventy of the presbyters zeal and piety; and desire to conserve have labored with the mission as their true doctrines and their virtues.
teachers, preachers or pastors, more The preaching p~aces vary some- than half of whom continue. Many what with the season of the year, others acknowledge that the reforms numbering about 120 in the winter of the Evangelical Church are scrip- and somewhat less in summer. The tural and sal.utary, but for worldly roll of ministers shows 40 fully or- reasons adhere to the old party. dained, several of whom are mission- These facts as to ecclesiastics (and aries iII distant parts of Persia and similar facts might be giveIl: as to in Russia. There are 30 licentiates or the leading laymen) show that many preaching deacons, 87 elders and 91 leading minds of the people have been deaconesses of the congregations.
enlightened by the missionaries and In some places the reform has gath- toiled with them for the reform of ered nearly all the population with- the whole people. Still more has in its influence, and in many places the work been for the common peo- it is not unusual to find half the pop- ple. The mission has been true to its ulation in the winter services. Many aims to embrace the whole people in blessed seasons of awakening and its plans for spiritual and temporal refreshing from the Holy Spirit have improvement. The medical work been enjoyed. In all, over3,300 have has been for all, and also the relief been received to church fellowship, in time of famine. In civil affairs of whom two-thirds are living and there is no Protestant community, the others passed beyond the veil.
alld any relief obtained through mis- The people are poor in worldly sionary influence is shared by all. goods but are able to do much for The schools are open to all alike, and their own support and to spread the as barriers have given way before the gospel. In a few congregations all increasing light, whole villages, and the expenses are paid by the people every house in them, have been open and in all they share according to to the Christian workers as truly as their grace and ability_ All con- can be said of any community in tribute to a missionary fund from America. which the native board pays one- The Evangelical Church has its fou'rth of the expenses for advance Mission Board that meets mont~ly, work. Thus the foreign work has and by combining funds and counsels become to the church of Persia a with the missionaries a system of home work and upon this native pastoral care and itinerant labor isin church is laid the responsibility of operation which enables the forty- winning the land for Christ a.nd of five preachers in the Persian por- preaching the gospel to every crea- tion of the field to carry the gos- ture. The American missionaries pel statedly to every hamlet. In go hand in hand in helping the na- Kurdistan the same system is ex- tive Christians to realize their re- tending,annually. The earnest hope sponsibilities and privileges, to plant and aim is to see this people brought and train self-supporting and ag- fully under evangelical influlO'nce and gressive local churches. There is a system of education that Mussulmans have regarded Chrisembraces 120 village schools, in- tians as unclean infidels, worthy only creasing in number as the demand of contempt and violence. After all increases, an orphanage,. a female the ages of contact with nominal seminary and a. college with indus- Christians, the true religion of Christ trial department and medical class, is now, for the first time, revealed to as well as the COUl'ses in science, Persian Mohammedans. This revelanguages and theology. To fro-, lation is made in the translated Word vide books a printing press is con- of God, and still more truly in the stantly at work, and to meet the lives and worship of true Christians. needs of the sick and needy, a dis- There is a purity in Protestant worpensary and hospital have long been ship, and a manhood and intelligence attended annually by thousands. and character of love and integrity To complete the agencies needed to in Protestant Christians WhICh IS inevangelize the Nestorian field a new deed a revelation. Christians are no station for the mountains has been longer to be despised, but they are to organized and the labors of a tnedical be respected and trusted, and it is and an ordained missionary begun, the turn now for Mussulmans to assisted by native helpers, and these stand on the defensive and to listen, labors much blessed in the winter and of some to accept of Christ in the past. face of persecution and threatened death. From the door of the sepul- The question is often asked, What cher the stone of a corrupt and idolis the effect of this reformation on atrous Christianity is rolled away. the faiths and peoples about us? In The way is fast preparing and the reply the reflex influence on the old evangelical Christians in the midst of church is as marked as upon the Ar-. the Moslems are the leaven for the menians in Turkey. The leaven is rapid dissemination of the gospel. working in the old body and some of the congregations have preaching For fifty years this work of Amerand Sunday schools, and we may ican missionaries, in the reformation hope, many truly enlightened and of the Syriac-Persian Christians, has renewed souls. been recognized with gratitude by all who look for the kingdom of The tide of Roman influence was God in Persia. In one of the leading fast overwhelming this remnant of cyclop::edias the opinion is expressed Nestorians a generation ago. Now that" probably no Christian mission the tide is turned and Protestants of modern times has been so satisfacare on the aggressive everywhere. torily conducted and so decidedly A large body of living Christians, happy in its influence and results." with the Bible in their hands, are not This is an extreme statement, for the only able to hold their own but are missionaries are fallible and have constantly advancing, and thus is made many mistakes; but notwithsecured to the true faith a body of standing all mistakes the Great Head Christians as important to Persia of the church has wonderfully owned and Kurdistan as the Waldenses are and blessed the effort. Multitudes of to Italy. It is planting the batteries souls have been saved and a true and of the ChristIan faith at a strategic lasting reformation begun. point far within the enemies' country. An awakening among God's It was to be expected that the Roancient people in the land of their man Church would oppose such a long captivity has already begun in work and would set up her rival mismany places. sions. But it was not to be expected, and is greatly to be lamented, that The effect on Islam is more impor- the Archcishop of Canterbury has tant still. For hundreds of years the followed in the s~eps of Rome, and ',zation. ~he Ritualists have l'allied has sent his mission, consisting of the opposition to close the mountain foul' English priests, to arrest the valleys against aU missionary work, Protestant reformation in this old and exclude evangelical teaching Eastern" church, to turn back the from every church and house. The progress of free thought and turn all effect is to stir up a great deal: of bad movement, not to the New Testa- feeling and some violence, that ren- ment type of Christianity, but to the der very difficult a work that before corrupt church of the sixth and sev- was easy and to retard the true enth centuries which God permitted reformatIOn, that was so rapidly and Islam to smite. quietly advancing before the Angli"
This new mission of the Archbishop cans came. What an infatuation of Canterbury, planted by the side of and fatal errol' to array missionaries the American mission, and in rivalry of the same race and speech against with it, is greatly to be deplored for each other before Moslem rulers I many reasons. In trying to drive back the evangel- 1. It disregards aU mIsslOnary ical work, this is done. It is equal comity. If the English Church had folly to expect to affect Islam favor- led the way half a century ago in ably by perpetuating the corrupt and exploring the field and planting a semi-idolatrous forms of Christian- mission for the Nestorians, Ameri- ity in the East. There is no hope can Christians would not be there that the Moslem will ever turn to to-day. But in God's providence the that Christianity he has abhorred in pioneers were Americans; and now the Eastern churches. There must the toil, the meeting of the brunt be a purer and more spiritual religion of Roman and Moslem opposition, than worshiping- of crosses and the work accomplished, and the keeping of fasts. No greater dam- blessings God has given are not re- age can be done to Christianity in garded in the least. The Anglicans the eyes of Moslems, and no greater coolly step in and claim the field. advantage given" to Islam, than for The American mission is an obstacle Englishmen to come to Persia in the to be brushed away, otherwise the interests of the formalism and idol- field is entirely unoccupied and open atry of Oriental churches.
to a mission from the Anglican 3. 1t is an effort in thE! direction of Church to the "Old Syrian Church. Rome. The Nestorians in their an- England has been known through- cient books and modern thought out the East as the bulwark of fail' know nothing of the exclusive play and of Protestant missions; yet claims of prelacy and apostolic suc- here the agents of England's primate cession, nor do they accept the coun- are using the power of England to cils after the first General Council of trample on the claims of a Protest- Nicea. They in some sense have ant mission and to destroy its work. been the Protestants of the East in Protestant Episcopalians" of New greater sympathy with Protestant York are aiding the archbishop in teaching than With Roman. Now this great mistake and wrong to the come these Anglicans to warn them cause of Christ in Persia and Kurd- against all Protestant heresy, to tell istan. them that Presbyterians have no 2. It is an effort of obstruction and church, nor ordination nor ordin- reaction, and must do great harm to ances, and to teach and exhort them the real missionary work. Painful to drive out all such heresy, to mul- discussions and the clash of hostile tiply their prayers and ritualistic parties take the place of the peaceful worship in a dead language"; to en- work of enlightenment and evangeli- force the binding nature of fasts and traditions and saints' days; to teach Both papist and Anglicans ask them the efficacy of baptism to secure re- to regard NestorlUs as an arch-heregeneration,of the Eucharist to convey tIc and the patriarchs and fathers of atonement, of the priests to sacrifice, theil' church in Persia as outside the and of the bishops to convey special true church and faith. The efforts apostolic grace; and of the councils to change the fossil churches of the to pronounce the creed which it is East or to revive them in any way necessary for aU Christians to be- but by the simple gospel have been lieve. This mild form of Romanism failures. They have a tenacious has really the very essence of the conservatism that clings to the tragreat apostasy of all the corrupt ditions of the past and renders illuchurchel!<-the ap~stolic succession; sive the dream of the reunion of the priestly nature of the New Christendom by any method of con- Testament ministry; the sacraments cessions. The effort of Rome for as necessary and initial means of centuries, and of the Anglicans saving grace; and the councils as among the Copts and in other parts authoritative interpreters of the Holy of the East, tell the same story. A Scriptures, whose dogmas are bind- case in point is that of the Syrian ing. On this basis they wish to re- Church in Travancore, South India. form the Nestorians away from the Rome tried her hand of persecution real faith of their fathers and lead and failed. This church is a branch them to accept what is called the 01' offshoot of the old Nestorian Catholic Apostolic Church. But Church, using the same rituals and such unscriptural teaching, so fal' as language, and like the Nestorians it is accepted, has the same effect in lapsed into corrupt practices and was Persia as elsewhere. It lulls the dead to all spirituality rather than sou1 to trust in forms instead of deeply heretical in doctrine. Prior Christ, blunts the conscience and to 1886 the Church Missionary Sohardens the heart. It is the same ciety persisted in trying for eighteen old story: "My people have com- years to resuscitate this old church, mitted two evils; they have fOl'- and the effort ended in complete saken me, the fountain of living failure. Then the plan was adopted waters, and hewed them out cisterns of separating from the corrupt body, that can hold no water." and since then a true Protestant church of thousands of members has· 4. The effort in the end must be in been gathered. vain. After all the evil it may accomplish, or the goad, if God so over- Thus, in Persia, the current evanrule it, it must result in failure. It gelical reform may be obstructed lacks the vital elements of true very seriously but cannot be stopped, evangelism as found in the Word of by the ritualists. The words of Dr. God. The theory is very seductive Perkins, written twenty-one years no doubt to the Archbishop and ago, are still true. "The progress of those of like mind, that the true om' work is steadilyonward,and prob- method is to preserve the old organi- ably as rapid as would consist witb zation, and that gradually thepeopJe its highest prosperity. Theprogress may be taught to express their creed is not always a uniform current. It in the same words as other churches resembles a succession of circling of apostolic succession and all at last eddies caused generally by obstacles become one. But beautiful as the in the stream, but sometimes by the theory is, the practice is full of dIffi- accelerated speed of the current, culties. The Anglicans are so near which but for these self-regulating the papists that the people fail to see checks might bring' on the work the difference in their teaching. serious disaster. Such eddies are
THE J(ONTHLY CONCERT 01' lIUSSloNs. '181
often the best missiona.ry regulators, the true evangetic~ refOlim has correcting mistakes and undue haste doubled itself in the past ten years. and giving our converts occasion and We may expect history to repeat i ttime to examine the foundations of self, and the time to be near when the their faith." One of these eddies is heralds of salvation from Persia will now formed, but the river of salva- again evangelize theTartartribes,and tion flows on. Under God's blessing enter Thibet or China from the We8t.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D.D.
Persia. a.nd its Missions. Koords, between Semnite and Shi- PERSIA and Assyria in Eastern hite sects of Moslems-victims of Turkey-the country occupied by the rapacity and persecution on every Nestorians-constitut(>s one of the hand-seem to represent the tradi- most interesting mIssion fields in the tional lot of suffering and outrage world. It is the Original cradle of which for centuries have character- the human race. If it does not in- ized the country. 4-nd yet there is clude the site of Eden, it certainly nowhere a more beautiful land.
embraces the resting-place of the .. About two-thirds of the country," sa.ys Ark of Noah; and it still has repre- the late Justin Perkins, D.D., .. the westsentatives of the descendants of ern portion, lies In Turkey, cOlllprlsing Shem, Ham, and Japheth in the much of AssyrIa. or modern Koordista.n ; various nationalities now found in and the eastern third is in old Media, the the country. It is the land of northwestern province of modern Persia.. Abraham, and of Job, and of Jonah. now called Azerbijan. The forlller portion The ashes of Mordecai and Esther is physically one of the wildestand roughest lie buried at Hamadan. It was in regions on the globe, abounding in scene'll this land that Daniel became instru- of llt&rpall8ing grandeur and sublimity, and mental in one of the greatest moral ts inhabited by the not less wild Koords, revolutions ever wrought in any among whom, and in proximity to WhOlll, nation by a single man. The Magi are many of the Nestorlans dwell. till lately believed to have come from there to subject to lawless extortion and violent Bethlehem, and according to tradi- plunder from those redoubtable neighbors. tion are buried there. The evangeliza- The Nestorians betook thelllseives to these tion of Persia began with Daniel. mountams at an early period, as'an asylum Nebuchadnezzar IS held to have been from deadlypersecution,havlng less to fear. a true believer. Great empires and a.dvanced civilizations ha.ve arisen in the violent outbursts ot Pagan and Moand passed away on this broad field. Nineveh and Khorsabad are repre- hammedan fanaticism, from the savages of sentatives of their buried grandeur, the mountain" than from the 1II0re civilized while thousands of ancient inscrip- inhabitants of the plains on either side. In tionsfound on rocks and tablets con- the lull of persecution, during the few past stitute their epitaph. centuries,they have gradually spread them- selves down into Persia. The Persian part The country has been rendered of their country is one of the most beautimetnorable by many of the great ful on which the sun ever shone,consisting conquests which have affected the of several of the most charming Persian destiny of the whole human race, plains; bounded on the east by the Lake of and it has been invested with pathetic Oroomiah, which is ninety miles long and interest by mournful captivities of thirty miles broad, while the towering Jew~ and others, in various ages. ranges of Koordistan rear a lofty. snflW- Even in our day the Nestorians, liv- capped barrier on the west. Oroomiah, ing between Persians and Turkish lying on the middle section of the lake, and separated from other plains by bold ridges that run transversely from the higher moun- tain ranges quite to its margin, is the larg- est district occupied by the Nestorian•• and is the principal seat of our missionary operations. The atmosphere of all that region is so clear that the naked eye with ease traces objects distinctly, at th", dis- tance of a hundred miles, which woul4 ha.rdly be visible one-fourth that distance best, and when drought is added, in America, and'readlly descries 'Celestial thousands must perish. bodies, seen elsewhere only by the aid of a telescope. Indeed much of Persia, under "Still worse," says Rev. J. H. its brilliant sky, is so fair a .. to be al- Shedd, " there is no Joseph in Persia most fairy; abounding in luxuriant fields, to make any systematic provision for vineyards, and orchards, and smiling with such a crisis. There is no public chantasteful gardens of bright and fragrant flow- nel of supply. On the contrary, the ers,studded wlthgurglingfountainsand sha- tender mercies of the wicked are dy arbors, and vocal with the notes of warb- cruel. The king sets the example Iiug nightingales and other musical birds." -locks up his granaries, and with- holds every kernel of wheat except Famine often wastes the land, es- at famine prices. Every nabob and pecially the Moslem districts, and its land-owner who has a stock on havoc must ever recur at intervals hand follows this example. Rapacuntil there shall be such a govern- ity and cupidity rule. Money is ment as shall protect and encourage coined out of the sufferings of the irrigation, instead of speculating in poor. The imbecility, avarice, crubreadstuffs while the people perish. elty of the ruling class are sometimes The government is an absolute des- beyond belief. Depravity is satanic. potism, in the hands of a Sultan or Persia is ruined by depotism, mis- Shah. He has two chief ministers rule and cruel feudal oppression. -one a sort of deputy executive in peace and in war, and the other a "No lover of humanity can regard lord high treasurer. The latter of such a land but with feelings of these is much more diligent than the profound pity. We long for the day' former. There is vastly more of tax when civilization will build highgathering t.han of civil or military wa:ys and railroads by which charity protection. The sole end for which at least can be conveyed to the famthe Persian Government exists is the ishing. A proper system of roads, collection of the revenue-the fleec- and one or two railroads in Persia, ing of the people. Large portions would make such famine impossiof the land, confiscated from time to ble. The country has natural retime, belong to the sovereign, and sources which only need developing are farmed out on terms well-nigh to make her, as in ancient times, a ruinous to the tenant. Even where great nation. Places supplied with property belongs to the subject, itis water yield every kind of fruit and taxed to the last degree as a starting grain in abundance. These beautipoint, while the successions of sub- ful, favored districts can be exrulers and collectors make still fur- tended. By opening again the anther drains upon the moiety that cient water-course, by sinking artemust save the laborer's family from sian wells, by proper aqueducts for absolute want. The whole burden the mountain streams, irrigation can of taxation thus comes really upon be greatly extended, and the rain the laboring class. Added to this supply increased. But before this extortion is the constant uncertainty physical renovation comes, and war as to whether the planter will be and famine cease, there must be a pe"mitted to reap his crop at moral renovation. At present the all. Downright "o1:Jbe"y of fields or earth itself, under a despotic govel'nhouseholds by the retainers of petty ment and false religion, is cursed for chiefs is of frequent occurrence, and man's sake. It refuses to yield its the poor are liable any day to be de- harvest for the use of man, because prived of their very last resource. man refuses to yield himself to the Agriculture and other industries so glory of God." discouraged and paralyzed, barely sustain the lives of the people at the There is reason for the degradation and real moral darkness of to the fteld that she was ftJled with love but she could not 10Te these women, and' these people for the last three had to be converted over again. and hum- ble herself before God to labor with them. centuries. They have been crushed They act like monkeys, chatter and gig_ gle, and take hold of every part of one's by invasion and slaughter and con- dress without any sense of shame. When- ever a son marries he brings his wife tolais stant tyranny, and subjected to the father's house. If a man have twelve sons. all the families will be under one root, and immediate contact of all the sen- as there isbut one room under that roof the suality and debasement of the domi- in state of affairs may be imagined. No won- nant Moslem races. der the word home is unknowB Persia. When the women gathered in she asked We add a few words as to the per- them if they could read. They a.nswered, • We are women.' She told them she was sonal and domestic life of the Per- a woman, but could read, and might she read to them? Arter reading one of the sians. Mud or clay huts are their parables, she asked them if she should sing. They had never heard anyone sing, and did houses; with one room, the oven in not know what it meant. She sang.' Hap_ py Day,' and they laughed and giggled and the center, a hole in the roof to let feU down and rolled, but when their children laughed, the mothers took their sandals. out smoke. Privacy and cleanliness shod with iron, from their feet, and drove them from the house. Surely this was a are impossible. hard place, hnt she did not give it up. A school was established there. She visited Mrs. Rhea, many years a mission- it after some time, and found the children able to reply to her questions, heard them ary in Persia, thus graphically de- sing sweet sacred songs, and the ·bright boys in one winter learned to read. There scribes social life : were openings for sixty such schools, and the entire outfit. books, house and al1 of .. The mud-wall houses, wit.hout windows each would not cost more than 560. She visited the villages,. meeting from two ot or chimneys, would not be used by Chris- six hundred women. When she looked these women in the faces and found them han~ tians for pig-cities. The children are so ing on her words, she felt herresponsihilit;. and not daring to use the words she ha.d prescantily clad that less clothing would ren- pared for them, she instead would read from the New Testament without comment. der them more comely. what they have Whole days they would stay and listen to the talk, and linger late Into the night, and serving onlyas a nest for vermin. The sad- when exhausted she told them to go for she eyed. depressed women are beasts of bur- must sleep; they went saying,' We'll come a.ga.in in the morning.'" den, and are classed with t.he donkeys,and as The Nestorians are of the old Sethey pass by. donkey and woman alike hid- miticstock. Dr. Gl;antbelieved them den by their loads, it Is only a glance at the relics of the lost ten tribes. They rep- feet that tells which is the beast and resent the oldest 8eet of Christians, which the human. Oroomiah is a walled and claim origin from Thoma8, the city and the ditch about it filled with stag- Apostle, and an army of 160,000 marnant water poisons the air so that nearly tyrs In one province 1,500 years since. all the children die, and yet the heathen governor, when a. missionary suggested They have a remarkable missionary history-patiently enduring persecuthe draining of the ditch, said it should tion, and remaining spiritual in the midst of prevailing worldliness. be done • to-morrow,' and has let years pass with it still untouched. The traveler Gibbon says, once theirl¥1mbers exsees by the way the desolate Mohammedan ceeded that of the Greek and Latin graveyards, with never a trace of love in communions. They derive their name them, the tombstones bearing the emblem from Nestorius,$ho was condemned· of whatever craft the sleeper followed, the mud-walled vel{etable fields and unfenced grain fields, the plows of the pattern found on Egyptian monuments, and drawn by twelve yoke of oxen.
.. Entering the first house we found an earthen fioor, a bit of mattinp for a sbeyat~ and a woman baking bread. She sits hole in the ground the size of a barrel, with coals at the bottom. She takes a piece of the leavened dough. passes it from hand to hand, and kneads it on a cushiouat her side until she has a cake three-fourths of a yard long, half a yard wide, and half an inch thick. Then she throws It into the hole, it catches on the sides. and is baked in an in- stant. The baking done, the missionary can have religious services, a.nd sends out for the women to come in. These women are not attractive."
Mrs. Rhea thought when she went out for heresy by the Council of Ephesus gospel from Persia, Syria and India.
A. D. 431, and who died in painful among the barbarous nations inhabit– exile in Lybia. Though holding some ing the deserts and remotest shores peculiar vie",s in regard to the of Asia. In particular the vast em- '
Trinity, his real offense was'his early pire of China was partially enlight- Protestantism. He refused to call ened by their zeal and industry, with the Virgin Mary the "Mother of the light of Christianity." From the God," and he opposed many of the fifth to the ninth century the Nesto_ corruptions of the church. " His rians had churches among the moun- followers, though greatly debased, tains of Malabar in India, and in the stIll reject all image worship, con- vast regions of Tartary from the fession to priests, the doctrine of Caspian Sea to Mount Imans and purgatory, etc. Altogether the Nes- beyond, through Chinese Tartary, torians number about one hundred and even in China itself.
and fifty thousand, of whom one- Early in the eleventh century a third are in Persia and two-thirds Mogul Prince in Cathay (Northern in Turkish Koordistan. They stand China) was converted to the faith, in the rela.tion of oppressed ten- and taking at his baptism the name ants toward the Mohammedans of John, gave his royal influence to among whom they dwell, being cul- the Christian cause. Some of his tivators of the soil, and artisans in successors also were at least nomi"
the more common and useful me- nally Christian, a son-in-law of Pres- chanical trades. One continuous tel' John, the well-known Ghengi8 people, while living in the two con- Khan, gave his support to the Chris- tiguous Empires of Turkey and Per- tians as late as the early part of the sia, they partake much of the re- thirteenth century. But toward the spective local peculiarities of the two close of the fourteenth century the parts of their country; those in the sword of the Moslem Tamerlane de- Turkish portion, Koordistan, being stroyed the Tartar churches and rude, untutored, bold and defiant, overthrew the Nestorian Christianity and those in the mild and sunny in the principal seat of its power.
clime of Persia possessing nlUch of It was not till thec1oseof the fifteenth the blandness and suavity common century, howe vel', that some un- to all classes in that ~enial country. kndwn persecution and massacre de- They are a noole race of men; manly stroyed the Nestorians in China.
and, athletic, having fine form8 and good There is still found at Si-ngau-fu, in complexions. They are al80 naturally a Northwestern China, a large stone 8hrewd, aeti'IJe, and intelligent people, tablet, giving an account of the faith yet remarkably artleH3, affable, and, 11,08- and history of the Nestorians. It pitable, and peculiarly accesswle for presents their doctrine of the Trin- mi8sionary purp08es." ity, and some account of the books of That which gives to the Nestorians the Old and New Testaments, and a peculiar interest is the missionary records their progress for 140 years.
character which they have once The ancient glory of the Nestorian borne, and which it is to be hoped Church is gone. "Ichabod" is written they may bear again. The Oriental upon it. Tamerlane in the fifteenth churches as a whole were not as act- century slaughtered them. Seven- ive in the spread of the gospel as the • ty thousand heads were piled up at Latin Church; but the Nestorians Ispahan and 90,000 more in the city were an exception. "In the East," of Bagdad. The church itself became says Mosheim, "the· Nestorians, locked up in death spiritually.
with incredible industry and perse- Messrs. Smith and Dwight found verance labored to propagate the among them: 1. Liberality to othet sects. 2. Rejection of confessional. ran, Ispahan and Hamadan are in this 3. Reverence for Scripture-though, district. locked up in Syriac, they knew little of its contents – but endless fasts Henry Martyn was the pioneer in and the doctrine of baptismal regen- this land of Esther. In June, 1811, eration, etc. Christian work in Per- he rode into Shiraz, already broken sia must begin with Nestorians, for in health, for eleven months work- Mohammedans could not be led to ing at a Persian translation of the Christ while a dead church is among New Testament and Psalms, subsethem. But the early history of the quently, for four months at Tabriz, Nestorians of Persia bears upon the with raging fever he then ~tartedfor question of their future relations England, and died at Tocat; but that to Tartary, and even China. Why New Te.tament is still doing service may they not again be useful in car- for the Master. rying the gospel even to Mongolia and Korea? They have physical Rev. Justin Perkins and wife were energy and hardihood; they are the first missionaries of the American capable of a high civilization; and Board, and reached Tabreez August their susceptibility to the power of 23, 1834; in October, 1835, joined by religious truth has had numerous Dr. and Mrs. Grant, all together proattestations in modern as well as in ceeded to Oroomiah : ancien t times. "We arrived," says Mr. Perkins, It is this view of their character " in a furious rainstorm. The tardy and position that gives to the mis- jomers had no place ready for us to sion among the Persians a peculiar lodge; so we sat down among them interest. They are at the western in an open room, upon the shavings, gateway of China and India. They of which we soon kindled a fire to I are stationed along a great high- dry our drippmg garments; and, way of nations which must ere long Bending to the market for bread and be opened. They are, moreover, kebab (boiled meat) we ate our repast in the center of Asiatic Mohamme- there, and afterwards laid our8elfJes danism, where they only wait in sore downfor the night on the same shafJings, dIstreSS for some great overturnillg with as lively gratitude and joy as often in the providence of God which shall swell the hearts of mortals. The 20th give them ~overnmental protection of November was long observed by and tHe conditions of prosperity. us as our Pilgrim8' Day. Meanwhile it is our duty and privilege to promote among them the "Having the broad, common resurrection of a dead and buried ground of Scripture on which to meet Christianity. the Nestorians, and the most ready access to them, we at once addressed We need greatly to extend the ourselves to the work of their ameliwork among the Armenians as well as oration and salvation. For, while among the Nestorians. They have their knowledge of the Bible was so elsewhere shown themselves pecu- vague and meager, they cherished liarly accessible. The largest com- for the sacred oracles a reverence pact body of the Armenians, about amounting almost to adoration. Dr. 10,000, is found in the district of Grant soon acquired a commanding Salmas. Its center is Tabreez, where influence over all classes, by his skill- 5,000 Armenians reside among 130,- ful practice of medicine and his ac- 000 Mohammedans. The other great tive devotion to their welfare. At·menian region is 400 miles farther east. This is a captive colony whose "The missionary work soon took history has been most tragic. Tehe- the three-fold form of education, the press, and last, but pre-eminent, oral preaching.
"The first missionary school was commenced in January, 1836, in a 92 whom she had led to· Ohrist! _ cellar (apt emblem of the moral state In 1845 a revival simultaneously al·ound), for the want of a more broke out in the boys' and girls' comfortable place, it being winter, schools. Mr. Stoddard, the boys' with seven small boys. It was the teacher, called to say to Miss germ of our flourishing Male Semi- Fiske that four or five boys were nary. The number of pupils soon seeking Jesus and found her with increased to fifty; and from learning jive girl8 who were in the same spir- theiralphabeton manuscript cards at itual condition. the beginning they rapidly advanced, till they have long graduated with The conversion of Deacon Guergis very respectable attainments in lit- took place in this revival; and he be- erature and science, a remarkably gan the work of an evangelist among familiar knowledge of the Holy the Koords,continued uptohisdeath. Scriptures, and most of them with His history-converted while on a considerable acquaintance with the- visit to his daughter at the girls' ology as a system. From this semi- school-is a religious romance. His nary have gone forth nearly a hun- spontaneous, self-denying, and per- dred graduates, about sixty of whom severing labors among the cabins of are able and faithful preacher8 of the the Koordish Mountains deserve to g08pel, not a few of them partaking stand high on the annals of Christian much of the holy unction of the sainted devotedness. In 1849 another revival Stoddard, under whose self-consuming blessed the mil!lsion, which spread to toil8 and prayers they were trained. the village of Seir. I have" never Other8 have gone forth hopefully pious, seen even in Holyoke such scenes," who, in other avocations, are hardly l688 wrote Miss Fiske. usefulco-laborer3 in the work of evan- gelization. Dr. Grant came from Utica, N. Y., and his wife was pioneer of female " About two years after open- education in Persia. She began with ing the male seminary, a few little four girls in a barn; after two and a girls formed the nucleus of a female half years of labor, she died at 25 seminary. The term Topsy would years of age, so revered that she was then not inaptly have described the char- "buried by the bishops in the church acter and appearance of th08e little girls; and they dug her grave with their not that they were black, the people are own hands." Dr. Grant then gave nearly as light as ourselves; but for un- himself up to journeys, going unat- cleanline88, disorder, and propen8ity to tended among the Koords, daring mischief. Yet in a few short years all perils, and surviving the great those same individuals appeared edu- slaughter of 10,000 mountaineers cated, intelligent, refined young la- only a year or two, he died, leaving dies; and what is yet far more, de- a name like precious spiees for its voted, active Christians. About a fragrance. Ten years later came the hundred pious young women have harvest, which was in part owing to gone forth, who, in the various re- the power of Mrs. Grant's death, as a . lations of wives, and mothers, and testimony to the pure faith of Christ. teachers, are doing a work not at all second to that of the graduates of the Justin Perkins was a tutor in Am- Male Seminary, for advancing the herst, and was carried to the vessel gospel among their people. 20 miles on a bed. "We shall soon throw him overboard," said the cap.- Miss Fidelia Fiske left South Had- tain. But the Lord had for him 36 ley, Mass., to found this new" Hol- years of work yet. After wintering yoke" in Persia; and 13 years after at Constantinople he arrived at Ta- she sat down to the Lord's table with bris and was welcomed by Patriarch Mar Johanan, the earnest friend of
EDITORIAL NOTES
the mission. Next year he, with the church, and constitute an exam- Dr. Grant, was stationed at Oroo- ple of great encouragement to those miah, birthplace of Zoroaster, and whose future labor shall be bestowed seat of ancient fire worship. Oroo- on the same field. The work of grace miah is like Salt Lake Valley in fea- in Persia in connection with missiontures, with a salt sea and a clear air, ary effort has been very remarkable. through which Jupiter's moons are Eleven or twelve revivals of great seen. Dr. Perkins' dying words were, power have been experienced in the " How will even Heaven be Heaven, high schools at Orcromiah and Seir: where there are no Nestorians to be Some of the most apostolic men and led to Christ." What passion/or souls! women have been numbered among the native preachers and other This mission to the Nestorians has Christians. The work of Mr. Stockbeen favored by the presence and la- ing, Miss Fiske and others in the bors of some of the most devoted of schools was pre-eminently a work of all the laborers who have gone to the prayer. It constituted a power beforeign field. The names of Stod- fore which even the ~ild Koorddard, Stocking, Lobdell, Crane,Coch- armed to the teeth and "breathing ran, Rhea, with a goodly number of threatheningand slaughter," became heroic and devoted women, must transformed to a lamb. ever be embalmed in the memory of VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
ONE of the editors was calle,d to sity has ta.ken a great stride onsit as a member of the Examining Committee when, in May last, Dr. ward. P. F. Ellinwood conducted in the chambers of the N. Y. University These classes are not composed of his examination of his classes in comparative religions. This chair ordinary men. They include pastors, as is generally known has recently been erected and when it was deter- professors and students in theologimined to have such a department, the Regents could find no man in cal seminaries and medical colleges, this country more admirably adapted to fill it than its present accom- etc. In ten years similar courses of plished incumbent. study will be established in all the Dr. Ellinwood had for years been a close and careful student of the theological sohools, and perhaps uni- Oriental religions when called to this new lectureship in the university. versities. It would be well if the Thus far he has had splendid men in his classes and may well feel proud younger ministers would take up of their attainments and his own success. He has two courses of these studies, not only as a means of perhaps twenty-five lectures each. At the late commencement ten men re- qualifying them for service, but as a ceived the degree of Ph.D. in consequence of their attainments; and diversion, for the subjects are fascifrom what we heard of their recitations we were satisfied that in the nating in interest. Dr. Ellinwood erection of this chair and the election of this instructor, the univer- has had rour professors in his classes, taught by correspondence. He fur- nishes copies of abtracts of lectures, references to books, etc., for cognate reading, etc.
One of the best features of the course is the requirement that each student present a weeldymonograph on some salient matter of the course.
This makes all the knowledge his own, and gives it fixedness of im-!
pression and crystalline form. We have asked Dr. Ellinwood to furnish for these pages a series of articles on BuddhiSm, etc. A. T. P. MR. MOODY has issued an "AN- the English Bible, and all matters NOUNCEMENT " to the public of his pertaining to practical evangelism new training school at Chicago. and missions; and, by offering abun- dant opportunities for actual work There is a. very marked growth among the neglected masses of the of interest in mission work both at people, to apply the practical test of home and abroad. The problem of both fitness and willingness to serve evangelizing our great cities is espe- God and souls; and so sift out the cially coming to the front and de- chaff from the pure grain. manding a practical solution. The Lord of the harvest is likewise send- Applicants for admission to the ing forth laborers into His harvest. Training School must furnish writ- Never has there been so·wide-spread ten certificates of their church mema desire among both young men and bership and character, and forward women to get at work for Christ and them to F. G. Ensign, Esq. Much souls; and we are glad of this new attention will be paid to musie as a. training school. most important help to evangeliza- tion, and the aim will be to furnish All workmen need training, both evangelists, home and foreign mis-. inthe theoryand practiceoftheircall- sionaries, lay readers and parish vising. No demand of our times is more itors and pastoral helpers to train imperative than the need of a train- more efficient Sunday school teaching school for Christian workers, ers, consecrated singers, and workwhere they can learn how to work ers in every department. We see and at the same time put their knowl- no reason why every great sectIOn edge to the test by engaging in of this country, if not every great work. Doing is one way of learn- city, should not be furnished with ing. such Training Schools. Chicago is the metropolis of our great Nortb- Our colleges and theological semi- west, easily reached from all parts of naries are sending out mer;. equipped the United States and Canada, and is for leadership, fitted to plan and a grand place to make a start. conduct the campaign. But hundreds of volunteers, who have nei- A.T.P. ther time nor money for a full course of education, are asking how they The Turkish Government and American can get ready to do the humbler but Schools; equally needful work of the common soldier in the ranks. THE following is a translation of the order we referred to in O1,lr last To help meet this want this train- issue, for which we are indebted to ing school for both men and women The Missionary Herald.-EDS.] will open in Chic3go, on Sept. 26, and continue the year through. In- TRANSLATION OF VEZIRIAL CIRCULAR OF RAMAstruction will be furnished free to all students, who will be thus at no ex· ZAN 16,1306 (MAY 16. 1889) • pense except for board, which wili .. The American Legation has made comcost from $4 to $6 a week. Every plaint that although the programmes and morning will be spent in study under the ~eachers' certificates of the American the best trainers which this country schools in the Vilayets were transmitted in and the world can supply. The af- accordance with the special law at the time ternoons will be spent in visiting the schools were opened, yet the offi cial pafrom house to house, and the even- pers containing authorization have not been ings in evangelistic meetings of va- given, and the teachers' certificates have rious kinds. It is the purpose of this also been detained at the Government of- Evangelistic Training School to fur- fices; and that on the occasion of investinish the best practical instruction in gations after eight or ten years had passed, nothing contrary to law having been ob- served in the schools, the schools have been closed solely on account of the absence of permits or of teachers' certificates, and further. that the reopening of suchlschools en sionaries to such wild and troubled counters much difficulty. regions. Assigned first to the most northern outpost of the Livingstonia. .. Although it is known that some of these Mi.ssion of the Free Church, he conschools have been closed fol'lawful reasons. quered the difficuties of a warlike it is not permissible for schools opened of tribe with a strange language, reold to be closed arbitr!trlly and when no cir- ducing it to writing and giving them cumstance or conduct contrary to law pro· a literature, building and teaching' duces a necessity. Hence, hereafter, when them to build, suffering with the >!chools newly to be opened have conformed hardships of inferior food and cloth. to the special law, permits will be given to ing, tramping the wilderness baretheir directors by the ViJayet Government. foot, rising from the bed of fever to and the certificates of the teachers, after bury a dead companion. Yet his letverification, will be returned to them to be ters are always cheerful, and often kept. And it there is a reason which de- even humorous, and he was always mands the closing of schools which have on the lookout for an advance movebeeuopened of old, the matter will be report- ment of some kind. ed to the Ministry of Public Instruction a,nd the necessary steps will be taken in accord- A year and a half ago the Arabs ance with the answer which is received. raided Lake Nyassa. Mr. Bain and This course will .be pursued toward other six other Europeans defended Kaforeigll schools also." ronga for a week against the'heavy Arab fire. Durmg a lull in the Arab James Alexander Bain. war came the time for his first fur- lough. He was terribly weakened ANOTHER of the brave young pi- by the pain and anxiety of fever, oneers in Central Africa has finished pestilence and war, and started for his course. He has laid down his home; but a few days' I'est at the life fora bottom foundation-stone for mission headquarters before starting a future civilization to rest upon. improved him so much that he de- The' names· of such men should be termined to let others have the furmentioned with honor among us, al- lough and stand by the natives though their fields of labor may be another year in answer to their far from sight and sound of our pitiful pleading as they knelt upon busy, noisy marts. Such names as the shore after he and his baggage Rev. James A. Bain will be sought were on board the steamer. He out and prized by those who a ought to have come homll, as It century or two hence shall search seems, for that year of fever and for the forces which molded the anxiety for the poor people forced states and institutions which shall him to confess in his last letter that then be the pride of Central Africa. he was "shattered in mind and A half-dozen great names are known body"; and the end followed very and honored by all, but after these soon. are a company of missionary pioneers, not so very numerous, by With God and a few such men as whom the early, diflicult and re- this to fight with them, the poor sponsible work is done. Among Africans will soon be able to rise out these may properly be named this of their deep woe and make peace to eighth in a line of north-of·Scotland be their government and righteousministers, who has justsuccumbed to ness their magistrates. the fever at Bandawe, Lake Nyassa. W.J.MUTCH He was educated at thl' Gymnasium, Old Aberdeen, at Glasgow A Misa.pprehension. University, and at the Free Church D~nity School in the latter place. "A MISSIONARY" takes to task one He was ordained in 1883, and soon of the editors, on the ground that in sd out for Lake Nyassa.'
His life was a heroic one, even beyond the measure o~ ordinary mishis little book, "The Crisis of Mis- Christian!!, not even the Moravians, sions," he "ignores the place and are brought into prominence, much power of intellect in missionary less any individual. God alone is ex- efforts," and suggests that, "won- alted. To have magnified the power derful though the results of the last of educated intellect or denomina- half century of missionary opera- tional organizations, or sanctified lit- tions have been, there is little rea- erature, would have been to call at- son to doubt that if all the mission- tention away from the glodous Cen- aries" were men who stood on a ter about whom all the history of higher intellectual plane, etc., the modern missions so conspicuously results would have been much revolves. . greater. ,The writer of that book-more conscious of its defects than any of Now the author of that book, with- its critics-still feels confident that out caring to defend either .himself the God whom he specially sought to or his book, would simply say to "A glorify in that sketch of missionary Missionary" that nothing was far- developments has especially owned ther from his thought than to ignore the humble effort. Only so can he or depreciate the power of sanctified account for the unusual sale, which intellect in missions. So long as must now have reached some twenty William Carey, Dr. Duff, Dr. Liv- thousand. There has been an undue ingstone, as well as Mrs. Grant, tendency to write up missions as the Fidelia Fiske, Drs. Riggs, Stoddard, work of the church and the triumph Fiske, Eli Smith, Bishops Patteson of organization. This may glorify and Hannington, Schwartz, Cyrus the church, but it dishonors the Hamlin, William Goodell and a Master. And it is strange that any legend of others are inseparable from of us can forget how little a time has missionary history, such ignoring elapsed since Dr. Ryland rebuked and depreciation are out of the ques- Carey for his holy enthusiasm; since tion. Sydney Smith shot his arrows of rid- icule into the nest of sanctified cob- But it is a little surprising to the lers; since the Scotch Assembly de- author of this book to find so many nounced missions as impracticable intelligent brethren who have appa- and absurd and dangerous, and the rently read" The Crisis of Missions" A. B. C. F. M. timidly ventured to without discovering the main object, send foul' men to the foreign field. which, like a thread, runs through We can only say: "What hath GOD the entire argument, viz. : to demon- wrought!" strate that the whole work of modern missions is conspicuously a work of Weighty Words. God'8 providence and grace. The purpose of the writer was to show NEARLY fifty years ago the vener- that when the whole church was able Heman Humphrey, D. D., wrote asleep and practically denied all obli- these stirring words to one of the gation to a dying world, God moved three sons whom he gave to the in a most remarkable manner and ranks of the Presbyterian ministry. aroused a sluggish Christendom- The names of these sons were John, that by astounding developments He Zephaniah M. and Edward P. We precipitated a crisis upon the church, echo the wish that these words could and prepared the church for that be copied. framed and hung on the crisis in a measure, and that now, wall of every pastor's study through· by marvelous signs and signals, He out the church. They describe the is inciting to a new spirit of holy en· one great want, the one hope, also, terprise. With such a motive guid- of the cause of Foreign Missions in ing the writer, no denomination of our time, and show the quarter from galion, and will make the salvation of the heathen a subject of prayer every Sabbath which deliverance must arise: day, from the beginning of the year to the end of it. Tnese, my son, are some of the "Those great Christhn enterprises which ways in which you can make your influence are the glory of the present age will have felt to the ends of the earth. to the end of imperative claims upon you as a, minister time, and through everlasting ages. and a Christian. You may not be called upon by your Divine Master to go and set IN the June REVIEW the editors up the standard of the cross on a heathen shore, and the utmost you can give will be published a letter from Rev. Fred. S. but a· mite in comparison to what is de- manded for the conversion of the world. Curtis, of Japan, that he says was But remember, my dear son, that God will hold you responsible for whatever influence intended to be a private letter, and in you can exert to bring up the church to the standard of her duty. The ministers of which he wrote with the freedom of that glorious gospel which they are com- missioned to preach at home, and which first impressions, unguarded as they must be preached to all nations before they can be converted, have it in their power to would not have been if meantforthe do more toward raising the necessarll funds than any other class of men-might I not add, public eye. We had supposed the more than all other classes put together. Perhaps this would be extravagant; but let letter to be at our disposal, and beg anyone consider the position which pastors occupy, the access which they have to the pardon if we have overstepped the hearts and consciences of the whole Christian community, and the influence which bounds of privacy. Mr. Curtis says they actually wield in all the religIOus movements of the age, and he may perhaps that at the time theJapanese tongue be convinced that I should not be far out of the way. Point me to the churches which did not seem to him so difficult to atare doing most in proportion to their abllity for the spread of the gospel and, without tain as he had supposed; but that knowing the names of their pastors, or ever having heard of their moving a finger, I am further study shows him that the preparejl to say that it is greatly through their influence, or that of those who imme- language is no easy one to master. diately preceded them in the sameofllce. If ministers were to do their whole duty, and He was then studying under a bright exert all their inflnence, I have no doubt that the contributions of the church would young Japanese, who proved very be doubled in a skort time. much more helpful than the average .. Do you ask me how this mighty influence is to be exerted? I will tell you. If you teacher, and what had seemed before have a truly benevolent and missionary s!,irit yourself, you will infuse it into others. an ini?urmountable barrier began to You will press the subject upon tlie members of your church inprivate conversation; seem a comparatively easy task to you will advise and persuade them to take religious magazines and newspapers; you overcome, and in this somewhat will Induce as many of them as you can to attend the monthly concert; and in order to elated frame of mind he wrote, but make it as interesting as possible, you will diligently collect and arrange the latest not for the somewhat critical pubmissionary intelligence; will exhibit maps of various countries and stations where the lic eye. He says the language is light begins to shine, and will lay yourself out so thoroughly in preparing for the con- hard, and requires very close study cert, as not only to show how deeply your own to g~t hold of it, and th~t his use of' heart i. interested in the cause, but to make wery Christian feel that he sustains a great it thus far has been confined to cerlos8 tn staying away. You will also frequently plead the cause of the Bible and of tain formulre for baptism, etc., and missions, with all the eloquence of which you are master. before your 'IdIole congre- a moderate use of it in colloquial forms. We owe this explanation to one who is a soncin-Iaw, and who therefore wrote with family free- dom. A. T. P.
Dr. Dorohester on Romanism.
DR. DORCHESTER presents figures to prove that While the Catholics in the sixteen years from 1870 to 1886 increased four-tenths of one per cent., the evangelical population- by which it is presumed he means the Protestant-increasedtwelveand five-tenths per cent. He believes that, instead of the 20,000,000 Cath- olics which the Sun predicts will be
lIlISSIOSARY wORK AND S'I'A'I'ISTlCS. [OC1'
found in this country in 1900, the used very carelessly and actually evangelical population will then be mislead and deceive. For instance, eighty pel' cent. of all the inhabi- take this paragraph: "One hun· tants. Dr'. Dorchester calls atten- dred years ago the world's population to the amazing discrepancies be- tion was rated at 731,OOO,000,ofwhoro tween the figures of two Catholic 174,000,00:) were Chdstians. No IV Year-Books, one published in New the population has doubled, anu the York and the other in Mil waukee. Christians trebled." According to Sadlier's, for instance, estimates the that there are now 522,000,000 Chris- VathoIic population ofthe diocese of Hans in the world. In other words Hartford at 35,000, while Hoffman's every third person, taking the whole puts it at 200,000. population together, is a Chris- tian! Speaking of figures, they may be VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
Moravian Missions.
THE Moravian Almanac for 1889 gi~'es the Cull statl~tics only for the year closing Dec. 31. 1887.
Receipts.
I.-FROM MORAVIAN CONGREGATIONS AND SOCIETIES.
1. In fne German Province ………………………………. £ 924 110 2. British ……………………………….. 1.177 8 7 3. •• American" ………………………………. , 2,252 Ii 1 4. West Indies and Surinam.. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. 229 6 2 £ 4,582 16 e n.-FROM: FRIENDS OF OTHER CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
1. In the German Province ………………………………. £5,124 1 7 2. British….. …………………………… . 1,995 9 3 3. American…. ………………………. :…. .. 68 17 5 £1,188 8 3 m.-Legacles ……………………………………………………………. 2,205 2 2 IV.-InteiestCromendowments …………………………………………….. 2,009 5 11 V.-From mite societies…………………………………………………… 707 9 10 VI.-Interests. more received than paid… …………………………………… 109 18 6 Total receipts………………….. .. ………………………………..£16,808 1 4 Balance deficiency on the year's account…………………………. ….. …. …. a,390 4 8 Total. ………………………………………………………………£20.193 6 0 Expenditures.
I.-For the several missions ………………………………………………..£ 8,948 10 10 n.-Tralning of missionaries……………………………………………….. 868 6 3 m-Snstentatlon.
Pensions to 150 recipients ……………………………….£5,975 I) I) Less interest of sustentation Culids……………………….. 3,759 17 8 £11,215 l~ 1 lV.-For edncation.
1. For 239 children at school. …………………………….£5,880 15 I) 2. Apprenticing. etc. (65 youths, 48 girls). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. 1,417 2 1 – – – £6,797 17 10 'V.-Expenses oC management……………………………………………… 1.707 0 6 'VI.-Grants in aid and offtcial journeys. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. 165 18 6 Total expenditure ………………………………………………….. £20,193 6 0
OF MORAVIAN MISSIONS. =~
~ o~ !£ :o=~..~~ -~"-"aJt;.::::~. ~• . Z~ ;g ~ IS 5 ~'t1 rn !R f g ~ ~-g tI:: ~~ ~ :§ ~.£a: gtt3 . -5 .
cq g : : . 1 MISSIONS. ~.9 ~.a ~ -g . E~ :o~ § g ~00 t .g ~E ~ ~ C':I W .~ = = :=.~~ ~~ ~ ~ :g. ;g g :g. ~ :=§. ~ CD ~ d< ….. 0 ~ e!P-c. ~ ~ Go) l;tl 00 421-771 -az – -6- -17 –.-.- Greenland……………………………… ·d Z A d .::I "0 :;:: Z ~ 0 ill 0 ~ Il< Eo< ttl .0~ ..: Eo< 396 -1091-2tl2- —a4 – -"- . – -.-:::- –.-.- E: Labrador.. .. .. … .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 6 40 60 480 223 121 427 6 208 4 Eo< ~ Alaska………………………………….. 16 2 Ul North America………………………….. . 5 9 12 80 31 6 108 17 19 s· 4 .<:i 27 12 275 5,792 I 2,739 215 I 7,259 68 6,459 68 23 2,6g4 I 2,020 860 ~ West Indies (West) Jamaica ……………… . 20 ~ West Indies (East) ………………………. .. 5 .2 6 50 1,239 125 59 ' 824 7 388 7 5 511 488 70 ~ St. Thomas and St. Jan …………………. .. 3 3 3 73 1,363 340 63 661 3 460 365 87 :>0 St. Croix……………………………… ..
~ Antigua…………………………….. , .. .. 9 13 6 136 3,482 ] ,220 127 2,634 14 1,629 23 15 1,316 1,160 175 Zo St. Kitts ……………………………….. .. 4 3 .2 70 1,480 841 146 1,572 7 354 16 6 707 1,309 98 til i'" Barbados ………………………………… . 4 4 2 47 1,525 242 59 1,415 20 2,362 29 9 598 175 61 3 2 ~ Tobago ……………………………….. .. 2 62 1,124 336 27 1,257 5 437 5 7 267 883 50 I'il :Demerara ……………………………… .. 2 2 27 341 34 4 293 .2 179 3 2 111 126 28 N ~ Moskito Coast………………………….. . 12 20 4 33 490 1,036 320 1,448 10 545 10 10 630 50 36 ~ Surinam ……………………………….. .. H n m ~~ ~~ U~ 46 3 271 6 South Africa (West) …………………….. . U ~ 6 ~ ~ ~ ~~ m~ 42 6 45 174 9 South Africa (East)……………………… .. 12 18 3 123 877 294 1,117 1,007 15 683 21 6 220 20 Australia……………………………….. . 2 6 31 10 23 48 2 24 2 24 23 2 j .
~ C_e_ntr_al_A.s_ia_…………………………….. – -3- – -8- – -.-. – -.-. – – -11- – -4-.-.-..- – -2-7 – 18 – – -661 – _ 1 – – 1 – – – 1 – – – ~ Total……………… ………………….. 127 288 48 1,613 29,707 16,722 5,908 31,869 223 18.280 310 ~8 7,653 I 6,446 I 1,006
ORGANIZED :MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTIOS
The statistics tor the North American Indian Mission and of that in St:Thomas and St. .Tan ~ essentially those of the previous year on account ofincomplete returns.
Each number of tbe Moravian Almanac contaius an account of some special branch of work That for '89 describes tbe work among the lepers, wbicb has been carried on for 67 years. It commenced at Cape Colony in 1822. and was continued until 1867, when it was handed over to the care of the Government Chaplain of the English Church. .Tust before that, in 1865, the Leper Home at .Terusalem was established and that is still continued under the special care of ten German and two English sisters.
Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society.
BlIPORT FOR YEAR ENDING SEPT. 20. 1888.
Receipt•• Balance Sept. 12, 1887 …………. .. $24735 Donations and interest………… . M,633 01 Received on Loans•…••……….. 3,800 00 Total. .. .. .. .. .. .. . ….. .. …. $12.680 36 ExpenliitureB.
:Mission expenses………………. $9,700 98 Paid loans ………… , .. . .. ….. . .. 2,800 00 Cash in hand,Sept. 20, 1888………. 179 38 Total……………………. $12,680 36 The foreign work of the society is carried on in China. by one missionary and wife with a la.dy physician at Shanghai, reinforced during the past year by another missionary. There are 5 native teachers and helpers, 2 schools with 36 scholars, 3 preaching pla.ces, 1 church with 2S members, 5 of whom were added during the year. Total number of patients treated 4,220, of whom more than half paid their fees.
There is a.lso some work in Holland and among the .Tews in New York City.
American Baptist Missionary Union. J I -~..:~..:":~"?:~..:~..~..:I . "
REPORT FOR THill YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1389. This year closes 75 years of the organic Receipts. life of this society. and the report makes special reference to the fact that the society Balance on hand April 1, 1838…… $248 91 was founded and celebrated its jubilee a.mid Donations……………………… 183,475 83 scenes of distress and anxiety, in marked Woman's Bap. For. Miss. Societies 96,754 4S contrast with this a.nniversary. Then Lega.cies ………………………. 51,60827 follows a retrospect over the last 25 years. Judson Centennial Fnnd……….. 38,000 00 Income of Funds………………. 19,773 75 :Miscellaneons…………………. 6,465 07 Government grants in aid, etc., India and Africa……………… 7,068 51 Total receipts………….. $398,394 77 Ballnce against the Union April 1,1389……………………… 8,173 56 Tota.l. ………………….. $406,568 38 Expenditures.
For the Missions………………. $355,197 79 Annuities from Funds. •.•.•.•…. 11,486 97 Publlca.tions ………………….. 2,261 75 Executive and Agf'ncy Dept…… 32,971 12 General Expenses. Rent, etc…… 4,650 70 Total …………………..$406,568 33 Special attention has been paid to educa- Liabilities. Loans on call…….. 82.150 21 tiou, and the founding of high-grade colle- Less cash on hand…………….. 814 97 giate and theological schools in Burmah. Siam, Japan a.nd Europe. Four new mis- Total deficit……….. $1.335 24 'sions in Sweden, Spain, Japan and Africa The statistics are 00 in<;omplete that it is Ihave been started. Among the more notice- scarcely just to give them. So far as can able items in the growth of the work are the be made ont from the report they are as increase of the members in the South China follows: Mission from 30 to 1,150; in the Telugu Mission from 31 to 30,659. The number of mis- I ~!!:~:s: sionaries actually sent to the foreign field during the time has been 347, including mis- g0,31=.~… ~1_'.~1"~ gCtlD. sionaries' wives and unmarried women. I···.~ II ….~ ….j…..~ …~. .German Baptist Brethren. I ~ ~t-l~~ Sta.tions. REPORT FOR YEAR E~DING Al'RIL 2, 1889. THE Missionary Committee report in regard I . . I ~ ~ "'~ Outstations. to foreign work that the expenses have been $1,055.54, expended entirely in Denmark and ""I ~ I ~ 0) ~P'J..:( 1 M l,SSi onar.les Sweden, where 5 evangelists have labored, holding 75t meetings. TwentY-illght conver- !.1l1 CO"",.", I Missionaries' Wives. sions are reported. The same committee have charge of Home I I a; :=~ …'" Other Female Missionaries Mission work and church erection. The total income for the three pnrposes was I.. "'''' I <;:Ordained Native Preachers. $6,237.16. I ..: ! ~ ~"' Other Preachers and Helpers. Baptist General Associa.tion of the Western States and Territories. I"'… I ~s: Churches.
THIS society carries on its foreign work in I ~~I,8i«1i81i ,Members. Africa in connection with the Baptist Mission- ary Union. It bas two missionaries on the I I i «1",~~ Baptized. Congo, who act under general superintendence of the Mission of the Union, but receive their I lSI ~~: ~ Pupils. support from and make their reports to their own Society. IIContribntions.
The Oonsolidated American Baptist The report calls special attention to the Missionary Oonvention fact that one-third of the annual receipts came in during the last months of the year. is engaged in no active work at present, Simply and nearly one half of that during the last holding on' to its legal existeuce and guarding two days. The result has been that tile its ouly foreign interest at Port au Prince, Board has had to borrow money and carry Hayti. A native Haytian, a man thoroughly' a heavy interest account. This ought not trained in this country and Paris, is ready to to be. Better late than never, but better take charge of the work there as soon as the still, never late. way may open. An earnest appeal is made for the re-es- Southern Baptist Oonvention. tablishment of the Japan Mission inaugn- rated in 1859 but never really established on REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING APRIL 30. 1889. account of the death of the first mission- Receipt,.. aries by the loss of the ship in which they .ailed. Balance of April 30. 1888.. ., •….• $3.609 63 Donations (total income)…….. .. 99,023 75 Bills payable (borrowed money).. . 46,50000 Loans and interest…………… . 45126 Total………………. $149,584 64 Expenditures. For Missions………………….. $87.188 32 Executive and Agency Depts….. 14,931 35 Borrowed money repaid.. . . .• . . . .• 46,500 00 Loans.. .. .. .. .. .. …. .. … .. …. .. . • 150 00 Balance cash In Bank…………. 814 97 Total……………….$149,584 64
PltoGRESS OF 1l1SSlONS-MONTllLY BULLETIN. [OCT., r
VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BU~LETIN.
Afrlca.-Arabs in East Central Africa. prospering at Nyassa.. The Free Church of Scotland has opened a. new station at Mal- Tidings from a mission of the Free Church indu, on a high plain at the north olthe of Scotland in Nyassaland indicate that lake. Malindu is surrounded by 17 villages, though the Arabs are by no means over- embosomed in gardens of magnificent bacome, their vower is decreasing. These Ar- nanas. abs are cruel and treacherous; they shoot down the natives without any compunc- -Along the valley of the Nile from Alexan· tions; villages have been destroyed and drla to the first cstaract are 79 mission stations parents and children killed; but at the lat- and 70 Sabbath-schools. numbering 4,017 ter part of April matters were quiet. No scholars, while the day and boarding-schools news bas been received from missionaries have over 5,200 pupils. There has been an in· on Lake Tanganyika, the road between that creasing demand for Bibles, 6,651 having been lake and Nyass.. having bAen closed by tbe sold the last year, with 8,933 volumes of relig' Arabs. A letter from Dr. Kerr Cross at ious literature and 17,179 educational books. Karonga. April 20, gives much credit to Captain Lugard, who has so managed his 150 – TheCongo Railway. Th~Beglan Chambers poorly armed natives tbat they had pre· have voted a snbscrlption of ten million francs vented the Arabs from advancing, and had toward the cost oCthe Congo railway. This does saved many natives from massacre. Dr. not mean that Belgium and the Congo Free Cross had been driven from his home in the State are to come into any political relations, highlands, but at Karonga they were hold- bnt the subscription is made iu the luterests of ing two services on the Sabbath, at one of Belgian commerce. A Zanzibar mercirant has which they had 600 people present. contracted for the transport along the Congo of the material for the construction of the rail· -Congo MiSSIOn. Mr. Richards, of the way.- AmericanBa.ptistMissionary Union, reports that the work at Ba.nza Manteke, the place -A new station on the upper Congo River whereso many converts have been baptized, has been opened by the American Baptist Mis· is still prospering. The young church has sion. It Is 170 miles above Stanley Pool. Lieut. been greatly tried by persecution as well as enant Taunt, U. S. commercial agent on the by sickness and death. Notless than twenty Congo, says this is the only mis&ion oli. the river of those baptized have died, and the fatality which has been successful. has been a great stumbling-block to the heathen,whohave asserted that the sickness -A navigable channel has been discovered was sent by their gods because t,hey have in the delta of the Zambezi River, Southeast been neglected. This has prevented many Africa, by which vessels can enter the main from accepting the Christian faith. The river. This will greatly faciliate the advance of heathen are bitterly opposed, and would missions and civilization in that region. take the lives of the Christians if they could. Recently 17 were baptized, and others are Chlna.-One of the missionaries of the asking for the ordinance, and the knowledge of the truth is spreading'far and wide. China Inland Mission, a Scotch gentleman worth a million, is living in China on twenty·five cents -Mr. F. S. Selous, the South African trav- a week, using all his fortune in the work. eler, in his recent expedition. visited the French mission on the Zambezi, where he -In Pang-Chuang, a missionary from North found the families of Messrs. Jeanmairet America teUs the story of a mission there, al· and Jalla at Sesheke. He says that the most entirely depending on the work of a mission has passed through the greatest slugle woman. She seemed to have inspired the difficulties, and that their situation is rar women, for some of them are said to sit up half from agreeable. They are shut out from the night working, in order to rsise sufficient communication with the outward world, funds to build 8 chape. .They have already col· t"" receipt of letters depending entirely lected $15. upon chance travelers or merchants. The crocodiles devour all thAir domestic ani· -American Citizens. Our miulster in China mal… The kindness of the missionaries is officially reports that there are in China 1,022 having great effect upon the people. but American citizens resident within the empire, Mr. Selous says that the Barotse valley is of whom 506 are entered as missionaries, though in a deplorable condition on account of the the 400 resident in Shanghai are not classified as periodical inundations of the Zambezi, and to their occupation. The extension of the Tient· the fevers Which reeult therefrom. sin and Tonshan railroad to Tung·cho has reo ceived the imperial sanction, and It is expected -Stanley puts the population of Africa at thst notwithstanding aU opposition to Its con· 250,000,000. strnction work will be Immediately begun. The journey from Tientsin to Peking can then -In the midst ofserious dangers, says the be accomplished by rail in,three hOUrs, instead Presbyterian Messenger, the missions are of as many days, as now.
-Work among the Hakkas In Southeru China Is very encouraging. Says a missionary : " The Hakkas will be evangelized sooner than
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN. 797 any other Chinese." Tbeyare devoted to let- quelled the riotous spirit, and the Car was pulled ters, and are opposed to foot-binding. as usual. .
-The English Presbyterian missionaries in -In addition to the number of convertD China, after 17 years' persistent effort, have which are reported, and the considerable number Becured an eutrance into the important city of of secret disciples among the men, it is believed Chiang-pu, and arrangements have been made that there are thousands of women in the zena- for building a church there, the cost of which nas ofIndia who are Christians. They are un- (about $3,000) is to be met by Rev. A. Gregory, able to declare their faith, but the inlluence of one of the missionaries to occupy the new their Christian lives will be powerfnlly felt in station. , their homes.
Cuba.-The Roman Catholic Bishop of -The income of the British Government In Havana appealed to the Governor of the Island to close the cemetery which the Baptists had India last year from the opium monopoly was opened in that city, but the Goverument in Spain has decided that the Baptists were acting $30,000,000. according to the laws, and may have their place ofburiaI. -Mr. George Muller is stUI In India, where he has been preaching and addressing a large number of meetings, calling upon the uncon- verted to turn unto the Lord, and inciting England.-The report read at the ninth Christians to increased love and good works. annual meetiug of the Church ofEngland Zenana Missionary Society held on May 3d stated that the -A wonderful work of grace is in progress European missionaries of that society in home connection number 105, that there are 57 assist- at Sealkot. Some four years ago the Scotch ant missionaries in local connection, and 507 native agents. Four new stations have been Mission began to baptize inquirers among the opened during the year. The Committee reported also the acceptance of the following calls low caste people In the villages. The IIrst year for new work: A normal school for female teachers at Amritsar ; a boarding school for the the missionaries registered about 80 baptisms, village girls in the Krishnagar district; a boarding-school for Christian girls at Kandy, in Cey- the following year about 400, the next year near Ion; and the establishment, in conjunction with the Church Missionary Society, of the Buchanan 700, the next nearly 800-that is to say, about Institution for training female workers in the Diocese of Travancore and Cochin. The gen- 1,900 baptisms in less than four years, all in one eralillcome of the society is the largest ever received, being 24,866l., an increase of 1,688l. district. Neither is there any abatement of the The total expenditure was 25,802l., an increase of 1,240l., 28. 2d. In addition to the general in- wonderful movement now. The opening month come, there was 2,7861. from various sources. of the year witnessed nearly 200 baptisms, and -Great Cities and their Dangers. Thirty years ago in Great Britain 24per cent. of the it is hoped that a harvest of 2,000 will be gathwhole population were occupied in agricultural pursuits. Now, ouly 14 per cent. of the ered in before a new decade opens on us. population are so occupied. -The Moslems of Delhi have opened a sem- inary in which preachers are taught all the ob- jections of Western infidels against Chri.tianity that they may go forth to oppose the Christian preachers in town and country.
-A few years ago the offerings at the temple at Monghyor, India, amounted to $50,000, dur- ing the two days of the annual festival; now they are only $20,000. The priests say to the missionaries, H You are the reason. Your preaching and your books have taken the fear of us and of our gods from the hearts of the people."
Ireland.-High Ritualism is not con:/in- -The Madras Bible Society, the largest of ed to England. The" Protestant" rector of Donegore,Ireiand, Rev. J. Hunt, has recently the Indian auxiliaries, was established in 1820. advocated the efficacy of the masses for the living and the dead, the supremacy of the Under its auspices the entire Bible has been trans- Pope, and has stated that he believes that the only church in the country which has lated into the Canarese, MalayaJam and Telugu real orders is the church of the Roman obedience. languages, the New and parts of the Old Tesla- ment into Decanl Hindustani, and the Tamil Bible has undergoue revision. It also publishes the New Testament in Tolu, and portions in Koi, Konkani, Badaga and Sanscrit. In t888 it distributed by sale over 130,000 copies. In ad- I ndia;-A fact ofsignificance in India is the dition to the central depot at Madras branch appointment oftwo native Christians in Travancore as magistrates by the Maharajah. Former- depots are maintained in the principal Mofnssil ly magistrates had religions as well as secular duties, and conservative Hindus raised an out- towns, while some 60 colporteurs either supcry against the innovation. A protest was signed and seut to the Maharajah, stating that ported or aided by the society's fonds are emunless the Christians were dismissed the petitioners, who were of the high castes, wonld not ployed to sell the Scriptnres chielly in the pull the car at the coming car-festival in Padmarabapuram. Ii. serions revolt was threatened. country districts. Distribution is also effected but the native sovereign held his ground and among the natives of South India, resideut in Burmah, Ceylon, South Africa, the Mauritins, the Straits Settlements, the West Indies, British and Dutch Guiana.
-Mr. Caine, M.P., sends a letter which speaks of a most remarkable movement in
'798
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN. [OCT., Banares. A meeting was summoned In that tures concerning the trne Messiah are exgreat center of Idolatry in consequence of what pounded to them. Some Rabbis, says Mr. had been said In the British House of Commons Feingold, have become convinced of the trnth on the liquor traffic in India. A distinguished of the New Testament. Brahmin, who had been trained in a mission college, and is the head of a large Hindu Judaism and Ethics.-There isno doubt that brotherhood, took the chair. Throughhis pow- the more thonghtfo1 adherents of Judaism are erfnl inlluence the caste of Ahlrs, and other gradually drifting away. They do not care to smaller castes, have, as the result of t·he strong carry out the ceremonlallawbecauge it does not feeling of the meeting, decided to prohibit all speak to their hearts. and since this Is all they liquor drinking in their caste regulations. By have been tanght of their religion, if they neglect the inexorableness of such regulations from 40,- it, there seems to he nothing left. Their souls 000 to 50,000 of the people of Benares have be- cry aloud for truths that shall sustain them in come total abstainers. The drink-sellers are their hour of trial and temptation, that shall now appealing for a reductiou in the price of teach them how to live and how to die; and all their licenses on the ground that the sale of that is given them is more or less unmeaning liquor is stopped. Such a unique movement rites. Will not those who love their ancient among idolaters ought to furnish a lessou to our faith, who feel that its doctrines embody all the statesmen. elements of a morally beautiful life, come for- ward now when ,danger threatens it, and zeal· Japan.-" The Independent" says: "A ously labor to show forth its more spiritual trnths P-Jewish Messenger. Japanese Christian church In Seto recently had occasion to build a house of worship. The -There are 47 organizations engaged In the building was completed in May; then it be- evangelization of the Jews, with 377 workers came necessary to report It to the Government and 195 stations. At least 150 of the mission· for registration. Hitherto every church build- aries are converted Jews. ing in Japan has been registered as private Kore~.-Progress of the Gospel. The property in which Christian service would be work in Korea has been abundantly blessed of held. No recognitiou being given to Christi- God. The country was opened to the world by anity, its churches could not be registered as treaty in 1882. Dr. Allen, the first missionary, arrived in 1884. Others, Including the two Chisuch. But as the Constitution makes all re- nese missionaries from the Fnh·Kien native ligious equally lawful the pastor, Mr. Kato, church, followed In 1885. In July, 1886, the and the local omcial, agreed that there was no first convert was baptized. In the autnmn of reasou for not registering this as a Christian 1887 the first church, a Presbyterian, waS orchurch, exempt from taxation, with all the ganized with ten members. In February, 1888, rights and privileges of a Buddhist temple. a union week of prayer among the natives was Such a request had never gone up to the Gov- held. In May, 1888, "the check In Korea" apernment before, but they decided to try it. It peared. In J o1y, 1888, all signs of the .. check, • was granted immediately. So this little coun- as far as the land Is concerned, have disaptry chapel is the first building ever registered peared, and it is stated that during the past year in Japan as a Christian church." (1888) the chnrch in Korea has mo1tiplied five- fold-there are now over 100 Christians In the -In Japan, in 1714, the number of temples laud. Ei~ht native Korean workers spent a was 395,087. The latest enumeration, made month just before the close of the year at two years ago, showed that the whole number Seoul, in receiving instrnction and praying for had been reduced to 57,842. the power of the Holy Ghost, before returning to their homes and work. Doring their month's -Bishop Fowler has just made an extensive stay there were 28 applicants for baptism, 19 omcial tour of Japau. He reports an encouraging vitality in missions, and a disposition on the helng received. part of leading men to embrace, or at least encourage, Christianity. Russla.-Twelve hundred converts have -In Nagoya, with a population of 350,000, heen baptized in the Baptist Mission in Russia he found 8 vigorous church only three years the past two years. The mission is principally old, and in tbe past year Increased from 35 to among the German colonists in South Russia. 70 members. One of these is an eminent law_ There is also B snccessful mission in Roumania yer' another 8 physician trained in German methods, and a third is an in1luentlal editor. and Bnlgaria. The Mayor of the city said to him: "I have observed the reform wrought III Christians. I Scotland.-The mission of the Free think if Christianity were established over the city, and accepted by the people, it wonld Church of Scotland on the Lake of Gallilee, make government easy, and the people much in Palestine, IS prospering. A liberal friend better. I will do all I can to help yonr work." of the ca.use in Scotland has promised $6,500 to build another house for the mis- JeWS.-Jews in Paris. Mr. Solomon Fein- sionaries at Tiberias. This is chiefly a med· gold, Jewish missionary in Paris, writes that ical mission. his work is marked by tokens of encouragement. Many Jews visiting the Exhibition find Syrla.-Dr. George E. Post, in an article their way to the mission room, where the Scrip- on the outlook in Syria, says: .. Little by little the light is stealing in. Men of all re- ligious opinions are inclining to toleration.
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
The Bible is being circulated among the bodies-Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalilln. masses. The number of readers is multI- Quaker, Roman Catholic-which have received plied. Those who believe are bolder, but at Government support since General Grant's first the same time more discreet. Those who administration under the contract system. This do not believe are forced to concede that is done on the ground that the Government canthe Bihle is the source of religious knowl- not sustain sectarian institutions. The system edge, and the referee in all cases of donbt was a mere makeshift, and it must be abandoned. or dispute. Those who are far from the The purpose to abandon it, however, is not spirit of the New Testameut claim to be original with General Morgan. It was broached evangelical. Everything is ripening for a under the Cleveland administration and was grand demonstration of the power of the one of the things for which Mr. Cleveland was Holy Spirit." roundly abused. The Government cannot, of course, abolish the mission schools of these re- Tu rkey.-A concession has been gran ted ligious bodies. Tiley have a perfect and equal by the Sultan of Turkey for the constrnc- right to maintain them, but not under cont~act tion of a railway between Jaffa and J eru- with the United States.-Springjield RepubUsalem; and a still more important railway scheme has been approved by the Imperial can~ Conncil, and only waits the sanction of the Chancellary and the signature of the -The Indian Industrial School recently Snltan. That scheme includes a line from established in Tucson is one of the most Acre (Ptolemais) to Damascus, running pro:nising Institutions in Arizona, and althrough Galilee, crossing the Jordan near though it has been organized only about the waters of Merom, and passing by the one year it has 70 Indian boys and girls. all at>cient Cresarea – Philippi, leaviI!g Mt. of whom appear to be making remarkable Hermon on the left. The projector craves, progress in conforming to the habits of civalso, the sole right to run steamers on the ilized life. Sea of Tiberias. -The Roman Catholic Plenary Council ot1884 authorized a revision and rearrangement of the -The total imports of Damascus for 1888 Catholic prayer-book. This work has just been were 83,056,670, against $1,991.215 for the pre- finished, and will shortly take the place of the vious year; and the total trade rose to $4.- books which have been in use hitherto. It is so 746.825, against 83.698,585 for 1887. The only arranged that the entire service of the mass for industries intheprovince worth noticing are every Sunday iu the year can be followed by the bitumen wells on the western slopes ot the congregation just as it is said by the clergy- Mt. Hermon. for which a concession has man. Every page in proof sheets was sent to been granted netting 65 per cent. to Govern- every Catholic bishop and archbishop in the ment, and 35 per cent. to the contractor. United States, and, 8S issued, it will have the unauimous indorsement of the hierarchy.-The United States.-Departure of Mis- Independent.
sionaries.-A memorable meeting, on the oc- -There are 1,000 Christian Cbinamen concasion of the departnre of a large number of nected with the Congregational missions in Calimissionaries to different parts of the world fornia and Oregon.-Spirito! Missions. under the care of the A. B. C. F. M.. was held in Boston August 29th. The missionaries -Chan Chu Sing, a converted Chinaman, has number 49 in all, of whom 19 are return- been licensed as a local preacher in the Methoing to fields of labor which they have already dist Episcopal Church, and will engage in misoccupied, some of them for a long term of years, sion work among his own people in Los Anwhile 30 are going out for the first time, several geles, Cal. of them 'being chUdren of missionaries. Of the whole number, 20 are going to Turkey, 8 to -Missi.mary Interest in America. Rev. Japau, 17 to China and 4 to India. One of the H. Grattan Guinness is still in the United new mi.sionaries is a granddaughter of the Rev. States, and (writes Mrs. Guinnees) is being William Goodell, D.D., of Constantinople, graciously prospered in his efforts to belp whose life was spent in planting the institutions poor Africa. After completing his tour in of the gospel in the Turkish Empire. Ohio, with Dr. Ashmore, he traveled 'West to Kansas, taking Nkoiyo, the Congo -The appropriations of the American Bap- youth. with him, and held missionary tist Missionary Union for the year ending March meetings in the towns of Marion, Pea- 31, 1890, amount to $402,785.71. Much new body, Newton, Arkansas City, Wellwork is provided for, and the schedule is more ing-ton. Wichita, Hutchinson, Florence.. nearly in accordance with the estimates from Emporia, Aveline and Topeka. Many the missionaries than for many years. noble-hearte<l Western pioneers were led in these meetings to volunteer for mis- -Non-partisan Indian SChools.-It is an- siona.l"Y work in Africa. A neW mission nounced that Commissioner Morgan has deter· was founded, bearing the name of .. The mined to substitute as rapidly as possible on the Soudan Pioneer lIission." and a branch es- Indian reservations non-partisan puhlic 8chools tablished, with enrolled members, secreunder the supervision of the Indian Bureau, for the schools under charge of several rrligions ta.ry ll~ treasurer. ¥>. ~Qh Wwn. This work promise~ to spread over the entire of the press is a. significant element In the State of Kansas. Arrangements have been advance of Christianity. made for Mr. Guinness to visit Kansas City, and also to address the assembled sec- -The Home Mlasionaryworkwhlchlssusretaries'lf the Y. M. C. A., in the States of tained by the women of the Presbyteria.n Nebraska and Minneseta. There is an church, and which consists largely in the earnest missionary spirit awaking in the eataltlishment of Christian schools, is meet- West, and the prospect of the utilization of ing with great favor. The new buildings at its pioneer energies in the work of opening Tucson, Arizona, a.nd Albuquerque, 'New the dark Soudan to the light of the gospel. Mexico, aJ:e complete a.nd in use. The work among the" Mountain Whites" in Western Miscellaneous.-The iastissue 'lethe North Carolina is rapidly developing, and annuaistatement in regard to Roman Cath- just now promises great enlargement. The olic missions has just been sent out from school nea.r Asheville has done good work, the Propaganda press, and from it we but the necessity has constantly been felt gather that in Ireland the Roman Catholic for,one of a higher grade, where girls of fine estimated number of Romanists is 3,792,357, promise might continue their education. with 3,251 priests and 2,547 chapels. In This is now made possible by special England the Roman Catholic population is gifts from parties who have visited the stated to be 1,353,455, with 2,340 priests and region and examined the work done. The 1,261 chapels, and in Scotland 338,643 Ro- gifts already made are as follows: One manists, with 329 priests and 295 chapels. of $35,000, two others of $10,000 each, and It is not by any means likely that these fig- several of $2,000 and $1,000 eacb. A beauures have been understated, and they may, therefore, be taken as a fair basis for any .0 tiful and extensive property, now known as comparative statement with reference to the spread of- Rowanism in these islands. the Oakland Inn," just Ioutslde the And yet many Christians" see no cause to limits of the city of Asheville, has been fear that Popery will ever gain ground in secured and will be devoted to the pur- England again"! poses of a higher Christian education.
-In heathen countries Protestants occupy -john Newcombe, of the English army, 500 separate mission fields, containing 20,- went out to Cumbam as a missionary of the ()()() mission stations, supplied by 40,000 mis- American Baptists, unordained, and unsionaries. In these 20,000 mission stations trained as a clergyman. La.st year he bapthere are 500,000 Sunday-school scholars- tized 1,400 converts. In three or four years an average of 25 to each station. In the he has gone over a. circuit of 3,400 miles 20,000 Protestant mission stations there are preaching a.nd baptizing. 1,000,000 of native communicants, or an average of 50 to each station. There are -The Bishep of Moosonee (says The Church., also 2,000,000 of adherents who are friends Worker) exercises jurisdiction over an area of the evangelical faith and hearers of the as large as Europe, extending all round the gospel preached from the Bible-an average Hudson's Bay territory a.nd reaching up to of 100 to each station. the North Pole. The distances are enor- mous, and the shortest way to the northern -Missiens and the Eastern question. An part of the diocese is to come to England English' officer of distinction said: .. The first, and then go out in the yearly ship American missions alone are doing more for which enterslHudson's Bay. The Bishop the satisfactory settlement of the Eastern has everything to do for himself, and Is a question than all our governments. By their &,ood printer, bootmaker, carpenter, brickcontact with peoples of all nations they are layer, etc. He ha.Il been a worker in that teaching them mutua.l interest, respect and far-away locality for nearly forty years. confidence, and so doing mOre than any other force to make the whole world one." -These are years ofdAstiny. We aremak- ing history. The first century of Christian- -The mission press is a. power rea.ching ity was proved by miracles. This latest cenfar beyond the personal infiuence of ihe tury of Christianity is proved by achievemissionaries. Portions of the Bible, .. Peep ments. We must work faster or we wil gQ of Day," hymn books, tracts, and sermons down. God haa planted this nation and translated and circulated among the na- gil'en Christianity here the J:'l'eatest opportives give evidence of the patient study of tunity. The way to bring more money to intricate languages, and these will bear this society is to plant wider. Fill the land fruit an hundred fold. The Religious Tract with your publications. Money must come Society also has a part in the foreign field; or the missionaries ca.nnot &,0 out. W. want besides scattering the good seed abroad, men equal to the work. We want strong, its own enormous circulation is largely in- earnest men. God is here working out the creased by the issues from foreign depots. problem of the ages with us. If we trust in In Java the" Union for SpreadingChristaln the Lord God omnipotent all will be well.- Literature" aids in the propagation of the Dr. Goodell on. Home Mission•• sospel, and in most mission fields the work -Persecution ofdissenting Christians seems to be increasing in ali the countries of Cen- tral and Eastern Europe. Their rapid prog- ress has alarmed the clergy of the estab- lished churches, and they are putting forth every ell'ort possible to suppress them.
The Missionary Review of the World — August 1889
ISLAM AND CHRISTIAN MISSIONS
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF. THE WORLD.
VOL. XII .No. S.-Old Series.–AUGUST.–VOL. II. No. S.-New Serielf.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
ISLAM AND CHRISTIAN MISSIONS. * HUMAN religions are compared in the Bible to "broken cisterns, that can hold no water." God is Himself the source of all true religion, and in contrast with" broken cisterns," in this same verse (Jer. ii: 13), is compared to a "Fountain of living waters." All human. systems of religion are not only incapable of producing living water, but, like "broken cisterns," they will hold no water. They are no~ simply on a lower level of wisdom and power than the divine religion, but as religions they are failures, incapable of holding in any helpful and saving way even the modicum of truth which they may have in solution, and wholly unable to provide the soul of man with the living water which will quench his thirst.
Our subject invites our attention to a religious faith which, although it may be classed as a "broken cistern," has had a marvelous history, and to-das dominates the minds and hearts of millions of our fellowmen in the Orient. We mean Islam, or the religion of Mohammed. Here the thought will perhaps occur to many, Is it not taking too much for granted to rank Mohammedanism among merely human religions? It has been the faith of a vast number of our fellow-men, who have been singularly loyal and intense in their devotion to it, and has held its own with extraordinary tenacity, while its central truth has ever been the acknowledgement of God's existence and supremacy. This is an true, and Islam must have the credit of it. There is probably no religion, not confessedly based upon the facts recorded in the Bible, which has such a satisfying element of truth in its creed and,presents such a conception of a personal and supreme God as Islam. As compared with idolatry it is an immeasurably nobler form of worship. As contrasted with the metaphysical vagaries of other Oriental religions it is doctrinally helpful. It is, however, simply the old monotheism of the ancient Jewish religion projected into the Christian ages with the divine environment of Judaism left out and a hU1I).an environment substituted. "There is no God but God," was the creed *We are requested to withhold the name of the writer of this able and timely article. We regret the necessity, as the·name would be sure to command a wide and considerate reading of it. Let it suffice to say, that the writer has long enjoyed the very best opportunities of studying the system discussed in the light of its historical development and results.-EDs. of the Jew long before the Moslem proclaimed it. Mohammed and his followers adopted it, apparently in utter unconsciousness, or rather in supercilious rejection of its historic environment under the Jewish dispensation, and brought it into line as the leading truth of a human scheme of religion. They rejected.its historic development in the Incarnation, acknowledged Christ simply as one of the prophets, supplemented and in almost every respect superseded Him by another, and making Mohammed the central personality, they established the Mohammedan religion as the latest and best revelation from heaven-a religion whose right it was to reign, and whose prerogative it was to supplant and annihilate every other religion, and especially Christianity.
We cannot undertake in the limits of this article to bring forward the evidences that Mohammedanism as a spiritual system must be considered a « broken cistern," nor can we undertake to present the evidence furnished by the present state of the Moslem world, that as a religion it is futile and powerless as an uplifting agency. It would absorb too much of our space, and lead us away from tke main purpose we have in view. We must be content to rest the verdict as to its alien birth and false credentials upon one single consideration, which for our purposes at the present time should be sufficient to carry conviction. "What think ye of Christ?" is here, as elsewhere, a test question. The Mohammedan religion, while acknowledging Christ as one of the prophets, yet denies that he is anything more than one of the prophets. His unique position as God in the flesh-the Messiah of prophecy, the Redeemer of men, the heaven-sent Mediator, the divinely-appointed victim of an atoning sacrifice, the Prophet, Priest and King of a redeemed Israel, the risen Lord and the ascended Intercessor, the only name given am6ng men, is boldly and defiantly denied and repudiated by the Moslem. The office, and work, and dignity of the Holy Spirit are also rejected. In place of the divine Christ and the life-giving Holy Spirit, we have a conception of God which is but an imperfect and misleading reproduction of the earliest Jewish idea, and is cold and bald and stern, without the tenderness of fatherhood or the sweet mi'nistries of pity-for, after all, divine mercy in the view of the Moslem is quite as much of the nature of a deserved reward as of a compassionate ministry; it is a reproduction, through a purely human channel, in an environment of ignorance, of the earliest revelation of a Supreme Being. This distorted reflection of the primitive teachings of religion about the Deity is still further marred and shadowed by making Mohammed His greatest prophet and the Koran His final and consummate revelation to man. The result as compared with Christianity is a notable failure on" a merely human plane of religious thought, yet with enough of the light of heaven borrowed and misused to deceive the conscience and lead an ignorant Oriental constituency to accept it as a revelation from heaven, and Mohammed as a prophet sent of God. An intelligent Ohristian faith can pronounce but one judgment upon this question. After recognizing every element of truth which Islam has borrowed from Judaism or Ohristianity, it must pronounce it lacking in. the essentials of saving religion as we find them in God's Word. What is included in Moslem doctrine is valuable, but what is not there is essential. The modicum of truth is lost in the maximum of error. A counterfeit, coin may have some grains of pure metal in it, but its entire make-up is none the less a deception, and it must be condemued. So Mohammedanism must be condemned, not because it does not contain any truth, but because the truth is so mixed with superabounding alloy that in the combination it has lost its virtue and become simply an ingredient of a compound which, on the whole, must be regarded as false metal. One truth mixed in with twenty errors will not make a resultant of truth, especially if the twenty errors are in direct opposition to other truths as essential as the one included. If we extend our survey over the whole field of Moslem doctrine and practice the conviction becomes irresistible that its moral influence in the world has been harmful, and its spiritual results have brought to man nothing higher than formalism and self- ; righteousness. Satan is represented as sometimes" transformed into an angel of light." Islam, as a religious system, may be regarded as playing the part of " an angel of light" among the religions of the world.
Mohammedanism isa profound theme, and one which has occupied the minds of many accomplished scholars. It has been the subject of much patient research and careful thought by some of the greatest students of history. Dr. Johnson once remarked that "there are two objects of curiosity-the Ohristian world and the Mohammedan world; all the rest may be considered as barbarous." The subject is worthy of a careful examination, both for its own sake as one of the enigmas of religious history, and also to prepare our minds for an intelligent understanding of the amazing task to which God is leading the church, viz.: the conversion of the Moslem world to Ohristianity. The duty of Ohristianity to Mohammedanism, the enormous difficulties in the way of discharging it, the historic grandeur of, the conflict, the way in which the honor of Ohrist is involved in the result, and the brilliant issues of victory all combine to make this problem of the true relation of Ohristian missions to Islam one of the most faccinating and momentous themes which the great missionary movement of the present century has brought to the attention of the Ohristian church. The number of Moslems in the world is given in the latest statistical tables as 200,000,000. This is. possibly too high an estimate, but we may safely fix the figure at not less than 180,000,- 000. They are chiefly in Western Asia, India, and Africa, with a few in Southe~stern Europe. It may be roughly estimated that the total Dumber of those who have lived aud died in the Moslem faith since its establishment is over 6,OOO,OOO,OOO-a number equivalentto nearly five times the present population of the globe. Of this vast number a large proportion have, of course, died in infancy. Weare dealing, therefore, with the religious faith of about one-seventh of the human race. It cannot be regarded as a stagnant and effete religion, unaggressive in spirit and powerless to inspire devotion and sacrifice. It is to-day probably the most pushing, aggressive, and formidable foe to Christianityon foreign mission ground. It is historically true, I think, that never has Christianity been called upon to face a more thoroughly equipped and a more desperately determined foe than Islam; never has our heaven-sent gospel received a more defiant challenge than that given it by the religion of Mohammed.
The time has come for the Church of Christ seriously to consider her duty to this large fraction of our race. It is not to be supposed that a church guided and inspired by an Almighty Leader will neglect a duty simply because it is difficult and calls for faith and fortitude. It is especially foreign to the spirit of American Christianity to slight a task because it is hard, or ignore a question of moral reform or religious respopsibility because it looks formidable. Let us endeavor, then, calmly to consider the duty of Christian missions to the Moslems. Is there a duty of this kind? If so, what special difficulties must be overcome in order to its successful accomplishment; what should be our aim; and what is the spirit which should inspire and govern us in the proper discharge ot it?
The duty seems plain-" Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." The gospel of Christ, not of Mohammedto every creature, because' all need the gospel. If there were a possibility of a human substitute for the gospel, we might consider it an open question whether salvation is of Mohammed; but Christ has taught us one way of salvation for all men. and that way is through Him-through the merits of His sacrifice, and not through works or worthiness. in man. I would not be understood as implying here that every Moslem is. necessarily lost. If he despises and rejeCts Christ, and puts his sole trust in Mohammed, or even trusts in divine mercy because that mercy is his due as a Moslem, I should not feel that there was a substantial basis of hope for him. He is looking to a human saviour, or he is simply claiming the divine mercy as a subsidy to the Moslem religion. I can conceive, however, ofa Mohammedan while formally adhering to his religion, in reality taking such an attitude of heart to Christ that he may receive mercy and pardon for Christ's sake, though he is not openly enrolled on the side of Christ. God alone can judge and pronounce when a soul takes that attitude of humility and faith towards His Son, or where His !Son is not known, towards His infinite mercy, which will open the way for Him to apply the merits of Christ's atonement to the salvation of the soul. Where Christ is known and recognized we have no margin of hope outside of a full and conscious acceptance of Him. In proportion as God has left the souls of men in ignorance and darkness about Christ, in that proportion may we enlarge the margin of hope that. His infinitc mercy will find the way to respond to conscious penitence and humble trust by freely granting and applying the boundless merits of Christ's sacrifice to a soul truly seeking after Him. We understand the Bible to teach that all opportunity of accepting the gospel is limited to life this side of the grave, and that there is no probation or renewed opportunity beyond our earthly existence. It is also clearly taught in the Bible that salvation is not of works nOl; of external adherence to any sect. '1.'he Jew was not saved because he was a Jew. The Christian is not saved because he is a Christian. The Moslem, of course, cannot be saved because he is a Moslem. All who may be saved outside of formal and visible connection with Christianity, will be saved because of a real and invisible connection with Christ. They will have obtained consciously, or unconsciously, l?y the aid of God's Spirit, that attitude of humility and trust toward God which will make it consistent with His character and in harmony with His wisdom and goodness to impart to their souls the free gift of. pardon through Christ's merits, and apply to them in the gladness of His love the benefits of Ohrist's death. It is in any case salvation by gift, received from God's mercy, and based upon Ohrist's atonement, and not by works or by reason of human merit. We claim, therefore, that the Mohammedan, as. such, needs the knowledge of Ohrist, and can only be saved through Ohrist. He needs to be taught Ohristianity and brought into the light of Bible truth. He needs to recognize the dangerous errors of his religion and turn to Christianity as the true light from heaven. He needs to take a radically different and essentially new attitude towards Ohrist. He needs spiritual regeneration and moral reformation. In one word, he needs the gospel. He needs all its lessons, and all its help, and all its inspiration. Here we rest the question of duty. If any class of men need the gospel, to them it should be given, and it is our mission in the world as Ohristians to do this.
Let us turn now to consider the special difficulties of mission work among Moslems. That there are serious and formidable difficulties is not simply the verdict of the literary student or the historical theologian, but it is a matter of experience. All missionaries in Moslem communities recognize this; and there is hardly a problem in the whole range of mission service which is a severer tax upon faith and courage and wisdom than that involved in the effort to win converts to Ohristianity from Islam. It is necessary to a full understanding of this phase of our subject that we should secure if possible an inside view of the strength and resources oi the Mohammedan faith. Let us endeavor to take the measure of our foe. Let us ask whence the power and prestige and influence of Islam. What is its secret of success? What makes it a force which so easily dominates the religious life of so many millions? What gives it its aggressive push and its staying power? It is comparatively easy to show the immense inferiority of Islam io Ohristianity in the essential points of true religion, especially those of practical morality. It is, however, for this very reason all the more difficult to give a satisfactory explanation of its successes, and show why Ohristianity is so slow in coping with it effectively. Islam has arisen, within the pale, so to speak, of Ohristianity. It has overrun and held ground which is historically Ohristian. Its great conflict has been largely with Ohristianity. It now occupies regions which were the scene of the earliest triumphs of the Ohristian church. Ohristianity, to be sure, has held its own in a marvelous way in the ancient Oriental Ohristian sects which have held to their Ohristian faith in the very centres of the Moslem domination. '1'heir influence, however, has been simply negative. The part they have played. has been that of resistance and stubborn adherence to the external symbols of Ohristianity. They have never succeeded, for good reasons, in impressing the Moslem with the superiority of the Ohristian religion. We must not fail, however, to give them the credit they deserve, and to recognize God's wonderful providence in preserving them to be the medium of introducing through Protestant missionary effort a pure and spiritual form of Ohristianity into the very heart of the Moslem world.
The question recurs to us-Whence the success of Islam ? We mean its success, not as a saving religion, but in winning and holding its devotees in the very presence of the Ohristian centuries. There are some considerations which throw light upon this point, and if we give them a few moments of patient attention they may help to lift the burden of this great mystery, and at the same time will bringto our attention more clearly the full meaning of the task we have before us in conquering Islam for Ohrist with the spiritual weapons of the gospel. It is not my purpose, and it is, moreover, clearly impossible to attempt here allY full or critical survey of Mohammedanism. This would require a volume, and the gifts and learning of the careful student of Oriental history. What I ha"Ve to offer, however, towards the solution of the problem of Mohammedan success will be the result of a patient study of the subject in connection with unusual opportunities for personal observation of the intellectual, social and religious life of Moslems.
Islam is a living power-a strong and vigorous moral force among Orientals for several reasons, and with all of these Ohristianity must reckon if sbe is to win her way. We will name them in order: I. In its origin, and also in its subsequent history, :Mohammedanism represents the spirit of reform working under the inspiration of ,a great truth. Mohammed appears upon the stage of history as a religious reformer. In the early period of his career he was influenced no doubt by sincere motives. His purpose was to inaugurate a religious revolution-a revolt ,against the idolatry which prevailed in Arabia. The heathenism of his day was gross idolatry; and the Christianity of that age in the Orient was little better in its superstitious and idolatrous practices. It was the era of the iconoclast even within the circle of professed Christianity. It was the purpose of Mohammed to re-establish among men a spiritual worship of the one God-to demolish forever the Arabian Pantheon. The unity and spirituality of the Supreme Being were basis ideas in his religious creed, and he advocated direct communion with God in prayer and worship, anll the utter rejection of idolatry, which in his age was equivalent to polytheism. This movement was certainly a remarkable one when we consider the times and the environment out of which it sprung. Had it been inspired and guided by the Spirit of God, and founded upon the revealed Word, with a divinely called and sanctified leader, we might have seen the great reformation of the sixteenth century anticipated in the seventh.
The power and prestige of Mohammed were due to the fact that men soon believed him to be a prophet sent of God, and his message was to such an extent in the name and to the honor of God that his commission seemed to be genuine. In an age of abject superstition and driveling idolatry he announced with the prophetic fervor of conviction that great truth which has ever had the power to arrest the attention of earnest minds, namely: the existence of one only and true God, supreme in His will and absolute in His power. With the music of this eternal truth Mohammed has held the attention of a large portion of the Eastern world for over twelve hundred years. This one message has seemed to guarantee him as a prophet to his misguided and undiscriminating followers. Having given bonds, as it were, of such overwhelming value in this one supreme truth, men have not been careful to scrutinize in other respects his credentials; with the charm and majesty of this one great central idea of all religion, he has swept all before him. This, in connection with the success of his arms, as his followers carried on in his name their successful aggressive warfare, has been his passport to the front rank of religious leadership; and although he hopelessly forfeited his position by the most manifest signs of moral weakness and human ignorance, yet the clarion call of "N0 God but God!" has held the ear of the East with a constancy at once marvelous and pathetic. It was considered in no wise to his discredit that he taught what is practically a plan of salvation by works based upon external allegiance to a religious creed, and it rather added to his popularity with his Oriental following that his religion officially sanctioned polygamy, slavery, and unlimited divorce.
The Prophet of Mecca, however, was simply a religious enthusiast with a tendency to mysticism-a man of visions and dreams-with a. sensitive and imaginative temperament and a disordered physical system, and a nature swayed by passions and lacking in moral stamina, who became deeply impressed with the Jewish conception of one spiritual God, and conceived himself a prophet of monotheistic reform amidst the abounding follies of idolatry. Under the influence, no doubt, of sincere conviction, he began to teach and proclaim the religious ideas which had lodged in his mind from all sources-Jewish and Ohristian and heathen-and shaped them into the rude consistency of the Moslem code. He can hardly be considered the originator of the religious reform he advocated. He was rather the exponent of a spirit of reformation which seems to have been in the air at that time. The movement at first did not seem to imply more than a purely religious purpose. It was not until the exigencies of his success led him to adopt methods of expediency and worldly policy that Mohammed became the political schemer and the ambitious leader of a military movement.
II. Mohammedanism was established and propagated by the agency of two of the most energetic and commanding forces of human history -the power of moral conviction and the power of the sword. In addition it at once threw its mantle of protection and loyalty over every adherent, and acknowledged him as a member of a Moslem brotherhood in which all are equal, and all can expect and claim the help and protection of all others. Islam is a religious caste-so much so that in India, the land of castes, it exists and wins its converts from the people of India without any disturbance or shock to the claims and exactions of the spirit of caste. It is an immense religious monopoly-a gigantic spiritual corporation whose celestial capital is of unknown proportions-a stupendous combination for the exclusive handling of the commodities of Paradise. It is an actual" Brotherhood" of Moslems, a social, political and religious "Union" of knights of the turban. With the exception that the Sunnites repudiate the Shiites as heretics, and the latter return the compliment, every Moslem befriends and respeots every other Moslem because of the religious affinity which exists between them. This striking feature of the Moslem religion is to-day one of the most powerful forces to hold Mohammedanism together throughout the world. '
III. Islam has never known or seen Ohristianity except in its corrupt and semi-~dolatrousforms. This is a damage to Ohristianity–a gain to Islam. Mohammedanism is thus enabled to appear in the role of a spiritual religion inviting to direct communion with the Deity, scorning the fiction of a human priesthood as in any sense a necessary instrument of mediation between God and the soul, and rebuking idolatry in all its forms. On the other hand, the corrupt Ohristianity of the East seems to be deeply imbued with the spirit of idolatry, overloaded with superstitious.practices, and weighted with the enormous assumptions of the Oriental priesthood. This was, and is-still, an ele~ ment of weakness to Ohristianity and of strength to Islam. It reduces the spiritual energy and convincing power of Ohristianity.to a minimum, and gives to Islam a vigor and assurance and a direct hold upon the religious nature which it could not have had in the presence of a purer form of Ohristianity. Oould Islam have subdued a Ohristianity filled with the spiritual power of the Reformation? Oould it gain i.ts historic victories over the form of Ohristianity found in our American churches? Most assuredly not! The power of a living Ohrist is more than a match for Islam in any age of the world and among any ·class of people. There is no hope that the Moslem will ever be converted to Ohristianity as we see it in the Greek and Papal churches of the Orient. There is an ever brightening hope that a purer and more spiritual form of Ohristianity may carry conviction. Weare sure, in fact, that God will never use any other agency than the gospel in its purity as an instrument for the conversion of the Moslem world. It is with this conviction that Protestant missions in the Orient have been laboring ever since their entrance into the field to establish a pure Ohristianity in the East, that a regenerated Ohristianity may be ready to carry conviction to hearts hitherto shut and barred against the entrance of the truth. It will be ·an immense gain to Ohristianity as a religion, in the eyes of the Moslem, not to be encumbered with the odium of image and picture worship as we see it in the Oriental churches. It is at present a part of a Moslem's religion to despise every form of Ohristianity with which he has come in contact. It is only as he becomes familiar with Protestant forms of worship and thought and life that he begins to realize that there is not necessarily an idolatrous element and a human priesthood associated with it.
IV. Islam has all the advantage which there is in the ma~netic power of personal leadership. Ohristianity has Ohrist. Islam has Mohammed. Such a comparison may startle and half offend Ohristian sensibilities, but it may be unwelcome to the Moslem for a reason precisely opposite. Mohammed is regarded as an inspired man and a divinely sent prophet and the supreme historical personality in the religion he founded. There is a magnetic charm about the prophet of Islam which thrills the whole Moslem world. rfhey believe in him and are ready at any sacrifice to uphold the honor of his name. Would that the nominal Ohristian world-we do not refer here to the inn~r circle of Ohrist's loving followers-were as visibly and unreservedly loyal to the honor and dignity of Ohrist's name as Islam is to that of her prophet. Imagine the city of New York thrown into a state of dangerous excitement because some one down at the Battery had cursed the name of Jesus Ohrist. Lnany Eastern city where Moslems reside the improper or contemptuous use of the name of Mohammed in public would produce an uproar and poss~bly lead to violence and bloodshed. To be sure, we must recognize in this connection the difference between the conservatism of civilization and the fanaticism of Eastern devotees; yet the fact remains that there is a public and prevailing respect for the name of Mohammed in the Moslem world which indicates the commanding power of his personality among his followers.
V. Islam proposes easy terms of saZvation and easy dealinis with sin, and is full of Zarie license and attractive promise to the lower sensuous nature. The shibboleth of "No God but God" is the password to the skies. Salvation is simply the provision of mercy on God's part for aU true Moslems. It is mercy shown because of works done aud as a reward for loyalty. If that loyalty is crowned by martyrdom, then martyrdom in its turn is crowned by exceptional rewards. Holi·ness as an element of God's character and man's religious life is a very vague and shadowy matter to the Moslem, and the same may be said of his view of the nature of sin. This is, however, quite consistent with the fact that Islam for conscience sake insists on many of the great truths of religion such as faith and prayer, God's absolute sovereignty, man's moral accountability, a coming judgment, and a future state both of happiness aud retribution, and meanwhile maintains a formal but very indifferent ethical and religious code which it strives to enforce. It is true, nevertheless, that regeneration and moral reformation-the becoming of a "new creature," as the Scriptures express it, is not a doctrine or a practical outcome of the Moslem religion. Regeneration is not a password to the Mohammedan heaven. "Ye must be born again" is not an essential of his creed. Transformation of character is to him simply a metaphysical fiction, and legal justification by the merits of Christ is an absurdity. Hawthorne's charming literary fiction of a celestial railway is a suggestive illustration of the Moslem theory of salvation. Every good Mohammedan has a perpetual free pass over that line which not only secures to him personally a safe transportation to Paradise, but provides for him upon his arrival there so luxuriously that he can leave all the cumbersome baggage of his earthly harem behind him and begin his celestial housekeeping with an entirely new outfit.
We express no astonishment that Mohammed did not teach these high mysteries of religion, nor do we charge him with any deli~rate purpose to deceive and play the part of an imposter; we simply point to the absence of these unique and essential features of revealed truth as an evidence that his schemeo! religion, and his method of salvation, are merely human conceptions, and that his soul was not taught of God in the things of the kingdom. The light which shone around him was a broken and dimmed reflection of divine revelation, which he proceeded to focus .as best he could with the lens of human reason. He brought the scattered rays to the burning point in his doctrine of "one God," but the result was God and Mohammednot the divine truth revealed in its true setting by the inspired guidance of the Enlightening Spirit, but distorted by the unguided presumption of the human medium.
V1. Islam comes into conflict with the doctrinal teachings of Ohristianity just at those points where reason has its best vanta.te.tround in opposition to faith. The doctrines which Islam most strenuously opposes and repudiates in Ohristianityare confessedly the most profound mysteries of the faith. They are the great problems over which Ohristianity herself has ever pondered with amazement and awe and with reference to which there has been the keenest discussion and the largest reserve, even within the ranks of professed believers. The Incarnation, the Divinity of Ohrist, the Trinity, are all stumbling blocks to the Moslem and are looked upon rather in the light of ridiculous enigmas than sober truths. The doctrine of the Oross, the whole conception of atonement, is to his mind a needless vagary. Divine mercy, in his view, is ample enough and can act freely and promptly in the case of all Moslems without the mysterious mediation of a vicarious sacrifice. That the Incarnate Ohrist should die upon the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of men is to his mind an absurdity which borders upon blasphemy. It is in vain you attempt to solve these mysteries by a refined theory of Ohrist's exalted personality with its two natures in one person. It is to his mind simply unfathomable, and he dismisses the whole subject of Ohrist's unique position and work as taught in the Bible with a feeling of impatience as only one of many Ohristian superstitions. We think it was John Bunyan who once said when he saw a criminal led to execution: H There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bunyan." As we think of this attitude of the Moslem towards the mysteries of the Ohristian faith, and measure the capacity of our own unaided reason to deal with such themes as these, who of us is not ready to exclaim: "This is probably' just the attitude which my own darkened and finite reason would take were it not for the guidance of God's revealed Word?" These mysteries of the Trinity, of God in the flesh, and of Ohrist upon the Oross are the most amazing revelations of the Infinite to the finite mind, and it is only as faith aids and supports reason that they will be trustfully, joyfully and gratefully received. The Moslem objects also to Ohristian morality, and regards it as an impracticable ideal which he never found exemplified in all the Ohristianity he ever knew anything about. U nfortunately, the ethical standards and the constant practice of a large part of the Ohristian laity and the Ohristian priesthood of all ranks in the Orient is a sad confirmation of his tlieory that Ohristianity is a shabby piece of hypocrisy-impossible in doctrine and in practice a shallow sham. Let us pause for a moment in review and quietly take the measure of this foe. Remember that Islam in its orig,in and in its subsequent contact with Christianity, was the spirit of reformation inspired by high enthusiasm grasping a great religious truth and contending for it in the face of soul-degrading and soul destroying idolatry. I verily believe, if you and I had lived in those times amidst the dark idolatry of Arabia and had possessed the conviction and the courage we wOJlld have sprung to the banner of Mohammed, and would have been thrilled with the thought that there was no God but God, and probably we should have been captivated with the idea that Mohammed was a leader sent of God. The unity and supremacy of God is to-day the central truth of the Moslem's creed, in the recognition of which he subdues his soul and prostrates his body, and with a feeling of profound conviction says: "La ilah illa Ullah !" Remember again the fiery energy of the Moslem and the marvelous successes of his arms and his practical recognition of religious brotherhood. Remember, again, that he has neyer been famIliar with anything but a corrupt and scandalous Christianity. Remember the charm and power of that historic personality of the Prophet of Islam. Remember its offer of immediate accesS to God and a free and exclusive salvation to all loyal adherents. Remember its liberal margin for human faults and passions and the fact that it lays no viole~t hands upon sins of the flesh. Remember the Paradise it pictures to the sensuous Oriental imagination. Remember that it makes its issue with Christianity and puts forward its assumptions of superiority just at those points where the weak ahd finite reason of man is most inclined to falter and yield, and where Christianity advances truths which only a God-taught faith can receive and grasp, and which have always been attacked with equal vehemence by human philosophy and rationalistic criticism. Remember, moreover, that Islam has always regarded Christianity as cowed and defeated, and that Reformed Christianity, with its spiritual weapons and its resources of grace and its heavenly alliances, has never fairly grappled with Mohammedanism, and that every energy of both state,and church will be in array to prevent the very entrance of Christianity into the field, and will seek to hold the Moslem world intact by every resource of irresponsible power. If we bear in mind also that in the Turkish Empire at least every defection from the Moslem ranks is looked upon in the same light as a desertion from the army, we can form some conception of the gigantic task and the heroic opportunity God is preparing in the near future for the Christian church. Christianity in her historic childhood was called upon to contend with the colossal power of the heathen Roman Empire. She was victorious, although her resources were limited and her opponent was, to all human judgment, unconquerable. Let her not think now in her splendid maturity, with her imperial resources, her heavenly Leader, her gracious – mission, and with the crying needs and the pressing problems and the deepening ~onfiicts of this nineteenth century challenging her attention, that her warfare is accomplished and she can disband her forces.
Islam and all else arrayed in opposition must first give place to Ohris- tianity. Our Lord is even now leading His church to this battle ground of sublime privilege and high responsibility. His leadership is our inspiration, His promises our hope, His power our trust,' His glory and supremacy our aim and the only possible outcome of the contest.
Ohristian missions, as related to Mohammedanism and the mission- ary activity of Islam are just now live themes among readers of ollr current literature in Europe and America. A prolonged and vigorous debate has arisen in the periodicals of our day, and more especially in Church of England circles, upon this subject, arising from a paper pre- sented by Canon Taylor at the Church of England Congress in 1887.
.His exaggerated statements of the present progress of Islam have been fully answered by Sir William Hunter. We shall discuss here only his ideal views of Islam as a religion. The whole field is now being searched and discussed by both the friends and critics of missions.
Aside from the literary and historic interest which Oriental students would find in the discussion, the whole subject of the propriety, neces- sity and usefulness of Christian missions to Moslems has come to the front in the debate. It is a matter which under present couditions fairly challenges the attention of Christendom, and as our American Congregational and Presbyterian churches have important and very successful missions in the Turkish Empire, the stronghold of the Mos- lem faith, it is a subject of interest also to American Christianity. Our American churches have at present a constituency of 70,000 Protestant adherents to their mission churches in the Turkish Empire, including Syria and Egypt. Of this number 15,200 are upon the roll of church membership, and additions to the church at present are at the rate of about 1,500 every year. 'rhere are six American colleges in the em- pire with 1,200 students, and 700 mission schools with 40,000 pupils.
The Bible has been translated by American missionaries into every prominent language of the empire, and tens of thousands of copies are annually sold. The mission presses in Turkey, including Syria, print not less than 40,000,000 of pages of religious and educational litera- ture every year, including over 20,000,000 of pages of the Word of God. These converts of whom I have spoken are not, however, from the Moslems-they are from the Oriental Christian churches, among which a reformation work is going on and a purpl' form of Christianity is being established. There are converts from Islam to Christianity in India and in Egypt, but Moslem converts in any numbers cannot openly at least be won as yet within the limits of the Turkish Empire, for the government will not allow the effort to be made; nor is aMoslem's life safe foran hour (except perhaps in Egypt) if he openly becomes a Christian. It is hard to convince when conviction means death; it is hardly possible to cultivate the spirit of martyrdom before conviction. The Turkish government, just 'at present, is in a state of very lively suspicion with reference to this growing and expanding work of American mISSIOnaries. The Turkish authorities, from the Sultan downwards, are beginning to feel that Islam has more to fear from the quiet growth and the expanding influence of missionary inst:tutions than from any other opposing force. They find themselves suddenly confronted with ,churches, colleges, schools, hospitals, Bibles in the vernacular, and presses from which flow such a stream of permanent and periodical literature that they are fairly bewildered, and lament the day that missionary agencies were admitted to the empire. It will, no doubt, become more and more evident that God's purpose contemplates not simply the reformation of Oriental Christianty, but the establishment of a basis of operations for that far more inspiring and formidable task of which I forbear to speak here in any further detail.
The paper of Canon Taylor, as coming from a Christian clergyman, was remarkable for its exaltation of Mohammedanism, and in his subsequent articles, published chiefly in the Fortnightly Review, he has shown scant courtesy to missions which he has caricatured and misrepresented. The main points of his position in the paper on Mohammedanism may be briefly stated as follows: He contends that Islam demands the consideration and esteem of the Christian church, since it is in essence an imperfect or undeveloped Christianity, and may be regarded as preparatory to an advanced Christian faith. It must, in his opinion, be looked upon as a religious position half way between Judaism and Christianity, and being more cosmopolitan and less exclusive than Judaism, and missionary in its activities, it helps on in the general direction of Christianity wherever it wins converts from heathen communities. In fact, it must be considered, according to his judgment, as an advanced guard of Christian missions-not antagonistic to the gospel, but fighting at the outposts the same battle against heathenism with weapons on the whole rather better and more effective· than those wielded by Christianity. He contends that it leads men from the darkness and degradation of pure heathenism, with its superstitions and cruelties, to an intelligent conception of one God, and gives them a simple and comprehensive view of His attributes and dealings with men, and the duties He reqUIres of them. It leads them, moreover, into an attitude of human brotherhood with their fellowmen, and brings them into league with each other under the inspiration of a common religious faith. He contends that Islam contains and teaches all the morality that heathen and barbarous nations could be expected to receive and practice. It represents what he regards as the high-water mark of practical morality and intelligible doctrine among Oriental nations, and as such should be supported and encouraged by Christianity, hoping for better things further on. Islam, in his opinion, is divine as far as it goes; it is at once a successful illustration and a happy outcome of the law of expediency, representing:;,n imperfect possibility, which is better practically than an impossible ideal. In view of these considerations he advocates that Christianity should join hands 'with Islam and establish a modus vivendi on the basis of mutual concession and recognition.
This is an attractive position with a large class of minds who are willing to rank the gospel as only one of a dozen religiollli'. With them the divine origin of Christianity, its exclusive claims, its unique glories, its adaptation and efficacy as the only religion which saves, are still open questions. What religion should be taught to men becomes, therefore, a mere question of expediency and availability. An effective accommodation in the light of human wisdom is with them as serviceable in religion as in anything else. The gospel may, therefore, be manipulated into a compromise with any other religion if it is a workable scheme.
To this it may be replied, why does not this general plan which Canon Taylor advocates with reference to Islam hold also with reference to the relations of Christianity to Judaism, or of Protestantism to the Papacy, and more especially to the Greek and Armenian churches? Why does it not apply in theory to the relations of Ohristianity to all religions of the East? It should be noted here that Oanon Taylor seems to regard all reformation of existing Christianity in the Orient, and even throughout the world, as a needless and wasteful expenditure of money and labor, as he speaks with great disparagement of all attempts to proselyte from the Oriental Ohristian churches. He would apparently leave apostate Ohristianity in its decay and degradation, and extend the hand of brotherhood even to Islam. We must pause to ask here-would Ohrist approve? Would the Bible sanction? The simple answer may be given in the words of Paul, "If I or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel than that which I have preached to you, let him be accursed." God has given us the gospel; it is the duty of the church to preach and teach the religion of Ohrist and no other. It is a mistake to regard Ohristianityas an impossible ideal, nor can we consider Islam as a step towards Ohris~ianity. It is rather an attitude of pronounced opposition to Ohristianity, and not to Ohristianityonly, but to civilization and to all social and intellectual and spiritual progress.
It is, however, the part both of wisdom and courtesy to give to Islam all the credit it deserves; to acknowledge its iufluence in the world as an anti-heathen reform; tv place it high in the scale of historic failures on the part of human wisdom to establish a religion to supersede the gospel; to acknowledge its skillful ada.ptation to an Oriental constituency; to recognize the truth which it contains and the natural basis which it affords for a work of supernatural grace and spiritual enlightenment through the revealed Word applied by the Spirit; to recognize every excellence of personal character which may be found in individual Moslems of the more serious and devout type. No one can do all this more easily than a Ohristian missionary living in Moslem lands. When, however, it come;; to the question of his duty and respor::.sibilityas a religious teacher, every consideration of loyalty and high obligation requires him to teach only the gospel of his Div;ne Master. This is his supreme privilege, his sublime mission, and his inexorable task. No Ohristian missionary is sent to the Moslem world to establish a treaty of peace with Islam. He is sent there to carry the gospel of salvation to the perishing Moslem. He is God's messenger to a deluded people. The preaching of the Oross, which, of course, is an offense to the Moslem as it was to Jew and Gentile of old, is the very business which brings him there. He must endeavor to accomplish this delicate mission with, tact and wisdom, and must be patient and courteous and courageous; but he has not the slightest authority from God or man to depart from his instructions or enter into any questionable compromises. He is an ambassador of the Oross, not an apologist for the Orescent.
The question of method is, no doubt, a pressing one, and upon this point Ohristian missionaries all over the wodd are seeking guidance and would be grateful for light. One thing, however, is certain: no method can be tolerated which lowers the standards of the gospel, or compromises its truths, or places a human religion on the same plane with the one divine religion; nor would such a method be fruitful in any results of solid or permanent value.
This is most assuredly the spirit of all our American missionaries in the Orient. They look to the Ohristian churches at home to sustain and encourage them in this theory of Ohristian missions to Mohammedans. They hope for the sympathy and prayers of Ohrist's people as they endeavor to work on upon these lines. It is time for the Ohristian public of America to be intelligently and profoundly interested in the religious development of Orjental nations, and especially in the problem of the relation of Ohristianity to Islam and the duty of the church of Christ to Moslems. Let us study this question in the light of history and with a living sympathy in the welfare of 200,000,000 of our race. Oonsider the desperate nature of the undertaking, and how the honor of Ohrist is involved throughout the whole Eastern world. Watch the developments of the Eastern question as one which holds in focus the most burning problems of European diplomacy. Note the rapid movements of European governments in taking possession of the territory of Africa, more than one-half of which is now in their
THE ATTITUDE OF THE PAPAL CHURCH TOWARD PROGRlI:ss
control. Watch the tightening grip of Christian civilization upon the African slave trade, which is the most hideous scandal of our century and is almost antirely the work of Arab Mohammedans. Take a broad outlook over the field where are gathered the momentous interests involved in this Mohammedan problem, and let us have the prayers of Christendom in the interests of Christ's kingdom and its blessed reign. Within the memory of living men the Christian church was praying for open doors in Asia and throughout the heathen world. To-day the church is sending her missionaries through a thousand avenues into the heart of heathendom. Let us have another triumph ~f prayer. If the church of Christ will march around this mighty fortress of the Mohammedan faith sounding her silver trumpets of prayer, it will not be long before, by some intervention of divine power, it will be overthrown. Let it be one of the watchwords of our church in these closing decades of the 19th century, that Christ, the Child of the Orient and the divine Heir of her tribes and kingdoms, shall possess His inheritance. The Moslem world shall be open to the gracious entrance of the Saviour and the triumphs of the gospel. The spell of twelve centuries shall be broken. That voice from the Arabian desert shall no longer say to the church of the living God-thus far and no further. The deep and sad delusion which shadows the intellectual and spiritual life of so many millions of our fellow-men shall be dispelled, and the blessed life-giving power of Christ's religion shall supplant the dead forms and the outworn creed of Islam.
,THE A'FTITUDE OF THE PAPAL CHURCH TOWARD PROGRESS.
[EDITORAL A. T. p.] WE have read, recently, of a Roman Catholic priest, in Victoria, whose sermons are usually of a practical kind. On entering the pulpit one Sunday he took with him a walnut to illustrate the character of the various Christian churches. He told his people the "shell was tasteless and valueless-that was the Wesleyan church. The skin was nauseous, disagreeable and worthless-that was the Presbyterian church. He then said he would show them the Holy Roman Apostolic church. He cracked the nut for the kernel and-found it rotten! Then his reverence coughed violently and pronounced the benediction."
There are two objections to the Papal church as an institution: First, putrifaction; and second, petrifaction. Whatever may be said of it, favorably or charitably, there can be no doubt that certain -leading doctrines of our holy faith are there in a state of decay. Justification by faith in Christ alone is so corrupted by the doctrine of good works that, like putrid substances, it has suffered decomposition, and is no longer recognizable. Mariolatry, and the worship of St. Joseph which in some parts actually displaces the supremacy of the Father, the Son and the Virgin-have become practically as idolatrous as any heathenism or paganism. Penance is put in place of repentance; indulgence ,sets a premium on sin; the confessional is at once despotic in its power over the conscience and destructive in its influence over modesty and virtue. The withholding of the Bible from the people, and the intervention of the church and its priesthood between the soul and God, are fundamentally opposed to both individual independence and individual development, while' the intercession of saints and consequent prayers to the saints strike at the mediatorial prerogatives of the only Intercessor, and introduce a virtual polytheism into the practical creed of Christianity. Romanism may represent "a branch of the church of Christ," but the branch is, we fear, very rotten, and covered with fungus growths and excrescences which make it liable to summary excision by the great Husbandman.
But, in this brief paper, we desire to call attention to the other feature of petrifaction. In an age when all else is mobile and flexible, here is immobility, inflexibility. This is a century of marvelous progress. The world has never known any age like this for those victories of peace which are so much grander than any martial triumphs, and those rapid advances in art, science, letters, manners, discovery, invention, national brotherhood and universal charity, which make the most aggressive and progressive eras of the past seem like snails for slowness.
The cosmopolite looks about him, and he sees four grand features marking the present age: Intense activity, individual development, general intelligence, and tolerant charity. With all the admitted evils of the modern age, these are its prominent and undeniable characteristics. The candid observer turns to the Papal church and he finds exactly the opposite-apathetic lethargy, individual repression, general ignorance, and despotic intolerance. He has gone from a garden into a grave, from a market-place of bustling life to a museum of fossils. The century glories in progress; the genius of Romanism is to arrest progress. The Pope leads the way with his broom and resolutely sweeps back into its be1 the advancing wave of the rising tide of civilization.
For more than a thousand years Rome has been allied to despotism both in church and state. The Papal church is essentially feudal; its subjects are vassals; their persons and property, service and substance, nay, even their opinions, are the perpetual property of their papal lord, Christ's vicar; they have no rights in matter or in mind, such rights are all fiefs, held of a feudal superior.
While the Pope held Italy under his "sacred toe," there was no movement. When Napoleon the First, eighty years ago, replied to the Papal bull against himself by leading the Holy Father, Pius VII., across the Cottian Alps into France, Italy woke as from the sleep of ages. For the five years that the Pope was captive at Grenoble and Fontainebleau, Rome's captivity was broken. Life, liberty, prope:rty, prosperity, received new guarantees and immunities. For five years civilization, unshackled, ran to catch up with the age; but when Napoleon's fall broke the Pope's captivity, and His Holiness returned to the Vatican, he put the old fetters on the feet of civilization and riveted them anew, and order and progress came to a dead halt.
When Gregory XVI. was but assuming the tiara, even Russia and Austria-themselves far from leaders in progress-urged the necessity of "great administrative and organic improvements" within the territories he ruled. But he was the stern and infle,xible foe of all innovations, whether in theology, politics or popular life. His policy for fifteen years was repression and suppression. The Camaldolese monk tried to confine and cramp the world within his cell. With him every advance toward liberty was a relapse into liberalism; reform meant a revolt against the church and God, to be resisted to the last.
It has been well said that nowhere on eartb could the political and social conditions of the Roman states have been maintained anywhere in Christendom, save where priestcraft ruled. There was in Rome one ecclesiastic for every ten families; it is no marvel that neither the soil nor the mind was cultivated, that scarce one in a thousand could read, that there was neither freedom for the press nor an open field for enterprise. Even vaccination was under the ban and the Pontine marshes went undrained. If Pius IX. was a man of more progressive instincts, yet he was in ecclesiastical fetters; and under his rule we find three significant and signal events which sufficiently mark the antagonism to human progress. We cannot forget the bull, " Ineffabilis," in 1854, when the Madonna was crowned with the diadem· of the "Immaculate Conception," and all faithful souls were henceforth forbidden to think of the virgin mother as having the taint of original sin. Nor can we forget the" Encyclical" of 1864, when fourscore 'heresies' fell under the papal anathema, and the position that the Pope should be "reconciled to progress, liberalism and modern civilization," to "civil liberty of worship and freedom of the press," was held up to execration. Nor can we forget that five years later the 20th Ecumenical Council met in St. Peter's, and asserted the" Personal Infallibility of the Pope," and thus completed this trinity of absurdities.
Here was the last step toward petrifaction. It was not enough for Rome to curse the very progress for which all the rest of the enlightened world blessed God; not enough to stamp upon and seek to stamp out the very life of this aspiring age; not enough resolutely to fight against all the attainments and achievements of this, the last in time, as it is also the first in rank, of the centuries; all the errors of the Pope must be made incapable of retraction, all his mistakes become impossible of reparation, by pronouncing him incapable of error! The whole ot this monstrous conglomeration of age-long blunders must take on the rigidity of stone and the frigidity of ice! Unlimited authority is invested with personal infallibility. Was there ever such social petrifaction as that? As Robert MackenzIe well says, "the assertion of infallibility is a reiterated declaration of irreconcilable hostility against all enlightening modern impulses. It is the assumption of power more despotic than the world ever knew before in order the better to give effect to this hostility." * But two things are very plain: first, the effort is vain to sweep back the tide of progress; and, secondly, this is a mere expedient to arrest or at least conceal the waning power of the Papal church. Men and women even in these Papal lands are beginning to read, to talk, to think. The Bible is printed and distributed and read. Knowledge runs to and fro in the earth a.nd it is the natural, eternal foe of ignorance and its allies, superstition and bigotry. You cannot keep the people in slavery to the Vatican unless you keep them in chains, and intelligence carries a file for all fetters. A railway, a printing press, a common school, a newspaper, are God's battering rams to demolish the walls that shut in the human mind and shut out light and liberty. Rome resists progress, but in so doing resists Providence, for back of human history is the Hidden Hand of God. Final defeat is inevitable to those who fight against Him. Already the Pope has ceased to be the master of earthly kingdoms. Nearly twenty years ago he surrendered his sceptre of Temporal Sovereignty at the imperative call of an intellectually enfranchised people, and retired to his prison in the Vatican. Father Hecker vainly re-affirmed the right of the church to punish 'crimes in thought.' Even the Romanist has begun to think and to think for himself. He is learning that the' footprint of the Ass' that the Virgin rode on the way to Egypt, could not have been left on a rock in Brazil, inasmuch as Brazil was rather off the route from Bethlehem to Egypt, and so he ceases to kiss with idolatrous homage a mere water-mark on the stone. He reads astray leaf of a torn bible, ora chapter in the gospel published in a daily paper, and wonders why no priest or pope, confessional or penance, stood between that prodigal and his Father! It is intelligence that begets independence, that de. tects Jesuitical intrigues and priestly delusions, that scorns anathemas directed against human prosperity and happmess, and defies bulls of excommunication which thunder against invention, discovery and human brotherhood. Above all, it is intelligence that nourishes an Independent faith and an unhampered worship.
We believe in perfect freedom of religious opinion and worship. To the Romish church as representing a form of ecclesiastical faith and ." Nineteenth Century," Chap. Ix.
A PIONEER OF THE GOSPEL IN FRANCE
polity, we would extend all that toleration which we claim for Protestant doctrine and order. But to the Romish church as a political power, teaching the constructive treason of allegiance to a foreign temporal sovereign on the part of subjects of the English Queen or the American Republic; to the Romish church as a Jesuitical cabal, manreuvering to get possessison of common schools, public institutions and state funds; to the Romish church as a persecuting despotism, making it a crime for men to think, to read, to talk, to obey conscience or to encourage progress, we are opposed, and against that we proclaim eternal war.
But we have no need to fight with carnal weapons. We have only to scatter bibles, gather the children into schools, send the preacher of a pure gospel; help the people to think for themselves and read for themselves, and hear for themselves, and we may safely leave the issue with the human mind and the light-giving, life-giving truth. The perverse policy of the Papacy belongs to the dead past. It cannot stand against the living present. Even putrifaction has an end; decay gives placc to new life. 'fhere is a remeq.y also for petrifactionthe hammer can break and the fire can melt, even stone. Better than all, there is a gospel of grace and a Spirit of grace, that cltn change stone even into flesh. No marvels of modern missions exceed in fascinating interest the story of the gospel in Papal lands. Matteo Prochet, in Italy, and Robert McAll, in Paris, and Pastor Fliedner, in Spain, can write new chapters in the acts of the apostles. This is a desperate foe, and a war of Armageddon. But one weapon is omnipotent: " The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God!"
A PIONEER OF THE GOSPEL IN FRANOE.
By REV J. O. BRACQ, OF THE McALL MISSION, PARIS.
In our enthusiasm for the men who are laboring so efficiently to spread the gospel in France, we are apt to forget those who, in former days, toiled nobly and suffered greatly for the same end. There are, in many parts of France, churches that owe their existence to those fearless proneers of the gospel, men who did not achieve what they had hoped, but who did what could be done with limited resources and without liberty. Foremost among them was Napoleon Roussel, whose labors were of such moment to French Protestantism.
Napoleon Roussel was born at Sauvre, a small city in the south of France, in 1805. His parents belonged to the Protestant church, the church of martyrs, then disorganized, disintegrated and lifeless. Some of his ancestors had died for their faith, but his father was more interested in the victories of Napoleon than in those of Ohristianity. The childhood of Roussel-named Napoleon for the Emperor-was uneventful. His school days have left nothing on record in any way exceptional. At the age of fourteen he began to learn a trade; but A PIONEER OF THE GOSPEL IN FRANCE.
this was far from being in keeping with his aspirations. In 1825 he entered the theological faculty of G~neva. In 1829, having finished his studies, and having been ordained to the ministry, he became pastor of the church of Havre, from which he removed to St. Etienne in 1831.
Roussel had left Geneva at a time when theological teachings were rationalistic; but when living evangelical ideas were once more to assert themselves, and when the French speaking churches were to be quickened by the most remarkable revival of modern times. French Protestantism was at this time both shallow and lifeless. Its religion had no personal element in it, its theology was at best a vague supernaturalism, without contact with individual life. Preaching had lost its power, and sin was presented in the pulpit as an accident-and not a part of our nature; while the divinity of Christ, when at all referred to, was touched upon with hesitancy. About this time a mighty revival of r.eligion shook to their very center the churches of Switzerland and those of France. It began at first with the labors of Robert Haldane, and Cesar Malan, but soon it was Cellerier, Gaussen, Adolphe Monod, Vinet, Merle d' Aubigne and other distinguished spirits. Roussel was a formalist whose objective creed corresponded to no objective reality. The preaching of Cesar Malan and of Haldane, in Geneva, had probably excited his contempt, but it had none the less brought him to a healthy spirit of prayerful inquiry. His class-mate, Adolphe Monod, settled in Lyons, had left the city of Calvin in the same frame of mind, but now he was converted. He had too much life and earnestness to be at peace with a lifeless church. Soon, his consistory dismissed him. His bearing in these circumstances, his beautiful Christian spirit and life, greatly moved Roussell. While his religious experience may be considered as a part of that great irresistible revival of religion known among French Prostestants as "Ie Reveil," Adolphe Monod was, after God, the greatest power that worked the radical change in Roussel and which brought him to the foot of the cross. From this time a new earnestness and a new activity took possession of him. Not long after, he left St. Etienne to evangelize French settlers in Algeria. On his way there he stopped in Marseilles to spend a few days with a fellow-student, Armand-Delille. Both had left the Geneva School of Theology permeated with its virtual rationalism. Roussel was now rejoicing in the sunlight of God's love. Delille was still under the cloud. Roussel became the instrument in his conversion. Armand-Delille was afterwards, and is still, foremost among aggressive French pastors. On his return from Algeria, Roussel was called to Marseilles. A terrible scourge of cholera visited the city at this time. One of the first victims was his wife. Still he remained at his post, working day and night for those visited by the p,lague, except when he tore himself away from his dangerous and arduous duties to visit the dying and attend the funeral of Protestants in Toulon. There few examples of greater zeal in such trying circumstances.
In 1839, Roussel was invited to become the chicf editor of l'Esperance, a paper representing the interests of Protestant orthodoxy. He accepted, and went to live in Paris. We can hardly speak of his work as an editor; still, in this capacity, he uttered no uncertain sound. Ever ready to defend the great truths of evangelical Christianityagainst the Rationalists, to stir up his brethren to missionary activity, to vindicate the rights of Protestantism in the face of the audacious intolerance and shameless proceedings of the Catholic clergy, he used a ready, humorous and witty pen, which seemed to play with sarcasm and irony as with a whip, under which all concerned smarted; although we do not know of any case where his charity was seriously at fault. His task was almost beyond any man's power for he wished to make his paper a political one, whose politics would be absolutely guided by the gospel-a lofty journalistic ideal for France or America, but where has such an ideal been realized? After four years of noble struggles to maintain l'Esperance on such a basis, it passed into other hands to become a strictly religious paper.
At the very outset of the ReveiZ the churches of France and of Switzerland were seized with a remarkable missionary spirit. The Swiss began their missionary work at home, then went over into Italy. The Evangelical Society of Geneva was soon founded, and began to evangelize France ia 1832. They looked toward America, sent their missionaries to Canada, where they established the Grande Ligne Mission, and the Pointe aux Trembles Mission, while French Protestants organized the Societe Evangelique in 1833, whose work was the evangelization of France. Roussel was ever an enthusiastic friend of Home Missions; to them he consecrated the best of his life. No one saw better than he that French Protestanism must become missionary or die. He hailed with delight the first efforts in France of the Evangelical Society of Geneva, and those of the Evangelical Society of France. Moreover, he felt that, compared with former times, this period was most favorable to the principles of the gospel. Were not the most cultivated people of Paris drawn to the Christian socialism of St. Simon? and was not the picture of Jesus in the rooms of the socialists? Was not the thrist for something that neither Catholicism nor infidelity could give apparent? The time fpr action had come, and soon after Roussel was in the thickest of the fray.
In 1830 the people of the little town of Senneville, about forty miles south of Paris, called a priest who had broken away from Romanism to be their pastor. They built for him a church and paid his salary, but the church was soon closed by the authorities. For seven years they refused to submit to the Catholic hierarchy. They wrote to the king, asking permis~ion to change their religion, but their respectful petition remained unnoticed. At last they urged the Protestants of Paris to come. Roussel set out at once to visit them. He informed them of the demands of evangelical religion on their faith and life. They expressed at once their desire to accept Protestantism, with its privileges and responsibilities. On the following Sunday Roussel conducted divine worship in their chapel, but in less than a fortnight he found fifty soldiers in front of the chapel who prevented him entering; and who not only locked and sealed the door, but gave him only ten mmutes to leave the town. He was summoned to the oourt of Mantes together with nine members of his congregation. In spite of the article of the Constitution which granted" freedom of worship" to all, they were each fined sixteen franos, were forbidden to reassemble, and had to pay all costs. Roussel appealed to a higher court. The court session was at Versailles. Barrot, the most eloquent lawyer of the time, pleaded with force the cause of religious liberty; Roussel did better, because, as soon as he had faced the legal aspect of the case, he took the great apostolic stand that has given to Christianity its grand~ est confessors. "Whether you absolve me or not, I shall return to Senneville. If you condemn me again and send me to prison, leaving the prison, I shall return to Senneville. This I should do because my duty is there, and because as a Christian and a minister of the gospel, it is better that I should obey God rather than men." The court condemned him to pay the amount of the first fine and the cost'of appeal. Undaunted by this, Roussel brought the case before the Supreme Court, where it met the same fate. It was not the spirit of mere opposition that led him to continue the struggle, but the feeling that it was the cause of French religious liberty that was at stake, and the highest interest of immortal souls. Senneville suffered, but did not yield. Missionaries and pastors paid frequent visits to the people, and later on their church was re-opened.
Not far from the City of Limoges is the town of Villefavard. Freed from the Roman Catholic church since the French Revolution, its people had called among them a Gallican priest. In 1843 this priest received from a friendly hand a book of controversy by the celebrated Protestant minister, Drelincourt. He read it, changed his convictions, and told his people that he was a Protestant. " We will be Protestants also," said all but four of them. They forthwith wrote to the Bible Society to send them a colporteur. One was sent, and he met with such encouragement that he wrote to Paris for a pastor•. Roussel offered to go, and on the next Sunday he was in Villefavard" surrounded by an audience of more than 400 hearers-nearly the whol~ population of the village. Here again he was pursued by the govern" ment, although he had carefully submitted to all the formaliti~1! Qf th~ law in its severest application. Again he re-appeared in Paris to plead the cause of religious liberty. He and his friends did not leave a stone unturned until they had succeeded in securing permission to continue the work at Villefavard. At once Roussel, his wife and child and servant, started for the province formerly known as Limousin. The inhabitants of Villefavard lived on poor bread, chestnuts and milk, and dwelt in miserable huts, most of them having but one room. The inn-keeper had two rooms. Roussel hired one of them, which he divided into two by means of sheets and blankets, thus securing greater comfort. It was not long before Roussel rented the other room for a school, in which he and Madame Roussel began to teach the children of the village.
Roussel not only obtained permission to preach the gospel, but also to use for that purpose the Oatholic church, as there were no longer any Roman Oatholics in the village. That permission delighted the people. As soon as the official documents arrived, they went to the church, the altar was removed, the saints were dethroned, all other accessories of the Roman Oatholic worship were set to one side, and the ministry proper of Roussel began. This flock became sincerely evangelical; their lives were influenced by the word of God, and their children were taught in the Protestant schools.
The work at Villefavard was no sooner begun than the mayor, an alderman, and six counsellors of Belladent, a neighboring village, sent Roussel an urgent appeal to come and preach to their people. There he started a mission, brought a minister, a school-teacher, and built a church. He also started a mission in Rancon, another village, with a first attendance of more than five hundred hearers. As in Belladent, he called a missionary and a teacher. Seldom was there a man more active. He sought everywhere for opportunities, answered every appeal, faced every call-and there were many. Let us quote from one of his letters written at this time; it is like an echo of Reformation days in Germany: "I would like to give you a general idea of what one may expect here, and to that end I can do no better than to set forth before you the experiences of last week at Rancon. It was on the day of the county fail'. The peasants came from every direction. A man entered my room as an envoy from his town. He began by asking me what they should do to secure a minister. We were yet speaking, when four persons came in and enquired when I could go to them to open a station. They have already sent me a petition covered with signatures. I had scarcely answered them, when a third deputation from another village entered with a similar request. Before all' had left, four peasants, from four different neighboring villages, came to tell me that they and their relatives wished to become Protestants. At length a fifth deputation appeared to ask me for evangelical ministrations. "
Soon after, four new stations were added to those already mentioned, but Limoges itself, where many Protestant martyrs were burned during the 16th and 17th centuries, where temples were many times alternately built by Protestants and destroyed by Catholics, had, at this time, neither temple, school, nor religious services. In 1845 Roussel laid the foundation of a temple, while he preached to kindly-diRposed audiences. After his two-fold ministry of edification in this city, he went to Mansle, and from Mansle to Angouleme. Everywhere he drew large audiences of Catholics. The people became greatly interested in the Bible, and Protestant books became so popular that at a fair a Roman Catholic bookseller tried to sell his own books as Protestant ones. Village after village called for htborers. In a village called Ambazac the people at once collected money to rent a house, which they used as a temple. In most places the services took place in large barns. At Mansle, the Catholic authorities, seeing that at least two thousand people attended the meetings, again tried to stop the work, and brought Roussel before the courts, where he was fined in the first instance and acquitted in the second.
In 1847 Roussel returned to Paris, his heart overflowing with hope. In six years he had not only established twelve churches and twelve Protestant day schools, and built several temples, but he had seen many souls turned to God. The times seemed to him auspicious. The need of the hour was unquestionably that of men able to do popular missionary work. He tried to meet that want by establishing a school of evangelization.
Paris seemed the best city of France for that purpose. The predominance of Paris at that time, its influence in the domain of politics, of thought, of science, of fashion, was paramount. To Roussel, Paris seemed the strategic point whence the gospel could be most easily spread through France. His school was to be an institution" where devoted Christians would find in prayer and the study of the Bible the strength and wisdom necessary to enable them to visit and pray with those willing to receive them." Moreover, this would be a place of worship where those who had been evangelized during the week by the students would be addressed on Sunday by the pastor. It was thought that after two years of such a life the students would be prepared to carry the H Good News" into different parts of France. It was also hoped that a large number of earnest Christians would join the movement to evangelize their neighbors. It was to be a sort of French " Mildmay" for men.
In 1847 the school was opened. Adolphe Monod and and Dr. de Pressense were among the five professors of the institution. Roussel opened his own home to the students, who came in larger numbers than could be admitted. They were immediately set to the systematic study of the Bible, and to practical work for souls, chiefly through visitation a.nd t)l~ distributiou ot tracts. Houssel composed able, sharp, and concille statements of evangelical truth, which were printed in large type and posted by his pupils in different parts of. the capital. Pupils and professors were full of hope, the confidence of Protestants in the school was great, when the Revolution of 1848 dealt a deathblow to it by the economic crisis which it brought upon France. Subsequently, Napoleon III. consummated the wreck of the school by his arbitrary and despotic rule. The school and its rudime~tary realization passed away, the scheme of evangelization was not put into practice, but the spirit of Christian aggresOliveness of Roussel has survived; and God has since raised up other men to carry out, in an enlarged form, the school.and work of evangelization which he had conceived and attempted. Leon Pilatte, Pasteur Richard, and Rev. R. W. McAll have entered into the" promised1and," of which Roussel had only seen glimpses. His missionary churches were closed, some for four, some for five, some for ten years. Most of them, however, survived, and remain to-day enduring nionuments to the courage, the faith and the zeal of Roussel.
Roussel fought three great enemies, Romanism, Infidelity and Indifference. His numerous tracts are masterpieces of the kind, whether they be directed against popes, priests, preachers or infidels. They were so hated by the clergy and so mercilessly pursued by the police that even during the Second Republic, in 1851, a French Protestant bookseller, who unknowingly chanced to have a few thousand of them in an old stock which he had bought, was condemned to three months' imprisonment and fined 500 francs. Our missionary wrote few large books, but his one hundred tracts and booklets have been a great power among French-speaking Romanists. No tract has ever opened the eyes of so many Catholics as his "Why Does Your Priest Forbid Your Reading the Bible?" With all his other work he found time to write on science, history and religion, but always for the masses, with the uncommon talent of bringing the loftier subjects within the reach of popular intelligence. Of him it may be said that he had the rare gift, popuZariser sans vuZ~ariser.
Roussel was particularly fitted for his work and times. While his studies had given him great erudition.. his conversion great concern for souls, he was impelled onward by uncommon enthusiasm. Ever watching for opportunities, he grasped them as they appeared above the horizon, and his rich, practical common sense enabled him to make the best use of them. He had all the great gifts that earn for a great preacher a permanent popularity. He was a rapid thinker, had a large modern, concrete, popular vocabulary, and a voice, strong, sonorous and clear. He fascinated his hearers by his originality and simplicity. He was not only a living contrast to Roman Catholic priests, but also to his Protestant brethren, who could not speak without a gown, and who, in the pulpit, used a religious language that was to the French
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
masses what that of the Friends would be to Americans at large. With voice and pen he passionately toiled to advance the kingdom of God in France, and to him, as to no other man, can be applied the name which a filial hand has written as the title of a book recently devoted to his memory, "A Pioneer of the Gospel."
THE MIRAOLES OF MISSIONS.
[EDITORIAL-A. T. P.] The Land of the Inquisition.
THE arms of the Escurial bear the motto: Post Fata Resurgo, with the sun emerging from behind clouds. That motto is prophetic.
Nothing more wonderful has saluted the eyes of God's watchers who wait for the morning than the recent work of the gospel in thie Land of the Inquisition, where the ashes of 10,000 martyrs may be found, who were burned alive for their faith's sake. Three hundred years of ecclesiastical despotism, upheld by the awful appliances of torture, had desolated the Spanish church. But for twenty years past, this coun- try has been the arena of very remarkable triumphs. Already, when Pastor Fliedner, of Madrid, addressed the Evangelical Alliance in Oopenhagen, in 1884, there were more than ] 2,000 evangelical disci- ples, representing nearly 100 congregations, courageously holding their ground against papal opposition, in various parts of Spain; and over 8,000 children were in Ohristian schools, with high schools at Madrid, St. Sebastian and Puerto Santa Maria; and Sunday-schools every- where, and evangelical hospitals at Madrid and Barcelona.
In 1883 the Luther-festival was observed even in the cradle-land of Inquisitorial cruelty, and the first evangelical students were matricu- lated in the university at the capital. Previous to 1868, not even a New Testament would have been tolerated in Spain; and now the pub- lications of the Bible and tract societies are spreading so fast that it is difficult for the supply to keep up with the demand.
Those who apologize for Romanism and question whether it be even worth while to send missionaries to papal lands, should visit such countries as Mexico and Spain. As in Brazil and Italy it is St. Joseph that is practically worshipped, so in Spain it is the virgin: in fact, the great day of the Passion Season is not the good Friday of the Lord's death, but the Friday previous, sacred to the Virgin of Sorrows. Her breast is pierced with seven swords, and beneath are the words: Is there a sorrow like to my sorrow? and above, "I am the Mediatrix ofthe human race!" The children's bedtime prayer is: " Oon Dios me acuesto, "With God I go to sleep, Oon Dios me levanto ; With God I wake; Oon la Virgen Maria Even with the Virgin Mary Y el Espirito Sant{)." And the Holy Spirit."
In connection with this displacement of the Mediator by His human mother, there is a practical idolatry that is scarcely surpassed by the lowest pagans. In the sanctuary of Our Lady of Gliada]oupe is a black wooden image dressed gorgeously, and having a special costume for each new festival, which even royal princesses deem it an honor to make. To the doors of the Spanish chapel at Madrid a leaflet was affixed, representing Mary, Queen of Angels, supported on each hand by a praying angel; beneath is a foot-measure with the inscription: "This is the true measure of the sole of the foot of the Most Holy Virgin, kept with great veneration in a convent of Spain. Pope John XXIII, has accorded 300 years' indulgence to all who will kiss this measure and say three Ave Marias. Clement VIII. confirmed these indulgences in 1603, and they are obtainable as often as desired for the souls of the blest in purgatory and for the greater honor of the Queen of Angels. It is permissible to take from this measure others, and hereby obtain thel same indulgences. Mary, Mother of Graces, pray for us. This is sold in the chapel of our deal' Lady of Solitude, in Her chapel in the street of Doves, and to her honor. Madrid, 1883."
The great means by which God is illumining this death-shade of idolatry and superstition is His Holy Word. But the Bible has not found its way into Spain without resistance. A colporteur sold in the market place of Montalborejo a large copy of the Word of God. A priest, just leaving the adjoining church, snatched it from the buyer and flung it to the ground, exclaiming, "'l.'he books of these heretics shall not come into our village." He led on an assault, in which the colporteur, pelted with stones, was glad to escape with life. Five weeks afterward, he passed that same hamlet at evening, when he thought he would not be recognized. But the first man who met him asked if he were not the Bible-man. Truth compelled him to say" I am," though not without fear. What was his surprise, however, to find that, instead of stoning him, the people were now all clamoring for his books! And mark how God has brought about this wondrous change. A grocer, picking up the Bible which the priest had thrown to the ground, had torn out the leaves and used them as wrappingpaper for his soap and candles and cheese. The Spaniards unwrapped their wares, and were attracted to read the words printed in large type upon them; and so the precious truths taught in narrative and parable found their way into their he.1rts, and they went to the shopkeeper to get more, and when the stock was exhausted prayed God to send back the colporteur with his bibles. His reappearance was the signal for the immediate sale of all his books; and then they begged him to stay and teach them the truth which the Book contained. Pastor Fliedner well says, it reminds us of the words on Luther's monument at Worms: " The gospel which our Lord put into mouths of His apostles, that is His sword, with which as with thunder and lightning, He strikes in the world." With that weapon alone, the Almighty has been driving before Him the armies of the aliena and beating down the strongholds of the Devil.
Pastor Fliedner, on his way to prison, where he had the privilege of being cast for Ohrist's sake, looked over the tracts he had with him and rejoiced to find them suit.tble to distribute among prisoners. But he was compelled to leave them outside his cell. His handcuffs were so loosely holding his wrists thathe managed to slip his hands through and passed them to the sergeant. Thereupon the jailer put a fetter around his ankle and pushed him into a cell, with five others, but kept his books for his boy, for the sake of the pictures. Pastor Fliedner cared less for being shut in a cell than for having his tracts shut out. Suddenly he was called out and searched by the jailer, who coolly appropriated his handkerchief, the little money he had about him, and even the pocket-knife which was his little boy's gift. Indignant at such robbery, Pastor.Fliednersaid,"What do they here call people who take what is not their own?" "You call me a thief, do you?" said the brutal jailer, and violently boxed his ear. Then fixing a weight of 350 pounds to his fetter, he shoved him back into the dungeon, and flung his tracts after him, saying, "I will have nothing that belongs' to you."
The prisoners pounced on the tracts. " Ah, you are a Protestant! You believe in God. We do not, and have long ceased to." "Yes," he replied, "I do believe in a God." "But have you seen him?" " No ; but when the jailer speaks and answers you through that closed door, you know he is there, though you don't see him. So I speak to God in prayer, and when He answers me I know He is there." "Well," they rejoined, "how do you know He hears and answers you?" Pastor Fliedner then referred to the scene they had just witnessed, the rude box on the ear; and, calling their attention to his own tall and stalwart frame and the ease with which he could have dealt a blow that would have felled the dim.inutive jailer to the earth, he said, "I had a mind to strike him back, and double him up, but I sent up to God a prayer for patience, and it was at once granted me, and now I shall have patience given me till the end." This was a practical example of the power of prayer that those men, wont to yield to passion, could well understand. And the result was that those prisoners read and prayed together in that dungeon, and when Pastor Fliedner, at three o'clock in the morning, awoke, he saw one of those convicts reading by the dim light the parable of the prodigal son, and so he "thanked God for that box on the ear."
In May, 1884, three young disciples were thrown into prison for not worshipping" the host," as it was borne past. But, like Paul and Silas, they prayed and sang praises unto God, even in jail, and a by-passer in the street sent them five francs for their sweet singing. After the ten days of their sentence expired, the Judge demanded the fine of fifty francs. They had no money, and he remanded them to prison for another ten days. Two days later he set them free; for the priest had complained that his parishioners stood morning and evening before the prison, listening to the hymns they sang; and that the in- terest and sympathy they were exciting would only make more Protest- ants! And so they were set free.
This brief narrative of facts may serve to show us how the living God is moving with His mission band. Even in the land of the Holy Office, the blood of the martyrs, that seed of the church, is now spring- ing up from soil black with the ashes of the "heretics." The first in- stance in which the blood of a heretic was shed by the solemn forms of law was in 385, when Priscillian, leader of the Gnostics in Spain, was put to the sword at the instigation of Bishop Hacius. And now, 1,500 years after, the pure, sweet gospel is flowing like the river of the water of life, to turn that desert of the Inquisition into the garden of the Lord.
The ecclesiastical history of Spain is written in blood. The Ara- gonese branch of the Inquisition can be traced as far back as 1232; at first its severest sentence was the confiscation of property; toward the close of the 15th century the Cardinal Archbishop of Seville gave it a new impulse, and it assumed in time the huge proportions of a mon- ster, becoming more despotic and cruel than in any other European state. In 1478 a papal bull authorized the establishment of the Tribunal, and the consent of Ferdinand and Isabella gave it the sanc- tion of Royalty. The first formal court was established at Seville, and on Jan. 6, 1481, the first auto da fe was held, six persons being burned alive. In 1483 Torquemada became Grand Inquisitor General of all Spain, and the organic laws of the new Tribunal were framed, which Inquisitor General Valdez, in 1561, brought to their final form. Ap- pointed jointly by King and Pope, the inquisitors-general became in- vested with absolute power. Llorente estimates that under Torquemada 8,800 were burned; under Seza, 1,664; under Ximenes, 2,536. From 1483 to 1808-when Joseph Bonaparte abolished the Inquisition-the estimate is: burned alive, 31,912; burned in effigy, 17,659; subjected to various pains, penalties and penances, 291,450, a totaZ number of victims reaching 323,362 ! .
Yet here, in this central fortress of Inquisitorial horrors and ter- rors, the word of God, the gospel tract, the song of grace, the trans- formed iife of saintly men and women, without one carnal weapon, are moving with the power of God, to turn the land of many martyrs into the land of many churches and schools of Christ. Spain may yet, lead Christendom in the defence of the Protestant faith•. 592 HAVE WE TOO MANY MISSIONARY PERIODICALS? [AUG., HAVE WE TOO MANY MISSIONARY PERIODICALS? [EDITORIAL.-J. M. S.] THE Publishers of this REVIEW recently seIit a letter to some of our prominent ministers, asking for a brief expression of opinion as to its scope and merits. The response in every instance was kind and encouraging. We venture, on our editorial responsibility, to give here the reply of our respected and beloved brother, Dr. Cuyler, of Brooklyn, who expressed a" fear" that may have occurred to other minds, and one that we deem per- tinent and worthy of consideration.
Says Dl'. Cuyler: .. THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD is a. powerful periodica.l ; but I ha.ve one tea.r, viz.: that since a.bout all the Foreign Mission enterprisesare conducted by denominational boards or societies, and all of these have their missionary journals, will the good people find time to read them and yours also? Do we not need to ha.ve more reading of the present journa.IB. rather than the addition of more new periodicals'" .
We have great respect for Dr. Cuyler's judgment, on this as on other matters in which he takes a deep interest. And still we think his opinion in this case is based on a superficial and hasty view of the question. And we will state in brief some reasons for so thinking: 1. So far as known to the writer, Dr. Cuyler stands quite alone in thi!<1 opinion. The editors and publishers have received (literally) thousands of expressions from leading pastors of aU'denominations, from the secretaries of missionary societies in all parts of the world, from intelligent and influ- entiallaymen, from our missionaries in every land, from woman's boards of missions, from youthful bands of missionary workers, from student vol- unteers, from Y. M. C. Associations, from heads of families, from profes- sors in colleges and theological seminaries, and from the leading religious papers and missionary periodicals of Christendom-and from all these sources of intelligent judgment and disinterested opinion not one expression has met our eye or ea.r othel' than that of warmest commendation and God- speed. Even on the platform of the World's great Conference in London, THE MISSIONARY REvmw OF THE WORLD (then but a few months old) was several times referred to with warmest praise and thanksgiving to God.
Very many of these testimonials have deepJy touched our hea.rts, and stim- ulated our zeal and courage in the enterprise to which we have committed ourselves in obedience to what seemed to Dr. Pierson and myself a plain call of God. Thus the weight of testimony is decidedly against our good brother's opinion, so far as least as this REVIEW is concerned.
In response to the same publishers' circular, sent to some fifty persons in all, came very strong words, from some of the most intelligent and prominent men in the Christian church. As they present various phases of the subject, and their judgment is entitled to consideration, we trust it will not ~e thought immodest in us if we give a few of them in this connection.
We want it distinctly understood by our readers that we are not engaged in any private personal enterprise for selfish ends. The cause of this Re- view is simply the cause of Christian missions, conducted for the honor of Christ.
OPINIONS OF EMINENT MINISTERS. the magazine in Its entirety leaves little to be desired either as regards the separate fields In Rev. C. H. Parkhurst, D.D., New York: which missionary work is being done, or a8 relates to the general problems of missionary .. No one who desires to hold in bird's-eye interest." view the movement which the militant church at large is making upon the enemy's territory Rt. Rev. F. D. Huntinjtton, D.D., can aiford to dispense with THE MISSIONARY LL.D., Risbop of Central New York: •. In the REVIEW OF THE WORLD. Each of its depart- widespread and ever-increasing interest felt ments is full of carefnllyedited instruction, and
HAVE WE .rOO MANY MISSIONARY PERIODICALS?
among Christian people In the great missionary sionary facts and methods. I shall take pleasmovements of t~e church militant. there must ure in speaking a good word for it whenever be constant occasion, especially among edu- opportunity offers." cated and educating minds, to seek for accurate information respecting all parts of the lield, Rev. James S. Dennis, D.D., of Beirut, and .all departments of the service. Such a Syria, than whom, for position, service, and carefully gathered treasnry of knowledge, at qnalifications, no missionary's words would once authentic and comprehensive, is THB command greater respect: .. THE MISSIONARY MISSIONARY RliVIEW OF THB WORLD. REVIEw OF THE WORLD is a. noble tribute and a most effective contribution to the cause of Rev. S. L. Baldwin, D;D., Secretary of world-wide missions. It is highly appreciated Board of Missions Methodist Episcopal by missionaries io the field for its able and fer- Church: .. I am very greatly pleased with the vid treatment of great missionary themes, its successive numbers. The amount of informa- wide outlook, and its unrivalled statistical sumtilln which they bring from various portions of maries. That the Christian church hail such a the mission field renders them invaluable to magazineat hand, and that the missionary cause the student of missions. And the thorough throughout the world has such an organ, iQ discussion of live topiCS connected with mission- both gratifying and Significant. No pastor at ary work very greatly increases their value." home, and no missionary abroad. should be without it. The marvelous movements of Rev. A. F. Schauftler, D.D., New York: Providence io the interests of missions, the ex- "I do not see how THB REVIBW could be panding and cumulative energies of grace as made better than it is, and I do not see how any they appear at so many points In the world, and one who has the charge of a church can get the unprecedented opportnnities of this era oC along without it. The bonnd volume which I missionary activity, all call for just such a preh..ve ..Iso is a very encyclopedia of grand and sentation as your REVIBW aims to give." useful knowledge. and has already been used in my work many times. I do wish that every Howard Crosby, D.D.: "Snpplies a longmioister would get and read THB REVIBW. It felt want. • • • • It will meet both the Iitwould do a world of good, for it is sparklingly erary and spiritual taste of God's people." written." Dr. William Henry Green, Princeton Professor Wm. C. WUkinson, D.D.: Theological Seminary: "I have read THE MIS- .. THE MISSIONABY REVIEw OF THE WORLD SIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD from the has excited more interest and more zeal for the beginning with Increasiog ioterest. The comcause of missions in my family than have all prehensiveness of its plan and the extraordiother agencies combined, apart from the Word nary pains and diligence shown in gathering of God, that ever entered my house. I found it late and reliable information from every quaralready known and highly prized a year ago ter, together with the value and attractiveness among the missionaries oC the Levant. More of its special articles, make it quite Indispensathan once J there heard it pronounced the best ble' for everyone who would take an iotelligent missionary periodical in lhe world." survey of the present state and progress of missions, as conducted by the various Christian Rev. Herrick Johnson, D.D.: "Drs. bodies in all p..rts of the earth." Sherwood and Pierson deserve the thanks of the entire chnrch, ..nd of the whole Christian M. H., Houston, D.D., Sec. of ForeIgn world, for their'masterly editing of this superb periodical. There is nothing equal to it within lIIissions of the Presb. Church in the U. S. my knowledge in the entire lield of missions." (South): .. Itisagain to the whole church to have a magazine so capacious as yours, which Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, D.D.: "We is stored to the full with information, which need just snch an ecumenical missionary mag..· every Christian should rejoice to have." zine." Arthur Edwards, D.D., Editor North- Rev. Henry N. Cobb, D.D., Secretary Board of Missions Reformed Church: .. For western OhriBtian Advocate: "I send merely abilty of editorship, breadth ofview, earnest ad- a line to say th..t your missionary magazine is vocacy of advance all along the line and volume simply splendid, It is full of lire, brains, news, of general information, it is iovaluable. To suggestion, religion a.nd holy contagion. Go the pastor especially indispensable. There Is ahead and set the churches on lire. God bless no substitute; and he will be crippled in this you." br..nch of service who attempts to do without It.' r. D. Witherspoon,D.D.,LL.D., Louis- Joseph Cook: "Breadth of outlook, am- ville, Ky.: "The Christian who, in the spirit of ple information, zealous loyalty to evangelical true CatholiCity, desires to be informed as to trnth, great editori..l skill, and an intense and the great mission..ry enterprises and operations lofty devoutness of spirit pervading everypage, ofall churches, and in all lands, will fiod io THill make It a periodical of extraordinary value." MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD jnst what he needs. Its pages are crowded with the latest Misll Frances E. Willard writes; "It and most satisfactory Information from all is the best thing of the kind I kno w of. I hear mission fields and upon all mission topics, whilst good things said of it on every hand. It is so great themes involving the principles and con- fresh and cosmopolitan in its putting of mls- duct of missions are treated at large in each number by the ablest writers of the day." Rev. F. Holm, Seo. Danish Evangelical THE MISSIONARY REVIEW takes within its Missionary Society: .. I reoeive THE MISSION- ken the mission work of all Protestant chnrches, ARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD regularly and am and is the faithful and friendly observer of very grateful for it. When read by me it is sent every method of gospel elIort all the world to the editor of our missionary paper. In the over, irrespective of church or denomination, last number of this paper, he has giveu a traus- but in loving and cordial sympathy with all the latiou of Dr. Pierson's memorable paper on Scriptural endeavors to win souls for Christ. home work for missions, read by him at the Such a magazine is much needed in Great General Conference in London, and in doing so Britian in this busy age, having a comprehensive he has seized the opportunity to reoommend view of the highest and noblest work of tbe your review as the most complete, most im- whole church of Christ; but until a mon thly of partial, best written and best conducted of the this description has been started, we recom- numerous missionary periodicals of our· days.'" mend all who are interested in world-wide missions to subscribe to this American monthly. PRESS NOTICES. -Servicefm" the King, (England.) [We add a rew out of thousands.] THE most complete thing of the kInd in ex- THE MISSIONARY REVIEW has already won for istence. Not only collated intelligence from itself, by its catholicity and comprehensiveness every part of the mission-field, but articles, llnd thorough treatment of missionary ques- biographical sketches, reviews, statistics, as tions, a unique place in the periodical literature well. A few copies of this incompal'able misof missions. It is the organ of no one church or sionary magazine in a church would go far to society, but aims at representing the great make it a" missionary church." And a mis- missionary movement as a whole, and gathers sionary church is always one that does most together with admirabie impartiality the work at home.-Oanadian Independent. methods and results of all the churches and socie.ies in the mission-field. It thus occupies ONE of the most valuable features is the space a sphere quite different from the ordinary it gives to the literatnre of missions. Its demissionary records, and within its eighty pages partment of statistics is especially important; it can discuss missionary problems as they can- and not less interesting, if less valnable. is the not possibly do.-Ohurch of Scotland Mission international department, under which trans- Report. lated selections from missionary periodicals of aU countries are given. The editorialcontribu- THE MISSIONARY REVIEW covers the Whole tions are, however, by far the most attractive foreign work of all the different organizations, feature of the periodical, and the one most caland teems with the freshest facts from the culated te arouse interest, especially of the entire field. Nothing we have ever met with is yonng, in the subject of missions.-The New So bold, fearless and independent, or discusses York Evangelist. with such candor and so intelligently the various phases of missions. There is no other pub- THIS periodical is uniqne in its purpose, conlication like it, or that even approaches it, in fined to no one denomination, aiming to be a its many admirable featnres.-Ohristtan at review of missions throughout the wQrld. It is Work. no disparagement to The Missionary Herald, or any other missionary monthly, to say that THE REVIEW sweeps its vision over the entire this miSSionary review occnpies a place wholly world, and it not only sees, but knows how to by itself of great importance. In the stupendtell what it sees. If the high standard of ous undertaking to which the church of our literary excellence so far sustained can be con- time is beginning to arouse itself, we are not tinuously held, we shall have a magazine of alone. There are many and powerfnl Christian missions which will be the peer of our best organizations engaged in the same work. There literary monthlies in quality and interest.- is much which we all need to learn from each American Missimwry. other. Pastors and others in preparation for missionary discourses and missionary concerts, THE MISSIONAIlY REVIEW OF THE WORLD will find a great deal in this work that wfll be easily distances, by its high literary ability, its ofpecnllar interest and value to them, especially breadth of discussion and information, and its in what may be termed the literature of misworld-wide sweep of survey, all other mission_ sions.-The Inter-iol·. ary peri-odicals.-Lutheran Observer. No man who wisbes to keep up with current THE REVIEW is needed by every minister who missionary movements, and to read the newest would be thoroughly furnished for efficient thoughts of foremost thinkers on missionary work, and when he gets it he will want to pre- subjects, can afford to be without THE MISSIONserve it; one will not be conten t to borrow It ARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.-Oumberiand from a neighbor, nor will he care to give it Presbyterian. away if he subscribes to it. The yearly volumes of THE REVIEW are annual encyelopredias 01 SAYS The Ohristian Leader, Of Scotland, a misslons.-National Baptist weekly of rare merit and influence: " The absolute necessity of evangelizing our cities. if No one can read its pages without being in- we would save the nation and evangelize the spired with a warmer zeal and a brighter hope Iworld, is a truth enforced in a profoundly imfor missions. Send for this excellent periodical pressive paper by Dr. J. M. Sberwood,jointtor yourself, for your pastor, or for your anxiliary.-Woman's Missionary Rceord. editor with Dr. Pierson. in the current number As an organ of the missionary cause. this periodof THE MISSIONARY REVIEW Oil' THE WORLD. icalleaves an others immeasurably in therear/'
2. We quite agree with Dr. Cuyler, that we" need to have more reading," of a missionary character. It is a thousand pities that our" missionary journals" are not read more than they are. There are hundreds of them, and some of them are excellent in their way, as The Missionary Herald. The Gospel in All Lands, The Church at Home and Abroad, Regions Beyond, China's Millions, etc. But the complaint is and always has been, they are not read; with half a dozen exceptions, their circulation is very limited. They attract no attention outside of their respective, limited corporate or missionary circles. They do not reach and guide public sentiment, or create, enlarge and emphasize the missionary spil'it and enthuse the church with it. Our society organs and board journals have had the field all to themselves for a long while, and no doubt they have done their best to rouse the church to do her duty, to interest the world in missions, to meet the stupendous demands and exigencies of this missionary age. But, confessedly, they have failed of this,at least to a large extent. The people will not read themwe mean the mass even of professing Christians-and hence their influence is scarcely felt beyond their own immediate narrow circles. They are indispeniable, it may be, and certainly useful in their particular spheres. But they fail to meet the increasing and imperative demands of the times. The missionary work has outgrown them in a great measure. God's Spirit and providence have been at work in these latter days in a wonderful, a majestic way. A new era has dawned. All barriers are thrown down. The nations are pleading, and waiting for the gospel. A new and mighty impulse is felt. A thousand questions, innumerable problems, confront us. New conditions, new possibilities, new auxiliaries, have sprung into being. The agencies and appliances that may have sufficed in former days are not adapted to or sufficient for the new order of things. From the nature of the case this class of journals are local in scope and work; they are restricted by corporate or denominational lines ; they are limited in space, lay no claim to literary merit, and take no means to enlist the consecrated intellectual talent of the world in the great and rapidly enlarging missionary enterprise of the age. Especially in this day, when secular and literary magazines are multiplied and made as attractive and irresistible {is the best literary talent and artistic beauty and business enterprise can make them, it were unreasonable to expect that our comparatively dull, dry, perfunctory society and boal'd organs and missionary journals, edited by secretaries whose hands are full of other pressing work and the staple of which consists largely of the details of missionary life and work among the heathen, can even hold their own, much less have any great attraction for young, ardent, active, minds or even for the mass of reading and intelligent Christan men and women. They are not made mentally or spiritually attractive, and hence are not read; and Dr. Cuyler will have cause to lamentthis lact as long as he lives ! We may all regret the fact never so much, but it will remain a fact nevertheless.
And simply because the mass of the people of God will not read this class of journals, shall no effort be made to produce and sustain a missionary monthly that will be read-a missionary magazine that, for literary ability. for masterfy discussion of the grand themes and the living questions of the age from the missionary standpoint, shall be the peer of Harper and Scribner, and shall find its way, side by side with them, into the study of the minister, into the family circle, and on the tables of our "reading rooms," in college and seminary and Y. M. C. A's, and our public libraries? When individual self-denial and heroic courage, without aid or promise from any of the boards or other orgamzations of the church, were made willing in God's providence to put brains, hard work and push into such an nndertaking, from simple love to the cause, in order to supply a felt need-to elevate and make attractive missionary literature-may they not reasonably look for friendly recognition and co-operation Il'om pastors like Dr. Cuyler, filling high positions in the church and lamenting the want of practical interest in the missionary literature furnished by the old missionary journals? Is it, as a matter of enlightened policy or of Christian ethics, a wise thing to do to deprecate and discourage the circulation among his people of a missionary magazine of a new order-one which heis pleased to characterize as a "powerful periodical "-on the ground that it might interfere with the organ of his own church board? Would it not seem highly propel' to give his people a fairchance to judge for themselves, as many who do not" find time" to read the denominational journal might perchance find time and have the will to read one of entirely a different order-as we know some of them do in spite of the pastor's position? Doubtless there are scores of other godly men and women in his great congregation who never read the ordinary "missionary journals," who might be induced to take and read one that has received the ~ighest commendation of those abundantly qualified to judge. It is qUlte possible that fifty or a hundred copies of it, circulated monthly in his church, and read and quoted and talked of in the family and in prayer and missionary circles, might increase the missionary zeal and liberality even of Dr. Cuyler's generous people, and help to excite and train some of his young people to be missionaries.
Say what we will, "denominational" and even literary' "organs" have seldoni proved a success in any department of literature, as flvery intelligent man knows, and missionary journals controlled by boards, or societies, or church organizations, are no exception. Somehow the machinery is cumber- some and does not work well. In spite ofall efforts to the contrary,the mechan- ical and the perfunctory prevail. The genius of our people, who love freedom, liberty, independence, freshness, enterprise, revolts at such organs. Why, Dr. Cuyler has a forcible illustration of this fact in his own denomination. The Presbyterian Church has made a stupendous effort to esta.blish and sustain a "denominational" missionary journal that shonld meet fully the demands of·the times and the needs of the great body it represents. No other maga- zine, religious or secular, excited so much forethought, discussion, and anx- ious interest, in the matter of its inception. One General Assembly after an- other brooded over the proposal, discussed it in all its relations and bearings, and appointed large committees of its wise and dignified doctors and judges, and senators-and the issue finally was The Ohurch at Home and Abroad.
A liberally-paid editor was chosen to conduct it, with the aid of the secre. taries of the eight boards of the church. It was made the official organ of . the denomination. Its pages were ample, the price made ridiculously low, and the good wishes, the loyalty, and the resources of this large, intelligent, and wealthy church were behind it. Every pastor was expected to act as its agent, and commend it to his people fro111 the pulpit and urge it upon his people, as Dr. Cuyler, we know, has donE', and a thousand other Presbyterian pastors.
Such an experiment, judging from general principles, we should say, was bound to succeed. But it has not prot'ed a success, even in the judgment of its friends and originators. Its failure has b,een assignal, ali conspicuous, as its origin, and its opportunities were unusual and grand. At the end of the first year there was a deficit of over nine thousand dollars-a charge upon the boards. During the second year the deficit was over five thousand, and the circuiation fell off nearly one-half! Less than one in forty, of even the membership of the body of Christians which it represents, at'e subscribers to it ! It has caused the distinguished committee which has it in charge no little anxiety, trouble, and" nursing," and the great and prosperous body which it represents mortification and disappointment.
After such a failure of a" denominational missionary journal," what can we expect? And what is the great Presbyterian Church to do in the matter of missionary literature? Where are the more than 700,000 church members who do not take their own "organ" to get their missionary information and inspiration? Is it not just possible that we may find along this line one of the reasons for the falling off in the receipts of their Board of Foreign Missions the past yea,r? The immense falling off in the circulation of the denominational organ, and no interest in 01' effort on the part of the vast majority of Presbyterian pastors to substitute any other means of mis· sionary information and inspiration, suggests a possible cause. This is delicate ground for us to tread on; but we know no good reason why we should not state the fact, that in the Presbyterian Church alone, in which both my associate and myself are members and presbyters, have we experienced the lack of brotherly sympathy and cordIal co-operation in our enterprise. My own pastor not only refused our Review when offered him, but discouraged its circulation among his people, while he took the" denominational" journal into his pulpit, and urged evet'y family again and again to subscribe for· and read it. And my neighbor and friend, Dr. Cuyler, did the same; and the same policy has been generally pursued by the pastors of my own denomination. While in every other denomination in the United States and Canada and Great Britain, the Review has l:een hailed with joy and gratitude, and all reasonable means adopted to give iJ a large circulation, notwithstanding they all have their own local journals.
The qustion is pertinent just here: Can the Presbyterian Church-its pastors, the leaders in its councils, or its large membership–afford to ignore such a magazine as the Missionary Review of the World is affirmed to be by a thou sand competent witnesses who are familiar witli its pages? If we rightly in. terpret the signs of the times, it has been clearly demonstrated that justsuch a Review of Universal missions is an imperative need ofour day; and that in seeking to supply this need, we were simply falling into our place in a divine plan. As we said editorially in the January issue, the impression and conviction with which this enterprise was begun have onlybecomedeeperandstronger by the first year's experience, viz.: that, in respect of missions, no greater need exists than that of the universal diffusion of information as to the facts of past and present missionary histol·Y. To know those facts, to be informed and kept informed and fully informed, as to the march of God and His hosts in all the earth, is,ineffect, to quicken the pulse of the whole church of Christ. Inmissions, Love is the skilful alchemist that turns knowledge into zeal and out of intelligence distils inspiration. If we would have more prayer, we must know what to pray about and pray for; if we want more money, we must know what open doors God is placing before us for the investment of consecrated capital, and what wondrous results He has wrought and is working with the merchant's millions, and even the widow's mites, if we want mc>re men and women as workers. The mind and heart and conscience of disciples must be awakened from sleep and aroused from sluggishness by the electric touch of thrilling facts. If we want more zeal, all true zeal is "according to knowledge" and consequent upon it. If we want the spirit of holy enterprise, doing and daring for God, missions must be exhibited as the enterprise of the church, and it must be shown that no equal or proportionate investment of men, means and money ever brought returns so ample-all of which the logic of events stands ready to prove by the most overwhelming of arguments.
In a word, we believe that, if every true disciple could be continually confronted by a fresh bulletin of news from the world-wide field and kept familiar with the movements of every assaulting column now moving against Satan's citadels, all the workmen and all the money-both the personnel and material of war-would be voluntarily furnished for prosecuting this colossal campaign.
The time has come, moreover, for a Review of Missions that may take its place side by side with the ablest periodicals in the secular sphere. The gospel has found its way into Cresar's household, as well as into the jailer's family, and Bethany's humble home. God is now calling the wise, the mighty, the noble, to the kingdom. Merchantprinces, public leaders, statesmen, journalists, philosophers, generals, judges, sages, bow at the cradle of Christ as did the Eastern seers. King's daughters are among the honorable women who follow the Saviour and minister to Him of their own substance, and at His right hand stands more than one queen in gold of ophar. Piety is not linked with stupidity and superstition, ignorance and imbecility. Even the infidel no longer sneers as the gospel as" fit only for women, children and small men. " The thoughtful, cultured classes of society are compelled to ask whence came that wonderful religion that iUustr~Ltes the survival of thefittest because fittest to survive; that amazes the evolutionist by not being evolved at all, but springing at once into mat.urity without development, and yet de. fies for eighteen centuries all improvement, either by addition 01' subtraction I And we are profoundly persuadedthat a Review of Missions, properly conduct. ed, will not only inform the ignorant and enlighten and educate the unculti. vated, but may also command and compel the attention of the most intellect. ual and intelligent readers, and bring them into closer and more practical fel. lowship with mission work. And abundant facts have come to our knowledge that thus the Review has gl'eatly enlarged the circle of readers of mission- ary literature; has interested a large number of educated men and women in mission themes who nevel' before gave them the least attention; and has made a place for missions in the secular press, which has been accustomed to sneer at them. One of the leading literary journals of the country, located in Washington, reproduces the substance of many of our leading articles, advertised the Review largely at its own cost, and sought of our publishers a clubbing arrangement with it, Many of our leading articles are also reproduced month by month, in whole or in part, in the religious periodicals of America, Great Britain, and India. Some of them have been translated into' other tongues. Such facts encourage the belief that the lines of its beneficent influence have gone out into all the earth, and that, humble as was its origin, and with none to sound its trumpet, and with only private resources to back it, and two busy men to guide and inspire it, God, in His gracious providence, is honoring and blessing its agency far beyond our expectations.
3, One thought more. It seems clear to us thatin the present grand missionary movement we have noScripture warrant to propagateDenominationalism. The sectarian spirit is a great obstacle to the success of missions among the :leathen. The t1!ndency in the mission field is to unity, oneness, a native independent union church. Even at home there is a drawing together. The spirit of comity and catholicity is on the increase. And we need to foster this movement in every possible way. But the tendency of denominational journals, absorbed with their own particular interests, is in the opposite direction-to magnify and build up denominationalism at the expense of the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. Our aim is to present and urge the missionary work of the age in its unity, its oneness, its entirety, its apostolic simplicity and grandeur. In no other way, along no other line of policy, can the church fully execute the commission of her asc.ended Lord. In no other way can we uplift and dignify and glorify the cause of missions, and demonstrate to the world the infinite importance and farreaching scope of the work we have taken in hand. Only when we look at missions as a whole; at the evangelization of the world as the one supreme end at which we are unitedly to aim. and to accomplish which we are to concentrate all resources, do all questions relating to sects and policies and rivalries sink into insignificance as unworthyof serious thought orcontention.
The mission of this Review is to work along this line. Werepresentnosect or society or organization of men, but simply the Church of the living God in its entirety and loyalty to Christ, the Kingly Head. Our simple motto is the conquest of this world for Christ. Our scope is world-wide as is the Commission which is our warrant. Our one desire, policy, ambition, is to present the claims of missions to the entire brotherhood of disciples; to sound aloud the bugle-call, and rally the hosts of the cross to the mighty work laid upon us; to put ourselves abreast the swelling tide of missionary life and enterprise and aspiL'ation, and help to guide it in the right direction; to survey critically and constantly the world-field 6f missionary needs and operations and lay them before our readers ~ to put ourselves en rapport with leading missionaries in all parts of the field, and with the leading missionary societies of Christendom, helping and being helped in our work; and at any cost to .enlist the ablest pens available to discuss mission problems and write upon the grand and inspiring themes of missionary life and of missionay thought. We hear it said that the" romance of missions" is a thing of the past. It is a mistake. The annals of modern missions are all aflame with heroic devotion, with self-sacrificing consecration, with deeds of daring and glory not surpassed in any age of the world. Why, this is the martyr-age of the church in many a heathen land. There are more martyrdoms for the faith of Christ occuring during this age than during the apostolic age.. The story of Madagascar, as related by Dr. Brockett in the May and June numbers of this REVIEW, and the" Miracles of Missions" as graphicaly sketched by our associate in these pages, equal in romantic interest, in sublime endurance, in all the elements of tragic power and suffering for Christ's sake, anything you read of in history under the early persecutions. And these are but the first fruits of what we are to witness in the prosecution of the missionary work. And do we not need to know and read of these things? Is there not inspiration in them? Can the chu:rch realize that such baptisms of blood await the new disciples of the cross in other lands-disciples just emerged from heathenism-and that the religion of Jesus sustains them under fiery persecutions as it did the early martyrs-and not feel a new interest in missions, a thrill of sympathy with these sufferers for the faith as it is in Jesus, and not offer up more fervent prayer in their behalf and in behalf of lands and peoples still cursed with superstition and idolatry and cruel rulers? Such revelations of Missionary life and faith and triumph l!>s are occurring inour own day ona hundred fields of labor, read like
WHEN SHALL COME THE CONSUMMATION?
the highest romances of Christian chivalry. It is the mission of this Review to spread out on its ample pages from time to time this side of the mission work, as well as the biographies of the choicest missionaries who have wrought and gone to their reward.
All this service we are doing and hope to do in the future for missions at our own cost. We ask not the church for a dollar. With few exceptions, the boards' and denominational journals are a tax on missionary receiptsin the aggregate a large tax. They do not pay the cost of production. We fain believe that the influence of this Review whas been a stimulus to this class of magazines, infusing additional vigor and breadth, as well asa new inspiration to the church at large. And it is all a gratuity. The editors and publishers have worked hard, early and late, and without the hope of pecuniary reward. And we count it an honor and no mean achievementand we are not ashamed to confess it-to have actually demonstrated to the public the fact that it has been possible, without the caresses or patronage of any board, or society, or committee, or denominational backing what. soever, to establish and carry forward to a. position of self support, a large, vigorous, independent, unsectarian, uncompromising Missionary Monthly, exclusively devoted and intensely consecrated to the cause of m.issions in all the earth. Henceforth let no man sneer at missions! In the face of such a fact a thousand Canon Taylors could not show that" Missions are a Failure." The friends of missions may rejoice with us over the achievement. They share in the fruits of our success. They have the power, by their prayersand interest, to widen its sphere and increase its usefulness a hundredfold.
WHEN SHALL COME THE CONSUMMATION?
BY J. E. RANKIN, D.D., ORANGE VALLEY, N. J.
WHEN shall come the consummation? When gleam forth Messiah's sign?
And in garments of salvation He set up His royal line ?
In His purple vestments glorious, Mighty as a king to save; Treading down hiH foes victorious, And redeeming from the grave?
When His people shall be willing, In the great day of His power; Glad the solemn vows fulfilling Of their first espousal hour.
When they as their Lord adore Him, Bring their silver and their gold; Lay their prayers and gifts before Him, And His dying love unfold.
·When they consecrate their daughters, Bring their sons within their arms; Send them heralds o'er the waters To proclaim the Saviour's charms; When His name is daily spoken; For the poor His table spread; When the bread of life is broken, Till His hungry all are fed.
In the dew, then, of the morning, With the freshness of His youth, Zeal like raiment Him adorning, Shall He gird His thigh with truth Then shall come the consummation, Then His reign on earth begin; And full rivers of salvation Flood this world of woe and sin.
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
THE Berichte, of the Rhenish Missionary Society, says: .. There is.a significant parable that the Lord God in the beginning created the birds with all the present variety of their plumage, but withont wings, and afterwards lightlv attached these to them. Some of them refused to bear this added burden and cast them off ; these became the wingless birds, that cannot fiy. But for the others, who were willing to bear the burden, the wings grew fast, giving them power to soar high towards heaven. So, in the last hundred years, by God's grace, two mighty pinions have grown out on our evangelical church, namely, home and foreign missions, with which she may joyfully and freely mount upwards toward God, and, furnished with these, she has no need to fear either that she is going to languish out of existence or to be overwhelmed by Rome."
.. Through evil report and good report." says the Berichte, .. This is a word which, as I believe,deserves at this very time our especial attentiou. 1t seems almost as if the opinion was rather widely diffused among the friends of missions that for the missionary cause among us in Germany the day has dawned, when the former disparagement and contempt shown to this is over for good and all, when, even in the widest circles, even in so-called public opinion, it will more and more find unrestricted recognition. But such an expectation is assuredly a very serious mistake, and the sooner. missionary circles come to recognize it as such, the better. Otherwise, after long entertainment of false expectatIOns and hopes, the subsequent a,wakenlng will be so much the more bitter and discoUl;aging, when again the call is addressed to the friends of missions to go once more through ignominy and evil report, and to approve themselves therein also as the servants of God."
The Berichte remarks: .. That, in the diffusion of Christianity, reference must everywhere be had to the founding of new congregations, that Cl:ristianity cannot continue to exist in any living vigor except in this form, tl1at according to the Scriptnre the individual Christian is not to be conceived as existing for himself, but as a member of a community-all this is so clear, that we need waste no words about it. ferhaps. however, less thought is given to the truth, the true building-stones for a Christian community are not individual Christians, but Christian families. And yet even the Scripture gives us significant intimations in this respect, drawn from the labors of the apostles. Repeatedly we read: •And he (or she) was baptized, with his whole house.' The missionaries know only too well, from their own experience, that so long as they have only gained over individual detached members of families, they are yet very nncertain of their results and of the prospects of Christianity. Only when whole families are won does the cause gain permanence, and only then can there be talk of forming a community. To some of onr missionaries, indeed, this point has come to seem of su<lh weight that they have made it a fixed rnle never to baptize one of a married pair without the other, because otherwise nnhappy complications are almost inevitable. Moreover, if one has gained a thoroughly clear conception of-the importance of gaining Christian families for the formation of Christian congregations, he has thereby gained a new point of view from which to judge correctly one of the most frequent and favorite attacks of the Roman Catholics upon the evangelical missionaries. The Catholics never weary of scoffing over the fact that most of our missionaries are married, and think· there can be nothing more absurdly incongruous than a married apostle. Now we will leave them their easy scoff, but will remain quietly in the maintenauce of our opinion~ that Peter also, and the other apostles, as the Scripture expressly attests (1 Cor. Ix: 5) must have been married. So, then, our missionaries may well be so to. Nay. more; they are as married people much better adapted to gain over Christian families from the heathen, because they themselves know the Christian family life not merely from hearsay, and Cain give an example "f it before thE,! heathen. Exempla trahunt."
The Evangelisch-Lutheri8che8 MisBion8blatt calls attention to the growing importance of the Hindoo element In Zanzibar: .. Alongside of the Arab infiuence and in part at its expense the infiuence of the Hindoos is growing with every year. These mostly come from the peninsula of Cutch, North of Bombay. They are partly Mohammedans, partly Parsees, partly cow-worshippers, that Is, Hindus proper. The prinCipal wealth belongs to the Banyans, or merchant-caste, and to the Kojes. The Arab merchants are heavily in debt to them, for they are so very successful in business that they are drawing most of the commercial profits of the East coast into their own hands. Everywhere the commercial middleman is the pliant and well-trained Indian. Their number is estimated at some 7,000 or 8,000. Besides the British Indians there is, especially ill ZallZibar City, a colony of Portuguese Indians, the so-called Goanese. These have no social importance, but are exceedingly useful as retail traders, laundrymen and domestics. Doubtless they are chiefiy low-caste and Catholics in religion. In general the Hindoo element has shown itself very friendly towards the German efforts at colonition.'"
The Journal des Missions Evangeliques, speaking of the recent ordination of MM. Allegret and Teisseres, for the Congo Mission, says: .. We are very well assured that this occasion will be found to have left in Christian hearts more than one refreshing remembrance, and we entre!1.t God that He will himself call out into fruitful growth the germs of life and love which have been sown in these hearts by His word. In permitting our churches,and especially the Church of Paris, to set apart various missionaries at brief intervals, God, we believe, addresses to us all a serious a.ppeal, demanding that we shall set ourselves apart. Active service, that is what He requires of us. May His appeal beJistened to I And may many Christians, as a result of this evening of January 17, finally make to Him the complete surrender of their possessions, of their children, and above all, of their hearts I"
Herr Winter, of the Berlin Society, who has to undergo much weariness from the extremely unspii'itual temper of the Caffres, expresses the comfort that he has in meeting with an exception in the person of a Chief Kcholokoe. He says: "I become more and more attached to him the longer and better I know him. I cannot but wish that more Bassutos were like him. He is really a man in whom we can;ot deny that there is found a habit of deep meditation upon things which lie beyond the sphere of every-day life. Let our conversation turn upon what it may, it is always interesting. I have often sat talking with him for hours together and have never felt myself weary. Had he not been a chief he would long since have been a ChristiSon. Unhappily, he is very ill and has little hope of ever being better."
Herr van Eendenburg, of the Nederlandsche Zendingsvereeniging, gives as his judgment that the spread of Christianity in Java imperatively requires that those who are inclined to receive Christian instruction should be settled apart on newly-cleared lands. He declares that all attempts to bring over the old-established agricultural communities of Java have been a failure.
Herr de Haan, speaking of a man of good position on one of the Sunda .Islands, who seems very friendly to the missionaries, says:' "I entertained the hope that in him we should, for once, have an accession to a Sundanese congregation of a man of some mental development, of some influence upon those around him, and, which cannot be exactly a censurable desire, of a man of means." The gospel, though of a higher birth than worldly distinctions, yet, as the Book of Acts shows, by no means disdains these in their measure and time. They are subordinate, but by no means valueless.
Herr Berg, in the Dansk Missions-Blad, gives some interesting reflections in describing the ruins of an ancient temple in Southern India: .. I contemplated this splendid work of man with yet greater interest than when I saw it before; itsgreatness, both in extent and in the execution of the work, together with itsven_ erable age, awakened my wonder. not so much in view of the great. well-formed masses of stone, as of the earlier life of the spirit, of which this temple is a magnificent, though material product. The high, pyramidal pagoda-towers might dispute rank with church-spires of no mean celebrity in their aspiring loftiness. The burdensomeness of the material shows, indeed. that the fiight was heavy, but nevertheless it was directed upwards. As the towers bear witness to aspiration, so the whole temple bears witness to a persistent unity and spirit of self-sacrifice, for the rearing of it has taken long periods and swallowed up great sums of treasure. This fact testifies to an earnest endeavor to please their god, and to give to this endeavor a visible expression by raising temples as grand as possible. Abeve all, the whole of this great achievement of Hindoo devotion bears witness to the energy with which the truth-seeking element in their hearts has groped after the living God." The following brief account of the spiritual development of a Chinese con, vert illustrates St. Paul's reference to "feeling after God." It is from the Berliner Missions-Berichte : .. Deacon Wong-Yinen had even as a youth clearly recognized the worthlessness of idol. atry, and mocked at the worshippers of images. Nevertheless, he could never feel easy without a lord, but sought and inquired after his rightful Lord. Once, coming to Canton. and entering a chapel, he heard that Shan-te is the true God, who is to be worshipped by all men. On his return home he erected an altar to God and adored Him in heathen fashion. In gradUl>1 succession there came also messengers of the gospel into his district; they were native helpers, belonging to the Berlin Verein, or Association for China. They disclosed to him how the true God is to be worshipped, and made known to him salvation in Christ. He listened with joy. learned God's word, was baptized, and has since then diligently and iovingly heard the gospel."
Herr Vosskamp, of the Berlin Society, gives some very interesting descriptions of the island of Hong Kong, and city of Victoria, this outpost of Brit- ish Christianity at the gates of China, at once a part of it &'nd not a part of it.
.. We spent some days in Hong-Kong. They refreshed us in body and soul. Th" heat of summer had abated. I enjoyed the refreshing nearness of the sea. Hong-Kong has an enchantingly beautiful situation. Formerly it was a bare and desolate island, that served as a place of abode for fishermen and pirates. Then the English took possession of it, and they have changed this fragment of earth which here rises out oi the sea into a genuine Paradise. Trees of various kinds and of peculiar beauty have been-transplanted to Hong- Kong from every country of Asia, from the islands of the Pacific, and from Australia; there blossom everywhere the fa.irest fiowers, and everywhere the view ends with the sea. In a deep valley, surrounded by lofty rocks, lies the most beautiful churchyard of the world, called' Happy Valley.' Here all the pomp of veget';'tion is found concentrated. LiCe lnd beauty overspread the world of the dead. From hence you see the country seats of the wea.lthy lords of commerce stretching to the very mountain top. Of Hong-Kong you may say, as Isaiah says of Tyre, her merchants are princes. Beneath these the city of Victoria stretches along the sea. Here, at the threshold of China, Asiatic and Occidental life are conlluent. Across the strait lies the coast of the grea.test heathen realm of the world, silent, without lite."
Again: .. The tones of my harp are now mingled with testal resonance and the wild music of an idolatrous display. Hong-Kong had tor months been making ready for the Queen's Jubilee. All the lands of the earth which stand under English sovereignty had already offered their homage. The princes of Europe had appeared in person or by their deputies. From India the mightiest Rajas had gone to London to salute the Empress of India, in whose capital the foreign forms became the objects of popular curiosity and admiration in the strangeness of their Oriental magnificence. Already the echoes of the festival, whichset almost t he whole earth in motion, had died into the past, when on the little island ofeastern Asia the notes of Jnbtlee again arose. The festival, in this tropic climate, had been transferred to the greater coolness of November. In the morning came the Governor's reception. Pastor Hartmann accompanied me to it. I, like all the world, gave the great man my hand in token of conl:'ratulation. A moving and diversified throng filled the Government Palace, In the garden 1U front, Bengalese troops acted as guards of honortall, stateiv forms, in picturesque costume. A deputation of leading Chinese had just brought into the Government House a loyal address, a magnillcent piece of embroidery OD white silk, with the names of the Chinese citizens and a huge e~cutcheon containing the hyperbolical wish in behelf of the aging Queen: •May you fiourish tor a thousand springs.' In the evening Victoria swam in a sea of light. I wandered with my bride and someladies of the Foundling House through the close-packed streets. At the corners of the principal streets stands had been put up for Chinese musicians, who overwhelmed the passersby with a fiood of the most hideous melody."
In this loyal festival in honol' of the Christian Queen, Chinese heathenism Idisplayed itself in its own wild way. "For two days and two nights an endless procession of idols wound hither and thither along the islands, and on both sideshulll&nity was packed likea solid wall. There boomed the gongs, there rolled the drums, there screeched and wailed the stringed instruments. there crackled the fireworks, the silken dragon banners, green, red and blue, fluttered I.. the /!oir, the ear-splitting tones of the bamboo fife fioated wildly among the throng, while in the midst of tbe procession men dragged along on tables the sacrificial feasts. The hungry gods were entertained to-day with what were esteemed the very choicest delicacies. Splendid idol sbrines are carried by; on fantasticaUyornamented wagons sit children with rouged faces. But now comes the Holy Thing of the Middle Kingdom-a gigantic dragon, from 50 to 60 teet long. His greenish body, covered with silver scales, winds through the streets; the fearful head of the monster, with the long, red tongue in the wide-opened mouth, keeps turning from one Side to the other ever the throngs. Thus does" the good principle" diffuse all his blessing over the smiling children of tbe Middle. .. The good principle" appears in terrible guise. Should it emerge in bright day, without warning, in a German town, tbere would be howling and chattering of teeth. Tbeold Greeks endeavor to represent the arcbetypes of perfect beauty. The Cbinese have attained to the archetype at perfect ugliness .
.. Slowly does tbe train move on. And everywhere tbat the image of tbe dragon appeal's, there do innumerable human countenances turn tbemselves towards it and innumerable hands stretch themselves after it. How entirely has tbe Prince of Darkness bound tbis people in his fetters! How vain have the Chinese become in tbeir imaginations, and their foolish heart is darkened. Esteeming themselver to be wise, they have become fools, and have ch~nged the glory of the incorruptible God into the image of a loathsome worm."
Herr Vosskamp, des('.ribing his return to Canton, says: .. On the deck of the steamer two groups bave formed. In one things are going on at a lively rate. Two young American girls are engaged with some gentlemen in a land conversation. They appear to belong tothe race of'globetrotters,'who consider it the mission of their life to traverse every sea, to hnrry through every land, to climb every mountain, and then to return home with the proud consciousness of having seen aU that is to be seen. The other group consists of fellow-laborers. We have quickly made acquaintance. That old and venerable man has labored long in Burmah. He was going to Ameri<;a to procure help for his work. That young girl in the background is the daughter ala deceased missionary in Canton. She is returning to her father's field of labor. A young pastor from America, accompanied by his aged mother, has associated himself with them. He would like to carryon missionary work among the (;hinese who live in his community at home, and is going- to Canton to gain some knowledge of the speech and manners of the people• .. In a bay of the river a strange spectacle presents itself. A large black steamship, enveloped in smoke, lies on the water. Thick and stifiing vapor globes itself aro'und the ship's sides. Soon the wind drives the lf1asses of smoke apart, and then they pour yet more voluminously ant of the portholes. Several hours before, in the night, the Wah-Yun, filled with petroleum, and plyingregularly between Canton and Hong-Kong-, had gone up in fiames, and from three to fonr thousand Chinese are supposed to have perished in the fiames or in the smoke. Few on anI' ship dreamed what a scene at unimaginable calamity we were gliding by. What anguish and despair among the passengers in the night t what a tumult of wild imprecations t what death agonies in the burning ship! -and now she lay before us a scene of desolation and, death. still and lifeless."
I have given elsewhere, in a few lines, a portrayal of a Cagie chief unlike his class. Here, in brief, is a portrayal of one like his class: .. This week I have had an unnsual visit. Umkankonyeke, the former captain of Konig.- bere", came here to see me. He has become fat and stout, wholly indifferent, his heart like grease; the world and the flesh have taken entire possession of him. He has thirty children alive; how many are dead he does not know. He has not peace, and to the cross of the Lord, where alone It is to be found, he will not come. Once I had good hope of him; now nonel Ah, it is hard for a missionary to see how people willingly harden themselves and hurry recklessly forward to eternal destruction."
The Neuesten Nachrichte aus dem Morgenlande, in a very appreciative description of the work in Palestine of the Church liissional'y Society, remarks with just satisfa.ction that of the 1,616 native Protestant Christians and 431 native communicants given in the last annual report, a goodly percentage has come from purely German institutions. Indeed, the German element has always been strong in the English work here, as might have been expected under the long presidency of a German bishop, the faithful Gobat.
The Nachrichten has an article written from Bethlehem, from which we give this extract:
i889·r STUDENT VOLUNTEER NOTE~ •
.. For the inhabitant of the hill country of Judah the autumn. has its special. a.nd right a.round Bethlehem, peculia.r charm. Especially do the maidens love to give expression In song to the uni versal joy, answering each other back and forth from the trees the livelong day in re"llonsive refrains and popular melodies peculiar to the district. When autumn comes. nothing has any longer power to keep the Bethlehemite, voung or old, in the house. It draws him out into the open air. into the Kurum (vineyards). where he takes up his sum. mer abode under his vine and figtree. Why, in this case, are the vine alld figtree especially mentioned in the Bible of old and in Palestine to.day f Because both have qualities which 'are able to fetter the owner for a good long while to his vineyard; the vine, because the different sorts of grapes do not ripen simultaneously. but during a. season of five months; the figtree, because this likewise, whose sweet fruits offer themselves for daily plucking, distribute them over three months."
The Bulletin Missionaire of the churches of French Switzerland, has a com· munication from M. Paul Berthoud, in which he describes the character of the new converts of the coast·town of Lourenco.Marques, in Southeastern Africa: .. Ignorance the most profound is the first thiug which strikes the spectator. By the side of this one remarks a religious feeling which is an unfailing source of encouragement and joy. But, finally. one is obliged to admit with grief the absence, one mil"htsay the complete absence, of the moral sense. which has been degraded, extinguished. aunihilated, bya con· tact of several centuries with Europeans. Such· are the three prlDcipal traits to be seen in the physiognomy of these souls which it is our work to Instruct in the things of salvation."
"If, since the opening of the year." says M. Berthoud, "we have registered about 290 new confessions at Lourenco.Marqu~s,this cannot but be very encouraging to the friends of our miasion. But it is not without some disposition to tremble that we rejoice, for we see things at very rrear·range, and this city is filled full of the snares of Satan. Among these numer· ous neophytes, I have good hope that most will resemble the good ground in which the die vine seed has germinated and brought forth abundance; but how many who will probably prove like the ground where the thorns will choke the plant, when they have to choose reo solutely between a holy life and their old courses. It would be easy to have retained some who have already abandoned us. But if we did that, what would become of the Word of God, which says : 'Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.' 'Beye holy, for I am holy.'"
STUDENT V0LUNTEERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS.
WE give below the results of work done in the churches during last sum· mer's vacation by several volunteers.
Mr. J. P.Stoops, of Union Theological Seminary, presented the volunteer movement to 45 congregations. all of whom ware favorably impressed; dve responded immediately, ten expect soon to have their missionary, and 49 names were received 80S volunteers. Mr.A. N. O'Brien during the SUmmer secured the pledges of 85 volunteers and the sum of $445 per year for five years.
In addition to this should be mentioned the deepening work among volunteers. Mr. Edwin B. Stiles, who. with his wife, has lately sailed for India, reports as conclusions reached from his summer's experience that the people are waiting to be instructed on the subject of foreign missionH, and when instructed are ready to give; that intelligent inter· est among the masses is increasing; and that there is a crying need of more thorough sys· temin giving. a thing which he has demonstrated can be accomplished by presenting to young people's societies in all its significance the present uprising of young people for for· eign missions.
An inspiring report also comes from Mr. W. W. Smith, of Princeton, '89 : "When the idea entered my head some months ago to devote a part of my summer to a missionary tour of one of the States, great apprehension arose as to my fitness in any possible way for the work. But God said, • Not by might nor by power, but by my Rpirit'; and so I determined to try. After the Northfield Bible school closed, Mr. Wilder and I went to Springfield. Mass., where between us w.. spoke in ten different places. As a. result four churches adopted the' plan for volunteer gifts for foreign missions.' We then divided forces, Mr. Wilder leaving for Niagara. while I continued the work in Massachu. setts, and later in Northern. Central, and Eastern New-York, Northern New Jersey and Eastern PennsylVania. II::. he Y. M. C. A. at Brocton, Mass., there was an audience of but 35, six of whom offered to go to the foreign field as missionaries. Nine young men pledged $93.60 per year towards the support of a missionary representative; twelve were already living $1.00 per week besides. They ha.ve now chosen one of the six to educate as age••
MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
er"l secretary in the Y. 111. C. A., preparatory to sending him to the f"reign field. In Jer- sey City 18 signed the pledge in one day. .
"Altogether I have spoken 41 time since college closed. Providence used me as the means of putting the' plan' in 15 places. All but two or three of these adopted the plan in toto, undertaking the full support of a missionary. The sum thus raised for the various foreign boards is about $8,000. God also raised up twenty-six new volun_ teers, 20 men and six young women. I disposed of 34 copies of •The Evangelization of the World,' and received several orders for the M,SSIONARY REVIEW OJ!' THE WORLD. The work to me personally has proved an inestimable blessing, drawing me closer to the divine help and guidance. I wish all volunteers would take up this method of awakening interest and stirring up their OWn ardor in • the crowning work of the century.'"
~ II.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Afrlca.-Slave-hunters and missionaries. there was no work which excited so much For some time past the missionaries in Ny- sympathy as that Which was being pursued assaland have had to defend themselves by Europeans in Africa. In Nyassaiand and against Arab slave-hunters. Not only so, the Shire Highlands the ga.llant missions but in their heroic stand against the mer- and the Scottish company were maintainciless man-stealers they have been ham- ing themselves against the great attack of pered by the representatives of a so-called Arab slavers, who recognized in these piocivilizec power. ThePortuguesewhooccupy neers of civilization their natural enemy. adjacent territory, being apparently anx- It was a desperate struggle, but it was one ious to annex Nyassaland itself, are well which did not at present apparently involve content that the slaver should not only the direct co-operation of the Portuguese. well-nigh exterminate the natives, but do The missions and Europeans could only dehis best or worst to drive the missionaries pend for their defence upon the possession off the coveted land. In this extremity it of arms. These had to pass through Portuwas decided to approach the British Gov- guese territory, and Portugal, said the ernment. To this end a deputation, repre- Prime Minister, had thrown every impedisenting the joint committees of the Es- ment in the way of furnishmg these arms. tabhshed, Free and United Presbyterian Their sympathies had not been with the churches of Scotland, the Universities Mis- missionaries. Portugal claimed the whole sion and the African Lakes Company, territory from the Atlantic to the Indian waited lipon Lord Salisbury at the Foreign Ocean. This claim was not admitted by the Office on Friday. The deputation, a most British Government, nor did this country in1luential one, made up of representative consider that Portugal had any claim to the men from the Scottish churches, together banks of Lake Nyassa or the Shir6 Highwith several members of Parliament, was lands. There was no danger, Lord Salisbury introduced hy Lord Balfour, whoeKpressed assured thedeputation,that the Portuguese the hope that theBritish Government would would lay violent hands upon any of the 110t lIo11ow the interests of this country in mission stations. The position was, how_ Nyassaland to be abandoned to Portugal. ever, a peculiar one; but the deputation' Rev. Dr. Scott presented a memorial to the must not expect more from the government Premier, signed by 11,006 ministers and than it could accomplish. Nyassaland was elders in the three Scottish churches, set- not British territory and the government ting forth the extent of their missionary could not protect the Europeans from the effort on the shores of the Nyassa, and in power which the possession of the coast the district known ·as the Shire Highlands, gave to the Portuguese. Diplomatic action pointing out the dangers which beset the should not be wanting. and there was reamissions, especially from the Portuguese, son to hope that the problem would alter as who threaten to annex the country, and civilization extended. urging upon Her Majesty's Government the necessity of taking steps to insure that the -Africa's Regeneration-How and When? missions should be permitted to continue In a paper on British West Africa, read before their Christian work undisturbed. Rev. the Royal Colonial Institution at Freetown, Horace Waller, on behalf of the Universi- Sierra Leone, Mr. Johnston, the English Viceties Mission; Mr. Campbell White, repre- Consul, spoke of the Negro races as those of" a senting theFree Church; Rev. John M'Mur- lower mental dcvelopment" This objectiontie, on behalf of the Established Church of able designation elicited an immediate and pun- Scotland; and Mr. Moir. joint manager of gent reply through the editorial columns of the African Lakes Company; also spoke. Tlu Sierra Leone Weekly News, in which were The latter mentioned that the natives in forcibly sdvocated new and important theories 1885, fearing annexation, invited the com- for the real elevation of the Negro, which cerpany to protect them and administer the country. Lord Salisbury, in reply, said tainly se9m worthy ofa more careful study and a more thorough trial than they ha.ve yet re- ceived by those laboring for the rejteneratloD ofAfrica. The writer contends that, while the where they gave medical advice and Negro is different from the white man, he is no~ preached the gospel. At one place the chief 'nterim', and that he wonld prove his intellec- made them encamp in a farm-yard close nal eqnality nnder as favorable circumstances to his own house, warning them that if they as his white brother has enjoyed for centnries ; went a few yards away he would not be an- that there is no essential snperiority or inferi- swerable for their lives. Just after the orityon the one side or the other. The ques- ladies had got off their mules a woman came tion, it is said, is simply one of a difference of up, and seizing one of them by the throat endowment and destiny, ~which is really the withone hand, drew therother hand acrosll difference between a movement of two distinct it in imitation of cutting it and said: "That races In the same groove, with one thrown by is what we ought to do with you!" But circnmstances behind the other, and the move- before they left the place the Lord lJad given ment of the same races along lines which are the missionaries much favor in the sight of destined to be always parallel, without coinci- the people. The chief was the most inter- dence in capacityor performance. Though dis- ested of all the listeners, and when they tinct, they are equal, and never until the Ne- proceeded on their journey accompanied gro has opportunity to develope along his own them all day to see them safely up on their appointed lines, can he vindicate himself, and way.-Bombay Guardian.
Africa experience any material intellectual or -The Indigo of AfrIca is the best grown in moral elevation. The views here condensed the world. Even the wild indigo of Africa and presented, are, in fact, those so ablyelabora- is better than the famous plant cultivated ted by that remarkable mlln aud eminent with great care in India. A soci"ty has scholar, E. W. BIyden, LL.D., of West Africa, been formed in Liverpool to develop its a Negro of pure blood, well kuown to many in prOduction. We shOUld soon have Chri&- hia .. Christianity, Islam, and the Negro Race," tian farmers connected with our mission a work worthy of a wider circnlation in this stations, engaged in the commercial pro- connlry.-N. Y. Evangelist, ducts in their vicinity. Sugar, coffee, -Bishop Turner of the African Methodist cassia, indigo and other products could be church says: "Africa is the richest couti- cultivated to profit where these are indigi- nent under the canopyofheaven. Her nat- nous.
ural resources are incalculable. England B razi I. – The matter of Presbyterian and other European countries keep 200 ships missions in Brazil received due attention at the hugging the coast the year arouud, pouring meeting of the General Assembly in New York her wealth into their coffers; and this in May last. It came up in the report of country could double the number by utiliz- the commission sent to that country to or- ing the Negro, if it could just look beyond ganize a Synod and to make a general ex- its prejudices and adjust itself to its possi- amination of the condition of the churcb tbere.
bilities. A lineofsteamers between Charles- Dr. J. Aspinwall Hodge of Hartford gave an ton, Savannah, New Orleans or Wilming- account of the trip and made a most urgent ap- ton and Africa could in a few years be made peal to the Presbyterians oftbis country to con- toft60d the land with unuumbered millions tribute liberally to the work there. The condi- of money. The Negro as an agent might be tion of affairs as he pictured them was deplora- made a thousandfold more valuable to the able in the extreme. Tbere lire only 32 Pres- South than he was as a slave, and at the byterian ministers to carry on the work of same time more valuable to himself as a evangelizing a country nearIy as large as the freeman. If England can keep steamer United States. Dr. Charles E. Knox of lines running all the time hurdened with Bloomfield, N, J., who was also one of the com- gold-dust, ivory, coffee, cam-wood, palm- mission, was equally strong iu his appeals for oil and a thousand other things which bring money to establish a theological seminary in wealth and give business to the world, why Brazil. He was glowingly enthusiastic in pic- cannot this country, with millions of men turing the spread of Protestant schools and of at its disposal adapted to the climate of Republicanism in Brazil, and in recounting the Africa and as faithful to their trust as any vast opportunities for spreading the gospel of- race in the world. do as much or more f If fered there.
the Negro is a burden, amenace and source Another stirring plea for aid, both missiona- of v~xation to our white friends, let them ries aud money, for the Brazilian work was open up a highway to the land of his ances- made by Dr. G. W. Chamberlain, who repre- try by a line of steamers, cheap transporta- sents the Synod of Brazil in the AssembIy. He tion and a little business thrown in, and the pointed out that iu nine years the Assembly had • dark Negro problem' will solve itself i;:' a sent only one minister to the field, and that he rew years."-Spirit oj Missions. had been so overworked that he was now re- -A missionary sends from Tangier some turning to the United States, broken down in notes ot a journey which three lady evan- health. His speech had a deep inftuence on tb.
gelists recently made to Fez, a city with a commissiouers, and will no doubt result in sub population of 150,000. They carried a tent stantiaJly beuefitiug the work of supplying th~ with them, camping by the way at villages, spiritual needs of the millions of Brazil. The resolutions offered by the commission were no part of the world 18 the medieal missionary carried. more highly appreciated than within the Chi- nese Empire, and a great part of the current ex- Burma.-A Burmese religious cere- penses of the hospitals and dispensaries afe mony. A corresponeent of an Indian paper de- borne by Chinese olllcials, the gentry and scribes a curious ceremony which took place the merchants. Foreigners residing in China recently at Rangoon. I seems that in a recent also give a good deal, Iethere were 100 mediearthquake the bird's wing ofgold and precious stonesicrowningthe great :Rangoon pag'?<¥l was cal missionanes in China among 300,000,000 of thrown down and injnred. The trustees of the people, each phYSician would have more than building. called on the people for subscriptions twice as many people to attend as there afe for a new one, and in three weeks a snm of living in New York.-Medical NiBS. Jlect»"d. 80,000 rupees was coIlected. It was notified that on a certain day the melting of the gold India. – The fact is not commonly and silver would take place, and that it would recognized that the missionary bodies most be the last opportunity ofcontributing. In one interested in higher educational work in of the large rooms of the pagoda two large cru- India are Presbyterian and Anglican. Of cibles were placed, one for gold, the other for the large stalf of the Baptist and Methodist Episcopa.l, aud several other ag&,ressive silver. Hundreds of men and women, girls, missions, we do not know of one "{hich is boys, and small children passed by dropping engaged in what is known as higher educatheir silver or gold ornaments into the crucibles tional work, except Dr. Badley at Lucknow, orhanding their precions stones to the clerk snd the Christian College he is founding is for the purpose of being set in the bird's wing. the model upon which existing mission col- Women gaily dressed and covered with jewels leges shonld be immediately re-organized. passed by, and, taking a couple of gold bangles Its curriculum and appointments throughfrom each arm, threw them into the pot, or they out are adapted especially for native Christook olf rings, and, handing the stones to the clerk, added the gold to the melting mass. tian students. Non-Christian students are Those who had no gold put in rupee coins into not excluded, bnt if they come they must the silver crucible and handed over others to accept the teaching which has in view the the clerk for the use of the pagoda; eveu the needs of our native Christian youth.-The beggars came and added their mites. All part Indian Witness. ed with their treasnres without a sigh, and, in fact, seemed glad to give it {or such a devout Romanlsm.-Romani8m in the Provpurpose. All their good deeds are so many ince of Quebec has attained a degree of rungs mounted on the ladder towards heaven. strength and wealth, and is snpported by a The Shans went in a body of 20 men, and pre- self-denying and resolute spirit. not known sented a valuable diamond weighing 75 carats, or appreciated until recently by even wellwhich is to be placed as the chief ornament of informed Canadians. At the recent meet- the wing. The silver melted amounted ing of the Canadian Branch of the Evanto :Rs. 7,580; that collected to 3,525: the gelical Alliance, Principal McVicar pre- gold melted amounted to Rs. 13,BOO, and sented carefully compliedstatisticsshowing the precious stones given were valued at that .the Papistical chnrch receives on an Rs. 22,000. The wing that fell down was valued average, annually, from 200,000 families in at :Rs. 1.22,500, and the one to replace it will be worth Rs•. 1,75,000. The umbrella ornament at the Province of Quebec. the enormons 8um the top of the same pagoda (the Shawgda-goan} of $8,000,000 for the exclusive ends ofCatho- lic worship. She owns 900 churches and the is said to have cost King Mindine Min six lakha same number of parsonages, together with of rupees; it is of pure gold, richly set with the palaces of the cardin'al, archbishops gems, ano! is actually 15 feet high, although at and bishops, valued at $000.000; 12 semi- its present elevation it does not seem two feet. naries, worth $600,000; 17 classical colleges, The pagoda itself I~ 328 feet high, and the hil- worth $850,000; 259 boarding schools and lock on which it stands is 100 feet. The pagoda academies. worth $6,000.000; 80 convents. is surrounded by the barracks of the British worth $4,000,000; and 68 hospitals and asy- troops, and the magazines are said to be in the lums, worth $4,000,000; making a total of hillock on which It is built. $61,210,000. Besides, certain ecclesiastical orders are enormously wealthy. The Snlpi- China.-There are now 82 medical mis- cians, for instance, on Catholic testimony sionaries iniChina, the majority of whom are from the United States; 16 of them are female are wealthier thau the Bank of Montreal, physicians. There are large mission hospitals the most powerfnl monied corporation in and dispensaries in Peking, Tientsin, Shang- America. The lady superior of the Lon&,ue hai and Canton, and smaner ones at various Point Asylum recently informed a press other cities. At these hospitals, where many representative that the nnns built that thousands are treated yearly, and at the homes splendid bnilding at their own cost of $100.- of other sick people, the teaching of the gospel 000. To everyone familiar with history the goes hand in hand with the medical treatment, growth of Romanism on this continent is a. and the good accomplished is very great. In menace to free institntions_ to the public schools, and to a. competent and honest administra.tion of public a.1fairs. -Rev. Jacob Primmer of Dunfermline, "ART. V. The Ministers of State, Colonies charges that the church of Scotland is War and Marine shall be charged with the exe: becomin~ honeycombed with Jesuits and cution oUhis decree in everything relating to Popery. He quoted from the latest work of their respective departments. the Church Service Society "An Order of Divine Service for Children," to show that .. Given in the Palace, February 28th, 1888. it was a liturgy largely drawn from popish mas&-books, and taught baptIsmal regen- " MARlA CRISTINA. eration. In this secret society, the two clerks of Assembly and ex-moderator were "The President of the Council of Ministers, leading spirits. These Romanizers had in- .. PRAxEnEs MATEO PAGASTA." troduced into their church large numbers of popish images of mouks, the virgin TV .rkey.-" The statistics for the Eastern saints, angels, crosses, also a service-book, and ritualism, as in St. Giles's, Edinburgh; Turkey Mission have just been completed for popish pulpits with the crucifix on them, as the year 1888, and possibly an extract from in Craigiebuckler churcQ; a large stone these may not prove unintereSting to many of cross standing seventeen feet eight inches your readers. They may also give a better idea high in Ruthwell church, which had been of the work of the mission. enlarged to receive it, and last Sunday It was dedicated by the minister of Morning- .. The estimated population of the field occu·· side, although the whole thing was a viola- pied by this mission is over one and a quarter tion of the law of the church. He had million. This gives to each ordained missionmade the Scottish hymnal a special ary in the field a parish of ninety-two thousand study, and he had discovered that fifty of souls. Of this two and one-quarter millions the, hymns were written by popish monks, within the limits of the mission only about sixpriests and sa.ints. These Romanizers were at large in the church. teen thousand are declared Protestants, one- tenth Qf rme per cent. ofthe whOle number. But of Spaln.-Celebratlon of the Discovery of America. Dr. Curry, United States Minister to the sixteen thousand declared Protestants. only Spain, sends a translation of the decree, signed 2,686 are membeI·s of the Protestant churchby the Queen-Regent, setting forth the plan by which makes one church member to every 500 wliich Spain is to celebrate the four hundreth of the sonls included within the mission limits. anniversary of the discovery of America. It is These figures show that the time has not yet rather amusing to observe that the United arrived for the withdrawal ofmi88ionary forces States i8 not to be invited to participate in the from Turk~y. Spanish festivities. .. There are five regular stations at which The following is the Royal Decree: missionaries reside: Bitlis, established in 1858; "ARTICLE I. For the purpose of commemo- Erzroom, In 1839; Harpoot, in 1855; Mardin, rating the fourth Ceutennial of the Discovery of In 1856, and Van, in 1872. Bitlis occupies 15 America and of honoring the memory of Chris- out-stations, Erzroom 22, Harpoot 56, Mardin topher Columbus, an Exposition shall be estab- 20 and Van 2. About five·elghts of all of the lished for the year 1892, to which the Govern· Protestants of the mission are within the limment shal, invite the kingdom of Portugal and its of Harpoot station. There are 40 regularly the Governments of the Nations of Latin established churches in the mission, with a to- America. tal membership of 2,686. To these churches "ART. II. The object of the Exposition will there were received on confeSsion, in 1888, 205 be t? present, in. t!Ie most complete manner members; 156 of these were received in the pOSSIble, the condItIon of the inhabitants of Harpoot field. These churches are presided ~merica at the time of the discovery by collect- over by 28 ordained pastors. There are also 50 l1!g for t.he purpose all the objects which can regular preachers, 176 native teachers and 45 gIve an Idea of the state of their civllization and other helpers, such as Bible-readers, colpor of the Civilization of the races inhabiting the teors, evangelists, etc. Each Sabbath there is American Continent at the end of the fifteenth preaching at 120 stated places, with an average centur~, and by a separate exhibition at the congregation of 11,000. About 75 per cent. of same time of all the products of the art, science this number are members of the Sabbathand industry which characterize the present schools. cuItu» of the Nations of Latin america. "AltT. III. A special committee, which shall "The educational statistics show, also, a large be sent to South America in a government war- work. The center of the mission schools is at ves~el, shall be charged with the dnty of pre- Harpoot, where is located the Mission Theologpsrmg the Exposition in agreement with and ical Seminary and Euphrates College, with over u'!der the dire~tion.of the diplomatic represent- 590 students in attendance. From here teachatIves of Spam 1D the different American ers and preachers r:o out to all parts or the field. States. Exclusive of the college there are over 6,000 "ART. IV. To meet the expenses necessary scholars studying in the high and common for the celebration of the centennial the Gov- schools of the mission. ernment will euter in each of the five coming budgets, aJ:d will submit to the approval of the "When it is remembered that all these schools Cortes, an appropriation of 500,000 francs which are strictly evangelical, in which lessons from sh~ll be exclusively destined to the expenses re- the Bible and Testament are daily given. whose q,!Ired b! the commemoration. This appropri- teachers are supposed to be Christians, and who atIOn WIll be deClared permanent until June are especially charged with the duty of giving 30th, 1893, and the sums unexpended shall be to all their pupils religious Instruction, the part kept in the the treasury until that date. which these schools are destined to play in the evangelization of this land can be partlally appredated. It is undoubtedly true that over oue- Apart from aU figures, there Is at present half of the studeuts above mentioned are mem- a thorough stirring up in the old church.
bers of non-Protestaut families. The school is There is less of hostility and more hearty already a power in the land, and its in1luence Is co-operation than ever before. Protestant increasing every day. preachers are constantly invited into the .. The next question IS, What do these people oVJ. Gregorian churches to conduct service pay for all the gospel and educational privileges -not the service of the church. but the they enjoy Y Before this question Is answerad, Protestant service with preaching. Our you must remember that this is in the Oriellt, educated Christian young men are urged to where it is the nature of the people to receive, teach in the schools which the Gregorians not to give; whose common nature and desire are attempting to establish. Many of the is expressed by the universal never-forgotten Protestant text-books have been adopted word, "bakshish"; where many a man will by them and very frequently the New Tesendure a hard beating from officials rather than tament is used. All of these things were unpay his tax of one or two dollars, when he has heard of a few years ago. Protestantism the money in his pocket aud knows that he must has come to be synonymous with enlighten- ment and this is the foundation of true ultimately pay it. But above all this it is a land Christianity.-Rev. J. L. Barton, 0/ Harput, of extreme poverty and oppression, where thou- in The independent. sands of deaths occur each year from lack of food Woman's Work.-In the heart of a deand from exposure; where the whole tendency voted Christian woman some 54 years ago was conceived the idea of how to reach the of the country is toward extreme poverty. It women in the zenanas of India. Singlemust also not be forgotteu that here the regular handed and against great opposition did wages of a common laborer, he boarding him- Mrs. Doremus put that thought into operaself, is 10 to 15 cents a day; for a man with a tion. trade from 20 to 40 cents a day; that bread costs nearly as much as it does in America, and tha Dr. David Abel, an American missionary many articles of clothing are imported from to China, returning in 1834, started in Eng- Europe. Looking at all of these things, it is land the .. Society for Promoting Female evident that $1 here would equal from $5 to $8 Education in the East." lIrs. Doremus,list- ening to his appeals as he strove to arouse in the United States-i. e., it would be procured Christians in America to the needs of the women in the East, said: I will go to my with as much difficulty and labor, while it will sisters in Christ, sisters of wealth, of culnot go so far in the purchase of necessities and ture, with leisure, and tell them what you luxuries. have told me ; what it is that is holding the heathen nations to their sUl)erstition and " After this introduction, let me say that the Protestants of this mission contributed during the year 1888 for religious and educational pur- poses nearly $13,000. This does not include idolatry. It is the women of India, the large sums paid for the purchase of religious mothers and sisters incarcerated bepind and school-hooks, nor does it take into consid- those walls, that shield them from all aperation personal expense incurred in sending proach, not only of religion, but of educascholars to school and in hoarding them while tion and friends. We will uUlte together, we there, except when this money, in a few cases only, is put into missionaries' hands for the pur- women of America, of every creed, in this pose of board. This is an average of nearly 90 great work of sending single women as mis- sionaries, who, not having the ca.re of huscents each for every declared Protestan bands and families, can give themselves throughout the mission and $4.80 for each especially to this work. church member. The women listened, felt the call as a "To put it in a little different form: for special message to them and responded every dollar contributed by the American gladly. The men said. It was not possible Board for direct evangelical and education- that women could go out, unmarried, to al purposes, the people contributed one dol- these heathen countries and be respected, lar and ten cents. Bear in mind that the and so great was the opposition that what party who paid the $1.10 earned it at 14 was intended to be simply a movement of cents a da.y, boarding himself in the mean women auxiliary to already established time. If all who cOll1;ribute to the work of the missionary sscieties, was organized 26 American Board would give with the same years afterwards as a distinct work, asliberality and self-sacrifice that these peo- suming the name of "The Woman's Union ple of the Orient have given during the past Missionary Society of A·merica for Heathen year, the treasury of the Board would be Lands," whose prominent feature was the more than full." sending of single women to do a specific These churches have also a Home Mission work among the women. The wedge ha.s Society, which is carrying on a noble work entered the very heart of idolatry, in that at Kourdistaa. The contributions to this the heathen women are being reached as society are so liberal that the wqrk is not never before; but a greater workeven than at all hampered for the want of funds. this has been accomplished, for this inBDlr-
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
ation bas emancipatea our own' American goes a.wa.y damning the cause with faint women. The women of India and China and praise of the worthy man's zeal. It would Japan need our personal elforts in their be- be interesting to compare the opinions of half, but we needed more the stimulus book.making tourists with those of the that has come to us through the missional'Y British governors of India, the ministers to work. Since Mrs. Doremus and her sympa- Turkey and the admirals of Pacific squadthizers organized this woman's work, sO rons; that is, the opinions of casual obshort a time ago, there have sprung up all servers wlth those of men who thoroughly over our land a multitude of women's socI- w.nderstand the subject. eties. Thousands are organized, not only for the foreign missionary work, but for the But the most confident critic of missions home work, for temperance work, for all is the statisticiau, w.ho demolishes them manner of church and state charities. by a sum in arithmetic: the heathen popu- Woman is fast becoming the almoner of lation increases at such a ratio, converts a' man's best gifts to his fellow-men. While such a ratio, a.nd the latter never overtake we rejoice in the well being of the multitude the former. He deems himself under no of women's missionary societies that have obligation to explain why the basilicas of been the direct outcome of this mother in Rome became churches, or why England Israel-for it is the oldest of aJl onr women's does not still worship at Stonehenge inorganizations in America-we will do well stead of Westminster. It would seem to to cherish and promote to the utmost of our be not a difficult thing to learu that human ability the prosperity of this Union work, progress is not determined by a law of nuwhich has six mission stations, one hospital, merical ratio, but there are enough who two dispensa.ries, fifty-seven missionaries can think in no other fashion even with hisand 3,381 pupils dependent upon it,with wider tory for an object-Iesson.-Dr. Munger in fields of usefulness still opening before it. Forum for June.
This peculiar and all-important work calls -SOME ten years ago,Mr. Gladstone transfor tile hearty co-operation of everyone lated into beautiful Italian the well-known mterested in aggressive foreign missionary hymn, Rock of Ages. This suggested to work. Signor RuggeroBonghi, the Gladstone of the Italian Parliament, tbe idea of using his -The Critic:a of Missions. The most per- pen in diffusing and defending the truth. sistent critics are the tourists and the stat- Among other productions he has written isticians. The former make the jOllrney of Vita di Gesu, The Life of Christ, a work the world, and, finding in every port a hand- based on the evangelists, of warm Christian ful of missionaries, and behind them the spirit and heartily endorsed by those who great, black m..ss of untouched heathenism, have examined it as far as published. Each not unnaturalIv infer that this speck of number consists of eight superbly printed whiteness can never overcome this mass of pages, costing bu,t two cents. On the Corso, blackness. What reason has the tourist the most fashionable street of Rome, are for believing that a thing which is so near seen in large letters the words, Vita di Gesu, nothing can bring to naught a thing so vast Vita di Gesu, while near by stands a splenand real as Asiatic Buddhism 1 He forgets did illustration from the book, Christ talkthat one rope-girded priest converted Eng- ing with the woman of Samaria. It is worth land, another Germany, another Ireland. while statiilg that there will be seventy He finds that the missionary is a commou parts, containing in all eighty-six fine illusand uninteresting man, that often his con- trations by the best artists in the kingdom. verts are chieftyretaiuers, that lapses are Such an occurrencc has never before taken frequeut, and that his methods have ap- place iu Italy. Mr. Boughi appears daily in parently little relations to the ends most to the Senate, and losses nothmg. of his in- be desired. And so he eats the missiouary's fiuence by having written tbis scholarly and bread, as a god from Olympus might sup mauly life of Christ. The parts. as they with mortals, accepts his suggestions as to Come from the press, are eagerly sought routes, and fiUs his note-book with bor- for, and read with avidity by tbousandswho rowed information, which appears in his are now e::etting for the first time the history printed pages as original observations, and of the Holy Child.
IH.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
India. establishing Y. M. C. A's. in foreign [OUR reaC:ers will remember that lands and visiting colleges and other Mr. Wishard, Secretary of the Colle- schools of learning, performing evangiate International Y. M. C. Associ- gelistic work among the students. His mission thus far has proved a. a.tion, is spending some years abroad great success. Col. Olcott, the New wards what kind of a religion shall the York Theosophist, who was convert- country have. And upon this latter ed some years age to the vagaries of ground it seems that the contest must Madame Blavatsky, the Russo-Indian speedily ,come to an issue. Spiritualist, has been paying a missionary visit to Japan in the hope of "It is likely that, for a ttme at least, there turning Christian converts to Budd- will be three rival forces contendinghism, as it is interpreted by the Christianity, Buddhism and Skepticism. The next twenty years is going to witness Theosophists. We get a glimpse in a great change in the national character this letter of the kind of work he is of Japan. As far as skepticism is concerned, doing.-EDs.] it lies at the very heart of the rising gener- ation. We are sowmg the seed in a skepti_ "Mr. L. D.Wishard has just returned from cal soil. A bright young man, a student in a trip down the inland sea to Nagasaki, Oka' our school, told me, a short time ago, that yama, etc. In some of these places he fol- he did not believe there was a human soul, lowed Col. Olcott, the Theosophist, by about neither a God, heaveu nor hell. This is the a week. Col. Olcott began by lecturing on case with many young men here. But the Buddhism. pure and simple, but now is trav- gospel has power, if it can reach the heart elling through the Empire attackin~ Ohris- directly, without hUman conception, to anity, since in this he has the support of overcome this skepticism. This skepticism the Buddhist priests. kt Hiroshima, the is not a native of the Japallese soil; it Snnday after his lectures, Miss Bryan's and is an imported article from Europe and Miss Cuthbert's Sunday-schools were re- America. duced by one-half, so strongly stirred were the Buddhists against Christianity, but in a .. But the mosta.ctive opponent to Christifew weeks the schools will probably be at- anity will be Buddhism-Buddhism retended by their wonted numbers. Mr. Wish- formed. Its adheren ts are bestirring themard has been at work among the students of selves on an sides. They are to have schools the Government schools of late, and by issu- aud colleges, both classical and theologiing cards anuouncing himself as a rept'esen- cal, newspapers and magazines, a. clergy tative of the students of Europe and Amer- with itinerant preaching, and everything • ica. has drawn immense crowds in the thea- on the Christian plan 'of propagating their tres-sometimes over 1,000 young men. At faith. They will have missionary societies; a recent meeting (at Okayama) the Buddhist and it is thought that America will be repriests c..me in, as they often do to make deemed from the heathenism of Chrisdisturbance, and if possible, bre..k up the tianity. What think you, Americans? Col. meeting. On this occasion Mr. Wishard ap- Olcott, the American apostle of Buddhism, pealed to the students, who at once sided and the first American convert to the religwith him and enforced order. The students ion of Shaka, is now in Japau, lecturing to are evidently very much taken with him, full houses. He comes from ,Ceylon for the and are delighted to be addressed as a class; purpose of uniting Japanese Buddhism with and he can, therefore, as a college secretary that of Ceylon. The object is to have Buddhand representative. reach them as no other ism present one solid front to Christianity mau could. He is doing a grand work. Over in the East. Thinking that the strength of 100 young men were baptized a few weeks Christian ty is largely in Its methods of ago at the Congregational College at Kyoto spreading, Buddhism will adopt these as the fruit of his labors. He conducts a methods; and instead of a priest sitting summer school for Bible study in this insti- all day upon his feet beside bibacki (a tution, on the Northfield plan, early in July, brazier), and smoking a piper sixty times an and says he wtshes Dr. Pierson would come hour. he will be called a preacher as in out and assist in the work. Here is a new America, and will go about delivering serform of work in Japan that promises great mons. They wish to solidify and move a.s an results and should enlist the prayers of unbroken phalanx. saints everYwhere. ' FRED. S. CURTIS. They will learn one invaluable lesson from "KOBE, JAPAN, May 16, 1889." united Catholicism and divided Protestant- ism. Here, where Christianity has to staud Japan, alone, without the popular sentiment in its favor, Christian union shines with a diviner .. EDS. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD: brightness. Missionaries who represent the .. Religion inJapan still continues tobethe most ant~gonistie theological schools, meet one another, and give the friendly greeting, ab.obing topic of the day. The purely polit- and wish the union God speed. But occastical newspapers even cannot keep the sub- ionally a home paper comes from across the ject out of their columns. The drift of sea, full of sad foreboding concerning the the discussion is not so much towards union movement. They fear that each will the having or not having a relil:"ion, but to- not have an equal share in rights and privileges, tha.t the home church constitu- bEmOAN MISSION, BEIRUT, March 18, ]889. tion will be viola.ted, a.nd tha.t some one DEAR DR. SHERWOOD: My brother and brotherchurch will lose its identity in the noion. in-law have been touring in the southern part of But there are very few missionaries in the Sidon field. I enclose part of a private jour- Japan who are opposing the union. While nal kept by the latter during the trip. It will It is exclusively among the Pedoba.ptists. give a good idea of the experience of mis~iona the Baptists hope to see it triumph; for it will hasten the day of a union of them too. ries. Looking at this rich field in the light of the Saviour's prayer, and considering what has A year ago Beirut became the seat of a new been a.ccomplished towa.rds its fulfillment. "Warhijat" or province and a Governor-Gen. who can doubt that we have rightly inter- eral, Ali Pasha, was appointed. After a year'" preted that prayer, or lift an opposing voice residence here he has been removed by death. against the progress made? Long a resident in Paris and Berlin, he had lib- eral views and was affable and personally friend- .. FraternalJy, E. SNODGRASS. ly to the representatives of foreign powers resi- .. SHONAI, JAPAN, May 6, ]889." dent, and as far as lay in his power he aided rather than opposed our work in this province… Another letter from Japan. Journal. After pa.sing Ras el Ain beyond [A hopeful si.gn and further news Tyre, I was on new ground, and everything berespecting Col. Olcott's mission.- came more interesting. Two and a half honrs along the sea brought us to a famous headland, EDS.) Rasel Abyad, over which the road is cot deep into the white chalky rock. At places it is very smooth .. The following editorial appeared recently and steep, while the cliffdrops sheer away for ZOO in the local paper published here: ft.'into the blue sea. Beyond this along the shore for miles is a sample of Turkish mismanagement. .,' Buddhist, ' where are you? I want to call They forced the surrounding popnlation to come and labor upon a new carriage road, which beyour attention to some facts, and roIly a thon- gins nowhere and ends nowhere, crosses no ravines, is straight where it ought to be sand of the brethren who have grown indiff.rent crooked, and crooked where it ought to be to our religion. Don·t you see the water drip- straight, I. double the width needed, and though ping throngh the roofs and soiling the clothes continuing tor many miles is nowhere finished. of our idols? Don't you see the priests going It is a perfect type of the scale on which snch about the streets caring only for their beauti- works are often projected, and the way in which ful robes, wine and money? Can't we reform they are abandoned after some one in money these priests and restore the religion that has or muscle has paid out enough to complete two done so mnch for our country? I was sur· such roads. prised when I saw the earnestness of the missionaries, and I was also very sorry, be- We visited several rockhewn tombs, of which cause they are establishing the foreign religion there lire thousands in PhoeniCia, and below in onr country. The students in our schools Alexander's fountain we left the sea and began are believing in their religion. Do yon know to climb the mountain slope, visiting some an- what that means 1 The very ones who will cient ruins, acres of pillars, columns and blocks soon be the leaders of our nation are believing lying all over the top of the slope. It is saddenand accepting the teachings of these IOreign ing to think of how hard these unknowu people missionaries. See how they establish schools, must have labored to erect such buildings and and work diligently every day, and then take then to pass away, thus leaving nothing behind warning. You have read how onr Bnddhists them, not even a name. Then for an honr more have been persecuted in the Eastern countries we pulled up the mountain, rugged and stony, by those foreigners. ' with a scrnbby oak, thorns and coarse grasses, finally reaching our destination. Alma, on the "This man only gives us a picture ofthe decay top of the ridge, surronnded by mulberry and of Buddhism. They are in the throes of death, olive trees, is very pretty from a distance, but, and we may expect to hear snch groans. Col. like Constantinople, a closer acquaintance dis- Olcott, an American, is trying to revive their pels something of first Impres~ions. The people cause in Japan. He tells them in his addresses are desperately poor-poorer than any village to retain their native religion and not be found I have yet visited. For years they have suffer- accepting the religion of another country; but ed from oppression and robbery; murders and the Colonei doesn't practice What he preaches. fights have been of frequent occurrence, and A town near us offered $500 to get a few this whole region until quite recently was un· lectures from him, but the amount was not safe. Yet a nice new church was finished and sufficient, which shows that he Is a rather ex· dedicated a year ago, and the communicants pensive assistance. Many revivlas are gOing on number nearly thirty. We came to the room of in the Christian work and most all the churches the resident teacher. It is a curions old place, are enjoying a healthy and steady growth. a large yard in front in which cattle are tethered by day. On the ground 1I00r are three large "SUI'L H. WAlNRIGHT. .. OITA, April, 14, 1889."
Syria. – Missionary Experience. – Miss Mary l', Eddy sends us the following: rooms, each of which serves as house, barn Now let me describe our .. dwelling" here. and stable. A family, stores of hay and grain, We occupy the room belouging to the teacher. a.nd cattle being quartered in each one. I wish I It is 15 ft. by 12, with a mud 1Ioor and very dinconld clearly picture one with its arches of gy walls. The roof rests on two long, heaT)' stone, supporting mud roofs with mud 1Ioors, beams, across which are laid rows of crooked granaries, rough mats, absolutely no furni ture. sticks, then layers of moss and thorns, then At nights only a smoky oil light to illumiue earth. All day long, but especially at night, the the darkness. Men and women, old and young, dry mud is dropping dowu, covering everyinhahit the room. Water has all to be carried thing with dust, which is whirled about every by the women from a fonntain half an hour time the door or window is opened. I find lots below the village, hence cleanliness is at a dis· of mud in my hair every morning. The door connt. More than one man in the church has is about five feet high, so one must either duck taken hnman life in' self-defense or otherwise. his head or bump it when entering. Two Four of the members are blind, and others will windows, without glass, alford good ventisoon be in the same sad condition. The poverty lation. Both windows remain shut most of the and snlfering of many is pitiable to behold. Yet day on account of the strong wind, and we get the church at Alma is not a discouraging one; our light through the open doorway. I know there are some bright jewels in it who have the meaning of "darkening one's doorway," withstood much persecution in years past. Since, when anl one comes the room is dark- ened. The east wall has a" yoke," or clothes- Sunday was a pleasant day. S"turday after- press, without doors, or shelves, or anything, noon we had held a meeting preparatory to cbm- except bl'ck and bottom. In It are piled our munion; so we rose early Sabbath morning. beds and bedding, when not In use. On the At 7.80 we went to the church. There was first north and south walls are very rude shelves, a meeting of the members to examine candidates on which are piled in beautiful confusion jars for admission. Then came the communion ser- and bottles and cooking utensils, dishes and vice, in whichl helped. Three were admitted, oll cans, tin boxes of salt and sugar and powthe service lasting till nearly half past ten der, bellows, old bags, and below all a small- O'clock. The church is a new building of clean er shelf with a row of books. Below the white stone, with a battlemented top, the lU- clothespress are small compartments in which side plainly finished. The roof rests on two are earthen jars containing olives, and molasrows of arches, which run lengthwise of the ses, etc. In one corner of the room are three or building. It is bare of furniture, only a table four" pockets" of mud, ajar resting in each one. for a pulpit,a chair, and a few mats on the 1Ioor. In another corner· a large wooden chest, in These are in daily use by the teacher and chil- which the teacher keeps his treasures, clothdren who comprise the school. In one corner ing, spoons, etc. At this present moment its stands the commOn bier, a heavy wooden one, cover is piled with our books and papers, sadused at all funerals. The congregation num- dle bags and canned goods. The end of the bered 120, aU seated on the floor, the men and room near the door is a. sort of combination, women being separated by a curtain. All left pantry, cellar, garret, kitchen and coal-bin, not· their shoes as they entered the door, and the to mention the guns and old saddles. The rest collection of them in all stages of worn-outed- of the 1Ioor is covered with coarse mats, and ness was a unique 1Inish to the open doorway. my "corner" has a thin bed spread onthe1l00r, I have not seeil a gathering that was more poor- on which I am sitting and writing. I have ly dressed and in the main of sadder faces. drawn the tiny, low, round table over my knees They listened like hungry people, and surely aud am writing by the dim rays of a smoky, God must look in great pity upon them. The light. When we go to bed we get out and elder, who passed the bread and wine, wore the set up our travding iron bedsteads, spread our roughest and commonest clothing, his head cov- beds and bedding, and go to sleep with the mud ered by a black sort of scarf, kept in place by a sifting iuto our ears. In the morning we go double circle or fillet of rope. His feet and legs outside, down the rough stone steps, and !brawere bare to the knees. But that took nothing ham pours wat~r on our hands while we away from the meaning and sacredness of the wash. Stationary washstands, bath-tubs, etc., service. Babies cried and were carried out and are unknown luxuries here. For dishes we in again, and once during the service two were have several plates and bowls, two cups withseated, playing, inside the bier that has been out handles or saucers, three odd tumblers, and used at so many funerals. To·day, Tuesday, knives and forks. But what fun we have in and we went out hunting, not for partridges, but through it all. !braham makes" soup," which for small deer, known here by the term" waai." is dry, and we eatit with a fork. He has to In Ps. civ: 18, the word is translated" wild inform us when the stew and rice are warm, goats," which is an error. There was an ex- for we should never discover that fact citing time when two were started, aud when unaided. Yesterday Mr. E. stutr~d and deer and hnnters went flying through the bosh. cooked a partridge he had shot, and I But the deer got away. Still later another deer made "tomato sauce" for it, a dinner Was driven from cover and brought down by we "two missionaries" mOlt heartIly enthree shots. It is a great prize and repays us for all our hunting. joyed. Southern India.-The Malaba….Syr. Royal Court of Final Appeal, representative of ian Church Case. The great Syrian church the Maharajah, and consisting of the Chief lawswt has just been heard in the Royal Court Justice and a European Christian judge. For of Final Appeal in Travancore and judgment this purpose the whole of the previous proceedwill, no doubt, shortly be pronounced. The ings, depositions pro and con, docnments repoint in contention is, whether the Patriarch of ferred to, extracts from hh;tories, canons, mis- Antioch has jurisdiction over the Syrian church sals and other books, and prior judgments were of Malabar or not. The late Mar Athanasius, printed for the use of the judges and advocates Metropolitan, and his successor, Mar Thomas in four volumes, 4to, amounting in all to 1172 Athanasius, are charged with having changed pages. Many of the remarks bearing on the the usages and doctrines of the church by the manners and customs and religious views of the omission from the ancient liturgy of prayers for Syrian Christians are of the greatest interest to the dead and prayers addressed to saints; by students, and the ultimate decision of this administering communion in both kinds, and cause celebre, whichever way it goes, will have sundry other measures tending towards what a great and permanent effect on the future of Protestant Christians would regard as reform the Syrian church of Malabar. from superstition and error. For this, the Patriarch long ago interdicted Mar Athanasius and Is not the Mar Gregorius, Syrian Bishop of contends that the orders of Mar Thomas Atha- Jerusalem, referred to in THE MISSIONARY REnaiius are invalid, not having been conferred VIEW for February, as visiting England to col~ in due form by the Patriarch himself. lect money for schools to spread Bible truths connected with this same Patriarch who in On the other hand, Mar Athanasius maintains Travancore is fighting so hard against evanthat the Patriarch possesses no such adminis- gelical and Scriptural truth ~ trative authority as he claims and that the alleged innovations ar-e in accordance with the (REv.) S. MATEER TREVANDIUJI!. earlier and purer teaching and practice of the Malabar church before they were forcibly prose- Evangelization of the Jewe. lyted to Rome by Alexis Menezes and the Portuguese power at the end of the sixteenth century EXTREMELY interesting incidents might and their ancient books destroyed. In this res- be gathered from the current annals of pect he seems to have taken up much the same the First Hebrew Christian ..hurch in ground as that assumed by the old Catholics of America. No. 17 St. Mark's Place, New Germany and Switzerland against the preten- York (Rev. Jacob Freshman, pastor), sions of the See of Rome. to illustrate the power of the gospel and the accessibility of the Jewish as] well When in Travancore in 1875-6, after a visit to as of the Gentile enemy of Christ to England In 1874, with a view of enforcing his the influences of the Holy Spirit a.ttendant claims in person, the Patriarch consecrated six on the faithful ana ..ifectionate preaching new Metrans besides one, Mar Dionysius,whom of Jesus the Messiah. The baptism of a he had previously consecrated at Merdeen, and Jew is martyrdom: the end for him of all whom he authorized, with the aid of a commit- he ever held dear or knew of hope or comtee, to carryon the litigation and' to exercise fort before in this world. Man or woman, general superintendence over the affairs of the boy or maiden, is from that hour an outcast church. This Mar Dionysins accordingly sued from home, kindred, society, employment; Mar Thomas Athanasius and other representa- followed only with bitter curses by all who tives of the reform party, in the Zillah Civil ever loved or knew them. Hardly can they Court of Alleppey, in 1879, the hearing of which even find refuge in Christian associations, at vast length occupied five years. He claimed for they are often obliged to become wanderthe Syrian seminary at Cottayam, and certain erswhere they are not known, to obtain a lands and funds belonging to It, also omcial chance to earn their bread. Notwithstandbooks, ornaments, and vestments used by the ing all this, earnest inquirers are at all Metropolitans for the time being-the decision times .. searching the Scriptures whether on which would ·carry with it the whole these things are so," at the rooms of the property and jurisdictIon over the Syrian mission, and baptisms are so frequent as to church. he almost a usual occurrence on Sabbath evenings. Seven were united to the little In 188i decree was made by the Zillah judge, church at the last quarterly communion Mr. T. C. Krishna Menon, in favor of Mar service. What wonder that these who have Dionysius, both parties to bear their respective left all for Christ are burning with zeal to costs. testify of Him, and almost always wish to devote their lives to preaching the gospel f At once appeal was made by Mar Thomas A venerable lady, who had lived in wealth Athanasius to the High Court of Travancore, and luxury until, 17 years ago,she became a whose judgment by Justices T. R. Narayana Christian, declares that since then she Pillai and G. Arianayayam Pillai, after hearing has not eaten a morsel that was not ea.rned the caso at fnll length, was delivered in 1885. by the lone labor of her own hands. yet again adjudging the properties in dispute to Mar that she has been full of increasing JOY in Dionyslus and awarding costs to him.
Finally, an appeal has been made to the
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT. [AUG.,'
the Lord to this day. Another lady, whose entered and availed himself of tbe first pause husband and six of her twelve children are to state that he had received an invitation still unbelievingJews, has brought the other to attend this conference. and to ask if he six with her to Jesus, and the writer saw would be recognized as a member, with all them aU baptized together by Mr. Freshman, the privileges of other members. Mr. and heard the trustful prayers that will not Freshman replied that he knew nothing of cease until the rema.ining ha.lf of this fami- such an invitation, but was gratified by his Iyof fourteen a.re a.lso ga.thered in. The attendance. Interruption of the order of other day, a Jewish gentlema.n came on exercises Was objected to, however, and the from Boston to see Mr. Freshman, as the Rabbi, perhaps with some misunderstanddelega.te of four Jewish fa.milies, who, ha.v- in~, made indiguant protest and went out, ing become c.onvinced tha.t Jesus is the Messia.h. desire to cha.ng-e their residence A letter to Mr. Freshman (since his visit to New York for the purpose of uniting with to Paris) from Pastor Hirsch, laboring for the Hebrew Christian church. the Jews in that city, contains striking pas- sages. He says: Those who a.re sca.ttered abroa.d prea.ching the word oft"n send back precious tid- .. I have often wondered whether conings. From the branch mission begun in verted Jews were best fitted for the evan- Chica.go, we reproduce the following, out of gelization of those who remain faithful to Mr. Freshma.n's,sixth annua.l report: the old relibion. Though they know the his- tory, occupations, and instincts of their .. On the first Sa.turday 14 Hebrews were race, is not this advantage more than present. All Were arguing about our Sav- counterbalanced by the antipathy, at times iour in langua.ge more or less a.greeable to almost ferodous, that every Jew, belie'{ing Christia.nears. But with the most of them or indifferent, feels tor a • Meschommed' ? I observed a total ignorance of the Christ This objection, which possibly at the beginof the fifty-thirdchapterofIsaiah. I called ning of my ministry hindered me from dethe attention of these Hebrews to some of voting myself entirely to their <)onversion, the Messia.nic passages. Although some of and which has since more than once parathem are learned Jews, tbey seem never to lyzed me in the little I have done for themhave paid attention to these passage; but this objection certain circumstances, dur· now they promised to read them carefully, ing the last few months. have removed from and to call on me to argue about them. my mind. I have seen that Intercourse wa.s possible between them and ns, in .. On Saturday sixteen Israelites were Paris as in New York. They must learn present, mostof them infidels. They would to know us; to see in Uti men convinced of not go to a synagogue, a church or a gospel the truth of what we believe, and who, meeting; but these infidel Hebrews would tho~l.we no longer believe as they do, like to come to our meetings, as they all say have not the less a truly brotherly affection • if we had preaching on Saturday.' Nowa, for them, are ready to detend them When days the Jews themselves require us to unjustly attacked, and to render them juspreach the gospel to them. We had a lively tice. This is what Inever cease to do in the time; but the Lord Was with me, and en- press. in lectures, and in other meetings, abled me to speak of the truth as it is in and this has been the means of drawing to Christ, in spite of all dangers." me many intelligent Jews, who respect and consent to listen to me. W. C. CONANT." Not infrequently, edu<)ated Jews come into Mr. Freshman's meetings and show a NEW YORK. disposition to discuss the tMessianic question with the preacher. One afternoon durin&" the late conference. the Rabbi Gottheil IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Hindranoes and Helps in Japan. tional form of Government to the peo- WE were not misled by the lan- ple in the twenty-third year of his guageofthe new Constitution of Ja- reign, or in the year 1890; the procla- pan in regard to religious liberty. A mation of the Constitution of the 11th great deal has been commendably February of this present year, and the said of the liberality of the Govern_ increased liberty of speech, and, above ment, of the immense reform inau- all,toleration ofallreligions. This was gurated since the Mikado's restora- accepted in some quarters as absolute tion to power twenty-two years ago: freedom of speech and conscience, notably concerning the fulfilment of which it clearly is not, nor should it be held that this waa th~ i~te~t ()f the th~ImperialpledgetoglveaCQuatitu- Emperor in face of a plain text which the temple of the Sun-goddess; and says: ., among our subjects and peo- .to the tomb of Jin Mi Ten No, the ple freedom ofbeliefshall existonly so first Emperor, and to his own fathfar as it is not disturbing to the peace er's tomb at Kyoto (Ko Mei TenNo). or the order of society." If this refers to the various ranks among the These may be regarded as proper people, then at any time a teaching and becoming acts of loyalty and de- . n1ight be declared to be represented votion on the part of His Majesty, as subversive of this order. It is not the Emperor, only. But this was not likely that any such interpretation all. In all the Provinces the heads will be given to it as against Chris- of Government or local officials were tianity, for the momentum is the to propitiate the national shrines. other way, and too strongly to be long And the observance of this worship arrested; but still the technical pro- is faithfully continued in and out of vision is only for freedom of religion, the palace. All Japanese represensubject to th,e Imperial interpreta- tatives abt'Oad are supposed to wortion or that of the Parliament. ship the insignia of the Emperor's royalty, kept in a shrine in the palace. In one aspect, however, Christianity is recognized as one of the existing re- If this is obiected to as heathen, ligions. The recognition to which we idolatrous and non-Christian, it may refer is of a prohibitory character, to be weU to note that, from" a Japanese be sure, but it is just as positive, nev- standpoint, the Messiah's reign et·theless. There is in the new Con- through Christian potentates is not stitution a restriction against the ad- altogether desirable. The foreign mission to membership in the Na- press writers in the service of the tional Parliament, as we would say, Japanese have contrasted their own of the clergy. The Buddhist and religion not unfavorably with the Shinto priests are distinctly named hypocritical declarations and titles as ineligible, but so also is the of the "Most Christian," "MORt .. Teacher of Religion," which is the Faithful" and "Catholic" "Majesterm by which the Christian preacher ties," who by "the Grace of God" is known. That may, of course, in cut the throats of their. subjects and turn have a wider application forced rob and plunder one another's doupon it, but the face meaning of it mains. is a prohibition of the Christian ministers of Japan from admission to Secondly, we note the extension of membership in the National Diet or this zeal for the religions of Japan even Lower Assemblies. This ad verse among the people-like Government, legislation against Christian preach- like people. There are not wanting ~rs is, however, a covert recognition signs of a revival of Buddhism and that the Christian religion exists in Shintoism, as we have het"etofore the land, and as now current is not noted. condemned as contrary to good order. The Buddhists, especially if Shin- Shiu, "True" or "Reformed Sect," But the Government itself has not as they may be called, owing to their become more Christian. It is pro- great improvement and advance on nounced in its worship of all national ancient Buddhism, are not only mythological gods. On the day of building new temples as the Hon the Proclamation the Emperor and Gauji at Kyoto, but have a fullall his COUl·t made special worship at fledged theological seminary "~here the cenotaph or shrine of his ances- with a great giltBuddhainits chapel tors, and he dispatched high officials hall, and are establishing preparato the Nation~~Shinto temple ftt Ise, tory schools and even popularschools for teaching English in many parts of the country, and expect to found a university at Kyoto to oppose the Among the common people an the successful Doshesha school of the. American Board at that place. They old grovelling superstitions are rife; are also glad to welcome Col. Olcott, followed by all their looseness and the Theosophist, from India, who has immorality of life. . been going throughout the country decrying Christianity and upholding Thirdly, we must consider the for- Buddhism as tl"e doctrine of benevo- eign influences adverse to Christian- lence and truth, and Christianity as ity, such as the agnosticism of Spen- heartlessly selfish. All the worldliness cer, Huxley, Mill and others who of the Western nations, and their have had and will have confirmed vices as well, are laid at the door of sway among the educated classes, Christianity, and it IS declared to be especially of young men. This, how- opposed to science, to progress and ever, is probably less now than at to liberty. The Buddhists of all the earlier period of its introduction sects – seven larger and thirteen into the country. Romanism, with smaller-but the Shin-Shiu in partic- its easy conditions of Sabbath observ- ular, are carrying out their schemes ance, free drinking, confession and for opposing the gospel, not only by remission of sin, and picture-worship, education and the use of other appli- is spreading among the lower orders ances, such as organ music, but by of society and among luke-warm active evangelism and organized mis- Christians. The Greek church, with sionary movement. They have been its grand cathedral and imposing lately sending priests to China and archimandrite and governmental Korea, and more recently sent oneto help j and the Roman, with much Hawaii. help from nearly every European government, are having their influ- The Shintos also have a new polit- ence with or upon the official military ical and religious organization for classes. the preservation of what they are pleased to call" The National Spirit." Of Protestant adverse influences, a It has a magazine said to be ably ed- German-Swiss Rationalist and helper ited by a former Christian theological are turning some of the preachersand student, a good English scholar,with dependent churches away from the some knowledge of ancient and mod- truth. This is partially because the ern languages. He fell away from Government leans toward the Ger- his Christian relations some years man system in government and ago, in the zeal of his advocacy of the military matters; also in medicine. people's rights, or of the Liberal A Unitarian representative and his party's principles, ,and he is now not wife are doubtless obtaining a follow- unconscious that the Royal patron- ing. Such are some of the difficul- age may be possibly susceptible to ties of the evangelical situation in the flattery of warm admiration. the Empire of Japan, as set forth by Large numbers of the Government persons who have given patient and officials are members of this society, careful study to the whole subject on and it is said the Emperor himself at the spot. least reads their magazine, which may mean much more among Orient- Fourthly. At home there are grave . als possibly than it would among us, misapprehensions of the situation in Japan on the part of some of the Thus much for the leading classes, warmest sympathizers with and many of whom are exceedingly zeal- patrons of the Evangelistic move- ous in their advocacy of their new ment abroad. Some have construed methods for rehabilitatmg theIr an- the glowing representations of the cient order of f~nh and worship, marvelous progress of Japan in ma~ tel'S of Western civilization to imply that the land was well nigh Christian. The progress of Christ's cause has ing of lukewarm professors and con- certainly been .of a. very encouraging versions of unbelievers. The im- character. There are twenty-five pressions have been deep. Mr.
thousand converts in the, several Wishard's visit to Japan slmulta- Protestant churches, possibly as neously with the arrival of Mr_ Ol- many more in the Roman and Greek- cott, reminds some persons that Rev_ Catholic communions; but that is Joseph Cook arrived in Japan just only one in seven or eight hundred after an American professor had of the population which is estimated been lecturing against Christianity at. nearly thirty-eight millions. Then on Sundays in halls erected for that it must be borne in mind that a purpose. .
church just out of heathendom is But there are other phases of worl.
necessarily weak, and in this case as also of value. The work of temper- in others lacks powerful influence in ance among young men marks a society, and has not wealth with great advance. There are, doing which to push forward its plans; work in Japan, no less than twenty- that great impressions for good, for six missionary societies, of which righteousness, for pUl'ity, for a spir- eighteen are of the United States.
itual regenerating power have been There are no less than 447 missiona- made among all classes, and in nearly ries, male and female, of whom 365 all parts of the Empire. The Scrip- are from the United States. The tures are increasingly studied by American Board missionaries num- large numbers in concert through ber 79, the Presbyterians (North), 64; the Bible Union, and in Bible classes, the Methodist Episcopal, 57; the a schools and churches. The written Protestant EpIscopal and Baptist, word is available in varretyof forms, each 29, and the Reformed church, 26.
and is in the hands of the Japanese. Of the 249 native churches 92 are A beautiful reference Bible, with self-supporting, and the total mem- maps and aU the references usual to bership is 25,514.
our Enghsh reference Bible, can be procured for sixty cents, American Laborers Wanted in the Republic of gold. Oolombia, South America. The word is being faithfully BY REV. T. H. CANDOR.
preached and practically applied. IN the April number of THE MIS- There is a wonderful ,insight and ap- SIONARY REVIEW I notice your con- preciation of the true meaning of tribution on "Applied Missionary Scriptures on the part of many of the Intelligence." I am very much older Christians. pleased with the idea of the article.
Then the work and power of the Having been associated with the Holy Spirit have never been more work in the Republic of Colombia for manifest than in this the eighteenth eight years past, though not on the year o[ Protestant progress in this field aU the time, I would like to put empire. The week of prayer was before the Christian world the re· very generally and faithfully ob- sults of my observation on this served by the native <:lhurches. Some country as a mission field for mis- while ago a revh-al began in connec- sionary efforts. I will not try to do tion with Mr. Wishard's work in a so at the present time, only giving mission college at Kyoto and Tokyo, you some general information to which spread through the churches. open the way for more details.
Conservative preaching serVICes, fol- The country is hardly touched yet lowed by prayer-meetings and bytes- by our Protestant Christianity. The timony-meetings, have been largely force is as follows: attended; there has been a quicken- ,1. The Isthmus of Panama, both at Colon and Panama, enjoys occasional Presbyterian, he welcomed us and services from clergymen of the assists us all that he can, Very lit- Church of England, under the care tle work has been done outside of of the Bishop of Jamaica. We are these two centers, chiefly because informed here that since the work on the force has been too small; and the canal has been suspended Chris- what has been done outside is chiefly tian work has also stopped. It will seed-sowing by the wayside, without be some time before anything can be time to wait for the harvest. done there on account of the overturning of all relations there. I was The position of the Government is told by natives in Colon that no work simply to permit us to live and work. was done there for Spanish-speaking It is conservatively Romanist, but people at any time; but that Eng- grants religious liberty, and punlish-speaking ministers of different ishes any assault that may be made denominations had held occasional on us or our services. But it proservices there for years. The Isthmus hibits us from openly attacking the is almost as much separated from Roman Catholic dogmas by the the rest of the Republic as if it were press, and virtually prohibits the a different nation. The only com- same in spirit. munication is by sea, and as its ports are free, all articles coming A portion of the people are confrom there pay duties in the other servative Roman Catholics, and will pOI·ts of the country as if they came not allow us a chance to preach the from some other nation. gospel to them, but the majority are willing to hear what we have to say. 2. The only other missionary work Nowhere are we ostracized in society, is under the care of the Presbyterian but can be on visiting terms socially church in the U. S. A. (North). The with even the stl'ictest of the people. mission has two stations, viz: Bogota and Ban'anguilla. (1) The Bo- In the larger cities in the interior gota station's wol'k has been carried living expenses are very high, much on for some thirty years. It is con- more so than in the United States. ducted by Rev. M. G. Caldwell and Rentlil, clothing and living (necessary wife (now visiting in the U. S. A.), expenses) are high. Here on the sea Rev. J. G. Touzean and wife, who coast these are I).ot so high, but still expect to open a new station as soon it costs more to live in the same comas Rev. Mr. Caldwell returns. and Miss M. B. Franks, iii charge of a a fort than it does in city of the same school for girls. There are several native helpers, none, however, or- size (30,000) in the United States of dained. A teacher for a boys' school America. Still, I believe that selfand a teacher for the girls' school are supporting missionaries, especially expected in June or July. if they had a small capital, could maintain themselves here and do (2) The Bal'l'anguilla station was great good. Mr. A. H. Erwin is an opened last year. My wife and I are example of this. A good gardener, the only workers on the field con- with $2,000, could buy a plot of land nected with our mission board. There and support his family very well. A is an independent worker, Mr. A. H. photographer, builder, carpenter and Erwin, who has been here for a num- others could make a living. There ber of years !'upporting himself on a are Americans here in business who small property that he has by culti- make a good living on a small capivating it and selling fruit and by tal stock-raising, buying and shipteaching a small school. Not being ping produce to New York, and an ordained ministel; and being a others in the fruit business. Why could not Christians do this for Christ's sake? I am here at the port of the country and would be glad to meet all brethren who pass this missionaries, and go away with .them. They way. were mostly men of wealth and property, hOld- ing high olllcial apPOintments. We nrver wit- BARRANQUILLA, REpUBLIC OF COLOXBIA., SOUTH nessed such a scene before. They thronged AMERICA.. the parsonagtl where Rajah was taken, and this was kept up for several days. We were The Heroio Ohuroh among the Heathen. ohliged on several occasions to seek for him, as well as ourselves, the protection of the police. WE speak of heroic missionaries, Even his wife, mother and sister, in a closed carriage, went to the parsonage. and tried by but we should not overlook the hero- their tears, threats and entreaties to indnce ic element in the church we are devel- him to come away. They rolled on the ground, oping among the heathen. We make threw sand on their heads, beat their breasts, room at cost of other good material and in grief aud agony hegged him to return to them. Mind yon, these were higkcaate women' for the following illustrations: Miss who would not dare show their faces outside of Grace Stephens, of the mission at their own doors. It was, as he himself said, • so hard to hear their cries and entreaties, and Madras, a frail Eurasian girl, coura- witness their grief, and then receive their curse.' geous in faith and abundant in good But, he said, • the peace of God kept mind and works, writes to Miss Hart, of Balti- heart. ' It was the tearing asnnder of the jOints more, the following, which appears and marrow, and many a sympathetic tear was in the Baltimore Methodist, about a shed for Rajah and his afflicted bnt blinded native pt'ince, one Rajah Naidu, in friends. How true that' a man's foes are they protecting and guiding whom both of his own household.' her own and Dr. Rudisill's lire have been constantly threatened. She .. They still keep up their persecution and says of the Rajah: give him no rest, while he still adheres to his ho- ly pnrpose to preach Christ. Yesterday morn- •. His troubles are many and great; ou all ing he went out with Dr. Rudisill and preached sides he has been persecuted, and his friends in the streets. He is scorned and hated, and are still trying to persuade him to give up his many an insult he has to bear. Alas, many Christian profession and return to the old faith. flowery inducements are put before him to go But he has the martyr spirit in him, and even back to his home, but he knows full well that goes into the midst of his people and preaches they consider him an ontcast and never will as- Christ. The day he'Was' baptized our chapel sociate with him or make him One of them unwas crowded with people who had come to til he gives up Christianity and is restored' to witness it, but none of his friends or relations caste. One of his relatives told me, confidenwere there. Everything had to be doue in se- tially. that if he went back to them, till this is cret, and we had to keep a strict watch lest done they would treat him worse than a dog, they should hear of It; otherwise our purpose make him stay outside the house, throw his would have been defeated. At that time he food at him, and make him sleep with horseboldly read a paper on the confession of his keepers (lowest caste of people), or perhaps faith. Immediately after Dr. Rudisill took him send him away from Madras with threats to kill to Goolverja, near Hyderabad, but his friends him should he retnrn. On the other hand, they followed him and gave him and the missionary offer him large snms of money for a ceremony in charge there a lot of trouble. They tried to that will restore him to his family and reinstate take him away by force, so Dr. Rudisill went him in caste. They feel so lowered and degradout and bronght him back. When coming. ed that, as I said before, they would prefer his down, at some of the railway stations gangs of death. " people waited for them and pleaded with him to return. Poor Dr. Rudisill was wonderfully And still another illustration must snstained, and bravely faced the mob. or other be given of another mission and anwise they would have, in all probability, torn Rajah to pieces. It was thought best that he other land. A native Pastor of the should openly declare his faith to his relations, China Island mission writes from so notices were sent to them and a meeting convened. Rajah was overwhelmed; it was Sh;:to-hing of a man named Tsang a great trial to him. His friends and relatives thronged the place, and it was a hard task to Ying-kuei. face them all and tell them of his new faith, bnt He is about 53 years of age. Five he did it in a few Simple words. The very sight ofhim, as he stood there without his marks, his years ago he carried his sister's bedhair cut short, was enough to anger them. They would, thongh they loved Rajah, rather ding to the chapel and incidently have seen him dead than numbered among the Christians, and they entreated him to leave the heard the gospel. A year ago he was converted.
H For some time his wife. son, and son's wife umtedly opposed him in all his etrorts to win them to Christ, and would not for a obtained such peace and happlneBS ?.. He moment listen to his exhortations. His replied, ..It is the extraordinary grace of relatives and neighbors reviled him as hav- God to me." .. Other men know not these ing gone mad. But Brother Tsanlir kept firm, things; how is it that you know them t" and patiently endnred all their spi~e and "By the teaching and guidance of God's hatred, calmly going about his own duties, Holy Spirit I have been led to know them." and forbearing to answer or retaliate in any "Is their any virtue or anything meritorious shape or form. At this his friends and neighbors were more than ever astonished in baptism t can it wash away your sins t" for they knew Brother Tsang to be a famous military athlete, many of his pupils having He replied, "My trust is in Jesus; there is passed the Government military examina- no merIt bnt in Him, and baptism is only an tions with honors. But our brother was now ordinance." .. To be a disciple of Jesus, and an entirely changed man; he sought no re- to join the church will involve you in' sufvenge, he took no advantage of his fame or ferings and persecutions." He answered, prowess as an athlete to settle the petty "When the Saviour was on earth he was persecutions to which he was daily exposed. nailed to the cross by sinuers; now sinners His weapons were not carnal; he himself become His disciples, and by His Holy was born again, and he believed others Spirit helping me, I am willing to sulfer, could be chanlired by the same quiet yet even unto death. I shall the sooner get to wondrous power that had changed him. heaven, and enjoy its happiness." .. Do you believe in eternal happiness'" .. I do, " He has had his faith greatly tested by with all my heart." havinlir to pass through heavy affliction since he became a follower of ttle Lord Mr. Tsang moreover added the following Jesus. Last year he lost three fine cows in words: "Sir, I thank God very much fol' an epidemic-a heavy los8 to him,poor man. giving me this precious truth, for had I not Soon after his eldest son died; then his had this belief in my heart when my cows wife died, and his daughter-in-law left him. were suuck down one after tbe other, my His relatives, instead of helping and trylnl:' son' died, and my wife was taken away, 1 to comfort him, only reviled him, and bit- should bave died myself, for my frIends terly mocked him about his new God and not only stood aloof from me, but reviled new Saviour, declaring that 8011 his suf- and slandered me most relentlessly; yet 1 ferings were on account of believing the felt a calm and peace in my heart that surdoctrine of Jesus, and that tbe gods and prised and strengthened me. Now they his ancestors had sent down these judg- may curse and revile as they like, my beart mente upon him for having forsaken is not atall ruffled by their words. I know them." that all I had the God of heaven gave me, and I also know that it is He Who ha.th tak- How many of the persons baptized en them all away; therefore I thank bim for His grace to me. Moreovor, I have at our home altars witness a better eternal life from Bim, and 1 see that the things of this life are only temporal, and confession than this: passing away, while God's gift is for ever."
"Now on the-third day of the ninth moon I Notes from Japan. met him at Yih-k6-cun. He had walked SOME 15 years ago a young man twenty miles to come here and worship, and from the Province of Tosa came to ask for baptism. I gathered together a rew Yokoh.ama for the purpose of learnof the elder brethren, and we examined him ing English. He had heard someon his faith in the Lord Jesus. I asked him thing about the Christian religion, why he wished to join the church. He answered, .. I wish to act as a disciple of and believed it to be an evil system Jesus." .. What benefit is ther.. in being a .which induced men to forsake their disciple of Jesus?" He replied," There is parents and family ties and lose their forgiveness of sins, and heaven with all its loyalty to their country. He sushappiness." ,. How ca.n sin be forgiven?" pected that there was some secret He answered, .. The Lord Jesus was nailed method by which people were deon the cross, and shed His blood to this prived of their reason and duped end." .. Are your sins for~iven f" He said, U Forgiven long ago. n U What evi- into becoming its followers. He redence have you that they are forgiven?" solved to find out what it was, and He answered, " Since I believed and trust- then he would be able to expose its ed in Jesus my heart has great peace and pretensions and save his people from grelitjoy." "Your great peace and great this dreadful delusion. joy, whence come t.hey f" .. From God and the Lord Jesus Christ." .. There are multi- With this purpose in his mind he tudesall around who know nothing of these wonderful things, bow is it that you hava began the study of English with the tion with medical work. It was a Rev. Dr. Ballagh, and kept a very hard field, 'and accompanied with careful watch of him to see wherein more or less of personal danger.' The was the secret of his power to make people of that section were very bitconverts. He did not believe in a ter against Christianity, and no one God, and supposed all worship was felt inclined to go. (Mr. Oshikawa mere form and the evidence of a did not think it was a call to him, weak and depraved mind. but felt that the consideration of safety was a sumcient reason why he With each of his lessons there was should remain at Yokohama.) allied some religious instruction and prayer. He had no interest in these But at one of the sabbath evening fUrther than mere curiosity, and prayer meetings the subject was reo listened to them, not to be profited ferred to, and Rev. Mr. Ballagh ofby them, but if possible to detect fered special prayer that the Lord their errors and thus be able to op- would incline some one to acceptthe pose them. call. As this request was offered to God, MI'. Oshikawa seemed to hear But one day Mr. Ballagh prayed a voice from heaven saying, "Go to very earnestly that God would send Niigata." He arose from his knees His spirit upon this people and open and said, "I will go. The Lord has their eyes to see the truth as it is in called me." Jesus. The earnestness and evident sincerity of the prayer made such an Three days later he was on his impression upon this young man journey. It was in the last of Dethat he could not resist the convic- cember, and a distance of 263 miles tion that there ilS a God, and that he over rough mountain roads that were does hear our prayer. This convic- filled with snow, and in places almost tion was so strong that he at once impassible. But with God to began to seek a knowledge of God strengthen and comfort him, he and how he coul d serve Him. After pressed on. a short period of inquiry he found the way of peace, and fully accepted Ata town called Uyeda he learned Christ as his Saviour. So great was that there was a small band of behis joy that he could not sleep, and lievers who were afraid to call themhe spent the whole night in singing selves Christians, and so had formed "Jesus loves me." He was not con- themselves into a "Temperance Sotent with a mere trust in God for ciety." But they kept the Sabbath, salvation, but he felt that the relig- and met regularly to worship God ion of Christ required a service ac- and study the Bible. They had only cording to ths ability and opportu- a copy of the gospel of Matthew; nity of each individual. and yet they came to a knowledge of God and his worship by this alone. From this time the whole timor of his life was changed, and he felt that MI'. Oshikawa sought out this band he ought to make known this gospel of secret disciples, and they were deto the people. He bega,n the study lighted beyond measure to have some of theology with Dr. S,.R. Brown, and one to teach them more fully the looked gladly forward to the time doctrines of the cross and the duties when he would be able to preach to of all who believe in the Lord Jesus. others the same truths that had At their earnest solicitation he rebrought life and comfort to his soul. mained with them two days, and the whole time was spent in instruction About three years later a call came and worship. from Dr. Palm of Niigata for a native helper who could aid him in con- This work continued to prosper, ducting religious services in connec- and Rev. MI'. BaUagh afterwards visited the place and formed this band of believers into a Christian earnest request other laborers were church. One of the number has to be sent to assist in the various desince become a preacher, and is now partments of his work. located at Yokohama as pastor of the largest Christian church in Japan. The Reformed Church (German) has taken this as their special field. Mr. Oshikawa pushel! on through and are extending their work as the the dflep snow and cold until he ar- men and the means are provided. A rived at Niigata, and entered at once school for girls was started there in into the work of teachingand preach- May, 1886, which has now an attending. as opportunity offered. In Jan., ance of 51 pupils. 1876. (as the result of his efforts and those of Dr. Halm) eleven persons During- the past three years five were baptized. The work was con- new churches have been added, and tinued in the face of much opposi- the total membership is now over tion and many difficulties until in 1,200; and there are other stations 1878 there was a church organized where converts have been gathered with 23 members. and will soon form new organiza- tions. In no part of Japan is the The difficulties of this field were so work more interesting or hopeful. great that in 1880 he resolved to go It has been carried on from the first to some location where the people with the most perfect trust in the were more progressive and less big- Lord and utter humility of soul. oted. He chose the large city of God has singuhirlyblessed this spirit Sendai, and has continued to labor of consecration, and many more are in that town and the region round seeking the Lord. about. The difference in the attitude of the people has enabled him to Among the converts is the Viceconduct his work with constant en- President of the Provincial Assemcouragement and far greater success. bly. Several officials and persons of In about one year from its begin- rank are also coming to Mr. Oshining a church was formed with 11 kawa to be taught in private, and as members, who called and agreed to they become convinced of the truth, support a pastor of their own. will connect themselves with the church. So great has the power of Until 1885 Mr. Oshikawa had no the ~ospel become that a Buddhist connection with any society, and no priest went to the Governor and help in his work except some native begged that the Christian school assistants. All he received in the way of financial aid was his own sal- about to be established might be ary and the support of a Bible wo- stopped. man. To meet the great demand for new With only this help, the work has men to occupy the various stations, grown under his faithful· care, until a theological class has been formed, in November, 1885, there were three with fifteen members. This is taught churches and 200 members. Hethen by Mr. Oshikawa, and Rev. Mr. Hoy connected his work with the church is his associate. In a letter recently of Christ, which includes the varions received from Mr. Hoy, he says: Presbyterian and Reformed bodies in "It seems that Rev. Mr. Oshikawa Japan. At the meeting of the Gen- is growing more and more spiritual; eral AsseDibly in Tokio all were im- hence his power. It does my soul pressed with his humility, his deep good to be associated with such a. piety and his fine scholarship and man. If the Lord spares him ten or power as a public speaker. It was fifteen years, he will do a wonderful arranged that his field should consti- work. The Father in heaven bless tute a new Presbytery. and at his him." Such in brief is the history of a.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF
most devoted and successful man. change. By the advice and aid of It is due to the faith and devotion of his milony friends he has decided to such men that God's work has pros- take a trip to America for the purpered so wonderfully in this land. pose of seeing the results of Chris- May the Lord raise up many more of tianityas exemplified in the people, like spirit and power to be leaders of the churches and the institutions of the host, and the conquest of the the home land. He will perhaps whole country will be speedy and spend a year in study, should his sure. health permit and the way be opened for him to do so. We bespeak for The unceasing and most arduous him a cordial welcome by all who labors of Rev. Mr. Oshikawa have love our common Saviour. resulted in great nervous prostration, which renders it necessary that H. LOOMIS. he should have complete rest and YOKOHAMA, Japan.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY ARTHUR T. pmRSON, D.D.
Papal Europe -France, Spain, verted woman said she had been Italy, etc. See volume for 1888, pp. warned by her priest not to "lose 629 etseq. and miracles of missions in her faith"; "but." said she, "how this number. could I !,o8e my faith when I had none to 1o,e y" In no part of the world, perhaps, have changes more radical and revo- IN FRANCE, lutionary taken place, within a quar- for fifteen years, all eyes have been ter of a century past, than in Papal increasingly turned to the marvelous Europe. Dr. Burt used to say, here McAll Mi88ion.
the vital question ishow to makethe There is a manifest plan of God in people evangelical believers; on the history; the charm of missions is to continent it is, how to secure preva- follow the luminous pillar in its lence of Protestantism; and in the march. The commission is univer- East it iE', how to displace heathenism sal, but certain doors seemed closed by Christianity. and hopelessly barred, particularly Mr. Schauffl,er testified from a resi- in Papal lands. The main hin- dence of years in Austria that the drances: 1. A designing priesthood.
moral degradation was greater far 2. An autocratic system. 3. Lodg- than in this land among the same ing authority in man rather than the classes. We do not know RCj)manism word of God. 4. Ignorance of the here. There it fosters licentiousness Bible. . 5. Appeals to superstition.
both in its grosser and more refined 6. Combination of church and state.
types, so that the maxim has been France, Spain, Italy, Austria, framed, "The nearer to Rome the were seemingly hopeless fields for nearer to hell." Think of Raphael mission work. At peril of liberty, if painting Madonnas and lewd pictures not of life, men undertook to circu- for the bedrooms of Cardinals; of late Bibles or preach pure gospel.
modest girls fleeing in terror from Suddenly, in France, an opening the confessional because its secrecy was apparent. M. Bouchard, the was the shelter for audacious propos- Mayor of Beaune, M. Reveillaud and als; of Government providing hos- others rebelling against clericalism, pitals for women enciente so that they not yet prepared to espouse Protest- may never know what disposition is antism, aroused France by their pro- made of their illegitimate children I tests against Papacy. Really pro- The people of Papal Europe are very testing but not Protestants; tired of religious and very worldly. A con- a system of superstitionand suppression, declaring themselves opposed work is more economically admtnisto priestly domination and Papal tered than any otherof like extent of supremacy, they led on a reaction which we know; and the only quesfrom the monarchistic idea in church tion now awaiting a satisfactory soand state. Just at this time God lution is, how can the converts be sent R. W. McAll to Paris. A man brought into full fellowship with the pt'ovidentially raised up-fitted for church of Christ? To that the misa work fitted for him. He was at sion is now earnestly addressing first ona visit to Paris at the close of thought and prayer. the Franco-Prussian war distributing tracts on boulevardand in hotels Besides the McAll mission there when he was addressed by a working are grand facilities for evangelizing man in Belleville. It was another France through regularly organized voice of the Macedonian, ., Come societies of the French churches.
over and help us." The great Reformed Protestant Mr. McAll went, and manifested Church of France, receiving aid from the state in the same manner as Rosingular tact, opening a simple hall, manists and Jews, is doing a very or 8alle, a small room with a few important home missionary work. It chairs, a desk, a reed organ and a has a school preparatory for theo- Bible_; no priest, no ceremony, no logical students: also tW(' theologialtar, no elaborate ritual. Bdef cal seminaries in Paris and Montau- Jlt:ayers. evangelical songs, fifteen- ban. minute addresses, etc., were the only attraction. The working people had "The Societe Centrale de Evangeliza. never seen anything like this. They tion," of which Rev. Mr. Duchemnin, had accustomed themselves "to think son-in-law of the late F. Merle D'Auof the church and religion as a costly bigne, is the present secretary, was thing; here not a centime was brought to its present stage by Pasasked ~ they were used to an elabo- tor Lorriaux, for a while pastor in rate ceremonial; here no rites: they America. Through it a number of had long felt the power of a priest Protestant churches and schools have holding them in bondage at the con- been organized; but, receiving not a fessional; here no priest, no confes- centime from the state for new work, sional-box, not even the name of a they are compelled to make up what church, not even the sacraments of was given formerly by the state to baptism and the Lord's Supper. It support their own church; and, was very strange. Here was a new secondly, they are diffusing themrevelation of a church without any selves throughout France, organizoffensive churchly features, all pre- ing new churches and schools, and vious obnoxious characteristics elim- supporting~stors and evangelists in inated. They were drawn to McAll new stations. The progress of the and his work, and now, after these work is wonderful. New churches fifteen years, he stands at the head are springing up all over France, of the most amazmg evangelical and and are being greatly blessed, and evangelistic work ever seen in Papal calls are coming in from innumercountries, and which promises the able districts, and the society is unultimate regenei-ation of France. able to answer them. More than one hundred and twenty salles are now open from night to After the Reformed Church comes night, and crowded. The largest the Free Church, the fathers of which band of voluntary workers in any were D'Aubigne, Gau~sen and Malan such work in Christendom are con- of Geneva. and Adolf Monod of nected with these meetings. The France. Among the representatives of that work to-day are such men as Dr. Pressense, life senator as well as pastor, and Pastor Holl'lnd and Pas- The second society connected with tor Fisch, son of dear Dr. Fisch, the Reformed and Free churches is whose eloquence and piety at the " &ciete Eoongelique 01 France,"
meeting of the Evangelical Alliance Pastor Mauron being secretary. This at New York so impressedthe minds society is doing exactly the work of of Americans, and who was himself the Societe Centrale, the Home Mis- the most active in the Free Church. sionary SOCiety of the Reformed The Free Church is specially strong church, giving to its stations the in the South, on the old Huguenot choice of belonging to the Reformed ground, and is a protest against ra- or Free Church.
'tionalism. The churches generally The edict of Nantes, 1598, gave are poor, and the membel's make Protestants the right to worship every sacrifice to support them: of outside the city walls; and in the course receiving nothing from the suburb of Charenton they built a state, as that is the first article not church, with provision for 8,000 of creed but of polity. Precious re- worshipers, and Debrosses, who de- vivals are constantly in progress, signed the, Luxembourg, was the extending from district to dilltrict. architect. In October,1685, however, The Home Missionary Society of the revocation of the edict of Nantes the Free Church is very weak finan- left that great Protestant church at cially, and fl'om its nature and Charenton to be demolished, and it its work especially commends itself was laid in ruins that very day, and to the American church. Of the the Huguenots were cruelly scatsums sent from the United States to tered. For two hundred years Char- various societies for the evangeliza- enton, with its 60,000 people, had no tion of France, this society has re- Protestant public worship. Some ceived an insignificant amount. ten or twelve years ago Prof. Clouet, There are threesocieties in France, of McAll Mission, began preaching the work of which is associated with there and gathered a church of some both Reformed and Free churches. 300 Huguenots. They raised some The most important of these is at $4,000 OT $5,000 toward a sanctuary, Geneva-" Societe EoangeZique." This and then Prof. Clouet came to Amer- is the oldest evangelical society on ica in 1887 to secure $5.000 more.
the continent: though sitting at Ge- In the same year, 1887, an apPl'al neva, yet working specially for was issued from the church of Bar- France, children of Huguenot refu- bezieux, Charente, France, to their gees now seeking to send back the fellow-believers. This church had its gospel to homes from winch they orlgin in the religious movement were driven. This society was or- which introduced itself in Angou- ganized by Drs. F. Merle D'Aubigne, moil', following the two sojourns Gaussen and Malan. They have a which Calvin made in that pal"t of theological seminary, not only capa- France during 1532 an4 1534.
ble, but spiritual and practical. They In spite of the persecutions ai~ed have sent out such men as Bersier at the newly-born church, it soon and other leading pastors. The sem- became prosperous; from 1583to 1586 inary at Geneva is called the" Ora- there were 776 baptisms, and from toire" and is constantly obliged toO 1595 to 1604, 1,228 baptisms and pro- refuse candidate students for lack of tests against Popery. Such successes funds. This society is doing a blessed did not gladden the enemies of the work in· organizing and sustaining gospel, and more than others the missionary stations and schools, and ,church of Barbezieux has been hon- is the best organized colportage ored with their hatred. Louvois, the agency in France. minister of Louis XIV., was Marquis ofBarbezieux; and this circumstance writes of the Second Reformation in that land only made more difficult the situa- She says: tion of the Reformers of that town. He wrote to Du Vigier, President of "There is fascination in the very name of the Parliament of Bordeaux, to pro- SpaiD. The vivid pen pictures of Spanish liIe, ceed against the citizens belonging enhaDced by the surroundings of romance and to the R. P. R. who had transgressed tradition, while away many an hour of summer against the declarations of the King resting time. In reading the religiOUS hI&tory again more obdurately. "as if I was also of the land, one's soul is stirred. The not the lord of the said town, inas- events of the First Reformation and the terrible much as I desire that they follow sequel form an unequalled chapter. The achere more accurately than elsewhere count of the heginnlnga and the history of the the designs of his Majesty." progress of the Second Reformation. after three centuries of Papal rule, Is ot no less iuterest, al- Two days before the revocation of though the Inquisition has forever lost Its powthe edict of Nantes, by order of the er. In this Reformation American Christians King, the church was pulled down to have had a part. Twenty-llve years ago it was its foundation. In ol'der that the a crime to possess a Bible-punishable with imwork of destruction be more com- prisonment. To-day the Bible is printed In the plete, Louvois wrote in December in capital city of Madrid. Those who have not the same year to De Ris, intendant known the history of these years can Uttle realof the province, ordering him to ize the progress made. The church of Rome march some troops to Barbezieux to has lost its controlling power over the nation. prove that the King would not bear Many, it is true, as in France, are drifting into any longer with the Protestants. indifference or atheism; but others, really re- From the revocation of the edict the ligious by nature, accept the pure gospel of Protestants of Barbezieux partook of Christ, and there is a growing evangelical ' the fate of all those of the kingdom; church which will probably never again be upthose who could not' take refuge in rooted. It is noticeable by way of contrast that foreign countries, and who remained the First Reformation numbered its converts loyal to their faith, were sent, some from among the higher classes of society-the' to prison or the galleys, others to edncated ofthe land. Upon these the InquiSition the gallows. easily placed its hand of torture. The Second Reformation ha8begnn among the very poor Louis XIV. had wished to extir- and lowly. To such our Savionr came and enpate Protestantism from France, and trusted His glorious work. There is every rea.- his design appeared entirely realized son to believe that at last this nation is to be upas concerns Barbezieux. But God is lifted and Its bouds of ignorance and religious stronger than man.· In less than 150 superstition broken asunder. The work caryears later .this church rose again ried .on by some individuals and by various from its ashes and affirmed its exist- missionary socIeties has been bleBBed of God. ence by the construction of a modest It shows each year a slow but sure gain. It building; but it became unsafe and may be safely stated that wherever the gospel is it was necessary to pull it down en- preached there are some to listen and to receive tirely; and so once more the Protes- it. There are organized Protestant churches in tants of Barbezieux, deprived of a the priucipal cities of the land. Colporteur work house of prayer, opened a subscrip- is extensively carried on and thousands of bibles tion, imposing on themselves real aud "portions" are aunually sold. The chief sacrifices, and appealed to Christians interest iu all the missions centers in the educaeverywhere to help them in their tional work. Our aim is to keep the children poverty. France stretches out hands from learning the practices ot Mariolatry. to us to aid her in rebuilding the wasted churches of the Huguenots. In our own mission, we have been especially engaged during the last twelve years in laying MBa. W. H. GULICK,OrSan Sebastian, Spain. the foundation of a boarding-school for the higher education of girls. Taking into account all the diftlculties in carrying out such an object without any precedent a8 a ·guide, and with ter- rihle prejudice to overcome, the school in San Sebastian may be considered a success. During the llve years, 1882-'87, llfteen graduated; four- teen of these are now engaged in active Christ- ian work. In 1881 there were forty boarders. Recently preparatory and kindergarten depart- ments have been opened. not only to provide for the day scholars, but to serve as llelds of practice for those who may be studying to be teachers. Seventy-seven have entered these and to so many. If the tree is ~() be Classes, and more than half the number from judged by its fruit, the Protestant Roman Catholic families. In order that this tree is better than the Roman Cathschool may become a permanency, a snltably- olic one. You will always be welcome fnrnished buildiug must be provided. I believe to the house of your servant." a school modeled after our best, and thoroughly leavened with a pure Christianity,would do much Whilst waiting. to see the doctor, iu the next ten years toward elevatin~ the whole the patients listen with great attencountry. Imagine for a moment a nation without tion to the reading and explanation a Christian school for the higher education of of the Scriptures. Most of them -girls I 'rhat will be the case if the school in have never seen a bible before. On San Sebastian cannot be supported. It i. hoped leaving, each one receives a little that not oilly the Spanish girls wiJI be benefited gospel portion, and the children a by such an institution, but also the French of pretty text-card, accompanied by a the southern part of France, who are our neigh- kind word of sympathy. As patients bors on the other side of the Pyrenees. come continually from distant towns and villages, the "good news" is MEDICAL MISSIONS in Spain have thus carried far and wide. When gained the confidence and grati- the Medical Mission had been open tude of many who were once most fanatical. Over one hundred patients for twenty-two months, 1,011 pain one summer came for treatment tients had received treatment and from Castillon, one of the most relief, and in many cases been visited priest-ridden places. A year or two in their homes. At first the people ago the pastor and his brother, Don Were afraid to attend the Protestant Alexandel', went there to distribute Hospital, but good results are changportions of the gospel, and escaped ing fear into confidence. Much more witb their lives but not without in- could be done but for the lack of jury from showers of stones. Since means. then, through the Medical Mission, theway is being prepared. There is SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS. hope soon to be able with safety to open a hall for the preaching of the -THE Nineteenth Century for January. 1888. gospel and a Sabbath-school. A has an article entitled "Leo XIII. and the priest here professed to be able to Civil Power." It is of value only as showing cure the intermittent fever which the alarming influence of the Papacy toattacked so many in the summer. day. The author. Herbert, Bishop of Sal- He charged even the very poor four ford. does not deceive us in pointing to the shillings a visit; but as no one was pacific utterances of the present Pontiff. cured, his patients very soon for- Beneath the white glove of peace is the red sook him, and came to the Medical hand of tyranny. Here are some of the ut- Mission. As each case, without ex- terances: .. When Napoleon had Incorpoception, has been remarkably suc- rated Rome with his empire and had locked cessful, the faith of the people is up Pius VII. within the walls of Sarona, he unbounded, and the fame of the declared. in a memorable conversation with Protestant Hospital has spread far Metternich. that it was his intention to esand wide. The patients, once our tablish the Pontiff in an exalted position of bitterest enemies, have been most dignity and Independence. He then ungrateful for benefit received, and folded his plans. He would bring the Pope have brought little gifts of fresh to Paris; he would give him a palace in the eggs, fine fruit, etc. Their surprise neighborhood of the capital with a. zone wa.s great when told that the doc- of neutral territory; he would transfer from tor's advice and medicines were Rome. as in fact he did. the archives of the gratis. One day a patient remarked, Holy Office of the Propaganda; he would "What a great favor, what mercy surronnd the Pope with the Sacred College and kindness you have shown to me, ofCardinals ; would allow him to send forth and to receive envoys and ambassadors. and wonld guarante~ to him a civil list of six millions of francs. He would treat him with sovereign honors. 'Placed near Paris.' he continued. 'the Pope wilJ flnd hi~self more in the centre of tHe Catholic world,
EDITORIAL NOTES
nearer to Vienna, Lisbon and Madrid, than spiritual thlnga. Meetlnga have been held In when he resided In Rome.' .. Metternich saw the cottages of the miners, and on every occathat Napoleon, with the Pope under his ston have been overfiowing ; the deep interest thumb, would be master of Europe, and he replied, .. My master will give the Pope and even delight which these dark BOns of toU twelve millions, will you consent 1" .. The take in arranging for these meetings and In proposal which Napoleon failed to caTry out singing Sankey's hymns Is very touching. The has been accomplished under the King of men are everywhere more ready to receive the Italy. The law of guarantees of 1871 has gospel than the women. The work amongst thrown into legal form the plan sketched in the children is especially Interesting. A great 1810." The l'ope is .. the religious head of many Roman Catholics attend, and in one place 225,000,000, who form the larger part of the no less than eight families were admitted as modern democracy." .. As a matter of tact, members of the Protestant church. At Hersin the civil powers of the :world are for the the persecntlon by the priests, and more espemost part in direct relations with the Holy cially the 'sisters,' continnes. and we had to See. All the great States of the Continent visit the cottages after dark, lest the Mining accredit ambassadors or ministers to the Company, being informed of our movements, Vatican. Fifteen different governments should tum the poor people out of their homes. treat diplomatically with the Pope, and M. Ie Pastenr Ducros has many dllllcnlties to even distant China and Japan desire to es- contend with at Hersln, but his work Is eminenttablish relations with him. Not only Catho- ly owned of God, and at au evening meeting lic, therefore, but Protestant, non-Chris- we had an attendance of over 120 persons, all tian and pagan countries believe it to be miners and their wives. A small chll1'ch might their Interest to recogmze and treat with a be erected in this neighborhood with great adspiritual power which is one of the de facto vantage to the work, as the present Salle Is phenomena of the world. quite inadequate. The congregation at Lievin still maintains its numbers, althongh several THE BLACK nBLDS OF mANCE. families have left. It Is, however, not the least encouraging feature In the work that those who M_a8 S. BtmGESS writes from Llevin, Pas de move to another mine are often the means of Calais: starting a fresh mission station in their new 10- .. These vast blackenjld fields of coal mines cality." are indeed white unto the harvest as regards VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
President Harrison and Missions. request was echoed by the religious and missionary press at home and IT is known to our readers and in abroad. But it was of no avail. all our missionary circles that Mr. Political eonsiderations outweighed Strauss, our late Minister to Turkey, the high interests of missions and although in religion a Jew, was a the expressed wishes of hundreds of warm friend of our missions in that religious and missionary journals. empire, and in several critical emer- By universal consent, we never had gencies interposed his wise and effi- a more intelligent, prudent, fearless cient efforts in their behalf. Again and faithful man to represent us at and again has he succeeded in ~lav Constantinople. His removalfor no ing the order of government for the other reason than politics will disapclosing of mission schools revoked. point the expeCtations of multitudes He had gained the confidence and of the friends of the new President good-will of the Sultan in a remark- and excite grave fears for the future. able degree, and hence was able to befriend signally our missionaries The change may prove disastrous and missionary interests in the Le- to our important and prosperous vant. Sueh repeated services had he Christian interests in the Levant. resdered in their behalf that, on a The present attitude of the Turkish change of Administration at home, Government towards American misthe entire body of American mis- sions,and particularly American missiona.ries and the friends of Chris- sion schools, is known to beone of extian educa.tion in and about Constan- treme suspicion. One unwise step, a tinople petitioned to have Mr. little rashness, a blundering policy, Strauss retained. And the same and in a day our schools will all be closed and our mission work well nigh Indians, irrespective of party aftl)iation, suspended. In all they say and do and be retained in power as long as they and write, even for readers in this remain competent and faithfuL" country, the utmost caution has to be observed by all our missionaries Similar expressions were made by there. No new official, whatever his leading religious journals and by the qualification, can for years, in such a condition of affairs, acquire or exert active friends of the Indians, who the same beneficent influence which are laboring for their spiritual and our late Minister had acquired and social improvement. But aU in vain. used with the Turkish authorities. Politics again rule the hour. The eminent fitness of the Commissioner And right on the heels of this un- as shown by his course, and the fortunate act comes another no less unanimous wish of those who have surprising. We all know how justly long labored in behalf of the Indian and severely President Cleveland availed nothing. We quote the was censured on account of the ad- words of two leading journals: ministratiofl of the Indian Bureau ullder Commissioner Atkins. The "We regret to have to report that Mr. entire church of the land was excit- Oberly, the present Indian Commissioner, ed over it. Not only the religious has been removed, or rather his reSignation press and many secular papers pro- requested. We do not think there is any tested, but our ecclesiastical bodies reason for this removal except a political one. Mr. Oberly's administration of the and missionary societies took very Indian Department was satisfactory to the significant action in the matter. friends of the Indian, and his appointment And so strong waxed protest and in- last October was hailed even with enthusdignation, that the President re- iasm by the Lake Mohonk Conference. Had moved the obnoxious party and his he retained the place, he could not have agents, and after due consultation used it for Democratic purposes under a with the prominent friends of the Republican Administration, and he surely Indians, selected for the important would not have used it for Republican office the Hon. John H. Cberly. purposes. being himself a Democrat. We Hundreds of intelligent and impartial are compelled, therefore, to regard his refriends of the Indians have expressed moval as one among the many signs that to President Harrison their desire President Harrison does not regard either that he should be continued in office. efficiency or incompetency the sole rea- They say: son for removal.H "During his brief incumbency he has " Our friends of the Indian Rights Associagiven entire satisfaction to many friends of tion, are naturally perturbed over the rethe Indians who are un..fficially and gra.tu- tirement of Commissioner j. H. Oberly, the itously laboring for the advancement of this request for whose retention we noted quite people. and who have had the best oppor- recently. Beyond question, Mr. Oberly has tunities for estima.ting the practical value proved himself one of the mostcapable, conof Mr. Oberly's services to the government. scientious, and pains-taking officers that We believe that the most serious and dan· have ever administered the Indian Bureau_ gerous abuses connected with the Indian It is a matter of great regret that his serservice in the pa.st~abuses which have vices have been dispensed with. " brought discredit to the nation, misery and distruction to the Indian, and have cost the We do not hesitate to express our lives of many of our own people-may be traced directly to the appointment of bad painful surprise at our new Presior incompetent men as Indian agents and dent's action in these test cases. They employes, as a reward for partisan services. are not ordinary cases, but from a Mr. Oberly favors the abolition of the spoils missionary standpoint as truly test system in the Indian service, and the intro- cases as Mr. Pearson's case was from duction of the merit system in its place, a simple business point of view. Mr. whereby men of character and ability may H&rrison has not in this stood by his be appointed to places of trust among the own avowed principles. He has need- lessly put in jeopardy great mission- ary interests abroad; and he has shown a singular disregard of the wishes and judgment of the wisest and most tried friends of the Indians at home. Can he afford to do it just head of the EXQcutive Committee is at his entrance upon his administra- the Rev. Dr. Caven, Principal of· tion? President Cleveland, when he Knox College, Toronto. found himself confronted by an indignant Christian sentiment, caused This movement aims specifically at by the blundering and wickedness of the overthrow of the act in the DohisIndian Commissioner, hastened to minion Parliament. This measure put himself right before the people, appropriated to the Jesuit Society and so far as lay in his power, atone $400,000 as a compensation for lands for the error of the past by putting escheated to the crown in 1773, at the the Indian Bureau into the hands of time when the order was abolished one who would conscientiously ad- by Pope Clement. The act was a minister its affairs with sole refer- gross piece of unwarranted class legence to the elevation of the wards of islation, as, whatever the rights of the nation. We write from no the old society, the new order has political animus, but out of a grieved not a shadow of a claim to the land, heart, as a friend of missions. and as it proposes to tax the Protest- ant minority of Quebec for the ben- J. M. S efit of a body in which they have not the slightest interest. It will be re- The Fight with Jesuitism in Oanada. membered that the Legislature of the Province of Quebec passed the THE Protestants of Canada are bill, and the Governor-General in thoroughly aroused in consequence Council was asked to disallow it or of the Jesuit Estates act, as it is veto it. The matter came up in the called. The excitement runs high Dominion Parliament, but Parliaand bids fair to lead to important ment, by a large majority, refused to results. It started some months since ask the Governor-General to interon the passage of the act by the Que- fere. The victory for the bill was so bec Legislatul'e, and has been gath- complete that it seemed useless to ering force ever since. A Confer- contest the matter further, but the ence of 600 delegates from all parts feeling of indignation ran too deep of Ontario was recently held in To- among the people to be suppressed, ropto, which discussed the matter and the Conference of last week was for two days in all its relations and the result of mass-meetings held in adopted strongly-worded resolutions all the cities, townsandothercentel's denouncing the Jesuits' Estate act of population in the Province. The and calling urgently for its disallow- Government may well feel alarmed ance. at the character of the demonstra- tion. The resolutions passed by the A provincial organization was also Conference breathe a calm, but most formed, to be known as the Equal earne5t and determined spirit-a Rights Association of Ontario, the spirit which the politicians may find object of which is to continue the it to their advantage not to ignore or agitation for the disallowance of the trifle with. It nmy even be possible Jesuit Estates act, and to do its ut- yet to induce the Governor-General most to prevent the recurrence of to disallow the bill. similar legislation in the future. The time up to which the Dominion Gov- It is clear that the Protestantism of ernment has the right to disalJow is Canada has been aroused by these agthe 8th of August, just a year from gressions'of the Jesuits as it seldom, the passage of the act. The Provin- if ever, has been stirred up before. It cial Association is to h~ve district has a tremendous task before it, and branches all over the province, and a one which will demand wisdom and Provincial Council with an executive tenacity of purpose equally with en-. has headquarters in Toronto. The I thusiasm and vigorous action. But and the House of Commons, led by in the end there can be but one out- the Government of Canada, of the come. "Roman Catholicism, in spite right of the Pope to interfere in civil of its virtue, is a religion of the van- affa.irs, the right to say wh-ether an ishing past. Protestantism, in spite act of a British Leg"islature shall go of its faults, is a religion of the fu- into operation or not, the right to ture even more than of the present." nullify such an act, the right to de. The demand for the separation of termine how the sum of $400,000 of church and state is becoming very Canadian money shall be distributed, strong in Canada, and if the Jesuits' or whether it shall be be distributed bill finally succeeds, the movement at all. The elevation of the Pope of in that direction will probably soon Rome into an estate of the British become irresistible. If so, the Jesuits realm superior to aU the other eswill have broughtit upon themselves. tates is distinctly incorporated into the Jesuits Estates act, w~ich con- Weare not surprised at this upris- tains a dozen pages of correspondingofthe people of Ontario. The won- ence between the Pope and the der is that they have borne with this Catholic Premier of Quebec, the alien, hostile power so long. It is a Pope and the Jesuits, and the Jesuits justrevoltagainstthepoweroftheJe- suits, and a righteous protest agamst and the Premier, and this is called the subserviency of the Canadian " the preamble" of the act, and it is Government to Papal rule. The this unparalleled example of legisla- Province of Quebec is the weak point tion which has called forth, even in the politics of the Dominion. It is more than the payment of public given over to the power of the Ro- money to the Jesuits, such an outman church. The Papacy dominates burst of public indignation as Canathere in politics, society, industry, da had not witnessed heretofore. religion, everywhere. A writer in a J. M.S.
secular journal says: WHEN Marshal Bazaine was tried for irresolution at the siege of Metz, " In Quebec the Roman Catholic church takes which resulted in disaster to the precedence in everything-is, in fact, a state French arms, he sought to shield church; collects Its tithes and ecclesiastical himself from blame and degradation assessments by the machinery of the law, and from his rank on the ground that he the Legisla.ture cannot be opened until the Car- did not know what was the governdinal comes to occupy his • seat' or 'throne.' ment of the country, or whether, in- Every inducement is offered by the laws to deed, there were any government at squeeze out Protestants who do not pay tithes all. But the president of the miliand thus enrich the colThrs Of the church, whose tary tribunal burst out with the imrevennes are numbered by tens of millions of patient, impas5ioned exclamation: dollars. The claims for debt of the Catholic church take precedence over everything. In " But France I But France' " The the professions the tests for admission are 80 Emperor might be a prisoner and the framed as to discourage study and entrance by empire a ruin; the Prussian guns Protestant.and English-speaking youth, English might have swept the army away at collegiate institutions being severely discriminat- Sedan and the very capital be the ed against. Throughout the French districts no camp of the foe, but France was still business man, if a Protestant and an English- alive, bleeding but not dead. The speaking subject of her Majesty, can;have any unfaithful Marshal owed something chance to live nntil he has' seeu the cure.' If to his country. If he could not save you want even a tavern license you must 'see the Emperor or the empire, he should the cure,' and the cure will come around every month and collect from you whatever assessment he chooses to deduct from your English and Protestant moneys."
The astounding fact has been disclosed that there has been a distinct recognition by the Legislature of have struck boldly to save the land.
Quebec, the Government of Canada, We are not to hesitate lin this
ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
crisis of missions. We may not be welcome message came too late for able to save our methods or follow insertion in the present number of our favorite plans. Our whole basis "China's Millions," which contains of missions may need reconstruc- letters telling of a distressing state tion. But the kingdom , the king- of things. We suppose that it is now dom' That must not be imperilled considered that the funds in hand or its progress delayed. A. T. P. will enable the poor sufferers to tide over the few weeks that yet remain SUGGESTIONS made in these pages before their own harvest isgathered. touching division of the world-field, All who by their kind gifts have etc., fin< an echo and emphasis in a shown true sympathy with the paper by Rev. W. J. Smith in the famine-stricken people will rejoice Evangelical Christendom. Hedwells at the prospect of this early relief. upon the difficultIes experienced in missionary work in the organization B. BROOMHALL, Secretary. of native churches; and in order to CHINA INLAND MISSION, May 21, avoid the painful differences cre- 1889. ated by the clashing of different sects in the mission field, he advo- PROF. GRAHAM TAYLOR writes that cates the aUotmentof different areas, Hartford Theologic:al Seminary is to determined by language or clear be opened to women who desire to geographical boundaries, to various fit themselves for Christian teaching missionary societies. He advocates and missionary work. The seminary greater co-operation among societies is to be radically readjusted to meet in bible and tract translation, edu- the demands of the field, all along cation and other objects, and in the line. Popular instruction to be church government, architecture, provided as demanded in all deetc., he would leave the natives as partments, to give larger knowlfree as possible. He is of opinion edge of the word and training for that we have not trusted the native every line of Christian work. We Christians enough in the past. He hope Hartford Seminary will lead in pleaded also for the formation of a the erection of a special chair for the General International Missionary E'If,glish Bible. As it is, students are Council, which, having representa- carried through brief fragmentary tives of all Protestant societies, portions of Old and New Testaments might co-operate with all movements and trained in special exegesis. We for avoiding schisms and for aavo- need chairs devoted to this one purcating unity in native churches. pose: to train students to know the entire contents of the English Bible, WE have received the following the object of the various books, the telegram from China: "Further as- scope of its entire testimony and sistance famine not required." This teaching, its unity, etc., etc. Possi- bly such a chair might be combined with "Christian missions."-A. T. P.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WOR;K AND STATISTICS.
Africa.-Missionary Societies Represent- 633 native pastors and helpers. The II re ed In. England has 14. with 376 ordained porting membership aggregate 11.500. preachers. 37 laymen. 100 women, and 8.764 native pastors and helpers. The converts in The English society representing the some of the societies are not reported in greatest number of imported helpers is the the statistics before us; II report 4,500. Society for the Propagation of the Gospel- 134; next to this come the Wesleyan America is represented by 13 societies Methodists, the Moravians. and the Unlver- aities Missions, each with 63. with T.7 o}'dained preachers,87 W'PInen, and The society with the larl'"st number of 9th inst. Mr.S. Smith, M. P., presided. The report. submitted by Mr. Thompson, stq.ted Dative belpers is tbe London, with G.OOO; that the total income of the society durin&' the year had been £125,250,and theexpenditbe Wesleyan Methodists have·I.527, and ture £122,596. leaving a balance of £2,6.;)4 toward meeting the deficiency of the preother Methodist bodies 1183 ; the Moravians, vious year. Practically they commenced the new year with a clean balance sheet. 887. In response to the special appeal issued by the directors, £16,390 had heen received, in The UnitedPresbyteriansof Scotlandhave addition to which the ordinary income of the society has been increased by U.OOO. the I&rgest membership in Africa-IS.OOO; -According to the OjJlci.al Year-Book of next to them come the Baptists, with 8,000; the (]hurch. of Ji.'ngland for 1889. th.. expendi- tures on church extension the past year in *h~ Society for Propaglltion of the Gospel the Established Church aggregated $5,. 500,000. of which $4,697,770 was devoted to have 5,000. church building. During the last twenty_ dve years the expendltun for tais purpose Of the American societies the Bishop reached the enormous total of $175.000,000. The number ot candidates confirmed last Taylor Missions lead in imported helpers, rear was 217,483. ITALY. The Free Cburch The eighteenth having more than 100; the Presbyterans, report of the Evangelization Committee of this church gives the number of churches 45; the American Board, 42; and the Bap- connected with it as 32, having 1,5211 com- municants and 222 catechumenll. Tlere are tists.23. 152 ministers and 12 evangelists, besideS colporters and other 88lstants. Several The United Presbyterians have 219 native new field& h"ve been occupied within the helpers; Bishop Taylor, 76; the United past year: many interesting cases ot con- Brethren,53; ProtestantEpiscopal,42; a.nd version are reported. The most marked event in connection with the church during Presbyterians, 22. the past year Is the death of Gavazzi. whose infiuence on the aide of truth and The United Brethren have the greatest righteousness was very great. -The Waldension Church. Wm are indebted Dumber of converts, 4,000; Bishop T;l.ylor·s to M. M. Fisher, D. D., for the folowinll: facts: Missions, which includes Liberia, 2,700; There are two distinct boards in charge the United Presbyterians, 1,850; the Pres- of the work of the Waldensian church in Italy-one In the valleys and the other for byterians 875; the American Board the 'he mission fields.
same. The report on evangelization tor 1888 pre- sents the following particulars' So that, &11 told, excepting several not In- Number of churches.« ; stations,«; pascluded in the report before us, there are 27 tors, 38; evangelists, 8; localities visited, 180; evangelical teachers, 67; colporteurs, societies baving missions In Africa, with 9; Bible readers. 6: regular attendants on preaching, 6,218; occasional hearers, 49,795; 453 ordained and 107 lay preachers and help- communicants, 4,074; catechumens. 469: baptisms, 190; marriages, 41 ; deaths, 187; ers; 186 women, 10,000 native pastors and seholars in ordinary schools. 2,323; In night schools, 890; Sabbath-schools, 2,621; conhelpers, and about 16,000 commuBicants……. tributions from the churches, 65,825 francs, African News. or $13,155. Last year America contributed 13,489francs; Belgium, 20 francs ; Denmark, -British trade with Africa Is estimated to 2.158; France, 2,354; Germany, 31,'783; Engbe worth about $125.000,000 annuslly, while land, 88,343; Ireland, 8,955; Holland, 1,194; Scotland, 78,852; Sweden and Sorway. 5,811, that of France is about '100,000,000, The Switzerland., 20.555 ; total help from other lands, 262,943 francs, or about $52,588. commerce of Germany with the great Con- -Wuttke gives the following statistics tinent is as yet insignificant. The total value of evangelical Christians among the Italof the exports and imports of Africa is esti- ians : There are 16.500 Waldenses. Most of mated at $375,000.000 annually.-A.frican these are found in tho old churchos of the ~itorll.
Brazll.-The following statistics are glven lu the" Evangelical Year Book," pub- lished by Rev. Mr. Vanorden.
Presbyterian Synod.-63 churches, 32 min- isters, of whom 12 are natives, 3 licentiates, 'l candidates, 2,006 members and 13 schools.
Methodist Ep. Church.-3~: members, 'l ordaiued ministers, 6 candidates for ordi- nation, 3 local preaches. 20 preaching places. two schools and tour foreign mis- sionary lady-teachers. .
Baptist Church.-5 churches, 241 mem- bers, 12 male and female missionaries and 3 native preachers.
Bishop Taylor has four laborers in Para, Pernambuco and Maranhao. The churches organized by the late Dr. Kaley are three in number. having a membership of about 250 believers. There are fiV8 evangelical papers and two agencies of Bible societies.
Thirty years ago there were hardly anr na- tive Christiana in Brazil. These figures are the beat answer to those who regard mis- aions a failure.
England.-London Missionary Society.
At the great meeting at Exeter Hall on the valleys. but there are also new <-hurches in in the whole of Dutch India from 148.672 to cities. namely one in Milan with 326 communicants. one in Turin with 317 an'- two in about 250.000, or about 66 per cent. Ih Java Florence with 325. The Free ·Church' of nearly 801 the converts have been Won from Italy has 71 <lhurches and stations, and 1.580 members. The Plymouth Brethren Mohamm~dani.m. In Sumatra. the number have 5C small congregations: the Wesleyans 55 congregations and stations, with of Christians has increased since 1878 from l,38C members: the Methodist Episcopal 2,500 to 1~,()(J(). and there are bundredsof Mo~ zn Church con~rega,tioDS a.nd I) stations, hammedans who have been baptized by our with 950 members; the Baptists have 53 missionaries, or are at present under instations and 870 members. There are. besides, a few small missions in different parts struction.-Dr. Schreiber, Rhenish Missionof the country. The statistics of the German, English, American and French . ary &Jeiety. church . are not given. The total number of Italian communicants in the Evangeli- S pal n.-The Protestant Church of Spain cal churches is 22,OOO.-Dr. Stuckenberg. in Homiletic Review. numbers at present 112 chapels and school- Ireland.-Summary of the nineteenth houses. 111 parochial schools. with 81 male report of the Representative Body of the Church of Ireland. The contributions re- and 78. female teachers. 2,545 boys and 2.095 ceived from voluutary sources during the year 1888 amounted to £148.380 19s., girls. There are 80 Sunday.schools. with 183 au increase on the receipts of the previous year of £11,417 15s. Of the contri- helpers and 3,231 scholars. The churches are butions received, £107.557 8s. was paid in for assessment. being an increase of ministered to by 56 pastors and 35 evangel. £5.480 11~. on the previous year. The contributions received since Disestablishment ists. The number of regular attend.ants is amount to £3,562,455. The total income during the year 1888 was: Voluntary contri- 9.164; of communicants. 3.442. Pastor F. butions. £148.380 19s.; investments. £290.- 5OO2s.; glebe rents. etc., £13,194 13s.; sun- Fliedner reports steady prolrl"ess on all dries. etc.• £7.836 Is.; total, £469.911 16s. The total expenditure was £42.~.020. leaving sides.-Ohri.fian at Work. a balance of £44.89111s. to be added to cap_ ital; but in this balance is included £2,763 Syran Protestant College, Beirut. Cata. 18. interest on mortgages which have not been paid. It should also be observed that logue, 188&-9. this £44,89111s.• being impressed with special trnsts. is not at the disposal of the Faculty: Rev. Daniel Bliss, D.D.• Presldent, and Representative Body. .rotal assets on January 1. 1888. amounted to £7.313.338. and on six American professors; four American .lee· January 1,1889, they had increased to £7.- 358,730. The investments in securities turers and instructor.; four Arab Instructors. amount to £6.537.381. These figures show that the affairs of the church are adminis- one French instructor. Three departments: tered skillfully and pruden tl.v. The total Preparatory, Collegiate, Medical. ' Students. capital sum in the hands of the Representative Body devoted to parochial sustentation Preparatory Department……•…….94 Is £3.818,629. The Interest of this sum at 4 Collegiate .. •……•…… 65 per cent, amounts to £152,745 per annum, which, If divided equally amongst the Medical …… ;, …… 38 1.3()(l clergy still required for the service of the church. gives £117.a year for each. If 197 the bishops are included in the calculation. An increase of 16 over the prevlons year. and It is found that the average income of the the largest number present durlu~ any ~'ear bishops and clergy derived from interest since the foundation of the college lu 1866. A of ca.pita; amount tc £132 per annum. The glance over the list of graduates from the -comamount paid for stipends under dioceans mencement, numbering in all 192 different perschemes in 1888 was £205,860 168.• being an sons, shows them widely scattered throughout increase of £2,564 3s. on the a.mount paid Syria and Egypt. many holding po.itlons of in 1887.-Iri8h Times. trust in governmeut and educational institutions, as well as in the professions. A most importan~ .Java.-1n Java the uativeChristianshave feature is the new school of Biblical Archmology increased since 1873 from 5.673 to 11,229. and and Philology for foreign students in those de- partments especially attrsctive to ministers who desire to take up those lines under the most favorable circnmstances. for a time. Rev. D. S. Dodge. 11 ClllfStreet, New York, Secretary.
United States. – American Coloniza- tion. t888. The Seventy-second Annual Report shows receipts. $6,176.05 ; expenses, $13,007.60.- 56 emigrants have been sent. 39 to Sinoe and 15 to MonrOVia, inclnding one ordained minister. a teacher. machiulst; physicians, carpellters and farmers. A large number of applications have been received, but not all could be sent, partly on account of the yellow fever in the South.
Arthington, in Liberia, founded by Robert Arthington, of England, is the most important settlement.
-American Sunday School Union-65th An- niversary. The last year has been marked by an increased force of workers, there now being 87 missionaries In 31 States and Territories, as against 60 in the deld two years ago. The fol· lowing summary is for the year ending March
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY- BULLETIN. .637
1,1889: New Snnday-<rehools organlzed. 1,756; from the report made by Cephaa. BraInerd. of teachers in them, 7,869 ; scholars in them, 63,- the International Committee, to the convention 375; scholars not before reported-aided, 1,816; recently in session in Philadelphia: The numcontaining teachers, 13,045 and 123,538 scholars; ber of associations reporting statistics in 1879 schools previously reported-aided, ~,432; con- was 889; in 1889, 1,141; total membership.in taining teachers, .21,718 and 201,531 scholars; 1879, 67,739; in. 1889, 115,456; active membership Bibles distributed, 8,625; Testaments, p,681 ; in 1871l, 34,120; in 1889, 94,120; number of buildalso large amounts of evangelical Iitera- in:;:s in 1879,60; in lES9, 156;.value of buildings ture; families visited. 40,041 ; addresses de_ in 1871l, $2,474,600; in 1889, $6,829,395; volumes livered, 11,341 ; miles traveled, 409,:;()6. At iu libraries in 1879, 173,650; ill 1<'89, 385,728; hlast 4,000 persons hav·e been reported a.s total net value of al. property in 1879, $~,3S0,724; hopefully converted and more than 100 in IES9, $6,944,685; number of States employing churches of different denominations have State secretaries in 1b79, 12; in 1889,32.
developed from tbese schools. -Internal Revenue Taxation. The total re -Statistics of the Protestant Episcopal ceipta from Internal revenne taxation (or the Church In the United States for 1887-88 are year endillg June 30, 1888, were as follows: as follows: Dioceses, 50; missionary juris- From spirits, $69,306,166.41; from fermented diction,I6; clergy (bishops, 69, priests and liqnors, $23,324,218.48, and from tobacco, $30,.
deacons, 3,766), 3,IlIO parishes. about 2,975 662,431.52, an iucrease over the previous year missions, about 2,078; candidates for orders. f..om spirits of $3.476,844.70: from fermented 343 ; ordinations. deacons, 116 ; ordinations, liquors of $1,402,130.99, and from tobacco of 103: baptisms, (total infants and adnlts), $551,364.39, a total tax of $123,292,816.39. And 56,709; confirmations, 39,590; communi- this fearful tax represeuts but a tithe of the cants. 450,042; Sunday-school teachers, money expended by the people for the items 311,601; Sunday-school scholars, 342,431; taxed. On what a gigantic scale does our Gov- ~ra.lI.d total of con.tributions, $11,483,- ernment participate in the inlqnlty of the rum 597.(8. traffic and of the untold evUs which result from -The following Y. M. C. A.-s-ta-t-is-ti-cs–ar-e—th-e-u-s-e-o-f i-n-to-xicants and tobacco I VIII.–PROGRESS OF MISSIONS:" MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Afrlca.-Mr. Guinness"1s maturing plans ·-The lat.at news from Malange, one ot for a grand advance of three columns of mis- Bishop Taylor's stations, is that an entire fam- sionaries to go simnltsueously np the three IIv of natives, five in nnmber, haye forsaken branches of the Congo-Northern, Central and their idols and turned to Cbrist. May it be the Southern. The central one may be considered flrst fruits of a large harvest! Each of tbe fi~e as started a fortnight since, by the departure of stations in Angola has now two missionar!
eight missionaries from London, to work as au graves.
English auxiliary to tbe American Baptist Mis- -Bishop Crowther has lately opened at sionary Unien. Bonny a new church buUt of iron, ",ith sitting -Stanley Moving Eastward. Word was accommodations Cor 1,000 worshippers received at Zanzibar on June 12, to the effect -A new Mohammedan leader, uEI Sen- that Stanley had arrtved in December at Ururi, oussi," is, according to reports from Cairo, on the eastern shore of the Victoria Nyanza, making a great deal of trouble for the Mabdi.
with a nnmber of invalids of his force. The re- U El senoussi " presides over a great organiza- port stated that Stanley had met with heavy tion of devotees, witb adherents from Tonis to losses, and that he had rejoined and left Emin the Congo. He has, it is said, caused the Mahdl Pacha at Unyara, on tbe northeastern shore of to fall back on Khartoum, in furtherance of s the lake. Unyara is fifteen days' march from large scheme of conquest, which includes not Ururi. Letters received at Zanzibar trom only the annihilation of Mahdism, but the Ujljl, dated March 10, say that Stanley met dominion of the Soudan, and possibly of Egyp Tippoo 'fib and sent a nnmber of sick followers itself.
back with him by way of the Congo. Stanley PALABALA,CONGO, April 13,'89-.Messrs, BUlintended coming to the east coast witb Emin ington and Glun.k of A B.M.Union afe building Pacha. Tlppoo Tib would arrive at Zanzibar a new (second.) station beyond Stanley Pool.
In July. Small-pox raging in several districts. At -Missionary letters to the London Anti- Lukunza Station several clmrch members have Slavery Society say that the Mabdists have died. Others are being added to the church. made lfes:ern Abyssinia a desert. Whole Mr. Ingham, of Banza Manteke, has heen ill flocks and herds bave been destroyed, with same, but attack has beell mild.
tbousands of Christians have been thrown into Rev. S. Silvey B. M. S.) goes home-nearly slavery, thousands of others have been butch. three and a half years in the country.
ered, and hundreds of the noblest Inhabitants In the B. M. S. seven have been added to the have been taken to Mecca as siaves in violation churcb at Stanley Pool. NOlle ofBishop Taylor's of treaties. steamer is beyond Isangila yet. J os. CLARK.
01' lIISSlONS-)(ONTBLY BUlJ,BTqf. [Au(t
Arabla.-The Keith·Falconer Mission. £17.000 wblch hu been aenmaJatiq tor tile We have batorereferred te the interesting coni· past th~ yean. In addttlon to tile above Is tile pan of captive. taken {rom slave-shipe on the work done by the Ladies' A.uxIlIary collD8Cted Red Sea, and committed by the government to with the society, and reporting an In_ for this mission for edncation. These children now the year of .lmost £8,000. number My.one. It was at first supposed that they were Abysslnlans, aud hence nominally -A New Miaaionary Scheme. The Baptist Christians, but It now appears that they are Mlsslonary SocIety have decided to make a Gallas and that none of them had ever heard fresh experiment in India. Rev. W. R. James, the name of Christ. These boys and girls are one of their ablest and moat experienced mIs.. developiq rapidly, and show an earnestness sionaries, and a notable bazaar preacher, Ia to and spirit which promise wen. Teachers have be entrnsted with it. He Is a single man him· been sent from the United Presbyterian Mis· self, and half a dozen earnest young men, who slon In Egypt, who will help In the education of are prepared to devote themselves to the work these youth, and it is hoped that tbey will reo In wblch he has been so long engaged, are to be turn to their native land to preach the gospel. found and go back to India with him. They are all to live together In the native quarter ofsome Ohlna.-It i. reported that In the China great city, probably Calcutta, and there to com· Inland Mission Hospital and Dispensary at Che· mend the g08pelln life and deed, as wen as b:r foo,5,539 out'patlents have been relieved, 217 word. lb. James estimates that they can live surglcaJ operations performed, 96 In·patients In comfort and good health at a cost of abont treated and brought under spiritual inftuences, £liO a year each-The (Jhristiaft. not a few of whom are believed to have ac· cepted Christ as- their Saviour; and an this -The Baptist Union of Great BritalB and work Is done at the small cost of 143l. One of Ireland have had tabled at their session these the most encouraging sllns in the missionary statistics: Congregations, 2,770 ; members, 2119,. work In China is the hold the gospel Is gaining 498; Sabbath-school teachers, 45,977: scholars on the hearts of the womeu. One Isdy has from attendlng 8abbath.school,452,167; local preachforty to ftfty present at a women's meeting each ers, 3,988; pastors In charge, 1.865. It was com- Sunday. Miss Gulnness, of the C. I, H., tens puted that In the denomination there had been of the eaA'Brness of the women to hear the truth. gained during the past year about 20,000 mem Mrs. Cassels gives the same testimony. bersaud 28,000 Sabbath scholars. Some churches had not reported, and of course the Union had Oeylon.-Mr. Murdock, of Ceylon, whne no means of enforcing a request for statistics. In government employ, founded the ve~acular ReligiOns Tract Society thirty year$go, which. -The total receipta of the BrItIab and during the past year, published 8,000,000 pages Foreign Bible Society are 84,986l. le8II than lut year. There Is a diminution In all the Items of of reading matter. or the salary received he receipts except two, bnt the most serious reduce tion Is In legacies, which last year were extraorwas not satisfted to give a tellth to the Haster's dinarily high. The return from distribution of work. but devoted eight-tenths to that purpose. Scriptures also shows a decrease, but this Is He set up printing presses, composed and accounted for by the cessation of sale of the Ju· printed his own gospel tracts, and packing bUee Bible and Testament, and by Ule lessened them in a bullock cart, spent his vacations In demand lor the penny Testament. distributing them over the country. FIU.-Once the synonym of the utm08tde- England.-Wesleyan Missionary So. pravlty, the I'ijllslands to.dayare a monument ciety. ThIs society, with headquarters In Lon· to the value and power of Christian missions. don, hss miSSions In Europe, India, Cbina, West A gentleman who has labored there for 14 years Africa. the Transvaal, British Honduras and the recently testilled publicly In London that Queen Bahamas. It reports 336 central stations or cir· Victoria had nowhere 120,000 subjects more cults and 1,338 chapels and preaching-places. It loyal than the residents of these Islands. The has a stall' of 333 missionaries and assistant mls· gospel was brought there by Christianized na· sionaries. with 2,000 other paid agents, such as tlves of the Friendly Islands, ana In turn the catechists, interpreters, etc. It enumerates 8,859 Fijians themselves have hecome Imbued with unpaid agents, such as local preachers and Sab- the missionary spirit, no fewer than 5Ot,"hristlan bath.school teachers, and a church membership Fijians having gone to proclaim the gospel In of 82,325, with ',674 persons on trial Cor admis· New Guinea. slon to the church. The method pursued by the cermany.-Tbe Mia.lonary Conference society Is to send to the fteld English mlsslona· ries for the purpose of organization and super· I, recently held In J'ranklort-on·the·Oder took vision, or to give iustrnction In tralniq institu· tlons. All subordinate positions are occupied the Initiative of a very courageous petition to by a trained na tlve agency, while It is under- the Emperor with. view to obtain, possible, stood that every convert, according to his abil- some more stringent control over the manu· Ity, should be a voluntary worker for Christ. facture and exportation of rum. A.ccordlng to The total Income for tbe past year was nearly a report made to the conference, 69118! cent. of £132,000. The report for the year expresses the freight destined for the negroes, and shipped great discouragement because of a debt ofalmost from Hamburg, consisted oC rum. And then, what rum I The saUors never touch It, for they
rROGRESS OF lIISSiONS"";'XON'l'HLY
know 'too well that it woald kill them. But count of peculiar eircumstances, hQ piq,b,efl,biB then the negroes! What matters It If it does tent at a spot where, unknown to himself at kill them f .. Am I my brother's keeper f" the time, a fakir some 25 years before had prophesied that a teacher from God would at Indla.-SirHerbertEdwardB, iuaspeeeh some time pitch his tent, who woald bring a delivered in Exeter Hall, London, in 1868, message to the people from God. ' It seems this sa.id: "Everyother faith in Indio. is decaying; fakir who mad" the prophecy ordered the Christia.nity alone is beginning to run its people to keep three big pots of ghee (clarified .course. It has taken root, and by God's butter), and give them over to the teachers grace will never be uprooted. TheChristian whom God would send them. So when Dr. converts were tested by persecution aud Clough pitched his tent on,the designated spot, martyrdom in 1857, aud they stood the test. the people brought the pots of ghee and asked I believe that If ,the Euglish were driven him what he was going to do with them. He out of India. tOomorrow, Christianity would took them, and stulllng old rags Into each of remain a.nd triumph." the pots, lighted them, making a grand blaze throughoot the night. This attracted the people -There are one-and-a-halfmlllions of Ro- and they came in crowds, and the golden opma.n Ca.tholics in India.. It is therefore with portunity was seized for preaching Christ. tha.nkfulness that we see the continuance Hundreds heard the word of salvation in the ot 0. movement which seems like" a stirriug light of this blaze, before which Idola were of the dry bones" of Romanism in India.. brought out and broken in pieces. Thepreach. Last month 0. crowded meeting of Catholics Ing was continued until dawn, and for some dayt was held at Karachi in protest ae:ainst subsequently. , It was a remarkable Icene, and the a.ttempts of the Jesuits to crush the itlls believed many saving impressions were editor of AngkrLmitano, the paper which produced.-Miasion. Herald. is strul:'gliug to ma.intain 0. certain amount of religious liberty in'the Catholic church. -In the Marathi Misaion of the American An unprecedented sale of Bibles has taken Board the misslonari,s report the organization place during the past few months amongst of several new churches as a prominent feature csrtain sections of the Indian Catholics. of the last year's work. One of the older churches added 18 per cent. to its membershtp -Among the 500,000 lepers of Iudla, the on profession offaith, and sent olffrom its num- Mission to Lepers iu Iudis is doing a noble ber a large colony to form a new church. These work. The society endesvors to utilize, as fsr new efforts are started with thirty or more as possible, existing agencies by assisting communicants, a number comparing not nnleper asylums already established, and provid- favorably with the original membership of ing missionaries with the means for carrying on churches In this country. ViSits of evangellsts Christian work in connection therewith. It have been very profitable, and a native of Bommakes granta towards the building of new bay, Sumant 'Vishu, io addition to general asylums, and In many cases provides for the meetings, held In one district a meeting excluseutlre support of lepers. An illustration of Ively for women. Over 100 women were, the work may be taken from the record of the gathered to hear him, more than half of them year's dOings at Purulia. On February 8, Hindu women-a rare sight-to listen to the 1ll88, the foundation-stone of an asylum was gospel. This prepares us for a statement that laid. On April 16, one house, capable of follows latter: .. Among the recent converholding twenty persons, was opened. By Octo- sersions In that district women are 111 a ber other homes had been opened, and the Inmates numbered 50. The year closes with the m~orlty." glorious news that there are 67 ic the asylum, of whom 511 had just been accepted for baptism_ Italy.-The British and Forei/l"n Bible So- The report of the society says, .. Traly a won- ciety have circnlated in Italy, during the pas derful record for one short year." Mr. Welle- year, 137,045 portions, New Testaments and sley C. Bailey, Edinburgh, is Secretary. whole Bibl~s, and, more often than not, in dis- tricts 1IIto which no evangelist has penetrated. -In ollr Christian College at Lahore there Some of the best sales were efleeted in the are 125 students-Hlndoo8, Mussulmans, Sikhs, mountain district of the Abrnzzi, in the Basil!- and Christians. cats, and in the two Calabrias; also in the in- -The Telugu Mission. The remarkable terior of Sicily and Sardinia. work carried on by the American Baptist Mis- -The changes taking place in Italy may be sionary Union among the Telugus is still a cause for surprise and gratitude. It is reported indexed by such signs as the seizure by the that since the beginning of 1889 there have Roman police of the Pope's jubilee medals been over 1,000 baptisms In the Ongole dis- which bore an inscription ascribing to His trict and 471 In the Vinukonda district. Dr. Holiness the title of Killg. The Italian Gov· Clough of Ongale reports the baptism by him- ernment very naturally looked upon this as self ot 420 during the month of February. an a.ssumption fraught with danlrer to the He sends the following striking account of a peace of the country, a.nd immediately visit at Rivalporum, a village thirty miles from ordered the confiscation of the meda.ls. Ougole. When he reached the village, on ac- The Roman Catholics were, of course turi. ous about It, and threats were made that past year 1,758 new SundayoSchools in 81 concerted efforts will now be taken by the States and Territories, in I?laoos hitherto adherents of Leo XIII. to restore. him to the destitute of relil:'ious priVileges. It &180 temporal sovereignty. A cable correspond- gave aid to other needy schools in 6,488 inent of the New York Telegram, who is evi- stances. In many cases the scbools have dentlya Romish sympathizer, spoke of it as developed into churches of dill'erent denom. ..a piece of impertinence on the part of the inations. It also distributed, by sale a.nd Italian' Government to assume that the gift,8,585 Bibles &nd l1,68ll Testament and Pope is not a kin/:, I " made 40,041 visits to families. In the winter its missionaries conducred eva.ngelistio In the city of Rome are 80 cardinals, 85 rh~~~~~t!!~ered many hundred BOuls into bishops, 1,469 priests, 2,832 monks, and 2,215 nuns; and yet, with all this teaching power, -The Presbyterian Church,through its Board 190,000 of the Inhabitants can neither read of Pub1ication~reports the resnits of last year's nor write. work as follows: ..apan.-The number of adult baptisms 8 TATJlS. ….c':O:m"JCi,00"~…….;. ….. .; in the C.M.S. Japan Mission, 867, has consider- , 0 '~" ably exceeded that of any former year, the cor- "o"o"g 0 .. responding figures in the preceding two years ZI having been 179 and 222. The baptized mem- <12'0 E-t ~''~0 bers are now 1,851, with 178 catechumens. ———1– —- 8cotland.-The report ofthe Statistical California ..•.•……….. 11 39 279 Committee of the United Presbyterian Church Florida…………….. .. 9 26 190 of Scotland shows that there are 565 congrega- Indiana……………. .. 6 80 269 tions, an increase of one; 867 Sabbath-schools, Indian Territory •..•.••.. 22 72 1,109 an increase of 6,404 scholars, and that the total Iowa ………………. .. 11 49 438 membershIp Is 182,963, a gain of 793, being above Kansas ……………… . 114 &Ill' 4,189 the average rate of Increase for the last ten Kentucky ………….. .. 118 Ii84 5,:149 years. Michigan.. .. .. … .. .. .. 65 310 2,488 M!nnes~ta …………. .. 1(5 577 4,679 Spaln.-The Irish Presbyterian work in Mlssoun ……………. . 20 100 1,020 Spain. The Rev. Wm. Moore writes from Po- Montana ……………… 1 8 81 erto~ Santa Maria: .. The work was never so Nebraska …………… . 104 3S9 3,200 jJourishlng as It is now. I han been spending North Carolina………. . 8 81 my leisure hours in •setting up , a new geogra- 252 raphy (elementary), sorely needed for our NorthDakota ………. . 78 281 1,922 schools, and which we are going to attempt to South Dakota ……….. . 78 279 2,387 bring out on our little prlutinlt press. This Virginia ……………… Ii 22 873 geography is the translation of one compiled by Washington Territory .. . 12 50 353 Miss Whately for evening schools In Egypt aud West Virginia ……….. . 15 83 640 the Levaut. It is the oue branch of study of Wyoming…………… . 89 89 which the Spaniards seem to know nothing, and Wisconsin …………… . 16 55 518 any school text,book one can find is so complicated aud absurd as to be oseless for elementary 831 8,416 29.615 schools." Besides these Sabbath-schools, directly or- Syria.-Dr. George E. Post, in an article on gallized by the' missionaries, there were inthe outlook In Syria, says: directly organized by the Department, 117 Sab- bath-schoolS, 585 teachers; 8,750 scholars. .. Little by little the light is stealing In. Men Total number of Sabbath-schools organized last ofall religious opinions are inClining to tolera- year, 948; total number of persons gathered tion, The Bible is being circulated among the into Sabbath-schoolslast year, 37,866. masses. The number of readers is mnitlplied. -Fifteen have been added to th.. Indian Those who believe are bolder, but .at the same church at Lewiston, Dakotjl.. Red Cloud time more discreet. Those who do not believe came into the church jailor fashlon-" he are forced to concede that the Bible is the and aU his household." He was tr.arried. source of religiOUS knowledge and the referee ba.ptlzed, received the Lord's Supper and In all oases of doubt or dispute. Those who are had his two children baptized, all the same far from the spirit of the New Testament claim pay. to be evangelical. Everything Is ripening for a grand demonstration of the power of the Holy -To educate the Indian. Port Townsend. Spirit. When the day oC the revelation of the W. T., May 8. Dr. Sheldon Jackson, Com- Son of lIlan shall have come, and the ancient missioner of Indian Educatiou, left yesterseats of Christianity shall have received their day with a large pa.rty of missionaries who King, men will wonder that they were so slow will be stationed among the Indians In a.ll of heart to believe the Scriptures and to inter- l>&rts of Alaska. pret the signs of his home-coming," -Father Damien's heroic liCe and death are United States•..,.The American Sun- calling attention to the condition of lepers the day-school Union has orll'anized during the world over, and have given a new Impulse to investigation of possible means for, alleviating, Ifnot curing, the disease. Probably few have any idea ofthe great number of lepers, especial- ly in Asia. It has been estimated that there are a quarter of fA million in India, and they are found in colonies through Persia and Syria. London Is horrified by the assertion that a leper has been found lu. active employment in one of the large markets of that city. Fortunately, the type of the disease generally prevalent is not tbe most virulent, bot it is appalling at the best, and it may be that the faithful priest bas accomp- lished even more than he ever dreamed of in relieving the most wretched cla~s of 8ufferers the world knows. B.
. New York.
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 — February 1889
THE VINDICATION OF MISSIONS
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD~ VOL. XI. No.2-Old series.–FEBRUARY.–VoL. II. No. 2.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. THE VINDIOATION OF MISSIONS.
[EDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] ALL along the lines Satan seems to sound the signal for an assault on mISSIOns. Perchance the day has dawned, foreseen in apocalyptic vision, when" the devil is come down, having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time'" (Rev. xii: 12). Oertainly there is, just now, a very unusual commotion among the foes of Ohrist and His Ohurch, and it is manifestly caused by the unparalleled progress of Ohristian missions.
Satan is a master strategist. His favorite device is to employ respect~ able agents, and, best of all, professing disciples, to do his business. He disguises the personnel of the attack by getting them to hold the bow while he directs and discharges the venomous arrow. And so we find leading journals of America and Great Britain, and even a Oanon of the Anglican Ohurch, indulging in unfair and unfriendly criticism, and actually trying to prove" Ohristian missions a great failure" !
As to that" distinguished clergyman of the Ohurch of England," too much notice has been taken of him already. lIe has bought a cheap notoriety by his antagonism to missions, without ever earning a costly reputation by his defense of the faith. In the November issue of the Ohurch Missionary Intelligencer our friend" K." has given him and his paper an examination and an exposure so searching, so skillful, so analytic, so critical, that it leaves nothing for any other reviewer to do., . That scholarly article we wish everyone might read. It is at once a dissection and a castigation, reminding us both of the scalpel and of the scourge. The accomplished writer, with keen analysis of character and thorough knowledge of missions, cuts quick and deep beneath the cuticle of snperficial information and professed impartiality, and reveals the real ignorance of facts and perversion of the truth which vitiate th':) Oanon's essay. lIe calmly and coolly exposes and elucidates the entire structure of that misleading, if not malicious, paper, and justifies the judgment already pronounced upon its author by a very competent observer, that the" like of him for pretentious inaccuracy was hardly ever seen." In another aspect that reply isa terrible castigation. Long before "K." gets through, his victim is, figuratively speaking, dead under the scourge; and we wonder why the whipping goes on, unless it be on the principle of the boy who kept on beating a dead dog, because, as he said, "he wanted to show all living dogs that there is punishment after death." We hesitate to refer further to the Canon's essay, for it is not magnanimous to kick a foe who is already hors du combat, not to say lifeless. But while an author may not be worth notice, his false and fallacious statements and inferences may demand contradiction and exposure. 'Ve may not hope to overtake error, which" runs around the earth while truth is pulling on his boots," but we will do what we canto undo the mischief already wrought. Even out of the bramble may come a fire which, jf not quenched, sha1l devour the cedars of Lebanon; and so we undertake to address to candid minds some of the mighty facts and weighty considerations which, to every careful observer, are a triumphant vindication of missions.
It needs but little learning and less logic to see that the basis, on which the Canon rests the great missionary failure, is unsound. It will not bear investigation. First, as to the facts, so far as they are facts, there is nothing new. No intelligent student of Christian missions is taken by surprise or trembles with alarm. The main body of the. statements, based on comparative statistics, the most ardent advocates of missions, and even missionaries themselves, have not only conceded but furnished. He who has read Christlieb and Croil, Anderson and Stevenson, George Smith and Thomas Smith, Gammell and Goodell, Laurie and Livingstone, Bainbridge and Bartlett, Doolittle and Dorchester, Warneck and Wilder, Gordon Cumming and James Johnston, has seen these" vital statistics," facts and figures, fully set forth; indeed to Dorchester's" Religious Progress" and Johnston's" Century of Christian Progress," Canon Taylor probably owes no little of his own material. But while we concede the facts we dispute the inferences. Many a good scientist or statistician proves a poor philosopher or logician ; and even those who have gathered and classified these very facts follow them with no such induction, as is plain from their attitude toward missions, some of them being the foremost leaders and most eloquent pleaders of the whole mission host!
That is a false maxim that" facts and figures cannot lie." They may be arrayed in a garb so delusive, and arranged in a relation so deceptive, as to justify the quaint counter-saying, that "nothing can be made to lie so badly as figures, unless it be facts." For instance, the increase of popUlation is contrasted with the increase of Christian converts, and the former is shown to outstrip the)atter by ten millions a year; and this is one of this Canon's shots, by which he proposes to demolish Christian missions. But look at the comparative agencies producing these respccyve results. Suppose we estimate the unevan· gelized population of the Eastern Hemisphere at 1,000,000,000, and their annual net increase at 10,000,000, or one per cent. The whole Christian Ohurch at home sends into the mission field only some 6,000 men and women, and last year the "Ohurch 1-fissionary Society" alone reported 4,000 converts, or sixty-seven per cent. upon this whole force; while the entire gain from the whole mission field, in the last fully reported year, was more than 150,000, or tlOenty-five hundred per cent. If now we count into the working force the 30,000 laborers who .. are converts from heathenism, even yet the results are amazing; for, while the popUlation of these non-OhI'istian countries grew by one per cent., the number of converts advanced by over jour hundred per cent. upon the whole number of workers in the 'field! Does that look like failure?
But while we find fault with Oanon Taylor's figures and his worse .inferences, we most of all find fault with his sinking the Ohristian in the mathematician. Figures cannot exhaust facts. ~'here are results that cannot be reckoned by numbers or reported in figures, and the greater part of the actual fruits of missions cannot be thus estimated . or tabulated. Think of the direct results in the elevation of man as man, and in the creation of Ohristian communities in the very heart of heathenism and paganism! The gospel lever has lifted whole peo- ples to a higher level during this century of modern missions: new dignity has been given to manhood and womanhood and honest toil; new sanctity to marriage and family ties; new security to life and liberty, property, and happiness; cruel customs, degrading supersti- tions, caste distinctions, have been modified and even abolished; and there has been a wide diffusion of snch ennobling conceptions as the Universal Fatherhood of God and the Universal Brotherhood of man!
To. all tbese and many other direct results, we must still add the indirect influence of the gospel-refining, subduing, civilizing, even where it does not renew, sanctify, Ohristianize. There are many changes which stop sbort of conversion, which are both invaluable and inestimable. Dr. Lindley declared that when a naked Zulu got so far toward Ohristianity as to put on duck pants and a calico shirt and sit on a three-legged stool nine inches high, he was about nine thousand miles above his nude neighbors. Before Ohristianity entered India, lepers were treated with shocking inhumanity, many of them being buried alive. Not only has a stop been put to this cruelty, but for fourteen years there has beon a special Ohristian mission to the 135,000 lepers of India. Rev. James Ohalmers, the veteran missionary, after twenty-one years of experience among cannibals; after visits to the Loyalty, Samoan, Society, and New Hebrides groups; after ten years of life in the Hervey Islands, and almost tcn more among the savages of New Guinea, declares that he has never yet seen a single mall or woman that has been civilized without Ohristianity's influence; and he declares that the gospel is the only true civilizer, and that if this wel,"e all, it is worth while to send Christian missionaries to the field.
If Canon Taylor thinks missions a failure, he ought to have been wrecked, like a certain Scotcl~ seaman, on that islanl! in the South Sea, where, eight years before, a whole ship's crew were thrown ashore, escaping the devourillg jaws of an angry sea only to be roasted in can- nibal ovens and eaten by remorseless savages; yet here natives in English dress and with English words of welcome now. pulled their canoes toward htohsepitsainblkeinCgl~'isshtiipal, l eager to reseue the perishing and invite them tG homes. lIas CarlOn Ta,ylor heard Mr. Calvert and Mr. 'Yebb tell the story of Fijian missions? How heathenism has been so swept awuy that the visitor canllot believe that those people, polite as Parisians and honest as Norwegians, were wild cannibals a generation ago! How, out of less than 112,000 Fijians, over 100,000 are attendants on Christian worship! How, where fifty years ago there was not one Christian, there is to· day not one avowed hcathen 1 How there are over 1,200 placcs of ChriRtian yorship and not one cannibal oven or heathen temple! And yet Christian mi~sions are « a great failure"! Is it not rather the Canon himself?
ThG argument by which the Canon wonle1 reduce CIJristian missions to an absurdity is itself capable of an easy reductio ad absurdum. He calculates that at the present rate it would take from 300,000 to 1,000,- 000 years to convert the worh1-a result 'rather remote for any of us now living to hope to see! What a shallow argument against missions!
Shall we haul down the flag of the cross before this noisy cannonade?
Beholl! the logical inference as to all other work-reformatory, benevo- lent, philanthropic. 'Yhat if it can be demonstrated that, notwith- standillg the Herculean labor of temperance reformers, it would take, at the present rate, 1t million years to male every man a total abstainer or even to clear the world of drunlmrds, ronld that prove the temper- ance work a failure or lessen the value of mdivjdnals already rescned and homes already redeemed from this curse? Give the Canon's argu- ment a broad enough application, and all existing philanthropies would cease to-morrow! There arc in operation a thousand forms in which unselfishness ministers to want or woe-asylums for the blind and deaf, the incurable, the cripple, the insane; refnges for homeless orphans and midl11ght missions for lost women; soup-houses and cof- fee-rooms for the poor, lllght-schools and lodging-houses for bootblacks and newsboys. Blindness, prostitution, crime are said to be on the increase. All our best efforts canJlot overtake human poverty and misery. Shall we then pronounce all beneficent work a failure and abandon all eleemosynary institutions?
'fhis is a "distinguished clergyman of the Church of England."
'VeIl, how does he measure values? After the law of a carnal com- mandment, or after the power of an endless life? Hesults that affect a human soul-its character, history, destiny-are not to be gauged by quantity, but by quality; not to be counted by numbers, but weighed in the scales of God. Who shall measure the worth of one human being, of one human life, of one home redeemed from poverty and misery, lust and filth, rum and ruin? One child's possibilities for evil or gooel suggest a profound heig1lt alH1 depth which even the mind of a cherub and the heart of a seraph could not sound or explore. Even if eternity be left out of account, for the sake of benefits accruing in this life we shall still run the uneqm>l race with human sin and suffering, though we never supply all nleds or banish all crime and wretchedness.
Oanon Taylor's preaching, it is to be hoped, saves here and there one out of the thousands about him. Does he consider his ministry a failure? If so, why not doff his canon's robes and take up some work that pays better than preaching? The fact is, if he be a true disciple, his heart is better than his head, his love is sounder than his logic, and so he goes on patiently, rescuing here and there one soul from the awful wreek of faith and hope and love and life- because he cannot help, it. And so Ohristian missions are the necessary vent to a pent-up fire in our bones which makes us "weary with forbearing, so that we cannot stay" from the telling of the old story. It is because love, the expansive, expulsive, explosive law of the new life, will work to save, though the more abundantly it be lavished the less we be loved!
This question, "Do missions pay?" is a characteristic sign of our materialistic and commercial age. We have a supreme contempt for such methods of measuring duty and responsibility. A dIvine command is our authority for Ohristian missions, and their sufficient vindication. With results we have nothing to do, however discouraging. But since this Canon and oth~rs like him set up such standards of measurement, we cannot forbear to show that even on this basis mis- &ions are triumphantly vindicated. The witnesses that testify to the magnificent successes of missionary labor are legion. They may not, in the Oanon's eyes, be men of the highest learning, but they speak what they know and testify what they have seen; and their knowledge, however limited, cannot be offset by his ignorance, however extensive.
This paper in the Fortnightly Review hints that the quality of converts on mission fields scarcely justifies the expenditure in lives and treasure. Is the m'erage very high in the home churches? Where is the pastor who does not mourn over the dead driftwood that somehow gets into the current and then lodges in some bend of the stream to block all progress? Half of our church members give no sign of vital godliness. In a land wher~ the yery "atmosphere" is Ohristian, professing disciples trample on the whole decalogue, and even the churches are the shrines of idols. Oan we reasonably e:xpect a higher average of genuine a~d steadfast l)iety where the whole atmosphere is poisoned with paganism? But what are the facts? Whether judged by holy living or by ample giving, by faith or by works, the average convert in Turkey and Persia, Siam and Burmah, Ohina and Oaffraria, is far beyond the home standard, as the best missionaries testify with re- markable unanimity. Out of their poverty they give with an abun- dance of liberality that }mts to shame the gifts of our richest and most generous donors; and while Protestant Ohristendom sends to the direct mission work abroad only one out of every 5,000 members, these small churches, gathered on heathen soil, give at least one out of every hundred. .
In all.Oanon Taylor's comparisons of Ohristian life on these differ4 ent fields, there is the same obvious warping of facts by the determina- tion to make out his case. He repeats the common error of those who would applaud morality at the expense of piety, and who uniformly appropriate for the contrast the best specimens of the former with the worst of the latter. If the converts in the home and foreign fields are to be compared, we insist upon fairness and equity. Let us take for our examples those whose education, capacity, environment, oppor- tunity, most nearly correspond; and even then let us take into consid- eration every circumstance to which charity would accord a hearing in the court of reason and conscience. For a plant to live at all in a desert is a greater proof of vitality than for the same plant to thrive with lux.
uriance in a well-watered garden; and only they who, on pagan soil, where even the language has no terms for spiritual ideas, have seen the plants of godliness grow like flowers of Eden, can feel the full force of the proof that a divine Husbandman has been at work I But here, again, something besides numbers is to be taken into ac- count.. '1'he most subtle substances evade analysis, and the most im- portant results defy representation in the crude colors· of the mathe- matician or statistician. Theodore Parker rose from reading Judson's life to declare that if missions had produced but one such hero, all costs were repaid. With as profound persuasion do we affirm the same of multitudes of single converts in the foreign field. Foreign missions would be a grand success had they produced no results beyond creating, out of materials found in such soil, such men as Asaad Shidiak in Syria, .
Deacon Guergis in Persia, Kho-Thah-Byu and Sau Quala in Burmah, Africaner in Namaqualand, Kamehameha III. in Hawaii and Rona- valona II. in Madagascar, Tawai and Miti in New Zealand, Tubou and Bulu in Raabai and Finau in Vavau, Motele and Moshesh in Basuto- land, Pomare in Tahiti and Papeiha in Raratonga, Kayarnak in Green- land, Aquilar in Mexico, Leong-on-Tong in Ohina, and Brindelbund and Das Maitra in India; not to mention hundreds of others who are not individually named, like the converts of Uganda, who sang of Jesus till their tongues were crisped in their martyr fires! One might as well try to weigh in a scale the worth of a sunbeam as to estimate by mere arithmetic the value of transformed men and women, who in the ceuters o.f pagau, papal, heathen and M()hammedan communities shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life. The unconverted pagans themselves often confess amazement at transformations of character so radical, and, with Pharaoh's magicians, are compelled to say, "This is the finger of God!" When the vindictive Indian learns to forgive, the brutal cannibal to be compassionate, the cruel savage to be gentle, the treacherous Turk to be faithful, the sordid Ohinaman to be unselfish, the vile Hottentot to be chaste, there is a creat-ive energy at work. This is more than ;eformation or transformation' it is a miracle. It contradicts nature and natural law, and argues a new nature, a new birth, a new creation. He who does not know how repeatedly and unmistakably such transfigurations have been realized, even amid the habitations of cruelty and the shadow of death, is not a competent witness as to the value of missions, and no man who does know these facts can or will pronounce missions a failure.
Moreover, when a man writes on the great missionary failure, first of all we would like him to settle the meaning of terms. What is a failure? Manifestly the opposite of success. And what is success? This is the accomplishment of a plan or purpose. In the last analysis, the success or failure of Ohristian missions must depend upon the real purpose of Ohristian missions.
Weare constrained therefore to raise the question, What is the purpose of the gospel in this dispensation? There is a grand distinction which even students of the Word and advocates of missions often overlook. With the work of conversion we have nothing to do, and for that we are not responsible. Our mission is one of evangelization. "Go ye into aU the world and evangelize-preach the gospel to every creature." Our Lord Ohrist never said that it was our duty to convert everybody, nor did He promise such a result. We give the community a free school, though not every boy that goes to school will turn out a scholar. Weare to give the community a free 'gospel, though not every hearer does turn out a convert.
"This gospel must first be preached for a witness in all the world." This means no superficial, hasty, formal proclamation of the good news of grace. It means thorough work, the implanting and erection of all the institutions of Ohristianity. Everywhere men are to be confronted with the Ohristian church and home, school and college, society and civilization. They are to see demonstrated before their eyes, and by the logic of events, what the gospel of Ohrist can do for the man, the woman, the child; what it can do to elevate labor, dignify humanity, abolish cruelty and eve!! discourtesy, supplant caste by a true equality, and lift all society to a higher level. The contrast will thus be made to appear between the religion of the Nazarene 'and all other faiths. The Mohammedan, heathen, pagan, will be compelled to confess the I immense superiority of a gospel that is not satisfied with mere evolu.
tion, but demands revolution; and that, not out of ruins but upon them, rears a temple to God, in which unselfishness, benevolence, ch:J.rity and purity arl' the white-robed priests. That is pr~aching the gospel as a witness, and it gives to all men a fair chance for intel- ligent choice. Such is the purpose of the gospel in the present age, and such is the commission of the church during this dispensation, viz., worrd-wide evangelization; and so far and so fast as the church accomplishes that mission, however few or many be the professed con- verts, so far and so fast does the church succeed in missions, for she is doing the very work her Lord has given her to do.
While it is not promised that everybody who hears the gospel shall be converted during thIS age of gospel wItness, great reAUlts have accompanied, and greater WIll follow, the missionary efforts of the church of God. Already results that rival Pentecostal wonders have been realized. McKay at Formosa gathered 1,200 converts at the Lord's table on the twelfth anmversaryof his advent to that island,.
William Johnson saw Sierra Leone transformed into a Ohristian state within seven years. Dr. Clough, at Ongole, baptized 10,000 converts in three months in 1878. The South Seas were Ohristiamzed in forty years, from TahIti to New Gumea. A thousand spires dIsplaced can- nibal ovens, in the Fiji group, in less than half a century Transfor- mations have taken place within the memory of men still living, that are as inexplicable by any human philosophy as the creation ·of a world out of nothing. Madagascar, Polynesia, the Karens, the Zulus, the Maoris, even the Japanese in our own day, furnish modern miracles as astounding as the cleansmg of a leper, the empowermg of the Impo- tent, the exorcising of the demoniac, or the raIsmg of the dead.
The fuller exhibition of the fruits of missionary enterpnse must be left to a future paper on the "ExpOSItion of Missions." But, as a specimen both of the success of missionary labor and of the witness of impartial observers, we refer the reader to the recently published" Life and Letters of Oharles Darwin." In contrast with Oanon Taylor's as- sault, let us OLce more summon this apostle of materialIsm from his grave, to give his testimony. Mr. Darwm, though not a Ohristian, had the. greatest reflpect for the good in Ohristianity, and was great enough to.acknowledge it. 'l'his isthe way in which he answered some shal- low critics of foreign missionaries. We give space to his testimony be- cause it deserves to be quoted in full. After his visit to Terra del .Fuego, he wrote : "The Fuegians are III a more miserable state of barbarism than I had expectpd eyer to have seen a human being. In this inclement country they are ahsolutely naked, and their temporary houses are like what children make in summer with boughs of trees. I do not think 'any spectacle can be more interesting than the first sight of man in his primitive wildness. It is an interest whioh cannot well be imagined until it is experienced. I shall never forget this when entering' Good Success Bay'-the veIl with which a party received us. They were seated on a rocky p~int, sur~'ounded by the dark forest of beech; as they threw their at'ms wildly around th,eir heads, and their long hair streaming, they seemed the ;troubled spirits of another world. . • . There is in their countenance an expresion which I believe, to those who have not seen it, JlJust be inconceivably wild. Standing on a rock they uttered tones and made gesticulations than which the cries of domestic animals are far more intelligible."
'Admiral Sir James Sullivan testifies that JUl'. Darwin" often ex- pressed to him his conviction that it was lltterly useless to send missionaries t~ such a set of savages as the Fuegians, probably the very lowest of the human race." But subsequently, about 1869, he wrote to the Admiral" that the recent accounts of the mission proved to him that he had been wrong in his estimates of the native character and of the possibility of doing them good through the missionaries, and he requested the Admiral to forward to the society an inclosed check for £5, as a testimony of the interest he took in their good work." Yet later, in 1874, 187'9, and 1880, he wrote: "I am glad to hear so good an account of the Fuegians, and it is wonderful; the progress of the Fuegians is. wonderful, and had it not occurred, would have been ,to me incredible. I have often said that the progress of Japan was the greatest wonder III the world, but I declare that the progress of Fuegia is almost equally wonderfu1. It is truly 'wonderful about their h<?nesty and their l::tnguage. I certainly should have predicted that not all the missionaries in the world could have done what has been done." * Again Mr. Darwin writes: "In our passage across the Pacific we only touched at Tahiti and New Zealand. Tahiti is a most charming spot. Delicious scenery, climate, manner of the people, all in harmony. It is moreover admirable to behold what the missionaries both here and at New Zealand huyc effected. I firmly believe they are good men working for the sake of a good cause. I much suspect that those who have abused or sneered at the missionaries have generally been such as were not very anxious to find the natives 71w1'al and intelligible beings. They forget, or will not remember, that human sacrifice and the power of an idolatrous priesthood; a system of profligacy unparalleled in any other part of the world; infanticide, a consequence of that system; bloody wars, where the conquerors spared neither women nor children-that all these things, have been abolished, and that dishonesty, intemperance, and licentiousness have been greatly reduced hy the introduc- tion of Christianity. In a voyager to forget these things is a base ingrati- tude; fOJ' should he chance to be at the pointof shipwreck on some unknown coast, he will mo~t devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary may have extended thus far."
Weare compelled to leave the "pretentiously inaccurate" paper of Canon 'I'aylor with these brief comments on the" facts" it presents and the inferences it draws. Its answer must be found in the mis- * Vol. ii. 307, 308.
MISSIONS TO THE LEVANT
sionary annals of the entire century since the pioneer English mis- sionary went to India. There is not a true worker on'the field who will for a moment be disturbed by the recklelOs shots from this eccle- siastical gun. Nor will the missionary enterprises of the ch,urch be for one hour arrested or delayed. Infidels have been trying for cen- turies to overthrow the Word of God by scientific speculations. So soon as some new "fact" or "law" is discovered, they make haste to load up their guns and fire, expecting to see the defenses of the Christian faith totter and tumble under the tremendous shock of this scientific artillery. But 10 ! the 'fortress stands, with not even a hole or breach in the wall. And when we come to examine what was hurled against the walls, we find not some huge, heavy shot of solid fact, but a mere paper-wad of fanciful theory that took fire from the powder before it was out of the mouth of the gun!
We seriously apprehend that in this noisy assault on missions there is more flash and roar than force and nre. This gun kicks so badly that it were better to be before it than behind it. And when the smoke c1ears away and the effect of the assault is seen, this" distin- guished clergyman" will find himself famous only for his blunders, while his inexact statements and illogical conclusions may have led many a reader, like Nathanael, to come and see whether any good thing can come out of Nazareth, and to confess that the despised Nazarene is the Son of God and the miracle worker among the nations! These attacks, whether from nominal friend or from pro- fessed foe, are like the wild dash of the birds of the night against the crystal inclosure of that superb light that shines on the colossal statue in New York harbor: the assailants beat themselves into insensibility, while the light shines on undimmed, and the grand statue, reared on granite pedestal, stands unmoved and immovable, still guiding the watching sailor to a peaceful harbor.
MISSIONS TO THE LEVANT: THEIR PROBLEMS, METHODS . AND RESULTS. .
BY REV. EDWIN M. BLISS. [Our readers will be interested to know that the writer of this int~resting series of papers has but recently returned from Constantinople, where he spent several years as assistant agent of the American Bible Society for the Levant. Hence his thorough knowledge of the subject which he dis- cusses.-EDs.] UI. THEIR RESULTS.
IN considering the results of missions in the LfJ,ant we note: 1.
The development of the agencies employed. 2. The direct· effect ot those agencies in the establishment of evangelical communities and churches. 3. Their indirect effect upon other communities in the line of intellectual, social, and religious life. 4. The type of character developed as a foundation for the future. 1. The development of the agencies employed. The success of an undertaking is often measured in a degtee by the amount invested in it. The work: of the American churches in the Levant, commenced by the little band who sailed from Boston under the auspices of the then infant American Board, is now carried on by seven organized American societies-six representing the Congregational, Presbyterian, United Presbyterian, Reformed Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian, and Methodist denominations, and one, the American Bible Society, representing all, and helping to unite all upon the one foundation of the Word of God. There are also two colleges-Robert College at Constantinople, and the Syrian Protestant College at Beyroot-independent in endow)llent and management of the societies. Three more, at Harpoot, Aintab, and Marsovan, in Asia Minor, with endowments and boards of trustees, but practically under management of the societies. Two more, at Oroomiah, Persia, and Osiout, Egypt, under direct control of the' societies. There is also the Bible House at Constantinople, connected with no society, owned and managed by a board of trustees in New York, the income from which goes. toward Bible work, supplementing that of the societies. The Disciples of Christ and the Baptist Union are represented by a few native preachers, whose work has been, so far, almost entirely among the existing evangelical churches.
These different organizations are represented oy 133 American gentlemen, mostly ordained and married men, and 119 single ladies. They are located in 42 central stations, and have nearly 500 out-stations connected with them. Over 1,700 native preachers, teachers, and colporteurs work under their superinte·ndence. There are 185 churches with 15,226 communicants; 763 schools with nearly 33,000 scholars; 43,000 copies of the Scriptures, in whole or in part, have been distributed in one year. Unfortunately the statistics of religious and educational books are not kept distinct by the different societies. A general estimate of 50,000 books, 100,000 text-books, a.nd 400,000 tracts would perhaps represent the work of a year. Aside from these are the periodicals, 5 weeklies and 6 Ip.onthlies, the latter chiefly child's papers. One weekly in Bulgarian reached a circulation of over 4,000. '}'he medical work has assumed great proportions. Herc again no statistics arc given, but to say that 25,000 cases are attended yearly would probably be within the truth. These all involve an annual expenditure of Amel"ican funds amounting to nearly $500,000. How much the native communities contribute in salaries of preachers and teachers, tuition, cost of books, and general community and church expenses, it is impossible to say without better data than are furnished as yet. The value of property in land, buildings, school, printing and binding apparatus, stock of printed sheets, bound books, etc., is very great. In Constantinople alone it is over $400,000. These figures indicate the amount of the investment that the American churches have made in evangelical wo.rk in the Levant. The question then CDmes, Is this investment so. placed as to. secure the widest pDssible returns? The 42 central statiDns include nearly every city Df size and impDrtance in Bulgaria, RDumelia, Asiatic Turkey, NDrth Persia, Syria, and Egypt. AttentiDn has been paid especially to centers of pDpulation. There is prDbably no. country where the annual shifting Df the population is so great as in Turkey. Oonstantinople, Smyrna, Adana, even such interior places as Harpoot and 'Oesarea, are thronged by men who. leave their village homes for a few months or a few years to earn a little and then return. These are the peDple that are most easily reached, and there is scarcely a hamlet, frDm the Balkans to. the Persian Gulf, from the Oaucasus to. LuxDr, that has not some one or more Df those who have been reached by preacher, teacher, or colpor-. teur in the larger cities. There is also a regularly organized system by which the whole field is visited each year. The results are brought into. discussion III native presbyteries and uniDns, and then into annual meetings of the missionaries, where plans suggested on the field are scrutinized mDst carefully, matured, and put into. actiye operation. In fact, as a matter of business management Df the sums committed to their care, the missions of the American churches to the Levant have often won the highest encomiums from those who have taken the pains to examine into the matter.
2. The direct effect of these agencies in the establishment of evangelical communities and churches. The statistics already given show 185 churches with 15,226 communicants. Of these abDut 1,200 were added during the past year. If we follow the style of arithmetic in vogue with Oanon Taylor and others, this would give a cost to the American churches of about $400 per convert, tofay nothing of native contributions. Of course it is easy to say that this cost includes the expense of a vast school system, a large amDunt Df publication, etc. But as all these have for their aim the actual conversion of men, the number of such conversions must constitute, it is claimed, th(> real test of succelOs. Education, publication, etc., are all good, but are legitimate for a missionary society only as they have direct results in Ohristian life. What are these direct results, as shown by open connection with Protestant evangelical Ohristianity? Are they accurately measured by the membership in PrDtestant churches alone? NDt in the Levant, any more than in America. Hardly even as much. The position of the evangelical churches there, is not unlike that of the Puritans of two and three centuries ago. Membership in the old Oriental communions is a mere form, even more civil than religious in its character. A man partakes Df the sacrament very much, as he registers his name as a voter here. This, Df cDurse, is not true of all, but it is true to a great degree. When men leave the:se churches to CDnnect themselves with Protestants, they are actuated by differing mDtives. Some do it under the pressure of the longing fOl' a closer communion with God than is possible for them in the formalities of the old service; others from intellectual conviction that the Protestant worship is -purer an.d represents a truer faith than their own; others in disgust at the corruption of the priesthood; others in protest against ecclesiastical domination in civil as well as in church life. Were all these to be gathered into churches and enrolled as communicants, as they would have been by Xavier and the Moslem mis3ionaries over whom Canon Taylor waxes so eloquent, there would be 500 churches, and the communicants would be numbered not by tens but by hundreds of thousands. 'fhe missionaries in founding these churches have realized that the acceptance of Ohristian doctrine, the practice of Ohristian worship, amounts to nothing without Ohristian ll/e. With the exception, perhaps, of the first class referred to above, most have joined the new community with little or no conception of what Ohristian l~fe meant. They have come, for the most part, with old views, old practices, still in full sway. To bring them at once into the young, uneducated churches would have been to bind all to the level of those around them, with little or no hope of a pure, elevated Ohristian character. There have thus grown up around the churches large communities with many strong, intelligent men, accepting to the full, evangelical doctrine and worship, but remaining noncommunicants, because the heart does not seem yet to have accepted what is clear to the mind. 'fheyare passing through a process of education, and it is from their number chiefly that the additions to churches come. How to guide the churches so as to admit to thorn only those who have some conception, faint though it may be, of a true Ohristian life, and a genuijle purpose, however weak, to lead that life, has ever been a most difficult task, akin to that of Gideon in his assault upon the Midianites. 'fo gauge the direct effects of Ohristian missions by the membership of native churches alone would be as incorrect as to claim that Gideon's three hundred represented the whole result of Mosaic teaching.
3. The indirect effect of these agencies upon other communities-in the line of intellectual, social, and religious life.
At one time, Rev. Dr. Van Dyck, the veteran missionary to Syria, said, as he started for a village on Mt. Lebanon, "I am going to – – – to start three schools." "What do you want of three schools there?" "Oh, I am only going to manage one. But just as soon as I get mine started, the Maronites will start one and the Druses will start one. 'l'hat makes three." So it has been all over the Levant. Wherever the colporteur or evangelist has gone the teacher has followed. With the advent of text-books" things new and old" have been opened up out of the storehouses of ancient history and modern science. Ohildren have learned that the world is wider and older than they had supposed. Parents have learned from their children and have begun to
TO THE LEVANT
question the correctness of the views in which they have been trained. A very large percentage of the geographies, histories, and general text~ books have gone, not into schools but famllies, and families too not in any way connected with the Protestant communities. The result has been a general quickening of intellectual life. The old communi. ties found that men were beginning to think for themselves, and real~ ized that they must guide that thinking or it would wander far from their control. Hence, on every hand, schools have been started- Armenian, Greek, Bulgarian, Maronite, Moslem. These have been in some cases heavily endoweu, furnished with the best modern appli~ ances available, yet even so they have not been able to keep pace with the evangelical schools, as is shown by the fact that, periodically, anathemas are hurled from the old altars against those who dare to place their children under the baneful influence of Protestant teachers. Not long ago there was a most earnest appeal in the Turkish papers of Constantinople for teachers who could meet Protestantism on its own ground, could grapple intelligently and successfully with the questions of modern thought. They said, "The time is past when the dictum , of an Imam carries with it conviction. Men are thinking for them- selves, and if we would hold our young men true to the faith in which they were born, we must show them that we are the equals in thought of those who would entice them away." 'l'he result was a series 01 statements about Protestantism of much the same grade of accuracy as certain recent paragraphs on missions in the Evening Post of New York, and renewed press censorship so severe as almost to destroy the character of mission newspapers. No one can go through even the remoter sections of Turkey without seeing on every hand the signs of an intellectual life such as has not b8'en since the days when Byzan- tines fought over Greek prepositions in the baths of Constantinople; and there are few, even of those opposed to missions, but will admit that this is due primarily to them. The influence of Christian missiOl1E on the social life of the East has been most marked.
Scarcely, even under the caste systems of India, has the power of social custom been more severe than in the Levant. Fifty years ago ,there was little or no family life. The men during the day were at work, in the evening at the coffee-shop. rrhe wOmen bore children, cooked and served meals. The wife could not sit at the same table or tray with her husband, shared in no way the responsibilities and honor of the home. Marriage was a matter of barter and sale. Social entertainments were of the lowest grade. Oonver3ation turned almost solely on pyrsonal scanda1. Personal purity had not sunk as low as in some other countries, but it was by no means high. Business was purely a matter of keen wits, never of fair profit. He who could cheat most was the best man. This has not all changed. Else America might go to school to Asia. There has been, however, a wonderful
MISSIONS TO THE
improvement. There are comparatively few Turks now who would consider it an insult to receive inquiries after the health of wife or daughter, and the rigid, seclusion of the harem is more and more a thing of the past. In many a home the mother shares with the father the honor of receiving a passing guest, and the daughter feels free to express her feeling toward the suitor for her hand. The evening finds books and newspapers on the table, and the Vermont farmer who astonished Dr. Hamlin with his inquiries about Fuad "Pachy" finds his counterpart in the Koordish Sheik who talks intelligently about Bismarck and Giers, Gladstone and Boulanger.
The power of Ohristian missions over the religious thought and life of those who do not openly declare their adherence to evangelical Ohristianity is shown in many ways. Up to the present year there have been distributed by the Americ11ll Bible Society not less than 800,000 copies of the Scriptures. Add perhaps 700,000 by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and we have one and a half millions of copies put into the hands of the people. These have been in about the pro- portion of 1 Bible, 3 Testaments and 5 Portions, i.e., single Gospels, Psalms, and Proverbs. When it is remembered that the immense majority of these have been sold, and that certainly not more than one-half, if more than one-third, have gone into evangelical families; when it is remembered too that book-purchasing is not in the Levant what it is so often in America-that it almost uniformly represents a genuine earnest interest in the book-some idea may be gained of the unseen influence that is being exerted all over that great country.
A Bible Society colporteur in the inn of a small village on the Black Sea coast, was challenged to argument by a group of young men thoroughly versed in European infidelity. Being an uneducated man, he found it difficult to meet them. 'fo his utter surprise, a Turkish priest sitting by, asking him for a Testament, took up the argument, and utterly silenced the young men, who left acknowledging their defeat. To the colporteur who expressed his thanks for the timely aid, he said: "Go tell the gentleman at the Bible House not to be discouraged. There are many like myself who read this 'good Book, accept its faith, and are trying to lead the life of Ohrist. We do not openly confess Him, for we feel that the time has not yet come, but it will come, and then you will see the fruit of the seed you are sowing." Among the most significant facts in the religious life of the old Ohristian communities of the Levant are the changes that have been brought about in not a few places in the church services. Worship before pictures has been very generally discouraged, and in some cases the pictures have been taken down. It is becoming an increasing ambition on the part of the clergy to be known as good preachers, and many an earnest gospel sermon is given from pulpits where, until recently, nothin~ 'Yll,tlheard but an intoned liturgy in an unknown tongue. Sabbath-schools and Bible-claSiles have been established, and at the present time the Am~rican Bible Society is printing in Con- stantinople ail edition of the ancient Armenian Bible, at the com- bined earnest request of Gregorian and Papal as well as Evangelical Armenians.
4. 'rhe type of character developed as a foundation for the future. The en,rnest, thoughtful supporter of foreign missions will and must meet this question: What relation have these results to the ifuture? Weare glad of what has been and is being done; glad for every soul brought to a truly Christian life; glad for the growth in intellectual, , social, religious life of those who cannot see their way clear to join our numbers; but America cannot [tlways snpport the East. Foreign missions must inevitably have something of the exotic in their nature. A real live Christianity must be in a sense indigenous to the land where it lives. Is the character of t-qe native evangelical Christians such as to warrant the belief that in due time they will be able to develop their own life,' normally, successfully, and independently? For the answer to this we must not look to statistics of increasing or decreasing contributions. 'rhese are very apt to be misleading. Fam- ine, war, pe8tilence, emigration, taxation, all enter in as dlSturbing elements. In not a few cases increased missionary expenses are coin- cident with decreasing demands from native churches, because new doors are opened and new work commenced. Neither is the increase in church membership a very safe guide, as may easily be inferred from what has already been said. ,The correct flnswer can be funy gained only as we go into the churches, attend the meetings of pastors and helpers, learn their methods and their spirit, and this must be done, not only along the seaboard but in the interior. Anyone who will do this will find large churches managing all their affairs, financial, executive, religious, with skill-and success; local unions and presbyteries consulting earnestly and courteously in regard to the interests of the one great work; home missionary societies snpporting and conducting operations in outlying districts; Young Men's Christian Associations, not patterned after those here, but developed according to local needs and opportunities. Undoubtedly much is lacking. A single generation under such con- ditions as obtain in the Levant can hardly suffice to deyelop a Chris- tian people of the highest grade. There are not a few native pastors that are overfond of foreign money, seek unduly to copy foreign life. But they do not represent the great number of those who from pulpit and desk, by the roadside and in the home, are seeking men to lead in the life of Christ. There are church members who do not give of their substance as they shonld, but the proportion who give conscien- tiously the tithe, and even more, would put to shame many an Ameri- can congregation.
1889.J DELITZSCH'S HEBREW NEW TE:STAMENT
It.is easy for the chance traveler or" superficial observer to find occasion for legitimate criticism. Not so easy for even the carefnl sympathizer to judge accurately the forces that are working for the development of communities. 'fhose who know best and most intimately the local internal life of these communities and churches have the most faith in them. They recognize that mistakes are made, but they believe that throughout these lands dear to every Christian heart the life planted by the apostles, nourished by the church fathers, almost overwhelmed by the adhesion of an unconverted empire, held in bond for centuries by an ignorant ecclesiasticism, is now reasserting itself, and will erelong more than regain it.~ pristine purity and strength.
THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF DELITZSCH'S HEBREW NEW TESTAMENT.
BY PROFESSOR GEORGE H. SCHODDE, PH.D., COLUMBUS, O.
ALTOGETHER the most remarkable and unique work in modern mis- sion literature is Delitzsch's Hebrew translation of the New Testament. According to the latest reports, officially sent out from Leipzig, the modern headquarters of Jewish Christian enterprise, the British and Foreign Bible Society, since the first appearance of the new version in. 18'1'8, has published no less than nine editions, making a grand total of 80,000 copies. The literary success of the work, aside from its great merit as a mission agency, is indeed phenomenal. Fully 60,000 copies have been disposed of among the Jews of Southeastern Europe and Western Asia, and have all been employed in the gospel cause among the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 'The present is an exceedingly timely moment gratefully to call attention to this great literary monu- ment of modern mission enterprise.' It was in 1838, or just fifty years ago, that the first specimen chapters of the new translation were given to the world. For forty years the now venerable veteran labored incessantly and with characteristically German diligence, perseverance, and scholarly accuracy on his important task. In 1870 he published a translation of the Epistle to the Romans, with a full introduction on the history and present status of the Hebrew New Testament problem, together with extensive notes from the Talmud and the Midrashim! " in which he elucidated the methods and pri.nciples pursued in the work and gave the reader a clear insight into the intricacies 01 the problem and the thorough and scientific manner in which the author was solving it. It is accordingly now just one-half a century since the labor of love for Israel was undertaken by Delitzsch. It is proposed to celebrate this peculiar literary and mission semi-centennial in a manner suitable to the cause. An appeal has been published, addressed to the pupils and friends of Franz Delitzsch, asking for contributions toward the estab- lishment of a permanent fund, the income of which is to be used for the spread of this New Testament in Israel.. The appeal is signed by Pastor Wilhelm Faber; the energetic young leader of the Institutum Juda£curn of Leipzig, who has for the last six or eight years been giving his whole time and attention to this work, and has made eight long mission tours among the Jewish Diaspora of the East. A jubilee of this sort is certainly deserving of the sympathy and co-operatioh of active mission frienJs everywhere.
Another reason for drawing attention to this work now is_the fact that the version. is now to be issued in permanent shape and form. While the first nine editions were going through the press corrections of greater or less nnmber and extent were made in each edition. Hebrew scholars all over the world have taken a deep interest in the literary character, correctness, and finish of the work. Suggestions have been made by some of the best,specialists in this department, and these have been duly weighed and measured by the translator, who himself is doubtless the greatest Hebraist of this generation, if not of this century. How carefully this has been done by him is clear from a report, published in English by Delitzsch some six years ago, in / which he discussed some of the principal suggestions made, and made special acknowledgments to Professor Driver of Oxford for his valuable aid. In this way it can be candidly saia that probably no work issued within our day and date has been so searchingly examined under the critical microscope and has for so long a time been constantly before the eyes of our unofficial college of Hebrew scholars all over the world as has this Hebrew version of the New Testament. Accordingly it is a work of rare literary and critical correctness. It 1S now thought that it has reached the stage in which it can be given out in a permanent shape, and the coming tenth edition will be the first in that form.
The work is issued i.n two sizes. It ori.ginally apl)eared in a small 12mo form of 471 pages. The type was very small, but still clear-cut and easy to read. In this shape alone the first six or seven editions appeared. Later it became clear that its mission value would be enhanced if it could be published in the same type and size as the Old Testament Hebrew text and be bound with the latter, thus constituting the one Holy Writ of the two covenants in the sacred tongue of the chosen people. This was done, and it has proved to be a wise undertaking. The Jews in examining and studying the writings of the New 'l'estament do so solely with an eye to their relation to the Old, as the fulfillment and completion of the latter; To have the two together in ono cover naturally facilitated this work a good deal. As this edition of the t.wo Testaments in Hebrew can be had for about one dollar and· a half, no pastor able to understand this venerable tongue should be without a copy.
It would probably be hard to say from which side this noteworthy pUbhcation presents the greater number of attractive features-from its literary or its mIssionary. No doubt our readers are interested more in the latter, and these in themselves constitute an interesting chapter in the annals of this present mission century. On the face of matters it is certainly remarkable and almost beyond credence that a book written in Hebrew should be the most widely circulated specimen of the non-popular mission literature of the day. Jnd yet when certain facts, not all of which are generally known, are taken into consideration the strangeness of the phenomenon at least in part disappeared. It is generally accepted that the Hebrew is a dead language. This is one of the many popular mistakes of the times. It is true that for the Jew as we see him in America. and Western Europe the Hebrew is only a sacred language, which he uses pro forma in his synagogal worship and often does not understand any more than the Roman Catholic does the Latin of the mass. But the Jews of the western world and Western Europe are modernized, more or less superficially, and are by no means the representatives of genuine Judaism. These must be looked for further East. Of the six and one-half million Jews constituting the Jewish Dispersion, about four mil1:ons are found in the East, and for all of these the Hebrew is the only literary language in which they can be approached. They themselves generally speak not a pure Hebrew, but a jargon; but the pure Hebrew is the language of their books, papers, etc. It would be worse than a waste of effort or time to offer them a defense of the claims of the Ohristian faith in any other than their own literary tongue. They are a most peculiar people, and in the mission efforts among them this peculiarity must be taken into con-' sideration as a most important factor. They are the exact opposites of the Western Jew, who is ever willing to compromise with modern thought, if it only accrues to his social or financial benefit. The Eastern Jew is a conservative of the conservatives. The adherence to the ways of the fathers, so characteristic a feature of all Semitics, is especia~ly strong in him, and has made his system of religious beliefs and customs little better than a petrified formalism of the Talmudic centuries that have gone before. For them religion and religious instruction is unthinkable except in the sacred tongue.
It is for this peculiar people that the Hebrew translation of the New Testament has been made. The underlying principle in the undertaking was that the New Testament is the best commentary on the Old, and If the erring children of Abraham in the Orient could be persuaded to compare the words of the New Oovenant with those of thO Old they would, more readily than by any other way, learn that, as the Old is the necessary foundation of the New, so the latt~ is the necessary completion of the Old.
The adoption of this method of reaching these people was not a new discovery, nor is Delitzsch's the first Hebrew translation of the New Testament. Away back m the first Ohristian centuries there existed a Gospel for the Hebrews, which was doubtless a Hebrew translation (not the Hebrew original) of our present Matthew. During the Refor- matIon period a translation of this kind was made. Later portions were again translated, espeeially under the influence of the original InstUutum Judaicum of Callenberg, in Halle.. The present century witnessed repeated efforts in this direction. Especially was this true of the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews.
With much expense and labor edition after edition was issued, 'until the final issue of 1863. This last is in general a good production, but not by any means equal to the work of Delitzsch. Shortly after the pUblication of tHe latter, an entirely original Hebrew translation was published as a posthumous work of the Jewish missionary Salkinson, and was edited by the Jewish scholar Ginsburg, the editor of the Mas- sorah. This, however, has not proved a satisfactory work in all par- ticulars. It also is extensively used for mission purposes.
How wise it was to select the Hebrew as a literary language for the mission work among the Jews of the East is apparent when we lo~k at the extensive use made of this language for literary work in general.
8alkinson himself has published a magnificent Hebrew translation of Milton's "Paradise Lost," and also of Walker's" Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation"; S. Hoga, a Jewish convert, has translated in ele- gant style Bunyan's" Pilgrim's Progress" and the "Old Paths" into Hebrew. The Book of Enoch has been translated into this tongue, also the Koran, Goethe's "Faust," and even Sue's "Mysteres de Paris." Periodicals, both religious and secular, in large numbers are published in Hebrew; some of them, as the IIamelliz of St. Peters- burg, are very influential. .
Just what the extent of the blessing achieved through this New Tes- tament is and will be of course no man can tell. That it has done great good is certain. There are ministers in the Lutheran church of Ger- many and America now who were converted in Russia from Judaism through studying this translation. It is also certain that the demand for the book is great among the Jews, and that there are many Nico- demus souls there who come to Jesus by night, but fear publicly to proclaim their newly found faith. As no Testament is given or sold to a person unless the missionary or colporteur is reasonably satisfied that the person receiving it will read and study the book, it lS evident that there is a real and not an imaginary demand for It. And this willing- ness and eagerness to search for the truth in the New Covenant book is the most pro~ising feature ln Jewish mission work in the Oriental lands. Faber's reports, published under. the auspices of the Leipzig Institutum Judaicum, are filled with accounts of eager anxiety on the part of these people to read of the M9ssiah. To bring them this news in an acceptable manner has been and is the great mission of Delitzsch's Hebrew New Testament. He has aided materially in solvmg one of the most intricate of mission problems.
A PILLAR ON THE BORDER OF EGYPT
A PILLAR ON THE BORDER OF EGYPT.
BY CRAS. S. ROBINSON, D.D., NEW YORK.
"PEOPLE are SO wofully like sheep I" thus once wrote Thomas Carlyle's piquant wife: "all running where they see others run-all doing what they see others do; have you heard of the wonderful Bishop Colenso! Such a talk about him too! And he is not worth talking about for five minutes-except for the absurdity of a man's making arithmetical onslaughts upon the Pentateuch with a bishop's little black-silk apron on !" This outburst of the indignant woman, made twenty-five years ago about an almost forgotten prelate, reminds us of the French proverb so often quoted: "It is always the unexpected that happens." Only we now propose to parody it by saying tl,lat it is always the absurd that grows popular. Just now it is the wild attacks on the books of Moses, forced forward by a desperate skepticism, which are drawing the crowd. It is God's own wisdom which has snddenly unearthed the mummies of Rameses's dynasty, making Egypt for a while the most conspicuous of lands.
In a previous article we have spent some space in showing how an irresistible pressure of Western ideas and civilizations is continually changing the face of Egypt and turning the people away from Oriental customs and worship. At that time it was announced that some sort of illustration must be adopted to serve as proofs of the prophet's open prediction that evangelization would immediately follow in the advancing steps of civilization. New Testaments would soon begin to arrive upon the cars. t can make that my theme in the present paper.
Still it seems to me that I can reach my end more safely by taking my readers with me again in a kind of tourist's ramble. We are to think with our eyes now. Arguments are not to be spun for an indoors debate when the question is one of fact and not at all of philosophy. Let us take a railway trip, the first and the simplest the country has to offer, going up the usual course after landiI)g on the frontier. It is worth while to keep looking out of the car-windows, from the moment when an Arabian official receives us at Alexandria to that when an enthusiastic American missionary welcomes us into his home in Cairo.
Of all the unearthly-looking fellow beings you ever herded with, you may be sure the people, eastern and western, who throng the trains and pour forth at each station are the most inexplicable and the most indescribable. Dresses in most Oriental countries denote rank, lineal descent, nationality, and occupation. Bnt who can interpret the inexhaustible variety of shades and discriminations presented in even this one day upon such a thoroughfare as the overland route to India across Egypt I Persians, Armenians, Copts, Turks, Frenchmen, British, Syrians and Greeks, besides the aborigmes of the region itself-aU of these our careful dragoman pointed out one after another in the single crowd we saw at the midway station-I cannot put down the Arabic name they called it by-lazily watching our arrival, halt and departure.
Dean Stanley, in speaking of the usual presentations hereabout, uses a most apt similitud~. He compares the lines of camels, the solio tary traveler who shows himself now and then, the stiff trees, few and far between, to the rude views of a magic lantern. Anyone who has o in the old times before photographs came in vogue ever seen tilOse preposterous paintings on glass for the Sunday-school exhibitions which were offered during such historic years as Biblical illustrations, will recognize some original models immediately. So clear is the atmos- phere that any object in the wide reach of landscape seems startlingly vivid and plain, even at a great distance. Along the tops of the low ridges and swells of land caravans are outlined upon thl) blue sky with an almost miraculous distinctness; and ~o stately and rigid, so precise in step and so ungainly in proportion, are the camels especially, that an observer can hardly refram from imagining they are mere figures shaved along, like so many fancifully-colored slides, into the groove of a lantern poorly focussed and dimly lit. Occasionally a lonely Arab appears in the field of view; then a company of merchantmen, resem- bling perhaps the Ishmaelites of old who bought Joseph; then a big 'rurk upon a small donkey; and all are so angular and awkward that anyone (if he has ever Leen in the stereopticon line) feels like begin- ning a lecture.
We became commentators upon this ride as usual, receiving at many points a happy explanation of some Scriptural text. A new building attracted my attention, and as upon nearer inspection I found that the walls were filled with cut straw, it became worth our while to ask the question as to customs in such matters; this resulted afterward in our visiting a quite extensive and busy manufactory of brick rIose by the station. There we learned with the aid of our eyes all we needed to be told; for the men were at the moment molding the square blocks of wet clay and chopping the stubble with which to mix them, while stretched out over the field were great patches of levelland covered with those which were already drying in the sun. No one can know the thrill that comes over the mind of a tourist when he sees such things, until he is in the midst of surprises, all going to prove that the same processes, the same habits, the same traditions, are found now as in Moses's time.
The maidens were coming in as the blazing noon drew on, with an awkward weight of some sort of grain which they had been industriously gleaning, done up in huge bundles and carried on their heads. This we noticed had not been cut with scythe or sickle, but the damsels had in their own fashion pulled it up roots and all. 'l'hus the proper untitheses of the royal preacher was reached in exact language when he spoke of "a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is . planted."
We observed also that large areas of land which had evidently at no great time back been covered with water were now ,baking under sun- ' shine as hot as if it had been the glow of a blast-furnace. Some portions of the soil had hardened as it dried; workmen were actually cutting up the caked ground with axes, and the plow was following along behind. Then first we really appreciated the admonition of the man of God: "For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your {aUoio ground, and sow not among thorns." These are the words of Jeremiah, and no doubt he addressed them to the Jews; indeed; Hosea says the same thing under the same figure: "Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." But scholars have ;;ettled 10:J.g ago that Jeremiah wrote his prophecy in Egypt, in full sight of what he daily interwrought into the forcible rhetoric he was wont to employ.
These are good exercises for a weary railway ride in desolate Egypt, especially if one is really jammed up against the uncleanest sort of things most of the time! As the day waned we drew closer, evidelltly, to some great center of population. A grove of palms appeared now and then; a few tamarisks with feathery branches; occasionally a white tomb with a diminutive dome over it ; then a train of camels, or a Mussulman cn a donkey. Just before our tickets were taken preparatory to an arrival, far off upon the right our attention IYas arrested by three vast masses of majesty, pinnacling their triangular shapes against the clear blue heaven, silent yet speaking, tranquil yet fllll of exciting history. And he must be tame of heart and dull of spirit tvho can now without emotion look for the first time on the Pyramids of Ghizeh!
Piazzi Smyth, astronomer-royal for Scotland, has prefixed to his interesting book, "Our Inheritance in the Great Pyramid," a verse from Isaiah's prediction concerning this kingdom of the ancient Pharaohs-a verse which he makes the motto for the whole volume: "In that day shall there be an altar to the I.ord in the midst of the land of Egypt; and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord." He considers that the great pyramid is what the prophet intended by an "altar" or "pillar "-that is, a monument acknowledging the true God. The commentators do not agree with. him in this. Addison Alex- ander calls attention to the usage of the Hebrew language;. he the rather accepts the "altar" as a sign of devotion, and he does not refuse such a "pillar" as the sign of monumental or commemorative' acknowledgment. 'But he quotes other passages to show that an altar in the midst of the land, and a pillar at its border, denote altars and pillars throughout its whole extent. He translatesone· of the verses: "And Jehovah shall be known in Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day."
Josephus has been quoted as saying that he was the one who gained permission from ptolemy Philometor for Onias to erect the temple in Heliopolis for Jewish worship, and that he did this by showing him the passage from Isaiah under our study now, for this convinced thp, king.
At this point we must pause; thus much of the verse is absolutely fulfilled: Egypt is beginning to speak the language of Oanaan; civilization is changing the East into its own likeness. The rest of the prediction will be brought to pass soon: Egypt is to be converted unto God. The declaration of Isaiah is very explicit: there shall come one day when the land of Egypt shall change its form of religion, which is now that of the prophet of Islam, and receive the service of the Lord, the gospel of Ohristianity; then its life will be laid on God's altar. We have the fair permission to strengthen our faith with this prophetic promise that the cities of the Egyptian land will soon begin to see the true light that is shining for them; they will cry unto the Lord a great cry because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a Saviour.
Our illustration is just at hand. In witness of afact so specially welcome to every friend of foreign missions, and so honorable for a testj… mony to the zeal of one branch of our American Presbyterian d~nom ination, I shall close this article with a note lately received and published in the public prints, written by one who has been familiarly acquainted with Oairo itself and with its vicinity for many years: "Years ago, right opposite Shepheard's Hotel, was au open space, where dragomans piched their tents, so as to show travelers intending to take the trip across the desert to Sinai, or through Palestine, how the thing was done.; Now the dragoman's occupation is mostly gone; the railway and the steamship have made him a 'lost art.' Where the tents were pitched in front of and beyond Shepheard's are magnificent blocks of buildings, one of whichis the large edifice (covering a square) of the American United Presbyterian Mission.
" There is no thoughtful man but will rejoice when religious toleration, under the regis of England, shall cover this land as this day it covers India. Our United Presbyterian brethren hll.ve not awaited that time. Their works for the Lord here are already known in our own land. It is a proud sight for me to look upon the British soldiers flocking to the mission church in Cairo to attend the Sunday service, the week-day prayer-meetings, and the temperance meetings; but it is a grander sight to see the schools of these American United Presbyterians filled with Copt and Moslem children-to see large audiences of converted men and women on the Sabbath day come .up to the house of the Lord; and it is a thing of the moral sublime to find that now not a year goes by in this ancient land without more than two hundred souls converted to the Lord. What is especially encouraging is
A MISSIONARY l'OEM
that within a comparatively short time some forty Mohammedans havecome to the knowledge of the truth, through good report and evil report (mostly the l,atter), and some through persecution, and have taken their stand for the Master.
"Truly this work of our Benjamin among the American Presbyterian churches commends itself to all our brethren of the great Pan-Presbyterian band. We thank God and take courage when we think what He has accom- plished through His servants Lansing, Hogg, and their companions here. This day more than' five cities in the land .of Egypt speak the language of Canaan,' and the prophet's words have been fulfilled, which he pronounced 2,500 years ago: 'In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of'Egypt ' (Isa. xix: 19). The altar is erected, and thanks be to Him who has done this through the instrumentality of this faithful little . band of American Christian men and women."
A MISSIONARY POEM.
DEAR DR. SHERWOOD: It seems to me that the following, from Frederic Myers's "St.
Paul," is an exquisite description of the missionary work. It is put into the mouth of the A.posLle of the Gentiles. CHARLES C. STARBUCK.
EAST the forefront of habitations holy Gleamed to Engedi, shone to Eneglaim ; Softly thereout and from thereunder slowly Wandered the waters, and delayed, and came.
Then the gt'eat stream, which having seen he showeth, Hid from the wise but manifest to him, Flowed and arose, as when Euphrates floweth ; Rose from the ankles till a man might swim.
Even with so soft a surge and an increasing, Drunk of the sand and thwarted of the clod, Stilled and astir lind checked and never-ceasing, Spreadeth the great wave of the grace of God: Bears to the marishes and bitter places Healing for hurt and for their poisons balm'; Isle after isle in infinite embraces Floods and enfolds and fringes with the palm.
Ay, and afar to realms and to recesses Seen in a storm, discovered in a dream, Fields which no folk nor any power possesses, Oceans ungirdled of the ocean stream.
Yes, or if loose and free, as some are telling (Little I know it, and I little care), This my poor lodge, my transitory dwelling, Swings in the bright deep of the endless air.
Round it and round His prophets shall proclaim Him, Springing thenceforth and hurrying therethrough Each to the next the generations name Him, Honor unendingly and know anew.
MIRACLES 01l' :MISSIONS
MIRACLES OF MISSIONS.
MISSION TO THE HALF MILLION OF BLIND IN CHINA.f [EDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] ANOTHER of those marvelous adaptations of history which so signally evince and evidence a divine plan has recently appeared in the Celestial Empire.
William H. Murray was bOl'n at Port Dundas, near Glasgow, and, as the only son in a family of ten children, would naturally have entered the saw- '
mill of his humble father but for the loss of his left al'm by accidental , contact with the machinery when only about nine years old. This occur- rence, which determined his future as outside the sawmill, was the begin- ning of a series of providential events which have made him the most conspicuous benefacbr of China's blind people that has ever appeared in that vast empire. With but one arm he could not labor physically to much purpose; but though he lacked bl'awn he had brain and he could study. He improved his mind, and before long' was employed in the l'llI'al districts neal'
Glasgow as a letter-carrier. His conscience was not asleep, and remon- sh'ated against the Sunday work which this occupation required. To avoid compromise with his moral sense and at the same time retain his position he surrendered two shillings out of each week's wages. His self-sacrifice was not only blest to himself, but sowed the seeds of that extensive reform now in progress to secure for government employes in the postal service a Sabbath respite ft'om work. , Brain and conscience thus being busy, young Murray found his heart awaking to a new longing to be of service, He felt witllin him a conscious- ness of a call to some mission among men, he knew not wllat. He applied to the National Bible Society of Scotland for work as a colporteur. The secretary felt drawn to the modest but persistent lad, but hesitated to have him give up a good position In government service for a venture which might prove a failure. But William lIfurray "pmyed himself" into the work of the society. His long daily walk he divided into three parts: a third of the way he studied the Scriptures in the original Hebrew; another third of his monotonous tramp he gave to New Testament Greek; and the last part of his walk was emphatically a walk with God, consecrated to daily prayer that he might be fitted for some sphere of personal, direct missionary service.
He longed to be pl'omoted from a royal mail-carrier to a messenger of good tidings to the King of kings. In 1864, now almost a quarter of a century ago, he was accepted as a colporteur of the Bible Society and began work on the Clyde, among the sailol's and seamen. Here was a new link in the chain which connected the sawmill in Scotland with this great work of opening the inner eyes of the blind in China.
The Bible Society soon found that" it neyer had such another colporteur"
as the quiet young man who, without any great mental endowments, graces of person or gifts of speech, was dmwing to himself the men that go down to the sea in ships to do business in great waters, and was rapidly picking up such phrases in various foreign tongues as enabled him to effect more sales of Bibles among sallors of all nations than any of his predecessors had done.
The colporteur was evidently a divinely called man.
As this work occupied him only in winter months, he was free in the sum- mer season to push his Bil;lle-cart along the rough roads of the Scotch Highlands. One-armed as he w~, he had two legs and a brave heart, and "''' Work.for the Blind in China." C. F. Gordon-Cnmming. Gilbert & Rivington, London, Eng. , so he patiently carried on his work, getting inured to hardness as became a good soldier of Jesus Christ. How many a mighty workman and winner of souls has been trained like Milne and Morrison and Curey and OnckeIJ, and Livingstone and McAuley and Johnson and Marshman and Buchanan and Clough, in a very strange school.
And now comes another link in this providential chain. William Mmray's unusual aptitude for languages attracted the notice of some of the directors of the Bible Society, and arrangements were made for him to attend morn- ing classes at the old college in H,igh Street. A friend hel ped to pay the necessary fees, and MUl'ray managed his studies so that they did not impinge upon other duties. He rose at 3 A. M. and studied till 8, then attended his classes till 10, then stood in the streets beside his Bible-cart till evening, .
when after a frugal meal he studied again till bedtime. .
Seven years of apprenticeship were accomplished, and in 1871 he was free to carry out his heart's desire. He sailed for China, where he was to spend half a year at Che[oo trying to learn to distinguish at sight the 4000 intri- cate, complicate characters by which the Chinese language is represented on paper. It has been quaintly said that he who would master the Chinese tongue needs a head of oak, a constitution of iron, lungs of brass, nerves of steel, the patience of Job, and the lifetime of Methusaleh. But Mr. Murray was not to be easily discouraged. He had tackled Greek and Hebrew char- acters, and· he was· not dismayed at the still more elaborate mysteries of Chinese words. He applied himself diligently, and in four months he acquired about 2000 characters. The Bible colporteur started on his work.
He devised a mule litter to carry his books, and ovel' mountain roads and facing cold winds made his first journey 250 miles in,to the interior of Shang- tu province.
Sixteen years of untiring work as a colporteur passed away, during which this one-armed man undertook journeys even into Mongolia and Manchuria, fording rivers, daring perils, enduring hardship, feeding on wretched fare, sleeping in rude sheds, or perhaps favored with more palatial accommoda- tions in the shape of the coffin which dutiful sons have with filial tenderness provided for their father in anticipation of h~s need, and which the generous host put at disposal of the traveler. Mr. Murray sometimes found himself in the midst of a riotous rabble, but again surrounded by those who clamored for the foreign" classic of Jesus," and on one occasion he found at evening that his sales had reached 3000 copies j then the people begged him to remain among them, and he did so for half a year. During his sixteen yeal's in China he has sold over 100,000 books, containing wholly or in part the Scriptures in the tongues of China and Tartary. These Bibles have found their way into humble huts of poverty, and even into the imperial palace j have been borne to gl'eatdistances by merchants and scholars who have bought them at fairs and public gatherings, and so this modest man has been permeating this vast empire with the Light of God.
But now we come to another link in this strange story of a useful life.
Mr. Murray saw in the thronged skeets hundreds of blind men, sometimes in groups or gangs of eight or ten, each one guided by another blind man in fl'ont, and the foremost guiding himself and all the others with a long stick- "the blind leading the blind." On one occasion a company of 600 blind beggars was seen waiting for a free distribution of rice! It is thought . that there are half a million of blind in China, and that this ,'ery nnusllal proportion of blind people is traceable to smallpox, leprosy, neglected ophthalmia, uncleanly habits, and the dense'smokecreated in their dwellings by the dried grass with which their ovens are heated. For generations these sights have been seen in the Celestial Empire-blind beggars, hungry and un. clad, beating gongs, singing songs, yelling in chorus, squeaking with flutes, or otherwise torturing the defenseless ears of bystanders until" cash" was given them simply to induce them to move on and torture somebody else.
These blind legions of China awaken a sort of pity and even reverence by their very infirmity and misery, and are addressed by title of "Teacher"~ Hsien-SMng-but the most of the adult blind are so hopelessly vile that Mr. Murray himself has never ventured into their night refuge in Peking, but seeks to isolate and educate the blind lads, beginning with them when but seven years old.
But we are anticipating. His soul was strangely drawn out in behalf of these thousands of blind children. His appeals to others in their behalf were met by the usual response, that the work already on their hands was too great to be done with the few helpers and slender means at their command. And so his only way was once more to " walk with God" in prayer for guidance and help. The Bible colporteur must himselfunderiake to help these sightless crowds.
Here we touch another link. Mr. Murray, before he left Scotland, had mastered Professor Melville Bell's "System of Visible Speech for the Deaf," and had found it so great a help in his Chinese studies that he had prepared a. pamphlet upon it for use of foreign students. The thought flashed on his mind that this system might be modified so as to become eyes to the blInd as well as ears to the deaf. He saw that the fingers of the blind must take the place of eyes, and that the first step was to reduce the sounds of the language to symbolic!orms. These he made in clay and baked, and from these the blind wei'e first taught to read. But two difficulties presented themselves: first, the system lacked simplicity, and, secondly, as the Chinese adore their written characters, they might worship these clay symbols.
While in Glasgow Mr. Murray had also studied Moon's "System of Embossed Alphabetic Symbols" and Braille's" Embossed Dots." Perhaps these might be adapted to the perplexing" tones" which make it possible for one word to mean a dozen different and absurdly contradictory things. How to bring all these linguistic mysteries within the touch of the blind was the problem over which William Murray thought by day and dreamed by night. One day, weary with work, he lay down for a noon nap, when, while yet awake though with closed eyes, he saw outspread before him the whole system he has since put in available form for use, and perceived that it would enable the blind to read accurately and in a short time the Word of God. He believes that vision to have been a revelation to him from above. He made no attempt at an alphabetic system. but employed numerals. He found that inst'ead of the ordinary 4,000 characters, a little over one-tenth of that number would suffice to represent the sounds of the language, viz., 408 dis· tinct syllables. Instead of figures he uses mnemonic letters, and ingeniously contrives that not more than three syllables shall be used to represent the longest word, corresponding to units, tens, and hundreds. He found Braille's system to be more helpful than Moon's, as being fitted both for writing and musica.l notation.
So pl'acticable has this method proved that a thorough acquaintance with both reading and writing may be acquired by a blind boy of average faculty in from six weeks to two months, whereas six yeal's of study would be required for seeing eyes to recognize the 4,000' distinct characters of the ordinary written language. For eight long years Mr. Murray worked to perfect the system which he saw in theory in that day-vision, and it must be remembered that he could devote only odd hours not already taken up with his Bible w<;>rk. His first practical test was upon "Wang," a rheumatic blind cripple, who soon learned to read for himself the blessed Word. Then a poor blind patient, who had been severely kicked by a mule, relieved the hours of suffering by studying the Murray system, and within two months even his callous fingers could feel the precious truth of God. Then a poor blind lad, left on a dunghill to die, after three months' nursing was restored to health and learned to read and write. Ne:Xt a blind beggar boy, an orphan taken in out ofthewinter's cold, within six weeks read more accurately and fluently without eyes than many do with eyes in a score of years.
Miss Constance F. Gordon-Cumming, to whose golden pen missionary literature owes so much, visiting Peking, was astonished as she stood at the door of a dark room to hear the Scriptures read by the touch by men who, not fOUl· months before, begged in the streets, half naked and balf starved. And the marvel is that this Bible colpodeur, this consecrated workingman, has been doing this work alone, from his slender income boarding, lodging, and clothing his poor blmd pupils! He seemed to hear the Master say once more, "Giveyetbem to eat," andsohe brought his barley loaves to Him to be blessed and multiplied, and they have strangely sufficed for others' wants as well as his own. One boy of twelve, left in his charge by an elder brother, and then left on his hands, though blind, not only rapidly learned to read and write, but became his main dependence in stereotyping and all other work, and developed such musical ability as to become the organist in the chapel of the London Mission.
The rumor of thlS wonderful school for blind pupils has spread far and wide, and some have come 300 miles to study the system. One pupil developed singular fitness for the ministry and was sent to Tien-Tsin as a candidate for the work. Another has undertaken to stereotype an embossed Gospel according to Matthcw, in the classical Mandarin dialect of scholars throughout the empire. The work is but at its beginning, for there must be at least eight different versions reduced to the dot system before the blind of the different provinces can find the system available to represent'the various colloquial dialects. The ingenuity of Mr. Murray reminds us of Bezaleel and Aholiab, whom God by His Spirit endowed for the mechanical work of the tabernacle. He has so simplified stereotyping in connection with his method of instruction that a Chinese lad will produce in a day more than three times as many pages as an ordinary London workman by the common method. Thus God is using the special sensitiveness of the fingers of the blind and their proverbial aptitude for music, to raise up blind readers of the Word and blind singers and players on instruments, who may make music the handmaid of evangelism. The system, as we have said, is singularly adapted to represent, not only the sounds used in speech, but in music too. The Peking pupils write out musical scores from dictation with such rapidity thlt an ordinary" gospel song" will be produced in· a quarter of an hour. By means of embossed symbols pasted to the keys they also learn to play the piano and organ. The written score being read with one hand and the music played with the other, the student soon learns both to sing and play by note. Then these Christian songs are made a means of attracting an audience, to whom one of the blind students tlien addresses his exhortation, and whom he recommends to buy and study the Bible for themselves. And-so a blind boy will often sell more books in a. day than the authorized agent Of the Bible Society.
Here we reach another link in this chain of providential purpose. We see why Mr. Murray was sent to China as a Bible colporteur. His bookselling and street preaching bring him and keep him on familiar and friendly terms with the natives and prevent his being thought a mere magician or conjur~r who by some weird power turns fingers into eyes. Moreover, the superl>titious respect felt for written characters and all who can read them, togeiner with the reverence and pity toward the blind, seem to open a new and wonderful avenue of usefulness to these blind Scripture readers and singir.g evangelists. Mr. Murray ought to be enabled to devote at least half his time to this work of instructing the blind, and abundant means ought to be given him to multiply his schools in every part of the empire. This new development in China suggests a key that may open the doors to 150,000,000 secluded Ohinese women. A blind woman taught to read the Scriptures may find her way to homes from which all missionaries are practically excluded. As yet popular prejudice has prevented Mr. Murray from teaching but one blind woman, who in a few months mastered reading, writing, and musical notation.
Mr. Murray, having often found genuine converts who had found salvation solely through reading the Word, and who sought of him Christian baptis,m, has been granted ordination and so returned from his visit to Scotland in 1887 empowered to do the whole work of a Christian minister, and will devote his time to the preparation of books for the use of the blind and instructing those to whom God has denied the girt of sight. Who can foresee to what extent the Providence that raised up this man for this unique work may be pleased to use him for the evangelization of the hundreds of millions in China, transforn:ing blind beggars into Scripture readers and teachers of others blind also, so that it shall be h;ue in a new sense that the blind lead the blind, but not into the ditch? The words of Isaiah shall be fulfilled: "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight." Isaiah xii: 16.
For the sake alike of completeness to this paper and for the information of those who are specially interested, we append a brief resume of Murray's "System for Teaching the Blind of China."
The plan that wonld most naturally commend itself to one wishing to teach the blind, would be to adopt phonetic spelling. I fonnd, however, that" numeral" spelling was greatly to be preferred.
Chinese, as a spoken language, may be reduced to 408 syllables. Now I take a representative written hieroglyphic of each of these 408 syllables, and for my own convenience place them in alphabetic order in a horizontal line. The Chinese know nothing of alphabetics.
Then in a line running parallel above that line of representative .sonnds, I write its equivalent in numerals; but instead of figures I use mnemonic lelters, viz. T or D represents 1, N .tands for 2, M is 3, R is 4, L stands for 5, 8h is 6,.;K is 7, F or V means 8, P or B is 9, and S stands forO.
Then, as the Chinese have no alphabet, I choose simple. syllables, as Ti for simple T or D, Ni or No for Q, etc. Therefore the two lines run thus: Ti Ni, Mi Rhi Li :-mnemonics. Gna Gnai Gnan Gnang Gnao :-Chinese. Shih Kei Fei Pei Tze:-mnemonics. Cha C'ha Chai C'hai Chan :-(Jhinese.
EXPLANATIoN • • These are the first ten mnemonic words. Chinese equivalents that stand for the numbers, and written in a large character, begin the sentence, which, according to the custom of ordinary Chinese bookS, is written perpendicularly, and is read from top to bottom.
The under line represents tell of the 408 Chinese syllables, and these, also in a larger character
WOMAN AND, WOMAN'S WORK
than the intermediary ones, are at the oottom, and finish the sentence. Thus: TI, sh1h, !lInan. tsai, t'ien, shang, che, hua, shih, nan, hsin, GNA.
There are thus 408 simple sentences. and the pnpll is reqnired to commit theAe to memory, a)ld thenceforth, to write the one, and read it as the other. This he does like a chain of events, and in a very short time, at the rate of aoout twenty sentences in a day. This is, in fact; his spelling lesson. I know that this description must appear complicated, but in daily practice it is found to oe qnite the reverse.
The superiority of this method over" spelling" is immense. As an example of its adyantages I would instance the Chinese word" C'huang Q" – a oed. It would require eight letters to spell this word, but by this plan I only need three, i.e. units, tens, and hundreds. There are no spaces or contractions to be a burden to the memory.
Then we only require. ten num erals for our "alpbaoet. '~_ But I saw the advantage of employing the other letters thus: namely, nSing the deep lettt!t's, as K, L, Y, N, in four sets of four to stand in the first space to represent tbe hundreds, and by that means they would answer a double purpose, namely, indicate also to which of the four" tones" the word belongs, each having a choice of four letters for each of the 408 sounds.
Let the sound and the number of its tone be indicated along with its aspirate, which is thus- C'huang Q, and be understood to be the hundredth iu the order of the syllabary; and as regards tbe four .. tones" to belong iu that sense (i.e., a bed) to the second. The letters K, L, M, N eqnal 100, and in that order indicate the 1st, 2d, 3d, or 4th tone. Then LOO equals C'huang Q. A person acquainted with the Braille alphabet will perceive that as only three letters are thus requit'ed, the L takes top, middle and lowest points, while the first line of Braille, which supplies tens and nnits, has only top and middle points, and consequently the word has always one deep letter and two hollow, making a wedge·like form; hence there is no need to separate the words in writing, and thus all space between words is saved, which of itself is no small gain, and at the same time greatly simplifies the fingering to the reader.
When time, material, expense, storage, and porterage are considered, it will be seen how important are all these points which tend to reduce the inevitable bulk of books for the blind. The fact lof each word being represented by three letters, and having thus a definite length and somewhat triangular form, is a great advantage in stereotyping.
It occurred to me that I could simplify the process of stereotyping; so instead of holding the punch in one hand, and having only the tip of the little fingEr to guide, while the other hand holds the mallet, I designed a table with a lever at one side, and a mallet to work by a treadle-the mallet always to strike the center of the table, and squared off the plain over which the block would have to describe. The treadle is of course worked by foot, and with side woods, the width of two words, and woods the width of a double line, which exaclly correspond in size with the latter; for the guide in shifting the block npward in the plain of the fixed mallet, as the other, the side woods keep the position sideways; the stereotyper moves these as he finishes two words at a time, the top piece, at the finishing of the double line, is taken from the top, and pushing up the block, he puts that wood at the next foot, and then the block is in proper position for striking the next, and is firm and fast in its position.
Thus the right hand, which would otherwise have had to hold the mallet, is left free to handle the manuscript, and to relieve the tip of the little finger and take. to guiding. Now, with us the process is so simplified that the operator can pell·mell with great speed and pleasure.
The advantage will appear best in the result, when I tell you that the boy can do with ease in one day what would take three men and one-third in England to 'do in the same time. So what a sighted man would take twelve months to do, my blind boy will do in three months, and the quality of the work is struck more perfectly.
WOMAN AND WOMAN'S WORK AT rHE LONDON CONFERENCE.
BY MRS. DR. J. T. GRACEY, BUFFALO, N. Y.
THE first missionary conference with representatives from various mission fields convened in the city of New York, May, 1854, That notable missional'y, Dl'. Duff of Calcutta, was visiting America, and the churches had been stirred by his eloquent words. His presence was the inspiration of this conference, which had an attendance of one Itundred and fifty members and was in session only two days. This meeting was the beginning of a new era in missionary work. Othel' conferences then followed in England and in the various mission fields of the world.
In the year 1878 a conference was held at Mildmay Park, London, at which thirty-five societies were represented, and this meeting was notable from the fact that for the first time missionary women took part in the proceedings. Mrs. Weitbrecht read' a paper on "Christian Vork Among the Women of India," and Miss E. J. Whately one on" Female Missions in, the East," and "English Mission Schools in Cairo" was read by Miss M. L. Whately. Several missionary ladies took part in the discussions which fOI– lowed the reading of these-papers.
Woman had gone to the isolation, the dreariness and monotony of heathen life; for years she had braved dangers and made all sacrifices, had established schools and been a transforming power in darkened homes, had aided in the translation of God's Word and Christian hymns, had given to heathen mothers a loftier idea of motherhool1, had been imprisoned for the gospel's sake, in loneliness and weal'iness had she patiently and lovingly toiled, yet only ten years have elapsed since she had a voice in the deliberations of a missionary conference. When she appeared she appeared to stay.
The General Conference of Missions, held in Exetel' HaJI, London, in June last, with more than twelve hundred delegates, has been universally conceded to be one of the most remarkable gathering~ ever held in the history of foreign mission work. It was notable for the presence of so many missionary women, and for the great prominence given to woman's work. Women were present from neat'ly all mission fields, and when one day the announcement was made that Mrs. Hannington, wife of the martyred Bishop of Africa, was in the audience, the applause was loud and prolonged.
Of the eighty-four American and continental societies represented, twenty-two were "Woman's Boards," each of them sending their own accredited delegates, more than fifty in number. On Saturday evening, June 9, the meeting was opened by a service of prayer and praise, and tables were set capable of accommodating hundreds of persons. At this opening session the Earl of Aberdeen presided, with his wife Lady Aberdeen on the platform at his side. Ecclesiasticism and doctrinal differences had no place, for the very introductory speech by Dr. Thompson of Boston sounded the keynote. "What have we come here for?" said he. "Not to see the old country, nor its cathedrals, nor the British Museum, nor the Tower of London, nor palaces, nor objects of art, nor to listen to the eloquence of Parliament, but to hear what the Pauls and Silases of the day are doing in the name of Him who made of one blood all the nations of the earth." "All one in Christ Jesus" was the prevailing spirit from the beginning to the close.
In the prepared programme Woman's W Qrk was tRe assigned topic for two of the regular sessions for delegates, and for one of the large public evening gatherings. Then there were meetings held exclusively for ladies, and women were made prominent as speakers at a number of public meetings, and some were even called upon for responses at lunches and breakfasts. From many lands the missionary woman was present, and told het· sweet and thrilling story, that reached all hearts.
Arrangements were made to hold the morning sessions for women in the •. Annex," a hall holding about two hundred and fifty; but the" Annex" was too small, and it was necessary to adjourn to the large hall to accom- modate the large crowd. Some one writing of these meetings said: "The women excelled the brethren in the directness and clearness of their state- ments, and the practical presentation of their work." Almost every phase of mission work was discussed at these sessions. As China was represented, it was claimed that in no country is woman's work so valuable as in the Celesttal Empire; others claimed that Japan most needs woman's help; 9thers maintained that of all countries India needed her, and the statement .vas made that one married missionary, with the feminine influences of home, is worth more than twenty single men, and that often the missiona.ry's home had been the first object lesson of love in heathen countrieR, and the wife has been the great helpmeet, carrying on work which her husband could not do.
Sir Robert Phayre presided at one meeting. " His thirty years' experience in India," he said, "convinced him that it is impossible to attempt to convert a world of men, leaving out the women, as that is clearly contrary to God's manifested will." He referred to the great amoupt of misery behind Zenana walls, as having come to his knowledge in connection with his official duties, but said, "There is no amount of oppression and evil-doing that cannot be removed by prayer."
Miss Rainy of the Free Church of Scotland spoke on "The Place of Female Agency in Mission Work." She said: ., Women should take up this work because it is evident on many grounds that the Lord will have it so. The scheme is of Him, and the way to carry it out has been made clea.r by Him. Missiona.ry women giw their attention to teaching in Sunday, weekda.y, industrial, and boarding schools, taking charge of orphanages and seminaries, Zenana mission work, or house to house· visitation, evangelistic work in villages and country districts, holding Bible classes and mothers' meetings for converts, training and supet'intending native agents, preparing a verna.cular literature for women, and last, but not least, laboring as medical missionaries among women and children."
Miss Marston, M.D., read a paper on "Woman's Medical Work." She said the work was most hopeful, that "the hospital is an institution of increasing vaIUl'>, and both there and in the dispensary the people are pleased rather than otherwise to listen to the message of the gospel. The difficulties of Zenana medical work were enlal'ged upon, and, in conclusion, several suggestions wel'e given. Specia.lists being, a.s a rule, inaccessible, a.~d consultations being out of the question, medical women in India. must either be able to undertake all and sundry cases, or have the pain of occasionally rejecting them. Experience led to the recommendation that, in addition to the usual cUl'l'iculum, there should be a year's study of special subjects."
A number of ladies took part in the discussion that followed the reading of this paper. Miss Cross spoke of the shocking condition of the women in government pl'isons and hospitals, and gave an account of a visit she paid to one of the prisons, where she saw a large number of women condemned for the crime of murdering their female children.
Mrs. Emmerson of New York read a history of the Woman's Union Missionary Society of America, a society representing all evangelical denominations, organized in 1860.
Mrs. Cappin of the African Church of America was eloquent in her justification of woman's work in many lines. She said that what was required for those women was not mere" book learning," but thorough technical education in the art of housekeeping, a.nd above all in the art of making bright, happy Christian homes. It must be remembered that their work was not merely to educate, however grand a'work that was in itself, but to win the precious souls of those women for the Lord Jesus Christ. The objpct of the society must be strictly evangelistic-that of carrying the gospel, whether by education, Zenana missions, medica.l missions, 01' whatever agency might be employed, to the homes of the East. She greatly deplored the small number of lady workers in the field, and she felt it her duty to speak out ~nd to tell ner Chfistia,l1, sisten; Qf the ~reat ~eed of worker!!, Mrs. Edge of China asked Christian mothers to put no obstacle in the way of their daughters, should the LOI'd call them to missionary work.
Mrs. Quinton spoke of the women of the Indian tribes of North America.
She said: "These 'women are hungering for spiritual instruction, and almost as soon as they hear the gospel they give their heart!! to God."
Miss Abbie Child of Boston, Secretal"y of the Woman's Board (Congrega- tional), spoke on the" Need and Preparation of Missionaries," saying, "The time is past when anybody can be a missionary."
Miss Jet'roam, for twenty-eight years a missionary in North India, said: "While preparation is of immense importance, yet missionaries cannot be manufactured; like poets, they are born, not made; nay more, they are called, and called .of God; only the Master can make a missionary. The training is in the Lord's own school."
"The Necessity for Trained Native Christian Teachers" was discussed by Miss Askwith of South India, under the following heads: Who are to be Trained?
What Objects must be Kept in View when Training?
What Methods Should be Employed in Training?
This paper disclosed the fact that there was great need ~for establishing a, United Training Institution for Zenana teachers, in which they may be taught and practically fitted for their special work. l1iss A., in closing, said: "If India is to be won to Christ, if its womanhood is to be raised from the bondage and degradation of ages, it must be greatly through the agency of Christian Indian women. We have intrusted to us the training and education of considerable numbers of these our young sisters, who, with God's blessing, may be a power for good in their native land."
Probably the" Relation of Woman's Boards to the General Boards" was among the most stirring subjects discussed. Everybody had an opinion, and both men and women said that women ought to be represented in the general boards. This was a perplexing question to some, and a special meet- ing was called to consider it.
DI·. lfurdock of the American Baptist Union" read 3, paper in which, while he placed great estimate on woman's work, he advocated that all female agencies should abide by the rules of and be governed by the poli- cies of the General Board; that it would be better for both and have a better effect on the natives when women' recognized the headship of man in order- i.ng the affairs of the Church of God,' remembering that 'Adam was the bead.' He dwelt very impressively upon the union of man· and woman in the work, though it would be a sad day for the church when diVIded by woman's boards eQ.deavoring to work independently."
A somewhat emphatic protest was offered by some of the ladies to the sentiments of the brave Doctor, and one-an American-remarked Botto 'l)OCe, "All buncombe!" Experiences were given. Some worked indepen- dently in a great measure, others jointly. One, a Nova Scotia board, helped the parent board by raising money for each "mission, and thus felt that they had an interest in all." Another complained that they were "hampel'ed in their work by male committees." while another, the presi- dent of a very large and influential society, said she "Vould rejoice to see their work lll,erged into one, for the burden and responsibility were great on women alone. She thought, however, that in that case woman should have a place on committees.
" The Evils of Child Marriages" was discussed by Miss Whately, for years missionary in Cairo, Egypt. She said "this custom was a p'eat hindrance to missionary work. There are now hundreds and hundreds of Mohammedans who attend my school and other schools, but no matter whether it be a native Copt or a Mohammedan, the girl is taken away at twelve."
Bishop Crowther, the rescued slave boy, now a bishop of the Church of England from West Africa, said: "Long ago, among the freed slave children at Sierra Leone, invaluable services were rendered by ladies. Men were helpless with their threats and scoldings, but by kindness the ladies enticed the children to school, and taught them with great succ~ss. To-day, also, ladies are filling very important posts in the Niger territory. Often children had to be whipped into school by the native :schooimaster, till a white lady came, who brought pictures and lesson sheets from England, and taught the children to sing. Soon the news spread, and the other children of the station came with zest, and learned to love education. At Bonny it was agreed by the chiefs that $10 a year should be paid for each boy and girl who attended the school. When the time came the chiefs objected to pay for the girls, 3S they could not afterward earn money as boys could. The Bishop himself then agreed to pay for the girls, who were trained to read, and sew, and knit and make bread. etc. A certain day came when the chiefs were entertained, and Miss Susan Jumbo-daughter of Oko Jumbo-made the brea.d, whtch her father praised without knowing "'I'ho had made it. When informed, he was greatly pleased, and from that time native scruples as to the utility of investing money on the education of girls disappeared.
Lady Aberdeen presided over a special llJeeting, and in a clear rich voice that could be heard all over the large auditorium, said: "The missionary conference, with its many testimonies of the world's need and of God's gracious work among the heathen, should awaken all Cll'istian people from selfish slumbers. She regarded the sight of so many missionaries and their active friends as a grand' one, and when she thought of the great number of Bl'itish and American nationality, she could not but realize that God has committed to the English-speaking race a very high duty in the evangelization of the world. Last year, with Lord Aberdeen, she had the privilege of seeing some of the missionaries at work in India, and also of attending such conferences as workers can there hold for prayer and mutual encouragement and help. The experience was one never to be forgotten. While now thanking the American delegates for coming to this great conference, she cordially aclmowledged the vigorous work of their agents in the mission field, and also that America had greatly inspired and quickened England in missionary effort. The missionaries have all told us one thingof the power of love, the power of Christ's love when it takes hold of the soul. ,.
In reference to openings in Japan, Dr. Warren of Japan said: "The women have'not been in the degeac1ed position they have in other countries, but have long been a great power both in society and politics. The childeen are under regular instruction, and the way is gradually being prepared for the reception of the gospel. Higher educatibn is well to the front also, and the openings for missionary ladies at the present time are many and important. What is wanted is that this. educational work should be accompanied by Christian teaching. Many things combine to accentuate this call to service for Christ, and already much blessing has [attended the efforts of women in the country.
"There is a great opening just now for work in mission schools. The Americans have done a great deal in this and in other respects. First in the country by some ten years, the Americans have ever since kept to the front, Especially are they ahead in women's work. The laborers do not go over in ones and twos, but in sixes and dozens, and their schools have been remarkably successful. In evangelization, also, the women have been greatly blessed. In conclusion, the speaker earnestly begged for more female laborers for Japan."
Of the openings in India, Rev. Mr. Karney said: "India is waiting for Engbsh women to go to her, not mere educators, Dot mere Christians, but consecrated workers for Christ going in the power of the Holy Ghost."
Of openings in China, Dr. Swanson said: "That if the mothers, the wives, and the daughters of a country are secured for Christ, the men are sure to follow; and in no country has a woman more influence than in China.
"There are difficulties to face. Those who go have to go into a new civilization, and to tread on ground more dangerous than they sometimes are aware of; but in the work of education an immense service is being done, not only among the young themselves, but indirectly among their parents also. Therefore th'! speaker maintained that China, of all other countries, is the field for the mission of women. The empire is awakening, .and now is the opportunity. She must either start into life or be buried out of sight; but she is not going to be buried. Here is the chance for pious women, and the female population is constantly sending forth a wail which calls loudly for the light and liberty of the gospel as well as education."
Rev. Dr. Langford, Secretary of the Protestant Episcopal Missionary Society of America. said: "Looking back upon the past, with its record of glorious enterprise and results, and looking to the futm'e, with its blessed possibIlities and opportunities, the speaker thoroughly believed that woman is to take a larger part than in the past in the evangelization of the worldnot only by going out into the field, but by looking to things at home. In the work of organization, and in getting together and putting into shape the facts which may kindle the fire of enthusiasm for missions, the women have a sphere of great influence. The pastor cannot find time, and has not the aptitude to do many things that are expected of him. In America the women have realized this and they are taking the missionary interest quite into their own hands-editing papers, distributing tracts, sending out reports and circulars, and, having faith to believe that it was by the Spirit of the living God that great works will be accomplished, they have organized prayer unions, to present the matter continually at the Throne of Grace. In conclusion the speaker prayed that God would own woman's work by making it a blessing to the entire human family."
The many social gatherings afforded a rat'e opportunity for these worldwide representatives to catch a glimpse of the best circles of Christian England. Our American ladies received very marked attention, and made an impression in the meetings, because, it is said, "They spoke with such freshness of thought and ease of manner."
The meeting was a great inspiration to aU who were present, and marks certain great facts, viz. that woman is a great power in missionary work, and that there is no longer separation or isolation of nations, of denominations or of language. There is one Bible, one faith, one great desire, on the part of missionaries, to preach the" unsearchable riches" to the people of the earth that are in darkness and the shadow of death.
lS89.] MISSIONARY HEROES IN AFRICA
MISSION ARY HEROES IN AFRICA.
BY ROBERT N. CUST, LL.D., LONDON.
My subject is not so much Africa, its people, its customs and its misfortunes, as the Christian pioneers and their work, and to this I restrict' myself. The missionaries cannot speak of themselves; it is the last thing that they woul<Lwish to touch upon, except to describe their shortcomings. A particular church or society cannot speak of the whole class fairly, as of some they know too much, and of others nothing at all. We see them in the committee room, when they are young and ardent for the fight, scarcely knowing the difficulties with which they have to contend. 'We see them a few years on more thoughtful, more subdued and chastened, yet not less earnest; we see them still later on, broken down, unequal for further service in the rleld, yet still longing to laugh at the doctor, and go back to their life's work. Some we never see again, for they remain where they fell. Many of them are men of high talent, who in secular professions might have achi{'ved wealth and fame, or in the home church might have risen to dignity and influence, but, smitten with the wondrous love of saving the souls of the heathen, they have gone forth, and fresh candidates for the holy offioe are never wanting. What is their motive? A simple faith in the Word of the Lord, who bought them. Wishing that my hearers may carry away something that may cling to their memory, I ask them to think of the famous eleventh chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, in which he traces back to faith all the great events in the history of Israel, and I ask leave reverently to adapt his argument to the history of the pioneers of African Missions.
By faith the United Moravian Brethren at Herrnhut in Germany, more than a century and a half ago, were stirred up to send out a missionary to the poor Hottentots, who were treated as dogs by the Dutch colonists. By faith George Schmidt at once offered himself to go out, and suffered hardship with a persecuted race, and, having been blessed by the conversion of a few, was forbidden to baptize them, and summarily sent back to Europe by men who called themselves Protestants, and who were jealous of their own liberty. By faith, fifty years !:.tter (1792), the United Brethren sent out three more missionaries, who founded the illustrious mission of Genadendal, or Vale of Grace, on the very walls of the ruined house of George Schmidt, seven years after the great patriarch of African Missions had been caned to his reward, dying, like Livingstone and Krapf, on his knees.
By faith the London and Wesleyan societies, the Established Church of England, the Free Church of Scotland, and the American Board of Foreign Missions, took up a share in the blessed work amidst other races of South Africa, and out of their ranks by faith Moffat undertook to translate the Bible into the language of the· Be-Chuana, Wilder into the language of the Zulu, and Boyce, Appleyard, and others, into the language of the Ama-Xosa, or Kafir-Ianguages deemed at the time to be incapable of expressing simple ideas, but which, deftly handled, proved to be apt exponents of every variety of human thought, with an unlimited vocabulary, and an unsurpassed symmetry of structure.
By faith Moffat's son-in-law, Livingstone, abando:<J.ed his home, his chapel, and his school, and started off on his great missionary progress, which was destined to illuminate all Africa south of the Equator. By faith he bore up under the perils, the fatigues, the opposition and the bereavement of his deal' wife, who sleeps on the shore of the Zambesi. By faith he worked his way to Benguela, on the west coast, Kllimani on the east, and Nyangwe on the River Kongo to the north, discovering new rivers, new lakes, new tribes, and new languages. Fi"om the drops oC sweat which feU from his limbs in those grea': travels have sprung up, like flowers, Christian missions, founded by men of different denominations and different views of church govm"nment, but united in the fear of Uod, the faith in Christ, love of Africa, and veneration for Livingstone. To the impulse, given by this great apostle, must be attributed the missions of the Establh,hed Church ot Scotland at Blantyre, the Free Chm"ch of Scotland at Livingstonia, the London Society on Lake Tanganykia, and the Universities Mission at Zanzibar. To these must be added the missions of the Church of Rome. In an interview which some years ago I had at Tunis with Cardinal LavigEH"ie, to implore him to locate his Equatorial MisSIons at a certain distance from stations occupied by Protestants, to which he agreed in word, though his practice has been different, he spoke with admiration of Livingstone. But to this servant of God ~t was not conceded to seQ one single ft"uit of his labors. He saw no mission spring up; like Moses, he only beheld the promised land from Pisgah; he died without knowing of the secret of the source of the Nile and the Kongo. But even after death he seemed to have power to charm and to conquer, for by faith his bones were conveyed by his faithful Africans to the sea-shore, from Ilala on Lake Bangweolo, where he died, along a route never traversed before, as if the great discoverer had power to add to geographical knowledge after his death, and the great philanthropist wished te leave a lasting proof that the natives of South Africa can be faithful and loyal, and capable of high enterprises, if they are kindly treated.
By faith Krapf and Rebman sat year after year at the watchtower of Mombasa, waiting till the day should dawn, calling to each other, "Watchmen, what of the night ?". writing home descriptions of vast lakes, and snowcapped mount~ins on the Equator, causing themselves to be derided, both as missionaries and geographers; yet they lived to be honored in both capacities, they lived to see the day dawn at last, to hear of Frere-Town being es- tablished as a station for released slaves at Mombasa, to hear of those internal seas being navigated, and that snow-capped mountain being visited. In hi~ old age Krapf in tearful gratitude read Henry Stanley's challenge, which rang with trumpet-sound from the capital of U-Ganda, and was gallantly answered by the Church Missionary Society, and he lived to hear of the great Apostle's Street, which by faith he had suggested, being carried out from Zanzibar to the Great Lakes, to be extended westward down the Kongo, until hands are shaken with the Baptist missionaries working up that river from the West.
By faith the good Baptist Society established themselves in the island of Fernando Po, and, driven thence by the intolerance of the Spaniards, they crossed over to the mainland, and found what seemed once, but, alas! is no longer, a more enduring inhel"itance in the Kamerun Mountains. By faith here Saker lived, labored and died, translating the Holy Scriptures into the language of the Dualla. but leaving his work to be revised by his .young daughter, opening out a new field for the talent and zeal of women. Hence in fullness of time by faith Comber started to conquer new kingdoms of the Kongo. making, alas! the heavy sacrifice of the life of his wife at San Salvador, before he reached Stanley Pool, with the great heart of Africa open to his assault; for in their hands the Baptist missionaries had carried gentle peace, and their vessel with that name still carried them onward on their blessed and peaceful enterprise.
By faith our good brethren in North America were among the first to send out their agents to West and South Africa, to pay back the debt which they oweu, and to atone for the wrong which their forefathers had inflicted. The sun was thus taken baek to the East, to lighten those sitting in darkness. Each and everyone of their churehes by faith have vied in the desire to found strong missions, translate the Holy ScriptUl:es, and to press ,.forward the work of freedom, education, ciyilization and evangelization.
By faith the holy and humble-hearted Protestant churches on the Continent of Europe, less amply endowed in material resources. but more richly in intellect, industry and self-consecration, have sent forth a golden stream "- of missionaries from the centers of Basle and Canton de Vaud in Switzer" land; of Barmen, Br"lmen, Berlin, Herrnhut and Hermansbul'g" in Germany; from Norway. Sweden, Finland and France, to hold the fort in the most exposed situations, to suffer imprisonment, to achieve great literary works, to found living churches, and attract to themselves the affections of the African. The names of the devoted men and women who have lived and died for Christ may not be known to the world, but are written in the Book of Life.
By£aith Samuel Crowther was rescued from the captivity into which he, like Joseph, had been sold by his brethren, was restored to his country, to be no longer a slave, but a teacher, a leader, a benefactor, and an'example; by faith he was set· apart to give the lie to the enemies of the African, to stultify the idle taunt, that a negro is incapable, by his nature, of culture, piety, honesty, and social virtues; by faith -he was raised up to mark an epoch in the sad chronicle of his persecuted race, and to be the firstfruit of the coming harvest of African pastors and evangelists. By faith his son Dandison, Henry Johnson and James Johnson were blessed with the great grace of being allowed to tread in his footsteps.
If any of my readers desire to know the real worth of the African mission– ary, let them read the lives of 11rs. Hinderer at Ibadan, and 11rs. Wakefield at Ribe, and of many other noble men and women, of whom this self-seeking world was not worthy, who left comforts at home to labor among the Africans; who, in spite of overpowering maladies, have, been, like Hannington, unwilling to leave ihe country of their choice, and determined to return in spite of the warning voice of their doctor, or who, like him, have died as good confessors, counting not their lives worthy, but to fill up what remail!s of the sufferings of Christ. Such lives, in their simple eloquence, cannot fail to chasten the proud heart, to drive out selfish egotism, and to sustain the sinking spirit; they leave a ray of tender light behind them, showing that the age of chivalry and of self-abnegation has not entirely passed away; that the nineteenth century, in spite of its wbrldliness and infidelity, is still able to supply crusaders to fight the battle of our 1I'£aster.
We read often in secular books, and too often in missionary biographies, how our Heavenly Father is supposed on some occasions to have graciously interposed to save the life of one of His poor children; in Roman Catholic accounts this benevolent interference is always attributed to the Virgin 11ary, or St. Teresa. Not a sparrow, indeed, falls without His command; but if sur:h interference is presumed when a good man's life is saved, how shall we account for the absence of this providential care when the good man is cruelly killed, or cut off by premature disease? Such is but a narrow view of God's providence. His ways are not our ways; He has chosen His servants for particular services: some to honor, some to dishonor. Some are selected to -live and work, to others is conceded the peculiar grace to die nobly and set a gloriolls example. Deaths are required as well as lives to complete the picture of the new life. Some may follow the steps of our Lord in a life of beneficenM and mercy; to others is granted th'e sweeter lot of filling up that which is behind of His sufferings. And in the last struggle how by grace they have been sustained, doing nothing common or mean in the last memorable scene of their earthly passion, but sealing their faith by their manner of meeting death!
Hear some of the dying words of these soldiers of Christ. In the hour of death all things are terribly real. There is no room for deception or false enthusiasm there. I have selected these words without distinction of country or denomination, but their number might be multiplied indefinitely. Arrhenius, the Swede, had only a few months of labor in the Galla country after years of preparation for his duties. His last words were: .. Jesus, help me I Jesus, help me I Amen."
Prretorius, the Swiss, was sent out for a few months' inspection of the missions on the Gold Coast; he called upon me on his way out, and promised to call again on his return; but after a few weeks in Africa he fell. His last words were: .. Is it true that I am going home to-day 1"
Of all the smaller English missions, the Livingstone-Kongo was conspicuous for its overflowing (If zeal and life and promise, and of all its agents McCall was the brightest; but he was struck down in mid-work. His last words were recorded by a stranger who visited him. Let each one of us lay them to our hearts: .. Lord, I gave myself, body, mlnd and soul to Thee. I consecrated my whole life and being to Thy service, and now, if it please Thee to take myself, instead Q/ the work 1vhich I would do for Thee, what is that to me 1 Thy will be done I"
He had hoped that his destined course might have been among- the brave [wd strong, to toil with high pUl'pose in the service of the African; but God had chosen another part for him, and as a true Christian he recogI).ized that God had chosen it well, and no weak mUl'mul'S escaped the lips of one who was ready to liv:l or ready to die. Golaz, of the French Mission to Senegambia, as well as his young wife, died within the year after their arrival. His farewell words were : "Do not be discouraged, if the first laborers fall in the field_ Their graves will mark the wall for their 8uccesSorS, who will march past them with great strides."
Pinkerton, of the American Mission in Zululand, was ordered to lead a new mission into Umzila's kingdom; he conveyed his wife and children to North America, and returned joyfully to his task. He met with many obstacles and rebuffs, but at length found himself well on the road. His last written lines were to his wife: "Thefutnre will bring its needed light, and work, and solace. My thoughts turn sadly to you and our children. All well. We go right on."
It was to him, indeed, all well, for in a few days he breathed hill last sigh alone in the African jungle; he had gone right on into glory I .On the other side of Africa, Bagster, of the same mission, had been sent to found a mission among the Ambandu; a few months before his death he had proposed to write on" The Missionary's Joys." In the last page of his jOUl'nal we find: .. We hear His voice of cheer: Go forward: one mau of yon shall chase ten thousand; the Lord your God has promised yon .the good land, which be has given to yon; most joyous is the service of our King I "
Thomson, of the Baptist Mission in the Kamerun country (that famous mission which has during 1885-86 been uprooted and destroyed by the late German Emperor), a few weeks before his death in September, 1884, unconscious of the l'uin which was so soon to come upon the scene of his labors, on his chapels and his mission schools, wrote as Collows : "I am sustained and upheld amid many and heavy anxieties by the growing conviction that the dear Master is, in His great condescension, nSing me here for the settlement of many difficulties; and llook forward to;the future with more hope than I have known for years. I believe the work here will soou assume a better and a brighter aspect, aud my heart glows within me, as by faith I see the time. Oh for more and more of grace to cast all our burdens upon the divine bnrden-bearer I Onr hope and trust are in Him alone I "
With such men (and these few are but types of many) Africa and the whole world can be conquered. Such deaths are great victories. Such words tell us that some portion of us is immortal. These confessors saw the promises afar off, and were persuaded of them, confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims, and desiring a better country, that is a heavenly.
Still, they were men with like weaknesses, and cravings for love, as ourselves, and it is with heavy heart that I read of the last moments of such servants of God, dying sometimes without the solaces of religion, with no fond breast to lean upon, with none of the ordinary necessities of civilized life to sustain and comfort and smooth the path to that bourne, which men call death, but which indeed is th~ portal to everlasting life. The last journal of Hannington (who was present when I read this address four years ago) brings this point of view vividly before me. I can see that faithful Christian in the midst of his sad environment, oppressed with anxiety for the future of the work to which he had consecrated himself, still sustained by the daily reading of, and meditation upon, the Psalms of David. We find in these pages, so wonderfully preserved, no rebellious murmuring, no cries for vengeance, no appeal to the arm of the flesh. Still, as he lay tossing on his unsavory heap of straw, before his feverish eyes, during those sad days and weary nights, would rise the vision of the peaceful home, the pleasing duties, the loved companion, the little children, whom he had voluntarily left, obeying the call to serve his Master; and not in vain, for a still voice would whisper to him: "It is the Lord's will: obedience is of the essence of true courage and true love. The battles of the Heavenly King are fought in suffering as well as doing, and in dishonor, in prison, and in shameful death, as truly as In the mission chappel, the mission school, and the center oj a Christian village."
We seem at this period of the history of our missionary churches to be living over again the trials and persecutions of the early Christians in the first century. Do we not seem to hear the echo of the words of the Virgin-Saint, who at ArIes in France was slowly let down feet-forward into a vessel of boiling oil, becauRe she refused to deny her Master?
.. Jesus Christ, help me! Praise be to Thee! Lord Jesus, grant me patience! I sutrer for Thy name's sake: I suffer for a little time onlll; I suffer oJ '~1I own accord: Jesus, let me never be confounded! take me ! take me ! ..
Time would fail me to tell of Schlenker, and Reichardt, and Schon; of Goldie and Edgerley ; of Casalis, Mabille and Coillard; of James Stewart, of Lovedale, and his namesake on the Nyassa; of Grant and Wilson; of Ram-· seyer and Christaller ; of Mackensie, the Bishop who died on the River Shire; and of Steere the Bishop who sealed up the translation of the last chapter of Isaiah ready for the printer, and then fell asleep at Zanzibar; oC Parker, the Bishop, wise and gentle, holy and self-restrained, who was called to his rest on the Southern shores of Victoria Nyanza; of Wakefield and New; of Stern, Mayer and Flad; of Southon, the medical missionary, who died at U-Rambo; of dear Mullens, who could not hold himself back from the fight, and who sleeps in U-Sagara; of many a gentle ladies' grave-for women have never been found wanting to share the honor and the danger of the Cross.
NOTES ON NEW BOOKs OF AMISSIONAlty CHARACTER
I have seen and known so many of them. A few weeks before we were holding sweet converse, and then the tidings of the death of Fome one of them came floating back by letter or telegmm. They had, indeed, all gone into a br country, and to me they seem to be all there still; and, when I am musing about Africa, or studying some point connected with thatcou~try, and I look up from my paper to my African library, the forms of departed fdends seem to enter at the open door, and I seem to see theil' faces again, and to ask them their opinion. Young Riviere, a Jesuit priest, who had been turned out of Algeria and taken refuge in North Wales, used to corre- spond with me about Afdca. One day he called upon me in London and told me that he had received his orders to start at once to the Zambesi Mission field, to take the place of a dead colleague. He pl'omised to write to me from Tete, and to clear up many questions for me; but he never reached his des- tination, for he sank under his iil'st attack of fever at the mouth of the Zam- besL Differing as I do from the Church of Rome in every principle and detail of their evil system, I can still recognize and thank God for the zeal, and love of souls, and total abnegation of self, which distinguishes hel' mis- sionaries. Oh, when they are such, would that they wel'e ours!
I often think of that famous scene in one of Walter Scott's romances, where the clansman and his seven sons all fell for their chieftain, stepping forth, one after the other, gladly into the gap, and Cl'ying: "One more for Eachim !" So it is with the reserve forces of missionaries. "One more for Christ!" And how much better to have young lives and treasure spent by the missions in trying to save African souls, than wasted by the English nation in slaughtering the unoffending and undaunted freemen of the Sudan, for the purpose of main taming an imaginary prestige of having the strength of a giant without the grace of knowing how to use that strength as a Christ- ian. Wherefore, seeing that we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and press forward more and more upon our bounden duty aud service to evangelize Africa. We owe this debt to those who have gone before, that they should not have diedin vain. The .Missionary is indeed the most glorious outcome of 'the nineteenth century; the honest God-fearing man in the darkest corner of the earth, where he is most wanted. to represent the highest type of 'Christian patience and mo- rality.
.. Oh I that we now had there But one ten thousand of those men in Engla.nd, Who do no work to-dall ! ..
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
[EDITORIAL.l Report of the M/,8sionary Conference, London, 1888. Edited by Rev. Jas. Johnston, F.S.S., Secretary of Conference. Vol. 1. London, Jas. Nisbet & Co. This is the first volume of what promises to be the most perfect encyclopedia of missions in the world. We can say no more. We would not be without that report ifit cost $100 instead of $2.00. The most distingni,hed men in tbe world, in the departmcnt of Oriental languagcs, rellgions, philosophies, and ~nstom., as well as the specific history of missions, are among the contributors to these volumes.
This first volume contains exhaustive papers on Islam, Buddhism. Roman Catholici.m, Relations of Home aud Foreigu lIfissions, Commerce, etc. Then Part II. gives the mission fielus of the world-India, Ceylon, Burmah, China, Japan, Africa and Madagascar, Turkey, Oceanica, North and South America, etc. The second volnme will be eqnally comprehensive and valuable, let us rather say invaluable. I have bought twenty-five copies myself to give away, and if I had the money would pnt a copy in the hands of every minister and theological student III the country. The Arner lcanedition is issued by F. H. Revell, Bible House, N. Y.; Chicago, 150 Madi~on St.-A. T. P.
Life Of John Mlson, D.D., F.R.S. By George Smith, LL.D. London, John Mnrray. This is another of Dr. SmIth's masterly bOoks on missions. We intend to give hereafter a review article
ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK
-on this remarkable man, but for the present advise every lover of heroic life and labor to read the volume. The following landatory notice from the leading journal of the world, the London 7'imlJ8, we adopt verbatim: "Dr. Smith's life of the late Dr. John Wilson of Bombay is without exception one' of the most valuable records' of missionary work in India ever submitted to the English public, and equally worthy of its subject and its author. • • • Dr. George Smith's mature knowledge of Indian affairs has enabled him to give an admirable presentation of Dr. 'Wilson's life and labors in con- nection with the great public improvements and progress of the years, extending over two genera- tions of official service during which he resided in Bombay. Dr. Smith has given us not simply a biography of Dr. Wilson, but a complete history of missionary, philanthropic, and educational enterprise in Western India, from the governorship of Monntstuart Elphinstone,1819-27, to that of Sir Bartle Frere, 1862-67. He has arranged the many subjects with which he has had to deal and the materials placed at his disposal with great simplicity, clearnesr, and efIect."
Distinguished Witnesses. By Rev. John Liggins. New York, Baker & Taylor Co. This book is timely. It fits the need of the day as tenon fits mortise in a good joint. To decry and even deny the good results of the work of heroic missionaries is easy; but the logic of events will convince any candid mind, and in this book there is a mighty massing of testimony. Nehemiah is not alone in his experience. He met manifold forms of antagonism: apathy and lethargy on the part of Jews, maliciOus enmity and derisive ridicule upon the part of Ashdodite and Ammonite and Arabian. But he simply held his tongue, minded his own business, and built the wall, hung the gates and established law and order. "A light word is the Devil's keenest sword;" there are still many that are willingly ignorant, and if all that they do not know were published, the world itself conld not 'contain the books that would be written. We must disregard the assaults of ridicule and enlighten ignorance. Let us give tae people the facts, and the facts in abundance. They may become to some the fingers of God.
In this valuable 'l'olume the high character and grand influence of missions are established in the mouth, not of two or three, but of hundreds of unimpeachable witnesses. Representative men and women, whose names carry the weight of authority, and from every class in the community, here appear on the witness stand, commanding a hearing in the Court of the Judgment. They speak what they know and testify that they have seen, and only those whose eyes are blinded by prejudice or whose hearts are hardened by willful hostility, will refuse to receive their witness. Modern missions have little to fear from the harsh or hasty words ofa few like Dr. Oscar Lenz, Winwood Reade, Sir Lepel Griffin, J. J. Monteiro, Mrs. Scott Stevenson, or even James A. Froude and Canon Taylor, while such as R. H. Dana and J. P. Donovan, JamescRussell Lowell and Alfred Rugsell Wallace, Robert N. Cnst and James B. Angell, Wm. Elliot Griffis and Wm. Fleming Stevenson, Sir Bartle Frere and Sir Thomas Tancred, and Sir Richard Temple, Lords Lawrence and Loftus, Napier and Northbrook, Generals Edwards and Haig, Wallace and Wilson, Taylor and Gordon, Admirals Wilkes and Sullivan, Foote and Gore; nay, where Darwin no less than Dutrerin, and Keshub Chnnder Sen,.no lessthan Constance Gordon Cummiug, feel constrained to give testimony to the unspeakable value of Christian missions.-A. T. P.
Ohristianity and Humanity. By Chas. S. Eby, B.A. This is a course of lectures delivered in Meljis Kuaido, Tokio, Japan, and addressed to the young Japanese mind. The author is a wideawake ~tndent of the great problem presented by a people just losing faith in the traditions and religions of the p·ast and in danger of embracing any plansible errors which offer themselves. The house is empty, swept, garnished; and now the question is. Shall it be abandoned to the occupation of a sevenfold worse infidelity, or preoccnpied by Christian belief? The author says that a short time since the cry was" No religion" ; then another cry was heard, ~'Give us some religion " ; and now the question is, " What religion?" These lectures are an attempt to answer this last inqniry. They were delivered in English and Japanese on alternate Saturdays. Two of the lectures are contributed to the volume by Prof. J. A. Ewing and Prof. J. M. Dixon, respectively. It seems to us that this outline of Christian apologetics is a very thoughtfnl and fresh one, calculated to awaken attention and well repaying careful reading. Not a few Occidental students will find in them much strong meat for thought.-A. T. P_._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ II.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK.
Missionary Society of the Methodist turns from the various Annual Con- Ohurch (Oanada), ferences show an aggregate gain in the membership of the church of SIXTY-THIRD annual report, 1887-88. over 10,000, and a fail- proportion of The General Board in their report this gain has been won on mission fields. On the financial side there is say: "The results of the past year's an advance of some $18,000, sufficient, work call for devout thanksgiving to the Head of the Church. The reat least, to show that interest in ality and zeal, and should lead us to mission work is by no means on the consider whether the time is not near decline. . . . Since our foreign work when the church should turn hereyes was begun fifteen years ago, the in- toward yet another part of the negcome of the society has steadily risen lected field of foreign heathendom. from $108,000 to $220,000, and such Verily, the fields are" white unto showers of blessing have fallen upon harvest," and the demand of the hour the home churches that there hasbeen is for reapers to gather in the Eoheaves. an almost continuous revival. The reports this year from Japan willgive After a full and detailed statement a further stimulus to missionary liber- of operations, the following summary isgiven: DlCOlllE A]iD EXPENDITURE FOB 1887-88, COMPARED WITH THAT FOR 1886·87. Income.
Increase. Decrease. Toronto Conf~rence. " ………………………………….. '" $44,488 15 $62009 London………………………………………………… . 16,810 44 54042 Niagara …………..•…………………………………… 25.788 71 Guelph ………………………………………•………. 17,883 01 1,09230 $3io'oo Bay of Quinte Conference …………………….•…..•…… 19.387 29 21824 ~~~t[~~! ~~df~~~~.w~~i C6riti~eric~'::::::::::::::::::::::::: 34;70833 2,001 15 272'4R 6,59536 1,131 94 British Columbia Conference ……………..•……………. 2,.33 17 Nova Scotia Conference. . …………………………… . 11,594 88 New Brunswick and P. E. I. Conference ….•………•..•…. 8,736 15 750'99 92 15 Newfoundland Conference …………………………….. . 5,405 42 30132 Legacies •………………………………•…………….. 14,802 38 12,89608 Donations on annuity •……………………..•………..• 1,500'00 Indian Department ……………………………………. . 8,875'58 Miscellaneous …………•…•………..•……………….• 2,01807 4oo'7i 17240 Total iucome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $219,480 00 $19,953 2.'1 $2,34759 Net increase……………………………… . 17,605 66 Expenditure. $i60' 95 $4.55079 TorontoConference, including Japau …………………….. $29,21804 London Conference…………………………………….. 10,034 61 154'94, g: ~:e~~a:::::::::::::::::::::::.,…… ','.:::'.:::::::::::::::::::::: ~:!~ 532 99 2754 2;66993 Bay of Quinta Conference . …………………….. '" … .. .. 10,752 55 1,055 57 Montreal Conference, including French Methodist Institute.·. . 25,165 79 Manitoba and North-West Conference…………………… 29,681 70 1,426'si British Columbia Confereuce…………………. …..•…… 17,765 28 Nova Scotia Conference ………………………….. :. . . . .• 6,615 91 685 81 New Brunswick and P. E. I. Conference…. ……………… 7,587 51 51018 28 Newfoundland Conference… .. .. …………•.•…•……….. 12,678 42 Mouut Elgin Industrial Institution……..•..•• , ••.• , •. •• •. . . . . 3,458 33 2,03049 Sundries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. .. .• •. . •. . . •. . . . . . . • 18,359 28 Cost of management……………………………………. 10,571 51 33305 2,227 12 1,62898 Total expenditure …….•…•…•……•….•… " $195,469 5! $12,343 17 $6,15978 Net increase….•……••……………..•….•…•……….. 618,339 Leipzig Missionary Society. the mortality has beeu so great that it has less European missionaries than stations at present. Number of stations…………………….. 23 Ordained European missionaries………… 22 British and Foreign Bible Sooiety. Native preachers ………… '" …•……… H Candidates.. . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . '" THE eighty-fourth report of this Catechists.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 57 noble society is a voluminous book Teachers……………………. : …•••…• 267 and one full of interest. The circu- I ,ferior assistants of varions sorts………. 130 lation of the Scriptures last year was the largest in the history of the so- Total force ………………………472 ciety, the total number of Bibles, Testaments, and Portions being INCOME FOB LAST FISCAL YEAR. 4,206,0::12. The gross total of re- ceipts amounted to £250,382 lOs. 5d. C) ltributions ………………….. $69,61440 The total of expenditures, £224,823 lItere.t on legacies, profits of the Mis- 98. lid. This pays the debt of previ- ous year, over £10,000, and leaves sionsblatt, etc…………………. 4,098 72 Balance in treasury•….••…… 10,440 240 £15,000 in the treasury toward a.n- Total. ……….•….•..• ,. …..$84,153 a6 other year's work. Expenditures ……………………$7!,825 60 Balance in treasury…………. $11,835 60 This shows a falling oft" of nearly $4,000 from 1886. The society's chief work is in South India, where it numbers more than 13,000 church Imlmbers. Notwithstanding it has sent out in the last three years eleven missionaries, . 125 The society a.fl'ords essential aid to tion cif the revised Rarotongan Bible. a large number of missionary soci- In Northwest America the work is eties by liberal grants of Bibles and .chiefly "among our own people." Testaments for distribution in their respective fields. Thus in West By the important work o~ giving Africa the society's work blends with grants-in-aid to missionary societies that of the Church Missionary and for the employment of Bible-women Wesleyan Societies' work. Develop- in the East, 300 Christian women ment is the law of South Africa, and were occupied in making heathen Bible work keeps pace with it. In and Mohammedan women better ac- East Africa the society works largely quainted with the ·Word of God. with the Universities' Mission, par. Translations in six fresh languages ticularly at Zanzibar and Lake Ny- were added to the list in 1887-88, and assa; it also helps the C. M. S. In with the com pletion of the version for Egypt direct colportage work has Japan last year it is believed that for the first time been commenced the entire Bible now exists in all the among Moslems. In no part of the great languages of the world. So society's work are the accounts more mightily grows the Word of God and discouraging than in Syria and Pal- prevails! estine. The Government opposes, the people are ignorant and unawak- Seventh-day Baptist Missionary Sooiety. ened. In Abyssinia but little work was possible, owing to the Italian THE forty-sixth annual session was military occupation; while Arabia held at Leonardsville, N. Y., Aug. 23, seems ready to be more largely oc- 1888. The society maintains a succupied. From Persia comes the rec- cessful mission in China. The staord of the sure though gradual ad- tistics of the evangelistic and school vance of the kingdom of God, while work there are encouraging. Mr. and there are indications of the disinte- Mrs. Randolph have been added to the gration of Mohammedanism. The Shanghai mission. The society also work in India is carried on by six has a small mission in Haadem, Holauxiliary societies-those at Cal- land. Also mission work is carried cutta, Madras, Bombay, Bangalore, on in Austria, and on alimiterl scale Allahabad, and Lahore; it is charac- among the Jews in New York City. tel;ized as wide and resistless, though But the society's efforts are laJ'gely gradual in its advance. Threeauxil- expended in home mission work, iaries, Jaffna, Colombo, and Kandy, chiefly at the South and West. work in Ceylon. In Burmah the society gives grants of Scriptures to SUMMARY. the Burmah Bible and Tract Society. In Malaysia the work is only in its , Ohina.-3 American missionaries; 2 native sixth year, but is vigorously advanc- preachers; 2 native teachers; 1 Bible woman; ing. In North China the agent con- 5 other native helpers; 5 baptisms; 4,220 pa_ siders that Bible work is the most tients at the dispensary; 82 medical visits; 40 extensive seed-sowing of all the forms snrgical operations. of missionary enterprise. In Mid- China there is cause for much en- Holland.-l paid missionary, bnt really 3 couragement. So also in South workers, and 5 additions. China. No message of the year is brighter than that received from Mission to Jews.-2 workers; much persoual Japan. The sales have nearly quadrupl~d. In Melanesia and Polynesia work; nO baptisms, but several adherents. One event of the year is the comrle- Horne MissWns.-24 workers, including the secretary; 150 additions-85 by baptism; and 5 churches and 7 Bible schools organized.
Scandinavian MzssWn.-l worker.
Total fO'T' America.-26 workers; 150 addl- tions-85 by baptism; 5 cburches and 7 Bible schools organized, one church and one school being among colored people in New Orleans.
Total additions on the whole field, 100-91 by baptism, Reeeipts. age the funds needed for the sup. Balance cash In treasury, port of their Bethel and its w.ark, and perhaps a surplus to be sent September 12, 1887…… $247 35 to the general treasury in New Receipts by contributions and income from bequests and permanent funds, York. Where it is not possible to from September 12, 1887, raise sufficient money in the vicinity to September 20,1888…. 8,633 01 of the work, the parent society feels Received on loans ……. " 3,800 00-$12,680 36 bound to supplement the deficiency. " E:r:pens68.
Paid salaries and other ex- At present, says the Secretary, penses from September there are urgent calls to service in 12,1887, to September 20, behalf of the three millions of sea, 1888 …………………$9,700 98 men of all nations, and there is Paid loans …..•………. 2,800 00-$12,500 98 Cash balance September a great opportunity to enlarge this 20,1888………….. .. $17988 work. Men are wanted specially en- dowed for labor among seamen. We The Amerioan Seamen's Friend Society. need more money. We need collec- THIS society was organized more tions from churches. In arranging than sixty years ago. Its object is the list of benevolent objects we.
",to improve the social and moral respectfully ask church officers to condition oi seamen, by uniting the remember that our society is a Home efforts of the wise and good in their and Foreign Missionary Society to bellaH; by promoting in every port seamen, who would be largely neg- boarding-houses of good character, lected were it not for its efforts in savings banks, register offices, libra- their behalf. We need gifts from ries, museums, reading rooms, and individuals. American shipping mer- schools; and also the ministrations chants who formerly helped our of the gospel and other religious caus,e are few in num.ber compared blessings. " with other days when there was an At the present time there are 17 American marin/e. But the seamen, laborers at 14 home stations, and 19 whether on sailing vessel or on laborers at 17 foreign stations, repre- steamer, whether American or for- senting this society. eign, are swarming over the world, The Loan Library work is efficient exposed to moral temptations, phys- and useful, the society having sent ical hardships and corrupting influ- out nearly ten thousand of these ences.
libraries to entertain and instruct Finances.-During the year ending seamen. It acts also as an agent of March 31, 1888, the cash receipts of the Bible and Tract Societies in dis- the society from legacies, donations, tributing the Word of God and relig- loan library contributions and other ious publications among the men of sources of income amounted to $45,- the sea. It has published 56,900 027.08. The disbursements for mis- copies of the Sailors' Magazine, 20,- sionary work, publications, loan hbra- 000 copies of the Seamen's Friend, ries, expenses, etc., amounted to and 124,200 copies of the Life Boat $41,004.81.
during the past year. In some ports The society owns a Sailors' Home the society is aided by local Sea- in New York, in which 111,326 sea- men's Friend Societies, auxiliary to men have found, since 1842, the com- this society. These develop local forts of a home and protection from sympathies, utilize local energies, the sharks which prey upon "pOel"
choose competent missionaries and Jack" in a great seaport. It is the superintend their work. It is ex- policy of the society to foster by its pected of these, wherever possible, influence homes, orphanages, savings that they will raise in the vicin- banks, reading rooms and similar ad·
OORRESPONDENOE AND GENERAL INTELLlGENOE. 12'7
juncts to the fundamental work of for the sailors' legal rights, hying to preaching the gospelandsavingsouls. secure them by legal f'nactmentsand It also stands up, as far as it can, to vindicate them when violated.
III.-CORRESPON DENCE and GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
Africa. to the mission, and at a very low rate. It is toaching to print the fol- LAGOS, WESTERN AFRICA, Sept. 30, 1888. lowing response from a far-off mis- DEAR EDITORS.-Although I am unknown sionary, Mrs. Dr. Metheny, though her own mission· is in great need.- to you in the 11esh, yet I beg to write to you EDS.] that I have been traveling all over West- MERBINE, July 30, 1888. ern Africa conducting revival meetings, MRS. M. E. BEALL-DEAR SISTER: I read and delivering at the same time some tem- your appeal for funds in THE REVIEW. It perance lectures, and so try to deepen the stirred my heart so that I felt that though Ilpirituallife of a few who are only satisfied I could only give a little, I must give that, with mere formal Christianity, and to save and perhaps the Lord would put it into the some from the cursed rum and gin traffic, hearts of others who were more able, to give which is daily slaying its thousands in our according to their ability. We are in debt streets. I desire humbly to appeal through ourselves somewhat for our own house, your kind infiuence to a few or all of the which we built large enough to accommo- Religious Tract Societies in the United date our boarding-school and preaching ser- States, for a free grant of Gospel and Tem- vice. Onr Board was not willing to go to perance tracts, which will be of great use the expense of building, and we felt that we in my evangelistic work. The part of the could not do without the buildings. so we country where I am now conducting mis- took the savings of my husband's life-time, sion services is totally in want of $2,000, and $800 of'a legacy which his danghtracts and wall sheets of Scripture texts. ter left me. The $2,000 was all swallowed up I shall be exceedingly thankful, and my in the lot, so in order to complete the house poor African brethren will be g-rateful to we borrowed money from the Board, to be you, if you will supply us with these. Before repaid by the rent of the house. The mission this gets to your hands I shall be at Accra has the use of the first and second stories. for revival services, where you will please Our work here is new-begun in 1883-though addresame. I have been sixteen and a half years in the field-ten and a half in Latakia, Syria; six I am your faithful, humble servaut, as a teacher. My husband has been twenty~ four. There are now 171 communicants in GEORGE ROSE. and about Latakia. The force there con- sists of Rev. Easson and family, Dr. Balph East Oentral Africa. 23, 188~ and family, Misses Wylie, Edgar, and Dodds of the girls"school. We here are all one BANDAWE, LAKE NYASSA, Aug. family-Dr. and I, our four children, Misses Sterrett and Joseph. We have some Roman DEAR EDIT<»IS : In the article, •. The De- Catholics, but more Maronitesandstill more Greeks. Our special work is among a pagan' serted Mission," in the May number of THE sect, nominally Moslems, but really a secret sect. We also do some work amonlr bona_ REVIEW (p. 361), I notice the following: fide Moslems. For this reason we a~e bit_ terlyopposed by the Turkish Government. "Exclusive of • . . efficient help rendered One of our teachers has for more than three months been in prison for teaching among without compensation by the African Lakes these people. Our life is one continual strain of anxiety on account of our poor Co." people. Since coming here we have had a great number of people under instruction, Work done" without compensatirm" means a.nd we have a congregationol church mem.. bers, and their children, numbering 60. Bework done at the expense of the 8hareholders, sides these some have died and some have gone away. In all 30 adults have been bnt I venture to assert that au exnmination of brought in from.heathenism. How could any the books of the Livingstonia Mission will ie Of Us endure one had not the fure Word of prove, in the most conclusive manner, that the statement in THE REVIEW has not the slightest fonndation in fact.
School work is at present in fnll swing at this station. A staff of 36 native teachers is kept well employed; abont 1,000 children attend the schools dally to receive religions and other in· strnction. Yonrs trnly, ROBT. GOSSIP, Jill.
Asia Minor.
[IN the July number, 1888, p. 530, we gave a brief appeal from Mrs. Beall of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for help to purchase property essential God to rest on t Dear sister, I hope your selves exceedingly well off if they could· get fur- work may be abundantly blessed. Please lough as orten as the average civil servant get~ remember our work (Reformed Pres. Cove· it, not to speak of the three months' privilege nanter) in your prayers. leave which the latter can enjoy once in three years withont his right to furlough being af- "!Oour sister in Christ, Cected. A good deal might be said abont the devotion of the average civil servant to his MARY E. METHENY. work; bnt my design in writing is purely de- fensive. In di a.. Dr. Cust complains that the domestic affairs [WE admit the fo!owing from a of missionaries bulk too largely in official re- worthy missionary in IIl(lia as but ports. Sometimes it may be so; but that evil fair. In the September number we conld be easily remedied. Let no such subjects printed an able article, written by be referred to in official documents, except in Dr, Cust, entitled" The Heroic Mis- so far as they affect the work of the mission. sionary Society." Some of its criti- Onr critic may allege _that they ought not to cisms we thought at the time" un- affect it. Would the general of an expedition, duly severe," and so expressed our- or the governor of a province, allow them to sel ves in a footnote, p. 669. Our COl'- affect his work? Perhaps he might. The com- respondent, in a private note, says: parison, for which I am not responsible, is not "I know that you have given no a very happy one. When do you find generals sanction to the opinions which I con- or governors living with their families, as you demn, but rather the reverse. All often find missionaries with theirs, in isolated the same, I think it a pity that such places. where in times of illness no ejfic :ent help statements as Dr. Custmakes should is to be had for love or money? A general or go unchallenged. A good deal of governor can easily find a competent nurse to this kind of writing has appeared wait on his Wife, even if she do not happen to lately in Scotland, and I think it is have a European lady's maid with her; this a fitted to do no little harm to the miSSionary caunot always do, even if he could afford to pay for her services. Many mission- cause of missions." In the end we aries have to send 100 miles or so for a nurse believe such discussions will do good when one must be had, and when she comes rather than harm to the cause of she is often no acquisition; but all the same he missions.-EDs.] has to pay her an exorbitant fee, besides giving her food and drink while shei. in his house, and Il'IDIA, Sept. 25, 1888. more money for her traveling expenses than he DEAR EDlToRs.-Is it quite true that" mis- would ever think of spending in such a journey. siouaries have not a Warmer friend than Dr. Cust"? Was he practising the charity that What is a missionary to do in such circum- .. thinketh no evil" when he insinuated that stances if his wife take serionsly ill? He can missionaries .. take a worldly view" of their scarcely hope to have a nurse in his house till a w-'rk, .. and mix up a mission to a dying world week has elapsed, if he be able to get one at all. with visions of early matrimony, social advan- Is he to leave his wife to languish, and perhaps tage, and a pleasant career"? Individuals may to die, all alone, with no one to minister to her, do so; but I do not happen to know them. in order to preach to the heathen? If he may Most missionaries of my acquaintance might not leave his work for a time tl> attend to his have rlone better in respect to this world if they wife when she is really ill, is he entitled to give had remained at home. Again, each man must np preaching when his own health is such as to judge for himself whether or not he should indicate ueed of rest? If a missionary ought to marry, and if so, when. The primitive Church act in this way, ought not every Christian in knew no restriction in this matter, nor should every land to do the same? In that case, what we, beyond what is .. needfnl for the present" are we to understand by the words of Christ, exigencies ofeach. .. Go ye and learn what that mean.eth, I will lie says: "lIow often the Indian official or have mercy and not sacrifice" ? soldier has to ~hip off a sick wife, and cannot accompany her." In my experience this has Dr. Cnst further thinks that the attention of been quite as often done by missionaries, in pro- the mission committee is too mucb taken np portion to their nnmber. One would fancy with affairs of missionaries' familie., ., as if they from such remarks that Indian civil servants were a board of guardians of the poor." This is – were either more devoted to their work than not true of all committees. One committee that missionaries are to theirs, Or that their oppor- I know of acts on the prinCiple of paying mis- tunities of going home on furlongh' or short sionaries well, and leaving them to look after leave were fewer. Now I think the most self- their own wives and children. If all missions indulgent of missionaries w01lld thinlt tbem- were to act on this principle, they woulcl be re- lieved of this trouble, but at a pretty large in- crease in expenditure. As I understand it committees take tbis trQuble on themselves on grounds of economy, so that they may decide urging them to remain firm to their purhow much should be given in each case to en- pose of working in foreign land's~' even able a missionary to "provide for his own" in a decent way. It does seem hard that a mi,- though their entering upon that work seem sionary separated, at no small cost of feelin!!" from his children, should be grndged what is tu them to be long delayed. ' necelJaarv for their snpport. There are people at home rolling in wealth, and enjoying "very The meetings during the five days Were luxury which it can command, who grudge tae small allowance made towards the board and held as follows: Each morning the meeting maintenance of children who are to all intents and purposes in the position of orphans for the began with a short song service, toen the sake of missions. sermon, followed by many short, earnest tes- We welcome fair, well-considered criticism; when we err, tell us our fanlt iu a brotherly timonials in quick succession. After breakspirit; but do not join the common enemy in mali!!:ning and misrepresenting us. We can fast at ten the children's meeting and the bear the tannts and contempt of the ungodly; now we are being wounded, and that most ministers' meeting. At twelve a. sermon deeply, by our friends-onr best friends, it seems. Our time will soon pass away; to our again, and at three a Hindustani service~ own Master we shall staud or fan; but let Christian critics beware, lest by their harsh In the evening the opening song service treatment of us they discourage others from entering ou the work, and S3 injure the cause and the sermon. followed by an exhortation they seek to serve. It would have been easy to write at much greater length; but I forbear, from the leader and an invitation for all to as I do not wish to encroach unnecessarily ou your space. stay to the after-meeting. T-hen following LETTER from Miss Libbie C. Griffin: the benediction the precious after.meeting, BALASORE, ORISSA, Oct. 23, 1888. when sinners came to the altar and were Gon- THE Missionary Conference held each year at Lucknow, the capital of Onde, India, verted and missionaries and lay Christians began this year Oct. 10 and closed Oct. 14. They are held under tl}e auspices of the came and the Holy Ghost came upon them. M. E. lIfission in India, but attended by many missionaries of other denominations. Christians talked of rest, of complete sur.
Rev. J. H. Schiveley, pa.tor of the :r.r. E. render, and perfect trust. Some said that Church, Lucknow, leader this year, is a henceforth Christ should not only be with real evangelist. Sermons were preached by Rev. Tracy, Pres. of Etoma; Rev. Fore them but in them, taking entire possession, man, Pres. Fatipl'; Rev. Pa.rsons, Wesleyan, Lucknow; and Rev. GrilIln, F. Bap- and others that they believed that Jesus tist, Balasore; and by M. E. missionaries as follows: Dr. Johnson, Lucknow; Rev. would help them hereafter not only to con. Stuntz, Bombay; Rev. McCoy, Calcutta, Editor of the Indian TVitne88; Rev. Mansel, trol their tempers, but to lose them, so that Cawnpore; Rev. Marne, Calcutta; Rev. Hollister. Nagpur; Rev. Hoskins, Shah nothing would anger or irritate. A Church Jehanpur; Dr. Scott, Bareiley; and Rev. Thoburn, Simla. The sermons were strong of England missionary thought that he and spirit»al, aiming to bring sinners to Christ and Christians to an entire conse- should have grace to go home and treat his cration. The presence of such workers of many years as Dr. Scott, Rev. Mansell, Dr. servants better, and a Methodist missionary Waugh, Dr. Johnson, and Dr. Parker, was most helpful. Long may they live to help got back the peace of mind that he had lost not only the heathen. but the young missionaries who need their counsel so much_ in building a church and dealing with the Rev. Forman was doubly welcome because of his work in the home colleges. At the lying, cheating, thieving masons who per. Lucknow Missionary Conference a resolu- tion was passed telling of the tha.nkfulness sisted in putting mud where bricks and of the missionaries for the volunteers and mortar should be. Many missionaries knew from experience the ~emptations and trials of these two men and thanked God for the new-found power which should enable them to work with and for these heathen, so full of dark ways and vain tricks, and not be worried, or wounded, or made to sin by them. Saved to the nttermost even here, soldiers pledged themsehes to be as loyal to their new-found Saviour as to their queen, and men, women and children said. "I have found Jesus and mean to serve Him as long as I livp,." Thf':re was joy among the angels and gladness in our hearts for the wonderful things God did for us -all at Lucknow. And greater joy shall come when the beathen for whom we go now to labor shall yield to our God theirSaviour_ How to Make Missionary Wall Maps and Oharts.
(See MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD for December,p.962.) FIRST secure a carpeted room, sufficiently large for the purpose, and after removing all furni- ture spread on the carpet old uewspapers, lapping – their edges four inches. Upon these lay a sheet of muslin. 2ay 8×12 feet. This musliu is double- width ordinary sheeting muslin, and while the lIIap !s necessarily limited to 8 teet ill width, It can be 89 !nany yards long as is Wished, all in New York City. one piece, no seam.. A CONFEIlENCE ON MISSIONS TO TR!!= JEWs. This piece of muslin tack at the corners and midway of the sides and ends. Then take ~ of THE First lIebrew Christian Church in a pound of white glue and dissolve it in one gal- America, Rev. Jacob Freshman, pastor, lon of boiling water, and with a Jlat three·inch- which worships at 17 St. Mark's PIa."", New wide varnish brnsh apply it rapidly and York, recently entertained a" conference" smoothly to the muslin, and as soon as the mus- of friends of Jewish missions. The conlin is covered quickly untack it and remove the ference was opened with a sermon by Dr. papers that are sticking to its back (the glue hav- lIoward Crosby, from the text, .. Salvation ing goue through the muslin), and then relay it is of the Jews," which he maintained to be on the «arpet (a cushion of air underneath pre- not only an original but a continuing and venting its sticking to the carpet) and retack it, an ultimate fact; the Jews, pervading all taking care to keep the edges parallel with the the populations and speaking freely aU the washboard, the room beinglarge enough to allow languages of the world, are destined, with a passage all around the muslin. Donot stretch their matchless aggressive energy and abil.. it too tight. The sizing will dry in four hours. ity, to become the pre-eminent apostles and Next take a straight·edge as long as the map the predominant agents of the King whom and draw with lead pencil parallel lines for they have hitherto rejected. Among the latitude and longitude, and with these as guides speakers on succeeding days were Drs. Aloutliue the map with a lead pencil. Then color bert Erdman, James Morrow of Philadelthe land portions, etc., using Fletcher & Co.'s phia, JaB. M. King, H. Friedlander of Jeruinks. These come in powder form, in small salem. J. 111. Buckley, Wm. T. Sabine, Geo. packages, 25 cents each, and comprise nine col- Alexander, Henry Wilson, and others. The ors, but by combiuing them a number of addi- audiences usually crowded the little chapel, tional colors can be made. These powders are which accommodates about 200, and manireadily dissolved in water (Yo pint) and can be fested absorbing interest and great earnestkept bottled for an indefinite time. Pour some ness for the restoration of God's not-castof the color out in a saucer and dilute it and ap- away but temporarily blinded people. ply with a fiat bristle brush. Care must be taken not to let it dry on you, and it is best to Perhaps the most striking feature of the put thA color on a light tint and by repeated conference, next to the report of Jewish coats darken it to the right shade. The coloring evangelization in New York and other cities will then look smooth and not smeared. When from this center, was the Rev. Dr. Friedall the coloring is on, then take liquid India ink lander's account of the Jews in Jerusalem (25 cents a bottle), andwith a small ~-in6h rOltna at the present time. They are divided, he sable brush blacken the outlines and lines of said, into three classes: latitude and longitude, and make a wide border for the map. Use the brush as you would a (1) The Spanish-speaking Jews, descendpencil, drawing it toward you and backing ants of ancestors who Were expelled from away. Of course these maps are made on your Spain four centuries ago and took refuge knees. If the India ink is too black or too in Jerusaiem; filled to this day with the thick, dilute a little with water. submissive complaisance which ages of oppression had taught them, together with Next take a lead pencil and outline the letter- the extreme Oriental courtesy which they ing (make it bold), block letters, and then fill in have assimilated from the Turks, and which with India ink. If you choose you can buy two makes them the most agreeable (while yet sizes of stencil letters and outline your letters no less impenetrable) listeners to Christian with them, and then fill in with the India ink argument and the New Testament Scripafterward. The India ink must be the last color- tures. They number '1,000, more or less, or ing on, for it will wash add biur if colored over. about one-third of the JeWish population of Jerusalem. Wheu your map is finished, trim the ends only. Leave the selvage on edges to prevent the (2) German – speaking Jews, who began map from tearing. If you are careful to draw voluntarily to emigrate to Jerusalem from your lines with a straight-edge and parallel and southeastern Europe as missionary pilgrims at right angles to each other, you will have a about fifty years ago on the removal by the pleasing-looking map. If the sizing makes it Turkish Government of the restriction on stiff, fold it up until about two feet sqllare, and Jewish families in Jerusalem to 300; always then roll it. The creases will all come out. You proud and fearless to beJews in their native can thus carry it anywhere, and in use suspend it countries; drawn to Jerusalem by intense trom the two corners and middle of the upper religious zeal, for the purpose of devoting edge. themselves solely to devout exercises, to the exclusion of business, and supported in P. S. In using the Fletcher inks it is best to their austere lives by contributions from keep the maps rolled up, as the colors fade those they had left behind; in these devslightly after long exposure to strong .l!unlight. otees the missionary eocol/nters all the fierce intolerance of militll.nt Judaism, and ~NQTr ~~UAlIE! PA, QLME~CE l/4lIl!;XN. it is even dangerous, Bometimes~ toapproo.ch remaining on bond and mortgage,and some them in the hated name of Jesus; they pur_ $5,000 have also been paid for repairs, al- sue with extreme ardor works of super_ terations, and furnishing, which have COD_ ,erogation to acquire surplus merit before verted the lower part of the house into a God, and make the greatest possible sacri- tastefnl and inviting place of worship, with fices to maintain, as they do, among other reading and prayer-meeting room, the upper things, scores of Hebrew libraries and read- fioors serving as the pastor's residence. The ing rooms in the city, tending and mending property is vested in a board of trnstees, of every book with scrupulous care. which Drs.Crosby, Deems and Vincent,Ralph Wells, Esq., and a number of other well- (3) The latest comers, who in recent years known Christian laymen are members, and have been driven out in utter wretchedness the work enjoys the auspices of an advisory from Russia, Roumelia, etc., and kllew not committee, in which to the above-named where else to go but to the land of their clergymen are added Drs.•T. M. Buckley, fathers, a shipload of them having ev..n Wm. Ormiston, Wm. M. Taylor, Wm. T. been turned back from New York. These Sabine, R. S. MacArthur, and others. people are more accessible from having im- bibed something of the modern spirit, and Mr. and Mrs. Freshman serve unitedly also from the contrast of Christian truth without salary, depending solely by faith and love to the combination of superstitiou on the offerings which individuals may be and cruelty which forms of nominal Chris- moved to make expressly for their support, tianity had presented to them in Europe. the collections and general donations going This last migration Dr. Friedlander was to the payment of ordinary church expenses inclined to regard as a beginning of the and of such assistants and publications as return, analogous, in the poverty and lowli- can be afforded for the almost unlimited de- ness of the exiles, to the earlier period of mands of the work, the expenses of con- the return from Babylon. All these Jews verted Jews preparing for the ministry- speak from three to six languages; but, said of whom there are now ten so engaged or Dr. Friedlander, you need not greatly ad- laboring under Mr. Freshman's direction mire their learning, for they get their six in other cities-and to the bnilding fund. languages in infancy as naturally as they A beautifnl bi-monthly paper, called The learn to sneeze or eough. Hebrew-Christian, is published at the mis- sion, at 50 cents a year. The story of the mission in New York under Mr. Freshman may be summarized Mr. Freshman is a preacher of terse and as follows: Mr. Freshman came here in 1881 thoughtful as well as impassioned eloquence from the Montreal Methodist Conference, and usually gives the Sunday morning to after some years of successful pastoral ser- the presentation of the cause of Israel in vice in Canada; following his conversion other churches to which he is invited, with (with that of his father, a Jewish rabbi of the highest acceptance, whether to cultured Hungary) from Judaism to Christ. Having or uncultnred hearers. In his own church a strong impulse to engage in evangelizing he preaches in English on Sunday evenings, the Jews in New York, he commenced l'ublic and in German on Saturday afternoons to services in the small lecture hall of the full audiences of Jews. The pathos and Cooper Union on the first Snnday in Jan- power of the testimonies heard in these nary, 1882. In two months he was enabled meetins-s from the Jewish converts are to organize a Hebrew-Christian Church such as nothing less than the" great trib- with ten converted Hebrews, the number ulation" through which they enter into the required by Jewish custom for a congrega- kingdom of heaven could elicit. " tion. During the succeeding struggles with poverty the little church was tossed about, WILLIAM C. CONANT. occupying at different times the lecture room of Dr. Howard Crosby's church, of THE following letter from Rev. the Seventh Street Methodist church, and Geo. S. Mott, D. D., will explain itself : again the room in Cooper Union, and one at the corner of Grand and Allen streets, where FLEMINGTON, N. J., Oct. 26, 1888. preaching, Sunday-school and prayer-meet- REV. A. T. PIERSON, D.D.: I am greatly in- ings were conducted in the German lan- terested in the missionary intelligence guage. The church is denominationally which you furnished for The Homiletic Re- Hebrew-Christian and nothing else. view, and now in THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE'VORLD. You have for so long a time At length, in 1885, the buildiug No. 17 St. made this a specialty that you must be famil- Mark's place was purchased for $20,000, by iar with the many sources of information re- the aid of such men as Hon. Wm. E. Dodge, specting the foreign field, and I have go.th- Rev. D. Stuart Dodge, Hon. SamnelMorley ered a large amount of material which prob- of England, and others, who contributed to ably you have not given to the churches. I the initial payment of $5,000. The indebt- take the liberty, therefore, of making this edness has since been reduced to $10,000, suggestion to you: There is very much needed for us pllrstors a. good eyclopredia of foreign missions ual harvest; but as Mr. Grenfell was combrought up to the present time. Probably ing down the river, on his way to England, you have seen "The Cyclopredia of Missions" he met a band of native evangelists going by Newt.omb. This was published in 1834, forth on an evangelistic tour. They had set and this statement shows at once that it out of their own accord, without even th~ does not meet present wants because of the knowledge of the missionary, evidently takmarvelous advance in the work. The defect ing upon thclll8elves the Lord's command to of the work is the details. At the time it go and preach the gospel. They had not only was published these details were perhaps forsaken their own superstitions, but were desirable, but much respecting climate and vigorously seeking to propa.gate their new geography and natul'al history can be ob- faith.-Mi8S. Herald. tained from other sources. But my idea is that the articles "ould be wrought over, and' -George Schmidt. Foremost in the fight that they furnish much valuable material with ignorance and evil in South Africa for a new book. In the early days of my stands the figure of George Schmidt, pre_ pa"torate I often consulted it, and even now pared for the hardships of his missionary it is nsMul as a history of early missionary life by six years of imprisonment for conwork. In my opinion a work of this charac- science' sake in Bohemia. during which his ter would be of vast benefit to the cause of brother in tribulation, Melchior Nitschforeign missions. I believe many pastors mann, died in his arms. Whence came the aTe deterred from presenting foreign mis- zeal whkh moved Schmidt to make his way sion work because they cannot get the ma- alone to South Africa in 1737, and to dwell terial without a qnite laborious search, and among his little colony of Ho'ttentots in they have not the time for that. Bavianskloof, until in 1743 the persecutions of the Dutch settlers and clergy drove him There is another work containing very val- from the country, and their intrigues preuable information-" History of the Propa- vented his return? Whence came the argation of Christianity Among the Heathen," 'dent heart's desire, which led him day hy by Rev. Wm. Brown. This is a history, and day to a quiet spot near his German home, not, therefore, in the serviceable for,n of a and there poured itself out in prayers for cyclopredia. It was pubJished byWm. Black- his orphaned tlock far 'away, until, like wood, London, 1834. It is an extensive trea- Livingstone, he died on his knees pleading tise spread out into three volumes. for Africa.? Such burning Ijve and such persistent prayer are not of man, they are I write to you because I do not know any of God. And though the answer tarried one who can so well perform the task. We long.-yes, fifty years-it came before this have cyclopredias on almost every subject. century commenced. George Schmidt was but not one that has come to my knowledge no longer on earth to hear the reports of adequately meeting the needs of the grand the three men upon whom his mantle fellmovement in foreign missions. how:they found the spot which he had cul- tivated, the ruins of his hut yet visible, the GENERAL INTELUGENCE. whole valley a haunt of wild beasts; and, Africa.-The Congo Tribes. Those who better, ho'Y they found one, surviving become intimately acquainted with' the member of that little congregation of 47 negro race as found in various parts of who had long waited and hoped for the re- Africa bear testimony to its good quali- turn of the beloved teacher. This was an ties. The coast ne"ro who has learned aged blind Hottentot woman, who welcomed some of the vices of civilization is un- them as Schmidt's brothers with" Thanks doubtedly a sorry specimen of human- be to God." and unrolled from two sheepity ; but where native tribes can be found skins her greatest treasure, a Dutch New uncontaminated by contact with foreign- Testament which he had given her. Soon ers. they exhibit sterling qualities. Rev. this so-called Bavianskloof (i.e. Baboon's George Grenfell, who has visited all the Glen) was changed into" The Vale of Grace" tribes along the Congo, says that the negro (in Dutch, Genadendall, and where Schmidt's would stand his ground before the white poor hut stood there is now a. la.rge settleman. "There is a vitality of race and ment, with a congregation of more than power about him that is going to make him 3,000 members. From this center the work take bis place some day among the nations has spread over Cape Colony, and beyond of earth." In support of this opinion, he its borders into independent Kalfraria. gives several incidents showing the vigor Now its two provinces include 16 stations and fidelity of the natives, and especially with their filials, where 60 missionary mentioned an incident which he witnessed agents have charge of 12,800 converts. at Banza Manteka, the station at which the American Baptists have recently received Lib..ria.-On the 22d of November last the so many converts. Three years ago their Secretary of the Manchester Geographical Sociplace was a stronghold of grossest supersti- ety read an interesting paper contributed by the Hon. G. B. Gudgeon, consul-general for Liberia, tions, and there seemed no hope of a spil'it- 1889.] ,CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. 133 in London. It was stated that the famous preach the gospel and couduct mission schools ,negro republic of Liberia was founded by the for from 15 to 45 rupees per month. They have American Colonization Society in 1822. The made this choice· out of love to Christ, whom work of civilizing and Christianizing the inbab- they greatly desire to serve. itants of that almost unknown country was en- tirely carried on for more than twenty years by It is now proposed to enlarge the college, add this society. The missions established along to its staff of professors, and extend its coorse, the coast and at various points inland had de- of study. The additions will include a fnlly veloped iut'? Liberia's prosperous towns and equipped medical department, with ho.pital and settlements. It became an independent state in dispensary. Bursaries will also be founded in 1847. Nearly 2,000,000 sonIs were subject to the aid of poor studeuts professing the Christiau role of the Liberian Republic, consisting of faith. The rising generation demands the about 40,000 freed slaves and their descendants, higher educatiou, aud it Is hoped by this means the remainder belonging to numerous aboriginal to provide it iu connection with Christian pre- tribes. While the state possessed a seaboard cepts, sanctions and influence. There is reason of 500 miles and an interior extending over 200 to believe that J affna College will yet be a great miles, she had acqnired no territory except by blessiu!!; to the Indian Empire. The directors treaty, purcbase, exchange, or barter. 'Bishop have appealed for £30,000. £3,000 ha. already Taylor had described the country as healthy and been subscribed. its climate salubrions and enjoyable, without a plague of flies and with few mosquitoes. Many China.-There is a party of progress in travelers had confirmed the bishop's testimony. China as in Great Britain and Irelaud, and The RepubliC of Liberia stood before the world ma.ny difficulties and discouragements as the realization of the dreams of the founders are enconntered there by those 'who of the American Colonization Society, and in resolutely'· go forward. ' For many years many respects more than the realization. Far a woman has rnled the Chinese. The Re- beyond the recognized limits of the country, gent till some two years ago, and since the and hundreds of miles a way from the coast, the Assistant Ruler, the Empress has been in- efl'ects of American civilization were to be wit- vested with immense power, which she has nessed. Men of color entirely governed the nsed to help rather than hinder the pro- republiC, an< if any proof were wanting of the gressive party. Within her pa.lace grounds, capacity of fteedmen to govern, Liberia was an says the North Ohina ,Herald, there are interestiug illustration. The ability, learning, steam-launches on water and model rail- and skill of many of Liberia's citizens were ways on land, and no doubt in the palace found in their code of laws, which for human· itself there are other products of Western ity, justice, and morality nO other country could civilization. The Empress has not refused excel. The Euglish tongue is spoken through- to listen to the VOIces Which speak to her out the republic.-From our English Oorre- from the West, nor has she shown indiffer- spondent. ence to the suggestions of change coming from the same quarter. It is now an· Ceylon.-Education. An important center nonnced that in the second month of the of Christiau activity in Ceylon is the Jaffna Col- next Chinese year the Empress will retire lege for the training of native helpers, which from office and leave the youug Emperor originated iu a spontaneous effort on the part of to reign alone. He has come to the throue the native Christians in 1867. Abottt £l,~OO at a critical time. The first railway ha.s toward its cost was raised in Ceylon, and £6,000 been opened, and may be followed by the contributed by American friends. Iu 1872 the inroads of the iron horse, with its inevita- college was opened under a board of directors ble following in the overthrow of old cns- securing its undenominational character. Never- toms and the introduction of new condi- theless it is a distiuctly and decidedly Christian tions of social life and trade. We find, too, institutiou, and has from the beginniug been that the Chinese Telegrapil Company is presided over by Rev. Dr. E. P. Bastin!!;s. successful, paying a good dividend in the sixth year of its working. The young Em- There is a flourishing preparatory school. All peror, in a decree, acknowledges with filial students reside on the premises, and are thus gratitude the services rendered by the re- separated from heathen associations and brought tiring Empress during the last thirty yearll. ander Christian influence. Every year there and promises, "with awe and care, to have been conversions, and the majority of those give his whole heart to the mnltitudinons who graduate do so as Christians. There is a affairs of the nation." Should yonng China Y. M. C. A. in connection with the college, and pursue an onward and upward course, being many of the members are good workers in the duly conservative of all that is good in the town aud neighborhood. A goodly number of present, and yet earnestly amending and the graduates have become pastors, catechists, reforming and perfecting the institutions and teachers, not onIy in Ceylon, but also iu of the empire, the future of China is as- India. Some of those who might have been re- sured. For ourselves we look hopefully to ceiving salaries of from 80 to 150 ropees per days to come. There will be disappolat- mouth iu secular employment are content to meuts and reverses. These cannot be avoided in taking new departures. But if penditure in India., and not engaging in righteousness and good will are shown in wars as they have done in the past. relation to foreign countries, and at home proper respect be paid to public opinion, Hawaii.-Since publishing the report on and as much regard to whatever can pro- Polynesian missions we have received a furthel' mote the well-being and prosperity and letter on Ha wail, from the very highest Amer- social happiness of the people, China will ican authority. It confirms aU that is said in maintain her place in the great East and the previous letter, and enlarges on One or two win the confidence and alliance of the more points. ., The American missionaries in Ha- powerful West. waii regard the Anglican mission there as an intrasion, except as a single American Episcopal India.-How the Opium Traffic Arose. Mr. minister might have been serviceable near the David Maclaren, who h"s been identified palace. . . . I am not aware that there are with anti-opium agitations since 1840, gave any Episcopal Hawaiians, save a few, particu- a brief account of the traffic. First of all larly near to royalty, and they have a pretty the East India Company, which was the surry time of it now that the kine; has become Government of India a.t the time, made so utterly degraded. While Queen Emma lived opium from the juice of the popPV. Then they had some show of respectability; she was that company sold opium to China. Thirdly, s gaod· woman. they withdrew from the shipping into China, and left that to private merchants, who .. The alienation of the roysl family from the were imprisoned, with the consequence that ecclesiastical attachments of their country has the Chinese war took place. After that the deprived the latter not only of a valuable ele- introduction of opium was legalized, and ment of moral leadership, but of moral influ- the Chinese began to grow it for themselves. ence. The adoption of Christianity by the king In due course the English Government took and the chiefs had great inlluence on the over the government of India, and now the masses, and led many, douhtless, to a formal largest manufacturer in the world is Queen profession of their faith. Victoria. Then the Chinese began to draw a revenue from opium, not only from that .. There has been developed of late, largely imported, but from that grown in the coun- through the influence of the king, some disposi- try. So the Government which had said it tion to revert to heathenism, not very widely, would never draw a revenue from the misery but in some cireles. The king, as you know, of the people, has been induced to do so. has introduced heathen customs abont his pal- We are responsible In the sight of God for ace, and this tells on the weaker natives."- all these evils. How shall the united influ- Charle,. O. Starbuck. ence of missionary societies and churches be brought to bear? I do not know what Japan.-Japanese Views of Christianity. .we can do. We can say to the Government, Several eminent publicists of Japau are however, when the Chinese treaty expires, carrying on a. very interesting discussion that the Chinese shall be at liberty to do as just now. The object is to determine they wish. The Indian Government are still whether or nat it is adVisable for the the makers and producers of the article. people of Japan to embrace the Christian Samples are brought from China, and ex- religion. The Japan Weekly Mail, in a lmined chemically, in order that the same recent issue, summarizes this discussion. kind may be produced. If we say, .. Give it It states that those connected with the up," then bd.nkruptcy seems to stare the movement say that Christian dogmas are a Indian Government in the face, because of bitter pill to swallOW, but advise that it be the failure of revenue. If the opportnnity swallowed promptly for the sake of the after for repentance is not accepted, surely God effects. Mr. Fukuzawa. a well-known wri- will take the matter into His own hands. ter, urges this course, a'though he says he Tberefore, I think, we must teach the peo- takes no personal interest whatever in re- ple of this country, EO that when God's ligion. and knuws nothing of the teaching judgment falls upon us we may be able to of Christianity; but he sees that it is the recognize it. The country should be warned creed of the most highly civilized nations. that the judgment of God will descend upou Professor Toyama of the Imperial Univer- Us in respect of this. At the same time we sity has published a work to support his must use our endeavors to induce the Gov- view. He holds that Chinese ethics must ernment to stay tbe evil. It is said, .. The be replaced by Christia.n ethics, and that 'government must live." That is what the the benefits to be derived from the intro- poor outcast of the street says. Do we ad- duction of Christianity are (1) the improve- , mit it in her case? Is the argument more ment of music; (2) union of sentiment and valid, then, in the case of a !,overnment? feeling,leading to harmonious co-operation; I do not see the way o.ut of the difficulties and (3) furnishing a medium of intercourse involved in doing right, unless it be by our between men and women. It is argued by government considerably curtailing ex- others that the youth of Japan, being free from the thraldom of~reeds, aud free to act according to reason, are so far in advance of Europeans, and instead of talking about adopting a foreign religion, Japanese should number as representatives to act along go abroad and preach their religion ot with an equal number of represeutatives of the Foreign Mission Committee in the manreason to foreign countries. Other writers agement of the mission. 2. The Foreign urge the same views. The writer in the Mission Committee should be approached at Yokohama newspaper says that those who its meeting on·the 17th inst., and requested urge the teaching of Christianity represent to appoint a sub-committee with powers to an influential section of educated Japanese complete all arrangements as to details opinion: theyare sig-ns of the times. "To wi.th this Committee, so as to secure that Japan, in an emphatically agh~stic mood, the mission may be undertaken by the came Western science, with all its marvel- Guild at asearlya date as possible. 3. That ous revelations and attractions. At the the salary of the Guild missionary be fixed shrine of that science she is worshiping to begin at rs.3500 [equal to about £240 per now." annum at present rate of exchange], which the committee understand is the minimum Moravians.'-Among the marvels ofChris- salary paid to ordained missionaries by t:anity must surely be reckoned the missionary the Foreign Mission Committee, and that work, trom century to centory, of the Moravian the terms of the appointment be otherwise brethren. At their formation they cOjDmenced the same as those in use by the Foreign to send out missionaries when they had only Mission Committee. 4. That the Rev. J. 600 members. They labored for fifteen years in A. Graham, M.A., should be formally ap- Greenland without a convert, and yet in dogged pointed soon, and arrangements ma.de "for f.ith and patience they went forward, and to-day his ordination, so as to allow of his 1I"0ing there is not a professing pagan in the whole out to India in autumn. 5. That the Foreign district which they missioned. Their work Mission Committee shall be responsible for among the Hottentots is of a similar character, seeing that the mission, before being trans… and true to their traditions they are once more ferred to the new management, is in posses.. the pioneers of an apparently impossible mis- sion of suitable buildingsfor carrying on the sion. Four of their uumber are at work right work. 6. As already arranged, the ultimate up on the borders of Thibet, and have estab- control of and responsibility for the manlished three small churches. At one of these agement of the mission shall vest with the churches they have been at work for eighteen Foreign Mission Committee, and the joint years and have made eight converts. Here is a committee elected for its management will chance for doubters like Canon Taylor to connt he in the same position as the corresponding up the cost of each convert. But let Canon Committee of the Universities' Mission. 'laylor wait until the Lord of the harvest has 7. In the mean time, and until such time as brought in the sheaves by and by, and he will the new management can be instituted, the no doubt find that, as in Greenland, so in Thibet, present Guild Mission Committee shall carry the time is coming when" a nation .hall be born out all the necessary arrangements on bein a day." The never-tiring patience of the half of the Guild." Moravian brethren has won many a hard-fought field for Christ.-Bombay Guardian. -Alexander Duff… There was an old man I wanted to see when I first went to Europe ScotIand.-The Church of Scotland in 1867. I was told not to fail to go to Edin- burgh and See Dr. Dull' of the Assembly. I Young Men's Guild held a seventh stayed inEdinburgh a week, to gel; a little of the old man's fire. He pleaded for an honr annual conference of delegates at and a half once for India, and at the end of that time he fainted away. They took him Kircaldy in November last. The at- up and carried him to the vestibule. When he revived, he said, 'I didn't get qaite tendance was large (170). Its prog- through; let me go back and finish,' They said, 'If you go back, it will cost you your ress has been marked. The aim of life.' 'Well,' he said,' 1 shall die if 1 don't.' So they carried him back. As they passed the guild is to keep young men from upthe aisle the people rose, and tears Jlowed falling into temptation. The report down every cbeek at the sight of the old of Mr. M. G. Thorburn upon the veteran. He said to them, 'Fathers and mothers ofScotland, is it true that you have Guild Foreign Mission recommended: got no more sons to give to India? I have spent twenty-five years of my life there, "1. J:c"or the work of organizing in support a.nd I have comeback to die. Thereisplenty of the mission there should be a large and of money in the bank. but your sons are not representative Guild Mission Committee, willing to go. If a call comes from the Queen consisting of, say-1 member elected by each to go there in the army, they are ready. Is Couucil of the Guild,15; 10 members elected it come to this, that the Lord calls for reat the annual Conference, 10; 10 members elected by the Committee of Management, 10–35. The duties oC this committee would be: (1) The advocacy of the mission throughout the Guild and the Church. (2) The completion and working of the organization already instituted in support of the Guild Mission. (3) The election of 12 of their
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT. [F~B
cruit..for His kingdom, and they will notgo l' England to help her to resist what wa.s un- And turning to the moderator he said, • If just and unrighteous in the aggression, and ithere is no one to go to India, I will re- with England's help the Syrian chnrch had turn to them, and will let them know that restored to her those liberties which she there is one old Scotchman that can die was on the point of losing. The Lord had for them if he can't live for them."'-D. L. till this day preserved the faith of the Syri- Moody. an church, which was as strong and stead- fast as ever it was. Those who belonged to Syria.-Ancient Syrian Church. Bishop that church believed in Him in whom they Mar Gregor.ius has been making an earnest were first taught to believe. Manyadvanappeal in England on behalf of the Syrian tages, however, had been in great measure church. His remarks in Arabic were inter- taken from them. Their written books preted by Mrs. Fynn, widow of the late con- were few, and of printed books they had sul in Jerusalem and daughter of the late none. There WOUld have been no schools at Rev. Dr. McCane, prebendary of St, Paul's all but for the help which was given some and professor of Hebrew. The bishop refer- fourteen years ago by the late Archbishop red to the persecution to which the Syrian of Canterbury to the Patriarch, who then church had been subjected from the earli- visited England in company with the bishop. est times, and to the great destruction of Since then the Patriarch had been able to precious mannscripts and printed books. open elementary schools, with such native which had taken place. That persecution, teachers as he could command, to teach he said. had come down the ages, through reading1 writing. and the first doctrines of the Mohammedan occupation of the coun- Christianity to some 2,400 children of Meso- try, and even within the last forty years potamia. On the other side of the Euphra- there had been Christian martyrs among tes, where the bishop is located, no schools his people. Not long ago the Egyptian had yet been established. Educationally, Government tried to annex Syria to Egypt, that part of the country was dry and and along with that there was an attempt parched. He appealed to the people of Eng- to bring the Syrian church into a subordi- land to help him to establish schools and nate position, if not to extinguish it alto- the printing press in Syria, in order that a .gether. This was a cause from which the knowledge of the truth might be spread far Syrian church had often suffered. When and wide among the populatiou.-li'rom our the Egyptian Government made this at- English Oorrespondent. tempt the Turkish Government called upon IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., OF THE "INTERNATIONAL MIS- SIONARY UNION."
The Character of the Chinese. and attach shameto vice. It is often BY REV. J. H. ROBERTS, KALGAN, said that vice iii never deified in CHINA. China. Yet a few such cases have THE character of. a people is of been found. There are gods of cru- chief importance to tl;:le missionary. elty, of revenge, of fornication, and I propose, therefore, to delineate of gambling; but no temples have the character of the Chinese, and I been eI'ected in their honor. In Kal- will first describe gan there is one temple to the god of I. GOOD ELEMENTS. wine. But these exceptions are so The first sentence learned at school few that they only prove the rule.
is, "In the beginning, man's nature If, among myriads of divinities, there is good." While this is false, as ap- are only four or five gods of vice, and plied by the Chinese to the individual, those not regarded with honor nor it is true if applied to the race. Man, much worshiped, and among thou- "made in the image of God," retains, sands of temples there is only one to when fallen, some lineaments of the the god of drunkenness, it is seen divine likeness. More of these traces that in general the Chinese do not of primitive excellence seem to have worship vice. The idols mostly rep- been retained by the Chinese than by resent great and good men of yore, other heathen nations. who are worshiped for their virtues 1. The first good element of their displayed when they wet'e on earth.
character is that they honor virtue '1'he ancient empet'ors, Yaoand Shun, who lived soon after the deluge, were hundred feet high. Her mother did' patterns of virtue, and are still re- recover, and she fulfilled her vow; garded with reverenee by all the and now her image is carved on the nation. The Emperor K'ang Hsi, face of that cliff, and is worshiped who. died in the year of our Lord with divine honors. She thought 1721, is to this day loved and honored she was saving her mother's life., not chiefly for his success as a war- While her zeal was misdirected, was rior, but for his justice and sincere not her motive most noble? Reverlove for the people. He often jour- ence for parents is a root from which neyed through the country in dis- many other virtues may grow. It guise, to learn whether the govern- hallows the family, it honors marors and judges were doing their duty, riage, it encourages economy and and to see what could be done to ben- temperance, and it prepares the mind efit his subjects. Once, on sll;ch a to reverence a Father in heaven. journey, when in Mongolia, his presence became known, and an attempt S. A third good element of their was made to assassinate him. character is subordination. They know how to obey. As children they A servant offered to exchange ob~y their parents, not merely till clothes with him, and was killed in they themselves become ofage,but as his stead, while the Emperor escaped long as the parents live. Theyounger to Kalgan. For this devotion the brother obeys his older brother, and servant was deified, and is now wor- never expects to be on a strict equalshiped as the tutelary divinity of ity with him. The people obey the the (Upper City of Kalgan. Other Emperor as the vicegerent of heaven, instances of servants dying to save the embodiment of justice, and the their masters might be mentioned. compassionate father of them all. The virtues of self-sacrifice, brother· Disobedience to his commands is ly love, and chastity, exhibited by often punished with death, or with the few, are admired by all the !la- death preceded by tot'tme. While this tion. Memorial tablets and arches leads to cruelty on the part of the are erected in honor of heroic men, magistrates, it enforces obedience on – vil·tuous women, and filial children. the part of the people; and the latter The way the peopJe cherish the believe not merely that the rulers memories of such persons shows that have power and must be feared, but' there are some good feelings in their that they have the right to rule and hearts. ought to be reverenced. So a law- abiding spirit is a common virtue 2. A second good element of their among them. Socialism and anarchy character is that they honor their never enter into their thoughts. parents. Filial piety is the chief When mobs and riots occur, as they part of their religion. In infancy sometimes do in China, it is always they are taught to worship their par- with the connivance of the magisents; when older they serve them trates, never in violation of their devotedly; and when the parents are commands. The people feel that to dead they offer sacrifices annually at violate the law would make them their graves. Some have been known become rebels and traitors. The law to lay down their lives for their par- was published once for all, at the beents. A hundred years ago in a vil- ginning of the present dynasty, 244 lage among the mountains east of years ago, and as it is never altered, Kalgan a girl was in grief because it is honored as the expression of her mother was dangerously sick. absolute right. What the people She vowed that if her mother might lack in independence and liberty is only recover she would sacrifice her- balanced by their gain in hearty self by leaping from a precipice two allegiance to their rulers, and in makes them willing listeners to our unquestioning submission to the law. preaching. They have a great affec- Their love for their country is in- tion for birds and flowers, which tense, and is the source of their hos- shows a kindly disposition in their tility to foreigners. But their patriot- hearts. They are very industrious. ism does not lead them to try to direct They are always at work, and are the affairs of the government, but sure to havp. a gl'eater influence in only to submit to its control and to the world than an ease-loving peoobey its commands. This obedience ple would. They have a lively coninclines them to be peaceable, patient, science and a ch'ar knowledge of right and contanted, and to obey the law of and wrong. In every quarrel some God, when they learn what that law peacemaker will come forward, who is. will appeal to the innate sense of justice in both parties. Anyone who 4. A fourth good element of their will not listen to such appeals is recharacter is the feeling of personal garded as a bmte. Again, they have responsibility for their actions. This a gl'eat longing for immortality. feeling is stronger in China than in Some of them eat pills to ward off America. If it is proved 'that a death and make themselves immorcriminal did not know the law, he is tal in this world, and others perfoI'm considered less guilty; but no plea acts of penance in order to obtain would be made of hereditary predis- happiness in the world to come. di~position to cOInmit crime; and an Their actions show a human nature insane person, if harmful to others, like ou!· own. Their pain and sufferwould be punished the same as other ings, their bereavements and afflicmen. The feeling of responsibility tions, are as real and as sad as any pervades all classes and affects all which we have to endure, but are a the affairs of daily life. If you sus- thousand times more pitiful because pect that a man wants to steal your they have no comfort and no hope. goods, put them in his care and they will be safe. He can be held respon- 5. I will mention one more good sible for anytlung that has been com- trait of their character, and that is mitted to him fOl' safe keeping. The that they have a worshipful spirit magistrates are considered respon- toward anythin/r that seems worthy sible for all public calamities. They of di vine honors. This leads them blame themselves if there is drought, to worship many idols, many objects or famine, or inundation, regarding of nature, and the good and gt'eat men it as a sign of the displeasure of Hea- of the past. But the worshipful ven on account of their sins. While sentiment is good in .itself, and exthe idea of responsibility is carried tremely valuable in relation to our too far, its result is good. The missionary work. The Chinese are Chiuese expect to see virtue reward- often said to be materialists and atheed and wrong-doing punished, both ists, but they are utterly unlike the in this life and in the life to come. perfected atheists of Western lands. They want to worship some divine It would be easy to enlarge on their being, only they do not know whom politeness, which, with all its abuses to worship. They believe that there through hypocrisy, is a form of good- must be a deity to worship, 01' else ness, and enables them to appreciate, there would be no impulse to woras a savage nation could not, the ship; and they know that a divine gentler Christian virttws, such as being is as necessary to the human meekness, patience, condescension. heart as light is to the eye, or food to and humility. They are an affable the hungry mouth. So their spil'it people. They enjoy being talked to of adoration and of trust in a divine on any subject whatever, and this being is very strong, but it finds tory, an extensive and beautiful litamong the gods of China no object erature, and polite manners. Being worthy of exclusive worship. Now ignorant of the greater civilization let the infinite power and wisdom of Europe and America, they natuand love of God be made known, and rally became self-conceited. They the worship which has been divided know that foreigners have greater between many false gods may be unit- mechanical skill than they, but beedly given to him. It is a naturalJine lieve that they are our superiors in of thought to their minds, when they morals and religion. They despise grasp the idea of the creation of the us on account of our short, tight-fitworld, that the God who could make ting clothes, which are as ridiculous the heavens and the eal"th is so far to the Orientals as their long flowing superior to the false gods as to be garments are to us. They despise alone worthy of praise. Many will us for using a knife at the table, confess the greatness and goodness which they regard as a sign of barof God who are hindered by fear of barism. They despise us for our lack persecution from becoming' Chris- of reverence for Confucius, and fOI' tians; and all the people will admit, our attempt to teach them not to at least in theory, that religion is of worship their ancestors. The wicked the utmost importance, and that the conduct of foreign sailors and mersalvation of their souls ought to be chants in China has sometimes the chief object of their lives. brought disgrace upon aU foreigners, and upon the Christian religion. All GOOD TRA.ITS ILLUSTRA.TED. foreigners are hated and feared, as enemies and kidnappers. The Port- The good traits of the Chinese are uguese traders at Macao, near Canillustrated in their treatment of for- ton, enticed the natives on board eigners who reside among them. their ships and sailed away with Theil' feeling of superiority to for- them. American and English ships, eigners was natural in the circum- as well as those of other nastances. For thousands of years tions, were used for this purpose. they have shown themselves supe- In 25 years, ending in 1875, those rior, in arts, in etiquette, in litera- traders stole and sold into slavery ture, in war, and in the science of five hundred thousand coolies. government, to all the nations with whom they came in contact. The The hatred of foreigners was in- Koreans, Mongols, Thibetans, the creased by their connection with opiaborigines of China, and the people um. The Chinese had a prohibitory of Anam, have confessed their inferi- law, and supposed that they had a ority by sending tribute to China. right to keep that poisonous drug out When new races from the distant of their land. They captured over lands of Europe, with light hair and twenty thousand chests of opium, blue eyes and a strange language, worth six million dollars, which the came to China with gifts for the Em- English, in violation of the law, had peror, it was natural that they brought to Canton; and they dug should be regarded as representa- trenches by the seashore and detives of barbarous tribes seeking the stroyed the opium, by mixing it favor and protection of the" Son of with lime and salt water. It was an Heaven." This title is applied to the outburst of indignation against a Emperor, and" all under heaven" is great wrong, like the Boston Tea one name of his realm. A civilized Party, just before the Revolutionnation in the midst of ruder ones ary War. But the British bayonets has reason for self-gratulation. The in 1842 compelled the Chinese to Chinese are a vigorous race, with a permit the trade in opium, and to large and fertile country, a great hisrefund the value of the opium which BEARING ON MISSIONS. they had spoiled! To this day the English Government has been rais- The good elements of Chinese char- ing opium in India and sending it acter and the generally kind treat- to China! No wond,er that the Chi- ment which foreigners have received nese have hated foreigners I If you are of great importance in their bear- or I were in their place we should ing on the future ot missions. They feel as they do. A foreigner can strengthen our hope of the salvation hardly ever go out on the streets of that great empire. It is evident without being reviled as "a foreign that there is a sturdy race, with devil," and the native Christians are many noble haits, in some respects called "slaves of devils," but the peculiarly prepared to receive and term denotes fear of foreigners as believe the word of the Lord. The much as hatred, and is a sign of op- Chinese are a grand material of position to us coHectively and on which to make Christians. Their / political grounds, but not individu- conservativeness, though now a hin- ally, nor because of our religion. In drance, will lead to a thoroughly 1860 the French and English soldiers reasonable faith and to a firm adher- scared the Emperor out of China ence to the truth. Apart from all propel', burned his summer palace conliiderations of the worth of the near Peking,and forced open the gates soul, are not these people, when of Peking by threats of bombard- compared with other heathen, well ment, and it would be strange if worth saving? And is it not evident such a war had left no bitterness that the consecrated money and the in the minds of the defeated peo- lifelong labors of the missionaries. ple. given for their conversion to Christ, will not be spent in vain? The war in 1884 was considered by most of the foreigners in China as un- II. BAD TRAITS. just on the part of the French. Yet, while the war was being waged, at a Secondly, let us consider their time when no Frenchman had a character as depraved and degraded right to expect safety in China, the by their sins. Let no one think from Roman Catholic priests and other what has been said that so good a peaceful Frenchmen residing in ev- nation needs nothing more. There ery part of the land were protected is another side of the subject-a sad from violence by a special decree of and painful one-and the facts may the Emperor. Other instances might well call out all our sympathy. The be given of kindness shown to for- last words of Confucius were: "The eigners. The Chinese idea is that great mountain is broken! The foreigners in their country are their strong beam is thrown down! "The guests, and ought to be welcomed wise man is decayed!" These words and cared for with the utmGst of truly symbolize the ruined condition hospitality. "When foreigners suffer of China. If you scan the faces of from a Chinese mob, it is generally the people you will see an expres- the result of their own imprudent sion of moral degradation. Tbere conduct; 'but the government is are no radiant faces except those of ready to pay the damages and pun- the little children. Vice among the ish the offenders. If a foreigner boys, and pain, from their bound should be murdered in China, the feet, among the girls, make the feat- criminal would pay the death pen- ures wrinkled and sour at the age of alty. Would that a Chinaman's from eight to twelve years. With death from violence in America all their pure ideals and lofty aspira- were equally sure of being avenged! tions and clear knowledge of their duty, they live very wicked lives. As soon as a child learns to speak it learns to revile, to deceive, and to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But lie. The impulses in us to do the those who become well acquainted same are checked through the wise with us do trust us, and the people training given us by our Christian as a whole are learning to trust forparents, but there is no moral gov- eigners where they would not trust ernment in the family of the average their own countrymen. The impe- Chinaman except that of caprice and rial custom-houses, along the coast, passion. The adults often bring upon are in the charge of foreigners, who, themselves severe diseases merely by unlike their Chinese predecessors in fits of uncontrollable rage. They office, collect the taxes without stealmake little 01' no effort to subdue ingthem. their own tempers, and bow can they teach the children to control theirs? The skill of the Chinese in cheating is well known, and exhibits at once Theil' character is thol'Oughly theirintelligence and their depravity. insincere; This is a fruit of Con- Chinese workmen need to be watched fucianism. Confucius deliberately as much as any in the world. Every told a lie; and a motto of his dis- shop or store has two sets of weights ciples is that" a lie is the excellent and measures, one for buying and subterfuge of a perfect gentleman!" the other for selling. The houses The result of such teaching is a na- are surrounded with walls instead tion of liars. Theil' heart and theilT of fences, to keep off the thieves, tongue are utterly false. Only a few but the thieves will come through questions are replied to truthfully, the gate unless it is constantly such as asking which road you should watched. If you hire a man to take, but if you do not ask with all watch your gate he will lay a tax on the forms of Chinese polite~ess, you everything that comes through your will be answered with a lie. From gate. If you hire a cook he will lay being insincere they have naturally a tax on everything which comes become suspicious of each other; into your kitchen. As it is impolland experience in dealing with them sible to avoid being cheated, each deepens one's conviction that their man tries to cheat others the more, suspicions of each other are well to make up for his own losses. They founded. Supposing the mission- are willing to be deceived, if thereby aries to be like themselves, they at- they may learn how to deceive othtribuM an evil motive to everything ers. One man asked me to sell him we do. We cannot take a walk for some eye-salve-he was sure that I exercise, nor pick up a pebble to look had it-an ointment which would at it, without being suspected of make the eyes lustt·ous and which, if searching for their hidden treasures rubbed on the skin, would remove 01' of stealing away their good luck. every wart, or sore, 01' ft'eckle, or It has been commonly reported and other dEifect. He expected that I believed in China that foreign resi- would sell him some soap, 01' somedents dig out children's eyes to make thing like it, and was willing to pay medicine of them! and a cellar under a good priceforit, expecting to more the foreigner's house is believed to than regain his money by palming conceal human skeletons ! One cannot off the same fraud upon others. A ignore such suspicions on the part of great amount of petty thieving is his parishioners. To deny the crimes done. You can see the rascals steal-· imputed to us would be useless. So ing on the pJrblic streets in the day- we take our visitors down-stairs and time. The thieves are in Jeague show them the cellar. It is a great with the police, and pay them a trial that they cannot trust us. We share of the spoils for the privilege want thelli to trust us, so that they of pursuing their calling u~molested.
will believe .out' message !J.nd have .A bo1<'t man will punish the t4ief by beating him, and a wealthy man can which he treats. It represents one have the thief arrested,bambooed, family in poverty and wretchedness and even tortured to make him con- as the result of using the ordinary fess and restore the pl'operty. An native liquor called" sake." In con- honest person, if falsely accused, trast with this is another family would be tortured in the same way. where temperance prevails, and they Wine-drinking and gambling are al- are enjoying every comfort.
most universal. The best of the One of these tracts came into the Chinese feel free to gamble during possession of a wealthy and influen- the first five days of the New Year. tial man named Nakayama, living in A man who earns eight cents a day the town of Fujioka, in the province will eat four cents' worth of fooct of Joshiu. He was much addicted to and dt'ink two cents' worth of wine, the use of "sake," and was, in fact, leaving only two cents 10 feed and a real drunkard. When under the clothe his numerous family and to influence of liquor he was very cross clothe himself. Drunkenness is not to his family, and it quite destroyed often seen, but is the source of a the peace and comfort of his home.
great deal of crime. All forms of The reading of the tract made a deep vice are extremely prevalent, espe- impression upon his mind, and he cially in the citIes, but also in the resolved to reform. The result was villages. It is surprising to find, in such a happy change in himself and the midst of such general wicked- in the condition of those around him ness, some places of the utmost de- that he wrote to Mr. Tsuda to express pravity, so vile and so violent as to his obligations for what he had make the other places seem virtuous learned, and to tell of the great ben~fit by contrast. One such notoriously that had accrued to himself and his bad place is Ni Chiianz, which ffieans family by abstaining from the U!';e of ]',fud Springs. A man went from intoxicating liquor. Mr. Tsuda wrote there to Kuan Ch'ang to see what he to him in reply that unless he believ- could steal. He stole a leg of mut- ed in the God who made and keeps ton from a poor shepherd in a neigh- us all, and trusted in Him for boring village. The latter found the . strength, he might not beable to re- mutton at the thief's house, and sist the cravings of his depraved merely asked whence he had got it. appetite, and continue as he had For this insult the thief beat him till begun. Mr. Tsuda also told him he was almost dead, and fined him about Christianity, and urged him to to the amount of twenty-six pounds accept its teachings.
of mutton, to be divided between After some months Mr. Tsuda went two temples, as an acknowledgment to Fujioka on business, and called of error in even suspecting the thief. upon Mr. Nakayama, who received This villain is the next-door neigh- him very cordially. Then Mr. Tsuda bor of one of our Christian families, told him more particularly about the ana persecution by such men is truly true God, and Christ the {)Illy Saviour to be dreaded. from the guilt and power of sin. Mr.
[Concluded in next iB8U8.] Nakayama is a man of good eciluca- Incidents of the Work in Japan. tion and intellectual abilities, and BY A RESIDENT MISSIONARY. quite readily understood and fully A JAPANESE Christian, named accepted all that he heard.
Tsuda Sen, has written a tract From that time he began to attend against the use of strong drink, the Christian services, together with which is having a considerable circu- his family; and his faith and love • lation and influence. On the title- have been (ncreasing ever since. page is a picture illustrating (in the Such has been the influence of the style of the Japanese) the evils of gospel upon his heart that he has become, in tt'uth, a new creature, and is attached to the parents on account the cHange is apparent to all. As an of such sinful and cruel practices. It illustl'ation of the power of religion was formerly sanctioned by the Gov- in his daily life, his wife had been ernment, and even while the laws somewhat careless about a quantity have been modified the public senti- of silkworm eggs, and they were ment is so corrupt and the morals of partially destroyed. The loss invol v- the people so utterly vile that but ed was a considerable sum, and she little change has probably been ef- tl'embled in fear that he would become fected. The life of such poor girls violently enraged, as was common is often one of untold bitterness.
heretofol'e, and would punish her Many are the cases in Tokyo where severely. But to hel' gl'eat astonish- they have become desperate and ment, wilen lie found out what had gone and thrown themselves into happened he remained perfectlycalm, the river in order to get" anywhere, and did not reproach her at all. anywhere, out of the world."
After a little thought he said, " We One of the great and blessed results can distribute them among our poor of Christianity is the elevation of the and unrortunate neighbors, and so morals and the creation of a better they can secure a larger Cl'op the public sentiment in regard to the coming season. Thus it will perhaps treatment of women. The result of be bcttel' than if we had sold them Buddhistic teachings makes wom!l,n and taken all the money otm;elves."· a mere appendage to man, and her This conduct on the part of her . only use to minister to his comforts.
husband so astonished and impressed Some years ago a bright and pretty his wife that she said, "This mnst be girl, who had become a Christian due to the power of this Chl'istian and was attending one of the mission relig'ion and the help of God. If this schools, was informed that her par- is the resnit of Cl1l'istianity, then I ents were unable to met all their want to become a Christian also." pecuniary oblig-ations and she had From that time she became an ear- been sold in order to satisfy their nest seeker after the blessing of God's creditors. She was very happy in the saving- presence, and now she and all school, and the tidings was to her the family are rejoicing in a Chris. like the sentence of death. Such tian's hope and a Christian's peace. were the customs of her people that The geeat change for the better she felt there was no hope. But that has come to Mr. Nakayama's when her teacher, Mrs. John Bal- home has been seen and felt by his lagh, heard what had happened she neighbors. In this way many have went to the girl's home, and found been led to a conviction of the bene- her there in a state of most perfect fits that result feom following the wretchedness. Mrs. Ballagh em- teachings of Christ, and have thus ployed every means that she could become. seekers after the same bles- to get the girl released, but no argu- sing. Some time ago one of the mis- ments or entreaties would move the sionaries visited that town, and found heaets of the cruel creditors; and, in ten persons who were awaiting bap- fact, the parents looked upon it as tism. A good Christian church is an act of filial piety on the part of a now growing np in that place. daughter to thus sacrifice heeself for One of the worst things that is met theil' benefit. Mrs. Ballagh tried to with in this heathen land is the sell- move the hearts of the parents with .ing of their daughters by the parents pity for the poor and helpless chiltl; to lives of sin and shame. It is a she told them of the great sin which.
custom that has been long established they were committing against God, and is so common that it is done,with- and ihatsuch acts would surely briug OJl.t !Shame, and no lll,rti<mla.r disgrace His jJl.dgment upon them~ but it wa.s
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS. [FEB
all in vain. The reply was simply; one to procure her release. One day she happened to hear the preaching "It has been done, and there is no of the gospel and was convinced of her sin and need. She was also truly help for it." penitent, but was in great trouble, as she saw no way to escape from her Mrs. Ballagh then turned to the present sinful and sad condition. Her only way to get free was to pay girl, who sat weeping, andsMd, "Fol- the price for which she had been sold, and f01' some time she remained as low me." Both then rose and passed she was, but in great sorrow and try- ing to devise some means to escape. out of the room and into the street, At last she resolved to sell all she had, even her clothing, and thus purand thence to Mrs. Ballagh's home. chase her release. When she was set free she came to the preacher There followed a demand that the and announced her faith in God and her purpose to do His will. AHer she girl should be given up, but Mrs. had given satisfactory evide)1ce of her change of heart she was re- B:tllagh refused to do so. It was ceived into the church and is now a consistent and happy follower of finally arranged that Mrs. Ballagh Christ.
should pay the sum of $20 and the girl would be released. .
The girl then resumed her studies at the school, and at the completion of her course was married to one of the native officials. She has now a pleasant home and continues a faith- ful member of the church.
In one of the recent papers is an account of a pOOl' girl who had been sold in a similar manner and had no V ..-.:.THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY A. T. PIERSO:-r, D.D.
CHINA. The grand difficulty lies in the "tones." The language has "only SOME instructive and suggestive some four hundred and odd distinct facts and thoughts are all we have sounds" wi th which to express "ten space for. In the February issue of thousand words," and many of these 1888 the vastness of the Middle words are homophonous, although, Kingdom, the peculiarities ofChinese "by an ingenious system of infleclife and the religions of the empire tions of the voice, the number of were referred to at some length. separate sounds-to a Chinese ear, at We add here some matter of general least-is more than trebled. These interest and importance. The area inflections are the tones. In Peking of China is only one-third that of the there are only four of them, but in United States, yet China's popula- the south those who are knowing in tion is six times as large. The Uni- such matters declare there are twelve ted States if as thickly populated as or more. II' W here the sense of words China would contain over a thousand depends on nice distinctions in the million of people, or more than t wo- tflne of the voice, the opportunities thirds as many as now live on the for blunders become countless and earth. boundless. As instances of the mis- takes to ~hich foreigners are con- Language. Here missionaries con-. stantly liable, we may mention a front one of the mountain obstacles few cases. A man wishing to tell of which not even faith removes, a mountain two hundred" Ii" in without hard study, as we have height, used the expression "erh already shown in the article on the pai Ii," instead of "e·:jl pat Ii," ., Miracles of Missions," in this number. and by so doing gave the man to , Let his words be sincere and truthunderstand that the mountain was ful, and his actions honorable and ()f the height of two wMte pears! carefu!.' Such conduct maybe prac- Aga.in, Miss Gordon-Cumming tells, ticed even among the rude tribes of the south or north. When he is ain her charming book on China, of standing, let him see these two rules man, a resident minister, who told as it were fronting him. When he his steward to buy 400 poundsofMon- is in his carriage. let him see them at: golian potatoes, and the astonished tached to the yoke, then he may be steward brought him 400 pounds of able to carry them into practice." (b) eels. A lady ordered a pair of ducks, "The course of the mean cannot be roasted and served with gravy-sauce, attained to." (c) "To take example and her butler remonstrated that from others, to practice virtue is to they would not be eatable. She im- hold them in the same practice; patiently told him to do as he was therefol'e, there is no attribute of the told, and next day her guests saw a superior man gTeater than his helppair of her best gaiter-boots served ing men to practice virtue." (d) Subup for game, nicely roasted and ject for verse competition: " The moistened with gravy! You salute early morni~g red is harbinger of a man" My friend," and find you rain." Itmay be admitted at once have said" You fool," or address that these subjects are stiff, and we him as "My lord," and are cha- should especially like to see what a grined to discover you have accosted body of English competitors would him as "My pig." make of "The course of the mean cannot be attained to." The idea, Dr. MacKay of Formosa tells us too, of the two rules attached to the that the syllable to, in Chinese, has yoke of a carriage would form a eight different tones, while each tone puzzler to the majority of English has a different meaning. This is a boys. fair example of the many obstacles to be me,t with in this.extraordinary ,Filial Reverence in China. A mislanguage, that seems devised by the sionary of the China Inland Misdevil to keep missionaries out of sion tells an interesting stol'y of a China. mandarin who gave an entertain- ment a.nd presented a large testimo- Education and Competitive Ex- nial to the Christian hospital out of ammations. There are 10,000 cells gratitude for medical services renfor examination of candidates. The dered to his aged father. The son leader of the successfullistis led about was absent on duty and the father as Mordecai was by Haman. His was relieved from a sickness which name is graven on stone in the tem- was supposed to be fatal. His gratiple of Confucius, with all other suc- tude was 'boundless, and the memocessful candidates. rial tablet on which were inscl'ibed the thanks of the donor was eight Students preparing for competitive feet by four in size, suspended from a examinations may like to know the bamboo pole, carried by two men sort of questions with which the and preceded by a band of musicians. Chinese student, under similar cir- As theyapprolched the house large cumstances, has to grapple. The bunches of firecrackers were fired, Imperial Gazette is good enough to and the tablet was presented with publish the subjects for three prose very polite words. The most striking essays and a verse competition, set incident connected with this story is in the examinations for the degree that while the old gentleman was at of Metropolitan Graduate: (a) "Tru- the worst, a.nd when it was supposed Chang, being asked how a man should conduct himself so as to be everywhere appreciated, replied: that he could not recover, the wife of to the dead they are always written the absent son, acting in the place of and' fastenecl. upon the hands of the her husband, performed an act which paper men.
was supposed to propitiate Heaven Habits of the Chinese. Accord- and to secure the restoration of her ing to our notIOns of living, they father-in-law. With her own hand live on a starvation basis. Ex-SeCl'e- she cut a piece of flesh from her tary Holqomb of the American lega- own arm and had it cooked and ad- tion at Peking is authority for the ministered to her father-in-law that statement that in that vast empire he might recover. That such a thing 300,000,000 out of 403,000,000 of its in- is possible in these days, and that it habitants expend for food less than was done in the sight of mission $1.50 per month. This seems incredi- premises and by an educated and ble. These people appear to know prominent family, gives striking tes- how to make their mites go farther tinlOny to the df>pth of superstition than perhaps any other people upon in heathendom as well as to the sen- the face of the earth, timent of ~lial piety which exists Boots are an object of honor, es- among the Chinese. pecially if they have been worn by Ohinese Graveyard Customs. The an upright magistrate. When a Chinese in this country adhel'e tena- judge of unusual integrity vacates ciously to their old country customs. his office, crowds accompany lJim to To provide food for the dead, and the city gates, and his boots, dra'Yn servants to wait on them, is too fool- off with great ceremony, are enshrin- ish for any portion of the human ed in the hall of justice. A new pair race. But lately the time came for is put on and drawn off, five minutes this custom to be obsel'ved, and the on his feet being sufficient to conse- Herald says that every Chinese crate them!
grave in Woodlawn and Greenwood Chinese Religions. The most cemeteries has been decorated with leamed writer on Chinese literature incense paper, joss sticks, roasted holds the God of China to be our God, pigs, and othel' articles. At one of and as he ascended the "altar of the graves was laid a whole pig, heaven," he took off his shoes I But roasted beautifully brown and nicely if so theoretically, it is 'not so prac- spiced, the odor of which, when car- tically. ried past the Cl'owd that wereJooking Confucianism is really not a re1igio~ on, was so aromatic that it made at all, yet it is practically the relig- them hungry. The whole pig thus ion of China. Confucius was a Chi- roasted was a little over two hundred nese philosopher, who taught that pounds. After an hour's exposure man's duties al'e summed up in five before the spirits of the dead it was relations-that of king and subject, brought home in the evening. It parent and child, husband and wife, was cut up into three-pound slices {'IdeI' and younger brother, and that and sent around to the different of friend to friend. It does not shops on Matt street and eaten up. recognize the relati~n of man to The most peculiar of all the ceremo- God. Whoever cares to study this nies of the week was the sending of whole subject will find Rev. B. C.
servants to the dead. This is done Henry's book on " The Cross and the by making paper men and w~men, Dragon" one of the most fascinating which in the midst of the sacrifices and instructive volumes in,the whole are burned, the bystanders saying, range of missionary literature. It "Here are the servants who will , is published by Randolph & Co. So wait upon thee." If there are any also would we recommend Rev. H: important messages to be conveyed C. DuBose's volume on "The Dragon Image and Demon, or Th.e Three pl·esented four images, correspond- Religions of China," published by A. C. Armstrong & Son. The chapter ing to the four cardinal virtues-pion Confucianism is especialJy analytical and clear, and we have from it ety, morality, equity, wisdom, thus: I the best conception we ever had of the character and influence of this —, – -, —, – _. ethical system. From a double combination they The higher classes either embrace the doctrines of Confucius or of get eight signs, which respectively Lao-tse(orLau-Kiun), a philosopher. Both deny divine revelation, are little represent heaven, moisture, fire, winds, ,water, mountains, thunder, and earth, thus: – – -===-==-==, — —- ~. ~, =-=—-::::::::::=.=::::::= . Confuci~s arrang;d these i~~rcle; CJ ,CJ A HIDEOUS DOD IMAGE OCCUPIES ODD THIS CENTRAL CIRCLE.
CJ c::J more than systems of ethics clothed and this is held to be a complete dein a fantastical symbolism. Thus scription of the universe; and, corre- Confucius teaches that from the sponding with mental and moral original substance (Tai-ki) two prin- properties, he constructs his ethical ciples emanate: YANG, perfection, system! The whole thing strikes the the celestial, light and caloric, the Occidental mind as mere child's play, masculine principle symbolized by toying with blocks and making new the longer line – – – ; and YIN, i~ combinations out of one long and two perfection, the terrestrial, darkness short blocks. and cold, the feminine principle, representea by the divided line – -. By Hence comes one of the most curicombining these symbols, there are ous features of ConIucianism, the Ohinese Philosophical Ohart. We give a sort of diagram of this really bor a humble hut to live in ! While remarkable relic of the religion of a we are pla.ying at missions, here is a grea.t people. large and consecrated body of liIative evangelists being raised up from the Round this, rudely radiating in poor native converts of China, the eight directions, are the aforesaid house of a devoted millsionary their eight combinations of heavy dark thQological seminary, and their field lines or ba.rs, the difference being in the province of Shantung-with half the arrangement of the longer and as large a popula.tion as the United shorter ones. States-and their "wages" fifty to sixty dollars a year! A "Christian Mission Institution for Horne and Abroad" was estab- Tht' Medical Missions are very uselished Dec. 25, 1879, and is therefore ful, but have some curio;1s, experinowin its tenth year. The founder is ences. One day there came into the Pastor Samuel T. Davis, M.D., Den- dispensary a young man of twenty, ver, Col. It is a faith work, and one with a large wound, evidently cut or of its four departments is Foreign dug out with a dull instrument. His Missions. Itsupports native preach- father had been ill with dropsy, and ers in China, who at a very small the relatives decided that tile son cost preach to their kinsmen acc.rd- must. sacrifice himself to save his ing to the flesh. They are trained father's life. A piece of flesh was to preach, teach, and labor, under cut out of his left arm and cooked the direction of Rev. Dr. Hunter Cor- and given to the patient as the infalbett of Chefoo. For this life work lible remedy. Nevertheless the pagiven to winning souls they get only tient died. The relatives decided food and clothing, and travel in the that the lad must be lacking in puri- Shantung province with its 35,000,- ty of motive and filial piety. And so 000 souls. We know of no work the poO"r boy had not only to grieve more apostolic in plan and conduct for his father's death and a bad arm, on the fa.ce of the ea.rth. They but had to bear the reproach of unpreach in villages, by the wayside, cles and cousins. on streets, wherever they can get hearers; they guide inquirers, open In a temple outside of Peking is a I'Ichools, and do any work for which brass mule of life size, supposed to they are deemed capable. Dr. Cor- have wonderful healing properties bett furnishes annual reports of this for patient~ suffering fl'om every imwork. In 1887–88 twelve were sup- aginable disease. They first rub the ported by this "institution." The particular part of the brass mule cor- Lord's blessing attends their work in responding to the painful regioD. of a. remarkable manner. In one year, their own bodies, and then with the 1884, Dr. Corbett by this method same hand rub their own disabled gathered in, after careful examina- member, and the pain is expected to tion, 348 converts; while Dr. Nevius, go. Is your tooth aching? Just pursuing similar plans, gathered 260, scrub the mule's teeth, and afterthese two men together in one year ward your own, and the cure is coml'eceiving 608 new disciples. The plete. Have you an ulcer of the corself-denial of these poor natives-who nea.? Pass the tips of your fingers to are no sooner brought to Christ than and fro over the particular eyeball of they become evangelists to their fel- the mule, and then with well-regulow-Chinese-is something marvel- lated pressure rub repeatedly the ous. They live on about four or five dollars a month. One of them gave affiicted eye. True, the eyeballs ot his own house and, lot for a church and school, and then hired of a neigh- the mule hl,ve been gradually worn away by constant frictign, until now only the empty orbits are left; but the success is guara.nteed to be as 'verts come pri~cipally from the real as form~rly. The temple is cov- lower classes; we have never known ered with laudatory tablets in honor of a mandarin becoming a Christian, of the mule, which is patched in all who was in office at the time of his directions with fresh pieces of brass, conversion. Literary men areeeidom put on to cover holes produced by con- found among church members; but a stantrubbing; andanewmulestands very few Buddhist and Tauist pri,sts awaiting the day when the old one have been led to Christ. has fallen to pieces. The principal hindrances to mis- A Sketch of the Missions. When sionary work are: 1. The notorious this century began China was desti- conservatism which resists anything tute of the gospel. In 1807 Dr. Mor- foreign. 2. Self-satisfied pride. 3, The rison, first Protestant missionary to veneration paid to their sages, Con: China, landed at Canton, a few years fucius, Mencius, and others. 4. Evil Jater followed by Dr. Milne and oth- reports, spread among the people, ers. First these men sought to ac- poisoning their minds against the quire the language, constructing a. missionaries and their message. dictionary and translating th~ Scrip- 5. Superstition. 6. The opium traffic, tures; but thirty years after, there with its untold misery, leading to were only three native P"otestant enormous crimes. OhrisUans in the whole country, and only six in 1843; there were 350 in The main helps available to the 1853; 2,000 in 1864; 20,000 in 1875; missionary are: 1. The street chapel, ten years later fully 25,000, and now with opportunity after the preaching over 30,000. for personal conversation. 2. Itin- erary journeys for evangelistic pur- In 1885 about 60(, missionaries were poses. 3. Day schools, which influ- in China, in connection with thirty- ence parents as well as pupils and two societies in upward of seventy afford nucleus for meetings of a gen- cities and towns, in fifteen out of eral charlLcter. 4. The dispensary eighteen provinc_es, over 1,100 native and hospital, which afford access teachers and preachers being associ- gained in no other way. 5. Social ated with them in their work, in calls. 6. The bookstore, reading more than 500 stations. In 1875 there room, and guest rooms. 7. The wide were no missionaries west of Han- distribution of the Word of G~d and kow, on the Yang-tse-kiang, 600 of religious tracts and books. miles from the sea, but in 1885 fifty men and women were located in From all parts come reports of western China, somp of them 1,500 steady progress in Christian work. miles from Shanghai; and the jour- The Rev. Mr. Lloyd has labored in ney from that port to their stations Tuh-chow, under the auspices of the takes longer than from America, or Chul'ch Missionary Society,for twelve England, to China. In 1885 only two years. The' 1,600 converts whom he medical missIOnaries were at work had found in 1876 have grown to among the hundred millions in west- 6,000, him.self having baptized 1,000 lern China. in ten years.
During the l-ast ten yeaJ's the Bible Chinese Christians are, almost to societies have been making great a man, ready to pray in public, to efforts to scatter the Word of God_ exhort one another at their meetings, The most fruitful field is Fuhkein, in and to speak for Christ to their which are about one-third of the neighbors. Rev. Hunter Corbett whole number of converts; and yet bears witness to their childlike faith it was for eleven years before the in the power and willingness of God first convert was brought in. Con- to fulfill evel'y promise, to their un- shaken faith in prayer, their love for
PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN. [FEB••
the ScriptUl'es, and their honest and Darkness overspread'!' the earth,andgr088 faithful effort to live blameless lives, Not a few have persevered in the darkness the people, but God's glory sha.ll study of the Scriptures untu they re- arise on thee and His glory shall be seen on peat entire chapters and !Sometimes entire books, from both Testaments, thee 1 We have only to lift up our eyes toand, better yet, they are ,able io explain them. dayand seeon the very summits of heathen- SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS. dom, in the midst of the death-shade, the The Vision 01 the Cross. Late one sum- waving flag of the Cross! 'l'he glory of God mer afternoon there was a rain shower in Vi~ginia, Nevada. It was very unusual, for transfigures it, and while it waves and! during summer rains are almost unknown in Nevada. The rain lasted but a few minutes, burns, the strongholds of Satan are giving f but clouds and dense darkness overspread the sky. All thevasteastern slope of Mount way before the onset of the missiona.ry' Davidson that overlooked the city was covered with a pall. and the mountain could host I scarcely be distinguished from the cloud' masses that formed its background. As al! TEXTS AND THEMES. ' eyes looked in that direction, a little tongue of mellow golden flame could be seen upon I WHAT saith the Scripture f regarding tbe very summit, wavering in the midst of midnight blackness. It was very small, 1. Tile Condition of the World: "The whole but it looked large, by contrast with the darkness around it. No one at first under- world Iieth in wickedness."-l Jobn v: 19• stood what it wa6. It was thenation's flag waving from the mountain peak. It hap- .. The dark places of the earth 'are full of the pened that, through ' narrow rift in the clouds, the rays of the sinking sun had found hal>itations of cruelty."-Ps. Ixxiv: 20. ii. their way, and that flag was the only object theytoucled, It was directly in,their path The Divine Purpose and Command: .. God and they rested on it and glorifled and transfigured it. And for an hour that burn- our Saviour will have all men to be saved, ing banner of the Republic held the fascinated gaze of the multitudes. How strange! and to come unto the knowledge of the That sinking, sun that transfigured the nation's emblem had that same day looked on truth."-l Tim.ii: 4. "Goye into all the world the fall of Vicksburg and the victory of Gettysburg 1 and preach the gospel to every creature." -Mark x~i: 15. iii. The Divine Promise: .. In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."-Gen. xii: 3. .. I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy pos- session."-Ps. ii: 8. iv. The Grand Motive : .. For ye know the grace of onr Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."-2 Cor. viii: 9.
". Freely ye kave received, freely give."- Matt. x: 8. v. The Final Consummation: "1 beheld, and, 10, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Sa.lvation to our God which sitteth upon tbe throne, and unto the Lamb."-Rev. vii: 9, 10.-Selected.
VI.-PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS: MO~THLY BULLETIN.
Atrica.-Cardinal Lavigerie's mission for the northern portion of Natal about Greythe suppression of the African slave trade town. Most of the Boers belong to the has been encouraged by the Pope's gift Dutch Reformed Church, and while they of S60,OOOto his enterprise, accompanied by have a.ttended outwardly to Christian ora letter from Leo praising the Cardinal dinances, they have heretofore cared little for his crusade, and encouraging him to for the native population. Three years ago go ahead in his work. His plan includes a religious awakening began among these tbe raising of a volunteer corps to fight the Boers, and the genuineness of this interest ,slave traders of the Dark Continent with was shown by their de.ire to reach the Zucarnal weapons. About a score of chival- lus, whom they had regarded as little better rous young Belgians have alreadv formed than animals. There are now fifteen the nucleus of this new Salvation Army. preaching places where the gospel is pro- claimed, and which Mr. Scott says are -Scotch Free Church Mission Among the simply the farmhouses of the Boers. He Zulus. The Rev. James Scott of Impolweni, speaks of seeing eighty Boers and three or Na.tal, writes to the Free Church Monthly in four hundred Zulus gather together for reference to an interesting work among the worship. The Zulus come from kraals and Dutch Boers, and extending to the Zulus in villages, both old and young. some ,clothed, back to carryon mission work in his native but most of them heathen in their blankets. land. .
Over one hundred in Greytown have been Alaska.-The Moravian mission on the formed into a na.tive church in connection Nusbagak river is 8,000 miles from supplies and with the Dutch church. This work is now trained workmen. It was so cold there on the being carried forward under the direction 18th of December, '87, that the moisture in the of a committee of the Dutch farmers, em- smoke congealed and filled up the ohimney ploying three native evangelists. One of with frost so that Mr. Wolff was compelled these evangelists is the son of the Znlu twice to go up on the roof and clear out the warrior who in 1836, at the signal from Din- chimney so that the stove mil(ht draw.
gaan, the cruel tyrant, fdl upon the Dntch Burlllah.-The latestintelligilDce from Tavoy leader Retiefand his party of about seventy tells of great suffering on account of the scarcity men, murdering them all in cold blood. and higb price of rice. In the town it was sell- This father still lives, and is a member of ing for more than double the ordinary cost, the Christian church and listens gladly to while far in the jungle, where the Karens live, his son as he preaches the gospel of peace. it Was not to be had at any price. The govern- -The Baptist Mission on the Congo, ment was shipping it from Maulmain and Ran- West Africa, continue~ to prosper. Seven- goon, and sending it inland as best they could to teen were recently baptized at Batlza Man- save the Karens from starvation. It was not teke, the scene of the great revival, and given to them, but sold at a price much below seven at Palabala. All who have been what it cost. The carriage of rice a distance of baptized at Palabala are men. The drink fifty to one hundred miles On a jungle path, at'a traffic offers great hindrance to the prog- season wben the rainfall averages sixty inches ress of the gospel; per month, is no slight nndertaking. Some had -The Liquor Traffic. In Africa we have to already died, either Qf starvation or from eat- contend against the devit's mIssionary ing improper food, and there is little doubt that .agency. The liquor traffic is increasing, before their next harvest is reaped in December .and it is a gigantic evil-greater, even. many of these poor people will die.
than the slave trade-debasing the people -The Sgau Karen Mission at Rangoon, Bur- .and ruining legitimate commerce. In mah, bas been under the care oftbe Vintons from Wes~ Africa ithas deepened the degrada- its beginning in 1836, and now the na.tive tion of the negro instead of civiJizing him. Christians are to erect a large schoolhouse as a Over 1S0,OOO,OOO gallons of spirits had been .. Vinton Memorial." More than 3,000 rupees imported last year in the district of Sierra were subscribed at the first meeting.
Leone, and in Lagos it was far larger, while Ceylon.-Mission Work at Jaffna. News all the land was strewn with demijohns. from Jafl"na, Ceylon, tells of continned bleSSing The Niger Company imported 220,000 gallons following upon the recent awakening among the during the last two years,and 500 cases of chnrches. Believers have been quickened to gin and 500,000 gallons of rum were landed uew zeal in the work of God; and the conver- by the Caliban, in which I sailed from Liv- sions among the heatben bave been very cheer- erpool. The selling price of rum is less than ing: At a recent communion service six stu- a penny a gallon, and the gin sold at three- dents of the Jall"na CollAge were received into pence a bottle. The liquor so sold was of the church on profession of faith. Tl:e religions the most execrable character.-Rev. W. interest is deepening in this important educa- ..Ililan. tional iustitntion. Besides the two weekly -In the schools of the Scottish Free • prayer·meetings conducted among the profes- ()hurch Mission at Bandawe, Lake Nyassa, sors. tbere are now three such meetings held 1,179 pupils were in attendance the day be- weekly among the students themselves.
fore they closed for the vacation. Of these China.-Forty years ago Dr. Morrison was <)ne-third were girls. Thirty-eight native addressing in a locked inner room two or three teachers are a t work in the schools. Chinese, who listened in peril of their lives; -Basutoland has frequently been saved now tbere are in China some 50,000 converts.
l~om the destruction of its nationality by .. Do you think," asked the captain of the ship the intervention of the missionaries, and who took him out, .. that you can make an the natives blessed their name. The result impression on the 400,000,000 of Chinese?"
in respect to education is that we have 80 'No,~' he answered, "but God can."-Oanon elementary schools, having together 4,666 Farrar.
pupils, besides the normal school and the -The Blind in China. A half a million. it higher girls' school, :with 30 or 40 pupils,and is estimated, are totally blind. The sight- 15 industrial, biblical,and theological school less crowds at ·Canton present a pathetic .stations, 94 out-stations, 19 missionaries, 176 spectacle. A photogl·aph we have seen of native workers, 6,029 communicants, and a party of them before the Presbyterian .3,412 catechumens.-Rev. A. Boegner. Missionary Hospital, taken· last winter by -It is stated that a nephew of the late Edward W., son of Dr. Thwing of Brouklyn, King Cetewayo, after six years in Sweden is a. moving appeal in itself. Mr.J. Cros~ett, in theological and other studies, has gone a.t the United States consulate, Shanghai, writes, Oct. 10, earnestly begging for teach- denominations. One hundred new missionaries ers of deaf, dumb and blind Chinese. For- were last year sent ont to China, and already eign residents are willing toaid in supporting this year several parties have been despatclied_ schools for such. Wealthy natives will help, During the last three 1I10mhs 42 have left Engspecially those who are in commercial rela- land, and 16 more leave in December. News tions with foreigners. Mr. Moody at Chi- had just been received oCthe death of one of the cago, Dr. A Gordon ..nd Dr. Cullis ofBoston missionaries in China, Mr. Eldred S. Sayers, wh() are interested in this movement. Mrs. went ont in 1886, makin~ 3 deaths in November. GUTizslafl', a pioneel missionary-, secured the -Our English Correspondent. education of a Chinese girl and a Portugnese girl at London, both blind, to labor in China. England.-Turkcy Missions Aid Society_ The latter died, bnt the other, known aD The receipts of the society for the year 1837-88 Agnes Gntzlalf, founded an enterprise at were 813,980. The society conducts no missions Ningpo. A hospital at Shanghai was an- of its own, but III a spirit of broad catholicity other memorial she left at death. Teachers aids existing organizations in Turkeyt largely of like consecration are now urgently those of the American church. needed. A professor in the Government School at Korea has expressed a willingneis -When Garibaldi had been defeated 0.1; to come to China. Will not America send Rome, he issned his immortal appeal: "Solother teachers f diers, I have nothing to olfer you but cold and hunger and rags and hardship. Let him wh() -Rev. D. W. Nichols writes from Nankin, loves his country follow me I" And thousands Sept. 24: The grent examination that hll9 been of the youth Qf Italy sprang to their feet at tha~ going on for the paot two weeks has closed. high appeal. And will you, the trustees of pos- Students from ,,11 parts of three provinces were terity-will you tnrn your backs to the appeal here. There were three courses in the exami- of your Saviour Christ f I know that you will nation, requiring three days to each. When the not. You cannot all be missionaries; but some students enter the examination hall, they are of you may be called to that high work, and all not allowed to go out until the examination in of you may help it forward.-Canon Farrar. one conrse is completed. On Friday night, September 14, at midnight, the gates were -The Church of England Women's Missionopened, and the students began marching out, ary Association has sent out four ladies to Jerucontinning in solid phalanx for twenty-four hours. Twenty·nine tlwu8an d were enrolled a salem to form branch of Mrs. Meredith's work and entered for the ftrst examination. Early there, for education and sick nursing among Saturday A.M., Sept. la, we missionaries were on women and children in the East. Two mor.. ladies follow directly. There is work for many the ground with 15,000 books for distribution more as soon as they are ready to go. among the stUdents. Had we had 100,000 books we could easily' have given them away, -The Church Missionary Society has 33a and not more than one to each individual. At missionaries, and received more than three any time during the day we had a commanding hundred offers of service in the year ending view of from one hundred to one hundred and April 30, of which forty·six were from women. ftfty thousand people. So eager were they for the books that it was with diMcnlty that we Fiji.-From special information respectwere enabled to give them to the student•• ing this colony, anticipa.tory of the Blue- Thus 15,000 books have gone out in one day. book tor 1887, it appears that the total Many of these books will go to the remoter population that year was 124,658, eighty-four parts, where the voice of tbe servant of God has less than in 1336, the faIling olf being mainly never been heard. in Indian and Polynesian laborers. Educa- tion seems to be ina satisfactoryeondiUon. -The mission property both of Catholics and It is almost entirely under the care of the Methodists in Chungkinl!;, destroyed by the missionaries. In 1887, 41,724, children Were anti·foreign riois of 1888, is being replaced with at the Wesleyan mission schools aud abou1; costlier ouildings. 1,000 at the Roman Catholic schools. There is a Government Industrial School, at which -The missionary work in China seems to be youths are tra.ined, among other things, in everywhere becoming easier and more promis- boat building, house building, and cattle ing. If the Cbinese Government does not re- tending. In 1887, 102,890 persons attended taliate on Americans for the exclusion of the the Wesleyan places of worship, and 9,83() Chinese from this country and so obstruct the the churches of tle Roman Catholic mismissions, we may look for great results in the sions. The total number of pure Fijians in next rew years. 1887 was 110,754.-0ur English Corr8llpondent.
-China Inland Mission. Ou December 3 FInland.-Rev. Eric Jansson reports 180 Exeter Hall, London, was filled with a large baptized during the year in Finland. The audience a.sembled to bid farewell to a band of missionaries abont to depart for China under mission work encounters great opposition the auspices of this mission. Last year the in- from the priests of the state church, but come of the mission was £33,700, aud the stalf the progress among the people is encournumbered 324, includin~ representative. of six aging.
France.-There recently died at Montpel- ier, France. a.n old servant woman, who had l:iven in the course of some years no less than 10,000 francs, the result of most care- work of the publication department has heeD ful economy, to the French Protestant For- the issue of aeveral books for edncated Hindus._ eign Mission Society. She loved missions, regularly read the missionary journals, and -Special fO'ltures of encouragement in th& never prayed without mentioning by name work of the Inolian Female Normal School aad M. Coillard, a veteran missionary in South Instruction Society are the Zenana work a~ Africa.-Spirit of Mi8.i<>'M. Lucknow, where the pupils have increased from 400 to 500; the work at Patna, which has beel) -A second Baptist church is to be formed enlarged and consolidated; the school work at. in Paris, France. As the flrst church has Bombay, especially that of the Normal School. recently opened a new hall for evangelistic which has supplied teachers to East Africa. services, this will make four places for wor- Western India. Karachi, and other places; Mr•• ship in that city under the control of the Sorabji's work at Poonah, which is in a most Baptists. flourishing condition; and, lastly, medical work.
India.-Speaking in Edinburgh, at the -The prlOces of Rajpootana have abolished opening of the session of the Edinburgh the custom of infant marriages. In the futnre nO' Philosophical Institution, upon .. Madras girl shall be married under the age of H, and and Southern India," Sir M. E. Grant Duff, no boy under 18, unless prior to the adoption of' G. C. S. I., late governor of Madras, said that this law a contract of marriage had been en- the two great languages of the Madras pres- tered into. These princes hold the highest rank. idency, each spoken by about 12,000,000 peo- and their example will have wide influence. ple, were Telugu and Tamil, both Dravidian tongues. Less than 36,OCO people out of -The proportion of the native Christian 31,000,000 claimed English as their mother studenls ot the University of Bengal who hav~ tongue. As to nationality, the immense become Masters of Arts is 23 time. ~reater majority were Hindus; and next to them, than of the Hindn and Mohammedan stndents. but 'at an enormous distance in point of numbers, came the Mohammedans; then Italy.-We have,noted the publication of th~ came the Chrietiaus-far more numerous in Bible in Rome by Martini, the well-known pub- southern Iudia thau in the north. Among lisher, in penny parts. The experiment half the Christians 68 per cent. were Catholics been succe"sfnl beyond expectation. About 50,- and 32 per cent. Protestants. Among the 000 copies are sold every week. The book ilJ Protestants the Anglicans were the most well printed, and each part has been reduced numerous, and in Tinnivelly they had a to eight pages. large number of nati'e converts.-Our En- glish Correspondent. Japan.-Buddhism cannot long hold itlJ -November 2 three missionaries sailed in the ground, and Christianity must finally prevail Pavonia for the re-enforcement of those de- thronghout all Japan. Japanese Buddhism ,md voted toilers in that far-off land who labor Western science cannot stand together. They under the appointment of the Free Baptist are Inconsistent the one with the other.-Jap- Foreign Board. Rev. and Mrs. E. B. Stiles are an<!86 Gazette. known as the A. C. F. missionaries, becanse , their support is to be provided in fnll by the -One of the most hopefnl indications for th& new Free Baptist organization, which is com- fnture of Christianity in Japan Is the missionary posed chiefly of young people and known as the character of the native Christians. They arC' Advocates of Christian Fidelity. Rev. F. W_ zealous in carrying the gospel to their 0 IVn peo- Brown, it is understood, is to be snpported, d ple, and also to Korea and the islands dependent least in part, by the Missionary Board of Hills- on Japan. dale College. -N0 better proof of the genuine Interest of' -Pundit Raghumith Rao, the Dewan of In- our Japanese Christians in the new civilization dore, has put forth a catechism of the Ayran- could be given than their contributions the past Vedic religion, which has excited great atten- year for edncational and religious objects. tion, taken 'llJord fer word from the West- amounting to over $41,000; and it is not pro- minster Shorter Oatechism, leaving out the fessed Christians only that give, but others, im- references to Jesus Christ I This is certainly pressed with the character of the work in prog- the most remarkable plagiarism of modern ress, especially thonghtfnl parents, for the sak~ times. of the morlll cnlture obtained in our schools. A few weeks since word came from Mr. Neesima -The Christian Vernacular Education So- of $31,000 subscribed by a few Japanese gentle ciety reports that the Training Institntion at men, including two of the highest officials in th8' Ahmednagar has been in fnll working order government, toward the enlargement of our throughont the year 1887, with fifty-seven Doshisha school so as to make ita Christian uni– atudents in attendance; thirty students left the versity.-Miss. Herald. Dlndigal Institution with teachers' certificates. The system of inspecting and improving the -A revival has been going on simultane- indigenous schools in Bengal has been vigor- ously worked. Nearly 7,000 children are under ously in different parts of Japan. As a result. Christian instruction. The chief feature of the the increase in all the churches of Tokio cannot. be much less thana thousand. Yokohama has; also enjoyed a rich blessing, and reaped a glori- ons harvest. Many of the cities and towns ot the empire are now wonderfully stirred up. -"-A Worthy Example. An exchange says that a brewer who did a large business at Mish, teacher's use. The pup,i1s provide themsulves IIi 1ms, Japau, has become a Christian and joined with a primer, a copy of the New TestamclIt, the church. He had a long and hard struggle to the native Christian newspaper, a catechism, ,give up his profitable business, but at last the grammar, and geography. The teachers are .grace of God triumphed; he gave up brewing supported in part by the natives. The object and gave his large arid costly building to be used of these schools is to teach the children to read as a church. the Bible, and so these schools become the chief auxiliary to the direct preaching of the -Japanese Mission to Christendom. A gospel.-Chronicle of London MiB8. Soc. .Japanese paper published at Kioto, called the -At Tamatave, the capital of Madagascar, 11iJO'U of Asia, has a report of a proposed mis- Mrs. Mary Clement Leavitt, representing the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. recently ,gion for the conversion of Europe and America addressed an audience of 1,500 natives, the lecto a "purer faith." Its conductors say that ture being translated by an interpreter. The they have noticed that Christianity is on the Tamatave paper gives a full account of the occa- .decline, and that, as religion is indispensable to sion, and thanks God for the arrival of "that man, this mission is projected. There is al- grand woman, Madame Mary Clement Leavitt ready a Buddhist mission in the United States, of the United States." and something of a literature has been created. The Watchman says: "Whereabout the evi- Mexico.-The Presbyterian missionaries -dence of the' decline' of Christianity has been 'noticed' we caunot conjecture, but it was in the city of Mexico have recently located seven -probably in some of those pessimistiC utter- preaching stations in the outlying wards and auces now and then put forth by weak believ- districts. In this way they touch the people ·ers, or the still more insignificant boastings of who could not be brought into anything known unbelief." as a church edifice. Lay talent is utilized, one- half of these services being sustained hy native J a va.-Missionary work began 40 years ago. elders. Seven societies of Holland are represented by 26 missionaries, having 25 mission stations, Paraguay.-The South American Missionnumbering 12,000 native Christians. The Brit- ary Society has started a new mission under ish and Forei~n Bible Society has one agent in very favorable auspices. ·east Java, and will soon send another for the west. Not only Java, but the whole Dutch Persla.-Dr. Bruce writes to the Church India, including Java, Snmatra, Borneo, Cele- Missionary Intelligencer: "We have no oppobes, has a strong claim not only on Europe, but sition from Moslem priests or people worth <ou Christian America for the gospel. Twenty- mentioning; the latter, in nine cases out of ten, ileven millions of people and only 69 Christian gladly receive our colportenrs and evangelists, missionaries to give them the glad tidings I In and welcome their visits. The Moslem priests .all Malaysia, with its 35,000,000 people, there now ha"e lost all their power for good or evil is only one Ame"ican misBwnary. in Persia. The Persian Government is also liberal iu its treatment of Christians and Jews, -In the central district of Java there are but through the intrigues of the Roman Catholic ,some 5,000 native Christians in connection with and (led by them) of the American ecelesiastics, the Netherlands Reformed Missionary Society. it allows Protestant Christians to be opposed, For many years this field has been under the and thereby gives us great trouble. During all .exclusive care of one missionary, who is sta- my mission life among Mohammedans, every tioned at Poerworedjo. Receutly two other persecution and opposition to our work from mis~ionaries have been sent to Poerbolingo, one which we have suflered has been set on foot, <of whom is to be engaged in training native not by Moslems, but by nominal Christians." -evangelists and preachers. Still more recently :a young medical missionary has been sent out. -High Church missionaries from England He is to be supported by the Dutch Reformed are establishing schools and churches in utter Missionary Society in Londou. An attempt is indifference to the work done by American men being made to form the various churches or and women in past years, thus fomenting stations into a presbytery, presided over by a schisms aud divisions. synod. Meanwhile Christianity is spreading .also in the Djogjokarta district, and some 5,000 United States.-Indians of North Amer- natives have accepted the truth. ica. The amiual conference of the Dakota In- dian churches and missions of the Presbyterian Madagascar.-The growth ofth'e elemen- and Congregational denominations was held in -tary schools has been extraordinary. Twenty- September at Oakes, Dak. There were repre- five years ago they numbered seveu, with 365 sented there all the missionaries to the Dakotas scholars; in 1886 they nnmbered 1,005, with of the Presbyterian Foreign and Home Boards, 102,747 scholars. The several provinces are and those of the Congregationalists under the -divided into districts, and each district has a charge of the American Missionary Association. meeting-honse, used both as a church and There were present also 228 native delegates and ilchool-honse. Most of them are built of adobe, visitors, besides those from the Cheyenne River with thatched roof, and are very plaiu buildings, Agency. The attendance ran from 500 to 800. with mud 1I00rs. The school outfit consists of :a few lesson sheets and text-books for the -The American Baptist Missionary Union calls for eighty meu to fill vacancies and open new work on the various mission fields.
STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS
VII.-STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS.
Foreign Mission Work of Women's Sooieties.
UNITED STATES.
Receipts.
Denominations and Societies.
1887-8. In aU.
– — —;—- 1861. . Woman's Union Missionary Society, New About york …………………………….. 53 i32' 27 $43,024 $1,000,000 1868.. Woman's Board, Boston (Congregational). 102 1,700 123,240 1,651.329 1870.. Woman's Board of the Interior (Congre- gational) …………………………. 62 1,500 51,117 481,175 1872.• Woman's Bo..rd of the Pacific (Congrega- tional) …………………………….. 5 75 4,045 45.151 1870.. Woman's Board, Presbyterian Church …. 133 111 2,725 1870.. Woman's Board, Presbyterian, of the 159,640 1,647,618 Northwest ………………………… 71 57 1,522 102,499 726,277 1870.. Woman's Board, Presbyterian, of New york ……………………………… 41 32 900 65,1'44 (30,346 1871. • Woman's Board, Presbyterian, of North- ern New York …………………….. 5 13 220 10,413 120.812, 7,193 1877 .. Woman's Board, Presbyterian, Southwest 7 376 28,968 20,732 Woman'sBoard, Presbyterian, Southern. 457 172,906 1879.• Woman's Board, United Presbyterian 43 15,619 66,273 Church …………………………… 7,658 1879.. Cumberland Presbyterian Church ……. 822 42,771 1869.. Methodist Episcopal, North …………… 75 4,383 191,158 1,680,000 ,1878 .. Methodist Episcopal, Soath …………… 22 '45' 2,399 6"9,729 355,345 000 7,100 1879.. Methodist Protestant …………………. 11,288 25,000 1861.. Friends ………………………………. 8 1,854 ……4.0.,0..0.0 Evangelical Association………………. 78 1875.. Christian Woman's Board (Home and For- 697 26,226 145,120 '"7" eign) •………….•………………… '"7" 315 "'i7:ii44 61,472 14,197 1875, . United Brethren ………………………. 1875.. Reformed Chnrch (Dutch) …………… 200 …..1.2.6.,8..7.4 1879 .. Evangelicwi Lutheran (Home a.nd Foreign) 436 27 1870.. Baptist Woman's Society (Northern Con- 1,859 75.369 780,606 vention) ………………………….. 38 44,846 1871. . Woman's Baptist Society of the West….. 45 313,628 Executive Committee Auxiliary to South- 15.554 80,000 ern Baptist Convention ……………. 7,200 1873 .. Baptist Free ….. __ , ' …………………. , 6 60,000 25,321 – -2-72,6-71 – – – – – – – 1871. . Protestant Episcopal …………………. – – – – Totals………………. 680 424 21,l134 $1,117,110 $10,307,990 CANADA.
1876.. Woman's, !,?o.ci"ty (Presbyterian), West- 475 $25,657 ern DivisIon ……………………… . 5,091 1877.. Woman's Society (Presbyterian), Eastern Division ………………………… . 6,182 1877.. Woman's Societies (Baptist), Ontario and 4,493 Quebec…… " ………….. ' …….. .. 189 14,197 Woman's Union (Baptist), Maritime Prov- illces •……•…………….•….•…. 1881.. Woman's Society (Methodist) ………. , .. .
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
1834.. Society for Female Education in the Eastl 40 $.%,000' 1852.. Zenana Bible and Medical Mission ……. . 202 50,000* 1859 .. Ladies' Wesleyan Missiollary SOciety….. ' 30 ';ii;' 35,000* 1860 .. British Syrian Schools ………………. .. 28 116 2.';,(lOIl* 18'18 .. Ladies' Association (Baptist) …………. . 44 105 3O.0no* 1~"3 .. Female Association (Irish Presbyterian).. 12 160 10,000* 1878.. Female Association (Presbyterian Churca of England) ………………………. . 13 8 10,000' 1830.. Church of England Zenana Missionary Society…………………………… . 88 49 1880.• Zenana Medical College……………… " U5,Oro 4,000* Ladies' Committee Auxiliary to London Missionary Society……………. '…. . 24 250 Ladies in Connection with Society for Propagation of Go.pel …….. , ……. . 71 300 Ladies' Free Church of Scotland ……… . 32 177 * About this sum annually. J.M.S.
View of the Missions of the A. B. O. P. M. for the Year 1888-89
MISSIONARIES AND ASSISTANTS. I PREACHING. CHURCHES. i EDUCATION.
g g ] .s MISSIONS. oi ~• I ~fr~C.lrl<n~tl 00 AMERICAN. NATIVE. ~'CI 'CI 'i0'<.:M: ~g• ~ –,–..,,—,.._ _ _1 -_–,,—;—;—1 .~S~ 00 0 ~QJ t~ . § :"8 .. oi 't1 ~. ;;~r.IJ. .-~!: bD .j..J Q,) 0 d~ oJ ~• aj 0~0 ~ .~~ ~~ 0 ..d U~l .~S ~Il <= §• :'~" dj ~ ~ ~.h ~.~ i ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~.~ 'I'~ ~ n j ~o· g ~ ojr18Q,)_ 0 .~O ~ ~ ~:; '8t. ~ :; "" "" .., – – ~ ~ <= 0 tl .S 00 8 00 '§+3 … -< … tti'< '", Sw ~ ~ 6 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ !~.2 ~'g ~ :ags ~ ~ in .A 0 f 2 = ='3 ==-1 19142 150 =. = 115 E",st Central Africa. i883~ . do: ""' ~t] 1l ;, ""' e3:; p:; -I<> ..q z§ '" ~ a5 0 ~ r.r. -;: -§ o§ i:'5 :Zuuel~u-:M,tips~s:i~otnT.~.~.~.!.~.~.~. 1~8~3g5 .$ 0 'E-< 00 E-< ~8 "2197 -n-3 –17 2 12 •35 -1 -,8 25 1 .6,891 16~ '9'7'9" 108 -:-1' . '1'~; – 1 ";';' -:-2' – -2115 5 10 8 2~9~ 4 [3 82 uu 100 25 1,47! 1,655 2.548 19 51 '''6 'ii" 1 …. 12 2 100 100 14 "ii:i' 'i "i2 1 …. 1 2C' 20 . "3:508 I~ 2~ 1~ ~g 2~ 3~~ IH lk~~ 2.~ J~ ~ 3~ 'lll 5,ra~ 6,~~ Western Turkey …. 1819 8 121 22 2 64 17 m 16:g<fs 29 244 1 Ii 7 32,177 Central Turkey ….. 1847 2 51 7 3 7 9 26 19 27 110 4, 160 IIl6 60 10,000 1157,,0~5163 33 4,050 229 1 7 2 89 4 195 95 .,15 4,448 Eastern Turkev ….. 1836 5 115 Ii 1 15 11 41 27 51 170 48 296 337 124 11,010 41 2.542 151 1 526 5 2241238~III1I045543 5,261 6,392 7,9~5 1 8 14 553 3 24..0712'~; 2,802 Mar"'thi. ….. : ……. 1813 7 102 12 1 10 6 29 15 32 HI 67 255 284 88 3.076 3.351 27 1.823 157 1 9 7 514 5.680 , 13.508 Ma.dura …….. : .•.. ISH 12 234 10 •••. 10 8 28 20 144 2~298 31 423 451 234 7,214 11,881 36 3,233 239 1 10 7 6. 4,779 Ceylon ………….. 118~1863 7 25 5 .•.. 4 4 13 11 30 34 304 317 39 1,065 1.806 14 1,389 79 II 6 +57 2 132, 127 7,864 8,455' 6.545 Hong Kong………. 1 3 1 2 34 19 1 5.752 1 …. 3 8 …. 11 12 4 f 384 15 308 54 1 .. '2 "43 8 384 384 10 Foochow ………… 1847 3 21 6 1 6 6 19 2 12 21 1 41 00 26 650 1,250 105 2'''3 •• 17 299 388 349 13 12 42 92 4 976 161 North China …….. 1854 7 29 18 4 20 8 50 …. 17 26 684 2.485 11 2 -42 3 44 10 142 204 Sh&usi.. …………. 1882 2 …. 4 1 4 1 10 .. . …. …. …. …. 10 2 76 75 1 5 5 . . …. .., …. .. …. …. …… .. … 4 22 27 76 27 21 53 11 112 188 171 6,309 11.000 43 6.340§ 2,1l4§ 2 92 61.054 91.0eO…. …… 2,206 41.022 } ~':f..~h~r;,· j~pai{:: m.~ 8 124 23 1.486 Micronesia ………. 1852 3 46 7 1 7 6 21 12 2U 14…. 47 68" 103 7.785 12,300 47 4.844 549 2 30 2 58 2 64 41 1.933 2.085 2011 8 13 537 Western Mexico …. 1872 2 6 2 …. 2 1 5 1…….. 7 8 181 2 120 150 2 110l1~ 10 1 12…. …. 1 23 1 30 30 Northern Mexico … 1882 3 5 4 …. • 2 10 …. 3 3 2 9 194 3H 4 93 95 3,076 68.. 2 …. 3 ~~~~i~·::.:::::::::: }~~~ ~ ig ~ …. ~ ..~ ~ …: ~~ ~ n jg l~ ~~ ~:~ ~ ~ i M1~ 7~ 7~g "7' .. 19 'i "·S 1 4 656 === 19 166 268 17 50 Tota.I… No. Pacific Institute 1872 1…. 1 …. 1…. 2 …. …. …….. …. 2…………· .. · . . . . . · · …. · .. · 1 14…. …… ………….. H 90 960 167* 160 126t 472 448 1.253 2.135 2,607 1~161'188j100.914 33630.11461 4.388 25169 3.947 3.008 892 34.855 42.733U $124.274 * Of whom eleven are physicians. UInciudlDg 80mI' under IDstructlOn but not reported in school. , The CommonSchools of Jafl'na, connected with the mission. are under t Of whom four are physICians. the direction of a lloa.rd of Jl;<lucatlQIl, alld tho teachers are not reckoned as :I: Including Hawaiian missionaries. Ch~;be:,hich might be added 753 baptized believers not yet orpnized Into missioll helpeu.
•
STATISTICS OF THE'WORLD'S MI!,SIONS
Reoeipts of the lfissionary Sooietyof the Methodist EpiBoopal Ohuroh for Year. 1887 and 1888, AS REPORTED TO THE GENERAL MISSIONA.RY CO){M;:TTrlE, NOVEMBER 14, 1888.
RBCEIP'FS I'RO>l EASTERN CONFBRENCES.
CONFERENCES. IFrOW:O;~l'!FrOl8sr~~· I,! Increase. r Decrease. (List omitted.) Oct. 31: 1887. Oct. 3i, 1888.
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. ….. $S8fI,673 92 3629.983 77 $27,517 5.3, $67,207 63 RECEIPTS FROM: WESTERN CONFERENCES.
CONFEItBI)CES. i8 Dec~ dFrl;t~~· l'!Fr0 8,fOt';; 1,/ (List omitted.) . Oct. 3i, 1887. Oct. 31', 1888. Increase.!_ Total…. ……………………. $375,121.00 Ji370,597 471 $12,068 28 $16,592 80 Total Receipts from November I, 1886, to October 31, 1881………. …… ..•…. $1,044,19591 18ST, to October 31, 1888………………….. 1,000,581 24 .. ..
Decrea.se .. eo •••••••••••••• eO ••••••••• " . eo eo •• 0' ••••••••••••••• eo •••••.•• eo •• eo. $44,21467 RECBIPTS DURING THE L4ST NINE YEARS.
Sundry t::;ources.
$22,47841 Conferences. – – – – – – – Legacies. ,3i,710 27 YEAR!!. Totals. Increase. $557.371 14 $5,511 84 1880 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,182 46 33.865 2f 20,83286 625,663 89 68,m 75 18~1. ………………. 570.96577 <l~,605 O~ IM~2 ……………….. 6:!1,38108 '18.091 ~ 21,67984 691.6M 01 00,00212 22,60604 751,469 90 59,803 89 1883 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 650,77254 49,970 O~ 28.966 85 731,125 86 20,34404* 188~ ………………. 652,18800 1885 ………………. 694,03495 101,901 8~ 30.891 5t- 8:6,828 36 95,702 50 1886 ………………. 836,592 37 932,20891 133,95821 21.577 89 992,12847 165,300 11 1887 ……………….. 935.12138 76,743 22 1.0~4.795 91 52,66744 1888 ………………… 35.843 7b – – – – – – 41,983 67 – – -23,4-76-19 1,000,581 24 44,214 67" Totals …………. $6,393,448 45 $558.PZg 4' <!!'?Rfl.':'1":2 /"IF $7.221.73078 NOTE.–A star (*) after amounts III the last COll" 1, '(l.teR a decrease.
-Gospel in all Land•• German Evangelioal Mis!ion Sooieties.
[For the following table we are indebted to Rev. Dr. R. (irundemann, of Germany., "'" ,;, .;.,.;.,. ..: …; <= () 'j:; of ",,=of OJ ~".,,,~'0" '2 ,,0 SOCIETIES. wi <=8 0. S" """.."~, OJ "s~":.l<A~= OJ'~ ~ ~ ~N~'" " .,: :0;; ~ .,; :,z;,. >4 o..~ 0 .'.c0c: "Il< >'I 8~ "00 '" " ..,00>'1 ———~———— Moravian ………………………….. 107 147 83,052 29,283 590 208 $17,407 $101,281 Easel, Evangelical Mission ………… 42 120 19,187 9.497 1,057 208 7.486 199,507 Berlin, Evangelical Mission………… 48 60 17.764 8.400 1,225 53* 3.377 71.611 Rhenish Mission (Barmen) …………. 53 66 29,125 9.666 1,100 66* 5,370 88.440 North German (I:!remen)…………… 4 8 325 114 5 199; 20.389 556 Gossner Mission …………………… 13 19 34,000 11,868 1,775 80* 1.685. 42,431 Evangelical Lutheran, Leipzig …….. 2"J 22 14,014 4.500* 796 129 3,993 67.596 Hermannsburg…………………… 61 71 11,196 5,000* ….. 88* 2,000 63,713 fit. Chrischonat……………………. 1 15 400 20 5 1* 120 8,132 40* ….. 4* 200 6,585 Jerusalems-Verein………………… 3 2 150 2* 43 14,914 BreckluD). (Schleswig-Holstein)…….. 4 8 ……. '''ii' 1* 40 8.773 Berlin Woman's Mission for China…. 1 1 81 80* 77 3* 74 2,523 Neukirchen Mission…. …. …….. …. 5 5 305 3,239 East Africa.. Vereln (Berlin)……….. I 2 2 ….20* 3.000 2 3,OCQ – – – – – – —- – – – – – – – – – – Bavarian Verein·for East Africa…… 1 CO.I. Prot. Mission Verein (for Japan). 1 Totals…………………………. 368 550 209.850 78,679 6.756 823 41,994 J700,1l4 " Estimated. t Statistics of Syrian Orphan Home only. -A. B. 0. F. M.'B Almanac of Mi88ion., 1889. Foreign Missionary Sooieties of the, United States, 1887-88.
Mission- ..: …. — .. .. " " ..s .n… aries. ,/, 8- .,./,, p.1. g.; … " <I <I .<:1 d! 0 5l <i C1l SOCIETIES. '" .si III 'a American Board•…•.•.. ,; I '" '" "" ~.d.,! .<:1 0 "" " ~ j ~ ~ s oj d!" " ~ ~ … <$ — — — – – _~.S Z 's, 0 — – – '" — — "" -rn- 0 Z .a &: <;) .. <!l '"p… .".<.I. <;) $667,289 90 g60 186 286 2,135 836 30.M6 4.386 1,018 42,733 Preshyterian Board, No. 901.180 112 400 205 297 1,126 311 23.740 2,~97 464 23.77() Preshyterian Board, So. 88,049 08 89 31 35 44 ' 39 1.897 305 20 1,2;{S Ref. Church (Dutch) …. 155.381 12 123 29 32 293 47 4,559 180 122 3,357 United Presh. Board …. 103,323 15 154 19 21 385 32 6.878 1.437 216 9.942 Cumberland Presb. Ch .. 15,265 3 5 6 8 13 8 500 225 6 283 Reformed Presb. Church Asso. Ref. Presho Church 21,133 ….. 2 6 4 5 50 2 209 44 32 1.165 Reformed Church of the 2,696 4 2 ••••• 8 8 206 76 2 28 U. S. German … '……. 20.000 3 12 5 7 18 8 1,170 420 5 21& Ref. Presho Gen. Synod.. 4,000 2 4 2 ….. 7 2 20 5 1 28 *Baptist Mis. Union ….. 390,83.5 60 831 101 161 1.798 642 61,062 5.070 754 17,.504 Baptist Southern Conv.. 86,38.5 14 72 24 34 59 48 1,967 344 17 610 Free Baptists….•……. ….. 3 59 6 13 15 10 654 62 85 3,058 Seventh Day Bantists… 15.2{4 1 2 3 9 1 23 5 3 76 Baptist Conv. of U. S, … 4.529 4.598 3 2 2 1 2 1 175 50 2 27 Q:erman Baptist Breth- ren (Tunkers) ………. ….. ….. ……. 1,620 2 ….. 826.7~* 6M *Methodist Epis. Chnrch ….. 234.584* 104t Meth. Epis. Church, So.. 3 …. 5 lliO 31i ….. 131; 192 2.0~1 505 22.535 2.711 694 22,448 28 23 80 42 3.786 450 54 1.545 Protestant Methodist… 3 3 7 4 2 229 84 5 350 18.000 Africa" ~Ieth. Epis()opal 12,000' 7 5 7 1 8 9 900 302 5 408 Free )[ethodist…. , ….. 3 14 6 3 ….. 2 45 Prot. Epis. For. Miss.Soc. 2.000 41 14.'; 75 28 227 32 6 "443 91 3.364 189,932 23 3 2,073 11,074 16 5 5 4 224 ..1.2..3 9 443 Evangelical Association 14,619 5 4 14 4.105 19 462 Un. Brethren in Christ.. 4 25 Evangelical Lutheran, General Synod ……… 30.000 2 2 4 3 147 101 3.436 1,178 161 3.,558 Evangelical Lutheran, 10.288 6 50 5 4 72 4 805 235 57 767 General Conncil ., , …. For. Chri.tian Miss.Soc. (Disciples) ….. , .. , …. 24 12 22 24 2,473 798 18 ….3.8..0 51.408 24 …..2 …..6..1 43 ….. Amer. Christian Conv… 2,000 2 21 1 6 3 ….. — — – — — — – – – – –7- – TFhrieenMdesn.n..o.n.it.e.s………………. …. ·22:700· 1 . ooii 3 9 6 4 392 671 ….. 100 7 6 —- Total. ………….. $3.906.967 1,1113 2,954 927 1,200 8,617 2.243 174.784 21,978 3.864 137.905 * Work of these societies in Protestant countries of Europe 1S not here reported. t Principal and subordinate stations. :(: The portion of the missionary receipts of the church appropriated to Foreign n Mis~ions. ple te re tu rn s. '
Incom Moravian Missions are included in the tabJe of British societies. -A. B. O. F. M. 's Almanac of Mi.sions. 1889.
Canada.-The Canadian Congre- tionality. In Oceania, including the Phil- ippines. the Malay Archipelago. Anstralia. gational Year-Book fol' 188~-89 re- and New Zealand. the number is 276; in America, inclnding certain specified States ports the following statistics: of the Union. portions of Canada, British Honduras, Brazil and Pern.l.130 ; the total Churches. St… Minis. Mf'm· number of Jesnits scattered over the globe tions. ter!;. bel'S. in purely missionary work being 2,377. These 26 49 6,300 are' of various nationalities, but the vast Ontario ………. 77 1,650 majority are French.-London Times. Quebec ………. 20 15 17 Nova Scotia…… ]7 21 7 858 -The Cherokees have in operation 100 11 341 common schools. with an aggregate attend- New Brunswick.. 3 4 ance of 4,049 pupils and an average of 200 2.486 ; a high school for boys. with an aggre- Newfoundland & o3 180 gate of 211 and an average of 156 students; Labrador … , .. . 5 24 a. female seminary. nearing completion, The Northwest.. . 4 with a capacity for 165 students; an orphan asylum containing 145 children,-Ghri.tian 126 75 84 9.529 Advocate. Nashville. -Jesuit Missions. In the Balkan peninsula there are. 45 Jesuit missiona.ries; in Africa, and especially E;;-ypt, Madagascar and the Zambesi region, 223 ; in Asia, especially Armenia. Syria, certain parts of India, and parts of China. 699. In China alone the number is 195, all of French na- Oontributions to Missionary and Bible -Statistics show that there are in Bur- Societies for rifty Years. mah at the present moment 502 Baptist IN view 'of the Missionary Conference, it may not be nnseasonable to present to your readers churches, with 28,559 communicants and the results of a carefrrl examination of the home contributious to the five great religiOUS institu- about 70,000 adherents. In 404 schools theretions named below during the first fifty years of the present reign. I have divided that examina- are 12,000 pupils, and during the year there tion iuto decenniums, bringing out the average amounts contributed in each, with the relative hl"ve. been 2,134 baptismsupon a profession increase or decrease upon the preceding period. With these it is unnecessary to occupy your of fmth. The report reminds the Christian columus. public that it is just seventy-five yea-rs. It may be interesting, however, to notice that -whatever it may be owing to- the decennium since Adoniram Judson, driven out of Cal- 1848-1857 differs from aU the rest in the lower rate of increase, while in the case of two of the cutta by the officials of the East India Comsocieties there is a positive decrease of two per cent. and eleven per cent. respectively. pany, arrived in Rangoon and established The increase of the avera~e annual amount the first Baptist mission at Burmah.-ChriB-· of home contributions, including legacies but excluding dividends, in the last decennium, 1878- tian Weekly. '57, over the first,l838-'47, was, in the case of the Baptist Miss. Society… £34,953 or 157 per cent. -The Methodist Episcopal Church have. Wesleyan Miss. SOCiety. 34.114" 45 .. Church Miss. Society .. 102,717 .. 118 .. 2: missionaries in Italy, 25 native prea.chers" London Miss. Society… 23,707" 3~ British and Foreign 883 church members, 16 Snnday-schools and Bible Society……… 62,101" 131 392 scholars. In lIIexico tney have 9 mis- A/!:gregate increase (five sionaries,33 native preachers, 995 church SocietietJ).. .. .. . …… 257,592" 86 The annual average amounts of the five soci- members, 740 probationers, 30 Sundayeties for the last decenninm was £556,631, and the total amount for the jifly year. £20,798.160, schools and 1,202 schools. being about the amount spent on drink in this country in sixty days at the rate of last year's Jews.-Between the years 1880 ,and 188& consumption. It ought to be stated that these amounts in- the Jewish population of Prussia has include both ordinary and special contributions, excepting in the case of the Church Missionary creased only 2,763. The proportion of the. Society, where the figures of the special contribntions for the whole period conld not be .0 Jews (366,543) to the entire population. easily ascertained. The annual average orthese, in that society, for the last jive years was £19,- shows a falling off of .04 per cent. The 115. ProbablY this was a high avera!':e. One feature brought out in this examination is diminution has been chie11y in the provinces. worthy of note. WhQn a large contribution has been raised for a special object, it does not seem of Posen and Silesia. There were only three to teU adversely on the succeeding years; rather the contrary. So at least it seems to be towns in the entire kingdom with a. Jewish. in the case of the British and Foreign Bible So- Ciety. In 1854 that society raised special con- population exceeding 15,000, viz., Berlin. tributions of almost exactly £100,000 for the JUbilee and Chinese New Testament Funds. 65,355; Breslau, 17,655; and Frankfurt, 15,- with the result that the aggregate ordinary contributions (exclusive of legacies) for the three SM.-Jewish Chronicle. . follouing years exceeded those of the three previous years by almost £30,OCO, or twenty-three -The various Protestant missionary orper cent.; and that notWithstanding that in one of the last three years a further special contri- ganizations at work in India have 249 mis_ bution of £10,000 was raised for these objects. sionaries, 317 native preachers, and 83,819' But when the speCial contribution is raised not for any definite object, but merely to make up .. native communicants. This is an increase deficiency in previous years, I apprebend the result is very different.-Davia McLaren, in of 67 missionaries, 76 native preachers, and British Weekly. 23,748 native communicants since 1881.
-The Lutheran Missions among the Ta- mils of South India amount to 14,000 adher- ents, 22 European missiol~aries, 12 ordained natives, 6 caudidates, 56 catechists, 241 teachers, 149 schools. and 3,653 scholars.
-The General Missionary Committee of the Methodist Episcopal Church has appro- priated for the coming year $1,200,000 fol'"
home and foreign missions, of which $100,- 000 is to meet outstanding drafts and inter- est. The receipts from the churches were· $2,900 larger than ever before, but the treas- ury was $78,340.13 in debt at the end of the year. The appropriations for mission wo"i-k are about fifteen per cent. less than last year. The foreign missions r"eceive $511,- 639.01, divided as follows: India, $109,300.
China, $108,019.01 ; Japan, $60,166; Korea.
$16,104; JlIalaysia, $6,500; Africa. $4,800; South America, $52,960; Italy, $47,000; Ger-· many, $30,300; Sweden, $25,068; Bulgaria.
$19,220; Norway, $14,000; Switzerland, $9,840 ; Denmark, $8.362. The new Malaysia.
Mission was regularly constituted. Dr.
Thoburn is missionary bishop of India and ¥alaysia. In al the foreign inissions there are 720 native preachers and 41.338 church.
members.
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS. [FEB., 18t!9
VIII.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
(The Ia.ck of spa.ce constrains us to layover a. mass of Bilitorial Notes already in type.-ED8.] Editorial Oard to the Publio. The Bound Volume for 1888.
IN the Jan. number of this REVIEW, TilE IIrstvolume ot THEMIssION.l.BY RETIIIW .(1888) we admitted an article from Bev. Wm. Clark, D.D., on "1I1ission 0:1' THE WORLD Is now bound loud on sale. It.
Work in Papal Europe,'" and in a appearance is certainly striking, and marks an prefatory note we warmly indorsed advance, it not a new epoch, in mlssionary"litthe writer and commended his cause erature. It is a royal octllvo, printed on heavy -the Female College /Lt Florence, and lirst quality of paper, making VT4 compact Italv.. Dr. Clark was a stl'anger to pages, and substantially and prettily bound in us, but he presented so many strong crimson cloth with gilt back.
teliltimonials from eminent clergy- No ODe can form a correct Idea. of the extent, men and others whom we knew, that t:vharroiuetgyhatnhdisqiumalpietyrioalf viotslucmone.tenAts btriilel fhBenlaolYok'iss we unhesitatingly gave full credence ~ will show that it i. in itself a IUrrary of mission liurature, containing matter equal to half a dozto hIS statements, and said what we -did in his behalf. We deeply regret en books, and al1 fresh and in"pirlng, and from the ablest missionary writers in the world. At to say that we have lately received the same time it is an invaluable cvclopOJdia Of ~vidence from the best sources of in- milsions, containing a vast amount of the latest and most accurate information on every subject formation that wI! were deceived and connected with Christian missions. 'rhe eight imposed upon Ly this man, and that departments are crowded with matter of inter- est and importance to the friends of missions, he is unworthy of confidence or aid, in al1lands and in aU branches urthe Church.
.and we hereby withdraw our indorse- I. Literature Qf M"tssions. Contains some 130 separate article., most of them original, and ment and forbid him to use it. From by the ablest writers at home and abroad. the American consul at Florence we learn that no such institution now II. Organized Missionary Work. Gives the ~xist!S in Florence. And Dr. Cyrus latest reports of over 130 of the leading mission- Hajlllin assures us that our statement ary societies of the world. .about his services at Constantinople is essentially untruthful. It grieves III. Corrupondence and General Intellius. tu make such a statement, but gence. From leading mis.ionarie. in all lands, truth and justice and the cause of a. well as intelliltence from the world-field. -Christ demand it at our hands. IV. International Department. By Dr. Gr,,- A Oorreotion. cey, containing 100 pages of great interest and value. IN our January issue we gave V. Moothlll Concert of MissWns. By Dr. A. .credit for the article-" England and '1'. Pierson. Full 01 stirring papers and sugges- Foreign Missions "-to Rev. James tive themes and thoughts.
.Johnston, "Secretary of the World's VI. P,ogre88 and Results Q.f Missions. A world of the latest doings and facts, gathered Missionary Conference." We were from every source and field. misled in making this statement in a VII. Statistic, of the Wcrld's Missions. A way that attaches no blame to any large amount of the latest and most authentic etatistics. Ma!lY invaluable tables, etc., etc. -one. But we -desire to state that, VIII. Editorial Notes on many current subthough possessed of the same hon- jects of missionary interest.
()toed name, our c;::ontributor is an- Aud to add to the value Ofthi8 bound volume, It conta.ins a full and skillfully prepared Indez -other clergyman, a resident of Bol- of Contents, 80 tbst every topic treated in it, and ton, England, who has volunteered every important faet or statement or table of to post us from time to time with the etatistics given can be readily found and made -current ongoings of missionary life available to the rietasdleirt.eraOrynemwerililtsbIeitasmvaazsetdn,eosns in Great Britain. He will continue examination, at his useful service and, when the topic of scope, and the plenitude and va ue of Its his- is too brief for a separate paper we torical and statistical information. It will adorn tihall append his simple initials, or Our English Correspondent, as in and be a valuable acquisition to anI library, the present number. private or public. The price is but $2.50, free delivery. It Is a marvel of cheapne!s.
Statistical Tables.
.. The :Miseionary Review," in the hands ofMr. Wilder, earned a deserved reputation for the ekill and pain.taking labor ebown in the matter of missionary statistics. "Wild…r's Tables" were Simply marvel. in their way and are cited ". authority everywhere. We had hoped and planned to carry on this good work unto perfec- tion, but our wishes and plans for the first year failed. But we still purpose to accomplish it a$ any cost, and are maturing arrangements tha$ will bring it about during the year. In tile meanwhile we avail onrselves of the results ot others' labors. The tables we give this month, published by the Ameri"an Board, are exceed- ingly valuable for reference, while onr own table on wom~n's work is full and reliable.